Girl in Pieces – Kathleen Glasgow

This book was one of those that sounded so interesting but made me pause at the bookstore. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to read the book but when I got another one this one was half off and I decided to give it a go anyway.

The book in short

Charlotte Davis is in pieces. At seventeen she’s already lost more than most people lose in a lifetime. But she’s learned how to forget. The broken glass washes away the sorrow until there is nothing but calm. You don’t have to think about your father and the river. Your best friend, who is gone forever. Or your mother, who has nothing left to give you.

Every new scar hardens Charlie’s heart just a little more, yet it still hurts so much. It hurts enough to not care anymore, which is sometimes what has to happen before you can find your way back from the edge.

I found this information here.

What did I think about the book?

This is a difficult review to make as I can totally one hundred percent see how this can be one of those stories that make you feel completely seen. it can make you feel understood on a deeper level. I am however not the target audience for this story, I have (luckily) never personally struggled with any of the themes in this book. I know these themes purely on an academic level, I studied them throughout my bachelor’s. As far as I am aware I do not know anyone that struggled with severe addiction or self-harm. This book thus wasn’t meant for me. It was a way for the author to show people who struggle with these things that they are heard and seen which is very well done. That there is light at the end of the tunnel and that the road to recovery is not a straight line. This topic is very important to talk about of course.

The book is 400 pages which seems a lot, some pages do not even cover a full page so there is a lot of ‘white space’ in the book. Meaning that you ought not to be intimidated by the pages. I read the book within the day so it’s a quick read. Again if it emotionally touches you more than it did me it would of course take you longer. I felt sad for the characters do not get me wrong but I didn’t have to face any of my own demons while reading the book.

If you are still in the middle of your healing journey you might want to skip it. I am not sure and it’s up to you but I can see how it might be a difficult book to read if that is the case. In doubt just give it a miss for now I would say. Overall conclusion; it was a good book but not specifically for me and I didn’t connect with the story making it a pretty average read but as I said I can see its value for others. It’s written well so I think it’s up to you if you want to give it a go and if it is a good moment in time to read it.