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2.93 AVERAGE
2.93 AVERAGE
Let's talk about secrets. The kind of secrets that can bend and twist and turn a teeny, tiny veiled thing into a full blown nuclear bomb. Jessica Strawser has again, intricately built a twisty, complex labyrinth of emotions, pain, fear, guilt and secrets and then dropped the bomb on us once again. She makes it look so easy: to make lives look so very complicated, so real-life - and so insightful. And it explodes all over you in a mess of pieces you feverishly try to put together but cannot for the life of you figure what the heck is going on!
It starts with a simple catch-up video chat between friends while Molly's husband is out of town. Molly and Liza used to be so close, but life and distance has built a wedge, and the much needed girls-night gossip session is just starting to warm up when Molly needs to step away to answer her daughters wails from the bedroom. As Liza waits - staring at a static screen of Molly's house - she see something - or rather, someone. There's a masked intruder in Molly's house.
And what follows is so utterly confusing. Why won't Molly acknowledge what Liza saw. Why is she so mad that Liza is so incredibly concerned? And why won't she tell her husband? Cue the secrets and the emotional complexities of friendships and married life. The stresses of work, the worries over money. The struggles with pain.
These are ALL things that normal everyday people deal with in real life. You, me, Joe down the street... the way that Strawser makes you feel every single struggle, sense worry over choices made, and harbor guilt that is not your own, is a true gift in her storytelling. I savored every minute inhaling the suspense, and didn't put it down, until I had acknowledged every, single word.
It starts with a simple catch-up video chat between friends while Molly's husband is out of town. Molly and Liza used to be so close, but life and distance has built a wedge, and the much needed girls-night gossip session is just starting to warm up when Molly needs to step away to answer her daughters wails from the bedroom. As Liza waits - staring at a static screen of Molly's house - she see something - or rather, someone. There's a masked intruder in Molly's house.
And what follows is so utterly confusing. Why won't Molly acknowledge what Liza saw. Why is she so mad that Liza is so incredibly concerned? And why won't she tell her husband? Cue the secrets and the emotional complexities of friendships and married life. The stresses of work, the worries over money. The struggles with pain.
These are ALL things that normal everyday people deal with in real life. You, me, Joe down the street... the way that Strawser makes you feel every single struggle, sense worry over choices made, and harbor guilt that is not your own, is a true gift in her storytelling. I savored every minute inhaling the suspense, and didn't put it down, until I had acknowledged every, single word.
Liza and Molly are childhood best friends that have drifted apart. Molly is married with a family living in Cincinnati and Liza is single and living in Chicago. After several “let’s get together” promises they finally schedule a video call to reconnect. During the call, Molly has to tend to her child and leaves the video connection open. After a short time Liza sees a masked man in dark clothes enter the house and in a panic for her friends safety calls the police. Molly does not react as expected for someone who has her house broken into and acts like it is not a big deal. Liza is worried about Molly and drives overnight to her in Cincinnati. Molly acts strange again and pushes Liza away. When Molly returns to Chicago, she finds her apartment has been destroyed in a fire and everyone on her floor did not survive. Left with little options, Liza moves to Cincinnati to stay with her brother and pregnant sister-in-law. As Liza struggles to put her life together, Molly is struggling as well. She has secrets from her husband, Daniel, not knowing Daniel has secrets of his own. Molly and Daniel’s marriage is going through a rough time. The story expands as Liza deals with the aftermath of the fire and tries to help her friends and family. Molly and Daniel struggle to deal with their secrets on their own. Can everyone come together to help?
This was my first book by this author and I struggled to get into it in the beginning. The story switched between the characters and it was a little confusing to follow. Once I got further into the book it became easier to read and I had a hard time putting it down. I read the last 3/4 of the book on a long plane trip. The book shows the struggles in a marriage or friendship are not always a what they seem. Honestly really is the best policy and can avoid a lot of misconceptions.
I would give this book 🌟🌟🌟🌟. It was a little hard to get into but grabbed your attention later on. It was very interesting to figure out everyone’s secrets. It also showed what seems like a hopeless situation is not always that.
This was my first book by this author and I struggled to get into it in the beginning. The story switched between the characters and it was a little confusing to follow. Once I got further into the book it became easier to read and I had a hard time putting it down. I read the last 3/4 of the book on a long plane trip. The book shows the struggles in a marriage or friendship are not always a what they seem. Honestly really is the best policy and can avoid a lot of misconceptions.
I would give this book 🌟🌟🌟🌟. It was a little hard to get into but grabbed your attention later on. It was very interesting to figure out everyone’s secrets. It also showed what seems like a hopeless situation is not always that.
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Forget You Know Me is not what I was suspecting at all - that’s not a bad thing, just different! I was expecting a psychological suspense type story. While there is a small touch of that, this is primarily a book about relationships. The relationship between best friends that have drifted apart. The relationship of a husband and wife edging towards divorce. The relationship between two people just meeting. All of these deep, twisting rollercoaster relationships make for a very thought provoking book!
If you’ve read “Not That I Could Tell,” then you know @jessicastrawserauthor does a great job of keeping you guessing till the very end. It made me so mad (at myself) for not figuring out “who did it” until the very last few pages of this book. While there were a few parts that I felt were left unanswered, I still highly recommend this book. True to form, Strawser provides you with so many possibilities that even you would want to sleep with one eye open. It’s such a great thriller, I’d check it out! • • • PS: Not That I Could Tell was a previous @bookofthemonth pick that I also highly recommend!!
Lifelong friends Liza and Molly have grown distant since Liza moved to Chicago. One night, when Molly’s husband Daniel is away on business, they have a video chat in a bid to reconnect. After an awkward start, the conversation is flowing easily when Molly has to go check on one of her children. Liza is horrified when she sees a masked man enter her friend’s house, and panics when the screen goes dark. She calls the police, and then—unable to get Molly to answer her phone—Liza jumps in her car and drives all night to make sure she is okay, only to be turned away by an angry Molly. Confused, hurt, and angry, Liza returns home only to find more heartbreak waiting for her as she tries to figure out what happened that fateful night.
For some reason, I thought this book was a thriller when I read it, even though it’s clearly marked as women’s fiction on Netgalley. (Something I realized while preparing to write this review.) I originally rated this book at three stars, which would have been fair if it was being marketed as a thriller. Since the correct genre is women’s fiction—which puts things in a different light, story-wise—I’m bumping my rating up to four stars.
The main focus of the story is Liza and Molly’s fading friendship, as well as the strained relationship between Molly and her husband, Daniel. Molly’s life as a wife and mother created a distance with Liza, and it became greater after Liza moved away from their hometown. I felt a great deal of sympathy for both women. I understood Liza’s perspective because I’ve had dear friendships fade away, but my greatest empathy was for Molly. She came across as distinctly unlikable in the beginning, but as the story progresses it becomes evident that Molly is struggling with unidentified medical issues that have her in constant pain, which causes a rift in her marriage and makes mothering her children an often difficult for her.
The main characters—Liza, Molly, and Daniel—all face other obstacles in their lives that complicate the mending of their relationships. Issues faced by Molly and Daniel, in particular, often eclipsed the problems in their relationships… which, I suppose, illustrates how easily day-to-day life interferes in how people interact with those we care about the most.
This was an enjoyable book that I’ll have to add to my reread list, so that I can properly enjoy it without misconceptions about what genre of book I’m reading.
If you enjoy reading women’s fiction, do give this book a try!
I received an advance reading copy of this book courtesy of St. Martin’s Press via Netgalley.
For some reason, I thought this book was a thriller when I read it, even though it’s clearly marked as women’s fiction on Netgalley. (Something I realized while preparing to write this review.) I originally rated this book at three stars, which would have been fair if it was being marketed as a thriller. Since the correct genre is women’s fiction—which puts things in a different light, story-wise—I’m bumping my rating up to four stars.
The main focus of the story is Liza and Molly’s fading friendship, as well as the strained relationship between Molly and her husband, Daniel. Molly’s life as a wife and mother created a distance with Liza, and it became greater after Liza moved away from their hometown. I felt a great deal of sympathy for both women. I understood Liza’s perspective because I’ve had dear friendships fade away, but my greatest empathy was for Molly. She came across as distinctly unlikable in the beginning, but as the story progresses it becomes evident that Molly is struggling with unidentified medical issues that have her in constant pain, which causes a rift in her marriage and makes mothering her children an often difficult for her.
The main characters—Liza, Molly, and Daniel—all face other obstacles in their lives that complicate the mending of their relationships. Issues faced by Molly and Daniel, in particular, often eclipsed the problems in their relationships… which, I suppose, illustrates how easily day-to-day life interferes in how people interact with those we care about the most.
This was an enjoyable book that I’ll have to add to my reread list, so that I can properly enjoy it without misconceptions about what genre of book I’m reading.
If you enjoy reading women’s fiction, do give this book a try!
I received an advance reading copy of this book courtesy of St. Martin’s Press via Netgalley.
I really enjoyed this book. It's very real and relatable. I understood Molly's pains and the desperation to do something/anything about it. It's a sad reality how friendships just fizzle out given distance or nothing at all, and it takes effort from both parties to get back to how things used to be.
Definitely, recommending this book.
Definitely, recommending this book.
Forget You Know Me by Jessica Strawser is an intriguing novel about friendship and marriage that also features a hint of mystery.
Molly Perkins' marriage to husband Daniel has become increasingly stressed since their two young children were born. Suffering from chronic pain that she has found no relief from, she is resentful of Daniel's dismissal of her struggles. Her lifelong friendship with Liza Green has been one of the few bright spots in her life but they have drifted apart since Liza relocated to Chicago.
Finally reconnecting through a video call, while Molly goes to comfort her daughter, Nori, Liza sees something that compels her to rush to Molly's side only to be rebuffed upon arrival. Angry and hurt, she returns home only to discover a tragedy that results in her moving back to Cincinnati. With no plans to contact Molly, Liza tries to figure out what comes next for her.
In the aftermath of the video call, both Molly's and Liza's lives are forever changed. Molly is forced to confront her growing resentment toward Daniel and decide whether or not she wants to save her marriage. Despite her somewhat blasé reaction to what Liz witnessed, she becomes increasingly worried about a precarious financial decision she has been keeping secret.
Daniel is finally ready to do something about his fractured marriage but Molly veers between receptive to his overtures and outright angry with him. He becomes even more anxious as a situation at work begins to spill over into his personal life. Daniel must make a choice about whether or not he should continue protecting someone else's questionable choices. He is also quite frustrated once he becomes aware his wife is hiding things from him.
Liza is caught in a bit of a downward spiral after circumstances lead to her decision to move back home. Her anxiety level is out of control as she obsesses over strangers' misfortunes. Liza is also still very angry over what happened with Molly but she is being pressured by loved ones to salvage their friendship.
With chapters alternating from three different points of view, Forget You Know Me is an engrossing novel that is thought-provoking. The event that serves as a catalyst for some long overdue introspection simmers in the background as Molly, Daniel and Liza try to decide whether their respective relationships are worth salvaging. Molly and Daniel are somewhat frustrating characters whose lack of communication has lead to a serious breakdown in their marriage. Liza uses humor to deflect attention away from the problems in her life. However after a cataclysmic event, she has no choice but to face her fears if she is going to move forward. Jessica Strawser does an excellent job keeping the truth about what happened the night of Molly and Liza's video call carefully under wraps until the novel's conclusion. Be prepared to spend a lot of time in the three main characters' heads as they attempt to unravel the messes they have make of their lives.
An interesting, character driven novel that is emotionally complex yet also carries an inkling of danger.
Molly Perkins' marriage to husband Daniel has become increasingly stressed since their two young children were born. Suffering from chronic pain that she has found no relief from, she is resentful of Daniel's dismissal of her struggles. Her lifelong friendship with Liza Green has been one of the few bright spots in her life but they have drifted apart since Liza relocated to Chicago.
Finally reconnecting through a video call, while Molly goes to comfort her daughter, Nori, Liza sees something that compels her to rush to Molly's side only to be rebuffed upon arrival. Angry and hurt, she returns home only to discover a tragedy that results in her moving back to Cincinnati. With no plans to contact Molly, Liza tries to figure out what comes next for her.
In the aftermath of the video call, both Molly's and Liza's lives are forever changed. Molly is forced to confront her growing resentment toward Daniel and decide whether or not she wants to save her marriage. Despite her somewhat blasé reaction to what Liz witnessed, she becomes increasingly worried about a precarious financial decision she has been keeping secret.
Daniel is finally ready to do something about his fractured marriage but Molly veers between receptive to his overtures and outright angry with him. He becomes even more anxious as a situation at work begins to spill over into his personal life. Daniel must make a choice about whether or not he should continue protecting someone else's questionable choices. He is also quite frustrated once he becomes aware his wife is hiding things from him.
Liza is caught in a bit of a downward spiral after circumstances lead to her decision to move back home. Her anxiety level is out of control as she obsesses over strangers' misfortunes. Liza is also still very angry over what happened with Molly but she is being pressured by loved ones to salvage their friendship.
With chapters alternating from three different points of view, Forget You Know Me is an engrossing novel that is thought-provoking. The event that serves as a catalyst for some long overdue introspection simmers in the background as Molly, Daniel and Liza try to decide whether their respective relationships are worth salvaging. Molly and Daniel are somewhat frustrating characters whose lack of communication has lead to a serious breakdown in their marriage. Liza uses humor to deflect attention away from the problems in her life. However after a cataclysmic event, she has no choice but to face her fears if she is going to move forward. Jessica Strawser does an excellent job keeping the truth about what happened the night of Molly and Liza's video call carefully under wraps until the novel's conclusion. Be prepared to spend a lot of time in the three main characters' heads as they attempt to unravel the messes they have make of their lives.
An interesting, character driven novel that is emotionally complex yet also carries an inkling of danger.
Forget You Know Me by Jessica Strawser quickly grabbed my attention during the opening scene, but turned out to be a slow read overall. A masked intruder seen during a video call, while the person whose home he is in has run upstairs for a few minutes, is an introduction with a pretty big impact. This made me feel, along with the description, that it was going to be a thriller/suspense novel, but in reality, it was more of the day-to-day life of a suburban couple and the issues they faced with health, jobs, neighbors, etc. The identity of the masked intruder was quite anti-climactic. By the point of the reveal, I did not really even care and honestly, did not understand the reasoning. Unfortunately, try as I may, I was not able to relate to or care much for any of the characters. I feel the author did a good job in giving a backstory for each and her writing flows nicely, but this story simply was not a favorite of mine. Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for giving me this book in exchange for an honest review.