The Art of Forgetting
Release date: 2011 / 284 pages
Synopsis (from the back cover): Marissa Rogers never wanted to be an alpha; beta suited her just fine. Taking charge without taking credit had always paid off: vaulting her to senior editor at a glossy magazine; keeping the peace with her critical, weight-obsessed mother; and enjoying the benefits of being best friends with gorgeous, charismatic, absolutely alpha Julia Ferrar. And then Julia gets hit by a cab…
First Sentence: There is only one way to boost your metabolism: exercise.
Review: This was an interesting novel since my expectations continually changed throughout my reading. At its heart, this novel is a romance — and is enjoyable as such. However, romantic relationships are not even hinted at in the plot summary on the back cover, so I was a bit surprised when the true nature of this novel’s genre revealed itself.
As a romance, this novel works. The male characters are without flaws, as romantic leads so often are, and the heroine must overcome her own resistance to “Mr. Right,” leave behind “Mr. Almost Right” and follow her heart.
However, as a character-driven hero’s journey, The Art of Forgetting struggles a bit. First, the reader is not familiar with Marissa and Julia’s relationship before the cab accident (which occurs within the first few pages). So, not having anything to compare Julia’s new personality or their morphed relationship to is a bit disorienting at times. Second, neither Julia nor Marissa are particularly likeable. Marissa is judgemental, most likely due to insecurity stemming from her mother, etc., but even understanding the source of her judgement does not soften her often myopic view of herself, her sister, her mother, and her assistant. Julia is hard to perceive since we only know her through Marissa’s perspective — who seems to believe Julia is out to get her at every turn.
So, while the novel was quite different than I expected (and does not relate to the image on the front cover until possibly the last scene), I did truly enjoy this novel even though the marketing was a bit misleading.
Interested in winning a free copy? Drop me a comment below and I will choose a lucky winner by the weekend!
Monday, June 6th: Luxury Reading
Tuesday, June 7th: Book Club Classics!
Wednesday, June 8th: Book Addiction
Thursday, June 9th: That’s What She Read
Friday, June 10th: Life in the Thumb
Monday, June 13th: Rundpinne
Tuesday, June 14th: The Brain Lair
Wednesday, June 15th: Book Hooked Blog
Thursday, June 16th: Library of Clean Reads
Friday, June 17th: Dolce Bellezza
Monday, June 20th: Peeking Between the Pages
Tuesday, June 21st: BookNAround
Wednesday, June 22nd: Books, Movies, and Chinese Food
Thursday, June 23rd: 2 Kids and Tired
Monday, June 27th: Stiletto Storytime
Tuesday, June 28th: The Well-Read Wife
Wednesday, June 29th: Bookworm with a View
Thursday, June 30th: Unabridged Chick
This book sounds like a good read. I enjoy books about female relationships. One book I read recently, DECEPTION by Jonathan Kellerman, went in a completely different direction from the blurb. Although I enjoyed the book, I read it with different expectations.
Sounds intriguing.
I don’t read too many romances but this sounds like it might be a good break from my usual genre…murder mysteries. I can picture myself reading this in my backyard on a warm sunny day with a cool drink next to me.
Sounds like a very different book, good for me try out. Thanks again.
My kind of novel, it sounds interesting and has romance too. Please enter me. Thanks!
This book sounds intriguing to me. Thanks for the giveaway.
I’d like to give it a try…thanks
Interesting that the cover blurb didn’t include info about the romance. I’m glad you enjoyed that part of it though!
Thanks for being on the tour.
OH I really wanted to read this but was too late for the blog tour, so definitely enter me
thansk fort he great review!
strandedhero(at)gmail(dot)com
This book sounds wonderful. I’d love the chance to win it. I’m really interested in memory in general, so since I first heard about it, I’ve been intrigued. Your comment about the misleading marketing was so interesting. I wonder why the publishers made that decision? Thanks for the honest review.
I love that first line. Oh so true (for the most part)
I really can’t wait to read it. People say the best things about this book.
I’m really interested in reading this book. While this review isn’t the most uplifting one I’ve seen, I’ve been reading some really positive things about this book…so fingers crossed. I still want to read it.
I hope I’m not too late?
I’d love to win a copy of this book.
Sounds like a great book. Please enter me in the free give away! Thanks…
Am I too late? If not, please include me in the giveaway – I am so excited to read this book – it sounds awesome! And the cover is beautiful!
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