Thank you to NetGalley for this e-ARC.

I found this book enjoyable for its charming, fairy-tale language. The characters, whether main or side, each had a life and personality of their own, shaped by their aspirations. Every character wanted something more to their life--Ella Moon wanted a memory of a lively past, Clara wanted a husband for stability, William wanted Ella to love, and Sissy wanted her stories to be real happy endings. The desires of these characters made them enchanting to read.

However, I thought the pacing was slow, especially for the beginning. The plot was barely beginning, so I tried to be patient. Perhaps a little more action at the start would have kept my focus.

3.5/5 stars

The concept of this book is really fun. I really like the idea of the story of a girl who has forgotten who she is and is trying to decide between trying to find out, and moving on with the life she now has. The reader knows more than the MC does from basically the first page, and while I think that can be a great way of writing this type of story, I do wish we were left in the dark (no pun intended ;) ) just a little bit longer.
I do believe that this is a good shorter story that could be read in one or two sittings. I do also think it is possible to flesh more of the plots and characters out to make it longer and feel more developed.

I really like the set up of the parts of the book. I don't want to add spoilers to this review but I'm specifically talking about how the past and present scenes are laid out. I also like how the Male Main Character seems to respect the FMC's decisions.

I am currently halfway through this and wanted to make sure I got my review in on time, and will edit this once I finish.
Edit: I did DNF it about half way through. I am not sure if I will pick it up again.

This book took me on a journey!

It was the perfect balance of magic and the reality of getting your heartbroken (as well as breaking some hearts, as well). It was beautifully written with each chapter winding you down the path of Ella Moon's turned upside-down life. How does one just wakes up and remembers who she is?

On some parts, I could relate to Ella -- being told by everyone who she should be and who she should love, leaving little room for making the decision by herself. The true dilemma of wanting to settle down (since it seems that everyone's doing it except for her) and wanting to believe that her true love is truly out there. She goes on to figure out that sometimes, you'd have to make sacrifices for the decision you truly believe to be true.

Overall, this book was such a treat to read especially since it seems that Ella takes you by the hand and allows you to be there to witness her whole life unfolding before her eyes. With some romance, magic, and a dangerously handsome Thane -- this book is the one to cozy up with late at night.

Goodreads review:

If you are in the mood for a tragic but moving love story about the consequences of breaking someone's heart, this is the story for you.

Ella Moon doesn't remember who she is, she does know however, with all her heart, that that same heart is broken. And that the life she is living now, is not hers.
Then a handsome stranger appears at the inn where she works. But is he truly a stranger?

The Forgotten Life Of Ella Moon is a well-written story with fairytale elements woven throughout, which I adored. It's an easy read with an engaging plot, interesting characters, and mythical lore.

Personally, I would have liked more in-depth world-building (I want to know more about the gods!) and the ending felt a tad anti-climactic. Would have loved to read about the couples' reunion!

All in all, Ella Moon is a magical story about:

* Vengeful Gods
* Star-Crossed Lovers
* Curses
* Fairytales
* Broken Hearts

4 stars for me!

Thanks to NetGalley & Melissa Naatz for the opportunity to review this book.

Oh I do like a good fantasy novel but this one just didn't do it for me. I found it rather slow and somewhat boring. Having said that the first part of the book and story was somewhat interesting, learning about Ella but it just went all down hill form there.

I wasn't enamoured with the second half, didn't like the way it was telling its story and found it missing depth and therefore found I just ran out of interest and didn't end up finishing it.

Thank you NetGalley and ARC provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

"A broken heart is a powerful thing, Sissy would whisper. Wars have been started over one."

"Some believe we lose things we take for granted and only when we have made amends do we get back those things."

GENRE: Romantasy
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
FORMAT: eBook Arc

Long Review:
This is a beautiful, lyrical story. It talks about the beauty and essence of memories and why it is important. It discusses the importance of a friendship, a relationship and of understanding the importance of who we are
"Memories were like stars. Without the stars, the night sky would be empty and dark. And without memories, Ella felt empty and alone. She had hoped this day would be different. That somehow a memory had slipped through the fog of her mind. But the only things that filtered through were the sounds of her new life."

This is a tale of Ella (view spoiler), a Goddess who lost her memory. She lives a live before regaining the memory and after regaining it. We get to read this throughout the book as two different parts and I enjoyed the division between both of these two. It was an emotional journey, getting to see Ella experience who she is as "Ella", not recognising herself fully and wanting to learn who she was before the memory loss in order to understand herself more
"The fact that stared back at her looked familiar, but some pieces were not. She didn't know how she had gotten the scar on her lip. Or why this morning her eyes shone a bright blue green instead of the stormy gray blue they had been last night. but the memory she missed the most was her name. A name made her someone. Someone to miss and someone to love."

We go through a journey of Ella wanting to be more than the forgotten pieces. She wants to know who she is and why she cannot accept the life that has been set for her. She feels as if her clothes are borrowed, her experiences and friendships are stolen moments in a life that isn't hers. And not only that, when she wakes up with no memory of who she is, she feels heartbroken
"When Ella first came to Riverton, she had been heartbroken. She was unaware of the reason for, nor could she put a fact with, that heartbreak. For days she cried over something or someone she didn't remember."

Naatz manages to merge the things Ella has ingrained in who she is as a person in her experience in the new life she is living. For example, she cannot withstand noise, lights and she is still able to see a strange glow in people's chest even though she has no memory of who she is. Not only that, this beautiful, lyrical book is about Ella sticking to her beliefs when others around her tell her to accept reality
"Enough. it is time to let go of this silly idea that your past will catch up with you. You will be twenty-eight in a few short weeks. You are too old to believe in fairy tales."

There is only one friend who Ella has that is strongly encouraging her to stick to her beliefs and in the end, this friend will be the solution to a curse, the way to learning patience for a goddess
"It will happen, Ella. I feel it in my bones. You will marry for the greatest love known to man. I promise."

Oh and here is a quote I loved about pity and how people hand it out, which is quite fitting in the book. Ella struggles with sticking to what she knows is true and what everyone around her tries to tell her to do and pity is a strong emotion that drives a lot of these advises
"She didn't want to see the pity in Thane's eyes. That was an emotion that people gave so freely. They never asked before they handed it out and expected the recipient to be grateful and accepting."

And in the end, Ella is left to deal with all her emotions, all the heart breaks and all the things she cannot mend without remembering who she truly is. We then move to the part of the book where she remembers who she is
"Such was the story of Ella's life. A life of burrowed pieces that didn't fit together."

I truly did enjoy this book, the parts of learning about Ella, her remembering who she is and then how the story ended, which was a justified ending for this book. Let's end this review with a quote that is very fitting for the book:
"Once there was a god who lost her memories. She wished them away. The silly god found herself in the mortal realm. There she found a boy and a girl, both wishing for the same thing: love. Then came a mother and daughter, both with a heart big enough to love everyone. But as curses go, one must die, and one heart must break. Who is it ...."

Thank you to the Nerd Family, NetGalley and the author for the eArc in exchange for my honest opinion.

I have grown a new love for a "quieter" reads - those unassuming, simpler slice of life stories that just appeal to your heart - and this is a wonderful example of such a book. A wonderful read

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Victory Editing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I know they say not to judge a book by its cover, but I just love the cover of this one 😍 it's chaotic and floral and full of colour, so it spoke to me straight away!

I was a bit torn on my final thoughts on this book, because I absolutely loved the premise. Vengeful gods and star crossed lovers? Yes please! I was totally sucked in by the first half of the book where we meet Ella, the girl who can't remember her past. When Thane arrived in her small village, I was so invested as their chemistry built and hints of Ella's true life were revealed.

However, as the book continued, I found myself losing interest. While I liked the introduction of the other gods and the explanation of the curse that was affecting Ella, I was really longing for some more world building and action to occur in the story, because I spent a good chunk of it struggling to picture the world the story was set in.

I think my main criticism of this book is that most of the second act exposition seems to occur mostly through dialogue. For me, I found the large chunks of dialogue between characters hard work to get through, and was longing for a bit more showing instead of telling.

All in all, I'm grateful for the chance to read this book, but it isn't a favourite of mine. I think the first half of this book was well written and easy to read, and I think it has excellent potential if the author continues the story in a series.

Not my new favorite but I did enjoy it.
This was an ARC I was sent by Netgalley, my thanks go to them and the publishers for this chance!
I was extremely intrigued and captivated by the first half of the story, but then the pacing of the second half went off, and I felt like i needed more world building and didn’t get it?
The book was easy to get into and it was a light enjoyable read, I think I just wanted a bit more from it..

Thank you netgalley and the publishers for this arc.

The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon is an emotionally rich and captivating novel that pulled me in with its quiet beauty and layered storytelling. From the beginning, I found myself deeply invested in the characters and their journeys, and the emotional weight of the story stayed with me long after I finished it.

One thing I noticed was the pacing—at times, it felt like the story moved very slowly, with not much happening, and then everything would unfold all at once. This created a bit of an imbalance, but it also made the more dramatic moments hit harder when they did come.

The ending was both beautiful and heartbreaking. There was a reunion, and it was deeply moving, but it was so brief and distant—viewed through another character’s eyes—that it left me longing for more. I wanted to fully experience that moment with them, not just glimpse it from afar.

It’s been a long time since a book completely pulled me in the way The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon did. So many stories take a while to grab my attention—or never quite get there—but this one had me emotionally invested almost immediately. I found myself thinking about the characters even when I wasn’t reading, eager to get back to the story and see how everything would unfold. That level of connection is rare for me, and it’s what made this book stand out even more.

Even with that bittersweet feeling, I truly loved this book. It’s a story about memory, love, and what it means to be truly seen, and it’s one I won’t soon forget.

An important allegory of loving the wrong person, and the destruction that can leave in its wake, and making sacrifices for those we care about. Beautifully written.

I was drawn into the whimsical magic and storytelling of “The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon.”
Ella was found on the riverfront in town, without any memories or knowledge of who she is. She only has a lingering memory of man and a romantic connection she feels. I enjoyed the town and the side characters and I’m interested to see how this story may continue in a series. The romance felt a little too insta-love for my personal preference.

For those who enjoy:
🌙 Cozy Inn
🌙 Fairy Tales
🌙 Romantasy
🌙 Magic & gods
🌙 Star Crossed Lovers

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this novel.

The funny thing is that Thane and Riverton remind me of Skyrim because I've been playing it a lot recently. But about the book, I really loved this! It was whimsical and magical and I really enjoyed my time reading. I always enjoy reading fantasy with romance and this was great.

This was an okayish read. I felt like the author wanted to play with too many elements and then many fell flat. I did not really like any of the characters, their connections made little sense and most feelings were developed before the book so we just have to believe that these people love and like each other and just dont know why? There is a curse that I did not really understand at the end and many questions left unanswered
The writing at times did not feel rounded, could have needed some editing and there were some repetitions of the same old same old
The idea of the story was nice but I just could not deal with the execution
I think though that there is a lot of potential for this author and I would like to check out future works.

Thanks to netgalley for providing me with an ARC for this book

Wow. This was such a beautiful story. One of those books that feels like a dream you don’t want to wake up from.

It starts with a young woman waking up in a quiet little village, with no memory of who she is or where she came from. She builds a new life—makes friends, falls in love, finds work—but deep down, nothing feels quite right. Then, a year later, Thane shows up… and he’s looking for the girl he lost.

I was so hooked by the mystery and magic of it all. There’s this whole story woven through about light and darkness, and a love that feels ancient and cursed and just… epic. It’s heartbreaking in the most beautiful way.

I also loved how it pulled inspiration from mythology and even had a bit of that classic fairytale feel—like something old and timeless, but fresh and totally unique at the same time.

If you’re into emotional, magical stories with a touch of the mythical and a lot of heart, this one’s for you.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Victory Co-op for the chance to read this early!

DNF at 50%. The premise of this book was really good but it just felt very… juvenile to me. The FMC is 28 but it’s written like she’s 18. And the way she’s acting.. she should’ve been 18. Idk something about this didn’t land for me and at halfway I just still didn’t care.

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc

3/5 stars.

The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon is about a girl who has no memory of her past life and is feeling trapped in a small river town. She feels she is missing something but has no way of retrieving it. A strangers blows into town and she feels a pull towards them, and the story unravels from there.

This book took me on a rollercoaster. I was immediately hooked by the premise and when I saw how the narrative was split via the chapters, I was excited to jump in. Think how Manacled is split in terms of story. That’s what this was like.

I really enjoyed the supporting characters and felt they added a level of depth and nuance that the protagonist was occasionally missing. Hearing the different perspectives of Sissy, Lilian and Pain etc. were really intriguing. I also loved the general premise for the story itself, however, I feel it didn’t achieve what it set out to do.

The setting is somewhat generic, and as the author herself stated in the acknowledgements, this is her first romantasy novel as she is more of a contemporary romance writer. This does come across quite apparently as the inspiration for the world building seems to be based on Roman or Greek mythology, but this is not always consistent and can be a bit jarring when reading and switching between half-formed places.

I also felt the plot in Part 2 dragged a bit and could’ve been shortened quite significantly. There was a section where “Ella” went to another realm as part of a task she was assigned, but this was not fully explored and so therefore unnecessary to the plot. This section onwards is where I really struggled to continue reading, which is a shame as I was genuinely enjoying the story until this point.

I think it’s a good beginner, romantasy read but not something I’d be itching to recommend to someone. If a person had shared their previous fave reads and the descriptions lined up with this, I’d let them know but I wouldn’t go out of my way to inform people otherwise.

Thank you NetGalley for the free e-ARC copy of this book. All opinions/reviews are all my own.

Book Review: The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon, Melissa Naatz

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 (4/5)

This tale follows Ella, who cannot recall her life in memories, or anything of her life at all as it came to be. Just as she starts to come to terms with it all, Thane appears and is instantly drawn to Ella, and she him; she feels deeply connected to him, and yet she cannot explain why. As the tale progresses, you get to know Ella more, and understand that in the process of finding out about her past, it will it cost her everything to get there- and possibly even heartbreak too….

Naatz really covers some great fantasy scopes in her writing, the tale is very original and tragically beautiful. There are at times where the pacing doesn’t flow organically (particularly from part 2) but all-in-all, it was a fantastic read. I loved it. If you ware wanting to read a slow-burn romance, with intertwined fairy tales, dark magic, tragic love and haunting mythology- this is the book for you! I would say fans of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue would eat this up, as I certainly did! <3

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for the arc, all opinions shared are my own.

The concept of the book with the Romeo & Juliet re-imagining was intriguing but it just was not for me. I was bored and had no connection to anything. I only finished the book out of curiosity.

Do gods fall in love? If they do, do their hearts break like ours?

I did not know what to expect before reading The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon by Melissa Naatz. I was pleasantly surprised by the plot and the characters. I finished this book in one day.

The story revolves around Ella who woke up in a small town without memories of her life. She was taken in by a kind family who owns an inn. Ella then spends an entire year as an inn helper with two others - Sissy and Clara. For her rare beauty, Sissy is pursued by two villagers, William and Albert. Though attracted to William, Sissy does not understand why she cannot commit to him. That is until she meets the new mysterious guest at the inn Mr. Thane Tenebris.

The world building of the story can be improved a little. However, I liked the development of the characters especially Ella and Thane. Though their love transcended time and curses, they still did not forget their duties. The way they wanted to sacrifice everything for each other was heartbreaking.

I thought that the side characters were interesting, too. I have a soft spot for Sissy. Her kindness and understanding towards Ella were touching. From the moment she was introduced, I wanted nothing more than to see her happy.

The ending was a little abrupt. I wish that we see more of what happened with Ella and Thane in the end.

Overall, I recommend this book to those who love mythology, curses, love, found family, and destinies.