Scan barcode
mellabella's review
4.0
I usually sniff out twisty endings sooner. Maybe I'm off my game?
Ruth's mom just passed away. She had an accident while hiking. Ruth was there with her (when she typically didn't join her mom when she hiked). So, extra traumatic right?
Nope. That was my first sign that something wasn't right with Ruthie. She said she didn't feel anything after her mom died. I get being numb. Or in denial or, in a fog. But being devoid of feeling?
Moving on, she moves back to Alaska to live with her dad after living in Oregon for 3 years and is keen to see her "best friend" Zahra. Her father was an alcoholic. But has gotten clean and remarried. Ruth kind of got on my nerves a little in the beginning. Her and Zahra had sporadic contact the 3 years she was gone. So how was she still her bestie? It was almost obsessive. Then I was kind of like whatever. But wanted to know what happened to Zahra (and Bailey).
Teens make poor life choices sometimes. The drinking, etc. Didn't bother me as I saw it when I was a teen back in the Stone ages.
The religious zealotry of Zahra's grandfather was an interesting subplot. It was also good to have biracial and Indigenous characters.
I'm between 3.5 (for some draggy parts) and 4 stars. It was really well written. I'm definitely going to check out the authors other books.
Ruth's mom just passed away. She had an accident while hiking. Ruth was there with her (when she typically didn't join her mom when she hiked). So, extra traumatic right?
Nope. That was my first sign that something wasn't right with Ruthie. She said she didn't feel anything after her mom died. I get being numb. Or in denial or, in a fog. But being devoid of feeling?
Moving on, she moves back to Alaska to live with her dad after living in Oregon for 3 years and is keen to see her "best friend" Zahra. Her father was an alcoholic. But has gotten clean and remarried. Ruth kind of got on my nerves a little in the beginning. Her and Zahra had sporadic contact the 3 years she was gone. So how was she still her bestie? It was almost obsessive. Then I was kind of like whatever. But wanted to know what happened to Zahra (and Bailey).
Teens make poor life choices sometimes. The drinking, etc. Didn't bother me as I saw it when I was a teen back in the Stone ages.
The religious zealotry of Zahra's grandfather was an interesting subplot. It was also good to have biracial and Indigenous characters.
I'm between 3.5 (for some draggy parts) and 4 stars. It was really well written. I'm definitely going to check out the authors other books.
guce_xox's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book. Towards the end I started to suspect that things weren’t as they seemed and omg was I right! I was not expecting that ending.
charlottea314's review
4.0
“I think of the thing. The thing on the ground. Blood and gristle and bone. It’d been impossible to make out the details in the midst of the mess. It’s been impossible to see what it was. No, not impossible. Because I know what it was. It was death.”
This ending truly scared me. I never saw it coming. It is very rare that I am shook from a book, but this will go on my short list of exceptions. The author did a beautiful job of leaving you in the dark for the most part; while making sure the story was progressing at an ideal and captivating pace. BEAUTIFUL work, I would recommend this to in anyone that loves murder mystery’s or thrillers.
This ending truly scared me. I never saw it coming. It is very rare that I am shook from a book, but this will go on my short list of exceptions. The author did a beautiful job of leaving you in the dark for the most part; while making sure the story was progressing at an ideal and captivating pace. BEAUTIFUL work, I would recommend this to in anyone that loves murder mystery’s or thrillers.
thenextgenlibrarian's review
4.0
“Darkness is like that. It can make you tired and sad, or it can make the bright spots stick out even more.”
trainerh15's review
4.0
So so good. Kept trying to guess the ending and I was left surprised with this unexpected twist. Slow start and not an intense “I need to read the next chapter, or else” type of read, but a great read nonetheless.
jenacidebybibliophile's review
4.0
Disclaimer: This book was sent to me by the publisher, Penguin Random House, for an honest review.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~* Book Review *~
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
If this book doesn’t leave you feeling a little unhinged, I don’t know what will.
Oh.
My.
Days.
That was twisted.
It has been three years since Ruthie and her mother left their hometown of Anchorage, Alaska to escape Ruthie’s alcoholic father. But following the sudden death of her mother, Ruthie is being sent back to Anchorage to live with her now sober dad and his new family. Things aren’t all bad though, because Ruthie will finally get to see her best friend Zahra again. Except when Ruthie arrives at her new school, news that Zahra has gone missing is announced, and all signs point to Zahra’s boyfriend. Now, Ruthie puts all her energy into finding Zahra and uncovering what really happened the night she disappeared. But along the way, Ruthie realizes that Zahra isn’t the same girl she knew. Once a thoughtful, creative and timid girl, Zahra’s friends describe her as secretive, sometimes moody, and a big partier. As Ruthie comes closer to finding out the truth, buried secrets are dug up and the horrifying realities are uncovered.
I love nothing more than a story that gives me a physical reaction while reading.
And to say my mouth dropped open, would be a vast understatement to the reality of what shape my face contorted into after this ending.
Though I had a strong suspicion of how this story would turn out, and I was more or less correct in my assumption, I am still SO impressed with how the author kept me questioning my opinion until the very end. I have read one or two books that have a similar twist in them, and the clues as to where the story was shifting was really subtle, but it was all in the characters!
This story is told in the point of view of Ruthie as she comes back to Anchorage and begins searching for Zahra. Though, in the three years that Ruthie has been away, their interactions have been limited. Ruthie reminisces on their time together in the summer before she moved, and how they spent their days devouring books and creating stories where they were the heroines who triumphed over evil. She describes their friendship of one of imagination and creativity, and portrays Zahra as a beautiful and special girl that she was more than lucky to call her best friend. But as Ruthie begins to learn more about who Zahra is now, she begins to discover that she may not be the same girl she once knew.
“Part of me, of course, just wanted to find her. But part of me wanted to find her here. Because that would mean it still matters. That the world we created together is still meaningful to her.”
For most of this book, the reader is learning who Zahra is by how she is described by her friends and family. There are little snippets and trails of information that you can pick up to form a vague portrayal of who she is, but the reader never truly gets an in depth look at her until the end of the book. Because the author chose to keep her shrouded in secrecy, my imagination was going wild the entire time I was reading. Ruthie begins to discover that Zahra has episodes where she will shutdown and not talk to anyone, or where she falls into deep depressions ranting about how she wants to die and that she is a horrible person. Which instantly makes you think, did she run away?
Each of these characters has the right amount of detail to make you feel like you know them, but just enough mystery to make you question each expression and action. One of my favorite things about thrillers is that it makes me pause my reading to decipher what is going on, where I think the clues will lead, and who I think is guilty of what. But the clues in I Know You Remember are so faint and expertly entwined into the words and mannerisms of these beautiful characters, that you’ll miss it all if you blink even once.
The backdrop for this mystery is really what seals the deal for me and brings in the creep factor. Anchorage, Alaska with its beautiful scenery and huge wooded areas make it the perfect location for a young girl to go missing and/or the possibilities of a deranged killer being on the loose. But my favorite aspect of all, was the abandoned playground that Zahra and Ruthie had claimed as their territory for that magical summer three years prior. Rusted play structures, a lonely swing-set and a place they could create their magical stories and let their imaginations run wild.
Of course...it gets much creepier toward the end of the book...*cough cough*.
I REALLY wish I could say more and give out every spoiler this is, because it is killing me keeping it all bottled up! This story is twisted, manipulative, secretive, and will make you question more than just where Zahra went. And best yet, I just found out that this is a follow-up to Jennifer Donaldson’s other novel Lies You Never Told Me. Obviously I Know You Remember can be read as a standalone (since I just did that) but now I must get my hands on “Lies”, because I need more!
I highly recommend this for readers who are still looking for some spooky reads, because Halloween season is year-round and we aren’t done being weird yet, are we? For those of you who get scared easily, don’t you worry your pretty little heads. This isn’t horror, it’s thriller! You’ll be juuustttttt fine.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~* Dream Casting *~
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Ruthie
Ruthie was pretty hard to pinpoint as far as looks, because there isn't a whole lot of detail surrounding her appearance. I mostly had to go off the cover which only shows the back of her, and I just let my imagination do the rest.
My top pick is the beautiful Taissa Farmiga.
If you're like me and love American Horror Story, then you would have fallen in love with Taissa in the first season. She is aloof and slightly mysterious, but has just the right amount of innocence and allure to pull you in - Just like Ruthie.
My other two picks for Ruthie were Kaitlyn Dever and Maude Apatow.
Kaitlyn Dever has proven her wide range of acting skills over the years, and there is something about her that makes me think she can switch her personality from sweet to horrific in .02 seconds.
Maude Apatow is a newer to the acting scene, but the little I have seen from her - I LOVE! I would be so interested to see how she'd make Ruthie come to life, and to be honest, I think she would absolutely kill it.
Zahra
Zahra is also another tough character to pinpoint on looks, because her description is also on the more vague side. So again, this is my going off of the cover and the very little information I was given while reading.
I had a few picks for Zahra, but it always came back to Riele Downs.
I just can't get over how stunning this girl is! Zahra is described as a girl that people seem to be drawn to. Someone that is easy to confide in and trust, and who is beautiful inside and out. Riele Downs exudes that perfect amount of confidence and friendliness that I think would be perfect for Zahra.
Tabitha
Tabitha's character is an interesting mix of bitchy mean girl and really devoted friend, so it was a challenge finding the right person to portray here. So, I've narrowed it down to two raidant reheads!
Ellie Bamber and Rosie Day are not only stunning with that red hair, but they also have a sharp edge to their looks that make you want to be careful around them. Tabitha comes off as a snippy, bitchy and fierce character most of the time, but when it comes down to it - girl is a little gem!
Ben Peavy
Ben is described as having Native heritage, dark eyes, a full mouth, and black hair that is short on the sides and longer on top. For some reason though, there is a very small pool of young Native actors to choose from.
So I had to get creative for this one...
I give you, Vito Basso.
Pretty sure this beautiful specimen is a model and not an actor, but c'mon...we could convince him to switch careers, couldn't we?
Seb Collins
Immediately, and I mean immediately after Seb was described, two people popped into my head. First was the majorly talented Timothée Chalamet, who I just adore to pieces.
Timothée ticks off every box there is for the pale, skinny, sharp feature description..but he is also a little too clean-cut for this character.
But you know who would have been perfect?!
The late, amazing, wonderful Anton Yelchin.
Seb is described as a little shaggy and scruffy, and Anton Yelchin was definitely able to play this part. Unfortunately he passed away a few years ago, which is positively tragic, because he was an immensely talented actor.
Bailey Sellers
Bailey is one of the youngest pivotal characters in this book, and is described as being a poor and skinny fourteen-year-old girl who is physically abused at home. She is fast and has a bit of a temper, but at the end of the day, she is just a lonely little girl looking for a friend.
My pick for Bailey is the oober talented Mckenna Grace.
This girl astounds me every time I see her in a movie. She is versatile and immediately grabs your attention! Her as Bailey is a no-brainer!!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~* Book Review *~
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
If this book doesn’t leave you feeling a little unhinged, I don’t know what will.
Oh.
My.
Days.
That was twisted.
It has been three years since Ruthie and her mother left their hometown of Anchorage, Alaska to escape Ruthie’s alcoholic father. But following the sudden death of her mother, Ruthie is being sent back to Anchorage to live with her now sober dad and his new family. Things aren’t all bad though, because Ruthie will finally get to see her best friend Zahra again. Except when Ruthie arrives at her new school, news that Zahra has gone missing is announced, and all signs point to Zahra’s boyfriend. Now, Ruthie puts all her energy into finding Zahra and uncovering what really happened the night she disappeared. But along the way, Ruthie realizes that Zahra isn’t the same girl she knew. Once a thoughtful, creative and timid girl, Zahra’s friends describe her as secretive, sometimes moody, and a big partier. As Ruthie comes closer to finding out the truth, buried secrets are dug up and the horrifying realities are uncovered.
I love nothing more than a story that gives me a physical reaction while reading.
And to say my mouth dropped open, would be a vast understatement to the reality of what shape my face contorted into after this ending.
Though I had a strong suspicion of how this story would turn out, and I was more or less correct in my assumption, I am still SO impressed with how the author kept me questioning my opinion until the very end. I have read one or two books that have a similar twist in them, and the clues as to where the story was shifting was really subtle, but it was all in the characters!
This story is told in the point of view of Ruthie as she comes back to Anchorage and begins searching for Zahra. Though, in the three years that Ruthie has been away, their interactions have been limited. Ruthie reminisces on their time together in the summer before she moved, and how they spent their days devouring books and creating stories where they were the heroines who triumphed over evil. She describes their friendship of one of imagination and creativity, and portrays Zahra as a beautiful and special girl that she was more than lucky to call her best friend. But as Ruthie begins to learn more about who Zahra is now, she begins to discover that she may not be the same girl she once knew.
“Part of me, of course, just wanted to find her. But part of me wanted to find her here. Because that would mean it still matters. That the world we created together is still meaningful to her.”
For most of this book, the reader is learning who Zahra is by how she is described by her friends and family. There are little snippets and trails of information that you can pick up to form a vague portrayal of who she is, but the reader never truly gets an in depth look at her until the end of the book. Because the author chose to keep her shrouded in secrecy, my imagination was going wild the entire time I was reading. Ruthie begins to discover that Zahra has episodes where she will shutdown and not talk to anyone, or where she falls into deep depressions ranting about how she wants to die and that she is a horrible person. Which instantly makes you think, did she run away?
Each of these characters has the right amount of detail to make you feel like you know them, but just enough mystery to make you question each expression and action. One of my favorite things about thrillers is that it makes me pause my reading to decipher what is going on, where I think the clues will lead, and who I think is guilty of what. But the clues in I Know You Remember are so faint and expertly entwined into the words and mannerisms of these beautiful characters, that you’ll miss it all if you blink even once.
The backdrop for this mystery is really what seals the deal for me and brings in the creep factor. Anchorage, Alaska with its beautiful scenery and huge wooded areas make it the perfect location for a young girl to go missing and/or the possibilities of a deranged killer being on the loose. But my favorite aspect of all, was the abandoned playground that Zahra and Ruthie had claimed as their territory for that magical summer three years prior. Rusted play structures, a lonely swing-set and a place they could create their magical stories and let their imaginations run wild.
Of course...it gets much creepier toward the end of the book...*cough cough*.
I REALLY wish I could say more and give out every spoiler this is, because it is killing me keeping it all bottled up! This story is twisted, manipulative, secretive, and will make you question more than just where Zahra went. And best yet, I just found out that this is a follow-up to Jennifer Donaldson’s other novel Lies You Never Told Me. Obviously I Know You Remember can be read as a standalone (since I just did that) but now I must get my hands on “Lies”, because I need more!
I highly recommend this for readers who are still looking for some spooky reads, because Halloween season is year-round and we aren’t done being weird yet, are we? For those of you who get scared easily, don’t you worry your pretty little heads. This isn’t horror, it’s thriller! You’ll be juuustttttt fine.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~* Dream Casting *~
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Ruthie
Ruthie was pretty hard to pinpoint as far as looks, because there isn't a whole lot of detail surrounding her appearance. I mostly had to go off the cover which only shows the back of her, and I just let my imagination do the rest.
My top pick is the beautiful Taissa Farmiga.
If you're like me and love American Horror Story, then you would have fallen in love with Taissa in the first season. She is aloof and slightly mysterious, but has just the right amount of innocence and allure to pull you in - Just like Ruthie.
My other two picks for Ruthie were Kaitlyn Dever and Maude Apatow.
Kaitlyn Dever has proven her wide range of acting skills over the years, and there is something about her that makes me think she can switch her personality from sweet to horrific in .02 seconds.
Maude Apatow is a newer to the acting scene, but the little I have seen from her - I LOVE! I would be so interested to see how she'd make Ruthie come to life, and to be honest, I think she would absolutely kill it.
Zahra
Zahra is also another tough character to pinpoint on looks, because her description is also on the more vague side. So again, this is my going off of the cover and the very little information I was given while reading.
I had a few picks for Zahra, but it always came back to Riele Downs.
I just can't get over how stunning this girl is! Zahra is described as a girl that people seem to be drawn to. Someone that is easy to confide in and trust, and who is beautiful inside and out. Riele Downs exudes that perfect amount of confidence and friendliness that I think would be perfect for Zahra.
Tabitha
Tabitha's character is an interesting mix of bitchy mean girl and really devoted friend, so it was a challenge finding the right person to portray here. So, I've narrowed it down to two raidant reheads!
Ellie Bamber and Rosie Day are not only stunning with that red hair, but they also have a sharp edge to their looks that make you want to be careful around them. Tabitha comes off as a snippy, bitchy and fierce character most of the time, but when it comes down to it - girl is a little gem!
Ben Peavy
Ben is described as having Native heritage, dark eyes, a full mouth, and black hair that is short on the sides and longer on top. For some reason though, there is a very small pool of young Native actors to choose from.
So I had to get creative for this one...
I give you, Vito Basso.
Pretty sure this beautiful specimen is a model and not an actor, but c'mon...we could convince him to switch careers, couldn't we?
Seb Collins
Immediately, and I mean immediately after Seb was described, two people popped into my head. First was the majorly talented Timothée Chalamet, who I just adore to pieces.
Timothée ticks off every box there is for the pale, skinny, sharp feature description..but he is also a little too clean-cut for this character.
But you know who would have been perfect?!
The late, amazing, wonderful Anton Yelchin.
Seb is described as a little shaggy and scruffy, and Anton Yelchin was definitely able to play this part. Unfortunately he passed away a few years ago, which is positively tragic, because he was an immensely talented actor.
Bailey Sellers
Bailey is one of the youngest pivotal characters in this book, and is described as being a poor and skinny fourteen-year-old girl who is physically abused at home. She is fast and has a bit of a temper, but at the end of the day, she is just a lonely little girl looking for a friend.
My pick for Bailey is the oober talented Mckenna Grace.
This girl astounds me every time I see her in a movie. She is versatile and immediately grabs your attention! Her as Bailey is a no-brainer!!
onepageatatime's review
5.0
I loved this book!!!! Any fan of the silent patient should read this books! Everytime you thought you knew what was going to happen Jennifer Donaldson threw you a curveball and you would end up with a new suspect and new doubts. I don't normally read thrillers but this one was amazing and I'm glad I went outside my comfort zone to read it.