What Alice Forgot

by Liane Moriarty
What Alice Forgot cover
Good Books rating 3.62
Contemporary Fiction
Buy online
Waterstones
Paperback • £9.99
Amazon
Format/Price Check
Technical
  • ID: 10602
  • Added: 2026-02-01
  • Updated: 2026-02-22
  • ISBN: 9780425271902
  • Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group
  • Published: 2013-09-24
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 4

Alice Love, a 29-year-old woman, wakes up on the floor of a gym, a place she despises, and is taken to the hospital where she learns she's actually 39, divorced, and has three children. As she tries to reconstruct the lost decade, she must also grapple with the changes in her life and relationships, including her estranged sister and her new, seemingly perfect self. The novel explores themes of memory, identity, and the possibility of starting over. Alice's journey is both humorous and poignant as she navigates the complexities of her past and present.

Reviews
The Book Bag · Katie Pullen · 2026-02-01
excellent 5.00

The book explores the most significant decade of Alice's life that she has forgotten, revealing deep emotions and life-changing events. It's a compelling journey through memory and identity.

Katie Pullen found 'What Alice Forgot' to be a deeply moving and engaging read. The story delves into the ten years of Alice's life that she cannot remember, uncovering a wealth of emotions and pivotal moments. Pullen appreciated how Moriarty skillfully weaves together themes of memory, identity, and the passage of time. The narrative is both heartwarming and thought-provoking, making it a standout read. Pullen particularly enjoyed the way the author reveals Alice's past slowly, allowing readers to discover the events alongside the protagonist. This gradual unveiling adds a layer of intrigue and keeps the reader invested throughout.

Quick quotes

    What Alice has forgotten is the most important ten years of her life after a nasty bump.

    The story is both heartwarming and thought-provoking.

    Moriarty skillfully weaves together themes of memory, identity, and the passage of time.

Literary Quicksand · 2016-08-29
intriguing 4.00

The pace of the book is quick, but the revelation of Alice's past is slow, creating a sense of discovery for the reader. The writing style is engaging and thought-provoking.

The reviewer at Literary Quicksand found 'What Alice Forgot' to be a compelling read with a brisk pace that keeps the reader engaged. The gradual revelation of Alice's past adds a layer of intrigue, making the reading experience more immersive. The reviewer appreciated how Moriarty balances the fast-paced narrative with the slow unraveling of Alice's forgotten years, creating a sense of discovery. The writing style is engaging and thought-provoking, making it a memorable read. The reviewer also noted that the book's exploration of memory and identity is both poignant and insightful.

Quick quotes

    The pace moves pretty quickly, but Moriarty reveals Alice's past slowly.

    The reader and Alice discover the events of the last 10 years together.

    The writing style is engaging and thought-provoking.

Girl in the Pages · Cristina · 2016-02-24
mixed 3.00

The premise of the book is extremely interesting, but the first half drags with unnecessary narratives. The story picks up in the second half, making it a mixed reading experience.

Cristina from Girl in the Pages found the premise of 'What Alice Forgot' to be extremely interesting, but felt that the first half of the book dragged with a lot of unnecessary narratives. The story picks up in the second half, making the reading experience a bit mixed. Cristina appreciated the unique concept and the way Moriarty explores themes of memory and identity. However, she felt that the pacing could have been better balanced to maintain the reader's interest throughout. Despite the slow start, the second half of the book redeems it with its engaging and thought-provoking narrative. Cristina also noted that the characters are well-developed and the exploration of Alice's past is both poignant and insightful.

Quick quotes

    The premise was extremely interesting.

    The first half of the book dragged with a lot of unnecessary narratives.

    The story picks up in the second half, making it a mixed reading experience.

Sarah's Bookshelves · Sarah · 2014-03-02
disappointing 2.50

The writing is plain and the dialogue lacks wit. The premise could have resulted in smart, witty exchanges but falls short.

The writing was too plain vanilla chick lit and the dialogue lacked snap. Alice's situation could have resulted in smart, witty exchanges but fell short. The characters are well-developed, but the plot is somewhat predictable. The themes explored are interesting, but the execution could have been better.

Quick quotes

    The writing was too plain vanilla chick lit and the dialogue lacked snap.

    Alice's situation could have resulted in smart, witty exchanges but fell short.

    The characters are well-developed, but the plot is somewhat predictable.

Appears in Lists