How Not to Disappear by Clare Furniss - MMC GBR - Starting August 1st 2021

[Anna 'Bookbuyer']

Our memories are what make us who we are. Some are real. Some are made up. But they are the stories that tell us who we are. Without them we are nobody.

Hattie's summer isn't going as planned. Her two best friends have abandoned her: Reuben has run off to Europe to 'find himself" and Kat is in Edinburgh with her new girlfriend. Meanwhile Hattie is stuck babysitting her twin siblings and dealing with endless drama around her mum's wedding. Oh, and she's also just discovered that she's pregnant with Reuben's baby.

Then Gloria, Hattie's great-aunt who no one even knew existed, comes crashing into her life. Gloria's fiercely independent, rather too fond of a gin sling and is in the early stages of dementia. Together the two of them set out on a road trip of self-discovery — Gloria to finally confront the secrets of her past before they are erased from her memory forever and Hattie to face the hard choices that will determine her future.

Non Pratt's Trouble meets Thelma and Louise with a touch of Elizabeth is Missing by Emma Healey, Clare Furniss' remarkable How Not To Disappear is an emotional rollercoaster of a novel that will make you laugh and break your heart.

[Anna 'Bookbuyer']

How Not to Disappear by Clare Furniss will be our 2nd GBR for August 2021.

Please read at your own pace, and hide any spoilers ☺ You are welcome to join at any time during the month ☺

Happy Reading Everybody!

[Anna 'Bookbuyer']

Pre-Reading Questions -

Anybody got any thoughts on this one before we start?

Has anyone read anything similar to this before?

Anybody read anything else by this author previously?

[Aaron]

Chapter 4
This seems like it’s gonna be a fun easy read that I’ll stay invested in but it won’t be amazing. I’m predicting I’ll give this 4 stars.
(view spoiler)[ I probably wouldn’t just go and visit a relative I’d never heard of on my own. You’d at least want someone there to support you if she is ill.
I do like how realistic Hattie’s family is. I quite like Carl. (hide spoiler)]

[Aaron]

Chapter 10
(view spoiler)[ It sounds like Reuben isn’t what I pictured at first. I feel like he’d never come back if he found out Hattie was pregnant. It seems like she does want the baby despite it not being the direction she pictured her life taking. She works and has a support system so it’s not impossible for her to keep the baby.
I wonder how Hattie is gonna get a week off work on such short notice but I’m quite interested in Gloria’s story. (hide spoiler)]

[Wolf (Alpha)]

25%: (view spoiler)[ So far I really enjoy this book. I feel so bad for Hattie since she's pregnant and nobody knows. I'm glad she told her biological father's mom. I'm glad her and Gloria are getting along. (hide spoiler)]

[Wolf (Alpha)]

50%: (view spoiler)[ I love that Hattie and Gloria are getting along and that they went on a trip together so Gloria could remember things. I like that Gloria starts to open up to Hattie. (hide spoiler)]

[Wolf (Alpha)]

75%: (view spoiler)[ I'm glad Gloria got to see her friend Edie again and reconnect with her. I like that she is remembering things. I feel like she's finally coming to terms with her illness. I don't like Rueben at all and I hate how he acts towards Hattie. (hide spoiler)]

[Wolf (Alpha)]

Finished: (view spoiler)[ I loved this book. I'm so glad that Hattie decided to have her baby. I hate Rueben for running off as he did. I was glad Hattie was okay after the crash. I loved that Gloria was finally able to live in peace. I also like that her baby hadn't been given to some random family but instead was adopted by her sister Gwen. (hide spoiler)]

[Wolf (Alpha)]

Aaron wrote: "Chapter 10
It sounds like Reuben isn’t what I pictured at first. I feel like he’d never come back if he found out Hattie was pregnant. It seems like she does want the baby despite it not being the..."

I had wondered the same thing about her getting off for a week haha. And I wasn't sure what to think of Reuben at first.

[Aaron]

Wolf (Alpha) wrote: "50%: [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ It sounds like younger Gloria is kinda the exact opposite of Hattie. She was similar to Reuben so I can see why they are drawn to each other. I’m interested for them to open up even more. I’m guessing the book carries on going strong based off your rating. (hide spoiler)]

[Aaron]

Chapter 24
(view spoiler)[ we’ve heard a lot from Hattie about how Reuben would just run away if he knew she was pregnant. We don’t actually know what he would do yet though. I feel like he has made a couple of mistakes but isn’t generally a bad guy. It’s hard with only one side of the story.
I wonder what happened in Whitby. It can’t be good. The fact that Gloria is going to lose her memories is hitting harder now. I can’t imagine how scary that must be for her and the people around her. (hide spoiler)]

[Aaron]

Done
(view spoiler)[ I kinda guessed Dominic would be Gloria’s a bit earlier on. It’s a shame Gloria and Gwen never really got to have a conversation about it.
It was sad to see how much of an effect the dementia was having in Gloria at the end. I’m glad she still had some happiness even if everything was confusing.
I’m glad Hattie decided to do what she wanted and not what she felt she had to because of Reuben. At least he left rather then sticking around to leave later and upset his kid. (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

23.56% "(view spoiler)[ I like Hattie, Gloria I don't like so much, she is mean but I imagine I would be too if I was dying. I also don't like Reuben, I feel like he is not really at his dad's. I think Hattie needs to tell her mom she is pregnant and together come up with a solution, her mom sounds like the understanding type. I like Carl but I feel Hatties mom doesn't LOVE him. The twins sound like a headache ugh. (hide spoiler)]"

[[deleted user]]

30.77% "Decided I do like Gloria lol (view spoiler)[ her father was evil, and her poor sister thought it was ok for married women to have the husband hit her if they loved each other. I laughed at Gloria's bucketlist question after the threesome lol. "I thought you said this bucketlist was supposed to be things I'd never tried before." She is priceless. (hide spoiler)]"

[[deleted user]]

41.83% "Wow! (view spoiler)[ is none of Vinnys business whom Gloria goes out with. And I thought it was funny on the boat how Gloria told Hattie it was hard to find good help lol. She is now 10 weeks pregnant I'm confused. (hide spoiler)]"

[[deleted user]]

72.12% "(view spoiler)[ I can't wait to find out what Gloria's secret is. I'm glad Hattie told Reuben to fuck off. I wonder how Hatties mom is going to react, Carl has to tell her soon if Hattie doesn't. (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

85.58% "(view spoiler)[ I swear that baby better not had been Vinnys!!! I want to cry for Gloria. (hide spoiler)]"

[[deleted user]]

Finished... (view spoiler)[ Reuben is an idiot! I liked that we got to know her baby's name. I also felt so sad with Gloria's epilogue part, her alzheimer showing through her thoughts. I liked that Ollie was there and patient. And I am glad her mom married Carl finally. (hide spoiler)]"

[[deleted user]]

Aaron wrote: "Chapter 4
This seems like it’s gonna be a fun easy read that I’ll stay invested in but it won’t be amazing. I’m predicting I’ll give this 4 stars.
I probably wouldn’t just go and visit a relative..."

Good prediction. I had the same thought. (view spoiler)[ It keeps you engaged to where you want to know what Hattie will do with the pregnancy and what Gloria's secret is. (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Wolf (Alpha) wrote: "50%: [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ Yes, I love that Gloria is opening up to Hattie but dang, I wish she would be more forthcoming, the suspense is killing me. (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Wolf (Alpha) wrote: "75%: [spoilers removed]"

Yes! no to Reuben, Yes to Edie and Gloria, (view spoiler)[ Edi's story was so sad, but I am glad she got to reconnect with her son, she didn't want to give him up but she was glad he grew up with a family that loved him. She is so smart about the locket. (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Aaron wrote: "Done
I kinda guessed Dominic would be Gloria’s a bit earlier on. It’s a shame Gloria and Gwen never really got to have a conversation about it.
It was sad to see how much of an effect the dementi..."

I had guessed too, but then I was deferred with the whole Gwen being (view spoiler)[ pregnant. Then I was glad when the locket had the baby's name and date of birth, it was nice. (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Wolf (Alpha) wrote: "Finished: [spoilers removed]"

yea that crash was so random, made me feel it was put there to make the story longer, I really didn't feel it was necessary. but yea, good story, heartfelt.

[Aaron]

Cinthia wrote: "30.77% "Decided I do like Gloria lol [spoilers removed]""

It didn’t take me long to come around to her either. When she opens up a little she’s pretty funny.