“How many times can you say goodbye to one person?”

If you had the chance to erase your most painful memory, would you? Sori of Us Clinic in Busan, South Korea, specializes in memory care—more specifically, memory erasure. This is where 17-year-old Korean-Canadian Yena finds herself working over the summer while visiting her mother and head of the clinic, Dr. Bae. When the Sori Clinic begins a new study involving memory recovery, hundreds of people show up at the clinic with hopes of squeezing their loved ones in. One of these hopefuls is Lucas Pak, Yena’s ex-best friend from Canada, visiting his harabeoji who is suffering from Alzheimer's. When their paths finally cross again, Yena expects to find answers to why their friendship ended so abruptly. The only problem is, Lucas has no idea who she is.

Meet Me at Blue Hour is a delicate story that explores loss, love, and the importance of the past. The novel features only a handful of characters, which allows Suk to stitch together individual characteristics and traits to form a close-knit community for readers to settle into. It is within this close community that important, long-lasting memories are made, and memory care is a topic that I believe is not discussed enough. My mother is a CNA and has had several Alzheimer’s and Dementia patients since the start of her career, and I appreciate Suk for spreading awareness about the effects memory loss has on not only the patient but everyone involved. In a sense, Meet Me at Blue Hour was like a memory itself. The sights, sounds, and interactions between characters felt familiar, and although I did not experience Korean culture growing up, I believe most things in childhood are universal. The expectations Lucas and Yena had for themselves were very clearly a direct result of their upbringing, which Suk explored through phone calls and conversations between the teens and their families. Although I wish the sense of betrayal felt by Yena and Lucas towards the end was exaggerated even more, Meet Me at Blue Hour is an easy yet meaningful read full of valuable life lessons.

This YA romance from a Canadian author I've enjoyed in the past sounded interesting with the MMC having erased his memories of his love interest but sadly it just fell a little flat for me. I liked that the MMC travelled to Korea to help his grandfather get into a study to aid with his Alzheimer's but other than that the romance didn't resonate with me. Would recommend for fans of Dustin Thao who enjoy a lot of emotional angst and forced separation. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was a cute YA romance that navigated friendship and complicated families. I enjoyed the premise of the novel and the idea of the memory removal, and age appropriate romance.
The mix of romanized Korean words and having them already translated into English is a pet peeve of mine, but I tolerated it enough to get through the novel.
The cover for this book is also gorgeous. I would definitely recommend this to younger people as an easy, medium paced romance novel.

This book was phenomenal! I really loved the characters. They were so interesting. The premise of the book, I felt, was also very unique, and what Suk did with it was just amazing! The writing was also really great.

When I first started the book, the little interludes confused me, but as I kept reading, I began to realize they were all the memories that Lucas had forgotten about Yena. It was such a nice touch to do that rather than explain all at once all of the memories he forgot. Also the plot twist! I was not expecting Yena to have also gotten a memory erasure procedure too. I was also so relieved when I found out that Lucas didn't intentionally forget her, but I was so disappointed in his parents. They couldn't see beyond what they wanted for him and didn't see who he was until the end. Also, I was not expecting Danielle to be an undercover journalist. And the exposé was soooooo good!

I'm so glad Yena and Lucas got together at the end but I kind of hoped to see more of them in love. Anyway, this was such a great book. I can't wait to start recommending it!

I also work in a library and convinced my boss to pre-order it for our YA collection!! So excited!!

Thank you NetGalley for an eARC.
This book had me laughing and crying and feeling ALL the feels (and craving Korean food). Zero spice. It does have a sweet friends to lovers plot while being set in a scifi Korea where memories can be erased using sound technology. I love that this book explored the ethical debate on areas of science without taking a pro or con side. This book also deals with memory loss (Alzheimer's disease) and working through a family member's diagnosis as well as divorce and difficult family relationships. Everything is handled so well that I would definitely recommend this book.

In a world where memories can be erased, people can be helped with trauma or just take bad thoughts away. With this main seed for a story, Sarah Suk has created another unusual speculative novel. Meet Me at Blue Hour is a Young Adult book with a teenager trying to figure out portions of her life. Then, during a visit to Korea, she sees someone who she thought was out of her life. This happening creates quite an upheaval for many of the characters. With the Korean setting of family and food, this work gives similar vibes of Suk’s last book which was a favorite of mine in 2023. However this one is not as sharp at causing the emotions for me as her last. I will be checking out all of her books from now on though, as I enjoy her smooth writing style. The chapters are brief and propel me to the next one. She writes speculative ideas which seem feasible and affect the characters lives in an interesting way. I look forward to Suk’s next creation.

The story felt like a retelling of "Eternal Sunshine" for teens. It was fine but did not ring true for me, I wish the science had been more believable, Granted I"m an older audience.

Thank you so much to Colored Pages Book Tours, for having me as one of the tour hosts for Meet Me at Blue Hour by one of my favourite authors Sarah Suk!

I absolutely adored this stunning exploration of memory, how it shapes us, and where its absence leaves us.

I loved how you get to see memories from the perspective of the things that played a part in them, which is something I have never seen before in a book!

It was great how the concept of “knowing whats best” for others, and having respect of their choices (and simply giving someone a choice) was explored, a very important topic, that needs to be discussed more often than what it currently is.

I cannot recommend this book to you all enough, please do yourself a favour and read it!!

Gosh, I loved this one. Yena and Lukas stole my heart immediately, and I even found myself intrigued by the side characters. The story was so compelling and original, I found it hard to put down, constantly turning the pages to see how everything would play out. I can't wait to recommend this to teens looking for magical, big-hearted, emotional stories.

How I loved this book! From the very start until the very end, it was a story that sucked me in and that I could not stop reading! Yena and Lukas were amazing MCs, each with their own foibles and challenges, and totally believable. I thought I would hate Lukas' parents about a third of the way through, but as the whole story unfolded, I found myself able to understand their motivations, and Yena's mother's as well. Most of all, there was a magical quality to the relationship between Yena and Lukas that I will remember for a long time. This was a stunning story. I will recommend this to everyone, young people and adults alike.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

If you could erase pieces of your memory, would you do it? Yena Bae just graduated from high school and does not know what she wants to do with her life. To help her, her mother asks her to travel to Busan and work for her clinic. Yena’s mom is Dr. Bae, a pioneer in the science of memory erasure. Her clinic, Soori Clinic, helps patients to erase their memories through sound. Now, the clinic is doing an experimental study on memory recovery. On the other hand, we have Lucas Pak, a young man who dreams of becoming a chef at his parent's restaurant. He decided to go to Busan to enroll his grandfather in the memory recovery study at Soori Clinic. All of this is because his grandad suffers from Alzheimer's. Everything gets complicated when his and Yena’s paths cross. For her, he is the friend who disappeared from her life. To him, she is a stranger who feels too familiar. The reason? Lucas erased Yena’s existence, and now she has to decide if she wants to know why he did it or if she would let things be as they are.

This book brings up the topic of memory erasure procedures. As I started to read, I was intrigued, like any other person would be. Nonetheless, when I saw how Yena suffered, I changed my mind. Now, if you ask me, memory erasure should not exist. As you discover on Meet Me at Blue Hour, memory erasure is not an exact science. They can erase memories but not the feelings and emotions related to those events. In other words, these people go through life without knowing why they feel that way. Second, this decision affects the one doing the procedure but also affects those around. The closest thing to compare is the aftermath of Alzheimer's. When a patient starts to forget his life, the people around him are sad because of all the things they can remember, but the other person does not. Now, imagine someone doing this voluntarily. It would create feelings of sadness and betrayal for those who love him. Also, if you ask me, I do not believe in messing up people’s minds because everything we have lived has shaped us into who we are now. Deleting something or someone could end up erasing a part of ourselves like it happened to Yena.

This story was narrated from three different points of view. For once, we have Yena. She is in the process of discovering who she is and who she wants to be. It does not help that, during that period of reflection, people keep telling her that she goes through life without direction. Likewise, her relationship with her mom affected her. Since the divorce of her parents, Yena and her mother have not had a relationship. Her mother has become so devoted to her job that she forgot about Yena. It got to the point that she hurt Yena and Lucas. Likewise, what I take from Yena is that she never stops trying to find her path in life. She never gave up, and that is something we all have to imitate.

Lucas Pak is different than Yena. He is a decisive boy with goals and plans to reach. His dream is to be a chef at his family's restaurant. Nonetheless, his parents are so overprotective that they limit him to the point of asphyxiating him. When he graduated, he decided to travel to Busan and spend quality time with his uncle and grandad. However, he had an ulterior motive; he wanted to enroll his grandad in the memory-restoring study. From him, I learned that we can not force people to do things even if we think that is the best for them. We have to respect their decisions. Also, he is an example of what happens when someone takes away your right to choose. In his case, this action was more painful to outsiders like his grandfather because Lucas could not remember what he lost and that it was involuntary.

Lastly, the third point of view is hidden between the chapters of this book. When I found out about it, I marveled at the inventive skills of the author. We all know that Yena and Lucas have known each other since they were kids, but we do not know the whole story. Nonetheless, the book tells us that story, but in a peculiar way. Between Yena and Luca’s points of view, there are chapters with object names that tell the story of both main leads. The interesting part is that the narrator of these chapters is not one of them, and neither is an outsider. Those chapters are narrated from the point of view of the objects related to those specific memories. That is why we have chapters like the first one in which a popcorn machine narrates how little Yena and little Lucas met. So, this book proposes that memories are related to objects and sounds.

Meet Me at Blue Hour was a book I did not expect, but I was grateful for having the opportunity to read it. The author invites us to reflect on the importance and impact of memories on the individual and those around them. I did not expect to be so immersed in the reading that, in some parts, I had to hold back the tears because I was reading in public. Sometimes, I asked myself what I would do if I were in Yena’s shoes, and someone I loved decided to erase me from his life. Like almost all the characters, I found myself in a mix of emotions that went from being mad to being hurt to ending up sad. That is why if you are looking for a story out of the ordinary and entertaining this is the best choice.

What if memory erasing is a thing….?

This book truly has heart and is a nostalgic read….

It takes place in Busan, South Korea, featuring Yena, spending the summer with her mother, Dr. Bae, the founder of Sori Clinic, which is renowned for erasing memories through sound…Her mother was worried she was too carefree in life and was disinterested in anything. Ironically, she bumps into Lucas Pak, her childhood best friend who she used to crush on whom she lost touch with 4 years ago and realizes that he has completely forgotten about her. Lucas is visiting his grandfather in Busan, who was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's. He has been hunting for ways to help his grandfather and finds out about Sori Clinic’s new study on recovering memories. He was hoping to enroll his grandfather there. As the study is full, Yena offers to help Lucas get a spot as she wants to help him, having known his grandfather…Will the reconnection lead to questions being answered about why Lucas’s memory of Yena is missing, or will it lead to heartache?

Told from the perspective of both Yena and Lucas with some interludes of sounds representing their relationship, which was used to take away Lucas’ memories - it makes for a very riveting read. It was so beautiful to see how Lucas and Yena's friendship came together in a medley of sounds. It is also so joyful and sad to see Lucas and Yena still gravitating to each other with the heartache of remembrance and the confusion of loss…Their togetherness is just lovely; their romance is so sweet yet so heart-wrenching at the same time. It’s just beautiful to watch Lucas fall for Yena again.

I could not stop reading, wanting to know what happened next. The writing was so captivating…I could “hear” the sounds of the train, the clatter of the fish market, the chimes of the bamboo forest and the lapping of waves - it feels so vivid in my mind!

Yena is a relatable character; after “losing” Lucas, she was bumbling along with no direction in life, internally afraid of living for fear of facing loss…I want to hug her so badly whenever I hear how lonely she feels, especially when she comes from a divorced family where her parents never put her first. I cheered so much for her when she finally told her mum and dad how she truly felt and would set boundaries whenever they “used” her against each other. Lucas, gosh, you can’t help but love his character! Even though he has forgotten Yena, he still feels so connected to her and can’t help but care for her. His love for his grandfather is admirable!

This book also juggles the ethics of memory erasing, and the author presents it from multiple perspectives. It’s neither good nor bad, and it highlights how important memories are the consequences the people who remember have to the people who lose their memories…and the reason people choose to erase their memories rather than live with them…

This beautiful read touches on familial relationships, memory loss, mental diseases (Alzheimer's), grief and most of all, love, with some elements of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Past Lives thrown into it.

Thank you, NetGalley and HarperCollins, for the e-ARC.

Genre 📚: YA Contemporary, Sci-fi, Romance
Tropes 💁‍♀️: Friends to lovers, Amnesia (à la Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind)
Rep ✔️: Korean-Canadian main characters
CW ⚠️: PTSD, Loved one with Alzheimer’s, brief discussions of grief and abuse
Rating ⭐️: 5/5

The idea of intentional amnesia has always scared me. It’s hard enough to hold on to memories, so why would we want to get rid of them on purpose? At the same time, knowing all the emotional pain the past can bring, I understand the appeal — which is what makes Meet Me at Blue Hour and its concept so compelling.

FMC Yena Bae is in Busan, South Korea to work at her mother’s groundbreaking memory erasure clinic. And there, she runs into MMC Lucas, the childhood best friend who disappeared from her life years ago. The real kicker? He doesn’t remember her. He’s had her entire existence erased, and she doesn’t know why. Of course, Lucas doesn’t know why either, so it’s hard for Yena to be completely upset with him. I’m glad that we got both of their POVs, so we could experience Lucas’s innocent confusion and Yena’s messy mix of emotions.

The erasure clinic uses recorded sounds linked to certain memories, and the hope is that they can use the same method for memory recovery. Author Sarah Suk included a few chapters in the POV of sounds linked to Yena and Lucas’s memories — a unique and endearing way to present flashbacks. The more I got to know these characters, the more I loved them, and I was desperate to find out what tore them apart. The mystery of it all, though somewhat predictable, was well-executed and unraveled into a satisfying ending.

It’s corny as hell but I’m gonna say it anyway… Not even a memory wipe could make me forget this book. It’s that good.

I really really wanted to give this five stars just because of how much I adore The Space Between Here and Now but alas.

Sarah Suk just comes up with the most genius and creative books ever. LIKE BEING ABLE TO ERASE MEMORIES USING SOUNDS?! LIKE HELLO!? THATS SO COOL.

So to say the concept of this book is great would be an understatement. But that was far from the only great thing. The writing? beautiful. The characters? Flawless. The descriptions about food? I was salivating throughout the entire novel.

The romance was pretty cute, I love a good childhood friends to lovers and their little adventures were oh so fun to read about.

My only big complaint is that this book was missing its substance, I don’t know how to explain it but the The Space Between Here and Now was so emotional and impactful whereas this one after I finished it I could easily move on from my life.

YA done right. Quick to read, but packs an emotional punch.

Multi-faceted story that's part romance, part speculative. Sometimes fun, sometimes serious. Very sweet, but also sad. The characters aren't perfect, but they navigate their emotions with kindness. It was so refreshing to read a book with gold standard communication and conflict resolution. All of that, and.. it's genuinely entertaining!

The science surrounding memory erasure/recovery doesn't hold up under scrutiny. If you're looking for a lot of technical/medical explanation, you won't find it. This is more about the personal repercussions and benefits of this new technology on individuals and families.

It excels at putting the reader in the thought space - what would I do if this was me?

Just a very heartwarming and thought provoking reading experience. I look forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collin’s for the advance copy.

A breathtaking combination of contemporary Science fiction, YA and romance, Meet me at Blue Hour hit places I didn’t know existed. I was almost immediately lost in the internal debate of would I? Or wouldn’t I? The book is a poignant and relevant take on scary societal possibilities and the pain of being young. I would recommend.

4.5 stars

Imagine a technology that could erase unwanted memories… In Meet Me at Blue Hour, such technology is a reality, using sounds recorded on a cassette tape.

This story was very thought-provoking and had a unique feel to it. It really dives into the "what if" scenario of this fictional technology, highlighting both the advantages and negative repercussions that come with it. There's an impact not only for those that are erasing memories, but the other people who are connected to them and shared the memories. Even a day after finishing the book I can feel the impact of the message it had.

In addition to the first person accounts of Yena and Lucas, our two main characters, we also have chapters that are narrated by objects that made sounds tied to memories, such as a lawnmower or ice cream truck. They almost feel like witness testimonials. It was such an interesting way to portray that aspect of the story, and I liked the added depth it seemed to give.

This story definitely had a sad undertone to it, but I enjoyed the main characters and their growth through the book. I wasn't expecting some of the directions things went along the way, which only added to my enjoyment of the story as a whole.

Thank you to HarperCollins Children's Books, Quill Tree Books, and NetGalley for the advance review copy of Meet Me at Blue Hour! I truly enjoyed the book and have provided my honest opinions.

Sarah Suk does it again in a brilliant new YA full of emotion, teen angst, and beautiful writing. Sarah spins a story that's both engrossing and easily accessible. An author who never disappoints!

This young adult book (13 and up) is set primarily in South Korea, centered around one of the protagonist’s mother’s clinic, Sori of Us Clinic (Sori Clinic run by Dr. Bae), a memory removal center. When Yena Bae, Dr. Bae’s daughter, comes to the clinic to work for the summer from her home with her dad in Canada, she is troubled by memories herself; memories mostly of her best friend and possibly first love, Lucas, who seemingly dumped her and disappeared when he moved to another province of Canada. All attempts at contact were met with silence. Years later she still remembers Lucas, and working in her mother’s “mixtape archive” in the clinic, runs across a mix of sounds that remind her exactly of her times with Lucas. Could it be a coincidence? The tape turns out to be his. How could he have possibly wanted to remove all memories of her? Why?

When she meets Lucas by accident outside the clinic, the mystery deepens, as do her memories of their time together and her longing to have him as her best friend again. Perhaps more than a friend…. Lucas remembers nothing of her existence. Can she remind him? What would happen to him?

And what about Lucas’s grandfather, whom Lucas wants to participate in the clinic’s new retrieval of memories study they are proposing to do. Can Lucas get his grandfather into the already booked-up study before he has to go back to Canada? Yena wants to help but can’t reveal herself as knowing the family previously.

In getting to know Lucas, Yena learns more about herself, her own memories, and what the Sori Clinic is really doing and has done in the past.

Sprinkled with chapters told from the point of view of the memory soundscape tapes themselves (a popcorn machine, a film projector, an ice cream truck, etc.), chapters alternate between Yena and Lucas. The mechanism of memory being tied to sounds isn’t a new one in neuroscience, it’s used to good purpose here and is easily accessible to younger readers. The twist in the book isn’t what you think it will be, and the characters are well drawn. Altogether an engaging read, a quick read, and a satisfying book. I would recommend this to any young adult interested in stories about relationships (both romantic and friendship), Korean culture and food (which is used lightly but to very good effect), and what makes us us — our memories.

The book description caught my eye immediately, and I was so excited to get an ARC for it. This is the first book I’ve ever read by Sarah Suk, and it was an interesting one too.

Her writing style is phenomenal. I loved chapters of their sounds coming to life, giving us the background of our characters in such a different way. Once I started the book, I wasn’t able to stop.

I loved the Sci-Fi aspect of it all too. The idea of a clinic that can erase and bring back memories is such an interesting and unique concept that Suk brings to life incredibly well.

I really enjoyed the dual POV’s because seeing Yena’s grief of realizing her best friend forgot about her and seeing Lucas realize there’s something about Yena that’s extremely familiar was incredibly to dive into.

Yena and Lucas reconnecting made my heart hurt, especially when looking in through Yena’s perspective. Their story was beautiful and one I will never be able to forget. This book made me extremely emotional, and I loved it.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC, and thank you to Sarah Suk for this incredible book.