I thought this was a beautifully written book. It was compelling and difficult to put down. I felt so sorry for July and wanting to know more about her mother but being unable to ask questions about her for fear of the consequences from her father. It was a very good and well constructed story and very sad that so many people lived in fear of the consequences of them speaking out. July appeared to be a strong and determined young girl and determined to find out the truth about her mother. Excellent read.

It's hard to say how I felt about this book. The subject matter of the story is hard to follow, the story lines of child abuse harrowing but told with respect and dignity. However, the skill of the authors writing, the thought and detail and the way in which as a reader you are rooting for July to achieve her aim creates a beautiful read and journey. I would definitely recommend this book, a sequel would be fantastic to fill the time between end of the story and the time in which the story is set.

Gripping and heartfelt tale of young July who lives with her Dad, his partner Aunt Shell and her daughter Sylvie. July’s homework over the summer is to complete a project on one of her family members, and she chooses her mum who she knows just 18 things about.

Told mainly through the perspective of July, the mystery of who her mum really was and what happened to her unfolds. I really loved July and Sylvie, individually they were such strong characters and their dynamic was one of the highlights of the novel for me.

As other users have mentioned, the story deals with some difficult topics (I would consider checking the trigger warnings as some parts can be graphic and upsetting!) but Koch navigates these thoughtfully.

It would make for a great book club pick as it is rich in themes, compelling and easy to follow/polish off in a day if you’re the one who leaves the reading to the day before.

Pick up this book if: you’re after a mystery with meaning

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

It is a hot summer in 1995 and the children have broken up from school for the summer holidays. They have holiday homework and that is to write a story about someone in their family which needs research. July is 10 and lives with her father, stepmother and stepsister Sylvia. July knows nothing about her mother, Maggie, as her father will not talk about her at all and if she does ask questions he gets really cross and usually lashes out at July. He says that her mother was killed in a car accident and that was the end of the story. I really took to July as she was like a lost child only wanting to know her past her mother. The home itself is volatile with Mick, her dad, having mood swings. He is a man who lashes out and even his wife gets hit when he is unhappy. This frightens Sylvia and she blames July for a lot of this and causes friction between July and her dad to save her mum. July overhears things about her past and decides to write her homework about her mother but she has to be very careful her father does not know. Obviously this plan does not work out so well. She hears an address mentioned. She goes investigating and things go from bad to worse. She meets the neighbour to the house where she first lived and he tries to discourage her from visiting but she continues anyway as she feels he is the link to her story. Eventually she goes to the local library and looks up the time of the alleged car accident and it opens up a whole can of worms. She goes back to see the neighbour, Mr Salter, and the story takes pace and eventually the story of Maggie is resolved. I loved this book and was surprised with the twists and turns and did not expect how it would end but I felt happy with this ending. Domestic abuse is not talked about often enough and this brings it to the fore and we should take note and be aware of our own surroundings and help when necessary

This is the first time that I have come across this author and I will be searching for more. Such an emotional read and I must give trigger warning for violence, domestic abuse and child abuse. July Hooper is ten and lives with her father Mick, and her step-mother, Shelley and step-sister, Sylvie. She has a list of questions about her mother who was killed in an accident, she also has 'ribbons' of facts about her that she has found out. However, she knows not to ask too many questions about her mother as it will always result in her dad giving her a 'Lesson'. Then she receives a note that tells her that her mother didn't die in an accident and suddenly she has more questions.
The abuse that July suffers - and that Shelley also suffers - is hard to read but what is harrowing is that July believes that she deserves every Lesson. She loves her father and each time he is nice to her she squirrels that little nugget away to look at again. Nevertheless, the fear of the 'Lessons' do not stop July spending the summer holidays looking for more answers about her mother. She is inquisitive, brave, and intuitive and her quest reveals the secrets that have been kept from her. A super character that you just want to pluck out of her abusive home. This is not just July's story, it is the story of a family held together by the twin reins of love and fear of an abusive man. The family dynamics are beautifully drawn as Shelley is kind to July one moment and freezes her out the next, as Sylvie's jealousy of July rubs up against her horror at the punishments she witnesses her sister being given. You feel for these three characters, and you feel immense anger towards Mick Hooper and you also feel some anger towards those who believe they know what is happening in the Hooper household but prefer not to get involved. The story builds to a tense climax but the ending will make you cry.
A super novel that highlights the trauma that so many women are going through.

July is ten years old and lives with her father, stepmother and stepsister. Her own mother died when she was only two. On beginning a school project, she finds a note saying, “she didn't die in a car crash”. This leads July to try and find out more and to add to her list of things she knows about her mother which as yet hasn’t reached twenty. Why the mystery over her mother and is she really dead?

This is a very touching story. July is bullied and intimidated by her father who she desperately wants love and attention from. She hence finds life at home rather precarious at times. She is shown love and care by Yaya (her grandmother) and has a sort of a friend in her stepsister, but Sylvie only ever has one person in mind- herself. Brilliantly written this evokes childhood memories and the innocence of youth wonderfully. A book I loved and didn’t want to end. More than one twist which kept the pages turning from this carefully crafted, well thought out read. Loved it.

(Rest of links on publication)

I’d describe this book as realistic fiction. The author has done an amazing job of creating imaginary characters and situations that depict the world and society. The characters focus on themes of growing, self-discovery and confronting personal and social problems. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

This is a book that captivated me. July is a beautifully crafted character who you take into your heart as she questions what happened to her mother and questions her position both at home and at school.
She is a girl that wants to please, that wants to belong, but is living a life made up of secrets, and a life where she can never quite feel secure.
This book is tense and will have you holding your breath in the same way as the characters must, but it is also warm and engaging and not without humour. It explores relationships and family and how they can give us strength and break us down. It forces you not to assume anything and to look behind the surface of both person and situation. It is raw but also beautiful. I loved it!

What a brilliant read! I loved this book and read it avidly, desperate to find out what happened.
In a similar vein to 'The Trouble with Goats and Sheep' the story is told through the eyes of a child, July is 10 years old, and living with her Dad, her stepmother Shelly and her stepsister Sylvie. Her mother died when July was a baby and she is desperate to know more about her as a person,but noone will talk to July about her. This book deals with tough topics including domestic violence which keeps the reader on the edge of their seat at times, but I also loved the way the author tells July's story and I really loved July! This book is a must read! Wonderful story-telling, beautifully developed characters that you find yourself really caring about. A brilliant read overall. Highly recommended!

What a beautifully written book. Koch has demonstrated yet again what an accomplished wordsmith she is. Engrossing and immersive. Full review will appear in my book column.

What July knew is outstanding - definitely my book of the year
Told from July's perspective, her story is set during her last summer of primary school. July has been told that her mum died in a car crash - but no one will talk about it - no July's stepmother, her step-sister, or her dad - definitely not her dad.
July's relationship with her dad is heartbreaking, and some of the issues may be triggering for some readers.
As the story unfolds, July gets stronger and without revealing too much, the reader truly empathises with her and roots for her outcome.

Exceptional, edge-of-your-seat reading.

What July Knew by Emily Koch

A really unusual read from the perception of a 10 year old girl ( July ) trying to find out the truth about her mother's death .
It dealt with some difficult subjects but it was written in a way that was not too harrowing.
The book would make a great book group read as there is much to discuss about it.

I read this book in one day. July is 10 years old and lives with her father, step mum and step sister. She wants to know about her real mum but no one will tell her anything. She sets out to find out for herself and so begins a roller coaster of events and emotions. There are some hard-hitting themes - domestic abuse, death, grief and I won't spoil the ending! The book is told from a 10 year old July's perspective which works really well. Her relationships with her family, including her grandparents, are well written and believable and I really engaged with the characters. I would definitely recommend this book.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publishers for the preview copy.

Phew - this is not an easy read and I’m not sure it is totally convincing, given that it’s supposed to be written in the voice of a 10 year old girl. However, the story bowls along and there are tantalising clues sprinkled throughout. The ending is a bit obvious but overall, a pretty good read.

Totally engaging story about love, family and the dangerous assumptions we can make about them. What starts as one version of events, is completely changed by the end with no sense of this twist to come. The book becomes harder and harder to put down as each layer of the truth is revealed.

It is the summer of 1995 and there is a heatwave. But it is also July Hoopers tenth birthday. She wished her mother was with her, but she has been told that she died in a car crash when she was two years old. She yearns to find out about her mother as she has flashbacks of the little time, she spent with her and wonders if she herself looks or acts like her but, when she asks the people that knew her, including her father nobody will tells her anything. Her dad gets angry when she mentions her. Not just because of him but her has now moved on with Stepmother and stepsister Stacey. She goes on a journey to discover more about her mother. But it is not all plain sailing. Especially regards to her father who abuses her not just her his relationship he has with her stepmother.
Thank you, Random House for a copy of What July Knew by Emily Koch. I have read the authors previous novels which I really enjoyed, so I was interested in her latest offering. This is a powerful and emotional story of July’s trying to find out about her mother and her own identity. I felt sorry for July as why wouldn’t she told the truth and why is she being treated in this way. There is some hard subjects dealt with in this story but the author has written it sensitive way. 5 stars from me.

This a story of a young girl who is desperate to find out about her mother who died when she was very young. But nobody wants to talk about her. But when she goes digging into the past she discovers some family secrets that are more then what she bargained for.

It is a very good read. Well written. The story flows nicely and the characters and their relationships are just amazingly done. A great joy to read.

Even though not exactly my usual read but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Definitely recommended this book.

Wow this was incredible. Very harrowing, but so well written and gripping. July is a great protagonist and her story is so very moving.. I couldn’t stop reading this until I’d finished it, and all the threads didn’t come together until the satisfactory ending.

Thanks Netgalley for giving me the chance to read this, I found it compelling. Well done to the author for writing about the very horrible issue of domestic abuse and making it such a jolly good, thought provoking story. This is a book that will stay with me for a long time.

Wow, what a story. Read in 2 days as I couldn't wait to find out what happened. It's such a great and sad plot, and it did trigger me after my own issues through childhood. People turning a blind eye etc. But it also triggered the good old 80/90's memories, brilliantly. A devastatingly wonderful book that I will recommend to all.

This was not what I expected from this book, but it was even better than I had thought. It's less murder mystery, although that is included, but the relationships between the characters and the family dynamic was what made this book great. Seeing the world through a 10 year old girls eyes is a great experience when done well, and this book did it well. This book is about July Hooper, who's mum died when she was 2 years old in a car crash. At least, that's what she's been told. She tries to find out the truth about what happened to her mum while trying to navigate her difficult family situation and her dad's temper.

I felt so much for July, she was a great main character. Children's POV's are so sweet and innocent and I just wanted to go and look after her. I also liked her step-sister Sylvie, although she sometimes came across as a bit mean to July I think that having some of her POV sprinkled in throughout the book really helped me to understand her experience more and feel empathetic for her, especially at the ending I thought it was really sweet. I also liked Shelly, she should have done more but she was trying her best in the situation and she really loved both of the girls.

The only thing I would change about this book would be to have a bit more of July's POV at the ending, I wanted to know exactly what happened to her and how she was now. I also would've liked to known how she ended up talking to her dad, which we get to see as letters throughout the book, but we never get to see how that began.

Overall, this is an emotional and tense book, but it handles important topics really well and successfully keeps an element of surprise until the end. I did not figure out what had happened to her mum until quite a while into the book, we kept being led in different directions. I would definitely recommend this book, it's gripping and emotional and has a very satisfying ending.