Blog Tour, Review, Playlist, Excerpt & Giveaway: All Our Broken Pieces by L. D. Crichton

Title: ALL OUR BROKEN PIECES

Author: L.D. Crichton

Pub. Date: May 7, 2019

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Pages: 416

"You can’t keep two people who are meant to be together apart for long...”

Lennon Davis doesn’t believe in much, but she does believe in the security of the number five. If she flicks the bedroom light switch five times, maybe her new L.A. school won’t suck. But that doesn’t feel right, so she flicks the switch again. And again. Ten more flicks of the switch and maybe her new step family will accept her. Twenty-five more flicks and maybe she won’t cause any more of her loved ones to die. Fifty times more and then she can finally go to sleep.

Kyler Benton witnesses this pattern of lights from the safety of his treehouse in the yard next door. It is only there, hidden from the unwanted stares of his peers, that Kyler can fill his notebooks with lyrics that reveal the true scars of the boy behind the oversized hoodies and caustic humor. But Kyler finds that descriptions of blonde hair, sad eyes, and tapping fingers are beginning to fill the pages of his notebooks. Lennon, the lonely girl next door his father has warned him about, infiltrates his mind. Even though he has enough to deal with without Lennon’s rumored tragic past in his life, Kyler can’t help but want to know the truth about his new muse.

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Disclaimer: This review MAY contain spoilers. I received an Advance Reader Copy at no cost from the publisher. The opinions in my review are my own.

This book is legit awesome! I feel like this book was written for me specifically. Like there is an imprint of my soul within the pages of this masterpiece. Kudos to the author for creating something that speaks to me on such a powerful level.

This book centers upon stigmas and the way that two young people overcome their demons associated with these stigmas all while finding something special in each other. Lennon (which coincidentally is my daughter's name as well) is a girl that suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD, and anxiety. Kyler is a boy that struggles with his identity because of scars that cover half of his face after being in a house fire when he was six years old. This is a beautiful story about acceptance and I fell in love with it.

The OCD and anxiety representation in this was spot on. I suffer from both OCD and anxiety and I felt that I connected with the author's rendering of both. I really liked that the author expressed the core feelings and symptoms associated with both OCD and anxiety but not in an overwhelming way. Because let's face it, these are both mental wellness issues that are both overwhelming and hard to explain if you haven't lived them. I could really appreciate the author's portrayal of these issues within her main character. I was so overjoyed to read such an honest and real depiction of OCD and anxiety.

The characters in this were just brilliant. I felt so completely connected to both main characters and their story arcs. Both Lennon and Kyler had beautiful and impactful character development. The side characters in this story were just as wonderful as the two main characters. There was a strong family presence in this book that delighted me so much. I adored Lennon's five-year-old brother. He was so adorable and kept me smiling through the entire book. Lennon's stepmother was also great along with Kyler's sister and mother. They were always supportive and loving. I enjoyed Kyler's band friends, though I wish we could have spent more time with them in the story.

The plot of the story really worked well. I loved every moment. The flow was perfect and I was pleased with the way the story went. I liked that the plot wasn't predictable.

The romance in this story was truly heartwarming. Lennon and Kyler connected on a very deep level. They were both different and dealing with personal demons that made it easy for them to bond. They were very much alike in many ways and they complimented each other so well. Their love was also kind of inspiring because they never gave up on each other and they pushed the other to always be the best they could be. They supported, accepted, and believed in each other. I was totally on board for this romance from the very start. There were swoons and feels and everything good. Kyler is a book boyfriend that you will definitely want to add to your shelf.

Overall, this book is emotionally charged, inspirational, and heartwarming. It really made a home in my heart. A beautiful love story that boasts acceptance and believing in oneself. The author's flawless and fluid storytelling really bring these characters to life. This is such a triumph and I can't recommend it enough!

PLAYLIST

I couldn't help making a song playlist for this book while I was reading.

L.D. Crichton is the author of THE ENCHANTMENT OF EMMA FLETCHER, which received a starred review from School Library Journal. She’s a coffee devotee and lip gloss enthusiast whose infatuation with music is truly astonishing. If she’s not reading, writing, or checking her horoscope for signs from the Universe, you can find her by the water in search of mermaids because they're real. ALL OUR BROKEN PIECES is her first young adult novel. Represented by John Silbersack @ The Bent Agency.

She is one of 6 hosts for a weekly Twitter chat about writing. Search the hashtag #Wattpad4 Monday nights at 8:00 PM EST on Twitter to join in!

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

There’s a knock on my door. Macy pokes her now-clean face in. “Are you decent? Can I come in?”

“Yep.”

She steps inside the room and instantly I’m assaulted by the scent of berries. She sits down on my bed, forcing me to slide over. “I heard Silas and Emmett talking at lunch today.”

“’Bout what?” In this moment, I couldn’t care less what it was about. For some stupid reason, I’m wondering if Lennon overdoses on perfume like my sister does.

“About the record demo.”

“Out.”

“Kyler,” she protests.

“Not open for discussion.”

“Just let me say one thing,” she pleads.

I turn my head and look at her. “What, Mae?”

“When I look at you, I never see your scar. I know you’re really messed up about it, but, Kyler, I swear, you’re a beautiful person, inside and out. I wish you’d realize that.”

I look at her for a minute. “You drunk or something? Was your puke face mask infused with vodka?”

“No.”

“Then why the deep, introspective thoughts?”

“Because,” Macy says, “I know you love music, more than you like to let on. You should do something you love.”

I pull the blind back from the window and point to the lawn. “I was considering taking up gardening. Landscaping, if you will.”

She rolls her eyes. “I’m being serious.”

I sit up and grab my notebook, my pen, and a candle before returning to my bed. I set the candle on the bedside table and strike a match. The fire sparks, then settles into a slow burn down the stick. “Life’s too short, Macy.” I light the candle and blow out the match. “One day everything is fine, and the next your whole world is engulfed in flames.”

Macy feigns shock before rolling her eyes a second time. “Enough with the drama. We get it. You’re brooding and mysterious, but you’re also talented, Kyler.”

“Noted,” I say. “Thanks.”

“What about covering your face? Wearing a mask? Like that old band Mom and Dad used to listen to—the guy with the tongue.”

I rub my face. “KISS, Macy. That’s KISS. They’re epic.

Untouchable.”

“Well, Fire to Dust should do that. Keeps everybody happy and lets you do what you love.”

“It’s not the worst idea you ever had, but I’m not sold on it.”

She smiles, clasping her hands under her chin. “But it isn’t a solid no?”

“Not solid. But it might still be a no. Don’t get your hopes up.”

She stands. “Good night, big brother.”

“Good night. Oh, and, Mae?” “What?”

“Silas didn’t put you up to this, did he?”

She looks me dead in the eye. “No,” she says, “I swear it.”