“Once upon a time, we were a family”
It’s a novel covering grief, love and healing - the Sadler family have suffered an imaginable tragedy and they’re all struggling to come to terms with it.
The novel is split into two parts - the first part covers the aftermath of losing Phoebe and the arrival of new baby daughter, Bea.
The second half then fast forwards 25 years later and we find out what has happened to the family in the intervening years.
It’s authentic and real and that’s the beauty of the novel.
Heartbreaking and unforgettable, yet ultimately a positive novel on a family coping and dealing with loss.
Thanks @laurapauthor, @boldwoodbooks & @netgalley for the heartbreaking yet uplifting read

Absolutely beautiful! This book is a masterpiece, I don’t have a bad word to say. I have read Laura’s books before sad always enjoyed but this one for me is another level.

Despite being a desperately sad topic, this is beautifully written and hope can still be found, it balances realism, hope and devastation so well.

Wonderfully written, this is a must read.

When the Sadler family suffer an unimaginable tragedy, they all struggle to come to terms with it, none more so than mum Linda, who is also expecting her third child. Dad Tom is trying his best to hold everything together, while 7 year old Esme can't fully understand what has happened.

Split into 2 parts, the first covers the aftermath of the initial event and the arrival of new baby daughter Bea, and the second fast forwards to 25 years later where we catch up with the family and find out what has happened in the intervening years.

This is a heartbreaking yet ultimately uplifting read about loss and how a family deals with the awful tragedies that affect their family.

All I can say is, make sure you have a box of tissues with you when you read this one! What a rollercoaster of a story

Well, this was a much sadder read than I expected, having not really read the blurb. It centres around the sudden death of a child, three-year-old Phoebe, and the shattering impact on her family - pregnant mum Linda, dad Tom, big sister Esme, and Bea - the baby born shortly after Phoebe's death. It's a harrowing depiction of the effects of incapacitating grief on Linda in particular, pulling no punches whatsoever.

The first part of the book takes place in the '80s, following the events after the death, while the second half sees Esme and Bea as adults, still shadowed by the tragedies of their childhood. It's a long time - the whole book, nearly - before we find out what actually happened to Phoebe, and why everyone (except Bea, who wasn't born) feels some responsibility.

There seemed perhaps a bit of a gap regarding what happened with Esme's childhood classmate, Simon, and I felt this could have been explored more. Maybe it wasn't necessary, though, as we're given enough to get the gist of it.

Not a light read, and be prepared for some painful scenes, but a well written and insightful story.

This is a lovely, heartbreaking read about loss, and whether a family can truly heal again after not one, but two, terrible tragedies.
The book opens in the aftermath of the death of a child. Linda, the grieving mother, is pregnant with a third child. The older sister of Phoebe feels responsible for the death of her sibling, and the dad feels guilty about his own actions on the day of her death. A few months later, on other tragedy strikes.
The second part of the book takes place 25 years later, and finds that it is possible, in the light of new beginnings, to come together and become a family again.
This is a really moving read, very emotional. I enjoyed it very much.
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC.

Wow, this book knocked me off my feet! The writing is exquisite, and the story is both heartbreaking and hopeful. I was completely absorbed in the Sadler family's struggles, feeling like I was right there with them as they navigated the aftermath of their tragedy. The way the author unwinds the family's secrets and emotions is masterful - it's like peeling back the layers of an onion, exposing the raw pain and longing beneath. I loved how the characters are flawed and relatable, making it easy to invest in their journeys. The questions the book raises about forgiveness, blame, and the power of truth are so relevant to our own lives. I finished the book feeling both moved and inspired. A stunning read that will stay with me for a long time!

This was a much more difficult book to read than I expected. There are some triggers that should be noted and as I don't want to actually give certain aspects of the story away (I don't generally want or need trigger warnings as I like to get the full impact of the story) you may want to reach out to the author prior to reading if you are sensitive to certain events (or to me privately). It may seem like a long, drawn out story as to what actually happened to Phoebe, but I enjoyed how the story was told-in bits and pieces-and how these bits and pieces affected each person in the family at any given time. It was indeed a heartbreaking story and while not necessarily happily ever after, a satisfying conclusion. I would definitely read more from this author.

This book broke my heart and left the pieces scattered on the ground. Missing Pieces is told in two parts: before and after the death of 3-year-old Phoebe.

The loss of Phoebe is traumatic, but the impact of her death continues to reverberate through her family into the present gf. Laura Pearson’s writing brings the agony and depth of the loss to life. The pain is palpable and all consuming.

This is a heavy, soul crushing book. Its beauty lies in the realness of the writing and it’s authenticity.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.

Missing Pieces by Laura Pearson grabbed my heart and didn't let go. It is a story about family, deep grief, sisterhood, trauma, forgiveness, renewal and hope.

Married couple Linda and Tom, parents of two darling daughters and a third baby on the way, enjoyed contented and happy lives. However, their world shattered into a million pieces in a few short minutes when their second daughter at the time tragically died. Phoebe was only three. Not only did the family members bear pain but guilt weighed heavily. Esme, the oldest daughter, was a child herself. Watching her parents in their anguish was bewildering. Bea was born months after Phoebe's funeral but nothing was ever the same.

Years later, Esme wrote letters to her now adult sister, Bea, explaining what happened. Bea was to be a mother herself and deserved answers. She was born into a home filled with sorrow but didn't fully know why.

This family suffered untold agonies in their own ways. We watch their lives take different directions as they try to cope and make choices. But there is also hope.

Pearson's writing is evocative and simply phenomenal. It pulls and prods, hurts and inspires. Her insight into human nature and stages of grief is remarkable.

My sincere thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this engrossing and emotive novel.

A story beginning with the death of Phoebe. Bit by bit more "pieces" are told until at the very end, the final piece is revealed. This is an emotional story which was hard to read in places, but beautifully written, and one that I highly recommend.
Many thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in return for an honest review

Once again, Laura has written an emotional tale of family secrets and heartache. The key element is that she doesn’t just aim for a tearjerker, the build-up of the story leads to the full range of emotions, but the writing is skilled.
The novel follows the days, months, and years since the death of Phoebe. As the story opens, it’s five days since the death, which we don’t learn the cause of, and the scenes surrounding the funeral. We meet the characters of Mum, Linda, Dad, Tom and Sister, Esme. They are each grieving at the sad and sudden loss of Phoebe. However, Linda is pregnant, so she has a focus despite her grief and something to look forward to. When baby Bea arrives, she should have helped them all to heal, but they were too broken.
For fear of including spoilers, I will leave the story alone and leave you to read the synopsis. What I can promise you is that Laura Pearson writes from her heart, and she intuitively understands the impact of grief on a family. Her writing doesn’t labour the sadness but captures it capably and delivers it in a way that is both devastating and totally relatable.
My heart went out to Linda as she tried so hard to fight her way out of her desolation. Sadly, she was ill-equipped for what was required, and I found that following her sadness led me to feel her pain and sorrow. I remember the loss of a cousin’s child and the devastation that followed. I wept buckets as those memories crowded upon me.
As the story then fast forwards to Esme and Bea as adults, it’s clear to see that the loss of Phoebe has continued to impact their lives, even though Bea wasn’t even born. The way in which the full story was eventually revealed brought more tears but also healing. Esme and Tom felt equal measures of guilt, but they truly needed the catharsis that comes from honesty and acceptance.
I cannot adequately express how emotional I felt reading this book. It wasn’t just sadness, it was everything from hope to desolation, and yet I ultimately felt uplifted. Esme and Bea’s story arc is complex in its simplicity, and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing them develop and emerge as two wonderful yet slightly bruised women.
I wholeheartedly urge you to read this book. You will need tissues and time to reflect on the content, but you’ll be glad to have shared Phoebe’s story.

This is a really poignant story following a family through grief - with all the anger, hurt, guilt and other emotions that accompany it.

Older sister Esme blames herself for the loss of her sister Phoebe, and then when another sister, Bea, comes along a few years later their mum Linda struggles to cope with processing the grief from losing Phoebe and the enormity of a new baby to care for.l, and turns to drink. Their dad meanwhile is dealing with things in his own way which will trigger even more devastation for the family.

This felt very real, visceral and at times was hard to read. It is an honest and raw depiction of a family falling apart after the unimaginable happens, and trying to put themselves back together.

Missing Pieces
Written By Laura Pearson
Published by Boldwood Books
Release Date February 17, 2024

WOW! I cried, I laughed and then felt all warm and gooey inside. This is a very special book that will certainly leave you hanging on long after the story is over. You WILL need tissue for this one.

We meet a very pregnant Linda Sadler who, unfortunately loses her young daughter Phoebe, yet we are not privy as to why just yet. Linda, her husband husband Tom and daughter Esme are filled with grief and must now learn to live in a world without Phoebe and rely on each other to get through the pain. Once Linda gives birth to a daughter they named Bea, she finds it hard to bond with her. In fact, she really wants nothing to do with the baby. Bea was supposed to bring the family together again and experience the joy that comes along with giving birth.

The story then moves 25 years later when Bea herself is expecting a baby of her own. Brown and moved away, she feels as though she wants to go visit her father and sister. Bea wants answers………answers to questions that may either be too hard to answer or they need to be kept hidden forever. The missing pieces explains heartbreaking issues, family drams, trauma, and secrets that could potentially destroy a family. This was so eloquently written with great character development that brings you in, tugs on your heartstrings and then the roller coaster ride starts again. This is Pearson’s debut novel and I can tell you that her writing style would lead you to believe she has written many books. I do not normally read books in this genre but I am so glad I read this one. The author keeps you engaged and hooked from page one. The ending……oh the ending…..just wait until you read the ending. You need to run, not walk to get your copy immediately once it has been released. I promise you will love it.


5 HUGE STARS🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for giving me a copy to read in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.

Laura Pearson has the ability to break my heart, put it back together again and fill it with love and hope.

The heartbreaking death of their daughter and sister, Phoebe, tore apart her family. Everyone else in the family, her mother, father and even her seven year old sister, are partly responsible and the guilt they all feel changes everything for them, and for unborn baby, Bea, born into the grief and guilt-ridden family.

This book is heart wrenching. Laura’s emotive writing and well-crafted characters captured every emotion.

4 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Laura Pearson and Boldwood for an ARC in return for an honest review.

😰A family steeped in tragic loss, guilt & regret: powerful

4.5🌟 stars
Laura Pearson totally bowled me over with her I Wanted You To Know and Missing Pieces is just as devastating in a different way. It's a family tragedy with no member of their small family left untouched, and as the story unfolds, it's such a realistic progression of a series of actions that lead to a treasured three year old's death and her pregnant mother's total disintegration. So moving and well-written that I could not stop reading.

That's not to say that the survivors are totally stymied in their grief. The book's conclusion contained enough positive notes to give me hope for their future.

I love a novel that brings out the big emotions and Missing Pieces definitely did that for me and did it well.

Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

I Ioved The Last List of Mabel Beaumont so was delighted to be accepted to read this re-release of Laura's debut novel. The story of a family torn apart by grief and regrets. A family never the same after the loss of a child.
Told in two parts, directly after the loss of Phoebe, and then over 20 years later, the story of Bea. I much preferred part 2, told in part by letters from one sister to another. But I loved the stories Tom used to tell Esme when Linda was in the depths of her depression
A poignant novel

Firstly, you need tissues to read this one! It’s utterly heart breaking at times, as a mother I went through all the feels, it’s gut wrenching at times. An absolutely fantastic move, so well written, but it needs a tear jerker warning!

Oh Laura Pearson, this is the second book of yours that has made me a sobbing wreck. I Wanted You To Know absolutely floored me when I read it in 2022 so when I spotted Missing Pieces on Netgalley I immediately requested it. This is Laura’s debut novel, with a gorgeous new cover, and it is a breathtakingly emotional story ❤️‍🩹

We begin in 1988 by being introduced to Linda Sadler, who is heavily pregnant and navigating the unbearable loss of her daughter, Phoebe. The circumstances around 3-year-old Phoebe’s tragic death are murky and not revealed until near the end of the book. We follow Linda, her husband Tom and eldest daughter Esme as they all struggle with their grief for their lost daughter and sister. Linda gives birth to baby Bea, a beautiful little girl who she has no connection to and cannot bear to be around. These are the chapters that broke my heart, as a mum I cannot comprehend not wanting to be around your baby but equally I have never experienced something as horrific as losing a child - Laura writes about all of these extremely painful situations with care and sensitivity.

In the second half of the book, we are 25 years in the future where Bea is now an adult and expecting a baby herself. Despite leaving her family home years ago, she feels an inexplicable pull to go back to dad Tom and sister Esme for this new chapter - but wants answers to the secrets that have surrounded her for her whole life.

This is such a brilliant book, especially considering it’s a debut, it’s written beautifully and it plucked on my heart strings regularly. In amongst a world of grief and pain, the story ends on a hopeful and more uplifting note 🤍

Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was another poignant read from this fabulous author this was a heartbreaking read that takes the reader through a rollercoaster of emotions and deals with grief and death and how the events of the past can shape the future

This book reduced me to tears and is a story that will stay with me for a long time. This author has a knack of writing about real people and real situations and with raw emotion whilst dealing with issues covered in a very sensitive way.

This was an incredible debut novel.