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Read advance reader review of Pieces of Blue by Holly Goldberg Sloan, page 2 of 6

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Pieces of Blue by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Pieces of Blue

by Holly Goldberg Sloan

  • Critics' Consensus (7):
  • Published:
  • May 2023, 272 pages
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Page 2 of 6
There are currently 36 member reviews
for Pieces of Blue
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  • Diana C. (Boca Raton, FL)
    An unexpected treasure
    Not every book has to read like a Shakespearean masterpiece, and sometimes treasures are found in the least likely of places. This book is way out of my usual genre (historical fiction) but something about the story appealed to me. The BookBrowse blurb reflects exactly what this story is about: a mother and her 3 kids start a new life in a new place after the unexpected death of their husband/father. But this book is more than just a story of starting over in the wake of tragedy. More than once it made me say "what?" out loud as the story took unexpected turns. This book deserves to be longer than a mere 254 pages which, in my estimation, is a short story. Another 100 pages would have expanded the character development and answered a few threads left dangling. Nonetheless, the story was engaging, heartwarming and poignant.
  • Portia A. (Monroe Township, NJ)
    Unexpectedly good
    This book told an excellent and surprising story. I don't believe in spoilers, so just read and enjoy this book.
  • Gina V. (Mesa, AZ)
    Heartwarming
    Pieces of Blue is a heartwarming story of tragedy, hope, trust and redemption. The Hill family loses their father and takes a leap of faith by moving to Hawaii and buying a rundown hotel to try and reconfigure the pieces of their lives. There are secrets and revelations and lots of reinvention - I loved it.
  • Marianne L. (Syosset, NY)
    Heartfelt Family Drama
    Pieces of Blue is a book that will capture your heart and entertain you throughout. It opens with a widow and her three children relocating to Hawaii to start a new life. Their first task is to open up a run-down motel and make a go of their new life. The characters in this book are believable. The pacing of events was particularly pleasing to me as the story moved on without, in my opinion, belaboring the point. I especially appreciated the inclusion of Hawaiian history and mythology. This book has many relatable features to families with school-age children and the many challenges that arise while raising them. It contains many unexpected twists and turns, guaranteed to keep you reading to the end. I really enjoyed reading this book.
  • John W. (Saint Louis, MO)
    Emotional Roller Coaster
    Lindsay's and her children's lives take a dramatic twist from enjoying life wealthy without financial worry due to the success of her husband's tech start-up when he losses everything in illegal scams. If their lives weren't traumatic enough Lindsay's husband dies in a surfing accident. How she and her three children emotionally and mental survived as well as they did was amazing.

    Lindsay buys a motel on the island of Oahu, sight unseen, with money she received from her husband's death benefits. Sound crazy based upon the roller coaster of events? Lindsay feels it will be the perfect way for her and the children to start fresh and put the trauma of Portland behind them.

    I loved the story line until later in the book when the author introduced a twist that for me changed the whole feel of the writing. I enjoyed learning more about Hawaii's history and culture. Viewing the events that unfolded in the book was made more powerful through the author telling it not through the perspective of Lindsey, but from her three children.
  • Elizabeth B. (St. Louis Park, MN)
    Pieces of hawaii
    I enjoyed the details re life in Hawaii — colors of islands, foods served by beachside vendors. I enjoy fiction from which one can learn about a place/time like that.
  • Edie M. (Kennett Square, PA)
    Pieces of my mind about Pieces of Blue
    I did enjoy reading this book. It's about a Widowed mother of three. That right there could be the story but no, She has insomnia and on an impulse she buys a motel in Hawaii! Amazingly, they all figure out how to work together and the family bond grows tighter.

    There are a few hiccups along the way. I quickly became invested in their story and was slightly annoyed when Lindsey (the mom) would decide to go for a walk on the beach instead of working on the motel game plan. This book definitely kept my interest, I would recommend it for an easy summer read.

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