Book Review: Girl In Pieces

By Kathleen Glasgow 

3 Stars 

Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow is one of those novels that sticks with you. Honestly, it's not the easiest read because it's about really heavy topics that people tend to deal with in the real world, such as substance abuse & self-harm.   

There were plenty of characters found throughout the story, but the author focuses on a teenage girl named Charlotte, who has gone through a lot of pain and loss in her life. Which makes sense for it to be the author's main focus, since they themselves struggled with self-harm. At the same time, she's trying to cope with everything while figuring out how to survive and find hope.   

The story is raw and real, showing how complicated mental health, trauma, and self-discovery can be. What I loved most about this book is how real it felt. Charlotte's thoughts and struggles are written in a way that makes you understand her completely, even if you haven't experienced the same things.  

One thing is that I do find that the author does sugarcoat everything just a bit because you can genuinely tell that the author wanted to give Charlotte a positive ending. The only thing I found a bit challenging is that some scenes are very intense and emotional, so you have to pace yourself when reading. But that intensity also makes the story feel honest and meaningful.   

I'd recommend the book to readers that are into strong & heartbreaking topics, but from a perspective you can see it as motivating; it reminds us to keep going, even when life feels impossible. 

Reviewed by Sandrine as part of the Teen Reviewer, opens a new window program

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