Member Reviews
Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC. Remember Me has been described as a cross between Titanic and The Shining; a forbidden love story between a rich, upper crust socialite and the help combined with a haunted hotel that exists to torment and kill its victims. Alternating chapters are narrated by Nell, who moves into the hotel in 2019 and Lea, a guest in 1907. I very much enjoyed reading about each of their experiences at the hotel and was invested in each character of this story. Although the book was very gripping and I couldn't wait to find out what happened, I felt that, ultimately, the climax was disappointing. The entire book built up to this one event, and it literally fast forwarded it! I wanted more! Despite my disappointment in the climax, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others.
I received an ARC for this book for a blog tour promoting this book! I was interested to see what this would be like, since it has a murder mystery, ghost and a historical fiction story thread as well. But this was just fine. It was a quick read and the beginning was good enough to build some mystery with the setting. But I feel like the curse really took a back seat,, when it had so much potential to bring some more chills and atmosphere, then it came full force at the very end. I think the author made the romance more of a focus instead of balancing the two aspects of the story. I think if I had read this when I was younger, I would enjoyed it much more. I do recommend this for younger teens and maybe those new to the genre. For me, it was just okay.
REMEMBER ME is an engaging mystery/thriller that goes back and forth through time. We follow Lea in the past when she stayed at the hotel and Nell in the present, as she lives there with her father now. Lea is engaged to Lon, whose family are titans in the steel industry. This is not a marriage of love, but of finances- her family has been hurting financially, and the marriage will help them recover financially. As she spends the summer with Lon, she likes him even less than she thought possible. As she gets to know a Runner for the hotel (a jack of all trades), named Alec, she finds herself feeling things she never expected.
In the present day, Nell has moved to the hotel with her father, where he will be working. She had a lot of trouble after her mother's death, which left echoes in both her and her father's lives. She wants to be a professional dancer. As she lives in the hotel, strange things start happening to her- doors locking, things being written in the mirror, music only she can hear, and horrifying dreams of a dead boy. As she sifts through the history of the hotel, she begins to learn of how it is all connected with the past- and with Lea.
Absolutely engrossing, the book comes together beautifully in a thrilleresque mystery. The history and present are equally entertaining, and the inclusion of both perspectives adds a lot to the overall air of the story. The beginning is perfectly paced, drawing you in to the story. I felt that the later parts were a bit rushed, but that added to the intensity of the plot. The romance that builds for Nell in the story was a little harder for me to believe and I would have liked more time to see it happen and connect. However, it certainly didn't stop me from hoping for the best and following it eagerly to the end.
Overall, this was a engaging read, and I think the descriptors of The Shining meets The Titanic are apt- this is a romance, thriller, mystery, and historical fiction all in one that will keep readers turning pages until the satisfying conclusion.
Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher. All opinions are my own.