Another Piece of My Heart [Kindle Edition]

Jane Green (Author)

Book Description

From the New York Times bestselling author of JEMIMA J, and THE BEACH HOUSE, comes Jane Green’s most emotional and powerful novel yet:  a story that explores the complications of a woman marrying into a ready-made family, and the true meaning of motherhood.

Andi has spent much of her adult life looking for the perfect man, and at thirty-seven, she's finally found him.  Ethan--divorced with two daughters, Emily and Sophia--is a devoted father and even better husband.  Always hoping one day she would be a mother, Andi embraces the girls like they were her own. But in Emily’s eyes, Andi is an obstacle to her father’s love, and Emily will do whatever it takes to break her down. When the dynamics between the two escalate, they threaten everything Andi believes about love, family, and motherhood—leaving both women standing at a crossroad in their lives…and in their hearts.

ANOTHER PIECE OF MY HEART is a novel that illuminates the nuances and truths about relationships and is Jane Green at her absolute best.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“[Green] has a soothing voice. It is a pleasure to listen to her as she brings the characters to life.” – ­Record-Courier

About the Author

Jane Green is a bestselling author of popular novels. She has been featured in People, Newsweek, USA Today, Glamour, and Cosmopolitan. She lives in Connecticut with her family.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• File Size: 507 KB
• Print Length: 416 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press (March 13, 2012)
• Sold by: Macmillan
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00633W2YA
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Not Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,598 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #7 in Books > Literature & Fiction > British > Contemporary
  • #99 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Family Life

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 37 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Irresistible chick lit. Even if you think you're too cool for this sort of story. February 25, 2012

By Esther Schindler TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

There's a scene early in Another Piece of My Heart in which one of the main characters is grieving for her mother. (Don't worry, that isn't a spoiler.) Her best friends come over with a box of See's Chocolates, and -- even though they are health-food California yoga-and-granola types -- say, "Sometimes, you just need some sugary crap." And they eat the entire box in one sitting.

That's pretty much how I feel after reading this novel. It's not deep meaningful fiction; I don't think anyone is going to choose this for their next book club meeting. But sometimes you just need someone to tell you a story about someone ELSE's problems and victories, and Another Piece of My Heart is a perfect example.

Our basic setup: Andi married in her late 30s, and feels she's found the perfect man. Ethan is warm and understanding, and Andi's happy to have a ready-made family, with Ethan's two teenage daughters from an earlier marriage. All she needs to feel fulfilled is a baby of her own. Only she has friction with the older daughter, and self-doubts. And that's just where we start...

This book is all about the characters and their relationships and their journeys. Andi is our main character but we also see into the worlds of the step-daughter Emily and several other key people.

I have oddly mixed feelings about the result. On the one hand, this novel is so very much a chick lit *fantasy*. When people get angry, they remain articulate. When they have a life-changing moment, they rarely waver. Ethan is a sensitive new age guy, the one that most women imagine to be perfect (he probably picks up his own socks, too), except for his understandable weakness for his older daughter. And he isn't very realistic. Most guys just aren't going to say, "I love you. I hate these fights, these moments that happen when we disconnect from each other so completely, but that isn't what defines our relationship." I don't think they talk that way during a marital argument even in California.

And yet... I couldn't put the book down. I ate the whole box of cheap chocolates at one sitting. Despite the fact that the prose is sometimes overworked sentimentality, the characters do come alive. I cared what happened to them. I don't really _believe_ them, but I wanted to. And I think you will, too.

If you're ready for a good wallow in a hot tub with bubble bath... this is the book you want beside you.

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Fine Page Turner by Green February 25, 2012

By Obsidian Blue VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

The newest offering by Jane Green "Another Piece of My Heart" tells the story of Andi a stepmother to two teenage girls' trying her best to be loving stepmother though one of her stepdaughter's makes it extremely hard.

The main protagonist of the novel, Andi, is a loving wife to a divorced man named Ethan. Ethan when she meets him is divorced with two daughters, who at the start of their relationship were fairly young. The two girls, Emily and Sophia are like night and day. Sophia loves Andi and Andi loves her. However, the oldest daughter, Emily, has a contentious relationship with Andi that often turns into bitter arguments, fights, with Emily always getting her way.

However, Andi wants more than anything to get along and love Ethan's daughters like her own since she wants to have a large family and eventually have more children with Ethan.

As the novel progresses we have Andi now 41 and married to Ethan for several years, and Emily now 17 still fighting and causing a lot of scenes and frequent fights between Andi and Ethan. Emily at the time is just drifting and has no plans for college, but frequently comes home drunk and high.

During this time period an event occurs that I felt was telegraphed very early by Jane Green dealing with Emily and how it will now affect Andi and Ethan.

I also felt that the event was such a cliche and what ended up happening was a cliche that I found myself checking out mentally as I continued to read. I called every event that happened with the characters afterwards right up to the happy ending.

I have to say that though the book overall was written very well I found myself disappointed and wished that Jane Green had chosen a different outcome to her story. She had great potential there and I think she just wanted to ensure a happy ending for all of the characters.

Additionally, I think Jane Green made a mistake in switching from Andi back to Emily's point of view throughout the novel. By the time the novel switches to Emily's point of view I was fully invested in Andi and felt myself getting frustrated with Emily since she was selfish and thoughtless throughout. Also at that point about 40 percent of the novel had just been told from Andi's point of view and it would have been better served to leave it as Andi's story, not Emily's.

Finally though, what really disappointed me above all else when I finished this book was that by the end of it Emily does a total 180 and to me as a reader it felt forced. Sometimes stories can be left open ended or even sad it doesn't take away from the novel.

Overall grade: C+

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Mixed Bag for me April 28, 2012

By Denise Whitcome VINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

First, the author's voice started to bother me after 11 hours. A British accent telling a story about Californians? It was discordant at times.

Second, the book itself was interesting, but at the end, I really didn't like any of the characters.

What did I like to give it 3 stars?
The author created real-life situations. I'm so used to reading romance and fantasy, with their black and white storylines, this was a nice change for me. Life didn't become perfect overnight, it took years of pain and struggles to reach that point and the book took you through all of the pain.

The main focus of the book was on a self absorbed stepdaughter who was experiencing immense pain over the indifference of her alcoholic mother. Only after 10 years of drama, do things get better. Wow, I'm worn out just thinking about it again.

More About the Author

Jane Green is a bestselling author of popular novels. She has been featured in People, Newsweek, USA Today, Glamour, and Cosmopolitan. She lives in Connecticut with her family.