The big hits against this book were, to me, the excessive melodrama and love triangles that made the plot too similar to a cheap Mills & Boon (Harlequin) dime novel. The little sprinklings of borrowed Sleeping Beauty elements and the loans from Greek mythology for the worldbuilding could've been the saving part, when this book becomes interesting in the middle portion as lost memories return. Unfortunately, the three parts this book is split in suffer from the same flaw.

(Full review in link.)

I had a difficult time pulling all my thoughts together for this one!!

I loved the premise of the book and was instantly drawn to the Romeo and Juliet, star crossed lovers vibe! I liked Ella as a character, she was likeable and her character felt genuine right from the start!

I did feel that some of the characters could have been more developed as it would have helped build a stronger connection to them.

I was not expecting some of the twists and turns in the book, although it did feel that we were given everything quite early and I would have liked more suspense to build up.

This was a fun re-imagining and it had some amazing moments. I enjoyed and will look forward to seeing what Naatz does next.

** CONTAINS SPOILERS **

I really enjoyed this book! I love where we started and how we jumped back in time. I enjoyed how the gods were conveyed as different human emotions. I love the Romeo & Juliet star crossed lover vibe. I thought it was all put together nicely even though the ending made me so mad but it all working out in the end.

I found myself not liking some of the characters though and I think that is why I am giving it at 3 star. I didn't truly what happened to any of them except Ella and I was mad that we had to wait for her happiness.

3.5/5 ✩ - star-crossed lovers, romantasy (heavier on the romance), cursed gods, mystery, memory loss (obviously)

Ella wakes up in the small town of Riverton with no memory of her past life. Her gut feeling constantly tells her she's missing love and her old life. When a strange man who feels vaguely familiar comes to town, she feels pulled to him and can't figure out why. She battles the struggle of fighting to remember her old life and submitting to the life she has now.

What I loved

The way things were revealed: especially in the first part, I found myself SHOOK, I loved how things were sprinkled in and the easter eggs almost. I really enjoyed the first part of the book. I think the truth behind who the MMC really was, who Ella really was, and the things she could do was insane!

Cadel, Sissy and Pain when I say I love a side character, this is what I mean! These three were so fun and definitely provided a little hint of humour and fun for our main characters. I think they contributed well to the story. I loved the small insight into Pain and Ella at the end!

Concept/Plot: I think the idea and plot were interesting! It felt very innovative to me, and I haven’t (yet) read anything that deals with things like fate and love as beings/gods. The plot was engaging, and I found myself wanting to find out how it ends

Structure: I love the 3 separate parts, especially because the tone changed A LOT between each part. It is slow-paced, and I think the 3 parts made this better for me to digest as someone who is not a slow-paced gal!

It is beautiful: it's that type of story that sticks with you, the type that your mind floats to often and lives in your head RENT FREE, and that's tough for books nowadays. The writing was lovely, I enjoyed reading this for sure.

The complexity of the characters: the gods, especially! They were so intriguing to me, and I genuinely would love to read more about them!

What I didn’t love

So many characters: there were so many people, and it felt confusing sometimes, especially because sometimes nouns such as “love” and “fate” were used as names of beings/gods and then used to describe, I had to re-read so many times sometimes because it was sort of overwhelming. THAT BEING SAID, I think it is needed if the author is to continue writing books in this universe.

World building: sometimes I didn’t know where we were, like it felt jumpy going from place to place, and the movie in my head was blipping cause I could place a lot of scenes

Why were they in love: I understand they were fated but I felt like thats all it was… part of me wishes there were some flashbacks to times when they were just meeting and HOW they fell in love, I wanted to be shown not told more often than not and it made me feel like well all this hullabaloo for what? I wish I had a better insight into THEM, and it would’ve made more sense to me.

Anti-climactic at times: I feel like I wanted more, I don’t know whether that would be action or what. The way he broke her heart just didn’t feel that deep, but I am guessing that's because in my eyes, gods as a whole are just MORE.

Overall - I loved this concept so much, I know I'm going to be thinking about it for a while, and even though I wanted more, I enjoyed reading this and would love to see more from this world!

If you like curses. star-crossed lovers, and mortals interacting with gods then this book is for you. It's got an interesting narrative style that plays all of these elements against and with one another that makes it a unique read. While I liked the premise, the execution and characters weren't my favorite. I didn't see a lot of character development, which was disappointing for me.

3’8/5⭐️ First of all, thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an arc of “The forgotten life of Ella Moon”. I really enjoyed the story in this book, it reminded me a lot of Ella Enchanted. The first part was very interesting, getting to know all the characters and the main character, Ella. I found the second part a bit long for my liking. But nonetheless it’s a very romantic and magical fairytale (also really liked all the gods involved in this story).

3.5 stars! Such a beautifully written story!
It had me clutching at my chest a few times and I love when reading a story allows me to actually feel something within it!

Thank you NetGalley and Melissa Naatz for this arc!

Unfortunately, it wasn’t mentioned anywhere that it’s not available for Kindle. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have requested it

ARC kindly provided by the publisher – thank you!

This one should have been right up my alley: a woman with amnesia trying to piece together her life, a mysterious man with ties to her forgotten past, and a small town full of secrets. The concept? Right up my street! The execution? Just didn’t hook me.

There’s nothing wrong with this book. The writing is perfectly fine, the characters are perfectly fine, the pacing is a little slow but nothing wildly out of the ordinary. I just... wasn’t feeling it. I kept picking it up, reading a bit, and then putting it down again without any real desire to see what happens next. That’s never a great sign.

It’s very “tell not show” at times—one moment literally said “Ella felt better. Not as sad.” and I actually laughed. 😅 Despite loving a broody morally grey love interest nine times out of ten, in this case I was team Original Blonde Love Interest™️. William isn’t a book boyfriend, but he’s sweet and kind and actually accountable for his bad behaviour—which, considering how often romantic heroes get away with being jerks for plot reasons, is kind of refreshing. He deserved better than to be used as a plot device. (I still might be mad on his behalf.)

I finally started to feel a little tug of interest around 35% but by 44% I had to admit I just wasn’t enjoying the read enough to keep going. I may come back to it eventually, but for now it’s a soft DNF. The potential is there, it just didn’t connect with me this time.

Beautiful, emotional, and completely captivating! I absolutely loved this story and felt every bit of heartache and sorrow poor Aurora dealt with throughout her journey. The growth her and Thane went through in their relationship was great to see considering how tumultuous it was and how simple it would’ve been for them to take the “easy way” out and end their pain. All of the characters were interesting, multifaceted and saw growth throughout (even our girl Pain!), and while there were times I became frustrated with Thane, he did end up being Aurora’s happy ending. I would absolutely read this again and recommend it to anyone who loves this genre.

This is a beautifully written story exploring memory and identity. I read an eARC of this book on Net Galley so thank you to the author and the publisher.

We meet our main character when she is approaching the one year anniversary of being found on a riverbank, in a black ball gown with no memory of who she is. She was taken in by a kindly family and she’s been working for them at their inn for the last year. She has no memory but she knows she is missing something and this is making it hard to move forwards with her life. She’s at a particular crossroads where she needs to make decisions and people are pressuring her. However the arrival of a mysterious guest throws everything into chaos for her.

The setting was beautiful, there’s a really lovely sense of the village and the people who live and work there. Ella has friends and meaningful relationships, she has people she cares about. This brings her comfort and joy but also makes it challenging for her when she feels torn between what they want her to do and what’s hidden in her heart. We see a character really torn between taking the easy road, or delving into the unknown in search of knowledge and true happiness.

I thought the exploration of identity was done well. Ella isn’t perfect, she can be prickly and she isn’t good at the start in asserting her feelings, often being told what she should do for others who are dismissive of her concerns which she finds frustrating.

I found the switch in the story midway a bit jarring. As I got to the end of the book, it became really clear why this was necessary and it made perfect sense for the book. However this section was a little repetitive. It all paid off with a great ending though.

Beautifully written, charming fantasy setting and a fascinating character study.

I am DNFing this book at the 43% mark.

The story sounded like something that would be right up my alley - a girl trying to remember who she is, the life she’s trying to build for herself, the mysterious gentleman who appears in town who may have a connection to her past - all of it I love. In theory.

The execution, sadly, is what I’m struggling with. The writing style just doesn’t appeal to me (it’s not bad, it just isn’t for me) - it’s a little short and lacks details/explanations. The story felt jumpy and a lacking cohesion in parts. And Ella began to annoy me. So I’m putting this down, maybe I will pick it up again at a later date.

Having lost her memories, Ella lives a simple life as a maid. Though grateful for the people who have taken her in and given her a job and name, she still wonders who she was. She doesn't remember her past, but still has the inkling feeling of the life she's forgotten.
This magical story is beautifully written and will have you lost in its world.
Thank you Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this arc.
I will be posting this review to Goodreads.

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

This was a wonderfully written fantasy that read like a classic fairytale.

Synopsis: Ella has been living with a family for almost one year. She woke on a shore with no memory of who she was or where she came from.

Review: I loved this story SO much. I highlighted SO much in the book. I have preordered my physical copy and I can’t wait to tab it. 😍 This was a magical and captivating story. I loved all the characters and the gods and goddesses were extremely creative. This book was magical and I highly recommend!!

Everything is explained with the exception that the overall curse was never explicitly stated. We get flashbacks to explain things, but we never get a flashback to when the curse was cast. We do get the details scattered throughout and can infer what happened. This book should be 4.5⭐️ for that reason, but I loved it too much to knock a half star off.

🔥 Spice: 1.5🌶️ - there were scenes where sex was mentioned, non-descriptive scenes, and then chapter 39 was a descriptive scene that could be easily skimmed over.

Read if you enjoy:
🌟 Fairytales
🤯 Memory loss
🔁 Different timelines
💍 True love

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Lost Time Publishing for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Publishes: May 13, 2025

The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon is a beautifully written and emotionally resonant debut by Melissa Naatz. The novel blends mystery, memory, and personal growth in a compelling narrative that follows Ella, a woman uncovering the secrets of her past while redefining her future.
Naatz's prose is elegant and immersive, and she excels at creating rich, atmospheric settings that bring Ella’s world to life. The story’s pacing is steady, with just enough twists to keep readers engaged without feeling overly dramatic. Ella is a complex, relatable protagonist whose journey is both heartbreaking and hopeful, and the supporting characters add meaningful depth to the story.

The reason for the missing star is that the pacing occasionally falters, and some plot threads could have used tighter resolution. Still, these are minor critiques in an otherwise captivating read.

Overall, The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon is a touching exploration of identity, healing, and the enduring power of truth. Highly recommended for fans of character-driven stories with a touch of mystery.

The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon by Melissa Naatz

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Thank you @melissanaatzauthor for the opportunity to read and review The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon ARC for an honest review on @netgalley .

The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon follows Ella, a woman who has woken up one day and does not know who she is anymore but has a faint knowledge that her heart was broken.

I liked this book enough but found it a quick read. It was lacking a little something I can’t quite put my finger on. While the beautiful cover drew me in but it took me a number of starts to get going with reading it. But I was intrigued by the mystery aspect of it and wanted to find out who “Ella” was.

Some things that made it hard for me to sink in: it felt repetitive at times and the pacing felt odd - somehow slow to get the plot going and simultaneously rushed and leaving information out.

Things I liked: It was whimsical and cozy at times. Ella was her own woman who wanted to pick her pathway rather than be pushed one direction or another. The MMC was not an overly possessive prick. And my favourite part: the ending. It felt very tidy. Very thoughtful. I was as impressed.

Spice: there are a number of closed and open door scenes but they are not done gratuitously or with explicit detail. It would be easy to flit over if desired.

Overall, I think the premise was good but trying to do a lot in a little space. Despite this, I can picture others really enjoying the story being told and have already recommended it to a friend.

If you like stories with Gods, fated pairs, love triangles, strong FMCs, respectful and doting MMC, found families, mystery, and fantastic endings, pick up a copy of The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon on May 13!

#netgalley #bookreviewers #bookreview #bookstagram #readreadread #romantasybooks #romantasy #arc #arcreview

This is my first ARC. When I saw that I had got approved I was giddy with excitement, which quickly turned to fear. What if I didn't like it? What if my first ARC review would be about how horrible the book was? I'm both happy and very relieved that this book as anything but bad!

The story is very well crafted. It changes and twists just enough to keep things interesting without feeling rushed. The story gets to take its time when needed and skips forward when necessary. The parts slowly connects and even though I could see some connections early on, I was still compelled to keep reading to find out how the story would get there.

The language is gorgeous and poetic without being too hard to follow. I'll admit that I started a few sentences over once or twice before I understood what was being said, but I'll chalk that up to a combination of English being my second language as well as being a tired mommy of a three-year old on an extended kindergarten break...It really says something that this book still managed to make me prioritise finding moments to read.

The two main characters are well crafted and kept me wanting to know more. The world building is just incredible. I recognise a lot of the world as well as the main and supporting characters, and yet there is a completely fresh take and twist on everything. The beginning of the book is almost claustrophobic as everything takes place in practically one location, and then the story and the world expands...well...a lot. Let's just leave it there...

If you like Madeline Millers work, I absolutely recommend this book! I had never heard about this author before this, but I am going to looking into her previous work. For sure. And applying for more ARCs.

THE FORGOTTEN LIFE OF ELLA MOON - MELISSA NAATZ

I requested this ARC as I'd been hearing so many good things about this book - and I'm so glad that I did.

Ella Moon is the protagonist, and she's struggling with memory loss when it comes to her past. However, she knows one thing: her heart is broken. When a mysterious stranger arrives at the inn she works at, Ella is forced to make a decision to either reach for her past or to move on.

I loved Melissa Naatz's writing, which is whimsical and full of vivid descriptions, transporting the reader straight inside the story. I also loved how the tale is divided into three distinct parts, separating the present and the past. My favourite bit had to be the fairytale (you'll know what I mean when you get to it!).

I also enjoyed how the characters aren't entirely good or bad, but exist within a shades-of-grey spectrum where readers can make their own interpretation. The romance(s) are believable and full of yearning, with a splash of spice thrown into the mix.

I won't say more as I don't want to give spoilers, but if you love a whimsical fantasy standalone with yearning romance, curses and deals, this is the one for you. Thank you to Melissa Naatz, the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC.

Release date: 13 May 2025

Review score: 4/5

Trigger warnings: d*ath, injury detail, violence, memory loss, s*xual content

The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon offers a heartfelt exploration of memory, loss, and self-discovery. The concept is intriguing, and Ella is a character with emotional depth and vulnerability that’s easy to connect with. The story has its moments of beauty and quiet reflection, and the themes are genuinely touching.

That said, the execution felt uneven. The pacing dragged in parts, and certain plot threads didn’t feel fully resolved or meaningful. Some supporting characters felt more like sketches than fully realized people, and the emotional impact didn’t always land as strongly as it could have.

Overall, it’s a decent read with a promising premise and some poignant moments, but it left me wanting a bit more in terms of development and emotional payoff.