An enjoyable read in which the author very clearly describes all the characters in the story. I found it rather disappointing that the story was wound up so abruptly in the epilogue. It felt as though the author got bored with writing the story and chose to wrap things up quickly!

I have loved Amanda Prowse from her very first book Poppy day. She never fails to disappoint and this latest book is another winner. I do have to admit that I did find the beginning of this book a little slow and I did wonder if maybe I wasn't going to enjoy this book quite as much as I'd enjoyed others however once I got through the first few chapters it started to get under my skin and the pages were flying as I became immersed in Hitch's (Thomasina's) world.

This book covered so much from disfigurement to bullying to family's to divorce, forgiveness and love. It's so hard to know where to start with my review.

Thomasina, (I will refer to her by her real name as she doesn't want to be known by the name of Hitch) was born disfigured with a cleft pallet, a wonky foot and a heart condition, as if that wasn't enough she had a hand that didn't grip properly. I loved this character not for her disfigurements but for the person inside. She's dealt with bullying and that included the worst kind of bullying when it happened over a period of years at home and yes, that's got to her at times but she's a strong, resilient person that sets out to get what she wants.

When Thomasina meets Grayson there is an instant connection. We find out that he is not physically disfigured but he appears to have some kind of autism but the pair just connect and they are made for each other.

The path to love is far from smooth. Grayson has his demanding mother to consider, She just doesn't like Thomasina she dislikes the world and everyone in it. It takes courage for Grayson to step away and form a new life.

What I loved about this book was the minor characters also had a big part to play. Thomasina's mum want straight to my heart with her saying of, "Everything is going to be OK, I promise." This brought to me memories of my own mum who would say a similar thing to me. And I couldn't help but fall in love with the chickens. My heart broke for poor old Daphne.

Amanda portrays not just characters but people. The disabilities of the characters is not the focus of the story. The focus is the personalities behind the disabilities. The life struggles that each and everyone of us face. The struggle to fit in, in this world and the strength we need to find to keep on battling through.

This book made my laugh in places and almost cry in others. I could write about it all night but all I can say is this is a must read for any fan of true heartwarming fiction.

Review is posted on https://jayneanderson79.blogspot.com/2019/06/the-things-i-know-by-amanda-prowse.html

I really enjoyed this love story of Thomasina and Grayson. The author really pulled me into Thomasina’s heartache and sorrow. I found myself wanting to help her and be her friend. Grayson turned out to be just that friend. I so enjoyed this book. I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review

Being a mother of a special needs child, when I first started this book all I could think was that I hoped to goodness that I wasn't doing to my child what Thomasina's mom was doing and had done to her. It hurt to read about how Thomasina felt and about some of the things that had gone on in her life. I had hope when Mr. Potts showed up and showed Thomasina that he didn't see all her "flaws" that he only saw a beautiful person that he could grow to care about. Mr. Potts is slightly different in his own right, but his "flaws" are more mental where Thomasina's are physical. Together, they build each other up and make each other feel loved and strong, but then life interferes again, they separate and it takes them a while to reconnect and find a new beginning. Although I liked this book, it felt rather drawn out to me.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was an inspiring, emotional, and fulfilling book to read! I am delighted that there are two major characters that have what are considered disabilities, yet are dimensional and relatable.

For this book to work, in my opinion, the reader has to like the main character, Hitch aka Thomasina. I completely went all in with my love for her. As I read her story, I found myself empathizing with her, my heart ached, soared, and dreamed right along with hers. This was a character to cheer for!

This is one to read if you are looking for a feel-good women's fiction book.

After reading the synopsis of this book, I wasn’t sure how I’d get on with it despite loving a previous book of this author.
How wrong was I. The delightful characters, sometimes quirky, sometimes different we’re still warm, friendly and proving love can be found in the strangest of places.
This book really did warm my heart

Amanda Process has written a beautiful book about a young woman with many obstacles to overcome learning her worth. The Things I Know was written with authenticity and clarity.

I loved this book. Thank you Netgalley for giving me this book in exchange for an honest review. Thomasina and Grayson may have started life with more problems then most of us, but that didn't stop them. In fact it made them strong. But it took finding each other to realize just how strong they were. A beautiful and heartwarming love story of two people and the ripple effect their love story brings to all who know and love them. This book found me cheering them along, crying when things seem wrong and laughing right along with them. I may not have been born with the physical limitations that Thomasina and Grayson had to overcome. But I did recognize myself in them and that is what truly made this story real to me. I could see this book coming to the big screen one day.

This book is so well-written! I had an ominous feeling throughout that there was not going to be a happy ending, then bang! The start of the unhappy ending began. I failed to take note of the little clues that told you how everything could work out well, and the happy end was made even more satisfying because of that!

The story is about Thomasina, called Hitch by everyone; and Grayson. In different ways they are misfits, not in tune with everybody else. Thomasina had been born with a lot of problems, such as a hair lip which had never been repaired properly, a foot that was bent so that she was forced to walk on her toes, and other issues; which meant her parents were always trying to protect her from the world. She was not clever at school, and had no friends. Once school was over she worked on her parents farm, still shielded from the world.

Grayson is a very clever, lonely young man. When he was a young boy his father had left, telling him to look after his mother. She had little time or respect for him but needed him around. So he lived a lonely life in a noisy flat in London, trying to avoid the neighbours who might shout at him. He had a very good job, earning a lot of money and nothing to spend it on, spending all his time sitting in his bedroom. Then one day he has to go to talk at a conference in Bristol, and when asked whether he would prefer to stay in a hotel or a farm bed and breakfast - he chooses the farm. And he meets Thomasina, and for both of them life changes irrevocably. Neither have had someone to really talk to before.

Both of them have to make big decisions before they can even dare to hope for a life together. So many things get in their way! It is delightful when they both have the courage to make those huge decisions ... and stick to them. A very satisfying read, and a believable story.

It’s no secret that I’m a HUGE Amanda Prowse fan and look forward to reading her newest book as soon as I physically can! This latest release came out on 11th June but I was lucky enough to have a signed copy waiting for me when I got back from my daughters wedding and so I managed to read it a few days before publication. And I have to say firstly, HOW THE HELL DOES SHE DO IT?! Every book she brings out covers a subject that we can relate to (And always something for me personally weirdly enough which is why I’m such a big supporter!!) but this beautifully crafted relationship between Thomasina “Hitch” Waycott and Grayson Potts really did tug unexpectedly at my heartstrings! I went on a journey with these two characters that I became so invested in, I didn’t want it to end! And then when it did, I felt like my heart had been ripped out of my chest, wrung dry and then shoved back in again upside down! So be prepared for the emotional path Amanda Prowse waves you off on and remember to pack those tissues!

Hitch is a young woman still living at home with her parents but gazing hopefully at the outside world just waiting for her time to shine in it. She’s kept there by a sense of duty towards her family due to their farm and B&B business plus her brother has already defected to another life in the USA making her the sole sibling left to help their parents. She also feels her physical disabilities exclude her from having a “normal” relationship but she lives in hope of escaping the farm one day to find love and see the amazing world that exists outside its walls. Although to be honest, I’d have been quite happy to STAY there myself! The farmhouse is just so beautifully crafted and intrinsically placed within the storyline that it’s pretty much a character of its own standing. I don’t think I would ever have wanted to stray from its quirky characteristics and the history that seeped through the pores of each and every room and it’s contents. And let’s not forget that amazing cooked farmhouse breakfast that had me drooling with the descriptions of locally sourced produce including freshly laid eggs from “the girls”.

But for Hitch, it wasn’t enough. I felt so sorry for her, not because of her physical appearance or disabilities but because of the way she was treated by everyone! Hitch may have been a nickname but once I found out the origin of it, I was completely shocked that even her own parents used it! And in the absence of her brother, who has gone off to live the American Dream, her parents have recruited her bullying cousin to come and help them run the farm. He was NOT a nice man! But it didn’t seem to matter what Hitch did, no one took the chance to find out what SHE wanted from life until Grayson Potts turned up and pulled the rug from under her feet. When Grayson appears on her doorstep, an unlikely friendship is formed but do they both have the courage to move forward together?

It was refreshing to meet characters that weren’t considered to be “the norm” and the moment Hitch realises that Grayson is going to be someone very special in her life was just spectacular to read! He is obviously on the spectrum, he has a very literal take on life, but he is the perfect person to launch Hitch off on her voyage of self discovery. Both of these characters were fully fleshed out so that we developed an affection and affinity for them very quickly. I was utterly transfixed by their relationship as it felt realistic and uplifting so I was very sad to be torn from them at the end of the book. They are certainly a couple I would welcome returning to at sometime in the future to find out how they are and what they are doing now!

The Things I Know is a beautifully written book about family, relationships and never giving up on your dreams. The feelings I had as a teenage girl that I was never the most popular, the prettiest or the cleverest were rekindled for me whilst reading “the things” that Hitch knew. It was a brilliant way of expressing the hopes and dreams that Hitch had for her future-a future she never gave up believing in.

Highly recommended by me!

Thomasina (Hitch) Waycott was struggling with life. Where did she fit in and would she find that one person to love? She is lonely and only has all these ideas to swirling around in head to keep her company. Grayson Potts has come to Bristol for a seminar and stays at the Waycott's bed and breakfast. Grayson has been the odd child. He has always tried to find the solution to the puzzles in his head. From the moment they meet, they are drawn to each other. It is refreshing that they can say anything to each other. Always knowing that each will always answer truthfully. Untangling from the webs that hold both of them back will not be easy. Love and happiness will lead the way.

This book is like a predictable old friend, in a good way. It's like that friend you can depend on to be there for you. I loved the storyline, even though it was fairly predictable, it was engaging enough to keep me going. I loved the way "Hitch" stook up for herself and took control of her own destiny. I think this is perfect for young girls who are looking to find themselves.

Love it, love it, love it - couldn’t put it down. Two “different adults “ meet and make each other feel “normal”. A very tender romance with lessons for us all. A triumph that was objectively written but with so much insight to disability.

Can't give a review can't get it to download.. Unhappy 😡really wanted to read this book maybe the publisher will send me the book..I usually give good reviews but not like this one. Thank you for trying to get me read this book may you can send it by mail and I can read it email you will get a five stars!

I received a complimentary e-book copy of this book from Lake Union Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Amanda Prowse, Lake Union Publishing, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

This book was just lovely. It has two characters who are ignored and bullied for their "weirdness" which is what makes them SO special. I can identify with both characters with the issues that they both have. It was interesting how their families are so different because of their parents - that is what touched me so much. I want to do BETTER for my daughter and have her celebrate her differences.

I love that the novel was set in England which I love learning about as I live in the U.S. It sounds so amazing and beautiful.

This is a GREAT summer read. After reading it, go hug your kids and tell them it is okay to be different and quirky!!

Story of love, of inner beauty, of heritage, of family, of friendships and of life partners
Hitch (a mean nickname given to her b/c of her lip) is a 24yo woman who was born with multiple deformities: a hair lip, club foot, mal-formed hand and a bad heart. Because of her condition her parents have always kept her close to home and sheltered. “Home” is Waycott Farm in the West Country (UK) which her great-great-grandparents built and lived in. Life around her is changing and she’s tired of the status quo. She too wants change. She’s inspired by day visitors who stay at their Bed-and-Breakfast room…especially by one particular visitor, Grayson Potts from London.
Thirty-two-year-old Grayson admits his peculiarities such as honing in on details and missing the big picture. His description of the event with his friend Reggie is poignant. Grayson is mentioned as having Asperberger’s possibly but he may also be a savant in that he is “magically” in tune with numbers and patterns. Beyond these hindrances he has a problem at home.
When she insists others use her given name which is Thomasina because Grayson says she should be Thomasina, not Hitch, she begins her transformation and it is wondrous.
Oh my gosh. I loved this beautiful story. One scene in particular I liked was the scene when Thomasina and Grayson purchase Wellingtons at the local feed store. For once Tarran has egg on his face. This was one of my favorite quotes: “All she wanted – all she had ever wanted – was a chance at happiness, to reach her full potential. That, and the opportunity to have what others took for granted: someone to talk to, someone to love who might love her right back.” Beautiful…yeah!
I volunteered to review an ARC of this book through Net Galley and it comes highly recommended for ANYBODY, especially for those who don’t feel they are (fill in the blank).

Sweet book with very likable characters. Liked the writing style and loved how the characters were developed and how very real they were portrayed.

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was a short, sweet story of a young girl in rural Britain that didn’t think much of herself. At the end of each chapter, she writes diary entries showing how she feels about herself. At first, she is very self-critical. However, as the story develops, her entries are more upbeat. It was my first book by this author and I really enjoyed this uplifting story.

Amanda Prowse paints a beautiful picture of English country life. She expertly captures how isolating being different can be and how just one person can make a difference. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

The story starts with Hitch, a young girl seemingly disadvantaged by physical differences that ensures she is treated as a lesser person. Hitch, however, has dreams the same as any young girl and when Grayson Potts enters her life she realises those dreams may just be attainable. Insisting on addressing her by real name, Thomasina, Gray shows her the respect and love that has been missing from her life and when he confronts the cousin that has made her life unbearable for years her parents realise for the first time the bullying and hurt that she has been subjected to. Gray though has his own cross to bear and when his overbearing mother is taken ill the relationship between him and Thomasina is severed.
A beautifully written, heart warming but heart wrenching story.