THE GIRL YOU FORGOT by Giselle Green | Blog Tour Review @gisellegreenuk @BoldwoodBooks @rararesources #TheGirlYouForgot

Publisher: Boldwood Books
Available in Ebook, Audio & Paperback (11 August 2020)
378 pages
Source: Copy received for review

ABOUT THE BOOK

Does the heart never really forget?

When Ava’s partner Will is diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour, the doctors give Will one chance to survive – an operation which means he will lose his recent memory. Ava begs him to take the chance, sure that she can cope with Will forgetting her. After all, they have something very special to live for.

But they are also keeping a heart-breaking secret, and if Will loses his memory, Ava will have to carry that secret alone. Can they rebuild their love from scratch or will their secrets and past come between them? Will Ava really be a stranger when Will wakes up – or does the heart never really forget…

Giselle Green returns with a heart-breaking, deeply moving story of love, loss, and what it really means to be alive.

Perfect for all fans of Jodi Picoult, Susan Lewis and Diane Chamberlain.

MY THOUGHTS

Having read a few books by Giselle Green, I did know what I was letting myself in for when I agreed to review, namely an emotional, tugging at the heart strings, angsty story with that moral dilemma angle. 

Ava and Will are in a relationship, but Will is desperately ill with a brain tumour and needs an operation if he is to live. Following the operation it is likely that Will’s recent memories will be lost. Ava finally persuades him to have the operation but for him to do so, there is a condition that she must fulfil and a secret she has to keep from him.

This is a story with a huge dilemma at its heart. We know from the beginning that Ava has a secret and she has the burden of carrying it by herself. After all she had made a promise. She also promised Will that she would always tell him the truth and wouldn’t take advantage of any loss of memory.

There is a real emotional pull to this story, and I felt so much sympathy for Ava and to a lesser extent Will. I know he was the one who had been ill, but his stubbornness made him a little unlikeable at times even though I did feel for him when he was trying to reconcile his old life with the new – people had moved on, places had changed.

There were times when I felt that the pace dipped a little but nonetheless I was fully invested in the relationship between Will and Ava and how everything would pan out for them. All the main characters were well drawn and even the minor ones like Harry, the gardener with his own memory issues at the Butterfly Cafe who listened patiently to Ava despite never remembering who she was, and Toby, Will’s American musical writing partner and friend, had their own part to play.

Told by both Ava and Will, the storyline is based on trust and memories and how the loss of both can impact on relationships. Will and Ava’s relationship turns into an emotional rollercoaster as they both try to find their way with each other again.

The Girl You Forgot is much more than a romance story. It has a plot that covers more serious issues, has engaging characters and is a very enjoyable, and thought provoking read.

My thanks to Giselle Green for providing the copy to review and to Rachel of Rachel’s Random’s Resources for the place on the tour.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Giselle Green is an award-winning, bestselling contemporary women’s fiction author. Mum to six boys (half of whom have flown the nest) and owner of one bright orange-and-cinnamon canary who hopefully never will, Giselle enjoys creating emotionally-gripping storylines about family and relationships.

Author Links:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Book Links:
Amazon UK | Amazon US | Waterstones | Hive