ARC Review: Don't Look Back by Jennifer L. Armentrtou @JLArmentrout @DisneyHyperion

Blurb From Goodreads:
Samantha is a stranger in her own life. Until the night she disappeared with her best friend, Cassie, everyone said Sam had it all-popularity, wealth, and a dream boyfriend.
Sam has resurfaced, but she has no recollection of who she was or what happened to her that night. As she tries to piece together her life from before, she realizes it's one she no longer wants any part of. The old Sam took "mean girl" to a whole new level, and it's clear she and Cassie were more like best enemies. Sam is pretty sure that losing her memories is like winning the lottery. She's getting a second chance at being a better daughter, sister, and friend, and she's falling hard for Carson Ortiz, a boy who has always looked out for her-even if the old Sam treated him like trash.
But Cassie is still missing, and the facts about what happened to her that night isn't just buried deep inside of Sam's memory-someone else knows, someone who wants to make sure Sam stays quiet. All Sam wants is the truth, and if she can unlock her clouded memories of that fateful night, she can finally move on. But what if not remembering is the only thing keeping Sam alive?

Title: Don't Look Back
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Expected Publication Date: April 15, 2014

RATING: 5 STARS

The Cover Contessa's Review:

I want to thank Disney Hyperion for providing me with an copy of this book to provide an honest review. Receiving this book for free has in no way altered my opinion or review.

I love a good thriller. So when I heard that Jennifer Armentrout was writing one, well, you can imagine I was all over reading it. And, while I really am not a huge fan of the cover (even though I understand it) I jumped right in when I got a copy of this! Murder? YES! Mystery? YES! Romance? YES! it's the trifecta of awesomeness! And a plot line that seems to be going in one direction, but takes you somewhere you totally different think it would? YES! YES! YES!

Sammie has no idea who she is. I love this concept. She has amnesia and can't remember anything at all about her life. She slowly learns about all the people who were in her life, and who she is/was. But she has a different outlook now that she doesn't remember. It's like she's been given a chance to start over again. To rebuild her life and be someone she wasn't before. She makes amends and realizes that she didn't like the person she was before, or at least doesn't like that person now. And, despite her not being able to remember anything, she is strong and self-preserving. But she is also weary of anyone and everyone in her life. She wants so much to help figure out what happened to her best friend, Cassie, but she fears that all those around who she trusted before might be involved.

Carson is the boy next door. Except he's poor, and Sammie usually hangs with the rich crowd. He's always been considered below her, yet as a child they were best friends. So what changed? Cassie came into her life and tore her away from all she knew, including the sweet and loving Car. He's so committed to Sammie, willing to pretty much do anything for her, despite the fact that she's treated him like dirt for much of their recent past. He knows that beneath her shell there's a different person, someone who cares. But they haven't gotten along for so long, it's hard for him to think she might be capable of change. From the start, I loved his character. He's fiercely loyal and he is willing to take a chance on Sammie, despite their past.

Scott, Sammie's brother, is a great character. He's the complete opposite of what Sammie has come to be in the past, before her amnesia. He's smart and funny and down to earth while Sammie has been a stuck up snot for many of the last few years. What I love most about Scott is he's not afraid to tell Sammie who she was before, how much he didn't like her, even though he's her twin. They could not have been more opposite.

The secondary characters add great depth to this book. Sammie's snuck up and snobby friends who basically name her Insanity Sam because she's changed so much they have no idea who she is and they think she's crazy. Her parents, who don't know their daughter anymore, but see that the changes may be better for her, especially her father. They add so much to the story without inundating it with annoying characters you don't care about. You hate the friends because they are "mean girls" but you want to love the others, like Scott's girlfriend Julie, who was one of Sammie's best friends at one point before Cassie entered the picture.

I think the best part of this book is that Jennifer really keeps you guessing throughout. I kept having my doubts about so many of the characters. But there was never concrete evidence that made me feel it was one person or the other. Then I got to the 85% mark and I kind of figured it out and BOOM, Jennifer threw another wrench in the mix! WOW! I love a psychological thriller that keeps you on your toes and this one certainly fits that bill!

This is a bit of a departure from what I know of Armentrout's previous writing. But just like her other stuff, she does this so well. Her characters are really relatable. And while I didn't know "mean girls" when I went to school, I have heard things from my friends and family that make me understand high-school can really be like Jennifer has described it! I love the plot line for this book and I love how Jennifer writes. Together they make for a great read! She makes it complex and twisty, which keeps you riveted to the plot.

I can honestly say that when I read the blurb, I wasn't totally thrilled with what it presented. I wasn't sure I would like this. But I wanted to give it a chance because I have really enjoyed Armentrout's other books and I'm so glad I did. So, if you are into mystery and psychological thrillers would I recommend this book? Absolutely! It will keep you interested from beginning to end. You will not know what hit you. Pick it up, read it, love it! You won't be sorry!

# 1 New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Jennifer L. Armentrout Lives in West Virginia. 

All the rumors you heard about her state aren’t true. 

Well, mostly. When she's not hard at work writing, she spends her time, reading, working out, watching zombie movies, and pretending to write.

She is the author of the Covenant Series (Spencer Hill Press), the Lux Series (Entangled Teen), Don't Look Back (Disney/Hyperion) and a yet untitled novel (Disney/Hyperion), and new YA paranormal series with Harlequin Teen. 

Jennifer also writes New Adult and Adult romance under the pen name J. Lynn. The Gamble Brothers Series (Tempting the Best Man/Tempting the Player) and Wait for You. Under her pen name, she is published with Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

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