07/20/10
Forget You by Jennifer Echols
Posted In: Book Review
Forget You
Release Date: July 20, 2010
Publisher: MTV Books
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 256
Source: Author
Interest: Author
Challenge: 10 in ’10 Teen Chick Lit.
Buy the Book: Amazon
There’s a lot Zoey would like to forget. Like how her father has knocked up his twenty-four-year old girlfriend. Like Zoey’s fear that the whole town will find out about her mom’s nervous breakdown. Like darkly handsome bad boy Doug taunting her at school. With her life about to become a complete mess, Zoey fights back the only way she knows how, using her famous attention to detail to make sure she’s the perfect daughter, the perfect student, and the perfect girlfriend to ultra-popular football player Brandon.
But then Zoey is in a car crash, and the next day there’s one thing she can’t remember at all—the entire night before. Did she go parking with Brandon, like she planned? And if so, why does it seem like Brandon is avoiding her? And why is Doug—of all people—suddenly acting as if something significant happened between the two of them? Zoey dimly remembers Doug pulling her from the wreck, but he keeps referring to what happened that night as if it was more, and it terrifies Zoey to admit how much is a blank to her. Controlled, meticulous Zoey is quickly losing her grip on the all-important details of her life—a life that seems strangely empty of Brandon, and strangely full of Doug.
This novel is hot. This novel is one of my all time favorite books. Honestly… I am at a loss for words. And that’s not supposed to happen to me… right? I mean I’m supposed to be able to spout my undying love for novels that totally rock my socks off. I’m just having a hard time trying to compose my thoughts on something that is unlike anything I’ve ever encountered.
I loved Jennifer’s novel Going Too Far, so when I saw the blurb for Forget You…. I couldn’t wait to read it. Luckily I received an advance readers copy and the day it arrived I devoured it in it’s entirety. I simply couldn’t put it down. And while I wasn’t expecting it to exceed the magnificence of Going Too Far, it did… and then some. Writing this review actually makes me want to read it again…
There are things that I expect to be addressed when reading young adult literature, and there are things that I don’t expect to see when reading young adult literature. And not just because there are things that people have decided may be too mature for young adults… like gasp… sex…. but there are things that just aren’t written about because it’s taboo to talk about them period. It’s like saying penis or vagina…. god forbid you mutter those two words in public…. like they are a bad thing. There is nothing wrong with those words! That being said, and as I’m finally getting to the point of this whole paragraph… there is nothing wrong with be comfortable with your body in a sexual manner…. being a teen is a hard business, there isn’t anything wrong with exploring your own body… and now I’m totally going off an a tangent here… but something that I really respected about this novel is that Jennifer tackled things in this novel that I wished someone would have had the guts to write about when I was a teen. And if you still haven’t figured out what I’m talking about…. I’m just going to lay it out for you. Masturbation. Yep, that’s right. I said it… masturbation. Are you mature enough for it? I think that teens today are. I think teens today are a lot more intelligent and self aware than I was…. I think they deserve a lot more credit than what we give them. And thank you Jennifer Echols for giving them the credit they deserve.
Now I’m sure I probably scared some of you away with the masturbation talk, but please don’t think that’s all this novel is about because it’s not… it’s a very very very minuscule part of the novel I mean you could read the novel and not even realize that aspect is even in there, and I really only mentioned it because…. when I read something like “I hoped he couldn’t tell I was still tingling and swirling from everything Doug and I had and hadn’t done to each other. I hurried into my dad’s house, past the cameras and into my room, to finish what we’d started.” and then I think… did I just read what I think I did… and then read the stance again… and then realize I did read what I think I did… well it was just so freaggin’ awesome to see that mentioned in a ya book. I just wanted to yell from my roof top: HELL YES JENNIFER ECHOLS, YOU ROCK!
And you can probably get from that little snippet that there is some serious sexual chemistry going on between the two main characters. Doug and Zoey. Did anyone else realize how totally alike these characters were or was it only me? They both have fathers that are not only assholes but they like to bully people into getting their way, their mothers are both absent from their lives for the most part… Doug’s mother being deceased and then Zoey’s mom being emotionally unavailable for her daughter because she’s in a mental institution…. these two need each other more than they could ever possibly fathom.
Zoey comes across as a bitch… but there are some serious underlying issues there, which I think are apparent in the novel… she’s trying to cling to the ‘normal’ or what she thinks is normal…. what she thinks is the perfect image that she has to uphold… this is where Brandon comes into play. She’s not so stupid that she doesn’t realize the guy is the biggest player and that a one night stand with her suddenly makes him her boyfriend…. but he’s going to make Zoey look perfect, look put together and that’s what she needs right now. She needs that image to feel sane. (What she really needs is DOUG! She just doesn’t know it yet!) And then Doug, the other piece to this puzzle… and really the piece of the puzzle that Zoey needs because he is the only one that knows what happened the night of the accident. Alluring because of his imperfections, and his dark past… that no one really knows the truth about, he is the ying to Zoey’s yang.
The writing is off the wall…. it’s so simple to read, yet it’s incredibly complex. Yes, I realize that, that makes no sense what-so-ever… so why don’t I just say that it was magnificently well written. You know as much about that night as Zoey does… which is a big fat nothing. I don’t know what kept me flipping the pages… the anticipation of finding out what really happened that night, or the if and when Doug and Zoey would finally get together. Not to mention Zoey’s personal growth… finally coming to terms with the imperfection with her life… it was amazing.
And I think that’s all I’m going to say about that.
Read it.
Related posts:
- Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols
- Win The Ex Games by Jennifer Echols!
- Forget-Her-Nots by Amy Brecount White
- In Too Deep by Jennifer Banash
- The Hate List by Jennifer Brown
79 Comments
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I thought the same thing.
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That police car scene!! *HOT*
Great review! -
It wasn't my cup of tea. There was too much sex & sex talk for me. It irritated me. Everyone has different tastes so I'm glad so many people liked it.
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Told you could do it, Kristi! And this totally was the longest review I've ever seen on The Story Siren!
For the record: I loved the sex and sex talk in this book. I think there should more sex in YA (as long as it's done well!). And I'm so glad it was Jen Echols that wrote this book because she's fully capable of pulling of this type of content!
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you have definitely got me wanting to read this ASAP!
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*happily sighs* Thank you for such a positive review… I've been looking forward to this one for quite awhile and picking up a copy ASAP!
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I just got this in the mail today for a tour! I so hope I love it as much as you!
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I thought the same thing.
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Already have this in my wishlist because I loved Going Too Far and I've seen mixed reviews of it. Other people were disappointed, saying that Going Too Far was better while others said that it was just as good. In any case, I'm still going to grab it as soon as it becomes available over here.
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That police car scene!! *HOT*
Great review! -
It wasn't my cup of tea. There was too much sex & sex talk for me. It irritated me. Everyone has different tastes so I'm glad so many people liked it.
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Told you could do it, Kristi! And this totally was the longest review I've ever seen on The Story Siren!
For the record: I loved the sex and sex talk in this book. I think there should more sex in YA (as long as it's done well!). And I'm so glad it was Jen Echols that wrote this book because she's fully capable of pulling of this type of content!
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you have definitely got me wanting to read this ASAP!
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I'm starting this book right now, and I'm so glad I stopped by here to read your review. I loved it and I can't wait to devour Forget You entirely!
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I loved this one so much! It was just so awesome. I can't wait for more books from Jennifer Echols
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Well, it looks like a great book
I really really loves the books that talking about sex… because that's real… it's not only like a fairytale!!!!
and I like so much your review….
I'd like read this one!!kisses
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*happily sighs* Thank you for such a positive review… I've been looking forward to this one for quite awhile and picking up a copy ASAP!
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I just got this in the mail today for a tour! I so hope I love it as much as you!
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GAH! I have been more anxious for Forget You than I've been for anything else in a long time! This review just makes me MORE anxious. I loved Going Too Far as well, I can't wait to read it!
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I loved the review! Now I'm sooo excited to read it! I preorderd it a while ago and it's being shipped tomorrow! I'm waiting very impatiently.
I'm also glad the whole sex thing is adressed. I hate it when people say that us teens shouldn't be reading that because it's taboo and god forbid that we read anything about it. It's a realistic part of teens lives and like other people's comments I think there should be more sex in books. We can handle it!
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Now, I just HAVE to get this book. Very, very nice review!
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Already have this in my wishlist because I loved Going Too Far and I've seen mixed reviews of it. Other people were disappointed, saying that Going Too Far was better while others said that it was just as good. In any case, I'm still going to grab it as soon as it becomes available over here.
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I'm starting this book right now, and I'm so glad I stopped by here to read your review. I loved it and I can't wait to devour Forget You entirely!
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I loved this one so much! It was just so awesome. I can't wait for more books from Jennifer Echols
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Well, it looks like a great book
I really really loves the books that talking about sex… because that's real… it's not only like a fairytale!!!!
and I like so much your review….
I'd like read this one!!kisses
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GAH! I have been more anxious for Forget You than I've been for anything else in a long time! This review just makes me MORE anxious. I loved Going Too Far as well, I can't wait to read it!
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I loved the review! Now I'm sooo excited to read it! I preorderd it a while ago and it's being shipped tomorrow! I'm waiting very impatiently.
I'm also glad the whole sex thing is adressed. I hate it when people say that us teens shouldn't be reading that because it's taboo and god forbid that we read anything about it. It's a realistic part of teens lives and like other people's comments I think there should be more sex in books. We can handle it!
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Now, I just HAVE to get this book. Very, very nice review!
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I've read a few reviews of this book that made me think that it wouldn't be very good but after reading your point of view, really want to check it out
Cade
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I've read a few reviews of this book that made me think that it wouldn't be very good but after reading your point of view, really want to check it out
Cade
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I'm still yet to read anything by Jennifer Echols (shocking, I know!) but this sounds all kinds of awesome, will most definitely resolve to put this on my to-read list!
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This is my second review and both have great ratings. I am definitely TBRing it!=) Thank you for a well rounded review!=)
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I'm still yet to read anything by Jennifer Echols (shocking, I know!) but this sounds all kinds of awesome, will most definitely resolve to put this on my to-read list!
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This is my second review and both have great ratings. I am definitely TBRing it!=) Thank you for a well rounded review!=)
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*gulps* I've never read anything by Jennifer Echols. I guess I should, huh?
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Better than Going to Far??? I can't wait! that book was on my top 10 for last year.
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*gulps* I've never read anything by Jennifer Echols. I guess I should, huh?
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Better than Going to Far??? I can't wait! that book was on my top 10 for last year.
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Cannot WAIT to read this! The synopsis makes it sound great, and all of the reviews I have read make it sound great, and Jennifer Echols just seems so sweet. I need to buy this. These reviews are driving me crazy with anticipation.
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This is the 2nd really awesome review I've read for this book today. I'm even more excited to read it now. Thanks for the review.
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Cannot WAIT to read this! The synopsis makes it sound great, and all of the reviews I have read make it sound great, and Jennifer Echols just seems so sweet. I need to buy this. These reviews are driving me crazy with anticipation.
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Good review. I'm so excited to read this. Your review just made my anticipation worse!
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This is the 2nd really awesome review I've read for this book today. I'm even more excited to read it now. Thanks for the review.
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I'm definitely going out to buy this book today. I love that Jennifer Echols talks about sex and sexual behavior in her books–it's such an important part of teen life that it's almost irresponsible to ignore. Great review!
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Good review. I'm so excited to read this. Your review just made my anticipation worse!
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I'm definitely going out to buy this book today. I love that Jennifer Echols talks about sex and sexual behavior in her books–it's such an important part of teen life that it's almost irresponsible to ignore. Great review!
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Oh! Now I want it so bad! Great review. I'm glad that more authors today are talking about 'taboo' subjects.
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Even if it was only a day, having amnesia would be scary. This is the third review today I've read for this one and everyone seems to like it but share a lot of your opinions.
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Oh! Now I want it so bad! Great review. I'm glad that more authors today are talking about 'taboo' subjects.
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Oh, I can't wait to read this book. Loved, love, loved reading your review and am now definitely adding this to my to read list.
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Even if it was only a day, having amnesia would be scary. This is the third review today I've read for this one and everyone seems to like it but share a lot of your opinions.
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Can't wait to read this one!
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Oh, I can't wait to read this book. Loved, love, loved reading your review and am now definitely adding this to my to read list.
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Can't wait to read this one!
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Now I can't wait to read this, especially after your stunning review! And I agree with Sara, this really is the longest review I've ever seen on The Story Siren. You must've really loved it. :]
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Now I can't wait to read this, especially after your stunning review! And I agree with Sara, this really is the longest review I've ever seen on The Story Siren. You must've really loved it. :]
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Bravo to YOU for having the guts to point it out and say it openly like that.
I haven't read this yet but I'll probably be on your side because I agree, more authors need to dare to write more openly about those things.
Now, I just need to get myself a copy.
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Bravo to YOU for having the guts to point it out and say it openly like that.
I haven't read this yet but I'll probably be on your side because I agree, more authors need to dare to write more openly about those things.
Now, I just need to get myself a copy.
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I can really tell you enjoyed this one..Your review is a bit longer then normal.
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I can really tell you enjoyed this one..Your review is a bit longer then normal.
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amazing review, I agree with you on the matter of sexuality needing to be explored in ya book, because if I remember correctly that was a crucial part of being a teen (not in a perverted horndog way). I can't wait to read this one just based on the excitement in your tone
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What an AWESOME review. I already love Jennifer Echols (and I'll be seeing her next week at RWA!), so what a relief to hear that this book has soooo much awesomeness in it. I really can't wait to read it now! And as a side note, your review was so honest and so heartfelt — I can only imagine Jennifer is squeeing like crazy right now.
Thanks for posting this review! -
amazing review, I agree with you on the matter of sexuality needing to be explored in ya book, because if I remember correctly that was a crucial part of being a teen (not in a perverted horndog way). I can't wait to read this one just based on the excitement in your tone
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What an AWESOME review. I already love Jennifer Echols (and I'll be seeing her next week at RWA!), so what a relief to hear that this book has soooo much awesomeness in it. I really can't wait to read it now! And as a side note, your review was so honest and so heartfelt — I can only imagine Jennifer is squeeing like crazy right now.
Thanks for posting this review! -
I really want to read this now!
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Oh my goodness, this review total rocked my socks off.
You GO GIRL!
Love, Hannah -
I really want to read this now!
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Oh my goodness, this review total rocked my socks off.
You GO GIRL!
Love, Hannah -
This book looks awesome! I can't wait to read it! This review was amazing!
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This book looks awesome! I can't wait to read it! This review was amazing!
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Wow. A review that has you twisting over your words and explaining a lot but not to much… Obviously, this book must be read. Sometimes it's the inability to articulate that says more than perfectly formed review.
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Wow. A review that has you twisting over your words and explaining a lot but not to much… Obviously, this book must be read. Sometimes it's the inability to articulate that says more than perfectly formed review.
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Wow, that has got to be one of your most enthusiastic reviews! Glad you enjoyed it so much!
~Alyssa
Teens Read & Write -
Wow, that has got to be one of your most enthusiastic reviews! Glad you enjoyed it so much!
~Alyssa
Teens Read & Write -
I can't wait to read this! It looks so awesome and a great read
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I can't wait to read this! It looks so awesome and a great read
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I bought this book after rave reviews here and elsewhere, but I was really disappointed. Yes, the Doug character was totally hot, but Zoey was such a judgey cow that I found it difficult to relate to her. She was really, truly horrid. Not to mention incredibly self-deluded.
Worse, the story simply did not make sense chronologically. For starters, how, during the space of a few months, did the father obtain the divorce required to marry his new wife?
Shall not go further into my issues, because I don't want to ruin the story for anyone.
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I bought this book after rave reviews here and elsewhere, but I was really disappointed. Yes, the Doug character was totally hot, but Zoey was such a judgey cow that I found it difficult to relate to her. She was really, truly horrid. Not to mention incredibly self-deluded.
Worse, the story simply did not make sense chronologically. For starters, how, during the space of a few months, did the father obtain the divorce required to marry his new wife?
Shall not go further into my issues, because I don't want to ruin the story for anyone.
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