Liza and Molly, long time best friends, who have grown apart, set up a video chat so they can catch up with each other, during which Liza sees a masked intruder enter Molly's home. The fallout from this event leads to exposing major problems in the marriage of Molly and her husband Daniel. Molly and Daniel have been keeping secrets from each other for years and with all those secrets, the intruder could be any number of people. Still, this isn't a search for the intruder but instead a character study about how two best friends can have grown so far apart and how a marriage that seemed to start out so well, could become so dead.

Liza, the concerned friend, who that same night, loses everything she owns, is a likable and sympathetic character, during an extremely upsetting time in her life. Molly, who suffers from chronic pain and health problems, is an angry, bitter women who has gone to dangerous extremes in order to find help for her pain. Her husband Daniel has his secrets at home and at work, although he appears to be putting in a real effort to mend his relationship with Molly. Both Molly and Liza spent an enormous amount of time overthinking things and their overthinking affects their lives in detrimental ways.

I actually enjoyed reading about the side characters of Max, Henry, and Rick more than reading about Molly and Daniel. Hard to believe these two disconnected people could have such witty children and I spent a lot of the book feeling sorry for the kids and for Molly and Daniel's neighbor, Rick, who is treated horribly by Daniel. I wish this book were easier for me to describe but with all the overthinking of the two women characters, I often felt overwhelmed reading the story. Which brings me to why I probably enjoyed the side characters more than the main characters...the side characters weren't bogged down by the overthinking, run on thoughts, of the main characters.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this Advance Read Copy.

"Forget You Know Me" by Jessica Strawser is about the dwindling friendship of Molly and Liza, who grew up together, went to school together, but are now feeling the distance of Liza's move to Chicago from Cincinnati where they grew up. In an attempt to rebuild their friendship, they attempt a video call. Molly's husband Daniel is away on business and her kids are in bed, and she and Liza sit down at their respective computers with some wine and awkward conversation. When Molly has to go upstairs to check on one of the kids, Liza witnesses a masked intruder before he notices her and closes Molly's laptop. Liza calls the police, which apparently scares the intruder away, but when Liza tries to talk to Molly about what happened, Molly completely shuts Liza out. When Liza then experiences a near miss of her own and ends up moving back to Cincinnati, what develops is a twisted series of events that makes the reader wonder what actually happened that night and why Molly is being so secretive.

I really struggled with this. It started strong, and even though it's classified as women's fiction, the description really made it sound more like a thriller. Do not make the mistake of thinking this will be more action-packed than it is. You will be disappointed. This book reminded me of a short-lived TV series called "Consequences," in which the main character makes one bad decision after another in an attempt to cover up his previous bad decisions.

I thought Liza's character was believable in her response to her near miss (which I won't give away), and I appreciate her loyalty to her best friend, but I'm not sure Molly was worthy of loyalty. I found her to be completely unsympathetic, and I really disliked her at the end of the book. And don't even get me started on how I felt about Daniel at the end. The number of secrets everyone was keeping was just ridiculous it was like everyone in their circle had something major to hide.

I am a fan of well-written women's fiction with strong characters, and while I think the author writes in a great, realistic voice, her strongest character, in my opinion, was Liza's sister-in-law, who has a secondary story line. I'm sure there are plenty of people who will love this story, but it's not one I would recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a free copy in exchange for an honest review. This title is scheduled for publication in February 2019.

“Forget You Know Me” by Jessica Strawser is a novel about friendships, marriage, growing apart, and whether it is possible to be honest with anyone including oneself.

Liza and Molly have been close friends since childhood. Liza is perpetually single, but Molly met and fell in love with Daniel and has two kids. While the two women did everything they could to maintain their friendship, when Liza took a job in Chicago and left Cincinnati, the two started to grow apart. At the same time, as Daniel became wrapped up with his job and Molly started to suffer unexplained physical pains, the marriage experienced its own growing pains.

Molly and Liza, determined to renew their friendship, connect via Skype while Daniel is out of town on business. When Molly walks away from the computer screen to check on a crying child, Liza views from the computer screen a masked man enter through the back door. Liza screams for her friend, and then tries to reach her friend by cell phone, but the intruder’s response is to close the laptop.

Panicked, Liza continues to try and contact her friend and then the police in Cincinnati. When Molly finally returns Liza’s call, it’s not to thank her friend for her concern, but to abrasively dismiss the issue and insist she is fine. Concerned that Molly is hiding something, Liza heads to Cincinnati (with her best Chicago friend, Max), but when she arrives the next morning, it’s not a grateful friend who answers the door, but one who is angry at Liza for checking up on her. At the same time, Molly’s husband, Daniel, has returned prematurely from his business trip. He is confused as to why his wife failed to contact him about the intruder (nor mention it once he returned home) and without his wife being aware, witnesses his wife slam the door in Liza’s face.

This is a lot of plot for the reader to digest in the opening chapters of the book and so many details require patience on the part of the reader, especially when Liza returns to Chicago where she discovers that she escaped an apartment fire that could have ended her own life if she hadn’t made the decision to go check up on her friend. Because of the fire, she returns to Cincinnati. Liza has to decide whether her friendship with Molly is worth salvaging as at the same time, Molly decides whether her marriage to Daniel can be rebuilt.

The novel revolves among the three points of view of Liza, Molly, and Daniel and the reader learns quickly that none of these narrators are reliable (or quite that likeable). Keeping track of the different plot twists can be a bit difficult, especially when Rick, Molly’s neighbor whose daughter is a friend of Molly’s daughter, may or may not have been the intruder. When the issues facing Liza, Molly and Daniel become clearer, the mystery of the intruder continues (though a savvy reader may be able to figure it out before his identity is revealed).

Despite so much plot, parts of the novel feel slow as if Strawser felt obligated to emphasize a point that perhaps did not need so much emphasis. Another issue with the novel is that its not sure if it wants to be a thriller or a more serious exploration of relationships, and unfortunately, it does not quite succeed in either of those categories. While her main characters are developed and somewhat believable, as mentioned above, they’re not necessarily likeable and the reader may find it difficult to decide whether any character (or relationship) is worth rooting for.

If you are a fan of Strawser’s two earlier novels, expect this to be a departure. But if you enjoy her writing style and her strong characterizations, this novel will not disappoint you.

“Forget That You Know Me” is set to published by St. Martin’s Press on February 2, 2019. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press in providing me an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review.

I liked this book,however it was not much of an edge of your seat kind of story. More of a character study between the two female leads, with friendships strained, and plenty of secrets. Pretty good, just not great.

***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of FORGET YOU KNOW ME by Jessica Strawser in exchange for my honest review.***

Best friends since childhood, stay-at-home mom Molly and Liza keep their relationship alive on Skype when one night Liza witnesses a masked intruder in Molly’s home. When the police find nothing amiss Liza drives hours overnight, only to be turned away by Molly, the fate of their friendship in question.

FORGET YOU KNOW ME starts off as a promising thriller, but after the first few chapters become more women’s fiction. I wouldn’t have still requested this ARC had I known the genre switch, but would have preferred to know what I was reading to keep my expectations realistic. I’m the type of reader who does a lot of research before choosing what type book I’m in the mood to read, so if I’m expecting a white knuckle read, I can feel let down by domestic drama.

Jessica Strawser’s characters proved deeper and more complex than I initially thought. I loved that Molly and Liza looked toward Eleanor Roosevelt as inspiration beginning in their teen years and into adulthood as she’s always been one of my role models. I didn’t agree with many Molly and Liza’s choices, but won’t say which to avoid spoiling.

FORGET YOU KNOW ME will intrigue and delight readers of women’s fiction.

This is a story that is jump started by a BFF video chat and a masked man. Liza lives in Chicago, and Molly lives in Cincinnati. These longtime friends arrange a virtual "Girls Night Out" at their respective homes to catch up over a glass of wine.

It starts with a fast thriller vibe that is slightly sinister, but then morphs into a slow and steady pace. The masked man fades into the background, and brought to the forefront are the themes of female friendship, marital discord, family, finances, identity, home, secrets, lies, scandal, and personal crisis. It's a character study of two women trying to find their way in life when things fall apart.

The characters were not likeable for me, but they are well developed and by the end I knew them well. I didn't agree with their actions, but Liza and Molly's separate situations are relatable and found myself wondering how I'd face them. How they handle their issues is a test of their own character and the strength of their friendship. By the end, the masked man's identity is revealed and all of the loose ends are tied together with a satisfying conclusion. I liked that the characters changed their perspectives, examined their flaws and decisions, and opened up to doing things differently than they had in the past.

Jessica Strawser is an excellent storyteller. Some have referenced her books as thrillers, but this one is really a domestic drama. If you start the book with this perspective, then you will enjoy it.

Molly and Liza have been close friends for years and consider each other family. After Liza moves out of state and Molly starts a family, friend time is hard to find. One night when Molly’s husband Daniel is out of town they decide to facetime and have a ‘girls night”. When Molly has to step away from her computer, Liza is witness to something horrible. Frantic, Liza contacts the police. She can not get in contact with Molly and decides to drive across state to check on her safety. When Liza arrives to Molly’s house she is shocked when Molly shuts the door in her face and tells her to leave. No thank you. No explanation. Liza is baffled and returns home, only to find her life in ashes and is forced to start over. Molly is forced to confront her drowning financial issues and fears her husband will not understand. Daniel has his own issues that threaten his marriage. This is a story about how secrets and neglect can decay a marriage and how far a friendship can last without communication. I was excited to read this book from Jessica Strawser. It was a good read and I look forward to reading more from the author.

An interesting novel about friendship, love and trust.
These three qualities are the foundations of good relationships.
However; when doubt creeps in, these three valuable qualities will fall away. People change. People back away.
This book tells how four people work through insecurities to reunite in friendship and family.
I read this book in a day as I needed to find out exactly what each chapter held and how would these characters survive.
Most definitely a women's fiction story that most will enjoy and a quick read.

Forget You Know Me got off to a slow start for me but I am glad that I stuck with it. The story about Liza, Molly, Rick and Daniel ended up sucking me in. There were so many different issues and situations going on simultaneously and there I was trying to figure it all out. Jessica Strawser definitely created some unexpected twists and turns!

This was my first time reading Strawser and I am so glad I did. After reading the description I expected it to be more of a thriller than it was, but the plot still had me hooked. The author did a great job developing the characters and making the main character likable and relatable. I read this book in a 2 day period as I couldn’t put it down. 4/5 stars!

Molly is struggling with her life and when an unexpected intruder is seen by a friend she is Skyping with it sets in motion events that could ruin her or save her. How can she explain to her best friend Liza or her husband Daniel what is going on? But can she continue the way her life is? A story of choices and the consequence of those choices.

Liza and Molly have been best friends forever, but their friendship changes as their lives take different paths. Molly is married with 2 children now, and Liza has moved hours away. But they keep in touch and catch up when they can. One night, with Molly’s husband away on a business trip and the kids in bed, Molly and Liza finally meet at their computers for a “virtual girls night”. When Molly is called away for a second, Liza helplessly watches as a masked man in dark clothing silently enters Molly’s house and shuts the computer. Molly doesn’t return Liza’s calls, so Liza calls the police, who show up at Molly’s house, but are turned away after a brief visit. Liza panics, races several hours to her friend’s house, only to be rebuffed.
The characters are well-developed, and the storyline is interesting. Molly is a bit frustrating in her self-centeredness, but that’s how some people are. There are some twists and turns which keep you on your toes. All in all, an interesting read.

Who was it that broke in that night? It did happen, didn't it? How could so many lives have gotten so complicated, so many decisions have turned out so badly?

An intricately constructed story starts with a home invasion incident accidentally witnessed over Skype, but the journey proceeds in myriad peculiar ways. When a pebble is dropped in a pond that has assorted twigs and flowers distributed randomly over its surface, the ripples become random, too, but they are still connected... This plot is like that.

At first, I had no idea what to say about Forget You Know Me.

After reading, I felt the same way I do when I watch a really good trailer, see the movie, and then wonder if I had watched a trailer for the wrong movie.

Don't get me wrong. I liked the book, but the blurb led me astray. This book is not a thriller and it is not a mystery. Once I got past that, I was able to more easily sift through my thoughts and evaluate the book more clearly. 

This is character driven story. The real drama is in the relationships both built and broken, and how far each is willing to go to repair the damage they have done. 

Liza is a relatable protagonist. She is strong and independent, but a major plot point leaves her understandably shaken and she is a bit adrift. She begins to question her choices, and as she learns to navigate through the uncertainty, I find myself cheering her on.

Molly, on the other hand, is easy to dislike. She is pretty miserable through out and she is terrible to her husband, who is no saint, but who is clearly trying. They both have life altering secrets they are keeping from one another and it pushed the boundaries of credibility that they remained married, but seemed to not communicate about the most basic things. I did begin to empathize with her struggles later in the book, but I can't say that I ever really cared about her all that much. 

For the most part, I was pleased with the resolution, especially from Liza's point of view. 

This is a great book for book clubs, and if you enjoy domestic dramas, this is the book for you. 

3.5/5 stars

I received an ARC from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Expected date of publication is February 5, 2019.

Thank you Netgalley for this advanced copy for an honest review.

The book hooked me right away... And then it lost me. I don't know if it was lack of sympathy for the characters but something just lost its luster. One character got too whiny. The husband annoyed me. I did want to know what happened so that kept me intrigued.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5— Forget You Know Me— Jessica Strawser
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This is my second Strawser book and I liked it, but the description is slightly deceiving.
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What sounded like a thriller and starts like a thriller, quickly tapered off. The relationships written about in this book are wonderful. They are complicated and real. These were my favorite part of the book.
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What brought this to three and a half stars was what seemed like a book that teetered on a deep relationship book or what wanted to be a thriller.

Genre: Fiction – Thriller

Rating – 4.5/5

I want to start by sharing that I am a huge fan of Jessica Strawser, and I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to review her book prior to it’s publication, courtesy of NetGalley. Thank you, NetGalley!

I first discovered Strawser through Book of the Month when her novel, Not That I Could Tell, became one of the monthly picks. Having read the synopsis and finding out that the novel took place a mere 30 minutes from where I lived, I decided to give it a shot. Instantly, I fell in love. I then reached out to Strawser, who invited me to a local book signing. I saw her again later that week at the Erma Bombeck Writer’s Workshop, where she led courses for new and upcoming writers like myself.

Her newest novel, Forget You Know Me, is just as suspenseful, if not moreso, than her other two novels. She has a knack for leaving readers at the edge of their seat.

When Molly and Liza are chatting via webcam from there respective homes, Liza sees something she isn’t supposed to. An intruder, dressed in black, entering her best friend’s home, while Molly is upstairs checking on her young children. When Liza drive six hours from her apartment in Chicago to the suburbs of Cincinnati to check on her dear friend, she finds that she is not as welcome as she thought she might be. In fact, Molly is extremely upset with Liza and utters the phrase, “forget you know me”.

Why is Molly so mad at Liza for coming to her rescue? Who was the intruder? Did Molly know him? Expect him? And where is her husband in all of this?

The questions are endless, and they continue throughout the story. Every narrative has their doubts, their secrets, their lies. Without spoiling more for you, I’ll leave you with this: you’ve got to read this book.

Most thrillers are getting cliche, and this one simply isn’t. We hear the same stories over and over, and it’s hard to find something suspenseful that is unique. But Strawser doesn’t imitate other artists, she’s not reinventing the wheel – she has her own stories, and damn if they aren’t brilliant!

A sidenote: Cincinnatians will love this book because of it’s setting. Liza goes to Graeter’s Ice Cream, they talk about Tafts Ale House (which, I might add, is where I had lunch this week, and it IS indeed gorgeous and one of my favorite places to grab a drink) – it felt entirely familiar, similar to that of Curtis Sittenfeld’s Eligible.

I can’t wait to share this book with friends and family. I highly recommend pre-ordering now!

Lifelong friends Liza and Molly have grown distant since Liza moved to Chicago. One night, when Molly's husband Daniel is away on business, they have a video chat in a bid to reconnect. After an awkward start, the conversation is flowing easily when Molly has to go check on one of her children. Liza is horrified when she sees a masked man enter her friend's house, and panics when the screen goes dark. She calls the police, and then—unable to get Molly to answer her phone—Liza jumps in her car and drives all night to make sure she is okay, only to be turned away by an angry Molly. Confused, hurt, and angry, Liza returns home only to find more heartbreak waiting for her as she tries to figure out what happened that fateful night.

For some reason, I thought this book was a thriller when I read it, even though it's clearly marked as women's fiction on Netgalley. (Something I realized while preparing to write this review.) I originally rated this book at three stars, which would have been fair if it was being marketed as a thriller. Since the correct genre is women's fiction—which puts things in a different light, story-wise—I'm bumping my rating up to four stars.

The main focus of the story is Liza and Molly's fading friendship, as well as the strained relationship between Molly and her husband, Daniel. Molly's life as a wife and mother created a distance with Liza, and it became greater after Liza moved away from their hometown. I felt a great deal of sympathy for both women. I understood Liza's perspective because I've had dear friendships fade away, but my greatest empathy was for Molly. She came across as distinctly unlikable in the beginning, but as the story progresses it becomes evident that Molly is struggling with unidentified medical issues that have her in constant pain, which causes a rift in her marriage and makes mothering her children an often difficult for her.

The main characters—Liza, Molly, and Daniel—all face other obstacles in their lives that complicate the mending of their relationships. Issues faced by Molly and Daniel, in particular, often eclipsed the problems in their relationships... which, I suppose, illustrates how easily day-to-day life interferes in how people interact with those we care about the most.

This was an enjoyable book that I'll have to add to my reread list, so that I can properly enjoy it without misconceptions about what genre of book I'm reading.

If you enjoy reading women's fiction, do give this book a try!

I received an advance reading copy of this book courtesy of St. Martin's Press via Netgalley.

This was an intense and well done book. Very well developed characters and scheming plots! It was very easy to be drawn into the complicated lives of each character. Kept me interested and wanting to find out more.

A wonderful novel of domestic suspense! A Skype call between friends, a masked intruder, a friend in danger, A story of people we love and the lengths we will go to to protect them. Dangerous deceits, friendships in question and a marriage eroding. Well written and kept my attention until the end. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher and author for the opportunity to read an advance copy.