elisweets's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
It was a cute story. A quick and easy read. I do just find many premises in this novel a tad too unrealistic in an attempt at a realistic story. I did find the characters to be likeable, especially as the MC's grew, I looved Grady's family. I wish they featured in the book a bit more.
My biggest issue in the book is that the author refers to these characters as Indian... a lot... she even talks about spirit guides and just ....IDK. It definitely didn't seem like it was the worst representation a white woman has made, but it did make me feel weird. Especially when I read the questions in the back and she mentions her stepgrandfather who was half Cherokee...
It just rubs me the wrong way. Another woman using their perceived proximity to a culture.
Not my favorite.
My biggest issue in the book is that the author refers to these characters as Indian... a lot... she even talks about spirit guides and just ....IDK. It definitely didn't seem like it was the worst representation a white woman has made, but it did make me feel weird. Especially when I read the questions in the back and she mentions her stepgrandfather who was half Cherokee...
It just rubs me the wrong way. Another woman using their perceived proximity to a culture.
Not my favorite.
jennfgarcia's review
4.0
gracenow's review
3.0
This is my second read, not likely to read it a third time. While I enjoyed the unfolding of the story, some of the stuff was just so unrealistic, like not replacing Lucie's cell phone for months. The couple, Lucie and Grady, just couldn't seem to communicate, throughout the entire book until the last few pages and even then, not sure. To me, that was unsatisfactory, left me feeling edgy and uncomfortable for them, if that makes any sense.
chelseammg's review
4.0
I totally have a thing for memory loss books. The idea of waking up having no idea who you are just absolutely fascinates me. Of course when I learned that this book was about amnesia and love and finding ones self, I was all over it!
Lucie Walker wakes up in San Francisco alone, scared and with no idea who she is. Can you EVEN imagine? After searching for anyone that can claim her and tell authorities who she is, Grady comes to claim her. Grady is the man Lucie is supposed to marry, but she has no clue who he is or if she loved him. Think about that for a second. If you partner looked at you one day and had NO idea who you were...can you imagine the pain that would cause you? The feeling of helplessness? I felt so awful for Grady.
As we go on in the book, we learn that along with her memory loss Lucie has also had a major personality shift. From uptight, to fun loving. She is still the same person...but different. Maybe better? Grady has to struggle with his feeling surrounding that.
There is more to the story, and it's all beautifully written and detailed. This isn't an easy read. It's a deep dive into the life of a woman trying to come to grips with who she was, who she is and who she is meant to be. It begs the question: If you had a chance to change the way you have lived your life and become a person that you may have wanted to be but didn't think you could...would you? This book certainly makes you think about the possibility of that!
All in all, I really enjoyed reading this. It wasn't your typical romance but it was a great book and I definitely recommend it!
Lucie Walker wakes up in San Francisco alone, scared and with no idea who she is. Can you EVEN imagine? After searching for anyone that can claim her and tell authorities who she is, Grady comes to claim her. Grady is the man Lucie is supposed to marry, but she has no clue who he is or if she loved him. Think about that for a second. If you partner looked at you one day and had NO idea who you were...can you imagine the pain that would cause you? The feeling of helplessness? I felt so awful for Grady.
As we go on in the book, we learn that along with her memory loss Lucie has also had a major personality shift. From uptight, to fun loving. She is still the same person...but different. Maybe better? Grady has to struggle with his feeling surrounding that.
There is more to the story, and it's all beautifully written and detailed. This isn't an easy read. It's a deep dive into the life of a woman trying to come to grips with who she was, who she is and who she is meant to be. It begs the question: If you had a chance to change the way you have lived your life and become a person that you may have wanted to be but didn't think you could...would you? This book certainly makes you think about the possibility of that!
All in all, I really enjoyed reading this. It wasn't your typical romance but it was a great book and I definitely recommend it!
govmarley's review
3.0
Amnesia. The power of memory. Love. Family. I'm going to be thinking about this book for a while. I really enjoyed it.
Lucie loses her memories. All of them. I can't even imagine. This book explores what might happen to your life if you had the slate wiped clean. Would you have the same interests? Mannerisms? Values? Would you love who you loved before? Such an interesting concept. Great book--I definitely recommend.
Lucie loses her memories. All of them. I can't even imagine. This book explores what might happen to your life if you had the slate wiped clean. Would you have the same interests? Mannerisms? Values? Would you love who you loved before? Such an interesting concept. Great book--I definitely recommend.
cowmingo's review
4.0
Many thanks to NBRC and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book. I don't think that I would have discovered it on my own and that would have been a shame.
I think I was hooked from the very beginning. Any book that mentions some sort of psychological mystery is usually an easy hook to get me into it. The story had missing memories, love, mysteries, identity questions and a lot of introspection and character growth. I thought it was well done, well written and kept me interested throughout. I think I will definitely be checking out more books by this author.
I think I was hooked from the very beginning. Any book that mentions some sort of psychological mystery is usually an easy hook to get me into it. The story had missing memories, love, mysteries, identity questions and a lot of introspection and character growth. I thought it was well done, well written and kept me interested throughout. I think I will definitely be checking out more books by this author.
mgreco5's review
3.0
I really wanted to like this book. The reveals were done well but 3/4 into the book, I realized not much progress had been made between the two main characters. I felt there was too much time spent on some minor details and not enough on the overarching story. Too many loose ends for my taste but a really interesting premise.
tboofy's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. I would've liked it to be lighter on the swearing and F words, but the overall premise was interesting. It was different from most "amnesia" books. I enjoyed watching the main characters get to know each other again (even though they were previously engaged).
meganonpaper's review
5.0
I received this book as part of a giveaway for the September 2014 Author/Reader discussion in The Next Best Book Club.
I'm not even sure where to begin. This book sucked me in and wouldn't let me go. I loved the way Jennie Shortridge created the story and had it unfold. As the characters discovered answers and faced new problems, we discovered those facts with them. It was a bit of an emotional roller coaster - in a good way - and I laughed and cried along. Now that I am done, I am content and hopeful, which I suppose is exactly how I would feel if that were me in this situation. I really loved this book and look forward to reading more from Jennie Shortridge.
I'm not even sure where to begin. This book sucked me in and wouldn't let me go. I loved the way Jennie Shortridge created the story and had it unfold. As the characters discovered answers and faced new problems, we discovered those facts with them. It was a bit of an emotional roller coaster - in a good way - and I laughed and cried along. Now that I am done, I am content and hopeful, which I suppose is exactly how I would feel if that were me in this situation. I really loved this book and look forward to reading more from Jennie Shortridge.
thrifty_librarian's review
2.0
A passable story about a woman who blacks out for six days and "reawakens" a new person. The novel tells the woman's quest to figure out who she was, who she is, and whether she belongs with the spineless stud bucket who picked her up at the psych ward.
The amnesia story is a cover for a gushy "Who am I really?" "I have a deep secret that makes me unlovable." "Why so serious?" narrative. The amnesiac's inner dialogue is so repetitive as to be pointless, and I still haven't figured out why her fiance liked her before the accident, when she was a cold, career-oriented robot.
The resolution to the mystery was even more far-fetched than it was satisfying.
Wait, where am I? What was the second star in my rating for? Have I always been someone who writes slightly catty reviews of perfectly decent novels?...
The amnesia story is a cover for a gushy "Who am I really?" "I have a deep secret that makes me unlovable." "Why so serious?" narrative. The amnesiac's inner dialogue is so repetitive as to be pointless, and I still haven't figured out why her fiance liked her before the accident, when she was a cold, career-oriented robot.
The resolution to the mystery was even more far-fetched than it was satisfying.
Wait, where am I? What was the second star in my rating for? Have I always been someone who writes slightly catty reviews of perfectly decent novels?...