What Alice Forgot

By: Liane Moriarty

Narrated by: Tamara Lovatt-Smith

Length: 13 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

From the number one New York Times best-selling author of The Husband's Secret and Big Little Lies

A “cheerfully engaging”(Kirkus Reviews) novel for anyone who’s ever asked herself, “How did I get here?”

Alice Love is 29, crazy about her husband, and pregnant with her first child. So imagine Alice’s surprise when she comes to on the floor of a gym (a gym! She HATES the gym) and is whisked off to the hospital, where she discovers the honeymoon is truly over - she’s getting divorced, she has three kids, and she’s actually 39 years old.

Alice must reconstruct the events of a lost decade and find out whether it’s possible to reconstruct her life at the same time. She has to figure out why her sister hardly talks to her, and how is it that she’s become one of those super skinny moms with really expensive clothes. Ultimately, Alice must discover whether forgetting is a blessing or a curse, and whether it’s possible to start over....

©2011 Liane Moriarty (P)2011 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Funny and knowing...[about] what we choose to remember, and fight to forget." (O Magazine)

"The gripping story of a woman who wakes up with a bump on her head and no knowledge of the past ten years...an acutely observed romantic comedy that is both thought-provoking and funny." (Marie Claire, UK)

"The affecting tale of Alice’s chance for a ten-year do-over." (The New York Times)

Never thought about that.....

What if I lost my last ten years? This book will cause you to stop and take stock in what’s really important in your life. Has “adulting” changed you? Have you forgotten how to enjoy your life because you are so busy working for things that you think matter while losing what really does? This author paints great word pictures that cause you to really see what you are listening to. She almost lost me with the ending but no spoil alerts here. Loved this book about real life and loving it without losing it.

And then what Alice remembered

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

Yes I would recommend this book to a friend. The story is solid and keeps you interested. At first I feel sorry for Alice because everyone is being impatient with her and not remembering that she has significant memory loss. And then she kind of accepts it and starts living again but on her terms. She doesn't have all of the baggage from before she lost her memory and she is not as angry and hurtful.

What other book might you compare What Alice Forgot to and why?

It is similar but more interesting than Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella. Both books are about memory loss and regaining ones life. And in both books the main character goes through some growth pains. But if I remember correctly in Remember Me?, it doesn't have such a great ending.

Have you listened to any of Tamara Lovatt-Smith’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Why I'm glad you asked.... I have listened to Tamara Lovatt-Smith's performance of The Hypnotist Love Story. And I enjoyed that performance as well. She did a brilliant job in both performances.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Alice started to warm to her husband again and then when he started to warm towards her. It was nice because you could tell they still loved each other.

Any additional comments?

This was a good listen and I really enjoy Liane Moriarty's writing. She has another good book that I like and its The Husbands Secret. There is a different narrator but the book is again really nice and surprising.

Loved this book.

If you could sum up What Alice Forgot in three words, what would they be?

This is my favorite Moriarty book. I was truly moved by the journey taken by Alice but also those around her who watched how her memory loss changed her and then questioned things in their own lives

My very favorite author

I have never read a book of hers That I have not finished without realizing that she has spoken a feeling or a truth that I have never been able to put words to... she is truly a magician with words... and this book is no exception!

A great feel good read

I’ve heard a lot of good books lately but mos rod them have rushed it towards the end as if the author was too involved at first but too tired by the end of the writi NB. This book was beautifully written from beginning to end and for that, thank you Liane Moriarty! When I only had two chapters left I was rooting for it not to finish to abruptly as the entire book was such a marvel, so real, so to heart and such well round characters and you did it, the ending couldn’t have been better for me. Thank you and the Audible narrator, she did a wonderful interpretation of each character and emotion. To anyone thinking about it, I recommend it 100%!

Couldn't turn it off!

I really enjoyed this audiobook. The story was engaging and I really like the way the story unfolded. It was at just the right pace to keep it from being either rushed or boring. The narration was perfect. I wish every listen was this enjoyable.

Could not stop listening! Loved the story line

I fell in love with the characters! Felt so involved with the story line! Worth every penny.

A Poignant and Moving Story

This is a well crafted and highly believable tale. I'm glad to have taken the time to give it the attention it deserved. I think most could relate to the joys and sorrows that the characters experience during this amorphous, maleable and highly human unfolding of relationships.

One of my Moriarty Favs

I loved the characters in this book. I've enjoyed all of Moriarty's books but these characters were quite likeable. The plot is good and it keeps you interested.

Insightful

This story reflects marriage wonderfully. You forget the minute things that you fell in love with in the first place. It details how married life changes because of all the changes we create throughout addition of kids, new friends, and new challenges. We want all of the "new" things but they come with a price. Some people could not handle the different voices throughout the story, but I understand how they intertwine and demonstrate that all relationships have issues. Life and marriage is hard.