The book started out well with interesting characters but kept going on too much without getting anywhere until the ending. It could have easily been a shorter book. The book is a trigger for domestic violence and child abuse

I love books written from a child’s perspective - when they’re written well. And this is. A heart breaking tale of love, loss and domestic abuse told by little July as she tries to piece together any knowledge she can about her late mother. To read this is to go on an emotional roller coaster of sadness, hope, fear and encouragement. Thoroughly enjoyed it and would like to read more books by this author

Well paced and at time heart-felt, this book is part thriller part emotional roller coaster.
It would be good for fans of 'The strange inheritance of Leah Fern'.

Set in the 90s, What July Knew is a nostalgic and beautifully written but heartbreaking mystery about July Hooper and her quest to know more about her mother.

July lives with her father, stepmother and stepsister, Sylvie. No one will talk to July about her mother. She keeps a list of the hard-won snippets she picks up and she knows her mother was hit by a car and died on July's 2nd birthday.

She can't ask her grandma, Yaya, because Grandpa Tony says her heart can't take it. If her dad catches her asking she'll be in for "a lesson", which her step-mother is growing adept at covering up with concealer.

When July sees a photo, she notices an important clue which leads her to a nearby address. But even though she tries to be careful, the more she searches, the angrier her father gets.

A compelling but challenging read that covers difficult topics including domestic abuse, told across dual timelines and with adult voices interspersed through July's story.

What July Knew is the story of July and her stepsister Sylvia, growing up in what seems to be a normal family living respectable lives. Beyond this facade, is a life of fear and compliance as the girls and their mother are at the mercy of Mick, the man of the house.

It’s a tale of domestic abuse and makes for disturbing reading. It’s well written and thought provoking. However, I almost gave up several times as I struggled to find anything uplifting as the story unfolded.

This is certainly a very compelling novel, though at times, a little hard to read what July has to endure.

It's a family drama packed with emotion, poignancy and heartbreak. It centres on twelve-year-old July, who clings to the eighteen things she knows about her deceased mum because her dad and stepmum won't talk about her to her. Nor will her grandparents albeit for different reasons. But she's desperate for her only parent to love and cherish her, so she does as she's told. But Dad isn't the sort of father anyone would want.

The storyline rolls out very strategically and at a good pace. July is a character you just can't help loving. However, her twelve-year-old voice just isn't credible. Twelve going on twenty-two, perhaps. Her sagacity and logic just isn't that of a pre-teen.

It didn't spoil my enjoyment of an extremely well-written and enjoyable book, however. I loved it. This isn't Koch's first novel, but it is the first of hers I've read. I will definitely be seeking out more!

Set in the summer of 1995, when a heatwave makes everyone slightly testy, we meet ten-year-old July, who is reaching an age where she longs to know more about her mother. So far, she only knows 18 things, and she’s documented them in a list she keeps hidden away from her father, because in her dad’s world, you’re not allowed to talk about your mother. But July wants to know her mother, she wants to know what really happened to her, and if she really did die by being hit by a car. So July sets out to investigate herself, because surely she’s now old enough for the truth.

Emily Kock clearly has a talent for creating interesting and developed characters who you end up caring about. I found her storytelling compelling and enjoyed being on July’s journey with her, even if it was challenging at times.

The novel is filled with emotion, and you can’t help but root for July, who is a clever and brave character and a very strong protagonist. The novel didn’t shy away from difficult concepts which made it hard to read at times, but it wasn’t overdone or gratuitous.

I think for some readers, the plot might be a little too slow burn, but I enjoyed it for what it was.

I think this would make an interesting read for a book club.

So heartfelt and moving . This story broke my heart it's so poignant and the characters are well developed. The plot is deeply intense and moving.

July is 10 years old and doesn’t know very much about her mother. So when her class is given a project to do, she’s determined to find out all she can and is even more keen when people don’t want to talk about it. A very slow burner plus what she discovers isn’t very pleasant. I didn’t love this book, in fact I didn’t like it at all. A 10 year old’s point of view was the main stumbling block especially making July sound much older. No doubt because the ramblings of a young girl wouldn’t normally interest an adult. I’m sure this novel will have its fans but sadly I’m not one of them.

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