Book Lists: Amnesia Trope

Sorry what was I saying?

Though a classic trope, it isn’t one that’s used very often–probably because it’s drastic and often unrealistic. Still, we see it–like that movie where the wife forgets she’s married, I believe. Here are some books where a character deals with amnesia.

• The Lost Years by T.A. Barron

Genre: Fantasy

Average Goodreads Rating: 3.97

A boy washes ashore a beach in Ancient Wales with no name and no memory. On his quest to find out who he is, he finds a magical land and learns that his won fate may be intertwined with it. He is destined to be the greatest wizard of all time–Merlin.

• The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Genre: Dystopian

Average Goodreads Rating: 4.03

Thomas wakes up in a lift, remembering nothing but his name. He is surrounded by other boys who can’t remember anything either. Outside their Glade is an endless, ever-changing maze. It’s the only way out–but no one has gotten out alive. And then the first girl arrives. With a terrifying message.

• What Alice Forgot by Liana Moriarty

Genre: Women’s Fiction

Average Goodreads Rating: 4.07

Alice is twenty-nine, pregnant with her first baby, and madly in love. Except…when she wakes up in the hospital she finds she’s actually thirty-nine with three kids and in the middle of a divorce. It’s up to her to piece her memory–and her life–back together.

• Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Genre: Romance

Average Goodreads Rating: 4.04

No one really knows how Echo went from popular girl dating popular jock to a freaky outsider. Even Echo can’t remember what happened the night she got her scars. But then Noah Hutchins rides into town and her forbidden attraction to him is something she can’t contain. Despite their secrets, they can’t stay away from each other. And Echo will see how many limits she can push to feel love again.

• Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

Genre: Science Fiction

Average Goodreads Rating: 4.53

Ryland Grace is the sole survivor on a mission to save Earth. Except he can’t remember that, or even his own name. He woke up to find he’s been asleep a long time, he’s a million miles from home, and he’s surrounded by two corpses. He has to conquer an extinction-level threat to humanity, but how?