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Fragments of the Lost

Megan Miranda (Goodreads Author)

3.69 · Rating details · 6,630 ratings · 885 reviews

From the New York Times bestselling author of All the Missing Girls and The Perfect Stranger comes a suspenseful psychological mystery about one girl's search to uncover the truth behind her ex-boyfriend's death. Perfect for fans of We Were Liars and 13 Reasons Why .

Jessa Whitworth knew she didn't bel ...more

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Hardcover, 373 pages

Published November 14th 2017 by Crown Books for Young Readers

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Oct 17, 2017 Chelsea Humphrey rated it really liked it

Recommended to Chelsea by: Chandra Claypool (WhereTheReaderGrows)

Shelves: from-publisher

4.5 STARS

"The room is full of you, Jessa,"she explained, by which she means the pictures... I can't even look directly at the photos, but his mother is right. I'm everywhere.

Megan Miranda is one of those super talented authors who can manipulate words to do her bidding, whether that is as part of an adult thriller or a YA mystery. I'm always blown away by her ability to draw me in and blow my mind, but she's really outdone herself this time. While the story isn't told in reverse chronological o 4.5 STARS

"The room is full of you, Jessa,"she explained, by which she means the pictures... I can't even look directly at the photos, but his mother is right. I'm everywhere.

Megan Miranda is one of those super talented authors who can manipulate words to do her bidding, whether that is as part of an adult thriller or a YA mystery. I'm always blown away by her ability to draw me in and blow my mind, but she's really outdone herself this time. While the story isn't told in reverse chronological order as was done in All the Missing Girls, this one had the same taste as it's adult fiction predecessor. Maybe it was the compulsive, addicting nature of the plot, or possibly it was the damaged characters who's flaws are revealed slowly over time, but either way I couldn't get enough of this story.

Now I want to ask him "What did you know, Caleb?" That a year later, you'd be gone and I'd be peeling all evidence of you and me off the wall? That your mother would hate me, and Max wouldn't look me in the eye, and your baby sister wouldn't say a word to me, no matter how many times I said hello?

I'll admit, I wasn't sure what to expect when I first began reading this one. I thought to myself Is this supposed to be a YA contemporary? The first 40 pages are a slow, heavy narrative of Jessa working through her grief, and I began to worry that the entire book was going to be us walking alongside every random memory this girl had of her ex-boyfriend in the most depressing possible way, but I should have known better. Once the stage is set and we have everything in place, the book took off at breakneck speed and I read the entire 329 pages that were left in one sitting. We begin to find pieces of Caleb in each memory, which spurs on our protagonist in working with a friend to find clues in an attempt to figure out just what really happened to Caleb on the afternoon he was caught in the flood.

You have to be willing to be wrong,... to be the one out on the limb, who falls, who makes a scene. To lean forward and let someone else decide whether to drop you or not. To jump when you can't see under the surface, when you don't know what might be hidden underneath.

The true beauty of this story is that it isn't completely wrapped up in what happened to Caleb. Yes, it's the central plot focus and yes, we do receive full closure on all events, but the journey along the way with our other characters is just as fulfilling as solving the mystery. I truly loved how, while this clearly is YA fiction, Fragments of the Lost defied age barriers in being appealing to all walks of life. There's no cheesy banter here, no author attempting to insert "cool, hip lingo" that is cringeworthy for teens to read; this is simply a story featuring young adults written in excellent form. Fragments of the Lost is the type of story that upon finishing I immediately wanted to chat about it with a friend; some of the twists really blew my mind and I felt the intricate, connecting details were very well done. Highly recommended to mystery lovers of all ages; if you enjoy a "whodunnit" of sorts you'll really have a ball donning your detective cap for this caper.

I received a review copy from the publisher. Many thanks Random House Children’s Dept! ...more

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Jan 31, 2018 Grace (BURTSBOOKS) rated it liked it

Shelves: reviewed

3.75 stars

Fragments of the Lost follows Jessa as she cleans out the room of her dead ex-boyfriend and all the emotional turmoil that follows. It follows her as she remembers their past and tries to piece together the last days of his life to figure out where he was going when his car was driven off the road.

This book was so original. Which is weird because it was about grief, which we’ve all read about and relationships, which we all experience but the way Megan Miranda wrote these characters a 3.75 stars

Fragments of the Lost follows Jessa as she cleans out the room of her dead ex-boyfriend and all the emotional turmoil that follows. It follows her as she remembers their past and tries to piece together the last days of his life to figure out where he was going when his car was driven off the road.

This book was so original. Which is weird because it was about grief, which we’ve all read about and relationships, which we all experience but the way Megan Miranda wrote these characters and their reactions to the situation made it unlike any YA book I had ever read; or any book for that matter. The characters in this novel are not particularly striking or original, but it hardly matters because what makes them interesting to read about is the way Miranda portrays their emotions. She has such a deep-rooted understanding of the way every one of them feels, and it's evident from every single word written, and because of this, the characters feel like real people.

The relationship drama and flashbacks of a once loving relationship were also super interesting to read about. I don’t like romance, but the deterioration of relationships fascinates me. It is a reality not many authors acknowledge. This isn’t a book about a toxic relationship like you might expect but miscommunication and secrets and growing apart and facades and how no one truly knows anyone; all things I love to read about. This book made me think and not only about what happened to Caleb(the boyfriend). The themes explored were rich and thought-provoking, and I had to stop so many times in the middle of listening to this audiobook to just sit there and think because it was that good. I'm 100% in support of reading for entertainment alone, but I can't help appreciate when a book takes it a step farther and makes you question things you thought you understood and this book does that perfectly.

I did have some slight issues while in the middle of this that enabled me from giving this book a perfect rating, but those were more personal things than actual flaws of the book. For example, Jessa reminded me too much of a past version of myself that I don’t like thinking about and the addition of a love triangle( which if you ask me is always a cheap option).

I did, however, enjoy the ending and the way all the plot points and underlying message wrapped up together. The writing was smooth and effective. It felt like the main character was speaking directly to you, the memories fade in and out seamlessly, and the title is perfect.

Despite my personal issues with this novel and the fact that it took me super long to read I would 100% recommend this book. It’s a highly underrated, wonderfully written YA thriller focusing on a brilliant and unique set of themes following a collection of the most real and relatable characters I’ve ever read about. I highly recommend. ...more

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Sep 20, 2020 Dannii Elle rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: adult-books-read, thriven-thrillers, mysterious-miasmas

Jessa had recently split from ex-boyfriend Caleb when his car careened through the barriers of a nearby bridge and sent him hurtling into the raging river waters below. She feels wracked by grief and guilt and so when his mother asks her to clear out his room she feels helpless to do anything other than agree. Now, surrounded by the fragments of his life, she is unable to escape from these emotions. She soon finds, however, that the task of sorting his belongings leads her focus in a new directi ...more

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Jan 13, 2016 Laura rated it liked it

Shelves: young-adult, read-in-2017, contemporary, crime-mystery-thriller

“The room is full of you, Jessa,” she explained, by which she means the pictures.

What starts out as a YA contemporary about grief eventually becomes a mystery about what really happened to a girl's ex-boyfriend.

Jessa is given the task to go through & pack up her ex-boyfriend's room after his death. His mother Eve asked her in what Jessa views as a punishment of sorts because the last place Caleb went before his car fell off the bridge was to her track meet. And within Caleb's room are plenty of memories. He was the type to hold on to everything, like tickets to movies, games, etc, little mementos. The first half of the book is Jessa trying to come to terms with her grief and the things she still doesn't understand while connecting objects to memories and reminiscing. This allows us to view their relationship as it was when they were together and eventually how it ended. The issue is..it feels like it's dragged on to allow for characterization.

Then at a certain point, little mysteries begin to build that make you realize there's more to the story. And now a little genre change because we're clue hunting and finding answers. Jessa begins to realize there is a lot about Caleb she never knew while going through his things. Certain questions only lead to more questions until eventually the mystery is resolved. The book really picked up the pace once the mystery ball got rolling. I swear..I was slumped in my seat when the first mysterious thing came up and I immediately sat up wide-eyed like I'd just woken up and it was a new day while I continued reading. It sure woke me up, getting the book exciting. Before that, I wasn't sure if I'd finish. It was just very slow moving. I was more in the mood for a mystery anyway.

There is something I love about Megan Miranda's writing that makes up for the lack of mystery through the first half. She captivates with words in this way that makes me want to call her a wordsmith. But she doesn't get annoying about it so that things feel overwritten.

Readers who enjoy YA contemporaries would enjoy this. You don't particularly have to love mysteries as it feels more contemporary. It's just a bonus that the mystery is thrown in at a point. ...more

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Oct 18, 2017 Chandra Claypool (WhereTheReaderGrows) rated it it was amazing

Could you imagine being in high school, your boyfriend dies, people blame you for the accident and his mother asks you to clean out his room? Then you feel guilty so you can't say no. Each piece you pick up, put away or trash brings a memory and you begin to question this person who claimed to love you. How well do we REALLY know the people in our lives? We all have secrets, don't we?

The book is told strictly through Jessa's perspective. We get flashbacks as she remembers things while going thro ...more

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Jul 08, 2018 Kathryn rated it liked it

Shelves: mystery-suspense-thriller-non-uk, ya

The carpet is beige. The door will squeak as I push it open. The air will be hotter or colder than the rest of the house, depending on the time of year. All these things I know by heart. None of this prepares me.

I love Megan Miranda’s adult books. Never does she forsake character development for ridiculous plot twists. And that fact holds true for her YA novels, including her most recent: Fragments of the Lost. Characters are fleshed out, relationships explored yet the mystery remains compelli The carpet is beige. The door will squeak as I push it open. The air will be hotter or colder than the rest of the house, depending on the time of year. All these things I know by heart. None of this prepares me.

I love Megan Miranda’s adult books. Never does she forsake character development for ridiculous plot twists. And that fact holds true for her YA novels, including her most recent: Fragments of the Lost. Characters are fleshed out, relationships explored yet the mystery remains compelling.

Like most Megan Miranda books, Fragments of the Lost, has a unique hook. Jessa, our teenaged protagonist, has been tasked with cleaning out her dead boyfriend, Caleb’s, room. As she wades through the detritus of his life, each object evokes a different memory of their year-long relationship. But as Jessa digs deeper, she uncovers pieces that just don’t add up. A bus ticket to another state? A scrap of a love letter? An email password that was changed two days after Caleb died? These cryptic “fragments” (hehe) drive Jessa to uncover the truth behind Caleb’s accident. But that truth might place Jessa in more danger than she could ever imagine.

Megan Miranda is a master of characterization. As Jessa sorts through Caleb’s belongings, the narrative shifts back and forth in time. These seamless transitions reveal the story of first love with complete authenticity. As I became immersed in their history, it was almost like their relationship became mine. I was invested in their romance in a way that rarely happens to me. Jessa and Caleb just felt...real .

While the characterization is remarkable, the drawback to Fragments of the Lost, lies in its length. Megan Miranda is usually fantastic at creating tense, taught mysteries. Here, unfortunately, the reminiscing becomes too protracted. Editing was needed. Don’t get me wrong, the gradual unveiling of Jessa and Caleb’s past is necessary. It just becomes too gradual. By page 200, it's like 'can we get to the point, already?' The mystery really doesn’t pick up until the last quarter of the book. And with such a drawn-out beginning, the narrative thread becomes lost.

Summary: Despite its (minor) problems, Fragments of the Lost is still a worthwhile read. Just know that it requires patience.
...more

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Sep 28, 2017 Kristy rated it liked it

Shelves: a-real-book-wow, ya, random-house, from-the-library, read-in-2017

When Jessa Whitworth's high school ex-boyfriend dies suddenly, it's as if the world stops. One moment Caleb is at her track meet, taking the butterfly necklace she handed to him, and the next, he's gone, his car washed over a flooded bridge on a stormy day. Caleb's mom eventually asks Jessa to pack up his room--she blames Jessa for the accident, since Caleb had gone to see her that day, and Jessa feels she cannot say no. She's left to clean out his room and winds up piecing together bits of Cale ...more

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Dec 08, 2018 Tucker (TuckerTheReader) rated it it was ok

Shelves: young-adult, mystery, thriller

I can see I'm in the minority here. I honestly feel very sure in my three star rating because it perfectly describes my feelings for this book. I didn't love it but I didn't hate it

First, the characters. The book opens in Jessa cleaning out Caleb's room. Instantly, I was thinking: Okay, why am I supposed to care about her since I know nothing about her or Caleb at all?
Even once, I got more info on Caleb I honestly just hated him more and more. He was selfish and dumb and (imo) didn't care about ...more

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Jun 09, 2018 Cesar rated it really liked it

4 stars

When reading mystery novels, I, for the most part, can sort of figure out what is going to happen. Not in an "I can predict what the ending will be" but in a more "I have a feeling of where this is going" and I still get surprised by what happened. Unless it's a painfully obvious prediction then my enjoyment will go down. It's not a bad thing for me because even if I know what might happen, I do love the rising action leading up to the mystery and how it plays out.

Fragments of the Lost is 4 stars

When reading mystery novels, I, for the most part, can sort of figure out what is going to happen. Not in an "I can predict what the ending will be" but in a more "I have a feeling of where this is going" and I still get surprised by what happened. Unless it's a painfully obvious prediction then my enjoyment will go down. It's not a bad thing for me because even if I know what might happen, I do love the rising action leading up to the mystery and how it plays out.

Fragments of the Lost is one of those examples. While I wouldn't put this as one of the best mystery novels out there, it did keep me invested in the plot and mystery. And if a mystery manages to keep me invested in where it's going, I do like it even with its flaws.

Fragments of the Lost is a mystery revolving around Jessa piecing together the fragments of what may have lead to figuring out the death of her ex-boyfriend, Caleb. She cleans out his room at the request of Caleb's mother and while doing so, Jessa begins to figure out that some things about their relationship didn't make sense as well as the events leading up to Caleb's death.

What I got from this book was good enough mystery that kept me hooked into finding out just what the hell is going on with Caleb's death. The lies, the deception, the struggling relationship between Jessa and Caleb. Though this story isn't without its flaws, I did have a good enough time reading it.

For the positives, the main selling point is the mystery surrounding Caleb's death. Jessa is cleaning out his room and comes across many items that not only gives us a look into the past but also a look at Caleb and Jessa's relationship and the fallout of their break-up. This isn't a story with a huge focus on the romance, but rather gives the reader a look at what was going on in the relationship that would eventually lead up to Caleb's death.

Megan Mirada did a great job at giving us a look at the past while keeping in touch with the present. There wasn't any disconnect between the two and I appreciate that. It's often a hit or miss when an author goes back and forth between the past and the present, regardless if it's only by a few weeks to several years.

The one major flaw that did set this book back would have to be the lack of characterization of Jessa and Caleb. To an extent, they are decent enough characters that I liked but not have an overall attachment to them. Jess could've been more than just a character who lost her boyfriend and Caleb could've been more than a guy with secrets in his past. Not bad characters but should've been more fleshed out.

Verdict

A pretty good mystery novel that kept me invested. Not the ultimate best mystery novel, but I did enjoy my time reading it.

Thanks for reading my review!

-Cesar ...more

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Nov 02, 2017 Sofii♡ (A Book. A Thought.) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arc, young-adult, contemporary, mystery-thriller, read-in-2017

I want to thank NetGalley and Random House Children's for providing me with this copy in exchange for an honest review

This book is so good, it's my first experience with the author, but it sure will not be the last. I've had such a good time with this book, from the beginning you just want to keep reading, not only the story is very interesting but also really additive

description

4.5/5 Stars

You can find this one and more of my reviews on my blog A Book. A Thought.

Fragments of the Lost is focused on J ...more

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Oct 10, 2017 Stacee rated it it was amazing

Shelves: read-in-2017, physical-arc, dont-cheat

I have been a fan of Megan’s words from the beginning and I was insanely excited to get my hands on this book.

I love love loved Jessa. She’s smart and a bit heartbroken and it was intriguing being in her head for this story. There are a few other characters, but I’m not going to say anything about them.

Plot wise, it was captivating. The story is told by items Jessa finds in Caleb’s room and the memory attached to them and the way it unfolds is the most delicious torture. I couldn’t get through ...more

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Apr 10, 2022 Aj the Ravenous Reader rated it really liked it

Shelves: easy-read, young-adult, contemporary, unexpectedly-good, physically-owned-books, mystery, mystery-thriller

There is no urgency in the narrative despite the mystery of Caleb's death looming over the plot because the story is told by Jessa, the ex-girlfriend with whom he had broken up long before he died. She takes it slow as she sorts through his room, every item reminding her of their past and at the same time serving as possible clues of his sudden death whether it's an accident or a suicide, no one could be sure.

But despite the plot taking its time to unveil the mystery, it was still a very grippin ...more

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May 17, 2019 Virginie rated it liked it

Shelves: suspense, english, drama, jeunesse, romance, library-purchase

This book didn't meet my expectations...
I hoped I would like it as much as All the Missing Girls! The first half was 2-stars for me but luckily it got better.

I liked the concept of discovering the past by the different "fragments" (objects found in the room) but the pace was too slow. I was in the mood for a page turner... It turned out to be more a drama with a mystery than a real suspense. Megan Miranda is a talented writer but I didn't feel close enough to the characters in this book.

My ne ...more

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Feb 05, 2018 Emma rated it did not like it

Sorry to members of my book club, but I hated this book. In no particular order, here are my reasons why:

1. Page 23: Flirty first and last naming. A huge pet peeve of mine in YA books. I wish YA authors would realize that teenagers do NOT talk like this, that even though John Green does it all the time he also doesn't write realistic teenagers as a whole, that it's annoying even when he does it, and there can only be one of him anyway so please JUST STOP.

2. A flimsy inciting force and lame confl Sorry to members of my book club, but I hated this book. In no particular order, here are my reasons why:

1. Page 23: Flirty first and last naming. A huge pet peeve of mine in YA books. I wish YA authors would realize that teenagers do NOT talk like this, that even though John Green does it all the time he also doesn't write realistic teenagers as a whole, that it's annoying even when he does it, and there can only be one of him anyway so please JUST STOP.

2. A flimsy inciting force and lame conflict. A boy dies in a car accident on a road that is NOT in the middle of nowhere and is a common route for him to take, and yet the main reason why you are so suspicious is because you wonder where he was going that caused him to be on that road? And then his creepy Mom tells you to clean out his room, and even though he's your ex-boyfriend you decide that you just have to find out where he was going? Um ... why? Oh right. That leads me to ...

3. So. much. teenage. angst. Lady, you're 16 and you dated for a year. Get over it.

4. It took 270 pages for anything to happen. It was just sooooo boring. Not only was each chapter focused on an item found in Caleb's room that triggered a memory, but even items that weren't a focus of the memories were either full of teenage angst or described as ethereal, like a ghost, or made Jessa feel as if someone was watching her. Yes, a shower curtain can do all of that.

5. Speaking of repetition, these people need to get rid of their clocks. Why are all of them SO LOUD? How many times did the author mention one of the characters being able to hear a clock ticking? Who even has ticking clocks anymore when everyone uses their phones anyway?

6. Why exactly are you suspicious? You found an unused bus ticket and remember times when your boyfriend didn't respond to your text messages, which means he must have had a secret double life you never knew about? Honey, did you ever consider that maybe he was just a jerk?

7. Okay, 80 pages left and it turns out he did have some secrets. WHY DID IT TAKE SO LONG TO GET HERE???

8. Who am I supposed to be rooting for anyway? The dead guy who was a total jerk or the angsty, moronic ex-girlfriend who really has no reason to be going through his room anyway?

At least I liked Max. And I am loyal to people in my book club, or else I would have stopped after page 23. ...more

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Jan 18, 2018 ♥Rachel♥ rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult, mystery, audio-book

Had a slow start, but so glad I stuck with it, because, man, this ended up being good!

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Oct 10, 2017 Mandy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: contemp, favorites, mysterious-mysteries, netgalley

*THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU TO THE PUBLISHER FOR SENDING ME AN E-ARC SO I COULD GET MY MEGAN MIRANDA JAM ON*

Okay, I think I got my butt together and formulated my thoughts on this. Trust me, though, it was hard. I've loved Megan Miranda since I picked up my first book of hers all those years ago, and this book reminded me yet again just how talented she is. It was beautiful, it was mysterious, it was everything I wanted this book to be. I loved everything about it, and now I'm counting the da *THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU TO THE PUBLISHER FOR SENDING ME AN E-ARC SO I COULD GET MY MEGAN MIRANDA JAM ON*

Okay, I think I got my butt together and formulated my thoughts on this. Trust me, though, it was hard. I've loved Megan Miranda since I picked up my first book of hers all those years ago, and this book reminded me yet again just how talented she is. It was beautiful, it was mysterious, it was everything I wanted this book to be. I loved everything about it, and now I'm counting the days until I get yet another Miranda book to get my hands on.

The thing I love most about Miranda's books is her writing. She just has this way with words that stuns me everytime. Even the most ordinary sentences have this way to them that just strikes me and makes me want to frame it or scribble it down somewhere where I can gaze on it forever. There are quotes that are just so achingly beautiful and wonderful, and this book brought it so well. I didn't have as many quotes that I screengrabbed in previous books, but the writing itself was amazing and I just want to sit here and cry.

This story was so well done. It's broken down in fragments of time, memories, and objects. Jessa is cleaning out her ex-boyfriend's room, and each chapter is focused on a certain object that brings back a memory. Obviously, this could have gone way wrong - it could have gotten repetitive, boring, or just weird, but Miranda made it unique, interesting, and I was captivated with each object.

This story builds and builds as well. Each new object and chapter brings amount a new mounting tension that had me flipping pages so fast. I binge read this in two sittings because I JUST HAD TO KNOW WHAT THE BOOK HELL WAS GOING ON. I don't want to reveal too much about the mystery, because it really is best if you don't know much going in. It's wonderful how it was revealed, but know that it had me until the very end.

The characters were wonderful as well. It did take me a little bit to warm up to Jessa, but that was alright since we're getting acclimated to the story so far. I loved Max dearly, and all the other characters were complex, dynamic, and I had my feelings on them as well. Jessa really was a wonderful narrator as well, and she had such a subtle, quiet way to her that I didn't even realize that I was hardcore rooting for until I was done with the novel and just wanted to be in her mind again.

Ugh, I don't even know what to say other than pleaseeeeeee read this. Miranda is so near the tippity top of my top 5 favorite authors of all time, and this book is no exception. It easily moves into a spot on my elusive favorites shelf, and I loved everything about it. Now I must just sit here in mourning of my new Miranda book and just wait until I can cry over another one of her books. 5 crowns, of course, and an Aurora rating, because this is definitely a classic in my book! ...more

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Nov 22, 2017 Daniel Balici rated it liked it

Shelves: psychological-thriller-mystery, read-in-2017, kindle

I have been looking forward to reading Megan Miranda's newest publication, marketed as a blend of YA and psychological mystery genres. I love the subtlety and finesse with which this author plays with words, an aspect I have been able to find not only in Fragments of the Lost , but also in The Perfect Stranger and thoroughly enjoyed All the Missing Girls. However, aside from the exquisite, almost lyrical style of writing employed, this novel did not offer the kind of reading experience I would h ...more

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May 31, 2020 Nina rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2020

*** 3.5 STARS ***

I took me quite a while to get into Fragments of the Lost but I ended up really enjoying the book. While it was a very slow read at first, the last 170 pages (out of 370 pages) were really gripping and I had a very hard time putting the book down. There were a few things that happened which were a bit too predictable for my liking but overall, this was a very good mystery novel and I’d definitely be interested in reading some of Megan Miranda’s other novels in the future!

instag ...more

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May 17, 2020 OonaReads rated it liked it

Shelves: audiobooks, mystery, read-in-2020

3.5 stars

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Nov 02, 2017 Katrina rated it really liked it · review of another edition

"But if I’ve learned nothing else, it’s that nobody was who I thought. Everyone had secrets. Trust is a luxury for fools. The more I discover, the less I trust my own memories, even."

There's something about Megan Miranda's writing that is straight up addictive. I had some time to myself and I'm so glad I started this one- finished the same day! Listen, this isn't life-changing fiction but it's entertaining and takes you along for a fun, wild ride.

If you like a good twisty mystery where you can' ...more

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Nov 06, 2017 Jen Ryland added it

Shelves: death-of-a-boyfriend

I'm a big fan of Megan Miranda's thrillers.

However, I had some issues with this one. The majority of it takes place as the main character packs up her boyfriend's room after he dies in an accident. This packing up thing felt a little weirdly forced (his mom is making her do it to punish her .... ???) It also meant a LOT of flashbacks, which aren't my favorite. (I think this is the basis for the comparison to Thirteen Reasons Why, but whether you like or dislike that book, I guess that's why that ...more

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May 01, 2020 Karine rated it liked it

I’ve read this book as book of the month of the ‘Literary Dead Book Club’ and although it is YA, I decided I would give it a go.
It is an easy read with very short chapters but that doesn’t make up for the lack of content. The main character isn’t very likeable and she even doesn’t bite back when being bullied although she is portraited as a strong young girl.
The story develops very slowly with one chapter per found item in the ex-boyfriends room, which brings up a load of memories and all the re ...more

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Mar 03, 2020 Eliza rated it it was amazing

Shelves: books-i-own, books-i-own-fiction

Oh my god that was so good holy crap

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Feb 10, 2022 Sakshi Dabhade rated it really liked it

Shelves: thrillers-mystery

4.5 Stars

I was weary when I picked this book. But it was so not required!! It hooked me up from the very first chapter.

I am in awe of how beautifully this book was written. It felt I was shadow of Jessa while she was struggling with her grief of losing her ex-boyfriend, when she was packing his things for his mother asked her to do, while she was learning small and big things about Caleb she didn't know, all the while she was riddled with questions and plagued by secrets.

What did happen on the ...more

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May 06, 2020 Jay rated it it was ok · review of another edition

started my thriller/mystery journey with an amazing 5 star read (Lock Every Door), and now this...tis a cruel world we live in

this is a YA "thriller" (very heavy quotations on the thriller aspect) mystery about good ol' Jessa who has to clean out her dead ex-boyfriend's room and begins to find clues that show maybe he wasn't all that he seemed ...dun dun duuuh!

oh boy, ok, this one was a d r a a a a a a g. i was honestly pushing my way through this. the only reason i didn't dnf was because i was started my thriller/mystery journey with an amazing 5 star read (Lock Every Door), and now this...tis a cruel world we live in

this is a YA "thriller" (very heavy quotations on the thriller aspect) mystery about good ol' Jessa who has to clean out her dead ex-boyfriend's room and begins to find clues that show maybe he wasn't all that he seemed ...dun dun duuuh!

oh boy, ok, this one was a d r a a a a a a g. i was honestly pushing my way through this. the only reason i didn't dnf was because i was reading this for the Literally Dead Bookclub and i wanted to read the full thing to get involved in all the discussion. and also because i was a lil curious to see what the reveal was...

which brings me to the twist, the mystery, the who-what-why-where-how if you will. and can i just say LAME ALERT, WE HAVE A CODE RED LAME ALERT PEOPLE! oh my gOSH was this mystery annoying. like, i feel like i was in a toxic relationship with this book where it kept telling me things would be better, "you can trust me, i'm goood," and i kept believing it and kept getting pulled back into its bull-a-shit. because there would be parts where i would be interested and maybe..oh...a little exciter perhaps? mmmm me thinks this could be good? maaaaybe-oop never mind, that twist was obvious, i didn't like it, annnnd yep ok cool, great, a super anticlimactic ending with an extremely underwhelming "tWiSt viLLiAn," if you can even call it that.

another thing that bugged me: ummm, the characters? what? how is it that i didn't like any of them? like ANY? ok, Max...you're alright...but Jessa? Caleb? ...Hailey's fine too, but like she's not that revenant anyway.... didn't sympathise with anyone major, couldn't care less about anyone ((view spoiler)) Jessa was annoying, didn't care for her one bit especially (view spoiler)

overall the start was slow, it didn't pick up till the last end and the "reveal" was sooo anticlimactic and boring and i didn't like anyone anyway so who even cares, not me that's for sure.... now if you'll excuse me i'd like to go back to reading good books ...more

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Jan 27, 2021 Jenny’s Books rated it really liked it

At first it was slow taking time to get into all the things that was happening but when it finally picked up it was good 😌.. i hope soon i would be reading more from this author ✍️

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Jul 15, 2020 Katerina Kondrenko rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 07-out-of-10, genre-thriller, pov-1st-person, writing-atmospheric-much, genre-realistic-fiction, read-in-russian, pov-female-only, format-standalone, target-upper-ya, read-in-2020

7 out of 10

A girl's ex dies in an accident, his mother asks her to pack his things, each reminds of something from heir past, some provoke guesses and suspicions... Good idea and pacing, I really liked the story (it's when I hate GR for not giving us half stars, 'cause I'd give it 3.5 out of 5) but didn't relate with the characters. This book will please lovers of well-developed romance, twisted thrillers, and something new in contemporary fiction. The main intrigue is predictable, still the ...more

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Nov 21, 2017 Raven_Blake (dreamy addictions) rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: ya-contemporary, stand-alone, 2017

Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars!
Same Review Also Posted In My Blog: Dreamy Addictions

I loved Megan Miranda’s debut novel Fracture and this is my second book by her. Fragments of Lost was pretty interesting to read but sadly, it didn’t thrill me as much as I expected. The reason I picked this up because of its intriguing premise which sounded very much promising. The characters and the plot was pretty good but my main issue lies with the slow start which made the story a bit less exciting for me. Howeve Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars!
Same Review Also Posted In My Blog: Dreamy Addictions

I loved Megan Miranda’s debut novel Fracture and this is my second book by her. Fragments of Lost was pretty interesting to read but sadly, it didn’t thrill me as much as I expected. The reason I picked this up because of its intriguing premise which sounded very much promising. The characters and the plot was pretty good but my main issue lies with the slow start which made the story a bit less exciting for me. However, the mystery is hard to guess which is the only thing that held my interest until the end of the book.

The story follows Jessa Whitworth whose ex-boyfriend Caleb dies in a car accident at a storm swept bridge. Caleb’s mother blames her for his death and Jessa feels guilty that she might be right because the last time she saw him, she has broken up with him. When Caleb’s mother asks her to pack up Caleb’s things from his room, Jessa agrees and believes she deserves this punishment. She knows she doesn’t deserve to be in his room but it’s the only way she could find the reason behind his death. Everything in his room is linked to her such as the photos, T-shirts and her butterfly necklace that she gave him for safe keeping on that day. Each thing triggers the memories she had with him and she finally starts to realize that their relationship may not be exactly as she remembered and as she discovers new things about him, she starts to wonder how much she knew about him. With each new discovery, Jessa gets even more curious about Caleb’s accident and she needs to find the answers without getting his mother suspicious of her actions.

Jessa is a great main protagonist. She’s smart, strong, and very determined person who’ll not give up until the end. Her ex-boyfriend’s death has turned her pretty much heart broken and I felt a bit bad for her situation but I’m glad she still stood strong and searched for the answers that she deserved to know. As for the supporting characters, I loved Caleb’s best friend Max. He’s such a sweet guy and I really liked the friendship between him and Jessa. I totally ship them! They work together to find the answers for Caleb’s death. Caleb was a pretty complex character. From the start, I found him a bit strange and I didn’t liked him. I wish I could say more about him but it might be a bit spoiler-ish. Caleb’s mom is a cruel bitch and also a bit crazy. From the beginning, her strange behavior made me suspect that she was hiding something and I really wanted to know why she wanted Jessa to clean out her son’s room.

The plot was interesting and mysterious but the slow start was a bit turnoff for me. The mystery in this book unfolds very slowly. The first half of the story was focused on the flashbacks of Jessa’s relationship with caleb and how it was finally ended. To be honest, I started to enjoy the book only after I’m halfway through the book. There are so many twists and turns in the second half that made the story even more suspenseful. The final revelation was totally unpredictable. There is a light romance in the book and I’m so glad that it wasn’t the central focus of the book. I enjoyed reading the book from Jessa’s perspective and seeing how she slowly unveils the mystery behind her ex-boyfriend’s mysterious accident. I absolutely loved the writing, It was captivating and addictive.

Overall, It was a good read and I liked it but it’s not my favorite. If you like mysteries with slow starts then you’ll definitely enjoy this book more than I did. ...more

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May 08, 2020 Jenna rated it liked it

solid three star read. Interesting premise, started a little bit slow but definitely picked up speed. I liked the ending.

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Sep 28, 2017 Carina Olsen rated it really liked it

I simply adore this author. Have read so many of her books and I have enjoyed them all. This one was no exception. I stayed up until three am to finish this lovely book. As I could not stop after I started it. Eee. For the most part I really liked this book. Had a few small issues, but nothing big. And so four stars for this one.

I'm going to begin with saying that the writing was all kinds of awesome. And I had no trouble at all reading this book. It is told from the point of view of Jessa. And I simply adore this author. Have read so many of her books and I have enjoyed them all. This one was no exception. I stayed up until three am to finish this lovely book. As I could not stop after I started it. Eee. For the most part I really liked this book. Had a few small issues, but nothing big. And so four stars for this one.

I'm going to begin with saying that the writing was all kinds of awesome. And I had no trouble at all reading this book. It is told from the point of view of Jessa. And oh, how I enjoyed reading about this girl. I loved getting to know about her life, about who she was. I liked her a whole bunch. She was a great character.

The plot about this book is that Jessa's boyfriend, Caleb, died two months ago. He drove his car over a bridge and into a river. The car was found destroyed, but he was not found, but they all know that he is dead. Jessa has been grieving his loss for ages now. Because in a way, she blames herself for what happened to him. As they had just broken up before he died, after having been together a year. And there were so many details about all of that. This whole book is about Jessa going through his room, packing up his things, because his mom is moving. And when she goes through his things she remembers parts of their past together. And I liked that, as she is realizing things she had not noticed about him. Not so nice things. But good memories too.

See, this is why this book is a four star and not a five star for me. I wish it hadn't focused so much on the past. I wanted to know more about the now and the future. Sniffs. There were some awesome characters in the now that I really, really wanted to know more about. Even though just about all the book was about the past, it was not boring at all. It was so exciting and interesting and mysterious too, trying to figure out who Caleb had really been. And why their relationship had ended. I liked reading it all. Past and present.

But yes, just wishing there had been more focus on a certain someone. Hmph. Despite that, the ending was all kinds of awesome. Rude. Yet so perfect. But now I want a sequel that is all happy. Anyway. This book was so good. And so easy to read and to get lost in. There is so much I wish to say about this book. Not going to mention all of it, but some things must get written down. Like how Jessa and Caleb had been together for a long time, yet I didn't ship them at all. I liked how it didn't focus too much on their romance.

And how Jessa had been friends with another boy, Max, for years. And how they sort of had feelings for each other. And how I loved that to pieces. And oh, how I wanted to read more about Max. Aw. This book wasn't about a love triangle. First of, Caleb was dead. Jessa isn't with Max. And she had not cheated on Caleb either, before he died. So no weird feelings about any of that. I just really shipped Jessa and Max. When she remembered the past, he was always there for her, doing all the important things. I loved him.

This book is all about Jessa figuring things out about her dead ex-boyfriend. And gosh, there were a lot of secrets. And it was so much fun reading about it all, figuring out the hidden things. The present was a bit scary too, with the mom of Caleb being a bit crazy. I liked reading about Jessa and Max together, being friends. They were such awesome friends and I wanted more of them. Hmph. But I also liked this story for what it was. Which was an exciting mystery. Because Jessa starts to get the feeling that Caleb isn't dead.

And that is all I'm going to say about this book. There is so much more I could mention, but I'm not going to. I just really liked this book. I couldn't stop reading once I started it. I really loved all of the characters. Fragments of the Lost was simply put incredible. I enjoyed every moment. The writing was stunning. The ending was exciting and revealing. I really wish that there had been a long epilogue, though. Ack. I wish to know more about these characters. The book was long, yet not nearly long enough. It was so so good.

Huge thank you to Random House Children's for approving my request on Netgalley to read this book early. I'm so glad that I read it now. And I cannot wait to own the finished copy of it as well. I simply can't wait to read even more books by Megan. I have enjoyed them all; even her adult ones. Her stories are just the best. Awesome and heartbreaking and evil. And I love every moment of them all. You all really need to read this book when it's out. It's slow and fast and exciting and mysterious all at the same time.

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This review was first posted on my blog, Carina's Books, here: http://carinabooks.blogspot.no/2017/0... ...more

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Literally Dead Bo...: Fragments of the Lost PAGES 250 - END	55	546	Aug 03, 2020 04:14PM
Literally Dead Bo...: Fragments of the Lost PAGES 120 - 249	36	401	Jun 20, 2020 09:27PM
Literally Dead Bo...: Fragments of the Lost PAGES 1 -119	65	514	Jun 19, 2020 05:44AM
Super Chill YA Bo...: Part One: Discussing "A Blue Door" through "Sunday Afternoon"	2	4	Jun 16, 2020 03:19PM
Super Chill YA Bo...: Part Four: Discussing from "Backpack with a Broken Zipper" through End	1	4	May 29, 2020 10:25AM
Super Chill YA Bo...: Part Three: Discussing from "Monday Night" through "Wednesday Afternoon"	1	3	May 29, 2020 10:23AM
Super Chill YA Bo...: Part Two: Discussing "Hollow Fan" through "To-Do List"	1	3	May 29, 2020 10:22AM

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About Megan Miranda

Megan Miranda

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Megan Miranda is the New York Times bestselling author of ALL THE MISSING GIRLS, THE PERFECT STRANGER, THE LAST HOUSE GUEST, which was a Reese Witherspoon Book Club selection, and THE GIRL FROM WIDOW HILLS. She has also written several books for young adults, including COME FIND ME, FRAGMENTS OF THE LOST, and THE SAFEST LIES. She grew up in New Jersey, graduated from MIT, and lives in North Caroli ...more