Whitney Barbetti

4,5 Stars

Please read this review just if you have read Six feet under (Book 1) or if you don´t mind reading spoilers for the first book.

Pieces of Eight continues where the first book ended (Before the Sneak Peak for book two).

This book is again full of emotions. It´s about hurting and healing, growing and learning. It´s about fighting- for life, for yourself, for getting better, for love. It´s about trying to let the past go and start all over. It´s about learning how to live with addiction, pain, loss, the past and the present. It´s a little about regret, doing mistakes and not being perfect too. It´s simply a book about being human.

I´m not going to summarize this book. You really need to read this series. It´s touching and it brings you a rollercoaster of emotions. You feel so much- with and for the characters. It´s beautiful and sad, heartbreaking and healing. Whitney Barbetti really has the talent to write characters and a story that just let´s you get close to it/them. A story that wraps around your little heart and won´t let you go. Characters you connect with, which you can understand and to which you don´t want to say goodbye to, because they´re now party of your little imaginary book family.

In Six feet under Mira has been quite difficult to fell in love with. But in Pieces of Eight- I liked her. I liked how healthy and strong she became. I liked how she fought, even if she hurt. How she tried not to be selfish. How she still struggled with herself but looked for help and listened. I liked the journey she took through both books and how she grew.

I´m still a huge fan of Six. Love this guy even if he hadn´t had a huge part in this book and even as he acted like an asshole. But I understand why he did it. Being hurt sometimes brings the bad out of you. And the thing with Vicky... well....

All the side characters- Brooke, Norah, Griffin, and so on- they were great. I didn´t like Brooke that much in Six feet under but now I do which probably has sth to do with her warming up and getting close to Mira.

Mira´s Mom - hate her. Vicky was a bit annoying.

There were several times in the book where I was like : " Oof... Wow... Ok... No Way... Whoa". Didn´t expect it or it was just so mean, rude or unbelievable.

The book def. sucked me in. I didn´t want to put it down (did for a few hours, but in those my mind was constantly begging me to continue reading). I picked the book up again at some point and well... I read till almost 4 am :D I just didn´t want to end it.

There were a lot of passages I marked. So many quotes I loved. I might post them to GR after release day.

Love Miras tattoos and their meanings too. I really, really love the rating system and the explanation of Six of why Mira will never be his 10 (Awww <3 <3 <3 . My heart melted :P )

Funnily in my review to book one I wrote that the book was too long. With book two I wanted to have more of the story :D

I like that the book ended with a beginning (which isn´t really as the characters said but somehow it´s a start of this new chapter in their lives). But now that the book is over... Well... I´m not happy. I want more. I know why there´s no epilogue and I understand that readers should make up their own epilogue but...Just. No! :P An Epilogue is not an end for me. A death of a character is. An epilogue helps me to get closure. I need that. So, because there´s a semicolon, I will still hope that their story is just on pause and will be continued at some point (I will write why I want that below) . I also want both books in the pov from Six. I want to read about his feelings and thoughts. I want to know what he did all those years.

There were a few things that confused me or bothered me. Questions I have left and things I want to know :

SPOILER START:
1. I´m not sure if I remember correctly but I think in Six feet under Mira, Six and Co were doing a job that was for Andra´s protection. But Mira was in this office and got surprised and beaten up. She woke in the hospital and this attack probably caused the miscarriage. I hope I remember right. Anyway... I wonder why both Mira and Six didn´t turn their hate and hurt against that guy (I don´t remember his name and if that was the Stepfather or Uncle from Andra). Wouldn´t they want revenge? He practically destroyed them. Also what exactly happened? And what happened afterwards? Is Andra safe now? Is Andra still with her boyfriend?

2. I´m not an expert but for me it was a bit weird that Mira got out of the hospital, travelled and moved her stuff not even 24 hours after she was beaten up and had the miscarriage. As I said, I´m not an expert and I don´t know much about it but I thought you would need to rest and wouldn´t be able or allowed to do things that are stressful or exhausting. Her heaving paintings and heavy stuff... I don´t know... it confused me...

3. I know the book is focused on Mira and not their relationship but I still wanted more of the relationship. Until 50% or 60% there wasn´t much happening in this department. And then in kinda rushed. I need more of those two. I need another book that is focused on their relationship. I want them to work together on it. To be happy. To have a baby or two. I want Mira to have the life she thought she could never have. I want her to have a family and to see that she could be a good mother and wife. I want her to see that she´s not her mother.

4. I want to know about Griffin. She´s old. what happens when Mira loses her baby (Griffin) ? :(

5. I know Mira is strong and fought but it was a bit strange to not read about one incident she had in all those three years. I think once in a while ppl who are bipolar would have a bad time...I don´t know.

6. The scene with Mira´s mom at the end of the book- That was so out of character for her (meaning Mira´s Mom not Mira herself) . She was a complete different person. That wasn´t necessary and confusing.

7. I needed more Six. I want to know what happened to him in those three years. Is he still doing those jobs? Why did he change? How did he met Vicky? How did he explain to Vicky that he wouldn´t marry her anymore? I need to know everything about him. I need his pov to everything.

8. Right now I don´t remember more things that confused me or that I need answers too. I just needed an 8 :P

SPOILER END

All in all- I can and will recommend this series. It´s heartbreaking in a beautiful and at times also sad way.

I really do hope that Whitney Barbetti one day decides to write more about this couple and also will publish the pov of Six (Sorry I have to mention it again and again because I love this guy :P )

Thank you Whitey for bringing this story and characters alive and for showing that people with mental health illnesses are fighting everyday- against and for themselves.

I was happy and luckily enough to receive an ARC for this book . <3

4,5 Stars

Hmmm... I don´t know what to say. I don´t know how to put this book into words. I have no idea how to start my review. Somehow I need more time to process it and at the same time I want to read it again to discover things I maybe have missed. To read it again, so I might understand it a little bit more.

This book is definitely a dark read. Not in a way that it includes violence or death. But its theme is dark. So if you want a happy, fluffy, heartmelting (in a good way) story- this isn´t it.

I really do hope that the people who read this book understand the characters and why they are like they are. I hope readers understand the reasons and the background. Because, mainly the female protagonist, isn´t an easy one and I think if you don´t understand her, you could easily hate her. You really need an open mind and you need to be patient too. Keep going. Read this book till the end- in my opinion it´s worth it.

The book is about mental illness, suffering, coping mechanisms, trust, fighting, love, ups and downs, patience, changes, hurt, and so much more. It´s about how much someone and something can ruin you and how it sometimes needs just someone to really look. Someone who sees through everything and knows what you need. Someone who is strong enough to help you and "brings you back to life". Someone who understands and fights for you. Someone who shows you love and happiness and also shows you the life you never thought you could have. Someone who pushes you out of your comfort zone. Someone who constantly stays on your side even though you say and do things that hurt them. Even though you disappoint them and make their life difficult.


The Book:

The book is written from the female protagonists point of view.

The main protagonists are Mira and Six.

Mira never had an easy life. Growing up with a Mom who is bipolar, abusive and unable to show love or any kind of emotion/affection at all, turned her into someone who tries to forget. She, herself, is bipolar and just wants the voices to stop telling her what to do. She doesn´t want to hurt. She doesn´t want to feel. And to achieve that she became a drug addict, thief and a cutter. She lived from day to day with no connection to anyone, because in her mind it is better this way.

Six is an ex-soldier and now private investigator. When he found Mira, he found something else too. At first he helped her and offered her a job. But with time it became clear that he was interested in more than that. But Mira isn´t easy and he still has sth. important he needs to do.

Both have secrets. Both have a past they don´t like to share. Both are quite the opposite from one another but seem to be the perfect match for each other.

The problem is though that both keep pushing. Both are fighting. Both are stubborn and strong. And Mira keeps having her episodes. And when she has her bad times, it is not only her who is suffering. Mira takes and takes and never gives. Mira is selfish and not easy to handle. But somehow Six is still there. But how long will he be? How long will it last until his patience will run out? How much hurt can he endure?

Will Mira overcome her addictions? Will she be able to get help? Can Six help her? Will Mira be able to live a slightly "normal" life? Will Six stay on her side? Will she stop hurting him? Can he show her ways to stop the voices? Is a happy end even possible? And what happens when they find out about their secrets?


My opinion:

The book touched me. I felt so much. I hurt. I even shed a tear or two.

I´m not bipolar but I suffer from depression and had been in and out of a mental health clinic when I was a teenager and young adult (wasn´t there on my own free will) . I´ve been to therapists all my life and honestly- I feel like Mira did about it and them.

I could see myself in her in some ways. The way she thinks, the way she feels, the way she hurts- I could relate. I don´t know where this scene was and what it exactly said but it was sth. like this: "I am not wanted. I am not loved". That´s how I feel too. These lines broke me a bit. I hurt for her and with her. That she´s also an artist is somehow a funny coincidence. But I love that painting helps her.

I wouldn´t say that I liked Mira, but I also didn´t hate her. She was selfish and difficult. And on the outside she simply is a bitch. But on the inside she´s this sick, broken, hurt, lonely, woman who just wants to be wanted and loved. But at the same time she´s scared and doesn´t want to let anyone too close. She has a huge fear of loss and tries to protect herself from getting hurt by others. And her voices aren´t helping her much either. So it´s constantly a back and forth. You want to be her friend in one moment and the next you want to strangle her. Especially when she hurt Six. She makes mistakes and her addiction also is always a part of her, even when she´s not using. I liked how she evolved throughout the book and showed other sides too (f.e. with Norah). She grew a bit, learned and got healthier. She got a bit more "human".

Six- I love him. I need someone like him in my life. This guy- what he put himself through. What he saw, what he did, how he fought... he´s an amazing man. He´s so strong emotionally. He´s so patient. He cares and loves so much. He understands. He tries. He looks for solutions and ways to make Mira´s voices go away or to at least silence them for a while. He pushed her. He saw through her lies. He really looked at her and saw the real her. He destroyed her walls bit by bit. And even when there was a setback- he kept going. Even when he was frustrated- he kept going. He kept loving and fighting for her. There wasn´t much he expected in return. And he also held his promises. In my eyes he is perfect. And every time he finally got sth. in return- his happiness made me happy too.

Even from the start I´ve been like "oh,oh". Mira sounded a couple of times like there wouldn´t be a happy end. Like something would happen. So I constantly was on edge and was just like "I need to know. I need to read faster. Don´t you dare get hurt or die (I mean Six). Are they going to break up? What if they do? And why? What´s going to happen to Mira when she doesn´t have Six? Will she go back to her old self? I need to know?!" :D But then the end happened...And it hurt. I hurt for them.

When it comes to their relationship... It was healthy and unhealthy in some way. At times you wished Six would just leave, because you didn´t want him to hurt but at the same time you didn´t want him to leave because Mira needed him. Whitney Barbetti really did good with making the reader unable to choose between right and wrong because there wasn´t a right or wrong. You connect with the characters and don´t want them to suffer. You understand them and their reasons even if you don´t like them. But sometimes you need to do things you don´t like.

The dog (forgot the name) was great :D Had to grin here and there because of her. Felt a bit bad about all the Henry´s :P

Mira´s Mom- Can´t stand her. When Mira said what her mom tried... I was just like "whoa". The rest of the side characters were ok.

What I really love is how Whitney Barbetti can make simple things special. For example the characters inside jokes and the thing with the rating (How much do you love me from 1-10?). Really love that. Had to mark a few quotes too. Already had been a fan of those things in another book I read by her. I will def. read her other books as well at one point!

I also loved how Six gave her the nickname Ursula and how he pictured her with the tentacles :)

I really liked the writing. I could connect to the characters. I could feel with them, hurt for them. I could understand them. It was like I was with them and not just only a spectator. The way Mira´s episodes were described- it was really good in my opinion. It made it easy to imagine what ppl who suffer from it and ppl who live with ppl who suffer from it have to go through. It was very easy for me to "see" the "crazy" and that´s because of how Whitney Barbetti put the voices down on paper. And it was also easy to "feel" the frustration , disappointment and hurt from Six. Can´t complain about the writing style.

I think the warning and info at the beginning of the book is really sensitive and was a good choice to have put it there.

The only thing I wished is that the book would have been a little shorter. Beginning and end was great but the middle was mainly about the back and forth and it was a bit too much in my opinion. I felt like I was reading the same thing happening all over just maybe in a different setting and with different reasons...But it´s still fine. It´s nothing that necessarily need to be changed.

I don´t think I have everything I thought or felt written down and def. don´t think that I was able to put the books and the characters into words. As I mentioned at the beginning- I still need to process and need to read this book again. It´s somehow special and it´s an emotional and also heartbreaking read.

I really, really can´t wait for book two. I need to know what´s going to happen.

I can and will recommend this book! And I probably will buy the paperback too :)

This is a review for an ARC-Copy I got from the publisher and Whitney Barbetti :) Thank you so much!

Such a sweet and beautiful story. Really enjoyed reading this book.

This book is about struggle, suffering, hurting and healing. It´s about life and death. It´s about selfworth and love. About helping someone finding themself and showing what life has to offer and what really matters.

Parker, the female character, didn´t had an easy life. And if that wasn´t bad enough one day changed her life completely. After she was attacked, her life wasn´t really a life. Her traumatic experience left her scarred on the outside and inside and it led to her not feeling anything. That is till one message changed everything.

Everett, the male character, has been through so much already. Being sick almost all his life, suffering from the side effects of this condition and the operations he had, he finally decides that it´s enough. This time he will face death and just live till the moment comes. When he meets Parker, who he thought would be someone else, he sees sth in her that she couldn´t. That´s when he starts wanting to help her feel again. That´s when he invites her on a roadtrip. And that´s where both found what they were never seeking.

My opinion:

At first I thought this would be a dark read because of the cover, but it wasn´t. It was just sweet and beautiful and touching.

I loved both characters. Sure Parker wasn´t easy, but I guess no one is who went through what she has been through. Tramatic experiences and mental illnesses can do that to ppl. Sometimes it just needs someone to look behind the walls and layers and just be there to help. And that was what Everett did.

I loved their connection and their banter. I loved how the "rude" and "asshole" thing became their thing. For me it wasn´t meant serious and seemed to me more like an inside joke they both have and love.

I loved how real they seemed. They had their good and bad moments just like every other human being has.

I loved how they both get closer and closer to each other. I could feel how what they were feeling for each other was building more and more.

I loved everything about their Roadtrip. The places they went, what Everett was telling her about them.

The title is perfect too. Loved how Everett "rated" Parker. That way is was easy to see how she was warming up to him, to having feeling and to living her life again.

I loved how Everett helped her and how she changed more and more to the one she finally became. And I loved how she was able to help him too, although the scene when she left him in the hospital...well..I´m not a fan of it. I´d have handled it differently but it´s fine.

Of course I´m happy about the way the book ended. But I need more. I feel like this story is unfinished. I want to read more about what happened after the scene at the arch.

When I finished the book, I was looking at the cover again and that´s when I recognized that this cover is the drawing Everett did of Parker. That´s def. a plus point. I really like that. I liked in general that he had this notebook and wrote everything down. I´d love to read his notes. Maybe there could be a novella or sth just about his notebook? That would be cool.

This book had so many scenes and quotes in it I liked- I had to mark some in my kindle.

I´m loving the scars they both have. I have one on my forehead as well because of a bad car accident and therefore know how it is when ppl look at it and ask me about it. I don´t care though, it´s a part of me and I love how they both also saw that as a part of them- Sure they were self concious about it at times but that´s what is also totally normal. Sometimes you feel strong enough to not care and sometimes not. But in general- I loved that emotional and physical scars were a theme in this book.

I know I wrote those words a lot but still- I loved how in the end they both were able to heal and love each other. How they both helped to fight their demons. How they both came alive. <3

This was my first book by Whitney Barbetti and I can´t wait to read more. <3