Review: Little Do We Know by Tamara Ireland Stone
SYNOPSIS:
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.
In alternating chapters, a skeptic and a believer piece together the story of their complex relationship and the boy caught somewhere in the middle. New York Times best-selling author Tamara Ireland Stone deftly crafts a moving portrait of faith, love, and friendship.
REVIEW:
*Book Received in Exchange for Honest Opinion/Review*
Oh, be still my heart! This book was positively lovely, moving, emotional and classic Tamara Ireland Stone. I was a little hesitant after reading the synopsis because religion is a gray area that can go south quickly but Tamara artfully weaves it into the story line. I always find myself struggling for words when I review Tamara’s books because they move me on such an internal level.
Hannah and Emory’s friendship is broken, but the story is about so much more than that. Hannah and Luke’s relationship had me feeling all the feels. And while I was head over heels for them, I also loved how realistic they were about their relationship. They both acknowledged that college is coming and they aren’t going to schools close to each other. I feel like this will resonate with youth struggling to know what to do when you truly love someone so deeply.
Emory’s dad may be a pastor but I feel like he also had a come to Jesus moment because he was casting some serious judgments and to watch him realize his errors was balm on my broken soul. The religion is deftly woven into the story, creating a seamless balance between believing and questioning faith. Overall, the parents in this story killed it, they are so realistic, flexible, and exactly what I would expect of parents in this modern day.
While it didn’t have the ending the I wanted, it had the ending that was needed. In typical Tamara Ireland Stone fashion, I feel like she has hollowed me out and left me emotionally drained. But in the end, it’s okay to question things and challenge what you believe, because it opens up the door for growth. And that is the main take away from this story, these characters grew…and most of them for the better.
LINKS:
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble
