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Pieces of You and Me
Five years.
That’s how long I’ve been gone. Since I left my best friend—the girl I loved—behind.
Five seconds.
That's how long it takes to realize I am completely, utterly, screwed. Because now that I’m back, my childhood crush has turned into so much more.
Rylee has changed. We both have. And now I’m drawn to her in a completely different way. To her smile. Her touch. To reliving old memories and making new ones. To the happiness she’s always given me that I haven’t felt since I left.
But her friends are hell-bent on keeping us apart. My dad is one drink away from destroying both of our lives, and maybe I am, too. It’s only a matter of time before I have to leave again, and there’s nothing I can do to stop it. I never get a choice.
The one choice I can make? Stay away from Rylee. Because if I don’t, I’ll break her heart—and mine—all over again.
Disclaimer: This Entangled Teen Crush book contains references to drinking, addiction, and just the right amount of angst. You’ll want to save this tortured hero, while at the same time, not want to change a single thing about him!
That’s how long I’ve been gone. Since I left my best friend—the girl I loved—behind.
Five seconds.
That's how long it takes to realize I am completely, utterly, screwed. Because now that I’m back, my childhood crush has turned into so much more.
Rylee has changed. We both have. And now I’m drawn to her in a completely different way. To her smile. Her touch. To reliving old memories and making new ones. To the happiness she’s always given me that I haven’t felt since I left.
But her friends are hell-bent on keeping us apart. My dad is one drink away from destroying both of our lives, and maybe I am, too. It’s only a matter of time before I have to leave again, and there’s nothing I can do to stop it. I never get a choice.
The one choice I can make? Stay away from Rylee. Because if I don’t, I’ll break her heart—and mine—all over again.
Disclaimer: This Entangled Teen Crush book contains references to drinking, addiction, and just the right amount of angst. You’ll want to save this tortured hero, while at the same time, not want to change a single thing about him!
178 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 18, 2016
22 people are currently reading
658 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
August 31, 2021
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Entangled Publishing, LLC and NetGalley.)
This was a YA contemporary romance story about a couple who had been separated for 5 years.
Rylee was an okay character and seemed determined to work hard and put things behind her, whilst Chase seemed content to do as little as possible at school, and wasn’t sure if getting to know Rylee again was a good idea.
The storyline in this was about the relationship between Rylee and Chase, although we didn’t get all that much romance really. I did find the pace in this a bit slow because of the lack of romance, and it did drag a bit for me.
The ending to this was fairly happy, but this story was just missing something for me.
6 out of 10
“Rylee Dunn, the girl I’d loved forever, kissed me back.”
This was a YA contemporary romance story about a couple who had been separated for 5 years.
Rylee was an okay character and seemed determined to work hard and put things behind her, whilst Chase seemed content to do as little as possible at school, and wasn’t sure if getting to know Rylee again was a good idea.
The storyline in this was about the relationship between Rylee and Chase, although we didn’t get all that much romance really. I did find the pace in this a bit slow because of the lack of romance, and it did drag a bit for me.
The ending to this was fairly happy, but this story was just missing something for me.
6 out of 10
March 23, 2016
3.5 stars
Cute little story for relaxing your brain. I liked the characters (didn't love them though) and the story was quite interesting. The chemistry between these two is great but I still had one huge issue. If there's anything I hate it's that thing where the girl gets a boyfriend and completely changes her behavior when she's with him and when she's with her friends, constantly lies to her friends and can't make time for them. The world will not stop if you say no to your boyfriend and spend half an hour with your friends who were always there for you. That's about all I have to say about this book. It's a light, nice contemporary read.
*E-copy provided by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review via Netgalley.*
Cute little story for relaxing your brain. I liked the characters (didn't love them though) and the story was quite interesting. The chemistry between these two is great but I still had one huge issue. If there's anything I hate it's that thing where the girl gets a boyfriend and completely changes her behavior when she's with him and when she's with her friends, constantly lies to her friends and can't make time for them. The world will not stop if you say no to your boyfriend and spend half an hour with your friends who were always there for you. That's about all I have to say about this book. It's a light, nice contemporary read.
*E-copy provided by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review via Netgalley.*
March 16, 2016
(I received a copy from Netgalley, In exchange for an honest review.)
The characters in this were okay, but I didn't love them. They annoyed me a few times.
This felt quite slow, so it dragged in areas in for me. There were a few times where I lost interest slightly because of the slowness as well, but it wasn't a bad read.
Overall, An okay read.
The characters in this were okay, but I didn't love them. They annoyed me a few times.
This felt quite slow, so it dragged in areas in for me. There were a few times where I lost interest slightly because of the slowness as well, but it wasn't a bad read.
Overall, An okay read.
March 21, 2016
3.5 Stars
So the Blurb had it just right... Exactly right. I didn't want to change anything about Chase.
Totally the desirable tortured hero.
Well, until at about 85% that is then. I just wanted to smack him.
But let's backtrack and start at the beginning.
Just like Fletcher's previous novel, I enjoyed her writing. She is great at writing unique special moments and even better at writing about tortured heros.
As I already said I loved Chase. I felt for him, and with him. His love for art was beautifully described, his lethargia was well described and somehow understandable. The way he got away with things, was scary in that it is realistic, sadly. But there was no character growth until the last chapter. He was so tortured so caught up in his own fears- which by the way most of it was only hinted at, there are still a gazillion questions I was just left with. All we are told: 5 years ago he was this sweet nerd, now he is a tortured misfit. How he got from the first to the latter, we only got fed tidbits here and there.
Rylee being his polar opposite today, was his best friend during their nerd times... Now she has a group of friends and seems pretty popular. While I did like Rylee most of the time. Actually to be honest I liked the Rylee that was with Chase. I didn't much care for her action around her friends.
The fact that she didn't tell them about her nerdy-side for example struck me as odd. But more so that she didn't stand up for what she wanted. It annoyed me like hell. I kept thinking they supposedly her friends, but Mya acted half the time more like a mother hen and the other half Rylee acted like if she'd be honest they would all desert her.
I did like the support cast. Even if I found some of them a bit too much. I loved the parents of Chase, their disfunction and lostness, was upsetting but I love how Fletcher made them so human.
The plot had some amazing moments. I loved the notebook. I loved the skateboarding... lots of good moments. BUT it was too short, or actually things changed suddenly and all seemed fine. The End.
There was this great build up, then the slight disappointing big bang and well, a minute of groveling, and HEA. It was just too fast. Considering all that had happened before. All those hints, all the problems and then it was just, ok now all is good. It my biggest issue with the book. The last 15% felt rushed. It's like Fletcher just decided to call it a day. It was a bit anticlimactic but also rather disappointing. I expected somehow more. And I still feel like there should have been more. Fletcher did an amazing job at setting things up, making me wonder what exactly drove Chase, but the it all unraveled way to speedy and we are left with loads of questions and well hoping that Fletcher is publishing another book soon. It lacking the depth it was setup for.
A good cute & fluffy, that was sadly too short and a wee bit rushed at the end.
So the Blurb had it just right... Exactly right. I didn't want to change anything about Chase.
Totally the desirable tortured hero.
Well, until at about 85% that is then. I just wanted to smack him.
But let's backtrack and start at the beginning.
Just like Fletcher's previous novel, I enjoyed her writing. She is great at writing unique special moments and even better at writing about tortured heros.
As I already said I loved Chase. I felt for him, and with him. His love for art was beautifully described, his lethargia was well described and somehow understandable. The way he got away with things, was scary in that it is realistic, sadly. But there was no character growth until the last chapter. He was so tortured so caught up in his own fears- which by the way most of it was only hinted at, there are still a gazillion questions I was just left with. All we are told: 5 years ago he was this sweet nerd, now he is a tortured misfit. How he got from the first to the latter, we only got fed tidbits here and there.
Rylee being his polar opposite today, was his best friend during their nerd times... Now she has a group of friends and seems pretty popular. While I did like Rylee most of the time. Actually to be honest I liked the Rylee that was with Chase. I didn't much care for her action around her friends.
The fact that she didn't tell them about her nerdy-side for example struck me as odd. But more so that she didn't stand up for what she wanted. It annoyed me like hell. I kept thinking they supposedly her friends, but Mya acted half the time more like a mother hen and the other half Rylee acted like if she'd be honest they would all desert her.
I did like the support cast. Even if I found some of them a bit too much. I loved the parents of Chase, their disfunction and lostness, was upsetting but I love how Fletcher made them so human.
The plot had some amazing moments. I loved the notebook. I loved the skateboarding... lots of good moments. BUT it was too short, or actually things changed suddenly and all seemed fine. The End.
There was this great build up, then the slight disappointing big bang and well, a minute of groveling, and HEA. It was just too fast. Considering all that had happened before. All those hints, all the problems and then it was just, ok now all is good. It my biggest issue with the book. The last 15% felt rushed. It's like Fletcher just decided to call it a day. It was a bit anticlimactic but also rather disappointing. I expected somehow more. And I still feel like there should have been more. Fletcher did an amazing job at setting things up, making me wonder what exactly drove Chase, but the it all unraveled way to speedy and we are left with loads of questions and well hoping that Fletcher is publishing another book soon. It lacking the depth it was setup for.
A good cute & fluffy, that was sadly too short and a wee bit rushed at the end.
January 21, 2021
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.
Rylee and Chase were the very best of friends, until Chase left five years ago, disappearing from Rylee's life. She's moved on, found new friends, and as the new school year starts, she's just focusing on herself. However, it's soon revealed there's a new student, and low and behold, it's Chase. Rylee wants to forgive him, but it's difficult when he's adamant to hold her at arms length. For Chase, the last five years have been awful. Dealing with his father's alcoholism, his parent's divorce, a new step-father, and moving around constantly, he's trouble, and all of Rylee's friends know it. Back in town after his father has proved he's sober, Chase is just waiting for the other shoe to drop, and no matter what, he won't hurt Rylee. But she won't take no for an answer, and soon it seems that their old puppy love feelings may turn into something more, and both are at risk of being hurt.
This was such a quick and good read. I liked Rylee, and could see why she wanted to be with Chase, even when her friends were telling her it's a bad idea. To her, he was her best friend, who knew everything about her, and vice versa, and their shared experiences and feelings are too much to simply ignore. She was clearly hurt by him leaving, but he is a part of her, and she can't stay away. Chase for troubled, and broken by his experiences, and there were loads of moments that I wanted to give him a shake with the way he was imploding and spiralling out of control. It was only really Rylee who saw through his bad boy persona, but he needed to find himself before anything could really happen. A tale of long lost friendship, turning into love, with a hint of angst thrown in too. 3 stars.
Rylee and Chase were the very best of friends, until Chase left five years ago, disappearing from Rylee's life. She's moved on, found new friends, and as the new school year starts, she's just focusing on herself. However, it's soon revealed there's a new student, and low and behold, it's Chase. Rylee wants to forgive him, but it's difficult when he's adamant to hold her at arms length. For Chase, the last five years have been awful. Dealing with his father's alcoholism, his parent's divorce, a new step-father, and moving around constantly, he's trouble, and all of Rylee's friends know it. Back in town after his father has proved he's sober, Chase is just waiting for the other shoe to drop, and no matter what, he won't hurt Rylee. But she won't take no for an answer, and soon it seems that their old puppy love feelings may turn into something more, and both are at risk of being hurt.
This was such a quick and good read. I liked Rylee, and could see why she wanted to be with Chase, even when her friends were telling her it's a bad idea. To her, he was her best friend, who knew everything about her, and vice versa, and their shared experiences and feelings are too much to simply ignore. She was clearly hurt by him leaving, but he is a part of her, and she can't stay away. Chase for troubled, and broken by his experiences, and there were loads of moments that I wanted to give him a shake with the way he was imploding and spiralling out of control. It was only really Rylee who saw through his bad boy persona, but he needed to find himself before anything could really happen. A tale of long lost friendship, turning into love, with a hint of angst thrown in too. 3 stars.
July 9, 2016
I received an eARC from the publisher through Netgalley in an exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I got this book from the publisher through Netgalley and I was kinda excited, because I really like the contemporary books that Entangled Crush publishes. I did like this book, but it wasn't as good as I thought.
A very good thing about this book is the alternation between the two main characters. The first chapter began from Rylee's POV and a chapter after that, it was Chase it's turn. They were both written from the first person. And I really mean when I say that this was done terrificly. I mean, I didn't get confused at all, there was an almost perfect transition between Rylee and Chase. It made reading the book a little bit easier.
But while that was something really good, there was also something that was a bit disappointing to me. Chase has big problems with his family and himself and while the problems with his family became clear a couple of pages in, the problem with himself becomes clear almost at the end of the book and I really pity that. I would have preferred it if his problem got to develop, because it sounded a bit rushed to me. The rushing made the book a bit flat.
And another thing that wasn't right was the friendship part. Mya was a good friend, but way too overprotective if you'd ask me. If I was in Mya's position I would have protected Rylee the same way, but just a bit less gushy. Mya and her boyfriend made it look like Chase was the biggest enemy ever and omg.. if looks could kill..
Overall, I did enjoy this book but I wouldn't say it was one of my favorites. Unfortunately my expectations were just a bit high because of How Willa Got Her Groove Back and Crazy, Stupid, Fauxmance, but I'm still happy I picked it up.
I got this book from the publisher through Netgalley and I was kinda excited, because I really like the contemporary books that Entangled Crush publishes. I did like this book, but it wasn't as good as I thought.
A very good thing about this book is the alternation between the two main characters. The first chapter began from Rylee's POV and a chapter after that, it was Chase it's turn. They were both written from the first person. And I really mean when I say that this was done terrificly. I mean, I didn't get confused at all, there was an almost perfect transition between Rylee and Chase. It made reading the book a little bit easier.
But while that was something really good, there was also something that was a bit disappointing to me. Chase has big problems with his family and himself and while the problems with his family became clear a couple of pages in, the problem with himself becomes clear almost at the end of the book and I really pity that. I would have preferred it if his problem got to develop, because it sounded a bit rushed to me. The rushing made the book a bit flat.
And another thing that wasn't right was the friendship part. Mya was a good friend, but way too overprotective if you'd ask me. If I was in Mya's position I would have protected Rylee the same way, but just a bit less gushy. Mya and her boyfriend made it look like Chase was the biggest enemy ever and omg.. if looks could kill..
Overall, I did enjoy this book but I wouldn't say it was one of my favorites. Unfortunately my expectations were just a bit high because of How Willa Got Her Groove Back and Crazy, Stupid, Fauxmance, but I'm still happy I picked it up.
April 15, 2016
Read full review HERE
Remember a couple of days ago when I said that Entangled Crush never disappointed me? Oh well… this book was a bit of a let down. :(
The writing was simple and easy, but not exciting in the least. I also found some problems with the person used and lack of consistency, because most of the book was on the first person, but there were some slips into 3rd person.
The main problem for me was that I didn’t like the main characters at all. I’m a huge fan of BFFs to lovers romance, but this story lacked both the friendship and the romance. Rylee was just so bland and weird… I hated that she kept things from her friends for fear of being judged, and that she changed to adapt her new friends so she stopped enjoying things that were important to her once, and honestly, how does someone blame a 12 yo kid for something as moving?! And Chase? He could have been great, but he just wasn’t! He had issues, and while I kind of understood some of those issues, it wasn’t developed enough. I thought that he should have had some BIG ISSUE behind his behaviour… but no.
The lack of development in the characters and in the storyline, made this book not enjoyable for me. The side characters didn’t help the case at all, being “overprotective” and and way too judgmental. I also felt that some things ended up unresolved…
Ultimatly the whole book feel a bit flat for me =/ , I wish it had had some more development.
Remember a couple of days ago when I said that Entangled Crush never disappointed me? Oh well… this book was a bit of a let down. :(
The writing was simple and easy, but not exciting in the least. I also found some problems with the person used and lack of consistency, because most of the book was on the first person, but there were some slips into 3rd person.
The main problem for me was that I didn’t like the main characters at all. I’m a huge fan of BFFs to lovers romance, but this story lacked both the friendship and the romance. Rylee was just so bland and weird… I hated that she kept things from her friends for fear of being judged, and that she changed to adapt her new friends so she stopped enjoying things that were important to her once, and honestly, how does someone blame a 12 yo kid for something as moving?! And Chase? He could have been great, but he just wasn’t! He had issues, and while I kind of understood some of those issues, it wasn’t developed enough. I thought that he should have had some BIG ISSUE behind his behaviour… but no.
The lack of development in the characters and in the storyline, made this book not enjoyable for me. The side characters didn’t help the case at all, being “overprotective” and and way too judgmental. I also felt that some things ended up unresolved…
Ultimatly the whole book feel a bit flat for me =/ , I wish it had had some more development.
August 29, 2016
Whyyyy?!? Why do I keep reading these Crush titles? I keep getting sucked into the covers! And there's a couple that I really,
really
love. So I'll keep reading.
[image error]
I love BFFs to more stories, you know that, right? And this one seems like it's going to be all tortured hero comes back to make the girl he left behind--his best friend--realize she's the only one for him so they can fall madly in love. I think that's what is supposed to happen here. But ugh. These characters. There just isn't any spark. I didn't like them, either of them, but especially Rylee. Because of that, I couldn't really appreciate the rest of the story. Some of it was cute, some was sweet, but mostly, I just wanted this to be over.
Pieces of You and Me by Erin Fletcher just wasn't for me.
--
[image error]
I love BFFs to more stories, you know that, right? And this one seems like it's going to be all tortured hero comes back to make the girl he left behind--his best friend--realize she's the only one for him so they can fall madly in love. I think that's what is supposed to happen here. But ugh. These characters. There just isn't any spark. I didn't like them, either of them, but especially Rylee. Because of that, I couldn't really appreciate the rest of the story. Some of it was cute, some was sweet, but mostly, I just wanted this to be over.
Pieces of You and Me by Erin Fletcher just wasn't for me.
--
May 24, 2016
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free for an honest review. Thanks to NetGalley, Entangled Publishing, LLC, Entagled: Crush and Erin Fletcher.)
I really liked this YA. It was a long time ago that I have read a high-school book. It was sweet, innocent and cute.
Both characters were interesting, however I noticed that Raylee was a bit of a pushover, she always bend to her friends' or Chase's wishes, oknot always but mostly, besides that she was great, and forgiving.
I did not like how the teens made fun of the AA members though.
Overall, it was fun, interesting, eye-opening and heartbreaking. I imagined and tried to put me in his shoes and well never having a choice to decide were to live or with whom...it must be hard. I am glad ghat he acknowledged that he had a problem and wanted to make it right.
Nice book, fast read, no drag. Amazing!
I really liked this YA. It was a long time ago that I have read a high-school book. It was sweet, innocent and cute.
Both characters were interesting, however I noticed that Raylee was a bit of a pushover, she always bend to her friends' or Chase's wishes, oknot always but mostly, besides that she was great, and forgiving.
I did not like how the teens made fun of the AA members though.
Overall, it was fun, interesting, eye-opening and heartbreaking. I imagined and tried to put me in his shoes and well never having a choice to decide were to live or with whom...it must be hard. I am glad ghat he acknowledged that he had a problem and wanted to make it right.
Nice book, fast read, no drag. Amazing!
April 25, 2016
Received in exchange for a honest review
I love Chayse. He is going through so much and when you see his realization about his issue with alcohol it breaks your heart because we was trying so hard to not be one with a problem. His coping mechanism for his life was alcohol and never saw the issue he had with it.
Chayse is the boy that left Rylee behind. He didn’t wish to but he didn’t want to hurt her either.. She was the best piece of his life and for him it was to painful for him. He always was moving and this affected his attitude. That and his dad’s struggles. His mom was overbearing and critical and his dad was dealing with his own alcoholism. So when he was finally back home with his dad he was wary. He was scared his dad would fall and he would be back with his mom and out of everyone’s life again so he tried to keep everyone out of his heart.
Rylee was the determined girl who wanted answers and her friend back. She was determined and stubborn. She was also hurt by Chayse and is even hurt by his actions now. She doesn’t understand what happened to the sweet boy who was her best friend. Doesn’t get why he is distant and aloof. He skips school and doesn’t care. Or so everyone thinks, to me he cares more than he wants.
The one thing that Chayse has is his art and one teacher takes a interest. It is his art that he expresses himself with and he tries to show Rylee as well. She does do something to hurt him in the beginning out of anger but Chayse knew she may even if it hurt him and he still persevered.
Chayse didn’t want to care about Rylee. He wanted to have distance but he couldn’t. He also wanted his friend back in his life. He wanted to feel safe somewhere and Rylee for him was it.
We see a sad boy emerge into one that begins to feel again. Who learns about himself and how he is hurting himself and how he also helps Rylee become more confident and free. We see a boy whose coping mechanism for his pain and anger is to not care and drink. A boy who wants to feel safe and loved but is afraid to have this because it is always taken away. He doesn’t want to hope or think of the future because it is tossed aside every couple months for him by circumstances beyond his control so he lashes out and doesn’t care about anything and this only hurts himself. We see a girl determined to get her old friend back. A girl who keeps him a dirty secret until it hurts them both and he lashes out. A girl who wanted a friend from him but didn’t want to be proud to be his friend. This did cause a rift but also hurt him more without him realizing it.
Chayse is a scared and hurt boy. He lashes out in the only way he knows how and this hurts him more than anyone else. he wants to feel safe and loved and Rylee is his security blanket. As he falls more in love with her he is more scared of losing everything. Rylee loves him to but doesn’t want her friends knowing about him and when they do it hurts the relationship. It was sad at first but seeing the change after the confrontation between Rylee and Chayse is necessary. Chayse learns and realizes his reality of what he has become and wants to change. He fights for Rylee and himself.
A wonderful story of pain from situations beyond someone’s control in which they protect themselves by hiding who they are and becoming something they don’t want to be only to have someone open their eyes and shatter their facade. We see love and friendship bring someone out to be their best and care once again. Care who they are and who they wish to be. A coming of age story in which two people help each other and come together as friends and fall in love with each other. They are their for each other through good and bad and help each other face fears and give harsh realities to one another as well. The characters really draw you in especially the pain of Chayse. He is the one that truly captivates you and keeps your heart throughout as he learns how to navigate life in another way and lets people in finally so that he can heal, find peace, love and happiness. His journey is hard at times to watch and sad as well at times but watching him emerge and become who he was meant to be and have someone at his side and seeing his dad continue to win his fight and show his love to Chayse is wonderful, heartbreaking, heartwarming and so wonderful to see.
I love Chayse. He is going through so much and when you see his realization about his issue with alcohol it breaks your heart because we was trying so hard to not be one with a problem. His coping mechanism for his life was alcohol and never saw the issue he had with it.
Chayse is the boy that left Rylee behind. He didn’t wish to but he didn’t want to hurt her either.. She was the best piece of his life and for him it was to painful for him. He always was moving and this affected his attitude. That and his dad’s struggles. His mom was overbearing and critical and his dad was dealing with his own alcoholism. So when he was finally back home with his dad he was wary. He was scared his dad would fall and he would be back with his mom and out of everyone’s life again so he tried to keep everyone out of his heart.
Rylee was the determined girl who wanted answers and her friend back. She was determined and stubborn. She was also hurt by Chayse and is even hurt by his actions now. She doesn’t understand what happened to the sweet boy who was her best friend. Doesn’t get why he is distant and aloof. He skips school and doesn’t care. Or so everyone thinks, to me he cares more than he wants.
The one thing that Chayse has is his art and one teacher takes a interest. It is his art that he expresses himself with and he tries to show Rylee as well. She does do something to hurt him in the beginning out of anger but Chayse knew she may even if it hurt him and he still persevered.
Chayse didn’t want to care about Rylee. He wanted to have distance but he couldn’t. He also wanted his friend back in his life. He wanted to feel safe somewhere and Rylee for him was it.
We see a sad boy emerge into one that begins to feel again. Who learns about himself and how he is hurting himself and how he also helps Rylee become more confident and free. We see a boy whose coping mechanism for his pain and anger is to not care and drink. A boy who wants to feel safe and loved but is afraid to have this because it is always taken away. He doesn’t want to hope or think of the future because it is tossed aside every couple months for him by circumstances beyond his control so he lashes out and doesn’t care about anything and this only hurts himself. We see a girl determined to get her old friend back. A girl who keeps him a dirty secret until it hurts them both and he lashes out. A girl who wanted a friend from him but didn’t want to be proud to be his friend. This did cause a rift but also hurt him more without him realizing it.
Chayse is a scared and hurt boy. He lashes out in the only way he knows how and this hurts him more than anyone else. he wants to feel safe and loved and Rylee is his security blanket. As he falls more in love with her he is more scared of losing everything. Rylee loves him to but doesn’t want her friends knowing about him and when they do it hurts the relationship. It was sad at first but seeing the change after the confrontation between Rylee and Chayse is necessary. Chayse learns and realizes his reality of what he has become and wants to change. He fights for Rylee and himself.
A wonderful story of pain from situations beyond someone’s control in which they protect themselves by hiding who they are and becoming something they don’t want to be only to have someone open their eyes and shatter their facade. We see love and friendship bring someone out to be their best and care once again. Care who they are and who they wish to be. A coming of age story in which two people help each other and come together as friends and fall in love with each other. They are their for each other through good and bad and help each other face fears and give harsh realities to one another as well. The characters really draw you in especially the pain of Chayse. He is the one that truly captivates you and keeps your heart throughout as he learns how to navigate life in another way and lets people in finally so that he can heal, find peace, love and happiness. His journey is hard at times to watch and sad as well at times but watching him emerge and become who he was meant to be and have someone at his side and seeing his dad continue to win his fight and show his love to Chayse is wonderful, heartbreaking, heartwarming and so wonderful to see.
April 20, 2016
Original Review @ Naomi’s Reading Palace
3.5 Stars
Pieces of You and Me was a great second chance at love read. I met characters that were broken in their own way, but felt whole when they were together. They grew together throughout the story despite the insecurities they both faced.
Chase is back and living with his father after being gone for five years. He has had it tough since he left, being with his mother and her new husband. He hasn’t had a chance to settle anywhere and had no friends. Being back was hard for him, he had a tight friendship with Rylee growing up and is unsure whether he wants to rekindle the friendship with her. But the more time he spends with her the harder it gets.
Rylee was heartbroken when Chase left, and never understood why they didn’t keep in contact. Having him back in her life was hard because he’s no longer the boy he once was. Her friends push her to stay away from him, but he pushes her to do things that she wouldn’t normally do.
Chase was really struggling in this book; it was sad to see how hard it was for him to deal with the unknown. He would never make plans for his future because he didn’t feel like he was going to be there long enough. His feelings for Rylee had changed from friendship to something more, with both of them being older and seeing each other as the opposite sex. I liked seeing him open up to Rylee, deciding whether or not to let her in once again.
I enjoyed how Chase and Rylee had a second chance, but Chase kept holding back. His past unfolded slowly and made me see why he was so closed off from everyone. Rylee knew what she wanted but was scared of getting her heart broken once again. I enjoyed seeing them together, but I was sad that they kept their relationship a secret.
Erin Fletcher is another new to me author and I really enjoyed Chase and Rylee’s story. They seem like two totally different people. But they slowly help one another, Rylee took some risks and Chase slowly learned to trust once again. I closed the book happy with the people they both grew into. I’ll keep an eye out for more work from this author in the future!
Complimentary copy provided by the Publisher, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 Stars
Pieces of You and Me was a great second chance at love read. I met characters that were broken in their own way, but felt whole when they were together. They grew together throughout the story despite the insecurities they both faced.
Chase is back and living with his father after being gone for five years. He has had it tough since he left, being with his mother and her new husband. He hasn’t had a chance to settle anywhere and had no friends. Being back was hard for him, he had a tight friendship with Rylee growing up and is unsure whether he wants to rekindle the friendship with her. But the more time he spends with her the harder it gets.
Rylee was heartbroken when Chase left, and never understood why they didn’t keep in contact. Having him back in her life was hard because he’s no longer the boy he once was. Her friends push her to stay away from him, but he pushes her to do things that she wouldn’t normally do.
Chase was really struggling in this book; it was sad to see how hard it was for him to deal with the unknown. He would never make plans for his future because he didn’t feel like he was going to be there long enough. His feelings for Rylee had changed from friendship to something more, with both of them being older and seeing each other as the opposite sex. I liked seeing him open up to Rylee, deciding whether or not to let her in once again.
I enjoyed how Chase and Rylee had a second chance, but Chase kept holding back. His past unfolded slowly and made me see why he was so closed off from everyone. Rylee knew what she wanted but was scared of getting her heart broken once again. I enjoyed seeing them together, but I was sad that they kept their relationship a secret.
Erin Fletcher is another new to me author and I really enjoyed Chase and Rylee’s story. They seem like two totally different people. But they slowly help one another, Rylee took some risks and Chase slowly learned to trust once again. I closed the book happy with the people they both grew into. I’ll keep an eye out for more work from this author in the future!
Complimentary copy provided by the Publisher, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 31, 2016
The Why:
Second chance romance
Characters:
Rylee: She was devastated when her best friend/childhood left and he left without a trace. No phone calls. No e-mails. Nothing. What a jerk, right? But now five years later, he's back and she's trying with all her might to avoid him and keep her feelings she has for him at bay. Her best friends are telling her to stay away from him. I can understand how badly he hurt her when he left. I loved how she knew what she wanted and loved the flashbacks between her and Chase.
Chase: He's trying to absolutely avoid Rylee who is different from the girl he used to climb trees with who is so beautiful it makes it harder for him to stay away. He's had to move so many times in the last five years and coming here he thinks she's moved away. But he is so very wrong. So trying to avoid her and dancing around his feelings isn't really working so far for me. He does everything he can to push her away, but she wants answers.
Final Thoughts:
I really enjoyed the characters and their childhood flashbacks and the notebook. I loved despite how much everyone around them were telling them not to be together and they knew they were going to be together. It was a quick read that I really enjoyed.
Rating 4.0
Second chance romance
Characters:
Rylee: She was devastated when her best friend/childhood left and he left without a trace. No phone calls. No e-mails. Nothing. What a jerk, right? But now five years later, he's back and she's trying with all her might to avoid him and keep her feelings she has for him at bay. Her best friends are telling her to stay away from him. I can understand how badly he hurt her when he left. I loved how she knew what she wanted and loved the flashbacks between her and Chase.
Chase: He's trying to absolutely avoid Rylee who is different from the girl he used to climb trees with who is so beautiful it makes it harder for him to stay away. He's had to move so many times in the last five years and coming here he thinks she's moved away. But he is so very wrong. So trying to avoid her and dancing around his feelings isn't really working so far for me. He does everything he can to push her away, but she wants answers.
Final Thoughts:
I really enjoyed the characters and their childhood flashbacks and the notebook. I loved despite how much everyone around them were telling them not to be together and they knew they were going to be together. It was a quick read that I really enjoyed.
Rating 4.0
March 21, 2016
This was a cute, clean romance about Rylee and Chase. Pieces of You and Me is a wonderful novel about life, lose, happiness, sadness, forgiving and moving on. An all encompassing novel with a plethora of life's little lessons. It also speaks about real friendships, and how people who are really your friend don't turn you back when its hard, they are there for you despite it.
I received a free copy of this novel for an honest review from NetGalley.
June 13, 2016
The perfect beach read...fun, flirty, and quick to read. I couldn't wait to see how this one ended for these two reunited characters. Warning: may cause orange soda and peanut butter m&m cravings. :-)
April 24, 2016
Copy kindly provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 Stars
A quick, fun and easy read. Not too much prolonged angst or heartache. Just right. Would recommend if you're looking for something fluffy and light-hearted.
3.5 Stars
A quick, fun and easy read. Not too much prolonged angst or heartache. Just right. Would recommend if you're looking for something fluffy and light-hearted.
March 20, 2016
Loved this second chance YA story by Erin Fletcher! The characters are very well done and you can't help but be sucked into their lives. Full of romance, heartache, laughter, and tears. Definitely recommend!
*ARC provided by Net Galley in exchange for a honest review
*ARC provided by Net Galley in exchange for a honest review
April 28, 2016
Loved this heart wrenching story about 2 teens with a tangled past, knowing they have only the shakiest foundations to build a future on. I absolutely rooted for Rylee and Chase from the first page to the last, and thought they were adorable together. I can't wait for Erin Fletcher's next book!
January 25, 2020
I fell in love with this book. It was beautiful. The writing was amazing. The romance...ugh it was so sweet. Erin Fletcher is an author I randomly picked up and I have fallen in love with. I am so glad I found this book because it made my life so much better for a little while.
Wow-that got deep. I guess I've found out the reason I read.
But seriously, if you loved her other books this is so much better. And if you didn't, then try it out cause you might just regret it otherwise.
The chemistry between the characters was great and it was a combination of the hate-to-love and friends-to-lovers. Enough of a slow burn but not too much.
Those cute scenes when they hung out skateboarding and went to dinner... Omigod, kill me with butterflies. I really got 'em while reading. You'd think that after reading so many trashy ones it'd stop. But here I am...some things never change.
Basically-READ THIS BOOK BECAUSE IT WAS HELLA GOOD<3
Wow-that got deep. I guess I've found out the reason I read.
But seriously, if you loved her other books this is so much better. And if you didn't, then try it out cause you might just regret it otherwise.
The chemistry between the characters was great and it was a combination of the hate-to-love and friends-to-lovers. Enough of a slow burn but not too much.
Those cute scenes when they hung out skateboarding and went to dinner... Omigod, kill me with butterflies. I really got 'em while reading. You'd think that after reading so many trashy ones it'd stop. But here I am...some things never change.
Basically-READ THIS BOOK BECAUSE IT WAS HELLA GOOD<3
August 10, 2017
This was a sweet book. It was little predictable, but I've always believed the characters and their journey matter most to a story and I loved these characters. Fletcher has quickly become one of my favorite YA authors and is on my shortlist of authors whose books I'll buy time and again. Looking forward to her next novel!
February 14, 2017
This was a quick read because not much really happened. It just drug on for me & was too much "filler" between bigger things. The best part of this book was the POV which kept me somewhat interested.
** I received a copy from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for a review**
** I received a copy from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for a review**
June 29, 2021
I received this free eARC novel from NetGalley. This is my honest review.
Like all the books in this series, this was a quick, light novel. And since the characters are teens, a bit dramatic as well, which is to be expected.
I'm glad I got the chance to read this book!
Like all the books in this series, this was a quick, light novel. And since the characters are teens, a bit dramatic as well, which is to be expected.
I'm glad I got the chance to read this book!
April 24, 2025
this is a really sweet and fun friends to lovers/second chance book. it deals with stuff like alcoholism and family matters but it's also about friendship, love and honesty.
it's fast paced and easy to read, good for anyone who just wants a sweet young adult book.
it's fast paced and easy to read, good for anyone who just wants a sweet young adult book.
March 30, 2020
I really love her style of writing and love to read more of her books now.
February 10, 2021
5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, despite the fact that it should've been at least a couple of chapters longer. The ending felt rushed.
January 18, 2025
perfect comfort story - 5 stars
April 9, 2016
I received a copy of this title to read and review for Wicked Reads
3 Stars
Young adult age range: 12+ with talk of alcohol addiction.
Pieces of You and Me will undoubtedly delight younger teenagers. As an adult reading, I will say I was entertained, and found the story and premise enjoyable.
Rylee & Chase were buddies, until his mother took him away from his alcoholic father. Moving back home with his now sober father, Chase surprises Rylee with his reappearance.
I believe that the moral of the story was self-fulfilling prophesy. Chase feared having to move away yet again, leading him to truly believe he would get too close to Rylee again, only to hurt her by moving. This prophesy was not only from him, but also Rylee's friends.
Teens are going to eat up how romance-centric the story is, revolving around memories of the past and sweet moments from the present. Intermixed with angst of meddling friends and good and badly behaving parents.
This is one of the first Young Adult novels I've read where both sets of parents were not only present, but involved. They cared. They made rules. They weren't irrational and immature. (minus the mother and her new husband) That was a breath of fresh air.
Some of the plot I was angry with, but had to imagine it from a teenager's POV. Still, even at 10 yo, I would have got the idea that a sixth-grader has no say in where they are going to live. So the reason why Rylee's friends were angry at Chase were irrational, shallow, and beyond annoying at times. Frustrating. It made me fear for their intelligence. But eventually, Rylee gets with the program and realizes no child could dictate where they live, and how horrible it would be to have no roots. As for keeping in touch, she didn't continue to stay in contact either.
I wish Chase would have been more clear with Rylee, instead of propagating this I don't want to hurt you phrase. He never explained how he feared his mother would call him back to her home.
As for Rylee's friends, I blame Rylee for keeping this from them. Typical teenage angst. But I also thought Mya and her boyfriend's behavior was bullying, right down to throwing things at Chase in class. What are they, 10? As for the missing cellphone, how about just say who stole it in the first place? These things annoyed me to no end. If any of them were my children, we would have had anti-bully, judgmental, and self-fulfilling prophesy conversations. I was baffled. They were discussing college, had boyfriends, but threw things during class?
While the storyline itself will fade with time, my feeling of how the author let Chase down won't. Even at the end of the book, no one, not parents or Rylee, told Chase his living situation wasn't his fault. We was the child of an abusive alcoholic father and a narcissistic mother. Never able to gain friends because of never being anywhere longer than a few months, when he finally comes 'home', Rylee's friends treat him horribly immediately, but first they are shallow and call him 'hot.' I lost Respect for Rylee for allowing her friends to control her, under the guise of caring (it felt almost abusively controlling. Telling a girl's boyfriend to leave her alone, because he would break her heart. So he breaks up with her because he was terrified to hurt her, then the friend comforts the girl. If that doesn't sound like manipulative and abusive, I don't know what is. Nothing like saying 'I told you so' while comforting your friend with ice cream, when you were the reason for the break up. And the reader was just to accept this as normal behavior... as if Mya was the best friend on earth for saving her friend, when it was controlling and abusive behavior) I also lost respect for Rylee because she hid her relationship with Chase. I can't buy friendship/relationship if there is no respect. Actually, I can't respect anyone who wouldn't tell their friends how horrible they are for mocking people leaving an AA meeting.
Alone, Chase and Rylee were good- I thoroughly enjoyed their evolution. I even enjoyed Rylee's Mom and Chase's dad. But the rest of the side characters were irredeemable in my eyes, and made the story uncomfortable(they weren't meant to be the conflict). None of this is what I would want a younger reader to think is acceptable behavior. If the author had had one of the narrators think it was poor behavior, I would have found no issue with this. But it was just accepted as normal, and all of it was dysfunctional and toxic.
3 Stars
Young adult age range: 12+ with talk of alcohol addiction.
Pieces of You and Me will undoubtedly delight younger teenagers. As an adult reading, I will say I was entertained, and found the story and premise enjoyable.
Rylee & Chase were buddies, until his mother took him away from his alcoholic father. Moving back home with his now sober father, Chase surprises Rylee with his reappearance.
I believe that the moral of the story was self-fulfilling prophesy. Chase feared having to move away yet again, leading him to truly believe he would get too close to Rylee again, only to hurt her by moving. This prophesy was not only from him, but also Rylee's friends.
Teens are going to eat up how romance-centric the story is, revolving around memories of the past and sweet moments from the present. Intermixed with angst of meddling friends and good and badly behaving parents.
This is one of the first Young Adult novels I've read where both sets of parents were not only present, but involved. They cared. They made rules. They weren't irrational and immature. (minus the mother and her new husband) That was a breath of fresh air.
Some of the plot I was angry with, but had to imagine it from a teenager's POV. Still, even at 10 yo, I would have got the idea that a sixth-grader has no say in where they are going to live. So the reason why Rylee's friends were angry at Chase were irrational, shallow, and beyond annoying at times. Frustrating. It made me fear for their intelligence. But eventually, Rylee gets with the program and realizes no child could dictate where they live, and how horrible it would be to have no roots. As for keeping in touch, she didn't continue to stay in contact either.
I wish Chase would have been more clear with Rylee, instead of propagating this I don't want to hurt you phrase. He never explained how he feared his mother would call him back to her home.
As for Rylee's friends, I blame Rylee for keeping this from them. Typical teenage angst. But I also thought Mya and her boyfriend's behavior was bullying, right down to throwing things at Chase in class. What are they, 10? As for the missing cellphone, how about just say who stole it in the first place? These things annoyed me to no end. If any of them were my children, we would have had anti-bully, judgmental, and self-fulfilling prophesy conversations. I was baffled. They were discussing college, had boyfriends, but threw things during class?
While the storyline itself will fade with time, my feeling of how the author let Chase down won't. Even at the end of the book, no one, not parents or Rylee, told Chase his living situation wasn't his fault. We was the child of an abusive alcoholic father and a narcissistic mother. Never able to gain friends because of never being anywhere longer than a few months, when he finally comes 'home', Rylee's friends treat him horribly immediately, but first they are shallow and call him 'hot.' I lost Respect for Rylee for allowing her friends to control her, under the guise of caring (it felt almost abusively controlling. Telling a girl's boyfriend to leave her alone, because he would break her heart. So he breaks up with her because he was terrified to hurt her, then the friend comforts the girl. If that doesn't sound like manipulative and abusive, I don't know what is. Nothing like saying 'I told you so' while comforting your friend with ice cream, when you were the reason for the break up. And the reader was just to accept this as normal behavior... as if Mya was the best friend on earth for saving her friend, when it was controlling and abusive behavior) I also lost respect for Rylee because she hid her relationship with Chase. I can't buy friendship/relationship if there is no respect. Actually, I can't respect anyone who wouldn't tell their friends how horrible they are for mocking people leaving an AA meeting.
Alone, Chase and Rylee were good- I thoroughly enjoyed their evolution. I even enjoyed Rylee's Mom and Chase's dad. But the rest of the side characters were irredeemable in my eyes, and made the story uncomfortable(they weren't meant to be the conflict). None of this is what I would want a younger reader to think is acceptable behavior. If the author had had one of the narrators think it was poor behavior, I would have found no issue with this. But it was just accepted as normal, and all of it was dysfunctional and toxic.
April 23, 2016
Pieces of You and Me was an easy, quick and relatively light-hearted read. I picked it up from my huge Netgalley TBR pile on a complete whim; I saw a teaser and re-read the synopsis and thought why not. I was in the mood for some light contemporary romance and I was not disappointed.
Basically, the story line follows Rylee (who's a girl btw), a junior of Meridian High who is determined to get a scholarship for a biomedical engineering degree at Duke University, and Chase, Rylee's ex-best friend who has divorced parents, one of whom is an alcoholic, and as a result has moved around a lot.
Chase comes back to Meridian, five years after leaving and cutting off the ties he had with Rylee, only to reignite the friendship (and something more now) that he had with Rylee all those years ago. So ensues a story where Rylee and Chase are constantly torn whether to live in the now while they are both together or to stop anything from starting in case they can't commit in the future (i.e. Chase moves around a lot because of his mother and stepfather so he doesn't want to take that chance that he might leave soon and have to break off his and Rylee's relationship and break her heart - and his - in the process).
This book was a little bit of much-needed escapism but really not much more than that.
I was never really super invested in the characters though I did want them to have their HEA. That brings me to the point that it was a little obvious that The book is quite short - only about 160 pages - and as a result everything is wrapped up rather conveniently. With a couple of subplots, this book could have been longer and had more depth. Even though this book has some more serious themes, it was always quite light-hearted and I wasn't really sure how I felt about that.
The romance was great. It could have been insta-love (ugh) but since Rylee and Chase were really close friends when they were younger, I could buy their connection and the feelings they had for one another that began almost immediately after they had re-met. I thought everything happened a little too fast and more time could have been spent on developing both characters prior to that point, but I didn't mind too much.
The story is told in alternating POVs - Rylee's and Chase's. I thought this was a really effective way to write the book - I understood both characters relatively well. However, even though each chapter starts with the character's name that is narrating, and the context tells the reader which character is narrating, there were several times when I picked up the book in the middle of the chapter and after reading a few paragraphs, I wasn't sure which character's head I was in. Only because of the context that the characters were in, could I tell the difference between the two. The voices and writing for the two characters were a little too similar for my taste.
I liked how Rylee and Chase relive some of their memories in the book - it was fun to read about their excitement over shared interests and it gave a bit of background and foundations to their relationship. There was also some fun banter between the two that made the pages go by fast.
Upon reflection of the book, I felt that the secondary characters may have been there to prop up the main characters a little too much. They're there, but they don't really matter in the scheme of things. I wished a little more time had been spent on them but that couldn't really happen when the main characters needed all the pages they could get.
Overall, Pieces of You and Me was a very easy, fast read. The writing was a little too simplistic for my taste but was decent enough. It definitely was a book I wouldn't regret not reading but it served its purpose well enough for me.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Quotes:
"'That salad looks delicious.'
My dad glanced up and made another slice without looking, thankfully without cutting a finger off, either. 'What do you want?'
I played offended. 'Can't a guy just compliment his dad's cooking skills without having an agenda?'
'It's iceberg lettuce and cucumbers. What do you want?'"
"'Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. Dunn,' I said. Good evening? When the f*ck did I start talking like that? Must be the tie cutting off my oxygen supply. I resisted the urge to loosen it."
Basically, the story line follows Rylee (who's a girl btw), a junior of Meridian High who is determined to get a scholarship for a biomedical engineering degree at Duke University, and Chase, Rylee's ex-best friend who has divorced parents, one of whom is an alcoholic, and as a result has moved around a lot.
Chase comes back to Meridian, five years after leaving and cutting off the ties he had with Rylee, only to reignite the friendship (and something more now) that he had with Rylee all those years ago. So ensues a story where Rylee and Chase are constantly torn whether to live in the now while they are both together or to stop anything from starting in case they can't commit in the future (i.e. Chase moves around a lot because of his mother and stepfather so he doesn't want to take that chance that he might leave soon and have to break off his and Rylee's relationship and break her heart - and his - in the process).
This book was a little bit of much-needed escapism but really not much more than that.
I was never really super invested in the characters though I did want them to have their HEA. That brings me to the point that it was a little obvious that The book is quite short - only about 160 pages - and as a result everything is wrapped up rather conveniently. With a couple of subplots, this book could have been longer and had more depth. Even though this book has some more serious themes, it was always quite light-hearted and I wasn't really sure how I felt about that.
The romance was great. It could have been insta-love (ugh) but since Rylee and Chase were really close friends when they were younger, I could buy their connection and the feelings they had for one another that began almost immediately after they had re-met. I thought everything happened a little too fast and more time could have been spent on developing both characters prior to that point, but I didn't mind too much.
The story is told in alternating POVs - Rylee's and Chase's. I thought this was a really effective way to write the book - I understood both characters relatively well. However, even though each chapter starts with the character's name that is narrating, and the context tells the reader which character is narrating, there were several times when I picked up the book in the middle of the chapter and after reading a few paragraphs, I wasn't sure which character's head I was in. Only because of the context that the characters were in, could I tell the difference between the two. The voices and writing for the two characters were a little too similar for my taste.
I liked how Rylee and Chase relive some of their memories in the book - it was fun to read about their excitement over shared interests and it gave a bit of background and foundations to their relationship. There was also some fun banter between the two that made the pages go by fast.
Upon reflection of the book, I felt that the secondary characters may have been there to prop up the main characters a little too much. They're there, but they don't really matter in the scheme of things. I wished a little more time had been spent on them but that couldn't really happen when the main characters needed all the pages they could get.
Overall, Pieces of You and Me was a very easy, fast read. The writing was a little too simplistic for my taste but was decent enough. It definitely was a book I wouldn't regret not reading but it served its purpose well enough for me.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Quotes:
"'That salad looks delicious.'
My dad glanced up and made another slice without looking, thankfully without cutting a finger off, either. 'What do you want?'
I played offended. 'Can't a guy just compliment his dad's cooking skills without having an agenda?'
'It's iceberg lettuce and cucumbers. What do you want?'"
"'Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. Dunn,' I said. Good evening? When the f*ck did I start talking like that? Must be the tie cutting off my oxygen supply. I resisted the urge to loosen it."
April 17, 2016
Originally posted on Daydreaming Books.
*I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
Friends to lovers is one of my favourite trope and I loved how well it was executed in this story. Although there were plently of ups and downs in this story I ended up enjoying myself.
Rylee and Chase had been best friends, maybe something more than that before Chase disappeared five years ago and then he stopped contacting her. But after five years he is back, all of a sudden. Rylee had tried to move on but when she sees him, her world comes to a standstill but she knows he’s trouble. Chase does not want to hurt her all over again but can they stay away from each other?
The plot was quite enjoyable. Rylee and Chase had been more than best friends but they didn’t voice their feelings for each other, then Chase disappeared all of a sudden. Rylee felt abandoned. But finally he’s back. Chase does everything in his power to keep his distance but they both seem to come face to face anyway. I liked Rylee’s character, she was simple and sweet, although she felt hurt and betrayed, she couldn’t help herself when anybody said anything bad about Chase, it’s like she said standing up for him was like a second nature to her.
Chase was a nice character as well. He definitely had a troubled past but I liked how the relationship with his father developed though he ought to give him a bit more credit because he was seriously trying to be a good father and rectify his mistake. I would have liked more if Chase just accepted that he and Rylee belong together instead of denying the fact for so long. But nonetheless I absolutely loved their chemistry and the romance.
I hated Mya, Rylee’s BFF sooo much. She was such an annoying character. I was constantly comparing her with Willa (from How Willa Got Her Groove Back). Where Willa understood her best friend’s decision and respected it, Mya was keen on bossying her around, I understand she was only trying to protect her but I think she forgot that she was not her mother. The other characters were somewhat okay.
Overall, Pieces of You and Me was a nice read. I think I enjoyed the first portion more than the last part. The writing was simple and easy to read and the pace was even throughout the book. The plot was enjoyable and the romance kept me hooked.
Recommend it?
Yes.
*I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
Friends to lovers is one of my favourite trope and I loved how well it was executed in this story. Although there were plently of ups and downs in this story I ended up enjoying myself.
Rylee and Chase had been best friends, maybe something more than that before Chase disappeared five years ago and then he stopped contacting her. But after five years he is back, all of a sudden. Rylee had tried to move on but when she sees him, her world comes to a standstill but she knows he’s trouble. Chase does not want to hurt her all over again but can they stay away from each other?
The plot was quite enjoyable. Rylee and Chase had been more than best friends but they didn’t voice their feelings for each other, then Chase disappeared all of a sudden. Rylee felt abandoned. But finally he’s back. Chase does everything in his power to keep his distance but they both seem to come face to face anyway. I liked Rylee’s character, she was simple and sweet, although she felt hurt and betrayed, she couldn’t help herself when anybody said anything bad about Chase, it’s like she said standing up for him was like a second nature to her.
Chase was a nice character as well. He definitely had a troubled past but I liked how the relationship with his father developed though he ought to give him a bit more credit because he was seriously trying to be a good father and rectify his mistake. I would have liked more if Chase just accepted that he and Rylee belong together instead of denying the fact for so long. But nonetheless I absolutely loved their chemistry and the romance.
I hated Mya, Rylee’s BFF sooo much. She was such an annoying character. I was constantly comparing her with Willa (from How Willa Got Her Groove Back). Where Willa understood her best friend’s decision and respected it, Mya was keen on bossying her around, I understand she was only trying to protect her but I think she forgot that she was not her mother. The other characters were somewhat okay.
Overall, Pieces of You and Me was a nice read. I think I enjoyed the first portion more than the last part. The writing was simple and easy to read and the pace was even throughout the book. The plot was enjoyable and the romance kept me hooked.
Recommend it?
Yes.
April 15, 2016
Pieces of you and me by Erin Fletcher
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Publication date: April 18th, 2016
Source: eArc from the publisher
Rating: 4 hearts
Synopis
Five years.
That’s how long I’ve been gone. Since I left my best friend—the girl I loved—behind.
Five seconds.
That was how long it takes to realize I am completely, utterly, screwed. Because now that I’m back, my childhood crush has turned into so much more.
Rylee has changed. We both have. And now I’m drawn to her in a completely different way. To her smile. Her touch. To reliving old memories and making new ones. To the happiness she’s always given me that I haven’t felt since I left.
But her friends are hell-bent on keeping us apart. My dad is one drink away from destroying both of our lives, and maybe I am, too. It’s only a matter of time before I have to leave again, and there’s nothing I can do to stop it. I never get a choice.
The one choice I can make? Stay away from Rylee. Because if I don’t, I’ll break her heart—and mine—all over again.
Review
Rylee and Chase was best friends and one day, Chase go away because of his dad’s alcoholism and now he is back. He doesn’t want to hurt Rylee or being hurt himself so he takes his distance with her. The problem is that Rylee doesn’t want him to keep his distance; she loves him and wants him back.
Rylee is a smart girl, she was hurt when Chase go away but now she has new friends, who love her.
Chase has been hurt too when his mom decided to leave his dad, she found a new husband. Chase often moves, he never stays in the same place more than three months because of the job of his father-in-law. He doesn’t have friends and find refuge in beer. Since he’s back, he has difficulty keeping his distances with Rylee. He doesn’t want to hurt her but he loves her and need her.
Mia and D’andre, her boyfriend, are very protective with Rylee. They didn’t understand that’s because of them Rylee must to keep her relation with Chase secret. They are forcing Chase to break up with her and that’s not fine for me. I don’t like them, they aren’t good friends, Second chance exist and young people must believe in them, if not there is no hope in the future.
It’s the only fact I didn’t like in this book, the other things was interesting, the battle against their feelings or the alcohol addiction of Chase. I also like the family relation of Chase and his father, it’s weird and it demands work on both part but it’s very nice. The fact that Chase is very good a drawing is an important part of the story too, it’s the drawing that reconcile him with Rylee.
Pieces of you and me is a story of lost friendship and people who needs hope in their life.
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Publication date: April 18th, 2016
Source: eArc from the publisher
Rating: 4 hearts
Synopis
Five years.
That’s how long I’ve been gone. Since I left my best friend—the girl I loved—behind.
Five seconds.
That was how long it takes to realize I am completely, utterly, screwed. Because now that I’m back, my childhood crush has turned into so much more.
Rylee has changed. We both have. And now I’m drawn to her in a completely different way. To her smile. Her touch. To reliving old memories and making new ones. To the happiness she’s always given me that I haven’t felt since I left.
But her friends are hell-bent on keeping us apart. My dad is one drink away from destroying both of our lives, and maybe I am, too. It’s only a matter of time before I have to leave again, and there’s nothing I can do to stop it. I never get a choice.
The one choice I can make? Stay away from Rylee. Because if I don’t, I’ll break her heart—and mine—all over again.
Review
Rylee and Chase was best friends and one day, Chase go away because of his dad’s alcoholism and now he is back. He doesn’t want to hurt Rylee or being hurt himself so he takes his distance with her. The problem is that Rylee doesn’t want him to keep his distance; she loves him and wants him back.
Rylee is a smart girl, she was hurt when Chase go away but now she has new friends, who love her.
Chase has been hurt too when his mom decided to leave his dad, she found a new husband. Chase often moves, he never stays in the same place more than three months because of the job of his father-in-law. He doesn’t have friends and find refuge in beer. Since he’s back, he has difficulty keeping his distances with Rylee. He doesn’t want to hurt her but he loves her and need her.
Mia and D’andre, her boyfriend, are very protective with Rylee. They didn’t understand that’s because of them Rylee must to keep her relation with Chase secret. They are forcing Chase to break up with her and that’s not fine for me. I don’t like them, they aren’t good friends, Second chance exist and young people must believe in them, if not there is no hope in the future.
It’s the only fact I didn’t like in this book, the other things was interesting, the battle against their feelings or the alcohol addiction of Chase. I also like the family relation of Chase and his father, it’s weird and it demands work on both part but it’s very nice. The fact that Chase is very good a drawing is an important part of the story too, it’s the drawing that reconcile him with Rylee.
Pieces of you and me is a story of lost friendship and people who needs hope in their life.
April 2, 2016
When I read the synopsis for this, I thought it sounded like it would have a lot of heart and be a nice mix of contemporary YA romance and emotional coming-of-age angsty situations.
What I read was more a mix of contemporary YA romance with not enough genuine emotion, and too much unexplained angst.
I liked Chase, but he felt like he was a stereotypical "loser." He was so insecure, and so troubled, and went about everything in a silently "Crying for Help" way. Being someone who had a rough time with "the popular crowd" in middle school, I could relate to him some, but I also expected to delve deeper into who he was. We are teased over and over with how he's had a rough 5 years, but we never really learn exactly what happened to him, besides moving a lot, to make him quite so angry and out of control.
And then there was Rylee. Somehow, she went from a loser in middle school to one of the popular kids in high school. And she is such a conformist all of a sudden that she sheds all of her "nerdiness" and lost herself in these "friends" of hers. I kept hoping for her to grow up and be strong enough to be who she was. Instead, she's just self-righteous and "perfect" the entire time. She allows her "best friend," Mya, to be a bitch ALL. THE. TIME. She continues to hang out with the type of a-holes who are incredibly juvenile (even for high school) and do things like throwing erasers at Chase's head, making fun of his name, and even making fun of people leaving an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. These are not the types of people I could have any respect for, even when I was in high school.
Don't get me wrong though. There were some very sweet and cute moments between Rylee and Chase. Some of their nostalgic moments felt a bit forced, but I liked the Rylee that I saw with Chase.
I still don't understand why exactly Chase got so much grief for "hurting Rylee" when his world turned upside in middle school. He was going through hell, pulled away from everything he knew, dealing with an alcoholic father, a mother who seems more interested in controlling him, and a stepdad who is a condescending prick, and HE WAS ONLY 11 or 12 YEARS OLD! Like Rylee's maturation, I was hoping for someone to finally tell Chase that he wasn't to blame for any of that and that you couldn't blame a child for losing touch with even his best friend. But that never happened.
Perhaps I'm just too old for this. Someone who is in high school reading this would likely enjoy it more. Or, I suppose, someone who didn't bristle at bullying and conforming to this extent.
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My opinion is my own.
What I read was more a mix of contemporary YA romance with not enough genuine emotion, and too much unexplained angst.
I liked Chase, but he felt like he was a stereotypical "loser." He was so insecure, and so troubled, and went about everything in a silently "Crying for Help" way. Being someone who had a rough time with "the popular crowd" in middle school, I could relate to him some, but I also expected to delve deeper into who he was. We are teased over and over with how he's had a rough 5 years, but we never really learn exactly what happened to him, besides moving a lot, to make him quite so angry and out of control.
And then there was Rylee. Somehow, she went from a loser in middle school to one of the popular kids in high school. And she is such a conformist all of a sudden that she sheds all of her "nerdiness" and lost herself in these "friends" of hers. I kept hoping for her to grow up and be strong enough to be who she was. Instead, she's just self-righteous and "perfect" the entire time. She allows her "best friend," Mya, to be a bitch ALL. THE. TIME. She continues to hang out with the type of a-holes who are incredibly juvenile (even for high school) and do things like throwing erasers at Chase's head, making fun of his name, and even making fun of people leaving an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. These are not the types of people I could have any respect for, even when I was in high school.
Don't get me wrong though. There were some very sweet and cute moments between Rylee and Chase. Some of their nostalgic moments felt a bit forced, but I liked the Rylee that I saw with Chase.
I still don't understand why exactly Chase got so much grief for "hurting Rylee" when his world turned upside in middle school. He was going through hell, pulled away from everything he knew, dealing with an alcoholic father, a mother who seems more interested in controlling him, and a stepdad who is a condescending prick, and HE WAS ONLY 11 or 12 YEARS OLD! Like Rylee's maturation, I was hoping for someone to finally tell Chase that he wasn't to blame for any of that and that you couldn't blame a child for losing touch with even his best friend. But that never happened.
Perhaps I'm just too old for this. Someone who is in high school reading this would likely enjoy it more. Or, I suppose, someone who didn't bristle at bullying and conforming to this extent.
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My opinion is my own.
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