Amnesia Books
While having amnesia sounds like something I would never want to experience, writing a post with my favorite amnesia books was a blast. There are so many ways amnesia can help move the plot forward whether you are reading a thriller, a romance, or a fantasy.
Thriller amnesia books often have an unreliable narrator. If that is something you love, I have an entire post that you can read! But that is not always the case. The “Why” for the amnesia is the crux of the story and what makes each of these books unique.
Kirsten and I have read all these books and think it a fun reading prompt (hint hint). What do you think? I would love to know if there are amnesia books I should be adding to the list!
The Best Amnesia Books
Each colorful block below represents the best book in a subgenre. Click on the arrow to reveal my “best” pick in any category. You’ll also be able to use a page jump to see more books in that section.
Best Fiction Amnesia Book
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman- Click here to read my review and see more books in this category
Best Fantasy Amnesia Book
Fallen- Click here to see the review and read more books in this category
Best Amnesia Romance Book
The Hundred Loves of Juliet – Click here to read the review and see more books in this category
Best Thriller Book About Amnesia
Listen For the Lie- Click here to read the review and see more books in the category
*Post contains affiliate links. Purchases made through links result in a small commission to us at no cost to you. Some books have been gifted. All opinions are our own.
Fiction Amnesia Books
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine
Author: Gail Honeyman
Year: 2017
Genre: Fiction
More info: June 2107 Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick
Age Range: 14+
Plot
I wasn’t sure how I felt about this contemporary fiction book initially. Initially, Eleanor’s behavior and responses to people and situations upset me. I had the outside perspective of a reader to understand how Eleanor is misinterpreting situations. She is not supposed to be likable initially which is why I persevered and ended up loving the book and Eleanor.
Eleanor has difficulty with social skills and is used to being alone until one day, she saves an elderly man who has fallen with the help of Raymond from her work. The three develop a friendship that helps Eleanor heal.
Trigger Warnings
Loneliness
Why Jackie loves it
As we get to know Eleanor and understand her profound loneliness, it made me think about what initial judgments I make in other areas. Eleanor is able to find herself and understand herself in this wonderful, feel-good book.
Why Kirsten loves it
If you love a character-driven novel, this is the book for you. Eleanor changes so much from the beginning of the story to the end, I loved taking the journey with her.
Find this book in: Books Like Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine / Books Like A Man Called Ove/ Books About Scotland / British Books / Books With Neurodivergent Characters / Best Books Like Lessons in Chemistry / Ultimate List of Feel-Good Books / Amnesia Books
The Housekeeper and the Professor
Author: Yoko Ogawa
Year: 2009
Genre: Fiction
More info: Translated by Stephan Snyder
Age Range: 14+
Plot
The Housekeeper and the Professor is a lovely story about a retired mathematics professor who has amnesia and can only remember the last 80 minutes.
He hires a housekeeper who must introduce herself to him every day. When the professor finds out that her son must be home without her after school, the professor immediately insists that the son come to his house every day and thus begins a beautiful relationship.
Why Jackie loves it
This is a beautifully written contemporary fiction book and an absolute must-read for anyone wanting to read about Japan. But even more, this is a story about love, family, friendship, and kindness. It is finding the unexpected and making it into something more.
Find this book in: Amnesia Books / Books Set in Japan
One Hundred Years of Solitude
Author: Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Year: 1967
Genre: Magical Realism
More info: January 2004 Oprah Book Club Pick
Age Range: 14+
Plot
This multi-generational family saga is about the Buendiá family and their hometown, the magical Maconda. It’s a comedy, a tragedy, and it looks at the rise and fall of the town’s founding family.
For the record, I read this book BEFORE Oprah picked it! We spent a semester learning about this family saga in high school. Each person was assigned a symbol to report on throughout the book each week.
Mine was goldfish -part of the symbolism of amnesia and the duality between amnesia and nostalgia. Yep. I still remember the lesson. Maybe the teaching contributed, but this remains one of my favorite books ever.
Why Kirsten loves it
I love this family saga. The writing is brilliant and so is the symbolism. This is not an easy read but it is worth every minute.
Find this book in: Kirsten’s Favorites / Magical Realism Books / Classic Books / Amnesia Books
Fantasy Books About Amnesia
Fallen
Author: Lauren Kate
Year: 2009
Genre: YA Fantasy
More info: Fallen #1
Spice Rating:đź’‹
Age Range: 14+
Plot
Luce has been sent to Sword and Cross boarding school, a place for other troubled kids like her. The minute she gets to the school, Daniel catches her eye but he will not give her the time of day. But there is more to Daniel and Luce will discover his secrets no matter what the cost.
This series is addicting. Don’t say we didn’t warn you. If you are looking for romance books about second chances (or third or fourth), you will love this book. If you are into Rhysand, Azriel, Cassian, and the other winged warriors of the Night Court, then you will love this series of books like A Court of Thorns and Roses.
Why Kirsten loves it
I picked up the first book in this YA fantasy series and quickly fell in love with the first book and the story of Daniel and Luce’s love.
Why Jackie loves it
This series is addicting. It did not take me long to read them all because I could not get enough of the forbidden romance. I think this is one of the only series I have read about angels.
Find this book in: Best Fantasy Books for Teens / Urban Fantasy / Books Set in High School / High School Romance Books / Books like ACOTAR / Amnesia Books
Shatter Me
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Year: 2011
Genre: YA Fantasy
More info: Booktok Sensation
Spice Rating:đź’‹
Age Range: 14+
Plot
This Young Adult fantasy novel is the first book in a dystopian series that has taken booktok by storm. Juliette can kill anyone with a touch and has been confined to solitary confinement in prison ever since the day of a terrible accident.
Now, she has a cellmate who is no stranger to her. Is this a coincidence? She sees her power as a curse, others see her as the ultimate weapon.
Why Jackie likes it
I listened to this book and was very confused at first at the strange noise. It is the sound of her pencil scratching out something she wrote. Don’t give up, it gets so much better. This is just the beginning of an epic series. This is a unique story that I enjoyed and is perfect for anyone who loves YA fantasy.
Find this book in: Ultimate List of YA Fantasy / YA Dystopian Books
The Maze Runner
Author: James Dashner
Year: 2009
Genre: YA Dystopian
More info: Maze Runner book 1 of 5
Age Range: 10+
Plot
Thomas wakes up surrounded by a group of strangers. They are all boys like him who remember nothing about themselves except for their names. They are stuck inside a maze.
The only way out is through the ever-changing maze from which no one has ever escaped. When a girl arrives with a message, the first girl ever, she must head her message and “remember, survive, run”.
Why Jackie loves it
This book reminded us a little of The Hunger Games because of the nature of the maze. It is all one big, deadly game. This is a fast-paced book that I read quickly.
Find this book in: Books Like The Hunger Games / YA Dystopian Novels / Amnesia Books
Amnesia Romance Novels
The Hundred Loves of Juliet
Author: Evelyn Skye
Year: 2023
Genre: Romance
Spice Rating:đź’‹đź’‹
Age Range: 18+
Plot
After a terrible divorce, Helene moves to a small town in Alaska to write a novel. When she meets Sebastian, a handsome fisherman, he is the personification of all the dreams she ever had of her perfect man.
Helene is determined to find the truth about her instant connection to Sebastian, but he’s determined to keep it from her.
Why Kirsten loves it
I don’t want to spoil exactly how this Romeo and Juliet retelling is connected to the original story, but it’s a lovely romance with many mini-romances scattered throughout.
Why Jackie loves it
This book will keep you turning the pages and smiling at the end. Kirsten and I both think this is one of the best romance books of 2023.
Find this book in: Best Books of 2023 / Cozy Books / Second Chance Romance / Best Books for Book Clubs to Read / Nonlinear Narrative Novels / Amnesia Books
Plot
Jack has been reliving the same day for months and believes the only way out of this circle is to get Gemma Peters to fall in love with him. The Problem? Gemma has a feeling of deja vu, but she cannot remember Jack and has made a vow not to date musicians again (after her last boyfriend used her.)
Why Jackie loves it
I had high hopes for this time travel romance and it did not let me down. Do not be worried that you will have to read the same things over and over. This book has a refreshing spin that was utterly enjoyable. Thank you for my gifted copy of this book.
Find this book in: Time Loop Books / Time Travel Romance / Novels about Musicians / Amnesia Books
Our Infinite Fates
Author: Lauren Steven
Year: 2025
Genre: YA Fantasy
Spice Rating:đź’‹đź’‹
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Evelyn can remember all her past lives and being murdered by Arden before her 18th birthday in every one of them. In this life, Evelyn needs to stay alive to give her sister a life-saving bone marrow donation. To do so, she will need to outsmart Arden. She needs to find out why she is being hunted and break the curse without falling in love again.
Why Kirsten likes it
This star-crossed romantasy is a great choice for teens. Between every chapter of her current life, we get a look back at a previous Arden/Evelyn romance. The fantasy portion comes into play at the last 20% or so of the book, and while it was cute for teens as an adult, I found it hard to connect with the story. Gifted by Macmillan Audio
Find this book in: YA Fantasy Romance Books / Amnesia Books
Thriller Amnesia Books
Listen for the Lie
Author: Amy Tintera
Year: 2024
Genre: Thriller
More info: March 2024 Good Morning America Book Club Pick
Spice Rating:đź’‹
Age Range: 16+
Plot
2024 is the year of the thriller and this one doesn’t disappoint! Lucy is returning to her hometown for the first time since she was accused, but never charged, with murdering her best friend Savvy 5 years ago.
She has no memories of the night Savvy died, but she needs answers for herself. So she decides to team up with true crime podcaster, Ben Owens, to discover the truth – even if she’s implicated in the process.
Ben is real-time podcasting the whole investigation and his interviews are interspersed between chapters, revealing new insights each time.
Trigger Warnings
Domestic Abuse, murder
Why Jackie loves it
This is one mystery/thriller that is even better in audiobook format! The background noises and interviews bring the podcast to life. #gifted by Macmillan Audio
Why Kirsten loves it
I felt like I was in the story investigating it myself. I can’t emphasis enough that this one is best consumed by listening. Like Jackie noted, the audiobook adds elements not available in print. I will say I couldn’t figure out the ending on this one and was completely surprised by who committed the murder!
Find this book in: Best Audiobooks / Best Beach Reads 2024 / New Mystery Books of 2024 /Epistolary Novels / Nonlinear Narrative Novels /Best Books of 2024 / Amnesia Books
The Woman in the Window: A Novel
Author: A.J. Finn
Year: 2018
Genre: Thriller
More info: New York Time Bestseller
Age Range:16+
Plot
If you love old movies, you will adore this book. It is a spin on Hitchcock’s Rear Window and features an agoraphobic narrator who is often unreliable.
Anna Fox lives alone in her house. She is agoraphobic and cannot leave, so she sits at her window and watches everyone in the neighborhood.
When she sees something across the street, she is sure there has been a crime but, what is real and what is imagined? Amy Adams stars in the Netflix adaptation of this book.
Why Kirsten loves it
I love the nod to Hitchcock. It puts a new spin on a classic!
Why Jackie loves it
I love the fact that I was never sure what was real and what was made up. This is a book with an unreliable narrator that I really liked/
Find this book in: Unreliable Narrator Books / Psychological Thriller Books / Books About Mental Illness / Popular Thriller Books / Amnesia Books
Girl on the Train
Author: Paula Hawkins
Year: 2015
Genre: Thriller
More info: #1 New York Times Bestseller
Movie Starring Emily Blunt
Spice Rating:đź’‹
Age Range: 18+
Plot
Rachel takes the same train every day and peers out the window watching people. She watched two people in particular as they led what appeared to be a perfect life until one day she saw something terrible while watching them.
She reports it to the police but, can they trust a dysfunctional alcoholic? This is a domestic thriller story that will have you questioning who is telling the truth from the beginning until the end. Unreliable narrators like Rachel make the best page-turners! You’ll never know what to believe!
Trigger Warnings
Alcoholism
Why Kirsten loves it
This is a thriller that is unexpected and original. The unreliable narrator is one of my favorite thriller tropes and Hawkins did it to perfection in this book.
Why Jackie loves it
I loved to hate Rachel. She is the perfect unreliable narrator and I never guessed what would happen next.
Find this book in: Books with Stalkers / Domestic Thrillers / Unreliable Narrators / Psychological Thriller Books / British Books / Nonlinear Narrative Novels / Paula Hawkins Books Ranked / Amnesia Books
Plot
Megan Goldin is quickly becoming a go-to thriller writer for me. In her latest, a murder witness has amnesia and can’t remember anything once she falls asleep.
Now, Liv’s wanted for murder and she must work as hard as she can to prove her innocence before the real murderer catches up with her… if only she could remember who the murderer is!
Trigger Warnings
Stalking
Why Kirsten loves it
This reminded me of Memento in all the best ways. It got a little repetitive at certain times because as the narrator, we needed to rediscover information alongside Liv.
Find this book in: Amnesia Books / Books with Unreliable Narrators
I Found You
Author: Lisa Jewell
Year: 2016
Genre: Thriller
More info: New York Times Bestselling Author
Age Range: 18+
Plot
This story is told from three perspectives. A man loses his memory and is trying to figure out who he is. Simultaneously, a woman can’t find her husband who has disappeared without a trace. The third storyline is about a family in 1993. How do these stories come together?
Trigger Warnings
Sexual assault
Why Jackie loves it
I loved this Lisa Jewell book. She has a brilliant way of bringing the stories together with a slow burn throughout.
Find this book in: The Best Lisa Jewell Books / Amnesia Books
Plot
A group of four friends spends every summer together on a private island. Money, family, love, and an accident lead to secrets and lies. Featuring complex dynamics between friends and family, this story is both a coming-of-age tale and a mystery all in one.
Trigger Warnings
Fire/Fire injury, Child death
Why Jackie loves it
This book was the perfect suspense which I did not expect. Even though I knew that the narrator was unreliable, I still had no idea where this story was going and I didn’t know it was a Shakespeare retelling of King Lear until years after I read it.
Find this book in: Books with Unreliable Narrators / Coming-of-Age Books for Teens / Best Books for a 13-year-old / Fun Books for Teens / Amnesia Books
Plot
Hope Miller has been living in a small town in New Jersey for the last 15 years since an accident left her with amnesia. She cannot remember who she was or anything about her prior life.
When Hope decides to move, her best friend, Lindsay, worries constantly. When Hope stops returning phone calls, Lindsay is frantic.
Why Kirsten loves it
I liked this psychological thriller that had a few twists I was not expecting.
Find this book in: Amnesia Books
More Books About Amnesia
Expert Tip
What is the best way to read an amnesia book?
- Reading books about amnesia requires trust from the reader because the narrator is often unreliable
- It is important to let the story go and know that it may take you and the main character the same amount of time to figure out what is going on- this is part of the fun!
Frequently Asked Questions About Amnesia Books
What is an Amnesia Book?
Amnesia novels are stories that are centered around memory loss. Often the main character finds themselves in a situation with no memory of how they got there.
Are Books About Amnesia Always Thrillers?
No. Many books about amnesia are thrillers; however, amnesia romance novels are becoming an equally popular trope!
Related Content
Epilogue
What is your favorite amnesia book?
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