This is a stunning book that I've recommended to anyone who will listen! It's a long time since I've read a book that has provoked such a strong emotional response in me. I loved Flora's sweet, optimistic naivety and I really wanted things to go well for her even though I could feel a sense of trouble approaching throughout. The climax of the book is utterly brilliant: liberating, hopeful and also devastating.

The writing style book is flawless. It is very cleverly plotted, in that Flora sometimes gets to a certain point in terms of knowledge and then loses it all. It was so interesting and heartbreaking to watch her trying to piece everything back together, sometimes with less success than she had before.

Another massive strength was the secondary characters. Flora's relationship with her parents was really believable and her mum's struggles were portrayed really well. I also got very attached to Jacob as a character, which was an amazing feat considering that he appeared mostly through letters.

This is a gorgeous, heartbreaking book that I can't stop thinking about. I can't wait to see what Emily Barr writes next.

The One Memory of Flora Banks is about a seventeen year old girl who has no short-term memory. She lives in Penzance with her parents, who take *very* good care of her and drifts through life not remembering anything before she was ten. That is until she kisses a boy on a beach and suddenly she has a memory. An actually memory. So when Drake moves to the other side of the world Flora decides to follow him to work out what this new memory means.

Remember the bit in Fifty First Dates with Ten Second Tom? Well, that’s poor old Flora. Okay. maybe she doesn’t lose her memory after ten seconds - it’s more like a few hours - but she still can’t have a normal life. She relies on her parents for a lot, her best friend for more and her raft of post-it notes to remind herself who she is and where she’s going.

Despite Flora being pretty repetitive at times (as you would be if you had no short-term memory) I actually really liked her. She was quite soft and drifty but with a steel core. She really knew what she wanted and had evolved to live her life in spite of her condition. Her story rattles along quite well, again despite Flora’s repetitive inner monologue.

So I have a confession to make. I’ve actually read a few of Emily Barr’s other books - her adult contemporaries. In fact, that’s what drew me to this one - I really enjoyed them. I have, however, noticed a bit of a theme. Girl going through Bad Life Stuff decides to go travelling and in doing so finds that her problems travel with her but that she also discovers more about herself.

So yes, they’re a bit formulaic, but good fun nevertheless. They also read really well as travelogues - Emily Barr was a travel writer for The Guardian and has a really keen eye for recreating the countries she’s visited. In equal parts I now really want to visit north Norway and also feel like I don’t need to after reading Flora Banks.

However, the thing is with her adult contemporaries there’s usually quite a dark undercurrent which was sadly missing here. Flora is more sad than dark and I really think this story would have been better with more creepiness in it. Because there were so many ways the plot could have gone with a protagonist who can’t remember anything and whose parents are stiflingly protective. Flora could have found her memories gradually start to trickle back only to discover that she was a murderer, an abuse survivor, an escapee from a government facility, a kidnapee ... Anything!

I’m not saying this is a bad book - it’s really not. I just feel that, having read Emily Barr’s previous books, it had the potential to be a lot more thrilling.

I’d still recommend this book. It was a decent read and I’m glad I picked it up.

3.5 stars


<b>I was sent a copy of The One Memory of Flora Banks in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to Penguin and Netgalley

The One Memory of Flora Banks is the fantastically engaging story of a girl with anteretrograde amnesia i.e. no short term memory. The book begins with Flora attending a party, where she kisses a boy and creates a memory so powerful that it stays with her. Her attempts to find the boy lead her on a wild voyage of discovery about her illness, her family and ultimately, herself.

I thought that this novel was extremely cleverly written. It could very easily have wandered into the realms of being tedious, frustrating or repetitive as you know the back story of Flora (obviously, you can remember what has just happened to her whilst she can't) but despite her constant efforts to piece the past together the whole book was so well written that it worked really well. The novel could have also been quite boring as it is written entirely from Flora's point of view with only a few other characters mentioned (most quite briefly) but again the excellent writing made the story really engaging.

I also really liked how the book kept you guessing about what was actually going on, due to the unreliable nature of Flora's narrative. It was very hard to work out exactly what had happened until the ending - I certainly didn't guess correctly.

If I had one criticism of this book I would say that the possible lack of realism within the story is where it falls down a little. For example, someone with that type of amnesia must constantly be terrified that they've suddenly found themselves in a version of the world which is much moved on (technically they must constantly find themselves in the future) surrounded by parents/friends/family who have all aged - and that they are suddenly not a child anymore. How would Flora function in entirely new surroundings? How would she know how to work a mobile phone, laptop or website? How would she attend school when so much emphasis is based on retaining and regurgitating facts and figures? And surely her GP would have kept an eye on her progress/recovery, especially as we know that Flora had a support worker (presumably paid for by the local council) which would definitely have necessitated up to date medical reports.

However, if you can ignore the plot holes and just go with the story then I think you'll be rewarded. I personally found this book very enjoyable - it would be great to read a sequel to find out what happens to Flora next.

This book is totally different to anything I have read before. It was like a breath of fresh air yet at the same time it was a difficult book to read due to the storyline.

Flora is a very special young woman who has suffered something extremely traumatic and is attempting to live her life against all the odds. The ways she deals with everything is ingenious. Due to the nature of her story there is a lot of repetition throughout but that is what makes this story what it is.

As the story goes on there's a bit of mystery thrown in which made me enjoy the book even more.

The writing is excellent, and all of the characters are so well written. The part of the story featuring Flora's brother is a great touch as it gives Flora the opportunity to form a new path in life.

This is a unique story which I thoroughly enjoyed.

What a great read! Even though this book is, in a way, a romance - a genre I wouldn't normally read- I enjoyed it so, so much. What I love the most, is the main character - Flora. She is not your usual protagonist. She's different, she's brave, she's capable. The story is sad but also charming. I know it may sound as if I'm contradicting myself but this is actually how the book made me feel - full of conflicting emotions!
I am so, so grateful to the author and NetGalley for sending me a copy of this book. Thank you!

Flora Banks is 17, but in her head she thinks she’s 10. That’s because she has no short term memory. She had a tumour removed from her brain when she was 11 and it took her ability to form new memories with it.

Flora lives by the notes she has written on her arms, post-its and notebooks. They are her lifelines, as are her parents and her long-term best friend Paige.

But when Flora kisses Drake one night on the beach, she finds that she actually remembers! It’s her one new memory and she believes that Drake may actually be able to help her recover. The thing is, he has moved to Norway. After exchanging emails, Flora decides to take the trip to Svalbard alone to surprise Drake. Armed with just her notes to keep her on track, she sets off to find Drake, and perhaps create some new memories.

This was really quite an interesting book. I’ve read novels centered around memory loss in older people, but never teenagers.

On the whole, I enjoyed it and was really rooting for Flora and her Arctic expedition. The storytelling style worked well, in that we were uncovering the details of Flora’s life along with her. Obviously, there were times when everything was a bit repetitive, as Flora had to keep reminding herself who she was. Yes, it could be a little dull, but there’s a strong message there. This repetition made me think of those who surround those with memory loss. How many times a day must they answer the same questions? They must have so much patience! I think, in some small way, this repetitive aspect allows us to thinks about the support network around sufferers, their families and friends and I liked that.

I also really liked Flora herself. Her bravery and determination in the face of constant uncertainty made me, once again, consider the real-life implications for sufferers. They must spend so much time being scared, and yet this story doesn’t dwell on that. It shows what can be achieved regardless of memory status. It show us how some people face adversity straight on, they keep on fighting to live their lives – even if those around them would prefer to wrap them in cotton wool!

All in all, I enjoyed this book and the messages within. I also now totally want to visit Svalbard!

Sometimes you pick up a book and just know that you are going to love it. Flora Banks is seventeen. She lives in a Cornish seaside town and her best friend is Paige – who she has known since she started school. Flora has memory issues, anterograde amnesia. Not just forgetting what she wanted to say or why she went upstairs, Flora can remember nothing after she was ten years old. She carries a notebook that explains that she had a brain tumour removed and after that she could create no new memories – long or short term. Everything that she needs to know is in her notebook, her address, her parents, her friends. A small tattoo on her hand reminds her “Flora, Be Brave”.
As the book opens Flora is at a party with Paige. Paige’s boyfriend is leaving to do a course in Svalbard, up in the Arctic Circle. Flora is dressed in a white party dress and yellow shoes and feels very childish compared to all the other jean-clad teens at the party. When she kisses someone that she shouldn’t – Drake, Paige’s boyfriend – it becomes the one new memory that has been stored since she was ten.
Feeling that Drake has the ability to cure her she contemplates following him to the land of the midnight sun all on her own. Flora needs no reminder to be brave. She is the strongest, funniest female lead in a YA novel for quite some time. Be prepared to laugh and to cry. Flora Banks will stay with you for quite some time.
Supplied by Net Galley and Penguin in exchange for an honest review.

I read this book 2 weeks ago and I had to go back into the book to remind myself that (1) I had actually read it and (2) what it was about. Having said that, I remember that I did enjoy it and thought the format was intriguing. I was drawn by the synopsis and it didn't disappoint

This is not my usual genre (which is historical or contemporary romance) but I was intrigued by the synopsis. Having read it, I found it one of the strangest books I have ever read and yet strangely compelling. There is a lot of repetition because except for one kiss and the conversation around it, Flora remembers nothing new beyond age 10. She is by turns immature and strangely independent and adult. Nearly everything is seen through Flora's eyes and as her brain is wired differently it is not always easy to understand what is going on but I was never once tempted to put this book down, I just had to keep going to find out what happened next. Her story is sad (it is awful to think that the death of a loved one will always be new and raw) and yet also full of hope that she will be able to live independently one day. A well written book about living with amnesia.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Net Galley. I was not compensated for my review, and I was not required to write a positive review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

Wow ... this book! I wasn't sure what to think about this book and thought maybe I wouldn't enjoy it. I was so wrong! I absolutely loved it. Absolutely no spoilers at all.

Now I've finished it, I keep thinking would I have done the same thing as Flora's mother? I really hope not, but not being in that situation - I'm not sure.

Flora Banks has anterograde amnesia, she has little short term memory and relies on a notebook and writing on her hands to remember things. But then she kisses a boy, and she remembers. Is he the cure for her amnesia? He's moved to the Arctic, what can she do but follow? This was an interesting story; Flora is our narrator but how reliable is she? She forgets everything! A teenager with the thought processes of a 10 year old (when her brain injury happened), Flora is charming, funny, offbeat and brave. It is her character that kept me reading. I'd say this was a book for younger teens, there's a touch of magic to it and it's handy that most of the people Flora meets are friendly and helpful-willing to help a 17 year old girl who has no memory of them. Overall, it is a lovely book with a good heart and a positive message.

#FloraBanks surprised me by being classified as a YA book, but in my opinion, I feel as though it is really for adults too (basically don't let the YA classification sway you!).  It is fantastic to see that YA are being made aware of situations like Flora Banks' that's for sure. Hell, I even learnt a thing or two!

To say that Flora Banks struggles with her memory would be an understatement; she has anterograde amnesia. In simple terms, Flora cannot remember the things that we take for granted (routine etc) and she relies solely on trust, as well as notes.
Put yourself in Flora's shoes; you get up every single day completely unaware of who you are, what you like or how to do things. You come across a human being who says that they're your mum. You believe them, yes? Of course you do, you have no reason not to...as far as you're aware. That human being then decides to give you an item of food that you're not even sure that you like; but they tell you that it's your favourite. You believe them again, yes? But then, if it wasn't confusing enough, another human being speaks to you and tells you that in fact, you are allergic to that food item that was just handed to you. NOW who do you believe?

Emily Barr puts the reader into Flora Banks' shoes with the way she has written the storyline. Instead of looking at characters from an outsider point of view and being able to see things before they do, the readers ARE Flora. We are reminded of the personal talks that Flora has with herself on multiple occasions. Just like Flora, we don't see a room in the storyline; instead we see the post it notes and make a bee-line for those. It's raw, it's emotional and unbelievably powerful.

Multiple times throughout the book I found myself panicking as I had become rather invested in Flora's emotions. She couldn't remember. I couldn't remember. Well, I had nothing TO remember, I didn't know the storyline until I had read it. Forget trying to piece the situations together like a jigsaw puzzle; you need to ride every circumstance out like rogue wave. Unpredictable and incredibly forceful.

I was blown away by the intelligence behind Flora's actions, but most importantly, the complete storyline itself. Emily Barr has put memory loss on the map, underlined it and given it a 'look at me' style theme tune. For that, I take my hat off to her. It takes a talented author to take such a topic that a lot of readers may be unaware of, and create a storyline around that whilst also being true to the facts. However, it takes an incredible author to do all of what I have just mentioned, connect that storyline with three-dimensional characters AND leave the reader completely entranced.
Emily Barr, you are that incredible author.
A mind-blowing, phenomenal read that will have you find emotion you never knew existed. If you don't believe me, read it yourself.

Thank you Netgalley.

I found the premiae of this really interesting and I enjoyed the WAY the story was written as unreliable narrators are one of my favourite story-telling-methods. But I just can't get past the idea that flora could be cured by a relationship with a boy and I think it's a bit of a kick in the teeth for people who have memory problems to read a story where they get magically cured as a romance plot device.

This story was a real whirlwind in every sense of the word. I was swept up in the emotion, the sadness, the beauty, the wonder, the honesty. I really, really enjoyed this one.

The One Memory of Flora Banks tells the story of Flora, a seventeen year old who suffers with anterograde amnesia. Flora has vivid memories of her childhood but now her brain resets itself every few hours and she forgets everything. Through a series of notes written to herself, Flora restarts her life every few hours. This is a story of how Flora truly finds her courage and begins to discover herself and what she is capable of.

There were a lot of things that I liked about this book. The story itself was interesting although (and I have to say this) something about the first memory Flora successfully creates being a kiss with a boy really jarred with me for a while. It got a little tiring that so much of this story focussed on that but by the end I understood the necessity of it. The ending of this story really blew me away and is the real reason I had to give this book five stars. I thought it was actually fantastic and seemed like the perfect ending for Flora. It also reassured me to know that this did not turn out to be the typical YA ‘girl meets boy who fixes her’ which was a huge concern of mine at the beginning. This is actually a wonderful story of self-discovery.

I really loved Flora as a character. I thought she was sweet, funny and quite charming. It is no wonder that so many other characters in the book such as Agi and Toby were so willing to help her. There is certainly something very endearing about the character that has been created with Flora. I enjoyed the way the writing reflected Flora’s amnesia. Although it hurt my head a little to all of a sudden be thrown back into the darkness of not knowing who the people were or what was going on, this was so effective and special in the way it really made us empathise with Flora.

All of the characters in this book are relatable. All of them are well written and characters that I was genuinely interested in. I was easily able to lose myself in Flora’s world. The descriptions were so engaging and vivid that I truly felt like I was there with her on this wonderful adventure.

This story was so well written and well thought out. The end of this really blew me away and I wasn’t quite expecting it. It seemed so perfect and the last few chapters really brought my emotions to the surface. It showed just how damaging some of the most caring people in our lives can be when driven by certain emotions.

Flora’s story is truly touching, emotional but scattered with glimmers of hope and plenty of moments to make you smile.

A wonderful book. I defy you not to fall in love with Flora Banks. 5 stars.

Thank you to Penguin and NetGalley for giving me an e-copy of this book. The One Memory of Flora Banks will be published on 12th January.

I was about twenty pages into this book when I started to suspect it would be a 5-star read. Why? In one word: Flora. In Flora Banks, Emily Barr has created a heroine you don’t feel able to abandon and, more importantly, you don’t want to. For while her inability to retain memories makes her vulnerable, it also makes everything she does incredibly brave and bold.

I spent parts of this book cringing and biting my nails. Other I wanted to jump up, punch the air and cheer. Mostly, I wanted to climb inside the pages and give Flora a hug. Not only because she was often alone and understandably frightened, but because she was adorably adventurous, determined and hopeful.

The author’s first-person portrayal of a mind unable to retain memories of anything more than a few hours is terrifying, heart-breaking, exhilarating and frustrating. It gives the story a thriller-like edge and makes us intimately complicit in all Flora’s actions. After all, when her parents leave her alone, the one person who stays with her through everything is you, the reader.

I won’t say anything else about the plot of this brilliant book because I think you’ll enjoy it all the more for knowing as little as possible in advance. Just know that if you’re looking for a character-driven story with a fantastic central heroine, you should get yourself a copy asap.

Overall: please, please don’t think because this is billed as Young Adult fiction it’s not for you. However old you are, read this book, fall in love with Flora Banks, remember her name and pass the word on.

The One Memory of Flora Banks by Emily Barr
Release Date: 12 January 2017 by Penguin Random House UK Children's
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Young Adult
Series: None (Standalone)
Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Goodreads | Book Depository

Synopsis from Goodreads: Seventeen-year-old Flora Banks has no short-term memory. Her mind resets itself several times a day, and has since the age of ten, when the tumor that was removed from Flora’s brain took with it her ability to make new memories. That is, until she kisses Drake, her best friend’s boyfriend, the night before he leaves town. Miraculously, this one memory breaks through Flora’s fractured mind, and sticks. Flora is convinced that Drake is responsible for restoring her memory and making her whole again. So when an encouraging email from Drake suggests she meet him on the other side of the world, Flora knows with certainty that this is the first step toward reclaiming her life.

With little more than the words “be brave” inked into her skin, and written reminders of who she is and why her memory is so limited, Flora sets off on an impossible journey to Svalbard, Norway, the land of the midnight sun, determined to find Drake. But from the moment she arrives in the arctic, nothing is quite as it seems, and Flora must “be brave” if she is ever to learn the truth about herself, and to make it safely home.

Disclaimer: I was given an ARC by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not in any way influence my views on the book.

Review: The One Memory of Flora Banks has one of the most interesting premises I've come across and that blurb instantly hooked me so I was delighted when I managed to get my hands on an ARC copy.

First things first, this was a totally unique book in terms of premise, plot and protagonist. I have never read anything where the main character suffers from "anterograde amnesia" and The One Memory of Flora Banks really gave an insight into what it's like to live with a chronic illness like that. Especially at the beginning of the book, we follow Flora as her memory "resets" several times in a day and it is so disconcerting to see her retracing the same steps over and over again. It really brought home how difficult simple things must be for Flora.

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

And it is precisely that which makes the plot of the novel so much more compelling. Although I know the premise of a kiss/boy spurring Flora on to undertake a cross-continent journey has rankled some people, I thought it was less the kiss and more the profoundness of her recalling something. I'd like to think if it was any other memory, she'd react in the same way purely because of how rare it is for her to remember anything. It was heart breaking to see Flora deal with having a memory and her desperation in wanting to believe it an indicator that she is healing.

"I check my hand. FLORA, it says, be brave."

I loved reading about Flora's coping mechanisms. I could vividly imagine her with her arms scribbled on and her house with things to trigger her memory of who she is. Flora's voice is so captivating, her thoughts, fears, and dreams really jump off the page and she definitely feels like a fully formed character. I found it inspiring how candid Flora is about her memory loss and how she's both naive and brave at the same time - she doesn't let her chronic illness and constant reminders that she shouldn't try to function alone stop her from going after Drake and the truth.

"This is how my journey will begin. One thing at a time."

The story itself kept me intrigued, wanting to know why she'd remembered the kiss and what would happen when she found Drake. The setting of Svalbard was brilliant - Barr really excelled at using the desolate landscape to draw comparisons with Flora's state of mind. The other characters were intriguing in how they dealt with Flora's amnesia, especially how they must adapt to her forgetfulness. For 90% of the book though we are "alone" with Flora and even then we see things through her eyes so you're always wondering how much of a reliable narrator she is.

"He does not know me, or he would never ask what I did yesterday. People tell me what I did yesterday: they do not ask."

For me, the book picked up the pace in the last quarter of the book and I was enthralled by the last few chapters! However, it felt like it ended rather abruptly - I actually would've liked to see more development and the aftermath of what happens in those last few chapters. Without giving away spoilers, I'm also a little disappointed at how some things were explained away rather easily when they seemed to me to be pivotal parts of the narrative and plot.

Despite these few niggles though, The One Memory of Flora Banks is great if you're after a good slow-burn thriller with a compelling narrator and story or if you're interested in a good YA exploration of living with a chronic illness. I'd definitely recommend it to fans of Nicola Yoon's Everything, Everything and Eileen Cook's With Malice. This book was Barr's first foray into YA but I'll be keeping my eyes peeled for her other offerings. The One Memory of Flora Banks is out next week on Thursday 12 January!

Are you looking forward to The One Memory of Flora Banks? Are you a big fan of mystery/thrillers? Any recs for great YA similar to TOMoFB? Drop me your thoughts in the comments below!

I'm totally unsure about how to rate this book.
It ended when in got really interesting and it had parts which I just wanted to fast forward. The whole Drake story was kind of unnecessary. There could have been so many things that she remembered, other than a typical teenage kiss on the beach. But that's just my opinion.
Apart from that it is really well written and psychologically interesting.

Imagine being a 17 year old who doesn’t remember anything since you were aged 10; no recollection of who you are or that you have grown into a beautiful young woman. You have no short term memory & forget everything within hours. This is what life is like for Flora Banks.

Supported by her family and only friend, Flora looks to the notes scribbled on her arms to remind herself when she needs reassurance – “Be Brave” She is unable to retain memories until one night she kisses a boy and she doesn’t forget. Could her condition be getting better?

This is a beautiful adventure story which takes us to a faraway place & you cannot help but fall in love with Flora. Her memory loss and the repetition needed to move the story forward should be annoying but it’s absolutely not. Instead it gives us a touching insight into Flora’s world and helps us invest even more in our unlikely and unreliable hero.

Like any good YA novel worth its ink, themes of love & loss, betrayal & body image are weaved into the narrative which ultimately builds to a really satisfying conclusion. (No spoilers but…I wanted to high-five her!)

A great read for those who love adventure and who believe that first kisses are unforgettable – four cwtches.

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