"How could You decide this without telling me? Without asking me what I thought?"

" Because I knew what you'd say. I know how you feel about the war. But -"

When Mattie's twin brother, Mark, and his best friend, Nash, enlist to fight in the Vietnam War, Mattie is furious. The results change the family forever. But it seems that there is much that Mattie has to learn about herself and about her family. Will the truth transform her or will she stay stuck in bitterness forever?

This split timeline novel is set in two different 1900s decades - both are connected to wars.

Post Pearl Harbor 1942.

Vietnam era 1969.

Author Michelle Shocklee is brilliant at connecting two different storylines. This novel tackles tough topics. Complicated family situations dominate the plot. But what a beautiful storyline. I highly recommend this book! I could say more, but the plot is full of potential spoilers that would lessen the impact of the lessons learned.

So glad that I was able to read this book through NetGalley. I wanted to read and review it. All opinions are my own.

This book held so many memories for me.

Like the author, my father was a WWII veteran and like her, I wish I had asked more questions and gleaned more details when he talked about his experiences. I was very proud of him.

Unlike the author, I remember the Vietnam era well. My husband was in the Navy at that time.

This story brought me to tears many times. It was so authentically written. I connected with Ava more than Mattie. Mattie was very opinionated and to my mind would not consider other views. But she did portray the attitudes of the generation of my teens and early twenties.

I liked the steadiness of Kurt and Nash. They overcame the overwhelming conditions of war. The faith element permeated the story. The characters lived out their beliefs naturally. The theme of family and reconciliation was deftly written.

This is a must read for those wanting a glimpse of the home front during WWII and the connection of that generation to the Vietnam era.

*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Tyndale via NetGalley. All opinions are mine alone.*

A touching dual timeline novel with a family history affected by two wars, and a trunk full of secrets.

This well-written story has main characters who struggle and come through great losses, with hope and grace on the other side. Dealing with grief is portrayed realistically, with anger and confusion on Mattie's part, and focus and acceptance on Ava's end.

There were good spiritual questions asked, such as why does God allow evil if He is good? And how do we have hope when faced with suffering? The author deals subtly with these and other aspects concerning loss, especially in wartime. I could feel their pain and relate to the grief. It made me see my own parents in a different light and appreciate more what they had experienced as young people during wartime. It brought back memories of the Vietnam War and the conflicts at home when I was young. It helped me remember that everyone has a story and we all need grace.

Recommend for fans of historical fiction with inspiration and some romance. 4.5 stars

(An ebook was provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.)

All We Thought We Knew, by Michelle Shocklee is a dual time line story that takes place during WWII and Vietnam. The story focus on two different women who have lost a loved one during a war. Mattie lost her twin brother during Vietnam and Ava who lost her husband during WWII.

This is a well written story that shows how two different women respond to the death of a loved one. For Mattie it was to run away, for Ava it was to find work. I so appreciate how the author writes such a good story of the grief the two women deal with. I especially enjoyed the character of Ava. I appreciate how she remains living with her mother-in-law despite the way she is treated. Her character is so strong with helping on the farm and working for the war effort. I especially enjoyed the mystery surrounding the farm Ava raises her family on.

I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book, this is my honest review.

If Michelle Shocklee was a baseball player, announcers would be shouting, she just hit a grand-slam home run! All We Thought We Knew is an incredibly evocative heart-wrenching story that will forever remain in my thoughts, and is one of the best books I have read in 2024!

This remarkable story centers around Ava Delaney, her daughter Mattie Taylor, and Gunther Schneider, and how two different wars, twenty-seven years apart, affect their lives and relationships. Shocklee, with her exquisite prose, expertly interweaves each storyline delivering a significantly emotional dual-timeline on the consequences of war, secrets, fear, grief, and a touching love story, all written with Christian undertones.

Being in the military myself during the Vietnam War era, I saw firsthand how returning soldiers were treated, which was unconscionable. Thus it was hard for me to condone Matties very opinionated viewpoint, even though she was grieving for the loss of her twin brother, and at the same time struggling with her mother dying from cancer. Working on the horse farm with her brothers best friend Nash, who returned home missing an arm, Matties eyes are opened to other viewpoints during their heart-to-heart conversations.

My heart caught in my chest when Fred, who had lost both legs, had no family and was suffering from PTSD, was introduced into the story. How Mattie took charge to make his dream come true, which in turn gave meaning and purpose to her life, warmed my heart and helped endear me to her.

All We Thought We Knew is a difficult story to read at times as Shocklee illustrates through her characters how war leaves devastating lasting impacts on not only the lives of those who lived through it but also their loved ones left behind. Shocklee handles with finesse some very tough issues in our history, the internment camps during WWII, and the controversy surrounding the Vietnam War. This is also an endearing love story that slowly builds throughout this awesome book.

For those who enjoy reading Christian historical fiction, I highly recommend All We Thought We Knew, a gripping story that will keep you engaged from beginning to end.

***Warning, have a box of tissues within reach for this very emotional story.

A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Tyndale House Publishers via NetGalley through Interviews & Reviews. I was not obligated to write a favorable review, and all opinions are my own.