Forgotten

A Novel

By: Catherine McKenzie

Narrated by: Kristi Burns

Length: 9 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's summary

If your old life vanished completely, should you try to get it back or create a whole new one? That's the intriguing question at the heart of Catherine McKenzie's Forgotten.

The smart, funny, and provocative story of a woman who returns home after being stranded for months in Africa by an earthquake, only to find that everyone in her life believed she was dead and moved on, Forgotten is captivating and thought-provoking contemporary women's fiction from the author of Arranged and Spin - a fresh and witty tale that will not be soon forgotten.

©2012 Catherine McKenzie (P)2016 Catherine McKenzie

Critic reviews

"For fans of The Good Wife, Catherine McKenzie's Forgotten is a pure, page-turning pleasure." (Gwendolen Gross, author of The Orphan Sister)

"By turns hilarious and heart-tugging.... A thoroughly enjoyable read!" (Juliette Fay, author of Deep Down True)

Great premise for a story

I would class this as women's fiction. The audiobook was based on a very interesting concept. Emma, the heroine went on a trip to Africa and because of a natural disaster, everyone presumes she's dead. When she returns to pick her life back up, she can't. I thoroughly enjoyed the intrigue in the early parts of the book but equally liked reading life beginning to return to some normality. The relationships in this book are hugely complex and betrayal is on the menu from multiple angles.

Emma herself was both an empowered character and wishy washy at times. However, I think her experiences earned her the chance to be weak in certain situations. Dominic was at first a bit of a hero in my eyes but later he annoyed me. Craig left me frustrated.

This is my first book by Catherine Mckenzie but I will be reading more by her.

This was a well narrated story with emotions captured well and a pleasing voice that seemed to fit the character.

The author provided a copy of this audiobook in return for an honest review.

Reviewed for Jo&IsaLoveBooks Blog.

Loved it!

Upon the death of her mother, Emma Tupper goes on a trip to Africa that was supposed to last one month. She gets sick shortly after her arrival followed by a major earthquake. It is six months before she makes it back home and is presumed dead. The law firm where she was expecting to make partner has moved her arch enemy into her office. Her boyfriend has now hooked up with said enemy. The apartment where she lived has been rented out to someone else. Her best friend has gone to Africa to look for her.
In a nutshell, the life she had is gone.
Kristi Burns does a fantastic job with the narration. She just tells the story. No over the top drama, no larger than life characters. She let's the listener feel the despair.

I was gifted a copy of this book for an honest review. I highly recommend it.

Interesting story, although somewhat predictable.

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Yes. Narrator was great. I enjoyed the story, although I didn't love it. It kept my attention and the characters were interesting.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

It was somewhat predictable... maybe add a little more conflict somehow.

What about Kristi Burns’s performance did you like?

She was great! Tone, narration, enthusiasm... she made the characters come to life.

Do you think Forgotten needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

I would be interested to see what happens to the characters, especially Emma as she truly settles back into her "new" life.

Chick-lit at its Best.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Definitely, this book is well-written with interesting characters and an original plot.

What did you like best about this story?

It tackles the problem of what makes your life worth living in an original way. In the story, Emma sorts through influences of society, her mother, and the imprint her father's abandonment left on her and finds herself.

Which scene was your favorite?

That is a hard choice. There are lots of good scenes, but I think my favorite is when Emma comes home from Africa on a wintry cold day to find her apartment has been leased to a total stranger. Her pictures and many of her belongings are gone. Her bank account has been frozen. She has no money. The brilliance of this book is that this scene is funny and poignant. It is touching, but not heavy. It is funny first, and then thought provoking. Great book.

Who was the most memorable character of Forgotten and why?

All of the characters are well-written, but Emma is my favorite. She is an ambitious lawyer who likes a challenge. She went to law school to learn to argue so well that she would never again lose an argument. Yet, she takes a month off to go to Africa to fulfill the dying request of her mother. Very likable character.

Any additional comments?

This is for an adult audience. Some steamy sex scenes. Great book. I received this book free in exchange for an honest review.

Lost

I did not like Emma.
I’m having a hard time with Catherine ‘s book. Stories are pretty good but the characters unlikable. The female characters are all shallow and foolish.
Emma is book smart but street stupid.
She really is not that into Craig. She can’t figure out that after six months people are not sitting waiting for her and would think the worst happened to her. I guess at an older age all the anguish this woman feels like well past and can’t relate too. I can’t relate to any of this girl’s issues except falling sick and being in a natural disaster.

Personable, realistic, laugh out loud....

Would you listen to Forgotten again? Why?

I received this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I wouldn't turn it off if it happened to be playing, it was quirky, fun and had some parts worth listening to again.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Forgotten?

I really liked the characters internal dialogue - she brought humility and humor to the character.

What does Kristi Burns bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I think she did a bang up job as narrator... I could visualize what was going on, she fit the part very, very well.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

When the world moves on without you....

Any additional comments?

This book was a bit breezier than I had anticipated, it didn't have any deep, soul searching, growing pains type moments - and I was a little confused about the relationship between Emma and Dom...it seemed to have morphed into something without any real progression to get there - but I think that in the end it was part of the charm.....I would absolutely recommend this book, it isn't often I have laugh out loud moments while listening to an audio-book!

Catherine McKenzie is a good fit for my reading pr

Would you consider the audio edition of Forgotten to be better than the print version?

I haven't read the printed version, but this is a good story.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Emma -- she's funny and "real"; at least she seems like she is easily a person in the real world I could be friends with.

Have you listened to any of Kristi Burns’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have listened to Spin and Kristi Burns does a great job.

Any additional comments?

This audiobook was given voluntarily at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review via Audiobook Boom

What would you do if someone thought you had died?

What did you like best about Forgotten? What did you like least?

I liked that it told how hard it is to fit back into a life when you have been gone for 6 months.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

I think that I would have gone into some of the challenges Emma had to go through. Challenges she had at the bank and maybe her position was not open at her job.

Have you listened to any of Kristi Burns’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes Kristi Burn's performed this one is just as well as the last one.

Could you see Forgotten being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

Yes I could see it being made into a movie. Scarlett Johansen and Matt Damon.

Any additional comments?

This audiobook was provided by the author/narrator/publisher free of charge in exchange for an unbiased review.

Forgotten: A Novel

“This audiobook was given by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review via Audiobook Boom.”

Emma Tupper went on an adventure to Africa after her mother died. She was to be gone a month, but do to illness and an earthquake, she wasn't able to communicate with people back home for six months. When she returns she's surprised to find out everyone thought she was dead. Her old life is gone, her friends and boyfriend have moved on. Her accounts are frozen, her car impounded and some guy has rented her apartment. Things at work aren't any better. Can she go back or will she start over from scratch. Lots of angst and twists to keep the listener wondering what's next. I enjoyed this book and will look for more from this author.

The narration was well done.The characters were well portrayed.

A story never forgotten!

Oh, this book was so sweet, light and easy to listen to. It was filled with a great sense of humor and not long into it, I knew I had found another favorite author and narrator.

Emma has lost her mother to cancer and fulfills her dying wish about going on a one month trip to Africa. Due to an earthquake Emma is stuck in Africa for 6 months without much communication to the world outside. Her friends and co-workers think she died in the earthquake and when she finally returns, she finds herself in the most horrifying nightmare of picking up the pieces of the life she left behind.

I loved the storyline and it is very well developed and so is the characters. I loved the way how I could feel Emma in my bones with her thoughts and worries. The dialogue is also top-notch and extremely humorous! It's a tragic story told with many funny elements.

It's hard for me not to give this book 5 stars because I really enjoyed it to the fullest. However, I was left with many unanswered questions and loose ends. A part of me wish there would be a sequel - or just a little novella, to fill me in with these loose ends. I thought it ended very sudden, even though it had the ending I was hoping for. That's why I'll give it 4 stars (4½ if I could!) for the story, but I still consider Catherine McKenzie to be an amazing author.

Narrator Kristi Burns also did an amazing performance. She made me feel I was watching a movie or TV-show. I kept getting images in my mind throughout the story, like I was watching it on screen or was a fly on the wall. Kristi is very authentic in her narration and draws you into the story, like everything seems natural to her. She's now on my top favorite narrator list!

*This book was gifted to me in exchange for an honest review. Read all my reviews at mybookhype dot com