Forget You (Jennifer Echols) Review

Publisher: MTV (July 20, 2010)
Paperback: 293 pages
Book from Author

WHY CAN’T YOU CHOOSE WHAT YOU FORGET . . . AND WHAT YOU REMEMBER? There’s a lot Zoey would like to forget. Like how her father has knocked up his twenty-four- year old girlfriend. Like Zoey’s fear that the whole town will find out about her mom’s nervous breakdown. Like darkly handsome bad boy Doug taunting her at school. Feeling like her life is about to become a complete mess, Zoey fights back the only way she knows how, using her famous attention to detail to make sure she’s the perfect daughter, the perfect student, and the perfect girlfriend to ultra-popular football player Brandon.

But then Zoey is in a car crash, and the next day there’s one thing she can’t remember at all—the entire night before. Did she go parking with Brandon, like she planned? And if so, why does it seem like Brandon is avoiding her? And why is Doug—of all people— suddenly acting as if something significant happened between the two of them? Zoey dimly remembers Doug pulling her from the wreck, but he keeps referring to what happened that night as if it was more, and it terrifies Zoey to admit how much is a blank to her. Controlled, meticulous Zoey is quickly losing her grip on the all-important details of her life—a life that seems strangely empty of Brandon, and strangely full of Doug. (Source)

Review
FORGET YOU, by Jennifer Echols, follows Zoey in her journey to piece the puzzle of one night that changed her forever. Echols kept me glued to this book right from the start. Zoey was the typical star athlete and rich girl in town that would do anything to keep her reputation. But after a car crash, she is thrust into a mystery of what happened that night and how her world was turned upside down.

I can't give enough praise for this book. There are times when I read books and I want to be "in" on the secret and see how the characters succeed, but then there are times when I am in the dark along with the character. I am not sure which I prefer but this book was definitely the latter. In the beginning, we are introduced to Zoey and her day-to-day relationships and friendships, but you soon realize how big of a cover she shows to the world. After the accident, Zoey is confused with her change in relationships and has to ultimately decide to portray either what she wants to be or what others want her to be.

Slight warning to those in the former end of the YA age group, there are several scenes of high teenage hormonal imbalances that lead to sexual situations. Most YA books that I have read tend to steer clear of these situations because sometimes it is not all about sex or romance, which is commendable. But I think in this book the sensual situations fit perfectly into the story. Zoey was having a rough time with her parents initially and as a teenager it is hard to figure out how to handle those feelings. There was a quote written during one of these scenes that really stuck with me and helped me understand Zoey so much more:

"I was doing what everyone else had already done, which made me normal."

I really felt for her when I read this because in the chaos that was her life at that moment she just wanted to be normal. I think she executed her frustrations in the wrong way, but that is what being a teenager is about, making mistakes. I think Echols tactfully explored these scenes and gave a good message overall.

I have to say I loved the Zoey and Doug relationship. For whatever reason, I dig relationships that start off with the characters hating each other. In these relationships, the participants are not afraid to get on each other's bad sides and explore the side of the other that you might not see right away. Zoey, being the captain of the swim team, always got on Doug's case, causing him to get on hers too. This hate relationship transformed during the blackout that Zoey had, and she was shocked to discover why that was.

How adorable is the cover? I love the way he is looking at her and after reading the book I feel the cover represents the story even more. Overall, I recommend this book. It was a fun read with a great romance. I loved filling in the blanks of Zoey's wild night, and I think you will too!

For more information about this book and others by Jennifer Echols, check out her website.