Forget Me Not by Alexandra Oliva is the mind boggling tale of a young woman that is a replacement for her dead sister.
Only the how and why is a remarkable haunting futuristic image of possibilities to come.
This is an exceptional story that was hard for me to put down, with the twists and turns. It was heart tugging at my strings and I was angry at the people around this young woman for the life she has been trough. It is an amazing book.
Definitely one of my top five best I’ve read this year.

This was a very interesting storyline. Linda has been raised as a clone to her deceased sister Madeline. Linda has a twin sister Emmer who she very much misses and wants to find. Linda believes her mother, Lorelai, has something to do with Emmer's disappearance.

Linda has lived a very solitary life never wanting to let anyone in and feeling unloved in her adult life. She has been bullied and made fun of for who she is.

I loved the way Olivia unfolded this story and wove science fiction and futuristic items into different parts. I thought the book very well written and very intriguing. It kept drawing me in deeper and deeper and I had to know more about this dysfunctional family Linda was born into.

There are some very nice twists and turns that I didn't see coming. Not everything in Linda's life is as it has appeared to her and you begin to wonder if anything in her life is true.

I loved Linda's developing friendship with Anvi and how that allowed her to start opening up and learning to stand on her own two feet and begin to find value in herself.

There were so many elements going on in this book that quickly turned into a great story with a dark history and twists and turns that kept me guessing and up all night to finish the story. The touches on mental health, social media, close to a bunker child, crime, friends and family sounds like a lot listing afterwards but made a thoughtful, beautifully composed story. The near off future probably will have similar aspects, and I’m now even more scared to see those come to life. Highly recommend!

disclaimer – i received a copy of this book via random house publishing group - ballantine in exchange for an honest review.

in forget me not, by alexandra oliva, linda was born with one purpose - replace her dead sister. she grows up isolated from the world and all it contains and when the unthinkable happens, she escapes into a world more confusing than the one she fled. fast forward to now and linda's got an apartment, a semi-routine, and an infamous presence on social media that she never asked for and doesn't want. when her childhood home catches fire, linda returns for the first time since escaping, and suddenly everything she thought she knew is upended.

forget me not starts out disjointed and confusing. the first three or four chapters make you feel lost, wondering what's going on and how you ended up in the middle of it. once you get into the story, though, you'll be all-in because ultimately, it's not the story that's disjointed and confusing, it's linda. she is a devastatingly unreliable narrator who can't help but filter every sentence, every action, every facial expression through the lens of her childhood. you're following a linda who's trying to survive in a world she was not prepared for, doesn't understand, and never wanted.

the majority of oliva's other characters are complex and the world she has created for them makes sense and no sense at the same time. arthur, linda's father, seems to start out stiff and overly practical but as the story progresses, you begin to see him outside of linda's perception and end up feeling a great deal of sympathy for him. anvi, linda's new neighbor, is a mystery because we're viewing her solely through linda's lens. because linda is suspicious, you can't help but be suspicious. the only character that doesn't feel real is lorelei, linda's mother. she feels increasingly over-the-top and doesn't really develop so much as become a parody of herself and/or the illness that she may or may not have.

overall, this story hinges on linda and the lens she views every person, action, and interaction through. she is a fully formed, engaging, empathetic character who you follow to the end because you have to see how she handles everything. you just want to make sure that she's going to be okay.

four out of five stars

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!

The essence of this book is that a young women has a major identity crisis because she was the result of a cloning experiment. She thinks she is one of identical twins, but we can't tell for sure because the plot is somewhat convoluted. Along her journey she befriends a neighbor, another woman who is about to start at a high-tech social media company. The story takes place in the near future, but it isn't far enough into the future where the sci-fi gizmos aren't all that amazing.

I would say there are some sufficient weaknesses here in plot, character, and situations that I came away feeling somewhat unsatisfied with the book. Normally I write more enthusiastic reviews but this time am lukewarm.

I wanted to like this book, because I enjoyed the author's first book very much. With such a great starting sentence:" A woman whose name shouldn't be Linda stands inside the locked front of her apartment, listening." I thought I was in for another treat. Unfortunately no. The mystery is revealed early on in a very slow moving story line, that for me just didn't work. The characters are so boring, I couldn't get a feel for any of them, much less care. The ending was predictable, and at that point I was glad it was over.

The author's strange way of introducing the characters by their ethnicity, was another annoying point. A character is never beautiful, attractive, handsome, etc. They are always: white, Asian, brown skinned or mixed race. The scene at the drugstore
was cringe worthy. It has been used so many times that it has lost any meaning , if it ever had one. As did the scene in the woods with Alvi in the woods, worrying that she will be shot because she is brown skinned. With all the tension at the moment over racial justice, maybe don't add wood to the fire?

The author would describe me as a mixed race, woman, as such I don't feel a need to apologize for my white part and I don't need an advocate, for the brown part.

This will probably have broad appeal. It's engaging and contains aspects of a thriller, along with interesting characters and an enjoyable plot. This is unique in some ways, which helped make it more fun. Recommended for most sci-fi fans.

Thanks very much for the ARC for review!!

This was such a unique story, although I'm not sure how to best define it. It didn't feel quite fast-paced enough to be a thriller and the science didn't get deep enough that I'd call it sci-fi. I guess it's a literary mix of the two? Lol! Aside from that, the story was super interesting and different from other things I've read. I really enjoyed the characters and that I didn't figure everything out until the story unfolded. Oliva will be one whose books I always want to read right away.

Side note: This is the first book I've read that referenced the pandemic as a thing of the past. I knew it would be coming as artists roll out new work in this time, but it was still a bit surreal. And left me hopeful that indeed we really will get to a time where we're looking back at this insane year.

A unique story with a compelling character. It took me a bit, but then I was hooked. I wanted to learn about Linda's life and how it became what it did. Overall, a great plot with twists and turns, but always a clear intent.

Written in a stark and distant fashion, FORGET ME NOT by Alexandra Oliva is certainly a uniquely drawn story. Of a young woman who never had a chance at familial love, never experienced the warmth of a mother or even how to socialize properly.

The story is about adult Linda, with only varied references planted as to what her past was like. I think I would have liked more of her past and less of her dysfunctional present. I’m really not sure if I liked the choppy styling of this tale, although I do suppose it fits with Linda’s story. When push came to shove, I can’t say I could identify with ANY of the characters or really feel a connection to them. Of course, Linda evokes sympathy, but, there was just something missing for me in spite of the talent this author clearly has. She succeeded in making me feel depressed when I finished this one.

I received a complimentary ARC edition from Ballantine Books! This is my honest and voluntary review.

Oo yes y’all I knew as soon as I started reading this novel it was going to be amazing!! The characters were so great and the storyline was non stop suspense! I loved the ending because I didn’t see it coming!

Perhaps we all believe our childhood was normal until we find out otherwise. As a child, Linda Russell must have thought it was normal to fend for herself on a twenty-acre walled off wooded property in rain-soaked Washington state.
And we believe our memories of our childhood are real until we find out they may be fantasies.
When Linda sees something horrific that sends her over the wall and into society, she inherits immense wealth. She becomes a negative media sensation due to rumors surrounding the method of her birth. She grew up wild in a fenced preserve, now she can have anything unbelievable wealth can buy, including state of the art reality games. The story is set in the near future, so get set for games you walk into for hours and “sleeves” instead of cellphones.
She can have anything except true safety.
Everyone around Linda has secrets, the clues are planted carefully, there are twists aplenty, murder, and gruesome deaths. A wonderful dog is waiting for you. Bury your fingers in his coat as the bullets are flying around you, and him.
The book consumed me; I was immersed in the near future reality and found the story deepened by the evil fairytale haunting the background.
Recommended!
Pre-order now and get your copy March, 2021!
Thanks to #RandomHousePublishingGroup #Ballantine, #NetGalley, and the author of #ForgetMeNot for the ARC in exchange for my honest feedback, this is it! #SuspenseThrillers #LiteraryFiction #ScienceFiction #Mystery&Thrillers

Overall 4⭐

Plot: 4⭐

Pacing: 4⭐

Diverse Cast: 4⭐

Worldbuilding: 4⭐

Ending: 4⭐

A quick easy sci-fi read. It was actually a really easy read. Labeled as a sci-fi thriller, it works as one.

A light thriller but still.

Linda Russel grew up neglected by a mother with severe mental illness. In her mid twenties she's still not adapted to society.

She's got anxiety and it's a very well done depcition of anxiety and the things people do to avoid anxious situations. Reading through Linda's anxiety felt very realistic.

The plot was simple and easy to follow. The sci-fi elements were interesting, AR augments, an item called a Sheath which is sort of like a wearable smart phone. VR games that are done better than they are now.

None of the sci-fi was heavy, it all felt possible within the next ten years which was a nice touch.

Over all a solid 4⭐

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.

Loved this book! I wouldn't say I'm best friends with the sci fi world, I guess just aquantances, but I would like to be friends, heck maybe more than friends ;) I picture this book as a mixture of black mirror and minecraft vibes! "Birthing a child to replace the one they had lost." But who remembers things correctly? Totally awesome concept of a book and the author did a great job with this writing style, the letters added a whole nother level of awesomeness! 5 stars from me, and putting this book on mental and physical bookshelf. Thanks netgalley and the author for my gifted copy.

I am a HUGE fan of Alexandra Oliva’s debut novel “The Last One”, and I was thrilled that I was chosen to read her follow up novel. ⁣This is an author who hasn’t succumbed to the “sophomore slump”.
Just like her debut novel, Alexandra Oliva gives us a unique story with deeply developed characters and illustrative prose. You can feel Linda’s pain and anxiety, and easily imagine the lush yet desolate woods she called home.
I also enjoyed the themes and questions this book raised about identity, legacy, science, morality, mental health, and forgiveness

With this stunning cover and title, I was thrilled to be granted this title as a wish. As an upstate New Yorker, I always look forward to reading books from my fellow 518ers, so this was doubly exciting for me.

Linda wants nothing more than to escape her infamous childhood as Clone Girl, but when a suspicious fire rips through her childhood home, she returns and is forced to challenge her own memories. Unsure of what is true, she enlists the help of her new neighbor, Anvi, and tries to find a normal while battling her own doubts.

I really enjoyed this one.

First, I will say that at times, it felt like I was reading two different books. On the one hand, we have this interesting discourse on virtual reality, AI, and glitching universes, and it's impossible to ignore the parallels between the games and Linda's turmoil. In this sense, you get this larger discussion about identity and how we come to understand the world around us. I appreciated the philosophical reflection of Anvi and Linda, how their questioning led to revelations and despair, but I also kept expecting this to veer into harder sci-fi.

I wasn't disappointed, but this introduces the other hand, a journey through journal entries, grief, and a straight thriller subplot. Linda's arc takes some dramatic turns, and in processing her emotions, we end up in this territory where there are some classic tropes: survival, a character connecting the dots to solve the mystery, and an action-packed climax that gave me Room vibes. I think this is, in large part, Oliva's analysis of grief and loss and how it shapes us. Linda's past is inextricably locked with her present and keeping her from any future, and in order to grow, we see her challenging what she is told or has been told in order to experience things for herself. This movement from passive to active is thrilling and heartbreaking, and I can see readers not only relating to her pain but rooting for her to overcome the obstacle set in front of her.

At its core, Forget Me Not is a story about fortitude, identity, and the essence of time. It's a story about love and loss and regret and the complexities of what it means to be human.

Overall, Forget Me Not is going to be one to watch in 2021. Out in March, add this to your TBRs and thank me later.

Huge thanks to Ballantine and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for honest review consideration.

I really struggled with this book. I usually like books set in the future but this one didn’t hold my attention for some reason. The writing was good and the book was unique, it just wasn’t for me.

I honestly didn't expect to like this book as much as I did. Forget Me Not is about a young woman named Lisa who is hiding from the world due to her unwanted celebrity status as "Clone Girl". Her mother was a troubled and mentally ill woman who was willing to do whatever she needed to do to try to bring her dead daughter back to life, but unfortunately things didn't work out the way she wanted them to. Meanwhile, Linda's biological father looks out for her and makes sure she has everything needs, while remaining emotionally distant.

As Linda is learning more about the world around her, she ends up in a very scary and uncertain situation. Her new friend Anvi knows more about her than she is letting on. In the end, will that help Linda's situation or just cause more damage.

Forget Me Not is a fast-paced sci-fi mystery book with funny and emotional moments that help the reader connect with the characters. I really enjoyed it and I know many others will too!

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and Netgalley for granting me access to this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I would like to start this off by saying that this book is honestly one of the most unique and mind-bending novels I have read in a long time! The story line is something completely different from what I am used to. It starts off by meeting Linda, a sheltered girl living in the city and doing her best to fit into a heavy technological world that she isn’t used to. She grew up in a rural setting with an emotional distant mother, but that’s not what’s her unique. What makes Linda extra special is that she is actually a clone (dubbed #clonegirl by the media) from her dead sister, who died in a freak accident years earlier. Except Linda is not Madeleine, and when Linda witness something that she isn’t supposed to, she runs away and is thrown into an entirely different world than what she can handle. When news comes out that her childhood home has burned down, Linda goes back to the place that birthed her and finally faces what lead to her creation.

As I said before, this story is totally unique. However, while the synopsis caught my attention right away, the storyline just had way too many plot-points that it was a bit hard to follow at times. There are a few chapters that could have been completely taken out and honestly, didn’t add anything to the story. It’s also important to note that the setting is way in the future. It took me a while to grasp that, which made me even more confused throughout the book.

What I did enjoy was the references to what we are experiencing now. Characters talk about tech advances that were made because of the 2016 election and the pandemic. It was the first time I read a book that mentioned the pandemic, and I wonder how many more books down the line will use what we are living in today as a backdrop.

All in all, I wish I can say more about this book, but it was honestly really hard for me to get through. I didn’t really connect with any of the characters and the plot was too all over the place for me to really enjoy it. I would have to give this one 2.5 stars out of 5.