Official Stuff –
Author – Jennifer L. Armentrout
Pages – 384
Publisher – Disney Hyperion
Series – Stand Alone
Summary –
Samantha is a stranger in her own life. Until the night she disappeared with her best friend, Cassie, everyone said Sam had it all-popularity, wealth, and a dream boyfriend.
Sam has resurfaced, but she has no recollection of who she was or what happened to her that night. As she tries to piece together her life from before, she realizes it’s one she no longer wants any part of. The old Sam took “mean girl” to a whole new level, and it’s clear she and Cassie were more like best enemies. Sam is pretty sure that losing her memories is like winning the lottery. She’s getting a second chance at being a better daughter, sister, and friend, and she’s falling hard for Carson Ortiz, a boy who has always looked out for her-even if the old Sam treated him like trash.
But Cassie is still missing, and the facts about what happened to her that night isn’t just buried deep inside of Sam’s memory-someone else knows, someone who wants to make sure Sam stays quiet. All Sam wants is the truth, and if she can unlock her clouded memories of that fateful night, she can finally move on. But what if not remembering is the only thing keeping Sam alive?
My Rating – 4 of 5 stars
This book definitely impressed me and shocked me. I have never read a book by this author before and though I have heard a lot of good things I was a bit hesitant to try her out but I’m glad I did!
Samantha has no idea where she is or even who she is when she is found walking alone at night, bruised and battered. The police take her to the hospital where she is reunited with a family she doesn’t remember. They explain that she has been missing four days, along with her best friend Cassie.
Samantha suffered a pretty serious head injury and doesn’t remember her life before the accident. That includes her boyfriend, her friends, even her brother. And what she gradually learns from the people around her is that she was a royal witch. Regina George type mean girl. Nasty to everyone and it all started around the time she became friends with Cassie.
As Samantha examines her life around, she is unhappy with what she finds. She ditched some really good friends, people she had known and loved since she was a child. Including Carson, whose father is the “hired help” but who is best friends with her brother. Did I mention he’s also super hot? Yea.
They were very close as children; at least that’s what everyone tells her. Carson and Samantha grow closer as she tries to discover what happened to her. It doesn’t help that she has been receiving these strange notes, feeling like someone is constantly following her, or that the entire school blames her for Cassie’s disappearance.
And her parents? Not any help at all, her mom is an alcoholic that comes from a rich family so she’s constantly “what will people think.” And her dad is barely around. It’s pretty clear there are some major problems between the parents.
It doesn’t help things when Samantha starts being questioned by the cops and she starts seeing things that aren’t there. She’s the only one that knows what happened and she’s starting to question everyone around her.
So, again, very much enjoyed this book. I got through this book in a matter of hours; it was such a page turner. Even though I kind of guessed the ending about halfway in, the writer caused me to have some doubts about my suspicions. Who is to blame? It could be anyone!
I liked how Samantha realizes the error of her ways and wants to change. She wants to be a better person. Carson, her brother Scott, and his girlfriend Julie round out the secondary characters nicely. Carson assures her that she wasn’t always a bad person and I think it was good for her to have that support while she was trying to discover who she is and what happened.
The only things I took off points for were when she sees a shrink; he prescribes her meds after the first visit. I’ve never met a respectable psychiatrist that loads you up with meds after only meeting you for 35 minutes. There were some “I Love Yous” that came pretty fast but I’m kind of so/so about that.
Anyways, really enjoyed this book, it kept me guessing. I definitely recommend!