How well do you really know the people closest to you? That question kept coming to mind as I was reading You Know Why by J.T. Ellison. Since I enjoyed Ellison’s novel, A Very Bad Thing, I was excited to pick up another thriller by her, and this one gave me exactly what I was hoping for – twists, secrets, and reasons to question who was telling the truth!
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From the publisher: From New York Times bestselling author J.T. Ellison comes a suspenseful domestic thriller about identity, revenge, and the dangerous secrets kept hidden from the ones we love most.
Genre: Mystery/Thrillers; Police Procedural
Pages: 479
Published on: August 25, 2026
📚 Judi’s Report Card for You Know Why:
👭 Characters: A-
All of the characters were interesting and most played a big role in the story. My favorite two characters were the twins, Brooklyn and Margot. I appreciated the sisterly love between them, no matter what was going on in their lives. Family was definitely a common theme throughout the book. This crazy story needed at least one solid relationship!
Theresa brought the police procedural side of the story. She was all-in on solving the mystery of Chloe’s death, even when it came at a cost to herself. I appreciated her dedication a woman detective.
⏱️ Plot, Pacing & Point of View: A-
You Know Why moved along quickly. Each chapter seemed to reveal another twist, clue, or new piece of information. It was never boring. Yes, that was me reading past midnight last night because I needed to know what was going to happen next.
The different points of view made the story even more interesting because I was constantly deciding who I trusted and who might pull one over on me. Basically, I trusted no one! At times, the plot was a little outlandish, but it made reading the different points of view more fun. I totally didn’t care that some events were a little out there because I came for the entertainment and stayed for the craziness!
🧩 Ending: A
I love when a thriller finally pulls all of those clues together and makes me think, Ohhh, so THAT’S why that mattered! The ending was pure entertainment, and I was happy with how it all came together.
⭐ Overall Grade: A- / 4 Stars
You Know Why was fast, entertaining, and kept my interest the whole time. I enjoyed trying to solve the mystery right along with the characters. I need to read a more mellow book next, so I can get some sleep! After enjoying two books by Ellison, I know she is an author that I will continue to follow.
Where to Buy You Know Why and More:
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Extra Credit Reading:
If You Know Why had you questioning everyone and trying to piece together every little clue, here are three more thrillers from my bookshelf that might make you suspicious of absolutely everyone.
- A Very Bad Thing by J.T. Ellison | Buy on Amazon
- Read my full review here
- Why? If you liked Ellison’s twists and the way she slowly connects random characters and clues in You Know Why, this is an easy choice. A Very Bad Thing also has multiple story lines, plenty of secrets, and an ending that pulls everything together. This was the book that made me want to read more J.T. Ellison in the first place.
- Ours Is a Tale of Murder by Nora Murphy | Buy on Amazon
- Read my full review here
- Why? Both books give you multiple points of view and a whole group of people who may or may not be telling you the truth. There are family secrets, murder, plenty of suspicious behavior, and one of those plots where you know all of the different story lines are eventually going to collide. I especially loved trying to figure out how everything was connected.
- House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen | Buy on Amazon
- Read my full review here
- Why? This is another great choice if your favorite part of You Know Why was collecting clues and constantly changing your mind about who you trusted. House of Glass drops little hints along the way and keeps shifting the possibilities just when you think you have the mystery figured out. Apparently, I enjoy spending my free time distrusting fictional people.
Disclosure: Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and J.T. Ellison for my advance copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.
Visit J.T. Ellison’s website to learn more about her and her books!
Let’s Chat:
Do you think we ever really know the people closest to us, or does everyone keep a few secrets?
