The Unforgettables

by G.L. Tomas

Back home in Chicago, Paul Hiroshima had it all.

Popularity, charming looks and a talent for the arts that made him admired by his peers. Moving to Portland, Maine the summer before his senior year was going to change all that. With his city life behind him, there was definitely no reason to make the best out of a bad situation—that is, until he meets the amazing Felicia Abelard.

Over a love of comic books and secret identities, Felicia becomes the sidekick to his hero; there's just one problem: they weren't supposed to fall in love.

As the season comes to an end, Paul and Felicia face in-depth challenges to preserve their summer formed bond. With the brink of the new school year at hand, this tale of best friends and first loves will make their year unforgettable.

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Interracial Romance, LGBT, Romance, Friends To Lovers, Fiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published September 12, 2016

About the author

G.L. Tomas is a USA Today bestselling twin writing duo and lover of all things blerdy, fearless and fun.

When they're not spending their time crafting swoon-worthy heroes, they're battling alien forces in other worlds but occasionally take days off in search of mom and pop spots that make amazing pasteles and tostones fried to perfection.

They host salsa lessons and book boyfriend auditions in their secret headquarters located in Connecticut..


For Romcoms and Contemporary Romance, sign up here---> smarturl.it/GLTomasRomanceNews

Sign up for exclusive content and a sneak peek of their latest updates by subscribing to their Young Adult newsletter here---> smarturl.it/YABYGLTOMAS

Reviews

[Norah Una Sumner · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Queens are back with another great YA book! I absolutely devoured this adorable, nerdy and completely realistic novel about Paul and Felicia. They are fun, interesting, with different views on life, religion, culture, love – all the topics that teenagers explore and that are not that included in many YA books. It was a great adventure to read from their points of view and thinking about many things that they did – were they right or were they wrong, should they’ve done that or not. I love the representation of the two families who are completely different and yet, in some ways, very similar. And, of course, this book is representation of diversity at its best. My recommendations!

You can read this review on BookishFever - my 100th post!

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

YA contemporary are one of my favorite genres. I love seeing teenagers navigate their adolescent years. However, this genre lacks the narrative of teens of color. After a while, I’ve gotten tired of how affluent white heterosexual have it rough. There’s no spark anymore. The Unforgettables deviate from that mainstream exclusion.

In this novel, we have a Haitian-American protagonist named Felicia. She comes from a family of three. She’s nerdy and filled with angst. As of right now, her parents don’t want her to date yet. That is a vital information that would come in handy later. Trust me. Then, we have a Japanese-American boy named Paul, he’s a hip hop-versatile dancer. Twist: he’s also a nerd. He comes from a lax family that is always surrounded by chaos. The story is told from their alternating POV.

I have a lot of favorite things about this book, but the aspects that stood out for me is the family dynamics threaded with cultural significance. I love the crafty background built up for Felicia’s upbringing, and her parent’s proudness as Haitians; how involved Felicia’s and Paul’s parents in their life and decision making. I find it ironic that Felicia’s parents have this unspoken rule, she’s not supposed to date yet. I’m not saying parents of colors impose the same rule as every other, but my friends and I had a similar restriction while growing up. I think a lot of kids would relate to that.

Another thing that speaks to me is the secondary characters that are non-binary, bisexual, and trans. There is a trans kid taking hormones. There’s a talk of gender identity and misgendering. For cishet readers, this will strike them as “too textual politics,” but this is our reality. Most books hardly touch this topic because we’ve been telling the same old stories. It makes me happy. We need more books normalizing and validating the existence of LGBT kids.

Last, but not the least, the romance is the cutest. I love the friendship to romance trope. The Unforgettables delivered everything. It’s so nerdy and geeky. The sex positivity is so important as well. There’s no token evil female character here. By that ending, I needed more. I want more.

Review also posted at Hollywood News Source.

[sil ♡ the book voyagers · Rating 4 out of 5]

1000% recommend this book to everyone. The Unforgettables is a sweet YA contemporary that revolved around a friendship between these two kids and their lives after just one kiss.

What you can expect when you read this book:
~ Haitian heroine who loves comics and videogames and manga and lots of geeky stuff
~ Japanese-Welsh hero that has dyslexia and wears hipsters clothes aND HE'S A HIP-HOP DANCER
~ Family traditions, religion, siblings and PERFECT FAMILIES OK
~ LGBT+ rep. (Gay, bisexual, transgender rep.)
~ Superhero names and cute arguments and SUPERHERO DUO
~ The girl/boy next door romance

Full review soon on the blog!

[The FountainPenDiva, Old school geek chick and lover of teddy bears · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, first things first. My copy was free and unproofed but that's all. Now, on to the review.

Let me be honest, I fangirl very hard over the twin sister writing duo G.L. Tomas. When I despair over the slut shaming, bad boy worshipping, colorism, Bechtel fail and other assorted fuckwittery that seems to plague far too much of New Adult and romance books in general, I know that my happy buttons will always be pressed when I fall into the spell of one of their tales. Of course, I freely admit to not being the typical romance reader either. I'm far too much a feminist to enjoy stories in which the so-called "hero" behaves like a stalkerific rapey jerkwad asshat or the so-called "heroine" who comes off as a poor little drama llama 'I can't find my clitoris with Google Maps' doormat. My heroine and hero need to respect each other, to bring out the best in each other, to have their separate strengths which when combined only makes them a dynamic duo - in short, to be truly romantic.

But I digress. Speaking of Dynamic Duos though...

The Unforgettables is a sweet and sexy friends to lovers then uncertain to friends again tale. It's two cute geeky people -Felicia and Paul - finding then losing then finding their way to each other again. It's a sex positive story that deals far more honestly with sex and everything that goes with it, all without being judgmental. It's about family and culture and even food. And like all of their books, inclusion is a natural part of the narrative. It's so normal for their characters to be of different races, orientations and abilities. In fact, it's done so effortlessly, it makes me wonder why more authors (especially in YA, NA and M/M) seem unable to do the same without making it sound as if inclusion is like pulling teeth with no novocaine.

I really felt bad for main character Felicia. She's smart and athletic and a loner in high school. She also has really strict parents (mom mainly) which has to suck. My parents were strict, but not overbearing. And I do know in many Haitian-American households the girls are sheltered, but I've often wondered if such sheltering does more harm than good. Not that Felicia's parents were horrible ogres. In fact, they're quite likeable and in some ways relatable. In fact, Felicia's mother reveals some sage wisdom about dating that made sense and gave me something to think about. Despite this, Felicia is a teenage girl after my own heart - a geek girl into comics, cosplay and RPG's. Want to make The Fountain Pen Diva do happy dances - give me a Black geek girl who's unapologetic in her nerdiness.

Yes, I'm going there. My beloved genre IR has a problem with colorism and it's a problem that it doesn't seem to want to change. The preference for light-skinned and straight haired Black heroines simply sends an ugly message that, after what happened to actress Leslie Jones, only reinforces that a certain type of Black woman can attract a man of another race. Suffice it to say, these authors don't live where I do or they'd see the numbers of dark-skinned Black women (with natural hair even) in interracial relationships. So this is another reason why G.L. Tomas remains an auto-buy for me. It's refreshing to read about beautiful, dark-skinned heroines who love themselves and the issues they have are not due to being dark (by Athena don't get me started on that annoying trope). Not to mention, their heroines reflect the diaspora of Black people. Here, Felicia is Haitian-American. In other books, the heroines are Nigerian-Americans, Afro-Latinas, etc.

Now let me fangirl over Paul (aka new book boyfriend). Yes, he would be like total jailbait in real life, lol, but he's wonderfully sweet, artistic, a bangin' dancer, thoughtful and isn't a man slut. In fact, he's rather introspective when it comes to sex. He's also dyslexic. What I liked is that his dyslexia isn't a crutch, but he also knows his strengths and his loves, namely art. That causes a bit of a rift between him and his mother (also dyslexic), yet like Felicia's mother, her heart was truly in the right place. Of course, he likes comics too so moving next door to a fellow comic geek has to be a total dream come true. Paul is half- Japanese and half-Caucasian but pure nerd Chi-town swag.

Felicia and Paul as friends was cute, especially when they gave each other nerdy superhero nicknames and even masks. But friendships are tenuous things and for two people vastly different in some ways, fractures were bound to happen. Unfortunately, once sex entered the equation, the waters did indeed become muddied. There's no slut shaming or finger-waving moralizing. This was also where I wanted to snatch the two of them and give them a big talking to. Not about the sex, but about letting it get in the way of what was truly important. To be fair, Felicia needed to be honest with her parents as to how she felt about Paul. Frankly I'm sure they suspected - parents tend to have superpowers like that.

Speaking of parents, it was cool to actually read about parents in YA who aren't caricatures or absent. Both Felicia and Paul's parents are like many parents who love their children, yet sometimes don't always get everything right. Parents who reveal the most embarrassing moments or fathers who tell very lame jokes.

These are teenagers and they read like teenagers, stepping into a new world and feelings that can be overwhelming. The friendship between Felicia and Paul is messy but real. Paul truly misses his "Sidekick Supreme" and Felicia misses her "8th Wonder". There might be other people, but nothing replaces that person who truly gets you.

I wanted to give The Unforgettables five stars but it was too short. I didn't want to say goodbye to Felicia and Paul. I wanted them to ride off into the sunset. And seriously, I wanted more of Paul's irrepressible siblings Micah and Kevin (I want Kevin to have his own book). Be that as it may, The Unforgettables is a breath of fresh air in the YA genre. In my view, a template for what GOOD stories about teens can be.

[M. Hollis · Rating 5 out of 5]

"With that kiss, I was free to finally be myself instead of the person I pretended so long that I was. I wasn't the perfect person and I wasn't the perfect daughter, and now I understand that that was okay. I had to start letting my heart guide me in the right direction, otherwise, I'd never find the bravery to do something like that again."

Where do I even start with this book? It's hard sometimes to honor a book you loved so much in just a short review.

So like I always do in my emails... Guinevere, Libertad.. Get ready for the long rant!

It's no news that Contemporary YA used to be my least favorite genre. Seriously, every time I open a book that only has white and cishet characters doing the same boring stuff as always I groan internally. Where is the diversity? Where is the originality and reality of these books? Where are we in these books? Readers deserve to see themselves in cheesy stories.

The Unforgettables is everything I think YA needs. A Haitian-American girl and a Japanese-American boy falling in love over the summer. With funny encounters, nerdy talks and deep discussions. Some of the big points here were the sex positivity for teenagers and how both families were so involved with these kids. It's so refreshing to see a cast of characters like this; where even the secondary characters shine so much on the page. The multiculturalism was done so well.

Speaking about secondary characters! There was a Brazilian girl in this book. Do I need to say more? Of course, I ran to the authors to tell them how much I loved this inclusion right away. Julia Araújo isn't villainized or treated like a stereotype. This made me so happy!

If you are a lover of the friends to lovers trope where everything is blurred in this in between, do give this book a read! It is so worth it. The last pages will make your heart feel warm and bring tears of happiness to your eyes.

"You were never my sidekick, you were always my hero."

[Musings of A Romance Junkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another hit by author G.L. Tomas! This author (or should I say authors because the G and L are twin sisters. How cool is that? Anyway…) has yet to disappoint me. The writing is always on point-fresh, current, witty, and relatable. I admit, I am not a huge fan of YA (not to be confused with NA), but I was delightfully surprised and thoroughly entertained throughout the entire story.

Another thing to note when you read a GL Tomas story is you can always expect to receive a lesson or two about other cultures and traditions (as in non-American), and that in itself makes their stories worth a read. Felicia is a first generation Haitian-American while Paul is half-Japanese and Buddhist. There are also non-binary and trans characters who play a supporting role without the author beating the reader over the head about who they are.

Paul and his family are new to Portland, Maine. He’s a seventeen year old high school senior, and his only concern is to make it through the school year until he can graduate and dip. That is, until he meets Felicia Abelard.

Felicia is a sixteen-year-old junior and has strict, yet loving parents. She’s a quiet introvert who’s into cosplay, makeup (if her mom would let her wear it), and Paul (if her parents would let her date boys.) Typical teenage stuff.

What makes this story work is the author does not try to age or mature these characters beyond their years. They’re teenagers, who do teenage shit, and it’s not always right or pretty, but THEY’RE TEENAGERS! This story is a great read for teens and adults alike if you enjoy good storytelling because that’s really what it’s all about.

[Sabina · Rating 5 out of 5]

'The Unforgettables' will remind you of the connection you had with you best friend ever, no judgement, only support, understanding and mutual interests. Since I work with children and teenagers I generally don't recommend them books that talk a lot about sex, since their parents may mind that. But in this case it's different' The characters in the book have very different but very important approach towards the topic of first intercourse. Paul is aware of the fact that having this sort of relationship with other person is very intimate and often life-changing. I loved the way he looked at the world, he shows teens a very healthy perspective of how to deal with emotions. Felicia also has her ways of thinking, but they are frequently dictated by fear. Together they can learn how to deal with love, disappointment and relations (also those children - parents). It's a fast read, the moment I started I couldn't stop reading.

[G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Say what now???!!!!

Okay, I was introduced to this author this week and I have to say that this is by far my favorite story of theirs (the author is actually twin sisters writing under a pseudonym). Why?

First off, a Haitian girl is the main character in a YA IR book! Why is that a big deal for me?! Because representation matters. The authors took the time to actually not just say she was Haitian in passing but actually put Kreyol in it (although I would quibble with the way certain things were written). They brought up my culture in such a respectful way. I loved their mention of the food (although griot is fried pork not usually goat FYI), the music... I silently screamed when the mom was from PAP (where my family is from). The kids and parents had REAL Haitian names. Like they did their research really well.

Then beside the girl being Haitian, you made her a nerd! Omg. It's like the book was made for me. Comic books, alter egos, cosplay and anime sprinkled throughout?! This book spoke to my soul. I could have been Felicia. In short, Felicia was everything for me.

And let's not forget Paul. He made me mad at times but then again I had so much in common with Felicia (especially the strict parents -- Haitians don't play), I felt like Paul didn't truly try to understand what Felicia was getting at in regards to their relationship. He just didn't seem to be able to try to see things from her perspective.

Then when they finally got in a better place, you end the book!? That made me so mad. Lol. Like I got questions. What will happen with these two? What about Adrian? Yall need to spill this tea and give us readers another book in the series. Lol.

Seriously though, I can't thank the authors enough for taking the time to make a book that reflects my experience in a genre I love reading. Because of that, the authors have gained a fan for life.

[Michaela · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable read, watching this duo cope and adjust through their lives of young adulthood. It took me a little longer than I would have liked to finish this just because it brought a few memories of my own experiences in high school and growing up to find my own way in the world. These two develop a remarkable friendship, as they're on a path to self discovery, young love and heartbreak. This includes their alter egos, 8th Wonder and Sidekick Supreme. It was a refreshing and angsty read.

And seeing Paul struggle with dyslexia pricked a soft spot in my heart, as someone who also struggles with a nonphysical (visible) disability. Watching him succeed despite having a disability, that can be embarrassing and sometimes painful to admit. Felicia started out as an amazingly relatable character and had such inner strength. And Paul was definitely a peaceful and inspiring character. But this would have been a totally different book if Felicia had gotten herself together. Her self deprecating and defeatist attitude really made her a killjoy (not to mention a bit selfish and annoying).

Paul was willing to put himself out there and she couldn't even be brave enough to at least meet him halfway. I know not every heroine is perfect, (even I had my times of being ostracized) but she was completely unwilling to compromise. She was happy to bask in his attention without considering what he may need emotionally. If things didn't go her way, she was ready to give up. These two have a lot of growing up to do, and it's a shame there isn't more to the story. All in all, I enjoyed it immensely.

[Maf (Bookworm Wanders) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reaction right after finishing it: NO. NO. NONONO. I NEED MORE WHAT IS THIS?! WHAT KIND OF FREAKING JOKE?! YOU CANNOT JUST LEAVE ME LIKE THAT WHY I DONT DESERVE THIS IM A GOOD PERSON I RECYCLE I NEED MORE I DESERVE MORE WHY WHAT IS EVEN NO I CANNOT IM DONE I NEED MORE

Full review originally posted on Bookworm Wanders

Hey guys, I'm Maf and today I'm here to fangirl over one of my fave books this month, G.L. Tomas is one of my new auto buy authors because everything I read by these authors I absolutely adored. This time it was no exception because The Unforgettables is the sweetest YA I have read in a long time, I'm so mad it took me so long to read this because imagine all the times I could have reread this beauty already?!


"Fan? Try Hitboy and Slash/Girl devotee. The term fan is beneath me."

This book is about Paul and Felicia, two teenagers who meet over the summer when Paul moves next to Felicia's house, we get to see them bond over comics and slowly start developing feelings for each other that are put to test after they start school, where Felicia is a bit of an outcast and Paul's no problem fitting in, it felt very Romeo and Juliet at one point but also, it was best friends to lovers, my favourite trope of all time. However this time it was a different take on it because we actually get to see how their friendship blossoms before which makes everything else that happens that much more emotional because we where there from the very beginning, from the very first time they meet and that made me feel so much more invested in these two.

"Felicia? My portrait of her might never really look like her. Her face was too perfect. I could draw her a thousand times before I got half her face right."

I barely reach for contemporary YA now days because it just sort of doesn't seem my thing anymore but Felicia and Paul totally won me over. It was so easy to understand every single thing they did because I felt like I was a teenager again while reading this, it was a bit of a time machine type of read for me,

This book actually reminded me a lot of Sarah Dessen books so if you are a fan of Sarah Dessen books, you should definitely, definitely give this book a try.

Literally the only thing i didn’t like about this book was how short it was, it felt me wanting to know so much more because G.L. Tomas created two amazing characters I would have been happy to read about for many, many more books.

* I received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Jamilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore stories of first love, but it's kinda hard to find one suited to my discerning palate (lol) in the YA category, which is why I'm over the moon thrilled to have discovered the dynamo duo that is G. L. Tomas.
I just love their quirky, unexpected characters and fresh stories.

Paul, Paul, Paul. He's a beautiful creature, a duality of outgoing and sensitive, and was the perfect foil for our dearest Felicia.
Felicia, a stubborn, glorious teenager, with all the the requisite trappings of adolescence.

The thing about these characters (and the other surrounding ones) was how genuine they felt, this wasn't a story filled with eye roll inducing tropes, they weren't perfect, they made mistakes, had misunderstandings and sometimes acted silly, like kids they were and I loved it.

The comic book love & the creation of The 8th wonder and Sidekick Supreme was just the nerdy frosting on top.

Would I read this again?
Heck yeah, this had me all up in my feelings.

Would I recommend this?
Most definitely!

[♡Meme♡Reads love♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was pretty cute! But I was hoping for more is there a book 2 I hope

[Gia · Rating 4 out of 5]

*****Actual rating. 4.5 stars. Originally posted here here on my blog. May contain spoilers. *****


So, when I heard G.L. Tomas newest book was about two superhero/comic booking loving friends who decided to give themselves alter egos and pair up as a formidable duo, naturally I jumped and squealed at the chance like any normal person would. What I loved so much about this book was the fact that the main characters Felicia and Paul were nearly polar opposites. Aside from their mutual love for comics and superheroes’, they weren’t that similar, but I feel like that is what made them work.

Paul—the social butterfly, who thrived on crowds and at social events, and Felicia—the quiet, smart and observant killer soccer player, who was completely content to forever walk the line of solidarity for the rest of her life (or at least until she finished high school). The two came together in such a beautiful, awkward teenage shuffle.

Like all the other work I’ve read from GL, The Unforgettables is told from a dual, first person point of view, so the reader really gets to see the full picture from start to finish. I also loved that Felicia and Paul’s alter egos subtlety said a lot about who they were as well. The 8th Wonder, who was just about good at every thing and had zero flaws, was in contrast to Paul’s struggle with dyslexia. Likewise, as someone who has struggled with my own form of a learning handicap, I thought the author’s approach of this was handled really well.

And Sidekick Supreme, who didn’t just stand on the sidelines with mediocre abilities like most would expect of her, was in contrast to Felicia being socially excluded or rather ignored by the other students at Deering High. I could relate to Felicia on this to an extent—I mean who couldn’t?—so it was great to see her face up to some internal fears an insecurities since she and Paul meet each other.

I also enjoyed the steady growth of Paul and Felicia’s feelings and attraction to one another and while some chapters were nailing bitingly agonizing to watch the two of them at odds, at the core of it all Felicia and Paul were best friends and they loved each other (swooon, right?) so, I was pretty please with how the book ended.

Did I forget to mention the hilarity of how the rest of the people in their lives got tagged with alter ego names too? Like The Dictator aka Paul’s mom, or The Billman aka the Mailman.

This was another fun, cute and memorable read by G.L. Tomas.

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this book because I really thought that the book description is very good and it holds a lot of promise. Very cryptic and cliche actually but it does not give justice to the book! At the time that I wasn't reading it yet, I already knew that I was going to relate to this very much.

I thought the beginning of the book was quite slow, it was after the first quarter of the book that I realized what the point of the novel was. But as the story goes, I was getting into it, and I finished the rest of the three quarters in one sitting. It was subtle and then it will swallow you whole, it was that good!

Just to let you know, this book is so much more than just a contemporary YA. This is a love story of two friends and how their friendship blooms! And even way more than that! I actually saw myself highlighting quotes about fighting for what you want, about standing up for yourself and such.

The characters of this book are amazing! We have a not-so atheist second generation Haitian-American girl and a Buddhist Japanese-American boy. I am in love with the diverse characters! All of them are diverse. And truthfully, I learned just a bit of each culture. But Paul and Felicia are their own selves, thus The Unforgettables! I love that they are geeky but it does not define them because they are way more than that. The thing they bonded on are comics and them just learning about each other just makes you fall in love with them. They make me look at them as real people in real life (if only!), so props to the authors for making them so!

The secondary characters are awesome too! The parents-oh my goodness-the parents are annoyingly awesome, because they are the loving yet you know that they show it in the most annoying way! Like I said, it's as if these characters are real people in real life!

The conflict of the story is your usual teenage drama, but the way the story goes just makes you intrigued, makes you hold on to the story, and makes you want to know what will happen next! This is the very reason why I finished the rest of the book in one sitting!

The best part for me is definitely the connection that Paul and Felicia made and have. Their friendship is something to be envious about. I definitely understand what Felicia feels about wanting a person for herself. I know that feeling. It might be selfish, but if you dive into the book, you'll definitely understand.

All praises to the authors! I love the characters, the story, the geekiness (and yes, I understood all the anime and the comic book references), the friendship, the love! Everything! A very satisfying read! And truly quite unforgettable.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Rosie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The day that Felicia meets Paul is a day that she will never forget -- it changes her life. Fast friends and tight bonding over HitBoy and Slash/Girl, the pair become inseparable, best friends. Though they have strong feelings for one another they aren't quick to reveal them. Only after an impulsive, impromptu kiss does Paul know that Felicia might like him in a less than brotherly way. The kiss confuses and complicates things between them as they don't know how to navigate being friends that more than like one another.

Factor in, Felicia's very strict parents who have made it very clear her focus should be on making the best grades, not boys. Her mother wants her to wait until college to date so if she discovers that Felicia really likes Paul as more than a friend, Felicia fears that she will be forbidden to see him. So in order to keep him in her life, Felicia hides and pretends, to herself most of all, that he is only a friend and the more she extols this fact, the further she pushes Paul away, perhaps straight into the arms of a less complicated girl.

At times, I found Felicia to be insensitive to Paul feelings and unaware of how her behavior influenced a particular outcome -- she was very rigid and set in her ways and not open to looking at the bigger picture. Paul, on the other hand is an endearing, sensitive sweetheart, very in touch with his feelings, but most of all he's very understanding and flexible, until the day the dam breaks.

Felicia has a decision to make ... will she make the right one?

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[leenahreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was fast-paced and easy to read and SO MUCH FUN!!! I just loved it. Let me break it down a little bit:
1. Geeky Haitian girl and Japanese-Welsh boy (who's dyslexic) meet in a sale where they both want the same comic book. (ok cute!!)
2. Both their families are heavily cultured, strict in their own ways, but I LOVED the familial relationships in this book. (Especially Paul's father, he was just so damn funny to me and adorable)
3. Best friends to (almost??) lovers trope.
4. Cute superhero names, and imaginary adventures. Honestly these two were so adorable. Especially Paul's gifts to Felicia.
5. Both of their fashion sense had me feeling some type of way.
6. Annoying ass siblings who were cute and mischievous and made the plot more entertaining. (I wish we got to meet felicia's brother he seemed cool.)


What I loved about this book is how both the main characters were faced with making tough decisions and sometimes they couldn't deal with it and other times they did. Especially when it came to crossing their families. I felt that to be very realistic. I am sort of left craving more though because I really wanted to know how things worked out for them in the future and what kind of plans they made. But I still enjoyed this so much.

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

First time ever reading a book a by G.L. Tomas and I truly enjoyed it . ( Like I legit read this book in one setting. I just couldn't put it down.) Two teens who are completely different, Paul a more out going socially and Felicia being more of a introvert. But despite all of that they found common ground in a comic books.
This book dealt with typical teenage drama, but with cute and witty dialouge sprinkle throughout. What i find intriguing, G.L. was able to put the culture differences and religion through out the book along with lightly touching on transgender and non-binary sexuality.



*ARC review
**1st POV mostly dual

[Olivia Chanel's Stories in Space · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this story so so much. Paul and Felicia's story is messy, beautiful, complex and absolutely amazing. I want to live in it forever, it's about so much more than just first love. It's about friendship, communication, family, acceptance and finding who you are and who you want to be. This YA book really delivered, it's a book that I feel is genuine and one that I am sure will have people fangirling as much as I did. I even cried at the end, but I'm a big sap so I guess that's why. If I have some spare time from university this week I'll try to write a full review.

[Lulu (the library leopard)]

Pretty cute! Also very nerdy, which I approve of. Also some nice diversity (Paul is Japanese-Welsh, Buddhist, and dyslexic, and Felicia is Haitian). It did feel rather unedited in some places (some instances of tense switches, some awkward sentences, questions without question marks, etc.), the sex scenes felt a little sudden & underwritten, and some of the side characters felt a little underwritten. Still, an appealing love story.

[Kiran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely read

Really enjoyed this book. I loved the campy geeky overtones. I also adore the way that this book explained both Paul and Felicia's respective cultures. Seriously a great book for the weekend. Well put together and as always a joy to read.

[Hannah (Hannah, Fully) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book for free from Author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Meet Felicia, AKA a piece of fictional me out in the bookish world: awkward, anti-social, and kind of an outcast. It is no wonder why I immediately beeline towards cute contemporary novels (I always make a point to mention Imperfect Chemistry by Mary Frame because that book! Is! Cute! Cue exclamation points and squealing.).

Side note: I haven't reviewed in months. I will probably be as boring and undirectional as 15-year-old me.

The Unforgettables is a story of two fabulously adorable nerds who find out they are neighbors and bond over a set of comic books. Paul and Felicia click over a chance encounter in the summer over the comic books that they’re huge fans of, thus beginning a friendship that wouldn’t be forgotten. At least until it becomes more than friendship.

What I Liked:
Cliches can have nerds and outcasts too! Also nerds can be well-liked. - One of the big reasons why I’m always weary of contemporary novels is how I somehow never relate to the characters. There is always something off about them - they all fit in, they’re popular, yada yada yada. (And sometimes there is something off... period.) The Unforgettables has both. Felicia is none of those. She isn’t popular, she doesn’t fit in - in fact, she’s the outcast and basically keeps to herself. Paul is well liked - he fits in, and he’s certainly not an outcast.

Another side note: Can Paul be an actual human being? I feel like we can be best friends, even if I’m not a comic book fan. (Plus, if most guys I come across were as decent as Paul is, the world would be better for awkward me.)

The serious amount of diversity involved. - Felicia is Haitian. Paul is biracial. There’s an interracial relationship. I am a happy little reader. That is not the only reason why I am a happy little reader.

Helloooo reality. - The relationship life is as awkward as it is heartbreaking, and I love how those obstacles are portrayed throughout the book instead of making it seem like a cakewalk. The amount of awkwardness involved as Paul and Felicia venture into territory beyond friendship just makes it all the better. (I am all for awkward within reason.) Plus, it’s reassuring to find that I’m not the only one awkward in the romance department. All the other books make it seem heartbreakingly easy.

A crush equaled no assembly required. There were no broken promises or hurt feelings outside of the fact you weren’t with them. And if you didn’t let them in, the mere thought of them made you smile.

The Unforgettables is the classic story of girl meets boy next door with perks and bonuses that will even capture the attention of the cliche-disliker.

A little geekery never hurt anyone.

This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts

[Cynthia (Bingeing On Books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I'm not really sure how to start this review because I don't really have strong feelings for it one way or the other. It was kind of a forgettable and lackluster read. There was a lot of diversity: Felicia is Haitian-American and Paul is half-Japanese and Buddhist. I liked the whole comic book neediness thing. I am not a huge comic book person myself, but it was a change of pace. The characters were fine and the secondary characters were fine and everything was just . . . fine. I didn't know whether this author wanted to make Paul and Felicia friends or more than friends. I kind of wish they would have just stuck with the friends thing. But stuff happens the summer they meet and their relationship and the timelines just move so quickly. They have this great summer together where they hang out and have fun and it's great. Their friendship turns into something more, but Felicia refuses to have anything to do with Paul, at least in a romantic sense. That's what annoyed me about this book: Felicia's big excuse for not wanting to be with Paul is because her mom didn't want her to date and she was afraid her mom wouldn't let her spend any time with Paul if she knew they had feelings for each other. The problem with that is her mom LOVED Paul and Felicia never, ever, ever tried to talk to her mom about anything. So it was just a bunch of useless drama. But then school starts and everything changes and they fight with each other over nothing. The pacing moved very quickly throughout the school year. It seemed as if weeks would pass by every other chapter and I would have to quickly come to terms with where Paul and Felecia were. That happened way too often. I did like that Paul was able to have such honest conversations with his dad about sex. That scene made me laugh. Unfortunately, this book just didn't do it for me.

[dessie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review also posted on Samodivas

I received a free advanced copy from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

It’s the start of summer and Felicia Abelard is on the hunt for something treasurable in the neighbourhood tag sales. Meanwhile, Paul Hiroshima and his family have recently moved in from Chicago, Illinois. The two meet when both of them reach for the same stack of comics featuring their favourite superhero duo. Felicia and Paul quickly become friends after that, bonding over their shared love of comics, and of course, their secret superhero hideaway – The Unforgettable Spot. But soon enough, things change between them. Starting school only overcomplicates things as Paul struggles with his feelings for his best friend, and Felicia struggles with her strict parents’ rule of no dating.

I learned about the existence of this book over twitter and I was so intrigued by the premise that I knew I had to read it immediately. You can imagine the utter joy I felt when I saw it was up for request on NetGalley, and later, when I got approved for it! Granted it took me a while to get to (because reading slumps suck), but here I am, having finished it at last. I was not as blown away by this book as I was expecting (my expectations were ridiculously high, after all), but I did end up enjoying it regardless.

As usual, I’m starting off with the writing style. It did not impress me that much. That being said, the narratives were engaging and flowed seamlessly (without one bleeding into the other, mind you) and carried the plot well enough. As I said, both POVs did not blend into each other, they were distinctive and unique on their own. At times I was a little confused by what I was reading, but overall, the writing was fun and fitting for the genre.

The amount of diversity there is in this book and its characters is absolutely amazing. I loved Felicia and her Haitian parents, and I loved Paul and his Buddhist family. It was such a pleasure to read about different cultures and different ways of life without seeing them belittled by outsiders. The families in this book are not perfect, but they’re tight-knit and caring, which I absolutely melted over. We get a whole supporting cast of diverse characters, as well – a trans character that isn’t ridiculed or alienated, but their transition is accepted and supported; a non-binary character; bisexual character (that doesn’t actually make it to page, but the B word is actually used so that’s a plus!) and more! Everyone is treated with respect both by other characters and by the authors, and each person to appear had something to bring to the table. There is also none of the unnecessary clichés like girls hating on girls because of some guy, neither any Macho Men that get too overprotective and jealous over some girl. The clichés that do appear are the Classic High School Story topes (that I’m absolute trash over, don’t judge me). Also, no slut shaming! Sex positivity!

I did get annoyed at Paul at some point, but I can’t be too mad at him – he’s a teenager and teenagers don’t always have the most rational behaviors. So, I’ll let it slide. (Plus, he got me with his wicked moves. Who can stay mad at a nerd who can dance?) Felicia is the one I really felt for. At one point, her narrative merged with my own thoughts. Her high school experience was a lot like mine (not the same, but still similar) and I couldn’t help but bleed for her. The ending felt just right for the both of them, and I loved how Paul came through in the end. I knew homeboy wouldn’t let me down like that.

Overall, The Unforgettables might have not exceeded my expectations, but I did still end up liking it a great deal. It’s a tale that may not seem like much at first glance, but it really unfolds into something so positive and great. Plus, it’s short and light, and makes for a perfect read at any time of the day, month, year.

[Meaghan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Stars (Out of 10): 1/10 Stars

Overall Thoughts: Some of you may be shocked at how low this book was, as I usually tend to give books pretty high scores. However, while the beginning of the book originally had me leaning towards 5/10 (an eh plot with eh characters), it’s rating dropped very abruptly very quickly after around 60%. The quality of the book seemed to fall, as well as plot realisticness and character likeability. In addition, the ending nullified every single conflict in the book basically, while also being extremely vague and not truly giving readers closure (which I desperately sought for.)

The Good: There’s a very diverse cast in this book, especially for it being in a really white area, as the character Paul originally explains. The book seems to have a huge variation in both race, gender orientation, and sexual orientation. However, a lot of it is later looked over, and some of it seems to be brought up just so the book can be considered “inclusive.”

The Bad: The diversity the book attempted to show almost had all but disappeared near the end. Characters I was indifferent about I began to hate very very quickly. The plot (which seemed strictly about their romance) was extremely unrealistic, and seemed way way too planned and “fake.”

SPOILERS BEGIN HERE

The Characters: While they seemed okay at first, they grew very hateful, manipulative, and fake by the end. Paul was downright horrid to his siblings, and later was not fair to Felicia at all. However, Felicia was no better. In the beginning of the story, she seemed to want Paul only for herself, and ignored all his likes and interests. He also kept leading him on, a kiss here or there just continue to keep him around.

The Plot: Since romance was the plot, this will be discussed in this category rather than characters, as I usually consider it a character relationship. Simply put, the romance was unrealistic, fake, and downright harmful. Also, the way they finally got to revealing their feelings was by the abusing of other characters (Julia for Paul, Adrian for Felicia.) It also got super unrealistic, and it seemed that the author couldn’t create conflict while still making Paul and Felicia grow closer romantically, making all the happenings in their ‘relationship’ very abrupt. They went from fighting to sex a few sentences later, and then a chapter later Felicia wouldn’t let Paul put his arm around her! And then in the end, what was keeping them apart (Felicia’s mom), ended up being completely okay with the thought of them together! So it was all for naught!

The Favorite Character: I didn't really have one?

Buy it, Borrow it, or Bin it: Bin it.

This review can also be found on my blog: https://paragraphsandpages.wordpress....

[CARLA · Rating 5 out of 5]

https://celebrityreaders.wordpress.co...

I Floved this book! It had all the ingredients for a fantastic YA diverse romantic read.

At first I wasn’t really digging it. It started off a bit slow and jumped around quite a bit. And the sex scene was quite awkward for me to read honestly. But then I realized that that’s exactly how high school was. So it started to make sense the more I read.

Paul was a pretty easy going character and I could relate to his being the new kid in school. I went to eight different schools growing up so I could totally get his feelings of homesickness. His background was pretty cool too. He was a half Japanese/half white Buddhist that could dance like nobodies business. The author really gave him dimension and layers. And his family wasn’t a background prop either. YA’s are notorious for sticking the parents and siblings in the corner but not with this one and for that I am glad. They even addressed how different they are treated and how they handled it.

While Paul was easy going, Felicia was a bit uptight. She was what one would call a loner. Not really something I can relate to but that didn’t take away from how much I ended up loving her. I liked how she wasn’t afraid to stand up to the people who bullied her, even to her detriment. And I dug her nerdiness! Their mutual love of comic books is what initially brings them together. And the fact they were neighbors. Felicia was a Haitian american with very strict parents. And she struggles between wanting to fit in and pretending she doesn’t care.

Their story is fast-paced and turbulent. And I loved every second of it. Highly recommended.

[Keep Calm Novel On · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Goodreads group We YA Books provided a copy of the ePub in exchange for an honest review.

G. L. Tomas’ Young Adult Romance The Unforgettables is a refreshing read as it reflects multicultural families and experiences. The setting feels like the real world—a mosaic of cultures and religions.

Being a teenager can be difficult at the best of times. Paul has moved from Chicago to a small town. Felicia is his neighbor. She is a loner. Their friendship feels natural. Both characters have positive ideals, values, moral fiber and integrity. As they enjoy getting to know each other before beginning school everything changes with a kiss.

The author has given Felicia and Paul strong independent voices and their words and actions keep the plot moving quickly. An interesting cast of characters supports them—family and friends. This friendship becomes complicated. How long can they suppress their strong attraction?

Although the story has twists and turns the author keeps the plot moving seamlessly. Many issues are exposed including but not limited to bullying and living with a learning disability. This coming of age novel does not disappoint.

[Bárbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a charming story- there is no other word I can think of at the moment to describe it.
It was a story about friendship, and love, and all the intricate ways life can get messy and confusing when both get intertwined.
The depiction of teenagers was spot-on (and while it's something that some readers find annoying, as I often see in reviews, it's something that I have come to appreciate). I also enjoyed the family dynamics. I liked that both families seemed different from each other while never making one appearing as sort of antagonistic in comparison to the other. I'm super turned-off by strict parents in general- but in fiction in particular- and I don't like seeing them justified within the narrative, but I can live with the kind of rep I found here, even though sometimes I wanted to shove a pan against both the mothers's faces. Sorry, this is a topic I'm a bit sensitive about (obviously).

Paul and Felicia were amazing characters, and their evolution was a pleasure to read: both as individuals and as friends.
All in all, cheesy as it may sound, I can definitely say this story is certainly unforgettable.
(I'll see my unfunny self out now, sorry)

[Deborah Sastroredjo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved, loved, loved, loved this book!
I don't even know where to start. Paul was perfect. He wasn't some teenage jerk (although he did some stuff normal teenage guys do to mess stuff up) and he had his flaws, but he wasn't some perfect wannabe like you'd see in most YA books.
Felicia wasn't perfect either, she was perfect to him, but her flaws were laid out there for all of us to see. It just made them more likeable.
I loved the comic book/hero element in the story, without making them people that should save the world. I loved the diversity of the characters and race, the people in the story and the acceptance of LBGT members, without making a big fuss of it, like it should be.

I would really recommend this story to everyone!

[Melinda Howard · Rating 2 out of 5]

*This book was received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

This book sounded really good however I was disappointed. All the problems in the book were caused by a lack of communication between the characters and the ending felt unresolved. I spent a good part of the book frustrated with all of the characters and the plot itself. Overall, I found this book to be disappointing due to the characters, the lack of an interesting plot and an unresolved ending.