The Once and Future Me

A Novel

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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 with a feminist twist in this gripping psychological thriller about a young woman teetering on the edge of reality, perfect for fans of dystopian fiction, time travel, and shows like Black Mirror and Russian Doll

Virginia, 1954. When a woman wakes up on a transport bus to Hanover State Psychiatric Hospital, she remembers nothing of her life up to that moment. Doctors tell her she's Dorothy Frasier, a paranoid schizophrenic committed by the state for her violent delusions. She refuses to believe them, but despite her uncanny fighting skills and ability to pick locks and find impossible escape routes, she has no idea who she actually is and no knowledge of any of the dark things she may have seen and done.

Visions begin invading her reality, transporting her to a dystopian future where she is told of her mission, which could help save humanity. She decides not to tell her doctors about the hallucinations or her doubts of her own sanity—until she has a visitor. A man whose concerned, loving face she recognizes; a man her doctors calls her husband, Paul.

Now she is unsure of nothing, but she needs answers—about the future and about Paul and, most important, about herself. To find those answers, she will have to face the darkness inside her as she risks everything in a cat-and-mouse quest for the truth.

Dark Matter meets Girl, Interrupted with a feminist twist in this gripping psychological thriller about a young woman teetering on the edge of reality, perfect for fans of dystopian fiction, time...


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

"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...


Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9781250358677
PRICE $29.99 (USD)
PAGES 384

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Average rating from 40 members


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.

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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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