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Thought I Knew You #1
Thought I Knew You
Claire Barnes is shattered when her husband, Greg, goes on a business trip and never returns.
Unwilling to just wait for the police to find him, Claire conducts her own investigation. Her best friend Drew helps her look for answers, but all she finds are troubling questions.
With every clue, she discovers that Greg may not be the man she thought she married.
While battling her growing feelings for Drew and raising her two young children, Claire must learn to live with the knowledge that the truth behind Greg’s disappearance may never be revealed.
Unwilling to just wait for the police to find him, Claire conducts her own investigation. Her best friend Drew helps her look for answers, but all she finds are troubling questions.
With every clue, she discovers that Greg may not be the man she thought she married.
While battling her growing feelings for Drew and raising her two young children, Claire must learn to live with the knowledge that the truth behind Greg’s disappearance may never be revealed.
278 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 9, 2012
441 people are currently reading
3716 people want to read
About the author
Kate Moretti
12 books1,626 followersKate Moretti lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, two kids, and a dog. She’s worked in the pharmaceutical industry for ten years as a scientist, and has been an avid fiction reader her entire life.
She enjoys traveling and cooking, although with two kids, a day job, and writing, she doesn’t get to do those things as much as she’d like.
Her lifelong dream is to buy an old house with a secret passageway.
She enjoys traveling and cooking, although with two kids, a day job, and writing, she doesn’t get to do those things as much as she’d like.
Her lifelong dream is to buy an old house with a secret passageway.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 341 reviews
May 19, 2013
4.5 Solid Stars!!
Wow...
Okay I think I reeled in my emotions enough to write a review on this book.
I was so glad that I finally got time to sit back and finish this book and when I did I found that I had a really hard time putting it down. I needed to know what happened and how it was all going to come together in the end.
So Claire Barnes husband of about ten years goes on the business trip and does not comeback. Unable to just sit back and allow the police to do their work, Claire dives into her own search in hopes of finding out what happened to her missing husband. While looking into her own investigation, Claire comes to terms that the Greg might not be the man she thought she knew.
What I really liked...
Thought I Knew You was a riveting and powerful read. I was overcome with so many emotions at the very end I didn't know how to feel. I was angry and sad, and even found the book a little unfair. All of which made the book an excellent read. Any book that can pull my emotions in different direction that way, gets a standing ovation from me. My heart definitely went out to Claire and what she was dealing with as well as her two children. I also couldn't help but feel for Drew as well as Greg as their stories continued to unfold throughout the book, including the flashbacks.
- Drew. Oh my gosh... how was he this perfect? Really.. The guy was like a rug made for walking under Claire's feet. He was so in love with her, he has done so much for her and didn't even ask for anything in return. I couldn't help but believe that Drew deserved better then what he kept on getting from Claire. As the story unfolded my heart squeezed for him, because he had to sit back and watch the love of his life marry another man and have his children... That is really heart breaking.
How emotional this book was. It was a gritty page turner that left you wanting more. I couldn't put the book down. I know I already said this, but I couldn't wait to learn what was going on. As stuff unfolded my emotions were running wildly all over the place. I was sad and happy and glad that Claire came out somewhat strong from this, especially for her girls! She didn't give up, even if she felt like she was watching her life from the outside she kept right on going.
The ending.. I have actually a lot of mixed feelings about it. It definitely surprised me, shocked me and took everything I was expecting and tore it apart. I both liked it, and hated it. I liked it because it was unexpected and good and disliked it because it made me actually feel bad about all this anger I was harboring for Greg and at the same time... somethings made me go...huh...why?
I also really loved how most of the characters were far from perfect (except Drew...heh...kind of...depends how you look at it!). Gregs and Claire's marriage was far from perfect and held a lot of flaws, which made the book that much more realistic and powerful.
What I wasn't so sure about...
Claire... I have to say, she kind of pissed me off. I really could not wrap my head around her relationship with Drew. They had their missed moments they called them, but from what little glimpse I learned throughout the book – I would think they would have done something about their relationship sooner...Oh I don't know... maybe before Claire got married? I remember a scene where Claire had a fit over the girlfriends Drew had while in College and things would always get in the way. I don't know.. Greg obviously knew something was going on between Claire and Drew. Sarah teased Claire about having two husbands. Personally.. if I was under any suspicion that there was any attachment between my soon to be husband and his best friend who is a girl.. I would set it straight BEFORE I got married. There seemed to be a lot of back and forth and wrong timing that should have been settled long time ago and maybe the whole mess could have been avoided... I guess I am a little frustrated because I actually had a similar issue, but it got settled before things spun out of control.
Did Claire ever go back to work? That question hang in the air for me, heh.. Mostly because they talked about her sabbatical running out and then, nothing?
Overall, I loved this book. It was an addictive emotional roller-coaster that was really beautifully written with a truly different and original storyline that left me wanting more!
** I received a copy of this book from the Author and her publisher in exchange of an honest review. I was not at all compensated. The Opinions are strictly my own!
Wow...
Okay I think I reeled in my emotions enough to write a review on this book.
I was so glad that I finally got time to sit back and finish this book and when I did I found that I had a really hard time putting it down. I needed to know what happened and how it was all going to come together in the end.
So Claire Barnes husband of about ten years goes on the business trip and does not comeback. Unable to just sit back and allow the police to do their work, Claire dives into her own search in hopes of finding out what happened to her missing husband. While looking into her own investigation, Claire comes to terms that the Greg might not be the man she thought she knew.
What I really liked...
Thought I Knew You was a riveting and powerful read. I was overcome with so many emotions at the very end I didn't know how to feel. I was angry and sad, and even found the book a little unfair. All of which made the book an excellent read. Any book that can pull my emotions in different direction that way, gets a standing ovation from me. My heart definitely went out to Claire and what she was dealing with as well as her two children. I also couldn't help but feel for Drew as well as Greg as their stories continued to unfold throughout the book, including the flashbacks.
- Drew. Oh my gosh... how was he this perfect? Really.. The guy was like a rug made for walking under Claire's feet. He was so in love with her, he has done so much for her and didn't even ask for anything in return. I couldn't help but believe that Drew deserved better then what he kept on getting from Claire. As the story unfolded my heart squeezed for him, because he had to sit back and watch the love of his life marry another man and have his children... That is really heart breaking.
How emotional this book was. It was a gritty page turner that left you wanting more. I couldn't put the book down. I know I already said this, but I couldn't wait to learn what was going on. As stuff unfolded my emotions were running wildly all over the place. I was sad and happy and glad that Claire came out somewhat strong from this, especially for her girls! She didn't give up, even if she felt like she was watching her life from the outside she kept right on going.
The ending.. I have actually a lot of mixed feelings about it. It definitely surprised me, shocked me and took everything I was expecting and tore it apart. I both liked it, and hated it. I liked it because it was unexpected and good and disliked it because it made me actually feel bad about all this anger I was harboring for Greg and at the same time... somethings made me go...huh...why?
I also really loved how most of the characters were far from perfect (except Drew...heh...kind of...depends how you look at it!). Gregs and Claire's marriage was far from perfect and held a lot of flaws, which made the book that much more realistic and powerful.
What I wasn't so sure about...
Claire... I have to say, she kind of pissed me off. I really could not wrap my head around her relationship with Drew. They had their missed moments they called them, but from what little glimpse I learned throughout the book – I would think they would have done something about their relationship sooner...Oh I don't know... maybe before Claire got married? I remember a scene where Claire had a fit over the girlfriends Drew had while in College and things would always get in the way. I don't know.. Greg obviously knew something was going on between Claire and Drew. Sarah teased Claire about having two husbands. Personally.. if I was under any suspicion that there was any attachment between my soon to be husband and his best friend who is a girl.. I would set it straight BEFORE I got married. There seemed to be a lot of back and forth and wrong timing that should have been settled long time ago and maybe the whole mess could have been avoided... I guess I am a little frustrated because I actually had a similar issue, but it got settled before things spun out of control.
Did Claire ever go back to work? That question hang in the air for me, heh.. Mostly because they talked about her sabbatical running out and then, nothing?
Overall, I loved this book. It was an addictive emotional roller-coaster that was really beautifully written with a truly different and original storyline that left me wanting more!
** I received a copy of this book from the Author and her publisher in exchange of an honest review. I was not at all compensated. The Opinions are strictly my own!
March 21, 2017
I stumbled upon this book in a backwards manner when I read the “description” for Kate Moretti's companion novel,
.
Then I was annoyed with myself because the description for "While You Were Gone" has some spoilers for this book. Despite this, the concept of the book intrigued me. Coincidentally, I saw it on sale on BookBub this week and was sold. I’m so glad I took a chance on it.
This book was so addictive! The premise of this book is like so many others… Claire Barnes husband goes away for a business trip and doesn’t return. Despite more or less knowing some of what was going to happen, I was sucked into Claire’s story. This book was so well written. I couldn’t put it down. I don’t want to give away any spoilers so I will just say that the story is compelling and packs an emotional punch. It shows readers that endings don’t always fall into a cookie cutter perfect ending. Life isn’t perfect or fair, but people adapt and learn to make the best of things.
Looking forward to reading the companion novel.
. Then I was annoyed with myself because the description for "While You Were Gone" has some spoilers for this book. Despite this, the concept of the book intrigued me. Coincidentally, I saw it on sale on BookBub this week and was sold. I’m so glad I took a chance on it.
This book was so addictive! The premise of this book is like so many others… Claire Barnes husband goes away for a business trip and doesn’t return. Despite more or less knowing some of what was going to happen, I was sucked into Claire’s story. This book was so well written. I couldn’t put it down. I don’t want to give away any spoilers so I will just say that the story is compelling and packs an emotional punch. It shows readers that endings don’t always fall into a cookie cutter perfect ending. Life isn’t perfect or fair, but people adapt and learn to make the best of things.
Looking forward to reading the companion novel.
October 27, 2012
It’s a good thing I don’t have to shelve Thought I Knew You at the local bookstore. I’m not sure where I’d put it. It could fit in romance, although the typical man who doesn’t read romance, but enjoys books with a female protagonist, would never stumble on it, despite its being a book he might like. Chick-Lit presents the same problem. The female lead is working through issues, not unlike what you might find in that genre; however, chick-lit is typically lighter and more humorous than you’ll find here. We’ve also got a mystery at the heart of the story, but that isn’t a good fit either. There is both much more to the story than that, and not as much mystery as a typical reader of that genre would expect.
Luckily, I don’t have to shelve this and you won’t need to know where to look to find it. From my ramblings above and the description, you should have a reasonable idea of the kind of story you’ll find. Anyone who reviews a lot of anything, whether music, video games, or books, loves to find something that is different enough to push the normal boundaries, while still being high quality and not going so far as to exceed the typical comfort zone. This is one of those books. Claire and Drew, the main characters (in addition to the missing Greg) are people I cared about, always important to grab and hold my interest. I assumed the main story conflict would come to a resolution, but I was constantly flip-flopping among the various ways that might happen and, when I finally got there, was still surprised. This is an engaging debut novel, that deserves to do well.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
Luckily, I don’t have to shelve this and you won’t need to know where to look to find it. From my ramblings above and the description, you should have a reasonable idea of the kind of story you’ll find. Anyone who reviews a lot of anything, whether music, video games, or books, loves to find something that is different enough to push the normal boundaries, while still being high quality and not going so far as to exceed the typical comfort zone. This is one of those books. Claire and Drew, the main characters (in addition to the missing Greg) are people I cared about, always important to grab and hold my interest. I assumed the main story conflict would come to a resolution, but I was constantly flip-flopping among the various ways that might happen and, when I finally got there, was still surprised. This is an engaging debut novel, that deserves to do well.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
February 18, 2017
Wasn't a horribly bad book, but it was super boring with next to nothing happening.
Claire's husband, Greg, goes on a business trip and doesn't come home. What happened to him? Did he leave her and their 2 girls? Or was he killed? Claire ends up finding out that Greg wasn't truthful during their marriage and she wonders if she ever knew him at all.
I hated all of the characters, Claire was boring and I really didn't care what happened to Greg. I wished there was a bit more mystery, or action or some sort of twist! Overall, I wished something happened in this novel or made me want to care.
Wouldn't recommend.
Claire's husband, Greg, goes on a business trip and doesn't come home. What happened to him? Did he leave her and their 2 girls? Or was he killed? Claire ends up finding out that Greg wasn't truthful during their marriage and she wonders if she ever knew him at all.
I hated all of the characters, Claire was boring and I really didn't care what happened to Greg. I wished there was a bit more mystery, or action or some sort of twist! Overall, I wished something happened in this novel or made me want to care.
Wouldn't recommend.
March 4, 2013
I would probably go 2.5 stars. I felt extremely frustrated by Claire throughout the entire book. The beginning was intriguing however, Claire's constant questioning of just about everything in her life and then not really vocalizing it to Drew was very annoying. Te fact that they carried on this friendship all of their lives and loved each other, blah blah blah....i know no one knows how they would react in the situation of your husband disappearing, but I found her character to be exhausting as the story dragged on and on. The whole story sounds like a movie but I can't think of the name of it. I could not wait for this story to end. Although the ending is quite unbelievable, I was at least happy somewhat with the annoying outcome.
December 14, 2012
Four and a half stars: A riveting read that brings up a fascinating question: Can you ever truly know someone?
Claire Barnes thought she had a good marriage. She and Greg were together for ten years and they have two adorable little girls. But something hasn't been quite right over the last year. Greg is distant and quiet and they don't talk as much. Still every marriage has its ups and downs, it is just a rough patch. When Greg doesn't come home from a business trip, Claire's world comes crashing down. Claire is forced to examine her marriage. As she searches for her missing husband, she uncovers some puzzling facts, leading her to question whether she truly ever knew her husband. Will Claire find Greg and save her marriage?
What I Liked:
*I love it when I pick up a book and get an unexpected riveting and fascinating read. Thought I Knew You by Kate Moretti was one of those books that caught me by surprise. I was absolutely glued to the pages and couldn't put it down. I ended up reading the entire book in one day! This book is thought provoking and compelling and it raises some questions that I will be pondering for days to come. If you enjoy a book with lots of mystery, suspense and ideas that will make you think, don't miss this one.
*I thoroughly enjoyed following Claire as she falls down the dark rabbit hole of despair and depression once she discovers her husband is missing without a trace. Over two years time, she slowly claws her way out and puts the pieces of her life back together. Without Greg, she is forced to maintain a stable household for her two daughters. It is a horrifying situation to deal with the sudden absence of a loved one. In some ways it is worse than a death because there is no closure. Claire struggles with the startling questions left behind. Did Greg really just walk out on Claire and his daughters with no explanation? Was there something so wrong with their marriage that he felt he had to leave? Why would he abandon them? Was there someone else? Where did he go? Day in day out, her mind tumbles over these questions and the possibilities. This book with its captivating story line will keep you glued to the pages as you race to find out what happened to Greg and how Claire manages to get back on her feet.
*I loved that this book had some surprising twists and you are left guessing up until the final chapters as to what really happened to Greg. There is plenty of suspense and a good solid mystery throughout.
*I admired Claire and her strength and courage as she pulls herself together, deals with the stages of grief and finds a way to be a stable parent for her two girls. It is a tough battle, but she is determined and she has support from her parents and friends. I liked that she chose to keep it together and do as much as she could on her own, from mowing and taking care of her yard, to cleaning out the gutters and everything else.
*I liked that Ms. Moretti also included how the sudden disappearance of Greg affects his four and two year old daughters. The girls are devastated and suffer long term affects. They are always wondering if their mother will abandon them, and why their daddy didn't love them enough to stay. It is a heartbreaking and frightening situation for the girls and their mother. Ms. Moretti shows us how crippling a loss like this can be for a family.
*I liked that this book kept me engaged and entertained throughout. It is frightening and sad at times, but there are many scenes of hope and courage as Claire puts both feet back on the ground and finds her way again. Perhaps she even has a chance at a new love. This is a book that you don't want to miss.
And The Not So Much:
*This book does have a love triangle, but it didn't bother me as much as the triangles in the YA genre. First, because at the beginning of the story Claire is in what she perceives to be a stable marriage, and through the years she has maintained a strong friendship with her best friend, Drew. She and Drew were never a romantic item, but he has been in love with her for years. Even Greg is aware that Drew loves his wife, but again no one ever acted upon their feelings. Once Greg disappears, Drew steps in and becomes Claire's support system. So in the end, this book presents a believable love triangle that I actually enjoyed.
*One aspect that I felt was too glossed over was how Claire tackled the financial situation. There are brief mentions in the beginning of how she is writing checks on a wing and a prayer and how she is concerned over money, but then the topic is dropped and not an issue. I am guessing it is because she dipped into the inheritance fund, but it is never conveyed how she manages to survive financially. I know that this would be a huge issue if the main bread winner suddenly vanished.
*I wished that there was just a bit more information on Greg's secret life. I was so intrigued by the idea that you can't ever truly know someone and I wanted to know all of his secrets. Unfortunately, most of them remain hidden.
Thought I Knew You was a surprise read that thoroughly entertained me from beginning to end. It covers a woman's hard struggle to put her life back together when her husband vanishes without a trace. Her journey is tough, full of tears and hardship, but Claire is resilient and able to pick up the pieces only to have another huge wrench thrown in her path. If you enjoy a suspenseful mystery with engaging characters and a fascinating story line definitely don't hesitate to pick this one up. I know it is a book that will stick with me for days and days to come.
Favorite Quotations:
"How were we going to work as a family until he came home? We were fractured, a puzzle missing a piece until he came home. He needed to be home. He needed to come home and fix it. Fix Us."
"He turned the bracelet so I could see the engraving. All the strength you need is inside of you."
"Our relationship has always been an iceberg. The part the world sees is small and insignificant, where the largest, most complicated parts lie beneath the surface."
"Memories were tricky that way. Time tinted perception, which altered the memory, bending it like a light through a prism, until what a person remembered might only contain slivers of fact. The rest was just a colorful reflection of emotion---hope, denial, anger and fear."
"I didn't say the whole truth-- like making a life with the wrong person was like pushing a boulder up a hill. While making a life with the right person was like having a wheelbarrow instead of a boulder, taking turns pushing each other on the inclines."
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted @Rainy Day Ramblings.
Claire Barnes thought she had a good marriage. She and Greg were together for ten years and they have two adorable little girls. But something hasn't been quite right over the last year. Greg is distant and quiet and they don't talk as much. Still every marriage has its ups and downs, it is just a rough patch. When Greg doesn't come home from a business trip, Claire's world comes crashing down. Claire is forced to examine her marriage. As she searches for her missing husband, she uncovers some puzzling facts, leading her to question whether she truly ever knew her husband. Will Claire find Greg and save her marriage?
What I Liked:
*I love it when I pick up a book and get an unexpected riveting and fascinating read. Thought I Knew You by Kate Moretti was one of those books that caught me by surprise. I was absolutely glued to the pages and couldn't put it down. I ended up reading the entire book in one day! This book is thought provoking and compelling and it raises some questions that I will be pondering for days to come. If you enjoy a book with lots of mystery, suspense and ideas that will make you think, don't miss this one.
*I thoroughly enjoyed following Claire as she falls down the dark rabbit hole of despair and depression once she discovers her husband is missing without a trace. Over two years time, she slowly claws her way out and puts the pieces of her life back together. Without Greg, she is forced to maintain a stable household for her two daughters. It is a horrifying situation to deal with the sudden absence of a loved one. In some ways it is worse than a death because there is no closure. Claire struggles with the startling questions left behind. Did Greg really just walk out on Claire and his daughters with no explanation? Was there something so wrong with their marriage that he felt he had to leave? Why would he abandon them? Was there someone else? Where did he go? Day in day out, her mind tumbles over these questions and the possibilities. This book with its captivating story line will keep you glued to the pages as you race to find out what happened to Greg and how Claire manages to get back on her feet.
*I loved that this book had some surprising twists and you are left guessing up until the final chapters as to what really happened to Greg. There is plenty of suspense and a good solid mystery throughout.
*I admired Claire and her strength and courage as she pulls herself together, deals with the stages of grief and finds a way to be a stable parent for her two girls. It is a tough battle, but she is determined and she has support from her parents and friends. I liked that she chose to keep it together and do as much as she could on her own, from mowing and taking care of her yard, to cleaning out the gutters and everything else.
*I liked that Ms. Moretti also included how the sudden disappearance of Greg affects his four and two year old daughters. The girls are devastated and suffer long term affects. They are always wondering if their mother will abandon them, and why their daddy didn't love them enough to stay. It is a heartbreaking and frightening situation for the girls and their mother. Ms. Moretti shows us how crippling a loss like this can be for a family.
*I liked that this book kept me engaged and entertained throughout. It is frightening and sad at times, but there are many scenes of hope and courage as Claire puts both feet back on the ground and finds her way again. Perhaps she even has a chance at a new love. This is a book that you don't want to miss.
And The Not So Much:
*This book does have a love triangle, but it didn't bother me as much as the triangles in the YA genre. First, because at the beginning of the story Claire is in what she perceives to be a stable marriage, and through the years she has maintained a strong friendship with her best friend, Drew. She and Drew were never a romantic item, but he has been in love with her for years. Even Greg is aware that Drew loves his wife, but again no one ever acted upon their feelings. Once Greg disappears, Drew steps in and becomes Claire's support system. So in the end, this book presents a believable love triangle that I actually enjoyed.
*One aspect that I felt was too glossed over was how Claire tackled the financial situation. There are brief mentions in the beginning of how she is writing checks on a wing and a prayer and how she is concerned over money, but then the topic is dropped and not an issue. I am guessing it is because she dipped into the inheritance fund, but it is never conveyed how she manages to survive financially. I know that this would be a huge issue if the main bread winner suddenly vanished.
*I wished that there was just a bit more information on Greg's secret life. I was so intrigued by the idea that you can't ever truly know someone and I wanted to know all of his secrets. Unfortunately, most of them remain hidden.
Thought I Knew You was a surprise read that thoroughly entertained me from beginning to end. It covers a woman's hard struggle to put her life back together when her husband vanishes without a trace. Her journey is tough, full of tears and hardship, but Claire is resilient and able to pick up the pieces only to have another huge wrench thrown in her path. If you enjoy a suspenseful mystery with engaging characters and a fascinating story line definitely don't hesitate to pick this one up. I know it is a book that will stick with me for days and days to come.
Favorite Quotations:
"How were we going to work as a family until he came home? We were fractured, a puzzle missing a piece until he came home. He needed to be home. He needed to come home and fix it. Fix Us."
"He turned the bracelet so I could see the engraving. All the strength you need is inside of you."
"Our relationship has always been an iceberg. The part the world sees is small and insignificant, where the largest, most complicated parts lie beneath the surface."
"Memories were tricky that way. Time tinted perception, which altered the memory, bending it like a light through a prism, until what a person remembered might only contain slivers of fact. The rest was just a colorful reflection of emotion---hope, denial, anger and fear."
"I didn't say the whole truth-- like making a life with the wrong person was like pushing a boulder up a hill. While making a life with the right person was like having a wheelbarrow instead of a boulder, taking turns pushing each other on the inclines."
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted @Rainy Day Ramblings.
April 19, 2020
Utterly compelling, lyrically beautiful and sharply insightful, Thought I Knew You packs a powerful emotional punch.
The story follows Claire, who's husband doesn't return home from a business trip. Desperate to find him, she enlists the help of her best friend Drew and starts searching for him, all the while trying to come to terms with the fact he may never come home. But then she uncovers secrets her husband has been hiding for years. Meanwhile she's fighting a growing attraction for Drew, one she's showed aside since she got married.
The beautiful thing about this book is how it shows that life isn't perfect, there are no perfect choices, but that adapting and making the best of things is really the best choice we have.
A cross between domestic suspense, romance, and women's fiction, Thought I Knew You is a beautiful story in which a woman comes into her own in her roles as wife and mother. I highly recommend!
The story follows Claire, who's husband doesn't return home from a business trip. Desperate to find him, she enlists the help of her best friend Drew and starts searching for him, all the while trying to come to terms with the fact he may never come home. But then she uncovers secrets her husband has been hiding for years. Meanwhile she's fighting a growing attraction for Drew, one she's showed aside since she got married.
The beautiful thing about this book is how it shows that life isn't perfect, there are no perfect choices, but that adapting and making the best of things is really the best choice we have.
A cross between domestic suspense, romance, and women's fiction, Thought I Knew You is a beautiful story in which a woman comes into her own in her roles as wife and mother. I highly recommend!
October 10, 2012
Thought I knew You is a gripping story that has the reader thinking about a lot of things. I have to say that I would not even know what to do with myself if this ever happened to me. Losing your husband is one thing but to discover he had another life is a totally different thing.
Claire thought she had the best marriage and the best husband. That all changed the day he went on a business trip and never came back. As if his disappearance is not hard on her and the family Claire finds out that her husband Greg is not who she thought he was. With the help of her best friend Drew Claire will start an investigation of her own.
What Claire and Drew find is not what she ever expected. As she and Drew uncover the lies and the secrets Claire and Drew get closer to one another. Will they be able to remain friends or will Claire allow Drew to be more than just friends? Come along for a heart wrenching story that has secrets and lies. Come along and see how true love is supposed to be. No lies or secrets just open and honest truths and raw emotions that are love. Get your box of tissues out and enjoy the ride!
Claire thought she had the best marriage and the best husband. That all changed the day he went on a business trip and never came back. As if his disappearance is not hard on her and the family Claire finds out that her husband Greg is not who she thought he was. With the help of her best friend Drew Claire will start an investigation of her own.
What Claire and Drew find is not what she ever expected. As she and Drew uncover the lies and the secrets Claire and Drew get closer to one another. Will they be able to remain friends or will Claire allow Drew to be more than just friends? Come along for a heart wrenching story that has secrets and lies. Come along and see how true love is supposed to be. No lies or secrets just open and honest truths and raw emotions that are love. Get your box of tissues out and enjoy the ride!
March 6, 2013
This is an OUTSTANDING read! Mystery/Suspense/Psychological Thriller all the way! Yes! I am singing HIGH praises about this book because it deserves it!
I am really missing this book now that it is over, too! I feel like a lost puppy who can't find it's own tail, which only goes to show you how MUCH I LOVED this book! I really enjoyed it! Koodles to this author, Kate Moretti!
Claire's husband disappears in this book. This really makes me wonder about my own spouse! This book gives quite the shock value.
Do "I" really KNOW my own husband? Probably not. No. Not 'every' secret, but do I really want to know 'every' secret? No, I do not. Some secrets are better left alone. With that said though, this book really makes you ponder this question. You live with your spouse every day, 24/7, minus work schedules, friends, etc., but do you really think you know all there is to know? Do each of you know everything you need to about the other? Do you know enough about the secrets both of you carry in order to not worry that the other may just some day disappear? Is there anything you don't know that could just make your spouse disappear given the right buttons are pushed too far, and one or the other psychologically breaks?
Who's to say OUR own spouse would ever just disappear into thin air, that it couldn't happen to 'any' one of us? Yet it does happen.
This is the premise of this story. Here is what happens, minus any spoilers, of course!
Claires is a married, stay at home Mom to two beautiful young girls, ages 2 and 4. Once a month, her and her husband, Greg, make sure to at least take one evening a month for their 'date night'. This is their time to spend together, just the two of them. As dedicated as their date night is, their sex life is not. Lately their sex life has been lacking quite severely. This has been concerning Claire for quite some time, and it felt like they were on a sex strike (right from the book) However, three nights prior to this one, they had had a wonderful day together, along with the girls, too. That evening Greg couldn't have been more loving to her than ever before. The time they spent together making love was beautiful, tender, and well worth remembering.
Tonight is date night, the babysitter is there, but Greg is not. Claire embarrassingly sends the babysitter home. Greg had gone out of town on business, and at first Claire thinks he is just delayed. Did he miss his flight home? Where is he? Why didn't he call like he always has in the past? With his cell phone evidently dead, and no way to contact him, she doesn't know where to turn next. Greg never does come home.
Claire starts her own investigation by calling the airlines, the hotel, and anywhere else she knows he may have been. Nothing. Although the hotel says he checked in, they don't think he ever even stayed there.
Claires turns her attention to her children. Her husband loves their daughters immensely, plays with them every night, and is the best dad there is with them. He is the epitome of the perfect father. She daydreams how they played, laughed, how much the girls love him.
Not only has Greg disappeared, but so has the family dog? What is going on? At first, Claire searches and searches for the dog, to no avail. The children keep asking, "Where is Daddy? When is Daddy coming home?". Ugh! Can you imagine? "I" would be in panic mode now! Where is the dog?
With not knowing a thing, she doesn't know where to turn next. She is a little frantic. After the first 24 hours are over, Day Two comes slowly, now it's at the 'official' 48 hour mark, and still NO GREG. Now she needs to officially file a missing person's report. She does so, not believing this is happening 'to her'. Her world has fallen apart.
The next day a Detective comes over and interviews her some more, gets some photos of Greg, then proceeds to tell her 'when a spouse goes missing most all of the time, it's because they want to be'. This shakes Claire up to the bone, goosebumps cover her body and a shrill runs down her spine. It dd myself, too.
Claire's best friend since childhood comes over the next day. Drew. Relief! He grew up next door to her, and ever since they had been the best of friends. Her girls love him, calling him Uncle Drew since they could talk. He was fun, loud, and obnoxious with them. They love him because he is so much fun! Now all the girls want is for Uncle Drew to stay overnight!
Together Claire and Drew work on trying to find out what happened to Greg.
Time goes by, and still no Greg. Now what does she do? Go on with life? How? Is she still married? Are these new feelings popping up she feels for Drew a good thing, or is it betraying her husband? How IS she supposed to feel? Will a dead body eventually show up, or will her husband show up one day on her doorstep? If he did, he had better have a good reason as to 'why' he disappeared in the first place, or is this expecting too much from him in case something bad did happen to him? Again, what about these feelings she has towards Drew? No pun intended, but she does feel drawn to him now. He's been helping her try to find Greg, and some answers are not to her liking. So 'what' now? Along the way, twists and turns come up.
As we go along reading this book, don't worry. No, everything is not saved until the end, but the ending, well, WOW!
I have to say this book read like a charm to me. I love the way this author writes. The writing is enjoyable, easy to follow because she writes SO well, it flowed very smoothly, and was impeccable. No errors! The writing and story had substance to it, which is a sign of excellent editing, too. I enjoyed this book immensely, and I have zero qualms with it. Of course this book is fiction, and I had a few questions, but nothing that impaired the story. This book was very professional and seemed as if this author had been writing for years, and most likely has been, and this is her first published work. If you were to tell me this book was put out there by a small press and was this author's first book, I would have laughed at you had I not known otherwise! I see this author excelling with her writing career. This is one author to watch! Can't wait for more from her, and it can't come soon enough! I HIGHLY recommend this book! I received this book for FREE from Red Adept Publishing (which has really impressed me with the titles of books they publish!), and this book is part of a Blog Tour, in exchange to read and write a review about it. It is NOT required for this review to be either positive or negative, but of my own honest opinion. “Free” means I was provided with ZERO MONIES to read this book nor to write this review, but to enjoy the pure pleasure of reading it. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/wa...
Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
I am really missing this book now that it is over, too! I feel like a lost puppy who can't find it's own tail, which only goes to show you how MUCH I LOVED this book! I really enjoyed it! Koodles to this author, Kate Moretti!
Claire's husband disappears in this book. This really makes me wonder about my own spouse! This book gives quite the shock value.
Do "I" really KNOW my own husband? Probably not. No. Not 'every' secret, but do I really want to know 'every' secret? No, I do not. Some secrets are better left alone. With that said though, this book really makes you ponder this question. You live with your spouse every day, 24/7, minus work schedules, friends, etc., but do you really think you know all there is to know? Do each of you know everything you need to about the other? Do you know enough about the secrets both of you carry in order to not worry that the other may just some day disappear? Is there anything you don't know that could just make your spouse disappear given the right buttons are pushed too far, and one or the other psychologically breaks?
Who's to say OUR own spouse would ever just disappear into thin air, that it couldn't happen to 'any' one of us? Yet it does happen.
This is the premise of this story. Here is what happens, minus any spoilers, of course!
Claires is a married, stay at home Mom to two beautiful young girls, ages 2 and 4. Once a month, her and her husband, Greg, make sure to at least take one evening a month for their 'date night'. This is their time to spend together, just the two of them. As dedicated as their date night is, their sex life is not. Lately their sex life has been lacking quite severely. This has been concerning Claire for quite some time, and it felt like they were on a sex strike (right from the book) However, three nights prior to this one, they had had a wonderful day together, along with the girls, too. That evening Greg couldn't have been more loving to her than ever before. The time they spent together making love was beautiful, tender, and well worth remembering.
Tonight is date night, the babysitter is there, but Greg is not. Claire embarrassingly sends the babysitter home. Greg had gone out of town on business, and at first Claire thinks he is just delayed. Did he miss his flight home? Where is he? Why didn't he call like he always has in the past? With his cell phone evidently dead, and no way to contact him, she doesn't know where to turn next. Greg never does come home.
Claire starts her own investigation by calling the airlines, the hotel, and anywhere else she knows he may have been. Nothing. Although the hotel says he checked in, they don't think he ever even stayed there.
Claires turns her attention to her children. Her husband loves their daughters immensely, plays with them every night, and is the best dad there is with them. He is the epitome of the perfect father. She daydreams how they played, laughed, how much the girls love him.
Not only has Greg disappeared, but so has the family dog? What is going on? At first, Claire searches and searches for the dog, to no avail. The children keep asking, "Where is Daddy? When is Daddy coming home?". Ugh! Can you imagine? "I" would be in panic mode now! Where is the dog?
With not knowing a thing, she doesn't know where to turn next. She is a little frantic. After the first 24 hours are over, Day Two comes slowly, now it's at the 'official' 48 hour mark, and still NO GREG. Now she needs to officially file a missing person's report. She does so, not believing this is happening 'to her'. Her world has fallen apart.
The next day a Detective comes over and interviews her some more, gets some photos of Greg, then proceeds to tell her 'when a spouse goes missing most all of the time, it's because they want to be'. This shakes Claire up to the bone, goosebumps cover her body and a shrill runs down her spine. It dd myself, too.
Claire's best friend since childhood comes over the next day. Drew. Relief! He grew up next door to her, and ever since they had been the best of friends. Her girls love him, calling him Uncle Drew since they could talk. He was fun, loud, and obnoxious with them. They love him because he is so much fun! Now all the girls want is for Uncle Drew to stay overnight!
Together Claire and Drew work on trying to find out what happened to Greg.
Time goes by, and still no Greg. Now what does she do? Go on with life? How? Is she still married? Are these new feelings popping up she feels for Drew a good thing, or is it betraying her husband? How IS she supposed to feel? Will a dead body eventually show up, or will her husband show up one day on her doorstep? If he did, he had better have a good reason as to 'why' he disappeared in the first place, or is this expecting too much from him in case something bad did happen to him? Again, what about these feelings she has towards Drew? No pun intended, but she does feel drawn to him now. He's been helping her try to find Greg, and some answers are not to her liking. So 'what' now? Along the way, twists and turns come up.
As we go along reading this book, don't worry. No, everything is not saved until the end, but the ending, well, WOW!
I have to say this book read like a charm to me. I love the way this author writes. The writing is enjoyable, easy to follow because she writes SO well, it flowed very smoothly, and was impeccable. No errors! The writing and story had substance to it, which is a sign of excellent editing, too. I enjoyed this book immensely, and I have zero qualms with it. Of course this book is fiction, and I had a few questions, but nothing that impaired the story. This book was very professional and seemed as if this author had been writing for years, and most likely has been, and this is her first published work. If you were to tell me this book was put out there by a small press and was this author's first book, I would have laughed at you had I not known otherwise! I see this author excelling with her writing career. This is one author to watch! Can't wait for more from her, and it can't come soon enough! I HIGHLY recommend this book! I received this book for FREE from Red Adept Publishing (which has really impressed me with the titles of books they publish!), and this book is part of a Blog Tour, in exchange to read and write a review about it. It is NOT required for this review to be either positive or negative, but of my own honest opinion. “Free” means I was provided with ZERO MONIES to read this book nor to write this review, but to enjoy the pure pleasure of reading it. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/wa...
Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
January 17, 2015
One word comes to mind when thinking about Kate Moretti's Thought I Knew You: RIVETING! I was engrossed in the story from the first page and found myself staying up way past my bedtime (telling myself it was worth it to be tired tomorrow) to finish the book because I just HAD to know. That is when a novel deserves the word riveting; when you have to know how it's going to end.
Claire, a mom of two girls that is on leave from work, stands at the back door and calls for the family dog. Much to her dismay, he never comes back. Her girls are distraught, but like all moms, she tells them "he'll turn up," most dogs do. Except this dog. This dog does not turn up. And this moment is what sends the family into a downward spiral from the life they knew. Not only has Cody gone missing, but by nightfall, her husband Greg still hasn't come home from his business trip. Two for two. Gone.
Claire doesn't know what she's going to do, but her instincts tell her something is wrong. She calls 911 and from there, the plot of tracking down a missing person comes to light. Claire listens dutifully to the police and detectives when she's told most adults that go missing, go missing by choice. She wrenches her heart in and out of torrid pains trying to solve the mystery of Greg's disappearance sorting through dates, trips, conversations, and late night phone calls. She starts to question her life, her marriage, her husband and allows herself to delve deeper into Greg's private side than she ever thought she could. And what she finds gives the reader pause. Claire is an emotional roller coaster and the reader takes every climb, drop, and loop with her. There are moments of frustration with Claire, sadness, anger, and pride.
Her longtime best friend from childhood, Drew (Uncle Drew to the girls), becomes her lifeline in dealing with the aftermath of a missing husband. Their relationship becomes precariously difficult under such mitigating circumstances, and even though the reader worries about Greg, we understand Claire's vexed outlook on every situation.
Claire learns how to be a self-sufficient woman and mother, really examining the marital bed from a new vantage point. Not only does she struggle and come terms with how well she knew her husband, but also herself.
Thought I Knew You will be a book that stays in your heart and in your mind. The characters are well-drawn and fleshed out. I loved and hated Claire, and loved her again. Greg made me so mad I could spit, and Drew - well, Drew is the guy that everyone loves and when reading about him, your heart breaks and mends many times for the depth Kate Moretti provided to his persona. I loved the changes I saw in Claire when she had to "fend for herself." As a military wife whose husband travels quite a bit, I've known personally the pains of replacing screens or cleaning gutters. We think of these things as "men's work" but Moretti adeptly shows us how easily they become "women's work," too.
This examination of marriage is also a bit terrifying. How well do we really know our spouses? Is there something out there hidden from our view? This book challenges the concept of really knowing one another, regardless of everything you've been through together.
Thought I Knew You is Kate Moretti's debut novel (and what a way to break in!). It is complete at 276 pages, published by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. I read this book in three days flat.
Kate Moretti lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, two kids, and a dog. She's worked in the pharmaceutical industry for ten years as a scientist, and has been an avid fiction reader her entire life.
She enjoys traveling and cooking, although with two kids, a day job, and writing, she doesn't get to do those things as much as she'd like.
Her lifelong dream is to buy an old house with a secret passageway.
This review is part of a blog tour for Thought I Knew You by Kate Moretti. To read more about this fantastic novel (and for a chance to enter an great giveaway) visit RedAdept Publishing's page here: http://redadeptpublishing.com/knew-yo...
Claire, a mom of two girls that is on leave from work, stands at the back door and calls for the family dog. Much to her dismay, he never comes back. Her girls are distraught, but like all moms, she tells them "he'll turn up," most dogs do. Except this dog. This dog does not turn up. And this moment is what sends the family into a downward spiral from the life they knew. Not only has Cody gone missing, but by nightfall, her husband Greg still hasn't come home from his business trip. Two for two. Gone.
Claire doesn't know what she's going to do, but her instincts tell her something is wrong. She calls 911 and from there, the plot of tracking down a missing person comes to light. Claire listens dutifully to the police and detectives when she's told most adults that go missing, go missing by choice. She wrenches her heart in and out of torrid pains trying to solve the mystery of Greg's disappearance sorting through dates, trips, conversations, and late night phone calls. She starts to question her life, her marriage, her husband and allows herself to delve deeper into Greg's private side than she ever thought she could. And what she finds gives the reader pause. Claire is an emotional roller coaster and the reader takes every climb, drop, and loop with her. There are moments of frustration with Claire, sadness, anger, and pride.
Her longtime best friend from childhood, Drew (Uncle Drew to the girls), becomes her lifeline in dealing with the aftermath of a missing husband. Their relationship becomes precariously difficult under such mitigating circumstances, and even though the reader worries about Greg, we understand Claire's vexed outlook on every situation.
Claire learns how to be a self-sufficient woman and mother, really examining the marital bed from a new vantage point. Not only does she struggle and come terms with how well she knew her husband, but also herself.
Thought I Knew You will be a book that stays in your heart and in your mind. The characters are well-drawn and fleshed out. I loved and hated Claire, and loved her again. Greg made me so mad I could spit, and Drew - well, Drew is the guy that everyone loves and when reading about him, your heart breaks and mends many times for the depth Kate Moretti provided to his persona. I loved the changes I saw in Claire when she had to "fend for herself." As a military wife whose husband travels quite a bit, I've known personally the pains of replacing screens or cleaning gutters. We think of these things as "men's work" but Moretti adeptly shows us how easily they become "women's work," too.
This examination of marriage is also a bit terrifying. How well do we really know our spouses? Is there something out there hidden from our view? This book challenges the concept of really knowing one another, regardless of everything you've been through together.
Thought I Knew You is Kate Moretti's debut novel (and what a way to break in!). It is complete at 276 pages, published by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. I read this book in three days flat.
Kate Moretti lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, two kids, and a dog. She's worked in the pharmaceutical industry for ten years as a scientist, and has been an avid fiction reader her entire life.
She enjoys traveling and cooking, although with two kids, a day job, and writing, she doesn't get to do those things as much as she'd like.
Her lifelong dream is to buy an old house with a secret passageway.
This review is part of a blog tour for Thought I Knew You by Kate Moretti. To read more about this fantastic novel (and for a chance to enter an great giveaway) visit RedAdept Publishing's page here: http://redadeptpublishing.com/knew-yo...
January 7, 2014
I sure don't know how I would have handled the situation. I thought that the book was a really good read.
April 23, 2017
Rated 4.5 - THOUGHT I KNEW YOU by Kate Moretti is exactly how I like my contemporary suspense. It’s edgy, but without all the expected gore and violence. There’s romance twisted with human imperfections, and family dynamics that are so messed up that it resembles what could easily be real life. You don’t know how any of them will come through it all unscathed, so you read as fast as possible to find out.
Why was this book in Dorine’s TBR? The cover drew me to it, but I had never heard of the author. So, I did what I always do and read some reviews on GoodReads. I was immediately intrigued and grabbed it during a freebie offer on Amazon. I have a love/hate relationship with suspense, mysteries and thrillers. Had I realized this wasn’t just contemporary women’s fiction, I might not have chosen to read it for this month’s challenge, which was contemporary romance. I’m so glad the cover tugged at me again to pull this out of the hundreds of books in my piles. (Join the discussion at my site, The Zest Quest.)
I’m in love with suspense again!
What bugs me most about some romantic suspense books, did not happen in this novel. They did not run from the bad guys, kill people, or see people get mutilated, and then have sex because they can’t keep their hands off one another. There wasn’t gore and violence and yet, this was edgy and mysterious, inciting my anticipation. I didn’t always love the characters because of their choices, but I needed to know what happened to them.
What’s it about?
Claire Barnes’ dog disappears the same day her husband doesn’t return from a business trip. It’s unusual, since it’s also date night with his wife, and he surely misses his children. Not that their date nights have been anything spectacular lately, but Claire feels their marriage is pretty solid. After calling the police, she enlists help from her parents and her best friends, Drew and Sarah.
Even though Claire goes through the motions of filing a missing person report, she feels a deep need to look for her husband as well. She discovers some things the police haven’t, which lead them on a new trail. As Claire begins to track down her husband’s activities, she starts to realize she may not know him at all. When she follows the trail that he left behind, she begins to believe he’s dead. Why else would he leave the family he loves?
The more Claire digs, the more she wonders. Were they really happy?
My Opinion…
Completely absorbing, this book is very difficult to stop reading for life’s necessary moments. All I wanted to do was get back to it and find out what happens next. There are meticulously laid clues and more questions that lead to speculation. The characters are flawed and the mystery is heartbreaking. I kept hoping for the best, especially because of the two children who made this situation messier each step of the way. How do you explain that daddy is missing and he might be dead?
When the lull happens three quarters of the way through the book, I began to wonder if my hype for this story was misgiven. Then the next hint explodes and the ride beings again.
This novel is NOT easy. The characters are a mess, imperfect, and sometimes not very hopeful. But, there wasn’t a moment I didn’t love this book. Oh sure, I’d think I knew what was going to happen next and wouldn’t necessarily be right, but there were enough twists and turns to keep me coming back for more speculation. I couldn’t possibly imagine all this myself, so I was thoroughly entertained, wondering along with the characters.
The only thing I found that wasn’t perfect was that lull three quarters of the way through the book. I almost stopped there and it bugged me. That’s a teeny thing in comparison to how I felt about this book overall. But, I can’t say it was a perfect 5 out of 5 because I almost stopped reading. Even with that, I still highly recommend this book.
I’m enamored by Kate Moretti’s talent. THOUGHT I KNEW YOU is the type of suspense I’ve wanted forever, mixed with a good dose of contemporary women’s fiction. Yes, there is romance, but it’s not conventional or easy. These characters work hard for their happy-ever-after. You might not agree with their choices, but if you’re like me, you’ll cheer for them anyways.
I’m very excited to read more of her books, and fully expect Moretti to become my new reading addiction. I have to get the sequel, WHILE YOU WERE GONE (don’t peek if you haven’t read THOUGHT I KNEW YOU – possible spoilers). THE BLACKBIRD SEASON, coming in September 2017, is at the top of my gimme list. I mean, really – blackbirds? Who doesn’t immediately think of Alfred Hitchcock?
Review by Dorine, courtesy of The Zest Quest. Book obtained for free through a previous Amazon promotion.
Why was this book in Dorine’s TBR? The cover drew me to it, but I had never heard of the author. So, I did what I always do and read some reviews on GoodReads. I was immediately intrigued and grabbed it during a freebie offer on Amazon. I have a love/hate relationship with suspense, mysteries and thrillers. Had I realized this wasn’t just contemporary women’s fiction, I might not have chosen to read it for this month’s challenge, which was contemporary romance. I’m so glad the cover tugged at me again to pull this out of the hundreds of books in my piles. (Join the discussion at my site, The Zest Quest.)
I’m in love with suspense again!
What bugs me most about some romantic suspense books, did not happen in this novel. They did not run from the bad guys, kill people, or see people get mutilated, and then have sex because they can’t keep their hands off one another. There wasn’t gore and violence and yet, this was edgy and mysterious, inciting my anticipation. I didn’t always love the characters because of their choices, but I needed to know what happened to them.
What’s it about?
Claire Barnes’ dog disappears the same day her husband doesn’t return from a business trip. It’s unusual, since it’s also date night with his wife, and he surely misses his children. Not that their date nights have been anything spectacular lately, but Claire feels their marriage is pretty solid. After calling the police, she enlists help from her parents and her best friends, Drew and Sarah.
Even though Claire goes through the motions of filing a missing person report, she feels a deep need to look for her husband as well. She discovers some things the police haven’t, which lead them on a new trail. As Claire begins to track down her husband’s activities, she starts to realize she may not know him at all. When she follows the trail that he left behind, she begins to believe he’s dead. Why else would he leave the family he loves?
The more Claire digs, the more she wonders. Were they really happy?
My Opinion…
Completely absorbing, this book is very difficult to stop reading for life’s necessary moments. All I wanted to do was get back to it and find out what happens next. There are meticulously laid clues and more questions that lead to speculation. The characters are flawed and the mystery is heartbreaking. I kept hoping for the best, especially because of the two children who made this situation messier each step of the way. How do you explain that daddy is missing and he might be dead?
When the lull happens three quarters of the way through the book, I began to wonder if my hype for this story was misgiven. Then the next hint explodes and the ride beings again.
This novel is NOT easy. The characters are a mess, imperfect, and sometimes not very hopeful. But, there wasn’t a moment I didn’t love this book. Oh sure, I’d think I knew what was going to happen next and wouldn’t necessarily be right, but there were enough twists and turns to keep me coming back for more speculation. I couldn’t possibly imagine all this myself, so I was thoroughly entertained, wondering along with the characters.
The only thing I found that wasn’t perfect was that lull three quarters of the way through the book. I almost stopped there and it bugged me. That’s a teeny thing in comparison to how I felt about this book overall. But, I can’t say it was a perfect 5 out of 5 because I almost stopped reading. Even with that, I still highly recommend this book.
I’m enamored by Kate Moretti’s talent. THOUGHT I KNEW YOU is the type of suspense I’ve wanted forever, mixed with a good dose of contemporary women’s fiction. Yes, there is romance, but it’s not conventional or easy. These characters work hard for their happy-ever-after. You might not agree with their choices, but if you’re like me, you’ll cheer for them anyways.
I’m very excited to read more of her books, and fully expect Moretti to become my new reading addiction. I have to get the sequel, WHILE YOU WERE GONE (don’t peek if you haven’t read THOUGHT I KNEW YOU – possible spoilers). THE BLACKBIRD SEASON, coming in September 2017, is at the top of my gimme list. I mean, really – blackbirds? Who doesn’t immediately think of Alfred Hitchcock?
Review by Dorine, courtesy of The Zest Quest. Book obtained for free through a previous Amazon promotion.
September 27, 2012
My review:
Thought I Knew You was a debut novel from Kate Moretti and for a debut novel it was fairly well written. I really enjoyed the plot and the characters.
During and ordinary day, Claire is waiting for her husband to come home from a business trip. When he is not coming a day after, she is contacting the police to announce her husband missing. Police is starting to investigate the missing husband, but Claire can't just sit and wait and she is taking the matters into her own hands.
She is asking help from her childhood friend Drew and together they are taking a journey, which results are changing Claire's understanding of her marriage.
I liked Claire, she was so down to earth and yet quite naive, especially in the beginning of the story. As story develops she needs to face her fears and change her life. She is facing the reality that her husband might never appear again.
I truly liked the plot and the characters, but what bugged me was the fact, that the writing style was not very engaging for me. I missed the emotions: I was reading the words, but not feeling the emotions described, I understood what the author was telling through her story, but the writing seemed flat.. In the middle of the novel I struggled continuing the reading until the author surprised me and the story picked up again.
Thought I Knew you is suitable reading for a mature reader and you will not be disappointed!
Thought I Knew You was a debut novel from Kate Moretti and for a debut novel it was fairly well written. I really enjoyed the plot and the characters.
During and ordinary day, Claire is waiting for her husband to come home from a business trip. When he is not coming a day after, she is contacting the police to announce her husband missing. Police is starting to investigate the missing husband, but Claire can't just sit and wait and she is taking the matters into her own hands.
She is asking help from her childhood friend Drew and together they are taking a journey, which results are changing Claire's understanding of her marriage.
I liked Claire, she was so down to earth and yet quite naive, especially in the beginning of the story. As story develops she needs to face her fears and change her life. She is facing the reality that her husband might never appear again.
I truly liked the plot and the characters, but what bugged me was the fact, that the writing style was not very engaging for me. I missed the emotions: I was reading the words, but not feeling the emotions described, I understood what the author was telling through her story, but the writing seemed flat.. In the middle of the novel I struggled continuing the reading until the author surprised me and the story picked up again.
Thought I Knew you is suitable reading for a mature reader and you will not be disappointed!
February 6, 2017
I loved this book and will definitely read more by her. I've just been looking at her other books and realised there's a companion shorter story featuring characters in this one so that's first on my list.
It turned out Claire was married to a real prize in Greg. I much preferred her best mate, Drew, I have to say. And Drew is certainly a really good friend-he goes above and beyond for her.
I liked the backstory of Cody as well although it wasn't until dog bowls were mentioned that I realised he wasn't a cat !!
I was a little baffled at young Greg saying he felt "cheated by my post". Read it back a few times but it still wasn't clear what was meant there. Another time they were vacationing and Claire slept on the floor for some peculiar reason that was never explained. I spotted a mistake when the 60s were referred to along with a list of assassinations but Kennedy assassination should've been plural since both were killed in the same decade. The word the was missed in a sentence too but that was it for errors which is very good going indeed.
There were some very touching little passages in the story along with some humour. It has a little of everything to please all-comers.
I wasn't sure about the ending and how things were left but then I couldn't think of a lot of alternatives myself. It was nicely handled.
It turned out Claire was married to a real prize in Greg. I much preferred her best mate, Drew, I have to say. And Drew is certainly a really good friend-he goes above and beyond for her.
I liked the backstory of Cody as well although it wasn't until dog bowls were mentioned that I realised he wasn't a cat !!
I was a little baffled at young Greg saying he felt "cheated by my post". Read it back a few times but it still wasn't clear what was meant there. Another time they were vacationing and Claire slept on the floor for some peculiar reason that was never explained. I spotted a mistake when the 60s were referred to along with a list of assassinations but Kennedy assassination should've been plural since both were killed in the same decade. The word the was missed in a sentence too but that was it for errors which is very good going indeed.
There were some very touching little passages in the story along with some humour. It has a little of everything to please all-comers.
I wasn't sure about the ending and how things were left but then I couldn't think of a lot of alternatives myself. It was nicely handled.
October 6, 2012
Reviewing for Red Adept Publishing for Blog Tour Stop Oct. 7
Review of Ihought I Knew You
Reviewed for Red Adept Publishing
Oct. 7 2012
5 Stars
A complex storyline which kept my emotions in a happy turmoil (happy because I was so engrossed I couldn’t step aside), “Thought I Knew You” is not just the story of a marriage, it is also the narration of an incredibly complicated mystery. I wager no reader will figure the denouement out ahead of time; certainly this reviewer didn’t, yet the unfolding of the secrets works perfectly logically in line with all that has happened prior to the revelation. Many of the characters: Claire, Drew, Claire’s daughters Hannah and Leah, and Sarah (Sarah and Drew are Claire’s nearly life-long friends) undergo complex character evolution and maturation. Ms. Moretti is an incredibly deft and gifted storyteller with a wide imagination, and an ability to draw out her characters, both adult and child, in a way that is realistic, inspiring of empathy, and yet individual to each character. I highly recommend the very special novel “Thought I Knew You” by Kate Moretti.
Review of Ihought I Knew You
Reviewed for Red Adept Publishing
Oct. 7 2012
5 Stars
A complex storyline which kept my emotions in a happy turmoil (happy because I was so engrossed I couldn’t step aside), “Thought I Knew You” is not just the story of a marriage, it is also the narration of an incredibly complicated mystery. I wager no reader will figure the denouement out ahead of time; certainly this reviewer didn’t, yet the unfolding of the secrets works perfectly logically in line with all that has happened prior to the revelation. Many of the characters: Claire, Drew, Claire’s daughters Hannah and Leah, and Sarah (Sarah and Drew are Claire’s nearly life-long friends) undergo complex character evolution and maturation. Ms. Moretti is an incredibly deft and gifted storyteller with a wide imagination, and an ability to draw out her characters, both adult and child, in a way that is realistic, inspiring of empathy, and yet individual to each character. I highly recommend the very special novel “Thought I Knew You” by Kate Moretti.
May 4, 2021
Not a big fan of this. I wanted so hard to feel for the main character, logically I wanted to have sympathy for her situation. I wanted to relate to her, but honestly she got on my nerves. Her situation sucked, and yet I just couldn't empathize.
I bought both the kindle and audible versions, and listened to this via audiobook. I feel like the narrator left something to be desired in her reading and that may have been part of my issue in relating to the main character.
I'm going to try not to spoil things, but seriously by the end I was just pissed at the author.
The one daughter, Leah, felt like she wasn't developed very well as a character and thrown into the story as an after thought. She has one event she is involved with, practically no dialogue (even though by the end she's the same age as the other daughter Hannah at the beginning who was blabbing away), and just feels ignored most of the time.
Drew. WTF. I can't say much without spoilers, but I don't know why he let the main character take advantage of him and then stuck around. The ending, and I mean the very very end, is a shitty outcome for him and I feel like he deserved way way WAY better.
I bought both the kindle and audible versions, and listened to this via audiobook. I feel like the narrator left something to be desired in her reading and that may have been part of my issue in relating to the main character.
I'm going to try not to spoil things, but seriously by the end I was just pissed at the author.
The one daughter, Leah, felt like she wasn't developed very well as a character and thrown into the story as an after thought. She has one event she is involved with, practically no dialogue (even though by the end she's the same age as the other daughter Hannah at the beginning who was blabbing away), and just feels ignored most of the time.
Drew. WTF. I can't say much without spoilers, but I don't know why he let the main character take advantage of him and then stuck around. The ending, and I mean the very very end, is a shitty outcome for him and I feel like he deserved way way WAY better.
October 3, 2012
Stellar debut novel... reminiscent of Picoult or Anita Shreve. I can't wait to see what the authors next novel torments me (emotionally) with!
January 28, 2014
Stayed up until 3 a.m. to finish. Unexpected, yet totally believable and satisfying, ending.
June 6, 2015
An honest portrayal of a woman coping with a husband who leaves for a business trip, and doesn't return home..
June 18, 2018
3.5 stars. This book was absorbing and kept my interest. Lots of emotions and an intriguing, unique plot. I just wish it had a better ending. I listened to the audio and the narrator is very good. Happy reading/listening!
June 18, 2016
Having read Kate Moretti's Binds That Tie, I knew I was in for another great book that I could not put down and she did not disappoint. I devoured this book in one day, it tugged on all my emotions, often finding me teary eyed. Claire is struggling to understand and find her husband Greg, who disappeared after leaving for a business trip and didn't come home. Claire thought her marriage was a good one, although the past year brought a sense of distance but nothing major. Their children were little and were dearly loved by her husband, that was the one truth she knew and could not imagine him leaving them ever. Time passed without any leads by the police, and Claire took it upon herself to investigate every clue she could think of. Drew was an old college friend of both Claire and Greg. Drew's long unrequited love for Claire was painful. However, as years pass without finding Greg, a slow recognition was growing between them but their need to support one another in continuing to search for Greg was their solemn vow. How could he disappear without a trace? What had happened, did he have an affair? Did he leave the country have a new secret job? All these questions made Claire long to put the pieces of the puzzle together. The mystery and the pace of this novel is addictive. When you come to one point in the story,( which I don't want to give away a spoiler) but its a twist that makes your really search your heart for feelings you didn't think you would have. A beautifully written romance, suspense thriller, with great characters that stay with you long after you put this book down and read the next one....with great anticipation...While You Were Gone.
September 19, 2015
THOUGHT I KNEW YOU by Kate Moretti is an enthralling story that socks you in the gut, and leaves you gasping for breath. Moretti flawlessly weaves a tale of falling in and out of love, suspense and mystery into a compelling page-turner.
Fast-paced from the get-go, the story builds in intensity. Instead of kicking back and putting my feet up while I read this book, I was leaning forward, my eyes glued to the screen of my e-reader. Be ready for a roller coaster ride because Moretti teases you with scenes of home and hearth then abruptly throws you into frightening situations that are all-too realistic.
I’m not sure what I would do if my husband disappeared without a word, but Claire’s actions and thoughts in this book were genuine and realistic, which made the reading experience quite intense. The twist at the end was outstanding. I agree with the other reviewers who said the the ending was abrupt but I think it fit perfectly with Moretti’s writing style and ending the story any other way wouldn’t have worked as well.
I will definitely be checking out Moretti's BINDS THAT TIE (March 2014) and the novella WHILE YOU WERE GONE
(Sept 2015)
Fast-paced from the get-go, the story builds in intensity. Instead of kicking back and putting my feet up while I read this book, I was leaning forward, my eyes glued to the screen of my e-reader. Be ready for a roller coaster ride because Moretti teases you with scenes of home and hearth then abruptly throws you into frightening situations that are all-too realistic.
I’m not sure what I would do if my husband disappeared without a word, but Claire’s actions and thoughts in this book were genuine and realistic, which made the reading experience quite intense. The twist at the end was outstanding. I agree with the other reviewers who said the the ending was abrupt but I think it fit perfectly with Moretti’s writing style and ending the story any other way wouldn’t have worked as well.
I will definitely be checking out Moretti's BINDS THAT TIE (March 2014) and the novella WHILE YOU WERE GONE
(Sept 2015)
October 24, 2015
Kate Moretti’s novel, I Thought I Knew You, utterly captivated me. A story about a woman derailed, Claire experiences an abrupt loss of her husband who never returns from a business trip. Now the wife of a missing person, Claire climbs up out of her shock and grief and begins to search for him, but along the way she finds clues that suggest her husband wasn’t the man she thought him to be.
Although Claire struggles with answers to her questions, she doesn’t stop searching and in doing so she learns some things about herself that she’d kept buried throughout her marriage. All the while, Claire is also fighting to protect the feelings and future of her two young daughters, wrestling with her growing attraction for her best friend, Will, and a heartfelt desire to do the right thing even as it becomes more and more possible that her husband may never return.
I turned the pages quickly, waiting for the shocking twist, and when it came I loved it. This novel is beautiful, asking the question of what love really is and answering by delving deeply into human emotion and surprising us with the truth, even thought it makes perfect sense.
Although Claire struggles with answers to her questions, she doesn’t stop searching and in doing so she learns some things about herself that she’d kept buried throughout her marriage. All the while, Claire is also fighting to protect the feelings and future of her two young daughters, wrestling with her growing attraction for her best friend, Will, and a heartfelt desire to do the right thing even as it becomes more and more possible that her husband may never return.
I turned the pages quickly, waiting for the shocking twist, and when it came I loved it. This novel is beautiful, asking the question of what love really is and answering by delving deeply into human emotion and surprising us with the truth, even thought it makes perfect sense.
July 3, 2016
Claire is lost and confused when her husband Greg doesn't return from a business trip. As the months go by she realizes that she may not have know as much about her husband as she thought she did. Is her husband missing or did he choose to disappear?
A gripping first chapter and high emotions start this book off on a good foot. The excellent writing continue as the main character searches for her husband. There were places where the story lagged a bit, but overall I felt the story was paced well. The characters were real and engaging. This is definitely a fun and entertaining read. It has a bit of mystery, suspense, and romance. Can't wait to read more by this author.
I received this book free of charge from Red Adept Publishing in exchange for my honest review.
A gripping first chapter and high emotions start this book off on a good foot. The excellent writing continue as the main character searches for her husband. There were places where the story lagged a bit, but overall I felt the story was paced well. The characters were real and engaging. This is definitely a fun and entertaining read. It has a bit of mystery, suspense, and romance. Can't wait to read more by this author.
I received this book free of charge from Red Adept Publishing in exchange for my honest review.
December 9, 2021
I listened to the audiobook, so perhaps the narrator factored into my view of the book.
Although the beginning had me intrigued, the plot dragged on and on, and the main character was not likeable. She used her best friend over and over again, and also seemed to think she should be pitied by friends and neighbors. I really was disappointed in the ending...but it was a unique plotline.
Although the beginning had me intrigued, the plot dragged on and on, and the main character was not likeable. She used her best friend over and over again, and also seemed to think she should be pitied by friends and neighbors. I really was disappointed in the ending...but it was a unique plotline.
January 24, 2015
I read this book in one day. I really never give 5 stars, perhaps it's a 4 1/2....need to digest to review more. One thing is for sure, I loved it! I can not wait to read her other books!
May 23, 2017
So many high reviews...and I was so disappointed. The story builds and I was engaged for most of the way through, anticipating how events would play out, but then nothing happens. Worst ending ever. Nothing. Happens. Yawn. now the entire book seems a silly waste, like the author took it so far and ran out of ideas.
.
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August 5, 2023
Thought I knew you by Kate Moretti. A husband goes missing on a "business trip" and the wife is finding he wasn't always doing what he said. Couldn’t put it down.
August 19, 2023
I don't knew what you would call the genre other than chic lit. It's a story about the aftermath of a missing husband. The best friends who love each other but never got the timing right trope is definitely cliché but somehow it still worked for me.
December 10, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. Claire Barnes was in an impossible situation. Her husband disappeared without a trace, and she and her 2 girls had to deal with going on with life without him. As the book went on Claire learned that her husband, Greg, was not the person she thought he was. Th book kept my interest all the way to the end, and I had some ideas how it would turn out, and I was wrong.
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