Cover Image: The Unforgettable Alexandra Shaw

The Unforgettable Alexandra Shaw

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Member Reviews

This was a quick and fun read. I enjoyed the characters and though it was a little predictable I really liked it. The twists and turns were good too!

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Thank you NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

There are rumors and secrets found in most high schools. Popular crowds, bullies, and comic book nerds are all universal. Yet behind the gates of Pine Cliff Academy, the secrets are more sinister; there are rumors of children locked up in the basement, teenagers going wild and jumping off the cliff into the wild sea below. But is any of it real?

Alexandra Shaw is new to the Academy. Luckily popular girl, Kayla, swooped in and saved Alexandra from being a social pariah. Because with Kayla, and the thoughtful Hannah by her side, maybe no one will look too closely at Alexandra, since it's common knowledge that she killed her father. If only it were that easy. Alexandra knows that it was an accident, but still carries the guilt. She tries to be the perfect daughter, so her mother won't resent her. Won't look at her in that disappointed way anymore. And for awhile things were getting better. Until Alexandra started having visions of a boy.

Alexandra's body knows this mystery boy. Knows his touch, his heart. But she doesn't remember him. Until she does. Until she starts to remember a lot of things, things that don't make any sense.

This was a very quick read! There was a lot of action, and while I guessed a good majority of what was to come, I still enjoyed seeing how the author brought it all together. I enjoyed this book but really wish that the author had dove in deeper. I felt like a lot of the characters were one dimensional, and I didn't feel the chemistry between Alexandra and the MMC. To be honest, there wasn't a lot of time spent together before they were rushing off to the next thing. I think if the pacing of this slowed down a little and more time was spent developing the relationship between these characters it would have been a five star read.

Some trigger warnings: abuse, self-harm, eating disorders, family trauma, murder, death.

It does end on a cliffhanger (LOL) so there is more to come and be explored within this world. Most of the novel takes place at the Academy itself, so I hope the author decides to expand the world a little more and we can experience so much more from this world and the characters!

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this was a really good! I liked the characters, and they were super well-developed. the plot was super cool and fun to read, and the writing was also smooth and easy to understand
highly recommend

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Check for all TWs before reading this book!

The Unforgettable Alexandra Shaw is a very intriguing novel with unexpected twists and turns to a very mysterious story. I was fascinated with the unique title and beautiful cover of this book when I first saw it and it indeed has a promising, chilling thrill to it. Alexandra and the other characters in this book were the typical cliqué in every fictional highschool setting, but the plot was written quite well as it traversed through friendships, falling in love, redemption, and reclaiming one’s identity through remembering. The storytelling was incredibly fast-paced and it never fell flat. This author definitely knows how to write an exhilarating story. I felt gaslit throughout the entire book, which was perfect as it painted the atmosphere in such a dark manner and conveyed what the author really wanted. This book is perfect for Teen and YA readers seeking mystery and a riveting adventure. I can’t wait for the next book!

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This was such an exciting read! Full of twists and mystery! This book is a ya sci-fi thriller about a young girl who kills her father but that's not the end of the story. She goes on a journey to discover the truth. I love the cover too!

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#TheUnforgettableAlexandraShaw #NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an E-Arc copy of this novel.

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Where to start?…… I LOVED THIS BOOK.
This SF is very well written, we became completely addicted by all the plot-twist.
We follow Alexandra Shaw, who after a car crash killing her father, tried to have a normal life in her new school. She also tried to reconnect with her mother, whom she thinks ressent her for the accident. Sinking both of them into grief.
‘Til she « meets » Logan who claim to know her, leaving her confused an with doubts, not knowing if her sudden visions are only a trick of her mind or reel memories.
We also have really good characters, all with a different story, that we could think as typical high school character. The Queen Bee, Kayla with her more reserved friend Hannah the both of them always attached to the hip, Kyle the Bully, Scott the director’s son and of course, Kayla’s older friends who are in University. But in this, nothing is typical or normal, and everyone has reasons to be here. I only have one advise for you, Don’t trust everyone.

I’m waiting now for the second books this fall ;)

PS: this cover is absolutely SUBLIME

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Oh my stars, what a cliffhanger! I can't wait until the second book comes out…
I loved Alexandra's character; she is a realistic teen, thinking about school and friends but similar to Trueman in the Trueman Show, people keep giving her hints about what is really going on and she repeatedly doesn’t pick up on it ,but you do 😉 she’s preoccupied with other things, like her guilt about her dad and her difficult relationship with her mom. Eventually, she works out that things in her life are not what they seem and that people are constantly lying to her and something more sinister is going on. You keep rooting for her to connect the dots and do something about it, before it’s too late. Really enjoyable read.

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This is a YA thriller with a scifi twist, and the protagonist is a very believable teenager, with all that entails. Alexandra is juvenile, sometimes moody, sometimes overly dramatic – but that's as it should be, as she is only 17 years old. The author writes teenagers who feel authentic, with complicated, messy friendships, struggling to carve out their own path into adulthood. The adults are less defined, but that might be intentional, as most of them are authority figures who do not encourage the kids to see them as anything but.

Ash Lloyd Spanton handles heavy themes like bullying or mental health well, giving some depth even to characters who seemed one-dimensional at first glance. For example, it might sound cliché to have a bully break down and reveal that they are desperately unhappy and lashing out to feel like they have *some* control over their life, but it's done in a way that feels genuine and multi-faceted.

I wasn't sure at first if the book was the right fit for me; this is one of the YA books I feel too old for, as it is so rooted in school life. However, the many twists and turns kept me hooked. While this is in essence a coming-of-age story, it's also a story with complex themes like abuse of power, grief, living with guilt. And above all, it's almost a cautionary tale for adults: Beware, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

There is a reason why the book »Never Let Me Go« is forbidden in this therapeutic boarding school: It might make the children question if there is more to the school's strict correctional policy than meets the eye.

I've docked points for some questionable plot details that I can't see happening or working in real life. I cannot give an example without spoilers, but it's *not* about the scifi elements! But other than that, this is still a fun #threestarread.

The story is not concluded and will continue in book 2.

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A very enjoyable fast-paced YA read with multiple twists. This was easy and quick to read but kept me engaged and wanting to read the next book in the series.

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This was a fun book that kind of reminded me of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. I look forward to reading the sequel. I don’t want to write any spoilers but I enjoyed the pace of the book and the surprise twists. I received a free copy of this book from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

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I really enjoyed this book, I didn’t guess the twists and had a good time. It won’t be one I reread in the future but I’m glad I read it when I did

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I was really excited going into this book. It was such an interesting concept. There was just something about it that missed the mark for me. I haven’t quite figured it out yet but unfortunately, this book wasn’t fully for me.

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Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. Yes yes yes. I loved this book SO much. It brought me on a ride, and I was hanging on the whole time in anticipation of the adventure. A more formal review will be available on my IG/TikTok and Goodreads, but I already purchased a copy for friends!

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Alexandra is seventeen and trying to make sense of her life after accidentally killing her father. She just wants to find her place in a new school, mend things with her mom, but nothing is that simple. Enter Logan, who claims that not only does he know her, but she herself was killed in the accident. Together they start digging up a terrifying truth about her school and events quickly spiral out of control for Alexandra and those around her. With no one to trust, she races to piece her life together before it's too late. The Unforgettable Alexandra Shaw is an exciting debut novel full of twists and turns - I'm usually good at guessing endings but this one caught me off guard which I loved. With its captivating story and gripping suspense, this book was definitely a page-turner! Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange of this honest review.

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Love that spectacular cover; the deftly done mix of mystery, sci-fi, and fantasy; the amazing worldbuilding; plus the twisty plot that kept me rapt. Teen and YA readers will especially enjoy THE UNFORGETTABLE ALEXANDRA SHAW, and wait as excitedly, as I am, for the sequel slated for fall. Recommended!

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Review in progress and to come.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review

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The Unforgettable Alexandra Shaw is an easy to read teen mystery with some science-fiction/thriller undertones. Readers followed a 17 year old girl, Alexandra, as she tried to fit into a new school after having to completely relocate after losing her father in a car accident. Alexandra doesn't know who to trust as she uncovers some secrets about her identity throughout the book whilst also having strange visions about a boy she hadn't yet met. Plot-wise, I felt that the premise of the book was extremely interesting and did keep me intrigued as to what would happen next - I was able to read this in two sittings as it was difficult to put down - however, I feel that the book could have been executed slightly differently as everything seemed a little too easy for the main characters and there didn't seem to be any true consequences for their actions. It was obvious that everything would turn out well for the main characters as nothing really seemed at stake - especially as it was mentioned that the memory-wiping procedures could fail and forgotten memories could be re-triggered. Alexandra was a very difficult character to like as, throughout the book, she didn't seem to stay true to her character and appeared to make wild decisions that didn't seem realistic. I also didn't care too much for her friends or her love interest as we, the readers, didn't actually know much about them - they were just there in Alexandra's story.
Overall this book was a quick and easy read but may have more suited towards a reader closer to the protagonists age (although I am only 23...?). While I won't be checking out the sequel, there is already a good mystery being set-up which I can see other people enjoying.

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Alexandra Shaw is your typical teenager from the outside, she attends a private high school, has friends that she adores, and can sometimes struggle to get along with her mom. But Alexandra was in a car accident that killed her father, and she was the one driving... At least, that's what she was told. Until she meets Logan, who tells her that her father wasn't the only one who died in the crash, she had too. While Alexandra struggles through the grief and guilt of killing her father and the confusion that Logan adds to the equation, we follow as she attempts to find out more about her life <i>before</i>.

Overall, I found this book to be pretty enjoyable. It was an easy read but at times i found the writing to be kind of slow and repetitive. That being said, the story kept my attention and I really found myself speeding through the pages, wanting to find out what would happen next. This book really gave me <i>Wilder Girls</i> by Rory Power vibes. Though the premise isn't exactly the same, I found myself almost getting the storylines intertwined. I ultimately decided to rate this three stars because while I did enjoy it, there was just something missing for me and I can't quite put my finger on it. However, I am really looking forward to checking out the final book in this series when it comes out in the fall. The ending of this book was very intriguing and I'll definitely be thinking about it for a while to come.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ebook ARC of this book!

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Alexandra Shaw is not like other girls. She likes Jane Austin and Taylor Swift and doesn't feel like she needs makeup. She isn't interested in boys or partying. She doesn't feel compelling or beautiful, but the most popular girl is one of her best friends and she and her friends are literally at the center of her school's yearbook.

Does every part of that make you cringe and feel like, "Why on earth would I want to read that?" After getting one chapter into this book I actually made a social media post saying "In the year of our Lord, 2023, can we please drop the 'I'm not like other girls' trope?" But, hear me out, I want you to keep reading this book. I saw a review telling me to keep going, so this is me telling you the same, keep going.

Alexandra Shaw killed her father. It was an accident, but she carries that guilt with her all of the time. She and her mother have relocated and she is now going to a school new school and she is just trying to get through until she graduates.

Do you like plot twists? Do you like an unreliable narrator? Do you like just the tiniest bit of dystopian YA science fiction and near future to the point that it is almost believable as being a thing that could happen? Then this is for you. I am definitely looking forward to reading the next book to see what happens.

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