Review: Things We Know By Heart by Jessi Kirby

Title: Things We Know By Heart

Author: Jessi Kirby

Publication Date: April 21, 2015

Excerpt from Goodreads:

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

After the death of her boyfriend, Trent, Quinn finds closure in meeting and connecting with the recipients that received Trent’s donated organs. Quinn has met every organ recipient, except for the recipient who received Trent’s heart. Quinn eventually finds the recipient through a blogger who happens to be the recipient’s sister. His name is Colton and before he received Trent’s heart, his own was failing. In an attempt to finally be at peace with Trent’s death, Quinn seeks out Colton just to get a glimpse of his life. She has no intention to interact with Colton, but fate has other plans.

Colton is shy, sweet, adventurous, and full of life. Colton believes that he got a second chance at life and he takes advantage of every single day. Quinn is devastated after her boyfriend’s death from over a year ago, but Colton shows her how to be happy and live again. From their awkward first meeting to all their dates and days they spend with each other, I was in love with this couple. The perfect slowing building romance that I’m a sucker for!

Of course, Quinn doesn’t tell Colton that he carries the heart of her dead boyfriend and Colton holds back the fact that he had a heart transplant. This causes a small barrier between them even though Quinn knows that the medicine Colton attempts to take without her noticing is his anti-rejection medication.

The little detail that I loved the most about this book was the heart. No matter whose body the heart resided in, that heart loved Quinn. Quinn fell in love with the heart that lived and beat inside of Trent’s body and she falls in love again with that very same heart that now beats inside of Colton. Really takes the “You have my heart” quote to a whole other level.

I have read a book before that reminded me of a similar situation between a couple. Completely different story, but a slightly similar premise. Because of this, I did predict the ending and I was correct with my predictions, but that didn’t change how much I loved this story! I borrowed a copy of this book from the library and now I want to own my own copy, it was that good of a read!

Once again, another book that wasn’t under my radar and knocked it out of the park! Seems like I need to start reading that books that don’t catch my eye like other books. If you haven’t read this book yet, I highly suggest that you do!

4 out of 5 stars

Meet The Author

Jessi Kirby was born and raised in Mammoth Lakes, CA. She earned her BA in English Literature from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and went on to become a middle and high school English teacher. In addition to writing, Jessi works full time as a middle school librarian in Orange County, CA, where she lives with her husband and two children.

You can find Jessi on Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and her website.