Author: Liane Moriarty
Year Published: 2009
Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Women’s Fiction

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Have you ever woken up and felt like the world around you shifted overnight? That eerie, disorienting feeling of something being just… off? Now imagine waking up and realizing you’ve lost a whole decade of your life. That’s exactly what happens to Alice Love in Liane Moriarty’s What Alice Forgot, and let me tell you—this book takes you on a ride you won’t soon forget.

A Story That Hits Close to Home

I’ll be honest, I picked up this book thinking it’d be another lighthearted, amnesia-driven romance. You know, the kind where someone gets a bump on the head, forgets everything, and then—boom—love story ensues. But Liane Moriarty isn’t about clichés. Instead, she delivers a deeply introspective, sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes laugh-out-loud funny exploration of marriage, friendship, and personal identity.

The premise? Alice Love, a 39-year-old woman, wakes up on a gym floor after hitting her head, only to realize she thinks it’s 1998. In her mind, she’s 29, madly in love with her husband, and pregnant with their first child. Except—plot twist—it’s actually 2008, she has three kids, and her once-happy marriage is on the verge of collapse. Oof.

Why This Story Feels So Real

Moriarty’s greatest strength? She gets people. The way she writes Alice’s confusion, frustration, and slow unraveling of her lost decade feels so incredibly authentic. Think about it—how different were you ten years ago? The way you saw the world, your relationships, your dreams? Now, imagine suddenly being thrust into your current life without the context of all the experiences that got you there. It’s terrifying, right?

The novel is structured in a way that we don’t just see Alice’s perspective but also the thoughts of her sister, Elisabeth, who’s struggling with infertility, and her honorary grandmother, Frannie, whose letters add a tender, nostalgic layer to the story. Each perspective gives the novel more depth and makes Alice’s predicament feel even more personal.

The Emotional Punch

I think what struck me the most was how the book made me reflect on my own life. How often do we get caught up in the daily grind and forget the person we once were? Reading about Alice’s journey made me stop and think: Would my 10-years-ago self even recognize who I am today? Would I be proud, or would I be disappointed?

And let’s talk about relationships—because wow, does this book dissect them in the most brutally honest way. Alice’s marriage to Nick is like a case study on how love erodes over time if you’re not careful. At 29, she remembers him as her best friend, her soulmate. But in the present day, they’re bitter, exhausted, and in the middle of an ugly divorce. Seeing Alice desperately try to reconcile those two versions of their relationship? Heart-wrenching.

But it’s not all heavy. There’s humor sprinkled throughout—Alice’s reactions to modern technology alone are hilarious. The way she freaks out over things like smartphones and spin class trends (seriously, why do we voluntarily do that to ourselves?) had me giggling.

So, Should You Read It?

100% yes. If you love books that make you think, that make you feel, and that stick with you long after you’ve turned the last page, then this one’s for you. It’s not just about amnesia—it’s about rediscovering yourself, about second chances, and about remembering what truly matters in life.

And let’s be real—life moves fast. We get caught up in routines, stress, and obligations. But maybe, just maybe, we need to take a step back and ask ourselves: What would my younger self think of who I am today? If the answer is anything less than proud, well, maybe it’s time for some changes.