Simply brilliant. The storytelling, the pacing, the intrigue… everything about this book was brilliant.

It’s a story told with two point of views. Livvy and Anna, 2 women who are going through different experiences, but whose lives become interconnected in a very unnerving way.

Not to give anything away, I suspected several chapters into the book what the connection between the two women was, but that didn’t prevent me from enjoying the process of finding out how.

And that’s what a good story does, it pulls you in.
Even if you guess what the ending would be, you want to find out how everyone deals with discovering the truth.

Another thing I loved about the story is how the author highlights how emotional abuse of a partner can be equally as devastating as physical abuse.

Something quite a number of people don’t get.

In my country, Nigeria, I’ve heard some narratives where a husband or wife isolates their spouse from friends and family, stops the from working, from their pursuing their independence.

Some people don’t think that kind of marriage is dangerous.

“He doesn’t hit you, so what’s the problem?”
That question should stop being asked.

If anyone feels unsafe, physically or mentally in a relationship, it is abuse. Simple.

Anyway, I digress.
This was a wonderfully told story.

I highly recommend!

Listened to this book on Audible and I am certain I missed details as it is not always easy to follow storylines while listening/driving. I was, however, disappointed in this story. I found the idea of this book incredibly intriguing, but ultimately, the characters did not resonate with me at all.

Dueling storylines of two women whose lives intersect by the end of the book. One, lost all her memory following a scary car accident. The other, struggles to assert her identity in her own life. Just meh…

"The Forgetting" by Hannah Beckerman is a compelling read that explores the themes of memory loss, secrets, and family bonds. The author does a good job of weaving together the two storylines of Anna and Livvy, although at times the pace of the book can feel slow. While the characters are well-drawn, some of their decisions and actions can be frustrating to follow. The resolution of the mystery that connects the two women is satisfying, but the ending feels a bit rushed. Overall, "The Forgetting" is an enjoyable read, but it falls short of being truly memorable or exceptional. If you're looking for a light, character-driven novel that explores themes of identity and family, this might be worth checking out.

The premise of this book really caught my attention, though I usually shy away from amnesia focused plots. The story is told in dual POVs, which I enjoy and which was done seamlessly. I don't want to give anything away, but I did guess the twist about halfway through, so it lost some steam for me, hence the three stars. I did think the writing was good, though, and the story moved pretty quickly, so I would certainly be open to reading something else by the author in the future.


Thanks to Lake Union Publishing for providing me with a copy of The Forgetting in exchange for an honest review.

Anna Bradshaw wakes up in a hospital after a car accident. She remembers nothing of her earlier life, including her husband Stephen. Her loss of memory is expected, after her head injury, and she returns home with Stephen in the hope of recovering her memory and her life.

Livvy Nicholson, newly married to the Dominic, who swept her off her feet, loves her new baby dearly, but also wants to get back to her challenging job after completing maternity leave.

All seems well, except Livvy's older sister Bea does not trust Dominic, and Dominic's estranged mother suddenly appears in their life, beseeching Livvy to convince Dominic to reconnect with her.

These two women seemingly have to relation to one another, as they seem so different, but as both storylines progress, one begins to see a possible connection between them.

So, I figured out what was going on early on, and who was doing what, and why. The author used language in the characters' conversation that were red flags for me, pointing immediately to emotional abuse through gaslighting, lying, and anger. The story's tension then for me was waiting for both women to realize what was happening to them.

The story moved along well, and illustrated how hard it was for the women to understand the abuse for what it was, and how to extricate themselves from it. The twist that occurs most of the way through the book didn't hit me as it might others. This drama, though, could be an interesting way to start talking about domestic abuse.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Amazon Publishing UK for this ARC in exchange for my review.

It was very, very predictable, and it started out slow. There were a few false starts for me to get into it, buuut I did enjoy the ride regardless.

slow start but i guessed the twist so wasn’t as shocked when it was revealed