I loved this sci-fi thriller so much! I was so invested in Hope and her story. This is one you reallllyyyyt have to pay attention to. There are so many characters and so many moving components that play a part in figuring out the mystery. This def gave me Dark Matter vibes but there was an emotional element to the characters and their reasons for being at Wilder. THE TWIST was so unexpected, I wasn’t initially sure if I liked it but once I was finished, I realized it worked for me!!! This is a hell of a debut novel.

A speculative thriller that will have you wondering what would you do. What if you could erase memories? Traumatic ones that no one wants to remember. There were a lot of characters to keep track of but it didn't feel like too much. This was a great concept with the mystery and all the gaslighting. I enjoyed this book and can't wait to see what the author comes up with next!

Pros: Good writing, good plot and slow burn(in a good way).

Cons: characters are not introduced well. Technical terms are explained more than halfway through.

Long part:

Truth be told, I went into this book blind. I had just read the first line "Memory is Copeland-Starks business" and for some reason I imagined that this will be a book where memories are bought and sold! But as I started to read the book I realised that that wasn't the case.

The book is a slow burn at the start. There are way too many characters and too much stuff thrown at you in the beginning that it slightly confuses the reader. Not to mention that the writer doesn't use He She much, she keeps using the names like "xyz" Hope said. Hope picked up a book. Hope sat down. I found it disorienting. Pronouns could be used liberally. Due to this I always kept wondering of Quinn was a He or She or Them. Not to mentions in the middle Quinn tells Hope "It's just us girls". That further confused me so much that I had to traverse back to check if I had misunderstood that Quinn was a Gay man because few pages earlier they had referred to him as Tomas' boyfriend.

Strangely enough, the VR sequences aren't introduced well. For that matter, we don't get much descriptions of anything more than halfway into the book.

And even more strangely we get a description of Arkham 65% into the book after we have seen them use it multiple times. Despite being a programmer my profession I found it hard to follow the AR or VR things that they had.

75% into the book I felt that the MC was a dull same-me-I-am-a-princess types but boy was I wrong! There are also 2 spelling mistakes, Masala is spelt as Marasala and Jonah is spelt Johan. Apart from that, the book is good, the ending feels somewhat rushed though

Considering that this is the author's debut book, I must say that it is good. Much better than I had expected when I started reading it! I laughed out loud twice in the book!

A big thanks to NetGalley and CamCat Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

If you know me, I'm sucker for any sort of read that deals with memory and amnesia, and boy was this one perfect!

The Mechanics of Memory by Audrey Lee is a science fiction novel that is built on the concept that the memory can be saved and reconstructed, though in very flawed ways. Never Forget. Memory is Copeland-Stark’s business. Yet after months of reconsolidation treatments at their sleek new flagship facility, Hope Nakano still has no idea what happened to her lost year, or the life she was just beginning to build with her one great love. Each procedure surfaces fragmented clues that erode Hope’s trust in her own memories, especially the ones of Luke. As inconsistencies mount, her search for answers reveals a much larger secret Copeland-Stark is determined to protect. But everyone has secrets, including Hope.

I don't want to spoil anything, because this book is best when you go into reading it blind. But this is one I will never forget.

This sci-fi thriller presents an intriguing premise centered on technology that can reprogram memories. The story begins as a slow burn, following the main character, Hope, as she undergoes treatment at a facility designed to help her recover her lost memories. As the plot unfolds, Hope begins to recall events that contradict what the facility has told her to remember, leading her to question everything she's been told. Despite the uncertainties, her love for Luke, the very person who placed her in the facility, drives her forward. But the ultimate question remains: why did he do it?

While sci-fi isn’t usually my preferred genre, I decided to give this book a try based on a recommendation. The characters were compelling, especially Quinn, who brought a welcome dose of humor to the story. Although I found some of the technological details a bit overwhelming, the narrative remained engaging, and the plot twist at the end was satisfying.

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I had so much fun with this book! I have been in such a mystery/thriller mood lately so this book was right up my alley. It had everything that I wanted from a book in that genre. It had twists and turns, it had suspense and kept the truth from the reader while slowly giving a trickle of information to give the feeling of the reader "solving" the mystery themselves.

I absolutely loved the addition of the codes and made a whole page in my notebook trying to decipher the simple code that Hope and Luke use, but I was not able to completely crack it. I wish there was a cipher key in the back of the book so that I could have finally deciphered all the code in the book, but oh well 😅

Absolutely loved the asian representation and asian protagonist, as well as how the book portrayed some family expectations within Asian communities that are unfortunately far too prevalent.

My absolute favourite line in the book was "from farmhouse to nuthouse" 🤣

This is a 3.5 ⭐️ leaning more toward a 4 rather than 3 for me. This is a truly unique and engaging science-fiction thriller set in a technologically advanced treatment facility for mental health, addiction, and patients who have memory loss after experiencing traumatic events. The facility is presented as a state-of-the-art wellness center, with yoga and meditation in the Zen Garden, and clean organic meals prepared by in-house chefs. Only those who are famous or wealthy can afford to check in to Wilder. However, it’s not long before the reader can see that something more sinister is going on.

I really enjoyed reading The Mechanics of Memory, and would read more from @audreyleeauthor . I found myself staying up later than usual to read just one more chapter. While I did not feel a strong connection to Hope’s character, I felt like the supporting cast of characters made up for that. I absolutely loved Quinn. He was my favorite character by far. He was charming, witty, and entertaining. In chapter 41, more is revealed as to the reason for Hope’s presence at Wilder wellness facility. While I did feel like that reason did make sense and tie into the story, I felt a little disappointed. Also, the relationship between Luke and Hope--it felt very weak and unbelievable to me (other than the prologue, which is the only part where I felt a strong connection between the two). Maybe that’s just because I felt no connection to either of their characters individually throughout the book. I recommend reading The Mechanics of Memory if you enjoy science fiction, mystery, and thriller reads. Also, if you enjoy reading books with themes involving neuroscience, psych, bougie wellness center vibes, big pharma, virtual reality, and advanced technology.

Thank you @camcat_books for allowing me to read this ARC via @netgalley All thoughts are entirely my own.

📚 The Mechanics Of Memory
✍️ Audrey Lee
🎉 Releases 8/27/24

BANGER ALERT ‼️ ‼️‼️
Debut author WHAT????? NO WAY!

- ATTENTION SCI-FI enthusiasts and all THRILLER READER LOVERS! This one is FOR YOU!

Imagine you wake up one day with no memory of the past year. Bits and pieces come back to you, but are they real?

Hope Nakano wakes up in a strange treatment facility. A facility to help assist with the recovery of memory. But what if the doctors are telling you that you did something really bad? Frightening right?

The doctors administer trial medications with state of the art technology. Virtual world therapy and clinical sessions as well. When these things are combined… Hope is in one hell of a ride for her life!!!

Not gonna lie!!! I loved this more than Dark Matter! Sorry, Crouch 🥺
This should be a SERIES! Someone call APPLE TV right now!!! I’m serious y’all!

Unique take on the whole memory loss trope. What you think is going on….. YOU HAVE NO IDEA!
- 5 BANGIN’ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Much gratitude to @audreyleeauthor and @camcat_books for the opportunity!! Can’t wait to see what you come out with next!!

Let me tell you that THIS WAS SO ORIGINAL! Don’t miss out on the BEST DEBUT of THE YEAR!

One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest meets Inception 🔥🔥🔥🔥

This turned out to be an exhilarating thrill ride! It has all the ingredients of a five-star thriller. It begins as a captivating slow burn, leading you through a maze of cunning manipulations and unexpected twists. Combine that with expertly crafted characters, and you have an unforgettable five-star read!

It's astounding that this is a debut. I'm calling it now—Audrey Lee is destined to be a powerhouse in the literary world.

This book started off strong but really fizzled out for me. DNF at 35%. I just didn't care about the characters and the plot seemed really stagnant.

I highly recommend this book! I loved the concept and the different points of view. I would have given it 5 stars, but there was one plot line I felt could have more development. This was the twist you learn about later in the book. Overall, it’s a great book!

Hmmm creepy, ugly and challenging. Scientific facility where people are held and experimented on. It wasn’t my thing. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

3.5🌟
Reconsolidation ~ Allowing the mind to restructure memories.

Can you imagine being able to erase traumatic memories? Assaults, PTSD? The chance to literally leave your past behind and move forward.

Or how about retrieving lost memories? Dementia patients being able to remember their happiest moments from their lives?

The potential greatness is endless. But with that, there are always those who would take advantage for nefarious reasons.

Hope Nakano has woken in what is supposed to be a spa. An institute, where through new technologies, she will be able to retrieve lost memories.
But with every treatment she realizes this spa is not what it seems. Patients aren’t just checking out…

Loved the premise, and the rave reviews had me immediately wanting to read this book. Unfortunately for me it just didn’t click. I never felt totally engaged and lacked any connection with Hope and the other characters (of which, there were MANY.)

At times it felt that this reconsolidation was just gas-lighting taken to another level. Nope. Not for me.🙈

Again, I’m very much on outlier island here!🏝️
Make sure to read all the five-star reviews.

This is a debut, lite sci fi thriller, and I did enjoy the premise enough that I would definitely read an additional book by this new author.

Thank you to NetGalley and CamCat Books

How reliable are our memories? Or just how malleable are they?

A prologue opens with Hope and Luke as they discuss their future together, including escaping it all and running away together.

When the story starts in the present day, Hope wakes in 'Wilder', a Stark-Copland memory clinic, with no memory of the past year.

What follows is a twisting tale of intrigue as Hope works to find out what actually happened and how she came to be here.

As she spends more time getting to know the other patients, they find that everything is not how it seems.

What is the true purpose of their 'treatments'? Does Stark-Copland really have their best interests at heart?

This is a good read that will keep you on your toes as you work to make sense of what is real and what is not. As each memory and piece of information is unlocked, and more questions arise, Hope keeps battling onward to learn the truth and to see Luke again.

*I received an advance reader copy via NetGalley, and I'm voluntarily leaving a review.*

I'm always big on having characters I care a lot for and this book definitely had me on the edge of my seat for the characters, especially the main character, Hope, who's journey was so fascinating to see pan out. I didn't expect to be so attached to the side characters as well, particularly Quinn and Spooky, whom I always loved seeing on-page.

The story itself was quite intense, which had me nervous trying to figure out what was yet to come. Honestly, that was just how I liked it- not knowing all the information in the beginning, therefore trying to puzzle out the mystery with the characters. It definitely made me feel more attached to the characters and story itself.

Definitely for fans of mystery, thriller stories, but also, just anybody because I don't even read that many mysteries and thrillers and I had a blast with this one.

Thank you Netgalley for this opportunity.
An easy going thriller, adult drama with lots of conflicts and secrets that must be brought up to the light. Although I did not like the main character, it was somehow surprisingly easy to finish the book and enjoy our time together.

From the get-go the prose & characters were not my cup of tea and continued to be subpar throughout the novel, nonetheless Audrey Lee's interesting concept kept me reading through the end. Hope wasn't as dynamic a protagonist as she could have been, and lacked a layer of moral complexity that could have been interesting given the direction the story takes. Also, this is significantly more of a romance novel than I was expecting - not bad, but felt like science fiction by way of Emily Henry moreso than other recent reads such as The Ministry of Time.

Starting the book was a little confusing sometimes, but not as much as to lose track of what was happening. As it continues, I realised the initial confusion was meant to emulate Hope's lack of memory and how she was slowly making sense of everything while being drown in lies.

I did enjoy it very much to the point I didn't want to put it down, and I was left wanting to read more of the story.

The pace is good, the trama is well planned, and the details provided help you imagine almost everything in detail. It was a very good book!

Thanks to Netgalley, CamCat Books & Audrey Lee for this copy of the book!

It was strange how Wilder advertised themselves to people who were already here, as if anyone watching this screen had a choice.

First off, let’s talk about the general setup of the book. From the font to the simple yet decorative section dividers, it was exquisite. It’s been a while since I’ve seen such a beautifully tailored book, and it definitely enhanced the reading experience.

As someone who's been dabbling in programming for the last three years, this book was a treat with its sprinkles of code. While I couldn’t quite wrap my head around all of it, I still enjoyed the nerdy flair it added.

The first 25% of the book felt a bit slow with all the setup (plus my reading slump wasn’t helping either). But then, it picked up a delightful pace with twists and turns on every page. It turned into a very enjoyable ride, making it well worth the wait.

Experimental science gone wrong.

This book had a lot going on. The main characters are Hope and Luke. Luke is part of a group of scientists called Copeland Stark that specialize in all things pertaining to memory. One day Hope wakes up in a fancy wellness center and realizes she can’t remember the last year or much of her relationship with Luke. Here, she undergoes a series of treatments to recover her memory but only bits and pieces resurface.

The longer Hope is in the facility, the more she realizes that there is something off about the place and the doctors. The book takes us on a crazy ride where Hope sets out to find answers and hopefully recover some of her memories. But the more she searches the more inconsistencies she finds and realizes that Copeland Stark has secrets.

The book is a mix of sci-fi and psych thriller with a little romance thrown in. The ending was a little sad but nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed it and would love to see this on the big screen.

Thank you net galley for the digital arc.