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2.93 AVERAGE
2.93 AVERAGE
I didn’t really enjoy this book very much. I don’t mind reading books about unlikeable people but the story has to be good for me to get into it and this one wasn’t. It was rather dull.
I was provided an advanced copy of this book by the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was provided an advanced copy of this book by the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Forget You Know Me is not a thriller, but it is an emotional story of friends and spouses drifting apart over time. ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Molly and Liza are the best of friends. Molly eventually marries Daniel, and the two remain close. Things change when Liza moves away, though. It affects her friendship with Molly and also Molly’s marriage. But why?
Daniel is away on business, and the friends plan a video call to catch up. Molly leaves the room briefly, and Liza sees something that has her driving all night to Molly’s house.
When she arrives, Molly is cold, and Liza is confused.
Did Liza really see what she was so concerned about? Is their friendship over?
The premise of friends growing apart after marriage was relatable and well-rendered. The characters are cast in three-dimension; this truly is a character-driven story. It’s also the story of marriages that grow apart, which again, is another relatable topic. How do you stop, can you stop, that inertia when you finally realize the distance is growing?
If you’ve been knee-deep in either of these dynamics on a personal level, this book will resonate. I enjoyed watching Liza and Molly process their situations and was enamored with the insightful way this story was told. Well-done, Jessica Strawser!
Thanks to the publisher for the complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
Molly and Liza are the best of friends. Molly eventually marries Daniel, and the two remain close. Things change when Liza moves away, though. It affects her friendship with Molly and also Molly’s marriage. But why?
Daniel is away on business, and the friends plan a video call to catch up. Molly leaves the room briefly, and Liza sees something that has her driving all night to Molly’s house.
When she arrives, Molly is cold, and Liza is confused.
Did Liza really see what she was so concerned about? Is their friendship over?
The premise of friends growing apart after marriage was relatable and well-rendered. The characters are cast in three-dimension; this truly is a character-driven story. It’s also the story of marriages that grow apart, which again, is another relatable topic. How do you stop, can you stop, that inertia when you finally realize the distance is growing?
If you’ve been knee-deep in either of these dynamics on a personal level, this book will resonate. I enjoyed watching Liza and Molly process their situations and was enamored with the insightful way this story was told. Well-done, Jessica Strawser!
Thanks to the publisher for the complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
I'm a little mixed on this story. I enjoyed it well enough, I was certainly captivated as you'd expect when a mysterious and potentially traumatic event occurred early on, eager to uncover the who , what, why. But then the story seemed to slow to a snails pace as we get to know the characters. I liked Liz but found Molly tiresome, creating her own drama in her disregard for her family. The story shakes out in an unexpected way and when all the secrets come out, there are no clear cut victims. In that sense, it's reflective of real life. I'd like to try another book by Strawser but I just couldn't connect with these characters.
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
Best friends since childhood, Liza and Molly have grown apart. I enjoyed seeing these two try to reconnect, to rebuild, and to find their new friendship. Neither of them were willing to give up their friendship but both had obstacles to overcome before they can do that. I struggled with how not nice they were to each other once their video chat was broken up. Molly blew Liza off after her driving all night to check on her, Liza moves to town and doesn’t even tell Molly that she is back, and then went Daniel forces them to be together they are catty and rude to each other. I get that feelings were hurt, things were said, but GROW UP!
I was under the impression that Forget You Know Me was a thriller but it was more a book about friendship and marriages. It is a story about forgiveness, telling the truth, letting go of past issues and moving on with life, and of being honest with yourself. Daniel and Molly’s marriage was in trouble from the first omission by both of them. Liza and Molly’s friendship was in trouble from not letting go of the past.
I enjoyed this book and look forward to those quiet moments when I could escape into Jessica Strawser’s story.
I was under the impression that Forget You Know Me was a thriller but it was more a book about friendship and marriages. It is a story about forgiveness, telling the truth, letting go of past issues and moving on with life, and of being honest with yourself. Daniel and Molly’s marriage was in trouble from the first omission by both of them. Liza and Molly’s friendship was in trouble from not letting go of the past.
I enjoyed this book and look forward to those quiet moments when I could escape into Jessica Strawser’s story.
I'm not done yet, but I have to share some thoughts.
First, this book does not feel like a mystery, thriller or suspense. Drama? Yes. But it's not THRILLING. I'm not feeling on the edge of my seat for the MYSTERY. But, it's also not a BAD book either.
I first read this author last year, with her Not That I Could Tell, and at the time, I didn't really love the book. It was set in an area I lived briefly, and felt authentic for that reason, but some of the way she portrayed the characters really ticked me off. That's still true, but I have to add that the book and the characters actually stuck in my mind for more than 10 months - and after around 180 MORE books that year. This book feels the same way - the characters feel TRUE, they feel REAL, their issues and problems, I can RELATE to. But something in the story feels ... off.
Overall, I'm annoyed that I bought into all the hype about this book and actually BOUGHT it at FULL PRICE because I was too eager to read it, rather than waiting for the library copy to come around to me. Not only do I almost never buy brand new books at full price, but I'd promised myself not to buy ANY books this year, and here I am, buying this one based on reviews, and being disappointed that it's really NOT a thriller.
The book kinda starts strong (though, admittedly, I'm not a big fan of this "best friends forever" and "my life is so empty without you" and "you never should have moved away" and "let's have a girls night and gossip and drink lots of wine because I'm so tired of my life, kids and family, I need to moan at you and you'll feel sympathy b/c you have ovaries too" bull crap.), but then it fell face down and took a nap. Molly's little reveal about 25% in perked things up, but not around 50% we're napping again. And - So. Much. Background. So. Many. Background. Thoughts. UGH!! Molly - get a counselor! I'm sure your insurance would cover THAT, and you'd have someone to TALK to and not hold it all in - and maybe they could help you through these problems. I mean - DAMN! How have you NOT thought of this?! Ugh.
I'll finish the book, and might have more to add, more thoughts. But overall, I just needed to get that out of my head.
After finishing - Wait, what? What happened? For all the "stuff" going on through the book, the ending is rather flat. Lots of loose ends.
I can identify with Molly - I've had "invisible" medical problems & felt all alone & such, though I didn't go to the ends she did with chasing medical cures, thankfully. But the ending of the story just feels empty & flat.
Maybe 2.5 stars. A bit better than ok, but I don't really think it's good. Hmm.
First, this book does not feel like a mystery, thriller or suspense. Drama? Yes. But it's not THRILLING. I'm not feeling on the edge of my seat for the MYSTERY. But, it's also not a BAD book either.
I first read this author last year, with her Not That I Could Tell, and at the time, I didn't really love the book. It was set in an area I lived briefly, and felt authentic for that reason, but some of the way she portrayed the characters really ticked me off. That's still true, but I have to add that the book and the characters actually stuck in my mind for more than 10 months - and after around 180 MORE books that year. This book feels the same way - the characters feel TRUE, they feel REAL, their issues and problems, I can RELATE to. But something in the story feels ... off.
Overall, I'm annoyed that I bought into all the hype about this book and actually BOUGHT it at FULL PRICE because I was too eager to read it, rather than waiting for the library copy to come around to me. Not only do I almost never buy brand new books at full price, but I'd promised myself not to buy ANY books this year, and here I am, buying this one based on reviews, and being disappointed that it's really NOT a thriller.
The book kinda starts strong (though, admittedly, I'm not a big fan of this "best friends forever" and "my life is so empty without you" and "you never should have moved away" and "let's have a girls night and gossip and drink lots of wine because I'm so tired of my life, kids and family, I need to moan at you and you'll feel sympathy b/c you have ovaries too" bull crap.), but then it fell face down and took a nap. Molly's little reveal about 25% in perked things up, but not around 50% we're napping again. And - So. Much. Background. So. Many. Background. Thoughts. UGH!! Molly - get a counselor! I'm sure your insurance would cover THAT, and you'd have someone to TALK to and not hold it all in - and maybe they could help you through these problems. I mean - DAMN! How have you NOT thought of this?! Ugh.
I'll finish the book, and might have more to add, more thoughts. But overall, I just needed to get that out of my head.
After finishing - Wait, what? What happened? For all the "stuff" going on through the book, the ending is rather flat. Lots of loose ends.
I can identify with Molly - I've had "invisible" medical problems & felt all alone & such, though I didn't go to the ends she did with chasing medical cures, thankfully. But the ending of the story just feels empty & flat.
Maybe 2.5 stars. A bit better than ok, but I don't really think it's good. Hmm.
Meh. A plot that could have been a lot more interesting but was not. Pretty easy to guess the ending.