Historical fiction readers will love this dual time story set in Tullahoma, Tennessee. In 1969 when Maddie’s twin brother is killed in the Vietnam War she runs off to California filled with anger and grief. A year later, as her mother Ava lies dying of cancer, Maddie comes home unaware of a family secret that will change her life forever. Ava after a very brief courtship and marriage loses her husband at Pearl Harbor. Forced to live with her hateful mother in law, she obtains a job at the military base Camp Forest. It’s fascinating how these two women’s stories mesh together in this heartfelt story. Wonderful characters! Very realistic! Hard to put down. Highly recommended!

If Michelle Shocklee was a baseball player, announcers would be shouting, she just hit a grand-slam home run! All We Thought We Knew is an incredibly evocative heart-wrenching story that will forever remain in my thoughts, and is one of the best books I have read in 2024!

This remarkable story centers around Ava Delaney, her daughter Mattie Taylor, and Gunther Schneider, and how two different wars, twenty-seven years apart, affect their lives and relationships. Shocklee, with her exquisite prose, expertly interweaves each storyline delivering a significantly emotional dual-timeline on the consequences of war, secrets, fear, grief, and a touching love story, all written with Christian undertones.

Being in the military myself during the Vietnam War era, I saw firsthand how returning soldiers were treated, which was unconscionable. Thus it was hard for me to condone Mattie’s very opinionated viewpoint, even though she was grieving for the loss of her twin brother, and at the same time struggling with her mother dying from cancer. Working on the horse farm with her brother’s best friend Nash, who returned home missing an arm, Mattie’s eyes are opened to other viewpoints during their heart-to-heart conversations.

My heart caught in my chest when Fred, who had lost both legs, had no family and was suffering from PTSD, was introduced into the story. How Mattie took charge to make his dream come true, which in turn gave meaning and purpose to her life, warmed my heart and helped endear me to her.

All We Thought We Knew is a difficult story to read at times as Shocklee illustrates through her characters how war leaves devastating lasting impacts on not only the lives of those who lived through it but also their loved ones left behind. Shocklee handles with finesse some very tough issues in our history, the internment camps during WWII, and the controversy surrounding the Vietnam War. This is also an endearing love story that slowly builds throughout this awesome book.

For those who enjoy reading Christian historical fiction, I highly recommend All We Thought We Knew, a gripping story that will keep you engaged from beginning to end.

***Warning, have a box of tissues within reach for this very emotional story.

A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Tyndale House Publishers via NetGalley through Interviews & Reviews. I was not obligated to write a favorable review, and all opinions are my own.

𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐖𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐖𝐞 𝐊𝐧𝐞𝐰 is an intriguing dual-timeline story set during WW2 and the Vietnam War. In the late 1960s it follows Mattie, a young woman who is struggling with grief, and in the 1940s it follows recently widowed Ava and an unfairly imprisoned German man named Gunther. I found the plot compelling, and I sympathized with the struggles of the main characters as everything they thought they knew was challenged. Although at times I was frustrated with the decisions Mattie made (typical prodigal), she was still a character I sympathized with and rooted for.

I found the parts detailing the German and Japanese imprisonment camps in the U.S. to be fascinating. I personally love historical fiction that actually teaches me about something in history, and this book definitely did! I also loved that most of the book was set on a horse farm (always a horse girl at heart!).

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and thought that it was well written and had really great faith & historical elements. I’d recommend this to those who love historical fiction, books with redemption, dual-timelines, and emotional family-centered stories.

↠ In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace. 𝐄𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝟏:𝟕

↠ I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you. 𝐈𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐚𝐡 𝟒𝟒:𝟐𝟐

***I am very grateful to NetGalley and Tyndale Fiction for this advanced readers copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I was not required to leave a positive review.

All We Thought We Knew by Michelle Shocklee is a dual timeline between WWII and the Vietnam War. Although having read many novels set during WWII, this is a first for me with a novel set during the Vietnam War. So much controversy centered around the Vietnam War and divided this country. Shocklee did an outstanding job showing the horrors of the wars, but, more specifically, showing the effects of those at home. Secrets that had been hidden for years come to light. Forgiveness and redemption are themes throughout. A heart-wrenching novel.

Releases Oct. 1st. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A mix of WW2 and Vietnam in the dual timeline, both settings in the US, the book gave a really great look at the Internment Camps in the US for German, Japanese and Italians living in the US at the time. It’s enormously sad how people were corralled and ripped away from their homes and lives just because of a maybe - many even citizens or first generation children.

I thought Gunther’s character portrayed so well the feelings of injustice and betrayal at being arrested and imprisoned, but also the fear of living in the US afterwards with all the prejudice and discrimination, knowing first hand how easily it could get ripped away without evidence. My heart constantly went out to him.

The political polarization of Vietnam was also well conveyed, though Mattie’s extreme anger and self-centeredness (about everything) wore on me a little, and I didn’t really like her all that much.

All in all well written and a really great story. I enjoyed it a lot.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are mine.

A touching dual timeline novel with a family history affected by two wars, and a trunk full of secrets.
This well-written story has main characters who struggle and come through great losses, with hope and grace on the other side. Dealing with grief is portrayed realistically, with anger and confusion on Mattie's part, and focus and acceptance on Ava's end.
There were good spiritual questions asked, such as why does God allow evil if He is good? And how do we have hope when faced with suffering? The author deals subtly with these and other aspects concerning loss, especially in wartime. I could feel their pain and relate to the grief. It made me see my own parents in a different light and appreciate more what they had experienced as young people during wartime. It brought back memories of the Vietnam War and the conflicts at home when I was young. It helped me remember that everyone has a story and we all need grace.
Recommend for fans of historical fiction with inspiration and some romance. 4.5 stars

Can I take a sec first and say--that cover!! Love!! So beautiful. :)

And the book is as good as its cover!

WWII and the Vietnam War are two pairings we don't often see, least of all in a dual-time novel. It worked well here, in no small part to the author, I'm sure; Shocklee is crazy-talented, as I knew from both Appalachian Song and Under the Tulip Tree. My high expectations were met, and I was kept guessing to the end--a pleasant surprise, especially given how I _thought_ the plot would go compared to how it actually went!

There's always more to learn about any topic, and I'm regularly amazed at how that applies to WWII. I was talking with a local bookseller about that recently, and we both agreed; given the recent glut of releases in that market/genre, it's been fabulous to see some quality and focused reads hit the shelves. And then, of course, there's Vietnam: an admittedly polarizing topic for a long time. Shocklee incorporates that into this read, and I felt she examines both sides well. Just like more could be said and learned about WWII, the same applies to 'Nam.

I hope it continues to spark conversations long after readers hit "The End," and definitely recommend this read to history buffs and fiction lovers alike.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This was a tender book portraying a family devastated by the horrors of war and the redemption they found through the heartache. For me, the book started off slow but by the middle the plot thickened and I couldn’t put it down. The author did a great job communicating the divisive nature of the Vietnam war era and how that affected and tore apart families.

“All We Thought We Knew” is a history-filled tale that will have readers wrapped up in a story from WWII and one from the time of the Vietnam War. What a vast array of emotions the characters experience, which gives the reader an idea of what life might have brought to people back during those times in history. This story tugs at the heart and makes one think. Ava lives with her husband’s bitter and unhappy mother. Gunther’s American dream is crushed and now feels impossible. Mattie struggles with her strong opinions and equally strong emotional responses. When her life is not what she assumes, Mattie experiences such doubts and so many temptations to run from the hard things. Nash struggles with his own life situations, but he and Mattie join up together to help a friend, and through that endeavor they learn much about dealing with life, helping others, and relying on God. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I highly recommend it.

I requested a copy of this book for review. The thoughts expressed here are wholly my own.

All We Thought We Knew is a wonderful book. I enjoyed the dual timeline plot. The two timelines, Vietnam war and WWII are woven together seamlessly.. I highly recommend this book. I received an advance ebook from the publisher and Netgalley. This is my unbiased review.

Stunning!! Wow what a fantastic book. I’d give it more than 5 stars if it was an option . It kept my attention the entire time and made me want to read more .

I loved reading about the two different time periods : during Ww2 and Vietnam . Both sets of intertwined characters (I won’t ruin the suprise ) have fascinating stories that make you feel connected to them and the time period.
I really liked the character ;Guenther and how his story evolves . You ache for him as he realizes his dreams might be changing all because he was a German living in the United States at the wrong time .
Ava is a character who tugs at the heart strings as her new husband recently died at Pearl Harbor and her mother in law seems to hate her . Ava is alone in the world until Guenther and her start a friendship .
Mattie - so confused , hurt by what she sees as the wrong war to be involved in. Family and friends who she thinks are not doing what she would do . I was born after Vietnam but have read and heard a lot about the “war that we shouldn’t have been involved in” and the effects on those involved during and after the war. It’s truly heartbreaking. The way the author portrays it is beautiful and makes you feel that there is something to be said about all the sides not just one.
I loved this story and will read it again .
Thank you to Netgalley for a free download in exchange for an unbiased review .

"We were on different roads, with different circumstances holding us prisoner, but fear, no matter what it looked like, would eventually destroy us if something didn't change."

What a powerful, poignant, and impactful novel about fear, grief, faith and repercussions of war. Michelle Shocklee is a master of words, weaving a captivating story of a family that experiences WWII in 1942 and Vietnam War in 1969. The two timelines fuse together seamlessly and, though there are multiple narrators, the voices blend perfectly to bring forth a tale that will grip your heart and soul.

In 1942, Ava had the first person voice while Gunther had the third person voice. Ava was immensely likeable with her tender and beautiful heart, voice of reason and justice, and hard-working attitude. Gunther was a memorable hero - kind, long-suffering, and ever so faithful. I had not known the treatment the first generation German immigrants without US citizenship endured at internment camps during WWII and learned a lot through Gunther.
In 1969, Mattie narrated in first person. She came across as a spoiled, selfish, stubborn, angry, and arrogant young woman for the first half of the book. Her anger understandably stemmed from her blinding and overwhelming grief of losing her twin and slowly losing her mom, but her judgmental ways did not endear her to me until she discovered a worthy cause and a purpose for her life. Though Nash did not have a voice in 1969, his steadfast and loyal heart was quite lovely to befriend and his steadying influence on Mattie was lovely as well. And the secrets! The family secrets will definitely bowl you over.

Fans of historical fiction must pick up this newest offering by Michelle Shocklee. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Tyndale House Publishers via Interviews and Reviews and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.

A book with secrets, family ties, Grief and forgiveness , this is the book for you. I devoured it. Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion

I absolutely devoured this book! It’s been awhile since I’ve read a book that felt so compelling to me.

The camp named Camp Forrest and also its location, Tullahoma, TN were both new to me, even though it’s south-southeast of Nashville where one of our sons went to college and still works in the greater Nashville area. I had known about Japanese internment camps but very little about German detainee camps.

The story kept me guessing until close to the ending. I believe the author both told the story and ended it well.

I received this book from the publisher via net galley in exchange for an honest review. Five stars!

War shows what people are made of and where loyalties lie. In All We Thought We Knew Michelle Shocklee weaves together a story of hope that will stay with you long after the last page.

Overview
Genre: Historical Fiction/Christian Fiction
Release Date: October 1st, 2024
Set during the Vietnam War and World War II, this dual timeline novel tells a story of family and the truths we keep from the ones we love.

In 1969, free-spirited Mattie is still reeling from her twin brother, Mark’s, death in Vietnam when she receives a telegram that her mother is dying. When she arrives back at her family farm in Tennessee, tensions are high. Her already stoic father as become more introverted, the farm isn’t the same anymore, and everything reminds her of Mark.

But when her mother gives a box of letters and tells her they explain everything, her world shatters one again.

In 1942, Ava Delaney is mourning the loss of her husband at Pearl Harbor. When she takes a job as a secretary at a local army base, she discovers the based is also home to hundreds of interned Germans labeled “enemy aliens”. When she meets Gunther, one of the internees, a friendship forms.

As the these two women live through times of war they must both come to terms with their grief and the truth about everything they thought they knew.

My Thoughts
All We Thought We Knew is a well written story that I found to be engaging and enjoyable. The dual timeline of the is book was done incredibly well and I loved the rural Tennessee setting of both timelines.

Mattie spends a lot of time on her hatred for the Vietnam War and is kind of the stereotypical hippie, until a whole host of people try to change her mind. Whenever anyone mentions the war she tends to have an outburst, (which happens quite frequently). But I love that we do get see her grow and heal.

Ava is an amazing character. I loved everything about her. She was smart, strong, and had a love for people. I loved getting to watch her overcome the grief and regret after losing her husband. She has such a kind and generous spirit

From, Mattie’s family to Ava’s coworkers and mother, the character dynamics of this story are perfect. Shocklee writes her characters with conviction and a deep understanding of the

All We Thought We Knew is perfect if you love family drama, faith-filled stories, and captivating historical fiction.

I really enjoyed Gunther and Ava's story. I didn't know about the internment camps with German and Japanese pow so I appreciate getting to be on the other side of it.

This was my first book by Michelle Shocklee and I would be keen to read more of her books. Normally the historical fiction books I read are between present day and WWI or WWII but the book is between WWII and the Vietnam War which was unusual. I liked the characters but there were some moments when Mattie annoyed me. I enjoyed Ava and Gunther's story while she was working at the camp. Tissues are a good thing to have handy! People who like historical fiction will enjoy this book. Thank you to NetGalley, Tyndale House Publishers and Michelle Shocklee for the ARC of this book.

This is a Christian romance set in 1969 and in 1942 in Tennessee. Vivid historical details were woven into the story giving it a distinct sense of the time and place. Mattie was exasperating at first because she was so self-centered and voiced her opinions even when she knew it'd hurt other's feelings. She understood the reasons given by her twin and by her mother for the decisions they made, but she wanted her way instead. A returned, wounded veteran helped her to move beyond her pain to actually care about others. She also has to work through her anger at God for letting her twin die during the war and her mother die a year later.

Ava is Mattie's dying mother, but we also get her backstory. I enjoyed seeing how the relationship between Ava and Gunther played out, but they spent very little time together 'on screen' so we're just supposed to accept how much Mattie loved Gunther. (I can see why he loved her as she shows him kindness when he's feeling pretty low.) I felt like the ending was a bit rushed. The critical decision made by Gunther didn't really make sense in terms of why Mattie's father felt so strongly about keeping it a secret even 20+ years later. Gunther had a strong faith in God throughout the story, even talking with a Jewish friend about Jesus.

There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable historical novel.

Wow, this book left me with all kinds of emotions. This dual timeline historical book brought a deep look into how war leaves lasting impacts on the lives of those who lived through it and their loved ones. While I have read many books on World War II, I haven’t read any books about the Vietnam War. The fact that this book covered both times in history left me wanting to read move books set during the Vietnam War. The book was drawn out at certain moments, but it left me wanting to quickly read to find answers. I was a little annoyed by how the character, Mattie, handled situations and how she reacted. However, that’s real life. Not everyone reacts in the manner that they should. The author effectively demonstrated her internal battle. I was pleased with how it ended, but now I want to read more on Mattie’s life afterwards and the horse farm.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC. The thoughts and views are that of my own, as I was not required to leave a positive review.

Michelle Shocklee is known for exploring less than comfortable topics through a Christian lens. She gives her characters baggage and challenges them (and the reader) to see things from different perspectives. All We thought We Knew is no different. This is one of the few books I've read that explores topics like the Vietnam War as well as the AMERICAN soil internment camps for Germans during WW2.

The book is written in almost THREE spaces of time. Current which is during the Vietnam War with a mid 20s Mattie. Pre-Vietnam with Mattie and her brother Mark. WW2 era with Ava and Gunther. It is NOT confusing to keep track of the timelines which is great. The author uses the ww2 timeline to explain the letters that Mattie receives from her mom. I love this way of telling a story.

Key things to take away--Mattie learns that she doesn't have to agree with something to learn a new perspective and respect that perspective. She (as usual in most Christian books these days) has to deal with the idea of God being real and God being good even when horrible things happen to people.

These books aren't all happily ever afters. They are more of a conclusion to the story with a dose of reality. People will die. Minds won't be changed. Some minds will be changed. that's what I like. they are full of hope but with a nice dose of reality.

Topics included: amputee, PTSD, internment camps, anger management

I appreciate that this wasn't a rinse repeat story line. It was unique and genuine. And will resonate with other readers.

*I was given a complimentary copy of the ARC by the publishers and NetGalley. All opinions are 100% my own.