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The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon
There are consequences for breaking a heart—even for a god.
A year ago, a girl was found sleeping beside the river with no memory of who she was or where she came from. Now called Ella, she has built a quiet life in the small village of Riverton—friends, work, and the first hints of something like belonging. If only she didn’t feel the constant ache of something, or someone, missing.
Everything changes when a stranger arrives in Riverton, searching for what he’s lost.
Thane Tenebris is striking in a way that feels like memory rather than danger, a man whose quiet intensity draws Ella toward him long before she knows why. He seems connected to the emptiness in her chest, to the shadows at the edge of her dreams, and to the life she can almost, almost recall.
As Ella and Thane grow closer, her forgotten past begins to stir—magic, heartbreak, and a love powerful enough to shatter even a god. And when one reckless night reveals the truth of who she is, Ella must face the life she left behind and the mistake that’s been waiting for her return.
Some memories are blessings.
Some are curses.
But loving a god was always both.
What you’ll find - romantic fantasy
- god × mortal dynamic
- memory loss / forgotten identity
- small-village setting with fairytale atmosphere
- emotional, slow-burn connection
- fate, consequence, and tenderness
- lyrical, character-driven magic
For readers who – fairy-tale vibes with adult romance
– “he remembers her, she doesn’t”
– soft-but-powerful gods
– yearning and fate
– emotional fantasy rather than dark fantasy
A year ago, a girl was found sleeping beside the river with no memory of who she was or where she came from. Now called Ella, she has built a quiet life in the small village of Riverton—friends, work, and the first hints of something like belonging. If only she didn’t feel the constant ache of something, or someone, missing.
Everything changes when a stranger arrives in Riverton, searching for what he’s lost.
Thane Tenebris is striking in a way that feels like memory rather than danger, a man whose quiet intensity draws Ella toward him long before she knows why. He seems connected to the emptiness in her chest, to the shadows at the edge of her dreams, and to the life she can almost, almost recall.
As Ella and Thane grow closer, her forgotten past begins to stir—magic, heartbreak, and a love powerful enough to shatter even a god. And when one reckless night reveals the truth of who she is, Ella must face the life she left behind and the mistake that’s been waiting for her return.
Some memories are blessings.
Some are curses.
But loving a god was always both.
What you’ll find - romantic fantasy
- god × mortal dynamic
- memory loss / forgotten identity
- small-village setting with fairytale atmosphere
- emotional, slow-burn connection
- fate, consequence, and tenderness
- lyrical, character-driven magic
For readers who – fairy-tale vibes with adult romance
– “he remembers her, she doesn’t”
– soft-but-powerful gods
– yearning and fate
– emotional fantasy rather than dark fantasy
328 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 13, 2025
11 people are currently reading
284 people want to read
About the author
Melissa Naatz
5 books40 followersOriginally from a small town in northern Minnesota Melissa now splits her time between the bright lights of Las Vegas Nevada and the Central Coast of California. Before she gave it all up to chase this crazy publication career she worked as a paralegal and a victim advocate.
Melissa is the author of three books. One Summer Knight, The Things We Break and The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon.
Melissa is the author of three books. One Summer Knight, The Things We Break and The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 193 reviews
May 17, 2025
In the end, Sleeping Beauty did turn into Seeking Booty. I may have jinxed it for me with that joke before I started this...
Because the big hits against this book were, to me, the excessive melodrama and love triangles that made the plot too similar to a cheap Mills & Boon (Harlequin) dime novel. The little sprinklings of borrowed Sleeping Beauty elements and the loans from Greek mythology for the worldbuilding could've been the saving part, when this book becomes interesting in the middle portion as lost memories return. Unfortunately, the three parts this book is split in suffer from the same flaw.
A third issue is that there's little worldbuilding, for the story is told mostly through dialogue. Scene, dialogue, dialogue, scene, dialogue, dialogue, scene, dialogue, dialogue... It's as if the author didn't want (or know how) to show us the ambiance, the world, the setting. It's a generic town that could be anywhere, with a generic cast of characters, and a generic name, Riverton. I usually don't mind much when the setting is very narrow and small, because not every story needs detailed worldbuilding, but in these types of limited, theatre-like settings you have the people moving around to show us a little of their world. Here, it's all told through dialogue, we barely see bits as Ella, the narrator for the entire book, can appear here and there on whim, and you are left feeling like the setting is some sort of decoration like in a film studio rather than a lived-in place.
Besides that, I didn't get the logical construction of the fantasy counterpart, the world of the immortals. From the little description of it, it does seem like the author borrowed very heavily from Greco-Roman mythology, and put her own spin on it. All the immortals are like the Greek gods: they are human, they drink, eat, sleep, cheat on their spouse, etc. More the cast of Dynasty than what you'd expect of gods. And these gods behave like spoilt brats and have names that I have a hard time taking seriously. For most of them, their names are literal translations of what they are: Pain, Sorrow, Moon, Life, Death, Lust, etc. Which is fine and well, I don't have any objections to that system, but then we have names such as Ella Moon and Thane Tenebris, who for some strange reason are the only ones that have a name and surname amongst the immortals. And you can't even argue that these are simply their mortal names, because Thane is still Thane as mortal or immortal. How do you explain Greek-based godhood with English names? Fancy Zeus being called Chuck? Can you imagine Hades having a petulant son called Jayden Danger? Because that's essentially what Thane Tenebris is, as he's the son of
Hard to take this seriously, isn't it?
And to contribute to the difficulty to either take this seriously or get invested in the story, the entirety of the plot is very facile and riddled with drama bought about by misunderstandings and an inability to keep the godly working tool in the godly pants. When the book starts, Ella is an amnesiac maid at an inn who sleeps often with the town's pretty boy, until one day this mystery man that you can see a mile away is someone that knows who she truly is, appears in the inn, and Ella suddenly is wetting her pantalettes for him and fantasising about sleeping with him without having an idea of who he is, simply because he's hot and plot demands "her body remembers." Soon you realise that William, who is more complex and flawed but overall a decent boy, is solely a plot device to drive Ella and Emo apart. And he's not even the only man used for this purpose in the book, only the most misused.
And, oh, does the author abuse this device! The minute William looks away, Ella is mooning over Emo, and the minute Emo leaves the room for a blink, she's kissing William. This woman is simply a mess, and annoying because she doesn't seem to have anything going for her, no other purpose to live than wet her pantalettes for this man or that other, only to choose the worst of the lot for no other reason that it's Fated.
Girl, if Fate had destined me to a forever with a gorgeous cheater with no brains, I'd be seeking a way to murder Fate for that, not break a curse and keep the himbo with suspicious deals with the Underworld.
Even Fated Mates plots require the fated couple to work to earn their togetherness, but not this one. As we are are treated to Ella's past life, what do we get? A place for gods called too similar to manure (Manere) and yet another love triangle. Turns out Thane is a womaniser that goes from bed to bed, or so we are told, and was cursed by Fate to break his beloved's heart over and over for fucking the wrong woman (interesting that Ella isn't punished for doing the same with the wrong man, I wonder why?). This curse is the source of Ella's "forgotten life," the amnesia period of a whooping one year acting like the sleeping curse for Princess Aurora in the tale, complete with a kiss has to break the loss of memories. This book takes from the Disney version, not the fairy tale by Perrault, and it's not much beyond some elements as the framework of the tale isn't present here; I'm also guessing the author based this on the Disney version because of the quotes from the Disney film at the beginning of each part. Some retellings that mix tale and myth usually take the plot framework of one and a few elements of the other in different proportions, making them more or a myth retelling or a tale retelling. In this case, there's more of generic mythology, no specific myth is retold, than tale elements.
By the third part, you'll be wondering why she would want to go back to that ninny? In one scene, Pain tells Ella that she doesn't understand why she keeps doing stupid things for Thane, and I couldn't agree more. Why? Ella's own mother asks her why, and in both ocassions she is unable to give a better answer than because he's hot and . . . because he's hot. He's not smart, he's not particularly charming, he has no qualities worth a remark. In short, he's the himbo of the Underworld.
So this is essentially the romance of an immortal himbo and an immortal bimbo.
That may sound harsh, but honestly I failed to grasp the point of this story. It's like other romantasy plots, with all the couple tropes and explicit sex scenes as expected, and essentially no overall point other than offer romance with all the drama it can possibly contain. The Sleeping Beauty elements read very forced, swapping comatose sleep for amnesia, and making Ella "active" at the expense of making the prince a worthless Lothario, and sacrificing the most layered and developed character as a pawn and a third-wheel to cause jealousy and misunderstandings. There's a total of three love triangles here, and that's counting the ones Ella is involved in.
The resolution to all the mess was too easy as well. I could only think of the wasted potential for a more complex curse and a better handling of the "consequences for breaking a heart" that didn't make it so easy for Ella, that didn't require triangles, that didn't get Thane basically scot-free, and essentially cost the heavy price it was forebodingly announced, because it was a cheat code that left me feeling that everyone escaped the consequences they were supposedly never going to avoid paying.
I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Because the big hits against this book were, to me, the excessive melodrama and love triangles that made the plot too similar to a cheap Mills & Boon (Harlequin) dime novel. The little sprinklings of borrowed Sleeping Beauty elements and the loans from Greek mythology for the worldbuilding could've been the saving part, when this book becomes interesting in the middle portion as lost memories return. Unfortunately, the three parts this book is split in suffer from the same flaw.
A third issue is that there's little worldbuilding, for the story is told mostly through dialogue. Scene, dialogue, dialogue, scene, dialogue, dialogue, scene, dialogue, dialogue... It's as if the author didn't want (or know how) to show us the ambiance, the world, the setting. It's a generic town that could be anywhere, with a generic cast of characters, and a generic name, Riverton. I usually don't mind much when the setting is very narrow and small, because not every story needs detailed worldbuilding, but in these types of limited, theatre-like settings you have the people moving around to show us a little of their world. Here, it's all told through dialogue, we barely see bits as Ella, the narrator for the entire book, can appear here and there on whim, and you are left feeling like the setting is some sort of decoration like in a film studio rather than a lived-in place.
Besides that, I didn't get the logical construction of the fantasy counterpart, the world of the immortals. From the little description of it, it does seem like the author borrowed very heavily from Greco-Roman mythology, and put her own spin on it. All the immortals are like the Greek gods: they are human, they drink, eat, sleep, cheat on their spouse, etc. More the cast of Dynasty than what you'd expect of gods. And these gods behave like spoilt brats and have names that I have a hard time taking seriously. For most of them, their names are literal translations of what they are: Pain, Sorrow, Moon, Life, Death, Lust, etc. Which is fine and well, I don't have any objections to that system, but then we have names such as Ella Moon and Thane Tenebris, who for some strange reason are the only ones that have a name and surname amongst the immortals. And you can't even argue that these are simply their mortal names, because Thane is still Thane as mortal or immortal. How do you explain Greek-based godhood with English names? Fancy Zeus being called Chuck? Can you imagine Hades having a petulant son called Jayden Danger? Because that's essentially what Thane Tenebris is, as he's the son of
Hard to take this seriously, isn't it?
And to contribute to the difficulty to either take this seriously or get invested in the story, the entirety of the plot is very facile and riddled with drama bought about by misunderstandings and an inability to keep the godly working tool in the godly pants. When the book starts, Ella is an amnesiac maid at an inn who sleeps often with the town's pretty boy, until one day this mystery man that you can see a mile away is someone that knows who she truly is, appears in the inn, and Ella suddenly is wetting her pantalettes for him and fantasising about sleeping with him without having an idea of who he is, simply because he's hot and plot demands "her body remembers." Soon you realise that William, who is more complex and flawed but overall a decent boy, is solely a plot device to drive Ella and Emo apart. And he's not even the only man used for this purpose in the book, only the most misused.
And, oh, does the author abuse this device! The minute William looks away, Ella is mooning over Emo, and the minute Emo leaves the room for a blink, she's kissing William. This woman is simply a mess, and annoying because she doesn't seem to have anything going for her, no other purpose to live than wet her pantalettes for this man or that other, only to choose the worst of the lot for no other reason that it's Fated.
Girl, if Fate had destined me to a forever with a gorgeous cheater with no brains, I'd be seeking a way to murder Fate for that, not break a curse and keep the himbo with suspicious deals with the Underworld.
Even Fated Mates plots require the fated couple to work to earn their togetherness, but not this one. As we are are treated to Ella's past life, what do we get? A place for gods called too similar to manure (Manere) and yet another love triangle. Turns out Thane is a womaniser that goes from bed to bed, or so we are told, and was cursed by Fate to break his beloved's heart over and over for fucking the wrong woman (interesting that Ella isn't punished for doing the same with the wrong man, I wonder why?). This curse is the source of Ella's "forgotten life," the amnesia period of a whooping one year acting like the sleeping curse for Princess Aurora in the tale, complete with a kiss has to break the loss of memories. This book takes from the Disney version, not the fairy tale by Perrault, and it's not much beyond some elements as the framework of the tale isn't present here; I'm also guessing the author based this on the Disney version because of the quotes from the Disney film at the beginning of each part. Some retellings that mix tale and myth usually take the plot framework of one and a few elements of the other in different proportions, making them more or a myth retelling or a tale retelling. In this case, there's more of generic mythology, no specific myth is retold, than tale elements.
By the third part, you'll be wondering why she would want to go back to that ninny? In one scene, Pain tells Ella that she doesn't understand why she keeps doing stupid things for Thane, and I couldn't agree more. Why? Ella's own mother asks her why, and in both ocassions she is unable to give a better answer than because he's hot and . . . because he's hot. He's not smart, he's not particularly charming, he has no qualities worth a remark. In short, he's the himbo of the Underworld.
So this is essentially the romance of an immortal himbo and an immortal bimbo.
That may sound harsh, but honestly I failed to grasp the point of this story. It's like other romantasy plots, with all the couple tropes and explicit sex scenes as expected, and essentially no overall point other than offer romance with all the drama it can possibly contain. The Sleeping Beauty elements read very forced, swapping comatose sleep for amnesia, and making Ella "active" at the expense of making the prince a worthless Lothario, and sacrificing the most layered and developed character as a pawn and a third-wheel to cause jealousy and misunderstandings. There's a total of three love triangles here, and that's counting the ones Ella is involved in.
The resolution to all the mess was too easy as well. I could only think of the wasted potential for a more complex curse and a better handling of the "consequences for breaking a heart" that didn't make it so easy for Ella, that didn't require triangles, that didn't get Thane basically scot-free, and essentially cost the heavy price it was forebodingly announced, because it was a cheat code that left me feeling that everyone escaped the consequences they were supposedly never going to avoid paying.
I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 12, 2025
Beautifully written and quietly devastating, this is a tale of lost love, divine heartbreak, and the fragile threads of memory.
This was such a gorgeously written story—atmospheric, aching, and threaded with the kind of magic that feels ancient and quietly powerful. I loved the fantasy elements woven through the plot, especially the haunting mythology of the gods and the tragic love story of Dawn and Darkness.
Ella’s path through memory, magic, and heartbreak unfolds with quiet intensity, always tinged with longing. Her unravelling—of identity, history, and love—feels both intimate and mythic, like reading a dream you half-remember.
If you enjoy slow-burn romantic fantasy with lyrical prose and a bittersweet edge, The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon will absolutely sweep you away. A beautiful, haunting read.
4.5 ⭐
This was such a gorgeously written story—atmospheric, aching, and threaded with the kind of magic that feels ancient and quietly powerful. I loved the fantasy elements woven through the plot, especially the haunting mythology of the gods and the tragic love story of Dawn and Darkness.
Ella’s path through memory, magic, and heartbreak unfolds with quiet intensity, always tinged with longing. Her unravelling—of identity, history, and love—feels both intimate and mythic, like reading a dream you half-remember.
If you enjoy slow-burn romantic fantasy with lyrical prose and a bittersweet edge, The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon will absolutely sweep you away. A beautiful, haunting read.
4.5 ⭐
April 22, 2025
This was SUCH a beautiful story.
Our FMC, Ella, isn't actually Ella and that's the problem.. she doesn't know WHO she is, where she came from, or how she ended up in Riverton. We go along with Ella as she deals with her 'new' life, struggles to remember bits from her past, and deals with the mysterious Mr. T Tenebris.
I really loved how this wasn't a full blown fantasy, but had some sprinkles of that feelings throughout. It gave me fairytale vibes, for more than one reason, and as much as I would have loved MORE with that ending, I do feel that it matched the vibe of the book really well.
A huge thank you to The Nerd Fam & Melissa Naatz for this ARC copy - all thoughts & opinions are my own.
Our FMC, Ella, isn't actually Ella and that's the problem.. she doesn't know WHO she is, where she came from, or how she ended up in Riverton. We go along with Ella as she deals with her 'new' life, struggles to remember bits from her past, and deals with the mysterious Mr. T Tenebris.
I really loved how this wasn't a full blown fantasy, but had some sprinkles of that feelings throughout. It gave me fairytale vibes, for more than one reason, and as much as I would have loved MORE with that ending, I do feel that it matched the vibe of the book really well.
A huge thank you to The Nerd Fam & Melissa Naatz for this ARC copy - all thoughts & opinions are my own.
April 28, 2025
The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon by Melissa Naatz is a beautifully written, poetic, and deeply poignant romantic fantasy. I loved how the author seamlessly wove together the worlds of gods and humans, creating a story that felt both timeless and magical. The structure, divided into Parts One, Two, and Three, was the perfect way to unfold Ella’s journey. I was so emotionally invested—I devoured the entire book in one sitting. This love story captivated me completely, and I truly can’t recommend it enough. Huge thanks to the author and the Nerd Fam for the gifted ARC!
April 22, 2025
Love love loved the story!!
I absolutely love the way Melissa Naatz writes. The books I’ve read of hers in the past were more contemporary so this fantasy felt like a real treat for me.
The love story of the characters was beautiful done and the heart break was crushing.
I highly recommend this book if you like fantasy!
Thank you so much to the nerdfam for this gifted eArc
I absolutely love the way Melissa Naatz writes. The books I’ve read of hers in the past were more contemporary so this fantasy felt like a real treat for me.
The love story of the characters was beautiful done and the heart break was crushing.
I highly recommend this book if you like fantasy!
Thank you so much to the nerdfam for this gifted eArc
September 3, 2025
Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for a copy of the ebook to read and review.
I liked the premise and the fairytale feel of the story. However, the pacing was slow and I found myself skipping whole passages that didn’t feel necessary. I did not feel connected to the characters and they lacked growth.
I liked the premise and the fairytale feel of the story. However, the pacing was slow and I found myself skipping whole passages that didn’t feel necessary. I did not feel connected to the characters and they lacked growth.
April 21, 2025
The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon by Melissa Naatz
Pub Date: 05/13/2023
ARC Book Review:
Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted eARC.
Overall, I enjoyed this cozy, fantasy romance. I liked it, but I didn't love it due to some pacing issues. I very much enjoyed the first half of the book, and I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen to Ella, our main character. However, the second-half felt almost like a different book entirely and although I enjoyed reading it, the ending felt a little anti-climatic for me. Perhaps I was placing too high of a bar on it as it was described similarly to The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue (which I absolutely loved!). I did see elements of that story in The Forgettable Life of Ella Moon, but I thought the ending could have used a little more depth in my opinion. I know many loved it. There were romantic characters and fairy tale elements. The writing was nice and this was easy to read. I think if you like the Once Upon a Broken Heart series, you may like this one too. I think its worth checking out if the blurb interests you.
Book Blurb:
There are consequences for breaking a heart, even for a god...
No one in the small village of Riverton knows who the girl found asleep by the river is or where she came from. Including the girl. A year later, the girl, now named Ella, has slipped into her ill-fitting life as best she can. She has made friends, found work, and almost fallen in love. Her new life would be perfect if she didn't miss her forgotten one.
That longing is only complicated when the very handsome Thane Tenebris shows up in Riverton, searching for what he lost. At first, Ella believes her feelings for Thane are because of their mutual need to find what they've lost. But the more time she spends with him, the more she's drawn to him and the darkness that surrounds him. Ella can't help but wonder if he is from her past. And after a reckless night with Thane reveals the truth of who she really is, Ella realizes her forgotten life may not be worth remembering.
Pub Date: 05/13/2023
ARC Book Review:
Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted eARC.
Overall, I enjoyed this cozy, fantasy romance. I liked it, but I didn't love it due to some pacing issues. I very much enjoyed the first half of the book, and I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen to Ella, our main character. However, the second-half felt almost like a different book entirely and although I enjoyed reading it, the ending felt a little anti-climatic for me. Perhaps I was placing too high of a bar on it as it was described similarly to The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue (which I absolutely loved!). I did see elements of that story in The Forgettable Life of Ella Moon, but I thought the ending could have used a little more depth in my opinion. I know many loved it. There were romantic characters and fairy tale elements. The writing was nice and this was easy to read. I think if you like the Once Upon a Broken Heart series, you may like this one too. I think its worth checking out if the blurb interests you.
Book Blurb:
There are consequences for breaking a heart, even for a god...
No one in the small village of Riverton knows who the girl found asleep by the river is or where she came from. Including the girl. A year later, the girl, now named Ella, has slipped into her ill-fitting life as best she can. She has made friends, found work, and almost fallen in love. Her new life would be perfect if she didn't miss her forgotten one.
That longing is only complicated when the very handsome Thane Tenebris shows up in Riverton, searching for what he lost. At first, Ella believes her feelings for Thane are because of their mutual need to find what they've lost. But the more time she spends with him, the more she's drawn to him and the darkness that surrounds him. Ella can't help but wonder if he is from her past. And after a reckless night with Thane reveals the truth of who she really is, Ella realizes her forgotten life may not be worth remembering.
May 31, 2025
"A broken heart is a powerful thing, Sissy would whisper. Wars have been started over one."
"Some believe we lose things we take for granted and only when we have made amends do we get back those things."
GENRE: Romantasy
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
FORMAT: eBook Arc
Long Review:
This is a beautiful, lyrical story. It talks about the beauty and essence of memories and why it is important. It discusses the importance of a friendship, a relationship and of understanding the importance of who we are
"Memories were like stars. Without the stars, the night sky would be empty and dark. And without memories, Ella felt empty and alone. She had hoped this day would be different. That somehow a memory had slipped through the fog of her mind. But the only things that filtered through were the sounds of her new life."
This is a tale of Ella , a Goddess who lost her memory. She lives a live before regaining the memory and after regaining it. We get to read this throughout the book as two different parts and I enjoyed the division between both of these two. It was an emotional journey, getting to see Ella experience who she is as "Ella", not recognising herself fully and wanting to learn who she was before the memory loss in order to understand herself more
"The fact that stared back at her looked familiar, but some pieces were not. She didn't know how she had gotten the scar on her lip. Or why this morning her eyes shone a bright blue green instead of the stormy gray blue they had been last night. but the memory she missed the most was her name. A name made her someone. Someone to miss and someone to love."
We go through a journey of Ella wanting to be more than the forgotten pieces. She wants to know who she is and why she cannot accept the life that has been set for her. She feels as if her clothes are borrowed, her experiences and friendships are stolen moments in a life that isn't hers. And not only that, when she wakes up with no memory of who she is, she feels heartbroken
"When Ella first came to Riverton, she had been heartbroken. She was unaware of the reason for, nor could she put a fact with, that heartbreak. For days she cried over something or someone she didn't remember."
Naatz manages to merge the things Ella has ingrained in who she is as a person in her experience in the new life she is living. For example, she cannot withstand noise, lights and she is still able to see a strange glow in people's chest even though she has no memory of who she is. Not only that, this beautiful, lyrical book is about Ella sticking to her beliefs when others around her tell her to accept reality
"Enough. it is time to let go of this silly idea that your past will catch up with you. You will be twenty-eight in a few short weeks. You are too old to believe in fairy tales."
There is only one friend who Ella has that is strongly encouraging her to stick to her beliefs and in the end, this friend will be the solution to a curse, the way to learning patience for a goddess
"It will happen, Ella. I feel it in my bones. You will marry for the greatest love known to man. I promise."
Oh and here is a quote I loved about pity and how people hand it out, which is quite fitting in the book. Ella struggles with sticking to what she knows is true and what everyone around her tries to tell her to do and pity is a strong emotion that drives a lot of these advises
"She didn't want to see the pity in Thane's eyes. That was an emotion that people gave so freely. They never asked before they handed it out and expected the recipient to be grateful and accepting."
And in the end, Ella is left to deal with all her emotions, all the heart breaks and all the things she cannot mend without remembering who she truly is. We then move to the part of the book where she remembers who she is
"Such was the story of Ella's life. A life of burrowed pieces that didn't fit together."
I truly did enjoy this book, the parts of learning about Ella, her remembering who she is and then how the story ended, which was a justified ending for this book. Let's end this review with a quote that is very fitting for the book:
"Once there was a god who lost her memories. She wished them away. The silly god found herself in the mortal realm. There she found a boy and a girl, both wishing for the same thing: love. Then came a mother and daughter, both with a heart big enough to love everyone. But as curses go, one must die, and one heart must break. Who is it ...."
Thank you to the Nerd Family, NetGalley and the author for the eArc in exchange for my honest opinion.
April 24, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and The Nerd Fam so much for allowing me to review this stunning book!
What a moving story on love and heartbreak! I enjoyed this so much more than I thought I would and am so glad that I was approved to send my honest review.
A young woman wakes in a quaint village with no memory of where she came from, what her life was, and who she is. She has began to accept that she may never regain her memories when tall, dark and mysterious Thane walks into her life, making her doubt if she can truly let go of her past.
Within the first couple of chapters, I was worried that I wouldn’t enjoy it as much as I hoped, however the writing and story improved so much just as I was reading along! The aspects of fairytales, fates, and fantasy blend so well and the overall story was heartbreakingly beautiful. I ended up absolutely loving so many small side characters just from their sass and quick remarks. The ending was bittersweet and satisfying all at the same time and I would love to see more from this world.
4.5 ⭐️
What a moving story on love and heartbreak! I enjoyed this so much more than I thought I would and am so glad that I was approved to send my honest review.
A young woman wakes in a quaint village with no memory of where she came from, what her life was, and who she is. She has began to accept that she may never regain her memories when tall, dark and mysterious Thane walks into her life, making her doubt if she can truly let go of her past.
Within the first couple of chapters, I was worried that I wouldn’t enjoy it as much as I hoped, however the writing and story improved so much just as I was reading along! The aspects of fairytales, fates, and fantasy blend so well and the overall story was heartbreakingly beautiful. I ended up absolutely loving so many small side characters just from their sass and quick remarks. The ending was bittersweet and satisfying all at the same time and I would love to see more from this world.
4.5 ⭐️
May 12, 2025
Thank you for the eARC @thenerdfam!
The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon immediately had me captivated.
I was so intrigued by Ella’s story and how everything would pan out. Ella has almost no memories of who she used to be. She is working at an Inn amongst others who have taken her in after she has forgotten who she is. One day a man called Thane comes to stay at the inn and Ella’s immediately feels a connection to him.
I was so engrossed in part one of this story. I wanted to know everything about Thane and how Ella could be connected to him. I was even enjoying the potential love triangle.
However, starting in part two, I felt a little bit lost. I felt like the book completely shifted gears. And while I was still engaged, I wasn’t enjoying it nearly as much as part one.
Overall, I think if you’re looking for a light hearted, easy Romantasy read, with minimal world building and fast love interest, then you would enjoy this!
The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon immediately had me captivated.
I was so intrigued by Ella’s story and how everything would pan out. Ella has almost no memories of who she used to be. She is working at an Inn amongst others who have taken her in after she has forgotten who she is. One day a man called Thane comes to stay at the inn and Ella’s immediately feels a connection to him.
I was so engrossed in part one of this story. I wanted to know everything about Thane and how Ella could be connected to him. I was even enjoying the potential love triangle.
However, starting in part two, I felt a little bit lost. I felt like the book completely shifted gears. And while I was still engaged, I wasn’t enjoying it nearly as much as part one.
Overall, I think if you’re looking for a light hearted, easy Romantasy read, with minimal world building and fast love interest, then you would enjoy this!
April 14, 2025
This was incredibly beautiful.
This was an amazingly written story about a girl with lost memories and her tragic love story. This was a beautiful star crossed lovers story between gods. With amazing characters and relationships, this was perfect.
I absolutely loved the picture Melissa painted of the gods. Of the way they felt things, what they thought about beauty and how arrogance was portrayed. It was super interesting to read about and so so satisfying that the gods were not just ”normal” people with powers, but a people who actually thought differently. I absolutely loved it. Also, Moon (and Sorrow) and all their speeches about men HIT. What an icon.
”Men, no matter a god or a mortal, are such spiteful creatures. And when they don’t get their way, they destroy everything.”
Is it possible to love and hate an ending at the same time? Because that’s how I feel about the ending of this book. In one way, it was actually perfect. On the other hand, I NEEDED MORE CLOSURE! I wanted to see them together :(
I can’t wait for more books in this series! You better believe I will be reading every last one of them. To get a story about Pain would be incredible.
A big thanks to the author and Nerdfam for this ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This was an amazingly written story about a girl with lost memories and her tragic love story. This was a beautiful star crossed lovers story between gods. With amazing characters and relationships, this was perfect.
I absolutely loved the picture Melissa painted of the gods. Of the way they felt things, what they thought about beauty and how arrogance was portrayed. It was super interesting to read about and so so satisfying that the gods were not just ”normal” people with powers, but a people who actually thought differently. I absolutely loved it. Also, Moon (and Sorrow) and all their speeches about men HIT. What an icon.
”Men, no matter a god or a mortal, are such spiteful creatures. And when they don’t get their way, they destroy everything.”
Is it possible to love and hate an ending at the same time? Because that’s how I feel about the ending of this book. In one way, it was actually perfect. On the other hand, I NEEDED MORE CLOSURE! I wanted to see them together :(
I can’t wait for more books in this series! You better believe I will be reading every last one of them. To get a story about Pain would be incredible.
A big thanks to the author and Nerdfam for this ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 12, 2025
4.5 stars!
this was a really great debut fantasy romance !! if you love fairytales and the complexities of reality, read this book. it's so whimsical and hopeful & follows the thread of true love conquers all. BUT there are so many obstacles & consequences that have to be overcome to achieve it. i really really enjoyed how it approached a fairytale happy ending with a more realistic approach.
this book was fascinating & intriguing and kept me on my toes the whole time. i absolutely loved the two main characters and how deeply they loved each other & how hard they fought for that love. absolutely gorgeous book!
thanks melissa naatz for the arc! this is my honest review.
this was a really great debut fantasy romance !! if you love fairytales and the complexities of reality, read this book. it's so whimsical and hopeful & follows the thread of true love conquers all. BUT there are so many obstacles & consequences that have to be overcome to achieve it. i really really enjoyed how it approached a fairytale happy ending with a more realistic approach.
this book was fascinating & intriguing and kept me on my toes the whole time. i absolutely loved the two main characters and how deeply they loved each other & how hard they fought for that love. absolutely gorgeous book!
thanks melissa naatz for the arc! this is my honest review.
May 14, 2025
4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 rounded up!
The way this story made my fairy tale, Greek loving, mythology obsessed heart happy.
Our girl Ella wakes up with no memories, a beautiful dress and infatuation for something more. She goes on a journey to figure out who and WHAT she is.
“Love was not something to be taken. Not by Death, not by wishes. It has to be given freely without fear.”
The story telling really captures your attention as you explore why Ella finds herself in a life that doesn’t fit with memories that are lost (or are they?).
I would read spin off after spin off of each god that was named in this story to get more glimpses of what life would be like to live and sometimes struggle as a god.
Pick up this story if you like
🌙Fairytale Vibes
♥️True love
💀Curses
🥀Slow burns
✨Second chance romances
🌅Stories of what it takes to keep love
Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the E-ARC, I VERY much enjoyed the ride.
The way this story made my fairy tale, Greek loving, mythology obsessed heart happy.
Our girl Ella wakes up with no memories, a beautiful dress and infatuation for something more. She goes on a journey to figure out who and WHAT she is.
“Love was not something to be taken. Not by Death, not by wishes. It has to be given freely without fear.”
The story telling really captures your attention as you explore why Ella finds herself in a life that doesn’t fit with memories that are lost (or are they?).
I would read spin off after spin off of each god that was named in this story to get more glimpses of what life would be like to live and sometimes struggle as a god.
Pick up this story if you like
🌙Fairytale Vibes
♥️True love
💀Curses
🥀Slow burns
✨Second chance romances
🌅Stories of what it takes to keep love
Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the E-ARC, I VERY much enjoyed the ride.
April 13, 2025
3.5 Stars.
Thank you to Netgalley and Melissa Naatz for the ARC. I enjoyed reading this novel, the third by this author. I was unfamiliar with her previous work.
I found the book to be highly readable and not overwritten. I do really like the writer's style. She has a clear, clean voice that doesn't feel like purple prose which can happen in this genre. Plus, the characters are likeable, especially the women in the early chapters. I felt as though they were well defined with individual personalities. I only wish they had been in the story more. I also appreciated the various ways the author injected women's empowerment into the story whether it was about Ella's sexual empowerment or about the female gods who were all very powerful.
The worldbuilding in this book is fair. It's a little hard to describe because the first part of the book is one way and the second and third parts of the book have a very different location, tone, and cast. It seems the author is considering this to be the start of a series so potentially there will be more worldbuilding in future installments but, when it comes to this book, I think there was more room for depth with the worldbuilding in the second part of the book. I will also say that the language changes rather abruptly as well and that was kind of confusing. The language in part two and three is more modern using current, real life swear words and slang for sex organs that felt a little anachronistic given the old world tone of the first part. The book is a bit uneven in this way.
The plot itself was engaging, especially in the first part. Not gonna lie. She lost me a bit in the second part because of the abrupt change in tone but I rallied and got back into it. I breezed through it in a day so I would definitely recommend this to romantasy fans....
And there's the issue for me...I'm not a romantasy person. When I requested this ARC, I thought I was getting a magical realism/fantasy book with a touch of romance similar to When the Moon was Ours, The Night Circus, or Hotel Magnifique. This cover does not suggest romantasy or even fantasy really. It's too cutesy for that and really has no relevance to the story. Similarly, I don't think the title sounds like romantasy either. So, I did feel like it was an unintentional bait and switch in that the book maybe isn't being marketed the way it actually is which is a star crossed lovers romance about gods. It's romance with a capital R. This book majored in romance and minored in fantasy. So, if you're into romance, this is for you. If you like your fantasy to be primary fantasy with just a touch of romance (like The Guilded Ones, for example), this is not for you. This issue with how the book is being marketed is unfortunate because I do think, with the right title and cover that really reflect what the story is actually about, it could be very successful.
The last thing I will say is please do not try to have a drinking game for how many times the author says "Gods above" or "Gods below" as a slang phrase, or you will die. This was likely inspired by the occasional use of "By the cauldron" in ACOTAR. However, the overuse of this phrase had me grating my teeth by the end. It reminded me of how Vonnegut used the phrase "So it goes" 106 times in the 109 page book, Slaughterhouse 5 .
TLDR: If you like romantasy, read this. You'll like it. If you're not looking for a book that is primarily a romance, this is not for you.
Thank you to Netgalley and Melissa Naatz for the ARC. I enjoyed reading this novel, the third by this author. I was unfamiliar with her previous work.
I found the book to be highly readable and not overwritten. I do really like the writer's style. She has a clear, clean voice that doesn't feel like purple prose which can happen in this genre. Plus, the characters are likeable, especially the women in the early chapters. I felt as though they were well defined with individual personalities. I only wish they had been in the story more. I also appreciated the various ways the author injected women's empowerment into the story whether it was about Ella's sexual empowerment or about the female gods who were all very powerful.
The worldbuilding in this book is fair. It's a little hard to describe because the first part of the book is one way and the second and third parts of the book have a very different location, tone, and cast. It seems the author is considering this to be the start of a series so potentially there will be more worldbuilding in future installments but, when it comes to this book, I think there was more room for depth with the worldbuilding in the second part of the book. I will also say that the language changes rather abruptly as well and that was kind of confusing. The language in part two and three is more modern using current, real life swear words and slang for sex organs that felt a little anachronistic given the old world tone of the first part. The book is a bit uneven in this way.
The plot itself was engaging, especially in the first part. Not gonna lie. She lost me a bit in the second part because of the abrupt change in tone but I rallied and got back into it. I breezed through it in a day so I would definitely recommend this to romantasy fans....
And there's the issue for me...I'm not a romantasy person. When I requested this ARC, I thought I was getting a magical realism/fantasy book with a touch of romance similar to When the Moon was Ours, The Night Circus, or Hotel Magnifique. This cover does not suggest romantasy or even fantasy really. It's too cutesy for that and really has no relevance to the story. Similarly, I don't think the title sounds like romantasy either. So, I did feel like it was an unintentional bait and switch in that the book maybe isn't being marketed the way it actually is which is a star crossed lovers romance about gods. It's romance with a capital R. This book majored in romance and minored in fantasy. So, if you're into romance, this is for you. If you like your fantasy to be primary fantasy with just a touch of romance (like The Guilded Ones, for example), this is not for you. This issue with how the book is being marketed is unfortunate because I do think, with the right title and cover that really reflect what the story is actually about, it could be very successful.
The last thing I will say is please do not try to have a drinking game for how many times the author says "Gods above" or "Gods below" as a slang phrase, or you will die. This was likely inspired by the occasional use of "By the cauldron" in ACOTAR. However, the overuse of this phrase had me grating my teeth by the end. It reminded me of how Vonnegut used the phrase "So it goes" 106 times in the 109 page book, Slaughterhouse 5 .
TLDR: If you like romantasy, read this. You'll like it. If you're not looking for a book that is primarily a romance, this is not for you.
May 30, 2025
I revived this copy as an ARC read and i loved every second of it!✨This is a breath of fresh air with a unique story line! I loved the main characters and the writing was easy to follow! With all the different aspects from Ella finding out who she was to her star crossed lover, the plot was 100% plotting! Having the Gods and Goddesses in this book also made this book so layered and great to read! Such a cozy fantasy and i would recommend!
April 22, 2025
3.5⭐️ - The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon is a cozy romantasy that weaves together mystery, romance, and magic in a way that’s both engaging and captivating. Ella wakes up with no memory of her past, stuck in a life she doesn’t love but is trying to make the best of. As forgotten memories begin to resurface, she starts to long for a life she can’t fully remember—especially after Thane, a handsome and mysterious stranger, arrives at the inn where she works. His presence seems to trigger her lost memories, but piecing them back together proves to be a complex journey filled with twists.
I was immediately drawn to the first half of the book—it’s whimsical and full of descriptive writing that really sets the mood. The mystery surrounding Ella’s past, combined with a refreshing twist on folklore and the introduction of gods and legends, added a rich depth to the world. However, the second half of the story took a bit of a turn. The tone shifted and became much more focused on romance, with Ella seeming more preoccupied with her appearance and her budding relationship with Thane, rather than the magic and mythology that had so intrigued me in the beginning. This change in focus made me lose some of my investment in the plot, as I’d hoped for more exploration of the magical elements.
Though The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon didn’t exactly sweep me off my feet, I still found it to be an emotional and unique read. The blend of mythology and the star-crossed lovers trope adds a certain charm, and despite the tonal shifts, I’d recommend this to fans of romantasy—especially those who enjoy a mix of folklore and magic.
A special thank you to The Nerd Fam for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
I was immediately drawn to the first half of the book—it’s whimsical and full of descriptive writing that really sets the mood. The mystery surrounding Ella’s past, combined with a refreshing twist on folklore and the introduction of gods and legends, added a rich depth to the world. However, the second half of the story took a bit of a turn. The tone shifted and became much more focused on romance, with Ella seeming more preoccupied with her appearance and her budding relationship with Thane, rather than the magic and mythology that had so intrigued me in the beginning. This change in focus made me lose some of my investment in the plot, as I’d hoped for more exploration of the magical elements.
Though The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon didn’t exactly sweep me off my feet, I still found it to be an emotional and unique read. The blend of mythology and the star-crossed lovers trope adds a certain charm, and despite the tonal shifts, I’d recommend this to fans of romantasy—especially those who enjoy a mix of folklore and magic.
A special thank you to The Nerd Fam for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
May 13, 2025
✨ARC Review✨
Reading The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon felt like falling into a dream I never wanted to wake up from. @melissanaatzauthor has created a story that glows with quiet magic, aching hearts, & the kind of soul-deep love that makes you believe in second chances—even the impossible ones.
Let’s talk about Thane. Oh, Thane. If brooding, gentle, fiercely loyal MMCs are your thing (& honestly, why wouldn’t they be?), then prepare to fall head over heels. He’s the kind of man who carries grief like armor & love like it’s sacred. Every scene with him made my heart flutter & ache in equal measure. His devotion to Ella—Aurora—is so raw & unwavering, it had me clutching the book to my chest more than once. ❤️🔥
And then there’s Aurora, or as the human world knows her—Ella Moon 🌙 . Her journey is a bittersweet blend of forgotten memories, found purpose, & quiet strength. I adored her softness, her curiosity, & the way she gently stitched herself back together, piece by piece. Watching her rediscover not just who she was, but who she is—especially through Thane’s eyes—was so satisfying.
The writing itself is whimsical in the best way. 🌿Lyrical, a little melancholic, & full of wonder. There’s something so enchanted about the way Melissa tells this story.
If you’re into:
🌙 small towns with secrets
🕯️ soft fantasy with heart
💔 love stories that span memory & time
💫 characters who feel real, messy & beautiful
…then The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon is absolutely for you! & it’s out today! 📢
This book is like stargazing on a quiet night: mysterious, moving, and filled with light you didn’t expect. I’m still thinking about Ella & Thane—& honestly? I don’t want to stop. 💭💫🌌
Reading The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon felt like falling into a dream I never wanted to wake up from. @melissanaatzauthor has created a story that glows with quiet magic, aching hearts, & the kind of soul-deep love that makes you believe in second chances—even the impossible ones.
Let’s talk about Thane. Oh, Thane. If brooding, gentle, fiercely loyal MMCs are your thing (& honestly, why wouldn’t they be?), then prepare to fall head over heels. He’s the kind of man who carries grief like armor & love like it’s sacred. Every scene with him made my heart flutter & ache in equal measure. His devotion to Ella—Aurora—is so raw & unwavering, it had me clutching the book to my chest more than once. ❤️🔥
And then there’s Aurora, or as the human world knows her—Ella Moon 🌙 . Her journey is a bittersweet blend of forgotten memories, found purpose, & quiet strength. I adored her softness, her curiosity, & the way she gently stitched herself back together, piece by piece. Watching her rediscover not just who she was, but who she is—especially through Thane’s eyes—was so satisfying.
The writing itself is whimsical in the best way. 🌿Lyrical, a little melancholic, & full of wonder. There’s something so enchanted about the way Melissa tells this story.
If you’re into:
🌙 small towns with secrets
🕯️ soft fantasy with heart
💔 love stories that span memory & time
💫 characters who feel real, messy & beautiful
…then The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon is absolutely for you! & it’s out today! 📢
This book is like stargazing on a quiet night: mysterious, moving, and filled with light you didn’t expect. I’m still thinking about Ella & Thane—& honestly? I don’t want to stop. 💭💫🌌
May 25, 2025
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Victory Editing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I know they say not to judge a book by its cover, but I just love the cover of this one 😍 it's chaotic and floral and full of colour, so it spoke to me straight away!
I was a bit torn on my final thoughts on this book, because I absolutely loved the premise. Vengeful gods and star crossed lovers? Yes please! I was totally sucked in by the first half of the book where we meet Ella, the girl who can't remember her past. When Thane arrived in her small village, I was so invested as their chemistry built and hints of Ella's true life were revealed.
However, as the book continued, I found myself losing interest. While I liked the introduction of the other gods and the explanation of the curse that was affecting Ella, I was really longing for some more world building and action to occur in the story, because I spent a good chunk of it struggling to picture the world the story was set in.
I think my main criticism of this book is that most of the second act exposition seems to occur mostly through dialogue. For me, it seemed unnatural to be reading through slabs of dialogue as these characters had the world's longest conversations with one another, and it made it hard work to get through. As the story went on, I also found myself liking the FMC and MMC less and less, so that didn't help. They both were aware of the curse that was impacting them, and seemed to be able to remind themselves of it from time to time, but we still ended up in a repetitive cycle of miscommunication and anger that it was a bit fatiguing.
All in all, I'm grateful for the chance to read this book, but it isn't a favourite of mine. I think the first half of this book was well written and easy to read, and I think it has excellent potential if the author continues the story in a series.
I know they say not to judge a book by its cover, but I just love the cover of this one 😍 it's chaotic and floral and full of colour, so it spoke to me straight away!
I was a bit torn on my final thoughts on this book, because I absolutely loved the premise. Vengeful gods and star crossed lovers? Yes please! I was totally sucked in by the first half of the book where we meet Ella, the girl who can't remember her past. When Thane arrived in her small village, I was so invested as their chemistry built and hints of Ella's true life were revealed.
However, as the book continued, I found myself losing interest. While I liked the introduction of the other gods and the explanation of the curse that was affecting Ella, I was really longing for some more world building and action to occur in the story, because I spent a good chunk of it struggling to picture the world the story was set in.
I think my main criticism of this book is that most of the second act exposition seems to occur mostly through dialogue. For me, it seemed unnatural to be reading through slabs of dialogue as these characters had the world's longest conversations with one another, and it made it hard work to get through. As the story went on, I also found myself liking the FMC and MMC less and less, so that didn't help. They both were aware of the curse that was impacting them, and seemed to be able to remind themselves of it from time to time, but we still ended up in a repetitive cycle of miscommunication and anger that it was a bit fatiguing.
All in all, I'm grateful for the chance to read this book, but it isn't a favourite of mine. I think the first half of this book was well written and easy to read, and I think it has excellent potential if the author continues the story in a series.
May 3, 2025
This is my first ARC. When I saw that I had got approved I was giddy with excitement, which quickly turned to fear. What if I didn't like it? What if my first ARC review would be about how horrible the book was? I'm both happy and very relieved that this book as anything but bad!
The story is very well crafted. It changes and twists just enough to keep things interesting without feeling rushed. The story gets to take its time when needed and skips forward when necessary. The parts slowly connects and even though I could see some connections early on, I was still compelled to keep reading to find out how the story would get there.
The language is gorgeous and poetic without being too hard to follow. I'll admit that I started a few sentences over once or twice before I understood what was being said, but I'll chalk that up to a combination of English being my second language as well as being a tired mommy of a three-year old on an extended kindergarten break...It really says something that this book still managed to make me prioritise finding moments to read.
The two main characters are well crafted and kept me wanting to know more. The world building is just incredible. I recognise a lot of the world as well as the main and supporting characters, and yet there is a completely fresh take and twist on everything. The beginning of the book is almost claustrophobic as everything takes place in practically one location, and then the story and the world expands...well...a lot. Let's just leave it there...
If you like Madeline Millers work, I absolutely recommend this book! I had never heard about this author before this, but I am going to looking into her previous work. For sure. And applying for more ARCs.
The story is very well crafted. It changes and twists just enough to keep things interesting without feeling rushed. The story gets to take its time when needed and skips forward when necessary. The parts slowly connects and even though I could see some connections early on, I was still compelled to keep reading to find out how the story would get there.
The language is gorgeous and poetic without being too hard to follow. I'll admit that I started a few sentences over once or twice before I understood what was being said, but I'll chalk that up to a combination of English being my second language as well as being a tired mommy of a three-year old on an extended kindergarten break...It really says something that this book still managed to make me prioritise finding moments to read.
The two main characters are well crafted and kept me wanting to know more. The world building is just incredible. I recognise a lot of the world as well as the main and supporting characters, and yet there is a completely fresh take and twist on everything. The beginning of the book is almost claustrophobic as everything takes place in practically one location, and then the story and the world expands...well...a lot. Let's just leave it there...
If you like Madeline Millers work, I absolutely recommend this book! I had never heard about this author before this, but I am going to looking into her previous work. For sure. And applying for more ARCs.
April 26, 2025
What happens when the Daughter of Life & Princess of the Heavens falls for the Son of Death & Prince of the underworld? Well, I can tell you there is most definitely chaos, but also one of the most beautiful love stories you will ever read.
Wow! Just wow. I am at a loss for words to describe how much I loved every single moment of the masterpiece that was The Forgotten Life Of Ella Moon. This book was absolutely incredible and my only regret is that I can’t read it for the first time all over again. It was beautiful and tragic. It was truly one of the best, most heartfelt stories I’ve read in a while. I am so sad it’s over.
Melissa Naatz’s writing was beautiful and these characters secured an eternal place in my heart. I laughed. I cried. I went through so many emotions while reading this book. I truly hope this was the beautiful beginning to a series full of these characters because I will read them all!
The book was perfectly paced, full of descriptive world building, but didn’t feel overly drawn out. The characters were well developed and complex in the best ways. I loved the mythical vibes interspersed fairy tale confetti. Normally, I’m not a fan of an amnesia-like trope but I enjoyed every bit of this one.
Thank you to The Nerd Fam and Melissa Naatz for this gifted eARC and the opportunity to review this book.
Wow! Just wow. I am at a loss for words to describe how much I loved every single moment of the masterpiece that was The Forgotten Life Of Ella Moon. This book was absolutely incredible and my only regret is that I can’t read it for the first time all over again. It was beautiful and tragic. It was truly one of the best, most heartfelt stories I’ve read in a while. I am so sad it’s over.
Melissa Naatz’s writing was beautiful and these characters secured an eternal place in my heart. I laughed. I cried. I went through so many emotions while reading this book. I truly hope this was the beautiful beginning to a series full of these characters because I will read them all!
The book was perfectly paced, full of descriptive world building, but didn’t feel overly drawn out. The characters were well developed and complex in the best ways. I loved the mythical vibes interspersed fairy tale confetti. Normally, I’m not a fan of an amnesia-like trope but I enjoyed every bit of this one.
Thank you to The Nerd Fam and Melissa Naatz for this gifted eARC and the opportunity to review this book.
May 7, 2025
3.5 stars (rounded up)
The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon is a romantic, myth-tinged tale full of memory, mystery, and magic. I was especially drawn in by the opening third—Ella’s amnesia, the arrival of a handsome stranger, and the simmering love triangle created a captivating sense of intrigue. The story’s structure, weaving from present to past and back again, added emotional depth I really appreciated.
Ella was a compelling lead—grounded, self-possessed, and driven by an inner clarity. I admired how she listened to her heart and resisted being swept along by others’ expectations, choosing instead to forge her own path. Thane, in contrast, brought a quiet intensity. He was tender, patient, and deeply passionate—even if some of his earlier decisions were misguided. Watching him grow, learn, and ultimately redeem himself added a satisfying emotional arc to the romance.
The dynamics with the gods brought a whimsical, otherworldly energy to the story, though at times they felt a touch overused. Similarly, the romance—while heartfelt and lyrical—could grow repetitive in its dialogue.
Still, fans of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue or Once Upon a Broken Heart will likely swoon for this one. If you crave poetic prose and soul-deep love stories, this book will deliver. I tend to prefer stories with a bit more grit and urgency—but Ella Moon was still a sweet and dreamy ride.
The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon is a romantic, myth-tinged tale full of memory, mystery, and magic. I was especially drawn in by the opening third—Ella’s amnesia, the arrival of a handsome stranger, and the simmering love triangle created a captivating sense of intrigue. The story’s structure, weaving from present to past and back again, added emotional depth I really appreciated.
Ella was a compelling lead—grounded, self-possessed, and driven by an inner clarity. I admired how she listened to her heart and resisted being swept along by others’ expectations, choosing instead to forge her own path. Thane, in contrast, brought a quiet intensity. He was tender, patient, and deeply passionate—even if some of his earlier decisions were misguided. Watching him grow, learn, and ultimately redeem himself added a satisfying emotional arc to the romance.
The dynamics with the gods brought a whimsical, otherworldly energy to the story, though at times they felt a touch overused. Similarly, the romance—while heartfelt and lyrical—could grow repetitive in its dialogue.
Still, fans of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue or Once Upon a Broken Heart will likely swoon for this one. If you crave poetic prose and soul-deep love stories, this book will deliver. I tend to prefer stories with a bit more grit and urgency—but Ella Moon was still a sweet and dreamy ride.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 21, 2025
This book had such a magical whimsical feel to it. It was such a quick easy read. I couldn’t put it down towards the end.
Ella and Thane relationship was really intriguing. even though I had guessed who they were and some of the backstory before it was written; I still really enjoyed the evolution of their relationship and figuring out all about Ella and the gods and curses. It was just a really great read. I didn’t always like Ella and actually I think that really worked well in this book, because even though she wasn’t always a likable protagonist, you are still always rooting for her and always interested in the plot and storyline. I think it made Ella a more multi layered character.
I loved the world building in this. I loved the mortal world and some of the commentary around marriage and women’s places in this world. I loved the heaven and darkness. I thought that was done incredibly well beautifully visual it was like falling into the book.
I thought the ending was so beautifully sad and a beautiful way to end a fairytale like book!
If they do come out with a sequel, I would be very keen to read it!
Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing for the ARC of this book.
Ella and Thane relationship was really intriguing. even though I had guessed who they were and some of the backstory before it was written; I still really enjoyed the evolution of their relationship and figuring out all about Ella and the gods and curses. It was just a really great read. I didn’t always like Ella and actually I think that really worked well in this book, because even though she wasn’t always a likable protagonist, you are still always rooting for her and always interested in the plot and storyline. I think it made Ella a more multi layered character.
I loved the world building in this. I loved the mortal world and some of the commentary around marriage and women’s places in this world. I loved the heaven and darkness. I thought that was done incredibly well beautifully visual it was like falling into the book.
I thought the ending was so beautifully sad and a beautiful way to end a fairytale like book!
If they do come out with a sequel, I would be very keen to read it!
Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing for the ARC of this book.
April 30, 2025
"You have given your soul for my lord to keep. Now lie down to sleep for your soul I shall reap."
Ella Moon showed up in Riverton with no memories. She has no clue who she is or where she's from. The only thing she knows is that she knew a man intimately. Loved him, even. But in her dreams his face is blank. When a very wealthy stranger shows up at the inn that Ella is employed at she begins to feel things she's never felt. Or has she? It feels familiar. He feels familiar. Who is this mystery man and is she the lost lover he is searching for?
This is a story of love lost, sorrowful searching, lessons learned and ancient magic.
This book hooked me from page one. The characters made your heart yearn for them. I had a hard time putting this book down. It kept my attention. It's captivating and emotional. This has become one of my top favorite books of all time. I cannot wait to see if the author turns this into a series like she hopes.
This book releases in 2 weeks and is 1000% WORTH the read. Pre-order yours or read it on KU when it comes out. I will be ordering my trophy copy as soon as possible.
Ella Moon showed up in Riverton with no memories. She has no clue who she is or where she's from. The only thing she knows is that she knew a man intimately. Loved him, even. But in her dreams his face is blank. When a very wealthy stranger shows up at the inn that Ella is employed at she begins to feel things she's never felt. Or has she? It feels familiar. He feels familiar. Who is this mystery man and is she the lost lover he is searching for?
This is a story of love lost, sorrowful searching, lessons learned and ancient magic.
This book hooked me from page one. The characters made your heart yearn for them. I had a hard time putting this book down. It kept my attention. It's captivating and emotional. This has become one of my top favorite books of all time. I cannot wait to see if the author turns this into a series like she hopes.
This book releases in 2 weeks and is 1000% WORTH the read. Pre-order yours or read it on KU when it comes out. I will be ordering my trophy copy as soon as possible.
April 27, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 5 stars
"I could be. Yours. All you have to do is ask."
"I don't want this to end. I don't want moments, Thane. I want lifetimes. I want centuries. I want your forevers. I want more of this."
Review:
There are consequences for breaking a heart, even for a god...
This book was like a fairytale! Whimsical and dreamy, with just a touch of darkness.
It had Adalyn Grace and Stephanie Garber vibes, but make it adult, not YA. So if you love the work of those authors, you might want to check this out.
The dynamics between the main characters reminded me a little of Hades and Persephone.
The FMC is light and soft, while the MMC is dark and mysterious.
A complicated and literally heartbreaking love story.
It was very romantic, with a little bit of open-door spice too.
It was a truly unique and magical story. Definitely recommend!
- Romantasy
- Fairytale vibes
- Cursed gods
- Spice
- Mystery
- Yearning
- True love
- Memory loss
- Past vs now
I was gifted this ARC by the author for free and leave this honest review voluntarily.
"I could be. Yours. All you have to do is ask."
"I don't want this to end. I don't want moments, Thane. I want lifetimes. I want centuries. I want your forevers. I want more of this."
Review:
There are consequences for breaking a heart, even for a god...
This book was like a fairytale! Whimsical and dreamy, with just a touch of darkness.
It had Adalyn Grace and Stephanie Garber vibes, but make it adult, not YA. So if you love the work of those authors, you might want to check this out.
The dynamics between the main characters reminded me a little of Hades and Persephone.
The FMC is light and soft, while the MMC is dark and mysterious.
A complicated and literally heartbreaking love story.
It was very romantic, with a little bit of open-door spice too.
It was a truly unique and magical story. Definitely recommend!
- Romantasy
- Fairytale vibes
- Cursed gods
- Spice
- Mystery
- Yearning
- True love
- Memory loss
- Past vs now
I was gifted this ARC by the author for free and leave this honest review voluntarily.
May 10, 2025
“We are not living in some fairy tale. If you want to be rescued, you must do that yourself.”
This was such a beautiful, emotional story that had such strong Sleeping Beauty vibes. This is a story of love and betrayal and the power of emotion. It’s a story of the lengths people will go to for their true love. Ella’s path to find out who she really is and what she wants in life was full of heartbreak and love and finding out that, sometimes family are the people who choose you. Both sides of Ella’s life are full of amazing characters who are full of life and personality. I loved how Ella, who isn’t really Ella, found ways to fulfill the requirements she faced with as much kindness as possible. I loved the fairytale vibes and the different worlds she visited. Everything was described so fully that I felt like I was there. I absolutely love Naatz’s writing style and will definitely be reading more of her work. She has incredible talent in character development and world building. I absolutely loved how things ended.
Thank you, Melissa Naatz, Lost Time Publishing, and The Nerdfam for providing an e-arc of this beautiful fantasy romance. My review has not been impacted by this in any way.
This was such a beautiful, emotional story that had such strong Sleeping Beauty vibes. This is a story of love and betrayal and the power of emotion. It’s a story of the lengths people will go to for their true love. Ella’s path to find out who she really is and what she wants in life was full of heartbreak and love and finding out that, sometimes family are the people who choose you. Both sides of Ella’s life are full of amazing characters who are full of life and personality. I loved how Ella, who isn’t really Ella, found ways to fulfill the requirements she faced with as much kindness as possible. I loved the fairytale vibes and the different worlds she visited. Everything was described so fully that I felt like I was there. I absolutely love Naatz’s writing style and will definitely be reading more of her work. She has incredible talent in character development and world building. I absolutely loved how things ended.
Thank you, Melissa Naatz, Lost Time Publishing, and The Nerdfam for providing an e-arc of this beautiful fantasy romance. My review has not been impacted by this in any way.
May 8, 2025
3⭐️
This book had such a unique plot! It felt like a cozy blanket you just want to settle in and soak it all up. I’m excited to see how this world grows, so much potential!
I had a hard time connecting with the main character, Ella, which I know is somewhat on purpose since even SHE doesn’t even know who she is. Once you get more backstory and an understanding things make a lot more sense and you get a better read on her.
I would say Part 1 was hard for me to get into because Emma is sort of helpless and seems to use people and then falls very quickly for the mysterious stranger. It all kinda makes sense once you get into Part 2 though.
The romance had yearning and tension which was fun to read! It has Romeo and Juliet vibes and was incredibly heart breaking and inspiring at the same time!
For the most part, it was very entertaining to read and is a great fantasy standalone with the potential for the world to expand with other books.
This book had such a unique plot! It felt like a cozy blanket you just want to settle in and soak it all up. I’m excited to see how this world grows, so much potential!
I had a hard time connecting with the main character, Ella, which I know is somewhat on purpose since even SHE doesn’t even know who she is. Once you get more backstory and an understanding things make a lot more sense and you get a better read on her.
I would say Part 1 was hard for me to get into because Emma is sort of helpless and seems to use people and then falls very quickly for the mysterious stranger. It all kinda makes sense once you get into Part 2 though.
The romance had yearning and tension which was fun to read! It has Romeo and Juliet vibes and was incredibly heart breaking and inspiring at the same time!
For the most part, it was very entertaining to read and is a great fantasy standalone with the potential for the world to expand with other books.
April 27, 2025
The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon by Melissa Naatz
I absolutely enjoyed reading this book.
It is a beautifully written, cosy romance romantazy with a powerful punch. This moving, heartbreaking tale of love will leave you feeling so many emotions. Naatz's writing is stunning, and I loved getting swept up in Ella's story.
My only critique is that the transition between the first and second parts of the book felt a bit disjointed, but I still really enjoyed it. I highly recommend this book - it's a tragic love story. I look forward to reading more of Melissa Naatz writing.
Look out for this book. Publication date 13/05/2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co Op for the opportunity to read and review this Advanced Release Copy.
I absolutely enjoyed reading this book.
It is a beautifully written, cosy romance romantazy with a powerful punch. This moving, heartbreaking tale of love will leave you feeling so many emotions. Naatz's writing is stunning, and I loved getting swept up in Ella's story.
My only critique is that the transition between the first and second parts of the book felt a bit disjointed, but I still really enjoyed it. I highly recommend this book - it's a tragic love story. I look forward to reading more of Melissa Naatz writing.
Look out for this book. Publication date 13/05/2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co Op for the opportunity to read and review this Advanced Release Copy.
May 12, 2025
This book is, like the story, a never ending heartbreak!
This is a story about something really powerful: love. This book is truly special. The world building is unique. The characters are well described and lovable.
This story has been a rollercoaster of emotions. The book is divided into 3 parts. The first is where the mystery takes place and we discover Ella Moon, a really special girl who dreams of true love. In the second part, we understand a lot of things and discover new characters. The last part is the shorter, but the most emotional one!
Honestly, I’ve really enjoyed this reading. It was like nothing I’ve read before and I don’t want to quit Ella & Thane. Thank you Melissa for this ARC! I highly recommend to read this!
This is a story about something really powerful: love. This book is truly special. The world building is unique. The characters are well described and lovable.
This story has been a rollercoaster of emotions. The book is divided into 3 parts. The first is where the mystery takes place and we discover Ella Moon, a really special girl who dreams of true love. In the second part, we understand a lot of things and discover new characters. The last part is the shorter, but the most emotional one!
Honestly, I’ve really enjoyed this reading. It was like nothing I’ve read before and I don’t want to quit Ella & Thane. Thank you Melissa for this ARC! I highly recommend to read this!
April 19, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and Melissa Naatz for giving me this opportunity to ARC read this amazing book.
I have rated it 3.75 stars ⭐️ This book is a Romantasy book focusing on romance mainly. This book was a tragic love story about Darkness and Dawn which includes a lot of information about other gods and fate getting in the way of love.
I found it quite slow paced but I do think that having the book separated into three parts helped the story flow really nicely. I have never read a book like this and found it beautiful and very interesting.
I very much recommend if you like romantasy books 🥰
I have rated it 3.75 stars ⭐️ This book is a Romantasy book focusing on romance mainly. This book was a tragic love story about Darkness and Dawn which includes a lot of information about other gods and fate getting in the way of love.
I found it quite slow paced but I do think that having the book separated into three parts helped the story flow really nicely. I have never read a book like this and found it beautiful and very interesting.
I very much recommend if you like romantasy books 🥰
April 22, 2025
This book had my attention from the very beginning. I enjoyed the mythic elements of this read. Not only do you read about the two main characters and who they are and their backstory but you get a handful of lovable characters and entwined you get to learn about some Gods.
This book is separated into three parts, I will say that part two was not as enjoyable for me. The female main character felt a bit obnoxious to me and I didn't feel like picking up the read. However, part three had me hooked once again.
Found family, heartbreak, love, a non complex magic system and a twist at the end is what you have to look forward to if you enjoy fantasy with some romance.
Thank you to the Nerd fam and the author for the ecopy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
This book is separated into three parts, I will say that part two was not as enjoyable for me. The female main character felt a bit obnoxious to me and I didn't feel like picking up the read. However, part three had me hooked once again.
Found family, heartbreak, love, a non complex magic system and a twist at the end is what you have to look forward to if you enjoy fantasy with some romance.
Thank you to the Nerd fam and the author for the ecopy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
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