”This rare ribbon of information was handed over by her grandma, who promptly realised she had pulled it loose from the forbidden fabric of conversation that was July’s mother, and pinned her lips shut.”

What July Knew is the third novel by award-winning British author, Emily Koch. July Hooper has always wanted to know more about her mother, but there doesn’t seem to be anyone she can ask who isn’t distressed by it in some way. It brings her Yaya, Maggie Hooper’s mother, to tears, and asking the one person who would know everything, her dad, just makes him angry.

There are eighteen facts she has collected from random comments made by people who knew her, and each one she treasures: “These facts were a precious collection of ribbons, scraps of thread and shreds of cotton, the odd button and a sequin – each torn from the patchwork quilt of actions and wishes and feelings that, sewn together over a lifetime, had made up her mother.”

She has, in her notebook, a Big List of Questions she would like to ask, cleverly written in code so no-one who might see it could be upset. She already knows Fact Number 15: her mother always had stiff shoulders from the hours she spent hunched over her sewing machine, so “Did Mariah Carey ever do any upholstery?“ is really a question about Maggie Hooper.

Then four things set her on a tenacious path to find out more: her year-five teacher sets a Summer Project to learn about a relative, living or dead; a note in her workbook has her doubting what she knows about her mother’s death; her beloved Yaya gives her the freedom of a bicycle for her birthday; and her best friend Katie-Jaye is away visiting grandparents for the summer vacation.

She will have to do it surreptitiously, so no-one gets annoyed with her, but it turns out that some of those around her believe she has a right to know what really happened.

On her bike, July happens upon Almond Drive, the street where the family used to live before Maggie Hooper was hit by a car when July was two. Now they live with dad’s new wife, Auntie Shell and her daughter Sylvie Rose (and her Stepsister Rules), in Harmony Court. But her search, aided by a bundle of photos and snippets of information, leads her to someone who knows the truth.

While it’s July who narrates the story, other characters occasionally set the scene or provide some backstory. Supplementing the narrative are letters that hint at tragic consequences of July’s investigations. Eventually revealed, along with Maggie’s actual fate and other secrets, is a daughter desperate for love, and so anxious to please her controlling, gaslighting father that she rationalises away his cruelty and violence as he “Teaches Her A Lesson”.

With its ten-year-old protagonist and English village setting, as well as Koch’s gorgeous descriptive prose, this novel is initially reminiscent of Joanna Cannon’s The Trouble With Goats And Sheep, and is equally satisfying. Koch's plot is expertly crafted, with a few red herrings and twists that will have the reader, at the reveal, marvelling at how it was done.

Koch’s characters can’t help but endear themselves to the reader, and any first-time reader of her work will find it hard to resist seeking out her backlist. Intense and moving, this is an utterly captivating mystery.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Random House UK/Vintage.

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.

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

July is 10 and remembers a few little things about her mum, one of them being that she died after being hit by a car when July was a toddler.

July can’t ask her dad about her mum in case he will ‘Teach her the Lesson’. So she keeps a secret list of what she knows. July’s world changes when she finds a note saying her mum didn’t die in a car accident. Is her mum dead or is she really alive, July has to be very careful to find out the truth.

July lives with her dad, Mick, her stepmum, Shell and her her stepsister, Sylvie. Mick rules the house by fear and is not afraid to use his fists on July and Shell.

Mick was not a likeable character at all, in fact, he made me feel sick. July is a wonderful character, she is a lovely little girl who wants her dad to love her and to know the truth about her mum. I wasn’t keen on Sylvie, she seemed to enjoy getting July in trouble. I felt sorry for Shell, a victim of violence, like July, who felt she couldn’t escape.

I was gripped by the story and wanted to know the truth about July’s mum and felt as though I was on the journey with her. I did struggle with the domestic violence, although it is needed as part of the story. I just wanted to give July a big hug and take her home with me.

My thanks to Random House U.K. and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

I was sent an advance proof copy of What July Knew by Emily Koch to read and review by NetGalley. I absolutely adored this book! I almost feel grateful that I’m laid low with a horrid cold, which has meant that I have had the perfect excuse to just be quiet and read for a couple of days! Such beautiful writing and perfectly laid out this novel tells the story of protagonist July’s search for truths about her mother. July has a short list of facts that she has gleaned about her mother Maggie, including that she died in a car accident when July was very small, and she wants to know more. The way that the author uses the viewpoint of 10 year old July is inspired as is the sensitive way she tackles certain unpleasant aspects within the narrative. This novel is well worth the full 5 stars and more. Read and enjoy!

Lovely and well written and very moving. July is such a lovely character. She keeps finding out more and more about her mother until she uncovers the truth. Something that rocked the whole family..

I loved it, absolutely loved it!
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read this advanced copy.

Reading the reviews for this book on Netgalley and Goodreads, I feel as though I read a completely different book to other reviewers.

I found this slow-burn family mystery to be an odd read for the most part, with a cast of not very credible characters making terrible decisions at every juncture. These terrible decisions are explained away in a perplexing manner, or simply not explained at all and are presumably just there to serve a purpose to the plot.

It’s 1995, July Hooper is ten years old and knows only a limited number of things about her mother, who she believes died in a car accident when July was small.

When July tries to ask her father, stepmother and grandmother questions about her mum, they shut her down, unable to talk about her. July is persistent though, as she begins to do some digging of her own, things begin to take unexpected and dark turns. Throughout it all, July is physically and psychologically abused by her dreadful father.

This coming of age tale unfortunately lacked any subtlety. I checked twice while reading to see if it was young adult fiction but I don’t think it is. As the story progresses, there is a lot of telling not showing, and early on in the letter extracts interspersed throughout the story, a secret July later finds out about is strongly hinted at.

While I commend the author for dealing with an important topic like child abuse, the light-touch approach she takes to it comes off a little peculiar. While it’s an “easy read”, unfortunately I probably wouldn’t recommend this book. 2/5 ⭐️

Oh Emily, you have gut punched me with this novel! I clung to July like it was my child self, rooting for her and wanting to call social services on her Dad - he's making my blood boil as I type.

When July gets given a note by her teacher in school saying that what she knew about her Mum's death wasn't true it starts her on a truth seeking mission to find out how her Mum died. Her family and friends have evaded the subject, making it difficult for July to ask questions. Though July is tenacious, she needs to know more.

Set in the 90s What July Knew allowed me to wallow in nostalgia, the good and the bad. I found the domestic violence uncomfortable at times, but it added to the characterisation and suspense. A great read.

Absolutely great. Brilliantly written, keeps you guessing and both warm and extremely dark at the same time. Such a complex set of emotional issues to deal with, and kept me reading until late into the night.

When we first meet July Hooper on 20 July 1995 she's just ten years old. She's a careful, meticulous child. The care has been taught by her father, Mick Hooper, who is not prepared to discuss the death of his wife, July's mother, and any hint that the conversation is heading that way will lead to the necessity of a Lesson. Other infractions of his requirements also lead to these Lessons and he's not even careful about whether or not the injuries are visible. July's teacher is concerned and brings up the possibility of abuse with the head but her worries are dismissed: Mick has been good to the school, has he not? The playground wouldn't have been resurfaced but for him.

July has Lists. Sometimes, they're lists of general, interesting questions to which she'd be interested in having an answer. The most crucial List, though, is the List of facts that she knows about her mother, Maggie. She's been told that she died two years after July was born and she does have one picture of her, which she keeps well hidden. It's not hidden with her lists, which she keeps in her knicker drawer, on the grounds that her father would never look there.

Mick remarried and July now has a stepsister, Sylvie Rose and a stepmother, Auntie Shell. Shelley's concerned about what's happening and thinks that July should be told the truth about her mother but right now the best she can do is to use her makeup to try and disguise July's facial injuries. She's not uncaring: she just prefers to pick her battles. The problems at home would have come to a head sooner or later but it was the summer project to write about a relative about whom you knew very little which changed everyone's lives.

It's February 2023 as I'm writing this review. I'm nervous about saying that I might have found my book of the year but if What July Knew is going to be beaten, then this will be one hell of a year. I was hooked before I got to the bottom of the first page and I did so want everything to work out for July. I worried that the Lessons didn't upset her more but you see, she knew that she'd done something wrong (she might not know exactly what) and that she deserved the Lesson. It's a classic abusive relationship and I worried that this was going to set the tone for other relationships in her life. There are some dark themes in this book, particularly around the subject of domestic violence but Emily Koch deals with them sensitively.

July's very clever. Sylvie is very sharp. One of the delights of the book for me was seeing how the relationship between them develops over the course of the story. Sylvie and July are in the same class at school and there's an almost friendly enmity when we first meet them. Sometimes Sylvie will help July but other times she'll drop her in it. I loved the relationship with Auntie Shell, too. It isn't the classic evil stepmother favouring her own child: it's a woman who's been in an abusive relationship before and knows the danger signs.

The plot is a cracker. We get hints about how it's going to work out but - unless you've got a very devious mind, they'll probably just confuse you. The writing is excellent too: there are some authors who could write a shopping list and you know that you have to read it. I read right to the end of What July Knew - including all the acknowledgements: I doubt I need to add to that.

If this book appeals then we think you'll also enjoy Elizabeth is Missing by Emma Healey.

What July Knew is a very powerful story of one girl's mission to learn more about her Mum. All July knows is that her Mum was killed in a car accident when she was 2. Eight long year ago.

The other thing July knows is that nobody will talk about her Mum.

There are trigger warnings throughout this book so be warned, it's not a light read. There are very accurate and traumatic accounts of the cycle of abuse, and psychological and physical domestic violence.

The way July is treated by her father is heart breaking, especially when she blames herself.

But as July continues to piece together the few tidbits she knows, she becomes increasingly desperate to know the truth.

With twists galore and edge of your seat writing, this is a brilliant if bleak (at times) story of an innocent and spectacular young girl, finding her bold and fearless.

And with a truly beautiful end note, you do feel that things may truly be hopeful for July at long last.

10 year old July Hooper wants to know more about her mother who died when she was 2 years old. Her Dad gets angry whenever she mentions her, but when she is set a summer project from school to find out more about someone in her family, could this be the opportunity she needs to discover the missing pieces?

This is an emotional and powerful story of this young girl finding out the truth about her mum and what happened to her. Covering some hard subjects, this was a tough read in places, but the author has written them very sensitively and authentically. Absorbing from the start, it was easy to get behind July and her mission to uncover her truths.

July (10) lives with her Dad, step-mother and step-sister. July doesn’t know much about her mother as she died when July was a baby and no one tells July anything about her.

Little by little July finds out things about her Mum, her death and starts to wonder what is true and what is not. Will July find out the truth about her Mum or will family secrets stay hidden?

What July Knew is a remarkable story about a brilliant young girl trying to discover anything she can about her mother and how she died.
This story was full of twists and turns and emotion. I adored July instantly and grew to love her sister and step mum as well. Although I figured out where the story was headed it didn't stop me enjoying the plot and I found I couldn't put it down ..
TW: Domestic violence is a huge part of this story.

Massive thanks to Net Galley and Vintage books for the letting me discover what July knew! I will be sharing this review on twitter, GoodReads and Amazon.

Good. Enjoyed how it kept me guessing right to the end. Shows how much secrets families keep and the repercussions when they are revealed.

Caught in the heatwave of 1995, 10-year-old July knows many things, but she only knows 18 things about her mother who died when she was very small. Her father won’t talk about her and her grandmother seem scared to talk. July decides to find out more for herself. What a wonderful book which isn’t without it’s dark moments. The story of a young girl. determined to find the truth, despite all the obstacles set in her way. I loved this book and I just wanted to give July a huge hug. It covers a difficult topic of domestic abuse with sensitivity and the ease with which it can be hidden for those not prepared to see. A book that will stay with me and that I will certainly recommend. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers. for letting me have an ARC of this novel in return for an honest review.

I wasn’t sure about this book when I started but the wonderful characters are so good that I got to the stage where I couldn’t put the book down. It is an unusual perspective as the story is mostly through the eyes of July who is only 10 years old. She wants to know about her dead mother but is within a difficult family group and doesn’t know where to turn for answers. She is desperate for her father to love her, even though he is violent and abuses her. The way the story ends is not at all what I expected but does seem an obvious conclusion when you get there. Very powerful and well told.

July is almost 10 and wants to find out about her mother who died. If she mentions her to her father she is risking punishment from him. What is going on and can July find the truth?

A beautifully written novel about a young girl who needs answers and is desperate for love. But love at home is in short supply.

I recommend you read to find out if July can achieve her desires.

Can I please climb into the book and cuddle July?

Summer, 1995. July Hooper knows eighteen things about her mother. Like number two: she died after being hit by a car when July was small. She keeps this list hidden in a drawer away from her father. Because they're not allowed to talk about her mother. Ever.
But an anonymous note slipped into July's bag on her tenth birthday is about to change everything she thinks she knows about her mum.
Determined to discover what really happened to her, July begins to investigate, cycling around the neighbourhood where her family used to live. There she meets someone who might finally have the answers.

The book started off a bit slow for me, the writing style reflects a 10-years-old way of speaking and it took me a while to get into it. However, once things got moving, I could not put the Kindle down. July’s story was so heart-breaking. Thankfully, I don’t know of domestic abuse first hand, but the way Emily Koch described the scenes made me part of what July was going through and I felt for her so badly. How can a child think that any sort of physical punishment is what they really deserve? How? The poor child only knew violence, she thought this was normal. She thought that this is what every kid gets from their dad. Is it not just terribly sad?

The story is narrated from July’s perspective as she navigates her way into find out what had really happened to her mother. However, every now and then, we get to hear from other characters in the story and to read letters that have been written in a future timeline. These interruptions are cleverly put as they intrigue the reader even more. There were clues within these parentheses that made me want to put the pieces together as much as July did – I honestly felt like I was her at some point. I needed answers.

I liked the way the story ended, everyone had a closure of some sort and it packed off very nicely. However, I did not expect some of the things that occurred at the end. A proper mystery!

July Hooper lived with her father Mick, her step-mother Shelley and her step sister Sylvie. She was almost ten years old and didn't remember her mother, who, she'd been told, had been hit by a car and killed when July was only two years old. She had a list of things she knew about her mother, but they didn't amount to much. She was desperate for more information, but her father wouldn't talk about her mother, ever. And if she asked him questions, he got angry and she had another Lesson. The day she turned ten, her teacher set an assignment for over the holidays. Everyone needed to pick a family member to work on, finding more information about them, and July wanted to do her mum. And when she discovered a note in her bag on that same day, July's course in life was changed.

Riding her bike to where she used to live, July wondered who she could ask to get more answers. But the more things she discovered, the more questions she had. And when Mick found out, he was angry again - another Lesson was coming and she knew she deserved it. Would she ever find the truth, or would she only get lies for the rest of her life?

What July Knew by Emily Koch is an intense read, with some excellent characters. July was strong and determined, even while she was terrified. Sylvie wasn't as strong as July until something happened to someone she loved - then she changed. July's grandmother, Yaya, was filled with guilt and remorse, while being a loving grandmother. The book has a lot of domestic violence running through it for those who are triggered by it. For my first read by this author, it was one I enjoyed, and also one I recommend.

With thanks to NetGalley and Kate Neilan of Penguin Random House, UIK, for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.