The Once and Future Me
A Novel
by Melissa Pace
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Pub Date Aug 19 2025 | Archive Date Sep 19 2025
Henry Holt & Company | Henry Holt and Co.
Description
Dark Matter meets Girl, Interrupted in this gripping psychological thriller about a young woman teetering on the edge of reality.
Virginia, 1954. When a woman wakes on a patient transport bus arriving at Hanover State Psychiatric Hospital, she remembers nothing of her life before that moment, none of the dark things she must’ve seen and done that forged her into the skillful and cunning fighter she is. Doctors tell her she’s Dorothy Frasier, a paranoid schizophrenic, committed for her violent delusions. She’s certain they’re wrong—until disturbing visions of a dystopian future in which frantic scientists urge her to complete “the mission” and save mankind begin to invade her reality.
Believing it’s Hanover causing the hallucinations, she tells no one and focuses only on escaping—until there’s a visitor. A man whose loving face—and touch—she remembers, a man who knows all about her visions, because he’s spent years helping her cope with them: her husband, Paul Frasier.
Now she’s sure of nothing, caught between two realities. Believe in the future, and she might save the world. Believe in her husband and doctors’ plans for her treatment, and she might save herself. She needs answers, but to get them she’ll have to face the darkness inside her and use it as she risks her freedom, her mind, and ultimately her life in a heart-stopping quest for the truth.
Advance Praise
"A thrilling, genre-bending, and addictive read! The Once and Future Me is a page turner with a fascinating cast of characters and a feminist twist. I couldn’t put it down!"
—Amy Tintera, New York Times bestselling author of Listen for the Lie
"A truly spectacular psychological thriller about memory and identity that will absolutely blow your mind. With twists, turns and a premise to die for - stop what you’re doing now and read this book!"
—Matthew Blake, International bestselling author of Anna O
Available Editions
EDITION | Other Format |
ISBN | 9781250358677 |
PRICE | $29.99 (USD) |
PAGES | 384 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews

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.

Outstanding debut novel by Melissa Pace! I absolutely loved this book. Very engaging and had me hooked from the start. I love the unreliable narrator and as the truth becomes clear the stakes get higher. This book was exhilarating and had me on the edge of my seat. I could not put it down! I can’t share too much of the plot without spoilers. I urge you to dive into this book blind and enjoy every page. A true psychological thriller!
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