Tea, Books, and Life

Forget Me Not by Q.B. Tyler

Summary:
What do you do when the love of your life forgets?
Not the good times.
Not the love.
Not the passion.
But the pain and heartbreak and betrayal.
He doesn’t remember that he broke my heart.
But I do.
He doesn’t remember the darkest parts of our marriage.
He doesn’t remember that six months ago, I said goodbye.
What do you do when the love of your life remembers your marriage but not your divorce?

Let’s talk about Forget Me Not by Q.B. Tyler—a book that’s been floating around the spicy romance corner of the internet for a while now. I finally picked it up, and… I liked it okay.

Now, hear me out.

The premise is definitely one that pulls you in: a man, Bennett Clarke, wakes up after an accident with no memory of the fact that he and his wife, Olivia, are separated, and in his mind, they’re still madly in love. Messy, angsty, and very ripe for drama—right up my alley.

There were moments I genuinely enjoyed—the tension, the confusion, the slow unraveling of what led to the separation. The chemistry between the main characters? It’s there. It simmers. And the spice? Yeah, she delivered on that front.

But… (you knew that was coming, right?) something about it didn’t fully click for me. Maybe it was the pacing. Maybe it was the way some of the emotional beats hit a little too late or not hard enough. I found myself wanting more from the characters—more growth, more reflection, just… more.

That said, I totally get why people love it. It has that emotional whiplash some readers live for, drawing them into a whirlwind of feelings that are both exhilarating and heart-wrenching. If you’re a fan of second-chance romances with a heavy dose of angst and steam, this one might hit the sweet spot for you, as it beautifully captures the complexity of rekindled relationships while exploring themes of forgiveness and personal growth. The characters’ journey together is rife with tension, compelling dialogue, and moments of vulnerability that resonate on a deeply human level, making you root for their success even amidst the turmoil.

I did like that Olivia is Black. This is the first book that Q.B. Tyler wrote with a Black heroine, which I find very interesting and refreshing in the landscape of contemporary literature. Olivia shares Tyler’s “fiesty attitude,” which makes her a dynamic character, and she has a notable affinity for wine and a keen fashion sense that adds depth to her persona. When Olivia confronts her husband’s affair partner at his request, it turned me off completely; the shift in her behavior felt jarring. Until then, she had consistently held her husband accountable for the affair, displaying strength and resilience. This confrontation, however, seemed completely out of left field and unnecessary, undermining the progress she had made in asserting her self-worth and values throughout the narrative. It left me questioning the motivations behind this pivotal scene and whether it aligned with the character development we had witnessed up to that point.

“I forgot everything… except how much I love you.”

Q.B. Tyler, Forget Me Not

Final thoughts? It’s a solid read. Not a favorite, but I’m not mad I read it. Think of it like that show you binged in a weekend—you were into it, but you’re probably not going to rewatch it.

Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)

Have you read Forget Me Not? Did it rip your heart out in the best way or leave you feeling just okay too? Let’s chat in the comments!