kidisitor's review against another edition
5.0
Very powerful and emotional charged love story. This entire book is subdued and quite sad. One girl, two boys. One she is married to, the other was her first love. She's hurt and heart broken. He's lost. Together they help lift themselves up and make each other whole again... only one small problem. He's not her husband. This is partially a friends to lovers story, and partially a second chance. There is cheating involved, so if you avoid books like that, then this may not be for you. But it's also real. The subject wasn't taken lightly.
The characters are all full of emotion and heart. It has an angsty feel. You feel her pain. There are several teary eyed moments. It's beautifully written. Alternating POVs. There is some sexual content, deeming this a book for mature readers. This book is 'To Be Continued,' so not the complete series. You will need to read 'What He Always Knew' to get the conclusion to this duet. Though it's not a real cliffhanger that leaves you on the edge of your seat... just not the end of their story. (We don't know who she chooses... it could go either way.)
The characters are all full of emotion and heart. It has an angsty feel. You feel her pain. There are several teary eyed moments. It's beautifully written. Alternating POVs. There is some sexual content, deeming this a book for mature readers. This book is 'To Be Continued,' so not the complete series. You will need to read 'What He Always Knew' to get the conclusion to this duet. Though it's not a real cliffhanger that leaves you on the edge of your seat... just not the end of their story. (We don't know who she chooses... it could go either way.)
vlyman's review against another edition
The age gap was gross. It was only 5 years but Reece talks about being in love with her when he lived next door. He moved away at 21 she was only 16.
yeriwithaj_'s review against another edition
5.0
Oh man, where do I start with this story...
I have come to really love love-triangles. They hold a certain appeal. They are emotional and gripping. What He Doesn't Know was no different. My heart felt like it was gonna pop out of my chest at times.
The author writes beautifully, there was so much detail.
Our heroine, Charlie, she was a bit too meek for me but it fit who she was.
Reese and Cameron, Cameron and Reese. Our heroes. They both had their merits... Usually I pick a side and that's where my loyalty will remain, win or lose. I couldn't pick a side here. They both held me, touched me in one way or another.
I felt guilt for encouraging one, and anger the other didn't try harder. They both have a piece of me, and I'm totally hating on Charlie.
I can't wait for the rest, I need to know what choice will be made. I need to pick a side. I need more, everything, all of it. I need my heart to be mended.
I have come to really love love-triangles. They hold a certain appeal. They are emotional and gripping. What He Doesn't Know was no different. My heart felt like it was gonna pop out of my chest at times.
The author writes beautifully, there was so much detail.
Our heroine, Charlie, she was a bit too meek for me but it fit who she was.
Reese and Cameron, Cameron and Reese. Our heroes. They both had their merits... Usually I pick a side and that's where my loyalty will remain, win or lose. I couldn't pick a side here. They both held me, touched me in one way or another.
I felt guilt for encouraging one, and anger the other didn't try harder. They both have a piece of me, and I'm totally hating on Charlie.
I can't wait for the rest, I need to know what choice will be made. I need to pick a side. I need more, everything, all of it. I need my heart to be mended.
anelleonherforehead's review against another edition
emotional
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
wandereaderr's review against another edition
5.0
I literally think I measure my life in two ways: times I’m reading Kandi Steiner novels and times I’m waiting for Kandi’s next novel to be released. Thankfully, Kandi majors in torture (in the form of angst-y novels) and doesn’t keep us waiting for too long for her next tearjerker to be released. When I first read the description of what What He Doesn’t Know and the next part of the duet, What He Always Knew, would be about… I just knew we would be in for a wild ride. And after reading What He Doesn’t Know, I was right!
Kandi’s writing ages like fine wine. Her words are lyrical and atmospheric. Her characters feel like old friends. Her worlds are complex and exciting and most importantly, they’re real. While reading any of Kandi’s novels, not once have I ever felt as if I was outside of the story. Kandi is so extremely adept at grabbing onto the reader’s shirt and pulling them into her worlds. Basically, it’s Kandi Steiner’s world and we’re all just living in it.
The prologue sets up such a beautiful introduction to her newest world and characters. It honestly gave me chills while reading it. This is what I mean—from page one, Kandi gets the reader excited to know what’s going to happen next. From Weightless to What He Doesn’t Know, I’ve always been in awe of how Kandi’s words surround me and force me to feel every single emotion that I’m capable of feeling.
Kandi’s characters have always had their flaws—that’s what makes them great. However, aside from Natalie from Weightless, Kandi’s characters are pretty confident in themselves. One of my favorite character tropes is the insecure girl who learns to love herself. And Charlie did love herself and she loved her husband until one day, they got lost. In the wise words of Lana del Rey, “Sometimes love is not enough and the road gets tough. I don’t know why.”
I always want to say that each new character in Kandi’s novel is my new favorite! They’re all just so incredible. Charlie is truly special, though. I want to just put her in my pocket and protect her from the world. I loved watching her go from the small, shell of herself girl at the beginning of the novel to the more self-assure girl at the end. She still has a long way to go and I’m so excited for the next part of the duet to find out what happens next!
Oh, REESE!!!! My dreamy, dreamy schoolteacher. God, the way he felt for Charlie… it was literally tangible. My heart hurt for him when he kept trying his best to just be there for Charlie and pretend that it was enough. Reese was absolutely adorable and he is definitely a new favorite book boyfriend.
To be honest, after reading the entirety of What He Doesn’t Know I cannot pick who I am rooting for more. Charlie and Reese or Charlie and Cameron. It’s easy to hate Cameron at the very beginning, but the more you read, the more you know, and the more you fall for both men. I absolutely love that, though. It adds even more angst to the novel because you literally do not know which way Charlie should go. I couldn’t even imagine writing this… it brings a whole new meaning to “kill your darlings.”
All I know is that I am so so so excited for the next book, What He Always Knew, to find out what happens next. Please pick up What He Doesn’t Know asap! You will not regret it. And if you do, it’s only because you read it in one sitting and now have to wait the (very) short wait for What He Always Knew.
“On the northeast side of Mount Lebanon, Pennsylvania, there was a house. But there was no longer a home.”
Kandi’s writing ages like fine wine. Her words are lyrical and atmospheric. Her characters feel like old friends. Her worlds are complex and exciting and most importantly, they’re real. While reading any of Kandi’s novels, not once have I ever felt as if I was outside of the story. Kandi is so extremely adept at grabbing onto the reader’s shirt and pulling them into her worlds. Basically, it’s Kandi Steiner’s world and we’re all just living in it.
The prologue sets up such a beautiful introduction to her newest world and characters. It honestly gave me chills while reading it. This is what I mean—from page one, Kandi gets the reader excited to know what’s going to happen next. From Weightless to What He Doesn’t Know, I’ve always been in awe of how Kandi’s words surround me and force me to feel every single emotion that I’m capable of feeling.
“Charlie Pierce, the girl who always said yes.”
Kandi’s characters have always had their flaws—that’s what makes them great. However, aside from Natalie from Weightless, Kandi’s characters are pretty confident in themselves. One of my favorite character tropes is the insecure girl who learns to love herself. And Charlie did love herself and she loved her husband until one day, they got lost. In the wise words of Lana del Rey, “Sometimes love is not enough and the road gets tough. I don’t know why.”
I always want to say that each new character in Kandi’s novel is my new favorite! They’re all just so incredible. Charlie is truly special, though. I want to just put her in my pocket and protect her from the world. I loved watching her go from the small, shell of herself girl at the beginning of the novel to the more self-assure girl at the end. She still has a long way to go and I’m so excited for the next part of the duet to find out what happens next!
“Charlie Reid was married, she was Charlie Pierce now, and still, it didn’t matter. I loved her, anyway.”
Oh, REESE!!!! My dreamy, dreamy schoolteacher. God, the way he felt for Charlie… it was literally tangible. My heart hurt for him when he kept trying his best to just be there for Charlie and pretend that it was enough. Reese was absolutely adorable and he is definitely a new favorite book boyfriend.
“If I am a river, you are the ocean. It all comes back to you in the end.”
To be honest, after reading the entirety of What He Doesn’t Know I cannot pick who I am rooting for more. Charlie and Reese or Charlie and Cameron. It’s easy to hate Cameron at the very beginning, but the more you read, the more you know, and the more you fall for both men. I absolutely love that, though. It adds even more angst to the novel because you literally do not know which way Charlie should go. I couldn’t even imagine writing this… it brings a whole new meaning to “kill your darlings.”
All I know is that I am so so so excited for the next book, What He Always Knew, to find out what happens next. Please pick up What He Doesn’t Know asap! You will not regret it. And if you do, it’s only because you read it in one sitting and now have to wait the (very) short wait for What He Always Knew.
lorameep's review against another edition
4.0
Full review coming soon.
This is a very slow burn and emotional story which got me in its grip and kept me wanting more. I flew through this book in a couple of days and though it has a lot of pages, it didn't feel like it at all.
This is my first book from Kandi Steiner and I like her writing style, her characters and all the feels.
I can't wait to read the next book because I need to know what will happen!
This is a very slow burn and emotional story which got me in its grip and kept me wanting more. I flew through this book in a couple of days and though it has a lot of pages, it didn't feel like it at all.
This is my first book from Kandi Steiner and I like her writing style, her characters and all the feels.
I can't wait to read the next book because I need to know what will happen!
postmortem's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
kandisteiner's review against another edition
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★ What He Always Knew ➔ amzn.to/2peockX
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An excerpt from What He Doesn't Know, book one in the duet...
“Stop,” I said quickly, both to comfort her and to fight against the burning in my throat.
I didn’t even have the thought in my head before my hands were reaching for her, pulling her into me for a hug. I should have hesitated, should have remembered that she belonged to another man, but it was instinctive in that moment — the urge to stop her pain.
She was so small in my arms, the faint scent of coffee fresh on her breath, a few strands of her silky hair falling loose from her bun. I rested my chin on top of her head, rubbing her back with one hand. “It’s okay. Really, it is. I don’t hold anything against you and neither did Mallory.”
“She must have hated me,” Charlie whispered.
“She didn’t. She loved you, we all did.”
I still do.
“It’s not fair the way life works out sometimes, but it’s okay, and you didn’t do anything wrong. You had your own life to live here, Tadpole, and we had our own things happening in New York. It’s okay,” I repeated, hoping she believed me.
“You don’t hate me?”
She looked up at me then, her dark eyes glossed over with unshed tears, and I just chuckled.
“I could never hate you, Charlie.”
She sniffed, a small smile finding her bright pink mouth.
And I knew I should let her go.
I’d said what needed to be said, I’d eased her worry, but still, I held her. I swallowed, and her eyes fell to my throat before they glanced at my lips, sending a familiar zing of warning through me. It was the same warning I’d felt every time she looked at me that way when she was just a teenager, when the five years between us forbid us from ever being this close.
But it was a new warning, too. One that said she’s married.
My hands at the small of her back tightened, and my eyes watched hers, both of our smiles fading. I wanted to ask her if she was okay, if she was happy, if Cameron was what she wanted. But I had no right to ask any of those things.
Still, I held her.
Charlie watched my lips, like she was willing me to say something. I opened my mouth to grant her unspoken wish just as her dad’s voice called from the house.
“Charlie! Cam’s here!”
She stepped away from me quickly, a bit of her coffee sloshing out of her cup as she hiccuped again. “Sorry.”
“Charlie,” I tried, but she was already making her way through the yard.
“Thank you for coming tonight,” she called behind her. “I know my parents really appreciated it. I did, too.”
I caught up to her easily, reaching for her wrist to stop her. She spun, looking up at me with flushed cheeks.
“I have to go.”
“I know,” I said softly, reaching for the half-empty cup in her hand. “I’ll take this inside for you.”
She looked at my hand on hers, her grip still tight around the mug. Slowly, she loosened it, letting me take the porcelain from her grasp. “Thank you.”
I waited until her gaze found mine again. “See you at school.”
“See you at school,” she echoed quickly, and then her little feet carried her the rest of the way across the yard.
I followed behind her, pausing at the front door as she made her way to the open car door waiting for her. Cameron stood beside it, one hand on the top of the door, his eyes hard on me when I took my place next to Charlie’s parents on the door step.
“Don’t forget to call me about the fundraiser, Charlie!” her mom called, and Charlie just held up a hand in a short wave, not even looking behind her.
Before she could step into the car, Cameron’s hand found the crook of her arm, and she paused, looking up at him. His hand slid up the outside of her coat, up her slender neck to frame her face, and then he bent to kiss her.
When their lips connected, I looked away, down at the half-empty coffee cup in my hands, still stained with her pink lipstick.
“Young love,” Maxwell chuffed, smiling at me before clapping me on the back. “What do you say, Reese? Join an old man for a cigar?”
I chanced one last glance at Charlie, and immediately wished I hadn’t. She was looking up at Cameron like that kiss had brought her back to life, like he was the only man she ever wanted, and I had to remind myself that he was.
Cameron was her husband. I was the boy who used to live next door.
The sooner I got that through my head, the better.
Charlie slipped inside the car, and Cameron closed the door softly behind her, waving goodbye to all of us on the porch one last time. He watched me the longest, his brows low, and I knew that look in his eyes. He was threatened, and he was warning me. I’d have done the same thing if Charlie was mine.
“A cigar sounds great,” I finally answered. My eyes flicked to the window Charlie sat behind, but it was too tinted to see her through it. She was there, she was close, yet she was invisible. She was untouchable.
She was no different behind the barrier of that car door than she was to me in real life, and I needed to remember that.
With that realization, I tore my gaze away and followed her father into his study.
★ What He Doesn't Know ➔ amzn.to/2FCEoYp
★ What He Always Knew ➔ amzn.to/2peockX
Keep reading for a Goodreads EXCLUSIVE sneak peek!
EXCLUSIVE GOODREADS SNEAK PEEK:
An excerpt from What He Doesn't Know, book one in the duet...
“Stop,” I said quickly, both to comfort her and to fight against the burning in my throat.
I didn’t even have the thought in my head before my hands were reaching for her, pulling her into me for a hug. I should have hesitated, should have remembered that she belonged to another man, but it was instinctive in that moment — the urge to stop her pain.
She was so small in my arms, the faint scent of coffee fresh on her breath, a few strands of her silky hair falling loose from her bun. I rested my chin on top of her head, rubbing her back with one hand. “It’s okay. Really, it is. I don’t hold anything against you and neither did Mallory.”
“She must have hated me,” Charlie whispered.
“She didn’t. She loved you, we all did.”
I still do.
“It’s not fair the way life works out sometimes, but it’s okay, and you didn’t do anything wrong. You had your own life to live here, Tadpole, and we had our own things happening in New York. It’s okay,” I repeated, hoping she believed me.
“You don’t hate me?”
She looked up at me then, her dark eyes glossed over with unshed tears, and I just chuckled.
“I could never hate you, Charlie.”
She sniffed, a small smile finding her bright pink mouth.
And I knew I should let her go.
I’d said what needed to be said, I’d eased her worry, but still, I held her. I swallowed, and her eyes fell to my throat before they glanced at my lips, sending a familiar zing of warning through me. It was the same warning I’d felt every time she looked at me that way when she was just a teenager, when the five years between us forbid us from ever being this close.
But it was a new warning, too. One that said she’s married.
My hands at the small of her back tightened, and my eyes watched hers, both of our smiles fading. I wanted to ask her if she was okay, if she was happy, if Cameron was what she wanted. But I had no right to ask any of those things.
Still, I held her.
Charlie watched my lips, like she was willing me to say something. I opened my mouth to grant her unspoken wish just as her dad’s voice called from the house.
“Charlie! Cam’s here!”
She stepped away from me quickly, a bit of her coffee sloshing out of her cup as she hiccuped again. “Sorry.”
“Charlie,” I tried, but she was already making her way through the yard.
“Thank you for coming tonight,” she called behind her. “I know my parents really appreciated it. I did, too.”
I caught up to her easily, reaching for her wrist to stop her. She spun, looking up at me with flushed cheeks.
“I have to go.”
“I know,” I said softly, reaching for the half-empty cup in her hand. “I’ll take this inside for you.”
She looked at my hand on hers, her grip still tight around the mug. Slowly, she loosened it, letting me take the porcelain from her grasp. “Thank you.”
I waited until her gaze found mine again. “See you at school.”
“See you at school,” she echoed quickly, and then her little feet carried her the rest of the way across the yard.
I followed behind her, pausing at the front door as she made her way to the open car door waiting for her. Cameron stood beside it, one hand on the top of the door, his eyes hard on me when I took my place next to Charlie’s parents on the door step.
“Don’t forget to call me about the fundraiser, Charlie!” her mom called, and Charlie just held up a hand in a short wave, not even looking behind her.
Before she could step into the car, Cameron’s hand found the crook of her arm, and she paused, looking up at him. His hand slid up the outside of her coat, up her slender neck to frame her face, and then he bent to kiss her.
When their lips connected, I looked away, down at the half-empty coffee cup in my hands, still stained with her pink lipstick.
“Young love,” Maxwell chuffed, smiling at me before clapping me on the back. “What do you say, Reese? Join an old man for a cigar?”
I chanced one last glance at Charlie, and immediately wished I hadn’t. She was looking up at Cameron like that kiss had brought her back to life, like he was the only man she ever wanted, and I had to remind myself that he was.
Cameron was her husband. I was the boy who used to live next door.
The sooner I got that through my head, the better.
Charlie slipped inside the car, and Cameron closed the door softly behind her, waving goodbye to all of us on the porch one last time. He watched me the longest, his brows low, and I knew that look in his eyes. He was threatened, and he was warning me. I’d have done the same thing if Charlie was mine.
“A cigar sounds great,” I finally answered. My eyes flicked to the window Charlie sat behind, but it was too tinted to see her through it. She was there, she was close, yet she was invisible. She was untouchable.
She was no different behind the barrier of that car door than she was to me in real life, and I needed to remember that.
With that realization, I tore my gaze away and followed her father into his study.
kem0514's review against another edition
4.0
This review is for both books in the duet:
I can't even believe this book! It was so good! Nothing like I expected. I was so back and forth on who I was wanting her to be with. Usually when I read a cheating book one guy is a complete ass and you don't want her to be with him. But this! I don't know how Kandi made me fall for both guys at different time. it was very much back and forth for me.
I can't even believe this book! It was so good! Nothing like I expected. I was so back and forth on who I was wanting her to be with. Usually when I read a cheating book one guy is a complete ass and you don't want her to be with him. But this! I don't know how Kandi made me fall for both guys at different time. it was very much back and forth for me.