A meticulous heartfelt romance that showcased Danielle Pearl’s ability to create a story that packed an emotional punch that was poignant, beautiful, and endearing. In Pieces completely took me by surprised in a good way. The New Adult genre is either a hit or miss with me especially since I find college themed romance pretty much standard. But in this book, Pearl treated her readers to a story that was more than romance. It was a story of healing, starting anew, and friendship.

College is every person’s defining moment. It is where you discover the type of person you are. It molds and shapes who you are as an individual. College can also be a fresh start and for Beth Caplan, it was her escape. Her moment to start over and leave her past mistakes behind her. But what Beth didn’t expect was her older brother’s best friend, David March to be constantly hovering over her.

David has always been attracted to Beth and wants to protect and keep her safe. While others may see David’s action as a bit too overprotective, I found it to be sweet and thoughtful. As much as David wants Beth, he still doesn’t want to cross the line. As Beth and David navigate the blurred lines of their friendship, feelings begins to emerge. Will David finally be able to be honest with his feelings for Beth?

In Pieces was indeed a very slow burn romance that worked for the storyline of David and Beth. I loved that Danielle Pearl didn’t rush anything and allowed readers to understand and feel for her characters as they go on this journey of self discovery. So if you are looking for a story that had all the romantic elements and still carry a strong meaningful storyline then this book is definitely for you.

Wow. So! How did I feel about this book? Well, I liked both David and Beth. I would have liked them more if they weren't both so stubborn! *laugh* This book is emotional and angsty, maybe a bit too angsty for me - but they ARE in college, so the level of drama makes sense for them. Wonderful writing & a GREAT story - and a side character who I absolutely ADORED & want to see get his own book... *bats eyelashes at the author* ; )

When I requested this book I didn't know it was part of a series. Now all I can say is I'm hooked and I wasn't lost. This can be read as a standalone, but I'm looking forward to reading the others because this group has me wanting more. Anyone who has had an overprotective brother can relate to Beth. She not only has her brother, but his two best friends watching over her. High school was not easy for Beth with more than one heartache to deal with. Now off to college she is stronger and ready to live her life, but soon a stalker and rape on campus has her in danger. David, one of her brother's friends has had a thing for Beth for years. Attending the same college he takes protecting her to a new level when he moves her in with him. The twists and turns in this story has you turning pages. Every time I thought I knew the facts I was wrong. In Pieces was full of suspense along with all the emotions of loyalty and love.
ARC provided via publisher thru NetGalley

I really didn’t get into this book. This author is new to me and her writing style was just not for me. I did finish the book but really the prologue subject matter almost made me want to not start the book even. It was so repetitive, chapter after chapter. Beth is 18 yrs old and is out on her own in college. Her brother’s bff David is also at the school and has assigned himself the duty of being her personal bodyguard. I just had a hard time jiving with Beth. Seemed like every guy she meets she thought they were cute and she had a crush on them. There were several guys she was introduced to, like creeper from class, her ex boyfriend coming back for some reason, then David himself. I get she struggles with depression a bit but why the need to have David be her protector/bodyguard. If it wasn’t him he was assigning his sorority brothers the task of babysitting her. It was kinda creepy and sufficating, I mean can’t she experience college life and live a bit. Really the story was not my cup of tea.

I asked for an uncorrected advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

I started to read this book with a lot of enthusiasm because I love YA books and I loved the story about this one. About half-way through the book I lost the enthusiasm because the book kept going nowhere, but repeating the same issue over and over. It was going in circles, I didn’t see the characters were dealing with issues but more like mired in them and getting nowhere. Also, the author included a lot about the musings and thoughts of the characters, and this is where most of the repetition occurs. It got to be a little tedious. At around 60% of the story, I started skimming so I could get to the end and be able to write a review.

Beth has a horrible breakup with Brian, she was just fifteen. The consequences were that she was struck in counseling and got very closely guarded by her mother and brother. Also, her father, a very well-known and prosperous lawyer, was an alcoholic that got into these drunken rages where he abused his wife and Beth’s older brother Sammy. Until one day, Sammy hit back and threw him out of the house. He left for five years, and the incredible part is that the character Beth explains this accusingly, like Sammy deprived her of her father’s love.

Fast-forward five years, and Beth is in University. From her childhood, David has been Sammy’s best friend, and one of her guardians. I don’t know why Sammy isn’t in University (suspect a previous book) but we know that Sammy entrusted David with guarding Beth, and he does that, very closely. He does the close guarding, using frat brothers to help. She’s rebelling against all this watching, but then things get complicated. Her ex appears and wants a second chance. A strange guy attends a psychology class with her and appears to be stalking her. And David seems to be getting too close.

David also has his demons because he had a bad relation with his father, who kept telling him he was no good. He's adopted and his father kept the identity of his birth mother from him until he complied with several requests.  He also broke contact with him when David pursued his choice of a career over his father's.  So, he feels he’s not good enough for Beth. Sammy also corroborated this when David expressed interest, in the aftermath of the Brian debacle. So Davis wants to keep to the brother code and keep his distance from Beth. All this becomes impossible once there is apparent danger to Beth.

This book would have been awesome if the plot had moved faster and the characters had evolved better in the book, not stayed mired in the issues for so long. Then all of a sudden, all plots and sub-plots get fixed in the last chapter and epilogue. The author uses the technique of flashbacks to the past to explain the present and it’s useful but the first few flashbacks were a little confusing. It was good but could have been much better, IMO

Beth's life was in turmoil three years ago after a devastating break up that had her taking matters into her own hands to get rid of the sadness. Now as a college freshman, that incident is behind her and her focus is on her studies and being someone who can help others. She finds her attempt at normalcy thwarted every so often by none other than David, her older brother's best friend and her long-time secret crush. He doesn't seem to reciprocate so she's resigned herself to the fact that nothing can happen. As much as David has been keeping his feelings for Beth in check, his top priority is Beth's well-being and he means to keep his promise to her brother to keep her safe. He does it to the point of overprotectiveness treating her as if she's a fragile china doll that'll break at any moment. He's so intent on sheltering her that he doesn't see how he's practically smothering her. This causes a lot of tension between them which only makes it harder to hold back his feelings for her. That temptation to cross the line from friendship to something more is just dangling there in front of them.

I remember Pearl's other book, In Ruins, as being angst-ridden which is honestly what I was expecting here. However, In Pieces couldn't have felt more different to me. Beth's rocky and emotional journey to distance herself from her past mistake - that thing that she refuses to be defined by - is told in a sympathetic and sensitive way. It's a story that sheds a little light on mental health, for example how something that can be seemingly innocuous is perhaps a sign of something that requires more attention. Beth's self-awareness and resilience is what impressed me most and I was very drawn to her narrative above anything else. When you read In Pieces, be prepared for some strong reactions and feels and I hope like me that you feel it is time well spent.

This was my first Danielle Pearl book... There was so much buzz about it and when the opportunity for me to review came, I jumped right in. I was like a kid in an ice cream shop.

I've read a lot of college romances... I love them! They're usually what I devour first in my reader... there's just something about them.

So the story centers mainly on Beth Caplan. She had a lot to deal with early on life... family issues on top of personal ones. I can relate to her being overwhelmed by everything... Sometimes you just cant help but feel so....helpless.

Then there's David March... Her brother's oldest bestfriend, who is so protective of her, but really just using it as an excuse just to be near her...

Throw in the ex Brian and a mystery man named Brody in the mix, plus her brother Sammy on top of everything she had to deal with... well... there is bound to be some punches thrown.

Honestly... I thought it was a wee bit dragging (sorry!) The push and pull of David and Beth was okay to deal with but after some time, I thought it was just bordering on indecisiveness, which kinda' frustrated me... lol

There were definitely some twists towards the end that explained why Beth is the way she is...

Overall verdict... I loved it. I always keep an open mind whenever I read... I will definitely check out the author's other works. Like I've said, this is only my first Danielle Pearl novel. I can't wait to know her more through her stories.

If ya'll love angsty, forbidden, new adult romance... then this is the book to pick up next

I’ve been sitting in front of my computer for the past hour and a half trying to figure out my feeling towards this book but my mind keeps wandering around so much that I ended up watching Tasty videos for like an hour and twenty minutes out of that hour and a half. So I said: whatever! I’m just going to write and see what comes out. Let’s hope this review is not all over the place.


In Pieces is the second book in the Something More series by Danielle Pearl. I didn’t read the first one. I didn’t even know it existed until I finished this second book but both can be read as stand-alone (I think?!), so don’t you worry! I didn’t skip a vital part of the story (I think?!).

Beth is a college freshman. But unlike any normal freshman, she has a bodyguard and his name is David. Well… he’s not actually a bodyguard; he is her brother’s best friend. But by the way he follows her around and protects her from anything and everyone; you would think he is actually her bodyguard.
David has had a crush on Beth since they were teenagers yet in all of those years, he never acted on it. He never told her and of course, he never told his best friend (aka Beth’s big brother). Now that they’re in the same college and he promised his best friend he would take care of Beth, it seems even harder for him to keep his heart at bay from jumping into Beth’s hands. And it seems like Beth’s heart might be on the same boat.


I started off loving this story. I loved the whole my-brother’s-best-friend romance and that there’s even a bit of mystery in the book and I especially loved the prologue.

The prologue did things to me; I thought “this is going to be so interesting! I cannot wait to read what happens next!” but unfortunately the first chapter was three years later and I wanted more from what happened in the prologue. I was kind of disappointed that I didn’t get a detailed description of what happened after the prologue but I know that’s probably a very unpopular opinion. There’s a huge chance no one cared about what happened next and I’m just a creep. Who knows!

Almost from the begging we can see a very weird/creepy character appear. I kid you not, I was reading this part at night and I had to stop because I was getting very scared. I KNOW that is going to be the most unpopular opinion in this entire world of reviews so don’t worry, you won’t get scared. I’m just a scaredy-cat. Everything scares me. Anyway, that character and the mystery behind him is probably what I liked the most about this book. You wouldn’t expect a book like this to actually have some mystery and I loved the originality. Plus, the end of the mystery is not predictable at all, it’s pretty exciting.


The reason I am giving this book a 3.5 out of 5 is because I found myself drifting apart from this story very often. When nothing mystery related was happening, my mind wanted to go watch YouTube videos. I also couldn’t really feel the love between Beth and David. I felt a lot of lust between them and a bit of friendly love but I never really felt the you-have-my-heart kind of forever love that I was looking for.

This review is full of unpopular opinions. I know because I read pretty much every review this book has on Goodreads and pretty much everyone has loved Beth and David’s love. So I say to you right now, please give it a try. I have no doubt a lot of you are going to enjoy it way more than I did.
Also, that cover is super cute! I bet you want to have that cover on your bookshelf/kindle!

This is my first read from this author and all I have to say is "thank-you" for running into you because this book was AMAZING!

I love reading coming of age books. I inhaled this book in a heartbeat. I got so consumed in it that I just blocked everything else outside of me and just jumped into this book and immersed myself in it. You also can't go wrong with a book with some suspense involved because that just makes the book that much more interesting and keeps you sitting at the edge of your seat!

How do you express your feelings to your childhood friend, how do you tell him how you really feel about him knowing that it can cause a rift between the friendship you have, especially when the feelings you have for this boy happens to be none other than your brother's best friend!

David March has always harbored feelings for his best friend's little sister and he actually went ahead and was vocal about his feelings towards her to his friend, but Sammy wouldn't have it, he forbade David to get near his little sister because Sammy knew David's reputation and the last thing he wanted was for his little sister to get hurt.

When Beth finally decides to give her virginity to her HS boyfriend, he completely ignores her the next day and from thereon. He basically ghosted her and wouldn't return her calls or texts and Beth was devastated. She actually suffered from this break up and when she finally woke up from this depression, she decided to become alive again and be herself. She ends up going to the same school as David and David becomes her protector. David knew how fragile Beth was but he never knew why she was so broken and in pieces three years ago. But his goal is to make her have fun and be happy.

As the story unfolds we get sweet Beth turn into a fierce Beth. She finally isn't this fragile girl that everyone thought her to be. She has manned up and is now strong. I loved that she changed her life around. She was a beautiful girl who had so much to live for and when she started college, she went in with a clear head and with the intentions of having fun and learning.

When Beth and David finally do hook up, their chemistry is just wildy hot. As much as they don't want to admit that they both harbor feelings for each other, they finally are at the breaking point and neither one can stop it!

This book made me sad at the beginning but as the story kept going, it just kept getting more interesting and when they throw in a little suspense in there....I'm done for!

Totally worth the read!

4.5 stars

After a few rough years, Beth Caplan is ready for a new beginning at college. What she doesn't count on is having her brother's best friend and her crush, David March, as her babysitter and bodyguard.
David March doesn't mind keeping an eye on her best friend's little sister. He always had a crush on her, but knew that Cap wouldn't approve. Also, he doesn't feel he's worthy of Beth.
Now they are together in college and it seems they can't stay way from each other. Will they finally give in to their feelings?

I loved In Pieces! Beth and David's story is beautiful and heartbreaking. It took me in a rollercoaster ride of emotions, making me laugh, cry and scream. There are so many feelings in this book and it hooked me from the first page. The dash of mystery and suspense, and all the angst kept me on my toes and I couldn't wait to find out what would happen next.
I loved the chemistry between David and Beth and the little flashbacks.

Beth Caplan is a sweet young woman that has been through a lot. She has demons she tries to keep at bay and made some choices that had huge consequences. But she's trying to stay strong and become a better and happier version of herself. I loved how she stood up for herself during the family dinner.
David March is known to be a cocky playboy. But he's also very sweet and protective. He always had feelings for Beth, but it was ingrained in him that he was a disappointment. So, he believes he'll never be good enough for her. He made me swoon a lot but also had some jerk moments.

This is my first book by Danielle Pearl and I loved it! In Pieces is beautifully written and hooked me from the first page with its incredible story and amazing characters. This is the perfect friends-to-lovers / brother's-best-friend romance and I can't wait to read more by Danielle. I really hope she'll write Reeve and Lani's story.

4.5 BEAUTIFULLY BROKEN STARS!

Danielle Pearl has been on my radar for a while and when I heard she had penned an angsty best friend's little sister coming of age college romance about a hero who becomes the self-appointed protector of a beautiful, courageous girl who had been left in pieces after one traumatic night, I was sold!

And OMG this book was simply spectacular!!!! I was consumed with this highly addictive love story from start to finish, and I thought the journey these two forbidden lovers embarked on was BREATHTAKING.

This is a spoiler-free review so if you are looking for a plot summary, read the magnificent blurb. I am here to talk about feelings…and holy wow did this book evoke a TON of them. I smiled. Swooned. Sighed. Sobbed. And surrendered my heart COMPLETELY to these amazing, beautifully flawed beloved characters. You know when you are so invested in a couple triumphing over all odds, your chest constricts, your pulse races and you feel a churning in your gut and a lump in your throat in each and every scene they share? Well, that's how I feel about Beth and David!!!!

Their love is forbidden (hello she is his bff’s baby sis…enough said)! Yet these two are so DESTINED that I could barely breathe at times! And MEGA Dreamy Book Boyfriend Alert: David is the kind of college boyfriend we all fantasized of having but never had! He’s sweet, sexy, kind, fiercely protective and just soooooooo yummy! I loved him with every beat of my WILDLY SMITTEN heart! I so wanted him to get the girl, heal her, fill all her bereft, empty places with his warmth and devotion and forever love! But, alas, he has his own personal strife and feels woefully unworthy. The road these two traversed was far from smooth. Their was pain and suffering and misunderstandings to be had . Oodles of it. So have tissues handy!

This is definitely a SLOW BURNING friends to lovers romance, with palpable tension, a torrent of raging emotion and delicious push-pull throughout. I enjoyed how David tries to mask his feelings of love and devotion while trying to keep her safe—at times bordering on “overprotective” according to his less than grateful Bea—while Beth, who has also harbored a secret crush on her brother’s best friend since she was a wee one starts to flourish and spread her wings, come alive and dare to dream of a future again. But when it all comes crashing down will David always be there to pick up the pieces?

I admire how Ms. Pearl touches on some tough issues with dignity and grace and takes her time evolving this relationship into a thing of beauty. There is nothing headier for me as a reader then the moment when the seemingly unrequited yearning blossoms into full fledged love!

There is no shortage of drama or angst in this book and there is also a nice dose of suspense and danger as the past and present collide and David vows to protect his beautifully broken yet infinitely brave girl at all costs. There are hot sexy times too...and a plot twist that I never saw coming !

Only two tiny quibbles in an otherwise EPIC love story. First..…while for the most part the story is beautifully paced, I thought the internal thoughts seemed a tad repetitive in places which made for some monotonous reading at times. And second… I personally found the ending to be a tad rushed and would have liked a little more to sink my teeth into so I could truly back in the sweet afterglow!!

That aside, I loved this heartfelt and emotionally-charged New Adult novel to PIECES and can’t wait to read more books from the divine author!!

I received this for an honest review...

AHHHH WOW I just wasn't sure what to expect with this book I have to say I LOVED it!! I found myself just pulled right into the story from beginning to end.. Beth and David were amazing and perfect together... Friends to lovers one of my very favorite story lines.. I just absolutely loved the angst in this book!!!

This author I just fall in love every time I read her books!!!

I have been a huge fan of Danielle Pearl’s writing since I discovered her books. In Pieces does not disappoint. Pearl has a brilliant way of writing that wraps you up in her coming of age story and leaves you wanting more. This story left me breathless and so engrossed in the story that I could not put it down.
This book has all the perfect parts for an amazing story. Angst, passion and forbidden love. I really enjoyed Beth’s character as she was very much relatable at that age. David’s character evolved in such a natural way that I enjoyed how he changed. These two together were brilliant and they meshed amazingly. The concept of the story was spot on as well. I love how the story went and the twists that added just the right amount of anticipation between them.
Overall, this is another brilliant story from Pearl and if you have never read anything from her, do so now. Her books are absolutely stunning and leave you begging for more!

In Pieces features is a pretty great NA romance. Beth is a college freshman trying to prove to herself and her brother that she doesn't need his protection, that she's not a child anymore, and she can make it through this life on her own. But, there's a big obstacle to this independence - her brother's friend, David, who has somehow appointed himself her personal bodyguard. David is the guy she crushed on nearly her whole life, so to have him dogging her heels as she's trying to just be a regular college freshman is, well, it's frustrating, for more than one reason.

As for the self-appointed protector? He's had decidedly un sibling like feelings for Beth (Bea) for a long time, but he's never really acted on them. After all, he was specifically told by Sam, Beth's brother, that David wasn't good enough for her, no one was, actually. David knew Sammy was right, he doesn't think he's good enough for her either. So, he appoints himself her protector, stands in the way of her making new "friends", especially those of the male species, and finds himself in deep trouble when his always there feelings for Beth start making themselves known. And when Beth's ex, the man who crushed her three years ago, and triggered one of Beth's most heartbreaking moments, shows up on campus? Yeah, David's all over that situation. Throw in a potential stalker that Beth is dealing with, and there's an explosive situation just waiting for a spark to make it blow up.

Unlike in a lot of NA romances, In Pieces features well-rounded, interesting, likable characters, especially the swoon worthy David, a compelling storyline and not so much angst that it chokes you. It's steamy, too, but the emotional bond Bea and David shares is what really grounds this story. It's much more mature than can normally be found in NA fiction, edging it closer to contemporary, and I fell in love with these two as they fell in love with each other. Kudos to Danielle Pearl for this exciting, steamy, downright swoon worthy romance!

This friends-to-lovers romance is an intense read of heartbreak, emotional healing and salvation, with a lot of angst. A fast-moving plot and easy dialogue made the book read quite fluidly. I found that the author told the characters’ story in a very evocative way and handled hard subject matters with great delicacy. This new adult novel features a college freshman, Beth, and David, her brother's best friend.

Beth has a troubled family history, that led her to develop feelings of emptiness and betrayal that nearly pushed her over the edge. But she is a survivor and she is lucky enough to have a deep and lasting friendship with David, her knight in shining armor and protector.

I loved David, he is a swoon worthy hero who is just a solid, thoughtful and genuinely nice guy. He is also overprotective and it makes Beth lose her cool! Beth and David’s verbal sparring was so much fun, the push and pull was brilliant. Their rocky relationship is filled with sexual tension. David feels conflicted about his attraction to Beth, but he can’t fight it and his jealousy is overwhelming.

Beth is in denial of her true feelings for David. Their discussions and arguments build the heat and intensity. Beth has been hurt in a previous relationship and she will never forgive herself if she makes herself vulnerable again. You find yourself screaming in your head at Beth to open her eyes and realize that he is the one for her, but it takes some time for her to get there. Her demons are still lurking in the shadows of her mind, she is struggling to keep it all together while fighting off her feelings for David.

This book is a fast and easy read with deep feelings, witty banter, dirty secrets and strong language, that pulled me in from the first page. I loved the unexpected twists in the story. Danielle Pearl did a great job of tying up all loose ends and giving me the satisfying HEA that I wanted for the characters. Their path to happiness was bumpy, but made for a great read! This book is a standalone, told in alternate point of view, from Beth and David's perspective.

This book came out of nowhere in the best possible way. In Pieces is a new adult book with romance and a gripping story of mental illness. I just loved Beth & her story. This book left me wanting more! Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for sending me a copy to review.

when beth caplan starts college she's already lived through significant trauma. in pieces is not about her recovery, it's about her showing her strength and maturity in the face of problems that would have broken her in the past.

and the one thing she has in her life, that she didn't then, is the support of david march. he is her older brother's rough-around-the-edges best friend. but he has always been her champion. even when she didn't know it. he's loved her for as long as he can remember, and the only thing that keeps him from declaring it is the fact that his best friend doesn't approve of him for his sister.

but as circumstances force beth and david into closer proximity, the pull between them is impossible to deny. and eventually they don't want to deny it. because they are the best possible versions of themselves when they are together. and even given everything they have to lose, what they share is immeasurably more precious.

this is an emotional new adult novel, there is a hint of suspense and menace throughout that heightens the drama unfolding in the plot in the best possible way. the angsty forbidden aspect of beth and david's romance works perfectly. and when they finally give into each other, it's perfect.

Unfortunately I couldn’t get in to this book at this time so I have decided to shelf it until I am in a better frame of mind to go back to it.

Beth is more than ready to head to college and be on her own after living the past few years being treated like she was going to break. She's mad when her brother's best friend, David, acts like he is her bodyguard on campus. What she doesn't know is that David couldn't stay away from her if he wanted to. He makes her feel safe yet she still feels like she's being held back from experiencing life. With the ex that almost destroyed her walking back into her life along with a potential stalker, Beth is determined to prove that she can handle things herself.

This story will give you all the feels. I have a serious book hangover and I'm not sure that I will get over it anytime soon. In Pieces is an emotional ride with a touch of suspense thrown in that will leave you wanting more. This was my first read by Danielle Pearl and her writing is phenomenal. I can't wait to read more.