3 out of 4 stars
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I’m always on the lookout for decent romance novels, and Missing Pieces by Michael Golvach just might be one of the most haunting romance stories I have come across in a very long time. It’s been days since I finished this book, but I can’t get the story out of my head. I loved it, and I hated it. It made me want to cry in happiness, sob in misery, gasp in surprise, and gag in disgust. I have a feeling that this is one romance that I will not easily forget.
Missing Pieces tells the story of twenty-year-old Mike, who doesn’t have much going for him aside from working at a terrible job at a supermarket and getting high with his drug dealer and the girl he’d once been in love with. But when he meets Mandi, his life suddenly seems to have more meaning. Mandi also doesn’t have a lot going for her; she’s been the victim of abuse since she was a child, which has left her scarred, both physically and emotionally. Mike’s friends can’t see past her prosthetic eye and frumpy clothing (worn to hide her scars), but Mike believes that Mandi is nothing but beautiful. The two of them are desperate to be together, but there are many obstacles standing in their way, starting with the large man who is currently responsible for Mandi’s most recent bruises.
A word of warning for sensitive readers: this is easily the most disturbing book I have ever read. Explicit sexual content and graphic violence (or a combination of two) are abundant throughout the book, as well as strong language and themes of drug use, domestic abuse, rape, and incest. There were moments when I would openly cringe at the disgusting images being painted on the pages before me, and I like to think that I have a pretty strong stomach for that sort of thing.
This book is rather long -- more than 500 pages in my edition -- but the first half of the book flew by as I was reading. The pacing slowed down a bit after that, which made reading a bit more tedious, but there was always something going on to further develop the story and keep me guessing about where things were headed, right down to the very end of the story. The characters are easily the best part of the book. They are all deep and realistic, with believable attitudes, psychological issues, and real-life problems. The excellent portrayal of Mike, Mandi, and Mike’s friends are definitely what helped the book flow so nicely.
In the end, I have to give this book a rating of 3 out of 4 stars. The great characters and the fast-pace of the beginning of the book were definitely positives for the story. The graphic content of the book, on the other hand, was a big turn-off for me. It was too difficult to see the beauty of the romance between Mike and Mandi when there was just so much disturbing imagery clouding the path. The ending of the book also felt a little dragged out, with too many lines of dialogue about feelings, restating the same messages multiple times. However, overall, this is still a story I will certainly not forget about any time soon! I recommend this book to those who enjoy a good romance but don’t mind extreme graphic content thrown into the mix.
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Missing Pieces
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