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Unforgettable
Unforgettable, Charlie Maclean’s sparkling debut novel, is a sexy, gritty tale of present day star-crossed lovers.
A chance encounter throws together Alex, a restless dreamer and unhappy lawyer searching for love, and Julia, a headstrong actress determined to succeed.
Unforgettable splits and alternates between Alex and Julia’s breathlessly-real love affair, across London and beyond, and Alex’s downbeat life in Camden without her.
In both lives, Alex's troubled past threatens true love and a happy life. Can he overcome his greatest fears and win Julia’s heart or will he lose her forever?
One moment. Two lives. One decision.
A chance encounter throws together Alex, a restless dreamer and unhappy lawyer searching for love, and Julia, a headstrong actress determined to succeed.
Unforgettable splits and alternates between Alex and Julia’s breathlessly-real love affair, across London and beyond, and Alex’s downbeat life in Camden without her.
In both lives, Alex's troubled past threatens true love and a happy life. Can he overcome his greatest fears and win Julia’s heart or will he lose her forever?
One moment. Two lives. One decision.
320 pages, Paperback
Published February 1, 2016
1 person is currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
Charlie Maclean
3 books4 followersThis literary-romantic drama is Charlie Maclean’s first full length novel. However, he is currently writing his next book, this time, set in Brighton (UK). As a passionate storyteller he has also drafted TV and films scripts.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 4, 2020
Really liked the idea of the two stories of with/without the girl. It was a thought provoking story of ‘what if’ and as someone who hasn’t seen sliding doors, a concept I hadn’t seen before. I really felt for Alex in some parts and it makes you question if fate really does exist and how unpredictable life can be. Would highly recommend reading this book, I thoroughly enjoyed it!
March 1, 2016
I received this e-arc copy in order to provide an honest review.
I love the cover, its amazing, my first thoughts about the book were that the bright yellow as the background and two paper heart shaped facing each other is intriguing and promising to be a good read.
The book is about two people finding each other, finding ways to be together, which starts absolutely ordinary - at the bus stop and letting the moment pass a little longer and little more longer and then letting go, not knowing anything more, no surname or telephone number, just woman named Julia. Beautiful.
However the story is wrapped around other people too and the story stands as one whole. At around half of the book I realized the love story actually is not the main one in the story, its about maturing in life, coming to realize it feels nice to spend some time together with dad and making a bridge of better communication.
The author has managed to develop the main character's Alex life, he's about to change his life, leave his high positioned work on a spontaneous move, inspiration from a sudden bus stop meeting with a woman.. Its about finding a path, understanding that life it's not about what is prestigious or which professional woman to date leads for success & great times, its about how you feel about the one and how you make the other one feel about you. Maturing and finding that when making own mistakes there is great opportunity to correct them.
I give the book 4 stars, however there was this one episode which really ruined it for me to give full five stars, its about this property he has once bought without paying much of the details, spending all savings he ever had. This:
"Latvian, I think. But that's close to Bulgaria, I'm pretty sure. He told me Bulgaria was going to be the next French Riviera. He said it might take a couple of years. He also said it was going to join the Euro. Last time I checked it still has its own currency."
As a lawyer? Ok, as a person who does his job but not really loving but seriously spending all savings on the spot? Ok, Eastern Europeans, but come on!? Latvia joined EU ten years ago, have € currency for the last two years and as a lawyer not knowing which states are in EU? That's basics! Even geographically where is Latvia and where is Bulgaria? Having own currency? Funny, UK is in EU having their own currency for million years.. In fact later it comes clear the story about property belongs to Bulgaria, still, this part really broke the story for me.
I love the cover, its amazing, my first thoughts about the book were that the bright yellow as the background and two paper heart shaped facing each other is intriguing and promising to be a good read.
The book is about two people finding each other, finding ways to be together, which starts absolutely ordinary - at the bus stop and letting the moment pass a little longer and little more longer and then letting go, not knowing anything more, no surname or telephone number, just woman named Julia. Beautiful.
However the story is wrapped around other people too and the story stands as one whole. At around half of the book I realized the love story actually is not the main one in the story, its about maturing in life, coming to realize it feels nice to spend some time together with dad and making a bridge of better communication.
The author has managed to develop the main character's Alex life, he's about to change his life, leave his high positioned work on a spontaneous move, inspiration from a sudden bus stop meeting with a woman.. Its about finding a path, understanding that life it's not about what is prestigious or which professional woman to date leads for success & great times, its about how you feel about the one and how you make the other one feel about you. Maturing and finding that when making own mistakes there is great opportunity to correct them.
I give the book 4 stars, however there was this one episode which really ruined it for me to give full five stars, its about this property he has once bought without paying much of the details, spending all savings he ever had. This:
"Latvian, I think. But that's close to Bulgaria, I'm pretty sure. He told me Bulgaria was going to be the next French Riviera. He said it might take a couple of years. He also said it was going to join the Euro. Last time I checked it still has its own currency."
As a lawyer? Ok, as a person who does his job but not really loving but seriously spending all savings on the spot? Ok, Eastern Europeans, but come on!? Latvia joined EU ten years ago, have € currency for the last two years and as a lawyer not knowing which states are in EU? That's basics! Even geographically where is Latvia and where is Bulgaria? Having own currency? Funny, UK is in EU having their own currency for million years.. In fact later it comes clear the story about property belongs to Bulgaria, still, this part really broke the story for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 6, 2016
A romantic comedy from the male perspective is not unheard of. Plus previous experiences have been a pleasant surprise, so I began Charlie MacClean’s Unforgettable with some optimism.
I devoured this book in a couple of days and when finished, I felt I’d seen the whole thing, observing from the sidelines. Not surprisingly, as the novel is perfect for the screen. The premise is similar to Sliding Doors, where a character misses/catches a moment and the narrative follows both alternative lives in parallel. Alex meets Julia at a bus stop. Does he follow her and get her number or go on to his job interview and forget her? It’s a life-changing decision. But either way, she’s unforgettable.
The effect of this meeting on him and his resulting actions are likeable, funny, sad, occasionally dark and often thought-provoking. Alex’s personality takes off in two different trajectories, both wholly believable, and the supporting cast of friends and relatives and locals of The Crown are consistent in either version. My particular favourite was Billy, who turns out to be more mentor than mentee.
Shakespearean references, London landmarks, witty dialogue and a fallible hero makes this book an easy, satisfying read with considerable depth on the subject of human relationships and those you love.
You’ll enjoy this if you liked: Scratch by Danny Gillan, High Fidelity by Nick Hornby or One Day by David Nicholls
Avoid if you don’t like: Dual narratives, London, love stories
Ideal accompaniments: Dry cider, roasted peanuts and Sandie Shaw singing Always Something There To Remind Me
I devoured this book in a couple of days and when finished, I felt I’d seen the whole thing, observing from the sidelines. Not surprisingly, as the novel is perfect for the screen. The premise is similar to Sliding Doors, where a character misses/catches a moment and the narrative follows both alternative lives in parallel. Alex meets Julia at a bus stop. Does he follow her and get her number or go on to his job interview and forget her? It’s a life-changing decision. But either way, she’s unforgettable.
The effect of this meeting on him and his resulting actions are likeable, funny, sad, occasionally dark and often thought-provoking. Alex’s personality takes off in two different trajectories, both wholly believable, and the supporting cast of friends and relatives and locals of The Crown are consistent in either version. My particular favourite was Billy, who turns out to be more mentor than mentee.
Shakespearean references, London landmarks, witty dialogue and a fallible hero makes this book an easy, satisfying read with considerable depth on the subject of human relationships and those you love.
You’ll enjoy this if you liked: Scratch by Danny Gillan, High Fidelity by Nick Hornby or One Day by David Nicholls
Avoid if you don’t like: Dual narratives, London, love stories
Ideal accompaniments: Dry cider, roasted peanuts and Sandie Shaw singing Always Something There To Remind Me
Read
March 10, 2016A romantic comedy from the male perspective is less common but not unheard of. Previous experiences have been a pleasant surprise, so I began Charlie Maclean’s Unforgettable with some optimism.
I devoured this book in a couple of days and when finished, I felt I’d seen the whole thing, observing from the sidelines. Not surprisingly, as the novel is perfect for the screen. The premise is similar to Sliding Doors, where a character misses/catches a moment and the narrative follows both alternative lives in parallel. Alex meets Julia at a bus stop. Does he follow her and get her number or go on to his job interview and forget her? It’s a life-changing decision. Either way, she’s unforgettable.
The effect of this meeting on him and his resulting actions are likeable, funny, sad, occasionally dark and often thought-provoking. Alex’s personality takes off in two different trajectories, both wholly believable, and the supporting cast of friends and relatives and locals of The Crown are consistent in either version. My particular favourite was young Billy, who turns out to be more mentor than mentee.
Shakespearean references, London landmarks, witty dialogue and a fallible hero makes this book an easy, satisfying read with considerable depth on the subject of human relationships and those you love. Perfect for a winter's night curled up by the fire.
I devoured this book in a couple of days and when finished, I felt I’d seen the whole thing, observing from the sidelines. Not surprisingly, as the novel is perfect for the screen. The premise is similar to Sliding Doors, where a character misses/catches a moment and the narrative follows both alternative lives in parallel. Alex meets Julia at a bus stop. Does he follow her and get her number or go on to his job interview and forget her? It’s a life-changing decision. Either way, she’s unforgettable.
The effect of this meeting on him and his resulting actions are likeable, funny, sad, occasionally dark and often thought-provoking. Alex’s personality takes off in two different trajectories, both wholly believable, and the supporting cast of friends and relatives and locals of The Crown are consistent in either version. My particular favourite was young Billy, who turns out to be more mentor than mentee.
Shakespearean references, London landmarks, witty dialogue and a fallible hero makes this book an easy, satisfying read with considerable depth on the subject of human relationships and those you love. Perfect for a winter's night curled up by the fire.
January 24, 2016
It would be too easy to cast this book as a literary sliding doors (which I was inspired to revisit) .The story effortlessly took me between parallel lives and built upon the characters in a much more nuanced fashion than a film ever can.
It's so surprising to have a love story where the end result really is not key to the story. The writer builds so well on the key 4 or 5 characters and there are many parts of the book as are laugh out loud funny.
A great book and a superb epilogue that left me wanting more.
It's so surprising to have a love story where the end result really is not key to the story. The writer builds so well on the key 4 or 5 characters and there are many parts of the book as are laugh out loud funny.
A great book and a superb epilogue that left me wanting more.
December 12, 2016
one decision told with two drastically different results + melancholy but hopeful story of love
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"When faced with the decision to follow Julia onto that bus or not, he now knew he'd made the right choice."
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instagram book reviews @brettlikesbooks
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"When faced with the decision to follow Julia onto that bus or not, he now knew he'd made the right choice."
•
instagram book reviews @brettlikesbooks
January 3, 2016
Brilliant. If you liked One Day and The Versions of Us, you'll love this. Outstanding debut.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews