A great story of targeting ptsd type emotions and deleting them so people can ,move forward without severe emotions debilitating them including heartbreak. A semi sci-fi story of this being done supposedly prematurely and then resolving over many years. I liked the way emotions were expressed, they discussed love vs non love a lot, and progress made in relationships. A touching story.

⭐️

I found this book on NetGalley and didn’t realize it was a “read now” of a book that was released in 2023. I thought the title sounded interesting and the cover was pretty. It’s been on my TBR for a while, so I decided to dive in.

First off, it’s a thick one, almost 600 pages. I love long books as long as they keep me interested. I felt, however, this book was about 300 pages too long. I read the first 400 pages and skimmed the rest. I was extraordinarily close to DNFing.

First off, I thought this book would focus on the main characters, Cooper and Jethro. Cooper has a sister who was introduced who I thought would be a secondary character, but Harriet and her husband, Eddsy. They have their own issues going on.

The premise of the book is that Cooper comes home to find Jethro in their bed with another woman. She flips out and runs away to her sisters and gets in an accident along the way. Cooper closes herself off and doesn’t talk to anyone. She falls into a deep depression and despair. She comes across a new treatment for patients with PTSD that cause part of their memory to be deleted. She thinks that maybe if she can delete her love for Jethro, she can have peace. So she goes through with it. Deleted her love for Jethro. Only, she NEVER talked to Jethro about it. She soon learns that she didn’t catch Jethro with another woman, it was in fact their son, Daniel (also, why was their sun sleeping with his girlfriend IN his parents bed? I don’t find much disturbing, but somehow this weirded me out!). Cooper freaks out and wants the treatment reversed, but it’s not possible. This went on forever and ever too long.

There was a part of the story where Harriet and Eddsy also had super shitting communication skills. Apparently her could father kids, but Harriet wanted them. He felt he let her down. One day he walks into an adoption agency and looks to see if that is an option for him and Harriet. He gets hopeful about his meeting, but is too chicken shit to talk about Harriet about it so instead does nothing.

These characters piss me off and their stories should have been separated. Also, the book had a podcast every few chapters that interrupted the story so much, it was awful and I couldn’t wait to be done with this book! Ugh it was a painful, drawn out read!

Love Deleted makes you think of what you would do if you experienced a traumatic heartbreak and were given the opportunity to erase away all of the emotions you have for the person that caused you pain. It is a lengthy novel, but the chapters are very short. They change perspectives between the main characters and also have chapters that feature a podcast about the main component of the plot. I really enjoyed the twist in the story that occurred almost halfway through. For me, that changed the tone of the whole novel and really improved it going forward. The characters often said or did something that bugged me though. I enjoyed it for what it was and thought the author did a great job with his debut book. I will be looking for more of his work in the future.

Thanks to NetGalley, Paul Indigo, and Random Word Media for allowing me to read a copy of Love Deleted in the return of an honest review.

"Love Deleted" by Paul Indigo is a novel of sheer human talent-thought-provoking and remarkable. The story revolves around Cooper, who experiences life-altering events one evening as she gets home before time when she experiences a scene that tears her whole world apart. In desperation, she discovers a website that markets a radical solution: a surgery to delete her love for her husband, Jethro. As Cooper embarked on this journey, the repercussions of the decision spiralled out of control, not only affecting the relationship she had built with Jethro but also their teenage son, Daniel.

Indigo skillfully develops his characters so that they become relatable and multi-dimensional. Cooper's emotional turmoil and her journey from heartbreak to desperation are portrayed with depth and sensitivity. Jethro's struggle to understand and cope with Cooper's decision adds layers to his character, while Daniel's perspective provides a poignant look at the impact of his parents' choices on their family.

Indigo's writing style is very engaging and fluid, effortlessly blending romance and thriller elements. His use of vivid descriptions and emotional depth keeps readers hooked from the first page to the last. The narrative is well-paced, with tension building steadily as the story unfolds.

The novel explores themes of love, loss, and the ethical implications of tampering with human emotions. It raises questions about the nature of love and whether it is something that can or should be controlled or erased. The story also explores the consequences of making rash decisions in moments of emotional vulnerability.

Indigo utilizes several literary techniques, with foreshadowing, flashbacks, and multi-perspective being among the prominent ones. These enhance the story at different levels and help build a comprehensive inside view of a character's inner world.

The pacing of "Love Deleted" is thus balanced with certain moments of intense emotion and quieter, reflective sections. The novel is structured cohesively, so that each chapter forms a perfect buildup to the previous one, leading to a well-narrated story. Readability is high, and the book can be easily read by a lot of people.

This novel is a power-house of a thinker, bringing along with it many questions of what love truly means and whether a human can have their feelings erased. "Love Deleted" combines romance and thriller elements very tastefully in such a page-turner novel.

I would, therefore, suggest "Love Deleted" to whoever loves a beautiful love story twisted with some surprise, as well as those with interest in debating the ethical problems created by innovations in medical science. It's a different yet engaging read which will keep reminding you of yourself long after turning the last page.

A heart warming story that make me feel all of the feelings. But I can not stand the miscommunication trope that is a big part of this book. Just talk to each other! But then there would be no book. It's a catch 22 because I still loved the writing.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to review a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What if you could delete the biggest hurt of your life and just experience happiness all the time?
Love Deleted by Paul Indigo is a masterpiece. I loved this book and didn't want it to end.
I can't wait to read everything this author writes in the future.
Wow! What a fabulous book! What fabulous characters and what a story that will stay with me for a very long time.
I will be on the lookout for anything and everything he writes. This is a debut novel that gets everything right.

This is an unusual novel in a positive way – well-crafted, informative, and provocative. It explores the meaning of love that challenges the fairytale, happily-ever-after, romantic version held in such high regard in western culture.

Cooper and Jethro, childhood friends, have been married for twenty years and remain deeply in love. When she discovers what she perceives as a devastating betrayal, Cooper takes a drastic step to end her heartbreak with unforeseen consequences.

A secondary love story explores the relationship between Harriet (Cooper’s sister) and her husband Eddsy. While successful in their joint business venture, each harbors the disappointment of being unable to conceive and establish their longed-for large family.

The structure of the story is woven in an interesting format. It alternates between not only the points of view of the main characters but also includes interviews from a sequence of podcast transcripts which describe the technological procedure (optogenetics) that Cooper undergoes.

The writing style is unique and drew me into the story once I adjusted to the rhythm. I appreciated the wisdom and insights into the nature of love and was gratified with the ending. The issues of infidelity, mental illness and infertility are significant life challenges, but they were compounded by the breakdown of communication between people who genuinely care for each other.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

I really enjoyed this as a romance novel, it had that element that I was looking for and was glad everything worked with what I was looking for. The characters had that feel that I was looking for and enjoyed how realistic they were written. Paul Indigo has a strong writing style and am excited for more.

this was a really good book! it had twists and turns that I was not expecting in this type of book. I liked the way this book made me think, and have an open perspective. I think this would make a great book for a book club too

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

This book was a different experience. And I am a bit shook by how much I enjoyed it. I was definitely hooked. This book has multiple POV's so its hard to narrow down an exact number and I don't even want to try. It is also told from the third person.

It mainly follows four characters, Eddsy and Harriet, and Cooper and Jethro. Both couples have been married for years. Harriet and Cooper are sisters. Both struggle with mental health although Cooper deals with it a bit more intensely. Eddsy is a mechanic who loves the fuck out of his wife. They own multiple shops but one of the issues in their marriage is the inability to have children. Jethro and Cooper are in the music industry. Jethro a musician and Cooper works in audio. They have a college aged son named Daniel. Cooper walks in one day by accident and feels so betrayed by Jethro that she falls into a deep depression. She looks every which way for a way to get over it, get over him. On a last ditch effort she finds the Gateway Program who can wipe emotions linked to a certain person.

This writing style was so incredibly different. I was a bit annoyed by it at first but the farther in I got to the book the more I realized it kind of fit the story perfectly. The intense amount of repetition added so severely to the emotions that I started to appreciate how the author chose to write this book. It does take some getting used to though.

There are some heavy themes in this book such as depression, suicide, infidelity, and infertility. Through this book, however, the love these characters have for one another is so beautiful and at the same time so destructive. The in between chapters that contained a podcast with the two doctors involved was artfully done.

The biggest issue these characters had was miscommunication. I think it came down to the idea of love as such an amazing emotion while also viewing some of the downfalls of love. It becomes a blind spot to many. Like Eddsy and Harriet wanted the same things but wouldn't voice it to each other for the sake of hurting each other in the end to just have waisted many many years. Jethro and Cooper's situation blew so far out of control. I honestly didn't see that switch up coming though. If I was Daniel I would be so heavily wracked with guilt. I felt so bad for him. But in the end, the situation that caused so much destruction ended up being a blessing in disguise.

I absolutely fell in love with Cooper's growth. The woman she became at the end of the book was magnificent. Honestly, this is one of the few books where you see such tremendous character growth in multiple characters. The ending was beautiful.

If you're up for something different, definitely check out this book.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

Paul Indigo’s Love Deleted is a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant story that explores the intersections of technology, memory, and the human heart. With its compelling premise and richly drawn characters, this novel offers a unique blend of speculative fiction and heartfelt romance.

The story delves into the complexities of relationships and how our memories shape our identities and connections. Indigo’s writing is sharp and evocative, balancing the emotional depth of the protagonist’s journey with the intriguing ethical questions raised by the story’s central technology. The concept of erasing love—and the consequences of that choice—is explored with nuance and care, making this a novel that lingers in your mind long after you’ve finished reading.

The pacing is steady, with just enough tension to keep readers engaged while allowing room for introspection. The characters are layered and relatable, their struggles and growth adding depth to the narrative. While some aspects of the plot feel slightly predictable, the originality of the concept and the emotional payoff more than make up for it.

Love Deleted is a poignant and gripping read that will appeal to fans of speculative romance and stories that challenge our perceptions of love, memory, and identity. Paul Indigo has crafted a story that’s both innovative and deeply human—a rare combination that’s hard to resist.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this one. The characters were well written, and I loved the fact that you got to experience multiple points of view. Warning that there are moments of heartbreak that will tear you up, but it was a good experience. It was a unique book that delved into love and it's meaning. I will be recommending this one to others. I also look forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you Net Galley ARC

This was such an interesting read and has a womens fiction vibe to it. The premise of the book was fascinating and heartbreaking for all the characters.

I loved getting the multiple POVs and the podcast notes gave it a richer feel.

This story has so much heartache that could have been avoided with a single conversation but the repercussions cause an exploration of the real meaning of love and relationships.