Whew, what a roller coaster of a book! I came across this title on LitHub's most anticipated of 2025 because they said, and I quote, "This book will blow your mind!!!!"

Ok, so it didn't BLOW my mind completely but I had a lot of fun reading it! Set in a mental hospital in 1954, a woman wakes up with no memory of who she is. But she knows details about the future and every now again, gets sucked into a time vortex to 2035. Is she a time traveler, or does she have an illness that means she should be in the mental hospital for real? I'll never tell!

i was genuinely surprised by some of the twists, and also saw some of them coming from a mile away. But this book is different than most, the author has a singular voice, and I just NEED there to be a sequel! What more can I say without spoilers?

This wild ride of a book hooked me from the START. I loved how slowly and then all at once the main character began to unravel the truth. It was engaging, exhilarating, sharp. This book contained multitudes that I wasn't fully prepared for, indulging us with a mix of dystopian fiction and psychological thriller. An incredible book, I seriously can't wait til it's out! Thank you so much for my advanced copy. I will 100% be telling all my friends about this

Book Review: A Thought-Provoking but Uneven Time-Travel Thriller

This debut novel delivers an ambitious blend of psychological thriller, time-travel mystery, and dystopian suspense. The premise is gripping—think Dark Matter meets Girl, Interrupted, with a Black Mirror edge. It pulls readers into a tense narrative that keeps them questioning what’s real and what’s illusion. However, while the story is compelling overall, its pacing and structure leave a bit to be desired.

The first quarter of the book drags, spending too much time on the “is she crazy, or is she really a time traveler?” trope. While it helps build tension, it overstays its welcome before finally launching into the true heart of the story. Once the protagonist starts unraveling her identity and navigating 1954, the novel hits its stride. Her time with the deputy is particularly engaging, adding emotional depth and intrigue—I only wish we got more of it.

Unfortunately, the ending feels rushed and unresolved. Instead of a satisfying conclusion, readers are left either piecing together their own ending or hoping for a sequel. While open-ended stories can be thought-provoking, this one teeters too far into unfinished territory, making it frustrating rather than impactful.

Despite these flaws, the novel is impressive for a first-time author. The concept is fresh, the execution is mostly strong, and the psychological elements add a unique layer to the time-travel genre. If a sequel is in the works, I’d gladly pick it up—but I’ll have to make sure I remember all the details of this one when I do.

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.