As usual in my reviews, I will not rehash the plot (there are other reviews like that out there if that's what you are looking for).

I really enjoyed this book - it's not always easy reading though, dealing with several hard-hitting issues like domestic violence, secrets and lies.

The main character, July, is an interesting young girl with a determined streak, who strives to follow her own path and remains optimistic in spite of her difficult past - not to mention her difficult present, walking on eggshells for fear of upsetting her father, even years after the death of her mother. The other supporting characters are well written and well observed - for instance the barely-suppressed violence of Mick's attitude towards July (and eventually other characters) is compelling - you can see what is likely to happen but wish upon wish that it won't!

I was relieved at the way the story eventually unfolded - the ending is far happier than I feared. I don't want to say any more for fear of giving anything away - all I will say is that I would really recommend this book - provided you are not likely to be triggered by any of the issues it covers of course).

I will happily read other books by this author - really like her writing style, and the way she covers issues at the same time as telling a really compelling story.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. All opinions my own.

*Potential triggers: Domestic violence, general violence, maternal death

This book was amazing from start to finish, it start in 1995 it does jumpers 6 years ahead to 2001 and then another 17 years within this stories timeline. The story does cover hard subject matter and for that reason alone I would recommend that it is for both mature readers and only when they feel comfortable picking it up to read.

This book tells the sad story of July, a 10 year old who knows 18 facts about her mother and is trying to find out more for a school project. The book is well written but I couldn’t finish it as the whole premise of July’s life and particularly how she was treated by her Dad was just too sad. Not for me, but I’m sure other readers will like it more than I did.

I thoroughly enjoyed this, which was a very different read to my usual preferred genres.

July's mother died when she was little and she believed it was because of a car crash. Instead, as she gets older, she discovers that her family holds many secrets and the truth about her parents is far from clear.

It's very skilfully handled and moving. The characters are well drawn and while there are shocking moments, they serve to move the story along rather than being there for drama.

Overall, a beautiful book.

A lovely, thought provoking novel; July wants to know about her late mother, but no-one is prepared to tell her anything so she treasures the few things she has found out. Over the course of the summer she finds out more and more, but what and how she learns things affects everyone in her family. To add any more would not be kind to future readers as the author adds little bits in now and again to build up our picture of the family dynamic.

An unusual book, which at the start does read more like a novel for children than for adults. However, as it progresses it becomes more adult, and interesting. I thought the characters were absorbing, as the reader got to know them, and I did like how the book developed.

In this book we meet July and what a strong, inspiring, wonderful person July is.

July only ever knew 18 things about her mother. But has never know the truth about her, who she really was, or what she had to indure at the hands of July's father. July thought that her mother had died in a car crash. But when she receives a hand written note saying this isn't the case. July doesn't know what to believe, her world is flipped upside down and she is determined to uncover the truth.

But on her 10 birthday July's teacher sets the class a project to find out all about a relationship that they don't know about. So July decides to find out more about her mother.

This book might be triggering to some as it tackles the subject of domestic abuse. So I wanted to let people know this from the outset, and although this book is sad and upsetting at points. The author writes with such love for her characters and in such a way that you just want to reach through the pages of the book and give the characters a great big squeeze.

Loved this book. Not always a fan of the heavy and sad reality of domestic abuse, but I found myself in awe of July and her interpretations of her family dynamic. I loved her need to find out more about her mother, and the mystery around it. I loved how the author depicted a child's view; it was spot on, and heartbreaking in its own way. I enjoyed the sibling relationship playing out, and July's sister's way of imposing "rules" and the slow reveal of their true connection.

A new author to me but a thoroughly good read which kept me involved in the storyline and with the characters. Some parts were a bit sad but I just wanted to keep on reading more about July.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House UK for this ARC which I have no hesitation in recommending.

I loved July's narration of the story and felt I had to keep reading to do her justice. But I couldn't believe how many people let her down, they had concerns but no-one actually did anything to help her.
I am torn about this book, it was cleverly done in the way that we saw things from July's point of view, and that people she thought were out to get her were actually on her side. I liked the ending too. But I didn't feel there were any great surprises in the story and the big twist was well signposted.

I have to start out by saying I am not usually a fan of books which are narrated by children. I often find them quite immature and difficult to get in to however the premise of this book really had me intrigued so I wanted to give it a go.....

....and boy I'm glad I did. This was an excellent novel by an author I am not familiar with but will definitely now be keeping an eye on.

Here, July is given a project at school to find out information on a family member that she doesn't know a lot about. Easy, her mother died in a car accident when July was little and July only knows 18 things about her. What a great opportunity for her to find out more.


However as the story develops, it becomes clear that what July knows about her mother is only half the story and she is about to find out a lot more, despite the difficulties put in her way.

It was at times a difficult book to read, there are trigger warnings here for abuse however the author does a great job of opening our eyes to domestic abuse and in particular how hidden it can be.

A really excellent but difficult read that I would recommend to all.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK, Vintage, Harvill Secker for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Emily Koch and NetGalley for a copy of "What July Knew".

I really enjoyed reading "What July Knew" and found the way it was written really well, finding it hard to put the book down. It was the first time I read a book from a perspective of young child and found it very interesting due to having stronger emotions towards the character.

Would highly recommend the book!

This is the story of 10 year old July - she knows 18 things about her mum, but she doesn't know the truth. July is keen to find out more, but her dad gets really angry if she asks him too many questions.

I was intrigued and moved from start to finish, July has a difficult home life and is unable to openly ask anyone for help or information on her mum and what happened in her early life.

I really felt this book tackled the subject of domestic abuse well; managing to get across how bad July’s home life is without the descriptions being heavy. July's dad Mick doesn't show love, instead he 'teaches July a lesson' whenever she asks anything about her mother.

A brilliant book which I read in less than 2 days - I was hooked on the story, equally as keen to find out more about July and her past, and ever hopeful she would escape from her home life. The characters are really well constructed, and I loved the 90's references - I had totally forgotten about pogs!

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for a review !

This was an excellent read with complex characters and I particularly like the way the characters built up and developed over time. Would recommend. Thank you Netgalley.

A beautiful coming of age story that will break you then make you as July navigates her quest to find out the truth about her mother - watching her devotion to her father is painful, even more so when that innocence is lost. A gorgeous tale of growing up in the 90s against a dark background, Koch’s book is one for Joanna Cannon fans. Outstanding.

Received an ARC from NetGalley, so totally unbiased review to follow.

I probably need to start by saying that when I started reading this book I had COVID and my brain wasn’t working properly, therefore following plots etc might not have been my strong point. However, as much as I liked July, the main character, I found everyone else in it extremely unlikeable, and it frustrated me to my core that no one was looking after her.

The twists at the end were quite impressive, I didn’t see them coming, but it felt like it took a long time to get there. I’m not against a complex plot but it felt quite dragged out.

I also wasn’t sure if there was really much point in the book being set twenty years previously other than the flashforward at the end?

Again, worth noting that my brain hasn’t been working properly, but I didn’t particularly enjoy this. That’s just me though!

What July Knew is a very powerful and emotional book.A story of a blended Family,domestic violence and a small 10 year old girl July trying to find out how her Mother died but no one is telling her .I very much liked the character of July I thought she was brave and resourceful and quite wonderful a very well written story .Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC.

July is ten years old. She lives with her father, stepmother and stepsister. Her father swings between being abusive to her and being affectionate. The abuse usually occurs after she asks about her birth mother who died when she was born, or so she's been told. One of the most heartbreaking things is that her father has gaslighted her into believing that she needs chastisement. Over the course of a summer she discovers much more about her mother and the relationship between her parents,

I found this a hard book to read at times. There is physical and emotional abuse of a child in it as well as domestic violence. The descriptions were sensitively enough done but it is always hard to read of the abuse of a child even if it is fiction. I didn't really understand why the adults around July didn't do more to protect her. Schools have a duty of care towards their pupils and while her class teacher reported suspicions to the head teacher, the head teacher refused to believe it was anything, You would have thought that there would at least have been one adult who would have reported the abuse to social work even anonymously. Overall then I'm not sure how I felt about the novel. It's well written, yes. Would I recommend it? Yes, I think on the whole I would but with a caveat about the physical and emotional abuse. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

A beautiful but heart breaking read. So real to life for some people but written in a way that you could empathise

in the early stages of this book I was reminded of Joanna Cannons "Trouble with goats and sheep" - a mystery told through the eyes of a child (although set in the nostalgic 90s rather than 70s / 80s). July is a 10 year old girl living with her father, step mother and stepsister. Julys mother died when she was young, and has always believed she was killed in a car crash when she was 2. Challenged by her school teacher to learn more about a family member you don't know much about, July sets out to learn more about the mother she never knew.

This uncovers deep secrets and a dark history, and we start to get a story of domestic abuse. July's likeable, friendly, positive character shines light on some dark content, and the reality of the life that July leads is not shied away from, which makes heart-breaking reading at times.