Book Review: What He Always Knew by Kandi Steiner

What He Always Knew (What He Doesn't Know Duet #2)

by Kandi Steiner

Release Date: March 29, 2018

Source: Author

Goodreads

Left or right. 

It’s that simple, and it isn’t simple at all.

If I turn left, the road will lead me back to the man I promised my life to, the one I’d imagined building a family with, the one who’s done everything in his power to get me back.

If I turn right, the road will take me to the man I loved first, the man who brought me back to life, the man who would do anything to keep me.

I knew the fork in the road was inevitable; it was the decision I never wanted to make between choices I didn't know I had. 

And I love them both.

My heart is destined to exist in two equal halves — one with each man. But one half beats stronger, the vein running deepest, and holds my choice in silence long before I know it for myself. 

The realization of what I have to do, of the heart I have to break, just might break mine too. 

Left or right. 

All I have to do is take a breath and turn.

After finishing What He Doesn't Know, I was dying to get my hands on the final book in this duet. I had no idea who Charlie was going to pick, but I definitely had a favorite. As soon as I started this book, though, all of my previous opinions flew out the window and I was an emotional mess. 

Reese or Cameron? The boy she's always loved or the man she's promised her life to? Charlie doesn't know who she is or even who she wants to be in the future, all she knows is that she has to decide. But choosing one path will break hearts and choose a destiny she can't take back. 

When I read the first book in this duet, I felt like I was missing the angst everyone was raving about with these books. Nothing felt angsty to me and I felt like there was an obvious choice Charlie had to make. Um, yeah, I was SO WRONG. This book hit me so hard with the angst and I was on the verge of tears so many times. While love triangles are taboo in the book world now, the triangle in this book was done so well that I didn't even know who I wanted Charlie to choose. Seriously, I was going to be mad at her no matter which one she chose because we got to see into each of the men's minds and really fall for each of them. 

Since our characters are older (in their 30s), I appreciated how mature the romance was and how the characters didn't think in the moment like a lot of young romance protagonists do. These characters have lived lives, experienced loss, and made some hard decisions that affected not only them, but everyone around them. I was hooked on Charlie's story and had no idea how she could make any decision. There were moments I gasped, moments I had tears in my eyes, and moments where I was swooning over something both men did. To say this was an emotional rollercoaster would be an understatement. 

If you haven't picked up this duet yet, WHAT ARE YOU DOING!? This book takes a hard look at what it means to truly love someone and give yourself over to them. And, just like life, there is so much gray that it's impossible to know what's right or wrong, what you should do and what you shouldn't do. Kandi Steiner gets romance and she takes no reservations when it comes to ripping out your heart and putting it back together again.