The Smallest Part by Amy Harmon Series: Standalone Novel
Published by Self Published on 2/13/17
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 305
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“In the end, only three things matter. How much you loved, how gently you lived, and how gracefully you let go of things not meant for you.”
- UnknownIt was a big lie. The biggest lie she’d ever told. It reverberated through her head as she said it, ringing eerily, and the girl behind her eyes—the girl who knew the truth—screamed, and her scream echoed along with the lie.
“Are you in love with Noah, Mercedes?” Cora asked. “I mean . . . I know you love him. You’ve been friends forever. We all have. But are you in love with him?”
If it had been anyone else—anyone—Mercedes would have stuck out her chest, folded her skinny arms, and let her feelings be known. She would have claimed him. But it was Cora. Brave, beautiful, broken Cora, and Cora loved Noah too.
So Mercedes lied.
And with that lie, she lost him. With that lie, she sealed her fate.
She was the best friend, the bridesmaid, the godmother, the glue. She was there for the good times and the bad, the ups and the downs, the biggest moments and the smallest parts. And she was there when it all came crashing down.
This is the tale of the girl who didn’t get the guy.
If you read one book in February, it should be this one. Both Jessica and I cannot wrap our minds around how intense and absolutely captivating it was. We can barely contain our passion for this book. It is EVERYTHING a romance novel should be and so so so much more. Below are our reviews. We urge you to read. You’re not going to find a book as soulfully powerful and exquisitely written like this. It’s BREATHTAKING. The best of the best. Seriously.
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Angie’s Review
6 “There is Nothing Better Than This” Stars!
“Life wasn’t about getting what you deserved. It was about enduring what you didn’t and not letting it destroy you.”
I’ve been sitting on this review for a couple days because I don’t know what to say. This book was an experience that I’m still trying to process and recover from. It was so intense, so gut-wrenching, so heart stopping that I don’t know how to get over it. Amy Harmon outdid herself, not only with the exquisite writing but with a story that felt like it transcended romance. This one sits on it’s own TOP shelf and reigns queen. I was so moved by it, so wholly devastated by the depth of the characters that now I’m in a state of “WOW. WHAT NOW?” and “I. JUST. READ. THAT.” I will never forget this story. I will recommend it as an ULTIMATE FAV forever. It is breathtaking, an EVERYTHING novel. One so powerful you look back and think, “If you want real life and romance, you want The Smallest Part. It breaks your heart but makes it whole. It shows unconditional love in a gritty way, gives hope, shows life when it’s tragic and ugly and haunting, at the same time teaching forgiveness, love, loss, kindness, and hope. Simply put, it’s magnificent.”
“Sometimes it’s the smallest part that steals the show.”
The Smallest Part follows three friends–Cora, Mercedes, and Noah as they grow from kids into adults. It flips from past and present, building the characters, setting up their world, giving them depth. There is no angst for the sake of angst in this book. Every word has a purpose, is an integral part of this story. Mercedes and Noah’s bond is formed first, at just eight years old, and it instantly endears you to them. They are completely lovable, and have a fierce love and loyalty to one another that is awe inspiring. Cora comes along a bit after, bringing together three very different personalities and home lives, cementing a friendship between the trio that spans a lifetime.
“He’d only wanted to kiss her.”
Now, I’m sure after reading the blurb you’re thinking LOVE TRIANGLE! At least some are! And yes, there is definitely some sort of thing happening between these three. That said, IT’S NOT WHAT YOU’RE THINKING. This story isn’t illicit. It doesn’t cross boundaries. Not like that. It’s different. It doesn’t fit any love triangle mold. It’s complex, there are so many facets that I can’t get into without spoiling. I would urge you to NOT let this hold you back. It’s a beautiful love story. A friends to lovers that will literally steal the air from your lungs. All those feels from brokenness to friendship to healing to yearning to loving, is what makes this story MAGIC. You’ll LIVE IT, and be happy and fulfilled when it’s all said and done. I guarantee it.
“Here I am, her thoughts screamed. Here you are. Here we are. This is us.”
I really think you should go into this with as little detail as possible. Don’t let anyone spoil it for you. Know you’re getting angst. It’s going to hurt so damn good. And man, that pain is what makes this book unforgettable. It means you’re getting it. The message is coming through. You’re in the characters head, you’re feeling her heart, or his heart, and that’s the entire point of reading. We open books so we can experience different lives, see different perspectives, and come out feeling like we’ve learnt something. And Amy Harmon gives us just that. She gives us a “life story” and a “love story” that stands the test of time. One that’s not always pretty, but is real and spiritual and so much MORE!
Overall, I can’t say enough good things. I truly want to push this book on everybody. It’s the best I’ve read this year by leaps and bounds. A 6 STAR fav that gave me all the feels! It’s a DEEP story that also deals with mental illness. Again, so complex. So overwhelming. So powerful. So incredibly good. An absolute must read!
Jessica’s Review
5 “This was Everything” Stars!
“You three are all tangled up like . . . like a ball of string, or some shit. I can’t say I understand it. But I felt it.”
Like The Law of Moses and The Song of David, The Smallest Part seems to defy labels. The unforgettable story of best friends Noah Andelin, Mercedes Lopez and Cora McKinney is so many things. It’s a friends to lovers romance surrounding a single dad and his best friend. It’s a tragic story of loss. It’s a testament to friendship and it’s a slow burning love story that spans decades. It’s a spiritual story of hope and forgiveness, an otherworldly account of what might exist beyond what we know for sure. And it’s another unputdownable gem of a storyline to add to the lengthy list of my Amy Harmon favorites.
I was pleasantly stunned more than once by Amy Harmon’s choices in this book. Everything from the edgy dialogue, the angsty dynamic between these characters, and the unexpectedly sexy scenes came as a complete surprise to me. And I ABSOLUTELY LOVED EVERY BIT OF IT. Harmon consistently delivers stories that are richly layered, that pack so much depth, that never lack romantic complexity or sensuality even if they’re subdued. And while that all remains 100% true in The Smallest Part, this book definitely has a decidedly different vibe than previous Amy Harmon novels, one that’s refreshingly edgy, emotionally intense and so. damn. good.
This trio of friends make for one of the most angsty dynamics Harmon has written. Dr. Noah Andelin just about killed me. I never expected to fall in love with the good doctor, but I’m gone. Totally and completely gone. His heartache and his loneliness gutted me; his devotion and loyalty to his friends and his daughter had me ENAMORED. I can’t lie, Cora infuriated me in this book. But her character also resonated with me in a profound way. She adds a layer of desperation and desolation to this story. She’s the wind, a character that changes and moves, never knowing who she is or where she belongs. Mercedes Lopez might be the most refreshingly colorful character I’ve read in recent memory. She’s fiery. She’s sweet and sassy and she’s a rock for a man that’s otherwise been left to flow aimlessly through his life. Their story is messy and it certainly tugs at the heart strings, but it still manages to feel light and sensual and so perfectly right in the end.
The more I think back on this book, the more brilliant I think it is. It’s the kind of story that sneaks up on you. It’s a slow fall, a subtle shift, a natural progression that kind of knocks you on your ass by the time it’s all said and done. It’s beautifully romantic, this story of a woman stepping in to help her recently widowed best friend take care of his daughter when all her life she’s remained his constant, dependable, easily taken for granted, friend-zoned confidant. Of course this isn’t just a romance. It’s a solid story of friendship and family but it’s knotted with unpredictable twists and turns, with bombshell revelations, with mesmerizing characters, with soul shattering emotional uncertainty. There are moments in this book that make me want to weep as I think back on them. There are words exchanged that literally take my breath away. With every book she publishes, I’m reminded of why Amy Harmon is one of my favorite authors. With The Smallest Part, I’m not only reminded of why The Law of Moses remains my favorite book EVER but I’m brought to joyful tears over being able to revisit this world again with Noah and Mercedes. This book was simply magnificent. It turns out the smallest part often steals the show and that’s what just happened here with this story. Noah was a relatively obscure character in The Law of Moses, a character I didn’t think much of if I’m being honest. But here with his own storyline, with his best friends and his heartache and his little girl, Dr Noah Andelin came out of nowhere and blew me away.
About the Author
Amy Harmon has written thirteen novels – the USA Today Bestsellers The Bird and The Sword, Making Faces and Running Barefoot, as well as the #1 Amazon bestselling historical From Sand and Ash, The Queen and The Cure, The Law of Moses, The Song of David, Infinity + One, Slow Dance in Purgatory, Prom Night in Purgatory, and the New York Times Bestseller, A Different Blue. Her novels The Bird and the Sword and From Sand and Ash were Goodreads Best Books of 2016 and 2017 finalists.
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