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Forget Me Not

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Who are you?
Not the three words a woman expects or wants to hear from her husband, but that’s exactly what Willow Mansfield was facing. The man she adored, the one she planned on spending the rest of her life with, that man no longer knew her.
An accident had knocked their world off course and she was now left to pick up the pieces, but there was one sweet consolation – this was all temporary. It was only a matter of time before Jared regained his memory and things went back to normal. In the meantime she would get to experience him falling in love with her all over again.
Jared Mansfield woke up to a life he didn’t remember. A wife he didn’t remember. And trying to get his memory back was fast becoming something he dreaded instead of welcomed. Who was this man he was supposed to be? Maybe this was his chance to get things right – back to the way they should be. The past was still his present, and he wasn’t sure he liked the look of his future.

300 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 15, 2023

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K. Carr

6 books62 followers

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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
Profile Image for TinaNoir.
1,913 reviews347 followers
March 23, 2025
Note: This is the first book in a duology. The story of Willow and Jared continue into the second book.

My friends and I have this continuing nostalgic discussion/argument that the 90s were really just a great decade for music. One of the best in our living memory. Songs were 3 or minutes long. They had a chorus, a bridge, and a refrain. Singers SANG! People listened across genres and we got banger after banger after banger. Current music just doesn't hit the same (some artists excepted).

This is how I feel about romance. If I had to pinpoint a hey-day of romance for my reading, it would be between the mid-90s to the mid 2000s. I had so many auto-buy authors that were writing 400 page mass markets. We got character, angst, and plot for days. Current books just don't hit the same, tbh.

But this book... this book took me back. This is a book that takes its time and tells a fucking story! It is about deep love, about for better or worse and sickness and health, and angsty as hell and how people are complicated and relationships are complicated. We have our protagonists who are heavily flawed but the writing makes you understand them. We have our "villains" who aren't just cartoonish but are more along the lines of opportunists who want to take the easy route even if it hurts other people.

This is the first book in a long time I can remember just sinking into it and reading it straight through and feeling all kinds of things all the way through it. I immediately got the second volume as soon as this one ended because that ending was ... rough!

Anyway, this is the story of Willow and Jared. They are happily, deliriously so, married for three years. They have a business together which is really popping off and requires both of their expertise to make it work. They bought a house and we just learn that Willow is pregnant. They are both estranged from their respective parents and we don't know why, but they have a great circle of friends led by Jared's BFF Isaac and Willow's BFF Leigh.

And then Jared gets into a car accident and get a traumatic brain injury (TBI). The result is that in addition to some physical brain damage that results in headaches and mood swings that often manifest in anger, he also has retrograde amnesia where he loses five years of his memories. He only knows of his life before he met Willow.

In that life he was in love with his girlfriend Simone, he was still tight with his parents and his brother, he had a great bachelor pad and a job he loved..

His reaction to first seeing Willow by his bedside when he comes out of his coma is so uncomfortable. She is stranger and he treats her like one. He shies away from her touch, he is short with her, and he tries to ignore her. But he is loving and affectionate with his family and in a real dick move, they bring Simone to the hospital where his reaction to her could not be more different than his reaction to Willow.

This is where I think the writing really does all the heavy lifting in this book. As a reader I was so hurt for Willow and thought Jared was a damn asshole. But in my more reflective moments I could see -- and the writing took pains to make us see -- that there was no fault here. It was an untenable situation. Not just the marriage and life with Willow Jared did not remember but the business they built that was now in jeopardy.

Jared still thinks he is living five years ago, a bachelor, in an apartment, with a girlfriend he'd known for years. Willow knows he is her husband who is desperately in love with her and she is willing to give him time to adjust and she fights for her marriage. He feels like an unfamiliar life is being forced onto him and he is rejecting it, especially since his family is dangling his more familiar life right in front of him. She feels like 'in sickness and in health' has meaning and he could get his memories back any day now so she digs in regardless.

I was way more on Willow's side because we got to know the happily married Jared. But I also saw his side. His panic, his emotional instability, his lack of control over his own life, and his constant headaches. I am not gonna lie, I was just waiting for Willow to throw in the towel and just say fuck it. But again ... the writing had made it so clear that it was more complicated than that. The way the author wove in the business, the house, the baby , and the tantalizing hope that the memories would come back and Jared would be himself again throughout the narrative, you could understand why Willow held on so hard and long. But still.. it was hard to see her trying to stay upbeat and accommodating and waiting for him when he just seemed to have one foot out the door rushing back to his remembered life.

And then came the breaking point. The lead up was heartbreaking...regardless of his TBI and amnesia, I wanted to kick Jared in the nuts! But then came that final push and ... ugh. It was brutal.
Now that is how you do a third act break up. One where the readers almost welcome it, but still dread it.

But damn it is good storytelling!

And yeah I immediately downloaded the second book because I needed to know what happens next.
43 reviews4 followers
April 2, 2023
Can't wait for book two.

Caution this ends on a cliffhanger. I felt so bad for Willow. Jared was a jerk. He lost 5 years of his life but Willow lost the love of her life. A heartwarming story.
Profile Image for Nelly.
337 reviews1 follower
November 24, 2024
Ms. K. Carr's book "Forget Me Not" is a true gem in the world of literature. It undoubtedly stands out as a literary phenomenon that captivates me as a reader with its compelling storyline and relatable characters. With each page turned, I find myself awe-struck by this author's exceptional writing skills.

In this book, we meet Jared Mansfield, a man who wakes up one morning to discover that his life has taken a disturbing turn. He does not recognize the wife he shares, and the process of trying to regain his memory becomes something he dreads rather than welcomes. As he struggles to understand who he really is, Jared finds himself contemplating the possibility of starting over from scratch.

Meanwhile, Willow Mansfield is grappling with the aftermath of an accident that has shattered her world. The love of her life, who she believed to be her soulmate, is now a stranger to her. The sudden loss of their shared memories has left her feeling lost and confused. It is a bittersweet situation, as Willow's heart aches for the man she once knew, while also holding on to the hope that they can rebuild their relationship. However, Willow is determined to remain strong in the face of adversity. She believes that this is all a temporary setback, and that eventually, everything will be put right.

As the story unfolds, we are witness to the intricate dance of emotions that these characters experience. Jared's journey of self-discovery is fraught with uncertainty, while Willow's unwavering love and loyalty are tested like never before. The author skillfully weaves together their narratives, creating a compelling and heartfelt tale that will leave readers pondering the complexities of memory and the significance of love.

As the story progresses, it becomes evident that Jared's amnesia is not merely a plot device but a catalyst for change. The author skillfully explores the themes of identity, second chances, and the power of love. The narrative twists and turns, keeping the reader on the edge of their seats until the very end.

Ms. Carr's ability to weave a captivating plot and relatable characters is truly commendable. The story's emotional depth captures the essence of human experience, making it a truly unforgettable read.

"Forget Me Not" is a book that deserves to be celebrated for its exceptional storytelling and thought-provoking themes. It is a testament to Ms. K. Carr's talent as a writer that she can create characters so complex and relatable. I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking an emotionally gripping and thought-provoking read.
Profile Image for Rosie.
1,769 reviews32 followers
March 11, 2025
I felt everything Willow went through to try to reconnect with her amnesiac husband Jared who suffered a Tramatic Brain Injury after a car accident. There is the Before (the accident) Jared and the After (the accident) Jared—and they are polar opposites.

Jared half-heartedly tries to regain his memories, and when he asks for a cigarette, Willow is shocked and Jared is surprised that he no longer smokes. When his best friend, Isaac tells him why, he's in disbelief, he no longer smokes, because he met Willow. How they live, who she is, what she says (everything) annoys him, and he can't hide it.

Concessions are made by Willow for his behavior, and she is constantly apologizing to him and making herself smaller, walking on eggshells (as not to upset him) so he can get his memory back. He thwarts her at every turn. The scene where he borrows her car and the aftermath and his nonchalance made me to want to do very bad things to him. Then, like Willow, I had to acquiescence that he wasn't himself, he was no longer Willow's Jared who would've rather died, than hurt her.

When the pivotal scene happens, it's brutal, it's gut-wrenching and I realized Willow was a better human than me. How this woman remained standing is a testament to the resilience of women, what we have to do, who we have to be in the face of strift and adversity—to survive, one step at a time, one day at a time until the pain dulls and our new normal, becomes our new life.

I would be remiss in not mentioning the two people that held her upright, that had her back, her best friend Leigh and Jared's best friend Isaac. They stood by her side at her darkest moments and they deserve recognition for being there whenever she needed them.

This story is real, it raw and it will rip you apart. This book ends at a life goes on point, but the story isn't over because the story continues in Book 2. Highly, Highly Recommended: Read This Book!
Profile Image for Barbara.
57 reviews3 followers
March 28, 2023
No Ordinary Love
When Sade sang about "no ordinary love" truer words were never spoken. This song aptly describes the relationship between the couple. Willow & Jared Mansfield appear to have the perfect relationship, until they didn't. Their life changes when Jared is in an accident. The events that unfold bring to light the real Jared. There are many times throughout the story where the reader can feel Willow's pain. Willow is thankful Jared is alive but craves normalcy and the return of the "old Jared". Willow struggles with guilt, fear and a host of other emotions. Willow showed strength and grace despite the treatment she experiences at the hands of her husband and his family. I felt Willow's pain when she said, "Don't be sorry…Just live how you want to live. With sincerity, I advised him, just be happy." I am glad Willow had Leigh, Isaac & Cordelia to support her as she copes with her current reality. This is a great story. I can't wait to see what is next for Willow. I highly recommend this story. This will definitely be on my re-read list.
15 reviews
April 4, 2023
Absolutely loved it. HIGHLY recommended.
K. Carr has definitely become one of my favorite authors: all of her stories pull you in ,are so well-written, always manage to be
realistic and credible and move you emotionally and Forget Me Not is no exception.
Jared and Willow are a perfect couple, deeply in love with each other who run a successful small business together but then tragedy strikes and our two protagonists become virtual strangers and what follows makes for one intriguing story, a true page-turner.
This is only Volume One so the book ends with a cliffhanger.
Cannot wait for Volume Two, here's to hoping K. Carr doesn't make us wait too long!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews