Forget You Know Me: A Novel

by Jessica Strawser

Overview

The next “masterful” (Publishers Weekly) novel from "the gifted Jessica Strawser" (Adriana Trigiani), hailed as “immensely satisfying” (Kathleen Barber) and “that book you can’t put down” (Sally Hepworth). A video call between friends captures a shocking incident no one was supposed to see.

The secrets it exposes threaten to change their lives forever.

Molly and Liza have always been enviably close. Even after Molly married Daniel, the couple considered Liza an honorary family member. But after Liza moved away, things grew more strained than anyone wanted to admit—in the friendship and the marriage.

When Daniel goes away on business, Molly and Liza plan to reconnect with a nice long video chat after the kids are in bed. But then Molly leaves the room to check on a crying child.

What Liza sees next will change everything.

Only one thing is certain: Molly needs her. Liza drives all night to be at Molly’s side—but when she arrives, the reception is icy, leaving Liza baffled and hurt. She knows there’s no denying what she saw.

Or is there?

In disbelief that their friendship could really be over, Liza is unaware she’s about to have a near miss of her own.

And Molly, refusing to deal with what’s happened, won’t turn to Daniel, either.

But none of them can go on pretending. Not after this.

Forget You Know Me is a “twisty, emotionally complex, powder keg of a tale” (bestselling author Emily Carpenter) about the wounds of people who’ve grown apart. Best friends, separated by miles. Spouses, hardened by neglect. A mother, isolated by pain.

One moment will change things for them all.

"[A] great hybrid of women's fiction and suspense...strong character development and unpredictable plot." - Library Journal

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250252975
Publisher:	St. Martin's Publishing Group
Publication date:	03/03/2020
Pages:	336
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.30(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

JESSICA STRAWSER (she/her) is the author of the book club favorites Almost Missed You, Not That I Could Tell (a Book of the Month selection), Forget You Know Me, and A Million Reasons Why. She is Editor-at-Large for Writer’s Digest, and her work has appeared in The New York Times' Modern Love, Publishers Weekly, and other fine venues. She lives with her husband and two children in Cincinnati.

Editorial Reviews

"Gorgeously written, suspenseful and full of characters who feel like old friends. I loved this book and didn't want it to end." — Michele Campbell, author of It’s Always the Husband

“Forget You Know Me is that book you can’t put down, and can’t stop thinking about when you are finished.” —Sally Hepworth, USA Today bestselling author of The Family Next Door

"A fantastic, tautly-paced novel that will have you racing to unravel its many questions and half-truths." —Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke, bestselling authors of Girls' Night Out

"Friendships crack, marriages erode, and dangerous deceits rise to the surface in this twisty, emotionally complex, powder keg of a tale." —Emily Carpenter, bestselling author of Burying the Honeysuckle Girls and Every Single Secret

"[A] great hybrid of women's fiction and suspense...strong character development and unpredictable plot." - Library Journal on Forget You Know Me

“Not That I Could Tell is a psychological thriller of the highest order, as well written as it is structured. That means the magazine Strawser once edited might well be covering her from the other side, and deservedly so.”—Providence Journal

"Full of slow-burning intrigue, Strawser's second novel will appeal to fans of Liane Moriarty's Big Little Lies and Jennifer Kitses' Small Hours." — Booklist on Not That I Could Tell

"[An] engrossing, taut tale." — Publisher's Weekly on Not That I Could Tell

"The characters are unique, engaging, and relatable and the ending is both surprising and poignant. Fans of Liane Moriarty will adore Jessica Strawser; she’s a huge talent!" —Kate Moretti, New York Times bestselling author of THE BLACKBIRD SEASON on Not That I Could Tell

"Fans of smart women's fiction mixed with a fast-paced plot should not miss this startling first novel." —Library Journal on Almost Missed You

"Almost Missed You is a skillful, insightful debut: a deft exploration of the mysteries of marriage, the price we pay for our secrets, and just how easy it is to make the worst choices imaginable." — Chris Bohjalian, New York Times bestselling author of The Sandcastle Girls and Midwives

“An emotional powerhouse of a novel…Strawser’s tale of guilt, blame, redemption, and forgiveness is a must read for anyone who enjoys a well-told, compelling exploration of the human heart.” —Garth Stein New York Times bestselling author of A Sudden Light and The Art of Racing in the Rain on Almost Missed You

"Almost Missed You is the sensational debut novel by the gifted Jessica Strawser who has expertly woven a tale of a marriage in crisis with elements of daring, danger, mystery and secrets that will surprise and delight you. This is a rich read which will keep you turning pages long into the night. Glorious!" — Adriana Trigiani, New York Times bestselling author of All the Stars in the Heavens

From the Publisher

★ 12/24/2018

Strawser’s masterful novel (after 2018’s Not That I Could Tell) begins with a chilling moment: Liza Green is video chatting with her lifelong pal Molly Perkins, when Molly briefly leaves the room; in the following moment, Liza sees a masked intruder who approaches the computer and ends the call. Fearing for Molly’s life, Liza alerts the police and makes the hours-long drive from Chicago to her friend’s house in Cincinnati, Ohio, where Molly inexplicably brushes off Liza’s concerns. Perplexed and furious, Liza returns to her building only to learn that it burned down during the night. Liza takes stock of her life and decides to move back to Cincinnati, where she finds new love and tries to repair her friendship with Molly. Meanwhile, Molly’s chronic pain has driven a wedge between her and her husband, Daniel, who thinks she’s exaggerating. She gets her emotional needs met by her neighbor Rick, who she initially believes was the man in the mask. After Rick makes it clear that the intruder wasn’t him, Molly worries that she’s being threatened by a shady loan company to which she owes a lot of money. It’s also possible that an unscrupulous colleague at Daniel’s job might be behind the prowler. Strawser’s novel expertly dials up the danger; it works equally well as an airtight thriller and a memorable depiction of an old friendship growing increasingly strained. Fans of well-written suspense are in for a treat. (Feb.)

Publishers Weekly

Narrator Gabra Zackman portrays a woman who comes to question whether her best friend can be trusted. Molly and Liza are on a video chat when Molly steps away and Liza witnesses a masked intruder in Molly’s house. Zackman’s mature tone complements the characters’ adult concerns, which include spiraling debt, troubled marriages, and more. She effectively delineates characters with subtle vocal changes. The bright, brittle tone she uses for Molly is especially notable and illuminates this blend of women’s fiction and plot twists straight out of a domestic thriller. Zackman’s pacing, however, is leisurely when it should be breathless; the audiobook sags when it should be gripping. Listeners intrigued by the characters will enjoy it; those seeking a thrill ride should look elsewhere. E.C. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine

FEBRUARY 2019 - AudioFile