100 books like Made to Forget

By Samantha LaFantasie,

Here are 100 books that Made to Forget fans have personally recommended if you like Made to Forget. Shepherd is a community of 11,000+ authors and super readers sharing their favorite books with the world.

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Book cover of The Tower's Alchemist

Devorah Fox Author Of Lady Blackwing Earns Her Mask

From my list on stories featuring a strong female character.

Why am I passionate about this?

Raised on Nancy Drew who was herself outspoken and independent, I’m attracted to stories about barrier-breaking determined women who don’t back down from a fight. While many of the heroines of fantasy fiction have special abilities or can work magic, being able to stand up for oneself and speak one’s mind in the face of opposition is itself a superpower. I enjoy seeing how other authors portray it, what wrongs the heroines aim to put right, and how they do it.

Devorah's book list on stories featuring a strong female character

Devorah Fox Why did Devorah love this book?

I was fascinated with the heroine Isabella and enjoyed watching her grow throughout this series. In Book 1, The Tower's Alchemist, she is like most young women her age. She could be content to spend her time having fun with friends, reading brides' magazines, and planning a future with the man she loves. But the world is at war and the good guys need her for her unique and particular talents. She accepts what she thinks will be her last mission. It’s no small task; she aims to stop the Nazis from deploying a monstrously deadly bio-weapon. The secret service she works for and the bio-warfare were inspired by actual WWII events which made the story even more believable. By Book Three she has embraced her special powers without losing her humanity. I liked her persistence and dedication.

By Alesha Escobar, Amanda Lyons (editor),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Tower's Alchemist as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

British intelligence wants her spying skills. A vampiric warlock wants to steal her powers. The Master Wizards who trained her want her dead...

Nazis have unleashed occult forces throughout Europe, and the Allies are forced to recruit wizards to counter their attacks. Among them is battle weary spy, Isabella George, a Gray Tower dropout trained in Alchemy. Longing for retirement and a life of peace, she accepts one final job...extract a deadly warlock from Nazi-occupied France and prevent him from unleashing an alchemical weapon that will devour the continent.

But France is crawling with the Cruenti, vampiric warlocks who feed…


Book cover of Missing

Devorah Fox Author Of Lady Blackwing Earns Her Mask

From my list on stories featuring a strong female character.

Why am I passionate about this?

Raised on Nancy Drew who was herself outspoken and independent, I’m attracted to stories about barrier-breaking determined women who don’t back down from a fight. While many of the heroines of fantasy fiction have special abilities or can work magic, being able to stand up for oneself and speak one’s mind in the face of opposition is itself a superpower. I enjoy seeing how other authors portray it, what wrongs the heroines aim to put right, and how they do it.

Devorah's book list on stories featuring a strong female character

Devorah Fox Why did Devorah love this book?

The series begins with Missing. The first puzzle is what happened to Rhonda? And what's Sandra running from, and will she overcome the obstacles to making her escape? What secret is Dr. Linda's husband hiding? Even more interesting to me was the fate of Maria Gonzales. Would the young officer, pressed into service on a case that looks like a career-killer, solve the mystery and gain the respect of her partner, a veteran detective? I had great fun following the story's interwoven threads all the way to the end. A huge fan of Alice Marks's shorter works, I was thrilled to have an entire novel of hers to read, and was delighted to see that the series and Maria Gonzales both continue on through Breaks and RV Murder.

By Alice Marks,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Missing as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Rhonda Collins MD is a popular physician at a Corpus Christi family clinic. One day she leaves on her lunch break and never returns.
The media learns about the missing woman and everyone in the city is caught up in the mystery of what happened to a beautiful doctor. Pressed by the media, the head of the South Corpus Christi Police Department reluctantly appoints two detectives, veteran Sgt. Stan Belkin and newbie, Maria Gonzales, to the case. The two begin an uneasy relationship, which sometimes becomes warlike.
The husband of Linda, Rhonda’s best friend, carries a secret. Linda wonders if…


Book cover of Black Danube

Devorah Fox Author Of Lady Blackwing Earns Her Mask

From my list on stories featuring a strong female character.

Why am I passionate about this?

Raised on Nancy Drew who was herself outspoken and independent, I’m attracted to stories about barrier-breaking determined women who don’t back down from a fight. While many of the heroines of fantasy fiction have special abilities or can work magic, being able to stand up for oneself and speak one’s mind in the face of opposition is itself a superpower. I enjoy seeing how other authors portray it, what wrongs the heroines aim to put right, and how they do it.

Devorah's book list on stories featuring a strong female character

Devorah Fox Why did Devorah love this book?

What is the secret so closely held by the main character, crime photographer Leo Katz? That’s intriguing enough. Even more fascinating is his colleague, Lucy Strauss. A smart and gutsy young woman she is far more outspoken than what was expected and accepted of ladies in 1899 Vienna. Even more shocking is her chosen aspiration. She’s a pathologist in training. She, Leo, and Lucy’s boss Klaus uncover corruption as they seek to solve a mysterious death.

By Nik Grybaski,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Black Danube as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

1899 Vienna. A young dissident is murdered - his fiancée, wrongly accused.

Crime photographer Leo Katz’s images expose the true killers. But to save the innocent woman from the gallows, he risks revealing that he is in disguise and on the run.

As Leo infiltrates a nefarious network of vice controlled by government officials, he discovers the gruesome death is a smokescreen for more depraved crimes.

Now he must bring the murderers to justice before he becomes their next victim.

Grab your copy of this thrilling crime mystery now!


Book cover of Skeleton Man

Devorah Fox Author Of Lady Blackwing Earns Her Mask

From my list on stories featuring a strong female character.

Why am I passionate about this?

Raised on Nancy Drew who was herself outspoken and independent, I’m attracted to stories about barrier-breaking determined women who don’t back down from a fight. While many of the heroines of fantasy fiction have special abilities or can work magic, being able to stand up for oneself and speak one’s mind in the face of opposition is itself a superpower. I enjoy seeing how other authors portray it, what wrongs the heroines aim to put right, and how they do it.

Devorah's book list on stories featuring a strong female character

Devorah Fox Why did Devorah love this book?

I am a huge fan of Tony Hillerman’s Leaphorn and Chee novels. I was privileged to meet Mr. Hillerman at a writers convention. He was gracious and supportive of other authors and I learned a lot from his presentation. The main characters of his series are two male Navajo police officers but in The Fallen Man he introduced Bernadette “Bernie” Manuelito. In that story she is a new officer with the tribal police but in Skeleton Man she has become a federal Customs Patrol officer. Smart and capable, she holds her own, be it in the office with senior male officers or in the harsh, challenging American Southwest desert territory that is her “beat.” As an indoor girl, I was almost more impressed with the latter as I was with her role in solving the case.

By Tony Hillerman,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Skeleton Man as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

“In his masterly reworking of this powerful myth, Hillerman creates a kachina for contemporary times. . . . No wonder Hillerman’s stories never grow old. Like myths, they keep evolving with the telling.”— New York Times Book Review

From the enduring "national and literary cultural sensation" (Los Angeles Times) Tony Hillerman, a crackling tale of myth, mystery, and murder featuring the legendary Leaphorn and Chee.

Though he may be retired, Navajo Tribal Police Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn hasn’t lost his curiosity or his edge. He’s eager to help Sergeant Jim Chee and his fiancée Bernie Manuelito with their latest case—clearing an…


Book cover of Relentless

Stephanie Storm Author Of The Witch Clans: The Heritage

From my list on YA fantasy with strong female characters.

Why am I passionate about this?

Stephanie Storm is a talented young adult fantasy author whose writing is reminiscent of classic fantasy novels with a modern twist. Her imaginative storytelling and richly developed characters draw readers into immersive worlds filled with magic, adventure, and breathtaking landscapes. Her writing style is enchanting, capturing the hearts of readers of all ages and leaving them eagerly turning pages late into the night. Growing up with her nose buried in a book, she found solace and inspiration in the escapism and limitless possibilities of the genre. Her imagination was sparked by the enchanting stories she devoured, which fuelled her passion for writing and creating her own fantastical tales.

Stephanie's book list on YA fantasy with strong female characters

Stephanie Storm Why did Stephanie love this book?

Karen is a phenomenal world builder and effortlessly blends the supernatural with the everyday world.

She creates characters you fall in love with and an action packed story line that keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole time. I can still read these books all these years later as if I’m reading it for the first time!

By Karen Lynch,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Relentless as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 13, 14, 15, and 16.

What is this book about?

Sara Grey’s world shattered ten years ago when her father was brutally murdered. Now at seventeen, she is still haunted by memories of that day and driven by the need to understand why it happened. She lives a life full of secrets and her family and friends have no idea of the supernatural world she is immersed in or of Sara’s own very powerful gift.

In her quest for answers about her father’s death, Sara takes risks that expose her and her friends to danger and puts herself into the sights of a sadistic vampire. On the same fateful night…


Book cover of Flying With a Broken Wing

Darlene Foster Author Of Amanda in France

From my list on children’s adventures on strong female protagonist.

Why am I passionate about this?

I grew up on a farm on the Canadian prairies where my only entertainment was books. This was before TV and the internet. Reading about girls who overcame obstacles such as being orphaned, dealing with homelessness or a disability, helped me realize that girls can overcome anything with the right attitude and by being brave. These attitudes of fearlessness, positive thinking, and resourcefulness shaped my life and helped me realize many of my dreams, including being a published author. Books with strong female characters help girls realize their own dreams.

Darlene's book list on children’s adventures on strong female protagonist

Darlene Foster Why did Darlene love this book?

This story evokes many emotions. The world of Cammie Deveau, a young girl with more than her fair share of disadvantages, is described well. The story is set in rural Nova Scotia just after World War II. The author has created a memorable, spunky ten-year-old with limited vision who dreams of a better life against all odds. Other quirky characters are sprinkled throughout the story, some hilarious, others sad and pathetic. The descriptions of the time and place are so well done the reader is easily transported there. With the clever use of dialogue that is both timely and local, this is a most enjoyable read that will keep you turning the pages as you root for Cammie. 

By Laura Best,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Flying With a Broken Wing as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 8, 9, 10, and 11.

What is this book about?

Cammie Deveau began life with a few strikes against her. She’s visually impaired, abandoned by her mother at birth, her father was a casualty of the Second World War—and if all that isn’t enough, she’s being raised by her bootlegging aunt. No wonder she dreams of starting a brand new life.

When Cammie learns about a school for blind and visually impaired children she becomes convinced a new life is waiting for her in Halifax, but how will she ever convince her aunt to let her go? With the help of her best friend, they devise a plan to blow…


Book cover of Still Life

Jack Heath Author Of The Wife Swap

From my list on books that make you suspicious of your husband.

Why am I passionate about this?

I've been writing for 20 years, and the more I learn about the craft, the less interested I am in big, bombastic thrillers about the end of the world. Now I'm more impressed by books that do a lot with a little. Some talented writers can spin a gripping story out of nothing more than two people in a room (Stephen King's Misery is one of my all-time faves). The domestic noir genre lends itself to this kind of minimalism. Sure, serial killers are scary, but not as scary as the thought that your spouse might not be who they seem.

Jack's book list on books that make you suspicious of your husband

Jack Heath Why did Jack love this book?

Casey wakes up in the hospital to discover that she cannot move, or see, or speak. She infers from the conversation around her that she's been hit by a car. Soon, she realizes the supposed "accident" was, in fact, an attempt on her life. Soon after that, she starts to wonder if her husband was involved. But she is utterly defenseless and unable to warn anybody about what she thinks she knows.

This is a masterclass in suspense. This book breaks every rule I thought I knew about giving characters agency and taking them on a journey—imagine an unputdownable thriller in which the main character doesn't even get out of bed for 300 pages. It should be impossible. But Joy Fielding just cracks her knuckles and says, "Hold my gin."

By Joy Fielding,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Still Life as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Beautiful, happily married and the owner of a successful interior design business, Casey Marshall couldn't be more content with her life. Until a car slams into her at almost fifty miles an hour, breaking nearly every bone in her body, and plunging her into a coma. Lying in her hospital bed, Casey realizes that although she is unable to see or communicate, she can hear everything. She quickly discovers that her friends aren't necessarily the people she thought them to be - and that her accident might not have been an accident at all. As she struggles to break free…


Book cover of The Dead Zone

Matt Ruff Author Of The Destroyer of Worlds: A Return to Lovecraft Country

From my list on horror books that offer more than just a good scare.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m an award-winning and bestselling novelist known for writing in a wide variety of genres. My most popular work to date is Lovecraft Country, a supernatural horror novel that served as the basis for the acclaimed HBO series of the same name.

Matt's book list on horror books that offer more than just a good scare

Matt Ruff Why did Matt love this book?

It’s not the scariest Stephen King novel I’ve ever read—I’d give that honor to The Shining—but this book remains my all-time favorite.

The story of John Smith, who awakens from a five-year coma with psychic powers that are more curse than blessing, plays to King’s greatest strength as a writer: the ability to create believable characters who you really care about.

The book is also a time capsule of American politics in the 1970s—one that seems newly relevant in the 2024 presidential season.

By Stephen King,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked The Dead Zone as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Set in the fictional town of Castle Rock, Maine

A #1 New York Times bestseller about a man who wakes up from a five-year coma able to see people’s futures and the terrible fate awaiting mankind—a “compulsive page-turner” (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution).

Johnny Smith awakens from a five-year coma after his car accident and discovers that he can see people’s futures and pasts when he touches them. Many consider his talent a gift; Johnny feels cursed. His fiancée married another man during his coma and people clamor for him to solve their problems.

When Johnny has a disturbing vision after he…


Book cover of Sometimes I Lie

Barbara Copperthwaite Author Of The Perfect Friend

From my list on books told by liars.

Why am I passionate about this?

In my early twenties, I worked in a maximum security, Category A men’s prison. I got to know the prisoners, who were usually polite, funny, and, for want of a better word, ‘normal,’ even if guilty of terrible crimes. It made me realize you can’t simply tell if someone is ‘good’ or ‘bad’ by looking at them. It left an indelible mark on me: a fascination with people who lie easily and fool the world. My fascination grew when I became a journalist, but writing fiction has given me the freedom to truly explore liars of all types and try to understand them.

Barbara's book list on books told by liars

Barbara Copperthwaite Why did Barbara love this book?

The twists! The turns! The head-spinning lies! The problem with being an author is that I often know within a few pages exactly how a book will end. Although it doesn’t bother me (because the journey is just as important as the destination, in my opinion), it’s always really exciting when I come across a book where I have no clue WTF is going on.

The layers of deception, half-truths, lies, manipulations…they had me wondering where on earth this was going. I defy anyone to work out everything that’s going on.

By Alice Feeney,

Why should I read it?

4 authors picked Sometimes I Lie as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

ALICE FEENEYS NEW YORK TIMES AND INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER

“Boldly plotted, tightly knotted—a provocative true-or-false thriller that deepens and darkens to its ink-black finale. Marvelous.” —AJ Finn, author of The Woman in the Window

My name is Amber Reynolds. There are three things you should know about me:
1. I’m in a coma.
2. My husband doesn’t love me anymore.
3. Sometimes I lie.

Amber wakes up in a hospital. She can’t move. She can’t speak. She can’t open her eyes. She can hear everyone around her, but they have no idea. Amber doesn’t remember what happened, but she has a…


Book cover of The Coma

JL Civi Author Of L Extreme: A Novel Based on the Songs of Benji Hughes

From my list on bizarrely bewildering and brilliantly beautiful.

Why am I passionate about this?

Stories that break the rules or attempt ambitious stunts have always intrigued me. Characters who break the fourth wall, non-traditional structures, winking nods to pop culture, hidden messages, silly wordplay, or good old-fashioned WTF moments nobody saw coming. My second novel L Extreme turns my favorite album into a fantastical song by song, chapter by chapter origin story for the record starring a fictionalized version of the musician who created it. Asking “what happens if I pretend this album is the soundtrack to a book?” took me on a long, strange trip in the spirit of these other bizarrely brilliant books that broke the mold for the better. 

JL's book list on bizarrely bewildering and brilliantly beautiful

JL Civi Why did JL love this book?

A short, eerie, and mysterious fever dream of a novella with a secret you may not realize your first time through--hidden messages in the text! I won't spoil what they are or how to find them here, but I will say that ever since reading this book I may or may not try to crack similar codes in nearly every book I pick up. (I may or may not have also done something similar in my own writing; hat tip to Mr. Garland for the inspiration.)

By Alex Garland,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Coma as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

From the internationally-known author of The Beach, a gripping mystery and stylistic tour de force that delves into the subconscious mind, with brilliantly disturbing results. A young man is brutally assaulted late at night in an underground train by a gang of thugs. Beaten unconscious, he lies for days in a hospital bed - but appears to make a full recovery. On discharge from hospital, Carl picks up the threads of his daily life, visiting friends, seeing his girlfriend - until he starts to notice strange leaps in his perception of time, distortions in his experience. Is he truly reacting…


5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in comas, memory, and psychic?

Comas 27 books
Memory 99 books
Psychic 84 books