Im playing the game of catch up, not that reading is a chore but there are just so many amazing and incredible books I am so excited to read!

Sarah Echavarre, you are a legend.

This book right here puts you on the map and paves the way for authors to come

This book was not only enjoyable but a true mind bender. I loved every minute of it and I can not wait to see what Echavarre comes out with next!!!

HOLY MOLY

if you aren't clutching your chest and catching your breath over this one, than y'all need to get to a doctor

this one is a doozy.

Check out this teaser :

From the author of Three More Months comes a moving novel about hope, loss, the power of memories, and the enduring bonds of family.

It’s been two years and two months since trauma shattered hospital chaplain Isabel Myles’s world. Since that day, she has stopped answering calls. She’s shut out her family, friends, and coworkers. Even her faith seems to have faded. Except for her connection with her younger sister, Chantel, Isabel copes by forgetting. Then she takes on a summer job as a home caregiver for Opal, a dementia patient who is struggling to remember.

The more invested Isabel becomes in Opal’s vanishing world—and in her devastated grandson, Evan—the more open she is to forming bonds, old and new. She reaches out to her best friend. She repairs the damage between her and her estranged parents. And with Evan she feels emotions she thought were lost forever. But the trauma Isabel’s kept buried for so long will be rediscovered too. What Isabel learns could change her life again, forever. This time, though, she won’t have to face the past alone.

What We Remember is an emotional journey through one woman’s experience with loss, trauma and what it means to move forward. Isabel Myles is a hospital chaplain that has lost her faith. In a series of strange events, she finds herself caring for a woman with late stage dementia, Opal. Her time with Opal allows Isabel to explore areas in her own life that she has closed off, through misguided attempts at self protection. In caring for Opal and weaving into her family, Isabel starts to rebuild her relationship with her own family and maybe can finally let her heart find joy and light again. Author Sarah Echavarre writes a story filled with both despair and hope and it was a pleasure to explore.

A sincere thankyou to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really related to this book and found it very endearing. Isabel, has gone through some sort of trauma over two years ago, but you don’t know what happened. You do know she has shut down and retreated from seeing her family and friends. She is sad and isolating herself. The only person she speaks with frequently is her sister, Chantel. They always had a very close relationship. Isabel, starts caring for Opal, a woman suffering from dementia. This starts to change Opal and her perspective on life. I could really relate to this part of the story as my Mom just had Alzheimer’s. It is very difficult to see someone you love losing their identity. This impacts her grandson, Evan the most. He has always loved his grandma so much and she does not even remember him. The book can be heartbreaking at times, but also is hopeful. It really values family and those are the people who show up for you always. It shows how much Opal has to offer even with Alzheimer’s and she impacts Isabel is a profound way. Isabel may just be able to find a way to finally confront her trauma and start a new life with the love of those who love her.

Thank you NetGalley, Sarah Echavarre, and Lake Onion Publishing for a copy of this book. I always write reviews of books I read.

Great book. I was able to connect with characters and the plot. I recommend this book……………………………..,,,,.

This is an emotional read. This story has both despair and hope. It is well written. The characters are well developed.
Not my usual genre

What We Remember" by Sarah Echavarre took me by surprise with its emotional depth. While some character interactions felt a bit off, overall, I found myself engrossed in the story. The book follows Isabel, our main character, as she grapples with grief after a traumatic event. The twist at the end caught me off guard, adding an unexpected layer to the story. Overall, I found the journey Isabel takes to be compelling and touching. Just a heads up, you might need tissues if you're prone to tears!

Conceptually What We Remember by Sarah Echavarre deals with deep themes of the role of a caretaker and dementia and trauma. Sometimes the dialogue felt a bit stilted, but overall, it's a moving book.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me. All thoughts are my own.

Isabel is struggling and doesn't know why and then she takes on a job as caregiver for a dementia patient and it is through this relationship that she begins to unravel. A thought provoking and emotional read that had me reaching for the tissues more than once. Isabel resonated with me as I have felt the same feelings at times.

This is a very thought provoking book. Isabel is struggling with something but it is not clear just what that is. She meet Opal an elderly woman struggling with dementia. It is through this relationship that Isabel starts to deal with her life and issues.

This was a well written book about love, friendship and how life’s struggles are meant to be shared. Thank you to netgalley for complimentary copy.

There's a *massive* twist at the end that will break your heart, play football with it, and make you ugly cry. Even if you do see it coming, you will be moved - that is just how beautiful the narration is.

The introduction was quite well-written. It piques your interest and slowly you begin to empathize with the characters. It hit me hard because my grandma who passed away last July, had dementia and while it wasn't the same, I could relate to so many parts. Recommended!

Absolutely loved this book!

The writing style was really good and I look forward to reading any other books from this author in the future :)

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an e-ARC of this novel in exchange for a review.

Isabel is a hospital chaplain but is forced to take a period of leave from work, during which time she becomes a carer for Opal who has dementia. Unfortunately I found myself losing interest in the story and I wasn't really enjoying it much until the part when we learnt about Isabel's back story (probably just over half way through the book) and about her sister dying 2.5 years earlier. I felt this really added depth the Isabel's character. I also didn't expect that Isabel's sister was dead so it came as quite a shock to me which I found interesting.
Overall an interesting read, but for me, the second half of the book saved it.

This was a touching story, I greatly enjoyed reading it. The dialogue and narration was a little odd in some places, but overall it was really nicely written. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

This was a beautifully written story and one that will linger with me. Character driven, and full of hope.
Many thanks to Lake Union Publishing and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

THE GOOD: Explores the power of taking control of life and moving on.

THE BAD: Lack of foreshadowing. A few odd phrases/terms used repetitively.

CONCLUSION: A decent minimalist read.

I really enjoyed the character journey in the book and the way it shaped the characters and the story. Beautifully written and very thought provoking

What We Remember is a story of loss, trauma and learning to handle grief. The story has been told in first person by the principal character Isabel Myles, a hospital chaplain. Ever since a tragedy occurred in her life two years earlier, Isabel had shut off from her best friend and family completely. The only person she is willing to communicate with is her sister Chantel, with whom she has always had a close relationship.

When circumstances force her to take a leave of absence from work for two months, she volunteers to look after an elderly dementia patient Opal for that period; this sets her on the path of healing and helps her learn to live again. We get to see whether or not she is able to cope, when she is forced to face the tragedy head-on due to certain circumstances.

This story initially started off very slowly and I couldn't get involved with the characters at all - particularly that of Isabel. We are brought into the inertia and stark life that is Isabel's, so much so that, it starts getting uncomfortable almost immediately. But as the story progressed gradually, I could almost feel the verve for life being awakened in Isabel and I felt that very intensely within me. The last few paragraphs were so very raw and emotional, that a person like me who doesn't get emotional for even the best treat-jerkers, found myself struggling not to break out in tears.

Inspite of the extremely emotional response the story brought in me or perhaps because of it, I had the most profound experience reading the book and loved the way author Sarah used the characters to immerse us into that experience.

I never would have anticipated this book to be as emotional as it was. There were some interactions between characters that had me tilting my head (didn't seem like a real conversation that would have been had), but otherwise, I truly enjoyed this read. The book heavily focuses on the grief that our FMC Isabel is dealing with due to a traumatic incident that happened a few years ago. The TWIST at the endpoint actually surprised me because I didn't think this kind of book would have a twist, so color me surprised! Overall, I really enjoyed this book and the journey that we get to watch Isabel take. You may need tissues if you're an easy crier...

What We Remember by Sarah Echavarre is a beautiful, emotionally moving story of family, life, love and the challenges that life sends to us. I was captivated with this story! The Plot is engaging and has quite a few surprises. The characters realistic and well rounded.
All in all, a fantastic read!

I highly recommend reading What We Remember - 5 STARS!

I received this book for free. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own. Thank you to Lake Union Publishing, Ms. Echavarre and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.