Another Little Piece of My Heart - Tracey Martin

Another Little Piece of My Heart by Tracey Martin
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: December 1, 2013
Source/Format: Netgalley (Thank you Harlequin Teen!) || e-galley
[I received this book from the publisher. This in no way affects the thoughts expressed in my review.]

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? (from Goodreads)

What I enjoyed most about Another Little Piece of My Heart is that it reminded me, in a lot of ways, of the type of fan fiction I used to write when I was in high school. I was am obsessed with boy bands and musicians, so it's not particularly surprising I was eager to read this. Even though I felt like everything was only touched upon lightly (if that makes sense), it was still a pretty fun read.

I adored the fact that this book was set in the summertime! Not just any summer either, mind you, but the summer right after high school graduation for Claire. That summer (and also the summer after you graduate from college) always feels like a clean slate. Everyone gets that chance to start over, start again and try something new. Everyone can reinvent themselves, and that's certainly an opportunity that Claire takes advantage of. From taking on an actual job, to trying to write more music, her summer is certainly a catalyst for change.

I actually didn't know, going in, that this was a book inspired by Jane Austen's Persuasion. It makes absolute sense though, if you look at the groundwork of Claire and Jared's romance. They both led very different lives to begin with, and their separation only occurred because of deep sorrow and a misunderstanding. I love the way Martin played with that concept and managed to modernize it, without telling the exact same story.

The best part of this book, by far, is that music has a heavy hand in both Claire and Jared's stories. I love that music was a love affair for them both, and that it helped them cope with all the things that were going on in their lives. Even though it felt like Jared had more polish to his talent (and obviously, that career with the songs inspired by their break-up), Claire also had something raw and real about hers. It was fascinating, honestly, to watch her during the chapters where she tried to work on some music.

If you're looking for a bright, easy read to curl up with during these colder months, I'd definitely recommend Another Little Piece of My Heart. It's got a fun cast of characters, a great summer setting and music woven through its pages. I really enjoyed it, even as the pages flew by!

[I'm sorry, I just cannot avoid singing the Janis Joplin song, hence the link below.]