From bestselling author Amanda Prowse comes a heartwarming tale of first impressions and lasting love.Thomasina ‘Hitch’ Waycott loves living and working on the remote family farm and B&B. But she also wants more. To see the world. To own her own home. To fall madly in love.But those are fairy tales, and if her life is a fairy tale, then she’s the ugly duckling. Her deformed lip, her crooked … deformed lip, her crooked limbs and her weak heart have kept her from taking chances. But that’s about to change.
When Grayson Potts comes to stay, he’s unlike anyone Thomasina has ever met. He’s aloof, eccentric and exceptionally kind. He’s also totally unconcerned with the physical flaws that have always defined Thomasina.
The two form a bond that neither has had before. It’s possible that it could become something more, but Thomasina also wonders if it’s too good to be true. By putting her heart on the line, Thomasina may open herself to heartbreak. But she may also open herself to so much more.
more
A truly beautiful and inspirational story about a young girl trying to live her best life whilst facing disability and social difficulties. All she wants is to see the world and fall in love. I love the characters bond between each other and watching their relationship blossom despite all the obstacles was unlike anything I have witnessed before. A truly fantastic tale.
The Things I Know by Amanda Prowse is the story of Thomasina “Hitch” Waycott. She loves living and working on her family’s remote farm and B&B. But she wants so much more. She wants to see the world, to have a home of her own and to fall madly in love. Unfortunately, for Hitch, those wants are simply dreams. Her physical deformities and her parents’ overprotectiveness has kept her from taking risks and chances. Little does she know that it’s about to change. Grayson Potts comes to stay on the farm. He is unlike anyone she has ever met. He’s kind and undeterred by her physical flaws. The two form a bond that neither has experienced before and Thomasina dares to hope that her dreams are coming true. Is it too good to be true? Will her heart break? Or will her life become so much more than she ever dreamed?
I have been a fan of Ms. Prowse for quite a while. While her books are usually great emotional journeys, The Things I Know didn’t grab my interest. While I felt for Hitch and understood her desires for love, I didn’t feel a strong connection with her. Although my favorite part is when Thomasina would write in her journal about the things she knew, the things she wished for, based on the previous chapter. She was bold in ways she couldn’t be in real life. She could speak her mind and say the things that kept her tongue tied. I kept expecting the story to pick up with Grayson’s arrival in the story. Unfortunately, the story dragged on and bordered on boring. I found myself struggling to keep interested. If you are a fan of Ms. Prowse’s books, you may enjoy The Things I Know. Unfortunately, for me, it is not listed among my favorites.
The Things I Know is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook
The Things I Know by Amanda Prowse was an interesting book. The main characters experienced struggles different than I have ever experienced and had an unmistakable connection with one another. There was a sweetness and innocence to their story and you just wanted a happy ending for them. I would recommend this book.
We all have flaws of one kind or another. In this story, the reader is shown how first impressions can bring heartache and bad memories or have the ability to bring love and happiness. I am enjoying reading stories by Amanda Prowse and look forward to reading more.
Beautiful Love Story
This is the first time I have read this author, and I have to say that I am blown away. I read a lot of books, so that does not happen often. She has created a magnificent story here of two people struggling with physical and mental challenges. Our heroine knows the marrow of her bones that she is flawed, but a part of her still wants so much more out of life than the tightly proscribed life that her parents allow because they want to shield her from cruelty. Her life is changed forever, ultimately for the better, when a young man on the spectrum comes to stay at their farm. He is just about the only person outside of her family who accepts her, seeing her for who she is on the inside, not as her physical and mental limitations. I love a romance where two decent people, especially ones who are shunned or maltreated by society, come together and find comfort and strength in each other. This is one of those books. The couple’s road is not an easy one, as you might imagine, but the author wrote it with such an open heart that what could have been a sad and depressing story actually shows the triumph of the human spirit. Loved it, as you might be able to tell! Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
The Things I Know was a moving novel! I loved the characters! The characters’ stories were written in a wonderful way. Hitch still lives with her parents on their farm. They all work hard to keep everything going. They take on the occasional boarder to get additional income. Because of her physical differences, Hitch has always felt different and like an outcast. But she dreams of having more in her life. One day a young banker comes to stay with the family. He and Hitch fall into an easy friendship which gets serious. They soon realize it will be hard to continue their relationship because of where they each live and their family obligations. The beautiful way that their relationship was portrayed was very uplifting.
This is a beautiful story! I very much enjoyed Thomasina’s journey. Thomasina struggled to be accepted and often dealt with the cruelty of others because of the difference in her appearance. With a twisted lip after a failed surgery for a cleft palette and a faulty right foot that was frozen in a position that made her walk on her toes, she struggled often to find her place among others. Some of the farm work was painful for her, but still she pushed on. She has such a caring and loving heart and my heart went out to her.
When Thomasina meets Grayson, her whole world changes. It changes for Grayson as well, as he’s in a slump of his own and dealing with difficulties as well. Together they begin to explore this incredible connection they have to each other. Their bond is beautiful.
“We are like two peas that have found their way back to their pod.”
I loved watching Thomasina’s growth as well as her finding her self-worth. It was beautiful to see her self-confidence grow and begin to step out of her comfort zone. I loved that she began to take chances on herself. Grayson’s growth was immense as well and I loved how everything came together in the end.
This is a beautiful and inspirational story that left me with a smile on my face and my heart full.
“And that’s why I’m here. Chasing life. I’m chasing you.”
Heartbreaking and Inspirational
The Things I Know is the first book I have read by Amanda Prowse so I was not sure exactly what to expect. But the description of the story looked very compelling so I thought I would take a chance. Boy was I glad I did take that leap and open myself up to reading a new writer and a fantastic story. At times it was heartbreaking, with more than a few tears shed, but it was also uplifting and inspirational.
Thomasina certainly has more than her fair share of impediments, not the least is the way others see her. But she is a sweet, loving and hopefully young woman with a heart of gold, as my grandma would say. She dreams of a future just like we all do………..a home, a love, acceptance, family and of course adventure in whatever form it takes. But for Thomasina she does not know if she will every have any of these things.
Grayson comes to stay at the family’s farm B&B. He also has his own impediments in life which he masks in certain ways. He is shy, awkward and very socially inept. However, he is also brilliant with figures, has a great job at a bank, is knowledgeable, eloquent but also a bit old fashioned. These qualities draw Thomasina to him and he is drawn to her and sees past the physical and into her soul and heart.
Grayson opens up Thomasina’s world but she has to decide if she will also open her heart. With Grayson’s help Thomasina is able to start making changes in her life that may lead to the greatest adventure yet……………her life in the world.
The Things I Know is a good reminder to the reader that if you open yourself up to the possibilities in the world and the people that love you then you may just get the things that you truly need in this life. But to say closed will ensure that you never do.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are all my own.
This is a wonderful story about two young adults, who meet when the time just happens to be right.
Both Thomasina ‘Hitch’ Waycott and Grayson Potts were born with issues that made life challenging for them, and they also lived in completely different worlds. She was raised on a farm, and loved the country, and he knew nothing but the big city of London, but when they met, they just seemed to understand each other completely.
This is a story of their two worlds and the challenges of finding a way to make their new found love work, as they both also had many obligations, and expectations of them, where they lived.
It is a great story about, what is important to your life, how to find your voice and stand up for, and believe in yourself, and to make compromises.
Great character studies with all of the main characters. It is a story at least for me that made me want to find out how it all turned out.
I can’t wait to read something else by this author.
This book drew me in and made me empathize first with Thomasina and later, with Grayson and Thomasina’s parents. The pace was slow and deliberate, much like I imagined Thomasina’s approach to life. The prose was deeply emotional and wistful, painting a picture of longing for a future different from the one the present is leading up to. Some of the twists in the story were predictable in a good way, as they led me to hope for a better future and feel the crushing disappointment when everything good was falling apart. I would have liked the story to include more of the action that took place between the “end” and the Epilogue, but overall the arc of change in Thomasina’s internal life as well as her external world was satisfying.
I voluntarily read an advanced review copy provided by the publishers via Netgalley and I offer my honest opinion in response.
This book was sad, happy and intense at times. I loved how driven the main character is and how she wants to experience all she can! I enjoyed the story!
Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for the early copy
Fabulous, well-told tearjerker.
Being a mother of a special needs child, when I first started this book all I could think was that I hoped to goodness that I wasn’t doing to my child what Thomasina’s mom was doing and had done to her. It hurt to read about how Thomasina felt and about some of the things that had gone on in her life. I had hope when Mr. Potts showed up and showed Thomasina that he didn’t see all her “flaws” that he only saw a beautiful person that he could grow to care about. Mr. Potts is slightly different in his own right, but his “flaws” are more mental where Thomasina’s are physical. Together, they build each other up and make each other feel loved and strong, but then life interferes again, they separate and it takes them a while to reconnect and find a new beginning. Although I liked this book, it felt rather drawn out to me.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Great Story
I won a copy of this book from Goodreads giveaways and was not required to give a favorable review. This is truly a story of overcoming others opinions and finding your true self. I enjoyed it.
I loved this book. Thank you Netgalley for giving me this book in exchange for an honest review. Thomasina and Grayson may have started life with more problems then most of us, but that didn’t stop them. In fact it made them strong. But it took finding each other to realize just how strong they were. A beautiful and heartwarming love story of two people and the ripple effect their love story brings to all who know and love them. This book found me cheering them along, crying when things seem wrong and laughing right along with them. I may not have been born with the physical limitations that Thomasina and Grayson had to overcome. But I did recognize myself in them and that is what truly made this story real to me. I could see this book coming to the big screen one day.
Thomasina (Hitch) Waycott was struggling with life. Where did she fit in and would she find that one person to love? She is lonely and only has all these ideas to swirling around in head to keep her company. Grayson Potts has come to Bristol for a seminar and stays at the Waycott’s bed and breakfast. Grayson has been the odd child. He has always tried to find the solution to the puzzles in his head. From the moment they meet, they are drawn to each other. It is refreshing that they can say anything to each other. Always knowing that each will always answer truthfully. Untangling from the webs that hold both of them back will not be easy. Love and happiness will lead the way.
I loved that the main character wasn’t a picture perfect 10. I loved that even though apologies were given, and forgiveness granted, the relationship didn’t magically become perfect. This story is real life. The characters are very likable. I didn’t want the story to end, but the ending was well done.
Thomasina / Hitch Waycott was born different with multiple physical disabilities, but she had developed coping mechanisms to deal with her limitations. Nothing was going to hold her back; if her parents were overprotective it was out of love. While she took care of the farm animals, cleaned the farmhouse rooms that were rented out as a B&B, and cooked for family and guests, she wasn’t satisfied with her life. She wanted to travel, to see the world and do all the things that other women did.
Grayson Potts was also different. Physically and socially he was a bit awkward (possibly on the autistic spectrum) but he was brilliant when it came to numbers, patterns, problem solving. When he comes to stay at the Waycott Farm he and Hitch connect and discover they are kindred spirits in many ways.
I have never read anything by Amanda Prowse – my loss, soon to be rectified. I fell in love within a few chapters. Hitch talked to Grayson like she had never talked to anyone else and he responded like no one else ever had, assuming she would understand what he was saying. She said “his words were like poetry” and I found the author’s words to also be poetic prose. I had to force myself to close my Kindle to go to sleep or I would have been up all night.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. This review is my own honest opinion.
I have read and loved several of Amanda Prowse’s books. They are so full of raw emotions and will leave you breathless. I’ve shed many tears while reading some of the best books ever. That being said I am very sad to say that this one just didn’t do it for me. It fell way short of my expectations. I didn’t like any of the characters other than Thomasina/Hitch and Grayson. I liked Jonathan a little. Hated Emery even later on. Thomasina’s mother seemed way to cold and Grayson’s was just awful. Kind of over the top cruel to do such a turn around later. Thomasina’s dad seemed like a very nice man that truly cared about his daughter but the mother was just to cold in my opinion. Thomasina should have been very protected by her mother but to me she seemed to just brush her away when she tried to tell her things. Not like a mother at all.
This book was very well written and easy to read with the exception of using the “shit” word way to much. I don’t mind ugly words at all but that one finally got to me. I feel absolutely awful that I didn’t really love this book but I have to be honest. I just didn’t get out of this book what many others obviously did. It fell short for me.
I didn’t have any emotions one way or the other. Nothing. It was just an ok book that you need to read for yourself to decide what you think. It could very well be just me.
Thank you to #NetGalley, #Amazon Publishing UK and #Lake Union for this copy in exchange for my review.
I give this book 3 stars.
“Hitch” is physically different than other girls. She lives on a farm in England with her family. She desperately wants to leave and see the world outside rural England and have a life. When Hitch meets Grayson, their love story is wonderful. Grayson doesn’t see Hitch as anything but wonderful. I truly loved their love story and the characters are wonderful. I received an advanced readers copy and all opinions are my own.