3.5 stars! There were so many things about this book that were refreshing: the main characters had flaws but grow and change, the religious aspects of the novel were balanced without being too preachy, and in the end it was a story about friendship. I read this one pretty quickly, always eager to get back to it, however there were a few things that did bother me about the book. Without spoiling anything, I'll just say there was a relationship that seemed inappropriate and I kept waiting for it to be addressed as such, but it never really was. And I was a little underwhelmed by the reveal of what had led the main characters to fight in the first place. But even with all that, I still enjoyed this book immensely.

Like any other book by Stone, this book was great. A lot of things were going on but the pacing was just right. My only criticism is that I felt like from the very beginning, so many new characters were introduced. This was mostly due to the fact that it was told in two points of views and they went to separate schools so they have different sets of friends. Both of the main characters grew in this book, most especially Emory. I connected with Hannah a bit because of her faith. There are times in my life where I question things like she does.

This is a fantastic book that explored what a lot of young adults go through as they age. The idea of creating ones own beliefs away from their parents is difficult and scary. Tamara Ireland Stone did a fantastic job of leading our main characters through this emotional and confusing self-exploration all while telling an intriguing story of first loves, best friends and near death experiences.

Posted to Goodreads: For a more in-depth review watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUQ_mEdcDL8&feature=youtu.be

Hannah and Emory have been best friends since they were babies. But six months ago they friendship became fractured and they haven't spoken since. Then one night Hannah finds Emory's boyfriend, Luke, near death in front of her house. Hannah helps save Luke and the three start a journey of question who they are meant to be and their faith.

I have been a huge fan of Tamara Ireland Stone since I read "Time Between Us". Her books are always engaging and fast paced with realistic characters which is true about "Little Do We Know" however it didn't quite grab me as much as her other books. I think my issue was Hannah and her storyline. The character never felt as well developed as Emory and Hannah's narrative arc had several aspects that felt unnecessary. Stone's books usually leave me wanting more about the characters but the only character that I really wanted to read more about was Luke.

I received an eARC of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Big thanks to Disney Publishing and Netgalley for an advance Kindle copy of this 6/5 release. All opinions are my own.
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Next door neighbors Hannah and Emory have been best friends their entire lives, even after they started at separate high schools. However, something happened a few months ago and they have not spoken since. That all starts to change when Hannah finds Emory’s boyfriend unconscious in his car right outside her house. The girls find their lives tangled again, and this time they have to face the truth about what happened to tear them apart. The story is truly moving, and I highly recommend it for readers in grades 9+. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

I’ve read Tamara Ireland Stones other books (I think one involved time travel and the other involved a girl with OCD) and enjoyed them. This book felt sort of a like a combination of the two – it was partly an issue book but with a spiritual bent.

Emory and Hannah were the best of friends until they had a huge, blow-up fight. The book begins with them mad at each other, and the reader doesn’t find out why until near the end of the story.

Emory and her boyfriend Luke are soon going to be going their separate ways to college. Until an accident leaves Luke seeing the world in a whole different way and Emory wondering if she can ever understand what he’s going through.

WITHOUT GIVING TOO MUCH AWAY, THIS BOOK HAS STRONG RELIGIOUS THEMES.

I know from past experience as a blogger that this is a big negative for many readers. But this book is more about faith and belief in an afterlife than about any particular religion. It also deals with themes of friendship and family.

Overall I really enjoyed the way all the strands of the story were woven together: the story of Emory and Hannah’s friendship, of Emory and Luke’s (who were so sweet together as a couple), and of Emory’s relationship with her single mother and Hannah’s with her father.

I did like Hannah’s story a lot – she has some conflicts with her father, who’s a former pastor and the principal of her Christian school, but feel that she got a little shortchanged as a character. Luke and Emory’s storylines were definitely more dramatic, but hers was interesting as well.

I was skeptical about the decision to hold back the information about Emory and Hannah’s fight, but in the end I was won over – I think the book left enough time to really process the basis of the fight and resolve the whole situation.

Definitely check this book out if you like books with strong themes of family and friendship!

Little Do We Know by Tamara Ireland Stone is a great read! I found myself enjoying the characters as they realized what was really important. I found myself mesmerized by the weaving of Our Town by Thornton Wilder within the story line. The main characters of Emory, Hannah and Luke struggled to make sense of the wider world during their last year of High School even as they plan their future. Hannah and Emory were best friends. They lived next door to each other and were each other’s confidant and support, until they had a horrible fight. Emory and Luke were a couple. Knowing their time was limited as they were going in different directions after High School made their love even more poignant. They all had questions about who they were but until that night when their lives changed.

Tamara Ireland Stone write books for young adults. The book because of its deeper meanings and sexual content is appropriate for young adults who are ready to grapple with life’s endearing mysteries and conflicts. I chose to read the book because of the author and I am glad I did. I liked the multiple character narrative and how the chapters switched between the points of view. The story was compelling and nuanced. The characters flawed and realistic. Little Do We Know by Tamara Ireland Stone was a great read!

Little Do We Know by Tamara Ireland Stone is a novel that will definitely leave you thinking long after reading it. The concept of faith is explored in an interesting way that will have readers question their own beliefs. Friendship and what it takes to maintain a relationship with your friends is a theme that also runs deep through the book.

When a book involves faith and religious beliefs, I am always a little bit worried about how far the author will go with it. It is not often that I read books with this theme, but I really enjoyed Ireland Stone’s other novel, Every Last Word, so I thought I would give this a try. I am so glad that I did because the book doesn’t speak to one religion, it actually questions it. I really enjoyed how different concepts and belief systems were introduced throughout the story.

Friendship is a theme that I have always loved, and there is no shortage of it in Little Do We Know. The book is told through alternating perspectives of Hannah and Emory. The girls have been best friends since childhood, however at the beginning of the book it is revealed that the girls have had a falling out. As the story progresses, the mystery surrounding why the girls’ friendship is broken is slowly revealed. It is a very explosive revelation, and without spoiling the plot, I will say that it might be difficult for some readers.

It is sometimes hard to review a book that has a sensitive issue. I am not a trained psychologist and I cannot accurately assess if a book has dealt with the issue appropriately. However, I felt as I was reading that there should have been more support offered to guide the character, especially in a YA novel.

Little Do We Know is an interesting story that explores the themes of faith and friendship. Readers will definitely be left questioning their own beliefs as the book unfolds. It is an enjoyable contemporary that is sure to be a favourite if you are a fan of the author’s other novels.

2.5 STARS

I think I'm going to keep this one brief as I don't feel completely unbiased in my review here. I'm going to list below the pros and cons I found in this novel and let you decide for yourself if it seems like the book for you.

Pros:

-I absolutely love the portrayal of growth and self thought portrayed here. One of the plots involves a teenage girl who is raised in a christian home with a pastor for a father, and along the way she wrestles with her faith and comes to terms with whether it is her faith as well, or if all along she's just been piggy backing off of her parent's belief system. This was beautifully done without being preachy or obnoxious; it felt real and raw.

-There is a broad spectrum of beliefs portrayed here; it's not just a conservative christian story, because the plot is evenly balanced with the neighbors who are atheists but respectful of their neighbors beliefs. There is harmony in a myriad of cultures and lifestyles and it's all portrayed in the norm.

-The story was compulsive and addicting; I truly had a difficult time putting it down. Also, the ending wasn't neat and tidy; I like that we receive closure on some of the major points but that a lot is left open ended.

Cons:

-My major concern was the portrayal of a romantic relationship between an underaged student and an adult in a position of authority over her. While the ending does sever their ties, it is only due to the fact that this adult was in a relationship with another woman the entire time and isn't specifically portrayed as inappropriate for any other reason. I'd be happy to go into more detail with any reader who would like more of an explanation, but I kept it vague here for the sake of making this review spoiler free.

-I did correctly guess what the "big secret" was that caused the rift between Emory and Hannah and found it to be resolved a little too easily and neatly for something that was as big of a deal as it was.

This was my first book by the author, but her writing was compelling enough that I'm interested in finding another of her books to try out.

Not only does Little Do We know by Tamara Ireland Stone have a gorgeous and eye catching cover, but the story itself is one to talk about. Stone has given us a glance into the life of two girls who have very different backgrounds, but somehow their lives intertwine to make this bis, messy picture of beauty.

The story follows Emory and Hannah, two best friends who grew up together and now don't speak due to a disagreement that may have been the ultimate end to a friendship. The book continues on as both girls juggle their lives of theater, love, conflicting feelings about life and religion, and then trying to deal with a catastrophic incident that ultimately brings them together, even if they don't want to be.

Stone writes a book about religion without making it feel like someone is shoving a bible down your throat. This is a coming of age story where finding yourself and where you fit into the world feels like spiraling out of control towards graduation and the great big world. I loved these characters. Emory was wild and free spirited, allowing for life to just happen and enjoy the time with friends and her boyfriend. Hannah was a little more uptight, having been raised in a slightly stricter environment, yet curious about the world and the things she did not understand. I enjoyed seeing Stone's take on how one event can bring multiple people from different walks of life and different situations together and end up bringing out the best in people.

This story is inspiring, heart wrenching at times, and so filled with the love of family, the love of friends, and the love of significant others that I couldn't help but want to shout out from the rooftops how everyone should read it. The world could do with a little more understanding and Stone shows us just how that can occur in Little Do We know.

Tamara Ireland Stone has a way to pull the reader right into the middle of the drama and see all the effects ripple out like water. Emory is about to graduate and all she can focus on is her insanely romantic boyfriend that she isn't ready to give up. Her neighbor and childhood BFF, Hannah, is also planning her future, but "little does she know" that her dad may not be what he seems. Dad complicates the bff relationship and Hannah and Emory find themselves on opposite sides of the yard for the first time in their lives. Each girl is growing and changing and finding out how little they know about life and learning to experience and solve problems together.

First off, can we just say how cool the cover is? It’s absolutely perfect for this book. Okay now that I’ve gotten that out of the way. What really won me over for this book were the characters. Both Hannah and Emory have little pieces of my heart within them. Seeing their perspectives intertwine and branch apart was like watching an intricate dance. It was mesmerizing to watch it unfold – especially as this big fight and what happened is dangled over our heads.
Hannah

One of the things I loved the most about Hannah, besides her acappella singing (true goals here) was that she kind of has to question the things around her. This is super relatable to me and in general because I think we all have those moments where we realize we’ve been wearing rose colored glasses and have to take a good long hard look around us. When we stop and look around realizing there’s more to life, to what we know, then the edges of our fingertips.

I recently had this happen to me where I had to re-evaluate the friendships I was in to figure out how mutual they were and the expectations I had with them. It’s a moment that defines you. It forces you to take a step back and see where the threads come in, where they fall short, and where you need to cut.

As usual, Stone has a winner in Little Do We Know! She has a smooth writing style that draws you in and keeps you reading.

In this one, Stone shares the story of two young women on the cusp of graduation. They see their lives ahead as both the next adventure and an escape. Emory looks forward to taking her acting to the next level after winning a coveted spot at a prestigious university as well as getting away from her soon-to-be stepfather. After a friendship-destroying fight with Emory, Hannah simply wants a chance to get away and think for (and explore) herself apart from her family.

Emory is delightful and audacious. She never says no to a dare (which led to her current, kind-hearted boyfriend) and is not afraid of standing out. She’s confident and vibrant and fully embraces the people in her life. I love her kindness, openness, and quirkiness.

As much as I like Emory, I like Hannah even more. Hannah is quiet and gentle but she’s also frank (a quality Emory treasures in her). Her parents love her and have given her all the support and love they have to offer, though her dad sometimes puts his work – principal of a Christian high school – ahead of his family. She understands. It’s important and a service to God. When Emory accuses Hannah of accepting anything her dad says blindly, Hannah can’t let it go. It stays with her for months as she wonders if Emory is right. Finally, she begins researching other religions and making choices she never would have dared make before.

Both girls never let go of who they are even as they struggle and branch out in life. My only regret with Little Do We Know is that their lives are so centered around men. And Emory’s great secret -- as is usually the case in girl-teen trauma -- involves a man too. Thankfully, Stone doesn’t stay there, ending with Emory and Hannah’s restored relationship.

I was recently very lucky to get an e-book ARC of Little Do We Know by Tamara Ireland Stone, I had never read anything by her before this book but I was really intrigued by the cover and excited to give it a read! Overall, I really enjoyed this book and intend to purchase a finished physical copy to add to my shelves at some point.

SPOILERS AHEAD

The book is about two girls, it flips between their perspectives. The girls are of similar age and are both seniors in high school struggling with the battles of preparing to attend college, the cost of college, high school friendships, and more. They used to be best friends because not only do they attend the same high school but they are also next door neighbors. They even knew the number of steps between their homes, until one day they have a massive fight and stop talking. The two leading ladies (Hannah and Emory) go for a long time without speaking and not even telling anyone why they are not speaking. Until one day there is an accident and it brings the girls back together. However, just like any friendship, you can not just ignore the past and the girl’s big fight gets brought up, which lets out one giant secret. That I personally did not expect!


I found this book to be really interesting and it kept my attention. Once I started it I did not really want to stop once I got to the point of the accident I wanted to know exactly what was going to happen with the girls. I felt connected to both Hannah and Emory individually but also their collective friendship. I was invested and I felt the pain they felt of being separated. Of wanting to talk to your best friend but knowing you can’t. I was overjoyed when they started talking again but concerned about the past. I honestly did not foresee their secret coming which made the book even better for me. As a reader I was wondering constantly what the girls fought about that was so bad they could not be friends anymore. I do not want to spoil too much so I am not going to address it here but trust me it is definitely worth a read. I gave this book a 4 out of 5 stars on goodreads, I thought that the book was great and the characters were so relatable and I became attached to both of their stories. I even felt at times I had shared some of their struggles just in my own way. Also just look at that awesome cover, it’s one of my favorites!

4.5 stars

I'd like to thank Disney-Hyperion for providing me with an advanced galley in exchange for an honest review.

Hannah and Emory used to be best friends until, according to Emory, Hannah did something completely unforgivable. A few months later, they are worlds apart even though they live thirty-six steps away. Emory is with Luke until they both, unfortunately, part ways for college. Hannah is stuck at her covenant school, questioning her religious beliefs. When Luke ends up in front of Hannah's house, dead, both girls' lives are slowly pulled together towards each other.

This book is told in alternating POVs with Emory's being labeled with a countdown to when her relationship with Luke is meant to end, which seemed unfair to me. The one thing that bothered me is that Emory and Luke (more so Emory) felt that their relationship had to end because they were going to different colleges; especially when these two are so freaking in love. Where is the common sense in that?

Hannah's chapters got a bit frustrating, too. This is only because she develops a relationship (barely) with Aaron, who is sort-of a teacher at her school, though he is like in his early twenties...barely. It was only frustrating because:

(1) He is in a relationship and has been since he was in the tenth grade and apparently that means he has to be engaged, even though he doesn't want to be. Talk about wasting the girl's time.

(2) He was annoying and took advantage of Hannah, in my opinion.

(3) There's no background to why they had to get involved. Not even because they were helping her father fix up the website.

What I really enjoyed about Hannah is her courage to find out for herself that questioning your religion is okay. She's constantly under her father's shadow and believes he has always been right. Throughout her chapters, she starts to wonder what her belief system really is all on her own without her father being there. I connected with that personally, being someone that has always questioned my religion and belief system.

Luke was interesting, but I didn't feel much with him. This could be because he develops an unexpected growth with religion. He got annoying sometimes because he would not talk to Emory, the girl he allegedly loves so much and blah blah. He totally takes her for granted and just believes she won't understand what he is going through. Way to have trust in the relationship. Oh well. I guess all book boyfriends can't be perfect.

Now on to Emory. She was okay, but I don't really like how Tamara made it seem as if the obstacle in the friendship was all Emory's fault when it clearly wasn't. There's a dramatic moment where the reader finds out what really happened between these two girls and it was expected and is kind of a cliche for a YA novel, but it still hits hard when you read about it, especially when it happens to a character that you like.

The entire novel itself was at a pretty good pace. I don't think there were any missing scenes that should be added in. For some reason, though, something about the pacing was off. I'm not sure how to describe it. It didn't seem 100% perfect, you know? The ending, though, seemed to be left open with the characters. I doubt there will be a sequel, but I like that. I like that readers have the opportunity to come up with a tight conclusion all on their own after they reach the end. I have a few conclusions in my head already, but I was still satisfied with the book itself.

Basically, if you're a notorious sucker for a contemporary read, this is a good one to pick up.

This book was a excellent look at friendship, grief, trauma, and more. I highly recommend! It’s categorized as YA but all that means is the MCs are teens. This book appeals to any reader 14+.

A beautiful story that earned a solid 4 stars.

Hannah and Emory were the best of friends...until they weren't. In the aftermath of an accident they are forced to think about what happened to their friendship and what secrets they may still have.

This was a welcomed distraction from a fantasy novel that I was reading at the same time. I would have given this 5 stars if it wasn't for the characters. While most of the characters were well built and unique, I still had a few problems with Emory.

NetGalley only gave me a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review, they did not throw in coffee or wine.

I’m 1000000% on board for whatever Tamara writes, so I don’t even read the synopsis of her books.

Love love loved Emory and Hannah and Luke. They’re all going through something and it was captivating to see how their lives intersected because of it. I’m intentionally being vague because I don’t want to ruin anything.

Plot wise, it gripped me from the first page. I couldn’t wait to get to the reveals and loved how deliciously slow and perfectly timed they were. I was completely invested in everyone’s individual story as well as how they were a group of sorts.

Overall, it was heartbreaking and hopeful and had a fantastic group of characters that I was rooting for from the beginning. I can’t wait to see what Tamara gives us next.

**Huge thanks to Disney Hyperion for providing the arc free of charge**

Little Do We Know is a Contemporary Fiction Novel by Tamara Ireland Stone about friendship, betrayal and spiritual discovery.

This story is told from the perspective of both Hannah and Emory, friends who had a falling out before the story telling begins. It has the feel of diary entries from each girl and how they are dealing with their senior year in High School.

This book could be a great resource for young women transitioning from their high school years and those struggling with their own relationship with a higher being.

I do believe that this book shows an even greater need to train adults in appropriate behavior. The youth in this book are acting as youth have been expected (although the sneaking out of the houses is not something that should be expected in healthy family situations). But I found myself disappointed in every adult character.

The stories ending may have been a little too predictable, but the plot twist in the middle made it all worth the ride. I loved the spiritual exploration of the youth. I just wish their had been adults to help guide them in a healthy way. Maybe that is an expectation I have on society more than on this book.

This was an interesting book and I believe that there is a wide audience for it. As I teacher, I know many students who would love the opportunity to read this story of believable teens experiencing times in their lives when they question their faith (or lack of it). The story didn't push religion at the reader or even "preach" at the readers. The protagonist did come from a religious background and her father is a minister. There are things going on in the protagonist's life that bring her to pause and question her faith and her religious upbringing. After she witnesses someone dying, her questioning becomes more intense. Yet she helps a friend (the young man who was dying) who wants to know more about God and heaven even though her own faith is faltering.
Anyway, there are definitely young people who would find this book just what they were looking for.