Mini-Review: Things We Know By Heart by Jessi Kirby

Things We Know By Heart by Jessi Kirby
304 Pages
Release Date: April 21st, 2015
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Publisher via Edelweiss
Rating: 4 STARS

Goodreads Summary: 
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.

Things We Know By Heart was such a cute read and I loved every bit of it. I wasn't sure how much I would like this book because while I like the concept, I wasn't sure if it was a "me" book. But I really liked the way Jessi Kirby executed it. There also weren't as many feels as I thought there would be which I was kind of happy about (not that I don't like the feels but I didn't particularly feel like bawling). I also really liked seeing the family dynamics of Quinn's family and how that affects her life and seeing how important they are to her.

Quinn was a character I was fairly able to connect with despite not having been through the same situation. I really felt for her and I was glad that she had the determination and strength to find the person that has Trent's heart. At first, I was really hesitant on her character because of that to be honest because Colton didn't want her to meet her and it didn't seem like the right thing to do. But as I continued reading it was easy to feel how genuine her desire for peace and closure was. We really see Quinn grow and change once she meets Colton and begins the first real step post Trent to living.

Colton was a really unexpected character. I honestly didn't know what to expect of Colton before reading this book but it really wasn't the way his character actually was. Right when we meet him there's an instant connection. He was just so cute and adorable because you know he really likes her but it was just weird for Quinn considering everything. It interesting to see not only how he helped Quinn but how he was affected from getting the heart and how his perspective on life changed. 

A book about letting go, remembering, opening up, and family, Things We Know By Heart is most certainly a book contemporary lovers should try out. Happy Readings!