The Memory Collectors is one of those thought-provoking novels that will have you thinking deeply about what you'd do if you were in the characters' shoes. It was such an amazing read with so many emotions packed into one powerful punch! This author is definitely one to look out for in every bookshop!

Would you say yes if allowed an hour of time in the past, to relive a memory? Many people would likely puff up their chests with pride and say no, that the past implies having regrets and we should all focus on the present and future. If you can't change what's done, why does it matter? This story addresses these questions and so much more, with an insight I found extremely refreshing and a narrative that was often jerking between heartbreak and hope.

"Everything we do, everything that happens to us -good or bad- relies on a million little moments in the past. We fool ourselves if we believe that we control every moment."

Reading this, you will bounce between several points of view, immersed in lives that are deeply rooted in love and so full of life that you can't help wishing the best for each character. Meserve weaves these lives together in a way that leans much more toward fate than coincidence. I absolutely would recommend this book to others, even if it is to take a pause and reflect on which moments in your life that would be a mind-blowing memory to experience all over again, for better or worse.

I am extremely thankful to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the ARC and the opportunity to share my honest opinion on The Memory Collectors.

I love this book! The way each chapter is written with the distinctive first hand voice of each different character. Each person in this story is relatable, flawed, likeable... I really enjoyed this one! 

I especially liked the parts told from the point of view of someone who was paralysed and couldn't walk in real life, but they could walk in the simulation. 

5/5 fantastic. 

Thank you to Dete Meserve and Netgalley for the ARC.

“But I see now that each of us is going on roads only we can see.”

The Memory Collectors is a gripping speculative mystery that reminds us that the world is rarely black and white. There are multiple perspectives and sides to a story beyond the one we hold—after all, each of us is indeed going on roads only we can see.

It also emphasizes that there’s very little we can control, encouraging us to focus on the elements we can influence. And of course, it serves as a reminder to be still and fully live in every moment.

The story centers around four strangers who get sent to the past and find themselves stuck on the one day their lives changed forever. Elizabeth longs to relive one more hour with her son who died in an accident. Andy is desperate to find his vanished first love. Logan wishes he could use his limbs again after being paralyzed in an accident. Brooke is haunted by crippling guilt for the past three years.

The concept of time travel has always fascinated me, and I’m impressed by the creativity with which it was handled in this book. Even though it covers substantial themes like grief, forgiveness, and second chances, it does so with an engaging and imaginative plot.

I also enjoyed the multiple POVs and piecing together how everything connects. It was really hard to put down!

The genre-bending quality of the book is quite remarkable and a testament to the author’s talent. It takes great skill to pull it off just right.

This was a fantastic read. The story is the perfect length, and the plot is deeply satisfying and memorable.

Thanks to @netgalley and @crookedlanebooks for providing me with this ARC. I loved this one!

I really enjoyed this. Science fiction where people travel back to their past. It is twisty in a good way and gives food for thought. An enjoyable read. Thank you to the author. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

I really enjoed this book. It was a little difficult to keep up with who everyone was and their individual stories at the beginning, but once the connections started to be made, I was hooked. I definitely didn't see some of those relationships coming and the twists really surprised me.

Brilliant! My first tip when reading this book, is pay close attention to the characters. There are several points of view that are very important to the overall story. I ended up with a sticky note with the four main characters and how they relate to one another.

What a cool and unique concept! I have never read anything quite like it. The thought of going back in time for 60 minutes to a point in your life is very interesting! The way the author twisted the time travel made it even more compelling! I don't want to give anything away, but the story evolves and you will never guess what happens next!

I appreciate the opportunity to read this ARC, thank you to Crooked Lane Publishing, Dete Meserve and NetGalley for this!

The Memory Collectors is a gripping speculative mystery where four strangers are given the chance to time-travel and revisit a pivotal hour from their past. Elizabeth wants one last moment with her lost son, Andy is chasing a vanished love, Logan misses his life before an accident, and Brooke is haunted by guilt. Full of hope, mystery, and emotion, this story explores how one moment can change everything.

Admittedly, I felt a bit overwhelmed at first, jumping between four narratives in the first few chapters—all starting their journeys with Aeon Expeditions and reflecting on how quickly 60 minutes would fly by. But by the second round of narrations, I started to feel more comfortable. While the narrative style doesn’t change between characters, each of their stories stands out in its own way.

The story really took off about a third of the way in. The first part flew by—I found myself breezing through 100 pages in no time—but I hadn’t fully sunk into the plot yet. Then came the second third... Suddenly, my surroundings faded away, and I was half-listening to my boyfriend talk, only humming in response as my eyes raced through the pages.

“We don’t change time. But time changes us.”

This book hit me with a whirlwind of emotions. It covered so much in what felt like so few pages, yet nothing felt underdeveloped. Would I have liked to linger a bit longer before everything unraveled? Absolutely! But that’s probably because I was enjoying uncovering the connections so much. It’s rare to find such a gripping story packed into a short 300-page read.

I can’t wait for this book to be published so more readers can experience it!

Thanks to the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, for providing an ARC copy through Netgalley! All opinions are my own.