What a rollercoaster of a book!!! It had me in tears. It is also the reason that I am dead tired today as I was awake for the majority of the night finishing it.

July’s mother passed away when she was younger however, she knows very little about her mother as no one ever seems to talk about her. On the last day of school the teacher sets the class a project to find out about a relation they don't know about and the teacher suggests July writes about her mother.

Please be aware that this book although an excellent and gripping read, deals with domestic violence and bullying and at times was very upsetting to read, I wanted to reach into the pages and remove July, Sylvie and Shelley from their situation as the neighbours and teachers were of no particular use and if they didn’t think the sun shone out of Mick’s backside they merely, turned a blind eye.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House UK, Vintage, Harvill Secker and the author for the opportunity to read and review this deeply moving book.

Oh my goodness, I fell in love with July! I loved her character and her voice rang so true to me. Loved all the 90’s references as a a child of the same age.
The abuse was handled so well and wasn’t gratuitous at all. Loved the sense of intrigue throughout. I guessed the twist but that didn’t spoil it, I was pleased to have picked up the little clues.
Will be recommending to everyone.

OK, so this is tough to read in places due to the domestic violence and child abuse content. But the character of July, aged 10 (whom I adored) who is hell bent on finding out what happened to her Mum, is a joy. I read it over a few days and it is going to stick with me for a while I think. I have a book hangover and need a couple of days off reading just so it can all sink in.

A phenomenal story that had me laughing, crying and screaming with rage.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC

What an absolutely stunning book.
I read this quickly, devouring the way in which Emily Koch builds up the characters and deftly creates the backstory we need.
July - on a quest to find out more about her mother.
Mick - her father. Unable or unwilling to disclose any information about his previous wife to their daughter.
Sylvie and Shell - the stepsister and step mother who navigate as best they can through the changing events.
I loved the character of July and cared about her hugely. I also thought (spoiler) that the scenes of domestic abuse were terrifyingly accurate.
Well done Emily Koch for blisteringly good read.

Thanks to netgalley for the ARC of this brilliant novel.

Possible spoilers.

Oh what a joy July was. I'll remember her for some time.
As she tiptoed her way around questions wanting to know more about her mother, my stone cold heart broke a tiny bit for her as homelike revealed itself.
There's tension, violence, mystery... but also courage, humour and perfect descriptions of being ten and curious about the world.
I think July is going to win many more hearts over.

July knows 18 things about her mother. But not the truth.
Summer, 1995. On her tenth birthday, July's teacher sets the class a project to find out about a relation they don't know. It's easy for July to choose her subject. She doesn't remember her mother, who died when she was small, and her father refuses to talk about her. Ever. The only memories she has of her are flashbacks from the accident that claimed her mother's life.
But then she receives the note: 'She didn't die in a car accident.'
Determined to discover what really happened, July begins to investigate, cycling around the street where her family used to live and questioning the neighbours. When she is caught snooping round a crumbling house at the end of the road, she learns that the man living there was the last person to see July's mother alive.
In his version of the story, he is a hero. In everyone else's, he is anything but.
Totally couldn’t put it down really enjoyed this book totally recommend
Thank You NetGalley and Random House Uk Vintage
I just reviewed What July Knew by Emily Koch. #WhatJulyKnew #NetGalley