Forgotten

by Lara A. Springs

Ashley (Ash) and Ashford (Ford) have been best friends forever.

January 2002

When Ash meets Ford, he is six years old.
His mom is too busy taking care of his younger brothers, his dad is too angry. There’s nobody in the world who will care about Ash, nobody who will love him for who he really is. That is, of course, until Ashford Hale comes into his life.

August 2024

Two weeks after a car accident, Ford wakes up from a medically induced coma with no memory of the past two years. A fractured elbow, some bruising, but nothing else seems out of the ordinary.
Except, his life is completely different now. His best friend Ash is right beside him when Ford wakes up, and there’s a new light in his eyes; a new softness in the way Ash holds Ford’s hand. Ford has so many questions, and his mind has very few answers.
How did he end up in a relationship with his best friend in 2024? Will the headache ever leave him alone? And who the hell is Winnie? What else has he forgotten?


Forgotten is the first novel in the Memory Loss Series, starring Ashley Bergman. This MM romance can be read as a standalone and the happy ending is guaranteed. Please refer to the content warnings for more information.

Genres: Found Family, M M Romance, Friends To Lovers, Second Chance

347 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication May 10, 2026

Reviews

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ARC Review✨

⭐️ 4.5/5
🌶️ 2/5

Main characters: Ashley (Ash) & Ashford (Ford)
Side characters: Sydney, Darshi, Morgan, Preston, Martin, Edwin, Erik
Page count: 347

First person, dual POV. Dual timelines.

Goodness, this book was so emotional. I devoured it. The way this book was written felt sort of fever dream-like. I think this helped us as readers to really feel Ford’s confusion throughout, as he’s trying to piece together everything about his life after the accident that isn’t making sense to him. This book really made me think about where love actually lives in our bodies. Is it solely dependent on our memories or does it go deeper than that? When we love someone that deeply does it live in our marrow and transcend our minds, or would we truly forget? Obviously Ash and Ford already loved each other as best friends, so Ford losing the last two years didn’t completely erase the deep foundation they had in their relationship. I think this was the most important factor in this story. They had already been through so much and meant so much to each other, there was a starting point to build off of even in the absence of Ford’s memories.

The way Lara developed the story and slowly peeled back layer after layer of what transpired was brilliant. We were along for the ride, right beside Ford, as things were unraveled and brought to clarity. I loved all the fun and quirky friends who were endlessly supportive and the complex family dynamics. I think Ford’s dad was the true hero for everyone in this story.

This was such a strong debut from Lara A. Springs. Looking forward to the next book in the series!

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute story, probably more of a 3.5 for me. I liked the concept of Ford and Ash's relationship being established when the amnesia comes in to play. A lot of times I feel like there's a misunderstanding around the amnesia that perpetuates the story and, with the relationship already being established, I feel like you don't get that here (which I like).

I did find the dual timeline to be a little much. My eyes haven't had a lot of time to read lately so I was grabbing a chapter here and a chapter there and couldn't necessarily sit down for long sprints of reading. I found myself having to reacquaint my brain with what had happened and what was actively happening in the story pretty much every time I picked it up. I think if you have time to commit to longer chunks of reading, you could avoid that pitfall.

Overall, I liked the story and it was a good debut. I don't read a ton of amnesia stories and I think I am coming to learn about myself that I may not love that as a plot device in most cases. I'm intrigued by the teaser of book two so I'll plan to give that a read and use it as a personal barometer on if I need to avoid amnesia stories going forward.

[HappilyEverReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

**I was gifted an ARC of this book**

Longtime best friends-to-lovers is one of my favorite tropes, and I absolutely loved Ash and Ford’s story. The amnesia trope can sometimes be frustrating to read, but I thought the choice to use dual POVs and dual timelines made this story feel really unique and engaging.

Ash and Ford’s relationship was incredibly sweet, even when things got messy before finally coming full circle. Then the car accident happens, and Ford forgets the last two years of his life—including his romantic relationship with Ash—which made the story even more emotional and compelling. While reading the present-day timeline, my heart absolutely ached for Ash. After pining for his best friend for so long, finally getting to be with him, and then essentially losing him all over again? Brutal in the best way.

Ford was definitely the more frustrating character at times because it took him so long to realize what was right in front of him. He clearly loved Ash long before he fully understood it himself, and watching him slowly come to that realization was both emotional and satisfying. I also loved Vicky—she was such a standout side character, and her blunt honesty brought some much-needed sense and humor to the story.

The found family aspect and supporting cast really added so much depth to the book. They made the world feel lived in and layered while also balancing out all the yearning and angst with lighter, funny moments. I really enjoyed the dual timelines showing both the present-day fallout and all the moments leading up to it. These two truly went through it on their journey to loving each other, and then again after the accident when Ford had to rediscover both himself and his relationship with Ash.
The way everything was woven together by the end to reveal the full picture felt really special and made the storytelling stand out for me. Ash and Ford were absolutely soulmate material.

If you love best friends-to-lovers, amnesia tropes, lots of yearning and pining, emotional angst, and found family dynamics, I definitely recommend this one.

[Shanice · Rating 4 out of 5]

"You seem to have forgotten something very important alongside, you know, everything else. I'd do anything for you, Ashford..."

I really loved this one. Amnesia tropes aren’t usually my thing, but this completely pulled me in and made stepping outside my comfort zone so worth it.
We follow Ashley (Ash) and Ashford (Ford), yes, the names are a lot, but Ford fixes that problem for us(haha). Their connection starts immediately. They started with roller skates and bikes, building a deep friendship that eventually became something more. The story unfolds through flashbacks after Ford loses his memory, slowly revealing the evolution of their bond from friendship to love. We follow them over the course of YEARS, learning how close they became. Reading Ford grapple with everything he’s lost and all the life-altering truths he can’t remember makes this so emotional. And my baby Ash... I wanted to wrap him up and protect him more times than I can count. Just when you think he’s been through enough, life piles on even more...

There’s so much emotional weight as both of them try to navigate what their relationship looks like now, not only as a couple but as parents. Ford’s journey, in particular, figuring out who he is without his memories and learning to accept that version of himself, is beautifully done.

The side characters and found family element really made it all come together. Ash finally gets the support he deserves, and it’s incredibly satisfying to see. Almost everyone is lovable, and even a few characters you might want to mace lol.

Overall, once I started, I couldn’t put it down.

[between.heas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some books find you at the right moment. Forgotten didn't just find me — it wrecked me completely, then put me back together.

Ashley and Ashford. Ash and Ford. From the very first scene — Ford in a hospital bed, his memories scattered by retrograde amnesia — I was theirs. I felt everything they felt, every loss and every tentative reach toward each other, right up to the very last page.

Ash broke my heart in ways I wasn't prepared for. The way his family treats him is genuinely devastating. I wanted to reach through the pages, take him somewhere safe, and shield him from every cruelty he was made to endure. He loves so honestly, so selflessly — it's almost unbearable to watch.

And Ford. Ford is the greenest flag ever written. As a friend, as a boyfriend, as a partner — he is the kind of person you didn't know you were missing until you met him on a page. His dedication, even as his memories slip away, is the kind of love that earns its happy ending.

Then there's Winnie. My sweet baby girl. I love her to pieces.

The non-linear structure — past and present weaving in and out — is something I usually resist. But this book needs it. It would have been a lesser story told any other way. Lara Springs handles it with such precision that I never once felt lost, only more deeply in.

A whole box of tissues. Actual tears. That hasn't happened to me in a very long time.

Forgotten is a story about family, friendship, heartbreak, and the kind of love that refuses to be forgotten — even when memory fails. It will live with me for a long time.

[Lu · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a gorgeous book. Childhood friends to friends to lovers to.....?

What do you do when an accident steals the last two years of your life and the best friend you remember is no longer just your friend but you partner?

I love how this was across multiple timelines so, as a reader, you not any experienced Ford's present, but also saw their relationship blossom throughout the years in Ash's eyes and what they meant to eachother. It made the story so powerful.

Also I love family, found family, friends and side characters that bring the story to life. It was so amazing to see that Ash and Ford had so many people in their lives who cared and wanted them to make it (I would love to see who we get to meet again in the future).

The recovery was also really well done. In books and movies we often just see the cliff notes glamorous recovery. In this the recovery was the story, it was hard, it wasn't linear. It showed the impact on everyone not just Ford as the one in recovery. It reminds us that getting better takes time and effort and we should be kind to ourselves.

Extra brownie points for the line: "We're a British family, after all. Swearing runs in our veins, just like tea, and all those stereotypes" - Truer words have never been spoke and as a Brit I will die on that hill.

Also for the inopportune trombone womp-fucking-womp-womp

For further context I highly recommend you read the book!

[Mal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is 💯 a book you take your time with. While it isn’t long it’s emotionally rich and punches you inte sternum from the first page. It’s a dual POV dual timeline and it flows seamlessly, beautifully.

I loved experiencing this book, reading their lives from Ash’s pov when they were kids and Ford’s PoV now that they find themselves in circumstances that would test the best of men and these are… the best of men

Their connection is instinctive and unshakeable from the first time they meet and as the author weaves the threads of past and present into this story to bring to life how they became who they became, how they lost it and how they fight to regain it, I was taken aback by how deeply I felt for them, sadness hounded my reading and hurt but I could not pull away because Ash and Ford and their family and friends had a complete unshakeable hold on me

The representation in this book, found family, mental health not just for the amnesia but those dealing with the trauma of tragedy, neglect, borderline addiction is so well done.

This is a story of deep connection and friendship and what happens when you loose the tangible rational manifestation of it and have to trust yourself and the choices you have made

Amazing story! Can’t recommend it enough

[Seraphina Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forgotten
Memory Loss Series Book 1
Lara A. Springs

Ash & Ford

Memory Loss
Best friends to lovers
Second chances
Family / Found Family
Dual timeline & POV
Hurt / Comfort
Soulmates

I've always enjoyed the amnesia trope. I think these hurty sort of tropes bring some of the best romances I've read

This was a great story. Two best friends that have loved each other for years. First as just friends then more

Ford wakes up in the hospital with no memories from the last 2 years.

This was emotional at times. I truly could not imagine what that must be like.

Ford's best friend Ash is struggling, naturally. Ash is so strong. Again I would have no idea what I'd do it my partner just forgot our life together

This was a sweet emotional book

2 men falling in love all over again

I enjoyed the dual timelines and glimpses into the past. We got to see how they became friends

Great book

So thankful for this arc

[Taylor Moses · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love how in this book you get dual POVs, but in different timelines. Everyone Ford has his sense of “Deja vu” and his reactions on page was like I felt it too.
Horngry is definitely a word. Or, it needs to be.
I love the found family in this book. Not just the main characters finding it in each other, it each finding their own friends to make their own family. The support they get throughout the ordeals in their life. It’s such a good representation of how we can feel all alone and isolated because we don’t want to be a burden, but then asking for help and receiving it with love can be everything.

Ash and Ford were so cute to read about. I love the friends to lovers. And how, even with the memory loss Ford is not panicked. Instead he realizes how right it is. It’s such a good read if you are looking for friends to lovers, comfort, found family, coming of age vibes.

[Kristen Houghton · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review (and thank you so much for the ARC)
This is such a sweet love story, kinda told in reverse. Ash and Ford have been friends since childhood, and together through a lot, they’ve had a lot of first together too. And then Ford wakes up after a horrible accident, finds out he has lost two years of his memories, oh and that he’s dating his best friends Ash actually. What follows is a love story told in duel timelines and POV. Ash tells you about the past, and Ford the present, until you get up to the accident and recovery.
These two finding each other again is so well plotted out and well done, their love is so apparent to everyone even if they can’t see it themselves at times. Ashs story breaks your heart a bit, but Ford is there for him, these two fight for their HEA in their own way and it was a joy to read.

[Anna Starrington · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ARC Review✨

Ashley and Ashford! There is something I love so much about childhood friends to lovers. The way Lara Springs represented their lifelong friendship through snippets was so special. Watching them grow, not only as individuals, but together as friends was very rewarding.

I think Lara Springs did a great job maneuvering through some really tricky subjects. Such as manipulative relationships, parental abuse, divorce, mental health. Being a human is hard and the fact that Ash and Ford always had each other to rely on was beautiful. And when they felt like they were losing each other and themselves that’s when they finally took a look in the mirror! Up until that point it was very will they, won’t they.

I’m very intrigued in the future of this world, I know this is the first book in the series and I can’t wait to see what else comes from the lovely mind of Lara Springs! 💖

[Brit ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing debut!! I just loved Ford and Ash so much.

I loved the timeline split because it felts like we truly to get to see the progression of their friendship to relationship! Amnesia tropes are hard to read but in the very best way, especially with a timeline split. You get to meet these characters and see the pre amnesia and then you hurt along side them as they work their way to their HEA. I could not imagine going through what they go through. Ford and Ash were just so sweet to read. They work so hard to get their HEA and when it happens, oh how I cried! It was just so special to read. Add in Winnie and just 🥺🥺🥺🥺

I cannot wait to read everything else that Lara writes in the future 🤍

[Lola · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved getting to know Ash and Ford.

And Winnie, of course <3

This is my first time reading a memory loss book, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Dual timelines aren't usually my favourite, but I actually liked how it was done here; we got Ford's POV in the present and Ash’s POV starting when they were children. It was lovely to see how their bond evolved from them being kids to young adults, then how it reformed again in the wake of Ford's amnesia.

The story really got me in the feels. To see Ford struggling to adapt to a life he has no recollection of, a child he doesn't remember, was heartbreaking. But it made all their little moments of reconnection so much more meaningful.

Can't wait for the next in the series :)

LK

[⋆ ˚｡⋆୨ Jinx Reads ୧⋆ ˚｡⋆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

{4.5 stars}

This book made me feel so much in such a short period of time, I read it and felt like I was actually meeting these protagonists and getting to know them as people rather than characters. It felt like a gift to get to know them and I am so excited to get to know more of these characters throughout the rest of the series!

I liked that Ashley and Ashford were rounded up characters with flaws, insecurities and emotions that made me feels for them and this situation that they were thrown into. I loved their child and how I adored the ambiguity of how Ford reacted. I do believe that if anyone was thrown in a similar situation, it would be hard to wrap their head around a forgotten baby.

I wanted them to be happy on so many occasions and I do believe that the representations of mental health struggles were done very beautifully and respectfully.

{Arc}
See you in the next review!
Love <3

[Sammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Copy received from author.

I was really looking forward to getting the chance to read this book as I love amnesia tropes.
Ashford wakes up in the hospital after an accident and can't recall the last few years. It's up to his best friend Ashley to remind him, and help him to remember.
Ashford's journey is filled with super sweet moments and some very emotional ones as well. I don't want to give anything away, but there are lots of surprises in store for Ashford.
Readers who enjoy memory loss, hurt\comfort, best friends to lovers and second chances will love this story.
Thank you to the author for giving me the opportunity to read this wonderful book.

[This1strash · Rating 4 out of 5]

it didn't even take me a full chapter to get emotionally attached to ashley

cricket over rugby... so disappointed in you ford

they have a daughter? i did not see that coming

i am totally the type of person who would call a baby, dude

no matter how manipulative thanny might be, i do find it strange that ash would just agree to stop talking to ford after only a month together. and the reasoning he gives when they meet feels like he was looking for a reason not to contact ford again. in general the whole section could've been more developed.

i don't have a lot to say about this book other than i really liked it

[Kyra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a rollercoaster of feels, wow. We get a split timeline of before the accident, told by Ash, and after the accident, mostly told by Ford. Lara did an amazing job with their story, you could feel the fear Ford had of not remembering his family, his life, through the pages. I like that it was Fords POV for after the accident, it kind of puts us in his shoes and leaves us with many questions and blank spots on where their relationship is at until he remembers something and knows to ask about it. We the reader are as clueless as he is a lot of the time. Seeing him remember pieces at a time and then the flood it was heartbreaking and just so well written. And we get a second book?! I’m so freaking excited to see what comes of book two because book one had me hooked!

[Michael Raasch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book was my first time reading about memory loss. At first, I had a little hard time getting into it, because you are going from past to present, getting Ash’s POV and then Ford’s POV. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and loved how one night, when they finally had sex, Ford finally asks Ash about the proposal and Ash lost the color to his face. But, that was also when all the memories finally come back. Overall, I do recommend this book and take that journey on Ash and Ford, learning about Ford’s memories and how he finally gets them back. Well done ❤️

[Lore · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story and I think it made a perfect debut book.
The connection between Ash and Ford felt deep, intimate, and layered in a way that makes you feel everything alongside them. Amnesia trope also kinda always works for me , so no surprise there.
The dual timeline isn’t usually my thing, and I won’t lie, it did take me a moment to fully settle into it, but the way the story ties everything together emotionally really worked in the end, and I ended up appreciating it more than I expected.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so glad I read this book. This was great. I loved the relationship between Ash and Ford. I normally hate timeline splits, but this one worked for me. I was so happy with how the characters came together and the level of unknown we the reader had as well. As this is a debut, I am really excited to see how this author proceeds because this was great.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one pulled on all of the heartstrings.

I will say at first with them both being called Ash I got myself confused.

The found family aspect was my favorite and I loved how close Ford's dad was with Ash as well. He needed that stability.

All in all the amount of love in this book made my heart happy 😊

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A TRULY UNFORGETTABLE READ!!

The emotional gravity of their story sucked me in. Ash and Ford, these two are so very good and to see how they handle and deal with the memory loss is so raw and incredible. We get to see their relationship over time, how it progressed to their love of one another. They go through the ringer and them some. Well done!! Well written!!

[Bear_reads_romance · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a dual timeline which I didn't realize and isn't really my thing. That being said it was a good book, I genuinely liked Ford and Ash.

[Lucy Castle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have no words to describe how much I loved this book! I'm especially in awe of the author's ability to give a voice to a neglected child. It shattered me, not gonna lie... but by the end, I was healed.

Read this book! It's romantic, emotional, touching, and spicy.