By Tillie Cole
Publication Date: 25th June 2024
Genre: Romance, Grief, Healing
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Tillie Cole is an author known for stories that grab your heart, squeeze it, and then somehow, against all odds, manage to put the pieces back together.
Her book, “A Thousand Boy Kisses,” was an undeniable, magnificent heartbreak. So, when I picked up the sequel, “A Thousand Broken Pieces,” the question on my mind was immediate and intense: Was I ready for more tears?
I was, but what I got was something even more profound.
A Story Born from Understanding
It’s clear from the very first page that this book is written by someone who deeply understands the landscape of loss. The raw, messy, and all-consuming nature of grief is explored with an authenticity that is both painful and cathartic.
While A Thousand Broken Pieces tells the story of Savannah, the younger sister of Poppy (from the first book), you absolutely do not need to read the first book to see the beauty and emotional depth of this sequel. It stands entirely on its own, delivering a complete, moving experience.
Four Years Later: Savannah’s Journey
The book opens four years after Poppy’s death. Savannah is still consumed by grief, a feeling so deep it has effectively halted her life. In a desperate attempt to help her heal, she is sent on a trip —a journey around the world —with a small group of other teens who are also navigating their own unique forms of sorrow.
It’s on this extraordinary trip that she meets Cael.
Cael is a soul shattered by his own tragedy: the loss of his elder brother, Cillian. Unlike Savannah, who carries her grief as a heavy blanket, Cael wears his as armour. He is angry, full of rage, and has completely closed himself off from the world, convinced he doesn’t deserve happiness.
When Broken Pieces Collide
Savannah and Cael are two broken souls moving across beautiful landscapes, yet they are trapped inside their own internal storms. When their worlds inevitably collide on the road, they forge a connection that is hesitant, raw, and ultimately life-altering. They don’t try to fix each other; instead, they simply see and accept each other’s pain.
This book is incredibly honest about the difficulties of finding light after darkness.
Content Warning: This book deals with sensitive themes including death of a loved one, cancer, and suicide. Readers should approach this story knowing it tackles these topics head-on.
More Than Moving On: It’s Moving Forward
A Thousand Broken Pieces is not just a story about grief; it is a stunning exploration of hope, healing, and finding love and peace amidst tragedy.
The true heart of the novel lies in the powerful distinction it makes: you don’t have to “move on” from loss. You don’t forget the people you love. Instead, the book teaches us how to “move forward”—how to carry the memory of that person with you while still finding a way to live a life full of light, laughter, and new connections.
If you are looking for an emotional, deeply felt story that reminds you that life can be beautiful even with a few broken pieces, this book is a must-read.
Have you read A Thousand Broken Pieces or A Thousand Boy Kisses? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!