{Audiobook} Review: Things We Know by Heart by Jessi Kirby

Title: Things We Know by Heart
Author: Jessi Kirby
Narrator(s): Amanda Wallace
Series: stand-alone
Length: 7 hrs 10 mins
Publisher: Harper Audio
Publication Date: April 21, 2015
Source: ARC received from publisher, purchased audiobook
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

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.

I've seen a premise like this before, in a Lurlene McDaniel book I read when I was like, ten. Except in Someone Dies, Someone Lives, the main character was the one being saved by an organ transplant and trying to get back to life as usual, not the potential love interest. Maybe it's because I read such tragic stories like that when I was so young that I find them harder to stomach now that I'm older. But however sad I thought Things We Know by Heart would be, it ended up being twice as heartfelt and hopeful as that, so maybe that's why I gravitated toward these types of stories when I was younger.

I've only read Golden by Jessi Kirby, and I got much the same vibe from it that I did this one. Which is probably why I also have Moonglass and In Honor waiting on my shelves. Jessi Kirby's books aren't all sunshine and rainbows, but they have that distinct feel of possibility. They approach the coming-of-age story realistically, even if that means delving into subject matter that is less than pleasant and more than likely heart-wrenching.

I enjoyed this story, just not as much as I had hoped to, and that was mostly due to Quinn's inability to come clean about who she really was and how she was connected to Colton even before they'd met. The connection they formed after their initial meeting was beyond sweet, and the romance that was developing was even more so, but with that constant threat of the truth looming over them, I just couldn't enjoy it as much as I wanted to. However, Quinn's relationship with her family did save the story a little for me. A spry old granny and a newly heartbroken but sassy sister will do that, though.

As is usually the case, I didn't get around to my review copy before release date, so I bought the audio because I'd really been looking forward to this book. I'm not familiar with the narrator chosen for this performance, but her portrayal was solid. There was enough variation in her voice to differentiate between characters, even the two sisters because she allowed their personalities to shine through her performance.

All in all, Things We Know by Heart was a beautiful story, if not exactly what I'd been hoping for. It's actually kind of a perfect summer read, what with the beach setting and anything is possible vibe. It also served as a good reminder that I still need to read Kirby's backlist. :)

GIF it to me straight:

 

Cute but sad but still kinda cute.

About the author:

Jessi Kirby is a former English teacher and librarian. She lives in Orange County, CA, with her husband and two kids, where she writes stories and runs the beach every day. Well, almost every day.

Find Jessi:

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

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Labels: audiobooks, contemporary, harper-collins, jessi kirby, reviews, things we know by heart, tough subject

Review: Things We Know by Heart by Jessi Kirby

Title: Things We Know by Heart
Author: Jessi Kirby
Series: n/a
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: April 21st, 2015
Source: received from publisher via Edelweiss
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

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.

I've only read one other book by Jessi Kirby, and that was Moonglass. I really enjoyed it.. and I'm not sure why I haven't read anything else since. :/ I'm kind of kicking myself in the butt now because I really love her writing. 

Things We Know By Heart is my favorite by Kirby thus far. I loved Moonglass, but not nearly as much as I loved this one. It was just.. *sigh*.. I started it Valentines weekend because it's about a heart! Perfect right? 

I thought so. It follows a girl named Quinn, and she lost her boyfriend in an accident. His organs are donated, and a year later she seeks out the recipient of his heart. She's looking for some sort of closure.. because she's having a very hard time moving on. What she doesn't expect is to actually meet and find a connection with this guy. 

One of my favorite parts of this book, are the quotes ahead of every chapter. I wont elaborate, but they really do go so well with the story. Also, there is hot weather, sand, and ocean. I need that in my life right now. 

There are some sad parts of Thing We Know By Heart, but it's not a tear jerker. I went into this thinking that it might be, since she lost her first love, but it's really a story about finding new love in the light of tragedy. It was plain out sweet and adorable at times. 

I really enjoyed this one. I'll be buying her other two books I haven't read yet soon. I think it's time I add the rest of her works to my kindle library. Highly recommend this one, especially if you've like her other stuff. :) 

About the author:

Jessi Kirby is a former English teacher and librarian. She lives in Orange County, CA
with her husband and two kids, where she writes stories and runs the beach every day. Well, almost every day.


Find Jessi:

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

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Labels: harper-collins, hearts, jessi kirby, love, reviews, things we know by heart

Waiting on Wednesday: Crimson Bound & Things We Know By Heart

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's WoW selections are...








's Pick:




Title: Crimson Bound
Author: Rosamund Hodge
Series: n/a
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Publication Date: May 5th, 2015

When Rachelle was fifteen she was good—apprenticed to her aunt and in training to protect her village from dark magic. But she was also reckless— straying from the forest path in search of a way to free her world from the threat of eternal darkness. After an illicit meeting goes dreadfully wrong, Rachelle is forced to make a terrible choice that binds her to the very evil she had hoped to defeat.

Three years later, Rachelle has given her life to serving the realm, fighting deadly creatures in an effort to atone. When the king orders her to guard his son Armand—the man she hates most—Rachelle forces Armand to help her find the legendary sword that might save their world. As the two become unexpected allies, they uncover far-reaching conspiracies, hidden magic, and a love that may be their undoing. In a palace built on unbelievable wealth and dangerous secrets, can Rachelle discover the truth and stop the fall of endless night?

Inspired by the classic fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood, Crimson Bound is an exhilarating tale of darkness, love, and redemption.

(This is a standalone novel, not part of the Cruel Beauty Universe.)

Earlier this year I listened to the audio for Cruel Beauty. I loved it! I'm surprised that this title isn't linked to that one at all, just based on the cover. The cover is beautiful, don't get me wrong, but the fact that it's so similar to Cruel Beauty... there will be readers who will assumed. Regardless, I think Hodge is an incredible writer and I'm excited to see how she retells Little Red Riding Hood.





's Pick:





Title: Things We Know By Heart
Author: Jessi Kirby
Series: n/a
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: April 21, 2015

Quinn Sullivan lost the love of her life when her boyfriend, Trent, died in an accident their junior year. In an attempt to get closure, she reached out to the recipients of his donated organs. Though some answered her letters, the one Quinn feels matters most--the person who received Trent's heart--has been silent.

Nineteen-year-old Colton Thomas has spent the last several years in and out of hospitals waiting for a heart transplant. Now that he's finally received a new heart, Colton is regaining strength, and he's walking away from his bedridden past with no intention of looking back. He doesn't want to know about the person who had to die so that he could live. He only wants to move forward.

But Quinn can't let it go. Venturing outside the system to find Colton, Quinn takes a risk in hopes of finally laying her memories to rest. But what begins as an innocent conversation quickly becomes an attraction--and to make matters worse, Colton has no idea how they're connected. His zest for life pulls Quinn from her months of sorrow but leaves her torn between honesty and utter betrayal. Because no matter how hard she's falling for Colton, each beat of his heart reminds her of all she's lost.

I just love this simple yet adorable cover! And although this sounds like a Lurlene McDaniel book I read when I was a tween, I think I'll probably love this book much more because it's JESSI KIRBY!!! Her books always leave me with the feels and yet are uplifting at the same time.

What are you desperately waiting for this Wednesday? Let us know in the comments or share a link to your own WoW post!

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Labels: beautiful covers, contemporary, crimson bound, harper-collins, jessi kirby, retellings, rosamund hodge, things we know by heart, tough subject, waiting on wednesday (wow)

Review: Golden by Jessi Kirby

Title: Golden
Author: Jessi Kirby
Series: n/a
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: May 14, 2013
Source: received from publisher via Edelweiss
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Seventeen-year-old Parker Frost has never taken the road less traveled. Valedictorian and quintessential good girl, she’s about to graduate high school without ever having kissed her crush or broken the rules. So when fate drops a clue in her lap—one that might be the key to unraveling a town mystery—she decides to take a chance.

Julianna Farnetti and Shane Cruz are remembered as the golden couple of Summit Lakes High—perfect in every way, meant to be together forever. But Julianna’s journal tells a different story—one of doubts about Shane and a forbidden romance with an older, artistic guy. These are the secrets that were swept away with her the night that Shane’s jeep plunged into an icy river, leaving behind a grieving town and no bodies to bury.

Reading Julianna’s journal gives Parker the courage to start to really live—and it also gives her reasons to question what really happened the night of the accident. Armed with clues from the past, Parker enlists the help of her best friend, Kat, and Trevor, her longtime crush, to track down some leads. The mystery ends up taking Parker places that she never could have imagined. And she soon finds that taking the road less traveled makes all the difference.

Golden is the first novel I've read by Jessi Kirby, but I own both Moonglass and In Honor.  After absolutely loving this book, you can bet I'll be picking up the other two posthaste.  They're both relatively short, so I don't know why I didn't get to them sooner.

Golden isn't long, by any means, but whatever it might lack in length, it makes up for by packing an emotional punch.  Anyone who's ever wondered if they're following their own dreams or just attempting to meet the expectations of everyone around them will identify with Parker's character on some level.  She's ambitious and goal-oriented, but she's also afraid that she's let life pass her by without taking any risks or doing anything memorable.  After finding Julianna's journal, she's even more certain that if she were to look back on her life ten years from now, she'll have nothing to show for it:  no great love, no crazy stories, nothing besides a lot of hard work.

So, when the opportunity for something bigger than her or her own problems presents itself, Parker makes it her mission to solve the mystery of the town's most famous couple's disappearance.  And instead of offering up platitudes and promises of things to come, Parker's best friend Kat insists they go out big, that they discover what really happened that fateful night ten years ago.  I've noticed that most of the time, friends named Kat in stories or in real life -- my older sister is named Kat -- are often the ones with the harebrained schemes that end up being pretty epic.  I kind of adored this friendship in the book.  Parker was a bit frustrating at times, especially when it came to Trevor, but that's where Kat would swoop in and smooth things over for me.

The story pays homage to Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken", though a great emphasis is placed on all of his works, since Parker's father is a poet and her family might potentially be descended from Frost.  I loved how the themes of chance and choice were interwoven into the story and how they eventually played out in both Parker and Julianna's lives.

Golden was actually a story within a story, which made the mystery that much more compelling and made the book that much harder to put down without finishing every last word.  From what I've heard, her other books are no less compelling, and I can't wait to find out for myself.


Rating: 

About the author:

Jessi Kirby is the author of Golden, which will be released in May of 2013, Moonglass, and In Honor. She is also a former English teacher and librarian, wife, mom, beach lover, runner, and lover of Contemporary YA, strong coffee, and dark chocolate. In that order.

Find Jessi:

Website | Blog | Twitter| Facebook | Goodreads

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Labels: contemporary, favorites, golden, jessi kirby, must-read, mystery, reviews, simon schuster

Waiting on Wednesday: Golden by Jessi Kirby

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's WoW selection is...

Title: Golden
Author: Jessi Kirby
Series: stand-alone
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: May 14, 2013

Seventeen-year-old Parker Frost may be a distant relative of Robert Frost, but she has never taken the road less traveled. Valedictorian and quintessential good girl, she’s about to graduate high school without ever having kissed her crush or broken the rules. So when fate drops a mystery in her lap—one that might be the key to uncovering the truth behind a town tragedy, she decides to take a chance.

Why I'm waiting:  Okay, I'm going to be honest.  I haven't actually read a Jessi Kirby book yet.  But I own both In Honor and Moonglass, and I know plenty of people who love these books.  And what's not to love?  Gorgeous covers, great storylines, relatable characters.  And this newest book from the author sounds perfect for me.  I was that girl.  Well, I was Salutatorian, but same diff.  (Except when I found out I lost Val by 4 one-thousands of a point, I went a little crazy.  :P)

Anyway, I promise to read the two books on my shelf very soon -- they're actually comparatively short next to most of my reads these days -- if the ARC gods might deign to give me an advanced copy of this book.  =)  I'm kidding.  I'll still read them.  I've been wanting to for awhile, hence the ownage.  But I want to read this one most of all.  :D

What are you waiting on this week?  Feel free to share it in the comments or leave a link so I can stop by!

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Labels: contemporary, golden, jessi kirby, simon schuster, story of my life, waiting on wednesday (wow)