Book Title: Pieces of Me
Author: Kate McLaughlin
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press~ Wednesday Books
Genre: Teen Y/A Mental Health
Pub Date: April 18, 2023
My Rating: 3 Stars!

Dylan is living in a fog doesn’t know what is going on. She discovers drawing she didn’t’ draw. She even meets someone who knows her by a different name.
At first it's jarring and completely understandable that Dylan doesn't know what's going on and is confuse
Dylan has DID - disassociated identity disorder.
Story continues with her many struggles.

I have read several stories where DID was involved only those stories were mysterious and DID was the answer.
This is a mental health story and to me is nonfiction.
Author, Kate McLaughlin did a lot of research. A must read is the back of the book with her Acknowledgements and resources.
In her ‘Acknowledgements’ she tells us her inspiration for writing this.
In her ‘Further Research’ she included many resources: Books, Movies, and YouTube Channels.

This was difficult to rate. There is no doubt this is a great book on this subject! I high recommend it to anyone interested in the struggles of DID and wants more information
However, it was not an enjoyable Sunday afternoon read for me.
At the beginning Ms. McLaughlin mentions some thematic materials (which to me should have been triggers) There is discussion of child abuse/sexual assault, alcohol abuse, smoking, vaping and sex.

Want to thank NetGalley and Saint Martin’s Press~ Wednesday Books for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for April 18, 2023

It is clear that Kate McLaughlin spent a lot of time researching Dissociative Identity Disorder and listened to real stories of people living with DID. I have watched several documentaries about the subject and know more about it than the average reader, but this story brought the disorder to life to help others understand it. She also gives us an idea about how others react to people with the disorder, including those who find it hard to believe that the person isn't justing acting or making it up. From the description I've just given, it might seem like this book is quite clinical, but it is the opposite. Readers will grieve with Dylan when see uncovers her hidden memories that caused the disorder as well as her internal characters who hold those memories and try to protect her in their own ways. They will also identify with Dylan's supporters and friends, both those who love her unconditionally and those who take a little longer to understand. The description of Dylan's rich inner world is creative, but also helps her express what is nearly impossible for those with the disorder to explain to us: multiple people sharing one body. YA readers will love this story.

I’ve enjoyed this author’s previous books and overall this book was also enjoyable to read. The book quickly begins in a rush of events – kickstarting the protagonist Dylan’s journey. Dylan has DID but she doesn’t know it at first and loses track of time and wakes up in an unfamiliar location. Overall, I really enjoyed the novel because it was interesting to see how Dylan dealt with both this new diagnosis and how she dealt with her past trauma that caused her personality to split. My only issue was that everyone in Dylan’s life was so supportive of her and her condition – her mother, her best friend, her new boyfriend, and even her stepmom and dad. The only person who wasn’t as supportive right away was her twin brother. Now, I haven’t met anyone with DID so I don’t know how accurate the portrayal was – however the fact that everyone quickly accepted, and she faced no struggles felt a little unrealistic. But I could suspend belief for the sake of the story because I really did enjoy the narrative and the characters we got to meet – especially all of Dylan’s alters.

I recommend this book for those who have an interest in DID that isn’t in a horror setting (as it often is used).

*Thank you so much to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Pieces of Me by Kate McLaughlin was certainly an interesting book and kept me reading. I also believe it is informative and a way to make readers aware of a particular type of mental illness. Dylan was a likeable character (or should I say "characters") but at times the story was moving along too slowly and I was ready to move past the struggles and get on with a recovery for her. I believe that all people who suffer from this mental illness and their caregivers should read this book to help them understand the power of this illness. I was pleased with the ending of the book.

4/5

Pieces of Me is a really interesting look into Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), along with the diagnosis and therapy accompanying it. I liked Dylan as a main character, and even the other personalities added interest to the story. It's tough to understand a concept as abstract as DID, but I think McLaughlin did a nice job of trying to make the experience accessible for her audience.

The characters themselves are a bit lacking. Connor accepts everything as a knight-in-shining-armor trope, Izzy is beyond unwavering, Dylan undertakes her diagnosis eagerly, Mom/Dad just accept everything at face value--no questions asked. It all just seems to come together a little too easily with no bumps, conflicts, etc. The big "secret" was also pretty easy to figure out early on, but still worked in terms of plot development.

I'll tell my students about: childhood trauma, sexual abuse, mental health issues, language, alcohol, drugs, medication, sex.

**Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the free ARC prior to publication. All opinions expressed are my own.**

*Thank you to the Publisher, Author, and Netgalley for providing me with a E-ARC of Pieces of Me in exchange for an honest review*

Wow this a really powerful book. I think that the author did a great job of representing DID. I'm actually fond of the cover as well.

Dylan wakes up in an apartment unsure of where she is, who she is with, and unaware of the past three days. After her best friend suggests that she has DID - dissociative identity disorder - the diagnosis is confirmed by a doctor. Unsure what trauma caused the DID, she begins delving into her past.

I'm not sure how to rate this book. I think DID is a fascinating topic, particularly the therapy and integrating personalities. However, everything seemed to come so easily to Dylan. She didn't struggle with the diagnosis, but seemingly accepted it with very little questioning. The process of meeting her alters seemed routine, as if she was meeting a new neighbor. The ease just did not seem realistic. I understand this may appeal to a young adult/teenage reader, but it didn't work for me. Overall, 3 out of 5 stars.

I don't know how to feel about this book. It does not seem according to the author's note or interviews online that the author is writing from a lived experience with DID, which makes me a little unsure of the representation. I'd be curious to know how DID folks feel about the rep here. It's unclear to me if the protagonist actually has BPD or if this was a misdiagnosis for DID--it feels like this distinction is important for readers, who may be carrying multiple diagnoses, and trying to figure out what they actually have. Her quick acceptance of having alters felt surprising to me, and concerned me that it may encourage readers to just take on any label they may receive. There are so many misdiagnoses, which result in ineffective treatments, so a proper diagnosis is so important.

But my biggest problem is that the book seems to use constant cursing and explicit details more for shock value than necessity. DID is trauma-induced, so it's expected that this character would have gone through something awful and that some mature material is necessary, but it feels like DID is sensationalized here. While I don't have DID, it makes me wary of whether this representation is authentic or not, and I couldn't finish because the details were so excessive. A little goes a long way. This book would've been much more powerful if it knew when to hold back and restrain itself.

First up, DID often is brought on by trauma at a certain age, so be aware there IS trauma of a child explored in the book. It wasn't hard for me to figure out the who and the what, and it's not graphic in its description or flashes but be aware if this is triggering for you to read.

But the book is far less about the trauma and far more about exploring DID and what it means for the person and their alters, their families and loved ones. I liked that it ended on a hopeful note but the authors note is also important that there is no real cure. This book was also interesting in understanding Dylan and her alters and the system and making it accessible w/in a novel that is about trauma but isnt traumatic in itself..

It's not a deep dive into DID and I was surprised by some of the light way things were handled but this is also a diagnosis I know little about and have only seen the treatment of it in fiction being exploitive and this didn't feel that way. It's a quick, good read and Dylan really is a strong character and has a good support system.

Pieces of Me by Kate McLaughlin was an amazing look into what it's truly like being diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)
I got so consumed by Dylan's story. At times it was scary, interesting but yet informative.
Kate McLaughlin did such an amazing job at crafting this characters life with this mental illness.
I couldn't imagine what it's truly like living with DID... But I could feel it through Dylan and that to me is worth all the star ratings.
The writing as always was so good. She can pull me into a story like no other.
I don't think this author can write a bad book.
I enjoyed this book so much. It kept me turning pages long after I should have turned out the lights!

(If you haven't read her previous book Daughter, you should should give it a try also!)

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

St. Martin's Press & Wednesday Books,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this eARC!

This is a fascinating story about a girl who discovers she has DID - disassociated identity disorder. Before she knows, she loses gaps of times, discovers drawings she didin't make and finally meets someone that knows her by a completely different name. At first it's jarring and completely understandable that Dylan doesn't know what's going on and is confused. There's a huge turning point and then the stories picks up a bit as we learn more.

I like the reasearch the author did. This doens't feel like a sesationalized or over-the-top story but one that was full of confusion and frustration that moves to understand and compassion. I found it all interesting but a bit slow in places. I like that it wasn't all rainbows and sunshine and instead tackled some really tough topics. Interesting read, I liked it.

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

So... This one had A LOT going on and became emotional and mind-consuming the moment I opened up to the first chapter. I don't usually like reviews with spoilers so I'll probably keep this short. But, truth be told it most definitely sucked me in and I finished it in a day. I think the topics it touches on are trigger warning worthy for sure and some people might not be able to get through it depending on their own experiences. DID is a very important conversation that needs to be had to better understand the people who live with it. From my perspective, I enjoyed the information and knowledge I received from this book on the matter as well.

I don't know very much about DID but I do know that it is frequently misrepresented in media and online. Based off what I do know, Pieces of Me seemed like a realistic representation. 18 year old Dylan doesn't know what's going on with her but she knows she needs help. After being misdiagnosed several times, she finally meets a doctor that seems to know what she really has. She meets a cute boy around the same time that she starts having episodes and starts a new relationship at the same time she is dealing with a new diagnosis.

I LOVED this book. Dylan knows that she's been losing chunks of time from her life, she doesn't know why. Finally, she figures out that she has DID caused from childhood trauma. I have always found the subject of DID interesting, and I love that this book gives a glimpse of what life might be like for a person with dissociative identity disorder. The characters were relatable and well-written, the story was compelling, and I did not want to put this book down! This was my first book by Kate McLaughlin, but it definitely won't be my last!

4.5 stars

Dylan wakes up in an apartment she's never seen before with people she doesn't know who call her a different name, but somehow she feels safe. She's blacked out before, but never like this! This time she's lost three days and missed some serious work in her classes. What is going on? All Dylan wants is to be normal When she's diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder, Dylan struggles to understand what is happening to her and why, and to decide if she really does want to know what terrible secret is hiding inside her.

This book is absolutely gripping from the first page. I did not want to put it down. I knew almost nothing about DID before reading this book so I cannot really comment on the accuracy of the portrayal, but the reviews from mental health professionals and people with DID are good. I found it fascinating and loved how McLaughlin portrayed Dylan's system. While I did find the character of Connor to be a little too good to believe, the other side characters - Izzy, Mark, and Jennifer - to be completely believable. They were well-rounded enough to buy into and their reactions and growth were realistic. Dylan's journey as well was heartbreaking, but hopeful and felt realistic to me. 4.5 stars instead of 5 because the ending was a little too simply HEA to be as believable as the rest of the book. I also would have liked to see her relationship with her father explored a little more.

Overall, this was a fantastic read that I would recommend to anyone over the age of 15!

Disclaimer: I received a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for this ARC in return for my honest review.

I discovered Kate McLaughlin earlier this year with her novel Daughter. When I saw Pieces of Me on Netgalley, I immediately requested it. I try to avoid comparing novels written by the same author because authors grow, change genres, etc. Despite that, I can't help but be disappointed by this book.

Missing chunks of time and feeling deja vu, Dylan finds herself wondering if she's sick, crazy, or a combination of both. DID is a tough subject to write and in this regard, the author pulled it off without being so clinical that the average reader would be confused. The writing style was incredible. The characters however fell flat...and considering how many characters there were, I would've hoped to connect to at least one of them. The twist was very obvious although I think this may have been intentional. The story seemed to drag on after there was no story left to tell.

While this may not be a book I'd recommend, I would recommend the author. Thank you for the chance to read and though I wasn't a fan of Pieces of Me, I'm still excited to see what Kate McLaughlin brings us next.

I really enjoyed this book! The main character, Dylan, is diagnosed with Dissociate Identity Disorder after "waking up" in a couple of different places and not realizing where she is or how she had gotten there. I don't know about anyone else - but my experience/knowledge about DID was limited to watching "Sybil" in my HS Psychology class. The author does a great job of exploring and explaining what Dissociative Identity Disorder looks like and where "alters" protect each other from the trauma the host had faced earlier in life. The characters were likeable and I found myself not wanting to put it down to find out what was going to happen next.

Pieces of Me follows Dylan's journey of finding out that she has dissociative identity disorder (DID) and learning how to cope with the disorder, as well as the trauma that it originated from. I enjoyed this portrayal of DID because it was not sensationalized like most works of fiction about it that I have come across before. It is a more realistic depiction of the experience of living with the disorder, supported by research, conversations and consultation. I can't speak to the accuracy of the portrayal, but it was educational for me, learning about how people with DID communicate with their systems.

While being educational, it was still a very engaging work of fiction. I personally love the first-person, YA writing style since I grew up reading it. I really liked the way the book opened, with Dylan waking up in Connor's apartment with no memory of how she got there. This book demystified concepts like dissociation and switching in DID, but still managed to be interesting and dramatic. One of the reasons is that the alters themselves are such interesting characters. Her family and friends also create character dynamics that are fun to explore in a novel, like her brother's tendency to be angry to protect himself from fear.

Dylan is of high socioeconomic status, has a lot of social support in her life, and her mother can afford the best treatment for her. This is unfortunately not a reality for most people dealing with mental health issues. However, Dylan is shown to be self-aware about these things, which I appreciate.

There was a romance subplot in the novel, which was totally conflict-free. Even though some criticize it to be boring, I personally enjoyed it because I usually find romance conflicts annoying in books, and it's important in a book about mental health to emphasize the importance of social support rather than romanticizing unhealthy relationships. There were a few moments in the book where something emotional was happening between the characters, but the dialogue or the descriptions of the characters's behavior did not feel natural. This is a very minor criticism and will probably be revised in the final version of the book.

Overall, I enjoyed reading the book and I think it is commendable for the author to represent a less-commonly understood disorder in a novel.

I found Pieces of Me by Kate McLaughlin to be a fascinating look at DID from the eyes of the patient being diagnosed. Once the diagnosis was made, I found the support that Dylan received to be laudable, but not completely realistic. I think that many would be turned off if they found their friend had DID and how it was so easily accepted and treated didn't quite hit the mark for me. However, I couldn't put the book down and wish that the problems of all could be so easily solved with medication and support. Having read Sybil many years ago, I think that somewhere between the two is more realistic. I can see a great deal of research went into it!

Thanks to the author,St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Reviewed for NetGalley:

The story of eighteen year old, Dylan, walking up somewhere she doesn't know, with someone she doesn't know, and no idea why. After blackouts, and multiple evaluations, Dylan is diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder.

An interesting take on the diagnosis, as it is unraveled in real time from Dylan's perspective.