Forget You by Jennifer Echols

There’s a lot Zoey would like to forget. Like how her father has knocked up his twenty-four- year old girlfriend. Like Zoey’s fear that the whole town will find out about her mom’s nervous breakdown. Like darkly handsome bad boy Doug taunting her at school. Feeling like her life is about to become a complete mess, Zoey fights back the only way she knows how, using her famous attention to detail to make sure she’s the perfect daughter, the perfect student, and the perfect girlfriend to ultra-popular football player Brandon. But then Zoey is in a car crash, and the next day there’s one thing she can’t remember at all—the entire night before. Did she go parking with Brandon, like she planned? And if so, why does it seem like Brandon is avoiding her? And why is Doug—of all people— suddenly acting as if something significant happened between the two of them? Zoey dimly remembers Doug pulling her from the wreck, but he keeps referring to what happened that night as if it was more, and it terrifies Zoey to admit how much is a blank to her. Controlled, meticulous Zoey is quickly losing her grip on the all-important details of her life—a life that seems strangely empty of Brandon, and strangely full of Doug. [via GoodReads]

As a big fan of Going Too Far, you must know how anxiously I was waiting for the release of Forget You. I had my doubts it would be as good, but I was still being optimistic, and let me tell you, my positive thinking was on the money. This book not only met my expectations but it surpassed them ... Hooray!

Although Forget You is totally different from what I expected - I was expecting something more along the lines of a light teen romance possibly even a beach read. Instead I found a book with many layers - touching on some dark topics.

The story mostly revolves around Zoey Commander. Zoey is dealing with some heavy issues - after her mother's attempt at suicide she ends up living with her father and his 24 year old girlfriend whom he recently knocked up. Her life is upside down and no matter how hard she tries to keep it right side up - it just seems like she's drowning. She makes some very rash decisions throughout the novel. I cringed every time she brought up her relationship with Brandon and how he was her boyfriend.

After her accident and the ensuing amnesia, the story really picked up. First there's Doug... le sigh. (I must admit, Ms. Echols has a way of making you fall for her leading men. She sure did that for Doug.) Zoey thinking she'd find support in her "boyfriend" Brandon was surprised to see he just wasn't coming around but everywhere she turned Doug was there. She knows something happened the night leading to her accident she just can't remember anything of it. She spends most of the story acting as if she knows what happened in order to figure out what really happened... and the best part of it all is that you, as the reader, are just as clueless as she is. So obviously the pages are flying by as we uncover the truth of that night which slowly unravels throughout the story.

I loved all the characters! Zoey was young and dealing with a lot, I can't say that I agreed with some of her actions, but in the end I did understand why she acted the way she did. Doug was the sweetest thing. He looked out for Zoey and any man that can keep a secret because a girl asks him to is okay in my book. Zoey's parents - Mr. Commander is an a-hole. I despised this man yet I also felt sorry for him. I think if the story had an epilogue taking place about 10 years down the line (maybe not even that long) we'd hear that Ashley (the knocked-up girlfriend) left him for a younger man and took half his assets with her. Mrs. Commander was a woman scorned. Yes, she did try to commit suicide, but she was stressed and had too much going on and she acted without thinking.... nothing a good therapist can't resolve. Brandon was clueless. He really had no bad feelings, he was a boy who loved girls. Zoey knows, you know this, I'm not sure how we got off track with him. The other characters, although minor, were also fleshed out and really gave the story more depth.

The romance aspect of the story was intense. The push and pull between Zoey and Doug felt real. You can feel the sexual tension building between them. Their more intimate moments were very well done, they were sweet and full of passion and tension. I think these moments were what really completed the whole package for me. (these moments might not be suitable for younger teens)

All in all, I found Forget You to be an emotional, intense and expressive read. Ms. Echols has a way with words - her writing, her characters and her setting (in this case a northern Florida beach) really played a lot into making this book so very enjoyable. I can't wait to see what she comes out with next! I am now convinced of her awesomeness and she has now been upgraded to auto-buy, so I know I won't be missing out on it - I hope you won't either.

This book was provided for review by Simon and Schuster.


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