kba76's review
3.0
Marly in Pieces was a frustrating read as it was a great idea, with plenty of opportunities to misdirect us, but it never really felt like everything came together.
Our main character is Marly, and she finds her best friend in a deserted cabin having seemingly slit her wrists. Marly and Rae had fallen out just before her apparent suicide because Rae seemed to have been throwing herself at Marly’s boyfriend. She had secrets and never seemed to tell the same story twice. But Marly is devastated by the discovery and wants to find out what happened.
Starting to dig into Rae’s death opens a proverbial can of worms. Marly learns that a number of people close to her are hiding things. There’s certainly more to the story and Marly is determined to get to the truth.
The narrative shifts timelines and this is not always clearly delineated. I often found myself having to pause and check exactly when events were meant to be taking place. This felt distracting, and with not all the characters/relationships being fully fleshed out some of the developments rather came from nowhere.
After a fairly steady start, there’s a couple of big reveals - that I think were quite heavily signposted - and before we know it we are wrapping things up, though not really any the wiser about some of the details. Leaving us hanging in this respect was frustrating.
Our main character is Marly, and she finds her best friend in a deserted cabin having seemingly slit her wrists. Marly and Rae had fallen out just before her apparent suicide because Rae seemed to have been throwing herself at Marly’s boyfriend. She had secrets and never seemed to tell the same story twice. But Marly is devastated by the discovery and wants to find out what happened.
Starting to dig into Rae’s death opens a proverbial can of worms. Marly learns that a number of people close to her are hiding things. There’s certainly more to the story and Marly is determined to get to the truth.
The narrative shifts timelines and this is not always clearly delineated. I often found myself having to pause and check exactly when events were meant to be taking place. This felt distracting, and with not all the characters/relationships being fully fleshed out some of the developments rather came from nowhere.
After a fairly steady start, there’s a couple of big reveals - that I think were quite heavily signposted - and before we know it we are wrapping things up, though not really any the wiser about some of the details. Leaving us hanging in this respect was frustrating.
jemifraser's review
5.0
Wonderfully intense!
This book is full of complex characters who care deeply and are so very real. I found myself wanting to race ahead to see how things would resolve and wanting to slow down and enjoy at the same time. A story that will stay with me for a very long time. A great read!
This book is full of complex characters who care deeply and are so very real. I found myself wanting to race ahead to see how things would resolve and wanting to slow down and enjoy at the same time. A story that will stay with me for a very long time. A great read!
little_miss_darkness's review
5.0
Free Kindle e-book in exchange for an honest review as part of the Indie June author month.
Just how many twists and turns are there in a teenage girl's life?
Marly refused to believe her best friend Rae committed suicide. So she goes to untangle the knotted strings left of her life.
Amusing storyline peppered with twists and turns left by one young girl, Marly in Pieces teaches us the importance of friendship and communication. Marly regrets not letting Rae in to confide in her, but instead stubbornly believing she hooked up with Marly's boyfriend, their relationship can never be fully fixed now that Rae is dead.
The author wasn't afraid to throw us a curveball, leading us on this way and that. I failed to completely identify myself with the characters - though I could find pieces of myself in Marly - so whenever someone got hurt, it wouldn't elicit an emotional reaction from me. I did guess at the end story, but author hid it well, making me doubt my initial hypothesis.
5 out of 5 stars is more than deserved for this wonderful contemporary mystery. I like how she left the ending somewhat ambiguous. If it was left a complete mystery by the end, I would have pulled my hair out, threw my Kindle across the room and gave it 1 star.
Just how many twists and turns are there in a teenage girl's life?
Marly refused to believe her best friend Rae committed suicide. So she goes to untangle the knotted strings left of her life.
Amusing storyline peppered with twists and turns left by one young girl, Marly in Pieces teaches us the importance of friendship and communication. Marly regrets not letting Rae in to confide in her, but instead stubbornly believing she hooked up with Marly's boyfriend, their relationship can never be fully fixed now that Rae is dead.
The author wasn't afraid to throw us a curveball, leading us on this way and that. I failed to completely identify myself with the characters - though I could find pieces of myself in Marly - so whenever someone got hurt, it wouldn't elicit an emotional reaction from me. I did guess at the end story, but author hid it well, making me doubt my initial hypothesis.
5 out of 5 stars is more than deserved for this wonderful contemporary mystery. I like how she left the ending somewhat ambiguous. If it was left a complete mystery by the end, I would have pulled my hair out, threw my Kindle across the room and gave it 1 star.
slashysatch's review
5.0
Synopsis: Rae and Marly were best friends, that is until Rae went after Marly’s boyfriend. In the midst of their drama Marly finds Rae’s dead body. It seems to be a suicide but the police, and Marley, think there is more to the story.
Where to begin? I loved this book SO MUCH. Read it in one day. It literally keeps you guessing until the very end. It’s Told in an alternating timeline, one of my favorite formats. The characters are excellently written. The story is vivid and captivating. I felt for Marly and Rae the entire time. I was rooting for Marly and Duffy. The cast of characters are ALL shady. I had my suspicion of whodunnit early on, I was HALF right
Where to begin? I loved this book SO MUCH. Read it in one day. It literally keeps you guessing until the very end. It’s Told in an alternating timeline, one of my favorite formats. The characters are excellently written. The story is vivid and captivating. I felt for Marly and Rae the entire time. I was rooting for Marly and Duffy. The cast of characters are ALL shady. I had my suspicion of whodunnit early on, I was HALF right
talislibrary's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
4.0
I read this for Indie Author Month and genuinely enjoyed this YA mystery. Marly finds her best friend Rae after her apparent unaliving. Told through a non-linear way, you follow Marly as she pieces together the hints from over the last year as she tries to work out who could have been involved in Rae's death.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm and Suicide
crunden's review
3.0
“She was a shit-starter. A manipulator. A liar,” I admitted. “And…and…my friend. She had flaws. I have my fair share, too. We all do. But she was always there for me.”
Told half through flashbacks, this story follows Marly after she finds her best friend Rae's body in their cabin sanctuary after they had a falling out. After reporting Rae's death to the police and informing them that her best friend was involved with Duffy, Marly's boyfriend, Marly brings the police to their cabin. However, upon arrival at the cabin, she and the police find Duffy there, and he promptly informs them that Marly's wrong about everything. Marly refuses to believe Rae killed herself and begins re-examining the last year of their friendship and all the fights that led to them falling out.
What slowly unfolds is a mystery that involves Marly, Rae, Duffy, their parents and their friends. It's hard to tell who's lying and who's being honest, and at times everyone looks guilty. As Marly searches for answers, more and more angles appear - and the questions around Rae's death only mount.
Thank you Netgalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Told half through flashbacks, this story follows Marly after she finds her best friend Rae's body in their cabin sanctuary after they had a falling out. After reporting Rae's death to the police and informing them that her best friend was involved with Duffy, Marly's boyfriend, Marly brings the police to their cabin. However, upon arrival at the cabin, she and the police find Duffy there, and he promptly informs them that Marly's wrong about everything. Marly refuses to believe Rae killed herself and begins re-examining the last year of their friendship and all the fights that led to them falling out.
What slowly unfolds is a mystery that involves Marly, Rae, Duffy, their parents and their friends. It's hard to tell who's lying and who's being honest, and at times everyone looks guilty. As Marly searches for answers, more and more angles appear - and the questions around Rae's death only mount.
Thank you Netgalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
lookinglikingmove's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.0
Marly and Rae are the best of friends. Lately it’s been a bit contentious but they know they’ll likely always be friends.
Unfortunately things go very wrong and Marly finds Rae dead. She believes it’s a suicide because of how she found Rae but the police are painting a very different picture.
Marly suspects her boyfriend but as she finds out secrets Rae had been keeping there are other people who are becoming likely suspects.
While I found this book well written I want to almost say there were too many suspects. We are meant to be kept guessing to the very end and in that the book does it’s job as even now I sit here pondering certain aspects.
Unfortunately things go very wrong and Marly finds Rae dead. She believes it’s a suicide because of how she found Rae but the police are painting a very different picture.
Marly suspects her boyfriend but as she finds out secrets Rae had been keeping there are other people who are becoming likely suspects.
While I found this book well written I want to almost say there were too many suspects. We are meant to be kept guessing to the very end and in that the book does it’s job as even now I sit here pondering certain aspects.
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