A satisfying read! Told from multiple points of view, we hear the story unfold in chapters labeled either now or then. The main character, Paige, a forty something year old, happily engaged, although a bit lost professionally, receives a message one day that a new leaf had been added to her ancestry tree. A timely and realistic premise, Paige discovers that the father she is still grieving for, was not, in fact ,her biological father. We get to hear her mother's story and her biological father's story as Paige tries to uncover and come to terms with the truth. This unexpected journey forces Paige to grapple with her own self identity and her unsatisfying relationship with her mother as her wedding day approaches. I read this as an advance copy courtesy of #NetGalley

I received this book from Netgalley. O.MG! I absolutely loved this book and couldn't put it down. The characters made you laugh and cry! What a wonderful story. . You must read this book!!!
Thank you!!!

Engrossing story about the reactions and actions of Paige Meyer when she discovers the man she grew up believing was her father is not her biological father. A very interesting read. The main character is well developed but her mother, Elizabeth is a bit too one dimensional and I would have liked to read more about her father’s relationship to his younger twin daughters.

Paige Meyer’s world changes in one email! She receives the results from the DNA testing website and it states a completely different name as her father, not the father she knows. How can this be? Paige is Daddy’s girl, has he always known? What about her mother, why did she hid this secret? As readers we follow Paige along in finding answers. This story is told in dual timelines and in two POVs, present day with Paige and the ‘70s with Betsy Kaplan and Andy Abrams. Betsy is Paige’s mom and her story is an emotional one, we begin to understand the strained relationship between her and Paige. This is a beautiful story of love and forgiveness. The characters are well developed and like able, and with so many DNA tests available the topic is very relatable. Thank you to NetGalley, William Morrow, and the author for a gifted copy.

Little Pieces of Me is a book that is very relevant, as the number of people interested in finding out what their DNA can tell them about their ancestors increases.

I was not prepared for this book to emotionally wreck me though. I felt all of the emotions that Paige felt. Alison Hammer wrote her characters so well, they came alive. I loved the realness in this story, the heartbreak that comes from finding out a secret. Watching Paige find herself and realize that certain things don't change who she is as a person was comforting. I feel like we could all use the type of support Paige had in her life. We also should approach everyone else with understanding as we don't know their stories until they share with us.

I recommend this book to help you think about what makes a family, how to move forward when something unexpected happens, and if you want to see old wounds healed.

A charming read about what makes a family - is it defined by DNA, or something more, and how your definition of family can define you (or does it?). Paige is stunned to find that her beloved father is not her biological father, and that discovery reverberates across most of her life. I enjoyed that Paige is 43, so not a young woman, and I felt that her reactions were true to how a 40-something would react to such news. Paige, her mother Elizabeth (Betsy), and both Mark and Andy are all fully formed characters, and you will find yourself both rooting for and being exasperated by each in turn. The novel is told in dual timelines - the present from Paige's POV, and the past, when Paige's parents are in college. Both timelines were lovely, and the resolution to the novel is heartwarming and brought about a few tears.

"When Paige Meyer gets an email from a DNA testing website announcing that her father is a man she never met, she is convinced there must be a mistake. But as she digs deeper into her mother’s past and her own feelings of being the odd child out growing up, Paige begins to question everything she thought she knew. Could this be why Paige never felt like she fit in her family, and why her mother always seemed to keep her at an arm’s length? And what does it mean for Paige’s memories of her father, a man she idolized and whose death she is still grieving? Back in 1975, Betsy Kaplan, Paige’s mom, is a straight-laced sophomore at the University of Kansas. When her sweet but boring boyfriend disappoints her, Betsy decides she wants more out of life, and is tired of playing it safe. Enter Andy Abrams, the golden boy on campus with a potentially devastating secret. After their night together has unexpected consequences, Betsy is determined to bury the truth and rebuild a stable life for her unborn child, whatever the cost.

When Paige can’t get answers from her mother, she goes looking for the only other person who was there that night. The more she learns about what happened, the more she sees her unflappable, distant mother as a real person faced with an impossible choice. But will it be enough to mend their broken relationship?"

Thanks to NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I am exhausted this morning! EXHAUSTED! I picked up this book last night and thought I would read a few chapters and go to bed! HA! I didn't go to bed until I finished the entire book! Paige receives an email from a DNA testing site that tells her that her father whom she loves most in the world is NOT her father. Paige's dad died 2 years ago and she has taken his death very hard. Now to find out he wasn't her biological father? Paige reaches out to her mother to find out what is going on. Paige and her mom have never been close. As Paige is figuring things out, because of the dual time line, we find out what Paige's mom was like when she was in college. This is a beautiful story of a mother and daughter's relationship and all of the ups and downs that entails. I truly loved this book and its wonderful characters. I received an advanced readers copy and all opinions are my own.

In “Little Pieces of Me” Paige Meyer, a forty three year old unemployed graphic artist discovers through a DNA test sent to an ancestry site that the man she thought was her father was not. Instead, according to the e-mail sent to her by the ancestry company, her father is a stranger named Andrew Abrams. She is still mourning the death of Mark Meyers, the man she thought was her father and reels at the discovery. Her mother has always been distant and apparently unloving, while her twin sisters, thirteen years her junior seem to absorb all her mother’s attention and love. Her father was the only source of love and affection that she knew.

She contacts Andrew Abrams through a message sent via the ancestry website, but gets only a cryptic reply in response. With the help of her two best friends, Maks and Margaux, Paige tries to find out more information about her biological father. While deciding if she wants to meet her new father, she struggles to redefine herself and in the process, hopefully find a new relationship with her mother. Through it all, her fiancee Jeff remains steadfast in his support of her while her moods swing as she grapples with her personal struggle.

The novel has engaging characters with interesting personality traits, and does a good job of slowly developing Paige’s personal growth as she comes to terms with the loss of the man she considered her father, and tries to integrate the shocking discovery of an unknown father into her view of herself. The book will appeal to those readers who like a good character driven storyline.

This is a story about family connections and the journey of discovery DNA test results bring about in the life of the main character Paige Meyer. She has always had a difficult relationship with her mother and an extremely close one with her now deceased father.. As she prepares for her own wedding the results of a DNA test prove she isn't the biological daughter of her much loved father. So she, with the support of her friends and fiance, tries to find out the truth of who she is and where she came from. The story line is interesting and the mother daughter conflict is so well written the author must have some personal experience to illuminate the tension so accurately. I will be watching for future books from this author.

Just finished “Little Pieces of Me”, by Alison Hammer. I’ve been in a reader slump lately but couldn’t put this book down. An easy read but definitely kept my interest up wanting to know what happens next. I really liked the way she wrote in the present tense and then paralleled with the past. I feel like she kept the reader’s interest simultaneously wanting one to know what happens in both stories. She did a great job leading you to both conclusions. Really enjoyed this .

*Addendum: laying in bed 12 hours later when the AH HA moment comes to me! Talk about missing the obvious! So wishing I had someone to talk to about this! 😃

This was an interesting story that began with an email from an ancestry site that informs you that a match for your dad has been found on their database. The one problem with this is her dad has died two years ago. So begins Paige’s quest to find the truth of her identity. Two timelines are used as the story unfolds. Paige has always had a strained relationship with her mom and as she tries to make sense of her new identity it becomes more tenuous. Secrets that have been kept slowly are revealed and new relationships are formed. Truthfulness aids Paige’s relationship with her mom as she looks forward to her new life while being mindful of the past. This is the perfect book club book. #LittlePiecesOfMe #AlisonHammer #NetGalley

This is one of those books I’m so glad I took a chance on requesting and then receiving. Wow, what a delight! I loved every character in this and how distinct all their voices were. Even the secondary characters felt well developed and I was interested to learn about them just as much as Paige, Andy, and Betsy.

I do wish the very last chapter did not exist; I think it puts into question a lot of what was said earlier and disappoints me in a way, but it wasn’t enough for me to take away a star. I definitely will be reading more from this author.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Imagine signing up for a DNA test and finding out your dad isn’t your biological father. To make matters worse, the man you called “dad” has passed and your mother isn’t talking. This is the premise of the heartfelt LITTLE PIECES OF ME by Alison Hammer, which deftly explores the definition of family, and what might happen if yours is turned upside down. With its richly drawn characters and poignant dialogue, this novel is sure to tug at those heartstrings as you flip back and forth from past to present, gently unraveling the mystery. An emotional and equally compelling read. - Hannah Mary McKinnon, bestselling author of SISTER DEAR

NOTE: I received a free Advance Reader's Copy from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

For a premise that could have been overly dramatic or soap opera-ish, this book about 43-year old Paige who through a DNA testing kit finds out the man she thought was her father is actually not her biological parent seems to hit the right note. The book follows two timelines: "Now" - Paige's story of discovery and "Then" - mom Elizabeth/Betsey's story about the events leading to Paige's conception and birth. Both parts are compelling and you'll keep the pages turning to find out what happened and who knew what and when.

Once again, Alison Hammer has brought me to tears with her sophomore novel, Little Pieces of Me. This novel about the meaning of family and the choices we make that affect everything that comes next was so beautiful. Just like Hammer's debut, You & Me & Us, this book had a very complicated mother/daughter relationship at the center and the way it came together was so satisfying without being too unrealistically tied up in a bow. I also appreciated the Jewish representation, the supportive fiancé role, and the strong platonic friendships. This book was a winner for me and I can't wait to see what Alison Hammer brings us next.

Little Pieces of Me by Alison Hammer is an excellent second book by an amazingly readable author, This book showed the redemptive power of forgiveness. Hammer had the perfect elements to keep the reader absolutely enthralled —- family drama, long held secrets revealed, conflicted mother daughter dynamics, and relatable characters. Seriously, this is a book that you will start and finish all in the same day. Carve out some time so you are ready!

The book opens with a strong female character, Paige, who at 43 is newly unemployed and struggling with planning a wedding with the help of her mother. Paige has an outstanding group of friends, Maks and Margaux, who help support her when she gets an unexpected email that rocks her identity. She is notified that she has a Parent Not Expected, her beloved father does not share her DNA.

As a red haired blue-eyed child Paige was always on the outskirts of her mother’s love, but her father was her number one supporter. What follows is an extremely well done dual timeline novel. Hammer switches between Now and Then with the backstory of her mother, Betsy, and her DNA dad, Andy, in 1975. What is revealed changes everyone involved, will bring out long held beliefs, and have everyone questioning their values.

Hammer has outstanding storytelling with a few twists and a satisfying conclusion to much of the family drama. She tells this story with grace and true empathy. There is a richness and a joy that leaps off of the pages despite the damage to the human heart and the fallout that secrets can cause to not just those directly involved but the entire family unit.

I was provided a free advance reader copy from William Morrow and Custom House in exchange for my honest review on Net Galley. The opinions shared in this review are my own.

Paige Meyer is 43-years-old, happily engaged, newly unemployed, and still grieving the death of her father. When a DNA test reveals startling results, Paige is left reeling—does this information validate the feelings she’s always had that she did not fit in with her family, does it negate the loving relationship she had with her dad, and does this revelation change who Paige is? Both timelines are equally compelling and heartfelt as we learn the unvarnished truth about Paige’s conception and birth, and as we watch Paige wrestle with all the emotions this has revelation stirred up. I loved that there were no easy answers to any of this, no right or wrong, no blame or guilt; there were secrets and deceptions, choices and consequences, but there was also devotion and love. My own emotions were in a twist; smiling, crying, angry, conflicted. Little Pieces of Me is a book to be read with your heart, with memorable characters we care about, grieve for, and for whom we wish happiness and healing.

In Little Pieces Of Me a mother and daughter are faced with a new relationship one where Paige’s father is no longer there to be the buffer. Paige and Elizabeth navigate a new dynamic after she discovers her mother kept a secret from her.

Paige is experiencing an identity crisis after learning that her mother has kept a secret from her. A DNA test shows Paige that the life she has been living is a lie eventhough it’s been a joyous wonderful life. She can’t help but wonder what her life would’ve been like had the circumstances been different. She felt like her and her mother never truly bonded. She attributes it to her being young when she got pregnant and not being able to finish college. Paige wants the truth but her mother is scared to face the truth.

Paige is in her forties and about to get married for the first time to a patient loving man. She has a healthy loving support system with friends, sisters, and family. While Paige plans her wedding and looks for a new job she also works at rebuilding her relationship with her mother.

Alison set out to write a convincing story about family and identity. She certainly conquered both. Alison included a variety of relationships where Paige bonded with different individuals. Paige’s life with her dad. Her relationship with her mother. Her sisterly bond with her younger twin sisters. Her friendship with Mak and Margaux. Her life with Jeff. Each one of these relationships are like torn pieces of paper. When the pieces are put back together they make up the whole of who Paige is. Paige is a unique character with each relationship. Overall she isn’t defined by these relationships she’s defined by the choices she makes.

I had a love/hate relationship with the way Alison presented the truth. As a reader I liked being privy to the truth before Paige’s character. But then again I didn’t know what to do with that information when the other factors of the story were still in play. For me the wedding planning portion of the storyline crowded the concept. The wedding was the tool used to build the relationship with her mother yet the actual planning process was tedious to read.

I enjoyed Andrew’s character. The chapters with his backstory were beautifully written. Sadly I’m on the fence regarding my feelings towards Betsy in those chapters.
I really enjoyed the concept of this story, but it dragged on for far too long. Where I originally thought of Paige as this brave warrior character soon fell to the wayside when she second guessed her decision on one too many occasions. I did like that she had options on how to get the truth. Some roadblocks and obstacles were handled better than others. This is where her support system really came into play.

This was a character driven story with each character searching for that path to self discovery. Each character was venturing into a new chapter in life trying to navigate the new altered version of themselves. Basically saying goodbye to one part of themselves while saying hello to a new piece. It’s like each character carried around pieces of themselves in different parts depending on life’s circumstances.

I thought the timing of this secret was interesting considering who the secret protected. This is where my conundrum lies. The convenience of withholding a secret for this long to wait until this pivotal moment just brought out my impatience. I admit I had to skim the last half of the story filtering through the wedding planning scenes.

I'm soooo excited to discover a new to me author and I absolutely LOVED this book!!! It's super relevant in today's times - everyone is DNA testing all over the place and family secrets are popping out of the closets all over the place! I connected with ALL the characters (although, it was a little prickly with the Mom) - Paige could NOT have asked for a better tribe!! Between her soon to be husband and her best friends - sister had it made!! I'm a sucker for a happily ever after and this one gave me all the feels!!! I appreciated how the book dove into what made the mom tick and explained how she came to the decisions that she did- and the lifelong friendship and support that she had - we ALL need buddies like it seemed everyone had in this book. Oh! I won't spill about the secret that I didn't even see coming ;) I Can NOT wait to read more from this author!! Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Paige Meyer finds out through DNA testing that she's not the biological daughter of the father she's loved her whole life. This is especially sad since Paige's father has already passed away. When Paige asks her mother about this, she finds more questions than answers.

The story is told from the perspectives of Paige, her mother in the past, and her biological father in the past. I liked this way of narrating, but it made me dislike the mother even more. She had reasons for the things she did, but she didn't show much remorse, nor did she really take responsibility for the pain she caused her daughter. I didn't find Paige unlikeable, but for the most part, she kind of just let life happen to her, not really taking charge.

Overall a solid story.