Did not finish - I found the prose style lacked that special something to keep me involved and engaged - and after 4 restarts I had only managed to get through about 3 chapters with nothing pulling me back to the story.

Wow!! Amanda Prowse has delivered a lesson that will not be forgotten. The impact of Thomasina in her frustration and sadness puts a whole new light on “don’t judge a book by it’s cover.” This is a lesson in compassion, love, and never give up on your dreams. This is. a must read especially if you have someone in your life that may be a little different from everyone else.

I am no stranger to this lovely author and the beautiful books she has written and The Things I Know is a beautiful love story filled with the heartbreak of a girl who grew up differently from her peers. You can not help but fail in love with Thomisina and her love for her chickens and other farm animals and the diversity she has had to overcome. The detail of Thomasina’s past which breaks your heart and watching her grow which fills your heart with joy is a journey no one should miss out on! Highly recommend this book to anyone who loves an non traditional love story!

“My name is Thomasina (Hitch). I know I’m not like everyone else”

That had to be one of the most powerful statements I have ever read. From the moment I met Thomasina I found her to be strong, capable, resilient and beautiful. She is definitely not like other people and that's a good thing.

Grayson isn't like other people either. Quiet, strong, smart and very much his own unique personality.

When Thomasina and Grayson meet it's a beginning of something new and wonderous. Both are dealing with rotten things in their lives. For Thomasina it's self-worth and self-love. For Grayson, it's the need to stand on his own. Together they navigate the waters of love and take a journey that will take you on a roller coaster of emotions.

This story isn't just a love story between two people it's a love story about one's self. Learning to love your self and finding your self worth in a world where people are bent on putting you down.

I came away feeling empowered and inspired by these two characters. This may be one of my all-time favorite books.

Amanda Prowse has the great knack of pulling you right into the heart of a story and her characters are so believable. Loved this story, heartwarming without being too twee; surely this must be a series now??

I just loved this book. The story was heartfelt and genuine. The characters just drew you in to the story. All throughout the book I was right there with Thomasina and her feelings in dealing with being different, and always being judged by her physical differences from others instead of who she is as a person. The difficulties with family and the strain of Thomasina wanting her family and other to see her as an adult who can take care of herself. Amanda Prowse has a way in her writing to really draw you to see and feel things as if you were the main character yourself. This is one of the things I really enjoy of this authors writings. Another incredible book and a must read!

Huge fan of this author. Have ready 3 or 4 books now. Was a little disappointed with the last book so glad to see that this book is one worthy of a 5 star rating for me. Really enjoyed this one.

This was an absolutely wonderful book. At first I was worried about what would happen to "Hitch" as she tried to break out of the cocooned life her parents had woven around her disability. As the book carried on I found myself rooting for her, yelling at her internally as she made poor decisions and, yet, still worried about what her final outcome would be. I liked this much more than I had imagined I would and was pleasantly surprised by the story line.

Amanda Prowse has a way of pulling you in from the very start of her books and it doesn't take long before you understand her characters and feel like you've always known them. A lovely read

Recently I finished reading an eARC of The Things I Know by Amanda Prowse which was released on June 11th. I received this eARC through NetGalley.

The Things I Know tells the story of Thomasina 'Hitch' Waycott who lives on a family farm outside of Bristol, England. She was born a little bit different from the 'normal' kids and grew up constantly made fun of, an outsider. The story line follows her growth from believing what others are saying to standing up for herself and her family and loved ones.

I found this story interesting because although there was a love story involved, the main plot was actually about Thomasina learning to stand up for herself and figuring out what she wants to do with her life. Various problems are thrown her way, from bullies, to men, family problems, and as with every other farm book, the potential sale of the family farm that has been in the family for generations. I don't read very many English stories that aren't regency era so it was fun to read a more modern story from England.

I enjoyed witnessing the problems and solutions unfold, each in their own time. The flow of the story happened at a good pace. I didn't feel rushed by any of the chaos that ensued or that any of the plot lines overlapped too much. By requesting this book I was attempting to work on diversifying the types of books that I read so that I am not just reading the same exact thing over and over, and I think this novel succeeded in helping me accomplish that goal. I would definitely read another of her books.

I received this book from Netgalley.

The Things I Know is a really charming read. A love story where the couple involved, Thomasina and Grayson would probably be viewed by society as having additional needs and by those less tolerant of us as having no need for romance in their lives. Amanda Prowse cleverly disabuses this theory and I was captivated by the lovers and couldn't wait to see how they could overcome the situation they found themselves in.

My only complaint would be that everything was tidied up a bit too neatly in the epilogue leaving everyone unfeasibly happy.

Overall though, a beautiful story.

Loves stories about B&B’s and Hitch makes it even better. She has dreams to see the world and have a home of her own. She has health issues but her knight and shining armor comes and boy he’s not what she thought he’d be. But, the bond they form is like no other they have had before. Can it work? She has to let go of some things to find out b

Thanks to the publisher and author for providing me with a digital ARC of this title via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I knew nothing of this author or this title before coming across it on netgalley. I liked the cover, was interested in the summary, and luckily was chosen to receive an ARC. I was quite charmed with this book and the two main characters. Thomasina and Grayson each have their own struggles they have dealt with throughout their lives and we see how it has made them into the adults they are today. Thomasina was born with a cleft palate- leading to the life-long nickname Hitch- as well as physical disabilities that make walking and using her hands more difficult. She has been teased and horribly mistreated by peers, overly protected by her parents, and never pushed to do more. She has found some happiness working on her family farm, but wants more independence and adventure for herself, although even she doubts these as possible. Grayson, a bank investor, meets Thomasina when he stays over at the B&B on the family farm. He grew up in a single parent home with an alcoholic mother. He seems to be mildly on the autism spectrum as he struggles with social situations and how to properly act at times. He is great with numbers and has found a lot of success in his career, although has very little life outside of his job and taking care of his mum.
They are both sweet, charming characters who I quickly grew to love and cheer for. I loved their outlook on life and their perception of each other. They see strengths and beauty where so many saw only flaws and limitations. It was a pleasure to join them on their journey as the help each other grow towards their dreams and find happiness and joy in the life they create. I really enjoyed this book, would recommend it to my friends, and look forward to reading more by this author. .

Thomasina grew up living and working on the family farm in the English countryside with her parents and her younger brother. She was born with several birth defects. Her leg is malformed causing her to walk differently and she has a malformed upper lip.

Her lip has not been surgically repaired as an excruciatingly painful surgery on her leg soured Thomasina on the idea of ever agreeing to any further surgeries. Thomasina has determined not be a victim of what others see as her physical limitations. In fact, Thomasina does not think of herself as being physically limited.

I appreciate how the author has developed the character of Thomasina as a sensitive, yet strong and intelligent woman. Thomasina is also resilient enough to push aside the ignorance of others and is able to move forward
Will Thomasina achieve her wish for a normal, happy life with a man who loves her, a family, and a home of her own?

Throughout The Things I know, Thomasina shares with us the progression of the things she comes to know about herself.

Here is what I know:
• I know I loved The Things I Know!
• I know The Things I Know is a wonderful story about diversity!
• I know The Things I Know is sensitive, sad, yet funny, and triumphant!
• I know if you love books written by Amanda Prowse…I know you will love The Things I know!

So this was my first book I have read by Amanda Prowse and will definitely not be my last! In the wake of adversity, Hitch is a young woman who has had a many difficulties. How she overcomes some of them is amazing and her family has a great deal to do with it. She works on her parent's farm and helps with their B & B business as well. She is lonely and only has her chickens to talk to.

Here she meets Grayson Potts, a B & B guest who is attending a seminar in the close town of Bristol. He is also a little different and they instantly hit it off.

This is a story about courage, trying to break free from the safe and comfortable world they live in, and how they do it. All of the characters are well described, even the jerk of a cousin Emery, and Grayson's nasty mother.
Looking forward to reading Ms Prowse’s other books!!

I enjoyed this book, and enjoyed the developments of the characters, however I found it a little slow and I didn’t feel a need to want to keep reading just to find out what happened next. This is a nice slow, relaxing read, perfect for a holiday read.

Love Amanda Prowse books. Thomasina (Hitch) helps run a farm with her mum and dad. The farm is in financial difficulties. They also run a b&b. Hitch has physical problems that she was born with and that she's been bullied all her life. Grayson Potts comes to stay at the b&b and he has his own problems.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and Amanda Prowse for the opportunity to read and review her latest novel - another winner! Amanda Prowse is so good at developing such engaging characters that really pull at your heartstrings. 4.5 stars!

Thomasina, nicknamed Hitch, was born with some issues - cleft pallet that was badly repaired, along with a club foot and other disabilities. She was raised on her family farm and lovingly cared for by her parents, but she always was told and known that she wouldn't be able to learn and achieve what the other kids did. Add much bullying on top of that and Thomasina was happy to stay on the farm and tend to her chickens. Until one day a guest at their B&B, Grayson Potts, came into her life. He had his own share of issues - probably Asperger's, and a troubled family life. But Grayson was the first one to really see Thomasina's beauty and allowed her to finally see it in herself, But could it last?

Just a good book to get lost in. It also should serve as a warning to not install those self-fulfilling prophecies into our children or others.

This is the first book I’ve ever read where I cried at the first chapters.
Hitch - Thomasina - is such a sad character as the story opens, taking happiness in the very small things in her life.
Over-protected by her parents, her life is kept small as her health, as a baby, was precarious, and he rparents hadn’t realised how strong, physically and mentally, she had become.
The story is both sad and also uplifting. It reminds us that happiness is in own hands and can be created from small beginnings.
As we see Thomasina grow in self-belief, we are shown possibilities. There is a strong underlying philosophy apparent in this story that is developed empathetically and subtly with great style.
One of the best quotes from the book is:
‘I know that words are powerful things and have great weight’.

Amanda Prowse is the queen of emotionally intricate women’s fiction and this book is another fine example of the genre. I loved it from start to finish. I was drawn in to the small, confined, but deeply complex life of ‘Hitch’ Waycott, a person who is full of potential but hemmed in by family circumstances and the under-estimation of the people who surround her. She wants more from life, and we follow her as she starts to believe she might get it, as do we. The author is so good at building deeply rich and believable characters that the reader cannot help but fall in love with from the start.

This book is set within a small world, with small lives and small concerns, or so it might seem from the outside. But, of course, nothing is small to those people involved and what may seem unimportant, insignificant, to outsiders, means everything to the people involved and Amanda is a genius at making us just as involved in these seemingly minor troubles as those people to whom they mean the world, literally. Hitch’s entire world has been built on one tiny patch of land and, when that is under threat, so is her stability, her security, everything she has ever known, unless she is brave enough to recognise that it could be the opportunity she has been waiting for.

This book had, for me, a very curious and unusual ‘other-worldly’ feel to it. Despite being set in contemporary times, it had the feeling of a piece of period writing, as if it could be set at any time, as if it were happening out of the normal ambit of current experience. I fear I am not explaining myself very well here, possibly because I have never experienced anything quite like it before and I cannot quite put my finger on what it is that felt so different about it. It was a little dream-like maybe, disconnected…I am not sure. Maybe this was a reflection of the disconnection that Hitch feels to the world around her, sheltered as she has been from it. Whatever it was, it really added to the suspension from reality I always feel when I lose myself in a really good book and I welcomed it as part of the reading experience.

This book really moved me. The characters captured my heart and made me care for them. They were beautifully written, sympathetic and realistic. The story, for all its gentleness, packed an emotional punch and I was compelled through the story by the connection I had with the characters and the ease and beauty of the writing. This is as pretty much perfect as you can get for a book in this genre.

Amanda Drowse has produced another magnificent read and remains the author to whose heights I aspire with my own writing. If only.