Catherine McKenzie is a great author, I’ve reviewed several books by her and they’re all great, including Spin, Hidden, and Smoke.
In Forgotten, Emma Tupper has a promising future as an attorney. But when her mother dies and leaves Emma a plane ticket to Africa, she feels obligated to honor her mom’s wishes. Shortly after arriving in Africa, Emma develops a serious illness and also survives an earthquake, which ultimately cuts her off from everything back home.
When Emma comes home to the U.S. six months later, she learns that her life is over on paper. It turns out everyone assumed she died in Africa! Emma must then rebuild her life and determining which parts are worth saving.
McKenzie’s style is rich and articulate. Every little detail in this novel is savory—from Emma’s mourning, to the details about the bitter cold she experiences on the east coast after coming home for winter.
Forgotten makes you think about what you would do in Emma’s situation. What would you change about your life if you were presumed dead? Would you start completely over and make people believe you were still dead?
The ending of Forgotten is sweet and subtle. When I finished the book, I was left wanting more of Emma’s story.
Other books by Catherine McKenzie include:
- I’ll Never Tell (2019)
- You Can’t Catch Me (2020)
- Six Weeks to Live (2021)
- Please Join Us (2022)
- Have You Seen Her (2023)
What did you think about this book?
Last Updated on December 2, 2025 by Sarah Ann
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