Things I Can't Forget Review

Things I Can't Forget (a companion novel to Catching Jordan and Stealing Parker)
by Miranda Kenneally
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Format: ARC from Around the World ARC Tours in exchange for my honest opinion.
Expected Publication: 03.01.13
Midnight Minute: I can't sum this up in 1 cute, pithy sentence, but you probably need to read this book.  It made me feel a lot of things.
From Goodreads:

Companion to Catching Jordan and Stealing Parker.

Kate has always been the good girl. Too good, according to some people at school—although they have no idea the guilty secret she carries. But this summer, everything is different…

This summer she’s a counselor at Cumberland Creek summer camp, and she wants to put the past behind her. This summer Matt is back as a counselor too. He’s the first guy she ever kissed, and he’s gone from a geeky songwriter who loved The Hardy Boys to a buff lifeguard who loves to flirt…with her.

Kate used to think the world was black and white, right and wrong. Turns out, life isn’t that easy…

Read an excerpt here.

Note: Mature themes, sexual situations, religious discussions.

Midnight Thoughts:

~ This is not a non-secular book, the main character just happens to be a Christian who is struggling with her recent actions and having trouble fitting in. 
~ I haven't read the previous companion books, which might have been a good idea since both Jordan and Parker make appearances (especially Parker), so be prepared to be spoiled a bit on their stories if you read this one first.  
~ Kate is a little... uptight?  And judgmental, even though she doesn't mean to be.  She's led a very sheltered life and her world is pretty small.  She's been teased and bullied in school for her beliefs and up until recently only hung out with her friend Emily.  And after an incident involving Emily, Kate feels the need to be perfect, as if in atonement for what she thinks she's responsible for. 
~ Matt, sigh.  Matt just might be the perfect YA Contemporary Romance boyfriend.  He's kind of perfect, but also very realistic. 
~ This book could be in the New Adult section, since Matt is about to be a junior in college, and Kate is a recent high school graduate. 
~The majority of the book takes place in a summer camp. In the beginning, when the counselor's are setting up the camp before the kids arrive, I kept expecting Jason to pop out and start hacking up teens.  
~ Kate's friendship with Emily was a tough one.  They once had been so close, almost co-dependant, but Emily changed and neither girl really acknowledged it.  I do think Emily put Kate in a completely unfair position, but Kate fails to see what Emily is going through either.  It was heartbreaking to both of them, but for very different reasons. 
~ I love that Kate does help her friend, even though she doesn't agree with her actions.  You do this for the people you love,  you be there for them.  But sometimes... sometimes friendships cost an awful lot.
~ This book is really about growing up and realizing the world is a lot bigger than the immediate area you grew up in, and about figuring yourself out. 
~  The camp counselors play Never Have I Ever for cash... which I have never done.   Can't remember who wins the pot- maybe whoever still has the most coins in the end?  Anyway, I have found our game for BEA!
~ I really liked Ian, and would not mind seeing him in future books.  He was a bit snarky.  I like snark.
~ Kate's love of sketching is inter-weaved into the story, and I really liked how she sketched out her problems.  Makes me wish that I could draw more than just horribly proportioned stick figures...
~ She also used to play soccer, but got a bad injury.  I love seeing soccer mentioned in books.  It makes me happy. 
~ Kate tries so hard to be a good person, but she often focuses so much on the rules, and not the spirit, of Christianity.  My friend pointed out that I would probably understand a lot more after I read Stealing Parker, since Kate and Parker attend the same church, and it's a very strict, very unforgiving establishment.  
~ Did I mention that Matt is amazing?  You know that whole "instant love" thing found in so many YA books?  It'd be 100% believable if every guy was like Matt!  Am I gushing?  Yup, but that's a problem for people like me who are stuffed full of awesomeness, it tends to leak out. 
~ Kate messes up, a lot, but I liked that she wasn't perfect.  I liked that her character growth was at a reasonable rate and not KABAM! 
~ Matt is a lit major and loves Dickens, John Grisham, John Green and Judy Blume.  I am in love with him.  
~ He also respects Kate's feelings and beliefs. 
~ Matt never wears shoes, like a Hobbit.  Somehow, I managed to find that sexy too. But hopefully his feet don't look like Hobbit feet.  
~ Random weird fact that has nothing to do with the book: Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was obsessed with his feet.  He was always buying (on stolen credit cards) socks.  He thought he had very handsome feet. 
~ Bonzo Ball- a game Matt invents.  Still kind of in the dark about it. 
~ Advice time: IF a boy sings you a song he wrote about a girl with your color eyes, don't get hung up on what exact shade of eye color he's singing about- the song is about you and you should jump him.  Immediately.  But if he's in a band, use at least 2 forms of protection. 
~ Another thing that I love: Kate's parents.  They are good parents.  They trust Kate, case in point: she has no curfew because they believe she'll make good decisions.  I am kind of impressed.  I'm also kind of sad, because I don't know that I'll be a good enough parent to trust any children I raise.  I'll probably have to inject them with tracking devices and hack into their cell phones.  
~ Because this is an ARC, I don't want to post any quotes, but the best one goes to Matt for referring to his hug as a "straightjacket of love".  I bet my husband can relate to that feeling. 
~ With this book, Miranda Kenneally pwned me.  Wait, do people say that anymore?

Timeless Characters:

Kate- she takes her coffee the same way I do, so that tells you how awesome she is.
Matt- if you don't want to rip him off the pages, then you may need a hottie intervention.
Emily- Kate's bff, she's struggling on her own after her parents kick her out.
Jacob- Emily's ex-boyfriend, he's great too.  
Jordan- from Catching Jordan, makes a guest appearance. Loved her!
At the Camp (other than Kate and Matt)
Will- Kate used to have a crush on him
Parker- from Stealing Parker, she and Kate know of each other but aren't friends
Megan- the camp director that you will want to slap.
Brad- games director
Andrea- pretty much the Anti-Kate
Ian- snarky boy I grew to love
Eric- he's very ironic
Carlie- Andrea's bff, has a history with Ian
 

Midnight Moment:

Pretty much every scene with Kate and Matt. 

The last 1/4th of the book made me cry- so be sure to have tissues within reach.

Stop The Clock:

This book tackles some pretty tough issues, and still manages to be romantic and adorable.  It has heart and soul, and the characters are so very human.  If religion isn't your thing, that's okay- this book is still for you. 


Miranda Kenneally— Website |

Things I Can't Forget gets a Midnight Book Rating of: