Forget You by Jennifer Echols

Forget You by Jennifer Echols

Goodreads Blurb 

WHY CAN’T YOU CHOOSE WHAT YOU FORGET . . .  AND WHAT YOU REMEMBER?

There’s a lot Zoey would like to forget. Like how her father has knocked up his twenty-four-year old girlfriend. Like Zoey’s fear that the whole town will find out about her mom’s nervous breakdown. Like darkly handsome bad boy Doug taunting her at school. Feeling like her life is about to become a complete mess, Zoey fights back the only way she knows how, using her famous attention to detail to make sure she’s the perfect daughter, the perfect student, and the perfect girlfriend to ultra-popular football player Brandon.  But then Zoey is in a car crash, and the next day there’s one thing she can’t remember at all--the entire night before. Did she go parking with Brandon, like she planned? And if so, why does it seem like Brandon is avoiding her? And why is Doug--of all people-- suddenly acting as if something significant happened between the two of them? Zoey dimly remembers Doug pulling her from the wreck, but he keeps referring to what happened that night as if it was more, and it terrifies Zoey to admit how much is a blank to her. Controlled, meticulous Zoey is quickly losing her grip on the all-important details of her life--a life that seems strangely empty of Brandon, and strangely full of Doug.

I've read and loved books by Jennifer Echols before, so I was very excited to read this one.  However, I have to say that I was a little disappointed in Forget You.

As a result of her parents marriage falling apart, Zoey Commander makes a choice that begins and ugly chain reaction.  Her mom is hospitalized after attempting suicide and Zoey begins to question her own sanity.  Unfortunately, her arch nemesis and fellow swim team member, Doug Fox, seems to be around to witness her life falling down around her.

With the help of some key members of her swim team, Zoey begins to slowly piece together the events leading up to her car accident with Mike that broke Doug's leg.  She also begins to realize more and more why Doug was so friendly with her on the day following the wreck.

The "misundrstandings" in this story were very forced and unbelievable.  I wanted to crack Zoey's head into the nearest wall over and over again throughout this book.  The 2 "best friends" were like little yapping Chihuahuas.  Doug's character was likable at times, but he also needed to pull his head out of his rear.

Zoey's father was the only character who lived up to what the author described, but even he had his problems.  The way the character describes her memories of him when she was younger do not jive with his current personality and the change isn't explained.

The step-mom, Ashley, is completely unnecessary.  She added no value either way to the story and was just superfluous.

Zoey's "boyfriend", Brandon, is another character that I just don't understand.  Zoey forgives and overlooks many of Brandon's flaws and then fights and flays anyone else that even attempts to act the same way.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that this just wasn't the story for me.  I still like the author's style and am actually heading off to read another of her books right now.

3 out of 5 stars.