Little Do We Know by Tamara Ireland Stone – a Review

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Description:
Next-door neighbors and ex-best friends Hannah and Emory haven’t spoken in months. But their paths cross unexpectedly when, one night, Hannah finds Emory’s boyfriend, Luke, doubled over in his car outside her house. The paramedics rush him to the hospital, and for three minutes, Luke is clinically dead. And then he isn’t. As Luke struggles to understand why he lived, he turns first to Emory for comfort, and then to Hannah for an explanation through her strong faith. With Hannah’s help, Luke records a video about his experience, and suddenly his video goes viral, thrusting him into the limelight while Emory watches helplessly, unsure of where his new experiences leave their relationship. But when a devastating secret comes to light, all three must reexamine the things they hold true. In alternating chapters, a skeptic and a believer piece together the story of the close relationship they lost and the boy caught somewhere in the middle. New York Times best-selling author Tamara Ireland Stone deftly crafts a moving portrait that examines the intricacies of faith, love,

Review:

Little Do We Know is a coming of age contemporary story by Tamara Ireland Stone. Ex-best friends Hannah and Emory are next door neighbors. They have been best friends for as long as anyone can remember. There is exactly thirty six steps between their bedroom windows. 

But a few months ago they had a fight and they have not spoken since. Neither one of them can take back what they said to each other that night. 

With the fight weighing on both of them, they want nothing more than to bridge the gap between them. But they just don’t know how.

Emory is planning on attending UCLA after graduation, and she plans on having the time of her life with her boyfriend Luke before they attend colleges on opposite sides of the country. 

Hannah’s entire life is based around her families faith. But when she unexpectedly finds Luke unconscious in his car in front of her house, this may be the thing that finally brings the best friends back together. Or is it possible it will tear them even further apart?

I loved the character of Emory. She is confident and knows what she wants out of life. My favorite part was that she has been writing down quotes from Luke every day since they met. I past this on to my daughter who is in a similar situation and she loved the idea!
I love how vulnerable Emory becomes when you finally learn about what started the fight between her and Hannah. I thoroughly enjoyed the Our Town scenes and wanted to see the play in person. 

Luke becomes a pivotal character when he loses consciousness and almost dies after a football injury. He becomes the glue that will begin to form the friendship again between Emory and Hannah.  He became my favorite character as he himself also become vulnerable and completely open about what has happened to him.  I enjoyed his honesty and realism in dealing with his situation.

Hannah started out all about her faith and her beliefs. And as things begin to happen she starts to question everything. And as painful as it is to read her going through all of this – it was raw, real and poignant.  The series of events that leads you to finally find out what the fight was about is riveting. I could not put the book down as I wanted to know what was going to happen next and if Hannah and Emory ever return to their friendship. 

A wonderful coming of age book, dealing with religion, teenage turmoil, and the unpredictably of friendship.  This will be a book that I will have my teenage daughter read – as it deals with many things teenagers face during their lives. And it deals with them in such a way that benefits each one that is dealing with their own situations. Highly recommend for an amazing summer read! 

Reviewed by Erin

Copy provided by Publisher