I loved this book, true to Amandas style of writing. A lovely love story and great to see how the 2 main characters can come together beat everything going on in their lives deal with all the ups and downs life throws at them and move on to have a great life together.
Loved the story lines including the alcoholic mum and the bully cousin I felt it was very true to life, how people have a lot of bad things going on in their background or behind closed doors and they keep it all at the back of their mind whilst they try to lead a life or keep a job.
Loved it great ending

Another character driven book by Amanda Prowse. Hitch and Grayson are characters who find it difficult to fit in with society but they have hopes and dreams. A romantic read. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me review this book.

Thomasina, otherwise known as Hitch, was born with a clef palette and other disabilities. She has always been insecure because of her disabilities and has stayed home working on her family’s farm and B&B. This is a wonderful story of her finding her confidence and making peace with her past. I always enjoy Amanda Prowse’s writing. Her characters pull me into the story so completely. I was really hoping for Thomasina to spread her wings and find true happiness. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC.

I fell in love with this story! It's a story about Thomasina (Hitch) Waycott and her struggle in life to be accepted. She has been made fun of and ridiculed her whole because of the way she looks. Different from all the other "normal" people but her heart is tender. All she wants is to be loved and cared for unconditionally.
I really liked the character of Thomasina. My heart went out to her and I really hurt with her when she was taunted so badly. I wanted to be her friend and show her that she has value and is important. I also liked the character of Grayson Potts. He came into Thomasina's life and changed things for her. The story really was like a fairy tale but there were also huge struggles to overcome. Life isn't easy and it takes courage to let other people in after being so hurt in life.
This book took me on a journey with a girl who had been dealt a difficult hand when she was born. I hurt with how much she went through. I became emotionally involved with her character and really felt the heartache she suffered because of mean and vindictive bullies. I also felt the happiness and strength when she found the fight in herself to stand up for herself.
I loved that Thomasina had her dog, Buddy, to be with her throughout the book. He was a loyal and devoted companion through everything. This passage expresses how much he loved her:
"Even Buddy, in tune with her emotions, seemed to have lost his playful bounce and had earlier crept by her side across the yard with his head low, ears back, as if able to sense her malaise, so in love with her that her sadness crushed him." I love that dog and his place in her life.
This book is a tale that drew me in and took me through the gut wrenching life of a young woman just wanting to have what other young women had. It also has the message that each person is valuable and that there is hope and happiness just by being who you are.
I thought the chapter endings were very unique and different. They were the thoughts of Thomasina and the things she knows. Each one was a bit of the chapter before...a kind of summary. It touched my heart as some were enlightening and some were hard truth.
"What I don't know is how different I am, and I also don't know how I can find this out."
"And I know that some days I'm happy and on other days I'm sad, but that's the same for everyone, isn't it?"
The Thing I Know is that this book will touch the reader in many ways. It did me, for sure. Thomasina and Grayson are two characters I will think about for a long time.
I want to thank Lake Union, Netgalley and especially Amanda Prowse for the honor of reading such a powerful, inspirational and touching story. It is most definitely 5 stars!

The Things I Know is a marvellous story of overcoming adversity to realise true happiness in life. It is very clever because it tells the tale through two imperfect but likeable individuals who both have characteristics that many people would not choose. What surprised me the most was how much I identified tiny snippets of my life being comparable to the main protagonists and then I realised that the 'disabilities' were just a representation of the 99.9% of us that don't have a fairytale life and we want the downtrodden heroine to succeed because really, we've all been in her shoes at sometime in our lives. I've read a few by this author and they get better each time. I prefer her more upbeat stories of which I class this as one. Great descriptions, clever writing and the mechanics of the story mean that it has an interesting and believable plot Perhaps we could have got into the action a tad sooner but the development of the story in the middle and latter third made it time worth spending to set the scene. I think that this will be one of the big hits of the summer, it has every ingredient to make it catch against a very broad set of readers. An easy 5 Stars from me.

What a refreshingly wonderful read! I absolutely fell in love with Thomasina and Grayson! I definitely recommend this book. I loved that all the characters were real and authentic and their story so very normal...in the best way possible. It also makes you question the limitations we place on people when we think we’re doing what’s best for them.

This review was also posted on Goodreads.

The Things I Know is a refreshingly unique story. At the start of the book our protagonist, Thomasina, copes with the stress of her daily life by writing in a journal. Through her journal Thomasina reveals the truths as she sees them. Some of her truths are absolutely heartbreaking. When she meets Grayson her world begins to shift. She sees life through a different lens and finds her voice.
Amanda Prowse packs a lot of emotion into one sweet story as it explores a variety of relationships including family, friendships and love. I love that this story to challenges some common statements used to excuse poor behavior. I highly recommend this story!

I’d like to thank Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Things I Know’ by Amanda Prowse in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Thomasina Waycott, or ‘Hitch’ as she’s been known since childhood, works hard on her parents’ remote farm, putting up with unkindness and name-calling from her cousin Emery due to having been born with a cleft lip, misshapen hand and deformed foot. When a new guest, Mr Grayson Potts, come to their farmhouse for bed-and-breakfast they form a bond that neither have experienced before. Grayson thinks Thomasina is beautiful and she thinks he’s a little bit odd but also a little bit lovely. This is the story of their conquest over adversity.

What a lovely story Amanda Prowse has written! It’s heart-warming in the way it deals with an ugly duckling in her mid-twenties and a shy young man who’s a genius with numbers but knows nothing of life apart from living in a squalid flat with his alcoholic mother. It’s a remarkable novel, beautifully written with sensitivity and compassion, incorporating delightful twists and turns, and finishing with a touching and very happy conclusion. Thank you for producing another remarkable and tremendously enjoyable novel!

A beautiful story; of silent suffering, and the goodness that comes from being a good person. A story that depicts the age old saying, “It’s what inside that counts”.

Not the usual pack-a-punch tearjerker I have come to expect (usually have the tissues at the ready!), this was more of a heartwarming, endearing love story, showing love can win and no matter what is on the outside. How we, by nature, perceive people on first impressions or without really knowing them at all. I was deeply moved by this emotional story. How seeing the good in the world through someone who is deemed to be ‘different’ by the majority of people they meet, makes you think - how finding that one person who understands you, makes you feel loved, can change the world.

Thomasina is a strong character with a can-do attitude, hidden by a lifetime of put-downs and disabilities, mostly by outsiders – she is loved by her farmer parents and works hard at the family business but really has no life outside the farm. Her physical disabilities have made her feel less of a person, loved deeply by her parents but bullied at school and constantly put down by her own cousin and his mean friends. Until Grayson Potts comes to stay at the B&B she runs on the farm. He makes her instantly feel like the beautiful person she is on the inside. Grayson is, I would imagine, highly relatable to us all, we’ve all come across a Grayson in our lives – we may not understand his strange ways and direct matter-of-fact manner, but what it comes down to is that he loves Thomasina enough to try to change their worlds and the way they are perceived. I won’t spoil the storyline, I did feel sorry for Grayson with his home life and the way he is manipulated by his Mother and Aunts, I really just wanted him to stand up for himself but could see also that his nature leaves him not wanting to hurt anyone – even those who are hurting him.

These two very unassuming main characters make for two loveable and totally heartwarming people to consume yourself with. The book tackles more than love, it covers addiction, depression, prejudice, hate, friendship, family – not many books have that – and more.

Somehow, despite being different to Amanda’s most recent novels, it still draws you in and captures your heart from the very beginning, in true Amanda Prowse style. I wouldn’t expect any different from this author! I loved the farm setting; I knew that it would definitely be written in such a manner that you actually feel you are living the life, transported to that world, so well written was the book. It couldn’t be further removed from my life, yet I could so clearly picture every single aspect. A typical Amanda Prowse talent.

This book left me with a warm fuzzy feeling! I can't wait to read another book by this author. The rollercoaster of emotions this book too me on, is what kept me hooked.

"I also know that words are powerful things and they have weight"

A powerful prologue followed at the end of each chapter by a list of things Hitch/Thomasina knows.

Thomasina or "Hitch's" reflections on her life and the feeling of being trapped or jailed and her ultimate despair at the meaninglessness of her life are so artfully captured on the page that it made for slow reading in the beginning because I felt so sorry for her especially with the cruelty displayed by her cousin and the way her parents treat her - almost wrapping her in cotton wool. Although she doesn't seem to pity herself despite all her afflictions and problems.

But through her despair at her situation in life you discover that "Hitch" is made of a stronger stuff - she wants more out of life; to do something meaningful with her life; to move past the boundaries her parents and society have set for her; to bake cakes in her own kitchen for the man she loves, where ever he may be.

The tone of the novel shifts when she meets Mr Grayson Potts, a guest at their farm bed and breakfast. It becomes lighter and in him "Hitch" becomes Thomasina again and sees a kindred spirit who may just be able to help her break the boundaries down.
Both of them feel they don't fit into the boxes society labels "normal" and have their own struggles to face daily. But together each one's strengths seem to compliment and bolster the other one's weaknesses.

Together they help each other take a stand against the bullying they face until a devastating event threatens their fragile relationship and leaves everything teetering on a knife edge.

Another stunning offering from Amanda Prowse. I am honestly blown away every time at how she manages to get under her characters's skins so well and bring them to life as unforgettable characters. Thomasina may well be the best of her heroines that I have come into contact with to date. She has the knack of being able to highlight the people living on the edge of society that you don't really notice or want to notice.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me the chance to read this wonderful story..

Hitch loves working on the family farm and B&B, but she wants more, to have her own home, see the world and fall madly in love. But fairy tales don’t happen to people like her because she has a deformed lip, crooked limbs and a weak heart. But then when Grayson Potts comes to stay, he’s unlike anyone she has ever met. The two form a bond that neither has ever had before hoping it could become something more. However by putting her heart on the line Thomasina (Hitch) may open herself to heartbreak but could also open herself up to so much more.

A lovely heartwarming story between two people who are a bit different, who proved that it’s possible to anything if you really want it enough. Highly recommended.
Thanks to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

What a delightful love story between two young adults who are both a bit different from other people. They both have challenges that most people don't, and some of those challenges have to be overcome just to be able to be with each other. Join their tale, and cheer them on, cry a little bit and be lured into their curious homes to fall in love with them.

This book took my heart and has never relented in giving it back to me. I wanted a book full of romance and passion where love conquered all. Amanda Prowse didn't disappoint. Two people meet and fall in love and they look past each other's flaws because everyone has them. Falling in love with a person's heart is more beautiful.

This book was slow getting started. I felt that there was a lot of repetition of the main character’s, Thomasina’s, thoughts about her life and not much going on to bring the story forward. The story picked up as Thomasina met Grayson. I loved both of these characters. They both had problems to overcome to be able to make their lives what they wanted them to become. The ending was a bit too easy; everything coming together very quickly into a very happy ending. Despite some of the flaws, I did enjoy this story and would recommend it to others.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 easy to read stars

Not one of my favourites by the author I’m afraid. I think possibly because her other books have a twist, a sadness, that really gets to you. But I didn’t feel that with this one.

Gray and Thom were such simplistic characters for pretty much the whole book, and then the end turned into a hallmark movie, all sweetness, happy endings all tied up nicely with everyone having a personality and character re-evaluation.

The book however is easy to read.

A tad disappointing sorry.

I loved this book. The characters are adorable and easy to love. Its not Amandas normal heart breaker but is an immensely warm, well written story of family love and growth.

I really enjoyed this

Another lovely endearing read from Amanda! I have read all Amanda’s previous books and was really looking forward to this one!
This books tells the tale of thomasina and Grayson, both struggling to confirm to the norm, thomasina due to physical disabilities and Grayson due to his understanding and mannerisms. Despite this and the complex family situations they find themselves in, they triumph over it all to have a relationship and save the farm which is so important to thomasina and her family! A beautiful tale of triumph over adversity with a lovely happy ending!
Thank you so much net galley for this early read!

Another lovely warm emotional novel by Amanda Prowse I look forward to reading her books can always count on being taken in to the world the lives of her characters a curl up in your favorite reading spot sit back and enjoy.#netgalley # amazonuk

The Things I Know
Amanda Prowse
To be published:
June 25, 2019


Thomasina Waycott was never a normal English girl. From the time that she was born she lived with the stigma of being different. She lived with others calling her names, making fun of her walk, of her hand that was not quite right. Worst of all, her lip was cleft. Doctors tried to fix the problem when she was born but it was a small town. Surgical techniques were not as good as they are now so her smile was crooked. When she finished with school she didn’t go on to college like her brother, Jonathan or others in her class. Her mother told her that she probably couldn’t handle the studies so she worked the farm, raised the chickens and helped with the cows.
Because of her odd lips people began to call her Hitch at a young age. Her cousin, Emery arrived to help when Jonathan left to work in the states. She could live with some of the teasing but Emery called her names that were terrible. When he was with his friends it was the worst. If she had told her mom and pops they would have reminded her that he was kin and he was kidding her. She couldn’t repeat the names, it was too humiliating.
They ran a bed and breakfast to cater to folks who prefered to stay in the country while visiting Bristal nearby. Visitors helped out. Some with gathering of eggs, driving the tractor or just they fished in the stream that passed the farm. Such a guest arrived earlier than expected one morning. Thomasina was not quite ready for the new arrival. She saw the tall gentleman exit the taxi with his bag. He went to the house looking for guidance when Thomasina called out to him. Mr. Grayson Potts greeted her asking for assistance. She inquired his name while trying to hang on to Daphne, a large chicken. This wonderful tale really begins here with Hitch and Mr. Potts, two people who live in different worlds but each living a sheltered life secluded and mostly unhappy.
I was taken with the story from the Prologue. It was such a magical narrative of these wondrous, young adults each trying to find a way to be happy. I had never read works by Amanda Prowse before so I can’t compare this to others she has published, however this is such well written prose. The Things I Know by Amanda Prowse is published by Lake Union Publishing. It is due to come out on June 25, 2019. I heartily recommend this novel. It is one I won’t forget and will probably read again.