I have chosen to round up from a 3.5 that I will be using on other platforms to a 4 star.
Overall I enjoyed the plot of this book. The main character wakes up on a transfer bus to a mental institution with no memory of her identity. Although she is unsure who she is, she is sure she is not the person who is on the ID tag she is wearing. As she struggles to recall who she is and how she got there, memories of a different time keep coming to her mind
Is she a time traveler or is she actually insane?

There were a lot of things I really enjoyed in this book, however some choices with the author's writing style were a little difficult for me to get used to. Whether this was a choice for the character since it was first person pov or whether this is the author's writing style, I couldn't be sure. Many sentences would just leave off the subject pronoun, especially if the sentence would have started with "I." This was consistent enough that it was not a typographical error.

The story kept me engaged and wondering what would happen. The ending was rather open-ended which may be disappointing for readers who like a satisfying conclusion.

Thank you to Net Galley for an ARC of The Once and Future Me in exchange for a fair and honest review.

While I did enjoy the scrappy main character, the book did not work for me in the end. The Once and Future Me aims for a cerebral thriller-mystery but loses focus with too many ideas vying for center stage. I think it would have worked better as a novella or an episode of Black Mirror.

When the book begins, Bix has awoken on a bus in the 1950s on her way to be involuntarily committed to a women's insane asylum with no memories of how she came to be there. She also has a very capable and very brutal voice in her head advising Bix on how to survive.

I tend to be iffy on the asylum topic because it is so often a crutch for bad horror, like American Horror Story (come at me Ryan Murphy). It's a touchy subject. Real asylums, particularly for women, were a maelstrom of abuse. Mental disorders like schizophrenia are often portrayed as either comedic or violent, when the truth is rarely either.

With that being said, there was a dreamlike quality to the beginning of the book that made it work. I thought we might actually be going for a Jacob's Ladder vibe, which I am here for. Even when it became clear that it wasn't, the asylum felt so far removed from reality and historical context that it didn't necessarily bother me.

The book introduces ideas and situations afterwards that did not mesh easily and required a lot of exposition. By the end, the plot becomes quite convoluted. I think this book would have benefited from a more focused edit.

This is not for hard sci-fi readers, although folks who enjoy thrillers with some mystery and dystopian themes may find The Once and Future Me interesting.

I LOVED THIS BOOK! The pacing and the FMC were absolutely spot on – I also thought the Handmaid's Tale-esque elements in 1954 were an incredibly poignant (and relevant, given our current political era) reminder of how far we as women have come and how much we have to lose. I know this book isn't out yet, but I truly can't wait for the sequel! And I think fans of Maze Runner, The Hunger Games, etc. are going to go wild for this one.

My reviews:

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The story starts out with Dorothy Frasier, who believes she is really Bix, being transported to a mental institution. She is sure there is a mix up but continues to wrestle with what she believes is the truth and what the "medical professionals" and her supposed husband tell her. While going through electroshock therapy, she slowly begins to unravel the truth. She has traveled to the 1950's to save the world. She has to find the Dr. who holds the key to the survival of the world and make it back to the future before time runs out all while rediscovering herself and piecing together her past and present. What a roller coaster!

Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for this free eARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Once And Future Me is an exciting and suspenseful novel that follows a woman who wakes up with no memory when she is being admitted to a psychiatric hospital in 1950s America. It is filled with revelatory twists that will keep you turning the pages.

Reading this book was a fun time but not much more than that, and I don’t think I’ll be remembering it in years to come. There were some points (the beginning and the end) when it was hard to put down because of all the action, but it also became boring in spots. The discussion around mental health and sexism is pretty surface-level. It reads like a debut novel writing-wise. That being said, it was still an enjoyable novel.

It wasn't bad for a debut in terms of storytelling and writing! I just think the pacing could have been better because I found myself getting bored at mixed points in the story. It starts strong and then dwindles and then picks back up and then dwindles again. Overall it was a good read and I'm definitely interested in checking out whatever this author puts o it next.

Can’t go wrong when dystopian meets psychological thrillers!
Our main character Dorothy is unreliable all due to her mental illness or does she really have one at all?
This story was good, however, there was a lot of repetitiveness that just weighed the story down more and by the time we got to the end I was ready for it to end.

Melissa Pace's *The Once and Future Me* is a gripping psychological thriller that masterfully intertwines elements of science fiction and feminist literature. The narrative follows a woman who awakens on a bus en route to Hanover State Psychiatric Hospital in 1954, with no recollection of her past. Identified as Dorothy Frasier, a supposed paranoid schizophrenic, she is confronted with a reality that feels inherently wrong. As fragmented memories surface, she experiences episodes that transport her to a dystopian future, where a group of young scientists implores her to locate a doctor in 1954—a figure pivotal to understanding a mysterious entity known as the Guest. This dual-timeline structure keeps readers on edge, questioning the nature of reality and the reliability of memory.

Pace's character development is both intricate and compelling. The protagonist, grappling with her fractured identity, embodies resilience and determination. Her journey of self-discovery is fraught with psychological tension, as she navigates a world that constantly undermines her sense of self. The supporting cast, including the enigmatic scientists and the hospital staff, add depth to the narrative, each playing a crucial role in unraveling the overarching mystery.

The novel's plot is a labyrinthine exploration of time, identity, and the malleability of reality. Pace deftly balances the suspense of a thriller with profound philosophical questions, creating a story that is as thought-provoking as it is entertaining. The pacing is deliberate, allowing for moments of introspection amidst the unfolding drama.

In summary, *The Once and Future Me* is a standout addition to contemporary fiction, offering a unique blend of psychological intrigue and speculative elements. Pace's nuanced character portrayals and intricate plotting make this novel a must-read for those seeking a narrative that challenges perceptions and lingers long after the final page. 4/5 stars.

I really enjoyed this mystery. During there first half of the book, and especially at the beginning, all I could think is "What in the world is going on?" which leads me to read all the faster. Ms. Pace did a great job with the unreliable narrator device. once you do understand what is happening , the pace moves quickly. I look forward to seeing what else Melissa Pace comes up with for a story next. Would love to see this story continued even.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I thought that the segments of the story relating to finding her true identity and escaping the Hospital were wonderfully done and the tension being built was perfect. However, there was something somewhat cheap and juvenile about the timeline relating to her future self. It seemed to me like it there was just a story in the future so we could have something to drive the 1954 narrative. I think this could have been done better, maybe a different government conspiracy or something like that, that could help move the plot along better. I would definitely say this is geared toward younger readers due the juvenile nature of the future plot line of the book.

That being said, there is still a lot to like this book. Peace does an excellent job with the patient locked in the asylum trope and I quite loved it. Definitely wish there was more of it compared to the future timeline which I found to be distracting.

It was almost like Pace was trying to do too much in this one. The future timeline probably could have stood on its as YA dystopian, while the 1954 timeline could have been a good novel by itself with some other factor driving the tension.

Kept me guessing from start to finish. The twists and turns in the plot were unpredictable, making it impossible to put down. However, while the journey was thrilling, the ending felt a bit off—it left me wanting more closure. Overall I enjoyed the journey and would recommend it to others.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book!

I am a huge fan of dystopian and psychological thrillers so I couldn't wait to read this! Dorothy is unreliable because of her mental illness...or does she have one? You'll have to find out! My only complaints are that it was a little repetitive and the ending. Does this mean there will be another one?!? I sure hope so!

This book involves an unreliable narrator (Dorothy) who finds herself at Hanover State Psychiatric Hospital in 1854. As you read this book you find out who Dorothy really is - this is a WTF read (in the best way)!
I did not read an excerpt before starting-so I had no idea what to expect.
While I was reading this- I kept relating aspects of this book to the tv series Ratched.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC..

3.25 stars.

The writing itself was good and the storyline was very original. My interest just wasn’t piqued from the get-go. There were periods where I would become invested in the storyline and the characters but then my attention would wane again. I loved the psychiatric hospital setting and even the time traveler storyline. I think the immediate introduction is what lost my interest.

I received this DRC from NetGalley.

It took me a bit to get into the story, but as it continues, the action ramps up and the faster pace keeps it exciting- right until the end.. where it just stops. Unsatisfyingly. I was ready to give it a higher score before that. All the questions and the reveals kept it interesting as the main character is figuring out what's going on. But then, it just feels so frustrating for it to not come to more of a conclusion. If the point was to be ambiguous, it should have been more ambiguous throughout the book.

The Once and Future Me by Melissa Pace was such a great novel. Very original and thought provoking. I look forward to reading more of her work.

This gripping psychological thriller masterfully blends elements of Black Mirror and Russian Doll with a feminist edge, delivering a riveting tale of identity, survival, and time-twisting intrigue. Set against the eerie backdrop of a 1954 psychiatric hospital, the story follows a protagonist whose memory is blank, yet whose instincts as a steely survivor remain razor-sharp. The layered narrative explores chilling experiments, broken futures, and the enigmatic Guest, creating a haunting yet exhilarating mystery. With sharp twists and a compelling central character, this book keeps you guessing until the last page, making it a must-read for fans of dystopian fiction and psychological thrillers.

It was good in the beginning but I lost interest towards the middle. Maybe it wasn’t the right book for me. I do believe people will enjoy a good sci-fi fantasy but it wasn’t good enough for me. It’s a 2.5!stars for me.

4/5 stars!

Imagine this: you wake up on a bus with no memory of who you or where you are. You don’t even know your name. You’re herded into Hanover State Psychiatric Hospital. You learn that the year is 1954. You’re told your name is Dorothy Frasier, a paranoid schizophrenic committed by the state for your violent delusions. You know none of this is true. You begin to suffer from from a blinding buzzing in your head and awaken in a foreign place attached to wires and are told you are from the year 2035 and have been sent to 1954 to retrieve a strain of a deadly virus that has taken over the world. You are their hope for survival. But suddenly you are ripped back into 1954. As your visions become worse you are transferred to the Unit, a section of the hospital where “treatment” consists of electroshock therapy and lobotomy’s. Finally, you have a visitor. He is a familiar face. He tells you that you are indeed Dorothy and helps with your amnesia by even showing you pictures of the two of you together. Memories start to resurface. The doctor tells you that as a result of your violent tendencies and your inability to act on them in civilized society, your mind has created a future, lawless and desperate society to to satisfy your need to fight and deceive. After being surrounded with other women also suffering from different delusions and finally seeing a familiar face who confirms what the doctors have been saying, what do you believe? That you are indeed Dorothy Frasier, a violent schizophrenic suffering from vivid delusions or an agent sent from the future tasked to save the world?

Wow! This book was a rollercoaster! I feel like some parts of this book were REALLY GOOD and then during other parts I felt there was a lull in the pacing. I was quickly drawn into this story and I truly felt the high stakes environment that was portrayed. Many of the events in Hanover were deeply disturbing and saddening to think this stuff really happened in 1950’s mental hospitals.

The writing was also such a fun time. I really felt like we got to know Bix’s personality very well and I thought her inner monologue was so entertaining and funny.

I will say that the last 25% of the book I wasn’t as engaged with. I felt the ending was very rushed! Some of her decisions in the end weren’t the smartest …. Plus I felt we didn’t get the closure I was hoping for. I felt that there were also a ton of different characters in Hanover and I gave up trying to keep track on the backstory and which nurse was which.

Overall, this was a psychological thriller/dystopian type feel that reminded me of a freaky Black Mirror episode. I would recommend!!

When your only complaint about a novel is that you want MORE world building, you know you have a great novel. I easily could have read hundreds of pages of backstory. A crackling ride through the past and the near future, this feminist thrill ride will leave you wanting more.

This ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.