This was a brilliant read. As soon as I started reading this book I just knew I was going to love it. Highly recommended

This book deals with a difficult topic (familiar rape), but it was dealt with in a sensitive way, and gives the reader a perspective from both the survivor and the culprit's view points. Book was well written and thought provoking.

"I thought I knew them all of them. But I didn't. I didn't even know myself."
Jules and Holly have been best friends since university and they now live in the same village. Jules is mum to thirteen year old Saffie and Holly's son is sixteen year old Saul.
The story is told from both Jules' and Holly's perspectives. After leaving both the children home alone together, Saffie later confides in her mum and accuses Saul of raping her. From that point, Jules' and Holly's friendship shatters with each woman taking her own child's side. Holly stands by Saul who denies the accusation.
Fractured relationships, teenage vulnerability, motherhood, trust and anger management are just some of the issues that Penny Hancock has packed into this book.

Omg omg omg .......... this book was amazing I could not put it down I read every word on the edge of my seat I loved the story line, i loved the way the story just kept us guessing all the way threw I loved all the twists and turns and would defiantly recommend this book it was so believable and kept the reader engaged I love it

I Thought I Knew You by Penny Hancock is a story that will question your friendships and relationships and your own parenting. An emotional story that is thought-provoking and will stay with the reader long after they've finished the book.

Unfortunately, I have not been able to read and review this book.

After losing and replacing my broken Kindle and getting a new phone I was unable to download the title again for review as it was no longer available on Netgalley.

I’m really sorry about this and hope that it won’t affect you allowing me to read and review your titles in the future.

Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity.
Natalie.

Enjoyable enough book regarding the frailties of friendships and the truths and lies that test the strongest of relationships. A bit dull in the middle for my liking, but a good story nevertheless and enough to make me search out the authors other work. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC.

A great read, very thought-provoking. I spent most of the book wondering who was telling the truth and had some suspicions about the allegation but I was actually wrong. I read the book in a few hours as I couldn't stop reading. It did take me a little while to fully get into it but once the allegations are made, I was riveted.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC, which I have enjoyed reading enormously.
I Thought I Knew You by Penny Hancock is an amazing read, the characters are so lifelike you forget that they are not real life human beings.
The storyline is very astute and clever, because you assume that if you have known someone for such a long time that you will always be friends and they will always take your side. This story will resonate with so many parents of teenage children and has many topics relevant to today’s busy lives. The main themes of rape and child sex exploitation will stay with the reader and give them pause for thought. What would they have done if they had been in the same situation as either of the main female characters?
Highly recommended.

Penny Hancock is a new author to me and after reading this book I will definitely be looking for more of her work. I found this to be an excellent read. The characters were well described and I felt that I actually knew them . I did think that I had guessed where the story was leading but I was proved wrong. Highly recommended

This author has a beautiful writing style and I couldn’t stop reading it
A great emotional and thought provoking read
Can’t wait to read more books by this author

A gripping book about the ultimate test of friendship between best friends Holly and Jules - Jules' daughter says Holly's son raped her. At times a difficult read because of the themes, but this was an engaging, thought-provoking book which had me desperate to discover the truth.

Holly & Jules have been best friends since university. Jules runs a successful baby boutique & Holly is a college lecturer. Holly even moved to be nearer Jules after her husband died. This wasn't a particularly good move for her loner son, Saul.

One night when Holly & Jules are going for a girls night out Saul comes over to wait at Jules's house because their wifi isn't working. Jules's thirteen year old daughter Saffie, isn't exactly thrilled- neither is Saul! A few weeks later Saffie confesses to Jules that Saul raped her & she fears she is now pregnant. Holly has been an outspoken champion for abused women, particularly those who have been raped. However she refuses to believe her son could have done this. This accusation tears their friendship apart.

This was a totally absorbing read. Like Holly, I found it hard to believe that Saul, who had been brought up with hearing about the importance of consent, could have done this. However I also believed Saffie. I really liked both Jules & Holly and felt so sad that their friendship had been torn apart by this.

Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this great five star book.

Wow, what can I say about this fantastic book? A story of friendship, family, love, betrayal, lies and loss. So well written, with great characterisation this is such a believable story. I couldn't put this down. Very thought provoking and moving - a rollercoaster of emotions which kept me guessing until the end.

So highly recommended. I will definitely be reading more by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

With thanks to Netgalley and Mantle for this ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.

Jules and Holly had been best friends since university. Jules was even Holly`s birthing partner when she gave birth to Saul. When Jules gave birth to Saffie three years later the children grew up together and were like brother and sister.

When Holly`s husband Archie died, Jules encouraged Holly and Saul to move to The Fens for a fresh start. Holly met Pete at one of Jules parties and they got married.

Saul however found it hard to fit in at his new school and was bullied which caused him to suffer from school phobia. Now 16 Saul was no longer bullied but was ostracized by his classmates for being an emo. Meanwhile Saffie was 13 but was growing up fast and too much into her appearance.

When Jules and Holly went to a birthday dinner, Saul went to Jules house to use her internet. A few weeks later Saffie told Jules that Saul had raped and she was pregnant. Holly did not believe Saffie and called her a devious trouble maker. Jules turned around and called Saul a misfit. From there the story tells how the news affects the four individuals.

This is my first book by Penny Hancock, I liked this book so much I have bought another of her books to read.

I Thought I Knew You is told from the POV of Jules and Hollie. The plot was compelling and felt sad when the allegation fractured their friendship.

I have to admit I believed Saul from the beginning and frustrated that Saffie could tell such a terrible lie. As the story progressed I realised I had been unfair and that Saffie was just a little girl in a young womans body.

This story will stay with me for sometime. I recommend this raw, thought provoking read.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. A story about love and loyalty and a real page turner that will have you booked from beginning to end.

I love and have read all Penny Hancock's books and they are always a great read. This is another fantastic read which definitely gets you thinking. Highly recommended.

Wow, what a brilliant book. This is a book that every mother will find moving. Jules and Holly are best friends and their two children Saffie and Saul have grown up together. When Holly’s husband dies she moves out of London to live near Jules, her husband and Saffie. But everything changes one night when Saffie accuses Saul of a terrible crime and the two families are then torn apart. Who do you believe? Jules can’t believe that Saffie would lie and Holly can’t believe that Saul could commit the crime he is accused of. Their friendship then quickly falls apart and I found myself sympathising with both of them as I could understand why both mums thought their child was the innocent one. This is an excellent book, thought provoking, with an excellent ending. Highly recommended..
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

This book has a really great writing style. Both characters and storyline are good.
Worth a read.
Thank you to both NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for my eARC in exchange for my honest unbiased review

This is an absolutely brilliant read! I loved it and read it in a day. I haven’t read a book so quickly for years but I just couldn’t put it down. It is so cleverly written and the author draws the reader into the lives of best friends Holly and Jules so completely that you have to keep reading. Widowed Holly moves to be near Jules and her family but Jules’s 13 year old daughter Saffie accuses Holly’s son Saul of a terrible crime. It is an extremely well-paced novel with a deeply involving plot and beautiful, evocative descriptions of the Fens. I felt so invested in the characters’ lives, as if they were my friends! It really makes you think about friendship and what happens when it is tested to the limit. An excellent book, I highly recommend it.