Book Review: Another Little Piece of My Heart - Tracey Martin

Title: Another Little Piece of My Heart

Author: Tracey Martin

Release Date: December 1st 2013

Publisher: HarlequinTEEN

Age Group: Young Adult

Source: NetGalley

Goodreads | Amazon 

What if your devastating break-up became this summer’s hit single? In this rock-and-roll retelling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion, music can either bring you together or tear you apart.

At her dying mother’s request, Claire dumps Jared, the only boy she’s ever loved. Left with a broken family and a broken heart, Claire is furious when she discovers that her biggest regret became Jared’s big break. While Jared is catapulted into rock-star status, another piece of Claire’s heart crumbles every time his song plays on the radio.

The summer after her senior year, it’s been months since the big break-up, and Claire is just trying to keep her head down and make it through a tense trip to the beach with her family. But when Jared shows up, and old feelings reignite, can Claire and Jared let go of the past? Or will they be stuck singing the same old refrain?

If I ever get to give a book to Taylor Swift, it would be this one. Just for the kicks. (No, really, I'm a fan. I even have one, two, three of her songs on repeat while I write this review.) Another Little Piece of My Heart is a funny, sweet, and emotionally-engaging book that took me by surprise. I knew it'd be interesting, but I didn't expect to love it this much.

So the story opens with Claire hating Jared because of the songs he wrote, but even then it was obvious that she hasn't gotten over him. Their love had been intense and all-consuming, and it took a lot of will for Claire to break up with him to grant her mother's dying wish. I knew I wouldn't hate Claire for what she did because I'd have done the same if I were her, but I also knew that I wouldn't hate Jared for his break-up songs because he had the right to vent.

The summer before college—or what would have been college if Claire still had her college fund—her dad decides to bring their family to the beach and stay there for a month with some relatives. Even when nothing in her life seemed to be fine, I liked how Claire never completely lost hope and instead worked to make the best out of her situation. She got a job and tried to enjoy the summer while writing music. It was nowhere near perfect, but just when she thought it couldn't get worse: 

Freaking awesome. Jared wants inspiration, and I—the girl who directly inspired no less than three angry break-up songs—happen to run into him again. I don't suppose there's any way to avoid making an encore on his follow-up album?

Four weeks had never felt so long—or so it did for Claire. With Jared within her twenty-mile radius, old wounds are reopened. I thought Claire didn't apologize after their break-up, so finding out that she did but he never called back? Well, that changed things. One by one, he started giving me reasons to believe that Claire had been right to kick him to the curb. And that's why I hated it when, slowly, I began to see how perfect they were for each other. They loved the same music, thought similarly, and got the same private jokes as though they'd shared it only yesterday. Perfect chemistry, I tell you.

Claire and Jared's road to understanding and forgiveness was paved by love, family, friendship, and music. Oh, the music! I would definitely love to hear 'That Girl' and 'Muse', and also 'Romeo Must Die' and 'Daddy's Girl' (although I'm sure similar songs exist out there).  The ending made me smile, but more closure would've been nicer. I'm sad that Another Little Piece of My Heart is only a digital release because I loved it enough to want a physical copy that I could hug.

MY FAVORITE PART was the night of the Vamp Dust (who I seriously pictured as Florence + the Machine, by the way) concert.

RATING: