Thank you so much for letting me read this absolutely lovely book. I was hooked from the start and just wish I had read sooner.
If you get the chance you really must read this.

One death. Eighteen facts. What's the truth?

How do you solve the mystery of your mother's death if no one wants to talk about her? Not even your family. Especially not them.

July knows a lot about her mother. She knows that she loved dancing on tables. That she was covered in freckles. She also knows that she misses her. Her mother died in a car crash when July was little. Or so she's been told.

July is determined to find out the truth. But it might be more painful than the lies she's been told all these years.

This is a thrilling read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.

I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers and of course the author for gifting me this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

A very emotional read with TW for domestic abuse.

July is 10 when her teacher sets a holiday project to research a not so well known family member and she wants to know more about her mother who she was told died in a car accident when she was 2. However July is a very clever and intuitive little girl who loves to ask lots of questions and likes to write all the answers down in her notebook. She only knows 18 things about her mum but something makes her feel as though things dont add up. She lives with her abusive dad Mick, who likes to give July 'a lesson' whenever she breaks the rules or does something he doesn't like, and although she gets on with her step mum who also lives with them, she cannot protect July from her dad, or from the jealous and horrible things her step sister Sylvie does (sylvie is jealous that she has to share her own mum with 2 other people). July decides to go back to her home town on her bike to see if she can probe further from other people that live there and the secrets of the past start to unravel and July realises that things aren't quite how she been made to believe.

Such a well written, tragic story. I felt so bad for July, especially as she spent so much time making excuses and trying to seek the love from her dad even though he used to abuse her all the time - however he was going through his own grief that he wasn't dealing very well with (not that that is an acceptable excuse but just his truth).

I couldn’t praise this book enough, it was excellent. Everything about it I enjoyed immensely, this isn’t normally something that I would read but I’m so glad that I did.
The characters were brilliant, the story itself was amazing it was so gripping I didn’t want it to end, and the style of writing was perfect. I’ll be keeping my eye out for more books by this author in the future. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes reading this genre.
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a honest review.

What July Knew by Emily Koch is a story of July who never knew her mother and lives with her father and stepmother and half sister. July Hooper is never allowed to ask questions or talk about her mother ever.
In the summer holidays when she is ten July has an assignment to write about a member of her family. July wants to find out the truth about her mother. What July and her step sister finds out and what happens will have repercussions on family members for the rest of their lives.
An engrossing, fascinating tale
Highly recommended

This book took me on a real journey. I found it difficult to read in places and quite confronting.

Nonetheless, it’s incredibly well written and a great plot driven story. The story deals with loss, family and abuse as we follow our adolescent protagonist on a thrilling tale of discovery.

Having been born myself in July 1995 I felt oddly connected to the setting of the story. The characters were well developed. I’d describe this novel and mysterious and emotional. It is well-paced and an overall engrossing read. Would recommend.

Big thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

A very well written story on a difficult subject, from the pov of 10 year old July. I was engrossed from the start.
Thank you.

A really good book
Enjoyed from the first page to the last
Great characters and a brilliant story line
Thanks NetGalley

This was a good book; one I read on holiday. It was well written with characters that really got to you. I loved it and will look out for more like this one!

July is living with her father Mick Hooper, her stepmother Auntie Shell and her stepsister Sylvie.

It is the summer of 1995 and there is a heatwave, July will be celebrating her tenth birthday but wishes her mother was with her. She had been told that her mother had been killed in a car crash when she was two years old. Her father refuses to talk about her and July has vague memories of the accident that claimed her mother's life.

July is determined to find out more about her mother, but the neighbours story is completely different to the one she has already been told.

A beautifully written book with great characters.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

It’s refreshing to read a book that has you engaged from the first chapter. You find yourself willing July on to a better life, away from her abusive family

This is a difficult, heartbreaking read in places concerning domestic violence. As a child character I couldn’t help but love July and as a mother I just wanted to pluck her out of the book, hug her and give her the love she deserves. It will certainly stay with me for a long time. This book is well written and the subject matter needs to be brought to attention. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK, Vintage for letting me read and review this book. 4.5 ⭐️

Family secrets are blown apart in this novel by Emily Koch. A thriller that kept me gripped from start to finish. All July knows of her mother is that she died in a car accident when she was very young but a school project is set to reveal a whole new truth to her life. From those around her, family members, neighbours, friends July begins to build up a picture of her mother's life and her parents relationship with tension building as the story develops.

Thanks to Netgalley the author and publishers for an ARC in return for an honest review

In What July Knew, Emily Koch weaves a hauntingly nostalgic tale set in the 1980s. The book follows young July Hooper on a quest to unravel the truth about her mother's untimely death. Having previously enjoyed Koch's If I Die Before I Wake, I had high expectations for this novel, and it did not disappoint.

The story revolves around family secrets and the flawed dynamics of its characters. Koch expertly portrays the intricacies of relationships, where simple misunderstandings can evolve into significant burdens over time. Through July's eyes, we witness a world of mystery and suspense that keeps you captivated until the last page.

While exploring the neighbourhood her family once called home, July stumbles upon a chance encounter that could hold the answers she seeks. But as she digs deeper into her mother's past, the dark theme of domestic abuse emerges. This sheds light on a poignant reality for many families.

Despite her tender age, July is a remarkable protagonist, displaying unwavering strength and determination. Her journey tugs at your heartstrings, making you root for her success while empathising with her struggles.

What July Knew is beautifully written, expertly crafted, and leaves a lasting impression. It's a gripping tale of mystery, nostalgia, and emotional depth that will linger in your thoughts long after you turn the final page.

Told in the voice of 10 year old July, July wants to more about her mother. No one talks about her and her father is always angry. An emotional story but very well written. Really enjoyed this book, definitely recommend

This was such an interesting read! I found myself so engrossed in the story, the characters had such incredible arcs, and I can't wait to follow this author's journey!

This book had a bit of mystery about it and some sad bits.

July lives with her Father, Step Mother and step sister. July thought her Mother died in a car accident when she was 2 but no one talks about her Mother. She has some information.

The book deals with domestic abuse and as the story goes on we learn more about what happened.

It kept you guessing what was going to happen which I liked about it. The book flowed and was interesting to get it from the view of an 10 year old girl.

Brilliant book, an emotional one!

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

It’s summer 1995 and July Hooper is 10. She lives with her father Mick, stepmother Shell and her stepmother’s daughter Sylvia.

She knows very little about her mother who died in a car accident when July was 2. She only knows 18 facts because neither her father nor her grandmother will talk about her. When her teacher asks them all to write a school project on a member of the family, she starts thinking even more about her mother, and when she receives a note telling her that her mother isn’t dead, July is determined to find out more.

Emily Koch weaves a sadly only too believable story around secrets within a family home, where the truth lies hidden beneath the unspoken and the outright lies. This is such an emotive story, I felt so much empathy for July who just wants her father’s love and praise, a hand on her shoulder, a smile from him, anything positive, when she gets her hand held, or a smile, she wants to believe she is loved but she is so scared to speak in case she spoils that moment and his temper switches.

After the first chapter I wasn’t sure. By the end I couldn’t put it down.

This was a good book but also quite a difficult book to read. I loved the passion of July to get to the root of what happened to her mum. It did foray into domestic abuse which made me uncomfortable but that is nothing to the author it is just my own feelings on the subject. July was certainly a strong willed, determined and brave young girl which could mirror some relationships people have to this day. Definitely recommend but tagging a trigger for the domestic abuse theme.