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Eleanora in Pieces
“...an inspirational exploration of family, friendship, and indomitable strength of the human spirit.” –Troy Hollan, author of Clucked
It's been two years since her 4-year-old son... her baby... her Owen... disappeared from his bed in the middle of the night.
Every day Eleanora waits for news that he's been found. And every day she lives with the nightmare of knowing that she failed to protect her son.
Intuition tells her that Owen is alive, and Eleanora shuts out everyone who doesn't believe. But she fails to see that her single-minded hope has come at the expense of everything else she used to care about. With her career ruined, her marriage disintegrating, and her family coping with the loss in ways she can't understand, Eleanora is left trying to claw her way out of the black hole her world has become.
When an unexpected surprise suddenly offers Eleanora a second chance at happiness, she is shocked to feel...nothing.
Doubting her own worth, questioning her right to find peace, and still praying for her son's return, Eleanora struggles to see that life, ugly and painful as it can be, might still be worth living.
It's been two years since her 4-year-old son... her baby... her Owen... disappeared from his bed in the middle of the night.
Every day Eleanora waits for news that he's been found. And every day she lives with the nightmare of knowing that she failed to protect her son.
Intuition tells her that Owen is alive, and Eleanora shuts out everyone who doesn't believe. But she fails to see that her single-minded hope has come at the expense of everything else she used to care about. With her career ruined, her marriage disintegrating, and her family coping with the loss in ways she can't understand, Eleanora is left trying to claw her way out of the black hole her world has become.
When an unexpected surprise suddenly offers Eleanora a second chance at happiness, she is shocked to feel...nothing.
Doubting her own worth, questioning her right to find peace, and still praying for her son's return, Eleanora struggles to see that life, ugly and painful as it can be, might still be worth living.
213 pages, Paperback
Published September 4, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
June 11, 2024
In her debut novel, Eleanora, Jessica Maffetore has created a poignant portrait of loss, redemption, and the relationships that tear us apart and bring us together. Struggling to shoulder the unbearable weight of her child’s abduction, to withstand the wrenching pain of not knowing his fate, and to fight a lonely battle to believe in his continued existence, the protagonist, Eleanora, is a heartbreaking, broken, and wholly sympathetic character. Numbed by a deadening depression, Eleanora’s decisions trigger a cascade of events that threaten to shatter a world that has shrunk to a pinpoint containing only her beloved missing child. Maffetore does an exquisite job of breathing the supporting cast into life, showing the reader that Eleanora has a chance at living - if only she can shift the burden of guilt and shame and reach for it. From the garishly-attired therapist, to the exquisitely flawless and overly-involved older sister, and the perfectly-imperfect work buddy, the novel’s characters have depth, complexity, and kindness, which the reader can see, even if Eleanora cannot - yet. Maffetore’s novel is an inspirational exploration of family, friendship, and the indomitable strength of the human spirit. With a fluid, eloquent writing style, the author shows how even the most broken of us can create something new and beautiful from a life that is shattered, binding together what is salvaged with love, hope, and faith.
June 12, 2024
Jessica Maffetore’s debut novel, Eleanora, is a painstakingly wrought story of a mother unable to accept the disappearance of her toddler son. Eleanora, the title character, moves through her days as if slogging through mud, often succumbing to her depression by staying in bed and refusing social interactions, eventually pushing everyone away, including her husband. The moment-by-moment descriptions of Eleanora’s world are well-written and insightful, rich and painful, real and heartbreaking. Maffetore’s writing lifts the story and inserts the reader into Eleanora’s world, creating a character who is both likable and fractured, both by her child’s disappearance as well as the struggle to maintain an unexpected pregnancy after her husband announces his affair with another woman. We both root for Eleanora and sympathize with the daily pain of losing a child and having your world fall apart afterward. Nothing in the world can be worse than what Eleanora endures, but she keeps on going “because Owen may come home” at any time. Bravo to Maffetore for writing a stunning and intricately shaped novel about how we handle loss and yet keep on living.
September 13, 2024
I couldn’t put the book down!
This book was absolutely phenomenal. it kept your interest until the end.. waitin.
. g for another book now. PS loved some of the names you used. What great talent you have. I love your mom, and family. Best to you and family Nancy Braverman Riley
This book was absolutely phenomenal. it kept your interest until the end.. waitin.
. g for another book now. PS loved some of the names you used. What great talent you have. I love your mom, and family. Best to you and family Nancy Braverman Riley
September 14, 2024
This book compels you to not put it down, to keep turning pages well into the night. It is utterly gut-wrenching, but beautifully written, and you really feel like you know Eleanora and are feeling her pain along with her. I cannot wait to see what new author Jessica Maffetore writes next!
September 7, 2024
This book brings you into the mind and heart of a mother hoping and grieving at the same time over her missing child and doesn't hold anything back. Eleanora is experiencing every mother's worst nightmare and losing everything she once loved. She is on her own island of pain and at times doesn't seem to want to find her way off of it. I cried ugly tears while reading this one, but I think the author does a great job of making us feel all the things yet showing that even in the depths of despair there is a way out. Relying on friends and family, seeing a good therapist, finding others that have had a similar experience are all ways that Eleanora survived and learned to breathe life again. The conclusion is one of the most beautiful things I've ever read and I will be thinking of this book forever.
I received a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
I received a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 7, 2024
A mother’s worse nightmare told with so much raw, intense, and heart wrenching emotion. Something most of us cannot possibly fathom, but the brutality of the ordeal is one a deeply feeling individual can imagine and empathize with. The story is extraordinarily put together and realistic. The trauma, ongoing suffering, isolation, self blaming, and deep depression that impacts all aspects of survival. Many such conflicts and consequences come to light here. The story is one that sticks and will be processed even following conclusion. Despite the sensitive nature of the story, it is definitely at the top of my reads this year and highly recommended. I look forward to reading more from this author. Excellent writing!
June 11, 2024
In Eleanora in Pieces, Jessica Maffetore chronicles the unrelenting grief, despair, and self-reproach of a woman whose four-year-old son was abducted from her home two years earlier. We root for her fortune to change as we follow along on her painful journey, wondering if Eleanora will ever catch a break.
There are several unforeseen developments in this well-crafted story that keep you on the edge of your seat. But unlike many fictional plot twists, which can seem contrived or sentimental, the surprises in this book punch you in the gut with the full force of reality. Eleanora’s story is sometimes shocking and often heartbreaking, but it also inspires. In this impressive debut novel, Maffetore reaffirms the strength of the human spirit and the goodness of most—though by no means all—people.
There are several unforeseen developments in this well-crafted story that keep you on the edge of your seat. But unlike many fictional plot twists, which can seem contrived or sentimental, the surprises in this book punch you in the gut with the full force of reality. Eleanora’s story is sometimes shocking and often heartbreaking, but it also inspires. In this impressive debut novel, Maffetore reaffirms the strength of the human spirit and the goodness of most—though by no means all—people.
June 11, 2024
A mother's agony is brought to heart-wrenching life in this extraordinary debut from Jessica Maffetore. Her first person account of the two years following the disappearance of Eleanora's little boy is starkly realistic and emotionally affecting without descending into sentimentality. Despite the somber themes of the book, Maffetore skillfully relieves the tension through Eleanora's subtly wry observations, from her Italian mother's reliance on food to cure all ills, to her therapist's unorthodox clothing choices. I'm eagerly anticipating more from this impressive author!
June 4, 2024
Maffetore really shines in her debut novel, showcasing intense characters that truly illuminate the struggles of motherhood and the deep ache of loss. I couldn’t put this book down; the deeply moving story and gut wrenching plot twists left my jaw on the ground multiple times throughout the journey of the novel. Eleanora truly embodies the heart and soul of what it is to be a mother. immediate five stars.🙌⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
June 8, 2024
Poignantly told, this raw, beautifully written view inside the tormented mind of a mother (Ellie) whose 4 year old son disappeared from his bed while she’s in the shower. There’s nothing watered down about Maffetore’s writing, not when describing her therapists, her wilting marriage, her family and work relationships, as she moves through the long drawn hours of days without Owen, her son. The angst is authentic, the stages of grieving bitterly real while her insides guide her to believe he’s still alive, not lost as others glibly refer to a mother’s worst nightmare. From the one night stand where she met and had sex with Owen’s father (last name unknown) through meetings and events, I’m vividly aware while Ellie exists in a real world, her mind is elsewhere, replaying and remembering her son. I’m drawn into and through this story wondering how it will end, will he miraculously appear, or will Ellie come to terms with the fact she is alive and burning daylight hours living in the past. At seventy percent read, I can’t put the book down, and what I read takes my beath away—so powerful is the writing with descriptions burning from the page. Hours after I finished the last heart-wrenching “conclusion”, I’m in a quiet place, finding it hard to answer the phone or engage with my family. It is in this space I write this review, knowing it is sure to linger well into the night and for days to come. Maffetore is a brilliantly eloquent wordsmith.
June 11, 2024
Elenora in Pieces is the story of a grieving mother whose child was kidnapped. While two years have passed and the world has moved on, Ellie is stuck on the night he was taken from his bed, unable to move forward in any facet of her life: marriage, work, or health. The story is gripping from the first page because it is the nightmare of every parent; a child stolen from the safety of its own bed. And the lack of closure—Where is the boy? Is he dead? Living with another family? Being tortured?—makes it all the more haunting.
Maffetore’s writing is both empathetic and confessional, bringing the reader right into the horror of Ellie’s mind. Everything from the mundane, shopping at Target, to the monumental, the two-year anniversary of the kidnapping, holds psychological pitfalls. She paints Ellie’s world with the vivid prose of an artist. There is beauty in the horror that doesn’t let us look away, even as we ache for Ellie to make better choices, to understand that life is full of second chances, and that the kidnapping wasn’t her fault but the act of a deranged man. Most of all, the book is honest. There is no sugarcoating tragedy or the human response to it; instead, it shows how fragile life is and how one event can shatter an otherwise happy existence.
Full of emotional depth, Elenora in Pieces will have you turning pages late into the night. Highly recommend!
Maffetore’s writing is both empathetic and confessional, bringing the reader right into the horror of Ellie’s mind. Everything from the mundane, shopping at Target, to the monumental, the two-year anniversary of the kidnapping, holds psychological pitfalls. She paints Ellie’s world with the vivid prose of an artist. There is beauty in the horror that doesn’t let us look away, even as we ache for Ellie to make better choices, to understand that life is full of second chances, and that the kidnapping wasn’t her fault but the act of a deranged man. Most of all, the book is honest. There is no sugarcoating tragedy or the human response to it; instead, it shows how fragile life is and how one event can shatter an otherwise happy existence.
Full of emotional depth, Elenora in Pieces will have you turning pages late into the night. Highly recommend!
June 11, 2024
'Eleanora in Pieces’ should come with a warning label: remove mascara before opening.
Eleanora is living every parent's nightmare. Her four-year-old son was taken and two years later she has no more clue where he is than she did the night her hand touched his empty bed. Through the horror, author Jessica Maffetore draws the reader in with lyrical descriptions of loss, grief, anger and frustration. Her masterful pacing of heavy moments to light kept me immersed...I read the book in two days.
Eleanora's self-deprecating humor bites to the bone and makes you want to laugh, weep, and give this poor woman the biggest hug. We learn Eleanora's backstory through her brutally honest memories as she owns her choices and cuts herself no slack. And while your heart is breaking for her, the author heaps on even more for Eleanora to handle. Grab the tissues!
Grief makes a person understandably self-centered. Eleanora wants to curl into a ball and hide from the world and she does a heckuva job at driving people away but the story ends full of hope as Eleanora opens her wounded heart and learns one way to make herself feel better is to make someone else feel better.
June 11, 2024
Eleanora in Pieces by new-to-me author Jessica Maffetore is a captivating, often gut-wrenching whirlwind of a story of a young woman living every parent’s worst nightmare. In the aftermath of her young son’s disappearance, Ellie’s world comes to a crashing halt. Second-guessing every move, blaming herself and unable to accept the support of her husband and family, she seeks out the help of a therapist. The first is too strict- he wants her to sell her house and literally move on; the second, too odd- she wore the same outfit twelve weeks in a row, and the third? Well, if not ‘just right’ at least Jane is able to offer some level of solace to the grief-stricken young mother. But for Ellie, the climb out of the pit of anger, depression, and sadness she has landed in is fraught with challenges and setbacks.
Set in the Boston suburbs, this all too real tale of child abduction will have you turning pages, hoping for the best and wondering how it will all turn out. Highly recommend for the well-written characters and the unexpected plot twists. 5 Stars.
Set in the Boston suburbs, this all too real tale of child abduction will have you turning pages, hoping for the best and wondering how it will all turn out. Highly recommend for the well-written characters and the unexpected plot twists. 5 Stars.
June 11, 2024
Eleanora in Pieces by Jessica Maffetore is a masterful depiction of the devastation a mother feels when she loses a child. Beautifully written, heartwrenching, but ultimately hopeful, this novel takes readers through the indescribable grief of Eleanora whose son was taken from his bed and has been missing for years. When all hope is lost and she is unable to get out of bed, she cannot find the will to live, but she must, for her son could come home at any moment and he will need his mother. Despite their best attempts, her family’s efforts to reach her only distress her further, but her family does not give up. Their love knows no bounds and whether she realizes it or not, Eleanora is blessed to have them. Mafferore‘s ability to understand and describe the complex emotions of this grieving mother are incredibly moving and devastatingly accurate. A wonderful debut by a very talented writer.
September 13, 2024
Beautiful cover with lots of emotion, right? Eleanora’s four-year-old son, Owen, disappears from his bed in the middle of the night. It’s now been two years. Two very long years. She blames herself. Why didn’t she keep him safe?
Each day that passes she asks that same question. She feels strongly he’s still alive, and she does not want to hear from anyone who doesn’t believe that. Along with that, she’s losing not just her son, but everything else- her career, her marriage.
Eleanora in Pieces is beautifully written and highly readable. It’s powerful and full of emotion with three-dimensional characters. The author has captured grief in all its layers and nonlinearity. A memorable, captivating and thoughtful story that leaves a mark. I especially loved how it all wrapped up in a remarkable way.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
Each day that passes she asks that same question. She feels strongly he’s still alive, and she does not want to hear from anyone who doesn’t believe that. Along with that, she’s losing not just her son, but everything else- her career, her marriage.
Eleanora in Pieces is beautifully written and highly readable. It’s powerful and full of emotion with three-dimensional characters. The author has captured grief in all its layers and nonlinearity. A memorable, captivating and thoughtful story that leaves a mark. I especially loved how it all wrapped up in a remarkable way.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
June 12, 2024
Eleanora in Pieces by Jessica Maffetore is an in-depth character study of one woman's personal hell. When we meet Ellie, she is drowning in her grief at the disappearance of her four-year-old son, two years prior. Understandably, she is not functioning well. Though a very tragic subject, I was engrossed in the story, Ellie's struggle and the misguided attempts to "help" her by her loved ones. Maffetore's storytelling puts us in her pain and makes us long for the answers and the purpose that the main character so desperately needs. What I found compelling was that every chapter brought a new light to the arc of the novel. I especially appreciated how Ellie's loved one’s motivations are described slowly. This book reminds us that happy endings are not always obvious and can look different to each of us.
September 12, 2024
This book swelled my heart, broke it, and then started the healing process
This book was a simple, moving masterpiece of a story. Peopled with deeply flawed, lovely human beings, it was one of the most realistic stories of loss I have ever read. This author has a skill bordering on genius when it comes to character development. I felt I knew her characters and I wanted to help them. The main character is so well written that I often felt as if I was walking around inside her head and her heart. Do yourself a favor and read this book, but don't stop at the end. Read the Acknowledgements. You will have to smile at a little tidbit of the author's life that found its way into the book!
This book was a simple, moving masterpiece of a story. Peopled with deeply flawed, lovely human beings, it was one of the most realistic stories of loss I have ever read. This author has a skill bordering on genius when it comes to character development. I felt I knew her characters and I wanted to help them. The main character is so well written that I often felt as if I was walking around inside her head and her heart. Do yourself a favor and read this book, but don't stop at the end. Read the Acknowledgements. You will have to smile at a little tidbit of the author's life that found its way into the book!
September 19, 2024
This book is in pieces. Here are words of description that come to mind: total downer, weak characters, sad and repetitive overtones, and a main character that has no redeeming qualities. When buying this book, I somehow had the impression the main character LOOKS for her child…like a detective seeking cues. No, she spends all her time in bed, letting herself go, hating herself and being a burden to those that love her (or try to).This book was 2 days out of my life I can never get back, and I am old! Everyone in her family works so hard to put the pieces of Eleanor back together again…except Eleanora. Her weakness knows no bounds. The book is a ‘Slugo.’ I guarantee you if you buy this book, it will lay on your shelve and go to sleep. 😴
September 25, 2024
This is such a raw emotional novel. I’m very glad I didn’t have on any sort of heart rate monitor device during this read because I’m sure it was exercise level exertion at times.
The book takes us through Eleanora’s life two years after her 4 year old son, Owen, disappears from their home one night.
It really dives deep into
Eleanora’s state of mind. It also portrays how the people in Eleanora’s orbit cope with what has happened to Owen as well as what is happening to Eleanora.
This was a one sitting read for me and at times I had to remind myself that this was a work of fiction and not a memoir.
The book takes us through Eleanora’s life two years after her 4 year old son, Owen, disappears from their home one night.
It really dives deep into
Eleanora’s state of mind. It also portrays how the people in Eleanora’s orbit cope with what has happened to Owen as well as what is happening to Eleanora.
This was a one sitting read for me and at times I had to remind myself that this was a work of fiction and not a memoir.
June 16, 2024
What a heartbreaking story but told so well by this debut author. From the very outset we are plunged into the raw emotions experienced by a mother whose son has disappeared. The desperation, guilt, uncertainty and panic continue to plague her. Despite everyone else’s assumption that he is gone for good, will her ongoing preparation for his return some day convince them otherwise? A deeply emotional, well written tale that will resonate with anyone who has lost or fears losing a child. And if ever a book's title and cover was a pictorial version of the words within, this is it.
September 23, 2024
Absolutely gut-wrenching story of every mother’s worst nightmare. The author did an amazing job of allowing us to experience these deep emotions and take us on the journey. This book brought me to tears, and there were a few times I had to put it down, because I felt Eleanora’s pain so true in my heart. The ending was sad, but I was also glad that there was a resolution for the family. I was also filled with hope for the Eleanora we begin to see in the final chapter. An emotional book for sure.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 16, 2024
Wow this was something otherworldly, in the way the author portrayed our main character and even side characters. The realistic yet heartbreaking depiction of loss, trauma, and the grief after. This was a ride up until the very end and I definitely recommend a read. It’s something special to open up our emotions and take a deep look when facing this type of tragedy!
Thank you to the author and Suzy approved book tours!
Thank you to the author and Suzy approved book tours!
September 21, 2024
What an emotional and gut-wrenching ride.
It’s not an easy read at all, it’s ugly, painful and sad, but at the same time powerful and hopeful. The author did an amazing job writing this story, it felt like I was reading a real story at times. A beautiful healing journey after loss.
Thank you Suzy Approved Book Tours for this tour invite.
𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗮 𝗜𝗻 𝗣𝗶𝗲𝗰𝗲𝘀 by Jessica Maffetore, Author released September 5, 2024.
It’s not an easy read at all, it’s ugly, painful and sad, but at the same time powerful and hopeful. The author did an amazing job writing this story, it felt like I was reading a real story at times. A beautiful healing journey after loss.
Thank you Suzy Approved Book Tours for this tour invite.
𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗮 𝗜𝗻 𝗣𝗶𝗲𝗰𝗲𝘀 by Jessica Maffetore, Author released September 5, 2024.
September 20, 2024
I was totally engrossed in this book. The writing is beautiful. The characters are well-developed and it felt like I knew them. What a wonderful debut novel. I can’t wait to read more from this talented author!!
September 11, 2024
A deeply emotional journey of a mother holding on to hope and trying to hold her life together while trying to find her missing son. Raw and gripping. A must read!
September 21, 2024
This was written by the mother of one of my students! It was beautifully written and I highly recommend reading it and supporting a local author!
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews