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Forget Me Not
WHAT HAPPENED TO NORA?
When Maddie met Nora, their friendship felt as easy as breathing. And when Nora disappeared, all the air went with her. Without her best friend, Maddie’s life became impossible.
Ten years later, Nora is still missing and Maddie is still searching. People have been questioned. People have even been accused. But no one has managed to find Nora.
Then, in the same spot where Nora went missing, the murdered body of Nora’s little sister is found. Convinced this is no coincidence, Maddie resolves to uncover the killer and find Nora – dead or alive.
But will she be able to cope, when we learn what really happened to Nora…?
337 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 5, 2018
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590 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
November 17, 2018
🚗 3.5 Stars for Forget Me Not an emotional, whodunnit thriller 🙎🏼
What happened to Nora Altman?
17 year old Nora Altman's car was found abandoned by the side of the road on January 7, 2008, out of gas but nothing else seemingly out of the ordinary. No one knew where Nora had been headed or what she had been doing at the time but she was never seen or heard from again after that night.
Nora's disappearance wreaked havoc on her family and close friends. The not knowing, the waiting, the hoping - rendering those that loved her most in a sort of limbo, unable to move on.
10 years later to the day, on the memorial of Nora's disappearance her younger sister Noelle, now also 17, suddenly goes missing. Unfortunately, this time there are immediate answers for the family - Noelle's body is recovered on the same stretch of road where her sister had gone missing ten years before. Who murdered Noelle?
Can the same person be striking again?
This is a slow burn whodunnit focusing mainly on Nora's best friend Maddie, who's life has been adversely affected by her friends disappearance. Maddie is obsessed with uncovering the truth about what happened to Nora and Noelle. She begins sleuthing, uncovering secrets and lies that have lain dormant for 10 years.
Overall, I enjoyed this emotionally fraught mystery/thriller but I simply didn't love it. There were parts that seemed too long and moments where the book dragged for me. Still, I definitely saw promise from this debut novel and I look forward to seeing what Taylor comes up with next.
Thank you to NetGalley, A.M. Taylor and Harper Impulse and Killer Reads for an advance copy of this book.
What happened to Nora Altman?
17 year old Nora Altman's car was found abandoned by the side of the road on January 7, 2008, out of gas but nothing else seemingly out of the ordinary. No one knew where Nora had been headed or what she had been doing at the time but she was never seen or heard from again after that night.
Nora's disappearance wreaked havoc on her family and close friends. The not knowing, the waiting, the hoping - rendering those that loved her most in a sort of limbo, unable to move on.
10 years later to the day, on the memorial of Nora's disappearance her younger sister Noelle, now also 17, suddenly goes missing. Unfortunately, this time there are immediate answers for the family - Noelle's body is recovered on the same stretch of road where her sister had gone missing ten years before. Who murdered Noelle?
Can the same person be striking again?
This is a slow burn whodunnit focusing mainly on Nora's best friend Maddie, who's life has been adversely affected by her friends disappearance. Maddie is obsessed with uncovering the truth about what happened to Nora and Noelle. She begins sleuthing, uncovering secrets and lies that have lain dormant for 10 years.
Overall, I enjoyed this emotionally fraught mystery/thriller but I simply didn't love it. There were parts that seemed too long and moments where the book dragged for me. Still, I definitely saw promise from this debut novel and I look forward to seeing what Taylor comes up with next.
Thank you to NetGalley, A.M. Taylor and Harper Impulse and Killer Reads for an advance copy of this book.
September 21, 2018
Forget Me Not by AM Taylor was a great story but not a great as I was hoping. The story dragged in parts and there were so many characters. At times it got confusing but all in all I enjoyed it.
Nora disappeared 10 years ago. She has never been found. On the anniversary of her disappearance her little sister Elle is murdered and her body found in the same place Nora's abandoned car was 10 years earlier. Nora's best friend Maddie has never really recovered from losing her friend and is determined to find out what happened. The ending was a bit predictable and rushed but still it was a good read.
Thanks to Harper Impulse/Killer Reads and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
Nora disappeared 10 years ago. She has never been found. On the anniversary of her disappearance her little sister Elle is murdered and her body found in the same place Nora's abandoned car was 10 years earlier. Nora's best friend Maddie has never really recovered from losing her friend and is determined to find out what happened. The ending was a bit predictable and rushed but still it was a good read.
Thanks to Harper Impulse/Killer Reads and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
September 5, 2018
Within the explosion of psychological thrillers there are some that stand out for me as a reader and Forget Me Not was one of those. I sank into it and read it over two involved sittings.
The mystery elements are strong, it is not immediately obvious which keeps things beautifully unexpected so that was great but not entirely what drew me to this one.
A M Taylor writes about a town in turmoil and a girl who can’t move on. Maddie is a brilliantly drawn and highly sympathetic character, showing us throughout the narrative just how much the loss of her closest friend has changed her and affected her future. When another member of the same family is murdered the intricacies of that are thrown into the mix, the “whodunit ” fades more as we are given a stunning portrayal of grief and loss.
It was descriptively emotive, digging into the issues and exploring how knowledge or lack thereof can alter us. That plus a very real need to know what happened to Nora, ignited in the reader by Maddie’s trauma makes this a real page turner and a highly addictive read.
When psychological thrillers properly explore the psychology as this one does, it really adds an edge to proceedings and makes the story stand above the rest. I loved Forget Me Not because it worked on many levels above and beyond the natural central theme so therefore it comes highly recommended from me.
Terrific writing, intelligent plotting and memorable characters. All you need.
The mystery elements are strong, it is not immediately obvious which keeps things beautifully unexpected so that was great but not entirely what drew me to this one.
A M Taylor writes about a town in turmoil and a girl who can’t move on. Maddie is a brilliantly drawn and highly sympathetic character, showing us throughout the narrative just how much the loss of her closest friend has changed her and affected her future. When another member of the same family is murdered the intricacies of that are thrown into the mix, the “whodunit ” fades more as we are given a stunning portrayal of grief and loss.
It was descriptively emotive, digging into the issues and exploring how knowledge or lack thereof can alter us. That plus a very real need to know what happened to Nora, ignited in the reader by Maddie’s trauma makes this a real page turner and a highly addictive read.
When psychological thrillers properly explore the psychology as this one does, it really adds an edge to proceedings and makes the story stand above the rest. I loved Forget Me Not because it worked on many levels above and beyond the natural central theme so therefore it comes highly recommended from me.
Terrific writing, intelligent plotting and memorable characters. All you need.
September 9, 2018
10 Stars!!
I just finished this and wow. This one made me cry. I have so much to say and not sure where to start.
The writing is amazing. A.M. Taylor has a way with words. I was highlighting everything just because it touched me so deeply. The words are raw and real and painful and so connected to the characters. Poetically emotionally if that’s a thing?
The whole plot had a “who killed Laura Palmer?” theme which I couldn’t enough of. But that ending...I only read psychological thrillers/mysteries/murder books, but this one went way past that. I was SO there. I could feel the cold Wisconsin snow on my face and I could feel the pain of 10 years without my (missing) best friend and I was there in the bar with everyone at a crowded table in a small town diner where no one knows who is guilty or grieving. I could smell the fries and cheese curds and hear the beer bottles on the tables each time someone took a sip and put it down ...but my heart could feel the loss and the suffocating airless bar along with Maddie.
I CRIED at the last 10 pages. I can’t say more than that. But this one got me. First book that made me cry. Thank you @A.MTaylor
So real. So raw. You made us love her too. (If you read this, you will know who “her” is)
Thank you to #NetGalley, the publisher and author for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
10 stars, but my stars are tear covered and I feel like I’m grieving the loss of a friend. #raw #real #booksthatmakeyoucry
I just finished this and wow. This one made me cry. I have so much to say and not sure where to start.
The writing is amazing. A.M. Taylor has a way with words. I was highlighting everything just because it touched me so deeply. The words are raw and real and painful and so connected to the characters. Poetically emotionally if that’s a thing?
The whole plot had a “who killed Laura Palmer?” theme which I couldn’t enough of. But that ending...I only read psychological thrillers/mysteries/murder books, but this one went way past that. I was SO there. I could feel the cold Wisconsin snow on my face and I could feel the pain of 10 years without my (missing) best friend and I was there in the bar with everyone at a crowded table in a small town diner where no one knows who is guilty or grieving. I could smell the fries and cheese curds and hear the beer bottles on the tables each time someone took a sip and put it down ...but my heart could feel the loss and the suffocating airless bar along with Maddie.
I CRIED at the last 10 pages. I can’t say more than that. But this one got me. First book that made me cry. Thank you @A.MTaylor
So real. So raw. You made us love her too. (If you read this, you will know who “her” is)
Thank you to #NetGalley, the publisher and author for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
10 stars, but my stars are tear covered and I feel like I’m grieving the loss of a friend. #raw #real #booksthatmakeyoucry
October 14, 2018
3.5 Stars!
“Where is Nora Altman?”
January 7, 2008
17 year old, Nora Altman’s car was found abandoned on Old Highway 51, locked but with an empty gas tank.
She has not been seen since.
January 7, 2018
Family and Friends have gathered at a vigil commemorating the ten year anniversary mark of Nora’s disappearance. Maddie, Nora’s best friend, notices that Noelle, Nora’s younger sister by 10 years seems particularly pale, and unusually quiet. Perhaps it’s because she just turned seventeen?
Then a body is found at the same spot that Nora’s car had been found. It’s Noelle (Elle).
The small town is in a state of shock.
Most of the town’s police force were teenage boys who grew up with Nora. How can they investigate the death of her younger sister? Are the two cases related? Nobody seems to think so, except Maddie, and perhaps her friend, Ange, now a reporter for the Madison journal. So, she starts to do some “digging” on her own.
Federal agents are called in to investigate.
Will they be able to tie the two cases together?
This is a slow burn, murder mystery with some beautiful writing, and thought provoking prose. It doesn’t move fast, as a lot of the story is pieced together through reminiscing, and discussions that take place at the local diner over breakfast and coffee or at the local bar over sudsy beers and fries.
I had my suspicions, fairly early on, and they proved to be correct this time, but that’s ok..this isn’t meant to be a twisty thriller..more of a “follow the bread crumbs” novel of suspense.
A strong debut novel for A.M. Taylor
I would like to thank Netgalley, the author, and Harper Impulse/Killer Reads for the ARC I was provided in exchange for a candid review!
You can find out what happened to Nora NOW-this book was just released!
“Where is Nora Altman?”
January 7, 2008
17 year old, Nora Altman’s car was found abandoned on Old Highway 51, locked but with an empty gas tank.
She has not been seen since.
January 7, 2018
Family and Friends have gathered at a vigil commemorating the ten year anniversary mark of Nora’s disappearance. Maddie, Nora’s best friend, notices that Noelle, Nora’s younger sister by 10 years seems particularly pale, and unusually quiet. Perhaps it’s because she just turned seventeen?
Then a body is found at the same spot that Nora’s car had been found. It’s Noelle (Elle).
The small town is in a state of shock.
Most of the town’s police force were teenage boys who grew up with Nora. How can they investigate the death of her younger sister? Are the two cases related? Nobody seems to think so, except Maddie, and perhaps her friend, Ange, now a reporter for the Madison journal. So, she starts to do some “digging” on her own.
Federal agents are called in to investigate.
Will they be able to tie the two cases together?
This is a slow burn, murder mystery with some beautiful writing, and thought provoking prose. It doesn’t move fast, as a lot of the story is pieced together through reminiscing, and discussions that take place at the local diner over breakfast and coffee or at the local bar over sudsy beers and fries.
I had my suspicions, fairly early on, and they proved to be correct this time, but that’s ok..this isn’t meant to be a twisty thriller..more of a “follow the bread crumbs” novel of suspense.
A strong debut novel for A.M. Taylor
I would like to thank Netgalley, the author, and Harper Impulse/Killer Reads for the ARC I was provided in exchange for a candid review!
You can find out what happened to Nora NOW-this book was just released!
September 19, 2018
3.5 Stars!
“Where is Nora Altman?”
January 7, 2008
17 year old, Nora Altman’s car was found abandoned on Old Highway 51, locked but with an empty gas tank.
She has not been seen since.
January 7, 2018
Family and Friends have gathered at a vigil commemorating the ten year anniversary mark of Nora’s disappearance. Maddie, Nora’s best friend, notices that Noelle, Nora’s younger sister by 10 years, seems particularly pale, and unusually quiet. Perhaps it’s because she just turned seventeen?
Then a body is found at the same spot that Nora’s car had been found. It’s Noelle (Elle).
The small town is in a state of shock.
Most of the town’s police force were teenage boys who grew up with Nora. How can they investigate the death of her younger sister? Are the two cases related? Nobody seems to think so, except Maddie, and perhaps her friend, Ange, now a reporter for the Madison journal. So, she starts to do some “digging” on her own.
Federal agents are called in to investigate.
Will THEY be able to tie the two cases together?
This is a slow burn, murder mystery with some beautiful writing, and thought provoking prose. It doesn’t move fast, as a lot of the story is pieced together through reminiscing, and discussions that take place at the local diner over breakfast and coffee or at the local bar over sudsy beers and fries.
I had my suspicions, fairly early on, and they proved to be correct this time, but that’s ok..I don’t think it is meant to be a twisty thriller..more of a “follow the bread crumbs” novel of suspense.
A strong debut novel for A.M. Taylor
I would like to thank Netgalley, the author, and Harper Impulse/Killer Reads for the ARC I was provided in exchange for a candid review!
You can find out what happened to Nora, and to Noelle on Oct. 5, 2018!
“Where is Nora Altman?”
January 7, 2008
17 year old, Nora Altman’s car was found abandoned on Old Highway 51, locked but with an empty gas tank.
She has not been seen since.
January 7, 2018
Family and Friends have gathered at a vigil commemorating the ten year anniversary mark of Nora’s disappearance. Maddie, Nora’s best friend, notices that Noelle, Nora’s younger sister by 10 years, seems particularly pale, and unusually quiet. Perhaps it’s because she just turned seventeen?
Then a body is found at the same spot that Nora’s car had been found. It’s Noelle (Elle).
The small town is in a state of shock.
Most of the town’s police force were teenage boys who grew up with Nora. How can they investigate the death of her younger sister? Are the two cases related? Nobody seems to think so, except Maddie, and perhaps her friend, Ange, now a reporter for the Madison journal. So, she starts to do some “digging” on her own.
Federal agents are called in to investigate.
Will THEY be able to tie the two cases together?
This is a slow burn, murder mystery with some beautiful writing, and thought provoking prose. It doesn’t move fast, as a lot of the story is pieced together through reminiscing, and discussions that take place at the local diner over breakfast and coffee or at the local bar over sudsy beers and fries.
I had my suspicions, fairly early on, and they proved to be correct this time, but that’s ok..I don’t think it is meant to be a twisty thriller..more of a “follow the bread crumbs” novel of suspense.
A strong debut novel for A.M. Taylor
I would like to thank Netgalley, the author, and Harper Impulse/Killer Reads for the ARC I was provided in exchange for a candid review!
You can find out what happened to Nora, and to Noelle on Oct. 5, 2018!
October 4, 2018
'Forget Me Not' is A. M. Taylor's debut novel, and although it did have promise, in the end, it was just too dull and straightforward to really have any impact on me. An enthralling and engaging plot is obviously very important to get the reader to invest their time in pursuing the outcome of the book, and even though I did follow it through to the end, my thought on it didn't become any more positive.
Essentially, the core concept of the story explores the deep friendship of Nora and Maddie and the sense of loss and grief Maddie felt when her best friend disappeared, and she has never given up looking for her. But will Maddie be able to handle the truth when a truly shocking truth about the missing girl comes to light?
I would define this as more of an emotional mystery novel rather than a thriller per se, and it does move at quite a pedestrian pace, slowly building up the suspense and it certainly had the potential to be a thoroughly enjoyable read. Unfortunately, this suffered from some of the issues frequently found in debut novels - the introduction of too many completely unnecessary characters, rather large holes in the plot that had no explanation. predictable twists and a foreseeable conclusion. Some of these problems could easily lead to a reader becoming confused. However, I did like the writing style which was very descriptive - I always appreciate that type of narrative but it obviously depends on individual preference.
Overall, I would say that seasoned crime readers will find it far too easy to predict much of what happens in this book, but those who only dabble in the genre may find it keeps them engaged enough to be enjoyable.
Many thanks to Killer Reads for an ARC. I was not required to post a review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
Essentially, the core concept of the story explores the deep friendship of Nora and Maddie and the sense of loss and grief Maddie felt when her best friend disappeared, and she has never given up looking for her. But will Maddie be able to handle the truth when a truly shocking truth about the missing girl comes to light?
I would define this as more of an emotional mystery novel rather than a thriller per se, and it does move at quite a pedestrian pace, slowly building up the suspense and it certainly had the potential to be a thoroughly enjoyable read. Unfortunately, this suffered from some of the issues frequently found in debut novels - the introduction of too many completely unnecessary characters, rather large holes in the plot that had no explanation. predictable twists and a foreseeable conclusion. Some of these problems could easily lead to a reader becoming confused. However, I did like the writing style which was very descriptive - I always appreciate that type of narrative but it obviously depends on individual preference.
Overall, I would say that seasoned crime readers will find it far too easy to predict much of what happens in this book, but those who only dabble in the genre may find it keeps them engaged enough to be enjoyable.
Many thanks to Killer Reads for an ARC. I was not required to post a review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
September 25, 2018
Received via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review
OMG.
Why. WHY. WHY do you use so many words to say one thing? Why? This is like that episode of Friends where Joey uses a thesaurus to write a letter to the adoption agency.
This is the story of a girl whose best friend goes missing when they are 17. 10 years later, 10 memorial services later, her friend's little sister, who is now 17, is found dead in the same spot where her sister went missing.
Said girl investigates. Danger happens. The secret of what happened to Nora comes out, and we find out who dunnit.
Riveting stuff, right?
This book is actually incredibly long for its genre, and I guarantee you I could easily remove minimally 100 pages without losing any of the plot. Because OH MY GOD.
Casual cruelty had never been a part of my relationship with Nate, had never formed an integral part of our language. If our silences had no give to them anymore, then neither did our words. They were brittle, ready to break at the slightest of touches.
When he rang Elle's phone it went straight to voicemail and a bubble of panic began to build somewhere near his duodenum, and Noah looked on, his wide brown eyes taking everything in.
I could feel the grief building in me. The small round rock of loss that lived somewhere around my abdomen and rose through my stomach and lungs, and up through my esophagus until it stayed somewhere right at the back of my throat, threatening tears and an inability to breathe. Sometimes it rose even further and OH MY FUCKING GOD WE GET IT YOU ARE GRIEVING STOP DESCRIBING YOUR INTERNAL ORGANS.
I need a quiet corner after this book.
OMG.
Why. WHY. WHY do you use so many words to say one thing? Why? This is like that episode of Friends where Joey uses a thesaurus to write a letter to the adoption agency.
This is the story of a girl whose best friend goes missing when they are 17. 10 years later, 10 memorial services later, her friend's little sister, who is now 17, is found dead in the same spot where her sister went missing.
Said girl investigates. Danger happens. The secret of what happened to Nora comes out, and we find out who dunnit.
Riveting stuff, right?
This book is actually incredibly long for its genre, and I guarantee you I could easily remove minimally 100 pages without losing any of the plot. Because OH MY GOD.
Casual cruelty had never been a part of my relationship with Nate, had never formed an integral part of our language. If our silences had no give to them anymore, then neither did our words. They were brittle, ready to break at the slightest of touches.
When he rang Elle's phone it went straight to voicemail and a bubble of panic began to build somewhere near his duodenum, and Noah looked on, his wide brown eyes taking everything in.
I could feel the grief building in me. The small round rock of loss that lived somewhere around my abdomen and rose through my stomach and lungs, and up through my esophagus until it stayed somewhere right at the back of my throat, threatening tears and an inability to breathe. Sometimes it rose even further and OH MY FUCKING GOD WE GET IT YOU ARE GRIEVING STOP DESCRIBING YOUR INTERNAL ORGANS.
I need a quiet corner after this book.
October 4, 2018
This book is a slow burn for sure. It is not a fast paced book. It’s a mystery but with a lot of emotional dwelling added to it. The story is about how deep the friendship between Nora and Maddie was and how Nora’s disappearance impacted Maddie. It was not just about what happened to Nora. I enjoyed the subtle psychological analysis that came up all through the book. The past vs. present format of storytelling is helpful to establish the emotions of the story. However I could not really connect with the book. To me there were too many gaping holes in the plot. The outcome was something I could figure out before i was even half way through with the book.
There were way too many characters being introduced in to the story and a lot of them were entirely unnecessary. This lead to many smaller storylines potentially developing but going nowhere. It only contributed to creating confusion that was entirely avoidable. The story is told from Maddie’s perspective in some places and in others it’s being relayed when Maddie isn’t in the scene. This made it harder to follow and keep track since you can’t associate the plot with a narrator very easily.
While the plot is in interesting the book doesn’t grip the reader the way it should. Partly to blame is the writing style. It is unnecessarily descriptive, gets boring and at times is even annoying. This book could easily be at least 25% shorter! I would expect better editing especially since it’s debut novel.
To sum it up- would I recommend this book? NO
Would I read this author again? Maybe if I was certain that the next one is edited much better than this.
Thank you Harper Impulse, Killer Reads and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Also shared on:
https://romasharma.blogspot.com
There were way too many characters being introduced in to the story and a lot of them were entirely unnecessary. This lead to many smaller storylines potentially developing but going nowhere. It only contributed to creating confusion that was entirely avoidable. The story is told from Maddie’s perspective in some places and in others it’s being relayed when Maddie isn’t in the scene. This made it harder to follow and keep track since you can’t associate the plot with a narrator very easily.
While the plot is in interesting the book doesn’t grip the reader the way it should. Partly to blame is the writing style. It is unnecessarily descriptive, gets boring and at times is even annoying. This book could easily be at least 25% shorter! I would expect better editing especially since it’s debut novel.
To sum it up- would I recommend this book? NO
Would I read this author again? Maybe if I was certain that the next one is edited much better than this.
Thank you Harper Impulse, Killer Reads and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Also shared on:
https://romasharma.blogspot.com
October 19, 2020
3.5 it dragged in parts, but over all the plot and story was good.
July 18, 2019
3.5 Stars
This was a small-town murder mystery that came to me just when I was in the mood to read a mystery.
Maddie is this 20-something girl who's never really grown up. She's psychologically stilted because of the disappearance of her best friend when they were 17. During the 10 year anniversary of the disappearance, Nora (the best friend)'s sister is found dead. It's more than a little coincidental and has to be connected. Maddie is determined not to leave town again until she figures out what happened 10 years ago and now.
I think my mood made me like this more than I usually would've. It's beautifully written (although clearly the author is British because some of the slang wasn't adding up to the Wisconsin setting), but it wasn't the GRIPPING mystery that I usually go for. This book was slllloooooowwwww going. At times it was thrilling, but other times the book seemed intent on endlessly going over the main characters's feelings. Maddie's mental state and feelings are such a large part of the book, but they're not really a part of the mystery, so slogging through all of that was a bit boring at times. The emotional parts of this book were well thought out and I appreciated the attention to it at times, but I think it was touched on just a little too much.
I really enjoyed the tiny town that this book was set in and all the different kinds of people that we met along the way. There are 2 generations of mourners and suspects, and I thought many of them were interesting to get to know.
I was disappointed that I knew who "did it". That's just no fun. I read a lot of books, so it may not have been obvious to the casual reader, but I had a theory right away... and it wasn't wrong :(
OVERALL: A good enough mystery, but didn't quite hit the bar for me. I thought it was nice that the author touched on the mental health and feelings of the main character, but I thought it was touched on just a tad too much and slowed the book down quite a bit. I would recommend if you want a book that's a little lighter on the mystery and heavier on the character development.
My Blog:
Pink Polka Dot Books
This was a small-town murder mystery that came to me just when I was in the mood to read a mystery.
Maddie is this 20-something girl who's never really grown up. She's psychologically stilted because of the disappearance of her best friend when they were 17. During the 10 year anniversary of the disappearance, Nora (the best friend)'s sister is found dead. It's more than a little coincidental and has to be connected. Maddie is determined not to leave town again until she figures out what happened 10 years ago and now.
I think my mood made me like this more than I usually would've. It's beautifully written (although clearly the author is British because some of the slang wasn't adding up to the Wisconsin setting), but it wasn't the GRIPPING mystery that I usually go for. This book was slllloooooowwwww going. At times it was thrilling, but other times the book seemed intent on endlessly going over the main characters's feelings. Maddie's mental state and feelings are such a large part of the book, but they're not really a part of the mystery, so slogging through all of that was a bit boring at times. The emotional parts of this book were well thought out and I appreciated the attention to it at times, but I think it was touched on just a little too much.
I really enjoyed the tiny town that this book was set in and all the different kinds of people that we met along the way. There are 2 generations of mourners and suspects, and I thought many of them were interesting to get to know.
I was disappointed that I knew who "did it". That's just no fun. I read a lot of books, so it may not have been obvious to the casual reader, but I had a theory right away... and it wasn't wrong :(
OVERALL: A good enough mystery, but didn't quite hit the bar for me. I thought it was nice that the author touched on the mental health and feelings of the main character, but I thought it was touched on just a tad too much and slowed the book down quite a bit. I would recommend if you want a book that's a little lighter on the mystery and heavier on the character development.
My Blog:
Pink Polka Dot Books
November 11, 2018
Forget Me Not by A.M. Taylor is a psychological thriller.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publishers Harper Impulse/Killer Reads, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
My Synopsis:
10 years have passed, and there are still no answers. 10 years since Nora went missing. The 17-year old’s car was found, but Nora was not. Her family and friends have not had closure. Her best friend, Maddie, has not really moved on. Nothing has gone right for Maddie since Nora disappeared.
On the anniversary of Nora’s disappearance, 17-year old Noelle is found murdered in the exact location where Nora went missing. Noelle (Elle) is Nora’s younger sister. Noelle is the same age as Nora was when she disappeared. Too many coincidences.
Maddie’s already fragile state of mind goes into overdrive, and she starts trying to track a murderer, hoping that she will also find out what really happened to Nora. She may find more than she wants.
My Opinions:
First, as a debut novel, this was really good.
The story is told through a number of different avenues. Both Maddie’s current thoughts and her memories play a big role, but so do social media and the press coverage.
Although there were some early clues as to the perpetrator, the motive did not surface until close to the end, and meanwhile there were other possible culprits thrown in. The suspense built rather slowly, but the read was interesting.
The writing is good, the plot was interesting, and most of the characters had depth. I am looking forward to read whatever A.M. Taylor comes up with next!
For a more complete review of this book and others, please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publishers Harper Impulse/Killer Reads, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
My Synopsis:
10 years have passed, and there are still no answers. 10 years since Nora went missing. The 17-year old’s car was found, but Nora was not. Her family and friends have not had closure. Her best friend, Maddie, has not really moved on. Nothing has gone right for Maddie since Nora disappeared.
On the anniversary of Nora’s disappearance, 17-year old Noelle is found murdered in the exact location where Nora went missing. Noelle (Elle) is Nora’s younger sister. Noelle is the same age as Nora was when she disappeared. Too many coincidences.
Maddie’s already fragile state of mind goes into overdrive, and she starts trying to track a murderer, hoping that she will also find out what really happened to Nora. She may find more than she wants.
My Opinions:
First, as a debut novel, this was really good.
The story is told through a number of different avenues. Both Maddie’s current thoughts and her memories play a big role, but so do social media and the press coverage.
Although there were some early clues as to the perpetrator, the motive did not surface until close to the end, and meanwhile there were other possible culprits thrown in. The suspense built rather slowly, but the read was interesting.
The writing is good, the plot was interesting, and most of the characters had depth. I am looking forward to read whatever A.M. Taylor comes up with next!
For a more complete review of this book and others, please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
March 23, 2019
FORGET ME NOT is from Maddies point of view. A best friend of Nora's. 10 years Nora has been missing. 10 years of Maddie's life has been left with a huge hole, and not a day has gone by where she wonders where Nora is. Yet another memorial is held in Nora's name. The next day, Nora's sister Noelle aka Elle, is found dead in the same spot Nora's car was found. Same age as Nora when she went missing. 17. Maddie takes it upon her self to dig deeper into what is going on. She finds out things that lead her closer and closer to what happened to Nora. She learns that Elle was also doing some digging before she died. Nate, Nora and Elle's older brother, is the only suspect. But in Maddie's gut, this just doesn't sit right. .
.
What a ride A.M. Taylor took me on. Right from the very start I was hooked. I loved how what is happening in current times seemlessly blend into Maddie's memories, and back again. It was almost like a movie. Where such scenes occur. it was very cleverly written and beautifully as well. The closeness of the families are really touching. I loved how after so many years Maddie has never given up and fights to know what happened to her best friend. The way the suspense built up and events look place, this reminded me a lot of if Ruth Ware and Karin Slaughter were to write a book together. The twist at the end, I never saw coming. As soon as Maddie found her old artwork in the cabin. I got goosebumps, the turn of events really took me by surprise. I know I'll be thinking of this FORGET ME NOT constantly.
.
What a ride A.M. Taylor took me on. Right from the very start I was hooked. I loved how what is happening in current times seemlessly blend into Maddie's memories, and back again. It was almost like a movie. Where such scenes occur. it was very cleverly written and beautifully as well. The closeness of the families are really touching. I loved how after so many years Maddie has never given up and fights to know what happened to her best friend. The way the suspense built up and events look place, this reminded me a lot of if Ruth Ware and Karin Slaughter were to write a book together. The twist at the end, I never saw coming. As soon as Maddie found her old artwork in the cabin. I got goosebumps, the turn of events really took me by surprise. I know I'll be thinking of this FORGET ME NOT constantly.
October 14, 2018
I received a free Kindle copy of
Forget Me Not
from NetGalley.
** Minor spoilers ahead **
Maddie returns to her hometown for the 10 year anniversary of her best friend, Nora's, disappearance. The loss of her BFF all those years ago has left Maddie suffering from anxiety and depression.
When Nora's younger sister, Noelle, is found dead not long after the memorial service, suspicions once again fall on Nora's brother, Nate.
Maddie's attempts at playing Nancy Drew are weak, almost laughable, like the way she just approaches potential suspects.
When she uncovers secrets about Nora and the reason that may have led to Noelle's shocking death, Maddie finds herself face to face with the killer.
Ooh, I did not like Forget Me Not for several reasons:
1. Stereotypical trope of a missing beautiful teenager with everything to live for and a botched investigation by the bumbling police force.
2. Noelle is also a gorgeous young woman (all the vics are gorgeous in these books), notably pointed out by the sexist pricks Maddie interviews.
3. There were A LOT of characters. Now, supporting and secondary characters are fine. Siblings, colleagues, lovers, BFFs, no problem.
But there were an endless stream of people popping in and out, misfits, the waitress, the cops and what's up with the pretentious names like Louden and Hale? Is Hale very hearty as well?
4. I don't know about you but I would never tell my lover or BFF my password for my social media accounts, maybe my sister, but it wouldn't occur to me.
Maddie logs in and out of Nora's and Noelle's accounts with ease, searching for clues.
Nora's boyfriend was a lout!
Nora had hookups!
Yawn.
5. The narrative is slow and lacking in urgency. There are no shocking clues, no unwrapping of twists and turns.
There are plenty of flashbacks and reminiscences; Maddie alludes to her nervous breakdown and her tight connection with Nora and her family.
Exposition is fine, giving us background into the vic but there is such a thing as too much. It read like filler, for the most part.
Maddie plods along, in conjunction with her unremarkable personality, trying to deny her feelings for Nate as well as get in people's faces who may have done harm to Noelle. Talk about subtle.
6. I don't know how it works in Wisconsin but its not professional for any individual in law enforcement or in an official capacity connected to an ongoing investigation to have a drink and meal with potential suspects involved in a murder case. That's ridiculous.
7. None of the characters are interesting, witty or smart, and the same old same old story left me tired, and not in a good way.
** Minor spoilers ahead **
Maddie returns to her hometown for the 10 year anniversary of her best friend, Nora's, disappearance. The loss of her BFF all those years ago has left Maddie suffering from anxiety and depression.
When Nora's younger sister, Noelle, is found dead not long after the memorial service, suspicions once again fall on Nora's brother, Nate.
Maddie's attempts at playing Nancy Drew are weak, almost laughable, like the way she just approaches potential suspects.
When she uncovers secrets about Nora and the reason that may have led to Noelle's shocking death, Maddie finds herself face to face with the killer.
Ooh, I did not like Forget Me Not for several reasons:
1. Stereotypical trope of a missing beautiful teenager with everything to live for and a botched investigation by the bumbling police force.
2. Noelle is also a gorgeous young woman (all the vics are gorgeous in these books), notably pointed out by the sexist pricks Maddie interviews.
3. There were A LOT of characters. Now, supporting and secondary characters are fine. Siblings, colleagues, lovers, BFFs, no problem.
But there were an endless stream of people popping in and out, misfits, the waitress, the cops and what's up with the pretentious names like Louden and Hale? Is Hale very hearty as well?
4. I don't know about you but I would never tell my lover or BFF my password for my social media accounts, maybe my sister, but it wouldn't occur to me.
Maddie logs in and out of Nora's and Noelle's accounts with ease, searching for clues.
Nora's boyfriend was a lout!
Nora had hookups!
Yawn.
5. The narrative is slow and lacking in urgency. There are no shocking clues, no unwrapping of twists and turns.
There are plenty of flashbacks and reminiscences; Maddie alludes to her nervous breakdown and her tight connection with Nora and her family.
Exposition is fine, giving us background into the vic but there is such a thing as too much. It read like filler, for the most part.
Maddie plods along, in conjunction with her unremarkable personality, trying to deny her feelings for Nate as well as get in people's faces who may have done harm to Noelle. Talk about subtle.
6. I don't know how it works in Wisconsin but its not professional for any individual in law enforcement or in an official capacity connected to an ongoing investigation to have a drink and meal with potential suspects involved in a murder case. That's ridiculous.
7. None of the characters are interesting, witty or smart, and the same old same old story left me tired, and not in a good way.
September 28, 2018
I just finished Forget Me Not by A.M. Taylor. What a great ride!! The mystery of this story was very engrossing. I just needed to know what happened to these girls! I felt myself really connecting to the protagonist.
It was a deep story with a lot of characters. The story unfolded very nicely at the end.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Killer Reads for this ARC.
It was a deep story with a lot of characters. The story unfolded very nicely at the end.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Killer Reads for this ARC.
May 23, 2020
Thrilling and addictive
September 12, 2018
Wow! Forget Me Not is a great story of intrigue, suspense and guessing.
When they were younger Maddies best friend Nora went missing, no one found her and no one knows what has happened to her.
While other people seem to have been able to come to terms with things. Maddie is still struggling with not knowing what happened to her best friend.
Every anniversary of Nora’s disappearance her family hold a vigil in her honour to let her know thy they havent and will never forget her.
Madder is extremely close with Nora’s family. Except Nate Nora’s brother who they were once extremely close buy no have drifted apart and even though she is close to Noelle Nora’s sister. Massive finds it hard to keep in constant contact with her because she reminds her so much of Nora.
But disaster and heartbreak happen once again for Nora’s family when the body of Noelle is found in the exact same place that Nora was last seen alive ten years to the day of her disappearance
Now Maddie is more determined then ever to find out what has happened to both Nora and Noelle and decides to take matters into her own hands and find out what has happened to them both.
A highly gripping physiological thriller that will have you on the edge of your seats as you race through to find out what had happened. Lots of little twists and turns to keep the reader entertained throughout and the ending of this book is very good.
When they were younger Maddies best friend Nora went missing, no one found her and no one knows what has happened to her.
While other people seem to have been able to come to terms with things. Maddie is still struggling with not knowing what happened to her best friend.
Every anniversary of Nora’s disappearance her family hold a vigil in her honour to let her know thy they havent and will never forget her.
Madder is extremely close with Nora’s family. Except Nate Nora’s brother who they were once extremely close buy no have drifted apart and even though she is close to Noelle Nora’s sister. Massive finds it hard to keep in constant contact with her because she reminds her so much of Nora.
But disaster and heartbreak happen once again for Nora’s family when the body of Noelle is found in the exact same place that Nora was last seen alive ten years to the day of her disappearance
Now Maddie is more determined then ever to find out what has happened to both Nora and Noelle and decides to take matters into her own hands and find out what has happened to them both.
A highly gripping physiological thriller that will have you on the edge of your seats as you race through to find out what had happened. Lots of little twists and turns to keep the reader entertained throughout and the ending of this book is very good.
October 5, 2018
You can find this review and all of my others at www.readbookrepeat.wordpress.com
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, KillerReads which is an imprint of HarperCollins, via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Actual rating of 3.5
It's been ten years. Ten years since Nora Altman disappeared of the face of the earth, leaving a hole in the lives of all those who loved her. She disappeared on the 8th of January 2008, she was seventeen, and she had her whole life ahead of her. But not anymore. Maddie has lived her life since that day in a kind of haze, unable to handle crowds to the point that she will wait until 3am before setting foot outside her basement apartment. She finds herself at the ten year memorial for Nora's disappearance, questioning why they are still doing these things, what's the point to it? Nora's gone, and she's not coming back. Little did Maddie know, that that would be the last time she would see Nora's little sister Noelle. Thrown back into the whirlwind of existence that she has tried to pull herself out of since Nora's disappearance, Maddie finds herself reliving the same thing, except this time, it's Noelle who was found dead, on the ten year anniversary of her big sister's disappearance, where Nora's car was found. Maddie now finds herself being sucked downwards into a never ending spiral of doom that she can't escape from. How could this happen again? Was it the same person? Why now? What happened to Nora Altman?
The premise of this story interested me immensely, a cold case, with no leads whatsoever, and it's happening again? Sign me up! The story itself was compelling, I found that I had no idea who had been the cause of Nora's disappearance and Noelle's murder, not until something happened, and it clicked with me earlier than it was meant to, however, the author did a fantastic job of switching the reader's view on "whodunit" and I found myself filled with doubt.
The mystery itself was fantastic and I felt the reveal at the end was done brilliantly, there was no rushing to tie ends up, it just all fell into place and fit perfectly. I did however find that the pace of the book was incredibly slow, this isn't necessarily a bad thing, it was a slow burn mystery which I felt fit the story line great. One thing I did have a problem with, was that the author would use descriptives in order to engage the reader into feeling what Maddie felt, however, a lot of the time the author said one descriptive, followed directly after with the same description just in different words. I felt that there was a lot of excess words that were really not needed. Normally one description is enough. I'm not sure if this was meant to help the reader feel how sluggish the world was for the characters? I'm really not sure.
Another thing I had a gripe with, was Maddie herself. I understand that she lost her best friend ten years earlier and was left with no closure, and no idea what had happened. But I couldn't help but feel like she was being a martyr. A lot of it was about how Maddie felt lost, how she felt she could have done SOMETHING, what hadn't she done, if she had known she could have done something and stopped it. It was all very martyrdom from the character I was reading. It was about how SHE needed people, or DIDN'T need people, how it affected her, how it still was. I've no doubt that something like this happening when you're at an impressionable age could send you into a spiral of mental issues, it'd be weird if it didn't, but it felt TOO much when it came to Maddie. At times, it almost felt like she was obsessed with Nora, not so much with what happened to her, but her. I'm not sure if this was the author's intent, but that's how it came across to me.
I think I considered DNFiing at one point maybe, it just felt like the story wasn't moving anywhere, there were all these words and we were just staying stuck in the same spot. That said, I did enjoy this story, and I find I'm still thinking about the characters now as I write this. My advice is, if you don't mind a slow burn story that feels like you're not getting anywhere, where the main character is stuck in a hole and very whiney and "why me?", then this one is for you, if you need fast paced, action, action, action, then this one may not be your cup of tea.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, KillerReads which is an imprint of HarperCollins, via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Actual rating of 3.5
It's been ten years. Ten years since Nora Altman disappeared of the face of the earth, leaving a hole in the lives of all those who loved her. She disappeared on the 8th of January 2008, she was seventeen, and she had her whole life ahead of her. But not anymore. Maddie has lived her life since that day in a kind of haze, unable to handle crowds to the point that she will wait until 3am before setting foot outside her basement apartment. She finds herself at the ten year memorial for Nora's disappearance, questioning why they are still doing these things, what's the point to it? Nora's gone, and she's not coming back. Little did Maddie know, that that would be the last time she would see Nora's little sister Noelle. Thrown back into the whirlwind of existence that she has tried to pull herself out of since Nora's disappearance, Maddie finds herself reliving the same thing, except this time, it's Noelle who was found dead, on the ten year anniversary of her big sister's disappearance, where Nora's car was found. Maddie now finds herself being sucked downwards into a never ending spiral of doom that she can't escape from. How could this happen again? Was it the same person? Why now? What happened to Nora Altman?
The premise of this story interested me immensely, a cold case, with no leads whatsoever, and it's happening again? Sign me up! The story itself was compelling, I found that I had no idea who had been the cause of Nora's disappearance and Noelle's murder, not until something happened, and it clicked with me earlier than it was meant to, however, the author did a fantastic job of switching the reader's view on "whodunit" and I found myself filled with doubt.
The mystery itself was fantastic and I felt the reveal at the end was done brilliantly, there was no rushing to tie ends up, it just all fell into place and fit perfectly. I did however find that the pace of the book was incredibly slow, this isn't necessarily a bad thing, it was a slow burn mystery which I felt fit the story line great. One thing I did have a problem with, was that the author would use descriptives in order to engage the reader into feeling what Maddie felt, however, a lot of the time the author said one descriptive, followed directly after with the same description just in different words. I felt that there was a lot of excess words that were really not needed. Normally one description is enough. I'm not sure if this was meant to help the reader feel how sluggish the world was for the characters? I'm really not sure.
Another thing I had a gripe with, was Maddie herself. I understand that she lost her best friend ten years earlier and was left with no closure, and no idea what had happened. But I couldn't help but feel like she was being a martyr. A lot of it was about how Maddie felt lost, how she felt she could have done SOMETHING, what hadn't she done, if she had known she could have done something and stopped it. It was all very martyrdom from the character I was reading. It was about how SHE needed people, or DIDN'T need people, how it affected her, how it still was. I've no doubt that something like this happening when you're at an impressionable age could send you into a spiral of mental issues, it'd be weird if it didn't, but it felt TOO much when it came to Maddie. At times, it almost felt like she was obsessed with Nora, not so much with what happened to her, but her. I'm not sure if this was the author's intent, but that's how it came across to me.
I think I considered DNFiing at one point maybe, it just felt like the story wasn't moving anywhere, there were all these words and we were just staying stuck in the same spot. That said, I did enjoy this story, and I find I'm still thinking about the characters now as I write this. My advice is, if you don't mind a slow burn story that feels like you're not getting anywhere, where the main character is stuck in a hole and very whiney and "why me?", then this one is for you, if you need fast paced, action, action, action, then this one may not be your cup of tea.
October 21, 2018
2.5 stars
I received a free digital copy of this book from the publishers/author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
When Maddie was 17 years old, her best friend Nora disappeared, never to be seen again. Now ten years later, Maddie is back to commemorate the tenth anniversary of Nora's disappearance but the next day, Noelle - Nora's 17-year-old sister- is found dead in the last spot Nora was seen. Maddie is determined to get to the bottom of both mysteries.
I had some high hopes for this book, the premise of it just sounded really appealing to me and i couldn't wait to see how it was all laid out. However, it ended up being a disappointment and I think some of it may have had to do with this being a first book, and while the idea was good, future books will probably be better, but there was a lot in this book that just needed to be tightened up in my opinion.
I found Maddie to be a very unlikeable character for starters, and I found it really irritating how she'd let Nora's disappearance wreck her life. She wasn't Nora's only friend, and she wasn't family yet she seemed to monopolise the grief over the loss of Nora. I also thought it really inappropriate the way she started investigating Noelle's death, and her social media without talking to the police at all and she didn't seem to care about it possibly impeding the investigation. It was just really dumb.
There were some small things to do with the writing in this book that I also felt were a product of it being a debut - first of was that Maddie also lived in a place called Madison, and referred to it often and I felt like this was just a bit sloppy on both the writer's and editors' parts. Noah, Nate, Noelle and Nora also all obviously had 'N' names, and I found it really cheesy. There was a moment in this book where it seemed like this may have had something to do with the murder/disappearance but it literally ended up meaning nothing.
I guessed who the killer was in the first chapter too so honestly, i was left totally unsurprised by the reveal in the end. It was so obvious for a lot of the book.
One thing that irked me A LOT in this book was the articles that Maddie kept reading, all of which were biased and sensational and not responsible reporting at all. Honestly, this book was the unfortunate victim of being the one that just ended up with me finally losing my patience with irresponsible reporting in fiction, and while sometimes this type of media in books can progress a story, for this it was just a case of bad media, reporting on the edge of defamation and just one more dangerous example of 'distrustful media.' As a journalist, I'm sick and tired of seeing it in fiction.
I did like parts of this story, mainly the overall plot/idea. I think it had good bones, but the meat just didn't fill it out well enough for me. I will read more from AM Taylor, I just hope what let her down in this book is improved upon.
I received a free digital copy of this book from the publishers/author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
When Maddie was 17 years old, her best friend Nora disappeared, never to be seen again. Now ten years later, Maddie is back to commemorate the tenth anniversary of Nora's disappearance but the next day, Noelle - Nora's 17-year-old sister- is found dead in the last spot Nora was seen. Maddie is determined to get to the bottom of both mysteries.
I had some high hopes for this book, the premise of it just sounded really appealing to me and i couldn't wait to see how it was all laid out. However, it ended up being a disappointment and I think some of it may have had to do with this being a first book, and while the idea was good, future books will probably be better, but there was a lot in this book that just needed to be tightened up in my opinion.
I found Maddie to be a very unlikeable character for starters, and I found it really irritating how she'd let Nora's disappearance wreck her life. She wasn't Nora's only friend, and she wasn't family yet she seemed to monopolise the grief over the loss of Nora. I also thought it really inappropriate the way she started investigating Noelle's death, and her social media without talking to the police at all and she didn't seem to care about it possibly impeding the investigation. It was just really dumb.
There were some small things to do with the writing in this book that I also felt were a product of it being a debut - first of was that Maddie also lived in a place called Madison, and referred to it often and I felt like this was just a bit sloppy on both the writer's and editors' parts. Noah, Nate, Noelle and Nora also all obviously had 'N' names, and I found it really cheesy. There was a moment in this book where it seemed like this may have had something to do with the murder/disappearance but it literally ended up meaning nothing.
I guessed who the killer was in the first chapter too so honestly, i was left totally unsurprised by the reveal in the end. It was so obvious for a lot of the book.
One thing that irked me A LOT in this book was the articles that Maddie kept reading, all of which were biased and sensational and not responsible reporting at all. Honestly, this book was the unfortunate victim of being the one that just ended up with me finally losing my patience with irresponsible reporting in fiction, and while sometimes this type of media in books can progress a story, for this it was just a case of bad media, reporting on the edge of defamation and just one more dangerous example of 'distrustful media.' As a journalist, I'm sick and tired of seeing it in fiction.
I did like parts of this story, mainly the overall plot/idea. I think it had good bones, but the meat just didn't fill it out well enough for me. I will read more from AM Taylor, I just hope what let her down in this book is improved upon.
September 20, 2018
Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
When Maddie was seventeen, her best friend, Nora, went missing. Ten years later, there hasn't been an arrest and Nora hasn't been found. But when Nora's little sister's body is found, Maddie finds that she's determined more than ever to find out what happened to both Nora and her little sister.
Forget Me Not wasn't a poorly written novel. The descriptions weren't cheesy, and the dialogue didn't usually make me cringe. I also enjoyed the flashbacks--I thought it added a nice, personal touch and allowed us to get to know Maddie better.
But ultimately, the statement that this wasn't a "poorly written novel" is my positive for the book because so many other things were off.
But for me, the biggest problem I had with this book is that I figured out the mystery after the first few chapters. I'm pretty sure it was chapter one, but it took me awhile to read this book because I didn't really enjoy it. So anyway, yeah. It's blatantly obvious. I guess I get what the author was trying to do: he/she was trying to make sure the murderer was obvious from the beginning by including a scene where they interact with someone in a very creepy manner. In reality, this desperately needed to be toned down. And Taylor did try to make other people look guilty. It could have worked if it hadn't been for this initial scene. There were a few other major hints, but I don't want to spoil it for anyone who might want to read it.
The plot was also incredibly unrealistic. This is a basic mystery. I figured it out early on, and yet I was expected to believe that the special agents brought in to investigate the case couldn't figure it out. For example, Maddie has the brilliant idea (that obviously no one else would have thought of) to go into both Nora and Noelle's Facebooks. Like the investigators wouldn't have gotten a warrant (and yes, someone being presumed murdered and definitely murdered is enough to get a warrant to read that person's messages). And if they would have gone through those messages, then they would have figured out who was responsible for their death's. But you know, Maddie's a brilliant armchair detective, so she has to figure it out.
There were also these incredibly painful parts where Maddie logs into Reddit to read theories about Nora's disappearance. Apparently, some kid from her hometown blogs about it. Right, okay. It was just awkward.
And then there's Maddie herself. Maddie is selfish and abrasive. She jumps quickly into police interrogation mode, but it just felt odd because who does that? More importantly, other characters tiptoe around poor Maddie's grief, including the brother of the two deceased girls. Yeah, sorry? He's the one who lost his sisters. By the end of the novel, I was tired of Maddie.
So in the end, I didn't like Forget Me Not. It's too obvious, there are some major issues with plot, and the main character is annoying.
When Maddie was seventeen, her best friend, Nora, went missing. Ten years later, there hasn't been an arrest and Nora hasn't been found. But when Nora's little sister's body is found, Maddie finds that she's determined more than ever to find out what happened to both Nora and her little sister.
Forget Me Not wasn't a poorly written novel. The descriptions weren't cheesy, and the dialogue didn't usually make me cringe. I also enjoyed the flashbacks--I thought it added a nice, personal touch and allowed us to get to know Maddie better.
But ultimately, the statement that this wasn't a "poorly written novel" is my positive for the book because so many other things were off.
But for me, the biggest problem I had with this book is that I figured out the mystery after the first few chapters. I'm pretty sure it was chapter one, but it took me awhile to read this book because I didn't really enjoy it. So anyway, yeah. It's blatantly obvious. I guess I get what the author was trying to do: he/she was trying to make sure the murderer was obvious from the beginning by including a scene where they interact with someone in a very creepy manner. In reality, this desperately needed to be toned down. And Taylor did try to make other people look guilty. It could have worked if it hadn't been for this initial scene. There were a few other major hints, but I don't want to spoil it for anyone who might want to read it.
The plot was also incredibly unrealistic. This is a basic mystery. I figured it out early on, and yet I was expected to believe that the special agents brought in to investigate the case couldn't figure it out. For example, Maddie has the brilliant idea (that obviously no one else would have thought of) to go into both Nora and Noelle's Facebooks. Like the investigators wouldn't have gotten a warrant (and yes, someone being presumed murdered and definitely murdered is enough to get a warrant to read that person's messages). And if they would have gone through those messages, then they would have figured out who was responsible for their death's. But you know, Maddie's a brilliant armchair detective, so she has to figure it out.
There were also these incredibly painful parts where Maddie logs into Reddit to read theories about Nora's disappearance. Apparently, some kid from her hometown blogs about it. Right, okay. It was just awkward.
And then there's Maddie herself. Maddie is selfish and abrasive. She jumps quickly into police interrogation mode, but it just felt odd because who does that? More importantly, other characters tiptoe around poor Maddie's grief, including the brother of the two deceased girls. Yeah, sorry? He's the one who lost his sisters. By the end of the novel, I was tired of Maddie.
So in the end, I didn't like Forget Me Not. It's too obvious, there are some major issues with plot, and the main character is annoying.
October 3, 2018
Forget me not tells the story of Mads, whose best friend, Nora went missing 10 years ago. History seems to be repeating itself when Noella, Nora's younger sister, is found murdered at the same spot where Nora's car was found. Mads must try and find who dunnit before they strike again.
A.M. Taylor has a unique writing style that unfortunately did not engage with me. We are casual observers to Mads' internal dialogue and what she sees, as well as scenes where we see other characters without Mads being present. The difference in tone is hard to come to terms with and at times completely throws you out of the narrative. The plot moves slowly and there are no real surprises throughout. Unfortunately, it took me a while to get through this book as I was not enjoying it as much as I thought I would.
I didn't like any of the main characters either, finding them to be annoying, and at times completely incompetent. The storyline raises so many questions and feels like a political stance against a certain profession (spoilers), which really detracts from the story. The number of plot holes throughout means that there is an unsatisfactory conclusion and I left the book feeling disappointed. Added to the fact that a number of storylines are not resolved, unrealistic character portrayals that have been pointed out in other reviews, and a solvable twist (OK it was my second guess BUT I still got it by the 30% mark).
I will say however, that the portrayal of grief throughout this book was interesting and gave readers some insight into the psychology of the characters but doesn't really make me sympathise with them.
I'm sorry to be so negative about this book, as it was very kind of both the publisher and Netgalley to send me an Advanced Copy.
A.M. Taylor has a unique writing style that unfortunately did not engage with me. We are casual observers to Mads' internal dialogue and what she sees, as well as scenes where we see other characters without Mads being present. The difference in tone is hard to come to terms with and at times completely throws you out of the narrative. The plot moves slowly and there are no real surprises throughout. Unfortunately, it took me a while to get through this book as I was not enjoying it as much as I thought I would.
I didn't like any of the main characters either, finding them to be annoying, and at times completely incompetent. The storyline raises so many questions and feels like a political stance against a certain profession (spoilers), which really detracts from the story. The number of plot holes throughout means that there is an unsatisfactory conclusion and I left the book feeling disappointed. Added to the fact that a number of storylines are not resolved, unrealistic character portrayals that have been pointed out in other reviews, and a solvable twist (OK it was my second guess BUT I still got it by the 30% mark).
I will say however, that the portrayal of grief throughout this book was interesting and gave readers some insight into the psychology of the characters but doesn't really make me sympathise with them.
I'm sorry to be so negative about this book, as it was very kind of both the publisher and Netgalley to send me an Advanced Copy.
January 4, 2019
[Disclaimer: e-ARC received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]
3.5 stars
This was an enjoyable thriller.
If you are looking for a fast paced thriller, then this is not the book for you, this book is very slow paced and the story is very slow to unravel.
One of the main issues I had with the story was how predictable the outcome was. I guessed the culprit right from the beginning.
I really liked that this story wasn't too heavy handed on the romance. Authors quite often try to shoe horn relationships into thriller novels where it really doesn't work and I appreciate that Taylor didn't over-do it in this book.
I also felt like the story had really great atmosphere. I love a story set in a small town and the small town setting combined with the oppressive, middle of winter cold atmosphere was done really well.
Overall an enjoyable read. If you enjoy a slower paced thriller with good atmosphere then this one is worth checking out.
3.5 stars
This was an enjoyable thriller.
If you are looking for a fast paced thriller, then this is not the book for you, this book is very slow paced and the story is very slow to unravel.
One of the main issues I had with the story was how predictable the outcome was. I guessed the culprit right from the beginning.
I really liked that this story wasn't too heavy handed on the romance. Authors quite often try to shoe horn relationships into thriller novels where it really doesn't work and I appreciate that Taylor didn't over-do it in this book.
I also felt like the story had really great atmosphere. I love a story set in a small town and the small town setting combined with the oppressive, middle of winter cold atmosphere was done really well.
Overall an enjoyable read. If you enjoy a slower paced thriller with good atmosphere then this one is worth checking out.
January 3, 2019
Ten years ago a seventeen year old girl named Nora goes missing. All that was found was her car, with an empty gas tank, not far from her family's lake house. Her body was never found and she never returned either. Ten years to the exact day, her younger sister Noelle (Elle) is found murdered not far from where Nora's car was abandoned. Maddie, one of Nora's best friends, still deals with the grief over not having closure from Nora's disappearance and makes it her mission to find out once and for all not only what happened to Nora but who killed Elle as well. The police aren't necessarily convinced the two cases are connected, but all of Nora's family and friends vehemently believe this.
This book was off to a great start. The pace and tone was perfect, and I had my suspicions of who the killer was, but I hadn't quite figured out what became of Nora. I like being surprised in mysteries, I don't usually enjoy figuring out the answer too early in advance as it kind of kills the book for me, so that aspect was great. What I did not like, and the reason for the 3 stars, is the fact I thought that what happened to Nora was completely absurd and unbelievable.
Aside from this, this was an expertly crafted suspense that I really enjoyed for the most part!
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book was off to a great start. The pace and tone was perfect, and I had my suspicions of who the killer was, but I hadn't quite figured out what became of Nora. I like being surprised in mysteries, I don't usually enjoy figuring out the answer too early in advance as it kind of kills the book for me, so that aspect was great. What I did not like, and the reason for the 3 stars, is the fact I thought that what happened to Nora was completely absurd and unbelievable.
Aside from this, this was an expertly crafted suspense that I really enjoyed for the most part!
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 26, 2019
Maddie returns home for the tenth anniversary of the disappearance of her best friend, Nora whose body was never found. Tragedy strikes again when Nora's younger sister, Noelle, also disappears and her body is found in the same place where Nora went missing all those years ago.
This was definitely a slow builder and at times it felt like there was very little progress in the story, but it all came together in the end. The author spent quite a bit of time building up the characters' backstory and I definitely shipped Nate and Maddie. As for the guilty party, by a quarter of the way into the book, I had narrowed it down to 2 people, and it did turn out to be one of them. Overall it was a good read, if a little slow at times.
This was definitely a slow builder and at times it felt like there was very little progress in the story, but it all came together in the end. The author spent quite a bit of time building up the characters' backstory and I definitely shipped Nate and Maddie. As for the guilty party, by a quarter of the way into the book, I had narrowed it down to 2 people, and it did turn out to be one of them. Overall it was a good read, if a little slow at times.
July 18, 2019
Okay i'm beginning to think that either i've developed psychic powers or these so called 'mystery/thrillers' have become alot less thrilling and alot more predictable. I again had worked out the plot from pretty early on and became more and more frustrated with this sad girl not a detective but investigating anyway trope. So clueless and annoying - the novel just droned on and on. Not for me.
Thank you to the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 11, 2018
NetGalley and Killer Reads are responsible for getting this wonderful thriller into my hands, so thank you so much for the opportunity to read this early!
The rating says all, but I will most def video review this in depth. It's on par with other emotional thrillers (Into The Darkest Corner and Before I Go To Sleep both come to mind) that I love!
The rating says all, but I will most def video review this in depth. It's on par with other emotional thrillers (Into The Darkest Corner and Before I Go To Sleep both come to mind) that I love!
September 28, 2018
I just finished Forget Me Not by A.M. Taylor. What a great ride!! The mystery of this story was very engrossing. I just needed to know what happened to these girls! I felt myself really connecting to the protagonist.
It was a deep story with a lot of characters. The story unfolded very nicely at the end.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Killer Reads for this ARC.
It was a deep story with a lot of characters. The story unfolded very nicely at the end.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Killer Reads for this ARC.
October 10, 2018
If you are looking for a fast-paced and action-packed read then this isn't necessarily the best book for you. Forget Me Not was a good suspenseful mystery, but that isn't what sets this book apart. Rather, A.M. Taylor has an expressive and compelling writing style that isn't typical of most in this genre. I didn't expect that so I thought the pacing was slow at first, and wasn't sure if I would like the book. However, I really grew to enjoy the writing and I was completely drawn in. The ending was emotional and stayed with me long after I put this book down. Though it could have maybe benefited from including some stronger minor characters and tightening up some of the writing (which is normal for a debut novel), I recommend this book and would look forward to reading more by this author.
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
September 25, 2018
I was given a copy of Forget Me Not from Harper Impulse and Killer Reads from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank you for allowing me to read this.
I am a big fan of murder mysteries, and this book sounded promising. Though I felt like it moved a bit slow and I wished there was a lot more action! I wish there were more information and there should have been a lot more of Maddie digging around trying to figure out what happened to both Nora and Elle. The story seemed focused on the relationship between Maddie and Nate and how it wasn't like it used to be and how Maddie never forgot about Nora. There wasn't a lot of suspense, and when you found out what happened to both sisters, I was just left feeling like "huh well ok." There was nothing really building you up to that moment of when Maddie finally realized who was involved with the disappearance and murder of both the sisters.
I am a big fan of murder mysteries, and this book sounded promising. Though I felt like it moved a bit slow and I wished there was a lot more action! I wish there were more information and there should have been a lot more of Maddie digging around trying to figure out what happened to both Nora and Elle. The story seemed focused on the relationship between Maddie and Nate and how it wasn't like it used to be and how Maddie never forgot about Nora. There wasn't a lot of suspense, and when you found out what happened to both sisters, I was just left feeling like "huh well ok." There was nothing really building you up to that moment of when Maddie finally realized who was involved with the disappearance and murder of both the sisters.
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