The Unhappening of Genesis Lee by Shallee McArthur

By Kathy Lipscomb            

           This debut novel had my attention from the first page to the last. The pacing was so perfectly written that I could never find a “good spot” to put it down, even though I have children. I HAD to put it down several times. The characters felt alive by their actions, their quirks, and their distinct voices. They each had motivations that made sense and drove them to do what they needed to even when faced with impossible situations. Everything flowed, from dialogue, and narration, to why characters chose to do what they did.

Despite guessing at some of the twists, I did not guess them all. The book had a complicated plot with supporting subplots that allowed me the satisfaction of being surprised. Then there’s the romance. From the way Gena and her people are designed, a romance would not happen over the course of a few pages, and it didn’t. The relationship with all the many complications grew in a way that felt realistic while still giving the satisfaction of a good sub plot romance read.

            There were some confusing parts. A couple of sections were difficult to understand or picture, but not bad enough to deter me from reading or understanding the book as a whole. There were also a few parts where it felt more like an info dump rather than letting me experience the world with Gena. I must emphasize that those parts were few. I experienced most of the world and situation with Gena, and that is an incredibly difficult thing to do as a writer.

All the amazing things I mentioned in the first couple paragraphs made me like this book, but what made me love it was the feeling I had as I read. I loved the emotions this book put me through, from the beginning when I feared for Gena and her best friend’s lives, to the middle when it broke my heart to see Gena forget Kalan, and to the end…which I won’t say. I hate it when people spoil endings for me, so I won’t do it to you. But it was GOOD. Emotion drives me to read books, and this one definitely gave me a lot to experience for myself.

The Unhappening of Genesis Lee is a book I’ll read again. And again.

It’s most definitely better than chocolate. 

Summary: 

Seventeen-year-old Genesis Lee has never forgotten anything. As one of the Mementi—a small group of genetically enhanced humans—Gena remembers everything with the help of her Link bracelets, which preserve them perfectly. But Links can be stolen, and six people have already lost their lives to a memory thief, including Gena’s best friend.

Anyone could be next. That’s why Gena is less than pleased to meet a strange but charming boy named Kalan who claims not only that they have met before, but also that Gena knows who the thief is.

The problem is that Gena doesn’t remember Kalan, she doesn’t remember seeing the thief, and she doesn’t know why she’s forgetting things—or how much else she might forget. As growing tensions between Mementi and ordinary humans drive the city of Havendale into chaos, Gena and Kalan team up to search for the thief. And as Gena loses more memories, they realize they have to solve the mystery fast…because Gena’s life is unhappening around her.