Never lose yourself. Never settle. And never stay where you're no longer a priority.
Then she fell in love with Cassian.
For him, she broke every rule. She waited through late nights at the office. Ate dinner alone more times than she could count. Kept convincing herself that tomorrow would be different.
Until one night left her no promise of tomorrow.
Heartbroken, Alessia walked away with one impossible wish: to never have met her husband at all.
She didn't imagine an accident would make that wish come true.
When Alessia wakes, her life with Cassian is gone. The marriage. The memories. The love she once had for him.
Cassian remembers all of it.
Every dinner he missed. Every promise he broke. Every time he made her feel like she came second.
He can't undo the choices that drove her away. He can't give her back the time she lost believing she wasn't enough.
But he can make sure the woman standing in front of him doesn't ever feel forgotten again.
Neva was that student who always looked tired. Her teachers thought it was laziness. It was actually the imaginary people in her head refusing to let her sleep. She writes contemporary fiction now so they can bother you instead. You're welcome.
Iโm a sucker for a soapy style amnesia story! I enjoyed this authorโs sense of humor.
Spoilery thoughtsโฆ
MMC is being incredibly neglectful and callous to FMC, over a period of months, due to some serious work drama. Before that it sounds like it was a very happy relationship.
MMC blows off an important birthday party FMC throws for him. He comes home at 2 am with a drunk wannabe OW/coworker (his business partner and bffโs sister).
FMC is done and leaves him, while wishing she had never even met him. Welp, she gets her wish. Sheโs almost immediately in a car wreck and gets amnesia. She forgets only the last three years of her life, precisely how long sheโs known the MMC. All of this was great angst.
I did start to often dislike the FMC after this point. I sympathize with her because I can only imagine the FMCโs confusion, especially considering one of the last things she remembers is claiming sheโs never going to marry. She immediately wants a divorce.
MMC is devastated. The way heโs written I kinda wonder if heโs on the spectrum. He absolutely screwed up, but dang he loved her so much. It frankly started to feel like reading about a puppy getting kicked. Repeatedly. FMC had absolutely no empathy for his situation. It was harsh.
Thereโs a whole bunch of other subplots involving their childhoods, parents, abuse, selective mutism, OW, OWโs father, and more. It was bogged down with too many plot directions. Anyway, an eventual HEA.
I think I started this on Wattpad a while ago. Iโve noticed a lot of WP stories meander, especially if the story is getting a lot of views. This can work great when youโre reading piecemeal works. Translating that to actual publishing, without significant editing, is a problem. This baby felt so LONG! At 35% I was wondering what the heck is going on here?
Iโd definitely be interested in reading this author again. I seriously donโt want to be disrespectful, but I hope next time she brings in a healthy dose of editing if sheโs publishing one from WP origins. This author has a lot of potential to do something great. โ๏ธ
Fuck this book, I hated it. It made me remember how fucking single i am and no man will ever speak about me the way Cassian spoke about Alessia. This might be the first book where the man fucks up and I fully forgive him.
and hey a huge chunk of the book is stupid af and made no sense, for instance Cassian couldn't say i love you due to his past abuse by his step mom, but when Alessia asked if he loved her he could have easily said yes. we know he can say the word love just not the full " i love you", so he could have said it differently. honestly i could go on and on about the loopholes and inconsistencies, but at the end of the day this book wasn't meant to be serious and it's obvious, it was a silly cute little 2nd chance book and i enjoyed it. especially their friends, i struggle a lot in books when the main characters have awful friends who push them to take back awful Partners or meddle too much in their lives. But their friend in this book were incredible f, and they were all quite close and funny. And I adored their bond. The MCs were also great, the fmc was witty and strong and funny. she was also very loving and protective. The mmc fucked up in a tough moment with too much stress and exhaustion and sever lack of communication but he was a softie who adored his wife.
safety: - Safe - no cheating -no one during seperation - owd : Cassandra his bestfriend/ business partner's sister who also works for them wants him and causes drama, he is obviously oblivious and never wanted her nor has he ever confided in her like most workaholic mmc books with a sneaky assistant. it's not the case here. - no omd ( bummer) - mmc has only had one girlfriend years ago and is not the dating or hookups type, the fmc is definitely more experienced.
First thing to say, amnesia trope isn't my cup of tea but oh my giddy aunt Neva knocks this utterly amazing read out of the angsty amnesia park. It's heartbreaking, hilarious, yummy yearning that you will have you up til dawn saying meh f*ck my morning meeting. Alessia hosts an enormous birthday party for her much beloved husband Cassian to help him make connections for his troubled business but he's a no show leaving her standing alone. But when she finally heads home it becomes clear he wasn't so "alone" when he and his tipsy (very female and clearly enamoured) colleague stumble in during the early hours. Alessia flees the gut punch of a scene, tears streaming down her face as she whizzes off in her car, only to wrap it round a pole minutes later... Upon awakening many days later to a man who looks haunted by her pain whom she doesn't know is her husband and the last few years of her memories (seemingly) deleted she lets him explain what happened and a run down of their relationship only to deem him not nearly devoted enough to qualify for husband status.
Cassian is desperate to make up for his horrible wrong but can't when his wife is no longer his wife but a woman who sees him as a stranger. Cue furious fight for any crumb of Alessia's approval let alone winning back her love, his trips down, around and through memory lane are so heartbreaking, I ugly sobbed on so many occasions. Neva depicts his deep yearning, despair and gut wrenching grief for a life that no longer exists with the only woman who ever felt like home or that he could even have a home at all.
Alessia's razor sharp tongue and savage sarcasm will have you snort laughing in public places but it's the characters nuanced poignant friendships with each other than will have you rushing through the pages. So much pain from past and present casts long shadows over both imperfectly loveable main characters, you can see how their personal puzzle pieces would fit together perfectly but are held at arms length through fear and forgotten memories the joyful reconciliation will warm your heart and make you ugly cry all over again... god the soup scene... the bloody tearjerking soup scene!
Fabulous writing from a truly talented author, Neva captures visceral emotions with such authenticity and aplomb. Poignant prose, devastating loss and upliftingly cutthroat wit make this an absolute must read.
Not for me. Flicked to the end at 45% of the way through. Just overly erratic and all over the place. The story and characters just couldnโt keep my attention, especially with another 350 pages to go!
I liked this oneโฆbut there was so many OTT backstories. Everbody was either left by a parent or has parent issues. The fmc was introduced as a soft natured, fragile woman but after the amnesia a bitch was born. It sometimes happens that characters change after a traumatic situation but we learned that she was always like that. And I was not convinced with the two different characters to belong to the same woman. If she was such a viper how come she reacted as a weak woman towards her husband and his negligence? Still I read it without skimping or skipping so 4 stars.
Alessia & Cassian are happily married. Cassian is trying to advance his career at a mixer while Alessia meets and greets everyone while waiting for Cassian to arrive -Alessia leaves Cassian after he doesn't answer the one question she asks and get into her car and drives away with Cassian hot on her heels. I liked all the twists and turns.
The author is a GENIUS!! How do you even write something this fun to read?! ๐ญ If it werenโt for my classes, I probably wouldโve finished this in a single day!
The writing? Awesome. The storyline? Perfect. The banter? LOVE IT. The yearning??? EXACTLY MY STYLE!!! ๐ฉ
Everything about this book just worked for me. I was completely invested in the story and the characters, and honestly, I think Iโve found a new author to add to my โmust-buy-whatever-she-writesโ list. ๐คญ
Thanks Neva for allowing me to read this book as an ARC. I'm sooo happy and grateful to be an ARC reader for this book and my review is as follows:
Why the heck is someone cutting onions near me at 2 am? I swear itโs the onion. No way in hell am I crying under the blanket reading this book. Nope. Never. Nada. Someone must have been really hungry and wanted 10 kilos of onions. Thatโs it. Yessss!
On a serious note though, this story made me cry rivers. I usually do not like amnesia stories even though Iโm a huge sucker for second chance romance stories(usually not with the male lead that hurt you before), but this story OMGโฆ The change in perspectives, and the way the male lead was not whitewashed, but his actions were still justifiedโฆ I cannot begin to even say. Iโm absolutely in love with this story.
This is one of those books that made me forgive the MMC even after he effed up. Like, OMG. Iโm not gonna say more. Go read it and see for yourself why.
Plot & Content Summary - The Premise: Alessia forgot her marriage and her husband after a car accident. Alessia does not want to give him a second chance and heโs adamant on getting a second chance from her. - Setting: Modern World - Key Themes: Sometimes itโs okay to give one person a second chance.
Analytical Breakdown
- Plot: Alessia had forgotten about her marriage with Cassian after a car accident. She had arranged his birthday party which he did not attend. After a confrontation with him, she drove off and had a car accident which caused her amnesia. Later, Cassian tries his best to work on himself and ask for a second chance.
- Characters: Alessia is a no-nonsense person. Cassian is very focused. He works according to his priorities and sometimes those priorities lead to disaster, which he realizes very late. The secondary characters were also quite nice. I liked Liam, especially that bouquet throwing scene OMG. I think Felicity couldโve been developed a bit more. I do like their friendship, but it didnโt feel that meaningful to me.
- Pacing & Structure: The story was absolutely well-paced. So well-paced that it did not feel like it was dragging at all. All it did was leave me sleep-deprived.
- Writing Style & Tone: The prose is very good and well-written. The only thing that I noticed was that the character voices sometimes felt the same, especially in areas where description was used. Since multiple first-person POV was used, I wish they had different ways of describing the things/setting. Dialogues were quite good, honestly and had distinct voices, so that made it worthwhile.
Personal Reflection & Rating - What Worked (Pros): ----OMG, there are so many favorite scenesโฆ The bouquet throwing scene was hilarious. The fake doctor vs the real doctor scene was also hilarious. The accident scene was so emotional. The soup scene โฆ AAAAAAAAโฆ I mean, at this point, Iโd go on and onโฆ Just go read for yourself. ----One of the best scenes, IMO, is the vulnerable Cassian being unable to utter those words that he should have. He knew it and he still couldnโt say it. OMG, my heart broke for him. I just cannot begin to say how much I relate to it. ----Also loved Alessiaโs sarcasm and retorts. They just made my day and had me bursting out in laughter.
- What Didn't Work (Cons): ----The development of the side charactersโฆ I wish they were a bit more developed. There was so much room to develop them instead of just being a statue(couldnโt find a better descriptor for them haha) ----The distinct voice in descriptions. But itโs not very noticeable, just a thought.
- Ratings: Overall, I loved it. Should I cut marks for making me cry? Lowers the specs like a teacher ----Plot: 4.5/5 ----Characters: 4/5 ----Emotional Impact: 10/5 ๐๐๐ฅ ----Pacing: 5/5 ----Language: 4/5 Overall Rating: 4.75/5 - Recommendation: This book is for people who wants to cry loads. Also for people who prefer second chance romances like me.
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This is my first second-chance romance, and there is a reason for it. It is hard for me to read about someone making big mistakes in a relationship and understand that they might deserve a second chance. Cassian was hard for me to accept at the beginning of the story because of this. Alessiaโs situation immediately made me empathize with her. By the end, their development changed how I felt about them together.
Cassianโs neglect of Alessia, regardless of the circumstances, was upsetting. At one point, I even thought maybe he wasnโt going to be endgame, especially with his initial reaction to the amnesia. But eventually, just like he did with Alessia, he wore me down. He did the growth that was required to not only understand what he did wrong, but also how to avoid it happening again.
I liked Alessia throughout the whole story. She is a strong, independent woman, and I loved the idea of her not remembering the past three years of her life and not understanding how she had changed so much during that time that she had come to accept being neglected by her husband for so long. She has a booming business, which she prioritizes again right after the amnesia, and she lets Cassian grovel quite a lot to mess with him, even though she believes she will never give him a second chance.
The amnesia worked perfectly in favor of the second-chance plot, but not because of what we would normally think. The accident, along with the fight that led to it, made Cassian wake up and realize how wrong he had been, and it made him decide to change his ways. The amnesia also helped Alessia, since before the accident she didnโt resemble her true self because of how much she was dedicating herself to her unrequited relationship with Cassian. The accident gives Alessia an opportunity to rediscover herself while Cassian has to become someone worthy of the version of Alessia he originally fell in love with.
They couldnโt simply return to the relationship they had before the accident because that relationship had problems. They needed to become healthier versions of themselves before their second chance could actually work.
Cassianโs early neglect was particularly difficult for me to get past. I know this subject affects my reading experience more strongly than it might affect yours. Because of that, I know I may have judged Cassian more harshly or needed more from his redemption than another reader might. Despite this, the author eventually convinced me that Cassian genuinely changed and earned another chance. Cassianโs redemption made me think about where the line is between someone who has genuinely earned a second chance and a relationship that has become unhealthy enough that walking away is the better choice.
If you like a second-chance romance via amnesia with redemption arcs, MMCs who have to earn their second chance, emotional growth, and great banter, this will be a great book for you.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Let me be upfront about something: I am not a second chance romance reader.
I don't trust them. I've been burned too many times. The grovel never lives up. It's always too little, too late, too weak. I go in with hope, and I come out with trust issues and a strongly worded mental complaint letter. My standards are high. Some might say impossibly high. I call it "having taste."
And then I read this book.
This book was absolute perfection. I am not being dramatic. (Okay, I'm always being dramatic, but this time I MEAN it.) The character development? Flawless. The grovel? IT DELIVERED. The sarcasm? Sharp enough to cut glass. The wit? Immaculate. The side characters? I want to move in with them.
Oh, Cassian. I hated you. HATED you. In the early chapters, I was ready to throw hands, file a complaint, and possibly key your car. I was mentally writing a strongly worded letter to the author demanding justice for Alessia. But then... you changed. You grew. You ๐จ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ท๐ฆ๐ญ๐ฆ๐ฅ like your life depended on it. And by the end, I was crying and rooting for you like a proud parent at a spelling bee. I'm not okay. I'm emotionally compromised.
From the very first page, I knew you were special. You are strong, witty, and so gloriously real that I felt like I knew you. You are officially one of my favorite FMCs, and yes, that means you're on the book girlfriends list. The list is sacred. The list is growing. I regret nothing.
This book was everything. Emotional. Angsty. Funny. Entertaining. It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me feel every single emotion known to humankindโand then some I didn't even know existed. I was completely, utterly consumed.
You made meโa self-proclaimed second chance romance skepticโa believer. You made me fall in love with a man I once despised. You made me feel everything, and I am so incredibly grateful for it.
Thank you for this ARC. You have officially broken my second chance romance curse. I don't know how you did it, but you did. I am forever in your debt.
Read This Book If:
โข You've given up on second chance romances and need someone to restore your faith. โข You want a grovel so good it should be studied in literature classes. โข You love a heroine who owns every single page she's on. โข You want to hate a man, then cry for him, then root for him. (The emotional whiplash is real.) โข You're ready to add another FMC to your book girlfriends list.
When Neva reached out to me to ARC read for her again I was so thrilled to get to read another one of her books as her debut Where Would I Go will likely be one of my top 3 reads of 2026, truly. So let's talk about her newest novel One of those Amnesia Stories!
Alessia is dedicated to her husband. Always home at the end of the day waiting for him, always willing to lend an ear should he need it, just always there. Until one night she's pushed too far and she walks away. Little does she know that walking away will end up erasing the memory of her husband completely and leave her waking up in a hospital bed with a complete stranger calling her his wife. Cassian is overwhelmed at work, struggling to keep his head above water and the pressure of keeping everything afloat has made his marriage take the back burner, but when his wife gets into a car accident right in front of his eyes his priorities need to shift drastically and suddenly the only thing he can think about is getting his wife to remember him- and also give him one more chance.
One of those Amnesia Stories is the perfect title for this book. It gives that idea of "hey this is going to be one of those stories so strap in" and it takes you on a dramatic twist and turn-telenovela experience in a book. I loved how over the top and fun it was while also being heartwarming and sweet. There were beautiful friendships and family dynamics and a good old fashioned groveling man with a woman who is not letting him get away with ANYTHING. I started this book thinking there was absolutely no path to redemption for Cassian only to be won over by him in the end. Also Alessia is a queen.
My one and only concern with the book was that some parts felt a little slow and long making the pacing of the book a bit hard at times. The middle of the story just felt like it took a while to pick back up again to get us through to the end of the story, but that's my only complaint.
Thank you so much Neva for giving me another opportunity to ARC read for you-you're amazing and I can't wait to read more from you!
Quotes:
"Anything that reminded me we were still two people sharing a life, rather than two schedules happening under the same roof."
"'You have no idea who I am when I'm not in love with you, Cassian.'"
"'I would feel my heart break all over again. And I would stay'"
The amnesia trope worked so perfectly here because Alessia doesnโt just forget Cassianโshe forgets the version of herself who loved him enough to keep accepting less than she deserved. And Cassian is forced to face their marriage from the outside and realize just how badly he failed the woman he loves.
And the GROVEL. Exactly what I wanted.
What made this a five-star read for me was that Cassianโs regret wasnโt simply about losing her. He actually had to recognize what he had done wrong, take accountability, and understand that loving someone isnโt enough when your actions continually make them feel like they come second.
Watching that realization absolutely destroy him? So satisfying.
I loved Alessia just as much. She doesnโt immediately forgive him because heโs miserable and sorry. Sheโs angry, stubborn, funny, petty, and determined not to lose herself again. Cassian has to earn every tiny step forward.
And thatโs what made their second chance work so well for me. It isnโt about recreating their old marriage. Itโs about Cassian falling for Alessia all over againโthe woman she is nowโand proving through his actions that this time, he will choose her.
The regret. The yearning. The jealousy. The grovel. The little moments when you can see them slowly falling back into each other.
I ate it up.
If you love: โข marriage in trouble โข amnesia โข second chance romance โข he falls first AGAIN โข a deeply regretful MMC โข GROVEL โข jealous/possessive moments โข an FMC who actually makes him work for her forgiveness โข HEA
you need this one on your TBR.
Thank you to the author for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Alssia and Cassian were married. His business was in trouble and instead of sharing the details with Alessia, he ignored her for months. He missed his birthday party Alessia planned for him. Alessia was devastated when not only he missed the party and came home with ow but walked away from discussing the issue or showed any real repentance. She left him and then lost her memory in accident. It was a retrograde amnesia where she forgot all her married life including Cassian. Alessia without the memory of love and the gathered facts surrounding her accident, came to conclusion that her husband and marriage were not good one and decided to divorce him. it didnโt help that Cassian couldnโt put in words his love for her. But Cassandraโs meddling solidify this decision. Meanwhile Cassian truly understood how much he alienated and hurt his wife before the accident.He was drowning in remorse and guilt of neglecting his wife and truly scared of losing love of his life. Cassandra tried to make it look like they are emotionally involved but he absolutely never looked at her in that way. There is no emotional or physical cheating. He only loved his wife. He signed divorce papers even that was the last thing he ever wanted because she wanted peace and freedom. He never stopped loving her and was there for her. He groveled with his actions. Alessia saw him in a new light and understood why she fell in love with him. Eventually she got her memory back.Their happily ever after was so well deserved. I really loved the book and recommend it.
One Of Those Amnesia Stories Author Neva Rain Publish date September 10, 2026
First, Iโd like to thank Neva Rain for sharing her latest book with me before publication.
I went into this expecting a second-chance romance, but the emotional twist of Alessia getting a second chance without remembering the first one made this so much more heartbreaking.
Alessiaโs pain was incredibly easy to understand. She spent so much of her marriage putting Cassian first, waiting for him to notice her, choosing him over and over againโeven when he made her feel like she would always come second. Watching her finally walk away was devastating.
And then thereโs Cassian.
The fact that he remembers everything while she remembers nothing is what really got me. He has to live with every mistake, every missed dinner, every broken promise, knowing that she has no memory of the love they once shared.
He canโt apologize his way out of the past or give her those lost years back. All he can do is show her, day after day, that he can become the man she deserved all along.
I loved the angst, the regret, the yearning, and especially watching him have to earn her love again from the beginning.
Because for Alessia, this isnโt really a second chance. Itโs a first chance. And Cassian has to prove he deserves it.
A beautiful, emotional read for anyone who loves amnesia romances, groveling heroes, second chances, and the kind of love that has to be earned all over again.
Amnesia is one of my favorite tropes so I knew I would be reading this one.
Cassian and Alessia -- marriage in trouble -- he has been neglecting her lately, dealing with work stress and instead of leaning on Alessia, he internalizes his worries and doesn't treat her as a partner that could support him. She planned a party to present him with potential investor partners and he never shows. The last straw for her is when he shows up late, with a drunken co-worker in tow and doesn't want to talk through what is going on. She leaves, gets in an accident, and wakes up with amnesia.
They are both flawed people that truly love each other but don't know how to sit in that space and fully embrace the relationship. I like how this story progresses as they both work through what happens. I empathize with Cassian because he remembers everything and Alessia doesn't.
This story had a lot of layers, and I enjoyed learning how their childhood shaped their present.
What I liked:
๐Alessia's girl group - Felicity and Naija had such unique personalities and the three of them together are a hoot ๐Cassian's grovel was perfect - he slowly realized what needed to be done, gave her space but was there to support her when needed ๐Michael - got his karma
Favorite Quote: ๐You entered my life and altered by brain. Altered it in a way that now I'm nothing but yours.
This was terrible. I couldnโt get through half of it. The husband was awful and I would have left him way before she had the accident. The only thing that made me feel for him was what an absolute hag she turned into to punish him when she got amnesia. It was just childish cruelty I would have assumed came from a teenager. She was not only horrible to him, but insufferable to everyone else also. Not only to the people she disliked, but basically everyone she met. Itโs like she forgot how to act in society. I really thought I would like this , but it was so annoying. All of their problems could have been solved with 5 minutes of communicating like actual adults, and some therapy for the husband who apparently is physically unable to speak the word โI love youโ. Or even just โyesโ when asked by his wife if he loves her.
So funny! And boy there must be quite the brain behind this story. I love the witty banter! It had me laughing all throughout. If it weren't for all the cuss words, it would be on my favorite's shelf. Well there weren't that many but reading a book with them in it makes me feel guilty. Other than that, it was clean, I think. I was utterly captivated with the characters and literally could not put the book down. I read it on Wattpad. I love all of Neva's comments, and the way she helps you shift perspective. It's really eye-opening. Thank you for your brain! I would love to meet you!
I was lucky enough to read this wonderful book as an arc and I have to thank the author! The trope is one of my favorites, marriage in trouble, with a bit of ow, an evil mother-in-law and work problems. I couldn't tear myself away and I finished it in one day! I admit that initially I had a harder time getting in tune with Alessia, the post amnesia one, but the writer's work meant that the maturation of the characters made them lovable and complete. I loved Cassian, despite his mistakes he is human and very sweet. Thanks again for reading! Highly recommended!
I love a snarky heroine, and boy did Alessia deliver in spades. Cassian has a steep learning curve in regaining her trust and reminding her heart that his has only ever belonged to her. This was a fun, if long, read. Hope we will get to visit some of these side characters in the future.
This book has so many twists and turns. And every one of them was better than the last. This book is heartbreaking, heartwarming, funny, engaging. All of the words that make you know that you should read it.
This was a fun read. I started out hating the MMC because he was a complete jerk. Halfway through, things started changing for me. A great read about second chances all around and how communication is so important in relationships.
Read this one if you want a heartwarming story about second chances.