ARC Book Review | Things We Know by Heart by Jessi Kirby

Posted on Monday, March 23, 2015 12:00 AM

Format: e-ARC
Source: Publisher via Edelweiss
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: April 21, 2015
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars



When Quinn Sullivan meets the recipient of her boyfriend’s donated heart, the two form an unexpected connection.

After Quinn loses her boyfriend, Trent, in an accident their junior year, she reaches out to the recipients of his donated organs in hopes of picking up the pieces of her now-unrecognizable life. She hears back from some of them, but the person who received Trent’s heart has remained silent. The essence of a person, she has always believed, is in the heart. If she finds Trent’s, then maybe she can have peace once and for all.

Risking everything in order to finally lay her memories to rest, Quinn goes outside the system to track down nineteen-year-old Colton Thomas—a guy whose life has been forever changed by this priceless gift. But what starts as an accidental run-in quickly develops into more, sparking an undeniable attraction. She doesn't want to give in to it—especially since he has no idea how they're connected—but their time together has made Quinn feel alive again. No matter how hard she’s falling for Colton, each beat of his heart reminds her of all she’s lost…and all that remains at stake.


My Thoughts:


Jessi Kirby sure knows how to write a heart breaking, and emotional book. This book had me sobbing quite a few times throughout, it was so raw and so real that it was impossible not to share the heart breaking emotions with the characters and I loved every minute of it.

When Quinn loses her boyfriend, Trent, and all of his organs are donated, she reaches out to the recepients in hopes that it will make her feel closer to the love that she lost. But there was one that didn't answer her back, the one who got his heart. So she searches and tries to find the person who got Trent's heart in hopes that it will give her the closure that she needs, but she doesn't expect Colton Thomas.

It was so hard to see Quinn struggle, her emotions were so real that it made me feel like I was right there beside of her, going through the loss with her. And Colton, he was so amazing and I think that Quinn came into his life at the exact moment.

I also love the fact that Quinn not only has a close relationship with her sister, but also with her parents and her Gran. I feel like that is something we don't get a lot of YA books, which to me is kind of unrealistic, so I love the fact that this book has a great family relationship.

Things We Know By Heart is a gripping, raw, and emotional read that will shatter your emotions and leave behind a trail of tears. 


author image

Christy

Christy is a 27 year old wife, mother, nursing student and self proclaimed book addict. When she's not busy spending time with her family or learning to save lives, you can find her with a book in her hands, and a smile on her face.

Comments (22)

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I don't know what it is about Kirby's writing, but she uses some sort of sorcery to make her characters ridiculously relateable. I mean, I had feels within the first couple of pages of reading this book. You just get emotionally attached so quickly to the characters! Definitely a really raw book. Glad you enjoyed it!
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1 reply · active 513 weeks ago
Sorcery! YES! This has been the case in all of 4 of the books that I've read by her. I always find her MC's to be so relatable :)
Yup, I loved the family dynamics, definitely wouldn't have been the same without them, and I'm glad she had the support system, she probably would've been worse without it. I know she was in a pretty bad place already as it was, but I never felt it too depressing, and that it only felt suffocating in those moments that snuck up on her. I don't exactly agree with what she did, but I guess you wouldn't know if you would do the same thing unless you're in that position. Glad you loved it, too! :D
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1 reply · active 513 weeks ago
Exactly, I can't imagine the turn this book would have took had she not had her support system.
This looks like such an interesting story! really can't wait to put it on my TBR!
Really enjoyed your review

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1 reply · active 513 weeks ago
Thanks, I hope you enjoy it if/when you read it :)
I have started this book and I am really liking it. I can feel the gritty emotion so early on and I know its going to tear my heart out.
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1 reply · active 513 weeks ago
I'm glad you're enjoying it already! You'll have to let me know what you think when you are done :)
I really loved Kirby's Golden, so I am really looking forward to this and am so glad to see you ended up liking it so much! It sounds like such a heart-breaking, emotional book and I can't wait to get my hands on it. Thanks for sharing Christy and, as always, fabulous review! <3
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1 reply · active 513 weeks ago
Golden is a great one. I've actually read 4 of her books, counting this one, and they have all been wonderful :)
I think I might like this read, the premise sounds amazing - great review :)
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1 reply · active 513 weeks ago
Thanks! I hope you enjoy it if/when you read it :)
Pam@YA Escape's avatar

Pam@YA Escape · 514 weeks ago

I'm excited to read this one, but I'm really hoping it ends happy. Glad you enjoyed it!
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1 reply · active 513 weeks ago
I hope you enjoy it when you read it!
Emotional reads are the best ones, Christy, and I think the writing has to be very good to make me feel what the characters are feeling, and actually make me cry for them.
Great review :)
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1 reply · active 513 weeks ago
Kirby does a wonderful job of it in this book! Actually she does in all of her books. I remember bawling my eyes out during In Honor haha.
Bookmarking that one for sure... I love a heart-wrenching read and that just sounds so devastating, I'm going to have to check it out. Excellent review, definitely got me interested!
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1 reply · active 513 weeks ago
YAY! I'm glad my review got you interested in this one! I hope you enjoy it :)
I got this one from Edelweiss the other day and I've been meaning to read it ever since. Everything I've seen on it has been positive and it sounds like a book I'd absolutely adore. Lovely review Christy!
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Nicole @ TQC's avatar

Nicole @ TQC · 513 weeks ago

Every word you said rings true to how I felt!! This book was SO emotional and I just loved it!!

Nicole @ The Quiet Concert
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Great review! I have this on my TBR, I will have to read it when I am ready for a emotional read.
When I first saw the synopsis for this one, it kind of reminded me of Change of Heart by Shari Mauer (great book, BTW), so I really wanted to read it! I'm really happy to see that there are strong familiar relationships in the book. I will definitely have to read it now.
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