What do you think?
Rate this book
Forget Me Not
She was born for all the wrong reasons. But her search for the truth reveals answers she wishes she could forget in this suspenseful and deeply moving novel from the author of The Last One.
What if your past wasn’t what you thought?
As a child, Linda Russell was left to raise herself in a 20-acre walled-off property in rural Washington. The woods were her home, and for twelve years she lived oblivious to a stark and terrible truth: Her mother had birthed her only to replace another daughter who died in a tragic accident years before.
And then one day Linda witnesses something she wasn’t meant to see. Terrified and alone, she climbs the wall and abandons her home, but her escape becomes a different kind of trap when she is thrust into the modern world—a world for which she is not only entirely unprepared, but which is unprepared to accept her.
And you couldn’t see a future for yourself?
Years later, Linda is living in Seattle and immersed in technology intended to connect, but she has never felt more alone. Social media continually brings her past back to haunt her, and she is hounded by the society she is now forced to inhabit. But when Linda meets a fascinating new neighbor who introduces her to the potential and escapism of virtual reality, she begins to allow herself to hope for more.
What would it take to reclaim your life?
Then an unexplained fire at her infamous childhood home prompts Linda to return to the property for the first time since she was a girl, unleashing a chain of events that will not only endanger her life but challenge her understanding of family, memory, and the world itself.
What if your past wasn’t what you thought?
As a child, Linda Russell was left to raise herself in a 20-acre walled-off property in rural Washington. The woods were her home, and for twelve years she lived oblivious to a stark and terrible truth: Her mother had birthed her only to replace another daughter who died in a tragic accident years before.
And then one day Linda witnesses something she wasn’t meant to see. Terrified and alone, she climbs the wall and abandons her home, but her escape becomes a different kind of trap when she is thrust into the modern world—a world for which she is not only entirely unprepared, but which is unprepared to accept her.
And you couldn’t see a future for yourself?
Years later, Linda is living in Seattle and immersed in technology intended to connect, but she has never felt more alone. Social media continually brings her past back to haunt her, and she is hounded by the society she is now forced to inhabit. But when Linda meets a fascinating new neighbor who introduces her to the potential and escapism of virtual reality, she begins to allow herself to hope for more.
What would it take to reclaim your life?
Then an unexplained fire at her infamous childhood home prompts Linda to return to the property for the first time since she was a girl, unleashing a chain of events that will not only endanger her life but challenge her understanding of family, memory, and the world itself.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published March 2, 2021
62 people are currently reading
8783 people want to read
About the author
Alexandra Oliva
4 books478 followersAlexandra Oliva is the author of The Radiant Dark, Forget Me Not, and The Last One. She grew up in a small town in New York's Adirondack Mountains. A first-generation college graduate, she has a BA from Yale University and an MFA in Creative Writing from The New School University. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family.
Though she is not active on Goodreads, Alexandra can be reached via Instagram (ali.oliva) and her website.
Though she is not active on Goodreads, Alexandra can be reached via Instagram (ali.oliva) and her website.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 293 reviews
March 9, 2021
Forget Me Not by Alexandra Oliva
In the not too distant future, 24 year old Linda Russell is barely navigating life, holed up in her tiny apartment, avoiding contact with anyone, while being constantly monitored by her distant father. Linda's unstable mother found a way to birth her in order to replace Linda's sister, who had died years before Linda was born. Then Linda's mother mostly ignored her and Linda basically raised herself, with little input from her mother, except to let her know that she was a failure at being her dead sister. Things changed when Linda was twelve years old and she was thrust into the limelight, to much curiosity and scorn.
And now Linda meets her new neighbor, Anvi, and dares to hope that she might finally have her very first friend. Anvi introduces Linda to virtual reality and it's a world where Linda is happy to get lost in, away from all of real life and it's overwhelming intrusion. At the same time, someone is making anonymous posts about all of life being indistinguishable from virtual reality. Linda has a hard enough time knowing what is real, knowing if her strange memories of her past life are real, and these anonymous posts and her venture into virtual reality just muddy the waters of reality for Linda.
Linda knows she's an unreliable narrator of her own life. I felt her distrust of anyone, of her past, of her present, of all people. She couldn't trust the only person she knew for her first twelve years, her mother, and that sets the stage for trusting no one. But wait, there was someone else, her twin sister. What happened to her twin sister, her one time companion, who vanished one day?
I enjoyed this story, a mix of mystery, a tiny taste of the future, and the perils of social media and virtual reality.
Publication: March 2, 2021
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for this ARC.
In the not too distant future, 24 year old Linda Russell is barely navigating life, holed up in her tiny apartment, avoiding contact with anyone, while being constantly monitored by her distant father. Linda's unstable mother found a way to birth her in order to replace Linda's sister, who had died years before Linda was born. Then Linda's mother mostly ignored her and Linda basically raised herself, with little input from her mother, except to let her know that she was a failure at being her dead sister. Things changed when Linda was twelve years old and she was thrust into the limelight, to much curiosity and scorn.
And now Linda meets her new neighbor, Anvi, and dares to hope that she might finally have her very first friend. Anvi introduces Linda to virtual reality and it's a world where Linda is happy to get lost in, away from all of real life and it's overwhelming intrusion. At the same time, someone is making anonymous posts about all of life being indistinguishable from virtual reality. Linda has a hard enough time knowing what is real, knowing if her strange memories of her past life are real, and these anonymous posts and her venture into virtual reality just muddy the waters of reality for Linda.
Linda knows she's an unreliable narrator of her own life. I felt her distrust of anyone, of her past, of her present, of all people. She couldn't trust the only person she knew for her first twelve years, her mother, and that sets the stage for trusting no one. But wait, there was someone else, her twin sister. What happened to her twin sister, her one time companion, who vanished one day?
I enjoyed this story, a mix of mystery, a tiny taste of the future, and the perils of social media and virtual reality.
Publication: March 2, 2021
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for this ARC.
May 19, 2021
A unique, original, mind bending story of a colon girl l( or not, we’re getting there, promise!) who has been brought out the world to replace her death sister(really? Okay I can see thought balloons start to appear above your head, just keep on reading!It will get more interesting at each chapter) raised herself at 20 acre walled off property at rural Washington. She belongs to woods, that’s where she feels at home, free, relaxed and happy.
This book consists great harmony of different genres including sci-fi, action packed adventure, psychological thriller and suspense. The story takes place in far future. Yes, as like John Marrs’ Passangers and Leigh Whannell’s futuristic thriller “ Upgrade”, the cars can drive themselves and virtual reality already took control of the daily life kind of future we’re witnessing.
Linda Russell leaves her secured life in the woods that she shares with her mother after witnessing something traumatic which truly changes her life. But after leaving her prison at the rural area to be a part of the modern world, she accepts to be a prisoner of modern technology which would be more suffocating and lonely. Now she’s trapped her apartment and her every move is tracked by big brother doctor. Living her place to walk to the park might be another torturous experience for her because she thinks she’s being watched by everyone and her past can blow up in her face at any second.
Then she meets with her eccentric, smart neighbor Anvi who helps to understand how virtual reality can be a perfect escape method for her. She starts to hope more after having a real connection with a person for a long time.
Then the news comes out about the sudden fire at her childhood home. She needs to return this place to find out what happened which also brings out more memories and unleashes chains of events put her in a point of no return. It’s time to face ugly truths about her childhood!
I have to say, I found the plot really original and creative and different genres blended perfectly. Only thing I didn’t relate was the characters. It’s hard to relate or emphasize with them. They acted like emotionless, smart robots you enjoy to listen their theories and their fears, motives but you still ask yourself WTH is wrong with them.
So I’m lowering some star points and giving this reading 3.5 stars and of course for its promising, dazzling storyline, I’m rounding them up to 4!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for making my wish come true by sharing this arc with me in exchange my honest opinions.
This book consists great harmony of different genres including sci-fi, action packed adventure, psychological thriller and suspense. The story takes place in far future. Yes, as like John Marrs’ Passangers and Leigh Whannell’s futuristic thriller “ Upgrade”, the cars can drive themselves and virtual reality already took control of the daily life kind of future we’re witnessing.
Linda Russell leaves her secured life in the woods that she shares with her mother after witnessing something traumatic which truly changes her life. But after leaving her prison at the rural area to be a part of the modern world, she accepts to be a prisoner of modern technology which would be more suffocating and lonely. Now she’s trapped her apartment and her every move is tracked by big brother doctor. Living her place to walk to the park might be another torturous experience for her because she thinks she’s being watched by everyone and her past can blow up in her face at any second.
Then she meets with her eccentric, smart neighbor Anvi who helps to understand how virtual reality can be a perfect escape method for her. She starts to hope more after having a real connection with a person for a long time.
Then the news comes out about the sudden fire at her childhood home. She needs to return this place to find out what happened which also brings out more memories and unleashes chains of events put her in a point of no return. It’s time to face ugly truths about her childhood!
I have to say, I found the plot really original and creative and different genres blended perfectly. Only thing I didn’t relate was the characters. It’s hard to relate or emphasize with them. They acted like emotionless, smart robots you enjoy to listen their theories and their fears, motives but you still ask yourself WTH is wrong with them.
So I’m lowering some star points and giving this reading 3.5 stars and of course for its promising, dazzling storyline, I’m rounding them up to 4!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for making my wish come true by sharing this arc with me in exchange my honest opinions.
March 11, 2021
So different. Soooo good.
Shortest Summary Ever: It’s a few years into the future and Linda is living in busy Seattle, a far cry from where she escaped - where she was raised, isolated and alone in a house in the woods after her mother disappeared. More mysteries haunt her - what happened to her sister? Her mother? What role did her father play? Can she ever find a new normal with so many people knowing her as “The Clone Girl”? How can she live when she doesn’t quite know who she is?
Thoughts: Oliva dazzles me again with the unexpected, like The Last One (no that’s actually the name of her previous novel). There’s a science edge to the book which is NOT my jam but has made me question “Is this my jam?” and I agree this MIGHT be my jam and now I AM eating jam because that made me hungry.
I digress... I didn’t fall for this book until about 30%. The beginning is purposely scattered and I felt lost but then came the “ooooooooooh” and then, like links in a chain, it all synced up. I’m a teacher and often start lessons this way - the kids start by doing something and they have no idea why or what and after they start I connect a few dots and watch the light bulbs appear. Inductive... so hang in there! That moment was worth it.
This book to me was very psychologically fascinating because I recall learning about “feral kids” and how they developed (or didn’t develop). This is Linda. How difficult some every day actions would be when you grow up so isolated... it added a human edge , ok I’ll say it - emotion and I truly felt for her. The last 1/2 of the book is where is twists and yep... turns (like a mystery should) and I applaud Oliva for creating a novel that tickles my cerebral side while still offering the exciting escape of an intense mystery.
All my reviews available at scrappymags.com around time of publication.
Genre: Mystery/Science-edge
Recommend to: You don’t have to be “sciencey “ to like this but if you’re a natural learner or curious you’ll love it.
Not recommended to: If you’re not in the mood to think your way into the book
Thank you to the author, NetGalley and Random House Ballantyne for my advanced copy in exchange for my always-honest review and for asking Apple when the sheath will be available (admit it you know something!)
Shortest Summary Ever: It’s a few years into the future and Linda is living in busy Seattle, a far cry from where she escaped - where she was raised, isolated and alone in a house in the woods after her mother disappeared. More mysteries haunt her - what happened to her sister? Her mother? What role did her father play? Can she ever find a new normal with so many people knowing her as “The Clone Girl”? How can she live when she doesn’t quite know who she is?
Thoughts: Oliva dazzles me again with the unexpected, like The Last One (no that’s actually the name of her previous novel). There’s a science edge to the book which is NOT my jam but has made me question “Is this my jam?” and I agree this MIGHT be my jam and now I AM eating jam because that made me hungry.
I digress... I didn’t fall for this book until about 30%. The beginning is purposely scattered and I felt lost but then came the “ooooooooooh” and then, like links in a chain, it all synced up. I’m a teacher and often start lessons this way - the kids start by doing something and they have no idea why or what and after they start I connect a few dots and watch the light bulbs appear. Inductive... so hang in there! That moment was worth it.
This book to me was very psychologically fascinating because I recall learning about “feral kids” and how they developed (or didn’t develop). This is Linda. How difficult some every day actions would be when you grow up so isolated... it added a human edge , ok I’ll say it - emotion and I truly felt for her. The last 1/2 of the book is where is twists and yep... turns (like a mystery should) and I applaud Oliva for creating a novel that tickles my cerebral side while still offering the exciting escape of an intense mystery.
All my reviews available at scrappymags.com around time of publication.
Genre: Mystery/Science-edge
Recommend to: You don’t have to be “sciencey “ to like this but if you’re a natural learner or curious you’ll love it.
Not recommended to: If you’re not in the mood to think your way into the book
Thank you to the author, NetGalley and Random House Ballantyne for my advanced copy in exchange for my always-honest review and for asking Apple when the sheath will be available (admit it you know something!)
February 23, 2021
Forget Me Not is quite the trip through a beguiling maze. And at the very core is what is really real and what is really not.
Alexandra Oliva introduces us to Linda Russell. Linda appears to be a timid soul constantly checking over her shoulder while standing on quaking ground. She lives in a small apartment in Seattle and rarely goes outside unless she's short on groceries. Oliva describes a Sheath that Linda wears on her wrist whenever she does go out. And she's not the only one wearing a Sheath.
Linda literally runs into her new neighbor, Anvi, whose movers nearly drop a sofa cushion on Linda's head as they struggle with Anvi's furniture up the stairs. Anvi is an outgoing, expressive young woman......and Linda is far from that. What draws Linda in is Anvi's lovable dog. Linda wishes to nuzzle the dog and is taken with the dog's antics.
While purple-haired Anvi is mega verbal by nature, Linda remains tight-lipped. Anvi works as a Social Hut insider involved with VP. She coaxes Linda into her apartment once she's set up her virtual gaming. Timidly, Linda allows herself to experience this with an almost out-of-body reaction. She's hooked.
Slowly, Alexandra Oliva reveals a bit of background on Linda. We soon find out that Linda literally went "over the wall" of a 20-acre rural property to escape whatever was happening there. We get nips and pieces about her mother and sisters. Linda and her missing sister, Emmer, were created in vitro to replace their older sister.
Forget Me Not has its moments. Oliva seems to pony out phantom characters left and right while setting up confusion in the pipeline of this storyline. While having elements of a mystery/thriller, it didn't always lean that way. I stuck with a 3.5 rating while kicking it up to 4 Stars for its creative backdrop. There were plenty of veins of current social media/tech nuance vibes here. But was it enough to carry it to the finish line? Check it out for yourselves to see which side of that wall you're on.
I received a copy of Forget Me Not through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Random House (Ballantine Books) and to Alexandra Oliva for the opportunity.
Alexandra Oliva introduces us to Linda Russell. Linda appears to be a timid soul constantly checking over her shoulder while standing on quaking ground. She lives in a small apartment in Seattle and rarely goes outside unless she's short on groceries. Oliva describes a Sheath that Linda wears on her wrist whenever she does go out. And she's not the only one wearing a Sheath.
Linda literally runs into her new neighbor, Anvi, whose movers nearly drop a sofa cushion on Linda's head as they struggle with Anvi's furniture up the stairs. Anvi is an outgoing, expressive young woman......and Linda is far from that. What draws Linda in is Anvi's lovable dog. Linda wishes to nuzzle the dog and is taken with the dog's antics.
While purple-haired Anvi is mega verbal by nature, Linda remains tight-lipped. Anvi works as a Social Hut insider involved with VP. She coaxes Linda into her apartment once she's set up her virtual gaming. Timidly, Linda allows herself to experience this with an almost out-of-body reaction. She's hooked.
Slowly, Alexandra Oliva reveals a bit of background on Linda. We soon find out that Linda literally went "over the wall" of a 20-acre rural property to escape whatever was happening there. We get nips and pieces about her mother and sisters. Linda and her missing sister, Emmer, were created in vitro to replace their older sister.
Forget Me Not has its moments. Oliva seems to pony out phantom characters left and right while setting up confusion in the pipeline of this storyline. While having elements of a mystery/thriller, it didn't always lean that way. I stuck with a 3.5 rating while kicking it up to 4 Stars for its creative backdrop. There were plenty of veins of current social media/tech nuance vibes here. But was it enough to carry it to the finish line? Check it out for yourselves to see which side of that wall you're on.
I received a copy of Forget Me Not through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Random House (Ballantine Books) and to Alexandra Oliva for the opportunity.
March 20, 2021
In this domestic thriller Linda and her twin Emmer were raised in isolation by their mother Lorelei following the accidental death of their older sister Maddie. Emmer disappeared and Linda managed to escape from Lorelei. Linda became a media sensation referred to as the “cloned girl”. The story is told primarily from Linda’s point of view, but there is also some email correspondence between Lorelei and her ex-husband Arthur. In addition there are some confusing (and irrelevant) discussions between a couple of video game developers.
I enjoyed “The Last One” by this author but I didn’t like this book as much. The emailed correspondence, Linda’s fascination with a virtual reality program and the video game developers all felt like unnecessary filler. Although characters were endangered, none if this was very thrilling and the plot seemed improbable. I hate it when everything boils down to a character being “crazy”. However, the book moved briskly and I did find it entertaining enough to keep reading. 3.5 stars
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
I enjoyed “The Last One” by this author but I didn’t like this book as much. The emailed correspondence, Linda’s fascination with a virtual reality program and the video game developers all felt like unnecessary filler. Although characters were endangered, none if this was very thrilling and the plot seemed improbable. I hate it when everything boils down to a character being “crazy”. However, the book moved briskly and I did find it entertaining enough to keep reading. 3.5 stars
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
Read
February 12, 2021DNF 25% - No rating and will not be included in my reading challenge.
This is truly a matter of preference. This book that is set in the near future is all about gaming and virtual reality and both are things that I have zero interest in. The writing is very well done but this story is just never going to grab my attention and I know it so it's better to stop now before it becomes hate reading. This author is too talented to do that to.
I should mention that I loved Alexandra Oliva's debut The Last One and I highly recommend checking it out if you haven't already.
Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for granting my wish to read this. I should have read the synopsis before clicking that button.
This is truly a matter of preference. This book that is set in the near future is all about gaming and virtual reality and both are things that I have zero interest in. The writing is very well done but this story is just never going to grab my attention and I know it so it's better to stop now before it becomes hate reading. This author is too talented to do that to.
I should mention that I loved Alexandra Oliva's debut The Last One and I highly recommend checking it out if you haven't already.
Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for granting my wish to read this. I should have read the synopsis before clicking that button.
March 12, 2021
Oliva made her debut in 2016 with The Last One, a genre-defying story in which technology fails with disastrous consequences for reality show contestants. I was delighted when I received the invitation to check out her current novel; big thanks go to Ballantine Books and Net Galley for the review copy. This book is for sale now.
Linda Russell lives alone. She has had a traumatic past, and she is naïve in some ways about the world around her, having been kept apart from it for so many years. Money isn’t a problem, though; she has inherited a pile of it. Yet we cannot envy her, because the unspeakable horrors she has seen outweigh the benefit of her wealth.
When we meet Linda, she is in her nest chair surfing the internet. Her sheath provides her with information, but we have to figure out what a sheath and nest chair actually are by examining context, which takes a little while. And this is a key part of the suspense, giving us some information about the time period, the place, the technology and the characters, but also withholding quite a lot, doling it out to us in small portions so that we can follow along, without ever getting a firm grip on the situation till we are far into the story. And for me, there were moments when I became confused enough that I wanted a little more information in order to follow events as they unfolded, but most of the time the narrative was paced effectively. I began to have a solid enough grip on the basic facts to follow the story well at about the 36% mark.
Linda is a clone, and her story went big several years ago, when she was found emaciated and filthy, having been more or less feral inside a walled property where her mother abandoned her. The part of her past that weighs on her mind most heavily is the fate of her twin. Lorelei, whom she must not call “Mother,” loved Emmer, but not Linda. Both of them were created in an effort to duplicate Lorelei’s deceased daughter, Madeleine, and Emmer resembled Madeleine more. Of course, everyone knows that eye witnesses are notoriously unreliable, and so it is with Linda’s memories, but she knows this for certain: after a particular point in time, Linda never saw either Emmer or Lorelei again.
Meanwhile, a cult of sorts has sprung up around Linda, whom social media has dubbed “clone girl.” Rumors are spread; even the tiniest hint as to her possible whereabouts is greedily devoured by those following her story. And so, Linda hides, and she talks to no one; that is, until her new neighbor, Anvi, pushes her way into Linda’s life. Anvi is new in these parts, and she wants a friend.
To say that this story is a thriller or a mystery is unfair, and will lead the reader to a dissatisfying end. The focus of the book is not on unraveling a crime, and the hair-on-fire pacing that marks a thriller isn’t present here. I keep turning the pages, not because my heart is slamming in my chest, but because I am curious. The story really is about our character. Likewise, although the story is technically science fiction, my interest isn’t captured and held by complicated new technology, but by Linda herself, wanting to see her unharmed and able to lead something resembling a normal life. So I urge interested parties to come to this novel with an eye for character, because that’s the anchor here.
At the climax—and I’m being fairly vague here so as not to spoil the ending—there’s a moment when Linda behaves fairly stupidly when she is faced with an urgent problem, and I feel let down, but then she rallies and pulls herself together, and I let my breath out and smile. Go, girl, go.
When I learn what is really in back of the personal mysteries Linda faces, I’m inclined at first to regard it as far-fetched, but then the sci fi aspect kicks in, and let’s face it: science fiction and fantasy both permit and even require far-fetched material. What needs to be credible and consistent is Linda, and Oliva does a fine job developing her protagonist. I believe Linda at the outset, and as she changes over the course of the story, I believe her every step of the way.
I enjoyed this story a great deal, and I look forward to seeing what Oliva comes up with next. I recommend this book to anyone that enjoys good fiction that is character driven.
Linda Russell lives alone. She has had a traumatic past, and she is naïve in some ways about the world around her, having been kept apart from it for so many years. Money isn’t a problem, though; she has inherited a pile of it. Yet we cannot envy her, because the unspeakable horrors she has seen outweigh the benefit of her wealth.
When we meet Linda, she is in her nest chair surfing the internet. Her sheath provides her with information, but we have to figure out what a sheath and nest chair actually are by examining context, which takes a little while. And this is a key part of the suspense, giving us some information about the time period, the place, the technology and the characters, but also withholding quite a lot, doling it out to us in small portions so that we can follow along, without ever getting a firm grip on the situation till we are far into the story. And for me, there were moments when I became confused enough that I wanted a little more information in order to follow events as they unfolded, but most of the time the narrative was paced effectively. I began to have a solid enough grip on the basic facts to follow the story well at about the 36% mark.
Linda is a clone, and her story went big several years ago, when she was found emaciated and filthy, having been more or less feral inside a walled property where her mother abandoned her. The part of her past that weighs on her mind most heavily is the fate of her twin. Lorelei, whom she must not call “Mother,” loved Emmer, but not Linda. Both of them were created in an effort to duplicate Lorelei’s deceased daughter, Madeleine, and Emmer resembled Madeleine more. Of course, everyone knows that eye witnesses are notoriously unreliable, and so it is with Linda’s memories, but she knows this for certain: after a particular point in time, Linda never saw either Emmer or Lorelei again.
Meanwhile, a cult of sorts has sprung up around Linda, whom social media has dubbed “clone girl.” Rumors are spread; even the tiniest hint as to her possible whereabouts is greedily devoured by those following her story. And so, Linda hides, and she talks to no one; that is, until her new neighbor, Anvi, pushes her way into Linda’s life. Anvi is new in these parts, and she wants a friend.
To say that this story is a thriller or a mystery is unfair, and will lead the reader to a dissatisfying end. The focus of the book is not on unraveling a crime, and the hair-on-fire pacing that marks a thriller isn’t present here. I keep turning the pages, not because my heart is slamming in my chest, but because I am curious. The story really is about our character. Likewise, although the story is technically science fiction, my interest isn’t captured and held by complicated new technology, but by Linda herself, wanting to see her unharmed and able to lead something resembling a normal life. So I urge interested parties to come to this novel with an eye for character, because that’s the anchor here.
At the climax—and I’m being fairly vague here so as not to spoil the ending—there’s a moment when Linda behaves fairly stupidly when she is faced with an urgent problem, and I feel let down, but then she rallies and pulls herself together, and I let my breath out and smile. Go, girl, go.
When I learn what is really in back of the personal mysteries Linda faces, I’m inclined at first to regard it as far-fetched, but then the sci fi aspect kicks in, and let’s face it: science fiction and fantasy both permit and even require far-fetched material. What needs to be credible and consistent is Linda, and Oliva does a fine job developing her protagonist. I believe Linda at the outset, and as she changes over the course of the story, I believe her every step of the way.
I enjoyed this story a great deal, and I look forward to seeing what Oliva comes up with next. I recommend this book to anyone that enjoys good fiction that is character driven.
July 2, 2021
Forget Me Not by Alexandra Oliva is a science fiction thriller set in the near future. The main character in the story is an unreliable narrator who as a child knew she was only meant to replace her sister.
Linda Russell practically raised herself in rural Washington on a property with no modern conveniences. The woods were more Linda’s home as her mother ignored her and letting her know she was not a suitable replacement for the daughter she had lost.
At twelve Linda escaped her woodsy imprisonment and now as an adult is living in Seattle mostly in fear of the modern world around her. One day Linda meets a new neighbor who introduces her to virtual reality where Linda finds herself more at ease but then Linda finds that there was a fire at the place she spent her childhood so she begins to seek answers about herself and her past.
Forget Me Not by Alexandra Oliva was a book that seemed to get off to a slow start for me and had it’s ups and downs along the way. I think that the world building could have been a little bit better in the story to better help navigate this future world. The main character was also one that was a bit hard to connect to but the story inside was one I wanted to know more about as it went along. In the end I’d say this one landed in the middle of the road overall leaving me at three stars.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Linda Russell practically raised herself in rural Washington on a property with no modern conveniences. The woods were more Linda’s home as her mother ignored her and letting her know she was not a suitable replacement for the daughter she had lost.
At twelve Linda escaped her woodsy imprisonment and now as an adult is living in Seattle mostly in fear of the modern world around her. One day Linda meets a new neighbor who introduces her to virtual reality where Linda finds herself more at ease but then Linda finds that there was a fire at the place she spent her childhood so she begins to seek answers about herself and her past.
Forget Me Not by Alexandra Oliva was a book that seemed to get off to a slow start for me and had it’s ups and downs along the way. I think that the world building could have been a little bit better in the story to better help navigate this future world. The main character was also one that was a bit hard to connect to but the story inside was one I wanted to know more about as it went along. In the end I’d say this one landed in the middle of the road overall leaving me at three stars.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
March 15, 2021
3.5 stars, rounded up
This is a fascinating book, set in the near future. Linda was raised in isolation by her mentally ill mother. She escaped the rural house after her mother disappeared and has shut herself off to the world for many reasons. Now an adult, she still carries the trauma of her childhood, curious about the outside world, yet also afraid of interacting with it. When she meets her outgoing neighbor Anvi, Linda decides to start stepping out of her comfort zone to figure out exactly what happened during her childhood, because her fuzzy memories are unreliable and leave a great deal unexplained.
I loved Linda and how the story lets you know right away that she is an unreliable narrator. There are parts to her backstory that I figured out from the beginning, but that didn't detract from the unfolding of the story as she discovered it. The incorporation of technology and referring to the pandemic as a historical event gave the story authenticity without bogging it down. Every part about the technology seemed quite believable and like a natural step in where things are going in the world today. The novel explores some fascinating thoughts about memory, reality, and weaves a story surrounding how those things fit together.
This book is part mystery, part futuristic story, yet altogether it succeeds because Linda is a character to root for. A worthwhile read.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
This is a fascinating book, set in the near future. Linda was raised in isolation by her mentally ill mother. She escaped the rural house after her mother disappeared and has shut herself off to the world for many reasons. Now an adult, she still carries the trauma of her childhood, curious about the outside world, yet also afraid of interacting with it. When she meets her outgoing neighbor Anvi, Linda decides to start stepping out of her comfort zone to figure out exactly what happened during her childhood, because her fuzzy memories are unreliable and leave a great deal unexplained.
I loved Linda and how the story lets you know right away that she is an unreliable narrator. There are parts to her backstory that I figured out from the beginning, but that didn't detract from the unfolding of the story as she discovered it. The incorporation of technology and referring to the pandemic as a historical event gave the story authenticity without bogging it down. Every part about the technology seemed quite believable and like a natural step in where things are going in the world today. The novel explores some fascinating thoughts about memory, reality, and weaves a story surrounding how those things fit together.
This book is part mystery, part futuristic story, yet altogether it succeeds because Linda is a character to root for. A worthwhile read.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
March 10, 2021
Forget Me Not is a gripping sci-fi novel by Alexandra Oliva. The story centers around Linda Russell who lives amongst the urban sprawl of Seattle in the not-so-distant future. A modern world where wearable tech and facial recognition is commonplace, VR gaming and self driving cars are mainstream, and social media has consolidated under one company: SocialHub.
Falsely dubbed #Clonegirl by the vicious, prying eyes of the media, Linda lives a life of solitude and eschews social encounters. That is until she meets her new neighbor Anvi, one of the few people who can coax Linda out of her shell. Together they explore the infamous house that Linda grew up in, a den of iniquity. Little do they know that doing so will open up a veritable Pandora’s box. When a tragic series of events unfolds, Linda comes face to face with the demons from her past and learns the unbearable truth about her childhood.
I was absolutely blown away by Forget Me Not. It is rare to come across a compulsively readable and accessible sci-fi novel, let alone one that crosses over into psychological thriller territory so effortlessly. I was captivated by the believable futuristic world that Oliva created, it feels eerily accurate given the trajectory we’re on right now. In fact, last night I deleted my Instagram and Facebook accounts and I’d be lying if I said that Forget Me Not didn’t have a big part to play in that.
Oliva sure knows how to write believable characters. I instantly fell in love with the vulnerable, naive and socially awkward Linda. I saw a bit of myself reflected in her character and I was very sympathetic to her plight. My heart ached for the sad, raw truth of what she experienced as a young girl. I also enjoyed Anvi, with her scintillating intelligence, ‘bad’ habit of adopting strays and steadfast determination. Even the villains were drawn in shades of grey and capable of evoking my compassion. And who could forget the courageous and lovable Nibbler?! Nothing has made me want a dog so badly.
Forget Me Not has all the elements you want in a great sci-fi thriller: a fast-paced and engrossing plot, well-developed characters and plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing the whole way through.
A big thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Falsely dubbed #Clonegirl by the vicious, prying eyes of the media, Linda lives a life of solitude and eschews social encounters. That is until she meets her new neighbor Anvi, one of the few people who can coax Linda out of her shell. Together they explore the infamous house that Linda grew up in, a den of iniquity. Little do they know that doing so will open up a veritable Pandora’s box. When a tragic series of events unfolds, Linda comes face to face with the demons from her past and learns the unbearable truth about her childhood.
I was absolutely blown away by Forget Me Not. It is rare to come across a compulsively readable and accessible sci-fi novel, let alone one that crosses over into psychological thriller territory so effortlessly. I was captivated by the believable futuristic world that Oliva created, it feels eerily accurate given the trajectory we’re on right now. In fact, last night I deleted my Instagram and Facebook accounts and I’d be lying if I said that Forget Me Not didn’t have a big part to play in that.
Oliva sure knows how to write believable characters. I instantly fell in love with the vulnerable, naive and socially awkward Linda. I saw a bit of myself reflected in her character and I was very sympathetic to her plight. My heart ached for the sad, raw truth of what she experienced as a young girl. I also enjoyed Anvi, with her scintillating intelligence, ‘bad’ habit of adopting strays and steadfast determination. Even the villains were drawn in shades of grey and capable of evoking my compassion. And who could forget the courageous and lovable Nibbler?! Nothing has made me want a dog so badly.
Forget Me Not has all the elements you want in a great sci-fi thriller: a fast-paced and engrossing plot, well-developed characters and plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing the whole way through.
A big thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 12, 2020
I loved Oliva’s debut The Last One. Thought it was terrific. One of the best reads of that year, quite possibly. So when her second book arrived on Netgalley I requested it immediately. No plot summary needed. Read it almost as soon as I was approved and…ok, ok, it was good, it was objectively good. But can’t say I loved it. The same dynamic compelling narrative, same excellent character writing, same willingness to push the envelope and do something outside of the formulaic female thrillers out there. Check. None of those tirelessly alternating storylines with cheating spouses. This is a properly original thriller about a very unconventionally brought up young girl who grows up to be desperately trying for something like convention until her dark past threatens the equanimity she has so meticulously arranged for herself. And this is how it unfolds…decades ago a vivacious young girl, her parent’s only beloved child dies tragically, her death demolishes their marriage and permanently unhinges her mother, who then goes on to recreate her baby girl at all costs. To this extent, she decides to have another child, who’s genetic material and deliberate social conditioning would in a way bring her daughter back to her. Obviously, the plan goes awry the way crazy plans tend to and the experiment results in a young girl left more or less to her own devices, locked away from the world for 12 years. Eventually she gets found and reintegrated into society (more or less) by her famous wealthy biological father and all his tech development money. And so that’s our protagonist, content to live the quietest of lives possible until her lively new neighbor befriends her, her childhood abode burns down and a conglomeration of just so timed events that lead her to try to finally take control and make try to actually live instead of just passing time. This new course will be fraught with dangers, but it might just turn out to be worth it, if it doesn’t kill her first. So there you have it, a suspense thriller, not a murder mystery, that’ll surprise you time and again with the nicely timed plot twists. Exciting, well paced, difficult to put down…yes to all. And yet, somehow, I wanted more. Maybe because it offers more and you tend to get greedy, Maybe because of all the new tech (the book is set in the near future of 2028) with new portable devices and a really good quality VR, the latter of which provides our protagonist such joy. Maybe because of the interspersed subplot of VR developers discussing quantum physics and parallel universes. Most likely it is that second factor. It leads one to expect some kind of a killer Matrix style final twist that never comes. The entire thing just fizzles out like TNT ignition feed in the heavy rain. But at any rate, I’m perfectly willing to admit this to be the case of mismanaged expectations. Because the book is plenty good as is, no matter how much my imagination wanted to take it to different places. And by no means is this a sophomore slump, it just…slouches slightly, something especially noticeable because its predecessor sported such a terrific posture. This is good, original, far from forgettable…good thing for a book with a title like that. Much can be said for Oliva’s ability to create good, interesting, compelling, complex, non cliched female characters. And not even a stupid romantic sublot to prop it up like so many of these books tend to do…major kudos. All in all, a very good dark psychological thriller. Recommended. Thanks Netgalley.
March 2, 2021
Imagine being born strictly to replace a beloved child who was tragically lost...and when that didn't work out as desired, being left pretty much alone to grow up wild and free on a walled estate.
Ten years ago, Linda escaped the rural compound where she'd been kept and appeared in town, filthy and dressed in rags, stepping into what would become a social media frenzy she was ill-equipped to handle--made worse by the fact that she is the only living daughter of Arthur Niequist, famous computer scientist and wealthy philanthropist.
Now at 24, she is trying to learn how to live on her own in the world while all her instincts scream for her to remain isolated. Can she safely take a walk, go grocery shopping, maybe even make a friend, without being recognized and hounded? There are so many pieces of the puzzle of her life that remain unanswered. Why? Why? Why? And now it is reported that her former home has been set ablaze...accident or arson?
The story is set in the Seattle, Washington area, in the near-future where the pandemic is in the rear-view mirror and technology seems to have advanced just a bit: self-driving cars and virtual reality games are common and an arm-worn device called a 'sleeve' has replaced smart phones to help run every aspect of life. It also allows Arthur to keep track of his daughter's every move.
The details of Linda's childhood are slowly revealed as she tries to sort through and make sense of her memories. Interspered are drafts of emails written by her missing mother, Lorelei, to her husband, Arthur. Were they ever sent?
Another mysterious thread weaves through the story and its purpose isn't revealed until the end of the book. I'm not sure whether that thread strengthens the plot or is merely a head-scratcher.
I enjoyed my first taste of Alexandra Oliva's writing: Linda is a damaged but likable protagonist, supporting characters are interesting, and the setting is well described. I am now eager to read her first novel, The Last One. I was offered an arc widget by the publisher via netGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the opportunity!
Ten years ago, Linda escaped the rural compound where she'd been kept and appeared in town, filthy and dressed in rags, stepping into what would become a social media frenzy she was ill-equipped to handle--made worse by the fact that she is the only living daughter of Arthur Niequist, famous computer scientist and wealthy philanthropist.
Now at 24, she is trying to learn how to live on her own in the world while all her instincts scream for her to remain isolated. Can she safely take a walk, go grocery shopping, maybe even make a friend, without being recognized and hounded? There are so many pieces of the puzzle of her life that remain unanswered. Why? Why? Why? And now it is reported that her former home has been set ablaze...accident or arson?
The story is set in the Seattle, Washington area, in the near-future where the pandemic is in the rear-view mirror and technology seems to have advanced just a bit: self-driving cars and virtual reality games are common and an arm-worn device called a 'sleeve' has replaced smart phones to help run every aspect of life. It also allows Arthur to keep track of his daughter's every move.
The details of Linda's childhood are slowly revealed as she tries to sort through and make sense of her memories. Interspered are drafts of emails written by her missing mother, Lorelei, to her husband, Arthur. Were they ever sent?
Another mysterious thread weaves through the story and its purpose isn't revealed until the end of the book. I'm not sure whether that thread strengthens the plot or is merely a head-scratcher.
I enjoyed my first taste of Alexandra Oliva's writing: Linda is a damaged but likable protagonist, supporting characters are interesting, and the setting is well described. I am now eager to read her first novel, The Last One. I was offered an arc widget by the publisher via netGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the opportunity!
March 20, 2021
Its been long since I read a good character driven SciFi thriller like this. Forget Me Not is set in a near future that is equally emotional and suspenseful.
Linda tries to fit in the world, despite how she was born and raised. She struggles to accustom to the values of the world. This is my first read from author Olivia, and I’m impressed that she has written a fascinating story that is spun around Linda. The storyline is bit confusing since there are two plots - one with Linda and the other that also has Linda but in the past before she is born. There are mentions are gaming with futuristic tech and ARs which I thought were fun to read. As for the characters, I really hated Linda’s mother and loved Anvi’s relationship with Linda - it was pure and gives the reader hope!
Overall this is a twisted thriller that I feel might not be for everyone. If you like a coming of age story that moves suspenseful with unreliable protagonist, you’d love this one. 4/5 🌀
Thank you Netgalley & Ballantine books for the arc.
Linda tries to fit in the world, despite how she was born and raised. She struggles to accustom to the values of the world. This is my first read from author Olivia, and I’m impressed that she has written a fascinating story that is spun around Linda. The storyline is bit confusing since there are two plots - one with Linda and the other that also has Linda but in the past before she is born. There are mentions are gaming with futuristic tech and ARs which I thought were fun to read. As for the characters, I really hated Linda’s mother and loved Anvi’s relationship with Linda - it was pure and gives the reader hope!
Overall this is a twisted thriller that I feel might not be for everyone. If you like a coming of age story that moves suspenseful with unreliable protagonist, you’d love this one. 4/5 🌀
Thank you Netgalley & Ballantine books for the arc.
January 17, 2021
I read this author’s first book, The Last One, and loved it so knew I needed to read Forget Me Not. And I was definitely not disappointed. This was another unique and intriguing story from beginning to end.
Linda is a strange young woman who is completely out of her element in a world full of people. At the age of 12 she escaped from a life spent completely alone in isolation in the woods.
Her cray cray mother had her in secret to try to recreate her deceased daughter. When the mother realizes this new child isn’t her first daughter, she just leaves her letting her fend for herself for years, only sending in enough supplies to keep Linda alive.
Linda is known as “clone girl” and is stalked by social media as she’s famous for not only having escaped from her wacko mother and life, but because she’s also the daughter of a very wealthy famous high tech inventor. The media can’t get enough of her and her story.
Now living in her own apartment in the city, a new neighbor befriends Linda and tries to help her make her way into the scary crazy world.
I was completely engrossed in this book and couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. Alexandra Oliva is officially an auto-buy author for me now.
*Thank you so much to Random House and NetGalley for the advance copy!*
Linda is a strange young woman who is completely out of her element in a world full of people. At the age of 12 she escaped from a life spent completely alone in isolation in the woods.
Her cray cray mother had her in secret to try to recreate her deceased daughter. When the mother realizes this new child isn’t her first daughter, she just leaves her letting her fend for herself for years, only sending in enough supplies to keep Linda alive.
Linda is known as “clone girl” and is stalked by social media as she’s famous for not only having escaped from her wacko mother and life, but because she’s also the daughter of a very wealthy famous high tech inventor. The media can’t get enough of her and her story.
Now living in her own apartment in the city, a new neighbor befriends Linda and tries to help her make her way into the scary crazy world.
I was completely engrossed in this book and couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. Alexandra Oliva is officially an auto-buy author for me now.
*Thank you so much to Random House and NetGalley for the advance copy!*
April 1, 2021
3.5 stars
An interesting mystery/thriller set in the very near future. I didn’t like this one quite as much as Oliva's debut, The Last One, but it was still very good.
As expected, Oliva does a great job exploring her characters. That is the real strength of this book, and what kept me reading to find out how the lives of the characters would ultimately unfold, in the past as well as the present.
An interesting mystery/thriller set in the very near future. I didn’t like this one quite as much as Oliva's debut, The Last One, but it was still very good.
As expected, Oliva does a great job exploring her characters. That is the real strength of this book, and what kept me reading to find out how the lives of the characters would ultimately unfold, in the past as well as the present.
March 9, 2021
4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2021/03/09/...
The story of Forget Me Not was a twisted journey that took a while, and at times it was dark and difficult. Ultimately though, I have to hand it to Alexandra Oliva. Gradually, she manages to knit together a complex collection of themes and messages, pulling off a spontaneous transformation to deliver a stunning conclusion that is both heartfelt and thought-provoking.
The story follows Linda Russell, a young woman whose mentally and emotionally unstable mother who only birthed her and her twin for one very specific purpose—to try and replace another daughter, Madeline, who died years before. Growing up on a rural compound, Linda was raised in isolation and prevented from making any contact with the outside world. Her only companion was her sister, Emmer. The two of them were taught only to act like Madeline, talk like Madeline, become Madeline…until the day her mother finally snapped with the realization that her experiment to recreate her lost daughter was a failure, and that neither Linda or Emmer were true clones that will ever replace her.
From that day on, the girls were left to fend for themselves. But eventually, at the age of twelve, Linda finally escapes the compound, only to make headlines and become known as “Clone Girl” when social media catches wind of the incident and her tragic background. Traumatized and confused after witnessing something she was never meant to see, all Linda knows is that she is now alone, though she desperately wants to find out what happened to her twin. With the help of her estranged father and a counselor, Linda is set up in an apartment in Seattle where she can start life afresh with a new identity. Slowly, she begins to learn her way around the city, exploring technology and the internet, gaining the interpersonal skills needed to function in society. All goes well until her old house burns down, once more catapulting Clone Girl into the spotlight and reigniting public interest in her story. Not too surprisingly, the event causes Linda to feel more and more untethered, making her question the relationships she has built since being on her own, including her budding friendship with next-door neighbor Anvi.
Imagine growing up for the first twelve years of your life cut off from the rest of civilization, and the mother you so dearly loved and trusted only cared for you because she wanted to shape you into someone else. Imagine also being told over and over that you were not good enough and punished through no fault of your own. It’s enough to break anyone, let alone a young child. This is Linda Russell’s backstory, and the first half of the novel explores the young woman she became after escaping that neglect and abuse. Despite being rejected and tossed aside, she has found a new strength to continue, though not without considerable difficulty. Trust comes hard to Linda, and she cannot understand concepts like altruism or solidarity since she had never experienced them for herself. She also gets nervous in crowded places and especially in conversations with new people due to her lack of knowledge in reading social cues, and every day she lives with the anxiety of saying or doing the wrong thing.
In the first half, Oliva also begins establishing a number of plot threads as well as filling in the details of this futuristic world. On the one hand, this made the earlier parts of the novel feel rather slow, though on the other, I really enjoyed how the narrative was able to capture Linda’s state of mind in a way that felt genuine and believable. Some of the more fascinating moments involved the character’s exploration of technology, and her subsequent observations about the internet and social media had a slight feel of a cautionary tale. A highlight of this section was also Linda’s relationship with Anvi, not to mention how enlightening it was to view our protagonist through another’s eyes.
And then came the good part: what began as a steady, measured climb to the midway point turned almost immediately into a breakneck downhill race to the finish as everything the author had painstakingly built up in the first half comes to fruition. There were definitely a lot of twists—some I saw coming, some I didn’t. All I will say is that the slow-burn beginning was absolutely worth it, and that the revelations and conclusion will make you glad you stayed on until the end.
Following Alexandra Oliva’s debut The Last One, I must say I had some rather high expectations for Forget Me Not. Now that I’ve read it though, I won’t ever hesitate to pick up another one of her books. This was a pretty special novel, and for fans of suspense who appreciate character-focused stories and who won’t mind a slower ramp-up, this is one you shouldn’t miss.
The story of Forget Me Not was a twisted journey that took a while, and at times it was dark and difficult. Ultimately though, I have to hand it to Alexandra Oliva. Gradually, she manages to knit together a complex collection of themes and messages, pulling off a spontaneous transformation to deliver a stunning conclusion that is both heartfelt and thought-provoking.
The story follows Linda Russell, a young woman whose mentally and emotionally unstable mother who only birthed her and her twin for one very specific purpose—to try and replace another daughter, Madeline, who died years before. Growing up on a rural compound, Linda was raised in isolation and prevented from making any contact with the outside world. Her only companion was her sister, Emmer. The two of them were taught only to act like Madeline, talk like Madeline, become Madeline…until the day her mother finally snapped with the realization that her experiment to recreate her lost daughter was a failure, and that neither Linda or Emmer were true clones that will ever replace her.
From that day on, the girls were left to fend for themselves. But eventually, at the age of twelve, Linda finally escapes the compound, only to make headlines and become known as “Clone Girl” when social media catches wind of the incident and her tragic background. Traumatized and confused after witnessing something she was never meant to see, all Linda knows is that she is now alone, though she desperately wants to find out what happened to her twin. With the help of her estranged father and a counselor, Linda is set up in an apartment in Seattle where she can start life afresh with a new identity. Slowly, she begins to learn her way around the city, exploring technology and the internet, gaining the interpersonal skills needed to function in society. All goes well until her old house burns down, once more catapulting Clone Girl into the spotlight and reigniting public interest in her story. Not too surprisingly, the event causes Linda to feel more and more untethered, making her question the relationships she has built since being on her own, including her budding friendship with next-door neighbor Anvi.
Imagine growing up for the first twelve years of your life cut off from the rest of civilization, and the mother you so dearly loved and trusted only cared for you because she wanted to shape you into someone else. Imagine also being told over and over that you were not good enough and punished through no fault of your own. It’s enough to break anyone, let alone a young child. This is Linda Russell’s backstory, and the first half of the novel explores the young woman she became after escaping that neglect and abuse. Despite being rejected and tossed aside, she has found a new strength to continue, though not without considerable difficulty. Trust comes hard to Linda, and she cannot understand concepts like altruism or solidarity since she had never experienced them for herself. She also gets nervous in crowded places and especially in conversations with new people due to her lack of knowledge in reading social cues, and every day she lives with the anxiety of saying or doing the wrong thing.
In the first half, Oliva also begins establishing a number of plot threads as well as filling in the details of this futuristic world. On the one hand, this made the earlier parts of the novel feel rather slow, though on the other, I really enjoyed how the narrative was able to capture Linda’s state of mind in a way that felt genuine and believable. Some of the more fascinating moments involved the character’s exploration of technology, and her subsequent observations about the internet and social media had a slight feel of a cautionary tale. A highlight of this section was also Linda’s relationship with Anvi, not to mention how enlightening it was to view our protagonist through another’s eyes.
And then came the good part: what began as a steady, measured climb to the midway point turned almost immediately into a breakneck downhill race to the finish as everything the author had painstakingly built up in the first half comes to fruition. There were definitely a lot of twists—some I saw coming, some I didn’t. All I will say is that the slow-burn beginning was absolutely worth it, and that the revelations and conclusion will make you glad you stayed on until the end.
Following Alexandra Oliva’s debut The Last One, I must say I had some rather high expectations for Forget Me Not. Now that I’ve read it though, I won’t ever hesitate to pick up another one of her books. This was a pretty special novel, and for fans of suspense who appreciate character-focused stories and who won’t mind a slower ramp-up, this is one you shouldn’t miss.
March 15, 2021
4-4.5 Stars
When the publisher reached out to me to see if I was interested in reviewing Alexandra Oliva’s new novel, Forget Me Not, I immediately jumped at the chance having absolutely LOVED her debut novel “The Last One”. When I got TLO I went into it pretty blind having not read reviews but only reading the blurb. I did that here for FMN as well. By the time I started reading it I hadn’t read the blurb in a while, so I went into it even more blind than I did TLO. I normally hate doing that, but I really wanted to see if my enjoyment of the first book by Oliva was a fluke or if she would be able to capture my interest almost immediately the way she did the first time. Oliva did not disappoint. FMN doesn’t have the same thriller aspect to it that TLO did but she has such a way of drawing in a reader that it probably could’ve been a microwave use manual and I would’ve enjoyed it.
Linda had a rough childhood. Regularly neglected and scorned by her mother as well as being kept in cage of sorts by never being allowed to really leave their property. Linda had no concept of what the outside world was or how it worked until, at just 12 years old, she sees something that she shouldn’t and in fear, she climbs over the wall of her property and is promptly rescued by a passerby.
As an adult Linda struggles to connect not only with the world, but with the people in it. In a highly tech driven world, she doesn’t really understand social media and is frankly a little scared of it because of the horrible treatment she received in the court of public opinion because of who she is, how she was conceived, and why.
The entire story is told mostly through Linda’s POV and sometimes her neighbor, and possible friend, Anvi. It is sometimes difficult to be in her head because it’s so hard to relate to her since she is so far removed from what we consider to be normal in our current society. But mostly you just feel really sorry for her and want to give her a hug and let her know it’s going to be ok. It was very compelling to be with her as she grows and learns more about the world and people around her and when you get to the climax of the story you’re really rooting for the hidden strength in her and want to see her come into her own.
You feel the range of emotions throughout this story. Sadness, anger, anxiety, devastation, depression, and even sometimes happiness and triumph.
I would HIGHLY recommend this book to those who enjoy character driven pieces whose characters aren’t just caricatures of the people we meet and see on a daily basis.
Received via Netgalley through the publisher, Ballantine Books
When the publisher reached out to me to see if I was interested in reviewing Alexandra Oliva’s new novel, Forget Me Not, I immediately jumped at the chance having absolutely LOVED her debut novel “The Last One”. When I got TLO I went into it pretty blind having not read reviews but only reading the blurb. I did that here for FMN as well. By the time I started reading it I hadn’t read the blurb in a while, so I went into it even more blind than I did TLO. I normally hate doing that, but I really wanted to see if my enjoyment of the first book by Oliva was a fluke or if she would be able to capture my interest almost immediately the way she did the first time. Oliva did not disappoint. FMN doesn’t have the same thriller aspect to it that TLO did but she has such a way of drawing in a reader that it probably could’ve been a microwave use manual and I would’ve enjoyed it.
Linda had a rough childhood. Regularly neglected and scorned by her mother as well as being kept in cage of sorts by never being allowed to really leave their property. Linda had no concept of what the outside world was or how it worked until, at just 12 years old, she sees something that she shouldn’t and in fear, she climbs over the wall of her property and is promptly rescued by a passerby.
As an adult Linda struggles to connect not only with the world, but with the people in it. In a highly tech driven world, she doesn’t really understand social media and is frankly a little scared of it because of the horrible treatment she received in the court of public opinion because of who she is, how she was conceived, and why.
The entire story is told mostly through Linda’s POV and sometimes her neighbor, and possible friend, Anvi. It is sometimes difficult to be in her head because it’s so hard to relate to her since she is so far removed from what we consider to be normal in our current society. But mostly you just feel really sorry for her and want to give her a hug and let her know it’s going to be ok. It was very compelling to be with her as she grows and learns more about the world and people around her and when you get to the climax of the story you’re really rooting for the hidden strength in her and want to see her come into her own.
You feel the range of emotions throughout this story. Sadness, anger, anxiety, devastation, depression, and even sometimes happiness and triumph.
I would HIGHLY recommend this book to those who enjoy character driven pieces whose characters aren’t just caricatures of the people we meet and see on a daily basis.
Received via Netgalley through the publisher, Ballantine Books
February 23, 2022
3 Lost Child/Gamer/Who Stars-Sale, Only $1.99!!!
* * * Spoiler Free-A Quick Review
An author's blurb is one of the most important parts of presenting their book. The blurb for this book caught my eye, my curiosity, and had me read outside of my usual picks. I was told there had a bit of a sci-fi element, something I usually do not lean into but it was mixed with a mystery/thriller storyline so I decided to dive in.
This is a story that has so much to absorb. It takes place maybe about fifteen years from now, so communication tools, social media, and gaming VR are all in the mix equally with the loss of a child,
the need to fill it, and how that impacts the family bearing that loss.
It had some strong elements and maybe those more intuned with this type of genre/book would appreciate it more.
Forget Me Not
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A gifted copy was provided by Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine via NetGally for an honest review.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
* * * Spoiler Free-A Quick Review
An author's blurb is one of the most important parts of presenting their book. The blurb for this book caught my eye, my curiosity, and had me read outside of my usual picks. I was told there had a bit of a sci-fi element, something I usually do not lean into but it was mixed with a mystery/thriller storyline so I decided to dive in.
This is a story that has so much to absorb. It takes place maybe about fifteen years from now, so communication tools, social media, and gaming VR are all in the mix equally with the loss of a child,
the need to fill it, and how that impacts the family bearing that loss.
It had some strong elements and maybe those more intuned with this type of genre/book would appreciate it more.
Forget Me Nothttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A gifted copy was provided by Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine via NetGally for an honest review.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
October 4, 2021
Forget Me Not by Alexandra Oliva is part mystery/thriller, but also touted as and part Sci-Fi/Fantasy...which I don't really agree with, other than the fact that it took place in a near-distant time-frame where technology is a little more advanced.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Ballantine Books (Random House) - particularly Kathleen Quinlan for sending me a widget, 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: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Linda Russell was raised in a rather strange environment. No father around, and a mother who only wanted Linda to replace another daughter who died in an accident years before. Unfortunately, Linda was not anything like the sister she was meant to replace. Once her mother figured that out, Linda basically ran wild in the woods within their walled-off property. Her mother did not show her much attention.
When she is twelve, her mother totally abandons her, and Linda climbs the wall and escapes her prison. Unfortunately, she is ill-prepared for life outside the wall. Her father (who up til this point was unaware of Linda's existence) steps up, and raises her as best he can. But the stigma of having lived that other life follows her. Publicity over the poor child who was born under strange circumstances goes viral, and even though it is untrue, people call her the Clone Girl.
Linda is now 24, living on her own, but rarely leaving her apartment. She is closely monitored by her father. When she meets a new neighbour, Linda sees the possibility of having her first friend. So, when a fire starts at her infamous childhood home, she asks Anvi if she will take her to see it. From this point on, a chain of events starts Linda on a roller-coaster ride that has her learn the truth about her childhood.
My Opinions:
This was a lot better than I thought it would be. It started a little slow, and took me a little bit to get into the story. I wasn't that fond of the Virtual Reality segments in the book, but overall, the plot was quite interesting, and the suspense build-up was good.
I really liked the characters. Linda was a very shy, introverted young woman, who is just learning to trust in herself. From her background, the character rang true. As did that of Anvi, who came across as rather "loud", but she too, was just learning her way in a new place, away from family and friends. I loved their friendship, and the fact that Anvi was not trying to take advantage of Linda, even though her new job would lend itself to that quite easily.
Overall, it was an entertaining read!
For a more complete review of this book and others (including my reason for choosing to read this, as well as author information), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
December 31, 2020
I absolutely loved this book! Linda Russell is a quirky young lady living a withdrawn and isolated life in the vibrant city of Seattle. Her reasons for being that way are slowly explained to the reader in a manner that mercilessly ensnares you. As we flashback to her childhood, the horror of how she raised herself and the condition she was in when discovered will take your breath away. Against all odds, Linda is a true survivor. When she meets her new overly-friendly neighbor Anvi, she at once distrusts her but wants to be close to her. We don’t know whether we like Anvi or not. Personality-wise she’s an absolute sweetheart and so helpful to Linda but does she have ulterior motives like so many strangers in the past have had towards Linda? And what’s the deal with Linda’s father? He should be ashamed of how he sat back and let Linda live the sad existence she’s known her entire life. But is there more to his side of the story, can we find any reason to actually like this pompous man?
I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough; the story’s plot is that enveloping. With a mix of pity, horror, anger, and compassion this is an emotional roller coaster that’s well worth the ride.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. The release date is March 2, 2021.
I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough; the story’s plot is that enveloping. With a mix of pity, horror, anger, and compassion this is an emotional roller coaster that’s well worth the ride.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. The release date is March 2, 2021.
March 22, 2021
"Could her whole existence just be someone else's side quest?"
Interesting story about a girl who grew up rough. Raised in a cabin with no running water or functioning electricity and really much food. One day she runs and she's found and "saved". But the world isn't terribly accepting and all the technology (even more advanced than now) and lights and city are confusing. She doesn't know how to harness her social media presence or make friends.
Mixing with the same story is technology. Everyone seems tied to a sheath - something that goes on your wrist (think smart watch) and logs where you go, what you do and you use it to access money and social media.
But the technology aspect isn't fully flushed out because that's only part of what the stories about. It seems almost like a side note (because it's not fully explained) so it almost feels like something added to the story. If it had been the main part, I could have understood the addition - but the story of the girl growing up, being #clonegirl and her struggle was enough of the story. The addition of other aspects (the game, technology and G.H.) felt like distractions from the main story and muddied the storyline. I wanted to love it more but I just found it okay.
Interesting story about a girl who grew up rough. Raised in a cabin with no running water or functioning electricity and really much food. One day she runs and she's found and "saved". But the world isn't terribly accepting and all the technology (even more advanced than now) and lights and city are confusing. She doesn't know how to harness her social media presence or make friends.
Mixing with the same story is technology. Everyone seems tied to a sheath - something that goes on your wrist (think smart watch) and logs where you go, what you do and you use it to access money and social media.
But the technology aspect isn't fully flushed out because that's only part of what the stories about. It seems almost like a side note (because it's not fully explained) so it almost feels like something added to the story. If it had been the main part, I could have understood the addition - but the story of the girl growing up, being #clonegirl and her struggle was enough of the story. The addition of other aspects (the game, technology and G.H.) felt like distractions from the main story and muddied the storyline. I wanted to love it more but I just found it okay.
October 26, 2020
4 stars--I really liked it. Alexandra Oliva is now officially on my always-read list!
What I most enjoyed about this book wasn't the plot (though it was fast paced and kept my attention), nor the setting (though I really loved the near-future Seattle and rural WA state locations), but the characters. I cared about them and their relationships with each other, which kept me reading late at night to see if they'd be OK!
I would scrap a very minor sideplot involving two game makers, but other than that, I found this book tightly crafted and heartfelt.
I received this review copy from the publisher on NetGalley. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review; I appreciate it!
What I most enjoyed about this book wasn't the plot (though it was fast paced and kept my attention), nor the setting (though I really loved the near-future Seattle and rural WA state locations), but the characters. I cared about them and their relationships with each other, which kept me reading late at night to see if they'd be OK!
I would scrap a very minor sideplot involving two game makers, but other than that, I found this book tightly crafted and heartfelt.
I received this review copy from the publisher on NetGalley. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review; I appreciate it!
dnf
March 4, 2021DNF @ 25%
So I went on with this book for longer than I should have - especially since the introduction of an important secondary character (in the first chapter) was accompanied by a really unnecessary and racist passage. Now, this is an ARC so it's possible that the offending passage was changed or remove before publication, but I don't know for sure. We know right away that Linda is timid around other people, has weird urges that aren't socially acceptable, and is supremely isolated. When she runs into Anvi, Linda mentions Anvi's brown skin and then says something to the effect of "I have trouble determining the ethnicity of darker skinned people"... Ooookay... Not entirely necessary and definitely a little racist. And then she goes on to say that darker skinned people make her uncomfortable - because she has "limited exposure" to non-white people. Yeah, no, that's not cool. This is in the first chapter. We later find out that, while not exactly well socialized, Linda is active on social media and has been "in society" for a majority of her life, even if her upbringing was extremely sheltered.
There are a few other weird moments re: race in the first 25%, too. When Anvi invites MC Linda to play VR games with her, Linda is creating a character for a fantasy RPG and freaks out at the mention of "race" as a part of character design. (Because Linda is white and Anvi is not)
There's also a brief thing where "it's sexist to assume G.H. is a man" and yet Linda continues to refer to G.H. with he/him pronouns.
Like... It sounds like the author was trying to be woke or whatever but totally missed the mark and instead made everything worse.
{I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review}
So I went on with this book for longer than I should have - especially since the introduction of an important secondary character (in the first chapter) was accompanied by a really unnecessary and racist passage. Now, this is an ARC so it's possible that the offending passage was changed or remove before publication, but I don't know for sure. We know right away that Linda is timid around other people, has weird urges that aren't socially acceptable, and is supremely isolated. When she runs into Anvi, Linda mentions Anvi's brown skin and then says something to the effect of "I have trouble determining the ethnicity of darker skinned people"... Ooookay... Not entirely necessary and definitely a little racist. And then she goes on to say that darker skinned people make her uncomfortable - because she has "limited exposure" to non-white people. Yeah, no, that's not cool. This is in the first chapter. We later find out that, while not exactly well socialized, Linda is active on social media and has been "in society" for a majority of her life, even if her upbringing was extremely sheltered.
There are a few other weird moments re: race in the first 25%, too. When Anvi invites MC Linda to play VR games with her, Linda is creating a character for a fantasy RPG and freaks out at the mention of "race" as a part of character design. (Because Linda is white and Anvi is not)
There's also a brief thing where "it's sexist to assume G.H. is a man" and yet Linda continues to refer to G.H. with he/him pronouns.
Like... It sounds like the author was trying to be woke or whatever but totally missed the mark and instead made everything worse.
{I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review}
March 21, 2021
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Color me intrigued.
Forget Me Not definitely confused me for most of this book. Mostly because I just had endless questions and not enough data to produce the answer. Luckily for me, I stuck with it and sort of got the answers that I was looking for. All in all, some of these people are complete psycho's and I felt bad for only one person.
In this, you will meet Linda. At first, she was strange and did all kinds of weird things. The beginning had a way to suck me in because I just wanted to know her story. Once secrets come out, well, I wasn't expecting all the twists and turns to come my way. So in other words, I wasn't fully prepared by all the craziness within these pages.
In the end, my mind was blown a little bit by what actually went down.
Color me intrigued.
Forget Me Not definitely confused me for most of this book. Mostly because I just had endless questions and not enough data to produce the answer. Luckily for me, I stuck with it and sort of got the answers that I was looking for. All in all, some of these people are complete psycho's and I felt bad for only one person.
In this, you will meet Linda. At first, she was strange and did all kinds of weird things. The beginning had a way to suck me in because I just wanted to know her story. Once secrets come out, well, I wasn't expecting all the twists and turns to come my way. So in other words, I wasn't fully prepared by all the craziness within these pages.
In the end, my mind was blown a little bit by what actually went down.
March 28, 2021
3.5 stars
I thought Forget Me Not was a very pleasant read but, as a non-gamer, just a bit too mired in virtual reality game description for my tastes. I noticed that many people decided not to finish the book for that reason. However, I am glad I stuck with it because I enjoyed the overall story. One thing I really liked was that current events of today were referenced within the story since it is set in the not too distant future. It is so easy to forget that everything we are living through today will one day be history.
I thought Forget Me Not was a very pleasant read but, as a non-gamer, just a bit too mired in virtual reality game description for my tastes. I noticed that many people decided not to finish the book for that reason. However, I am glad I stuck with it because I enjoyed the overall story. One thing I really liked was that current events of today were referenced within the story since it is set in the not too distant future. It is so easy to forget that everything we are living through today will one day be history.
May 21, 2021
Linda climbed over a wall and out into the real world as a teenager. She was totally unprepared. But what happened to her? Why was she kept inside for so long? And what is still going on?
This is the story the book follows, and answering any of these would definitely be a spoiler because the fun is in the discovery. My personal favorite parts of this book were watching Linda continue to discover and try to interact with the world. I especially liked her interactions with her neighbor Anvi, who may have been my favorite character.
I also really enjoyed slowly uncovering what was happening and why.
Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book. I would recommend it to people who like the adventure of discovery and a twisty plot.
This is the story the book follows, and answering any of these would definitely be a spoiler because the fun is in the discovery. My personal favorite parts of this book were watching Linda continue to discover and try to interact with the world. I especially liked her interactions with her neighbor Anvi, who may have been my favorite character.
I also really enjoyed slowly uncovering what was happening and why.
Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book. I would recommend it to people who like the adventure of discovery and a twisty plot.
July 18, 2021
Actual reviews with real sentences and fully developed thoughts are not within my grasp at the moment. I hope that changes in a few weeks, but in the meantime - I grabbed this on a lightening raid of the library’s “new reads” shelf and perhaps it’s because I had exactly zero expectations I enjoyed it so much.
The author uses well drawn characters and the plot to provide some good ideas to explore - what would it be like if you only existed to replace a deceased sibling you never knew? The intrusive nature of social media. When does curiosity about someone become something else? Can virtual reality gaming be a type of therapy? I could go on but I need to go feed my humans. They insist. Multiple times per day.
I will definitely check out the author’s debut novel one of those days.
The author uses well drawn characters and the plot to provide some good ideas to explore - what would it be like if you only existed to replace a deceased sibling you never knew? The intrusive nature of social media. When does curiosity about someone become something else? Can virtual reality gaming be a type of therapy? I could go on but I need to go feed my humans. They insist. Multiple times per day.
I will definitely check out the author’s debut novel one of those days.
January 16, 2021
Whew - my mind was going in circles by the time I finished this one! I'd read and enjoyed another of this author's books - The Last One - so I was happy to be approved for a pre-release copy of this one. And I wasn't disappointed in the slightest.
That said, don't expect a typical mystery or thriller; this one is more than a little offbeat (in a good way). The story takes place in the not-too-far distant future. Characters wear arm-wrapping "sheaths" that, I suppose, replace the cell phones, GPS trackers and such that we know and love; SocialHub has replaced Facebook, Instagram and all the other popular online gathering places we know and love (or love to hate); and the COVID-19 pandemic is a thing of the past. Artificial intelligence and virtual reality are well developed, and I admit that the extent to which they're involved here left me a little mind-boggled at times.
The main subject here is a mid-twenties woman named Linda, although it's not her real name. She's better known as Clone Girl - a child created by a mother who lost her beloved daughter years earlier and ever since has been trying to create an exact replacement. For a dozen years, Linda lived in secret, held behind walls at a remote Washington location and for the most part left to forage for herself. One day, something bad happens and she runs away - managing to scale the wall and escape. Suddenly, she's in a whole new world - one filled with people who may or may not have her best interests at heart. She tries to live in seclusion, but keeping her location secret is difficult in this time of enhanced social media (just venturing outside her small apartment present a risk that she'll be recognized and need to run - again).
Then, Linda gets an unwanted knock on her door by a rather kooky-looking young woman named Anvi and her dog Nibbler. Even though Anvi doesn't seem to know who Linda is or have some kind of ulterior motive, Linda is reluctant to strike up any semblance of a friendship (besides, she has no idea what real friendship is like). But Anvi persists, introducing Linda to her VR game - opening up new possibilities. When Linda learns that a fire has destroyed the only home she ever knew, she knows she has to go back despite the horrible memories (or perhaps because of them). What happens after that kept me on the edge of my seat right to the end.
Oddly, though, I never felt too much empathy or sympathy toward Linda, nor did I really connect with any of the other characters. Maybe it's because I was trying so hard to comprehend all the new-to-me technology stuff, but none of them evoked much emotion. The plot, though, gets extra points for originality and creativity - making the whole thing well worth reading.
That said, don't expect a typical mystery or thriller; this one is more than a little offbeat (in a good way). The story takes place in the not-too-far distant future. Characters wear arm-wrapping "sheaths" that, I suppose, replace the cell phones, GPS trackers and such that we know and love; SocialHub has replaced Facebook, Instagram and all the other popular online gathering places we know and love (or love to hate); and the COVID-19 pandemic is a thing of the past. Artificial intelligence and virtual reality are well developed, and I admit that the extent to which they're involved here left me a little mind-boggled at times.
The main subject here is a mid-twenties woman named Linda, although it's not her real name. She's better known as Clone Girl - a child created by a mother who lost her beloved daughter years earlier and ever since has been trying to create an exact replacement. For a dozen years, Linda lived in secret, held behind walls at a remote Washington location and for the most part left to forage for herself. One day, something bad happens and she runs away - managing to scale the wall and escape. Suddenly, she's in a whole new world - one filled with people who may or may not have her best interests at heart. She tries to live in seclusion, but keeping her location secret is difficult in this time of enhanced social media (just venturing outside her small apartment present a risk that she'll be recognized and need to run - again).
Then, Linda gets an unwanted knock on her door by a rather kooky-looking young woman named Anvi and her dog Nibbler. Even though Anvi doesn't seem to know who Linda is or have some kind of ulterior motive, Linda is reluctant to strike up any semblance of a friendship (besides, she has no idea what real friendship is like). But Anvi persists, introducing Linda to her VR game - opening up new possibilities. When Linda learns that a fire has destroyed the only home she ever knew, she knows she has to go back despite the horrible memories (or perhaps because of them). What happens after that kept me on the edge of my seat right to the end.
Oddly, though, I never felt too much empathy or sympathy toward Linda, nor did I really connect with any of the other characters. Maybe it's because I was trying so hard to comprehend all the new-to-me technology stuff, but none of them evoked much emotion. The plot, though, gets extra points for originality and creativity - making the whole thing well worth reading.
September 7, 2022
This is a good book with obvious flaws. To start, the story is interesting and original. A young woman was raised by a mentally ill mother to be her dead older sister, but only for the first few years of her life. After that, she was abandoned on the family’s compound to live like a wild animal while her mother locked herself away and refuse to interact aside from the barest possible care. She was eventually discovered after an escape at the age of twelve where she learned she was not a wild animal but that her father was a wealthy tech millionaire. The story begins when she is twenty-four and living on her own when she hears the family home has burned down and, with the help of her compassionate neighbor, tries to make sense of her life, her missing (presumed dead) mother, and the people who may want to do her harm.
I was absolutely compelled by the protagonist at first. Linda is a fascinating character and the book establishes a sense of ambiguity as the nature of reality is repeatedly questioned with false memories, alternative truths, and a near-future obsession with a proliferating VR world. Did I mention it’s a light sci-fi? Or that she’s called clone girl for a lot of it? I really did like it and was rapt for the first half of the book, but there were just some problems.
There is a subplot about a VR game, two subplots actually. And, while I don’t want to say too much, the book leads you towards some ideas that don’t turn out to be very important. It’s more thematic, using multiple levels of real and constructed reality to explore these ideas of the subjectivity of personal experience and how we can’t help but be connected to others. But when the book tries to tie everything together with a thriller third act, it just doesn’t do it. Like, it feels like everything is moving towards this monumental conclusion and the result is a bit underwhelming. The biggest problem is that the book only has like four characters, and aside from the two main characters, nobody feels like they have a motivation for anything. The basic idea of being raised as your dead sister and being cast aside when you cannot be them is compelling, and maybe the book is making a point about how you can’t expect past trauma to just fix itself. But the book needed to tie in the VR stuff better. Like, do you feel more yourself as a character in an MMO than in the real world? That’s an interesting point. But the whole subplot with the other guys, and the stuff with the dad, just don’t land at all.
Was a big fan of the author’s first book and would argue that this shows a ton of potential. But maybe it just needed a little more time in the oven.
I was absolutely compelled by the protagonist at first. Linda is a fascinating character and the book establishes a sense of ambiguity as the nature of reality is repeatedly questioned with false memories, alternative truths, and a near-future obsession with a proliferating VR world. Did I mention it’s a light sci-fi? Or that she’s called clone girl for a lot of it? I really did like it and was rapt for the first half of the book, but there were just some problems.
There is a subplot about a VR game, two subplots actually. And, while I don’t want to say too much, the book leads you towards some ideas that don’t turn out to be very important. It’s more thematic, using multiple levels of real and constructed reality to explore these ideas of the subjectivity of personal experience and how we can’t help but be connected to others. But when the book tries to tie everything together with a thriller third act, it just doesn’t do it. Like, it feels like everything is moving towards this monumental conclusion and the result is a bit underwhelming. The biggest problem is that the book only has like four characters, and aside from the two main characters, nobody feels like they have a motivation for anything. The basic idea of being raised as your dead sister and being cast aside when you cannot be them is compelling, and maybe the book is making a point about how you can’t expect past trauma to just fix itself. But the book needed to tie in the VR stuff better. Like, do you feel more yourself as a character in an MMO than in the real world? That’s an interesting point. But the whole subplot with the other guys, and the stuff with the dad, just don’t land at all.
Was a big fan of the author’s first book and would argue that this shows a ton of potential. But maybe it just needed a little more time in the oven.
March 20, 2021
This book is a conversation starter for sure. The subject of cloning is a hot button topic in the scientific community. Is it ethical to make a genetic copy of someone? Is the clone autonomous or just part of another person? Linda is a clone of her older sister who died tragically young at fourteen. Linda's mom Lorelai was so devastated that she decided to clone her daughter and give birth to what she thought would be a perfect copy.
Linda has been through a lot and is struggling to adapt to this technological world. She and her twin were raised by a mother with mental health issues and could never live up to her image of Madison, her first daughter. When Linda left behind the isolated woods she grew up in to live with her father, she was thrust into a whole new world. Linda struggles with social anxiety and goes on 'outings' to the grocery store and other places in an attempt to become more comfortable with her new life.
I really felt for Linda after the abuse and neglect she suffered. She also has people saying she shouldn't exist because she's a clone and has to hide her identity so she isn't harmed. That would be a huge thing to deal with and I imagine you would have a hard time trusting anyone. Linda's new neighbor Anvi was nice and I'm glad she made an effort to befriend Linda.
It took a bit of reading to fully understand what happened to Linda as a child. I was confused on a few things and had to keep going to figure out what actually occurred versus imagination/delusions. I wish this had been a bit more straight forward instead of jumping around timeline wise and into different character's heads.
The ending was interesting though not that much of a surprise. I'm glad things wrapped up well and this is a quick moving story.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the copy.
Linda has been through a lot and is struggling to adapt to this technological world. She and her twin were raised by a mother with mental health issues and could never live up to her image of Madison, her first daughter. When Linda left behind the isolated woods she grew up in to live with her father, she was thrust into a whole new world. Linda struggles with social anxiety and goes on 'outings' to the grocery store and other places in an attempt to become more comfortable with her new life.
I really felt for Linda after the abuse and neglect she suffered. She also has people saying she shouldn't exist because she's a clone and has to hide her identity so she isn't harmed. That would be a huge thing to deal with and I imagine you would have a hard time trusting anyone. Linda's new neighbor Anvi was nice and I'm glad she made an effort to befriend Linda.
It took a bit of reading to fully understand what happened to Linda as a child. I was confused on a few things and had to keep going to figure out what actually occurred versus imagination/delusions. I wish this had been a bit more straight forward instead of jumping around timeline wise and into different character's heads.
The ending was interesting though not that much of a surprise. I'm glad things wrapped up well and this is a quick moving story.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the copy.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 293 reviews