4.5 stars rounded up. Stacy Willingham can do no wrong in my opinion. Her thrillers are face-paced and so well-written that I’m immediately sucked in and can’t put them down.

Forget Me Not is no exception. A southern family saga thriller, this book is sure to be a huge hit when it’s released.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!

Talk about a phenomenal book! This was a perfectly written slow burn thriller. I absolutely loved as the puzzle pieces started to fall into place later in the book. I thoroughly enjoyed the twists in this book. I was very surprised by them & they proved my initial theory to be wrong. I enjoyed how believable this book was, the characters were very well developed & the setting was so well described it felt like I was watching a movie play out in my head.

Thank you NetGalley & Minotaur books for this ARC!

Forget Me Not, by Stacy Willingham, is another thoroughly gripping novel by one of my favorite authors. After resigning from her job as a journalist, Claire reluctantly returns home to care for her ill mother. She passes the time by working at a vineyard, unexpectedly getting sucked back into the mystery surrounding her older sister's disappearance over two decades ago. A roll of undeveloped film & a hidden journal provide clues she can't help but follow. Beautifully written, propulsively told. Highly recommend!!!!!

From beginning to end, I was not able to put this book down. Not only was the plot gripping and had my with my jaw on the ground in some places, but Willingham's writing is so engaging that I found myself lost in the world she created. I will definitely be recommending this book!

I’m pretty sure I have binged all of Stacy Willingham’s previous books, this latest being no exception! This thriller has a bit of a small town southern vibe to it and involves the disappearance ruled murder of a teenage girl from 22 years ago and her sister in the present.

Journalist Claire Campbell was only a preteen when she lost her sister and has now returned to her hometown for the first time in decades. Feeling a bit lost with work and life, she finds herself working at the same farm her sister, Natalie, worked at the summer she disappeared. As Claire begins to settle into her new job, she discovers a mysterious diary and then begins to wonder if things from the past played a role in what happened to her sister and to more recent occurrences as well.

The plot moved along quickly here and was so addicting that I had a difficult time putting it down once started. I loved getting the snippets of the diary entries and trying to piece together how the events of the past led to later scenarios. I definitely had my own detective hat on and had my own guesses to things and while some of it was a tad more predictable than others, there were still other surprising moments that were revealed.

This was a story where there are many hidden secrets and layers that need to be peeled to get to the core of it all. Because as the story progressed it became a bit more sinister with cult-y undertones and some seriously messed up actions and people!

If you are looking for an atmospheric but suspenseful thriller this summer, you will want to bookmark this and add to your TBR!

This book delivered everything we’ve come to expect from Stacy Willingham: twists and turns at every corner.

Forget Me Not had me hooked from the get-go and I couldn’t put it down! Definitely recommend for my fellow thriller fans.

4⭐️

Stacy Willingham’s ‘Forget Me Not’ is a captivating psychological thriller that transports readers to a small town brimming with secrets and unreliable memories. The narrative follows Claire, a woman returning to her hometown to unravel the truth behind a traumatic event from her past. As she delves into the murky depths of her memory, Claire must confront the intricate relationships in her life while questioning her own perceptions of reality.

Willingham’s descriptive writing is a standout feature, skillfully crafting a tense and atmospheric setting that draws readers into the unfolding mystery. The vivid details of Claire’s world enhance the slow-burning suspense, making the unfolding mystery feel palpable. However, the pacing may feel slower in the initial half, which could test some readers’ patience. Though the novel’s pace might feel leisurely to some, the payoff is gratifying. The twists and tension that unfold in the final act provide a satisfying resolution, making *Forget Me Not* an enthralling read for fans of slow-burn thrillers and psychological suspense.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this e-ARC!!

She’s done it again, folks.

I read a ton of thrillers, and Stacy Willingham’s always hit that sweet spot of fast-paced and unputdownable, but also beautifully written with layered, complex characters. Forget Me Not has all the intrigue of a popcorn thriller, but with vivid prose that pulls you in from the jump and doesn't let up until the last page.

Twenty-two years ago, Claire Campbell’s older sister, Natalie, disappeared shortly after her eighteenth birthday. Days later, her blood was found in a car, a man was arrested, and the case was swiftly closed. Claire has spent decades trying to move on until an unexpected call from her father drags her back home. With an empty summer ahead of her, she takes a seasonal job at Galloway Farm, a muscadine vineyard in coastal South Carolina near where her sister vanished. At first, it seems like the perfect escape, but then Claire stumbles across an old diary written by one of the vineyard’s owners, and what starts as a story of young love and rebellion turns into something much darker. As the diary’s pages reveal unsettling connections to unsolved crimes (and possibly even her sister Natalie’s disappearance), Claire is pulled into an obsessive spiral that threatens to consume her.

The setting? Perfection. A muscadine vineyard drenched in summer heat and secrets. As a Southerner, I could feel the sticky air, but even if you haven’t experienced it, Willingham’s writing makes sure you do. And the imagery? So many details provoked real, visceral reactions—like a vase of dead flowers with cloudy green water. I know that goo. I know that smell. The whole book was packed with sensory moments like that, making it feel all the more immersive.

Atmospheric, suspenseful, and satisfying. I’ll read anything Stacy Willingham writes.

Big thanks to St. Martin's Press - Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the free ARC!

i devoured this. i loved this book so much, it had me hooked from the very beginning all the way through. loved loved loved!!

Stacy Willingham does it again. The queen of thrillers is back. This book did not disappoint, you need to pick it up!

This thriller was exactly what I needed! It was a fast paced story and really gave you little tidbits along the way. I kept wanting to know more and how everything was tied together. Stacy Willingham does a great job with writing imagery and creating a scene that makes you immersed into the story. So many good reveals and things you won't see coming! Well done!

Stacy Willingham does it again, brilliantly creating complex characters and a plot that plays out like a puzzle, coming together in a way that had me counting down until I could pick up the book again!

There’s something about a thriller set in the deep south that I can’t get enough of. I don’t know if it’s the atmosphere, the heat like tension you could cut with a knife, or the social expectations and politeness hiding secrets. If you haven’t already read her other books I can’t recommend them more! A Flicker in the Dark and All the Dangerous Things are 5 ⭐️ thriller reads in my book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an ARC of this book!

Claire Campbell has a strained relationship with her divorced parents and she has held onto some unresolved trauma from her childhood. Claire grew up with an older sister, Natalie. When Natalie was 18 years old, she was murdered. A man was arrested and sentenced for her death.After spending 15 years in New York, Claire Campbell returns home to care for her mother after an accident. All Claire really wants is to feel closer to her sister, so she takes a summer job at Galloway Farms. Claire finds herself wondering quickly who the Galloways really are.

This book is beautifully written. First, the descriptions of the people and places were so perfectly done that I could vividly picture them in my mind. As a reader, I felt like I was at Galloway Farm with Claire. The current day story of Claire and the retelling of Marcia’s diary entries were so intricately weaved together that the switch between the two storylines was seamless. I wanted to devour this book as fast as I could, but at the same time I did not want it to end.

Stacy Willingham has become my favorite mystery/suspense author. The twists and turns Stacy takes the reader on is enough to keep you guessing and not really know what is happening until the end. Forget Me Not has some great surprises that come at you when you are least expecting it. I will be thinking about this book for the foreseeable future.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing this book for review. My review can also be found on Goodreads, http://goodreads.com/sara_chisholm.

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Forget Me Not by Stacy Willingham
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Thriller
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: August 26, 2025

Forget Me Not is a fast-paced, twisty thriller that, once you pick it up, you won't be able to put down!

There IS grooming and troubled youth, so be aware before beginning. Having said that, I loved this book! The pacing was perfect. Going between Claire's POV in the present day and Marcia's in the past, as diary entries, kept me engaged and on the edge of my seat. Multiple twists sprinkled throughout, and I honestly didn't see any coming!

The story wraps up beautifully, and I highly recommend Forget Me Not for your next thriller!

Thank you so much to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the digital review copy!

As a longtime fan, I have been super eager to get my hands on this book. I’m happy to report that it was classic Stacy Willingham.

I came for the backstory and the connections revealed over time, but I stayed for the absolutely unhinged last 20% of the book. It had me gasping and biting my nails and I could not put it down.

As with her other books, you’ll find the first part to be a little more slow burn, and the overall experience more suspenseful than thrilling. I think she writes thrillers that can easily work for readers who aren’t looking to be TOO spooked.

Thank you, Minotaur Books and NetGalley, for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's for an ARC of this book.

I wanted to like this so much. I usually read this author's books and enjoy them (as was the case with the last one). However, this one was just so beyond ridiculous. I cannot stand the trope of the MC getting herself out of a dangerous situation and going about being her own detective. This book just didn't do it for me and Claire actually got on my nerves. Sorry!

I would risk it all for stacy willingham & anything she writes!! she just knows how to get those plot twists in there with just enough hints to keep the reader guessing - and a bingeable, fast-paced, addicting story!

in this one, the plot focuses on claire, returning home after her mother injures herself and gets re-invested in her sister’s cold case 😶 and let me tell you, there’s something about cold cases that always gets my blood pumping!! it’s the unsolved mysteries girlie in me 💀

the vibes around the small town & galloway farms were a mix of THE LAST HOUSEWIFE and THE FAMILY UPSTAIRS - and just the right amounts of “off” to get the reader invested and wary of everyone 😳 and boy did I love second guessing every single character!!

while I did guess about half of the plot twists, I found myself enjoying the ride and reveals more than anything! some of the moments were definitely telling rather than showing, especially in the diary entries, but it didn’t distract from the overall writing by much!

a huge thank you to stacy and minotaur for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review! the begging worked!!! 🤭

rating: 4 stars
wine pairing: piedmont moscato

The way I screamed when this ARC landed in my inbox! As a longtime fan of Stacy’s writing, I knew I was in for a treat, and wow, this one exceeded all expectations. Her signature slow-burn southern suspense was on full display, keeping me completely hooked as the tension built with every page.

I flew through this book, completely unable to put it down because I had to know what would happen next. Twists? So many. Turns? Everywhere. Just when I thought I had a grip on where things were going, the story yanked the rug out from under me in the best way possible.

And The Farm? Chilling. The eerie setting had this claustrophobic, almost cinematic quality that seeped into every scene, making me question everything. The atmosphere was thick with unease. If you love psychological thrillers that keep you guessing until the very end, this one needs to be on your TBR immediately. Highly recommend you pick this one up in August!

-Thank you NetGalley for this arc from the author of my favorite thriller (All The Dangerous Things)

This thriller sees our lead following the steps of her sister from 22 years ago, the summer before she died. I will admit that it took me 40% to truly get invested (which is too long) but after that I was hooked and couldn’t put it down. Lots of twists, and pretty messed up 🤣 If you like thrillers read all of Stacy’s books, including this one out this summer!

Forget Me Not by Stacy Willingham follows Claire Campbell, a journalist who has spent decades trying to move on from her sister Natalie’s disappearance. When her father’s unexpected call brings her back home for the summer, Claire takes a job at Galloway Farm, a peaceful vineyard not far from where she grew up. But what starts as a way to pass the time turns into something much darker when she discovers an old diary belonging to one of the vineyard’s owners. The diary, filled with secrets of young love and rebellion, soon hints at something far more sinister—clues that may connect to Natalie’s case. As Claire digs deeper, she becomes increasingly obsessed, unraveling a mystery that threatens to pull her back into the past she’s tried so hard to escape.

I loved this book! I read it in one sitting because I just had to know what would happen next. This is hands down Willingham’s best book yet, packed with twists and turns that caught me completely off guard—and some I was mad at myself for not catching! The dual timelines, the mix of characters, and the atmospheric setting made for an incredible, edge-of-your-seat read. It was so well done and exciting from start to finish. I have nothing but good things to say about this one, and you need to read this and add it to your TBR!

Thank you to @minotaur_books , Stacy Willingham and Netgalley for an arc of this book in exchange for a review!

This book is out August 26, 2025.