Paige’s life gets turned upside down when she received an email from the DNA site telling her she has a family match. Her father. Except this Andy person isn’t her father, it must be a mistake. After asking her mother doesn’t go as planned, Paige knows she will need to go to the only other person that may have answers. Andy himself.

I can’t imagine one day waking up and finding out the man you knew as your father your entire life wasn’t actually your father. With the rise in DNA testing, I am sure there are a lot of people out there that find out things like this all the time. I absolutely loved the way this book explored identity, and how identity can feel tied to who our parents are. My heart broke for Paige as she tried to find out who she was with this new information that had been thrust at her. The dual timeline added a different side to her mother, which certainly made her seem more real than if we only saw the current day Elizabeth. And oh man Andy. I cannot imagine how he was feeling during his college years, I just wanted to reach out and give him a hug! I adored You and Me and Us by Alison Hammer, and let me tell you, her second novel does not disappoint! She is quickly becoming an auto-buy for me!

My first thought on finishing "Little Pieces of Me" was this: I need to discuss this book with someone! With her sophomore book, Alison Hammer has established herself as a go-to author of women's fiction. Told in dual timelines and multiple points of view, "Little Pieces of Me" is the story of Paige, a woman who discovers through DNA results that the man who raised her was not her biological father. As Paige seeks out the truth in the present timeline, we learn through a past timeline the story of Paige's mother, who became pregnant while in college. Secrets, lies, and a mother-daughter relationship fraught from conception. Book club discussions of this book are liable to get rambunctious.

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for providing a copy for review purposes.

Paige Miller receives an email that shakes her world. She has learned through DNA testing that her biological father is alive. Problem is, Paige is grieving for the man she thought was her father for most of her life. Stunned, Paige begins to search for answers, digging into memories of her childhood, which made her question her mother's love.
It's 1975 and Betsy Kaplan is in her second year at the University of Kansas., A fight with her boyfriend causes Betsy to seek consolation in the arms of another man, Andy Abrams. But when she learns that her one night stand has lasting consequences, Betsy has to create a stable life for her unborn child. Her past is not something she wants to talk about with her daughter.
Her mother's refusal to revisit the past leads Paige on a quest to talk to the only other person would would know the truth. This dual timeline gives us a compelling story from each character's perspective and we are given front-row seats behind each of the decisions made.
I absolutely loved the dual timeline. I think the author handled this feature well. There was a great balance between the two timelines -- Now and Then -- which really showed how decisions of the past affect the future. But I did enjoy the Then narrative better. Paige was troubled about so many things and it was great to see her not only love herself but gain a better understanding of her mother. I was so glad that the author showed us Betsy's POV as well because that kept her likable and relatable. The secondary characters were also well-developed although I would have to loved to see more of Paige's relationship with her sister explored. The title was apt and the cover design is really pretty. I look forward to reading more from this author.
Thank you @Netgalley
Thank you @williammorrowbooks

In her sophomore novel, Alison Hammer once again delivers an emotional and heartfelt story about love, family, and connection.

The premise of this novel piqued my interest immediately. Paige Meyer gets an email from a DNA testing website that shakes the foundation of her life. The father that she loved so deeply may not be her biological father after all. This shocking revelation sends Paige on a journey of discovery that causes her to question every part of her life as well as her own identity.

Told in dual timelines, the story follows Paige searches for answers in the present as well as her mother’s sophomore year at college where the story truly begins. The transitions between past and present are seamless and flow with purpose, pushing the story forward. This structure also allows the readers to understand the challenges and motivations of each character on a deeper level.

And it is the characters that are truly the heart of this novel. The relationship between Paige and her mother is heartbreakingly real in its complexity and the supporting characters really compliment the story. I especially loved the interactions between Paige and her two best friends. Their conversations were so real I found myself laughing out loud several times.

LITTLE PIECES OF ME is a compulsively readable novel that would be perfect for book clubs.

I highly recommend you pick up a copy on April 13 and, while you’re waiting, be sure to read Hammer’s debut novel, YOU AND ME AND US.

Thank you to the publisher for my advance reading copy.

Thank you to Net Galley, Alison Hammer and the Publishers for this ebook ARC in. Exchange for my honest review,
I went in with high expectations as I so loved Alison's first book so much.( You And Me and Us)
She does not disappoint with her second book. I was a bit worried hearing it had duel timelines as frequently they are confusing to follow. Not this one, this actually was so well done it made the story flow easily back and forth allowing continuity thru both timelines. I will recommend it to others when released, a great story of friendship and mother daughter relations, with a DNA mystery too.

Little Pieces of Me is a powerful and emotional book. Paige Meyers discovers her deceased father who she adored, may not be her biological father thanks to a DNA website she participated in when working on their advertising campaign. When the website tells her that she has a parental match to Andy Abrams, a man she has never heard of before, Paige questions her mother who shuts the questioning down. Determined to figure out why she felt like her mother never truly loved her and why she always felt different growing up, Paige sets out to find out the truth of her paternity.

The book is told in dual timelines, present day as Paige unravels her paternity and in the 1970's when her parents and Andy were sophomores in college. I enjoyed how even when the story switched back and forth between timelines, it flowed easily. There is a lot of emotion in this book, not just with Paige's world being turned upside down with her paternity, but with her relationship with her mother. The interactions between them brought me to tears a few times with how much you could tell that they love each other but didn't know how to express it to the other correctly. This book felt very raw and honest with the depiction of the paternity situation and Paige's relationship with her family and friends and it is something that made to me this story shine.

One thing I was pleasantly surprised about as Jewish reviewer who is always seeking out Jewish books, was that this was a Jewish story. I had no idea about that when I requested this book on NetGalley since it is never once mentioned in the synopsis. I liked the ties of Judaism that were sprinkled throughout.

Wow this was a great book! I was not expecting this to be such an emotional book going into it! This was a great story, and I really connected to it! I was adopted and have even done a 23 and Me test, but I have no hopes of ever actually finding any relatives this way. Mine was more to see the medical results it can provide you. If I ever did get a random email though I am not sure how I would feel or respond! My favorite parts of this book were the moments in the past when you see Betsy and young Andy. I loved that you got to see both perspectives throughout this, and the reasonings behind their actions.

The very last paragraph shocked me! I don't know what to think about those final words! This book will stick with me, and I cannot wait to see other reviews when this comes out!

Thank you Netgalley & Harper Collins for my digital copy in exchange for a honest review!

Thank you to William Morrow and Net Galley for a digital ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review.
I knew I'd love this story of a surprise uncovered by a DNA test because my husband found a surprise in his family tree, though it wasn’t quite as dramatic as the one Paige Meyer discovers in Little Pieces of Me.

Paige, a woman in her forties, feels like she doesn’t belong in her family. Her relationship with her mother is prickly, and her father, who loved her unconditionally, has passed away. After Paige receives an email from a DNA testing website that reveals her late father isn’t her DNA father, she is devastated and questions her identity, her relationship with her father, and her mother’s honesty and love. With help from her two best friends, Paige begins the process of discovering who she really is. Eventually she learns the truth about herself, the man who raised her, her mother, and the relationship between her mother and her DNA dad, but it's a rocky road she travels to understand the meaning of love and forgiveness.

The story is told in dual timelines: the present called “Now” in Paige’s point of view, and “Then,” in 1975 which follows Betsy’s and Andy’s college years and shows us who Paige’s mother and DNA dad were before they conceived Paige. This organizational setup must have been complicated to pull off, but it reveals the motivations and secrets of each character in the story at the exact moment I wanted and needed to know them. Even thought the characters of Elizabeth and Betsy were the same person, this before and after timeline revealed the changes wrought by time and circumstance on all the characters. Elizabeth was Betsy before life and circumstances intervened, and Andrew was Andy.

I particularly liked stepping back in time in Betsy’s and Andy’s chapters. I think we sometimes forget our parents are and were as fully human as we are, so it was eye-opening to read those chapters and think of them as the background to Paige’s story and growth as a character and also how much our past influences our present. Their chapters brought back memories of my own college years and the secrets I keep. They also made me think of my parents in a new way. Good books make us think in a new way about ourselves and the world, and this book is one that has resonated with me on many levels.

As I read, these questions kept running through my mind. How well do we truly know our parents? How many people keep secrets this big? At what age do we view ourselves as individuals rather than as our parents’ children, or do we ever do that? I could not put this book down and highly recommend it!

Another DNA shocker novel! I am not surprised because it is a deep vein to mine. I liked the switching back and forth between timelines. At first, I thought it would be clunky but it actually added to the telling of the story. It was really well thought out despite the topic which could easily have run into over top, ripped from the headlines territory. You really do get to know all of the characters involved.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

I requested this book because the title alone suggests there might be growth and "feelings" involved while reading it... and I was right. Paige has always been a Daddy's girl, right up to his death. Her relationship with her mother, however has never been great and has become even more strained after his death. One day Paige gets an email that changes her life forever, right down to her very core. She finds out that her dad isn't really her biological dad...which leads her on a journey to understand her mother, why she kept it a secret, and if she wants to get to know this new "dad". The story is told in a now and then format and we learn her mother's story and how it intersects with Paige and the strain between them and what led to a dad she never knew about. Personally I loved the story line and where it went...I would 100% recommend it to anyone who has ever thought about doing a DNA test or wondered what life would be like they weren't who they thought they were.

I can't wait to share this book with friends when it comes out in April! Thank you to Allison Hammer for creating such rich characters. Thank you to #netgalley @WmMorrowBooks and @customhousebooks for an advanced reader copy for my honest opinion of this book. This book is about family secrets and complicated mother daughter relationships. I really felt for the main character, Paige Meyer, who truly doubted her mother's love and wondered if her mom regretted the things she lost when she got pregnant with her during her sophmore year of college. Did her mom regret having her and/or marrying so young? Paige is at a turning point in her life when she finds out through an e-mail that a DNA ancestry site has found a parent-child match for her. The e-mail bluntly alerts her to the fact that the father she has known all her life, who has recently deceased, is not her biological father. The book is about her coming to grips with this news and making decisions about whether or not she wants to learn more about this new "DNA Dad" that she has discovered. What DNA traits do they share? What role does this person play in her identity? Does she want him to be a part of her life now? It doesn't help that the news comes when Paige is already feeling lost and unsettled from being unemployed and trying to prepare for her upcoming marriage. I credit her fiance, Jeff, and her best friends Maks and Margeaux, for holding her up when she gets this devastating news. I like the way the author chose a dual storyline to include Paige's reactions in present time (now) and to take us back to her mother's time in college (then) so we better understand the events that led to Paige's conception. Hearing her mother's story helps the reader better understand the choices her mom makes to try and make a happy and secure future for her and baby. I would love to debate whether her mom did the right thing in burying the secrets from her husband and Paige. The book is tender at times and funny at other points due to the crazy antics with her best friends, Maks & Margeaux. Everyone needs someone to truly listen to them and to give them a little push when they need it. I agree with the author that friends are sometimes as important as family in shaping our identify and happiness. Spoiler alert - I was so happy that Paige choose to build a relationship with her DNA dad. I do not feel like this relationship in any way tarnished her relationship with the dad she loved. I hope the author will continue stories about these characters including mom's second chance at love. #littlepiecesofme

In Pieces of Me, Hammer expertly weaves past and present, capturing the threads that bind one family. A story of hidden truths, identity, and parent-child relationships, readers will be drawn to these memorable characters and their journey toward understanding. Be prepared to laugh and cry along the way. Brava, Alison Hammer for another fabulous read.

I received this book "Little Pieces of Me" from NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own. Paige is trying to find out who her bio father is because she got an email from a DNA testing website. This book was okay. I didn't really look forward to reading everyday. The book was set in the past and the present. Overall okay story line.

In a world where everyone is paying to have their DNA traced and tracked, it isn't surprising that a few family secrets get exposed in the process. Paige Meyers, a 43 year old woman who is mourning her father (who passed away 2 years ago) on their shared birthday, discovers that her favorite person in the world isn't actually her father.

Paige and her mother do not have the easiest relationship, and as she unravels the truth about her parentage, she begins to find out why their relationship is so strained. This also shakes her sense of identity to the core. As someone who never felt she fit in with her family, Paige begins to wonder how much of our DNA determines who we really are.

This novel plays with a dual narrative. The now/present is Paige's POV, discovering the truth of her father. The then/past shuffles between Betsy (Paige's mother) and Andy (Paige's biological father).

I found myself really enjoying the "Then" sections with Betsy and Andy. They were loads more interesting and entertaining to me. The "Now" sections are decent, but they are also the reason the book didn't hit all the right points for me. I feel as though too much time was spent of Paige being redundant in her thinking and emotions. I know that discovering your father isn't really your father is quite the shock, but I think more time could've been spent with the other things that get mentioned with the side characters that could have really fleshed this book out for me. The stuff with Jeff's coworker, Ross, seemed like a much bigger deal than it was. Paige's budding relationship with one of her younger sisters could have been better explored, plus the relationship between the younger twin sisters themselves could have been explained more.

Although there are things I think the novel is lacking, it was a decent story that I found myself enjoying more than I thought I would. If you read the description and found your interest piqued, I would recommend picking this up.

Happy reading!

Family drama and ancestory.com as the catapult to this story. The main character was hard to like. I also felt that a lot of side stories were just left up in the air. Overall just okay book.

Great women's fiction. Highly recommend this one. Thank you to Alison Hammer, the publisher, and Netgalley for the ARC.

I really got caught up in this book.
It is very well written and thought out.

Elizabeth and Paige have a strained mother- daughter relationship, exacerbated by the death of Paige's dad. He always watched over his daughter.
Paige has never been able to understand why her mom has always been so cold and distant towards her.

The clues begin to open when a DNA test that Paige took and a follow-up email with results insists that there is a man who has a very close genetic match to Paige.
Could it possibly be true?
Could her mother have a secret that she has never shared? Wait and see!
This novel sheds answers to the mystery in dual timelines as we go back to Betsy's (Elizabeth) early life and college years and then fast forward to Paige and her life.
Really a wonderful read!

I wasn't as wowed by this title as I was with Hammer's first novel. The plot is fine and moves at a good pace, but emotionally the story just wasn't hitting the right notes.

Little Pieces of Me is told in dual storylines: Paige in the present trying to figure out who she is once receiving the DNA results, and Betsy in the past during her college years. Both timelines converge to tell the story of Paige’s parentage. I thought this was very well done, and kept the pages turning quickly. Usually, in dual timeline books, I’m more interested in one POV than the other, but this wasn’t the case with Little Pieces of Me.

The dual timelines also helped paint a picture of how Betsy, Mark, and Andy had changed between college and adulthood. At some points, I forgot that innocent, kind Betsy was the same cold, distant person that was Paige’s mother. Even her descriptions of her loving dad didn’t match the descriptions of boring Mark from college. No adult is the same person as they were in college, so I thought this was very well done.

I was shocked to realize that Paige was in her 40s. I thought she acted much younger, maybe my age at mid-twenties. I don’t think this detracted from the story at all, I just didn’t think she acted like a 40-year-old woman in her interactions with her mother and her friends.

I really enjoyed this book - it was a unique take on a chick-flick while incorporating the Ancestry.com component of finding bonus family members. Characters were well developed, and I enjoyed reading it.