From the moment I read the synopsis for All the Broken Pieces, I knew I was going to love it! I am fascinated by memory and the concept for the novel was so intriguing. I am happy to say, I wasn’t disappointed.

From the very beginning of the novel we get the sense that something isn’t quite right—and not just because the main character, Liv, is waking up from a coma. There is just something off about the whole thing. As the novel progresses, Liv becomes more and more suspicious about the events surrounding her car accident, her life before the accident (which she can’t remember), the strange dreams she’s been having, and the odd way her parents evade any of her questions about the past.

The mystery alone would have been enough to make this novel shine, but as good as it was, the romance was even better. Liv meets a boy at school named Sam and the two quickly become friends. Watching them dance around each other was an utter delight. They are so sweet together and it is painfully obvious that there is more than friendship there. Even though the story wrapped up so nicely, part of me wants a companion novel just so that I can see more of Liv & Sam!

My only complaint about the novel, and it is a tiny one, was the writing style. It is told in the 3rd person, and there were times when this came off as awkward. I love reading books in the 3rd person, but not every author can pull it off without taking you out of the story once in a while because of it. That said, for the most part the writing was great, and there were only a few spots where it felt jarring.

Overall, All the Broken Pieces was amazing. I devoured all but the first 20 pages in a single day. The plot was great, and even shocking at the end. All of the characters were awesome and added a lot to the story. Liv, in particular, was a great main character. She was intelligent & skeptical—always questioning, without being angsty or annoying. My favorite part, however, was definitely the Liv/Sam scenes. Their story was just so romantic, and when coupled with the killer plot, I can guarantee that this is not a story I will be forgetting any time soon. ( )

Reviewed by: Valerie
Book provided by: Publisher
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book

When I started reading Liv’s story, I was immediately reminded of another book, The Adoration of Jenna Fox. Both books have characters that have been involved in an accident, were both in a coma, and have big secrets being withheld from them.

Liv was a likable character. When her parents felt she was well enough to venture out she went to school and dealt with all the cliques and problems teens have but I really felt for her because she had no memories of anything – pop culture, music, growing up – no memories at all. I felt her frustration as she tried to deal with two different voices in her head besides her own and kept trying over and over to find out what happened to her.

Enter Spencer. Hot boy with a shady past and lots of layers. He wasn’t instantly likable but did have that lure that bad boys have. When he and Liv crossed paths, the sparks flew and I wondered how long until they hooked up, despite the fact that everyone warned Liv away from him. I liked the playful side he brought to the story as he encouraged Liv to try out several mundane things for the first time and became her strongest ally.

The writing style of this story kept me engaged but it was the secrets each character was hiding that really hooked me. The secondary characters were enjoyable, as well as the pacing, and the story ended in a way that was satisfying. ( )

I really connected with Liv and I was so intrigued by the plot of All the Broken Pieces. Cindi Madsen pulled it off beautifully.
I lives the characters as well as Olivia's voice. Spencer was an enigma and hot, just how I like my literary boys to be. Tough guys with tenderness. I really appreciated how he took everything in stride and believed the impossible with Liv.
I felt like I was always on the verge of figuring out exactly what was going on with Liv and why she couldn't remember anything but why she was having these strange dreams or flashes of other people and the warring voices in her head. By the end, I had figured out a few of the pieces of the puzzle correctly but it was still a spectacular ending and there were still a few things that I hadn't figured out as well as how they all fit together.
I was surprised at the emotions i felt reading this. Liv really had a beautiful voice, and I got right inside her head. The constant confusion and heartache she felt really came off the page. As well as trying to figure out who was really on her side, if everything was a lie, what to think of her parents, her fear that they or she did something terrible and she just can't remember. The romantic tension with Spencer was also well written. I never quite knew what to think of him, but I loved their playful teasing and banter and the glances of tenderness and how he really cares for others and is in pain with some of the things he keeps hidden about his past.
The rest of the secondary characters were superb as well. Kiera was a great addition to this story and i loved her bubbles and friendliness. Sabrina was also written well and I was wondering what was brewing there. I do think that there was a bit of rushed and unbelievable resolution with their relationship but i can forgive it because of how everything else resolved.
I flew through this book and loved every minute of it.
Bottom line: Connected with main character, and loved the premise and how it was executed.