★★★
Summary:
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?
Summary:
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?
At first, Samantha doesn't remember a single thing about herself or her life. In fact, she did not even remember her name.
“His smile strained. “What’s your name?”
My name? Everyone knew their name, but as I stared at the deputy, I couldn’t answer his question. The knots started twisting more. “I don’t ... I don’t know what my name is.”
He blinked, and the smile was completely gone. “You don’t remember anything?”
I tried again, concentrating on the empty space between my ears. That was how it felt. And I knew that wasn’t good. My eyes started to tear up.”
Turns out, Samantha has been missing for four days. Nobody knows what happened, nobody knows where she has been since she went missing. But now that she's been found, the police have their eyes on her. Apparently, they are still looking for Samantha's best friend Cassie, who disappeared with her.
“The older officer smiled tightly. “We’re happy that your daughter appears to be in one piece, but unfortunately, there’s another family who’s still hoping for news on their daughter.”
I sat up straighter, looking between my parents. “What?”
My mom came to my side, taking my hand once more. “They’re talking about Cassie, honey.”
“Cassie?”
She smiled, but it looked more like a grimace. “Cassie Winchester is your best friend. She disappeared with you.”
Samantha wants to help find Cassie. If she could only remember... She sets out to somehow get back her memories, hoping that will help get Cassie back. But now that Samantha is back home, she decides to go back to school. Whatever happened when she was gone has changed her, and now that she is back in her old life, Samantha must deal with the repercussions of her old self's actions.
“Jeez, that’s rude on so many levels.”
Veronica jerked her head back. “Okay, that’s coming from you?”
“So?” I said.
She bit down on her lower lip as she scanned the cafeteria. “Okay. Do you see her?” She pointed out a pretty girl with mochacolored skin and kickass boots. “Just last Wednesday, you called her”—she lowered her voice—“a fat bitch whose thighs were capable of setting the world on fire. So you have no room to talk.”
My jaw hit the floor. “I... I wouldn’t say that.”
Not only that, but Samantha also has a boyfriend.
“Is that my boyfriend?” I whispered, hopeful and scared all at once. If he was my boyfriend, I had no idea what to do with him. Well, I did—I suddenly had lots of ideas that involved kissing, touching, and all sorts of fun things, but he was ... mouthwateringly gorgeous, and that intimidated the hell out of me.
Scott choked on his laugh.
The boy in the doorway glanced at my brother and then at me. Heat crept across my cheeks. The relief was still in his eyes, and my lips split in a hesitant smile. He was happy to see me, but ... but then his eyes hardened into chips of ice.
“Boyfriend? Yeah,” he said slowly, voice deep and smooth. “Not even if you paid my tuition to Penn State next year.”
The first time Samantha sees Carson Ortiz she wonders out loud if that is his so-called boyfriend. Turns out, Samantha had been bullying Carson for years. But Samantha and her real boyfriend, Del, just don't click, and she cannot understand why she would ever date him. She also can't understand how she could have bullied Carson when she is actually insanely attracted to him.
Samantha begins finding notes. They are creepy and (understandably so) freak her out.
Samantha begins finding notes. They are creepy and (understandably so) freak her out.
“Snapping out of my panic, I pulled free from his grasp. “There’s a note under my pillow!”
“What?” He brushed past me, heading for my bedroom.
I trailed behind him, stopping at the door as he approached my bed and picked up the note as if it were a venomous snake.
“‘Don’t look back. You won’t like what you find.’ Are you shitting me?” He turned, holding the letter up. “Who’s been up here, Sam?”
“I don’t know. No one that I know...” I stopped. I didn’t know anyone.”
She also starts having episodes. She sees Cassie where she is not and has conversations with herself on the mirror.
“I headed into the bathroom and picked up my toothbrush, catching sight of my reflection in the mirror. Dark smudges had blossomed under my eyes. As I spurted a dab of toothpaste on the toothbrush, I looked away for a second, maybe two.
Cassie stared back at me, with mirroring shadows under her eyes.
Gasping, I jerked back. The darkness under her eyes spread across otherwise flawless cheeks, following the path of her veins, as if someone had injected her with ink. I couldn’t look away as she opened her mouth in a silent scream that raised the tiny hairs all over my body.”
Sam was a great character. I loved her change from mean girl to nice girl and how it is portrayed in the book. I loved how she grew into a better person in the journey to get back her memories. Sometimes the change seemed a bit too drastic, but I am a sucker for change, so I am not complaining. Scott, Sam's twin brother, is also a great character. He forgives Sam for her bitchiness and treats her well. He shows that he cares for her and that he wants to protect her.
I also loved Carson. I loved that he refused to do anything with Samantha until she breaks up with Del. I loved how sweet he was to Samantha, and how helpful he is to her. He is a good bad boy (motorcycle and all), and I love it.
One of the things I disliked was how bitchy most female characters were. They were shallow and terrible friends. I wish Sam had had stronger relationships with her girlfriends, not just hinted that they are friends at the end.
Don't Look Back is definitely Armentrout's best novel so far. It is an intriguing and suspenseful read. Although some might claim the mystery was too easy to solve, I failed to connect the clues until the end. There were a few things I disliked, but, overall, the story is interesting and definitely worth reading.
I also loved Carson. I loved that he refused to do anything with Samantha until she breaks up with Del. I loved how sweet he was to Samantha, and how helpful he is to her. He is a good bad boy (motorcycle and all), and I love it.
One of the things I disliked was how bitchy most female characters were. They were shallow and terrible friends. I wish Sam had had stronger relationships with her girlfriends, not just hinted that they are friends at the end.
Don't Look Back is definitely Armentrout's best novel so far. It is an intriguing and suspenseful read. Although some might claim the mystery was too easy to solve, I failed to connect the clues until the end. There were a few things I disliked, but, overall, the story is interesting and definitely worth reading.