Title: The Smallest Part
Author: Amy Harmon
First published February 13, 2018
338 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9781979819503 (ISBN10: 1979819505)
Rating: 4.15
Overview
It was the biggest secret she had ever kept. It weighed heavily on her every time she saw them together.
But she couldn’t just reveal it, not when it would hurt the two people she loved most in the world. “Do you think he’ll propose to Cora?” Mercedes asked, trying to sound as casual as possible.
But her heart was pounding against her chest, her mind screaming the truth. She was in love with Noah.
They had been best friends forever, and she had always been by his side. But now he was in love with someone else, and she was left to navigate the pain of unrequited love.
Mercedes was the one who held everything together, who stood by her friend’s side through every hurdle. She was the bridesmaid, the godmother, the confidant.
But when it all came crashing down, she was the one left to pick up the pieces. This is the story of the girl who loved too much, and the boy who loved someone else.
Editoral Review
In her novel, The Smallest Part, Amy Harmon explores the intricacies of friendship and love, betrayal and forgiveness, and the consequences of keeping secrets. Harmon, a New York Times bestselling author known for blending romance with drama and suspense, delivers another poignant and memorable story that will tug at readers’ hearts and stay with them long after the final pages.
Set in the small town of Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania, the novel revolves around the lives of three childhood friends: Mercedes Lopez, Noah Andelin, and Cora Rodriguez. Mercedes, the protagonist and narrator, is a successful obstetrician who seems to have it all – a fulfilling career, a beautiful daughter, and a loyal boyfriend.
However, as the story unfolds, we learn that Mercedes is haunted by a painful past and a secret that threatens to unravel her carefully constructed life. Noah, a talented artist, is Mercedes’ best friend and confidante.
He has loved her for as long as he can remember, but has never had the courage to tell her. Cora, the third wheel in their trio, is the wild and impulsive one, who often gets into trouble and relies on Mercedes to bail her out.
Over the years, their friendship has been tested by jealousy, misunderstandings, and lies, but they have always managed to hold onto it, until a tragic accident changes everything. Without giving away too much, the plot revolves around the aftermath of the accident, as Mercedes and Cora try to come to terms with their guilt and grief, while Noah struggles with his unrequited love for Mercedes.
As the characters confront their past and present demons, they realize that the smallest part of themselves can have the biggest impact on their lives and relationships. Harmon’s writing is evocative and lyrical, drawing readers into the world of Boiling Springs with rich descriptions of its people, places, and customs.
She has a gift for creating complex and flawed characters who feel real and relatable, and who grapple with universal themes such as identity, acceptance, and redemption. The novel is also thematically rich, touching on issues like racial and cultural prejudice, mental health, and the complexity of mother-daughter relationships.
If there’s one area where the novel falls short, it’s in its pacing, which can feel slow and meandering at times, especially in the middle. The flashbacks and subplots, while necessary for the story, can also be distracting and fragmented.
However, Harmon’s writing style and her characters’ emotional depth make up for these shortcomings, especially in the gripping and poignant climax, which brings the novel full circle. Overall, The Smallest Part is a beautifully written and emotionally resonant novel that will appeal to fans of women’s fiction, contemporary romance, and literary fiction.
It’s a story that reminds us that even the smallest choices and actions can have a profound impact on ourselves and those we love, and that honesty and forgiveness are essential for healing and growth. I highly recommend it to readers who appreciate great storytelling and memorable characters.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
