Alexandra Shaw is not like other girls. She likes Jane Austin and Taylor Swift and doesn't feel like she needs makeup. She isn't interested in boys or partying. She doesn't feel compelling or beautiful, but the most popular girl is one of her best friends and she and her friends are literally at the center of her school's yearbook.

Does every part of that make you cringe and feel like, "Why on earth would I want to read that?" After getting one chapter into this book I actually made a social media post saying "In the year of our Lord, 2023, can we please drop the 'I'm not like other girls' trope?" But, hear me out, I want you to keep reading this book. I saw a review telling me to keep going, so this is me telling you the same, keep going.

Alexandra Shaw killed her father. It was an accident, but she carries that guilt with her all of the time. She and her mother have relocated and she is now going to a school new school and she is just trying to get through until she graduates.

Do you like plot twists? Do you like an unreliable narrator? Do you like just the tiniest bit of dystopian YA science fiction and near future to the point that it is almost believable as being a thing that could happen? Then this is for you. I am definitely looking forward to reading the next book to see what happens.

If you want a book that'll keep you guessing and draw you in more with each page, this is the book for you! I was able to read it in a day, because it kept me so engrossed I couldn't pull away. 4 out of 5 stars for me.

This was an interesting read.

We follow our main character who attends a juvenile school for delinquents, and she is constantly reminded that she accidentally killed her father. I didn't really like the writing, and the modern references were too much. The cover is nice, and the concept sounded interesting, but the characters were too immature, and the story was slow to really get into the nitty gritty of it.

Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for an e-arc!

Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this ARC, unfortunately, it wasn’t for me, This is no reflection on the author at all, I just couldn’t get into the story.

Seventeen-year-old Alexandra killed her father.

It was an accident, but he’s dead all the same. Now all she wants is to find her place in her new school, keep her head down until graduation, and try to fix her relationship with her resentful mother.

But then a stranger named Logan shows up, claiming he knows her. And that’s not even the weirdest thing. According to Logan, her father wasn’t the only one killed in the accident—she was too.

While trying to uncover her past, Alexandra and Logan discover a horrifying truth about her new school and the more they dig, the more dangerous it becomes for Alexandra and her friends.

With no idea who to trust, she races to piece her life back together and take hold of her future before she loses it – and herself – completely.

I really enjoyed this unique story. From start to finish, I was enthralled with Alexandra's story. Will recommend to others.

This isn't a bad indie, however I found it to be a little more middle grade writing style with adult topics presented. It was OKAY. There were times when it was repeating itself quite a lot and I found the main character quite annoying. I am declining to rate this book on social media because it wasn't really my thing and I want to not give extra negativity to the indie author.

Even tough with an amazing cover and mixing perfectly mistery and fantasy,this book has such a slow pace than it got me a few tries to connect with the characters. The relationship between Alexandra and her mother is well developed,but overall I got the feeling than these characters are kinda flat.

Firstly I would like to thank booksgosocial and the author A. Lloyd Stanton for access to the unforgettable Alexandra shaw.

The review I am going to make is an honest review regardless of the access I received for this book. It should be noted I was not paid for this review and ensure honesty in all my reviews.

She’s 17 and she’s killed her father. Not on purpose but she just wants to go through the rest of her school time unnoticed.

This book covers fantasy and mystery in a nice blend. The author has written this well I just wanted a few more shocks to happen throughout.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily and all opinions are my own.*

This book is right up my street. It's not often you find a book that lives up to a beautiful cover and a strong title, but Alexandra Shaw does just that. My two favourite genres are fantasy and mystery, and this book struck the perfect balance between the two.

I also loved the theme of friendship, Stanton perfectly encapsulated the dynamics of high relationship. The characters were dynamic and complex, nobody is who they initially seem and everybody has a secret.

It is well written and had me guessing from beginning to end. I was absolutely hooked by this book and am already eagerly awaiting the sequel.

#TheUnforgettableAlexandraShaw #NetGalley

This book really reminded me of a mix between the Mara Dyer series and The Program series, old faves of mine. The writing style was light, despite the darker content matter.

I did have a good time reading this book, but it felt too similar to the dystopian dramas of years gone by to be particularly relevant today.

Thank you netgalley and the publishers for letting me read this book. I absolutely loved it, the characters and the plot are top notch. Highly recommended. 4.5 stars

I don't quite know how to describe this book, or how I really feel about it. The concept is interesting, but it felt very confusing and a little rushed. I didn't disike it at all, and I know I will read the next book in order to find out what happens next, but I feel like it could have used a little bit more world building. There were things early on that kind of hinted at where the book was going, but to me it felt sort of like I didn't get time to become invested in the characters before it became very confusing. Not a bad book for a YA novel, and I know i'm not neccessarily the target audience, but I do think pacing could have been better and things perhaps set up a little better.

You Should Read This If:
-You're a fan of Never Let Me Go or The Similars.
-You want to see adults make some very, very questionable decisions and kids get their comeuppance.

Alexandra Shaw killed her dad. Albeit, by accident, but that doesn’t prevent the crippling guilt or strained relationship with her mom. As a result she’s been shipped off to reform school on the English coast but it’s not long before things start to get weird. A stranger shows up claiming to know her, and Alex’s world is flipped upside down. Students begin to lose their minds and Alexandra knows she needs to uncover the truth before she’s next.

The book moves at a nice clip, making it a breezy little romp to enjoy. I love the setting of a coastal, mysterious academy (airs of dark academia!) — but overall, neither the characters nor the location were very well developed. Action was plentiful but right on the nose; the author led you right up to every reveal so nothing ever felt shocking, though I think it was supposed to? (Listen, I’m in my 30s and reading YA so I reap what I sow, here.) The final act was gripping and definitely the highlight of the book.

Featuring: A vinyl record shop. Bad parenting. Boarding school bullies. Secret laboratories. Teen detective vibes. Banned books. Damn-the-man energy.

I generally enjoyed the (very quick) experience of reading it and I’m fairly confident this is the right flavor for some audiences (...probably ones closer in age to 18...). Overall, an engaging plot but some lack of suspense and depth.

😍 The cover for The Unforgettable Alexandra Shaw is beautiful, and I loved the synopsis. I wasn't sure what to expect, but in the end I really enjoyed this book. The premise is exciting, and it was fun watching it all unfold. It got a bit too unbelievable near the end, but I would definitely read the next book in this series, which should be available Fall 2023.

Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for this e-copy I received for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the copy of The Unforgettable Alexandra Shaw by A. Lloyd Spanton. The premise was promising and the story itself was really good. It just took too long to actually get into the story - the first half of the book was really slow and mostly buildup. I think many people would give up on the book because nothing was happening. The characters are so uninteresting and I never really got any insight into their personalities except on a very superficial level. If you love a good sci-fi/teen story, you might love this one. I needed more from the characters and the writing. (I also hope this book goes through another round of edits.)

Reviewed for NetGalley:

Beautiful cover, great premise.

Quickly learn something is a foot when classmates are so cruel and badgering the main character, saying she murdered her own father in an accident. A brutal start.

Soon after, I lost interest unfortunately, and didn't care what happened to the characters.

This was such a great book! I highly enjoyed this. This was so good. I stayed up late to finish this because I had to know what happened next.
I just reviewed The Unforgettable Alexandra Shaw by A. Lloyd Spanton. #TheUnforgettableAlexandraShaw #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

This read was such a captivating young adult novel that blends together elements of mystery, fantasy, and sci-fi to create a unique and engaging story. The protagonist, Alexandra, is a troubled teenager who attends a reformatory school after causing her father's death in a car accident. As she begins to experience strange visions and encounters a boy claiming she has died, she starts to unravel a mystery that takes her on a thrilling adventure.

The author does an excellent job of creating a believable world filled with intriguing characters, including Alexandra's two best friends, Kayla and Hannah, who play important roles in the story. The writing style is smooth and easy to follow, making it an ideal read for young adults. Moreover, the pacing is well-done, with enough twists and turns to keep the reader engaged from beginning to end.

One of the book's strengths is the relationship between Alexandra and her mother. The scenes involving their interactions are some of the most emotional and powerful in the story. The book also delves into themes of friendship and family dynamics, which are relatable and well-executed.

It's is a highly entertaining and thought-provoking read that will appeal to fans of mystery, fantasy, and sci-fi. The characters are well-drawn, and the plot is engaging, making for an enjoyable reading experience.

The Unforgettable Alexandra Shaw by A. Lloyd Spanton is a young adult novel that weaves together elements of mystery, fantasy, sci-fi, and themes of friendship and family dynamics. The story follows Alexandra, a teenage girl who is attending a reformatory school after causing her father's death in a car accident. Alexandra's life is relatively stable until she begins having visions of a boy she has never met but seems to have loved, who then shows up claiming she died in the accident too.

The book's writing style is solidly YA and easy to read, with relatable teenage characters and their familiar frustrating dramatics. The plot is intriguing and engaging, with a good blend of characters and story elements into the mystery. However, at times, the narration feels too observant, making the importance of some plot points too obvious.

The relationship between Alexandra and her mother is the highlight of the book, with the final act of the book relying heavily on this family dynamic. Although the plot gets a bit messy and relies on other side characters that are not as interesting, there is a great set-up for book two.

Overall, "The Unforgettable Alexandra Shaw" is a solid YA novel that combines mystery, fantasy, and sci-fi in a way that will appeal to fans of these genres. With relatable characters and an engaging plot, the book is a good choice for readers who enjoy a mix of different genres and themes.

*Thanks to NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.*

“For a while, I was sure she’d never forgive me, het resentment a dark cloud following me everywhere.”

Alexandra Shaw is enrolled in a reformatory school after being behind the wheel during a car accident that killed her father. Weird things start to happen when a boy named Logan comes into her live, making her remember all kinds of things from what seems like a different life. Together with her Logan and her friends she tries to find out what is happening.

First of all. I liked the cover and the summary. That was what drew me to the book and is the reason why I applied to write a review. It is a Teens & YA book which is very obvious in word choice for example:
- Effing
- Highly sus
- Hoof it (‘I hoof it to the bus’)
- You’re obvs lying!
- STFU
- Who the eff knows

I usually still enjoy reading YA but this one was just… really annoying. The book might also need a trigger warming for (attempted) suicide and self-harm (possible more).

Alexandra blames herself for everything, mostly for what happened to her father. Fine, need some character development.. But that didn’t really happen. Nothing changed.

*POSSIBLE SPOILERS*

Everything seemed to go her way. All the time… almost immediately.
For example:
- Someone having a key to a locked door (multiple times)
- Memories that come flooding back. ALL of them at ones (‘that’s when our eight months together comes flooding back’) (multiple times)
- Picking a lock and it working on the first try and it not taking long
- Immediately recognizing a username of someone who knows EVERYTHING about the Institute and finding this person immediately and them explaining everything.
- Breaking in and getting everywhere without being seen for a long time. While actually shouting.
- Overpowering a security guard as a seventeen (maybe eighteen) year old.. twice.

And then FINALY some setback!
She forgot to close her laptop when running away!... But it’s never mentioned again.

In the end. I didn’t love it. Everything was too easy for the protagonist and the whole book was a lot of build up to… what? The second book? I am curious to see if it will be better.

* SPOILERS*

NOTE WHILE READING
Someone on TikTok said: quit a book if it isn’t interesting after the first 50 pages..
I would have had to quit the book. There is a lot of built up to.. what?
Chapter 17… still not a lot had happened
After 184 pages and we are back at the beginning…

EXTRA’S:
Sentences that didn’t feel right (but English is my second language so I don’t feel like I can complain all that much. So please tell me if I’m wrong)
- ‘he had saw then’ – he had SEEN them/he SAW them
- ‘I’m tempted aim my nose at …’ – tempted TO
- ‘But up closer, I can see that is masking something much deeper’ – but up CLOSE (?) I can see that IT IS.
- ‘in the change room’ – chanGING room
- A distinctive cat-lick up the corner’ – isn’t it a catFLICK? Context of eye makeup
- ‘I seem to have got her with that one’ - gotTEN
- ‘the feel of his hand in mind.’ – in minE
- Talking about anonymously posting something on WhatsApp.. Is that even possible? You will be able to see their phone number.


- my Amazon review is not showing up in the book overview for some reason..