Review: Forget You

Forget You by Jennifer Echols

Summary: There’s a lot Zoey would like to forget. Like how her father has knocked up his twenty-four- year old girlfriend. Like Zoey’s fear that the whole town will find out about her mom’s nervous breakdown. Like darkly handsome bad boy Doug taunting her at school. Feeling like her life is about to become a complete mess, Zoey fights back the only way she knows how, using her famous attention to detail to make sure she’s the perfect daughter, the perfect student, and the perfect girlfriend to ultra-popular football player Brandon.  But then Zoey is in a car crash, and the next day there’s one thing she can’t remember at all—the entire night before. Did she go parking with Brandon, like she planned? And if so, why does it seem like Brandon is avoiding her? And why is Doug—of all people— suddenly acting as if something significant happened between the two of them? Zoey dimly remembers Doug pulling her from the wreck, but he keeps referring to what happened that night as if it was more, and it terrifies Zoey to admit how much is a blank to her. Controlled, meticulous Zoey is quickly losing her grip on the all-important details of her life—a life that seems strangely empty of Brandon, and strangely full of Doug.

My Thoughts: There were some things that bugged me with this book.

1. Zoey’s preoccupation with appearances. Her mom has done an “excellent” job of raising her to believe that it doesn’t matter what’s going on, so long as you can make everyone else around you believe that everything is always perfect. Always keep the nails perfectly manicured. Never cry in front of people. And on and on. No wonder this woman attempted suicide! Pretending like everything’s OK when it’s anything BUT, well, that’s just really unhealthy.
2. Zoey’s dad is an asshole (pardon the language). He cares NOTHING for his poor daughter. And he doesn’t want her to be a “spoiled brat” so he won’t do much of anything for her. He has tons of money – which he freely lavishes on his mistress/fiancee, but won’t help his daughter out. She had to buy an old Bug. That’s fine, those are cute cars. But, when she totals it in an accident, well, her dad tells her she has to get something safer. But she can’t afford something safer. She calls him on that, pointing out how he won’t help her buy a car, but he won’t let her buy what she can afford … And he is a complete jerk to her. And he’s pissed at her about the accident, because it’s close to when he’s leaving for Hawaii to get married. After her mother’s suicide attempt, he tells Zoey NOT to tell ANYONE about what happened. He doesn’t trust her all, and installs video cameras throughout the house so he can check on her. One last thing: she is FORBIDDEN to enter his office. Cannot go in there AT ALL, not for ANY reason. What is that man hiding? (No, we don’t find out.)
3. Zoey is an idiot. She sleeps with Brandon once and thinks that means they’re “dating.” They never actually went on a date, she just decided to lose her virginity with him the same day she left her mom in the “loony bin” (the term used by her). But, for some reason she tells herself they’re in love and they’re dating. She’s constantly making excuses for why he’s always blowing her off, and why he’s always with Stephanie Wetzel (a character who’s almost always referred to by first AND last name – why?). I could see right off the bat that he didn’t think Zoey was anything more than a one-night stand. Another thing making her an idiot: she doesn’t fess up to the amnesia. WHY NOT? Is that part of the appearing to have it all together? Must be, but, man! Frustrating, to say the least!
4. Chapter breaks were in bad spots. There would be in-chapter breaks that changed scene or focus, but chapter breaks were often in the middle of the action. It didn’t make sense to me, and I felt it negatively affected the flow of the story.

Despite these issues, I really enjoyed the book. I liked Doug and Zoey (despite my issues with her), and really liked them together. While there were some things I felt should have been addressed, I did feel that the ending was satisfactory.

Am I glad I read this? Yes. Would I read this again? Maybe.

My Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Source: Received through We Love YA! Tours for review.

Read It: You can get your own copy HERE. (This is an Amazon link, and purchase through this link will result in my receiving a small commission. Your support is appreciated!)

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FTC Disclosure: All items reviewed were either obtained by me for my own enjoyment or sent (from the author, publisher, publicist, via tour sites, etc.) in exchange for an honest review. I receive no monetary compensation for my posts. All opinions expressed are my own.

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