Story about a woman who's working through grief, coming to terms with a "terrible day" while trying to keep her job a hospital chaplain, even though she no longer has faith in anything. I guessed who she had lost fairly early, but it didn't make the story any less moving, as she finds her way through her grief by helping an elderly dementia patient and her family.

What We Remember follows a woman through her journey of loss of faith, and loss of life as she knows it when she separates herself from her friends and family following a traumatic incident. The novel tells a story of being there for one another and the importance of the people around us in our life. It explores love, grief, loss, family, friendship, and all the ties between people that make humanity so special. At times the narration is a bit on the nose; I would have liked to feel what the character was feeling more instead of having her tell me, but it was a heartwarming story of connection overall.

This is an engaging story of Isabel, an Interfaith Chaplain at her local hospital. A devastating event occurred a couple years earlier, 2 years and 2 months to be exact, that changed Isabel’s life forever. She never speaks of this; however, she has sequestered herself, at home, from all family and friends, even ignoring all phone calls, texts and e-mails for over a two-year period. She continues to go to work and there she is able to function normally as she performs her job as a Chaplain, helping others through challenging circumstances. Although she is hiding a secret that could affect her job, she is able to do it successfully until she is suspended without pay for 3 months.

When Isabel’s best friend, Keely, invites her to a birthday party, she agrees to go, however, after indulging in some liquid courage, that totally knocked her out, she never makes it. She hadn’t seen Keely in over two years either, however, is determined to repair that relationship, along with the relationship she has with her parents that is also fractured.

During her 3-month suspension from the hospital, she takes the job as a caregiver to an elderly woman suffering with dementia. Opal had been a patient in the hospital and Isabel had met her family and Opal previously. This job unexpectedly changes not only Isabel, but also the direction of her life.
This story beautifully deals with several real-life issues and the value of accepting available help. It also demonstrates how the truth can be freeing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions and comments are my own.

A very powerful and gripping story that is difficult to read in some parts but worth sticking with. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. As a nurse who has worked in emergency care, palliative care, and now intensive care, the book resonated well with me. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

This is a book written with a twist that I caught into quickly so it is hard to review and not spoil it for you. I just want to say it has great characters the i could connect with, especially Opal, the woman put main character takes care of for the summer. While there is a live story here it is more so a story of fixing your deepest emotional problems so that you can learn to live your life again. You need to give thaï book a try. You will laugh and you will cry and you will come away respecting the good things in your life.

Such a beautiful and heart-wrenching book. The writing and emotional development of the characters is outstanding. I found myself immersed in this story and couldn't put OT down. I am looking forward to more by this author. Beautiful book

We all have at least one “That Day” and Isabel seems to have been haunted by it more. This protagonist embarks on a journey of hope and despair, memory and the loss of it, and the roller coaster ride of family and friendship. The character development of the ones we follow through in the story is also engaging. The plot naturally paced that I am surprised to have kept up with the novel, given that I usually prefer fast-paced and action-packed novels. The emotions they feel reaches the reader; they were so raw and vulnerable, heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. How can something so tragic and painful be beautiful, too? What We Remember shows that finely.

This is a beautifully and gut wrenching novel. The main character is grappling with a tragic event in her past that affects every aspect of her present. The author does a remarkable job of displaying the main character’s emotion and experience. You almost find yourself reminding yourself that it is not real.

In addition, the novel navigates the journey of an elderly woman’s journey with Alzheimer’s and the experience of her family members, including her grandson. She gives Opal the respect and dignity she deserves and I love how she was a fire cracker throughout. Also, the book reminds you of how devastating the illness is to the family members and the heroism of those who are caretakers of these patients.

Overall, this was a touching story. It is a short book and a worthwhile read.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

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.

This book was so much more than I'd even hoped. The cover was beautiful and the title was intriguing, but the words inside are the real treat. This book is about trauma and loss, and how it affects us. I don't want to provide any spoilers at all, so I will only say that you will both want to keep reading, but also won't want it to end. I'm tearing up a bit just writing this. Thank you to the author, Lake Union Publishing (my fav!) and Netgalley for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

I JUST KNOW FOR A FACT SARAH ECHAVARRE SMITH NEVER WRITES A BAD BOOK. SHE MAKING HER SHOPPING LIST? I WOULD READ IT GLADLY. GIVE THAT FIVE STARS, TOO. THE WOMAN IS A GENIUS!!!!

This is absolutely amazing book and quite frankly very emotional. I never thought it would be so much better than I had originally thought. I don't have words to say how amazing it was without spoiling it for others but yeah it was a good one. Loved it so much ❣️

This book is amazing! So beautifully written that it’s not hard to get lost in the raw emotions of it.
As someone who actually looked after people with dementia, and suffering my own personal traumas that I bury and can’t quite escape, this book really hit different.
It’s hard to separate from it when the characters are so well written you feel like you know them.
This whole book, is perfection. I loved it. This I feel, is one that is going to stay with me for a good while yet and certainly one I will be recommending.
Thank you to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for my arc.

This novel was beautiful and emotional.

Isabel has not opened up to anyone in over 2 years. After one life-changing day that she refuses to remember, she has withdrawn and cuts everyone out. Her life consists of working as a hospital chaplain, and her daily phone calls to her sister. Until one afternoon, she makes a poor decision at work and finds herself with the summer off. She becomes close with a patient (Opal) with dementia and works taking care of her. Unfortunately, Opal's grandson is not as keen for her to watch his grandmother.

Will Isabel finally let her guard down and let people in? Can she find hope in her time with Opal?

I was swept up in this story and really enjoyed how it turned out. The characters were full of raw emotion and the storyline was engaging as a reader.

The reader is taken on a tale of love, a tale of recovery from trauma and the experience (both positive and negative) of coping with dementia. As a daughter of a mother who had Alzheimer’s and the wife of someone with Lewy Body dementia, I thought this would be a tough read—but instead I found it to be uplifting, kind and caring. How we cope with trauma and loss for which we blame ourself is so very difficult to portray but Sarah Echavarre does it extremely well. Sometimes truth is sad as the author writes but truth is also uplifting, dynamic and well worth sharing. May we find peace in the symbols of our lives as the author finds in giving us this fine story.

Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for an advance review copy. And thanks to the author for writing this book!

Pleasant read with an interesting plot that started off very slowly and which only really picked up in the last quarter. There was a good twist in the last part that was very emotional. I liked the parallels between the elderly patient with dementia who is losing her memories and the main character who is trying to forget a painful incident in her recent past. The push and pull of what we struggle to forget and the memories we are so desperate to keep was well done.

Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for this ARC. The opinions expressed herein are my own.

What We Remember is a heart warming, tear jerking and an inspiring read. Sarah Echavarre has presented an intriguing plot with highly relatable characters. This was such an emotional read and it compels you to think about family, intentions, grief and strength. I grew attached to Opal, Isabel and her family and Evan. The dialogues are so pure and well crafted. Sarah has truly captured the waves of turmoil, pain, love and relationships. The ending was heartbreaking and yet so beautiful. A 5-star read.

A thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for giving me an ARC. This honest review is left voluntarily.

What We Remember is beautiful and heartbreaking and I ended up really liking this book. The struggles many of the characters have are relatable and it quickly became an emotional read for me. I would've like some more closure on certain parts of the story, and some more development for some of the main characters, but overall I recommend this book for a good, quick cry,

A beautifully written book with such well-developed characters that one easily develops an attachment.
We follow Isabel, a hospital chaplain who has lost her faith after "That Day". You know it's a deeply traumatic experience, leaving her struggling with her faith, her friendships and family; but you're left wondering what it could have been.
She loves her job; she loves helping people as their most fractured. Not wanting to lose her job she hides the fact that she has lost her faith. Avoiding her family and friends, her life revolves around her patients and her deep connection with her little sister, a travelling nurse that periodically subs at the same hospital. After an altercation with an unruly, extremely rude doctor, she is given a 3-month suspension. When she visits Opal, her favorite elderly patient, recently relocated to a care facility for dementia, she finds Opal's daughter April, distraught, unable to afford the expensive facility and unsure what to do. This is their story, a book of struggles and survival, of caring and letting go. I would highly recommend it

As always, many thanks to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and author Sarah Echavarre for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is definitely an "I need a box of tissues" story, yet so uplifting and heartfelt.
It is done so very well, with perfect detail to the characters, especially Opal, describing both her feelings, and her family's, as they struggle with her dementia and all it entails.
It is not easy to watch your love one forget everything and everyone.

Isabel is the hospital chaplain in the hospital where Opal was a patient and really enjoys spending time with her. She soon finds herself taking a job as a home health aide for Opal during the summer. She has never taken care of someone in this capacity, yet she wants to try.
Isabel, herself, has so many secrets and has seen a tragedy that she has repressed far into her memory.
This has caused her to distance herself from her family and friends for years. Her parents and best friends are more than concerned.
As per Isabel: There is no talk of "That Day"!

Can Isabel ever work through the grief that she has tried to hide? Can she continue to care for Opal or will she "run" from her and her family?

This is just a beautiful book and I truly loved it!

Thank you to NetGalley and to #Lake Union Publishing for this ARC and allowing me to provide my own review.