Little Do We Know
Little Do We Know is a coming of age novel about friendship, faith, and trust. Best friends (and main protagonists) Emory and Hannah start off the book in non-speaking terms. The reason why they are in a fight isn’t revealed until the near end of the story, but is frequently brought up throughout the book. In all honesty, I was rather disappointed as it was very easy to guess the ending, and the resolution just didn’t feel… resolved enough. It felt too easy. The characters were rather frustrating to put up with at times, but they weren’t intolerable, and sometimes very sweet and relatable, even. I adored the friendship between Emory and Hannah (in the parts where they were actually friends,) and also the friendship that unexpectedly formed between Luke and Hannah. The subplot of Hannah questioning her faith was one that I was incredibly interested in, although I wished it would have went a little deeper into it.
The book all in all was good, however I didn’t particularly care for it until about halfway through the book. I have a few critiques (spoilers ahead). For one, it features a romantic relationship between a teacher and a minor. And while I didn’t mind the Pretty Little Liars vibe, and genuinely thought that maybe a good plot and lesson would come out of it, it just ended without any consequences. Not only that, but the teacher had a soon-to-be fiancee the whole time, and the book touched nothing on how wrong that is. Two, while it does approach the subject of sexual assault in a very serious manner, it was nowhere near resolved as it should have. It ended to quickly; too easily. The offender got away with too much, no charges, no punches to the face, nothing. The ending felt almost lazy. It was too quick. And there’s a prominent theme of the characters getting away with things. Aaron, for example. Got away with his relationship with Hannah, as mentioned before. Hannah’s dad, Pastor J got away with spending Hannah’s tuition money, leaking Luke’s video, literally manipulating them, and just being one of the most annoying characters in the book. And in the end, after Emory fights so hard to make sure Luke and her have the perfect summer, Luke just decides to go on some trip to Africa (I think it was Africa?) without her.
All critiques aside, it wasn’t at all a bad book! It did do a very good job at portraying the meaning behind friendship and the bonds two people who really care for each other make. It’s very clear how strong the bond is between the two main characters Hannah and Emory and it’s very sweet to read. It just felt like it was missing something. 🙂
7/10
Some good quotes I found!
“That patch of grass knew everything about us.”
“‘You know you can tell me anything, right?” and we meant it deep in our souls.”
“Hannah had been my best friend for seventeen years. I wasn’t about to give her title to anyone else, not even Luke.”
“It was almost over. All of it, and all at once. High school.”
“I think this– us– is all worth it, and I’m not giving up a single day because if I do, I know I’ll regret it when it’s over.”
“I think the world would be a better place if people stopped every once and a while and questioned everything they thought they knew.”
“I expected to feel content at some point, but every answer led to another question I’d never even thought to ask.”
“‘I love you no matter what.’ ‘Not like she does.’ I shook my head slowly. ‘No one loves me like she does.'”
