"Things I Can't Forget" by Miranda Kenneally

Release Date: March 1, 2013

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire 

Pages: 320

From Goodreads: "Companion to Catching Jordan and Stealing Parker. 

Kate has always been the good girl. Too good, according to some people at school—although they have no idea the guilty secret she carries. But this summer, everything is different…

This summer she’s a counselor at Cumberland Creek summer camp, and she wants to put the past behind her. This summer Matt is back as a counselor too. He’s the first guy she ever kissed, and he’s gone from a geeky songwriter who loved The Hardy Boys to a buff lifeguard who loves to flirt…with her.

Kate used to think the world was black and white, right and wrong. Turns out, life isn’t that easy…"

As becomes evident from my review of "Stealing Parker" (my introduction to Miranda Kenneally's "Hundred Oaks" series, having not read the first book in the series, "Catching Jordan", as these are companions novels and therefore prior knowledge of the series isn't required) I was not a fan of it- there was a number of things about it that irked me, from Parker's behaviour, to the "preachiness" of the novel, to the overall superficiality. That being said, despite my complaints I did decide to continue on with the series, reading this book, the third book, and I'm extremely happy that I did make the decision to do so as I liked the book twofold over the previous. 

While one would think that because the large majority of this book took place in a church camp that it might be quite "preachy", I personally didn't find that (that being said, I did spend over a decade in a church camp, even being the arts and crafts director myself, so that may play into my biases). I think that it anything this book was about character growth, namely in Kate's religious beliefs- her beliefs growing, adapting and adjusting, and her learning that there is perhaps more to life than them (and that others beliefs may differ from her own). I think that a lot of YA readers will be able to connect to her as she does face many struggles that they may be experiencing or have experienced, first boyfriend, arguments with friends, forming new friendships, and so forth. 

Matt was also an enjoyable character- I appreciated the fact that he simply was who he was- he didn't try to be someone else and he was extremely honest about it (like the ways in which he expressed his religious beliefs). I also thought that the interaction between him and his siblings were adorable, especially when his younger brother told Kate not to break his heart.  

Additionally, while I did like Kate and Matt in this novel I did find myself finally coming around to Parker (that being said, I wouldn't yet consider us to be BFFs, though we are somewhat getting there). It was nice to see her so less boy crazy in this book (her eyes only for Will) and to see her start to realize that perhaps she hadn't only been at the receiving end of misjudgment, but at the giving end. 

All in all, as becomes evident, I am glad that I did continue on with this series and I intend to read the final three books in the series (also, I will be finally picking up "Catching Jordan"). I think that those who are already fans of this series will be more than pleased by it and I thank them for their enthusiasm for this series, convincing me to give it another go. 

Rating: 4/5

I received this book from the publisher to read and honestly review. I was not compensated in any way for said review.