ARC Review: Forgotten by Cat Patrick

Sometimes we wish like we can just forget a lot of things. Embarrassing moments, traumatic events, painful happenings, we all want to forget at times.

But what if you don't want to forget? What if you want to remember all those things, the good and the bad, but you just can't? How will you live your life knowing that each day is a blank page for you?

Title: Forgotten by Cat Patrick
Pages: 304
Release Date: June 7th 2011
Published by: Egmont Books Ltd / Hardie Grant Australia
Source: Publishers (I received an ARC from both Hardie Grant & Egmont UK)
Buy a copy:
Amazon
Book Depository: US version | UK version | AU version

Summary:

Each night when 16 year-old London Lane goes to sleep, her whole world disappears. In the morning, all that's left is a note telling her about a day she can't remember. The whole scenario doesn't exactly make high school or dating that hot guy whose name she can't seem to recall any easier. But when London starts experiencing disturbing visions she can't make sense of, she realizes it's time to learn a little more about the past she keeps forgetting-before it destroys her future.

Part psychological drama, part romance, and part mystery, this thought-provoking novel will inspire readers to consider the what-if's in their own lives and recognize the power they have to control their destinies.

London's brain resets at 4:33 am. Everything she has done for the day, fighting with her mom about the secrets she's been keeping from her about her dad, talking to her bestfriend Jamie, getting hit by a dodge ball in the face, borrowing hideous clothes from a snarky schoolmate, and meeting that one boy who she'll love, she forgets all of them. Whether she likes it or not, the moment her eyes open the next day, she would not remember any of it.

If you think that would be fun, you're wrong.

Living a life filled with notes you need to read to get you through day by day, meeting people, experiencing life changing moments and having all of them erased, wiped clean in a day, I can't imagine how one can live a normal life, let alone build one at that.

First, I would like to say that I'm humbled to be introduced and read about a character like London. Sure she's not a perfect character, but because of what she's going through, I appreciate all the little things I used to take for granted. Because I will remember all of them and they will always stay with me. For London's case, no matter how hard she tries, it wouldn't. Ever. I admire the strength she has and her determination to live life as normally as she can.

It's a lot harder because London can only see what's in the future. She can never look back even if she wanted to. How can you come into terms with the fact that you know what's in store for you tomorrow, even those years from now, and not what HAD happened today? It's heart breaking and very sad. If you had the power to see them, would you want to change it? Will you tell people? It's hard to be London.

Here's what made me love Forgotten even more. Aside from the uniqueness of the plot, I loved how the characters behave. Specifically Luke. He's vulnerable, sensitive, awkward at times and weird. Who paints ears anyway? He cries in front of London, he does sweet things for London, tells her the cutest things, like when when he told her she snores. Even with London's reluctance to have Luke know of her secret, he was there, doing the littlest things, making the effort to make sure that even when London forgets everything, she'd still remember him. The guy she likes. Now that's a love that's enduring despite all the difficulties they face and will face in the future.

I think he's the one person you would not want to be erased from your memory, or from your notes, no matter what happens.

Forgotten is a one of a kind read. It's an amazing debut novel. It has a captivating plot, with real and emotional characters, and that one girl who will leave us contemplating about the things in life we tend to ignore. Forgotten will rouse powerful emotions from readers once they are immersed in London's world, filled with notes and things to remember, yet filled with love and hope that sometimes, the mind can forget, but the heart will always remember.

You wouldn't want to miss such an UNFORGETTABLE novel, right?

Content (plot, story flow, character):

Stunning: Worthy of a Goddess' Praise!

Book Cover:
Very attractive and mysterious, just beautiful in all the ways that count.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.