Things We Know by Heart

In this unforgettable novel, Quinn Sullivan falls for the recipient of her boyfriend’s donated heart. Printz Award winner John Corey Whaley calls it “not just a love story, but one with a ferocious pulse.”

After Quinn’s boyfriend, Trent, dies in an accident their junior year, she reaches out to the recipients of his donated organs in hopes of picking up the fragments of her now-unrecognizable life. But whoever received Trent’s heart has chosen to remain silent. The essence of a person, Quinn has always believed, is in the heart. If she finds Trent’s, then in a way, she will still have a piece of him.

Risking everything to get closure once and for all, Quinn goes outside the system to track down nineteen-year-old Colton Thomas, whose life has been forever changed by this priceless gift. But what starts as an accidental run-in quickly develops into something more, sparking an undeniable attraction. She doesn’t want to give in to it—especially since he has no idea how they’re connected—but the time Quinn spends with Colton makes her feel alive again. No matter how hard she’s falling for Colton, though, each beat of his heart reminds her of all she’s lost . . . and all that remains at stake.

Perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen, this unique and emotional story about an unexpected bond between two strangers will leave no heart untouched.

Quinn knows she has to tell Colton the truth. But what if her secret is the one thing that could shatter his fragile new life—and her own second chance?

• A Story of Organ Donation: Quinn’s quest to find her late boyfriend’s heart leads her to Colton. But the connection she feels is more than just a memory.
• Grief and Healing: Torn between the boy she lost and the one who makes her feel alive, Quinn must navigate the impossible space between a heartbreaking past and a hopeful future.
• A Love Story with a Secret: He feels an unexplainable pull toward her. But he has no idea that every beat of his heart is a reminder of the secret connecting them.
• Beach Town Romance: Set against the backdrop of the misty California coast, where kayak trips and stolen moments on the beach hide a truth that could change everything.