by Sophie Kinsella
I’m a whiz kid! I have strategic visions of the future! I just hope I wrote them down somewhere.
This was very much a light-hearted take on an amnesia-stricken heroine. Both Kinsella’s writing and the story were very enjoyable, although I think, in this case, the intrigue of the amnesia plot was what kept me interested to the end and looking forward to reading the next chapter. I enjoyed the humor and funny situations Lexi found herself in, but the story really kicked in about 30% into it when she finally started to realize that not all in her life was as perfect as it appeared to be. The overarching mystery of the story was how she could have changed so utterly and completely from an awkward insecure unremarkable drone to a sleek, fashionable business dynamo in 3 years. I was afraid this would be a plot hole that Kinsella was not going to address, but at last she does, and very believably. I was frustrated by how naïve and trusting Lexi was of her reprobate sister who betrayed and lied to her time and again, although Amy did achieve some measure of redemption at the end. Also, no matter how many times she explains her amnesia to her mother (horrible selfish weak woman), co-workers, “friends”, and even her Knight in Shining Armor, they continually act surprised when she doesn’t remember something. This was really a weakness towards the end when Jon, her one strong and reliable ally, has his “I-can’t–believe-you-didn’t-remember-that” moment that comes within a hair’s breadth of causing a disaster and devastating failure. I do wonder if I would enjoy any of her other books as well as this one because I’m kind of a sucker for amnesia stories. **4 stars out of 5**
**Re-reading on audible 05/2026** going by this old review, this was apparently the first Kinsella book I ever read. She was to become a top favorite.
So many questions! who is the true Lexy? Before and after are totally opposite people! I’m riveted!
For a while I was confused about why I only gave this 4 stars instead of 5 because I was really really enjoying this, especially as read by Charlotte Parry. She was so funny and really nailed each characters personalities. I should have known, from her reading, that Eric would turn out to be a pompous ass. Although a nice pompous ass. (mostly.) After I finished it however, I understood. Lexie was so hopeless once she returned to her office, letting her so called “friends”, who were her subordinates, walk all over her. Drove me Crazy. why she would want to maintain a relationship with people who were so cruel and mean, I still don’t know. Even though they did ask for forgiveness later on. Her mother was a really really bad mother, and we never get any resolution to their relationship although we hear later she has made a few superficial changes. It seems to be for the best that they are no longer in contact. I thought the development of her relationships with Eric and John were very well done. For quite a while, Eric her husband seemed quite nice and I could imagine the book ending with them together. But then… When she put the disco lights on in her apartment and his reaction to her eating a bag of chips put paid to that possibility! I loved John, even though I wasn’t fond of the adultery angle.
I also did not like that although we have a happy ending for her romantically, she never really recovers her memory fully, although we do have a glimmer of hope. I also wanted more closure with her bosses at her old job. I wanted their reaction when they find out about her success with what they turned their noses up at and mocked her for. Still there were so many funny and intriguing aspects to this, I still loved it.
July 04, 2016