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Final Rating: 4.5 stars!
A ship in the harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.
Okay, full disclosure: I was actually considering not reading this one. And let me tell you right now: That would have been a huge mistake. But this was the last book I was considering reading in March, and I was in the mood for a contemporary with heart (hah... okay that was bad, I'm sorry), so I thought I'd give it a chance. And all jokes aside, I am so glad I did.
Right from the start, I was hooked. Things We Know by Heart does not hold back when it comes to 'the feels'. They start on page 1, and I'm not gonna lie -- I was already getting teary within the first few pages, because it took that little time for me to feel connected to the main character. If this isn't the equivalent of a flashing neon sign saying THIS BOOK IS GOING TO BE GOOD, I don't know what is.
So, the basics: Quinn lost her long-time boyfriend in an accident, so she contacted the people whose lives he saved by donating his organs. Everyone replied, except the boy who received his heart. Quin found him on her own, though, and when the book opens, she's decided to drive to the town where he lives, so she can see him. No contact, no introductions -- she just wants to see the last person Trent saved, in order to get closure. Things don't go quite according to plan, though...
I'd hoped, after meeting the others, that seeing another person who was alive because of Trent would be a healing thing. The final healing thing. But I didn't, at any of those times, imagine that when I did I would somehow immediately feel less alone.
eARC, 12%
Quinn ends up meeting Colton, hanging out with him, getting to know him... and falling for him. All while he's totally ignorant of who she is -- or, who she was to Trent. It's a plot that might seem a little cliche, or sappy, or whatever... but it's not. It's a story of someone finding a second chance at happiness, with someone else who knows what it's like to want to move on from a very difficult past.
I remember [...] thinking how he and I had both learned this truth, that any day could be the end. But we'd chosen to do different things with it. He put it into practice as soon as he could. Got back to the things he loved doing -- the life he'd had before. I did the opposite. For so long. But standing here with him right now feels like a chance to try things his way.
eARC, 28%
There was so much that I loved about Things We Know by Heart.
First off, and the most "superficial" -- I adored the ocean-side setting. A lot of this book takes place on or near the ocean, since Colton's family runs a kayak shop and Colton's favorite activities are kayaking and surfing. The setting was just so vivid, and so gorgeous, and I am nothing if not a sucker for well-written, realistic ocean-side settings. So this was a huge plus for me.
But I also completely fell for Kirby's characters. She does an amazing job of portraying her characters in a way that makes you immediately connect with them, and feel for them -- especially Quinn, since the book is told from her perspective. I loved Quinn. Her emotional development -- moving past her grief to find happiness -- was just so real, and often heartwrenching. She's become a very closed-off, tentative sort of person since Trent's death, and she wants so badly to find closure, but she struggles with her grief and guilt over being happy, and over finding someone else who makes her happy. But I found her struggles and slow growth completely realistic and believable and, again, heartwrenching. Just... all the feels.
I can feel something I haven't felt for a long time running through me. It's the pull of another person, of Colton, tidal in its subtlety but there beneath everything else.
eARC, 34%
Colton, whom Quinn meets semi-accidentally, and then proceeds to keep meeting, was another fantastic character. He, too, is struggling with guilt after his heart transplant -- he knows that the person who saved him is dead. How hard must that be? But he's trying to move on, and live his life fully, and enjoy every day... I loved his positive outlook, and his sweetness... He has this love of life that shines through as Quinn gets to know him, in sharp contrast to Quinn's sadness, and it's beautiful.
Finally, I have to mention Jessi Kirby's writing, because wow. Her writing was part of the reason the first few pages were able to grab me so quickly -- it's beautiful and evocative, perfect for such an emotional book. It paints the setting, the emotions, and the characters so vividly that I was absolutely glued to the story from start to finish.
And... semi-sort-of side-note: I also really liked how Quinn's and Colton's families were very present in this book -- Quinn's older sister, Ryan, was my favorite. I loved their relationship, and how the two were so different, but still admired and supported each other.
In conclusion...
I loved this book. Everything about it just clicked for me. The incredible writing, the gorgeous setting, the story... but mostly, the characters. Truly, I am a character-oriented reader, and that's the main reason I adored this book. The characters carried this story effortlessly. The main 'plot' is their development and emotional journeys, and I loved every moment (even the tough ones).
Things We Know by Heart is a truly beautiful book, and if you're a fan of heartfelt contemporaries, I would highly recommend it.
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There were books involved...