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The Girl I Thought I Knew
Daisy grew up around secrets she knew by heart but were never spoken. She had no idea just how much damage secrets could do, but she would soon learn.
It’s a warm, cloudless morning on the day the envelope arrives for Daisy. Soft sunlight streams into the apartment she shares with her partner, Anderson, who is sleeping peacefully. Daisy’s fought hard for this happiness, worked her way up from being a vulnerable teenage runaway to a woman with a stable job and a loving boyfriend.
But when Daisy discovers the handwritten wedding invitation from her childhood best friend, Stella, her bright morning turns suddenly dark. The wedding is back amongst the misty woods and rolling hills of Daisy’s North Carolina hometown. The same town where her heartbroken mother never spoke about her miscarriages, and her distant father drank away what little money they had. The same town where she is still known as ‘the crazy one’ for telling people about the dead girl she saw that summer’s day in the woods. A girl who looked just like her, and whose body was never found.
Daisy hasn’t been back home since her parents sent her away and now, the thought of returning fills her with dread. She doesn’t know if she can forgive Stella, the girl she once called ‘blood sister’, for turning her back on her when everyone else did. And why is Stella reaching out now, after fifteen years?
There’s only one thing Daisy is sure of—if she wants to build a happy future, she’s going to have to finally confront the mysteries of her dark past.
It’s a warm, cloudless morning on the day the envelope arrives for Daisy. Soft sunlight streams into the apartment she shares with her partner, Anderson, who is sleeping peacefully. Daisy’s fought hard for this happiness, worked her way up from being a vulnerable teenage runaway to a woman with a stable job and a loving boyfriend.
But when Daisy discovers the handwritten wedding invitation from her childhood best friend, Stella, her bright morning turns suddenly dark. The wedding is back amongst the misty woods and rolling hills of Daisy’s North Carolina hometown. The same town where her heartbroken mother never spoke about her miscarriages, and her distant father drank away what little money they had. The same town where she is still known as ‘the crazy one’ for telling people about the dead girl she saw that summer’s day in the woods. A girl who looked just like her, and whose body was never found.
Daisy hasn’t been back home since her parents sent her away and now, the thought of returning fills her with dread. She doesn’t know if she can forgive Stella, the girl she once called ‘blood sister’, for turning her back on her when everyone else did. And why is Stella reaching out now, after fifteen years?
There’s only one thing Daisy is sure of—if she wants to build a happy future, she’s going to have to finally confront the mysteries of her dark past.
306 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 20, 2020
174 people are currently reading
170 people want to read
About the author
Kelly Heard
4 books32 followersIncorrigible Sagittarius, nose stuck in a book. Writer of haunted hearts-Southern Gothic-romance-type of mysteries.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
March 24, 2020
Daisy had witnessed an explosion at her father's work. He worked at a chemical plant. She saw a young girl die. But in the news report, there is no mention of the girl Daisy had seen. No one believes her. They deny that a girl was there.
Daisy now lives with her partner, Anderson. She recieves an invite to her friend, Stella's wedding. But Daisy does not want to go back to her hometown. She hasn't been back home for years. She reluctantly agrees to return for the wedding where old sounds are opened up.
The story flips back and forth from past to present. The tension builds throughout. I felt this was more a family drama than a thriller. I did feel sorry for Daisy when nobody believed her. The plotline was interesting. Daisy has to face her fears if she ever wants to find out what actually happened that night. A well written book with a good twist at the end.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author Kelly Heard for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Daisy now lives with her partner, Anderson. She recieves an invite to her friend, Stella's wedding. But Daisy does not want to go back to her hometown. She hasn't been back home for years. She reluctantly agrees to return for the wedding where old sounds are opened up.
The story flips back and forth from past to present. The tension builds throughout. I felt this was more a family drama than a thriller. I did feel sorry for Daisy when nobody believed her. The plotline was interesting. Daisy has to face her fears if she ever wants to find out what actually happened that night. A well written book with a good twist at the end.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author Kelly Heard for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 22, 2020
Daisy receives a wedding invitation from her childhood best friend, Stella, who she hasn't seen or talked to in years. Stella still lives in their hometown ... a place that Daisy never wants to remember.
As a teenager, she saw a factory burned to the ground. As her father worked there, she worried and got a little closer to the fire than she should have. Why don't people believe what she sees? Why do they call her "fire girl"? Why wouldn't her best friends back her up?
Why has Stella reached out to her after all these years?
The book goes back and forth between 'then' and 'now' told exclusively from Daisy's point of view. This was a gripping tale of friendship, first loves, betrayal and trust. Well written, the characters are deftly drawn and immediately draw the reader into their lives.
Many thanks to the author / Bookouture / Netgalley for the digital copy of this mystery. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
March 24, 2020
A teaser: The Girl I Thought I Knew is a well written, beautiful and heart wrenching story about how damaging secrets can be... With themes like trust and forgiveness interwoven between the fast paced novel, author Kelly Heard does a great job of creating a character that feels like someone I know. Daisy goes back home whit her boyfriend, Anderson to attend a wedding. With curiosity and dread, Daisy shows up for the wedding in her home town after a long time away. Stella, once her closest best friend...is the bride and had sent her the invite. But Stella decides she can't marry her dream come true groom until she gets to the bottom of a big secret that he is keeping her. Then Stella runs from her own wedding and has Daisy join her.
What I like: From the beginning, I sense that Daisy is layered- a woman who has many secrets and many ways of dealing with those secrets. She has been hurt so much and betrayal marks her memories. Once, she spoke up about something or someone she saw and has paid a steep price for it. I like the way that Kelly Heard flips back and forth between past and present in third person. I also enjoy the way the tension builds and builds, so that Daisy has to face her fears and uncover the truth! (no spoilers!) I really enjoyed this novel and would recommend it! :)
Thank you to NetGalley, author Kelly Heard and publisher Bookouture for this temporary digital advance reader copy for me to read and enjoy!
#TheGirlIThoughtIKnew #NetGalley
What I like: From the beginning, I sense that Daisy is layered- a woman who has many secrets and many ways of dealing with those secrets. She has been hurt so much and betrayal marks her memories. Once, she spoke up about something or someone she saw and has paid a steep price for it. I like the way that Kelly Heard flips back and forth between past and present in third person. I also enjoy the way the tension builds and builds, so that Daisy has to face her fears and uncover the truth! (no spoilers!) I really enjoyed this novel and would recommend it! :)
Thank you to NetGalley, author Kelly Heard and publisher Bookouture for this temporary digital advance reader copy for me to read and enjoy!
#TheGirlIThoughtIKnew #NetGalley
February 14, 2020
Quite a different story. Years ago when Daisy was a teen she saw a girl dying in a fire, but nobody in her town believed her, including her parents. She was sent away, her best friend and budding love betrayed her. Alone, she survived. Now she was back home for the best friend's wedding. And the secrets were back with her.
With such a premise, the book could have been a great thriller. This was more of a family drama along with insecurity and small town misgivings. My second book by author Kelly Heard, I followed the main character Daisy's life keenly. I could feel her pain and frustration when nobody believed her. At one point, she was really alone. I was really sad and angry, especially with her boyfriend.
Courage was found within the words and inside Daisy. I liked how she stood up for what she had seen, and things got sorted out as they tend to in books. The whole plot had a lot of nuances and weird characters, quite apt for a small town. The author depitected the scenes authentically. But something felt missing, the logic and plot arcs felt incomplete or maybe I just didn't understand Daisy's ways.
Forgiveness was the underlying theme which was weaved in well, but I didn't think I would be quite as unforgiving as Daisy. The mystery of the dying girl, reality or hallucination, was well played. I kept trying to guess what it could be. Luckily one of my weird, off the wall guesses came to be true, the other was shocking.
Overall, a fun read.
With such a premise, the book could have been a great thriller. This was more of a family drama along with insecurity and small town misgivings. My second book by author Kelly Heard, I followed the main character Daisy's life keenly. I could feel her pain and frustration when nobody believed her. At one point, she was really alone. I was really sad and angry, especially with her boyfriend.
Courage was found within the words and inside Daisy. I liked how she stood up for what she had seen, and things got sorted out as they tend to in books. The whole plot had a lot of nuances and weird characters, quite apt for a small town. The author depitected the scenes authentically. But something felt missing, the logic and plot arcs felt incomplete or maybe I just didn't understand Daisy's ways.
Forgiveness was the underlying theme which was weaved in well, but I didn't think I would be quite as unforgiving as Daisy. The mystery of the dying girl, reality or hallucination, was well played. I kept trying to guess what it could be. Luckily one of my weird, off the wall guesses came to be true, the other was shocking.
Overall, a fun read.
February 29, 2020
Daisy left her hometown with her head hanging in shame, determined never to go back, However, she feels that she should honor her former friend's invitation to her wedding. Stella is getting married and has included Daisy to be among her guests. Daisy shows up, seated as far back as possible. When Stella cannot go through the ceremony, she asks for Daisy, and, laced with trepidation, Daisy agrees to talk to Stella.
Daisy hadn't planned on staying in town long, but due to circumstances that are part of her troubled past, she now scrambles for a place to stay. Meanwhile, Stella is not the only one Daisy has to face after years later. Former friends are part and parcel to that fact. Meanwhile, as things turned out, Stella had a very good reason for not going through with the wedding, and this impacts some secrets to Daisy's past.
The more secretes are revealed from Daisy's past, for a while it felt like I was reading a domestic thriller. There was a lot of digging into the past and secrets were exposed. The book switched from past to present as Daisy's story was told.
This well-written and well-developed book by Kelly Heard kept my attention throughout. I felt like I was with Daisy as she opened each box until she was able to fully reconcile her past with hopes of having a much happier future.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest review.
Daisy hadn't planned on staying in town long, but due to circumstances that are part of her troubled past, she now scrambles for a place to stay. Meanwhile, Stella is not the only one Daisy has to face after years later. Former friends are part and parcel to that fact. Meanwhile, as things turned out, Stella had a very good reason for not going through with the wedding, and this impacts some secrets to Daisy's past.
The more secretes are revealed from Daisy's past, for a while it felt like I was reading a domestic thriller. There was a lot of digging into the past and secrets were exposed. The book switched from past to present as Daisy's story was told.
This well-written and well-developed book by Kelly Heard kept my attention throughout. I felt like I was with Daisy as she opened each box until she was able to fully reconcile her past with hopes of having a much happier future.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest review.
February 3, 2020
A beautiful book by this amazing author. I loved this author's debut and this one is even better! Addictive from start to finish, a poignant tale of love and friendship. I would recommend this lovely story to every one. An incredible tale by one of my favourite authors.
March 27, 2020
What do you do when you are convinced about something and nobody believes you? You were sure you could count on your best friend, someone you even called your bloodsister, but the hurt you felt when she let you down was terrible.
What do you do when you have one other person left, who told you time and time again he would be there for you wherever and whenever, but seems to have forgotten about his promise?
When everyone calls you a liar and nobody has your back, there is only one thing left to do … You run.
And now, years later, you still can’t let go of the past, because you know what you saw was real. Maybe it’s time to get to the bottom of it all.
The author alternates the past and the present in order to explain what Daisy went through and how she is trying to get to the truth.
A moving story about a young girl who tried to persuade the whole town about her right, being ridiculed for it and the consequences it entailed. 4 stars.
Thank you, Kelly Heard and Bookouture
https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com
What do you do when you have one other person left, who told you time and time again he would be there for you wherever and whenever, but seems to have forgotten about his promise?
When everyone calls you a liar and nobody has your back, there is only one thing left to do … You run.
And now, years later, you still can’t let go of the past, because you know what you saw was real. Maybe it’s time to get to the bottom of it all.
The author alternates the past and the present in order to explain what Daisy went through and how she is trying to get to the truth.
A moving story about a young girl who tried to persuade the whole town about her right, being ridiculed for it and the consequences it entailed. 4 stars.
Thank you, Kelly Heard and Bookouture
https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com
Read
July 24, 2020A very emotional story, which had me rooting and cheering along the main character, Daisy, as she tried to overcome a haunting from her childhood days.
February 6, 2020
An interesting mystery lies at the heart of this novel that dips back and forth from past to present. Daisy, reluctant and curious at once, returns to her hometown after running away years before. This triggers the memories and hurts she left behind, and a desire to finally answer questions she's always wondered about. Was there a cover-up during a fire years before, as she's always believed? Or was all it in her mind, as everyone tells her?
As a character, Daisy kept me at arms' length, so it took me a long time to feel invested in her. But I found that I did want to know what happened to her and slowly, I warmed to her, and wanted her to find out the truth, as much for her as me.
Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for a copy in exchange for a review.
As a character, Daisy kept me at arms' length, so it took me a long time to feel invested in her. But I found that I did want to know what happened to her and slowly, I warmed to her, and wanted her to find out the truth, as much for her as me.
Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for a copy in exchange for a review.
May 19, 2020
STUNNING drama!
WOW!!! Kelly Heard delivers again. This was a brilliant novel about forgiveness and being true to yourself. Daisy's childhood was messed up, and unpacking exactly what happened was so intriguing. The intrigue builds and builds until BAM that ending!! I don't know about others but as soon as I read it, I thought OH MY GOD, OF COURSE!
At this point I come to Kelly's books as much for her writing as her stories. She has such a way of describing things perfectly that makes me think 'Yes, I know exactly what that feels like!'.
Emotional and heartbreaking. Miss this one and miss out.
WOW!!! Kelly Heard delivers again. This was a brilliant novel about forgiveness and being true to yourself. Daisy's childhood was messed up, and unpacking exactly what happened was so intriguing. The intrigue builds and builds until BAM that ending!! I don't know about others but as soon as I read it, I thought OH MY GOD, OF COURSE!
At this point I come to Kelly's books as much for her writing as her stories. She has such a way of describing things perfectly that makes me think 'Yes, I know exactly what that feels like!'.
Emotional and heartbreaking. Miss this one and miss out.
March 22, 2020
Reading this novel felt like entering an alternate universe where the characters felt ethereal, the tone strange and unsettling.
The Girl I Thought you Knew introduces us to Daisy and Anderson, living in Santa Fe. Automatically their relationship is portrayed with Anderson as saviour and protector whilst Daisy is this fragile unstable creature in need of protecting. When a wedding invitation arrives from Daisy’s once best friend Stella, her past is once more at the forefront of her mind. Would a trip back to her hometown of Zion unravel Daisy and bring buried secrets alive, shattering her carefully constructed new life? It’s like there is an invisible thread pulling Daisy back to a place that’s always haunted her and so she makes a decision to attend the wedding not quite realising the hold Zion has over her ,with memories of a lost love, a lost friendship and total estrangement from her parents.
This is quite a creepy novel in the sense that Daisy seems to have been treated extremely unfairly. When there is a fire at the chemical plant she lives nearby and she witnesses a girl trapped and left for dead, no one will believe her, least of all her father who works at the plant. She’s quickly ostracised by friends, with her parents sending her away to boarding school. Only Jesse, her first love, doesn’t think Daisy was imagining or hallucinating this event but it’s not enough to convince the townspeople that Daisy is a sane credible witness.
I can’t pinpoint why but I found it difficult to become engaged with the storyline. The relationship between Anderson and Daisy isn’t explored in great depth although you do get the sense it isn’t a healthy one and they have experienced difficulties in starting a family which of course is sad. I later understood that perhaps the author is trying to reflect Daisy’s own parents troubled relationship and prove that Daisy is simply making the same mistakes her mother has. Unfortunately it didn’t make me like Daisy’s character any better and I found her annoying at times. I never felt I could get a real grasp of her character, or indeed any of the others, they all felt ghost like. I thought perhaps the storyline was going to take a positive turn in the direction of Stella and Daisy coming together to bring past injustices to light and hold Zion chemical plant to account a bit like real life Erin Brockovich characters!! This didn’t really happen; I felt the storyline drifted and meandered along to a conclusion which mostly makes sense. Overall I think the author has captured well the unfair treatment of Daisy and how keen this small town has been keen to keep the past buried but I didn’t feel like there were any life shattering revelations which you might have expected. This novel is quite a sombre read and Daisy’s relationship with her mother Ellen feels very much devoid of love, which is heartbreaking. So too is the loss of her best friend’s loyalty making Daisy a vulnerable, fragile individual which carries over into adulthood.
Perhaps not quite the gripping read I was hoping for but mine is only one opinion! Mood can often influence views and in these troubling times maybe I’ve allowed my own angst to influence my thoughts. I would still be interested to read other titles by this author and my thanks as always go to the publisher Bookouture and Netgalley for allowing me to read in exchange for an honest review.
The Girl I Thought you Knew introduces us to Daisy and Anderson, living in Santa Fe. Automatically their relationship is portrayed with Anderson as saviour and protector whilst Daisy is this fragile unstable creature in need of protecting. When a wedding invitation arrives from Daisy’s once best friend Stella, her past is once more at the forefront of her mind. Would a trip back to her hometown of Zion unravel Daisy and bring buried secrets alive, shattering her carefully constructed new life? It’s like there is an invisible thread pulling Daisy back to a place that’s always haunted her and so she makes a decision to attend the wedding not quite realising the hold Zion has over her ,with memories of a lost love, a lost friendship and total estrangement from her parents.
This is quite a creepy novel in the sense that Daisy seems to have been treated extremely unfairly. When there is a fire at the chemical plant she lives nearby and she witnesses a girl trapped and left for dead, no one will believe her, least of all her father who works at the plant. She’s quickly ostracised by friends, with her parents sending her away to boarding school. Only Jesse, her first love, doesn’t think Daisy was imagining or hallucinating this event but it’s not enough to convince the townspeople that Daisy is a sane credible witness.
I can’t pinpoint why but I found it difficult to become engaged with the storyline. The relationship between Anderson and Daisy isn’t explored in great depth although you do get the sense it isn’t a healthy one and they have experienced difficulties in starting a family which of course is sad. I later understood that perhaps the author is trying to reflect Daisy’s own parents troubled relationship and prove that Daisy is simply making the same mistakes her mother has. Unfortunately it didn’t make me like Daisy’s character any better and I found her annoying at times. I never felt I could get a real grasp of her character, or indeed any of the others, they all felt ghost like. I thought perhaps the storyline was going to take a positive turn in the direction of Stella and Daisy coming together to bring past injustices to light and hold Zion chemical plant to account a bit like real life Erin Brockovich characters!! This didn’t really happen; I felt the storyline drifted and meandered along to a conclusion which mostly makes sense. Overall I think the author has captured well the unfair treatment of Daisy and how keen this small town has been keen to keep the past buried but I didn’t feel like there were any life shattering revelations which you might have expected. This novel is quite a sombre read and Daisy’s relationship with her mother Ellen feels very much devoid of love, which is heartbreaking. So too is the loss of her best friend’s loyalty making Daisy a vulnerable, fragile individual which carries over into adulthood.
Perhaps not quite the gripping read I was hoping for but mine is only one opinion! Mood can often influence views and in these troubling times maybe I’ve allowed my own angst to influence my thoughts. I would still be interested to read other titles by this author and my thanks as always go to the publisher Bookouture and Netgalley for allowing me to read in exchange for an honest review.
June 12, 2025
The Girl I Thought I Knew is a breathtaking mysterious read that is full of secrets to uncover. For her second novel, Kelly has created an intriguing plot that had me hooked and enthralled right from the beginning. At times it was very hard to tear myself away from and I was completely immersed in all that Kelly brought to the story.
Told solely throughout from Daisy’s point of view, the narrative moves from the past and present seamlessly as Kelly gives the reader the background into why Daisy had to flee her hometown as she became an outcast and labelled ‘the crazy one’ as the blurb states “for telling people about the dead girl she saw that summer’s day in the woods. A girl who looked just like her, and whose body was never found”.
When she receives a wedding invitation from her childhood best friend Stella, the last thing she wants to do is return to her North Carolina hometown. Not knowing if she can forgive Stella for not standing by her when no one else did all those years ago, Daisy knows that if she wants a happy future she needs to return home and confront the mysteries of her past.
The characters in this story have all been created with depth and are very well developed. Daisy as the lead is the one that stands out the most. The sadness that flows off her, both breaks your heart and makes you angry with how she has been treated by those who are meant to love her. You just want to protect her and wrap your arms around her to shield her from any more unhappiness.
This is the first book I have read from Kelly and it will most definitely not be my last. I really enjoyed her style and how she was able to make me feel like I was there, entangled in the mystery. Kelly achieves this through beautifully descriptive prose that is just so effortless in its approach. I look forward to hopefully many more books to come from Kelly.
The Girl I Thought I Knew is a captivating read that will have you completely immersed as secrets are exposed in the lead up to the thrilling conclusion that I did not see coming. It is a story of loss, love and how past relationships can shape a person in the present. It was an absolute pleasure to read and review The Girl I Thought I Knew which I highly recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Kelly Heard for allowing me to read an advanced copy of The Girl I Thought I Knew which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
Told solely throughout from Daisy’s point of view, the narrative moves from the past and present seamlessly as Kelly gives the reader the background into why Daisy had to flee her hometown as she became an outcast and labelled ‘the crazy one’ as the blurb states “for telling people about the dead girl she saw that summer’s day in the woods. A girl who looked just like her, and whose body was never found”.
When she receives a wedding invitation from her childhood best friend Stella, the last thing she wants to do is return to her North Carolina hometown. Not knowing if she can forgive Stella for not standing by her when no one else did all those years ago, Daisy knows that if she wants a happy future she needs to return home and confront the mysteries of her past.
The characters in this story have all been created with depth and are very well developed. Daisy as the lead is the one that stands out the most. The sadness that flows off her, both breaks your heart and makes you angry with how she has been treated by those who are meant to love her. You just want to protect her and wrap your arms around her to shield her from any more unhappiness.
This is the first book I have read from Kelly and it will most definitely not be my last. I really enjoyed her style and how she was able to make me feel like I was there, entangled in the mystery. Kelly achieves this through beautifully descriptive prose that is just so effortless in its approach. I look forward to hopefully many more books to come from Kelly.
The Girl I Thought I Knew is a captivating read that will have you completely immersed as secrets are exposed in the lead up to the thrilling conclusion that I did not see coming. It is a story of loss, love and how past relationships can shape a person in the present. It was an absolute pleasure to read and review The Girl I Thought I Knew which I highly recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Kelly Heard for allowing me to read an advanced copy of The Girl I Thought I Knew which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
March 21, 2020
Daisy witnesses an explosion at the chemical plant where her father works. She sees a young girl die. That night the news reports that 4 men died and mentions nothing of the girl Daisy saw. Everyone else denies that there ever was a girl. No one believes her. Not even her parents. Pretty much the whole town treats her like she is crazy.
Years later, Daisy is living far away with her boyfriend Anderson, trying desperately to put the past behind her. Then she receives an invitation to Stella's wedding. She has not been home in years or spoken to anyone from her life back then. When Daisy returns, old wounds reopen. Did she see what she believes or was it a hallucination caused by chemicals in the air?
This had the grounds to be a fantastic thriller. It is more of a drama blended with a bit of an Erin Brockovich mystery. Although, I figured most of it out well before the end.
I would have liked a lot more tension and danger in the figuring of everything out. That being said, I did enjoy the drama and the story as a whole and would not have liked to lose any of the existing content. I just would have liked more of a thriller element.
I really enjoyed the majority of the characters and the diversity of relationships covered. I would have preferred a less tidy conclusion between Daisy and a high-school bully. That felt far too simple.
The twist at the end was unforeseen. However, it was hardly a 'Wow!' moment. I was more like, 'Oh, Ok - that happened'.
Although I have highlighted areas I was less than thrilled by, It is important to state that I actually enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought I would. The story really is quite good. I think I would suggest it to a YA audience or people who want a quick, easy read that's not hard to follow. I read this pretty quickly and it would be a great book for people who can only steal 5 minutes here or there to read. You could easily do that here and not lose track. This is really well written and beautifully descriptive, with forgiveness being the ultimate goal.
I received a free pre-release copy of #TheGirlIThoughtIKnew from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Years later, Daisy is living far away with her boyfriend Anderson, trying desperately to put the past behind her. Then she receives an invitation to Stella's wedding. She has not been home in years or spoken to anyone from her life back then. When Daisy returns, old wounds reopen. Did she see what she believes or was it a hallucination caused by chemicals in the air?
This had the grounds to be a fantastic thriller. It is more of a drama blended with a bit of an Erin Brockovich mystery. Although, I figured most of it out well before the end.
I would have liked a lot more tension and danger in the figuring of everything out. That being said, I did enjoy the drama and the story as a whole and would not have liked to lose any of the existing content. I just would have liked more of a thriller element.
I really enjoyed the majority of the characters and the diversity of relationships covered. I would have preferred a less tidy conclusion between Daisy and a high-school bully. That felt far too simple.
The twist at the end was unforeseen. However, it was hardly a 'Wow!' moment. I was more like, 'Oh, Ok - that happened'.
Although I have highlighted areas I was less than thrilled by, It is important to state that I actually enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought I would. The story really is quite good. I think I would suggest it to a YA audience or people who want a quick, easy read that's not hard to follow. I read this pretty quickly and it would be a great book for people who can only steal 5 minutes here or there to read. You could easily do that here and not lose track. This is really well written and beautifully descriptive, with forgiveness being the ultimate goal.
I received a free pre-release copy of #TheGirlIThoughtIKnew from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 25, 2020
If your favoured reading material is a compelling tale with a good sprinkling of drama, heartbreak and harboured secrets, then The Girl I Thought I Knew by Kelly Heard is a must-read for you!
Right from the opening line there was such a lot happening in this wonderful suspenseful drama. Daisy was an interesting character and it was a journey to get to know her. The story goes seamlessly back and forth between in time and is told exclusively from Daisy's point of view in a gripping tale of friendship, first loves, betrayal, trust, and hope for the future. The author really worked wonders with most of the characters and even the less personable ones still had very good parts to play and did not dampen my enthusiasm for this fascinating tale, as I was immediately drawn into their lives. There was lovely depth and poignancy to Kelly Heard’s writing which kept me hooked throughout.
I totally appreciated this story and its realistic, touching portrayal of a young woman and her relationships with her partner, Anderson, her parents and her best friend from her schooldays, Stella. The plot was great and moved along at a really comfortable pace and I was very happy with the author’s general writing-style.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it with confidence.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Bookouture via NetGalley at my request, and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
Right from the opening line there was such a lot happening in this wonderful suspenseful drama. Daisy was an interesting character and it was a journey to get to know her. The story goes seamlessly back and forth between in time and is told exclusively from Daisy's point of view in a gripping tale of friendship, first loves, betrayal, trust, and hope for the future. The author really worked wonders with most of the characters and even the less personable ones still had very good parts to play and did not dampen my enthusiasm for this fascinating tale, as I was immediately drawn into their lives. There was lovely depth and poignancy to Kelly Heard’s writing which kept me hooked throughout.
I totally appreciated this story and its realistic, touching portrayal of a young woman and her relationships with her partner, Anderson, her parents and her best friend from her schooldays, Stella. The plot was great and moved along at a really comfortable pace and I was very happy with the author’s general writing-style.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it with confidence.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Bookouture via NetGalley at my request, and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
March 30, 2020
Daisy Ritter's whole life has been overshadowed by the chemical plant in the town. It has led to her father's drinking, her mother's recurrent miscarriages. Finally it led to her being estranged from her family for 17 years after she witnessed a girl dying in a fire but no one believed her and she was forced to leave town.
Now, in the present day, she receives a wedding invite from her former best friend and returns to town, ready to confront the past, her friends, family and her lost love.
Will anyone believe her this time...?
The writing style is similar to that in Kelly Heard's last book, Before You Go (it's had a title change since I read it!) and, as I've said before, reminds me of Margaret Atwood in style. There are plenty of things half said and unfinished thoughts which allow the reader to make guesses about the plot and characters. I'll admit that this book took me a while to get into as I was anxious for more detail to grab my attention.
Daisy is a likeable lead character and the dual timeline narrative structure allows us to see her unhappiness at home and the impact it has on her now as an adult. I felt angry on her behalf at the unfairness and doubt that characterises the way she is treated by the town, her friends, her family and her partner both in the past and present.
There is such sadness in this book as so many characters have lost love: unborn children, unhappy homelife, unsupportive friends, unfaithful lovers. Daisy's trust has been repeatedly broken by all the people she loves most, yet she remains a source of hope and determination which lifts the plot and gives everyone a second chance.
The Girl I Thought I Knew is an enjoyable novel with elements of drama, thriller, mystery, emotion and romance.
Now, in the present day, she receives a wedding invite from her former best friend and returns to town, ready to confront the past, her friends, family and her lost love.
Will anyone believe her this time...?
The writing style is similar to that in Kelly Heard's last book, Before You Go (it's had a title change since I read it!) and, as I've said before, reminds me of Margaret Atwood in style. There are plenty of things half said and unfinished thoughts which allow the reader to make guesses about the plot and characters. I'll admit that this book took me a while to get into as I was anxious for more detail to grab my attention.
Daisy is a likeable lead character and the dual timeline narrative structure allows us to see her unhappiness at home and the impact it has on her now as an adult. I felt angry on her behalf at the unfairness and doubt that characterises the way she is treated by the town, her friends, her family and her partner both in the past and present.
There is such sadness in this book as so many characters have lost love: unborn children, unhappy homelife, unsupportive friends, unfaithful lovers. Daisy's trust has been repeatedly broken by all the people she loves most, yet she remains a source of hope and determination which lifts the plot and gives everyone a second chance.
The Girl I Thought I Knew is an enjoyable novel with elements of drama, thriller, mystery, emotion and romance.
March 24, 2020
Daisy gets an envelope and it is for a wedding invitation. She has no idea why she would get one since it was from a former friend who she had not spoken to in years. Daisy had left her hometown and never looked back. She has a career and a boyfriend and seems happy.
The invitation brings back all the memories of her mom and her alcoholic father. She left when people called her the crazy one after she had witnessed something that no one believed.
So Daisy and her boyfriend, Anderson, go to the wedding. There are so many memories there and her parents don't seem to be to happy to see her. Now that she is there she wants to prove that what she saw did happen. That opens up a whole can of worms. Will people start believing her? Also Anderson seems to be acting a little strange as well.
I liked the story and I had a little feeling of how it was going to end. I did not see Daisy as needy as Anderson made her out to be.
I received this ARC from Bookouture and NetGalley for review.
The invitation brings back all the memories of her mom and her alcoholic father. She left when people called her the crazy one after she had witnessed something that no one believed.
So Daisy and her boyfriend, Anderson, go to the wedding. There are so many memories there and her parents don't seem to be to happy to see her. Now that she is there she wants to prove that what she saw did happen. That opens up a whole can of worms. Will people start believing her? Also Anderson seems to be acting a little strange as well.
I liked the story and I had a little feeling of how it was going to end. I did not see Daisy as needy as Anderson made her out to be.
I received this ARC from Bookouture and NetGalley for review.
March 27, 2020
First, I want to thank Kelly Heard, Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with this book so I may bring you this review.
The Girl I Thought I Knew by Kelly Heard has so many twists and turns within the many different storylines she wrote. This was one book where I didn’t really know where it was going or how it was going to end. The ending took me by total surprise.
One thing I loved about the book was all the many reunions between characters. Learning about their past stories and how it intertwined with the present. This was a good chunk of the story.
There was a huge mystery in this book that seemed like everyone wanted to cover up. Between this and the reunions were my favorite part of the book.
The book goes from present day to the past.
The Girl I Thought I Knew by Kelly Heard has so many twists and turns within the many different storylines she wrote. This was one book where I didn’t really know where it was going or how it was going to end. The ending took me by total surprise.
One thing I loved about the book was all the many reunions between characters. Learning about their past stories and how it intertwined with the present. This was a good chunk of the story.
There was a huge mystery in this book that seemed like everyone wanted to cover up. Between this and the reunions were my favorite part of the book.
The book goes from present day to the past.
April 11, 2020
I received an ARC copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion of it. The story is about Daisy and her best friend, Stella, from her teenage years. Daisy has since grown and moved away and lost contact with her when out of the blue Daisy receives a wedding invitation from Stella and she decided to go back home and attend it. Back when she was a teen, Daisy witnessed a fire at her dad's work and tried to tell everyone that she saw a girl in the fire and wanted to save her but no one believed her. The story is told in the past and present and it was just alot of drama to me and not at all what I expected.
March 12, 2020
this story is just brilliant very much enjoyed Daisy lives with her partner Anderson .she gets an invite to a friends wedding Stella . but Daisy does not ever want to go back to her home town as there a past she does not want to go back to but she does decide to go .Stella hurt Daisy so much something happened in that town and her parents never want her to go back this book is about trust .friendship .and secret s and i cried at the end i so recommend this book
Don't forget! Come back to your
Don't forget! Come back to your
March 29, 2020
I enjoyed the majority of this book, but I thought that the ending was a bit of a letdown. I expected more, especially given how much the events from the past had guided Daisy’s life for so long. I did like Daisy’s journey and how she realized her strength at the end, and how she made decisions to move forward. I would recommend this book. For more thoughts, please visit my blog at Fireflies and Free Kicks Fiction Reviews. Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for a digital ARC of the book.
April 14, 2020
A good read. Daisy returns to her home town after seventeen years estranged from the town, her parents and her friends. She left under a cloud with people questioning her sanity. She returns for her former best friends wedding. Some great twists and lots of hidden secrets. A real array of characters and I loved how I felt about the town at the beginning and then the end.
April 1, 2021
The Girl I Thought I Knew by Kelly Heard was a very emotional story and beautifully written. I was hooked from the very first few pages. Kelly has a way of writing that just draws you in and you don't want her books to end.
I highly recommend Kelly's book's 5* read as always x
Big thank you to the publisher Bookouture and Netgalley for allowing me to read in exchange for an honest review.
I highly recommend Kelly's book's 5* read as always x
Big thank you to the publisher Bookouture and Netgalley for allowing me to read in exchange for an honest review.
May 3, 2020
Daisy returns to her hometown after being gone for 17 years to attend her old best friend Stellas wedding, the whole town thinks she lied about what she saw during a fire. Daisy decides that she isn't done telling her story and that she will speak the truth one last time.
May 1, 2021
DNF. Gave up at 25% read. Didn’t like the writing. It was choppy and the dialogue was very unrealistic to how people interact and talk. I wasn’t interested in wasting anymore of my time to see it through.
September 13, 2025
Book Club Book!
I liked the depth of the characters, the world building and the writing style but I want massively blown away by the ending. I think it's half because of my reading slump and the gaps between reading but who knows for sure!
I liked the depth of the characters, the world building and the writing style but I want massively blown away by the ending. I think it's half because of my reading slump and the gaps between reading but who knows for sure!
March 31, 2020
Very gripping!
April 3, 2020
I was gripped by this story right from the beginning. Daisy knew the truth about what happened on that fateful night, but no one believed her. But as they say - the truth will out. Very good book
April 25, 2020
This book wasn't exactly what I was expecting. The story line had a lot of potential but there wasn't any climax or that "aha" moment. I was expecting more. This book definitely left me hanging.
June 21, 2021
An interesting story, but I still didn't understand the cover up by the end. Needed a good edit too. Daisy's mum's car was the rental at one stage and her car at another. Things like that jar for me.
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