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I Know You
Eilidh, bright, headstrong and feisty, gets sparkling exam results that confirm her university place. Her boyfriend reveals he has deceived her. In the ensuing argument she is knocked unconscious. She arrives in 1984, in an Ethiopian refugee camp, where she nurses a dying child, then a wounded aid worker before wakening back home in present-day Scotland. Three days later, at an isolated beauty spot trying to come to terms with her ex boyfriend’s betrayal and her experience in Ethiopia, she encounters Walter, who is in the early stages of dementia. He is there because of a tattoo on his wrist that simply states the date and location of the beauty spot. Eilidh recognizes Walter’s symptoms, takes him home and contacts his niece to come and collect him.
Over the following 48-hour period Eilidh finds herself transported to various locations in Europe and North America, and time periods from the previous fifty years. Each episode draws her further into an unexpected and unconventional romance. Eventually she travels to WW2 blitzed Liverpool and meets a fellow time-traveler who explains that Eilidh faces a decision with life and death consequences.
Over the following 48-hour period Eilidh finds herself transported to various locations in Europe and North America, and time periods from the previous fifty years. Each episode draws her further into an unexpected and unconventional romance. Eventually she travels to WW2 blitzed Liverpool and meets a fellow time-traveler who explains that Eilidh faces a decision with life and death consequences.
250 pages, Paperback
Published June 1, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
May 20, 2023
I was excited to receive this book in the mail, and devoured it in a 24 hour period. I was pleasantly surprised, and will definitely keep my eyes open for more books by Russell Govan.
I was truly impressed by how well Govan wove the stories together, moving back and fourth through time in a way that did not confuse the reader. While the stories from different times involved the same people they were distinctly different. However I never found myself questioning when it was in the story, or what was happening to the characters.
Eilidh was a strong character who was happy in all times in the story. While I was rooting for the love story, I was also rooting for the family bonds. In my opinion Eilidh could not have made a wrong choice.
I was very interested in finding out more about what happened in Ethiopia. I was disappointed that Eilidh did not return there.
I was truly impressed by how well Govan wove the stories together, moving back and fourth through time in a way that did not confuse the reader. While the stories from different times involved the same people they were distinctly different. However I never found myself questioning when it was in the story, or what was happening to the characters.
Eilidh was a strong character who was happy in all times in the story. While I was rooting for the love story, I was also rooting for the family bonds. In my opinion Eilidh could not have made a wrong choice.
I was very interested in finding out more about what happened in Ethiopia. I was disappointed that Eilidh did not return there.
June 5, 2023
I was sent an ARC for an unbiased review for my blog Tweetables.com. Now, I will readily admit I do love a time-travel story and 'I Know You' definitely delivers. It starts with our protagonist, Eilidh, who has just found out she's passed her exams and is going to university but what should be a day of celebrations is ruined when her boyfriend dumps her. She's knocked unconscious and wakes up 35 years earlier, no longer in Scotland and now, somewhat bizarrely, in Ethiopia, but why?
When she returns to the present day, she meets Walter, an elderly gentleman who is starting to experience dementia. A puzzling tattoo on his wrist means he travelled from London to Scotland by train but he doesn't know why, only that it's important he has to be here.
Eilidh tries to decipher what's going on and realises that every time-travel jump revolves around Walter. She bounces around the world, experiencing love and war across the decades, her relationship with Walter strengthening with each visit. Poignantly we learn about his life through her visits, something present-day Walter isn't able to remember.
I really don't want to reveal much more, it's too much fun and you should read it for yourself, but I will add that we learn time travelling is a family trait and it's dangerous when she bumps into her own relative. She's up against the clock, struggling to put all the pieces together, whilst also juggling some present day worries, including a serious health concern.
I really liked Russell's writing style and the start, with the teens chatting in their WhatsApp group whilst waiting for their exam results, felt very fresh. All the characters are well-drawn and I particularly loved the dynamic between Eilidh and Walter.
The bouncing around in time is signposted at the start of chapters, which is very helpful, and I loved Eilidh's confusion at the start of each jump. My only niggle is that sometimes her introspection made me impatient. I was busy putting the puzzle together too and needed her to jump again to learn more, but I'm a plot-first gal so I guess that's to be expected!
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and was disappointed when it ended - it had delivered in spades, I was just sad there was no more to read! The fact that Russell might write another is brilliant - I say, the sooner the better! Highly recommended for fans of time-travel stories and/ or intriguing tales with a puzzle at their heart.
When she returns to the present day, she meets Walter, an elderly gentleman who is starting to experience dementia. A puzzling tattoo on his wrist means he travelled from London to Scotland by train but he doesn't know why, only that it's important he has to be here.
Eilidh tries to decipher what's going on and realises that every time-travel jump revolves around Walter. She bounces around the world, experiencing love and war across the decades, her relationship with Walter strengthening with each visit. Poignantly we learn about his life through her visits, something present-day Walter isn't able to remember.
I really don't want to reveal much more, it's too much fun and you should read it for yourself, but I will add that we learn time travelling is a family trait and it's dangerous when she bumps into her own relative. She's up against the clock, struggling to put all the pieces together, whilst also juggling some present day worries, including a serious health concern.
I really liked Russell's writing style and the start, with the teens chatting in their WhatsApp group whilst waiting for their exam results, felt very fresh. All the characters are well-drawn and I particularly loved the dynamic between Eilidh and Walter.
The bouncing around in time is signposted at the start of chapters, which is very helpful, and I loved Eilidh's confusion at the start of each jump. My only niggle is that sometimes her introspection made me impatient. I was busy putting the puzzle together too and needed her to jump again to learn more, but I'm a plot-first gal so I guess that's to be expected!
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and was disappointed when it ended - it had delivered in spades, I was just sad there was no more to read! The fact that Russell might write another is brilliant - I say, the sooner the better! Highly recommended for fans of time-travel stories and/ or intriguing tales with a puzzle at their heart.
May 24, 2023
TW: death, talk of sex, swearing and slurs, dementia and health scares, (particularly talk of cancer and/or brain injury)
Would recommend to mature teenagers an up, as it is such a cosy read!
Wow, there is honestly not a bad word I can say about this book! Off the bat, the story had me hooked, with short chapters and relatable characters and experiences filled with emotion. The story didn't seem to drag at all and the writing wasn't overly elongated, you could easily sit down and read this book in one sitting, as it is super cosy in my opinion. The dialogue was super realistic and relatable to UK conversations, with the constant asking for cups of tea and toast, as well as the family diversity. One unique point about the dialogue, was the use of emojis in the book, when Eilidh was messaging her friends. I found that edition unique and relatable, as it is in the point of view of a teenager. All the characters in this book have a story with them and are fully fleshed out, which I love to see, my favourite characters of the bunch being Eilidhs two brothers, Scott and George, because they remind me of people in my family and also of myself in a way. The point of view does change throughout the book, usually when entering a new time period, which in turn gives more hints to why and how Eilidh is travelling to these time periods, aswell as hinting towards important characters in the future, (or past!). The overall idea of the book is really thought inducing and has you thinking about time travel and the many opportunities life can bring, especially the ending of the book, which can be taken as a bad or good ending, depending on your perspective and opinions. There are so many mysteries within this book, but also a lot of love and emotion, which almost had me in tears on occasion. What I would love to see is the other paths Eilidh could have taken within her life, as I think it could be so interesting to explore!
Would recommend to mature teenagers an up, as it is such a cosy read!
Wow, there is honestly not a bad word I can say about this book! Off the bat, the story had me hooked, with short chapters and relatable characters and experiences filled with emotion. The story didn't seem to drag at all and the writing wasn't overly elongated, you could easily sit down and read this book in one sitting, as it is super cosy in my opinion. The dialogue was super realistic and relatable to UK conversations, with the constant asking for cups of tea and toast, as well as the family diversity. One unique point about the dialogue, was the use of emojis in the book, when Eilidh was messaging her friends. I found that edition unique and relatable, as it is in the point of view of a teenager. All the characters in this book have a story with them and are fully fleshed out, which I love to see, my favourite characters of the bunch being Eilidhs two brothers, Scott and George, because they remind me of people in my family and also of myself in a way. The point of view does change throughout the book, usually when entering a new time period, which in turn gives more hints to why and how Eilidh is travelling to these time periods, aswell as hinting towards important characters in the future, (or past!). The overall idea of the book is really thought inducing and has you thinking about time travel and the many opportunities life can bring, especially the ending of the book, which can be taken as a bad or good ending, depending on your perspective and opinions. There are so many mysteries within this book, but also a lot of love and emotion, which almost had me in tears on occasion. What I would love to see is the other paths Eilidh could have taken within her life, as I think it could be so interesting to explore!
June 17, 2023
How I love an epic tale of love that spans across the years and the couple love each other at every meeting - but this was not your usual kind of tale at all.
While Eilidh celebrates and shares her exam results with her boyfriend - all he wants to do is dump her. In the ensuing argument she is knocked unconscious and when she wakes 35 years earlier in a completely different country - this story takes an unexpected direction.
When Eilidh awakes back home in present day she meets Walter - currently in the early stages of dementia - but over the next couple of days, she meets him many times, in many different places and at different ages and the connections build as the relationship develops.
I absolutely loved that even though we were time travelling and flitting around different settings, it never got confusing as Eilidh was always constant, there grounding us back. The narrative and description within each travel was so well done that it felt clear at what point in the story and timeline we were.
The different eras were well depicted also, so it was easy to quickly snap into the world's as they changed.
The characters were just adorable and I felt really emotional every time they met up and had to depart again - even knowing they would continue to meet.
I absolutely loved this and am really looking forward to more by this author.
While Eilidh celebrates and shares her exam results with her boyfriend - all he wants to do is dump her. In the ensuing argument she is knocked unconscious and when she wakes 35 years earlier in a completely different country - this story takes an unexpected direction.
When Eilidh awakes back home in present day she meets Walter - currently in the early stages of dementia - but over the next couple of days, she meets him many times, in many different places and at different ages and the connections build as the relationship develops.
I absolutely loved that even though we were time travelling and flitting around different settings, it never got confusing as Eilidh was always constant, there grounding us back. The narrative and description within each travel was so well done that it felt clear at what point in the story and timeline we were.
The different eras were well depicted also, so it was easy to quickly snap into the world's as they changed.
The characters were just adorable and I felt really emotional every time they met up and had to depart again - even knowing they would continue to meet.
I absolutely loved this and am really looking forward to more by this author.
June 13, 2023
Eilidh and her friends are waiting for the exam results to find out if they have passed. After getting her results Eilidh meets her boyfriend Findlay in a cafe, but after telling him she got the results she needed and now they can go to the same Uni. Findlay tells Eilidh the he's not going anymore and they are finished, Eilidh isn't happy and she goes to hit Findlay but ends up falling backwards and blacking out. Eilidh wakes 35 years earlier, but not in Scotland she's in Ethiopia. When she returns back to the present, we meet Walter, an old man with dementia. Eilidh soon realises that the time travel is linked to Walter.
I don't do spoilers so it's hard to say much more apart from if you love time travel, mystery and more this book is for you. I loved Russell's writing style, it flows well from one place to another.
I don't do spoilers so it's hard to say much more apart from if you love time travel, mystery and more this book is for you. I loved Russell's writing style, it flows well from one place to another.
June 7, 2023
Russell Govan is a great storyteller, and 'I Know You' is a compelling tale. But this is important: it’s not just plot-plot-plot (though the plot is indeed a good one!). The characters are fully drawn, the pace is well-judged and the writing is very strong. I also think it’s a good ‘gateway’ book for those of us who don’t read time-travel stories as a matter of course.
June 12, 2023
It has an engaging story and I will recommend this to my friends.
May 4, 2023
I first want to thank travelling pages tours for letting me be a part of this book tour and the author for sending me a copy of this book.
I actually give this book a 3.5 stars. (I wish half stars were more of a thing) It was like a mix of contemporary, historical fiction, and sci-fi based in Europe. Time traveling and fated mates. There was a lot going on in such a short amount of pages.
I actually give this book a 3.5 stars. (I wish half stars were more of a thing) It was like a mix of contemporary, historical fiction, and sci-fi based in Europe. Time traveling and fated mates. There was a lot going on in such a short amount of pages.
June 12, 2023
I love books that somehow feature time travel and so I knew I would enjoy this book, but I enjoyed it a lot kore than I expected too.
The book was well written with a compelling storyline and well developed characters who I took to quickly. I loved the inclusion of the whatsapp group between the friends waiting for the results of their exams as this gave it that current feel and really helped the characters jump out.
A really good read, I will definitely be looking for more from the author
The book was well written with a compelling storyline and well developed characters who I took to quickly. I loved the inclusion of the whatsapp group between the friends waiting for the results of their exams as this gave it that current feel and really helped the characters jump out.
A really good read, I will definitely be looking for more from the author
May 10, 2023
This is a remarkable book that kept my interest page by page and chapter by chapter. Enter the wonderful world of time travel and get several books packed into one. This well written page turner is one you don’t want to miss. Oh ya, we get to follow Eilidh’s romantic journey as an added bonus. Without revealing any spoilers, the ending is marvelous.
May 17, 2023
A must read!!
June 10, 2023
4.5 rounded up to 5
Eilidh (pronounced Ayley if you’re like me and didn’t know 🤷🏻♀️) is knocked unconscious and wakes up in 1984 where she meets Walter. Throughout the book, she travels to various places and times and ultimately has to make an important decision.
I tend to really enjoy books that are very character driven and this one was more plot driven but it kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I just wanted to keep reading to find out how the pieces all fit together.
If you’re looking for a quick read that you just can’t put down, I would definitely give this one a try!
Eilidh (pronounced Ayley if you’re like me and didn’t know 🤷🏻♀️) is knocked unconscious and wakes up in 1984 where she meets Walter. Throughout the book, she travels to various places and times and ultimately has to make an important decision.
I tend to really enjoy books that are very character driven and this one was more plot driven but it kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I just wanted to keep reading to find out how the pieces all fit together.
If you’re looking for a quick read that you just can’t put down, I would definitely give this one a try!
March 7, 2023
I don’t usually pick romance books. However I was deeply surprised by this book. I fell in love with Edilith and Walter. There timeless love story is reminiscent of the red string of fate. Edilith can time travel and reunites with her past love and must choose if she continues with her destiny or if she goes back home. I appreciated the authors style and his poetic prose as well as the Patti Smith and music references. The descriptive writing makes you feel like you are time traveling and are in Ethiopia or back in Scotland. Whether it is present day or the 70s the reader is never lost in the story. I know you is a beautiful timeless romantic story that is sure to captivate any kind of reader, and keep them at the edge of their seat. Pick this book up if you are in the mood for a one of a kind love story. You won’t regret it.
June 6, 2023
Eilidh is knocked unconscious and over the next two days is off on a whirlwind time travelling adventure taking her across the globe to different countries and time periods.
The author's portrayal of Eilidh our protagonist, adapting her character in each time period seamlessly, was flawless and made her very likeable, and I fast became emotionally invested in her story.
Walker was a nice guy and his dementia was dealt with sensitively and accurately.
I Know You is an epic love story, it's well written, unique and a surprising hit for me.
The author's portrayal of Eilidh our protagonist, adapting her character in each time period seamlessly, was flawless and made her very likeable, and I fast became emotionally invested in her story.
Walker was a nice guy and his dementia was dealt with sensitively and accurately.
I Know You is an epic love story, it's well written, unique and a surprising hit for me.
July 31, 2023
I loved this book :) the sweet characters :) the storyline :) a cleverly written time travelling story loved it
January 13, 2026
I Know You follows Eilidh, a Scottish teenager whose life flips from exam day nerves to heartbreak to something far stranger. What begins as a coming-of-age story full of friendship, grief, and young love suddenly veers into a haunting experience in an Ethiopian refugee camp, where suffering, compassion, and disorientation collide. The book jumps between timelines and perspectives in a way that keeps you leaning forward, trying to stitch the pieces together just as the characters try to make sense of their own fractured realities. It feels intimate at times and then shockingly vast, almost like two novels braided into one.
The opening stretch, set in Scotland, felt light on the surface, but it carried an ache that hit me harder as the chapters moved on. The writing holds a kind of gentle honesty. It stays close to Eilidh’s emotions without dressing them up, and it lets her teenage certainty sit right beside her unravelling doubts. When the story shifts into the chaos and brutality of the camp, the tone changes sharply. I felt the ground move under me just as she does. Those sections knocked the breath out of me. They were raw, unsettling, and written with a restraint that made everything feel even more real. I kept pausing, not because I needed a break from the book, but because the moments asked for you to think about them for a moment.
There were points where the transitions left me a little lost. Even so, the emotional core held everything together for me. The scenes of care, fear, and tiny human connections had me thinking about them and the story for a while afterwards. And the way the book treats memory and trauma felt honest. Messy. Human. I appreciated that it didn’t try to explain everything. It trusted me to sit with uncertainty, and that trust made the story hit deeper.
This is the kind of novel I’d hand to readers who like character-driven stories that wander into unexpected territory, people who don’t mind when a book lifts them up just to pull the rug and make them feel something sharper. If you enjoy coming-of-age stories that refuse to stay tidy or narratives that mix tenderness with real darkness, you'll enjoy reading this book.
The opening stretch, set in Scotland, felt light on the surface, but it carried an ache that hit me harder as the chapters moved on. The writing holds a kind of gentle honesty. It stays close to Eilidh’s emotions without dressing them up, and it lets her teenage certainty sit right beside her unravelling doubts. When the story shifts into the chaos and brutality of the camp, the tone changes sharply. I felt the ground move under me just as she does. Those sections knocked the breath out of me. They were raw, unsettling, and written with a restraint that made everything feel even more real. I kept pausing, not because I needed a break from the book, but because the moments asked for you to think about them for a moment.
There were points where the transitions left me a little lost. Even so, the emotional core held everything together for me. The scenes of care, fear, and tiny human connections had me thinking about them and the story for a while afterwards. And the way the book treats memory and trauma felt honest. Messy. Human. I appreciated that it didn’t try to explain everything. It trusted me to sit with uncertainty, and that trust made the story hit deeper.
This is the kind of novel I’d hand to readers who like character-driven stories that wander into unexpected territory, people who don’t mind when a book lifts them up just to pull the rug and make them feel something sharper. If you enjoy coming-of-age stories that refuse to stay tidy or narratives that mix tenderness with real darkness, you'll enjoy reading this book.
May 5, 2023
In I Know You, Russell Goven has combined romance, mystery, and family secrets into a compelling story about choosing love.
Eilidh was a brilliant main character, and a very true-to-life depiction of an 18-year-old. She was optimistic, a touch naive, but also pragmatic and headstrong. We meet her at a very tumultuous time in her life, and I certainly had some flashbacks to my own A-Level results day!
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Time travel romances can often be difficult to land, when you have two people of different ages meet at different stages in life, sometimes including childhood. What I really liked in this book though was that while Eilidh did meet Walter at different times in his life, that wasn’t what made her fall in love with him. Rather, she saw the potential for the happiness she could have with him throughout her life, and she had the opportunity to choose to meet him at the same age as her so they could grow old together. It was a really good use of the trope and set this book apart (and, in my opinion, above) others of the genre.
I would have loved for this book to be longer. For a story with so much depth and with so much going on, it sometimes felt like we were jumping from one event to another without any time to examine and reflect on what was going on. The rules that govern time travel in this particular book weren’t always addressed or were raised as and when they were needed, and I think a longer book could have given us more time to understand and settle in with the rules of this world.
This was still an incredibly enjoyable read though, and a must-read for anyone who enjoys time travel romance!
I received a free copy as part of the Travelling Pages Book Tour. All opinions are my own.
Eilidh was a brilliant main character, and a very true-to-life depiction of an 18-year-old. She was optimistic, a touch naive, but also pragmatic and headstrong. We meet her at a very tumultuous time in her life, and I certainly had some flashbacks to my own A-Level results day!
📚Blog📖YouTube📖Instagram📚
Time travel romances can often be difficult to land, when you have two people of different ages meet at different stages in life, sometimes including childhood. What I really liked in this book though was that while Eilidh did meet Walter at different times in his life, that wasn’t what made her fall in love with him. Rather, she saw the potential for the happiness she could have with him throughout her life, and she had the opportunity to choose to meet him at the same age as her so they could grow old together. It was a really good use of the trope and set this book apart (and, in my opinion, above) others of the genre.
I would have loved for this book to be longer. For a story with so much depth and with so much going on, it sometimes felt like we were jumping from one event to another without any time to examine and reflect on what was going on. The rules that govern time travel in this particular book weren’t always addressed or were raised as and when they were needed, and I think a longer book could have given us more time to understand and settle in with the rules of this world.
This was still an incredibly enjoyable read though, and a must-read for anyone who enjoys time travel romance!
I received a free copy as part of the Travelling Pages Book Tour. All opinions are my own.
October 7, 2023
This review was originally posted at https://bit.ly/3ZO7NVl.
Eilidh is broken up with by her boyfriend directly after gaining admittance to university. In the ensuing argument she is knocked unconscious and wakes up in 1984 in a refugee camp as a nurse. She witnessed a young girl's last moments, taking her button with her when she returns home after sitting with a man by the nickname Dubya. Once home she convinces herself it was all a dream until she wakes up meeting the same boy from the camp years before in his home town. The next time she comes home she meets an old man in the onset of Alzheimer's with a tattoo of that day long since faded. She has two choices: stay with Walter for however long they have together or live her life in the present.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This book was adorable from start to finish, but just a warning it will pull on your feels and make you cry sometimes if you are an easy crier. From the death of the little girl to a difficult choice between her family and the man she loves.
Every bit of this book is amazing and I would whole-heartedly read another by this author no questions asked. While her choices are difficult there is travelling back in time to seemingly random points in order to meet and better understand the amazing man found. This book take born in the wrong time frame to a whole other level and gives the main character the chance to fix this or stay in her own era.
I also love that she wasn't the only one in her family to face this decision and we are able to see a bit about the impact on those left behind because of this. It gives the character a full picture before her decision is made.
Eilidh is broken up with by her boyfriend directly after gaining admittance to university. In the ensuing argument she is knocked unconscious and wakes up in 1984 in a refugee camp as a nurse. She witnessed a young girl's last moments, taking her button with her when she returns home after sitting with a man by the nickname Dubya. Once home she convinces herself it was all a dream until she wakes up meeting the same boy from the camp years before in his home town. The next time she comes home she meets an old man in the onset of Alzheimer's with a tattoo of that day long since faded. She has two choices: stay with Walter for however long they have together or live her life in the present.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This book was adorable from start to finish, but just a warning it will pull on your feels and make you cry sometimes if you are an easy crier. From the death of the little girl to a difficult choice between her family and the man she loves.
Every bit of this book is amazing and I would whole-heartedly read another by this author no questions asked. While her choices are difficult there is travelling back in time to seemingly random points in order to meet and better understand the amazing man found. This book take born in the wrong time frame to a whole other level and gives the main character the chance to fix this or stay in her own era.
I also love that she wasn't the only one in her family to face this decision and we are able to see a bit about the impact on those left behind because of this. It gives the character a full picture before her decision is made.
March 19, 2023
*4.5 stars*
Check out my review on my blog: http://thereadingdevil.blogspot.com/2...
Or read below!
I Know You is unexpectedly captivating. The book starts innocently enough, with normal teenage drama and it seems as though one is settling in for a light, easy read. But the layers are deep, and the writing is spellbinding. What begins as superficial, quickly becomes a surprisingly riveting love story that spans time and country.
Eilidh is a time-traveler, though she doesn't know it yet. A messy break up ends with her unconscious and thrown back to another place and time, where she meets Walter for the first time. The ensuing days have Eilidh traveling back and forth to different times, and different places, but always with a common theme. Walter. Over and over, he's there, and as she learns more and more about herself and her relationship, she realizes she has a choice to make.
I Know You draws you in, and leaves you wanting more. The time travel aspect is unique in that it occurs during the span of a single lifetime. Eilidh and Walter are alive in both the present and the past, but it's written well enough that the reader is never confused. You can't help but fall in love with the characters and root for their happy ending.
I actually think this book could have been a little bit longer, and that's something I rarely say. Though it is a stand alone, and everything is tied up by the end, I would have loved to see just a bit more. A bit more of present day Walter, and a bit more of the two in November 1969 as that was my favorite time for them, just to name some examples. That being said, I'm happy with the book overall and so glad I picked it up!
Check out my review on my blog: http://thereadingdevil.blogspot.com/2...
Or read below!
I Know You is unexpectedly captivating. The book starts innocently enough, with normal teenage drama and it seems as though one is settling in for a light, easy read. But the layers are deep, and the writing is spellbinding. What begins as superficial, quickly becomes a surprisingly riveting love story that spans time and country.
Eilidh is a time-traveler, though she doesn't know it yet. A messy break up ends with her unconscious and thrown back to another place and time, where she meets Walter for the first time. The ensuing days have Eilidh traveling back and forth to different times, and different places, but always with a common theme. Walter. Over and over, he's there, and as she learns more and more about herself and her relationship, she realizes she has a choice to make.
I Know You draws you in, and leaves you wanting more. The time travel aspect is unique in that it occurs during the span of a single lifetime. Eilidh and Walter are alive in both the present and the past, but it's written well enough that the reader is never confused. You can't help but fall in love with the characters and root for their happy ending.
I actually think this book could have been a little bit longer, and that's something I rarely say. Though it is a stand alone, and everything is tied up by the end, I would have loved to see just a bit more. A bit more of present day Walter, and a bit more of the two in November 1969 as that was my favorite time for them, just to name some examples. That being said, I'm happy with the book overall and so glad I picked it up!
May 1, 2023
I’ve never been able to resist a time travel story and the premise to “I Know You” by Russell Govan fitted my criteria perfectly. I loved how the story opened up with teenage friends waiting for exam results and rooting for each other to get their places in further education. When Eilidh (pronounced Ay-Lee) is shocked by a revelation from her boyfriend which causes an accident to occur, she finds herself intermittently time travelling between home and several recent periods of time with a certain common theme connecting them all.
I found Eilidh very likeable and her initial reaction to finding Walter on the cliffs, was both funny and adorable. Her kindness and support to her grandmother and Walter who both have symptoms of dementia was extremely endearing and set the scene just perfectly for the story to come, slowly revealing her and Walter’s connection.
The writing was beautiful, the content engaging, the characters realistic and easy to like and the whole story was addictive and entertaining, which made this book virtually impossible to put down.
Although an intriguing time travelling story in itself, there’s a huge love story at the heart which really grips you and the choice Eilidh is given in the conclusion to the story, was something I wouldn’t want to dilemma over. I was unexpectedly surprised at how much this story clawed its way into my heart and if a believable time travelling love story would pull at your heart strings too, then I highly recommend “I Know You”.
#IKnowYou - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I found Eilidh very likeable and her initial reaction to finding Walter on the cliffs, was both funny and adorable. Her kindness and support to her grandmother and Walter who both have symptoms of dementia was extremely endearing and set the scene just perfectly for the story to come, slowly revealing her and Walter’s connection.
The writing was beautiful, the content engaging, the characters realistic and easy to like and the whole story was addictive and entertaining, which made this book virtually impossible to put down.
Although an intriguing time travelling story in itself, there’s a huge love story at the heart which really grips you and the choice Eilidh is given in the conclusion to the story, was something I wouldn’t want to dilemma over. I was unexpectedly surprised at how much this story clawed its way into my heart and if a believable time travelling love story would pull at your heart strings too, then I highly recommend “I Know You”.
#IKnowYou - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
May 10, 2023
3.5 out of 5 stars
I Know You by Russel Govan is a great story with an intricate plot and bright and exciting characters.
It started off so strongly and had a great setting. The characters were all introduced so well, and I really loved the atmosphere of the book. I must admit that once Eilidh ended up in the hospital in Ethiopia I got a bit lost.
It has an intricate plot line that you will miss if you don’t pay attention to it. Sometimes it was a little hard to keep up especially in terms of which character’s POV we were reading from (whether it was Eilidh or Walter). However, switching up the character’s viewpoint helped to keep things fresh and interesting, so I did enjoy the change.
There was a lot going on, and sometimes it was a little confusing. It was a little unclear as to what was happening when we kept going back in time to different places with different characters.
Eilidh’s friendship group, I found really fun to read. They had an electric energy, and I loved their support and banter with one another (their group chat was awesome!). Russel did a great job of bringing them alive.
The writing consisted of a lot of short sentences. I get that Russel may have wanted to use them to make the writing more engaging, but for me, it felt a little stop and start. It may just be my preferences, but I did get used to it as I moved on in the story.
Overall, I found that although it may have confused me at times, I actually quite enjoyed the complexity of this story.
Thank you, Russel Govan and Travelling Pages Tours, for my copy.
I Know You by Russel Govan is a great story with an intricate plot and bright and exciting characters.
It started off so strongly and had a great setting. The characters were all introduced so well, and I really loved the atmosphere of the book. I must admit that once Eilidh ended up in the hospital in Ethiopia I got a bit lost.
It has an intricate plot line that you will miss if you don’t pay attention to it. Sometimes it was a little hard to keep up especially in terms of which character’s POV we were reading from (whether it was Eilidh or Walter). However, switching up the character’s viewpoint helped to keep things fresh and interesting, so I did enjoy the change.
There was a lot going on, and sometimes it was a little confusing. It was a little unclear as to what was happening when we kept going back in time to different places with different characters.
Eilidh’s friendship group, I found really fun to read. They had an electric energy, and I loved their support and banter with one another (their group chat was awesome!). Russel did a great job of bringing them alive.
The writing consisted of a lot of short sentences. I get that Russel may have wanted to use them to make the writing more engaging, but for me, it felt a little stop and start. It may just be my preferences, but I did get used to it as I moved on in the story.
Overall, I found that although it may have confused me at times, I actually quite enjoyed the complexity of this story.
Thank you, Russel Govan and Travelling Pages Tours, for my copy.
June 18, 2023
The story of Eilidh starts off as though it going to be a teenage love story that explodes with all the angst and bitterness that it entails before careering off into a drought ravaged ethiopia where she encounters a dying child and a wounded aid worker who will shape what she does for the rest of whichever life she chooses. Eilidh has tough decisions to make which will affect her deeply, along with those she loves and cares about, both in her time travelling existence and her current life.
I Know You is an incredibly well written story with an imaginative writing that draws you in and compels you to carry on reading.It is a wonderfully easy read at nearly 250 pages, and I devoured it in a few hours, feeling content in the fact that I had just read a good book that was "different"
The concept of the story, and Eilidh's ability to time travel is clever and provides an interesting take on the ability to time travel and the outcomes. how this is linked to the initial bump on the head and the changes that are taking place in her brain is clever along with the understanding and knowledge gained from her dementia suffering Grandma.
For me this was an incredible 5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 read and I will be looking out for future novels by Russell with intrigue as to what his concepts he will deploy for his next characters.
I Know You is an incredibly well written story with an imaginative writing that draws you in and compels you to carry on reading.It is a wonderfully easy read at nearly 250 pages, and I devoured it in a few hours, feeling content in the fact that I had just read a good book that was "different"
The concept of the story, and Eilidh's ability to time travel is clever and provides an interesting take on the ability to time travel and the outcomes. how this is linked to the initial bump on the head and the changes that are taking place in her brain is clever along with the understanding and knowledge gained from her dementia suffering Grandma.
For me this was an incredible 5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 read and I will be looking out for future novels by Russell with intrigue as to what his concepts he will deploy for his next characters.
May 15, 2023
📚 Spoiler Free Review 📚
📚 I Know You - Russell Govan📚
Wow.. this story was exciting from the first page. The author has written it in such a way that it just easy flows.
The characters are just so loveable that you what to know how they connect to the story line.
I really enjoyed this story and loved how the time travelling aspect..
The only down side is that it ended.. I do wish it was longer as I was enjoying it.. but will definitely be looking out for more of more books written by Russell Govan!!
📚 this book is due to be published on June the 1st 📚
📚 I Know You - Russell Govan📚
Wow.. this story was exciting from the first page. The author has written it in such a way that it just easy flows.
The characters are just so loveable that you what to know how they connect to the story line.
I really enjoyed this story and loved how the time travelling aspect..
The only down side is that it ended.. I do wish it was longer as I was enjoying it.. but will definitely be looking out for more of more books written by Russell Govan!!
📚 this book is due to be published on June the 1st 📚
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