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After The Fall
When Connor wakes up in a hospital bed, he realises that the accident that broke his leg has also wiped his memory. His wife is a stranger, his dead parents just a photograph, and his home an unfamiliar, shabby place that smells of dog.
At a local support group for amnesiacs, Connor meets Nate, a fellow sufferer of retrograde amnesia. Nate has no memory, and no idea how he came to lose it, but he remains easy going, and Connor quickly considers the foulmouthed, chain-smoking Nate a friend.
But, when Nate makes a pass at him, Connor starts to question everything he’s learnt about himself. Is he really a happily married 32 year old, or are secrets being kept from him?
Who is the mysterious ‘Coop’ whose cryptic emails are still in his inbox? And why, on the day of his accident, was he driving with another man in his car? A man whose life, and death, are still a touchy subject at home.
At a local support group for amnesiacs, Connor meets Nate, a fellow sufferer of retrograde amnesia. Nate has no memory, and no idea how he came to lose it, but he remains easy going, and Connor quickly considers the foulmouthed, chain-smoking Nate a friend.
But, when Nate makes a pass at him, Connor starts to question everything he’s learnt about himself. Is he really a happily married 32 year old, or are secrets being kept from him?
Who is the mysterious ‘Coop’ whose cryptic emails are still in his inbox? And why, on the day of his accident, was he driving with another man in his car? A man whose life, and death, are still a touchy subject at home.
227 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 23, 2012
8 people are currently reading
441 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Goodwin
23 books761 followersAlso writing as Amy Cunningham (The Serial Killer's Party) and Amelia Wildwood (rom-com coming in summer 2026)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
October 31, 2012
Read it read it! It's 99 cents on Amazon!
I really enjoyed Ink by this author, but I thought it had some flaws, and I said "God, I hope she keeps writing: I expect incandescently good things from her." Well, this isn't incandescent, yet, but it is bloody good, better than Ink by far. Sweet, gorgeous, it will appeal to everyone who liked Scrap Metal or Life After Joe. Did I say it was 99 cents?
I really recommend it.
Reader advisory: Cheating (but OK cheating, you'd have to feel quite strongly about it to mind this cheating).
4.5 stars rounded up.
I really enjoyed Ink by this author, but I thought it had some flaws, and I said "God, I hope she keeps writing: I expect incandescently good things from her." Well, this isn't incandescent, yet, but it is bloody good, better than Ink by far. Sweet, gorgeous, it will appeal to everyone who liked Scrap Metal or Life After Joe. Did I say it was 99 cents?
I really recommend it.
Reader advisory: Cheating (but OK cheating, you'd have to feel quite strongly about it to mind this cheating).
4.5 stars rounded up.
November 1, 2012
Suspending disbelief (both MCs suffering retrograde amnesia after an accident) I very much enjoyed this laid back romance with likeable characters even though it came - as Natalie said - in muted colors.
Well done portray of the British working class, the hopelessness of continuing unemployment and trying to build a new life from scratch after severe memory loss.
I would have rated it 5 stars if not for the major plothole in the second part of the book .
The bleakness of the story - effectively intensified with the ever present rain and coldness - didn`t make it a light and easy read but the heartwarming message that love isn`t only for the lucky and the strong made it a very satisfying read.
Recommended!
Well done portray of the British working class, the hopelessness of continuing unemployment and trying to build a new life from scratch after severe memory loss.
I would have rated it 5 stars if not for the major plothole in the second part of the book .
The bleakness of the story - effectively intensified with the ever present rain and coldness - didn`t make it a light and easy read but the heartwarming message that love isn`t only for the lucky and the strong made it a very satisfying read.
Recommended!
March 13, 2017
**Kindle Freebie right NOW at Amazon US! 7/16/13**
**3.5 stars**
I really enjoyed this book by Sarah Goodwin. I'll try to remain spoiler free. The concept of the book is a man wakes up in the hospital with retrograde amnesia, and returns to a wife and a life that seems totally foreign to him. Wrong, in some way. He inexplicably finds himself attracted to a man in his amnesia support group and realizes that his past before his memory lost may not have been what his wife had led him to believe.
The concept was very interesting. Very Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. However, I saw the "twist" coming from about 1,000,000 miles away. From 25% of the book on, I knew how the rest of the book would play out. That was disappointing to me. It was a great concept that could have used a bit more finesse and mystery. Still a great, mostly clean m-m romance.
**3.5 stars**
I really enjoyed this book by Sarah Goodwin. I'll try to remain spoiler free. The concept of the book is a man wakes up in the hospital with retrograde amnesia, and returns to a wife and a life that seems totally foreign to him. Wrong, in some way. He inexplicably finds himself attracted to a man in his amnesia support group and realizes that his past before his memory lost may not have been what his wife had led him to believe.
The concept was very interesting. Very Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. However, I saw the "twist" coming from about 1,000,000 miles away. From 25% of the book on, I knew how the rest of the book would play out. That was disappointing to me. It was a great concept that could have used a bit more finesse and mystery. Still a great, mostly clean m-m romance.
October 31, 2012
My favorite book yet from this self-pubbed author. I really liked its working class Britishness; it felt like an indie film, shot in muted colors. It's difficult to talk about the plot without getting too spoilery, but even though you may guess where it's headed, once it gets there it doesn't go for the predictable conclusions. (It reminded me of my favorite movie ever, , without being completely derivative.)
January 31, 2013
No DNF for me, nope! This book belongs to the category 'Fairy tales for grown-ups' with coincidences that are quite unbelievable. The whole setting of the story was rather bleak and dreary, so that while reading even I was near depression, although normally a rather positive thinking person.
January 24, 2013
What an incredibly moving read. Sarah Goodwin is an author to look out for.
I must admit I purchased "After the Fall" (a) because it was so inexpensive and I have a large January tax bill looming and (b) because I share a surname with the author (Strange reason I know, but we are not related as far as I'm aware).
This is an m/m romance with a difference and it's impossible to explain why without spoiling the story for potential purchasers. Needless to say, true love always wins through.
A novel of decent length, extremely well written. Don't read if you are prone to depression as the descriptions of a depressive's despair are so good you may also "fall". I'm a sucker for a happy ending and wasn't expecting it to happen. Yes there are a few typos and maybe a couple of grammatical question marks, but really nothing to get worked up over. Brilliant!!! Absolutely loved it. Popping into the Kindle store now to see what else this author has written.
I must admit I purchased "After the Fall" (a) because it was so inexpensive and I have a large January tax bill looming and (b) because I share a surname with the author (Strange reason I know, but we are not related as far as I'm aware).
This is an m/m romance with a difference and it's impossible to explain why without spoiling the story for potential purchasers. Needless to say, true love always wins through.
A novel of decent length, extremely well written. Don't read if you are prone to depression as the descriptions of a depressive's despair are so good you may also "fall". I'm a sucker for a happy ending and wasn't expecting it to happen. Yes there are a few typos and maybe a couple of grammatical question marks, but really nothing to get worked up over. Brilliant!!! Absolutely loved it. Popping into the Kindle store now to see what else this author has written.
August 7, 2014
Sarah Goodwin is a proper British author. This means nothing in the book is watered down because she has published her book through an American publisher. If I was American I'd offended that publishers act like Americans have no concept to anything out with their borders - but I digress.
Every. Single. Word. British. The slang, the people, the culture, the food, the characters. It read like home and it was great.
The characters? Loved them - and both characters had retrograde amnesia so both men were battling with themselves and who they once were to who they are now.
The story? It was okay. I had some issues because for most of it I was engrossed in what was happening but the end result wasn't really what I had hoped for.
The editing was pretty poor :( I have seen worse but the writing is good and it's a shame to see a book fail in that area.
Overall, it was a solid effort.
Every. Single. Word. British. The slang, the people, the culture, the food, the characters. It read like home and it was great.
The characters? Loved them - and both characters had retrograde amnesia so both men were battling with themselves and who they once were to who they are now.
The story? It was okay. I had some issues because for most of it I was engrossed in what was happening but the end result wasn't really what I had hoped for.
The editing was pretty poor :( I have seen worse but the writing is good and it's a shame to see a book fail in that area.
Overall, it was a solid effort.
January 4, 2013
Very well written novel about a man who lost his memory. It was first person POV and the atmosphere is partly quite bleak.
As the memory loss is more or less permanent, the book is more about finding out who he is now and for the rest of his life, although Connor does look into some events from his "old" life.
He finds a friend and lover in a guy from his support group who has also lost his memory.
I very much liked how they found love together and build a good life from the scraps they have.
What I didn't like: the very unplausible plot.
But I will definetly check out the author's next books.
As the memory loss is more or less permanent, the book is more about finding out who he is now and for the rest of his life, although Connor does look into some events from his "old" life.
He finds a friend and lover in a guy from his support group who has also lost his memory.
I very much liked how they found love together and build a good life from the scraps they have.
What I didn't like: the very unplausible plot.
But I will definetly check out the author's next books.
September 8, 2013
Sarah Goodwin is such a fabulous writer- her stories are real (although this one required a small suspension if disbelief), gritty, and they resonate with you long after you've finished reading them.
December 17, 2012
It's weird how these things come in batches cuz I've really rather enjoyed the past few books I've read. Maybe I'm just more amenable towards them cuz of the season or something (I can't imagine why; I despise the cold). However, this book is good in a very non-conventional way. I don't think I'd ever reread it for pleasure cuz it's kind of a hefty read, but it's thought-provoking and I'd say that it has a plot (as in, it's not centered around sex, something like that). There were a couple of proofreading errors here and there, but not so major that it detracted from the overall work.
November 18, 2012
Take a deep breath and get past what at first glance appears to be a pretty fantastic plot premise...you will be swept into the world of Connor and Nate two men experiencing retrograde amnesia who meet at a support group. There's a little mystery and a little romance--the perfect blend.
It would be very easy to spoil the story for you so I won't. I swear other than "Latakia" by JF Smith this is the best $ 0.99 read I have on my kindle.
It would be very easy to spoil the story for you so I won't. I swear other than "Latakia" by JF Smith this is the best $ 0.99 read I have on my kindle.
January 24, 2013
I really enjoyed this story, and it was refreshing to read about characters that actually felt like they were struggling to get by not someone's idea of what struggling is. Reading about billionaries is ok, but it's nice to see characters I can relate to sometimes. There are parts that could feel a bit artifical, but they live in a pretty small setting, so I know stranger things have happened in the real world.
December 14, 2013
I admit, this story started slow and bleak for me that I was concerned about moving forward. However, Nate and Connor grew on me and I was really hoping for some happiness for these two. So glad they found each other.
November 2, 2012
4.5 stars
June 27, 2017
While this was an interesting concept that kept me wondering what was going to happen next, the main plot arc was so obvious that I knew exactly how it would end by 26%, which meant that I spent the rest of the book wondering how it was going to happen and why it needed so long to take place. Eventually, I did get that the reveal had to come in stages and I really enjoyed the journey; it was so intriguing that I didn't put it down until 3am.
However, the author is apparently new to the business, from the claims at the back of the book and I feel like I should point out that there are some really professional parts missing: no copyright information, no author bio or links. It needed a lot more editing and a check of formatting before being published, because the indentations of paragraphs was all over the place, there were commas in weird places and it could have used a real polish by a beta reader/editor or two before going into publication. The cover could also have used some work, because it's very vague, not clear and quite plain. But, as I said, this is all something that authors learn as they go along, so hopefully they'll take this as advice and not criticism. Apart from editing, fixing the cover, formatting, copyright, author bio etc and even some of the editing, can all be done either free or for less than £20. It's worth the investment.
When it comes to the writing, I liked it. The author gave us what we needed to know, but it all felt a little too much like 'paint by numbers' plotting, in the end. Things happened conveniently at the right place, like finding that note, getting shivery and such, and there wasn't one scene where we didn't learn something important or that wasn't about Connor and Nate's growing feelings for each other. It might have been nice to see some other aspect of his new life taking shape.
I liked that we got to see the support group, but no one was really putting in any effort, which made it nothing more than a tool for Nate and Connor to meet. I liked the characters we met at the support group, but again they were all just reflective surfaces to help Connor figure himself out; I'd liked to have seem something more akin go a friendship form between these people.
However limited it made the story, I liked that it was realistic in the way that Connor was broke, even when he was living with his wife, although that doesn't explain how he could play golf, which my own dad does, and is very expensive. It also doesn't explain where he got the money or how he hid the money to buy such an expensive necklace. But, seeing them all go to the Unemployed Men's Club, going to sign on and having to wait for money, having to search for jobs, was all really nicely done and quite realistic. I do question, however, how quickly Connor was seen by a doctor and how easily they gave him medication. I'm also surprised that the hospital never attempted a check-up with him, or gave him any help in regaining his memories. I don't believe they'd release him into the care of someone he didn't know, without his permission, either. So I have to question the reality of those situations, but they worked for the story.
Being a 1st person narrative, we were only ever able to see Connor's side of things, but I think it worked. I did find that there were a few times we were told something, then it was immediately explained when it was quite clear what the meaning was in the first place.
There was a nice pace and progression throughout, both with the memory issue and the relationship. I loved that we got to see the progression of chemistry between Connor and Nate. There was some nice characterisation for both of them and Emma, who I hated with a passion. I really couldn't stand knowing that she, their mutual friends and even his work colleague Janey had kept such a big secret from hi, trying to force him into this little box of who they thought he used to be. It's a serious violation of their friendship, but also grossly immortal and I loved that we were able to feel all the things Connor felt, when the big secrets were finally revealed. Nate, for me, was my favourite character, because of how genuine he was from the first, how he took care of Connor even when Connor wasn't aware he needed it.
In the end, I would have liked an epilogue from maybe a year or two later, to show how they'd rebuilt their lives after regaining their memories, find out if the others, like Gregory and Marge had regained theirs. The plot needed fleshing out a little, maybe removing some of the less important aspects like detailing the hospital beginning, the job centre stuff and focused more on Connor finding out who he was, exploring his character and Nate's. With some work, this could be a great 4 or 5 star story.
Favourite Quote
"I clung to more than his skin and limbs, I was keeping hold of him, of Nate, who was looking out for me, good to me. Who told me things about browning meat and making good pastry, pinched my arse to get the duvet off me at night, and who blew raspberries on my stomach."
However, the author is apparently new to the business, from the claims at the back of the book and I feel like I should point out that there are some really professional parts missing: no copyright information, no author bio or links. It needed a lot more editing and a check of formatting before being published, because the indentations of paragraphs was all over the place, there were commas in weird places and it could have used a real polish by a beta reader/editor or two before going into publication. The cover could also have used some work, because it's very vague, not clear and quite plain. But, as I said, this is all something that authors learn as they go along, so hopefully they'll take this as advice and not criticism. Apart from editing, fixing the cover, formatting, copyright, author bio etc and even some of the editing, can all be done either free or for less than £20. It's worth the investment.
When it comes to the writing, I liked it. The author gave us what we needed to know, but it all felt a little too much like 'paint by numbers' plotting, in the end. Things happened conveniently at the right place, like finding that note, getting shivery and such, and there wasn't one scene where we didn't learn something important or that wasn't about Connor and Nate's growing feelings for each other. It might have been nice to see some other aspect of his new life taking shape.
I liked that we got to see the support group, but no one was really putting in any effort, which made it nothing more than a tool for Nate and Connor to meet. I liked the characters we met at the support group, but again they were all just reflective surfaces to help Connor figure himself out; I'd liked to have seem something more akin go a friendship form between these people.
However limited it made the story, I liked that it was realistic in the way that Connor was broke, even when he was living with his wife, although that doesn't explain how he could play golf, which my own dad does, and is very expensive. It also doesn't explain where he got the money or how he hid the money to buy such an expensive necklace. But, seeing them all go to the Unemployed Men's Club, going to sign on and having to wait for money, having to search for jobs, was all really nicely done and quite realistic. I do question, however, how quickly Connor was seen by a doctor and how easily they gave him medication. I'm also surprised that the hospital never attempted a check-up with him, or gave him any help in regaining his memories. I don't believe they'd release him into the care of someone he didn't know, without his permission, either. So I have to question the reality of those situations, but they worked for the story.
Being a 1st person narrative, we were only ever able to see Connor's side of things, but I think it worked. I did find that there were a few times we were told something, then it was immediately explained when it was quite clear what the meaning was in the first place.
There was a nice pace and progression throughout, both with the memory issue and the relationship. I loved that we got to see the progression of chemistry between Connor and Nate. There was some nice characterisation for both of them and Emma, who I hated with a passion. I really couldn't stand knowing that she, their mutual friends and even his work colleague Janey had kept such a big secret from hi, trying to force him into this little box of who they thought he used to be. It's a serious violation of their friendship, but also grossly immortal and I loved that we were able to feel all the things Connor felt, when the big secrets were finally revealed. Nate, for me, was my favourite character, because of how genuine he was from the first, how he took care of Connor even when Connor wasn't aware he needed it.
In the end, I would have liked an epilogue from maybe a year or two later, to show how they'd rebuilt their lives after regaining their memories, find out if the others, like Gregory and Marge had regained theirs. The plot needed fleshing out a little, maybe removing some of the less important aspects like detailing the hospital beginning, the job centre stuff and focused more on Connor finding out who he was, exploring his character and Nate's. With some work, this could be a great 4 or 5 star story.
Favourite Quote
"I clung to more than his skin and limbs, I was keeping hold of him, of Nate, who was looking out for me, good to me. Who told me things about browning meat and making good pastry, pinched my arse to get the duvet off me at night, and who blew raspberries on my stomach."
January 21, 2018
**3 stars**
I read the blurb and thought this was an interesting concept....and it was.
I think this was my first book that involved amnesia with a MC.
Although the amnesia trope was interesting....as was the story itself...it was slow. I felt no connection between the main characters whatsoever. It felt more like a documentary about amnesia and less like a romance.
I read the blurb and thought this was an interesting concept....and it was.
I think this was my first book that involved amnesia with a MC.
Although the amnesia trope was interesting....as was the story itself...it was slow. I felt no connection between the main characters whatsoever. It felt more like a documentary about amnesia and less like a romance.
June 3, 2019
This was a beautifully written book and I couldn’t put it down. I did become very frustrated with the main characters. I really didn’t understand their reactions to anything. Chasing after each other then pushing each other away. It certainly isn’t the kind of story I usually read, but I recommend it.
October 26, 2017
This was a bit depressing for me and I struggled to get through it for the most part, but it was well written and I did want Connor and Nate to find their HEA. I just wish the journey hadn’t been so dark and dreary.
November 3, 2018
4/5
This book managed to be both bleak and hopefull at the same time. That in itself is an achievement.
The romance was also very sweet.
This book managed to be both bleak and hopefull at the same time. That in itself is an achievement.
The romance was also very sweet.
December 9, 2012
Easily one of my favorite books of 2012. I love finding a new author with a strong voice and a voice I want to read again and again.
The previous reviewer and synopsis already does a great job at providing the story outline. This is a fantastic mystery and a wonderful love story, told in Connor's first person narrative beginning as he awakes in the hospital with retrograde amnesia.
The sense of place is masterfully told. No character here is conveniently wealthy: no helicopters, no town cars, no black Amex cards, or rich relatives. Connor and his fellow amnesiacs meet at Amnesiacs Anonymous in a run-down city building. Grotty flats, desperate job searches, and foraging for food create a stark atmosphere. I could smell the oily crips.
Two of my favorite descriptions in the book:
"It was a gray day, one of those mornings when the sky is the colour of old pants and pavements, the walls and the very air is damp and old smelling, like the inside of a washing machine."
And,
"I...felt a shift, like when alcohol first detonates in the stomach, striking out via veins to the extremities, numbing, burning, making the heart beat more noticeably."
There is a fine mystery with lots of switchbacks. An incomparable love story. And a fantastic twist. The characters and the story haunted me even while I was at work, and I couldn't wait to squirrel away somewhere with the kindle and get back into it.
This book needs to be in print and passed around often. I anxiously await more from Goodwin.
The previous reviewer and synopsis already does a great job at providing the story outline. This is a fantastic mystery and a wonderful love story, told in Connor's first person narrative beginning as he awakes in the hospital with retrograde amnesia.
The sense of place is masterfully told. No character here is conveniently wealthy: no helicopters, no town cars, no black Amex cards, or rich relatives. Connor and his fellow amnesiacs meet at Amnesiacs Anonymous in a run-down city building. Grotty flats, desperate job searches, and foraging for food create a stark atmosphere. I could smell the oily crips.
Two of my favorite descriptions in the book:
"It was a gray day, one of those mornings when the sky is the colour of old pants and pavements, the walls and the very air is damp and old smelling, like the inside of a washing machine."
And,
"I...felt a shift, like when alcohol first detonates in the stomach, striking out via veins to the extremities, numbing, burning, making the heart beat more noticeably."
There is a fine mystery with lots of switchbacks. An incomparable love story. And a fantastic twist. The characters and the story haunted me even while I was at work, and I couldn't wait to squirrel away somewhere with the kindle and get back into it.
This book needs to be in print and passed around often. I anxiously await more from Goodwin.
December 10, 2012
First Love... Again!
Connor wakes up with no memory in a London hospital. He has no recollection of his former life or the young woman who claims to be his wife. Yet when he meets a young man, a fellow sufferer at an amnesiacs support group and feels an immediate attraction to the man, Connor wonders how a straight man can have those kinds of feelings.
As he begins to piece his life back together, Connor is confused. Why does what he's been told feel so unnatural and why does what he desires feel so right? And since he's entirely forgotten his past he's in-line for a whole new series of firsts... first kiss, first love, but first he must rediscover exactly who he is.
This compelling novel turns the all too familiar story of first love on it's head allowing us to see it from a new perspective. While this novel suffers from some of the ills of a self published novel, the clearly British setting (at least for this American) compensated for most of the awkwardness of the sometimes less than practiced prose. The characters are likeable and easily empathized with. They feel three-dimensional and the story is intriguing with the mystery elements compelling us forward. Moreover, the main character's flaws and how he feels about them adds a touch of realism that is often lacking in this type of story.
This novel does have its minor flaws but still makes for a great read and a unique story. It's one of the best self-published e-books I've discovered to date. I highly recommend it.
Connor wakes up with no memory in a London hospital. He has no recollection of his former life or the young woman who claims to be his wife. Yet when he meets a young man, a fellow sufferer at an amnesiacs support group and feels an immediate attraction to the man, Connor wonders how a straight man can have those kinds of feelings.
As he begins to piece his life back together, Connor is confused. Why does what he's been told feel so unnatural and why does what he desires feel so right? And since he's entirely forgotten his past he's in-line for a whole new series of firsts... first kiss, first love, but first he must rediscover exactly who he is.
This compelling novel turns the all too familiar story of first love on it's head allowing us to see it from a new perspective. While this novel suffers from some of the ills of a self published novel, the clearly British setting (at least for this American) compensated for most of the awkwardness of the sometimes less than practiced prose. The characters are likeable and easily empathized with. They feel three-dimensional and the story is intriguing with the mystery elements compelling us forward. Moreover, the main character's flaws and how he feels about them adds a touch of realism that is often lacking in this type of story.
This novel does have its minor flaws but still makes for a great read and a unique story. It's one of the best self-published e-books I've discovered to date. I highly recommend it.
May 31, 2016
While the idea is a good one I'm afraid the telling didn't work for me.
This felt just too easy and if there was any research done I question from where.
There was far to much detail focused on the little things like the video game they played and it felt like an advert for Lynx at times considering the amount of times it was mentioned. There was also a lot of time spent focused on the Job Seekers side. While this bit was probably the most realistic it was also pretty depressing reading.
Overall this really annoyed me and had me constantly questioning everything.
This felt just too easy and if there was any research done I question from where.
There was far to much detail focused on the little things like the video game they played and it felt like an advert for Lynx at times considering the amount of times it was mentioned. There was also a lot of time spent focused on the Job Seekers side. While this bit was probably the most realistic it was also pretty depressing reading.
Overall this really annoyed me and had me constantly questioning everything.
January 20, 2015
After The Fall is a wonderful story about a man, Connor, that is struggling to regain some hint of what his life was like before losing his memory in an accident. Despite having a wife, job, and friends from his "former" life, Connor feels out of sorts as he tries to get his life back on track. Then he meets Nate at a support group and is fascinated with him from the start, much to the displeasure of his wife and co-workers. Despite trying to put his life back together, Connor can't help but feel that something is missing-that secrets about his former life are being kept from him and he begins to dig into his past; what he finds there is very unexpected.
I was delighted with this story from the very first page and read it all in one sitting. The characters, even the ones that I wasn't very fond of, were very richly written and interesting. I think that this book was very under priced at $0.99; it was interesting and riveting from beginning to end. I am looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.
I was delighted with this story from the very first page and read it all in one sitting. The characters, even the ones that I wasn't very fond of, were very richly written and interesting. I think that this book was very under priced at $0.99; it was interesting and riveting from beginning to end. I am looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.
July 23, 2013
2.5 stars, rounded up to 3.. because I'm in a happy mood ;)
I find it rather difficult to rate this book.. The story premise is unbelievable at best, the writing, though, was decent enough.
Enjoyable, kind of, if you are able to graciously ignore the downright excessive and overdone plot, which is filled with such an amount of coincidences I can't even begin to say how borderline impossible this whole thing is.
Two amnesic men meet in an support group and fall in love, yeah, so far so good. BUT
Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed this book despite all the impossibilites, but I've had better. So.
I find it rather difficult to rate this book.. The story premise is unbelievable at best, the writing, though, was decent enough.
Enjoyable, kind of, if you are able to graciously ignore the downright excessive and overdone plot, which is filled with such an amount of coincidences I can't even begin to say how borderline impossible this whole thing is.
Two amnesic men meet in an support group and fall in love, yeah, so far so good. BUT
Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed this book despite all the impossibilites, but I've had better. So.
October 23, 2013
I found the portrayal of the difficulties experienced by someone suffereing with retrograde amnesia was spot on. From the simplest things to the most important... nothing is unaffected. What brought it out was when Connor had to fill out applications and then during the interview was asked what he had done at his previous jobs and whether he had liked the work or not... and he didn't know the answers.
A little hard to believe that Nate was Connor's lover thought to have been killed in the accident. Nate was also suffering amnesia, what a coincidence.
That was the only fly in the ointment and I enjoyed this book. Recommended.
A little hard to believe that Nate was Connor's lover thought to have been killed in the accident. Nate was also suffering amnesia, what a coincidence.
That was the only fly in the ointment and I enjoyed this book. Recommended.
December 3, 2012
I saw the movie Weekend yesterday with 2 gay MCs living in the UK and one of them was a life guard at the local health center. And today I read this book.The flavour of the movie carried over into this book and I think enhanced the reading experience. And I could totally visualize the tiny flat of Nate. And the incessant rain. A few major holes in the story but over all a very enjoyable read
April 8, 2014
I highly recommend this to anyone who is after an m/m with an engaging plot and interesting premise - memory loss after an accident. I particularly liked the down and out aspect of Nate and Conner's lives - trying to compete for minimum wage jobs, being on the dole and living in public housing. This gave a much more realistic feel to the story.
Above average writing and story for 99 cents.
Above average writing and story for 99 cents.
March 16, 2013
As I read this story the only thing I felt was depression and a lack of hope and future for these characters. I didn't like any of the heroes or the story.
Crap, I'm still depressed. I need a drink, some pizza and a brownie.
Crap, I'm still depressed. I need a drink, some pizza and a brownie.
July 24, 2014
A powerful novel; and a depressing one.
It is not without some difficulty that I write this review.
First off: this isn’t my usual genre. I’m not entirely certain of what my usual genre is, to be honest—fantasy is what I read most (by a long shot), but I also like Syfy, LGBT, and books that can best be described as ‘philosophical’.
I even enjoy the occasional Dan Brown. You could say I like most of everything.
The interesting thing about this book (which no doubt caused great headache for Sarah) is that it fits into several of those genres—but not quite. It’s got two gay characters as the central protagonists; but the book isn’t really about their relationship.
Really, this book is a philosophical tale.
The premise is about a gay man experiencing retrograde amnesia after an accident—and incidentally forgetting about the love he felt for the man he was with (and for whom he left his wife).
But, actually, this book isn’t about falling in love, or dealing with amnesia.
It’s about being stripped to your core. It’s about waking up in the sad reality of lower-class Britain, and being in a failed marriage. It is about who you really are.
My thoughts aren’t well collected today. Apologies. I am away on holiday and have to use my laptop; in addition to jet lag, I sure miss my big, HD monitors.
Anyway, what really hit me about this book is: it’s sad, emotionally loaded, and at times deeply depressing. I think it a true reflection of what is faced by the poorer members of the UK.
The salaries. The unemployment. Benefits street Britain.
And, at the end of the day, Connor and Nate do face these issues. But Goodwin chooses not to lecture us on this, and instead presents these issues as part of everyday reality. Neither has she let it override the story.
I initially wanted to give this book 3 stars. After all: the writing is rather lackluster, the plot is hardly Dan Brown, and at times it feels a little amateurish.
Let me elaborate. The writing has mistakes; there is no point in pussyfooting that. I’ve even been kind enough to compile a glossary of all the mistakes I’ve found, and stuck it at the end of this review.
Worse than the mistakes, however, is the fact that this author has not been very ambitious with her prose. Nearly all of it is written with a dry, almost monotonous passivity exacerbated by the lack of semicolons, colons or even dashes.
To a degree, this reflects the setting of the book. But still.
My advice to the author: work on your prose. I won’t bore anyone with tedious examples; if you read it, you’ll immediately see what I mean. I’ll just use one example to illustrate my suggestions.
But my question was answered for me, as we reached the top of the stairs and stepped into a vast, wood floored space, hung over with bare bulbs that burnt a feeble orange. Six snooker tables, all looking the worse for the wear, were set up on one side of the vast room, next to a folding table with a minifridge and a kettle on it.
Reviewer comments: the above paragraph is too long, extraneous, and lacks adequate punctuation. Moreover, it seems very passively written.
I would suggest something along the lines of:
But my question was answered for me. We stepped into a vast space: the floor was wood, looking as worn as the tread of boots that had scuffed it for ages past; and lightbulbs hung over it, suspended by wires that seemed ready to snap at any moment. Their light was a feeble orange that seemed as devoid of alacrity as the eyes of those they lit.
There were also six snooker tables—looking no better for wear than the rest of the warehouse—which were set up on one side. A minifridge housed drinks and a kettle.
Obviously any re-writes I would choose to make would be imbuned with my style of writing; however, I hope the weakspots in the writing have been revealed.
Plot-wise, well: I understand that this not the type of book to benefit from that. Although I could see some of the bombshells from a mile away—perhaps, in future, the author should work on adding some more mystery and threat to her novels.
Still, the characters were well-painted; and their relationship really did add conflict and worry to the tale.
In fact, I would say Nate and Connor are one of the most realistically human characters I’ve had the pleasure of coming across. In the case of the former, I truly felt his dichotomous conflict over whether to be a good man and allow Connor to decide the status of his marriage with Emma; or whether to give in to his visceral emotions.
His sense of loss and confusion at discovering a major part of his pre-amnesiac life was also well done and realistic. Most importantly of all though: he felt like a real person—in a bad situation, confused, hurt; and so terribly in love.
As for Connor?
I felt his disorientation. I felt his lust. I felt his bewilderment.
And I felt his love. When he hit rock-bottom, I came pretty close to joining him. Well done Sarah. This character is almost too good to bear reading.
My only niggle in the character-space is that the other characters—especially Emma—felt… pale, in comparison. In fact, Emma and her friends seemed little more than a patina of black and white emotion. It’s not like I didn’t understand their plight; just that I couldn’t feel for it.
Gregory—a side character from the Amnesiacs Anonymous—seemed superfluous, for the most part. And yet I understand that to develop him would have cost the story: Connor and Nate are very much the stars of the show here. And yet I wonder if he could have, somehow, been made less irrelevant.
An imperfection that makes part of the tale, I guess.
Let us conclude.
This is a tale that is not especially well-written, could do with some more plot, and has some rather weak side characters; but its central characters are nothing short of bestseller envy.
Most of all, there is a deep power to this book. I am transported to Nate and Connor’s lives utterly; and I feel for them completely. Few books leave me lost in the tide of its emotions.
A tide of negative emotions.
That's the real weak point of this book. I can overlook the writing, and the plot isn’t terribly important in the face of the character’s struggle.
But it is a struggle, and this book is very depressing at times.
Which would have been fine, if—at the end of it all—there was a rose of beautiful hope. But Goodwin leaves us with no more than a seed.
And that just isn’t enough.
Rating: 4/5.
Replace the word ‘smelt’—which is always the process of decomposing a metal oxide in the presence of heat and carbon—with ‘smelled’.
Do not italicise abbreviations or acronyms—it’s unnecessary and annoying.
p.42 font size typesetting error.
p.96 paragraph indentation formatting error and unintended paragraph break.
p.132 use word ‘cum’. Also, minimize browser not web.
p.192 used ‘buy’ instead of ‘but’.
p.223 ‘I’ not capitalised repeatedly.
p.298 it’s/its error.
January 27, 2019
I liked this book so much better than Ink. I worried through the first chapter, but I kept reading and it just got better. It may have had a coincidence too many, but I enjoyed the story, so I can overlook that. Connor Ray wakes up in the hospital with no idea of what is going on. Even his doctors don’t realize at first that he doesn’t remember who he is or how he got there. His wife, the one he doesn’t remember, comes to take him home from the hospital, but the life she takes him back to just doesn’t feel familiar at all. It all just seems so bleak and depressing to him. The only thing he has to look forward to is the pathetic excuse for a support group that he attends once a week. His wife, coworkers and friends seem to be hiding things from him. He has mysterious but cryptic emails in his computer history, and when he responds to one of them he received a call then cryptic IMs from a mysterious person “C”. What does it all mean? Is this really his life?
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