(Reviewed by JD Jung)
In this multilayered and gripping novel, we are introduced to Octavia Crenshaw—a thirty-year-old Jamaican American software engineer whose journey is as compelling as the technological world that she navigates. A Columbia graduate and New Yorker, Octavia finds a sense of control in coding, especially when her romantic life and personal circumstances feel anything but manageable. Saddled with debt left by her late mother, she’s forced to leave her underpaid nonprofit job in search of financial stability.
Her search leads her to Eustachian, a global leader in audio entertainment. Despite signing a stack of NDAs and being kept mostly in the dark about her actual role, Octavia accepts the job—after all, it pays well, and tech is reshaping the world in ways she’s proud to be part of. Yet nothing prepares her, or the reader, for what unfolds next.
What begins as a simple career move quickly spirals into a high-stakes narrative of AI, ethics, and hidden agendas. The story explores heavy themes—digital colonization, power, race, gender, and time—without ever feeling overburdened. Each layer adds depth and intrigue, pulling the reader deeper into Octavia’s world.
Despite Octavia’s predicaments, she conveys her thoughts with subtle, sarcastic humor. The supporting characters are equally captivating. Each is richly drawn with their true intentions eventually surfacing.
Well-written, thought-provoking, and impossible to put down, Who Knows You by Heart is a must-read for anyone fascinated by the intersection of technology and humanity—or anyone simply looking for a smart, multifaceted, suspenseful story.