This is a touching story, though I found the narrative style a bit tedious. Teens, however, will find this a quick inspiring read. The romance element will also be a hook for teen readers looking for a troubled teen who triumphs in the end. The book is rather formulaic, but that is expected and even desired in the YA genre.

ISBN; 9780141368511. Penguin Random House UK Children’s. Published 12th January 2017. I voluntarily read this book to review, thanks to Netgalley for sending me an ecopy.

HOW DO YOU KNOW WHO TO TRUST WHEN YOU CAN’T EVEN TRUST YOURSELF? I look at my hands. One of them says FLORA BE BRAVE. Flora has anterograde amnesia. She can’t remember anything day-to-day: the joke her friend made, the instructions her parents gave her, how old she is. Then she kisses someone she shouldn’t, and the next day she remembers it. It’s the first time she’s remembered anything since she was ten. But the boy is gone. She thinks he’s moved to the Arctic.Will following him be the key to unlocking her memory? Who can she trust?

I made notes throughout reading this, which is extremely lucky because having finished it I’m left struggling to string together coherent sentences.

I don’t know what I was expecting when I went into this book, but I was not expecting to be left in a bawling mess having finished it. At first I found the repetitiveness confusing, but I quickly got used to it, and as we learned more about Flora it helped keep her character perfect.

By half way through this book my heart was racing. I was so worried about Flora, more so than most characters I get attached too. I repeatedly felt the rise of panic attacks as Flora made decisions that were not safe. I kept thinking, ‘but what if it goes wrong? What if so and so happened?! What will she do?’ I actually had to take a break for a little due to health, but even then kept wondering what was going to happen. I wish I hadn’t had to take that break.

Having a seriously long list of mental and physical health problems, including memory issues I found it hit extremely close to home. I knew exactly what was going through her head. I recognised the signs of manic episodes. I suddenly grew very very attached and protective of Flora and I think she’s always going to be one I will associate with on many levels.

This book made me sob repeatedly, it also made me happy in places and extremely angry in others. It’s not very often I feel emotion to this level, but I’m so happy I read it and finished it. I know the confusion of coming out of a manic episode and having no idea what’s going on. It made me question lots of stuff, but more importantly made me realise I am not alone in feeling this lost.

This book is extremely powerful, and I feel EVERYBODY should read it at least once in their life. So, if you haven’t already read this book, you should!

I’m going to give this 5 out of 5 stars.

I would like to thank Penguin Random House UK for providing me with an advanced reading copy of this book.

The One Memory of Flora Banks was a quick and easy read, but it wasn't executed the way I had hoped. The premise was an interesting one, but I feel that the storytelling only scratched the surface. I found it to be extremely repetitive, I get the idea behind the repetitiveness, but it got too much.

Character wise, all the characters outside of Flora's character felt more like props than actual characters. The storyline was totally unrealistic. Flora's ability to cope when all of a sudden she didn't know where she was, how she got there, or who the people around her were, was far too calm and accepting. There was no sense of panic or danger. The whole journey thing was beyond unrealistic.

I am also disappointed in how Flora's mother was portrayed. I feel her character needed to be explored more to give an insight into her grief and what she was feeling and going through in order to understand her actions, but instead, she had a very negative light shone on her.

Not one I would recommend.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. Since this was dubbed "the debut of the year", I was really excited to review it. This was everything I didn't know I wanted and needed in a book. Seventeen-year-old Flora has amnesia and forgets things after every few minutes. Her only memories are from before she was ten.
But then Flora kisses Drake, her best friend's boyfriend (or ex-boyfriend but they broke up like two seconds before Flora and Drake kissed. This reminds me of Rachel and Ross' "we were on a break argument" but never mind). When Flora wakes up the next day, she remembers that she kissed Drake and decides tracks him down because she is convinced that a) she is in love with him and b) she is convinced that he holds the key to her memory.
Honestly the first part of the book doesn't have much in the way of plot but it's oddly intriguing to watch Flora go through her daily life. I think she does pretty well for someone with amnesia especially when she decides to travel on her own- something her parents definitely don't want her to do.
This book exceeded my expectations and was so different. I loved that I was unable to predict the ending. This was incredibly well-written and I finished it in one go. I couldn't stop reading.
This is a book I would recommend to anyone who enjoys YA.

I didn't finish this book, once I realised it was written for young adults.

Following an operation to remove a tumour when she was younger Flora Banks has been unable to make new memories. She's now seventeen, and, although she can remember events before the operation, and basic everyday things like making tea or how to work the TV, anything else slips away after a few hours - until now.
After a going-away party for her best friend's boyfriend Drake, Flora kisses a boy on the beach - and it's the most wonderful thing ever! Maybe it's the totally new experience, maybe it's the heightened emotions of the moment, but, for what ever reason, Flora can remember it the next day.
There's a snag though - the boy on the beach was Drake, and now he's gone away to study in the Arctic, and her life-long best friend Paige will no longer speak to Flora. So when her parents are called away on an emergency, instead of Paige staying over, Flora is left alone. With only her post-it note reminders and her one clear memory of kissing on the beach, Flora becomes increasingly obsessed by Drake and convinced that he is the key to unlocking her memory, so decides to set off on a journey to find him ...

Whatever you care to label this book as - teen romance, psychological drama, travel adventure - I loved it!
It's hard, and terrifying, to put yourself in Flora's shoes, to imagine what it must be like to have no memory of what happened to you yesterday, last week, or a year ago. It would be so easy for her to just drift along doing as her parents say, always treated a child and never achieving independence, but given the opportunity Flora isn't going to sit back and let that happen to her. She's filled with indomitable spirit and tremendous courage. On her hand she has a tattoo saying "Flora be brave". It's intended to get her through her 'normal' everyday confusion of waking up and believing she's still a ten-year old, but she's now adopted it as a motto to live her life by. With the aid of reminders written on her hands, in notebooks and on her phone, she heads off to the Arctic in search of Drake and some answers. I think she's amazing!
I loved the sense of place within the story - from comfortable, sunny Penzance to Flora's amazing journey to Spitsbergen and her adventures there, brought to life by the author's evocative descriptions of snow in summer and midnight sun (so much so that I ended up on Google maps trying to trace her steps!)

It's the sort of book that has you sitting up late, needing to know how things work out. Is Flora's one and only memory reliable? Is she right in suspecting her parents are keeping something from her? - after all, she can't remember what happened yesterday, so it would be so easy to do!

Although this is billed as YA, and could be seen as a coming of age novel, the story is gripping enough for all. It's a story of the mistakes we might make for love, of breaking free and finding one's own way in the world.

I had heard a lot about this book through the publisher and other book outlets, so jumped at the chance to get a review copy. I had mixed feelings while reading it, but ending up liking it.

I was intrigued by the premise: a girl with short term memory problems realises she can't trust what her parents tell her and sets out to find the boy she kissed. After the first few chapters, I became dubious. I like a romantic story, but a memory-restoring kiss just seemed a little far-fetched. However, I stuck with it, and thankfully things did improve.

Flora herself is impulsive and at times immature. The latter explained by her loss of memory at the age of ten, although I did find it difficult to understand some of her decisions. She is determined to find the truth and relies on her writing to guide her way. When she is disorientated, she always finds a way to ground herself, and she discovers that the world is not as hostile as her parents have warned. Although her condition means that she is vulnerable and could be taken advantage of, she is strong-willed and rises above any such attempt.

The writing style reflects Flora's often confused and circular thought patterns, which is clever as I found this as frustrating as Flora does. It leads to neither of us knowing exactly which version of events is real or who to trust.

I found the dynamic between Flora and her parents interesting. We were evidently meant to agree with them at the start of the book, and then realise with Flora that the situation was not all it seemed. There is clearly a lot of love there, but as the plot develops we realise that they are broken people and seek to control Flora under the illusion that it is in her best interest. Their abuse is not physical, but it is just as harmful.

I appreciated the fact that Flora doesn't fully recover, and that she is not swept off into a whirlwind romance that magically "fixes" her. Too often, chronic illness or disability in novels is "cured" through a romantic relationship. Initially I was worried that this would be the case with Flora, but thankfully this was remedied in the end. Flora does begin to recover slowly and there is hope for more recovery in the future, but it is in no way miraculous.

This book without a doubt is definitely the one to watch for 2017, it will undoubtedly be BIG in the world of YA. I wouldn't be surprised if Zoella picked it up and added it to her book club collection.

I can't remember the last time that I cried at the ending of a book so hard. The One Memory of Flora Banks touches issues of illness, survival, heartache, the quest of true love all wrapped up with one girl with memory loss.

Flora Banks is seventeen years old and she has memory loss. She has been told by her parents that she had a tumor when she was ten years old and has memory loss due to the operation that took part of her brain away. She fails to remember anything beyond a couple of hours. So when her memory resets itself multiple times a day she has only the words to explain who she is and what she must do.

Flora is the girl who writes on her hand - "Flora - Be Brave". She takes medicine every day. She has anterograde amnesia. She has failed to remember anything since she was ten years old. She has all her memories from before the operation, but nothing since.

Until she kissed Drake. On the beach. She remembers that.

But he has gone to the Arctic - a place he has longed to live. But Flora must stay here - in Penzance. Her parents have gone to France to be with Jacob; her brother and Flora is staying at home with Paige. But Drake was Paige's boyfriend and she knows about the kiss, so they are not friends anymore.

Flora, despite her memory loss and the restrictions everyone has placed on her decides to go to the Arctic to find Drake. And so begins Flora Banks' adventure.

Each page was compelling, and although repetitive through the voice of Flora's narration, you really find yourself immersed deeply into the mind of Flora in a way I haven't seen an author do before. As I turned each page I did with an earnest to travel further with Flora and discover what becomes of her.

What I wasn't quite expecting was the ending which had me reaching for tissues and sobbing my heart out. I adore Flora Banks, and I think she is a superb role model to showcase that you really can do anything you put your mind to.

If one thing is for sure is that as a reader, you fall undeniably in love with Flora's story. You will not only cheer her on and want the very best for her but you will feel a fierce protective nature towards her. Just reminiscing now as I write this has had a flurry of tears run from my eyes as this book has etched its name and the memory of it upon my heart.

Well done and congratulations Emily Barr on your young adult novel. It is simply outstanding.

In my efforts to read more YA I saw this book and the blurb sounded intriguing. And it is. You most definitely don't have to be a YA to enjoy this. Any and all lovers of good stories will find it spellbinding!

I almost hate to say anything about the story other than the blurb. So let me say I loved this story! I loved Flora Banks. She can remember everything that happened before she was 10, but she is unable to retain any new memories for longer than a few hours.

Until one day something happens and that one memory sticks. Clinging to the hope that this could be a miracle that only this one boy in this one memory can solve, she resolves to track him down. In the Arctic. Alone.

That mix of bravery and sheer determination makes her one of the most interesting characters I've come across. I read this straight through in one sitting. I couldn't stop any more than Flora could!

Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Group for this beautiful story!

Flora Banks is one of the most unique and unforgetable characters I’ve ever read. She is sweet, funny and incredibly brave! We don’t get to know the other characters background stories but they still make a great impact to the story. My personal favorite is Flora’s older brother, Jacob. He made me cry at the end.

This book is written in Flora’s POV which I thought was very brilliant and effective. Flora has to remind herself almost every hour of her name, age, that she kissed Drake, and she has to be brave. It is interesting to read and a bit annoying at times. It’s repetitive and I thought that the author did this in purpose. For us to empathize more with Flora’s situation and understand anterograde amnesia. We became Flora. The unreliable narration is probably my most favorite and Barr’s writing style is simply incredible. I enjoyed the setting as well. It made me want to visit the Arctic.

This is sort of a “broken girl meets a boy who fixes her” kind of story but in a very different and beautiful way. It’s hard to explain without giving any spoilers but I thought that Drake still plays a huge part of Flora’s self-development. You may think that this is a romance book but it’s not. This is more of self-discovery (coming-of-age) with a mix of mystery.

The revelation towards the end of the story was quite predictable for me because I’ve just recently read a book with the same plot twist. I liked how the author ended the story but it felt a little abrupt. I’d like to know what happened to Flora and the parents after the revelation. Also, her trip to Arctic alone is a bit improbable.

This was my very first read from Emily Barr and definitely not the last.

I recommend The One Memory of Flora Banks if your’re looking for a very captivating read with an amazing protagonist. This is also a perfect read for winter.

What a terrific life-affirming novel. I read it in its entirety on one day because I didn't want to put it down. From the mundane everyday life at home, to the promise the desolate Arctic holds for Flora, it had me hooked.

Flora is a delightful character, and whilst under the strict almost suffocating watchful eye of her mother, she desperately seeks independence - understandably considering she's 17. She is such a strong character, and I thought Emily Barr conveyed Flora's frustration and the reality of her situation well. I did wonder how it was going to be possible to write about a character who can't remember anything after a couple of hours without being annoyingly repetitive. But honestly it's done so naturally and with such control that it's a matter-of-fact event every time it happens rather than something that you glance over it as you've heard it before. The ways Flora was given to remind her what was happening and what had happened to her were achingly poignant. So in turn the journey she makes, both literally and figuratively, is really quite wonderful to read.

I loved this book and couldn't put it down!! It was gripping throughout and I couldn't wait to find out what happened. I have already recommended it to lots of friends and they can't wait for it to be released.

I really enjoyed this book. It was quite an unusual and in some eays unexpected story for me. I thought Flora herself was a fascinating character and seeing how she dealt with the world was really interesting. I also loved her brother, Jacob, and how much he loved her, even though they barely saw each other. I really enjoyed the mystery aspect too, and found myself biting my fingernails worrying about Flora by herself in Svalbard. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who likes contemporary YA.

I received an Advanced Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest review. When I read the blurb for this book, I wasn't sure what to expect, really. I wasn't sure how an author could pull the idea off. And wow, I was pleasantly surprised. This book was INCREDIBLE. When I say I couldn't put it down, I mean I literally stayed up every single night until 4:30am, and finished it last night at 2am, feeling slightly sad that it was over.

Flora Banks is a seventeen year old girl, who lost her short-term memory after she had a brain tumour when she was ten and had it removed when she was eleven years old. Since that point, her mind 'resets' every few hours in the day, leaving her confused about herself, her life, her surroundings. This is definitely one of the most unique books I have come across, and Emily Barr captured it perfectly. Even though Flora repeats herself, you find that you don't get bored hearing things repeatedly. Emily Barr's writing is so special and I feel like this is one of the books that will resonate with me for a long time.

There is a sense of dramatic irony, as we, as readers, know things that Flora doesn't. However, Emily Barr captures a perfect balance of dramatic irony, and making us feel part of the book. At times, even I was confused at what was happening, which made the book even more interesting, and intriguing (which is why I couldn't stop reading it).

Although I absolutely loved the book, and I declare it one of my favourites, there is one small thing that I didn't enjoy about the book; the last few chapters. I felt that the last few chapters were slightly rushed and underwhelming. I believe that some chapters should have been spread out more, as I feel like a lot of different events happened that deserved a lot more time and effort.

But apart from that, I absolutely loved it! And I hope you will too!

This book was wonderful - well balanced, well researched, and well written. Ne prepared to be run through the full gamut of emotions as you Flora's story. It's been a long time since I liked a main character as much as I liked Flora!

The storyline of this book is okay, but it reminded me to much of Everything, Everything. Both books are about a really ill girl and how she is dealing wirh her illness.

I loved the caracters in this book though. Agi is just awesome and Toby as well :) And I loved how the surroundings were subscribed!

But sometimes it was very hard to read all those repetitions, because there are a lot. Flora loses her memory every 3 hours or so and everything she has forgotten will be repeated again..

I read this book on my phone and I don't really like reading on my phone.. So that's another reason why it wasn't a fast read.

These are just some thoughts about this book. It was enjoyable to read, but not really special.

The One Memory of Flora Banks by Emily Barr
4.5 stars!!!

“Live your life. Flora, be brave.”

I love my YA reads and this one captured my attention purely on the synopsis alone. This is a book that you need to go into blind and as such this review will be vague and spoiler free, but if like me you love a good YA, then this is a must read. From start to finish I was totally gripped by our brave girl, Flora Banks and with elements of mystery and suspense thrown in this book will appeal to a variety of readers not only YA or contemporary readers.

Flora Banks is a seventeen-year-old girl who suffers from Anterograde Amnesia. This means that Flora cannot retain current memories, she can remember for a few hours and then after that it is a blank once again. The only memories she has are that from before her operation, her ten-year-old self and younger. To lessen her confusion and panic Flora is constantly writing notes, leaving messages for herself on her hands and arms and journals everything, so that once she reads, she can calm herself once again. I cannot imagine how hard it must be for Flora.

“How can I have forgotten that I have amnesia? How, though, could I possibly remember?”

Emily Barr is a master storyteller and the way in which she delivered Flora’s story was truly commanding. Flora is not a reliable narrator and as such this book reads like you a suffering amnesia along with Flora too. Emily Barr really transports you into Flora’s world and at times, you are just as confused as she is, but, and this a huge but, it really works. It is this style of writing that really cements your character connection with Flora, she is a character that is totally lovable and as you live her confusing life you just want to jump within the pages and be her guide. Yes, it can be repetitious, but that is Flora’s life, repetition is the only way that Flora knows.

Flora was adorable and sweet, she is brave and courageous, she wants her independence, she wants to grow up. Her parents mollycoddle her and have her wrapped up in this protective cocoon, keeping her life firmly planted in the year she turned ten years old. Familiarity is the name of the game, but the same routine, the same life, just everything the same becomes monotonous, even for Flora. Flora is not ten years old, she is seventeen and as such she wants to expand, she wants to spread her wings, but they have been clipped.

“I am not human…I just exist, like an animal.”

This book is a journey for Flora, not only for her future, but her past too. Flora wants to live for the now and when one particular memory refuses to budge, Flora thinks she has hit a milestone, but it is this one and only memory that she remembers. When the subject of that memory moves to the Arctic, Flora follows and so the journey of a life time begins.

“I know that I have a story. I know that it is not over. There are shades and shadows of adventures and people and wild new places…”

You cannot help but empathise with Flora and as she embarks on this testing journey you are with her one hundred and ten percent, willing her on, trying to telepathically send her memories though the pages when life becomes a little hazy. Flora is a heroine you cannot help but take into your heart, she is your little sister, your friend and you cannot help but want to help her.

My only niggle with this book…I wanted more. I did feel the very ending was a little rushed and I still have a few questions, I want to know what happens going forward…desperately. The run up to the end though was a great twist and one that was seamless in its delivery. I was pleased that this was not a “miraculous recovery book,” love is extremely powerful but even love has its restrictions. This is definitely a book that had my mouth dropping at times as well as a few stray and errant tears, but most of all, this book gives you a life lesson too. Seize the day, carpe diem, you may wake up tomorrow and never remember a thing. Amazing book, adored it.

www.theromancecover.com

This was my first Emily Barr book in years and with insight maybe not the best one to start again with.

I liked the idea of the story but found it totally unbelievable how someone with short term memory loss could of traveled to the airport ,gone on a plane herself and went to another part of the world without much issue and the constant repeating of the same thing. Half the story was spent repeating things and then rushed at the ending.

I liked Flora and the friends she meets on her travels and I'd like to see more of her friends in future books.

Thanks goes to net galley and Emily Barr for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.