Book Review: Things We Know by Heart by Jessi Kirby

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Things We Know by Heart
Author: Jessi Kirby
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genres: Contemporary Romance | Realistic Fiction
Release Date: April 21st 2015
Review Source: HarperTeen
 

In this unforgettable teen romance that fans of Sarah Dessen and Susane Colasanti will devour, Quinn Sullivan falls for the recipient of her boyfriend's donated heart, forming an unexpected connection that will leave readers utterly breathless.

After Quinn's boyfriend, Trent, dies in an accident their junior year, she reaches out to the recipients of his donated organs in hopes of picking up the fragments of her now-unrecognizable life. But whoever received Trent's heart has mysteriously remained silent. The essence of a person, Quinn has always believed, is in the heart. If she finds Trent's, then in a way she still has a piece of him.

Risking everything to find peace once and for all, Quinn goes outside the system to track down nineteen-year-old Colton Thomas—a guy whose life has been forever changed by this priceless gift. But what starts as an accidental run-in quickly develops into more, sparking an undeniable attraction. She doesn't want to give in to it—especially since he has no idea how they're connected—but their time together has made Quinn feel alive again. No matter how hard she's falling for Colton, each beat of his heart reminds her of all she's lost . . . and all that remains at stake.

This is me while I read the book:

This is me after I finished reading the book:

The End! 

It's that simple. These two GIFs describe how much I loved/adored/cherished this book. But it's no surprise because I have had the same sentiments before over Kirby's past novels. So hard to explain in words what it is about Kirby's writing and books that make them amazing. But they truly are masterpieces to me. It might be the realism you find in the words written or the beautiful moments spread throughout but whatever the case, it is their written in plain English. 

Things We Know by Heart is the story of Quinn, she loose her boyfriend in a tragic car accident. This leaves Quinn so heartbroken, everything in her life changes. Quinn just can't come back from such a tragic moment in her life. She pretty much lost everything after Trent died. So when she begins to focus on finding out who received Trent's organs, it gives her a new lifeline and reason to breathe again. She gets obsessed with this task and when she hits a speed bump when it comes to finding out who has Trent's heart, she makes it her life to find out. She is angry that whoever has his heart, doesn't have the decency to let her know. 

Then Quinn finally puts the pieces together and figures out her quest. She has discovered who is the recipient of Trent's beautiful heart. She becomes obsessed following everything she can about this person. Then one day she takes her obsession to the next level, she goes out to see him. Quinn didn't really plan it out very good, so when she runs into him and I mean not of the literally sense. She basically comes face to face with Colton. That right their sets of a future that wasn't planned. What will Quinn do or say to Colton? You have to read how this run-in transpires and what its set off in-motion. You will not be disappointed. 

Things We Know by Heart is beautifully written and I can't stress how much I believe you all should read it. I don't want to compare it to anything written on the market because I feel it can stand alone and carry its own weight. Have some tissues on hand because you will need them. If you don't know or have Jessi Kirby on your author radar, YOU SHOULD!!!

You can listen to the first chapter of Things We Know by Heart below:

Here are all of Kirby's other amazing novels. We have reviews for Golden, In Honor and Moonglass on OUaT, check them out. Click on cover to be taken to amazon:

  

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Book Review: Golden by Jessi Kirby

Golden
Author: Jessi Kirby
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary | Realistic Fiction
Release Date: May 14th 2014
Review Source: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Seventeen-year-old Parker Frost has never taken the road less traveled. Valedictorian and quintessential good girl, she’s about to graduate high school without ever having kissed her crush or broken the rules. So when fate drops a clue in her lap—one that might be the key to unraveling a town mystery—she decides to take a chance.

Julianna Farnetti and Shane Cruz are remembered as the golden couple of Summit Lakes High—perfect in every way, meant to be together forever. But Julianna’s journal tells a different story—one of doubts about Shane and a forbidden romance with an older, artistic guy. These are the secrets that were swept away with her the night that Shane’s jeep plunged into an icy river, leaving behind a grieving town and no bodies to bury.

Reading Julianna’s journal gives Parker the courage to start to really live—and it also gives her reasons to question what really happened the night of the accident. Armed with clues from the past, Parker enlists the help of her best friend, Kat, and Trevor, her longtime crush, to track down some leads. The mystery ends up taking Parker places that she never could have imagined. And she soon finds that taking the road less traveled makes all the difference.

Jessi Kirby's novels have yet to get anything less than a 5 rating from me. Her novels connect with me in such a way, that its hard to explain. I read Golden mid march and had yet written a review for the book. I felt that no matter what I would say in this review, it would not explain the greatness behind the book. Golden is such a breathing-taking novel,  that can be described with so my words from the dictionary. Just alone the cover is gorgeous and the words inside compliment each other hand in hand. This coming of age prose rocks your core and leaves you satisfied when you read the last word. The great thing about Jessi's novels are that they are all stand-alones, so no waiting to find out what next. Jessi balances everything so well within the 300+/- pages that her books contain like its no body's business. All her books including Golden take you on a fantastic ride. 

As soon as I read Golden I had to pass it on to my friend that teaches High School level English, she loved it and plans to share with her students. Golden will appeal to anyone. You can be a paranormal lover and read Golden and LOVE it. I promised that it will leave it's mark on you. Jessi Kirby's style of writing coming of age books have no flaws in them. Her stories are original and unforgettable. You will want to share how much you adored the book with friends and family.

Golden is the story of Parker Frost. Parker is 17 years old and in her senior year of High School. During her senior year, she assists the English teacher. He has given Parker an important project to help him with. Every year the English teacher has his senior class in the last semester write a journal. Then the teacher collects these journals that the senior class did and seals them up so that in 10 years he mails them out to his past students. Parker is given the task to mail all the journals from the senior class 10 years prior. When she comes across one journal in particular, she freezes up. This journal belongs to Julianna, a senior that passed away in a horrible accident and her body along with her boyfriends were never recovered. They assumed the river took the bodies. In the town there is a billboard with Julianna and the boyfriend's senior pictures still up as a reminder everyday to what happen to that Golden couple. Parker decides she will keep her journal and immediately gets pulled into reading Julianna's thoughts and secrets. The journal will lead Parker on a new course and eventually alter her own life events. 

Parker becomes addicted to knowing the whole story behind Julianna and her death. She uncovers secrets in her journal that lead Parker on a chase with her friend Kat and long time crush Trevor. The mystery of Golden will be as intriguing as Parker reading Julianna's journal. You won't expect what is coming until it hits you in the face. Golden will captivate you with a soft paced that will allow you to understand  and follow along. Golden's characters will be a treat to read, they are people that you can believe exist with such amazing voices. If you want to read top-grade YA material then Jessi Kirby's novels are the way to go. 

Its doesn't get better than Jessi's books. I can't wait to read what's next for Jessi Kirby. I strongly recommend to everyone. 

Book Review: In Honor by Jessi Kirby

In Honor
Author: Jessi Kirby
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Release Date: May 8th 2012
Review Source: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Honor receives her brother's last letter from Iraq three days after learning that he died, and opens it the day his fellow Marines lay the flag over his casket. Its contents are a complete shock: concert tickets to see Kyra Kelly, her favorite pop star and Finn's celebrity crush. In his letter, he jokingly charged Honor with the task of telling Kyra Kelly that he was in love with her.

Grief-stricken and determined to grant Finn's last request, she rushes to leave immediately. But she only gets as far as the driveway before running into Rusty, Finn's best friend since third grade and his polar opposite. She hasn't seen him in ages, thanks to a falling out between the two guys, but Rusty is much the same as Honor remembers him: arrogant, stubborn. . . and ruggedly good looking. Neither one is what the other would ever look for in a road trip partner, but the two of them set off together, on a voyage that makes sense only because it doesn't. Along the way, they find small and sometimes surprising ways to ease their shared loss and honor Finn--but when shocking truths are revealed at the end of the road, will either of them be able to cope with the consequences?

I honestly enjoy when a genre I normally don't read puts a smile on my face. In Honor affected me in so many great ways. I knew going in that this book should be great since I loved reading Moonglass also by Kirby. You still have a small tiny fear that "What if I don't like it". That was definitely not the case here. I loved In Honor. It was the prefect book to read at the perfect time.  Its truly all kinds of Amazing!! 

In Honor is the story of Honor. She is a recent high school graduate that is set to head off to college in Austin, TX. This should be the happiest time in Honor's life, but it's not. Honor just laid to rest her brother. Her older brother was killed in action over in Iraq. Honor received the news a few weeks before and it still feels very unreal to her. She still believes her brother is overseas but not dead. The amount of grief Honor is feeling, just breaks your heart. From how she describes her brother throughout the book, its like you yourself lost a great family member. He seemed to be the all around good guy that help everyone and always took care of his own. 

Honor finally gets the courage to open a letter that arrived from her brother 3 days after they received the news that he was dead. She opens the letter the day he was laid to rest. She is determined to fulfill what her brother has requested in the letter, so she jets off on her journey. This journey is to take her all the way from TX to CA to catch a final concert that her brother got her tickets for and told Honor to tell the singer about her big bother. She decides skipping orientation week at college is not as important as fulfilling her brothers wishes. So in the drive-way ready to go after she has lie to her aunt she runs into Rusty. Rusty is her brother's ex-best friend. He sits in the passenger side questioning were she is going before passing out from how drunk he is. So Honor leaves with him passed out. Little does Honor know that this road trip will be the trip of a lifetime. A lot can happen in thousands of miles of road with a old Impala and your brother's old drunk friend. Will Honor and Rusty make it to the concert? Is Honor ready to talk about and find out truths that were hidden from her. Sometimes the truth hurts a lot more than the lie. 

This book sealed the deal. What I mean by that is that anything Jessi Kirby publishes, I will read. Her writing is so honest and detailed. I think that is the main reason the book connects immediately with me and probably with anyone who will read it. If you have never read any of Jessi's books, you will want to. Jessi and Holly Cupala write realistic fiction like its no one's business. Mark your calendars for May 8th when In Honor is released. 

Book Review: Moonglass by Jessi Kirby

Moonglass
Author: Jessi Kirby
Reading Level: Young Adult
Release Date: May 3rd 2011
Review Source: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Sarah Dessen says this “incredible first novel” is “fresh and wise, all at once.”

I read once that water is a symbol for emotions. And for a while now, I’ve thought maybe my mother drowned in both.
Anna’s life is upended when her father accepts a job transfer the summer before her junior year. It’s bad enough that she has to leave her friends behind, but her dad is moving them to the beach where her parents first met and fell in love—a place awash in memories that Anna would just as soon leave under the surface.
While life on the beach is pretty great, with ocean views and one adorable lifeguard in particular, there are also family secrets that were buried years ago. And the ebb and flow of the ocean’s tide means that nothing—not the sea glass that collects along the shore, and not the truths behind Anna’s mother’s death—stays buried forever.

Prime example of a book you don't want to put down while you are reading it. So beautifully written and inspiring. Kirby used something simple as Mermaids to help understand the message in the story. I'm not going to lie though, at one point I thought Mermaids were going to appear, that's how believable this story is. If you have ever loss someone, reading Moonglass I believe can help you deal with the acceptance of the loss. Yes the story will break your heart but at the same time will mend it back just in a different way. The lines flows so effortless that you don't realize what page your on while reading. Such a powerful book for a debut novel. While reading Moonglass be prepared to be transported to the beach and smell the ocean and hear the waves break on the rocks. That's how vivid Kirby wrote her story. I now want to comb all beaches possible and find sea glass and that special peace of Moonglass. Great summer read and I recommend it to young and old alike. The book brought me nostalgia, I missed being back home on my beaches in Florida and the Caribbean too. 

You meet Anna who has to relocate with her father to small beach town. Turns out its the same town where her father and mother met and she was born. Anna doesn't want to leave where she lives because this was the last place her mother was alive before she disappeared in the ocean. Anna arrives at Crystal Cove and begins her new life. Will Anna be able to leave that guilt behind or will she continue to carry it with her even when she finds out that she is living next to the cottage her mother lived in. Anna begins to make friends and even find a boy she is excited about. Turns out the boy works for her father as a lifeguard and she is off limits. Will Anna be able to adapt to her new beach, friends and sea glass? Read this book, and share it especially if you know of someone who has loss a special person in their lives and blames themselves, this book will be such a positive inspring novel to read.