What Alice Forgot Review | No-Commitment Blogger Book Club #2

It’s the first Monday of the month, which means: Book Review! Today I am reviewing What Alice Forgot, the February book in the No Commitment Blogger Book Club.

What was the book about?
The book begins with Alice Love waking up on the floor of a gym, thinking she’s 29 years-old, happily married, and pregnant with her first child, when she’s actually 39 years-old, has three children, and is about to get a divorce. In a fall, she lost her memory of the last decade. This is story of her journey to remembering.

Did you enjoy the book? Why? Why not?
I loved it, but this book did a number on me.

I related so much to Alice’s 29 year-old thoughts and feelings. Being in a new marriage, giggling over silly things, dreaming about our future home and the children that will one day fill it. It depressed me to see what Alice’s world had turned into: separated from her husband, three children she doesn’t really know, and overly controlling in every aspect of her life.

It was scary to think that I could turn into someone like that. The kind of person who’s never satisfied and always grumpy. Constantly obsessed about having the perfect house, perfect children, perfect body, and perfect image in her community. It was obvious that her money, status, and family life did not make her happy. Will I end up like that? What kind of person am I going to be in ten years? What kinds of things do I need to do today to ensure I don’t end up like one of those women? I’m not going to obsess over it, but it certainly has made me feel more grateful for my life now and very conscious about my dreams.

While Alice was dealing with her broken family, the book also addressed those who aren’t able to get pregnant (Elizabeth, Alice’s older sister), and those who never get married (Frannie, Alice’s “adopted” grandmother). These are common disappointments that women face. In the course of the story these three women deal with their expectations and work through how to deal with these disappointments.

In general – I loved the book. When I first got it, I thought it was really long, but I found myself breezing quickly through the pages, longing to pick it back up at the end of the day. My only complaint would be more detail at the end. I thought she ended it pretty abruptly, especially given the great detail to the very beginning. The first half of the book covers the first two days after her accident! But otherwise, I loved the book and it has made me more grateful for my life now and very conscious about my dreams, expectations and how I want to treat others so that the things I value today will still be with my in ten years.

Would you recommend this book?
Yes! For women of all ages.

What’s your favorite quote from the book?

“The house was literally perfect now. Instead of being thrilled that suddenly seemed depressing.”

“She felt as though she’d been unforgivingly negligent — careless! sloppy!–with the most precious, wonderful gift she’d ever received.”

Have you read this book and want to participate? Write a review in your blog and post it back here, or comment below and tell me what you thought. The link-up will be open until April, so you have all month to participate. :)

This month’s book: Happier at Home, by Gretchen Rubin. I will be reviewing this book April 1st.

PS – Are you on GoodReads? If so, let’s be friends!  Check out January’s Bossypants review.