by Holly Hall
Turns out, you can't control fate, the past doesn't always stay in the past, and the things that connect two people often tear them apart.
All the Pieces That You Left
Waterview, Texas is good for a few things, but getting over your boyfriend's death isn't one of them. In the aftermath of an accident that claimed her boyfriend's life, Ansley Carpenter finds herself virtually smothered by her tiny hometown and the memories of Dean Ryker that seem to lurk around every corner. Hardly anyone is taking the loss as hard, except for one person: Dean's old best friend, Kyle.
Kyle O'Connor is the only one in the world who seems to fully comprehend the depth of Ansley's sadness, yet he's the one person most people in Waterview expect her to stay away from. After all, it's usually never a good idea to date your ex-boyfriend's best friend. Though they try to deny a connection, the days of the summer after senior year just push them together, and the attraction between them only grows stronger as time before college runs out.
Thinking that a new start is just what she needs, Ansley tackles bonding with her new roommate, finding a new job, and attending college parties, but there is more to overcoming grief than just trying to forget. As she and Kyle try to navigate a relationship post-Waterview, and post-Dean, they discover that there's no guidebook to love and loss, and that facing the pain of the past is the only way to guarantee their future.
Acknowledgments
To the readers, for picking up books, spreading the word, reviewing, and for every like and comment Jenson’s received along the way. Jenson took over my heart for much of this year, and I hope his words touched yours.
To my husband, for supporting my dreams so faithfully, for loving me through the madness, and for all the stuffed-crust pizzas that got me through the writing of this one. Sorry I sometimes forgot to make us dinner.
To my reader group, The Smokin’ Squad. Like I said in the dedication, this book might not have existed if it weren’t for you ladies. I didn’t have a Jenson story once Raven’s was complete, but because of several of you, I sat down and wrote chapter one. Then two. And now here’s a whole book. I hope Jenson’s gotten his redemption and stolen your hearts. #JensonKingforever.
To my brother-in-law and future sister-in-law, Michael and Bre, for every late-night, off-the-wall question you answered about music or Nashville. I know nothing about the music industry, and although this is a work of fiction and I took some liberties, thank you for making me feel like I had some idea what I was talking about. You both are gold, and any mistakes made were my own.
To my beta readers: Casey, Robin, and Karen, for your sharp eyes and witty feedback. I needed those laughs to get me through corrections. One guy had three last names in the first draft. Three. Thank you for calling me out on my shit. Thank you for making this book so much stronger. Thank you for loving Jenson.
To the bloggers who take chances on no-name authors. I appreciate every hour you spend reading, reviewing, sharing, and making such beautiful graphics to celebrate books. You make the industry what it is, and you make my Instagram feed pretty.
About the Author
Holly Hall drinks coffee on the daily, would love to travel for a living, thinks animals are often better than humans, can count on one hand the number of things she loves more than reading and Texas A&M football (okay, that might be an exaggeration), and couldn’t handpick a better family than her enormous one. She is the author of three other standalone contemporary romances, Forever Grace, All the Pieces That You Left, and Love in Smoke, and resides with her husband and German shepherd in Houston, Texas.