“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.” – Unknown It 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 …
“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.
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“In the end, only three things matter,Who He is.Who you are, and who your friends are.”
Trust God, Believe in Yourself and Love your friends unconditionally. This was the motto Mer lived by. She lived for her Best friends -Noah and Cora. But she had a fault, she didnt believe in herself . She stepped back for Cora always, which cost her her love.
Mercedes had backed away and Cora had stepped forward.
And Cora always wiggled in anyplace Mer occupied. Friendships, school, dates and even her salon she wanted to live Mer’s life by proxy. And jealousy drives her over the edge of the cliff and she drowns in waters of her own guilt.
That leaves Noah and Mer heartbroken and Gia an orphan.
I have only read one other book by Amy, but the sensitivities of her writing have impacted me always. The pages are brimming with emotions, characters are very real and human. Meaning they’re NOT perfect. they lie, they cheat, they stumble, they fault, they step back, they cry and they’re guilty. Much like real people and this makes the stroy very relatable and very endearing. There is no carcaturing(if thats even a word!) Or a cardboard like perfect two-dimensional figurines as heroes and heroines, but multi-faceted humans and they just occupy your lives while you’re reading the books and stay imprinted on your soul, long after you’ve closed them.
Amy touches upon very sensitive subjects in the story. Suicide, post-partum depression and genetics.
Is a child your offspring merely by blood or love counts as parenting too. A child doesn’t necessarily start life in the womb, some are born from the heart and this beautiful sentiment is the basis of the story.
Blood’s important. But to a kid, blood means nothing.”
Gia Mercedes just stole my heart. Her laughter, her tantrums, her painted toenails and her singing with Meh-Meh was too cute
The other powerful sentiment that runs rife in the story is the rogue sense of sacrifice. I’ve always felt that one-sided sacrifices messes up three lives and this couldn’t be more true than in this premise. I loved Mer with all my heart but wanted to slap her face to awaken her to stand up for herself at least once in her life !!!! She’s always been on the sidelines ….voluntarily. ALWAYS stepping aside or back and letting Cora takeover everything, which was a very frustrating to watch. . I loved Noah…omg he was perfect. Moses and Cuddy , I wanted to read more about cause I found these characters very fascinating.
As the story draws to the end, I didn’t wanna let go. Very heartfelt writing, coupled with complex characters, made it a very poignant and memorable book. Taught me a lesson of letting things go and de-cluttering my life
“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.”
5 “Boozer ” Stars
Amy Harmon writes the types of stories that I absolutely love to read. Each one tells a very specific and unique tale. I always walk away from them having absorbed a profound life lesson. Sometimes that lesson comes with a religious undertone, and sometimes it’s just a highly philosophical mantra that resonates deep inside.
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.
Mercedes, Noah and Cora have been best friends since they were 10 years old. They’ve grown up together, been each other’s strength and held each other up through the tough times. Whenever I read these kinds of stories, I always brace for when the inevitable happens: two fall in love and one gets left out. Except in this case, it isn’t as cut and dry as that. Amy weaves such a heartfelt story of love, loss and friendship, and the sacrifices people make to ensure the peace and happiness of the ones they love the most.
Amy is absolutely brilliant in the execution of this story. The way she lays out chapters from the past that show us these three kids growing up and specific events that occur, only to be lead into present day and how intricately entwined the past is with the present in ways I could have never imagined or prepared for.
Mercedes was just the most selfless, giving person I have ever seen. Noah was strong and steadfast and safe. And Cora, my heart broke for her one minute, and raged against her the next. So many times I wiped tears from my face, both in sadness and in happiness. I was just completely emotionally invested in this story from the first page to the very last.
I absolutely marveled at how complex and multilayered this story is. I grinned foolishly many times at all of the 80’s references, my heart hurt quite often for the amount of sacrifice Mercedes endured, my gut churned from the angst of it all. This book was just everything.
I started this review out with saying that Amy writes the types of stories that I love to read. I don’t know where she finds her inspiration or how it is that she so magically and seamlessly puts her thoughts down on paper and creates these prolific, thought provoking tales. I am just glad that she does, and I hope and pray that she continues to do so for a very long time.
“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.”
– Unknown
If you’re a fan of Amy Harmon, be excited…be very very excited because she has done it again. She’s created such a beautiful breathtaking story with such amazing characters that will forever live in your heart. If you are new to Amy Harmon….grab some coffee/tea, a snack, and come sit next to me. WE NEED TO TALK You are about to embark on a novel that will keep you captivated from start to finish. Amy Harmon writes novels that make us believe in a better world. Novels that give us hope in humanity, and reminds us that kindness, love, and friendship matter.
“They had all been inseparable once. Shared fear. Shared uncertainty. Shared childhood. Whatever it was, it had cemented them.”
The Smallest Part begins when the trio, Cora, Mercedes, and Noah meet. Three children that become fast best friends. Forced to mature quickly because of their trials and tribulations, our trio form a solid bond that carries them long into their adulthood. We get glimpses into that past while watching the present unfold. Which keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. When the unimaginable happens we have to sit back and watch with broken hearts, as the characters we instantly fell in love with, struggle to put their lives back together as best they can. This trio will be engraved in your heart. The way they love and protect each other. The funny banter they have. They are everything you look for in real life and in our favorite novels we read again and again.
A warning to the reader…
You don’t know what’s going to happen. Of course, the author is going to deliver a perfectly beautiful romance (I mean come on! It’s Amy Harmon!) But at 20% I gasped (LIKE FO REALZ!!) There are twists you won’t see coming and hurdles to overcome before you can get to that perfect blissfull exhale that comes with the happily ever after. This book does deal with a very serious issue. An issue that plagues so many people all over the world. Without spoiling anything the only thing I will say is that the author delivers a powerful message about depression and how it affects the ones you love. It’s tragic, gripping and eye-opening.
Once again the author has taken my breath away with her amazing characters and original breathtaking story. Her books always have a beautiful romance. But this story also had so much PASSION that isn’t typical of an Amy Harmon novel. (Like omg I think steam was coming off my kindle!! It was epic and so unexpected!!) Not that her other books are ever missing anything at all. But the raw passion she delivers in this story so perfectly placed to really grasp the beauty and power of love these two people have. I think Amy pulled it off flawlessly. It was beautifully romantic and I felt their all-consuming love for each other gripping my heart right from the pages.
This book is beautiful, it’s real, it’s heartbreaking, and it’s an absolute must-read. This book only serves to confirm why she is not only a favorite author of mine but also an instant click!!
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I know when starting any book by Amy Harmon, I must first get my life in check before starting. Her writing is exceptional, the words flow through the pages like rocks drifting in the bottom of a body of water. Becoming smoother with each page turned. At the end, the rocks are beautiful pieces of life that you must carry with you always.
Mercedes lied that one day. She sure did. It was the biggest, most regretful lie she had ever told anyone. Watching her two best friends become husband and wife, parents to a beautiful child and then the storm.
The Smallest Part is a story of realizing that you have a good thing in your life, two friends that you think you know better than anyone else that you are willing to let the one thing you hold closest to your heart…go…
When life throws you different characters that make appearances in your life to tell you a story, listen to them. Even though the stories they tell are not necessarily ones you want to believe, they are ones you should listen to.
The Smallest Part is the perfect title for this book. An emotional roller-coaster ride that from start to finish, your heart is pulled in so many ways. An exceptionally written, eye opening story that everyone needs to read!!!
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If you are looking for the perfect book that feeds your heart and soul completely, then stop what you are doing and read The Smallest Part. This incredibly emotional story is the tale of 3 friends, the Three Amigos, and the ripple effect each of them causes with the decisions that they make both in haste and in desperation. Noah, Cora and Mercedes. All 3 couldn’t be more different but they somehow bond at the tender age of 10 and see the next twenty years together and all that life brings them.
But it’s the glue, the woman who is one of the most selfless characters created, that is the true core of this story. One Mercedes Lopez. The Smallest Part with the biggest heart. You can’t help but love her. She’s curvy and short and full of Mexican vibrancy. Singing when her friends are down, loving her beloved Utah Jazz and always and I mean always, making sure those around her never feel alone. I was in awe of her devotion to her mad fashion and hair-cutting skills and her non-stop energy never wasting a minute to make sure life treated her loved ones the best way possible. And giving up her best friend to her other best friend just because she could.
Amy Harmon has once again masterfully crafted a journey that is full of detours and sadness (you know, that little thing called life) but I take away from this reading experience all the joy, laughter and the true love that is overflowing between these wonderful characters. The author does her homework and uses some her own life lessons in portraying some of the more intense bumps in the road that Mercedes, Noah and Cora have to contend with. And there is such a gorgeous spirituality that is a subtle thread in this book, finding the good when things go oh so bad that kept these 3 amigos going. With the particular addition of a man from one of the author’s previous books, making a very important appearance along with a mysterious homeless man, this is one very multi-layered book. It’s not what it seems more often than not and I thoroughly enjoyed watching the surprises unfold.
In the end, this is a beautiful love story filled with the right balance of loyalty, perseverance and hope. Finding what was always meant to be and discovering the courage to hold on tight.
A reading experience I won’t soon forget, I can add The Smallest Part to the best of 2018.
5 HUGE stars!
Amy, oh Amy. This book was perfection, but let’s be real, if Amy Harmon writes it, I’ll probably read it. She’s one of very few one-click authors for me.
The Smallest Part features a theme I absolutely abhor: a dead ex-wife. But, since it’s Amy Harmon, I read it anyway. And I was NOT disappointed. She took the trope, and she handled it with such grace. I’m seriously still in awe.
Amy usually has these small paranormal parts in her story, and I just love that. It added a dimension to the story that made it unique, and that took it from a nice read, to a memorable and beloved one. I loved seeing characters from her other stories too.
I still think about The Smallest Part every once in a while, and it’s one of the few books I can reread (ok fine, this is a lie. I can reread anything Amy writes.)
This one is definitely amongst my faves.
What do you say when your girlfriend asks if you’re in love with your best friend?
Noah, Mercedes, and Cora grew up together. They knew each other’s darkest secrets, gave support when needed, and promised to stay friends forever. So, when Cora decided she was going after Noah, Mercedes smiled and wished her well, even though her heart was breaking.
Because Noah was supposed to be hers.
Noah couldn’t remember a time when Mercedes wasn’t there to pick him up when he was down. When Cora joined their little group she was welcomed in with open arms and the three of them became a unit.
But Noah always considered Mercedes his.
Years later, Cora catches Noah at a rough time in his life, when his defences are down, and he asks her to marry him. With the arrival of their baby Cora’s insecurities come to the fore. She commits suicide, leaving Noah grasping for answers while juggling a distraught child.
Favorite Line
Kissing is a thousand times more intimate than sex. He knew some people would disagree, but the first thing that goes when a marriage is coming apart is not the sex. It’s the kissing.
The Smallest Part- Amy Harmon
Mercedes is filled with guilt over her friend’s death. She knew when Cora asked her to watch the baby something was wrong, but had put it down to Cora’s flighty personality. If only she’d said something sooner…
Noah and Mercedes band together to care for the baby, and soon old feelings bubble to the surface. But there are forces at work determined to create trouble and more secrets to be kept. Can two people with so much emotional baggage find a way to love?
This is the tale of three friends. Of mistakes made, forgiveness sought, love found. Amy Harmon has an uncanny knack for delving deep into messy, beautiful, damaged emotions and dragging them kicking and screaming into the open for her readers to immerse themselves in.
Loosely connected to one of my top reads of 2020, The Law of Moses (check out my review here ), a few recurring characters make appearances between the stories and greatly add to the reader’s enjoyment. I’m hooked on this series and have already dived straight into The Song of David, review coming soon!
Amy Harmon books are always a bit twisted or complicated. The characters are so well developed that I, as a reader, come to understand them. An excellent example of a strong, independent young woman, who discovers her weaknesses and comes to deal with them!
I was excited to finally read Noah’s story. His bittersweet role in The Law of Moses was a memorable one. I really enjoyed how Harmon shaped Noah’s characterization within this book. He was wonderful hero and it was a beautiful read. I did struggle with Cora’s character. I didn’t mind the story arc or her role in the lives of Noah and Sadie, but I found that there were a couple of facts that felt too convenient and written only to find sense in Noah’s relationship with her.
SPOILER*** example: Noah was obviously in love with Sadie and easily recognized when Cora undermined Sadie. Yet, Noah mentioned that Cora’s letters were what made him fall in love with her while he was deployed. I felt like the letters were conveniently thrown in so that the reader would accept Noah’s reason for falling in love with and marrying her. Otherwise, there weren’t any redeeming qualities in Cora besides her sad backstory and commitment to the friendship triad. ***END SPOILER
While I enjoyed Sadie, as well, I loved reading Noah’s POV and craved more from his perspective. Overall, I truly enjoyed the story and even understand the author’s plot choices. I just would have preferred for Cora to be a bit more likable.
This story was somewhat weird. Different…. Maybe even a little all over the place. It has a subject matter I don’t believe in so the storyline didn’t touch me.
There were times when I felt the connection between the hero and heroine only for it to be gone by the next page.
The story of three friends that happen to be a roller coaster of emotions, not knowing what will happen to them taking us during their lives and changes and mistakes.
Cora, Noah and Mercedes three amigos that really care about their friendship in so many ways but at the same time making mistakes and hurting each other without even trying to… they say you hurt the people you love and the smallest parts have a few glimpses of situations like that..
Mercedes and Noah are living their lives trying to survive the pain Cora left behind. lies, and hidden secrets that Noah and Mercedes were not ready to discover but at the same time, they were ready to move on from her shadow.
The Smallest part is a beautiful story that will teach you and take you into a world of fears and a past that keeps lurking around trying to make Noah’s and Mercedes life more complicated.. making them second-guessing anything they feel and think..
it was good, it was entertaining and I fell in love with so many of the characters that kept making me laugh and cry at the same time..
Amy…..Amy, oh how I love how you write. Her books just pull you in and drowned you. You don’t want to think about anything else until you are done and then you need someone to talk with about how much you loved this book. The Smallest Part was a beautiful story about the lives of people around you that matter and how to deal with your own demons so you can love better and stronger. Her books are not a light read and deal with heavy issues. This one had suicide, homelessness and mental illness and sexual content. These are real life stories that always lift and restore my hope in love and humanity. These are not my normal read, there is violence, sexual content,swearing, suicide, and mental illness making this a R rating.
A beautiful read
Three friends, two girls Mercedes, Cora, one guy, Noah. Cora the aggressive one, Mercedes the peace keeper the giver never the taker. Noah loves them both, but secretly it’s always been Mercedes he truly wanted. This story takes us back and forth from past to present and you witness Cora’s duplicity, Mercedes selflessness and how Noah finally gets Mercedes to see her true worth. This story has a few paranormal aspects, a second chance love story, that is heartbreaking and emotionally healing.
Almarie Guerra did a fantastic job narrating.
This book is truly a masterpiece!
…and to think I nearly didn’t write this book!! I’m just so glad I picked it up and started reading. The Smallest Part is truly a masterpiece. I couldn’t stop reading after I started. This book is just addicting. I’ve never expected to fall so deeply in love with this book.
This is actually even my first book by Amy Harmon, but definitely not my last. I fell totally and utterly in love with Noah and Mercedes. These characters and their story is just so beautiful and heartbreaking!! No words can do this book justice.
I can only say that you just have to experience this book by yourself. It’s everything you ever imagined and so much more. It is definitely a new favourite book of mine.
A big applause for Amy Harmon for writing such an amazing and beautiful love story. It will forever be in my heart.
A beautiful heart wrenching story. I adored Mercede’s, she was the most selfless person who rarely put herself first.
Why did it take me so long to read it? If you already have it and haven’t read it yet, then bump it to the top and make it your next read! You won’t be disappointed.
Can you remember a time in your life that you didn’t rely on your best friend? Mercedes, Noah, and Cora are just that…..three amigos!! The trio met during their youth and have always been the foundation in each other’s life. Through the good, the bad and everything in between, this triad held a solid grip on what true friendship is all about.
As they grew older, their dynamic changed. Certainly one would expect that with any type of bond. While Mercedes and Cora had their own friendship that comes from being a best friend to another female, they both had their own unique bond with Noah.
Time would bring about so much change for the three amigos. Definitely a lot of beautiful moments, but time also trails the ends of heartache. Something that will shake the very core of the foundation that formed their friendship. Secrets will unfold that lingered from their youth. How those secrets go about revealing themselves are what leads the path for the future. A tale riddled with potholes, flowers, and blooms!!
What can I tell you about The Smallest Part that doesn’t spoil the entire plot??? Hmmmm….well…this is definitely one Amy Harmon book you cannot miss!! Noah, Mercedes, and Cora all lead their own personal journeys in this novel. It’s a tale that will lead you to discover how life gives you little nuggets at the most simple of times. Listening is the key that so many of us miss when going through the motions, and the three amigos are no exception.
The Smallest Part was absolutely a soul gripping novel. Just like my love for The Law of Moses, this book took readers on a tale of having faith in humanity. A simple notion when you think about it, but one that will grab you by the heart while reading this haunting story. The way this story resonates is as simple as one of my favorite lines in the book…..
“In the end, only three things matter. Who he is. Who you are, and who your friends are.”
A line so simple I had to make certain I read it correctly!! A few sentences that not only set a precedence in this story, but extend to our lives as well. A profound but simple way to express how the bonds of friendship can mean more to someone that anything else in the world. For Mercedes, Noah, and Cora – their bond will lead you on a journey that will stick with you long after closing the final chapter. Resonating in such a way that you wonder how Amy Harmon can create such depth and emotion with such simple words and phrases.
I’m telling you….do not miss this new release!!! While you are at it…if by some chance you haven’t read the Law of Moses, make sure you grab that book as well. The way those two books tied in to the plot of The Smallest Part was absolutely epic!! I love Moses’ tale so much, and to see the journey with the three amigos cross a character with the depth that Moses had….well…just trust me on this one and read this book!!
This was my first book from Amy Harmon, I know I know, what was I thinking and waiting right??!!! After reading The Smallest Part I will for sure read more of her stories. This books it’s a 6 read and a must read. The Smallest Part is a friends to lovers romance with a fantastic twist. Amy’s powerful and inspiring words will take hold of your heart from the very first pages of this story. It’s a tale of love but not just lovers love, family love and friends too. This book is filled with life lessons and for me is a reminder that little things in life can make the biggest difference.
“Sometimes is the smallest part that steal the show”
“Life wasn’t about getting what you deserved. It was about enduring what you didn’t and not letting it destroy you.”
A lifetime of sorrow, growth, passion, understanding, conquering, surrendering and love from the main characters will be portrayed here. There’s so much I want to tell you about this book, so many moments were my heart slipped in two and the pain was unbearable. My emotions went from deep sorrow to incontrolable anger to extreme happiness. It was extraordinary the way Amy’s words make you transport into the life of Noah, Mercedes, Cora, Gia and even Cuddy; you get to feel just how they were feeling. How I ache for them in moments of despair and rejoice went the simplest of thing brought them happiness.
Just so you get to know the characters I’ll tell you a bit about them. Noah, Mercedes and Cora had been friends since they were 9 years old. They are inseparable. For them they are family because like Amy says blood’s important, but to a kid, blood doesn’t matter at all. They always have taken care of one another. Adulthood comes, families are built and that friendship will endure some changes that will force them to SEE.
HERE YOU ARE
HERE WE ARE
THIS IS US
I hope you all go grab this outstanding story because I promise it will be one to stay with you for a lifetime.
This book is brutal, but the story of friendship, loss, and the growth into love is, as is always the case with an Amy Harmon novel, wonderful.
I freaking loved this book! Amy Harmon did it again, she keeps stealing my heart with her words and thank god she shared them with the world. This is a story full of love, trust, sadness, faith, hope and strenght. I love how she touched topics like mental illnes and did it in a tasteful and real way, also love the fact that Mercedes and her family are from Mexico and the way she showed the culture in a right way, the feeling she captured around them was magical and the same with the whole story. I’m so in love with the characters! they’re are amazing but love that they’re not perfect.
I absolutely recommed this story and all of Amy’s books, because they are more than worth it!!!