Samantha is a stranger in her own life. Until the night she disappeared with her best friend, Cassie, everyone said Sam had it all-popularity, wealth, and a dream boyfriend.
Sam has resurfaced, but she has no recollection of who she was or what happened to her that night. As she tries to piece together her life from before, she realizes it's one she no longer wants any part of. The old Sam took "mean girl" to a whole new level, and it's clear she and Cassie were more like best enemies. Sam is pretty sure that losing her memories is like winning the lottery. She's getting a second chance at being a better daughter, sister, and friend, and she's falling hard for Carson Ortiz, a boy who has always looked out for her-even if the old Sam treated him like trash.
But Cassie is still missing, and the facts about what happened to her that night isn't just buried deep inside of Sam's memory-someone else knows, someone who wants to make sure Sam stays quiet. All Sam wants is the truth, and if she can unlock her clouded memories of that fateful night, she can finally move on. But what if not remembering is the only thing keeping Sam alive
Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow.
Have I mentioned, wow?
This book was fantastic.
SPOILERS AHEAD!
Don't Look Back, is not the type of story I usually read and to be honest I was a little skeptical as to whether Jennifer could pull it off as she's never tackled something like this before.
I couldn't have been more wrong.
I couldn't have been more wrong.
This story is not for the faint heartened. If you're looking for a light, contemporary read this would not be it. :') you've been warned.
Don't Look Back follows the life of Samantha after she loses her memories. The reader gets to follow her turmoil, paranoia and hardships after she no longer has any recollection of her precious self or the type of life she lived.
Samantha and her best friend Cassie meet up one night after something has happened in Cassie's life, and they never come back home and no one hears from them.
That is until four days later Samantha turns up in the middle of the woods, but she doesn't even know who she is. From the get go I was suspicious of everything and everyone which I loved, I didn't know I could love that type of book.
But when no one can find Cassie and Samantha doesn't even know who Cassie is, everyone becomes suspicious of Samantha.
That is until four days later Samantha turns up in the middle of the woods, but she doesn't even know who she is. From the get go I was suspicious of everything and everyone which I loved, I didn't know I could love that type of book.
But when no one can find Cassie and Samantha doesn't even know who Cassie is, everyone becomes suspicious of Samantha.
Samantha enters back into a life of popularity, bitchiness and supposed queen bee title. Perfect boyfriend, great friends and the top of the social status in school, but there's a problem - she doesn't remember any of it and she doesn't like what she's being told. Samantha was a bitch. A massive bitch, like Regina George look out someone's taking your spot and she's telling you your shoes are ugly in the process, kind of mean.
Samantha can't believe that she was ever like this but then she learns she wasn't. Her childhood best friends, Carson and Julie can't help but notice the similarities between the girl they knew as kids and the girl she has become.
Samantha's boyfriend, Del is hiding the problems of their relationship from her which everyone tells her they had a lot, but he portrays as if nothing has happened, they're perfect.
Her brother is fiercely overprotective of her new self, yet he could barely stand her beforehand.
But Samantha has more issues than finding out who she really is (like that's not enough?) she is also suffering from an extreme case of paranoia and some post traumatic stress. She reads notes in her own handwriting and believes someone is following her called 'Shadow Man' even as far as imagining him in the back seat of her car.
But, when Cassie turns up dead in the woods that's when things really start to go wrong for poor Samantha. Not only is she going a little bit crazy after her traumatic experience but she also has all of her supposed best friends calling her a murderer and a psychopath. Which doesn't help her at all.
But, thankfully she has the total swoon worthy Carson to help her. Carson and Sam used to be best friends, until Sam met Cassie and she changed into the mega bitch that no one really liked. But, now she relies on him, trusts him and starts to fall in love with him. I love the romance in this book. It's not over done so much so that it takes over the story but instead it just adds to it, I was rooting for them while at the same time I was completely suspicious of Carson.
Sam knows there was someone else there that night as she has flashbacks, brief yet she definitely sees a man there. But she cannot see his face. Which made me instantly curious of every male character in this novel the main one being Del.
Jennifer sure knows how to throw a curveball at her readers as I was not expecting the ending at all. I had a list of people in my head who I was the most suspicious of and the person it was I'm not even sure they was on my list! Plus the massive twist and turns this book takes is head-spinning sometimes.
What I loved about this book though was there were little things that made everyone a suspect, Del's dishonesty about their relationship, Carson's knowledge of the woods. Almost everyone seemed to hate the old Sam in one way or another. No one was ruled out of the suspect list, which is one of the reasons why I loved this book.
What I loved about this book though was there were little things that made everyone a suspect, Del's dishonesty about their relationship, Carson's knowledge of the woods. Almost everyone seemed to hate the old Sam in one way or another. No one was ruled out of the suspect list, which is one of the reasons why I loved this book.
I'm not going to lie this book is a little frightening at some points, filling me with a feeling like I was being watched giving me a little bit if paranoia. Only because her writing is that good!! Her character development of Sam in particular was amazing, seeing the transitions she makes and the way she had grown from who she used to be into the much more selfless and kind girl she was by the end of the book was brilliantly done.
The only thing that always annoys me in contemporary books is the same bunch of 'mean girls' that lack emotional depth and are just there. Her best friends seem to be mindless, bitches who fall into the stereotypical look of teenage girls. But then again I come to expect that in books like this as I know that it's just almost protocol for writers as they all have to be similar in some ways, but the portrayal of girls other than the lead character in contemporaries is generally negative. But then again our protagonist was one of those mean girls this time so I guess that counts for something.
The only thing that always annoys me in contemporary books is the same bunch of 'mean girls' that lack emotional depth and are just there. Her best friends seem to be mindless, bitches who fall into the stereotypical look of teenage girls. But then again I come to expect that in books like this as I know that it's just almost protocol for writers as they all have to be similar in some ways, but the portrayal of girls other than the lead character in contemporaries is generally negative. But then again our protagonist was one of those mean girls this time so I guess that counts for something.
I pre-ordered this for my kindle and read it over two days it was unputdownable!?! (Yup I just defied auto correct for that one) I'm going to save up to get the hard copy eventually to add to my collection as I will want to read it again to appreciate her writing rather than rushing through the book due to too much angst and anticipation to see who the killer was. (Which I totally done haha)
This book reminded me of Before I Go To Sleep by S.J. Watson as the premise was nearly the same except for Sam kept all her memories from after that day. But, I loved both of these books as I think the powerful writing and scenarios bring these novels to a high standing.
I seem to have gotten quite the thirst for romantic thrillers, although I have not really read too many so, I hope to add a few more to my electronic and real life shelves soon. :)
I seem to have gotten quite the thirst for romantic thrillers, although I have not really read too many so, I hope to add a few more to my electronic and real life shelves soon. :)
Rating? 4.9/5. Left out that one .1 only because the ending felt a tad rushed to me, other than that SPECTACULAR JOB!!
Favourite characters? Samantha. Her strength carried her through all her hardships which I found really admirable and brave, plus her personal growth was very well done.
Least favourite character? Del ;) 'Del the Dick' enough said. 
(haha i found this gif on tumblr earlier, not planning on putting it in the post but I couldn't help it!)
Favourite moment? Carson and Samantha's prom night.
Favourite quote? "My memories were dangerous, but they were also the key to the truth"
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