Review: Another Little Piece of my Heart by Tracey Martin

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?

ebook, 304 pages

Published December 1st 2013 by Harlequin Teen

 (info grabbed from GoodReads)

 

Could this retelling be as good as the original PERSUASION by Jane Austen?  I don't have a clue, I have not read PERSUASION -- but I'm starting to think I should.  I don’t read contemporary often, but when I do, I read PERSUASION retellings.  And ANOTHER LITTLE PIECE OF MY HEART makes my insides do a happy dance thinking about it. 

It was filled with sweetness and spark, with a dash of modern day teenage angst.  Claire and Jared made for believable and relatable characters and had such chemistry.  I could fall in love with their story again and again.  The only complaint I have is that Claire’s stubbornness started to get a bit silly towards the middle of the book, but whatever.  It’s forgivable, because in my head she’s a real person.  You forgive your friends when they’re being a little over emotional, right?

My favorite thing about ANOTHER LITTLE PIECE OF MY HEART was how absorbed into the story I was.  It is a rare thing for me to find a book I can’t put down, and I could not pry myself Kindle away for long after I started this story.  Each character had depth, there were moments of pleasant unpredictability, and the plot moved along at a good pace.  There is nothing to complain about.

Basically, I ate this book up and am eager to read anything else Tracey Martin dishes out.  The story is adorable and I highly recommend it to anyone who likes breathing. 

Final Thought: 9.5 out of 9.5 toadstools.

This review is also posted on GoodReads