Review: Don't Look Back by Jennifer L. Armentrout

don't look back by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Published: April 15th 2014
Genre: YA Psychological Thriller
Format: Hardcover, 384 pages
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Source: Purchased at Amazon
Series: Stand-alone 

Synopsis:

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?

My Thoughts:

   Another Jennifer L. Armentrout book? I'll read anything she writes and I don't have to read the summary to know I'm going to like it. I actually finished this book this past Friday when I heard that it was already out in the U.K and I had to buy it. That's how obsessed I am with her books. What a talented writer she is. I could not tell you how much I freak-ing loved this book. And this was the very first thriller book I read. It made me want to go read some mystery books even though it kind of creeped me out.

   The main character named Sam disappears with her best friend Cassie and then reappears four days later without Cassie Everyone wants to know exactly what happened to her and where Cassie is but to make things worse, she loses her memories. Everyone is blown away by how she has changed because let me tell you this, Sam was not such a nice girl before she disappeared. But she wasn't always that mean-girl. Before she met Cassie, her supposedly best friend, she was best friends with Carson and Julie. But it all changed when she met Cassie. 

   I really hated Cassie even though she wasn't in the book, physically *hint.* But Cassie had her reasons for being who she is, not that it justified anything.

   I usually find that I can relate to the main character but I'm no mean girl and Sam totally took that up a notch. If you've ever seen a movie called Mean Girls, I would say that she is like the main character, Katie, who was a sweet girl that changed after meeting a manipulative girl named Regina (Cassie).
   Then we have the sexy Carson, who mean-Sam couldn't stand because he's father worked for his father. There was just something about him that gives him that bad boy image but at the same time, he's a sweet guy. 

   Then there is Del, Sam's boyfriend. I wanted to punch him for taking advantage of Sam losing her memories. He is so disgusting at what he did and then not wanting Sam to dump him. We also have Sam's not-so nice friends, who basically followed Cassie and Sam. But they turn on Sam since she isn't feeling like her old mean-self.
   The plot of this book, I felt was brilliant. I was never close to figuring out who was the one responsible. I had guessed like a million times. And then it felt like I was just accusing everyone. I felt Sam's frustration and felt like I myself was going a little crazy. That's how into the book I was.
   Even though it's horrible that old Sam was mean to Carson and they hated each other, I liked that fact. Because when Sam returned all sweet, trying to make up for what she had done before, she came back liking Carson. It was like an explosion waiting to happen (at least that's how it felt for me). I loved it when Sam got jealous of that one girl talking to Carson. I just wished there was more of it.
   Overall, this book is bittersweet suspense and just a bit creepy. But all the more lovable with Carson. It leaves you itching for more because I felt like some questions were left unsolved. This was more about Sam losing her memories and trying to find her way back but the background romance was so swoon worthy. You'd wish Carson was real.