Unforgettable

by Rebecca H. Jamison

As teenagers, Celia and Manny planned their future together in the branches of a mango tree. Soon afterward, Manny leaves Fogo Island for college, expecting to marry Celia and take her to America once he graduates. However, during Manny’s schooling, the volcano near Celia’s village erupts, burying her home.

They lose contact with each other, and Celia comes to believe that Manny has fallen in love with someone else. When their lives intersect again, too much has changed for their plans to ever become a reality, yet the promises they made and the desires of their hearts persist, becoming unforgettable.

Genres: Contemporary, Romance

395 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 1, 2018

Reviews

[Heidi Robbins (Heidi Reads...) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned a lot from this book about a culture I'd never been exposed to- the people of Cape Verde. The island sounds idyllic and so does the relationship between Manny and Celia, until the erupting volcano changes the course of their lives. I was saddened by the diverging paths they took, and looked forward to the part of the story when they would be reunited. So much hardship was experienced by Celia, but I loved how the author focused on the kindnesses and hope she found in the support of her friends and family. There are many lessons that she and Manny learn over time, and the question of should they take a second chance on each other is one they struggle with- but because they each feel unworthy. I appreciated that they only saw the best in each other and brought out the best in each other. There are exciting moments, tense scenes, and tender experiences that made this book stand out in unique ways.

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

[Aimee · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were many things I enjoyed in this book. The beginning where we get to see Celia and Manny's love bloom was sweet. I loved the bits about life on the island and how the people there took care of each other- both on the island and as they set up in new, foreign communities. That island family spirit carried with them everywhere they went.

I love when stories help me to gain a new or better perspective in life. This one was a good reminder of the struggles of immigrants to a new country. It increased my compassion.

I'm not sure what exactly was off for me in this book but I didn't love it as much as I wanted to. Good story elements were all there, I just had a hard time connecting to the writing and sometimes I felt like the story was dragging a bit. As I said before though, there were many things I did enjoy. I'd give this a solid 3/5 stars.

Content: abuse, described (which may be a trigger for some people), mention of affairs with no details, mental breakdown, mild peril, fighting, kissing

- I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Celia has been through so much, though a lot of it could've been avoided had she just waited or communicated directly with Manny. However, reading her story was heartbreaking and I wanted to see how she would overcome it. The ending was good and I loved how so many people came together to help.

I liked reading about a culture I didn't know very well, always fun to learn about different places. I think anyone who enjoys clean contemporary romance would like this book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was asked to give my honest opinion of the book - which I have done.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the whole vibe of Unforgettable. Celia and Manny grow up on Fogo Island. It's just a really laid back and beachy type of place. So everyone knows everyone. That's good and it's bad. Sometimes it means that people are kinder and sometimes it means that everyone knows too much about everyone else.

Anyway...the book starts out with a volcanic eruption on Fogo Island that displaces everyone. Including Celia and her mom. Manny is going to college elsewhere. The eruption causes Celia and Manny to lose each other. And Celia marries someone else before he can find her again. 

I liked that Manny was willing to go to great lengths to find Celia. Even after he realized she was married to someone else, he cared about her and wanted to help her. Manny is just the ultimate responsible person. He goes out of his way to get his mom and sister to America, even though he had a job he loved where he was. His sister puts Manny and his mom through some crazy things. I liked how he never gave up.

Then there's Celia. She's courageous. Her mom goes a little crazy during the volcano eruption. But Celia just keeps going. She works to keep her mom out of the path of the volcano in any way she can. Then when she's dealing with her abusive husband, she figures out a way out. And by that time she's in a foreign country. 

Unforgettable has a great story. There's danger, adventure, and just real life as well. I liked the way I never knew what was coming next. And the ending was really well done!

[The Flipped Page (Susan K) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Romance, clean; some abuse described so more PG-13 for situational issues
Manny and Celia's story was an interesting read. I loved learning and seeing some of the cultural things, and the immigration aspects of the story. Celia's marriage, the abuse and her situation as she struggles to find her place was a hard read. I loved there always seemed to be hope and work ethic. Manny's story was a bit muddled with his heart not fully vested in the present, and his past love with Celia coloring his feelings as he struggles to help his family. While this was a romance, it really was a story of families settling, struggling to make a new future and hope in the US. It wasn't a perfect read for me, but I have enjoyed this author and loved reading the cultural aspects of this story.

[Maria Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rounding up from 3.5 stars.

At the beginning of this book I felt like the writing was choppy or maybe simplistic, like it was written by a jr. high aged kid. I didn't think I was going to like the book at all. I couldn't really relate to the culture in Cape Verde and was even confused about the time period because they weren't living typical first world lives. I kept having to remind myself that this was taking place in the internet era. But somewhere in the middle and maybe it was when they went to America, I'm not sure, but I forgot all that. The writing matured along with the characters. I still didn't relate to the lives the characters were living since they were so different than my own. I'm not a poor immigrant struggling to understand a new culture, language, and wondering how to meet basic needs. But that gave me insight into what life is like for many other people.

The domestic abuse was horrific and pretty graphic. I was so relieved when Celia finally left. I had been sad that she hadn't taken the offers of help she had been given before.

I loved the sense of community among the immigrants. They were always willing to help and took to each other like family.

For a while I was afraid that we weren't going to have a totally happy ever after but it all ended up being good. There was a lot of sorrow along the way and a sadness over poor choices and lost time but we were still left with a feeling of hope. The evil people were going to get what was coming and the good people would figure out their HEA. Did we ever find out what happens to the Andre's grandmother?

Over all , I liked the story even though the abuse parts were hard to read. It was a little frustrating that the main characters didn't own up to their feelings sooner but really under the circumstances they couldn't. I liked Manny's kindness and goodness and was glad that Celia learned her mother had been wrong about her beauty being so important.

Sex: no
language: no
Violence: yes. Graphic domestic abuse against woman, women fighting back, also fist fights between men, baby kidnapped at knife point, woman cut with knife.

[Ashley D · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really wanted to like this book. There were some parts that were good, but for the most part, it was really long and just not my favorite. I liked the beginning and how it was intense, but then it fizzled out from there. I honestly almost stopped reading it because some of the abuse scenes were too much for me to stomach. The only reason why I finished it was to see what Celia ended up doing. There were so many things that went wrong in this book for the main character and you think that it just can't get any worse and then it does. It almost seems unreal all of the things that happen to her. I was grateful that I read the notes at the end of the book about how it was based on a real person's life. That helped to make it a little more believable. I really did like Manny though. I thought he was a kind and respectful man. One thing I did like about the book is that it helped me to see things from a different perspective. I always wondered how people were content to live in less than ideal conditions such as the people in this story at the beginning and why more people don't move to more affluent countries. Then to see Celia, and even Manny at times, say how they weren't used to the fast paced life of America and how they missed their home country, I could finally understand how they would want to go back home. I could see why some people do move to more affluent countries and end up going back to their home country because they see changes that they don't like. There's no language or sex in this book but there are some pretty graphic physical spouse abuse scenes.

[Nari · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about overcoming terrible circumstances and the power of love. I enjoyed learning about a culture I was unfamiliar with in the pages of this book. Celia struggles through obstacle after obstacle from losing her home and her mother's unstable mind to being abused by her husband and trying to fend for herself in an unfamiliar country where she struggles to communicate. Manny gives up a good job in Santiago to start over again in America so that his sister can have a better life. Flora, Manny's sister, is having a hard time finding her place in this new country and runs away from home. The characters in this book have very real struggles but they overcome them by supporting each other and through love. I enjoyed taking the journey with these characters through the pages of this book. I felt like I had a new appreciation for my life and those around me after reading this book.

[Shauna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a bit of a saga with so much tragedy and miscommunication in the beginning. A heartbreaking story about the choices we make and how it effects those around us and an interesting look at life in America through the eyes of an immigrant. Celia was an interesting character and acted probably just like her age, while Manny was a faithful guy to the bitter end. I found it different than I thought, but rich with culture and left me thinking of how grateful I am for the life I get to live.

[Donna May · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good novel. Sometime lost love is never forgotten and can be found again. Hurts have to be forgiven. I never realized how hard it would be for immigrants to come to America to live their dreams and how difficult it could be to not live in America. I loved the history part of this novel. It really made me think of all the things that we take for granted on a daily basis that we should be more thankful for. Good book.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not sure exactly how I thought that this book would be, but it was not what I expected at all. It took me through a range of emotions. I wanted to know more about the island Celia came from. I wanted to understand the culture better. (I thought it was fitting to read this book this month with the volcano in Hawaii, too.) Mannie is such a good man. I wanted more for him. It was a bit long winded for my liking, some things could be cut that made it feel long.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This well written story is about a young woman from a small island off the coast of Portugal that dreams of a perfect life in America. Though she seems to live a cursed life where tragedy abounds and she makes some bad choices along the way, she has an indomitable spirit and continues to fight to make her life the best it can be. Great characters!

[Jenny · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was very depressing.