Review: Little Do We Know by Tamara Ireland Stone

Little Do We Know is a book that carries you away with its characters and simmering tension. Not only do you become invested in their lives, but you need to keep reading to find out what happens to your favorites.

Summary

Next-door neighbors and ex-best friends Hannah and Emory haven’t spoken in months. Not since the fight—the one where they said things they couldn’t take back.

Now, Emory is fine-tuning her UCLA performing arts application and trying to make the most of the months she has left with her boyfriend, Luke, before they head off to separate colleges. Meanwhile, Hannah’s strong faith is shaken when her family’s financial problems come to light, and she finds herself turning to unexpected places—and people—for answers to the difficult questions she’s suddenly facing.

No matter how much Hannah and Emory desperately want to bridge the thirty-six steps between their bedroom windows, they can’t. Not anymore.

Until their paths cross unexpectedly when, one night, Hannah finds Luke doubled over in his car outside her house. In the aftermath of the accident, all three struggle to understand what happened in their own ways. But when a devastating secret about Hannah and Emory’s argument ultimately comes to light, they must all reexamine the things they hold true.

Review

(Disclaimer: I received this free book from Netgalley. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)

First off, can we just say how cool the cover is? It’s absolutely perfect for this book. Okay now that I’ve gotten that out of the way. What really won me over for this book were the characters. Both Hannah and Emory have little pieces of my heart within them. Seeing their perspectives intertwine and branch apart was like watching an intricate dance. It was mesmerizing to watch it unfold – especially as this big fight and what happened is dangled over our heads.

Hannah

One of the things I loved the most about Hannah, besides her acappella singing (true goals here) was that she kind of has to question the things around her. This is super relatable to me and in general because I think we all have those moments where we realize we’ve been wearing rose colored glasses and have to take a good long hard look around us. When we stop and look around realizing there’s more to life, to what we know, then the edges of our fingertips.

I recently had this happen to me where I had to re-evaluate the friendships I was in to figure out how mutual they were and the expectations I had with them. It’s a moment that defines you. It forces you to take a step back and see where the threads come in, where they fall short, and where you need to cut.

Emory

Emory is such a great character because I could really relate to her feelings revolving around Luke, her boyfriend. Not to mention that their relationship undergoes a lot of changes in the book – as you can tell from the synopsis. This mysterious accident not only brings their lives into closer orbit with Hannah, but also makes Emory have to look at herself a little closer. While I could more easily identify with Hannah, I was the most intrigued by Emory, her family, and her past.

Overall,

Little Do We Know is the kind of book that has subtle secrets ingrained into the black print. For most of the book, there seems to be something simmering, a secret, a tension, that seems to be slowly building, growing, expanding, until we know the bubble will burst. And we’ll want our friends when it does. The dual perspectives of this novel are really on point to reflect the arcs of both characters as they twine round each other and move away like magnets. This book is about the relationships we hold dear. It’s also about belief in love, in God, in the unknown, and in friendship. Check out Little Do We Know on Goodreads.

Discussion

What’s your favorite book that centers around friendship?

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