While there is certainly need for more books that address mental health issues such as OCD, this book was too full of overdramatic speeches, contrived plot lines, and inauthentic secondary characters for any sophisticated reader. The fact that they had a report to work on about Romeo and Juliet and then their dads both decide they shouldn't see each other any more is just too on the nose. This book has enough drama to appeal to teens if they can get past both of the main character's need to speechify every moment. Lennon does explain some of the misconceptions about OCD but the explanations feel pedantic amongst all the other drama.

This read a bit like The Sun is Also a Star meets the Love Letters of Abelard and Lily. I really enjoyed all the side characters and I love to see good sibling relationships (Kyler/Mae, Lennon/Jacob) represented in YA. The over-the-top angst about their love at the end was a bit much but also read very true to Romeo and Juliet so I suppose I can't fault it too much for that.

Book review: All Our Broken Pieces by L. D. Crichton

Publishing date: May 7, 2019

Read courtesy of NetGalley.com
I didn't think I'd enjoy a sappy love story, but that's OK, because this wasn't sappy. I really liked these believable characters. Kyler was very romantic, and Lennon made for a very good example of how to understand OCD in others.

The OCD portion of the story was handled very well, both normalizing and explaining how it's not normal, or rather when it's not normal... when it interferes or embarrasses or makes others uncomfortable. The facial disfigurement part of the story was not quite as revealing as far as creating empathy, but it did allow for some insight.

Even though most YA novels entail hyperbolic parents, and All Our Broken Pieces is no exception, the author did a good job of reining in the parental extremes and bringing them back down to sensible characters. Any characters are good who can admit when they are wrong, and these adult characters do just that. Graciously, too.

I'll probably shelve this acquisition for my high school library in our "death/drugs/disease" genre sticker category, but it could easily just be categorized as realistic fiction or romance. In any event, I'm looking forward to recommending this title to my students.

How do I find the words to really get across how much I loved this book? I have to be honest, I don't usually expect much from books about high school love. Working in a high school will do that to a person, I guess. But Lennon and Kyler's story worked for me at a level I didn't expect. It was so lovely to read about them finding understanding and acceptance from each other. Their families were a nice backdrop to their development - especially Lennon's little brother (who is adorable in being little and not at all annoying).

I also love how the story works to break down Lennon's OCD for the reader. There isn't a lot of awareness of the disorder (in my opinion, at least) and I appreciate the way it is presented here.

Side note: I would read a whole book about Kyler's band.

Thank you NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book "All Our Broken Pieces" by L.D. Crichton. This was a very sweet story of two teenagers that were scarred by their past and worked through their hurts by having each other to lean on. The theme throughout the book was that no-one is perfect, and we all have value. This book was most suitable for high school students due to some language used. This was an enjoyable read.

This book made me laugh, cry, and hope for the characters to make it. This book was amazing. Best I have read in a couple of months.

I'd like to start by saying that I don't have OCD, so any observations that I make in this review were not made through the eyes of someone who lives with this disorder, just someone who ia interested in learning about a variety of marginalized groups.

Lennon has OCD, the recent death of her mother, her move 3,000 from Maine to LA, and her evil stepsister seem to be triggered her OCD and ritualizing but she is managing. When Lennon is paired with Kyler for their English project on a modern version of Romeo and Juliet she stumbles across someone who understands her in a way that she hasn't had since her mother died.

As far as I'm concerned Kyler and Lennon are an A team. Kyler who has had a large burn scar on his face since he was a child is use to being an outsider, he's use to people looking at his large frame, oversized hoodie, and less than pleasant attitude and assume that he must spend his days smoking out back with no ambitions, but they couldn't be more wrong.

Lennon however wears her scars on the inside. She does things in sets of 5, she functions mostly with the assistance of anti anxiety medication, and her mind is plagued horrifying thought that she might be responsible for the death of a loved one.

While Lennon is struggling for control over her mind, that doesn't mean she's a delicate flower. When she's with Kyler and he dishes out sass, she throws it right back. It was lovely to see Lennon a flawed character who didn't completely lose herself to her disorder, she keeps her personality as best as she could and fought hard.

Kyler hid his hurt behind long hair, hoodies, and a snarky attitude, and I thought it was perfect. What I loved about Kyler was that while he had insecurities about how he looked (as anyone would) and did his best to hide is scars, he was always authentically himself. While he fought his own demons (many of which took the form of his dad) he helped Lennon fight hers.

I love Lennon and Kyler's, band names and slogans. I loved the moments when Kyler was able to face his fears head on in front of the whole school. I also appreciated that mental health facilities and therapist weren't villainized. It's okay to address your mental health. It's okay to ask for help. Lennon taught us that.

I will say that I wish we could see more of the relationship between Kyler and his dad. There was a lot left unsaid there and I was hoping for some type of resolution or at least accountability.

I give this book 4 stars and I suggest it to anyone and everyone, mental health concerns or not.

I really liked this novel about Lennon and Kyler, both broken in their own ways. But when they find each other, some of the pieces fuse together. These two teens will never be perfect, but the fit perfectly together. The theme of mental illness is powerful and moving. I think everyone should invest time to learn about the various broken children in our lives. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to be an early reader in exchange for my fair and honest review.

With every turn of the page, you will root for Kyler and Lennon to overcome everything that stands in their way just so they can be together because if love conquers all, these two, ohhhh, these two! They are worthy. While there's definitely a love story simmering away, the back burner has OCD, scars from a childhood accident, and overbearing parents cooking up a storm of emotions. And all this with the star-crossed tragic love/passion of a Romeo and Juliet class project that brings our hero and heroine together. The sarcasm and texts that help drive the narration of the story will have you checking your own phone for a message that makes you smile and stare at your phone way past your bedtime. While the happy ever after has potential, it is a deus ex machina to the extreme, but you don't really care because believing in happy endings is what this book is all about. Find what makes you whole.

The discussion presented by the characters on mental illness is both accurate and helpful for people unfamiliar with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Our teen patrons will really connect with the story and the characters. I really do think it is a great read!

This was a really unique book to read. This was not what I expected from reading the summary and the cover. I received this book as an advanced readers copy from NetGalley for an honest review and not to mention most of our young patrons are curious about this book.

All Our Broken Pieces tells the story of Lennon Davis and her OFF obsession with the number 5. Lennon turns off the light switch 5 times, and hopes life will not suck especially at her new school in Low Angeles. If she flicks it 5 times maybe her step-family will accept her, if she flicks it 50 more times she can finally go to sleep. Lennon later meets Kyler the next door neighbor who sees Lennon flick those lights and can't help but be fascinated with her. Kyle decided to focus on Lennon as his new inspiration for his work and even though his father has warned him about Lennon, he can't help but want more.

I think at first young readers will scratch their heads wondering what this book is about but as you read on, they'll understand and they won't get enough. We will be definitely considering this title for our FRiction shelves and that is why we give this book 5 stars!

Wow, wow, wow! This book is amazingly beautiful from page one until the end. It has depth, it has heartbreakingly beautiful characters and a deeply moving realistic storyline. I loved everything about this story and HIGHLY recommend it to all teens and YA fiction fans. It’s got the type of characters you feel like you really know, or wish you knew, you cheer for them every step of the way, and you are sad to leave them when the story ends. I loved the depth of understanding about the scars we all have and the inherent beauty within us all. No one will be sorry that they entered Kyler’s and Lennon’s world.

Read. This. Book.

This book was amazing. Probably one of my favorite reads of the year and I will definitely be revisiting this book at some point. I love reading books about mental illness, but sometimes they can seem very surfacy; like the author read about it and just regurgitated everything they've seen on tv/movies. This was not the case with this one. In the author's note at the end she mentions suffering from mental illness and while she doesn't specifically say OCD, this book made me feel like she has some firsthand experience with it.

I loved Lennon. I loved her strength, her vulnerability, her outlook on life even when she was being "crazy." I feel like she is a great role model for people suffering from mental illnesses. I liked how hard she worked to overcome it and how she allowed herself to fail. She is just such an inspiration.

Oh man and Kyler? Such a great H. Definitely one of my favorites. I loved his outlook on life. I loved the way he treated Lennon and how he accepted her just as she is, weird ticks and all. He turned the phrases "weird" and "crazy" into something beautiful. I just love him. I loved his growth throughout the book, too. His dedication to Lennon and to himself was awe inspiring.

Another thing I loved about this book, was how supportive Claire was to Lennon. Typically in books and in movies the step-mother is portrayed as this awful person, but she was genuinely kind and loving toward Lennon. As some who has an AWESOME step-mom, I loved seeing her written this way.

I know absolutely nothing about mental illnesses so I can't say with 100% certainty how real this book actually is, but it definitely didn't feel surfacy. If you're a fan of these types of books, I HIGHLY recommend this one. You won't regret it.

Side note: This is an extremely clean YA novel with brief kissing and very little cursing.