Knowing You was not at all what I expected. It was thought provoking and well written, especially considering the subject matter. It is a highlight of the issues many women face in the world today. It was a bit slow to start, but the second half really picked up.

An engrossing book which I found difficult to put down. This book explores many difficult subjects and deals with self-esteem, anxiety, bullying, grief and loss amongst other themes. It is very emotional, bleak in places but also life affirming and ultimately filled with hope. I loved how complex the characters were and how their personal stories unfurled as I progressed through the book. I didn't expect the twist.

I was gripped by this sensitive and emotive book. Highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Difficult subjects written about with compassion. A book that will keep you hooked. Thought provoking and completely compelling.

I received a digital arc of #KnowingYou from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was quite a good book although I don't think it is one that I will remember in months to come. It was an easy read and I did like the twist/secret at the end.

My 3* review for Knowing You by Samantha Tonge. The first half was slow, but the second half made up for it.

"An abrupt change; a new friendship; a dark secret...When her relationship with Lenny begins to falter, Violet, hurt and alone, seeks the advice of her new flatmate, Bella. She changes her image and with her head held high aims to show that she doesn’t need Lenny in her life to be happy and successful."

This was a difficult book to get into as it felt a bit too light and fluffy for my taste, and the intricte details of the publishing business I found a bit tedious. However, as the story progressed it got darker and more mysterious and grabbed my attention, and by the end I could not put the book down.

Without giving anything away, a difficult subject matter is very well dealt with in an interesting way and I found myself sympathising with Violet and routing for her at the end. I loved the various friendships she had through work and her neighbour Kath, and how once Bella was in her life she felt she needed no-one else, her relationship with her flatmate was all consuming.

The first of Samantha Tonge's I have read, and an Author to look out for in future.

I could not stop reading this book; it was thrilling, endearing and then once I’d got about halfway through everything just took off in a way that meant I had no time for putting it down.

My initial reaction when I took part in the book reveal a few months ago, was intrigue as I could tell it was something slightly different to Samantha’s previous works. I was instantly drawn in to what secrets would be unveiled and what the characters would be like, because Samantha’s last book Forgive Me Not (reviewed here) was multilayered, personal and so fervently written. This book was all of that and more, wrapped so cleverly in to a story that pushes your understanding and breaks your heart.

I didn’t want Violet’s story to end. Knowing You is very much a powerful book; engrossing, emotional, profound, and bleak in parts, but it is cathartic reading. It challenges taboos and covers many difficult subjects, therefore I would warn that if you are one to avoid triggering content or want a light, comedic read then this is not a book for you at this time. However, if you enjoyed the perceptive depth, heart and deftly uplifting content of Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, Three Things About Elsie or Dear Mrs Bird etc then this is a book you will cherish and devour.

I adored the characters in this book, such interesting friendships and the inside take on the publishing world was really very fascinating.

It is difficult to say much more about Bella and Violet’s journey, or to name my favourite parts, because it is so well written that any reveal threatens to unravel the secrets and spoil the plot. But I was very impressed with the conviction woven through the story; how deeply you understand and support what is happening, but actually you have no idea.

I loved every second of it!

A cleverly written thought provoking book. It tells the story of Violet when she was a child and also now as an adult. It is hard when things happen in your life and you’re unsure how to deal with it and also who to turn to. The book follows Vi’s life through two difficult times in her life. An interesting and emotional read.

Thank you Netgally for my copy of Knowing You by Samantha Tonge. I have enjoyed both of Sam's books, I think she has a wonderful voice that tackles some very difficult themes with great sensitivity. Knowing You is a story about Violet. Violet experienced a lot of bullying in her formative years and the book splits back and forth between the Violet from 2001 and the present day one. This is a brilliant way of giving the character depth and as the reader you really feel like know her. In adulthood, Violet is content, working in publishing in a job she loves, good friends and a seemingly loving boyfriend, until of course she finds out he is in a relationship with another woman. Violets world comes crashing down and she ends up being a very lost soul. Enter New flatmate Bella. She convinces Violet to change, change her image so she'll never be left heartbroken again, however as we read on we find out how truly toxic Bella is. It's very hard to write about this book without giving anything away however, I will say this is a very compelling read, it's a very begging read and its exceptionally written. I enjoyed talking about this book on radio Tamworth, we had a fair bit of feedback to say the book was thought provoking and well written x

Knowing You was not what I expected it to be. The story starts like a betrayal revenge kind of thing, but it's headed somewhere else. It's much more about a woman who has never fit in or felt good enough, and she decides to change into a woman who will fit in and be worth something. The problem is that she never really needed to change, but she didn't know that. Women everywhere understand these facts: you are not skinny enough, you need to buy new clothes, bags, shoes, etc. everyday, you need more money, you need a fabulous man, a mansion, a super expensive car, you are not skinny enough, again. Women hear these things on a loop in their minds all day. It's like accept who you are, or become someone else. This story is so relevant and important. I'm glad these topics are addressed because they aren't going away. I recommend this book for women everywhere. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Knowing You is a fabulous book that had me entranced from the start. Great writing and fabulous characters.

Great read. The author wrote a story that was interesting and moved at a pace that kept me engaged. The characters were easy to invest in.

Violet gets dumped by her boyfriend and plans revenge. This is something happens all the time. Great story about getting your life back together.

I liked the overall message of the book about accepting yourself as you are. I also appreciate the depth and diversity of characters of different ages and backgrounds. I also enjoyed the setting of behind the scenes at a publishing house. Overall, it was just an OK read for me. I believe there are people out there who need to hear the message of the book and I hope it reaches them.
Thanks to NetGalley, Canelo, and the author Samantha Tonge for a digital review copy. This book was first published March 14, 2019.

This is my third Samantha Tonge book and once again I wasn’t disappointed. This is Tonge’s second dark women’s fiction and they’re truly getting better and better. I enjoyed Forgive Me Not (review to be found here), but I think Knowing You is very gritty, it just pulls you in; because it is stemmed from personal experience, I feel like I’m getting to know the author a bit more.

This was an absolutely gripping story and really had me hooked from page one. I didn’t know where it was going or where it was leading, but I wanted to know more and didn’t want to stop reading.

I related to Violet, a lot actually. Not so much reinventing herself, but the feeling of not fitting in anywhere and not really having anyone. Apart from the last few years of my life and I’ve found where I belong. But Violet is definitely a lost soul and I felt my heart going out to her.

I didn’t like Bella much, she was very pushy and always telling Violet she wasn’t good enough and that she didn’t look good enough, it really didn’t sit well with me. I wanted to grab her and punch her! She had no right to make Violet feel the way she did.

This is certainly a must read for all Samantha Tonge fans and anyone that loves a bit of dark and gritty women’s fiction. Very highly recommended

Violet shares the love of a good story with her boyfriend. With her as a junior editor and Lenny working his way up to fully-fledged agent, they both enjoy finding the kind of book that will intrigue the masses. When she finds out Lenny is cheating she is distraught and feels as if she isn't good enough for anyone.

She decides she has to change her image and become more like other women to catch the eye of someone worth the change she puts herself through.

It's interesting how Violet is aware of the external change she has undergone, and yet appears to be completely unaware of her own physical body image. Her body dysmorphia is kept so well hidden that even she seems to be confused by the changes.

As the world around her starts to acknowledge the changes she has made, Violet confuses concern for criticism and becomes defensive when her colleagues try to step in and tell her that old Violet was enough.

What starts out as a story about betrayal and jealousy slowly melds into one about a young woman who still hides a frightened and traumatised little girl inside her. A young girl who finds the wrong kind of friends to support her, as a child and now again as an adult. The yay sayers, who condone her more manipulative actions and coerce her into being more pushy, are driving their own agenda. Young troublemaker Flint when she was a child and now the subtle and determined Bella.

It's a story about mental health, body image, self-esteem and confidence. I liked the way the author begins on a completely different note and then uses one storyline to almost hide the second one, which is exactly what happens in real life. The furtiveness, the denial and need to hide her emotions and insecurities become almost like a second person living right inside her.

I appreciate the author’s message however the execution of this just wasn’t great. It felt really overwrought and like an after school special. Also very easy to guess early on what was happening.

Knowing You is an emotional and powerful book that is very well written. In this book the author manages to address some serious, dark issues in a sensitive way but without ever making the story too complex or serious which might put some readers off.

Violets story is incredibly absorbing and heart wrenching at times and I found that I quickly warmed to her. Her story is, especially her childhood experiences, sadly quite common and as such made for a very emotional read. It was quite heartbreaking at times to see her try to deal with everything and how it continues to affect her.

This book managed to grip me from the start with its emotional and complex story which is impossible not to get caught up in. From the start I knew that I liked this book and I wanted to keep reading to find out what would happen next. The twist at the end was very surprising and I didn’t expect it which I always love. This is definitely a book that will stay with me for a long time.

Huge thanks to Rachel from Rachel’s Random resources for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Canelo for my copy of this book via Netgalley.

I wasn’t quite sure what I was getting myself into when I first started reading Violet’s story and I will admit, I didn’t quite like her in the beginning as Violet came off as a pushover. But, then something magical happened and I found myself really warming up to Violet as her story is slowly revealed. Violet is content with her life, her job in publishing, and with her boyfriend Lenny. Sure, they might not have the perfect relationship and have grown kind of distant as of late, but Lenny is her rock. But, once Violet finds out Lenny has cheated on her, her world comes crumbling down. It takes a new flatmate, Bella, to show Violet that she is worth more then the pity party she has bestowed on herself. Only, Bella’s intentions send Violet down a dark path. Will Violet ever truly find the person she truly is deep down inside?

Knowing You hits on so many issues women face in today’s society. Beauty standards have been set so high and many women feel as if they are not skinny enough or pretty enough. When Violet starts changing herself, I couldn’t help but wonder why. Why should someone change themselves to fit into some beauty standard that is often times unattainable. With flashbacks to Violet’s past, I can see why she needed the confidence boost and why she felt as if her life was spiraling out of control. Her past as a child is heartbreaking. This brings me to another issue Samantha Tonge brings to this book - that of bullying. I hate seeing anyone bullied especially a child and I can also understand Violet’s love of books also created a sort of escapism for her. Through everything Violet has been through I was really hoping she would find her way and in the process find who she was always meant to be. Violet is a good person. She loves books, has great friends, is in a book club with some older women and she has a great life even though she does not see it that way.

The story really pulled me right in and I loved the back and forth between past and present because I feel like it gave me a chance to really bond with Violet. Although, I may not have always been happy with her choices and as the story moves along you can see her spiraling. Tonge really adds a sense of realism to the story and it never felt like the story was not genuine. The pacing starts slower, but once Violet meets Bella this is when the story really takes off for me and I found myself really drawn in. Although, I really did not know where the story would lead me I never anticipated how dark it would get. I absolutely loved every minute of Knowing You and cannot find anything I disliked at all in this story.

Knowing You is brutally honest and emotionally gripping. Samantha Tonge brings forth some heavy topics and does it so realistically and beautifully. I can now see why Samantha Tonge is a fan favorite. I highly recommend this book especially if you love Women’s Fiction wrapped into a dark storyline.

What an excellent book! I have never read anything by Samantha Tonge before but I will certainly be checking out her other books.

Violet is in a comfortable relationship with Lenny, both of them in good jobs. Lenny however is looking for more and soon his head is turned by Beatrix another woman who also works in the publishing industry.

Heart broken, Violet tries to move on by renting her spare room out, this is how she meets Bella. They hit it off immediately and Bella tries to help Violet by encouraging her into a new fitness regime.

As time goes by under Bella’s influence Violet completely reinvents herself. Throwing herself into running, eating healthier, changing her look and becoming more image conscious.

The story is cleverly interwoven with Violet’s childhood and her experience of being bullied at school.

A must read book that will have you going ‘Wow’

I thought that the story was very good, it worked really well being told from her point of view and then his alternately. I thought that the characters were really strong and worked very well together.

The plot was well developed and I loved the flow that the story had. The only thing stopping me from giving it more than four stars was that I was a little disappointed in the ending.