Forget You Know Me

Very riveting novel. So full of suspense. Makes you wonder how well you really people.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Forget you know me by author Jessica Strawser is a great women’s fiction novel. It isn’t some crazy spiral thriller, but it pulls you in and makes you think like a psychological thriller. The characters are well developed and the plot is nice. Great book, I definitely recommend it!
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an arc copy of Forget you know me in exchange for an honest review.

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.

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.

An unusual tale of friendship- loss and recovered, with a mystery and romance. the characters are very believable and like real people sometimes you love them and sometimes you want to shake them into reality. A great story with lots of surprises. Chic read

Riveting from the opening scene, Forget You Know Me is a layered and suspenseful domestic thriller that will have you questioning how far you might go to help an old friend with a twist at the end that will take your breath.

This is my first book by this author, but it won't be my last. What a page turner! This story between two best friends will keep you guessing right up til the very end. Highly recommend!

Excellent novel! Pulls you in from the very beginning with the intruder and all that follows! I love how this story developed and I never once felt like I was reading anything that didn't pertain to that development. A lot of books in this genre tend to ramble about irrelevant things just as a sort of filler. This book is a great example of how life throws you twist after twist. Sometimes you jusy have to roll with the punches! Often you have everything the way you want it but other times...you feel like you have lost yourself somehow. Suprisingly, this book review came at a stressful/troubling trial in my life and helped guide me through. There is always hope and things always work themselves out! This book emphasizes on cherishing what you have even when things are going badly. This is not the first book I have read and loved by this artist! Check it out :)

I really enjoyed this book. I actually liked most of the characters and wanted to see what happened and how they worked out their problems.

This was an advanced reading copy from NETGALLEY and I am hoping some of the little things I didn’t like get corrected in the final copy. I felt some things needed a bit more insight and information to wrap up the story, but I don’t want to put that in my review and spoil it for anyone who hasn’t read it.

I was thinking this was a psychological thriller, but it is really more about secrets, friendships, and relationships. It is my first book by Jessica Strawser and she is a very good writer.

What an intriguing great premise! Childhood best friends Liza and Molly decide to catch up over a Skype call and some wine. But when Molly goes upstairs to check on her daughter, Liza sees a masked intruder enter her house. This one incident sets off a chain reaction of intriguing events that kept me guessing.

Guys, this is not a thriller, it is a domestic suspense novel, and as such there is less tension and suspense, and more character development and thoughtful themes. No, the plot doesn’t veer wildly from one plot point to the next, but you will get to know these intricately crafted characters and understand each of their motivations.

This book is about friendship, honesty and deception. It is emotionally complex and thoughtful. It asks if a debt can ever be paid and if forgiveness can ever entirely be given. With thoughtful themes and well-drawn characters, Forget You Know Me is a lovely book to read over a glass of wine and chat with your girlfriends about.

An exciting mystery keeps the pages turning and the nuanced and layered characters and relationships are strikingly real and leave a lot to reflect on.

Also welcome was inclusion of a woman with chronic pain of unknown causes portrayed in a believable, sympathetic, and strong manner.

Forget You Know Me – Jessica Strawser
I was fortunate to receive this novel from Netgalley.com as an Advance Reader Copy, in exchange for an objective review.
Liza and Molly were best friends all through childhood, and well into adulthood. But marriage, children and a move all have a way of creating distance, so the girls have arranged a girl’s night out via computer. When Molly goes to check on a crying child, Liza, through her webcam, sees a masked assailant enter Molly’s home. Frightened, she yells at him to stop, and he closes the computer.
Liza, terrified for her friend’s safety, drives several hours to check on Molly personally. When she arrives at her home, she finds Molly, cold and aloof, and denying that anything took place. Hurt, and puzzled, Liza returns home only to find her apartment building has been destroyed by fire, throwing her into a mental debate about fate and chance.
This novel, told in the third person, chronicles the friendship of the girls, as well as the ups and downs of Molly’s marriage to her husband Daniel. As each relationship has grown apart, and each individual has developed what seem like insurmountable personal obstacles, they find hope and strength in the bonds of friendship and love to overcome, flourish, and re-discover the true meaning of love, commitment and second chances.
This is my second read by author Jessica Strawser, and it will not be my last. Filled with love, regrets, a touch of drama and second chances, this a book that women readers can take to heart. A sweet, heart-warming story!!

FORGET YOU KNOW ME by Jessica Strawser is a fast-paced novel of domestic drama with plenty of twists and turns that kept me engrossed from beginning to end. It tells the story of two close friends, Molly and Liza, whose once-strong friendship is fading away before their eyes, but they seem powerless to repair it. At the same time, Molly’s marriage to Daniel has reached a breaking point, with both of them harboring dangerous secrets that threaten their relationship, family and friends. The story alternates between the voices of Liza and Molly and slowly reveals the layers of their emotionally complex lives. The characters are interesting and well-portrayed even though they are not necessarily very likable. I like the pace and style of the author’s writing and that kept me flipping the pages to get to the surprising conclusion that I did not see coming at all. I enjoyed this book for its unique and suspenseful plot and I now look forward to reading Jessica Strawser’s previous novels. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read an early copy.

I love all of Jessica's books - she is truly one of my favorites!! This book was surpassed my expectations. This is definitely her best one yet - she just keeps getting better and better!! I love how she wove Eleanor Roosevelt quotes throughout the book. I loved the on again and off again relationship between Liz and Molly. I loved the first chapter as much as the last!!

I enjoyed the story even though parts of it seemed a bit contrived. There were several stories operating which helped to hold my attention. Thanks to NetGalley for providing this ARC!

Jessica Strawser has written a contemporary story that rings true. A vivid portrait of how lives change with time and stress. Throw in a little mystery, some complications and a race to a finish line that moves along very nicely and you have a solid bestseller!

Forget You Know Me is story of friendship and love, strength and weakness. It's the story of Liza and her best friend, Molly, and Molly's husband, Daniel. Jessica Strawser has woven for us a tale of what happens when human souls "bottom out" and decisions must be made if relationships are going to survive.

This book was well written, and captivating! I was compelled to read it quickly, and found that the story was not at all predictable. There are a minimum number of well defined main characters so I didn't have to turn back pages to refresh my memory on who was who. The story proceeds in an interesting fashion, and I loved the way Strawser draws it to a satisfying and wonderful conclusion.

I highly recommend Forget You Know Me to my fellow woman readers!

A story of friendship and honesty.

We follow Liza's life in chapters that alternate with Molly's life. The ups & downs, the good days and bad days, all lending input to coming to terms with the past, the present while looking forward to a better future.

Single in Chicago, Lisa's attempt to reconnect with her BFF in Cincinnati, Molly, requires a Skype call. When Liza witnesses a masked man entering Molly's house while Molly is upstairs looking after her daughter, Liza phones the police. When Liza doesn't hear back from Molly she calls her Chicago BFF, Max, and they race off by car overnight only to have Molly close the door in Liza's face.

Molly is a chronic pain sufferer chasing any and all promised treatments to regain a pain-free life. Financially in trouble she hasn't told her accountant husband, Daniel, about the mess she is in.

The story got a bit bogged down in Molly's mess but it made Molly all it all that more a believable character. Liza's determination to cope with the terror from her situation had me cheering Henry to not give up on her.

I cannot begin to even tell you how much I am loving Jessica Strawser's novels! I read this one in a day just like her first one! Write more please :) Honestly though, amazing book. She makes her characters come to life and you feel as if you know them. Amazing story plot. Highly recommend!

Relationships are complicated. Whether it's a marriage, a friendship between two women, or a friendship between a man and a woman, there are intricacies that defy expectations and often surprise--and sometimes hurt--those involved. I absolutely love novels that explore these dichotomies and Strawser does just that in her newest novel. Having loved Not That I Could Tell, I was anticipating the same poignant observations and depth, and I was not disappointed. Starting with a botched Skype conversation, the relationship between once-best-friends Liza and Molly begins to go off the rails and continues on a downward spiral as Molly is keeping secrets, and Liza's life is saved by coincidence. Compounding things are Molly and Daniel's floundering marriage and Molly's attraction to neighbor, Rick.
What I loved best about this book was the fact that I couldn't predict where any of it was going--which is of course, what happens in sticky relationships; one can never predict what the other will do or say--much less think! Strawser delves deep into the psyche of her characters and reiterates the fact that none of us is one-dimensional; we all have flaws, we all keep things buried, and as we grow up sometimes we grow apart from others--whether it's deliberate or not. Nothing is tied up in a neat little bow at the end, but I certainly enjoyed the look at these flawed characters who resemble each of us as we navigate this often-brutal existence with those we love and admire.

This book had enough twists and turns to keep me reading, and I kept changing my mind on whom of all of the main characters I was rooting for. I look forward to reading more books by this author!

"Forget You Know Me" is a cross between a thriller (first half) and women's fiction (second half). We begin with two friends, Molly and Liza, who were die hard BFFs until life got in the way. Molly now has two young children and lives a life with chronic pain, most of it confirmed by doctors, but she is unable to find treatments that work. She is willing to spend any amount of money on something that might work in an effort to get her life back. This has led to increasing debt that she is hiding from her husband, who has no empathy for her or her pain. Liza moved to Chicago and is living a somewhat lonely single life- she has her good friend, Max- a date which turned into friendship, but she doesn't particularly like her demanding and low-paying job and her dates have turned up nothing good lately- so she's gone on a dating hiatus.

They are talking via videochat while Molly's husband is out of town and her kids are sleeping. When the toddler, Nori, calls for her, Molly leaves the computer open and goes to settle her down again. Liza is waiting for her friend to return when she sees a man in a ski mask enter her house, startle at the computer, and shut it down. Liza immediately freaks out and calls the police and her friend. The police go over there, but Liza won't feel OK until she can hear from Molly's lips that she is alright. However, Molly won't return her calls and goes to sleep with only a few texts in response. Fearing for her friend, she drives all the way to Cincinnati overnight with Max for company to check on Molly- however, when she arrives, Molly basically slams the door in her face and won't even acknowledge what happened the night before. After Liza returns to Chicago, she learns that a fire has burned down her apartment complex completely and everyone else on her floor and many of the floors above died in it.

Floundering with survivor's guilt and a new sense of mortality, Liza decides to return home to Cincinnati where she will stay with her brother and his pregnant wife until she can land on her feet. Following Liza, Molly, and Molly's husband Daniel, this book becomes more of a character study than a thriller (not completely wrapping up some of the thriller aspects by the end- really one aspect is not cleared by the end). There is also a touch of romance with Liza as she is working to recover and move on.

Overall, it was a book that I found hard to place in my mind. I enjoyed it, but I wasn't sure if I got the thriller feel for most of it, and that was really what I was hoping for when I picked it up. The book focuses more on the tangled web of lies we all weave that can drag us down and build up walls between loved ones. As such, it was still interesting but not quite as thriller-esque as I was hoping. I really liked the romance between Liza and the pilot Henry, but it almost felt out of place in the book. Add that to potential affairs, personal challenges, business ethics issues, and predatory lenders, and the book felt a little all over the place. I think I would have liked it to be a little more focused, but as women's fiction, a lot of these things worked better, so maybe I was just expecting something different.

This was an unexpected read, and I did enjoy it overall. I do wish that in addition to the one thriller-type aspect above that wasn't resolved that there had been some more personal resolution for Liza (who was refusing therapy but obviously really needing something), but the book began to focus more on the romance than her personal health (which was also a major theme). I almost feel like a chapter was missing at the end where everything is moved forward to a conclusion like most of the other issues in the book. Regardless, it was an engaging and overall intriguing read.

Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.

I received an advanced copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This book had me on the edge of my seat the whole time! It was definitely a book that kept you thinking! I would definitely recommend this book to fellow readers. Thank you!

Liza and Molly were best friends growing up but Liza's move to Chicago from Cincinnati coupled with Molly becoming a mom has strained their relationship. On a video chat to see if the friendship can be salvaged, Liza sees a masked intruder enter the house when Molly goes to check on the kids. In a desperate attempt to verify Molly is fine, Liza drives all night to shoe up at her door only to have it figuratively slammed in her face by Molly. When Liza arrives back in Chicago she learns that her apartment building burned down and her late night drive saved her life. She ends up moving back to Cincinnati and tries to get her life, and possibly her friendship, back together. Will the intruder ever be identified? Why was he there? There are a lot of secrets discovered and uncovered.

I was intrigued from the very beginning and anxious to see who was threatening Molly and whether her friendship with Liza could be salvaged. A very entertaining read.

Molly and Liza, two long time friends separated by distance, were having a long overdue video chat when they are interrupted by Molly's child.. Molly leaves the room to attend to the child and a masked man appeared on the screen. He closed the computer. Horrified and terrified, Liza tried to reach her friend. Unable to do so, she called the local police in Molly's city. They found no evidence of an intruder. Liza and a friend drive through the night to check on Molly only to be turned away by Molly. What followed was a devastating event in Liza's life which resulted in Liza moving back to her home town Was there enough left of their once close friendship to see them through all that has just happened?
The author brings to the reader a well crafted and intense story that closely examines Molly's and Liza's friendship. as well as Molly and Daniel's marriage. Molly and Liza are realistic and relatable characters. The narrative is so well told the characters fictional world seems real. There is tension throughout the story which keeps readers totally engrossed.. Who was the man wearing the mask and what did he want? For the answer to that, I can highly recommend reading this book.