Book review : The Last Piece Of My Heart - Paige Toon

It's a sure sign that summer is on the way when the chicklit review copies start coming in thick and fast ! I can understand why - it's the perfect genre for a bit of light, easy-to-read, feel-good escapism as you lounge by the pool under a palm tree sipping on a cocktail. Paige Toon is one of my favourite chicklit authors so I knew I'd be in for a treat when her latest novel, The Last Piece Of My Heart, landed on my doormat, along with a clever bit of tie-in merchandising - a jigsaw puzzle featuring the front cover picture.

The story focuses on Bridget, who I instantly warmed to, possibly because she's also a blogger. Initially a travel blogger, now trying her hand at writing a book, she is on a light-hearted but poignant mission to revisit all her exes and ask them to give back the piece of her heart that they held on to when they parted ways. The reason behind this isn't just her desire to become an author - she is also in a long distance relationship and feels unable to commit to marriage, so she is hoping that this will lay her demons to rest and allow her to move on to the next chapter of her life. When she gets a call from her agent with a book deal, she is over the moon ... but it isn't her book that they want. She is hired as a ghostwriter for a popular young author, Nicole Dupré, who tragically died before she had finished her long-awaited sequel. For one crazy summer, Bridget moves to Cornwall to stay with Nicole's husband and daughter while she works on the novel, trying to get into Nicole's headspace so that she can pick up her narrative, while simultaneously following up on her own mission, tracking down past boyfriends. When she finally works out who holds the final missing piece of her heart, it comes as a total shock (possibly more to Bridget than the reader as it seemed pretty obvious to me almost right from the beginning !) but the final "piece" offers her closure and the ultimate "peace" and happiness she craves.

By turns heartwarming and heartbreaking, the cleverly crafted novel allows us to follow numerous romances - both Bridget's checkered love-life and current relationship and Nicole's marriage, as well as her novel which seems largely autobiographical and focuses on choosing between two loves. I like the way that Bridget learns a lot about herself as she tries to understand another woman's heart and soul.

It's quite predictable but hugely enjoyable so definitely tuck a copy in your suitcase this summer. The action flips between Cornwall and Thailand so it will fit right in, wherever you're going !

star rating : 4/5

RRP : £7.99

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK (18 May 2017)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1471162559
• ISBN-13: 978-1471162558
• Product Dimensions: 13 x 2.6 x 19.8 cm

Disclosure : I received a copy of the book in order to write an honest review.