The Forgetting By Hannah Beckerman

‘The Forgetting’ is the latest book by Hannah Beckerman.

When Anna Bradshaw wakes up in a hospital bed in London, she remembers nothing, not even her loving husband, Stephen. The doctors say her amnesia is to be expected, but Anna feels cut adrift from her entire life. In Bristol, Livvy Nicholson is newly married to Dominic and eager to get back to work after six months’ maternity leave. But when Dominic’s estranged mother appears, making a series of unnerving claims, Livvy is sucked into a version of herself she doesn’t recognise. A hundred miles apart, both women feel trapped and disorientated, and their stories are about to collide. Can they uncover the secret that connects them and reconstruct their fractured lives?

It’s been a while since I’ve read a book by Hannah Beckerman, so ‘The Forgetting was a great return to the author.

The story is seen from the perspective of two women Anna and Livvy, two completely different women with different lives. Anna has woken in a hospital with a man beside claiming to be her husband whilst Livvy has found the man of her dreams with a beautiful little boy. But one thing that they have in common is that both women doubt their husbands and just how perfect they are being led to believe.

I really enjoyed this story; it flowed in a great twisty and gripping way with alternating chapters between Livvy and Anna. The chapters are also quite short, so it was easy to get absorbed in the story. Both women are relatable and engaging, Anna is an innocent character who’s vulnerable and completely reliant on a man that she’s unsure off. As she questions her life and status, she’s unsure of Stephen – her husband who tells what films and books she loves. Dominic is showing a different side to Livvy, he’s not the charming that she fell and beginning that her sister Imogen was right when she had her reservations about Dominic.

Beautifully plotted and taunt and emotional with a dark undertone weaved throughout, ‘The Forgetting’ explores the dark side of relationships with a fantastic twist that left my spellbound.

You can buy ‘The Forgetting’ from Amazon and is available to buy from good bookshops.