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kgnade's review
3.0
I received an advanced reader copy of Forget Me Not from Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine Books via NetGalley, in return for my honest opinion.
Forget Me Not by Alexandra Oliva is a story about overcoming past tragedies and realizing who we really are. Linda Russell basically raised herself, outside in the large, heavily wooded, walled in property that her mother owned. From a very young age Linda knew she was never going to be enough for her mother and could only rely on herself. Linda is set free one day when her mother leaves and doesn’t close the gate.
Years later living on her own in an apartment in Seattle, Linda still hasn’t acclimated to the norms of society. Linda never truly learned how to have healthy, loving friendships and relationships. Anvi, a new neighbor of Linda’s, surprises her by being genuinely friendly. When Linda’s childhood home catches fire, Anvi and Linda drive there to see what’s left. Linda discovers that her past isn’t everything she remembers thus sending Linda on a path of self discovery.
This was a great book, but moved quite slowly- I did really enjoy watching Linda come out of her shell. Forget Me Not is available now.
#alexandraoliva #forgetmenot #netgalley #arcs #advancedreadercopy #fiction #fictionbooks #readin2021 #ballantinebooks #randomhousepublishinggroup #whatthebook #bookreviews #readersofinstagram #bookaholic
For more of my reviews visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/WhattheBook/ or http://whatthebook-reviews.tumblr.com/ or follow me on Instagram @whatthebook__.
Forget Me Not by Alexandra Oliva is a story about overcoming past tragedies and realizing who we really are. Linda Russell basically raised herself, outside in the large, heavily wooded, walled in property that her mother owned. From a very young age Linda knew she was never going to be enough for her mother and could only rely on herself. Linda is set free one day when her mother leaves and doesn’t close the gate.
Years later living on her own in an apartment in Seattle, Linda still hasn’t acclimated to the norms of society. Linda never truly learned how to have healthy, loving friendships and relationships. Anvi, a new neighbor of Linda’s, surprises her by being genuinely friendly. When Linda’s childhood home catches fire, Anvi and Linda drive there to see what’s left. Linda discovers that her past isn’t everything she remembers thus sending Linda on a path of self discovery.
This was a great book, but moved quite slowly- I did really enjoy watching Linda come out of her shell. Forget Me Not is available now.
#alexandraoliva #forgetmenot #netgalley #arcs #advancedreadercopy #fiction #fictionbooks #readin2021 #ballantinebooks #randomhousepublishinggroup #whatthebook #bookreviews #readersofinstagram #bookaholic
For more of my reviews visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/WhattheBook/ or http://whatthebook-reviews.tumblr.com/ or follow me on Instagram @whatthebook__.
angelod24's review
3.0
Linda is known as “Clone Girl.” She’s not really a clone but it’s the moniker she’s known been called her entire teenage and adult life.
The novel centers around Linda’s secluded life, almost on the run from strangers that don’t think she should exist. You learn about her upbringing and strained relationship with both parents.
I liked the book. Thought it was interesting and easy to follow along. I’d recommend it to others.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy.
The novel centers around Linda’s secluded life, almost on the run from strangers that don’t think she should exist. You learn about her upbringing and strained relationship with both parents.
I liked the book. Thought it was interesting and easy to follow along. I’d recommend it to others.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy.
gabrielleint's review against another edition
3.0
Idk besties, I just really don’t like mysteries I think. This book is solid but some of it just dragged on. And I did not enjoy the tease of sci-fi with simulation hypothesis stuff that ended up not really going anywhere.
trisha_thomas's review
2.0
"Could her whole existence just be someone else's side quest?"
Interesting story about a girl who grew up rough. Raised in a cabin with no running water or functioning electricity and really much food. One day she runs and she's found and "saved". But the world isn't terribly accepting and all the technology (even more advanced than now) and lights and city are confusing. She doesn't know how to harness her social media presence or make friends.
Mixing with the same story is technology. Everyone seems tied to a sheath - something that goes on your wrist (think smart watch) and logs where you go, what you do and you use it to access money and social media.
But the technology aspect isn't fully flushed out because that's only part of what the stories about. It seems almost like a side note (because it's not fully explained) so it almost feels like something added to the story. If it had been the main part, I could have understood the addition - but the story of the girl growing up, being #clonegirl and her struggle was enough of the story. The addition of other aspects (the game, technology and G.H.) felt like distractions from the main story and muddied the storyline. I wanted to love it more but I just found it okay.
Interesting story about a girl who grew up rough. Raised in a cabin with no running water or functioning electricity and really much food. One day she runs and she's found and "saved". But the world isn't terribly accepting and all the technology (even more advanced than now) and lights and city are confusing. She doesn't know how to harness her social media presence or make friends.
Mixing with the same story is technology. Everyone seems tied to a sheath - something that goes on your wrist (think smart watch) and logs where you go, what you do and you use it to access money and social media.
But the technology aspect isn't fully flushed out because that's only part of what the stories about. It seems almost like a side note (because it's not fully explained) so it almost feels like something added to the story. If it had been the main part, I could have understood the addition - but the story of the girl growing up, being #clonegirl and her struggle was enough of the story. The addition of other aspects (the game, technology and G.H.) felt like distractions from the main story and muddied the storyline. I wanted to love it more but I just found it okay.
hugbandit7's review
4.0
This is a somewhat bizarre book but intriguing all at the same time.
Linda is an untrusting soul and as we learn about what happened to her as a young child, you really can't blame her. Her mother is mentally unstable and she somehow leaves Linda alone to raise herself. Sadly, when Linda is found she is called #CloneGirl and as we know, people can be cruel on social media and the internet. She never really learned how to interact with people and it is obvious as she tends to hibernate as much as possible.
Enter Anvi, her new next door neighbor. Anvi may know who she is but is not out to get anything or exploit Linda. This is a blessing because Linda needs a friend. It doesn't hurt that Anvi has a dog that is fond of Linda. I think he calms her down.
The story unfolds in a rather haphazard way and for a long time I had no idea what happened to Linda or why she hid away from the world. I think it takes nearly half the book to get a better understanding of what really happened. But then, do we really know what happened because there are some crazy twists and turns revealed that will change what you formerly believed.
If you decide to pick up this book, do not be surprised if it takes some time to become invested in the story and the characters, but the ending is quite a surprise. The biggest lesson from this book - be nice to people, you don't always know the truth or what someone has endured and a little kindness goes a long way.
Linda is an untrusting soul and as we learn about what happened to her as a young child, you really can't blame her. Her mother is mentally unstable and she somehow leaves Linda alone to raise herself. Sadly, when Linda is found she is called #CloneGirl and as we know, people can be cruel on social media and the internet. She never really learned how to interact with people and it is obvious as she tends to hibernate as much as possible.
Enter Anvi, her new next door neighbor. Anvi may know who she is but is not out to get anything or exploit Linda. This is a blessing because Linda needs a friend. It doesn't hurt that Anvi has a dog that is fond of Linda. I think he calms her down.
The story unfolds in a rather haphazard way and for a long time I had no idea what happened to Linda or why she hid away from the world. I think it takes nearly half the book to get a better understanding of what really happened. But then, do we really know what happened because there are some crazy twists and turns revealed that will change what you formerly believed.
If you decide to pick up this book, do not be surprised if it takes some time to become invested in the story and the characters, but the ending is quite a surprise. The biggest lesson from this book - be nice to people, you don't always know the truth or what someone has endured and a little kindness goes a long way.
meldav4's review
5.0
What a unique and fascinating book this was! I just know that this will be a move one day, and I can’t wait to watch it! I was hooked right from the first chapter and gobbled every word eagerly and effortlessly. I could not stop talking about this book the minute I finished it, and I am still talking about it to anyone who wants to talk about books!
My son is all about technological advances in the future and in AI, and I have developed interest and knowledge in this area myself, so I welcomed and appreciated so much in this book - the Sheath, SocialHub, Augmenters, VR, cloning, consciousness, simulations, to name a few. I was completely captivated throughout the entire book.
Another note to mention is that it was pretty momentous for me to see the chaos of the last election and the destruction of the pandemic written about in a fictitious novel already. It is almost surreal that what we are living through now is already an important part of history.
And the characters... The characters were just perfect for this book. There is so much more depth to each one of them than what appears on the surface. Each one played such an important and integral part to the story, and each one made the story more exciting and intriguing.
I loved this book and I am looking forward to reading more by this author.
My son is all about technological advances in the future and in AI, and I have developed interest and knowledge in this area myself, so I welcomed and appreciated so much in this book - the Sheath, SocialHub, Augmenters, VR, cloning, consciousness, simulations, to name a few. I was completely captivated throughout the entire book.
Another note to mention is that it was pretty momentous for me to see the chaos of the last election and the destruction of the pandemic written about in a fictitious novel already. It is almost surreal that what we are living through now is already an important part of history.
And the characters... The characters were just perfect for this book. There is so much more depth to each one of them than what appears on the surface. Each one played such an important and integral part to the story, and each one made the story more exciting and intriguing.
I loved this book and I am looking forward to reading more by this author.
cqedwards's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
amberunmasked's review
5.0
To say I was blown away by FORGET ME NOT sounds cliché, but is true. Like the cover image of the woman's head disintegrating, this book is chapter after chapter of important clues into the real life of Linda Russell.
Allow me to begin with Trigger Warnings: parent/child abuse, neglect, abandonment leading to complex trauma; also death of a child.
Throughout the book the narrator lets readers know that Linda doesn't feel attachment to her name. As it climaxes, we learn what an unreliable main character she is (third person omniscient). Readers do spend most of the time "in" Linda's head alongside her as she wonders what the hell life is about, why her parents neglected her and abandoned her, and what happened to her sisters Madeline and Emmer. Due to her tragic circumstances of being raised by a single mother who is deep in mental illness from mourning the death of her first daughter, Linda is never good enough. She's never like Madeline enough. She's simply not Madeline.
Linda's early years are explained in rich detail. Her mother walled in their property so Linda could never leave and to keep the real/outside world separate. Linda's youth went from supportive to trashy to full on neglect and finally abandonment which led her into a life of a feral state. She survived on her own even after the running water and electricity stopped. Then she escapes over the wall and is "rescued." Yet, like Tarzan of Greystoke, Linda doesn't fit into modern society. She doesn't know how to behave. She doesn't trust. She doesn't understand any of the basics like why she has to wear shoes when her feet have always been in the dirt.
What makes this feral child story stand apart is the unraveling of why her mother did this to her. A woman driven into total madness and taking science and god powers into her own hands to replace her dead Madeline. Not really a spoiler: Lorelei, the mother, had fertilized embryos frozen and she bribed people to assist her in getting pregnant again when she was supposed to destroy the embryos per her divorce.
Linda's father, Arthur Niequist, is a man of unspeakable obscene wealth. The kind of wealth like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos. He can literally afford anything, but money can't buy sanity for his ex-wife nor can it heal all the trauma Linda suffered. Arthur is still her knight in shining armor in that he does take in this daughter he never wanted for a while and gets her help. Eventually he supports her to live on her own with an allowance that would allow Linda to live more comfortably than most people. But, Linda, this tragically traumatized woman chooses small apartments, only enough furniture so that questions aren't raised, and eats canned pasta.
Linda meets a new neighbor in her building, Anvi, an Indian-American woman who knows that this neighbor of hers is the infamous "Clone Girl," the feral girl child who was created to replace a dead child. Linda had been all over the news and given the trending and inaccurate nickname of #CloneGirl. Anvi and her dog Nibbler become important figures in Linda's life as she finally accepts friendship. It's not an easy road and Linda constantly questions (internally) Anvi's motives in socializing with her. Anvi introduces Linda to the virtual reality world of a fantasy game. The roleplaying is a perfect and addicting escape for Linda. It's a place where she can be something other than human. She can choose her own identity and she can run through the forests of an imaginary land.
Lorelei comes back onto the scene through a partner named Percival Hunter. Percy was Madeline's first and only boyfriend. Why a young man would never move on from taking care of his deceased girlfriend's mother is a point I don't entirely understand. He made a huge mistake when Madeline was dying and despite his EMT training, he made it impossible for her to be saved. The penance he places on himself is to be at the beck and call and provide shelter and food for Lorelei while she ages and sinks into obsessive plans to re-birth Madeline again.
Names and identity are the core themes of Forget Me Not. Needless to say it was not lost on me that the named Percival and Arthur appear together in a non-Arthurian legend book. I'm not a Holy Grail scholar, so I didn't see any connection between Lorelei, Anvi, and Linda and King Arthur's knights. Yet, Percival was the knight or one of the knights who did find the Holy Grail and keep it safe. Now, if Alexandra Oliva wants readers to think of Lorelei as the grail, that's a stretch. She's inhumane, destructive, and selfish -- all the characteristics that oppose the Holy Grail itself which can restore life and can be found only by the most worthy as Sir Percival was believed to be. With a name like Percival Hunter, it's hard not believe the author knows something deep about the grail legend that wasn't covered in Indiana Jones 3, Excalibur or The DaVinci Code.
The near future life in the Pacific Northwest of the US allows the characters to have incredible technological gadgets like Sheaths (wearable computers); Earcuffs (new cell phone style); Augments (eyeglasses that give you information on anything and anyone you look at); and self-driving cars but one still needs a driver's license. The pandemic is mentioned as being over and something these characters lived through. The advanced technology would be inconsequential if not for the B-plot where a couple of programmers claim that they have created a VR so advanced, it is indistinguishable from the real world. This plot had me going until it's final reveal.
I kept wondering if Linda's life was all a simulation like if she was a playable character or something. I was happy that was not the case. I feel like it would have tricked the readers into caring for someone without all the information.
Summary:
Like Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, Forget Me Not is a feral child trying to fit into the real world is a phenomenal case study about trauma victims and all the ways that they are different. From false memories implanted, abusive parents, and quests for identity through unspeakable struggles -- these are the stories that make readers think hard about how their actions could affect the life of someone else whether it's perpetuating a trolling hashtag or having well-intentioned interactions go wrong.
Rating: 5 stars
Allow me to begin with Trigger Warnings: parent/child abuse, neglect, abandonment leading to complex trauma; also death of a child.
Throughout the book the narrator lets readers know that Linda doesn't feel attachment to her name. As it climaxes, we learn what an unreliable main character she is (third person omniscient). Readers do spend most of the time "in" Linda's head alongside her as she wonders what the hell life is about, why her parents neglected her and abandoned her, and what happened to her sisters Madeline and Emmer. Due to her tragic circumstances of being raised by a single mother who is deep in mental illness from mourning the death of her first daughter, Linda is never good enough. She's never like Madeline enough. She's simply not Madeline.
Linda's early years are explained in rich detail. Her mother walled in their property so Linda could never leave and to keep the real/outside world separate. Linda's youth went from supportive to trashy to full on neglect and finally abandonment which led her into a life of a feral state. She survived on her own even after the running water and electricity stopped. Then she escapes over the wall and is "rescued." Yet, like Tarzan of Greystoke, Linda doesn't fit into modern society. She doesn't know how to behave. She doesn't trust. She doesn't understand any of the basics like why she has to wear shoes when her feet have always been in the dirt.
What makes this feral child story stand apart is the unraveling of why her mother did this to her. A woman driven into total madness and taking science and god powers into her own hands to replace her dead Madeline. Not really a spoiler: Lorelei, the mother, had fertilized embryos frozen and she bribed people to assist her in getting pregnant again when she was supposed to destroy the embryos per her divorce.
Linda's father, Arthur Niequist, is a man of unspeakable obscene wealth. The kind of wealth like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos. He can literally afford anything, but money can't buy sanity for his ex-wife nor can it heal all the trauma Linda suffered. Arthur is still her knight in shining armor in that he does take in this daughter he never wanted for a while and gets her help. Eventually he supports her to live on her own with an allowance that would allow Linda to live more comfortably than most people. But, Linda, this tragically traumatized woman chooses small apartments, only enough furniture so that questions aren't raised, and eats canned pasta.
Linda meets a new neighbor in her building, Anvi, an Indian-American woman who knows that this neighbor of hers is the infamous "Clone Girl," the feral girl child who was created to replace a dead child. Linda had been all over the news and given the trending and inaccurate nickname of #CloneGirl. Anvi and her dog Nibbler become important figures in Linda's life as she finally accepts friendship. It's not an easy road and Linda constantly questions (internally) Anvi's motives in socializing with her. Anvi introduces Linda to the virtual reality world of a fantasy game. The roleplaying is a perfect and addicting escape for Linda. It's a place where she can be something other than human. She can choose her own identity and she can run through the forests of an imaginary land.
Lorelei comes back onto the scene through a partner named Percival Hunter. Percy was Madeline's first and only boyfriend. Why a young man would never move on from taking care of his deceased girlfriend's mother is a point I don't entirely understand. He made a huge mistake when Madeline was dying and despite his EMT training, he made it impossible for her to be saved. The penance he places on himself is to be at the beck and call and provide shelter and food for Lorelei while she ages and sinks into obsessive plans to re-birth Madeline again.
Names and identity are the core themes of Forget Me Not. Needless to say it was not lost on me that the named Percival and Arthur appear together in a non-Arthurian legend book. I'm not a Holy Grail scholar, so I didn't see any connection between Lorelei, Anvi, and Linda and King Arthur's knights. Yet, Percival was the knight or one of the knights who did find the Holy Grail and keep it safe. Now, if Alexandra Oliva wants readers to think of Lorelei as the grail, that's a stretch. She's inhumane, destructive, and selfish -- all the characteristics that oppose the Holy Grail itself which can restore life and can be found only by the most worthy as Sir Percival was believed to be. With a name like Percival Hunter, it's hard not believe the author knows something deep about the grail legend that wasn't covered in Indiana Jones 3, Excalibur or The DaVinci Code.
The near future life in the Pacific Northwest of the US allows the characters to have incredible technological gadgets like Sheaths (wearable computers); Earcuffs (new cell phone style); Augments (eyeglasses that give you information on anything and anyone you look at); and self-driving cars but one still needs a driver's license. The pandemic is mentioned as being over and something these characters lived through. The advanced technology would be inconsequential if not for the B-plot where a couple of programmers claim that they have created a VR so advanced, it is indistinguishable from the real world. This plot had me going until it's final reveal.
Spoiler
I kept wondering if Linda's life was all a simulation like if she was a playable character or something. I was happy that was not the case. I feel like it would have tricked the readers into caring for someone without all the information.
Summary:
Like Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, Forget Me Not is a feral child trying to fit into the real world is a phenomenal case study about trauma victims and all the ways that they are different. From false memories implanted, abusive parents, and quests for identity through unspeakable struggles -- these are the stories that make readers think hard about how their actions could affect the life of someone else whether it's perpetuating a trolling hashtag or having well-intentioned interactions go wrong.
Rating: 5 stars
amjbijman's review
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
emeraldjulep's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
*Audio version
I enjoyed this propulsive thriller/drama set in the near future. It feels so much like our world that it doesn’t feel “sci-fi” but more like “high tech”. Linda’s story is an interesting one and pretty unique. I did have several issues along the way with the plot-including an odd addition to the plot which was probably a red herring but ultimately just confusing. I also thought Lorelei was too much of an unrealistic, over the top character. Percy needed some more development early on IMO. The relationships developed amongst Arthur, Linda and Analya were very well done, bringing a lot of depth and emotion to those characters. The dynamics between them were relatable and the best developed part of the story IMO.
Overall I enjoyed it, but it could have been more solidly executed. I may try her other novel.
* narration was very good.
I enjoyed this propulsive thriller/drama set in the near future. It feels so much like our world that it doesn’t feel “sci-fi” but more like “high tech”. Linda’s story is an interesting one and pretty unique. I did have several issues along the way with the plot-including an odd addition to the plot which was probably a red herring but ultimately just confusing. I also thought Lorelei was too much of an unrealistic, over the top character. Percy needed some more development early on IMO. The relationships developed amongst Arthur, Linda and Analya were very well done, bringing a lot of depth and emotion to those characters. The dynamics between them were relatable and the best developed part of the story IMO.
Overall I enjoyed it, but it could have been more solidly executed. I may try her other novel.
* narration was very good.