Memphis Reads Archive

Fiction

Andrea reviews ANOTHER PIECE OF MY HEART  by Jane Green (St. Martin’s Press, 2012)


When it is okay for a mother to step out of her infant’s life?
When it is okay for the infant’s grandparents to assume custody?

Andi has always wanted children of her own. But after not getting married until she was 37 and beginning perimenopause shortly after her vows to Ethan, the odds just are not in her favor. She thinks it will be okay, though, since Ethan has primary custody of Emily and Sophia from his first marriage.

Sophia, age 13, is full of goodness and sweetness and has a genuine relationship with her stepmother, Andi. Everything that Sophia is, seventeen-year-old Emily is not. Emily is hateful, cunning, and completely rude to Andi. Going through a “goth” or “emo” phase, Emily dresses in black, drinks, and does drugs. When Emily gets pregnant, she doesn’t know who the father is, and it doesn’t appear she wants to give up her habits, so Ethan and Andi are horrified to find out Emily wants to keep the baby.

Three months after Callum is born, Emily is just not bonding with him so she takes off. Andi realizes this is her chance to raise Cal as her and Ethan’s son, but they are always fearful Emily will return and claim her parental rights.

A healthy, clean Emily does return and does claim her parental rights. Only if you read this beautiful, heart-wrenching novel by best-selling author Jane Green will you find out what happens next!

Andrea King, Poplar-White Station Library