Review: Forgotten - Cat Patrick

Forgotten by Cat Patrick, published by Egmont on 6th June 2011

Goodreads synopsis:
With the intrigue of "Memento" and the romance of "The Time-Traveller's Wife", "Forgotten" is the perfect YA novel.

Each night when 16 year-old London Lane goes to sleep, her whole world disappears. In the morning, all that's left is a note telling her about a day she can't remember. The whole scenario doesn't exactly make high school or dating that hot guy whose name she can't seem to recall any easier. But when London starts experiencing disturbing visions she can't make sense of, she realizes it's time to learn a little more about the past she keeps forgetting-before it destroys her future.

Part psychological drama, part romance, and part mystery, this thought-provoking novel will inspire readers to consider the what-if's in their own lives and recognize the power they have to control their destinies.

Review:
I'm in love.  With a book.  And it's name is Forgotten.  This is such a stunning debut novel that I was compltely blown away by it.  I don't think my review will be able to do justice to just how amazing this book is and how much I loved it but I'll try and put into words how incredible I found it and what a phenomenally talented writer Cat Patrick is.

From the first to the last page this was a stellar read.  I rushed home from work to finish reading it immediately, after daydreaming over the book all day.  Even now, after a couple of days have gone by, I'm still thinking about the story and the characters.  I'm jealous of people who will get to read this for the very first time and discover just how fantastic the experience of losing themselves in it is. 

The concept is brilliant and really piqued my interest when I first heard about the book.  London Lane is an average teenage girl in every way but one.  Every day at 4.33am her memory resets and she's able to see events that will take place in her future but cannot remember anything about the day before.  She has to write herself long detailed notes of everything important that she needs to know so that she'll be able to live as normal a life as possible.  The idea of this actually happening to someone is incredible.  Obviously London gets to choose what she does and doesn't want to be reminded of the next day, which certainly solves the problem of embarrassing incidents - they can just be wiped from memory.  The insights that London gets into her future lead to her questioning the people around her as she tries to work out the meaning of her visions. 

I loved the character of London.  She's the kind of person that you'd love to have for a best friend.  She's true to herself and follows her own path but she's also incredibly loyal and will stand by your side no matter what.  She's extremely likeable and I really identified with aspects of her personality. 

Although the hook for this novel is the idea of a girl who has no backwards memory, what made the book for me is the central relationship between London and her incredibly hot boyfriend Luke Henry!  I was absolutely sucked into the romance between them as they go on their first date and share their first kiss.  Their relationship is very mature for a couple that are still at school and I like the fact that it's simple and easy between them without too many big dramas. 

I have to say that as London fell for Luke, I did too!  He's at the top of my literary boy crush list!  He's gorgeous but also caring and kind, sensitive and romantic.  He's the sort of boy who'll be polite to your parents, remember your favourite movie and always be in exactly the right place at the right time.  I loved the way in which their romance was written and there are some seriously heart fluttering moments between the two of them.

Simply put, this book had it all.  It manages to combine an intriguing mystery with a strong romantic undercurrent, a fresh and appealing female protagonist and a sucker-punch ending.  I was blown away by Cat Patrick's debut and I shall be recommending this to everyone I know.  We may only be a few months into the new year but I think I may have found my book of the year already!  If love was a book then it would most definitely be 'Forgotten'. 

I received a proof copy of the book which has a plain red cover but I definitely need to get my hands on a finished copy because the UK and US cover art is gorgeous. 

The film rights for 'Forgotten' have been sold already and Hailee Steinfeld is attached to play London.  I can't wait to see who they have lined up for Luke. It's so exciting that it's going to be on the big screen :) 

Thanks to the publisher for sending this book for review