A Tiny Piece Of Something Greater - Jude Sierra

My Review: 5 Stars

"He's wanted to hear words like these for so long, but never thought himself worthy. And when he recognized he might be worthy, the possibility that he could or would ever hear them still seemed a foolish wish." p. 154

I'm partial to books that illustrate this vital truth: everyone deserves to be loved. I'm especially partial when they're about characters who aren't sure they do. Because of this, I absolutely loved A Tiny Piece Of Something Greater!

Reid heads to Florida for a fresh start while he's in recovery for self-harming behaviors and in treatment for his cyclothymia. He feels he's put his family through a lot because of his mental illness and he's still figuring out how to handle his co-dependent relationship with his ex-boyfriend. 

At the same time, there's a brightness to Reid and an inner strength he's discovering. His character growth through the course of the novel was stunning. I simply adored him.

Joaquim is training to become a scuba diving instructor. He's from Brazil and has a bit of wanderlust, content to leave the future in the air while he goes from place to place. Yet he's also such a dependable, calm man. He serves as a good example for anyone who has a loved one with mental illness.

We get to see how they're drawn to one another and how they work through their insecurities and figure out the beginnings of their relationship. Reid may feel he has a lot of baggage but I liked how Joaquim felt like they were learning one another's stories and he really wanted to better understand Reid no matter what.

I loved watching Reid figure out what he needed in each moment. Mental illness was handled with such grace and compassion and I'm so glad we got to see Reid use coping skills and therapeutic tools. He’s in a Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) group, which was my favorite class when I was getting my masters in social work. Any book that highlights DBT has a special place in my heart. 

There are no quick fixes for Reid but Joaquim is in it with him, willing to support Reid however he needs. I loved how watching Joaquim figure out the ways he needed to compromise his free-spirited ways for the good of the relationship. This was such a beautiful and moving portrait of what love looks like. That Reid didn't believe he deserved to experience love like this, that Joaquim and Reid were so perfect for one another...my heart spills over.

It ends with a HFN (Happy For Now) and because Reid and Joaquim are in their early 20s, I'm absolutely fine with that. It's so hope-filled that I do believe their happily-ever-after awaits.

This is the second book I've read by Jude Sierra and it blew me away. She's pretty much reached auto-buy status. Her writing is vivid and nuanced. I love the way she brings her characters to life and how very real they feel. This is a deeply personal story for her as she also has cyclothymia and I'm deeply grateful she wrote it. We need more #ownvoices stories along these lines. Highly recommended.

Instagram Giveaway

I’m delighted to be partnering with @ANovelTakePR for an Instagram tour and giveaway! Win one of two e-copies of any book from Jude Sierra’s back catalog. (I highly recommend Idlewild.) Open Internationally. Winners chosen by May 30 & contacted about their prize via the Instagram account used to enter.

Head over to my Instagram to check out my book photo and enter the giveaway!

Synopsis

Reid Watsford has a lot of secrets and a past he can’t quite escape. While staying at his grandmother’s condo in Key Largo, he signs up for introductory dive classes, where he meets Joaquim Oliveira, a Brazilian dive instructor with wanderlust. Driven by an instant, magnetic pull, what could have been just a hookup quickly deepens. As their relationship evolves, they must learn to navigate the challenges of Reid’s mental illness—on their own and with each other.

Buy The Book Here:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Interlude Press | The Ripped Bodice

Disclosure: Thank you to A Novel Take PR for the free advance copy!