I loved the premise, the characters and the reveal of the storyline but it was difficult in places to work out whose perspective I was reading, which meant a bit of flicking backwards to try and pick up the thread, spoiling the flow a bit.

Sophie Ranald blew me away with this one. I've read every one of her books and actually own quite a few physical copies but none of the other ones are like this. This one is a story of four individuals living within the same house and each one has their own secret. Each secret is revealed and all of them were a surprise to me. However what was not a surprise is how wonderful a storyteller Sophie is.

I need this to be clearer with which character is talking but the story is excellent, the characters and the settings vivid. The main story is about adoption and believable.

I rarely rate a book so poorly. I know authors put their heart and soul into them. However, this book felt somewhat erratic in its presentation. I was never sure which of the three female characters was narrating. There are four main characters, Orla, Beatrice, Livvie and Luke. The story of Beatrice, who is searching for her birth mother, is the only one we really see a conclusion for. Luke gets close to the end of the book, and is forgotten about. Orla has a juicy twist in her tale and has an abrupt finish. I can only assume there will be a follow-up to this book.

I enjoyed parts of this book, but overall, it didn’t quite hit the mark for me. With multiple points of view, I often found it difficult to keep track of who was speaking—I think having character names at the beginning of each chapter would have helped. I also felt like we didn’t get the full story for each character, which left things feeling a bit unfinished. It’s not a bad book by any means, maybe just not the right fit for me.

Thank you to Storm Publishing via netgalley for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Review was posted (Instagram, Goodreads, bookishlytara blog, Storygraph) on May 16, 2025. An additional post (with a reposted review) will be posted on Instagram on the publication day as well as an Amazon Canada review. (links below)

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

3.5 stars
A contemporary fiction tale, about four strangers who end up living in one house, and the unravelling of the secrets that change their lives. Told through dual-timeline and from multiple perspectives.

This story gently explores the silence, secrecy and shame that leads to life-changing choices, as well as the hope for forgiveness and second chances. The characters felt realistic, particularly Beatrice's search for belonging, and Orla's search for self-acceptance.

The final chapter offered an unexpected twist.

With thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced digital copy, in exchange for an honest review.

"All Our Missing Pieces" centers on Orla Clifford, who inherits her grandmother's dilapidated residence located in Damask Square. Driven by the desire to rejuvenate both the house and her own life, she opts to welcome lodgers for financial support. The narrative introduces three unique characters who move in: Luke, a handyman with artistic ambitions; Livvie, a nurturing individual seeking a new beginning; and Beatrice, an affluent American on a quest to locate her biological mother. Each character carries emotional burdens, weaving a rich tapestry of interconnected lives and experiences.
As the plot develops, Orla delves into her renovation endeavors while chronicling her reflections in a morning journal. Concurrently, Beatrice investigates the house's concealed spaces, gradually approaching the revelation of a long-buried secret that Orla has suppressed for two decades. The theme of secrecy is pivotal, prompting inquiries about the influence of the past on the present and the evolution of relationships in light of hidden truths. The dynamic between Orla and Beatrice is particularly compelling, notwithstanding some interactions that may seem predictable.
The book’s pacing can be inconsistent, and I found the middle part to drag a little bit. However, I really enjoyed the character development that was assisted by the alternating perspectives. The book picked up when the characters’ histories and motivations are revealed. The themes explored in this novel included: adoption, healing, friendship, and the quest to belong. Some of the story was unresolved by the ending and I would have liked more exploration and knowledge, but overall, this was a good, emotional, inspiring read. This novel is a gentle, introspective novel that examines the intricacies of love, loss, and personal development.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy in exchange for my review.

took a bit to connect and a bit to actually set up. definitely well written and intriguing, would recommend. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.

This was a good book. It had a good cast of characters that all added something to the story.

That said, the story felt a little off in places. The characters all had their own idiosyncrasies, to be sure, but the way they lived together never made sense to me.

Orla and Beatrice had the most interesting interactions, that led to the most expected "surprise" of all. Not.

I'm torn on if I'd recommend this book.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

All Our Missing Pieces follows the intertwined lives of four strangers brought together by chance and circumstance. Orla, who has inherited her grandmother’s house in London, is trying to renovate it while also rebuilding her own life after personal upheaval. She decides to rent out rooms in the house to three tenants: Luke, Beatrice, and Livvie.

Luke is a handyman with aspirations of becoming an artist, and he begins helping Orla with the renovation work. Beatrice is an American woman who was adopted from Ireland. While working as a nanny for a wealthy family, she is also on a personal mission to find her birth mother. Livvie, meanwhile, is recovering from a difficult living situation and is simply looking for a place to start fresh. Each of these characters carries emotional baggage, and the novel unfolds through the alternating perspectives of the three women: Orla, Beatrice, and Livvie. As they navigate their personal struggles and slowly form connections.

The beginning of the book felt a bit confusing. I didn’t immediately realize that the point of view changes with each chapter, which made it hard to follow at first. After rereading the book’s description, things started to make more sense, and the story flowed better from that point on.

While the novel offers a heartwarming narrative with thoughtful moments about healing, friendship, and starting over, I didn’t feel fully engaged. The characters had potential, but I found it difficult to connect with them deeply. That said, the premise is compelling, and I appreciated the focus on how strangers can become a kind of chosen family when given the space and time to open up.

It’s not a bad book by any means, it’s gentle and reflective in tone, but I expected a bit more emotional depth or complexity. Still, for readers who enjoy character-driven stories about rebuilding life and finding connection in unexpected places, this could be a comforting read.

Sophie Ranald has only gone and done it again. The perfect blend of humour and a gripping storyline. The book will keep you going until the very last part.

I enjoyed this book but I’m going to be really honest and say I did not like the ending. Overall the book is written really well and the characters are convincing, likeable and you really do want the best for them but I just felt the ending left so many questions - maybe there’ll be a sequel! Would still recommend reading it.

this is a poignant and layered novel that delves into the intricacies of love, loss, and personal growth. Set against the backdrop of a crumbling house in Damask Square, the story introduces us to four distinct characters—Orla, Luke, Livvie, and Beatrice—each carrying emotional baggage and seeking a sense of belonging.

Told through alternating perspectives and timelines, the novel skillfully explores how the past shapes the present. It brings warmth and emotional resonance to the narrative, particularly through Orla’s journey of healing and Beatrice’s quest for identity. The character dynamics are compelling, with tensions and tenderness emerging naturally. The themes of forgiveness, secrets, and second chances are thoughtfully portrayed.

While the ending might feel slightly open-ended, it reflects the messiness of real life, where not all wounds heal cleanly and closure isn’t always complete. A touching, emotionally honest read that lingers after the final page.

Orla inherits her grandmothers house and needs to renovate, but leases rooms within. Beatrice one of the girls is a nanny and is going on her journey to find her birth mother. It’s an exciting read, but didn’t like Beatrice’s attitude towards her birth mother when she found her. I found her rude. Woman needed to adopt children in Ireland for various reasons and her birth was one of them. Did like the ending though. A good 3.5 star read. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

3.75 out of 5 stars – A Quiet, Thoughtful Read with Moments of Emotional Impact

All Our Missing Pieces is a gentle, introspective novel that explores found family, long-buried secrets, and the slow, fragile process of healing. The premise—four strangers under one roof, each carrying their own weight of grief, guilt, or longing—is compelling and offers a rich canvas for emotional storytelling.

That said, the pacing can feel uneven at times, especially in the middle sections where the emotional stakes waver slightly and the mystery surrounding Orla's past takes a little too long to fully unravel. Some plot points feel a bit too neat or predictable, and the conclusion, while touching, doesn't hit with quite the emotional resonance it promises.

Still, the writing is lyrical, the themes are heartfelt, and there’s a cozy, melancholic charm to the whole book. If you enjoy character-driven stories with a focus on healing and human connection, this is a quiet but rewarding read.

All Our Missing Pieces has a promising setup—an old house full of secrets and strangers with their own hidden pasts. The atmosphere is well-drawn, and the mystery surrounding Orla’s secret kept me curious. However, I found myself wishing for more depth, both in the characters and the plot. The emotional moments didn’t land as powerfully as they could have, and some relationships felt underdeveloped. Still, it’s an easy, engaging read with a touch of intrigue and a satisfying conclusion.

You went down house that is being renovated brings four strangers together along with many secrets. Orlando Clifford is the owner. She inherited this house from her grandmother. She had been.estranged from her grandmother for years. Yet here she is redoing this house and she needs people to live there. Beatrice comes from a family who loves and adore her. She is on a Gap year from college and will be a nanny for an American family in London. This family would’ve preferred if Beatrice live with them, but she told him she wanted to be able to explore London while she had the time so Beatrice rents a room from Orla.
Then we have Livvie who is living with other people but always feels out of place in her own room. She just feels like she doesn’t belong there, especially when she has an encounter with one of the girls boyfriends. She knew it was time to leave so she also rents a room from Orla.
Now we have Luke, who will be doing the renovations to the house. He split up with his girlfriend now also lives in this home. Will these four people be able to live in a house without some secrets and jealousy amongst them. Who would be the first person to explain why they really have come to London? Each character is struggling with something what you’ll have to read the book to find out.
The book was written for the year 2005 to 2006. The character of Orla what is a complicated one. She was a sometime artist who had a secret that she would never reveal to anyone. Beatrice was very entitled. It took a while to really find out why she came to London. She didn’t think she would connect with the children that she was the nanny for until events changed. Heartbroken. I didn’t get the character of Livvie? You know she couldn’t live with her friends because she felt at a place but then she became very attached to Luke who had his own issues. I sometimes felt she was Orla’’s daughter. Luke’s character just seemed to exist. I wouldn’t say I didn’t like the book. I just wish there was more to it. The ending gave us a twist. I didn’t see it coming. So thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC. 3.5 starsr.

All Our Missing Pieces by Sophie Ranald is an engaging piece of women’s fiction that explores relationships in all their complexities. The story captures a wide spectrum of love and conflict, with themes of holding on, letting go, and how perspective shapes our experiences.
The narrative revolves around four intriguing characters: Orla Clifford, who inherits a charming but dilapidated house in Damask Square; Luke, a handyman trading renovations for a place to live; Livvie, a sweet and likeable young woman; and Beatrice, a privileged but flawed individual searching for her birth mother. The story unfolds through multiple perspectives, weaving together past and present in a way that highlights the damage secrets can cause and the power of forgiveness.
I found the story touching and, at times, deeply emotional. While the ending felt a bit unfinished and left me with lingering questions, it also resonated with the authenticity of real life, where not everything ties up neatly. A thought-provoking read overall!

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.

Nice book about adoptions in various forms set in London. Enjoyed the various characters and the way their lives interconnected.