Book Review / Things We Know By Heart by Jessi Kirby

When Quinn Sullivan meets the recipient of her boyfriend’s donated heart, the two form an unexpected connection.

After Quinn loses her boyfriend, Trent, in an accident their junior year, she reaches out to the recipients of his donated organs in hopes of picking up the pieces of her now-unrecognizable life. She hears back from some of them, but the person who received Trent’s heart has remained silent. The essence of a person, she has always believed, is in the heart. If she finds Trent’s, then maybe she can have peace once and for all.

Risking everything in order to finally lay her memories to rest, 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.

Published:    21st April 2015
Publisher:  HarperTeen
Goodreads :  Click here
Series or Stand-Alone:  Stand-Alone
Source:  Library

MY REVIEW

This book really surprised me.  When picking this up at the Library I thought this would be a 'fluffy easy read' and yes I suppose there is a part of this book that is like that but it is so much more.  We follow Quinn who is grieving the loss of her boyfriend.  After death some of her boyfriend's organs are donated.  We see Quinn writing to each of these as part of her grieving process and receiving responses apart from the one that she thinks matters the most.  The person who received her boyfriend's heart, Colton.  She decides to find him and instead of talking to him and telling him the truth they bump into each other almost unexpectedly and Quinn decides to get to know Colton rather than tell him the truth.  She does intend to tell the truth but things get more complicated when she starts to develop feelings for him.

At 304 pages (largish font) this book is smallish but packs a large punch.  Love, loss, grief, hope, love and maybe a few others that I won't mention because of spoilers.  I read this book in one sitting.  Just could not put it down.  I can't wait to read more from this author.