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In recent years, I’ve been a bit more selective when people offer to send me books to review. It’s not as if I don’t appreciate the offer but it can sometimes increase the pressure. I already have so much to read and I feel guilty enough about my unread books. If people start sending me books then the guilt increases. I feel a pressure to get the book finished quickly, which means I put of my TBR for even longer. Every so often, a book will come along that just sounds too good to miss. This was one of them. It helped that it featured twins because that always gets me interested. As a twin myself, I think I’ll always be drawn to narratives to play into that dynamic. It’s also something that is bound to have me feeling more emotional. If anything bad happens to twins in a book then it hits me harder than it would with normal siblings. Would this book leave me an emotional wreck?

We live in a time when we’re more open about mental health issues. It’s easier to discuss your feelings with the people in your life. Obviously, it’s not perfect but it’s better than 20 or 30 years ago. Exactly the period that the characters in All I Know are living. It follows the Martin and Tyler families as they deal with their various issues and the fallout for their children. The two families have been vacationing together for years and their children are all friends. However, one event changes their whole dynamic. It brings some of the darker elements that are hiding under the surface. Elements that have been overlooked and ignored for years. It causes a knock-on effect that changes everyone’s life.

The book revolves around Kai Martin and her relationship with Josh Tyler. From a young age, Kai decides she wants to marry Josh but it always seems unlikely. As they get older, the pair keep in touch and are connected through shared trauma. Josh’s father is abusive while Kai’s dad is a drunk. They both have to work their way through addiction, depression and loss. As well as trying to figure out what she wants to do in life, Kai also has to deal with her feelings of guilt and regret. How can she make decisions about her life when she’s trying to live for someone else? In Kai’s eyes, her only constant is Josh, who keeps reappearing and reawakening her childhood crush.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book because I’m not typically a fan of romance-heavy narratives. However, this book had so much depth to it. It was a powerful and emotional look at families and how formative your childhood years can be. Little things can have much bigger impacts on children throughout their lives than you might think. A single event witnessed through the eyes of a young child or teenager can change their view of their parents. This change in their dynamic can have a huge effect on their future relationships and decisions. Kai and Josh struggle to define their relationship because they are running from their pasts. Or, at least, not confronting it. They are used to people pushing down their emotions and pretending everything is okay.

All I Know is much more than just the story of Kai and Josh’s relationship. Obviously, there is a lot of love and romance stuff in there but this is more of a character study. We get to learn about these characters, their shared history and the feelings that they’re hiding. Kai and Josh don’t really see themselves as their own person. They just see themselves as part of something bigger. They place such importance on their family that they don’t feel whole away from them. However, they also understand that their families aren’t all positive influences. I love the way that Kai is helped through her problems by her friends and her mother. It highlights the importance of sharing your feelings and how much it can help you move forward.

This was a strong debut novel and I’m glad I got to read it. It’s not my usual read but I’m a sucker for anything with twins in it. This was definitely an emotional read and one that deals with dark topics. It’s a book about the human experience and I loved how realistic it was willing to get. These felt like real characters who had flaws and real feelings. This is great for anyone who sways towards character over plot but that’s not to say there isn’t a story here. It’s just that the focus is on the characters, which is what appealed to me. This is the kind of book that will stick with you.