Everything I Thought I Knew follows the story of 17-year-old Chloe, whose world gets turned upside down after she collapses at her cross-country practice. She discovers she has a rare heart disease and requires a heart transplant. After a successful surgery Chloe begins to realise that she is no longer the same person as she was before the operation. She finds that she hasn’t only received the donor’s heart, but their memories and special abilities. As the novel develops, Chloe’s life begins to mimic a surfer attempting to tame a violent ocean, she’s tossed, pulled underwater, left gasping for air, but there are also moments where she thinks she’s riding the perfect wave.
I really enjoyed the realistic approach the author took towards the life of young people; the pressures they face at school, the demanding responsibilities and further pressures they face as they prepare for their future. This really enhances the novel and the plot, adding an emotional depth. The conversational style of writing amplifies this, making it easier for me to form connections with characters, especially Chloe. The exploration of cellular memory from transplant patients was really interesting and intriguing.
However, there were parts of this novel I struggled with. At times I found it quite repetitive, and I felt as though Chloe was the only character I got to really know. The other characters felt like supporting figures, and I would’ve liked further character development. I felt it ended quite abruptly, leaving many unanswered questions. Perhaps this was the author’s intent.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel, despite the ending. I recommend this novel to readers who enjoy more contemporary books with mysterious plots, genre-bending elements and who don’t mind slightly open endings.
Reviewed by Lauren, Year 11
Penhros College, Como WA
Age Guide 14+
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shannon Takaoka wrote her first book at age 12, when she blatantly ripped off C.S. Lewis with an epic fantasy inspired by The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. (Well, maybe it wasn’t that epic – do 10 pages count?) Madeleine L’Engle, Judy Blume, Charlotte Brontë, Neil Gaiman and a host of other authors inspired her lifelong love of reading, and she’s especially into all things gothic, weird and nerdy. If a story involves time travel, strange happenings or alternate realities, she’s in.
Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Shannon now lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family, where she also works as a business writer and editor. Her debut novel, Everything I Thought I Knew, was a Top Pick for the 2021 Kansas NEA Reading Circle Recommended Titles list and a 2022 Texas Library Association TAYSHAS reading list selection.The Totally True Story of Gracie Byrne will be released on October 31, 2023. She promises that both are a little weird — but in a good way.
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