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The Memory Collectors
Four strangers time travel to the past and find themselves stuck on the day all their lives were changed in this stunning speculative mystery from award-winning film and television producer Dete Meserve, perfect for fans of Before the Coffee Gets Cold, Wrong Place Wrong Time and The Paradox Hotel.
What would you do if you could spend an hour in your past? Four strangers in the beach town of Ventura, California are about to find out.
Elizabeth aches for one more precious hour with her son who died in a senseless accident. Andy is desperate to find his first love who vanished after a whirlwind romance. Logan craves the rush of surfing and mountain climbing, yearning to reclaim the freedom he lost after a misstep landed him in a wheelchair. Brooke is looking for an hour of relief from the guilt of an unforgivable mistake.
Enter Aeon Expeditions, the groundbreaking time travel invention of Mark Saunders—which allows some lucky clients the chance to spend an hour in their past. Even though Aeon’s technology ensures time travel can’t alter the future, all four clients, including Mark’s ex-wife Elizabeth, yearn to revisit the hour that changed their lives forever.
But when their “hour” extends beyond sixty minutes, they find themselves stranded in the past. As their paths intertwine unexpectedly, they unearth shocking secrets hidden in the shadows of their shared All their lives were shattered the same night on a secluded highway by the beach. As they delve into the hidden truths of that pivotal hour, a startling revelation emerges. They were not alone. Someone else was present, harboring deadly intentions.
The Memory Collectors is a heart-wrenching, genre-bending novel brimming with hope, grief and second chances.
What would you do if you could spend an hour in your past? Four strangers in the beach town of Ventura, California are about to find out.
Elizabeth aches for one more precious hour with her son who died in a senseless accident. Andy is desperate to find his first love who vanished after a whirlwind romance. Logan craves the rush of surfing and mountain climbing, yearning to reclaim the freedom he lost after a misstep landed him in a wheelchair. Brooke is looking for an hour of relief from the guilt of an unforgivable mistake.
Enter Aeon Expeditions, the groundbreaking time travel invention of Mark Saunders—which allows some lucky clients the chance to spend an hour in their past. Even though Aeon’s technology ensures time travel can’t alter the future, all four clients, including Mark’s ex-wife Elizabeth, yearn to revisit the hour that changed their lives forever.
But when their “hour” extends beyond sixty minutes, they find themselves stranded in the past. As their paths intertwine unexpectedly, they unearth shocking secrets hidden in the shadows of their shared All their lives were shattered the same night on a secluded highway by the beach. As they delve into the hidden truths of that pivotal hour, a startling revelation emerges. They were not alone. Someone else was present, harboring deadly intentions.
The Memory Collectors is a heart-wrenching, genre-bending novel brimming with hope, grief and second chances.
336 pages, Paperback
First published May 20, 2025
401 people are currently reading
53478 people want to read
About the author
Dete Meserve
7 books715 followersDete Meserve is a best-selling novelist and an award-winning creator and producer of films and television series.
She wrote the screenplay adaptation of her debut novel, Good Sam, and produced it as a feature film for Netflix. (Watch today!)
Inspired by a question posed to readers—"What would you do if you could spend an hour in your past?—" her fifth novel, The Memory Collectors, explores the universal desire to revisit pivotal moments in our lives, whether to reconnect with a loved one, undo a painful mistake, or relive a joyous memory. In this suspenseful and emotional journey, four strangers step back into their pasts only to find themselves trapped in time. A shocking twist forces them to unravel hidden connections between them—uncovering secrets that change everything.
She wrote the screenplay adaptation of her debut novel, Good Sam, and produced it as a feature film for Netflix. (Watch today!)
Inspired by a question posed to readers—"What would you do if you could spend an hour in your past?—" her fifth novel, The Memory Collectors, explores the universal desire to revisit pivotal moments in our lives, whether to reconnect with a loved one, undo a painful mistake, or relive a joyous memory. In this suspenseful and emotional journey, four strangers step back into their pasts only to find themselves trapped in time. A shocking twist forces them to unravel hidden connections between them—uncovering secrets that change everything.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,016 reviews
July 10, 2025
I hate to say it, but this isn't sci-fi. It's more of a mystery/thriller and an overly sappy one at that. And I guess I just wasn't in the mood for such a thing.
The premise is certainly enticing. Four strangers travel to the past to revisit the day their lives changed forever. They were only supposed to be there for an hour, but soon find themselves trapped for days and days. And when their paths start to cross, they realize maybe they aren't the strangers they thought they were.
No complaints from me about the way this story kicked off. I found the initial chapters with the four different characters to be riveting, and I settled in, thinking I was well on my way to a unique and fascinating read. But then as the characters' lives began to intersect, I started to get the feeling that maybe this isn't the mind blowing speculative fiction I thought it was going to be.
The problem is that we start near the end of the timeline, so we already know most of what happens, if not the how. Then we jump three years into the past and slowly fill everything in. This structure makes it so that by about halfway through the book, all the pieces are in place and we have a pretty solid idea of how it will all play out. After that, there are no more surprises. From then on, the book proceeds to spell out in long form what is already obvious.
I don't have to have surprise after surprise in the books I'm reading, but to remove all elements of the unknown does mean a book would have to work extra hard to keep my attention. And unfortunately, this one didn't quite succeed.
It doesn't help that I can't seem to connect with these characters. No matter how difficult and complex their problems—and they had some gnarly ones for sure—every single one of them was resolved neatly and with much emotional fanfare. Every single character got their moment of enlightenment, and that one scene, one conversation was all it took for them to be happy and fulfilled.
Maybe I'm a cold hearted reader, but I just don't buy it. There is no way real people would behave like that. It's ludicrous to think that no matter what losses we suffer, be it our children or our limbs, that we would only need to hug it out before resuming our normal lives. And these pivotal scenes were often padded with so much saccharine mush to up the emotional ante that I had a lot of trouble keeping my focus.
What happened to finding out more about the time traveling tech or the glitch that stranded these travelers in the first place? It was such a disappointment to come to the end of this book and realize that those questions would never be answered. Clearly, the time traveling was just a way for the author to tell her story in a slightly different, nonlinear way and once that was done, the plot device could be tossed aside and forgotten.
Sometimes when a book isn't what I'm expecting, I can still adjust and end up enjoying it. But in this case, there just wasn't enough of what I wanted and too much of what I didn't want for that to happen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
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The premise is certainly enticing. Four strangers travel to the past to revisit the day their lives changed forever. They were only supposed to be there for an hour, but soon find themselves trapped for days and days. And when their paths start to cross, they realize maybe they aren't the strangers they thought they were.
No complaints from me about the way this story kicked off. I found the initial chapters with the four different characters to be riveting, and I settled in, thinking I was well on my way to a unique and fascinating read. But then as the characters' lives began to intersect, I started to get the feeling that maybe this isn't the mind blowing speculative fiction I thought it was going to be.
The problem is that we start near the end of the timeline, so we already know most of what happens, if not the how. Then we jump three years into the past and slowly fill everything in. This structure makes it so that by about halfway through the book, all the pieces are in place and we have a pretty solid idea of how it will all play out. After that, there are no more surprises. From then on, the book proceeds to spell out in long form what is already obvious.
I don't have to have surprise after surprise in the books I'm reading, but to remove all elements of the unknown does mean a book would have to work extra hard to keep my attention. And unfortunately, this one didn't quite succeed.
It doesn't help that I can't seem to connect with these characters. No matter how difficult and complex their problems—and they had some gnarly ones for sure—every single one of them was resolved neatly and with much emotional fanfare. Every single character got their moment of enlightenment, and that one scene, one conversation was all it took for them to be happy and fulfilled.
Maybe I'm a cold hearted reader, but I just don't buy it. There is no way real people would behave like that. It's ludicrous to think that no matter what losses we suffer, be it our children or our limbs, that we would only need to hug it out before resuming our normal lives. And these pivotal scenes were often padded with so much saccharine mush to up the emotional ante that I had a lot of trouble keeping my focus.
What happened to finding out more about the time traveling tech or the glitch that stranded these travelers in the first place? It was such a disappointment to come to the end of this book and realize that those questions would never be answered. Clearly, the time traveling was just a way for the author to tell her story in a slightly different, nonlinear way and once that was done, the plot device could be tossed aside and forgotten.
Sometimes when a book isn't what I'm expecting, I can still adjust and end up enjoying it. But in this case, there just wasn't enough of what I wanted and too much of what I didn't want for that to happen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
June 5, 2025
CAN REVISITING THE PAST BE THE CATALYST FOR MOVING FORWARD?
The year is 2028:
In Southern California’s arid terrain, lies an unassuming building which looks a lot like an aircraft hangar. It may not look like much from the outside, but inside, extraordinary things are happening. Aeon Expeditions has found a way to send lucky applicants back in time, and if you are one of the .001% selected, you will get to revisit the past for 60 minutes.
The first question on the application asks, “If you could spend an hour in the past, what would you do?”
The majority of applicants don’t choose a joyful moment-they choose to spend one more hour with someone or something that they have lost. And, even though Aeon cannot guarantee to send you back to a certain day, or that your time in the past will be meaningful, millions of people are willing to spend an exorbitant amount of money to try.
Four strangers will be making “The Jump” next-and all will be returned to the same date, despite two applicants initially being rejected because of something on their application that SHOULD have made them ineligible.
Elizabeth -who would give anything to have more time with her son who died in a senseless accident that day, after she spoke words she wish she could take back.
Andy-who is desperate to find a woman who vanished without a trace, or without an explanation after a whirlwind romance.
Logan-an adventurer, who yearns to have the use of his legs for one more day, before returning to life in a wheelchair.
And, Brooke who is looking for answers that might allow her to forgive herself and bring relief from the guilt of an unforgivable decision that she made.
The date they will revisit is August 25, 2025:
Was there a SWISH OF MOVEMENT on that dark night along the Pacific Coast Highway that changed all of their lives? And, if so, what was it?
They may not be able to change the past-but going back will end up ultimately changing each of them.
The Memory Collectors is thought provoking, speculative fiction that explores grief, forgiveness and second chances.
Although the ending DIDN’T have the “punch” that I expected, this IS a story that will linger with me and most likely make my favorites list for 2025 because of some beautiful passages and its original storyline.
4.5 stars ⭐️ rounded up!
NOW AVAILABLE!
Thank You to Crooked Lane Books for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts!
The year is 2028:
In Southern California’s arid terrain, lies an unassuming building which looks a lot like an aircraft hangar. It may not look like much from the outside, but inside, extraordinary things are happening. Aeon Expeditions has found a way to send lucky applicants back in time, and if you are one of the .001% selected, you will get to revisit the past for 60 minutes.
The first question on the application asks, “If you could spend an hour in the past, what would you do?”
The majority of applicants don’t choose a joyful moment-they choose to spend one more hour with someone or something that they have lost. And, even though Aeon cannot guarantee to send you back to a certain day, or that your time in the past will be meaningful, millions of people are willing to spend an exorbitant amount of money to try.
Four strangers will be making “The Jump” next-and all will be returned to the same date, despite two applicants initially being rejected because of something on their application that SHOULD have made them ineligible.
Elizabeth -who would give anything to have more time with her son who died in a senseless accident that day, after she spoke words she wish she could take back.
Andy-who is desperate to find a woman who vanished without a trace, or without an explanation after a whirlwind romance.
Logan-an adventurer, who yearns to have the use of his legs for one more day, before returning to life in a wheelchair.
And, Brooke who is looking for answers that might allow her to forgive herself and bring relief from the guilt of an unforgivable decision that she made.
The date they will revisit is August 25, 2025:
Was there a SWISH OF MOVEMENT on that dark night along the Pacific Coast Highway that changed all of their lives? And, if so, what was it?
They may not be able to change the past-but going back will end up ultimately changing each of them.
The Memory Collectors is thought provoking, speculative fiction that explores grief, forgiveness and second chances.
Although the ending DIDN’T have the “punch” that I expected, this IS a story that will linger with me and most likely make my favorites list for 2025 because of some beautiful passages and its original storyline.
4.5 stars ⭐️ rounded up!
NOW AVAILABLE!
Thank You to Crooked Lane Books for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts!
March 1, 2025
The Memory Collectors is popping up in sci-fi recommendations but I'd say it's more of a character-driven mystery. Either way, I really enjoyed it. It was gripping and surprisingly moving.
The science is probably the weakest aspect of the story as it is not very well-explained. It requires a pretty big suspension of disbelief to accept that a person's consciousness travels back in time without their body and, obviously, requires you to accept that consciousness is something that can be separated from the body. But if you don't think too hard about this, the story is very enjoyable.
We follow four perspectives-- Elizabeth, Logan, Andy and Brooke --as they make a time travel jump to their pasts. These four are broken in the present, in different ways, and long for one blissful hour in a time before their lives were irrevocably changed. But their one hour in the past inexplicably turns to two, three... and suddenly they realise they are stranded back in time. Naturally, they begin to wonder what surely all time travellers would wonder: can they change what happened?
Meserve sets it up well by having each one of these characters be in some way sympathetic and/or relatable. Elizabeth's grief for her son is palpable; Logan's thrill-seeking personality feels imprisoned in his body after the accident; Andy's heartbreak over the woman who ghosted him will be familiar to anyone left wondering why? after a relationship has ended; Brooke's estrangement from her beloved family after making a terrible mistake is painful.
It soon becomes clear that these four stories are intertwined in ways none of them could have predicted and I really enjoyed uncovering each layer of this mystery and seeing how it was all interconnected.
One negative is that I was never 100% sold on people spending five figures to go back to a random time in the past, with zero guarantees that they'd even arrive in a time before their lives changed. Super rich people, for sure. But would you really save up all your money to take such a huge chance? I dunno. I wouldn't. But I guess I'm not much of a gambler.
The science is probably the weakest aspect of the story as it is not very well-explained. It requires a pretty big suspension of disbelief to accept that a person's consciousness travels back in time without their body and, obviously, requires you to accept that consciousness is something that can be separated from the body. But if you don't think too hard about this, the story is very enjoyable.
We follow four perspectives-- Elizabeth, Logan, Andy and Brooke --as they make a time travel jump to their pasts. These four are broken in the present, in different ways, and long for one blissful hour in a time before their lives were irrevocably changed. But their one hour in the past inexplicably turns to two, three... and suddenly they realise they are stranded back in time. Naturally, they begin to wonder what surely all time travellers would wonder: can they change what happened?
Meserve sets it up well by having each one of these characters be in some way sympathetic and/or relatable. Elizabeth's grief for her son is palpable; Logan's thrill-seeking personality feels imprisoned in his body after the accident; Andy's heartbreak over the woman who ghosted him will be familiar to anyone left wondering why? after a relationship has ended; Brooke's estrangement from her beloved family after making a terrible mistake is painful.
It soon becomes clear that these four stories are intertwined in ways none of them could have predicted and I really enjoyed uncovering each layer of this mystery and seeing how it was all interconnected.
One negative is that I was never 100% sold on people spending five figures to go back to a random time in the past, with zero guarantees that they'd even arrive in a time before their lives changed. Super rich people, for sure. But would you really save up all your money to take such a huge chance? I dunno. I wouldn't. But I guess I'm not much of a gambler.
August 14, 2025
me when i'm going nostalgia mode.
in this book, we follow 4 people who use a new startup to travel back in time to a random point in their past for an hour. except all of them go to the same Fateful Week three years ago, and they're there for days.
can you imagine? worst time travel scenario ever. i'm trying to go back in time to get jd salinger to finish that damn glass family book.
or, i mean. whatever the correct and heroic answer is.
anyway, back to our characters. one person killed someone in a hit and run. another was paralyzed in that accident. another's son is the one who died. and a fourth was (sigh) ghosted by a girl he'd been briefly dating.
the story relies on these people being sympathetic, but they're not. this is so tell-y and not show-y, filled with statements like "this day ruined my life" and "i never got over this" and absolutely no actual indication beyond that.
which made it boring. and frustrating.
beyond that, i don't think the way certain topics were handled — like being in a wheelchair, or divorce — were very complex. or maybe more simply "good."
also, life in prison for the guy who got ghosted and is still acting up about it.
bottom line: even my horrible selfish and lame time travel scenario would've been better than this. maybe.
(thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)
in this book, we follow 4 people who use a new startup to travel back in time to a random point in their past for an hour. except all of them go to the same Fateful Week three years ago, and they're there for days.
can you imagine? worst time travel scenario ever. i'm trying to go back in time to get jd salinger to finish that damn glass family book.
or, i mean. whatever the correct and heroic answer is.
anyway, back to our characters. one person killed someone in a hit and run. another was paralyzed in that accident. another's son is the one who died. and a fourth was (sigh) ghosted by a girl he'd been briefly dating.
the story relies on these people being sympathetic, but they're not. this is so tell-y and not show-y, filled with statements like "this day ruined my life" and "i never got over this" and absolutely no actual indication beyond that.
which made it boring. and frustrating.
beyond that, i don't think the way certain topics were handled — like being in a wheelchair, or divorce — were very complex. or maybe more simply "good."
also, life in prison for the guy who got ghosted and is still acting up about it.
bottom line: even my horrible selfish and lame time travel scenario would've been better than this. maybe.
(thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)
December 22, 2024
If given the chance, would you go back in time? Think hard…
Aeon Expeditions have developed the technology to send selected people back into their past. No guarantee what day you’ll land on, but for 60 minutes you’re back in time before being extracted back to the present. And anything you do in the past stays in the past. Interesting proposition…yes?
Four individuals are chosen for their journey. Frightened of the unknown but excited to relive a moment in their past. A time that existed before tragedy consumed them.
So what happens if, after 60 minutes, they aren’t brought back to the present?
Can they continue to live in the past? Would they want to? Would you?
Absolutely unputdownable!
I loved the sci-fi element. Easy to follow along and though I’m somewhat a novice at reading these mind-benders I had no issue here. The character development was strong and I had no problem following each of their past lives.
There were a multitude of emotions playing out as well. Forgiveness, grief and lost loves to name a few.
One of my favorite reads of the year! Hope it will be yours too!
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books
Aeon Expeditions have developed the technology to send selected people back into their past. No guarantee what day you’ll land on, but for 60 minutes you’re back in time before being extracted back to the present. And anything you do in the past stays in the past. Interesting proposition…yes?
Four individuals are chosen for their journey. Frightened of the unknown but excited to relive a moment in their past. A time that existed before tragedy consumed them.
So what happens if, after 60 minutes, they aren’t brought back to the present?
Can they continue to live in the past? Would they want to? Would you?
Absolutely unputdownable!
I loved the sci-fi element. Easy to follow along and though I’m somewhat a novice at reading these mind-benders I had no issue here. The character development was strong and I had no problem following each of their past lives.
There were a multitude of emotions playing out as well. Forgiveness, grief and lost loves to name a few.
One of my favorite reads of the year! Hope it will be yours too!
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books
August 1, 2025
Memory Collectors is not only one of the most anticipated sci-fi reads of the year, but it may also be one of the most thought-provoking, tackling a compelling and controversial question: What if you had the chance to go back to the past, face one of the most pivotal days that changed your life, and make different choices in the hope of altering the outcome?
In this remarkable story, an innovative company called Aeon Expeditions offers a groundbreaking opportunity to its clients: 60 minutes in the past. While participants have no control over the exact moment or timeline they will be transported to, the promise of seeing loved ones again or reliving one of life’s happiest moments makes it an irresistible offer. But everything changes when a glitch in the system strands four individuals in the past—four people who are unknowingly connected by a tragic event that occurred on August 25th. As they navigate this strange and dangerous situation, they may affect each other’s life paths in ways they never imagined, all while a sinister figure lurks in the shadows, threatening to change everything.
Enter Elizabeth, the ex-wife of Aeon Expeditions’ creator, Mark Saunders. Three years ago, she lost her son, Sam, in a suspicious hit-and-run accident. This tragedy not only left her grief-stricken but also ended her marriage. Desperate to spend even a moment with the son she can never see again, Elizabeth will do anything to rewrite the past.
Then there’s Logan, whose life was forever altered by the same accident. Now confined to a wheelchair, Logan longs to feel the thrill of his old life—climbing mountains, swimming in treacherous waters, and embracing adrenaline-fueled adventures. Elizabeth, however, suspects Logan may have been a drug dealer involved in her son’s death, but Logan is just as much a victim of that fateful night.
Brooke, once a celebrated chef, lived a picture-perfect life with her husband and daughter—until she became the driver in the hit-and-run accident that killed Sam and paralyzed Logan. After serving 900 days in prison, Brooke’s life is in ruins. Haunted by her actions, she desperately seeks redemption and a chance to confront her mistake.
Finally, there’s Andy, who is desperate for closure. Ghosted by Kate—the woman he fell for in just one week—Andy hopes his journey to the past will provide answers about her mysterious disappearance. But as he discovers his connection to Elizabeth, Logan, and Brooke, he realizes there may be more to his presence in the past than he anticipated. Now stranded with no idea why he hasn’t returned after 60 minutes, Andy faces questions that may change everything.
How long will they remain in the past? Can their actions alter the future, even though they were assured they wouldn’t? What really happened on that ominous night that killed one person, paralyzed another, and shattered the lives of so many? What secrets does Kate hold, and what is Andy’s true connection to the others? Most importantly, what happens if they are stuck in the past forever—or if they do manage to return?
Memory Collectors is an intensely gripping, unputdownable page-turner—equal parts sentimental, thought-provoking, and mysterious. Readers will easily resonate with each character, reflecting on what they would do in similar circumstances.
The story builds to a satisfying and insightful conclusion, wrapping up this adventurous and emotionally rich narrative in a remarkable way. I highly recommend this book.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for sharing this immersive and engaging sci-fi digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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In this remarkable story, an innovative company called Aeon Expeditions offers a groundbreaking opportunity to its clients: 60 minutes in the past. While participants have no control over the exact moment or timeline they will be transported to, the promise of seeing loved ones again or reliving one of life’s happiest moments makes it an irresistible offer. But everything changes when a glitch in the system strands four individuals in the past—four people who are unknowingly connected by a tragic event that occurred on August 25th. As they navigate this strange and dangerous situation, they may affect each other’s life paths in ways they never imagined, all while a sinister figure lurks in the shadows, threatening to change everything.
Enter Elizabeth, the ex-wife of Aeon Expeditions’ creator, Mark Saunders. Three years ago, she lost her son, Sam, in a suspicious hit-and-run accident. This tragedy not only left her grief-stricken but also ended her marriage. Desperate to spend even a moment with the son she can never see again, Elizabeth will do anything to rewrite the past.
Then there’s Logan, whose life was forever altered by the same accident. Now confined to a wheelchair, Logan longs to feel the thrill of his old life—climbing mountains, swimming in treacherous waters, and embracing adrenaline-fueled adventures. Elizabeth, however, suspects Logan may have been a drug dealer involved in her son’s death, but Logan is just as much a victim of that fateful night.
Brooke, once a celebrated chef, lived a picture-perfect life with her husband and daughter—until she became the driver in the hit-and-run accident that killed Sam and paralyzed Logan. After serving 900 days in prison, Brooke’s life is in ruins. Haunted by her actions, she desperately seeks redemption and a chance to confront her mistake.
Finally, there’s Andy, who is desperate for closure. Ghosted by Kate—the woman he fell for in just one week—Andy hopes his journey to the past will provide answers about her mysterious disappearance. But as he discovers his connection to Elizabeth, Logan, and Brooke, he realizes there may be more to his presence in the past than he anticipated. Now stranded with no idea why he hasn’t returned after 60 minutes, Andy faces questions that may change everything.
How long will they remain in the past? Can their actions alter the future, even though they were assured they wouldn’t? What really happened on that ominous night that killed one person, paralyzed another, and shattered the lives of so many? What secrets does Kate hold, and what is Andy’s true connection to the others? Most importantly, what happens if they are stuck in the past forever—or if they do manage to return?
Memory Collectors is an intensely gripping, unputdownable page-turner—equal parts sentimental, thought-provoking, and mysterious. Readers will easily resonate with each character, reflecting on what they would do in similar circumstances.
The story builds to a satisfying and insightful conclusion, wrapping up this adventurous and emotionally rich narrative in a remarkable way. I highly recommend this book.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for sharing this immersive and engaging sci-fi digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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September 1, 2025
The year is 2028. Aeon Expeditions has invented an innovative technology allowing limited time-travel to the past...
Four strangers in Ventura, California, are selected.
Each client is allotted sixty minutes to spend their way:
* Elizabeth: with her deceased son, Sam...
* Andy: locate Kate, his missing first love...
* Logan: in his sports-driven life before he's paralyzed...
* Brooke: free of a shattering mistake...
Each client carries a compelling backstory that unveils, through alternating POVs, as their time-travel gets underway. After their hour ends, and days pass, they realize they're stranded in the past...
The Memory Collectors is hard to put down, and as you read, you understand why Dete Meserve is a bestselling novelist and an award-winning producer. The total package is hard to resist: main characters to root for, a creative premise, short chapters that keep you reading, a speculative-mystery that keeps you wondering, a pace that never lags, and a coastal setting—who doesn't want to visit a California beach town, I ask you!
This DRC was paired with the Audible audiobook narrated by Andrew Eiden, Erin Bennett, Hillary Huber, and Michael Crouch, whose voices differentiate the four main characters. It's a great listen.
The Memory Collectors is a thoughtful and thought-provoking story about dealing with the past, something we can't change, and our perspective, something that we can!
4.5⭐
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and Dete Meserve for the gifted DRC through NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Four strangers in Ventura, California, are selected.
Each client is allotted sixty minutes to spend their way:
* Elizabeth: with her deceased son, Sam...
* Andy: locate Kate, his missing first love...
* Logan: in his sports-driven life before he's paralyzed...
* Brooke: free of a shattering mistake...
Each client carries a compelling backstory that unveils, through alternating POVs, as their time-travel gets underway. After their hour ends, and days pass, they realize they're stranded in the past...
The Memory Collectors is hard to put down, and as you read, you understand why Dete Meserve is a bestselling novelist and an award-winning producer. The total package is hard to resist: main characters to root for, a creative premise, short chapters that keep you reading, a speculative-mystery that keeps you wondering, a pace that never lags, and a coastal setting—who doesn't want to visit a California beach town, I ask you!
This DRC was paired with the Audible audiobook narrated by Andrew Eiden, Erin Bennett, Hillary Huber, and Michael Crouch, whose voices differentiate the four main characters. It's a great listen.
The Memory Collectors is a thoughtful and thought-provoking story about dealing with the past, something we can't change, and our perspective, something that we can!
4.5⭐
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and Dete Meserve for the gifted DRC through NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
June 10, 2025
Raw, thought-provoking, and poignant, The Memory Collectors held a mystery at its core that had me racing through the pages. From the true-to-life characters to the intricate storyline, every moment felt like dead on perfection. I swear I’m not exaggerating at all. After all, underneath a dynamic tale riddled with palpable tension and ratcheting suspense was a powerful exploration of love, loss, regret, and redemption. A cross between literary fiction and a speculative thriller, this odd mashup hit all the right chords. So much so, in fact, that I’ve now added Ms. Meserve to my list of all-time favorite authors despite having read only one of her novels.
Mind-bending yet thoughtful, the characters were the special sauce to this unputdownable novel. A collection of four distinct personas, each carried their own long-buried secrets, which were cleverly kept hidden until just the right moment. What kept me flying through the pages was the promise that each of these enigmatic pasts held at their core. How would going back in time—even for an hour—change their present situations? And, taking it a step further, what would I do put in their shoes? Perfect for a book club thanks to the quandaries put forward, I was absolutely gobsmacked at how moving this story was.
All said and done, there wasn’t a thing not to love about this novel. Compelling in every sense of the word, it was also a massive page-turner thanks to its fast-paced storyline and well-developed characters. With multiple POVs that were each complete with a brilliant character arc that was the definition of perfection, it was both introspective and suspenseful, which is a hard combo to muster. To that end, it was taut yet nuanced in all the right ways. So if you love the time travel trope but also want something decidedly different, this book will fit that bill to a T. After all, despite its speculative nature, it also felt as real as could be. Rating of 5 stars.
What would you do if you could spend an hour in your past? Four strangers in the beach town of Ventura, California are about to find out.
Elizabeth aches for one more precious hour with her son who died in a senseless accident. Andy is desperate to find his first love who vanished after a whirlwind romance. Logan craves the rush of surfing and mountain climbing, yearning to reclaim the freedom he lost after a misstep landed him in a wheelchair. Brooke is looking for an hour of relief from the guilt of an unforgivable mistake.
Enter Aeon Expeditions, the groundbreaking time travel invention of Mark Saunders—which allows some lucky clients the chance to spend an hour in their past. Even though Aeon’s technology ensures time travel can’t alter the future, all four clients, including Mark’s ex-wife Elizabeth, yearn to revisit the hour that changed their lives forever.
But when their “hour” extends beyond sixty minutes, they find themselves stranded in the past. As their paths intertwine unexpectedly, they unearth shocking secrets hidden in the shadows of their shared history: All their lives were shattered the same night on a secluded highway by the beach. As they delve into the hidden truths of that pivotal hour, a startling revelation emerges. They were not alone. Someone else was present, harboring deadly intentions.
Thank you to Dete Meserve and Crooked Lane Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: May 20, 2025
Content warning: loss of a loved one, mention of: fatal hit-and-run accident, domestic violence, stalking
Mind-bending yet thoughtful, the characters were the special sauce to this unputdownable novel. A collection of four distinct personas, each carried their own long-buried secrets, which were cleverly kept hidden until just the right moment. What kept me flying through the pages was the promise that each of these enigmatic pasts held at their core. How would going back in time—even for an hour—change their present situations? And, taking it a step further, what would I do put in their shoes? Perfect for a book club thanks to the quandaries put forward, I was absolutely gobsmacked at how moving this story was.
All said and done, there wasn’t a thing not to love about this novel. Compelling in every sense of the word, it was also a massive page-turner thanks to its fast-paced storyline and well-developed characters. With multiple POVs that were each complete with a brilliant character arc that was the definition of perfection, it was both introspective and suspenseful, which is a hard combo to muster. To that end, it was taut yet nuanced in all the right ways. So if you love the time travel trope but also want something decidedly different, this book will fit that bill to a T. After all, despite its speculative nature, it also felt as real as could be. Rating of 5 stars.
What would you do if you could spend an hour in your past? Four strangers in the beach town of Ventura, California are about to find out.
Elizabeth aches for one more precious hour with her son who died in a senseless accident. Andy is desperate to find his first love who vanished after a whirlwind romance. Logan craves the rush of surfing and mountain climbing, yearning to reclaim the freedom he lost after a misstep landed him in a wheelchair. Brooke is looking for an hour of relief from the guilt of an unforgivable mistake.
Enter Aeon Expeditions, the groundbreaking time travel invention of Mark Saunders—which allows some lucky clients the chance to spend an hour in their past. Even though Aeon’s technology ensures time travel can’t alter the future, all four clients, including Mark’s ex-wife Elizabeth, yearn to revisit the hour that changed their lives forever.
But when their “hour” extends beyond sixty minutes, they find themselves stranded in the past. As their paths intertwine unexpectedly, they unearth shocking secrets hidden in the shadows of their shared history: All their lives were shattered the same night on a secluded highway by the beach. As they delve into the hidden truths of that pivotal hour, a startling revelation emerges. They were not alone. Someone else was present, harboring deadly intentions.
Thank you to Dete Meserve and Crooked Lane Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: May 20, 2025
Content warning: loss of a loved one, mention of: fatal hit-and-run accident, domestic violence, stalking
May 20, 2025
HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!
“Everything good begins with a maybe.”
What if we could revisit our past? How would we be changed by our experience? The Memory Collectors is a speculative science fiction mystery that attempts to answer these questions.
Aeon Expeditions allows four people the privilege of jumping to the past. Although the jumps are supposed to only last an hour on a random date, all four individuals jump to the same date and are stranded for five days in the past. They take advantage of their time to relive memories and to solve an interconnected mystery.
If you enjoyed Wrong Place, Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister or are a fan of Blake Crouch, this book will hit the spot!
I immediately found myself engrossed in this character driven mystery. Told through multiple points of view, this captivating plot is very thought provoking and I didn’t want to put it down! Meserve explores themes of grief, loss, and forgiveness. This would have been a 5 star read, but I was left with a few lingering questions at the end.
Highly recommend!
4.5/5 stars rounded down
Expected publication date: 5/20/25
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC of The Memory Collectors in exchange for an honest review.
“Everything good begins with a maybe.”
What if we could revisit our past? How would we be changed by our experience? The Memory Collectors is a speculative science fiction mystery that attempts to answer these questions.
Aeon Expeditions allows four people the privilege of jumping to the past. Although the jumps are supposed to only last an hour on a random date, all four individuals jump to the same date and are stranded for five days in the past. They take advantage of their time to relive memories and to solve an interconnected mystery.
If you enjoyed Wrong Place, Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister or are a fan of Blake Crouch, this book will hit the spot!
I immediately found myself engrossed in this character driven mystery. Told through multiple points of view, this captivating plot is very thought provoking and I didn’t want to put it down! Meserve explores themes of grief, loss, and forgiveness. This would have been a 5 star read, but I was left with a few lingering questions at the end.
Highly recommend!
4.5/5 stars rounded down
Expected publication date: 5/20/25
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC of The Memory Collectors in exchange for an honest review.
June 8, 2025
If I had to sum up my experience with The Memory Collectors in two words it would be, enduring love!
In 2028 Aeon scientists have developed the technology to allow a person to time jump within their own past.
The rules are as follows:
1. You can only stay an hour in your past before being retrieved.
2. You have no control over which part of your past you jump into. It could be a treasured memory or a mundane and forgettable one.
3. And the most crucial rule of all, a trip to the past cannot alter the future.
Four people, about to embark on their time jump journey’s courtesy of Aeon Expeditions, fates are connected and intertwined by a tragic day, 25th August 2025.
Elizabeth lost her son.
Andy lost love.
Logan lost the use of his legs.
And Brooke… she lost her freedom.
And none of them understand why or how it happened. Three years later and that fateful day is still shouldered in mystery. Elizabeth, Andy, Logan, and Brooke crave answers and closure, unable to escape their crippling grief and loss and move on in the present. When all four's jumps land them back in time five days before the event that shattered each of their lives it's a golden opportunity for them to uncover the truth. And even though they’ve been told it is impossible, change what happened…
What an original concept The Memory Collectors was. So much tension and emotion. If you are a literary fiction lover don't let the sci-fi or time travel aspects prevent you from reading this one. I will be recommending The Memory Collectors to my mum, even though I know she loathes sci-fi and time travel, and I am 100% confident she will love this brilliant and beautiful novel. Also, if you are worried about this being too technical or scientific, don't, as the relevant time travel stuff is drip-fed rather than info-dumped, is easy-to-follow, makes complete sense, and is relayed to reflect the character narrating’s own experiences. The Memory Collectors followed four relatable, sympathetic, flawed people’s stories, whose lives have been torn asunder in an instant, and time travel was a unique and clever way for these characters to reconnect with their lost loved ones and lost livelihoods. As I mentioned in my tagline the focus was on enduring love – burgeoning love, romantic love, parental love, friends love, and the love to help, protect, and save people, even those who are almost strangers. The intricate way the puzzles pieces of the plot slotted together by the end was pure magic.
Due to other commitments, it has taken me weeks to read this, but it stayed with me during my hiatus, I didn’t forget a single thing I’d read, and as soon as I had the opportunity to re-immerse myself, I had no trouble getting back into it. I encourage everyone to pick up The Memory Collectors. I’ve already read the synopsis for one of Dete Meserve’s previous novels, Good Sam, and it sounds amazing too. I’m excited not only to get to her backlist, but that she has a backlist.
I’d like to thank Netgalley, Crooked Lane Books, and Dete Meserve for the e-ARC.
Out now!
In 2028 Aeon scientists have developed the technology to allow a person to time jump within their own past.
The rules are as follows:
1. You can only stay an hour in your past before being retrieved.
2. You have no control over which part of your past you jump into. It could be a treasured memory or a mundane and forgettable one.
3. And the most crucial rule of all, a trip to the past cannot alter the future.
Four people, about to embark on their time jump journey’s courtesy of Aeon Expeditions, fates are connected and intertwined by a tragic day, 25th August 2025.
Elizabeth lost her son.
Andy lost love.
Logan lost the use of his legs.
And Brooke… she lost her freedom.
And none of them understand why or how it happened. Three years later and that fateful day is still shouldered in mystery. Elizabeth, Andy, Logan, and Brooke crave answers and closure, unable to escape their crippling grief and loss and move on in the present. When all four's jumps land them back in time five days before the event that shattered each of their lives it's a golden opportunity for them to uncover the truth. And even though they’ve been told it is impossible, change what happened…
What an original concept The Memory Collectors was. So much tension and emotion. If you are a literary fiction lover don't let the sci-fi or time travel aspects prevent you from reading this one. I will be recommending The Memory Collectors to my mum, even though I know she loathes sci-fi and time travel, and I am 100% confident she will love this brilliant and beautiful novel. Also, if you are worried about this being too technical or scientific, don't, as the relevant time travel stuff is drip-fed rather than info-dumped, is easy-to-follow, makes complete sense, and is relayed to reflect the character narrating’s own experiences. The Memory Collectors followed four relatable, sympathetic, flawed people’s stories, whose lives have been torn asunder in an instant, and time travel was a unique and clever way for these characters to reconnect with their lost loved ones and lost livelihoods. As I mentioned in my tagline the focus was on enduring love – burgeoning love, romantic love, parental love, friends love, and the love to help, protect, and save people, even those who are almost strangers. The intricate way the puzzles pieces of the plot slotted together by the end was pure magic.
Due to other commitments, it has taken me weeks to read this, but it stayed with me during my hiatus, I didn’t forget a single thing I’d read, and as soon as I had the opportunity to re-immerse myself, I had no trouble getting back into it. I encourage everyone to pick up The Memory Collectors. I’ve already read the synopsis for one of Dete Meserve’s previous novels, Good Sam, and it sounds amazing too. I’m excited not only to get to her backlist, but that she has a backlist.
I’d like to thank Netgalley, Crooked Lane Books, and Dete Meserve for the e-ARC.
Out now!
May 21, 2025
Advertised as time travel but that is really a very small aspect of the story. We are introduced to four people who are trying to deal with huge emotional issues from their past who plan to go back for just one hour to see if a better understanding of what occurred will help them.
It is fun but suspend belief. I had the most trouble with believing that anyone would pay a fortune to go back for one random hour from the whole of their past and expect it to help them in any way. Fortunately for our four main characters they find themselves stuck for a long time and they do attempt to change things for the better. Of course this will change history and we know that cannot happen. Or can it?
It is an interesting take on the possibilities of travelling back in time. An enjoyable read worth four stars.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
It is fun but suspend belief. I had the most trouble with believing that anyone would pay a fortune to go back for one random hour from the whole of their past and expect it to help them in any way. Fortunately for our four main characters they find themselves stuck for a long time and they do attempt to change things for the better. Of course this will change history and we know that cannot happen. Or can it?
It is an interesting take on the possibilities of travelling back in time. An enjoyable read worth four stars.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
May 29, 2025
There was some beautiful parts here, but it was also moving very slowly and I found my mind drifting.
February 26, 2025
Wow wow wow!!! What a touching story this was! I finished this in two days and loved it!!! I think you will too!
Four strangers are selected to travel an hour back to the past. They have no idea when that hour will be. However, they all have hopes to go back in time before something tragic happened in their lives.
These characters are humanly broken and I could feel their grief. Haven’t you thought about a time where you made a decision that changed your life forever? Wished you could go back and do it differently? Or lost someone you wished you could have back?
Sometimes life throws us curve balls. It’s what we do with them that counts! A compelling story that shouldn’t be missed!
Thank you to Dete Meserve, Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the opportunity!
Publication date May 20, 2025
Four strangers are selected to travel an hour back to the past. They have no idea when that hour will be. However, they all have hopes to go back in time before something tragic happened in their lives.
These characters are humanly broken and I could feel their grief. Haven’t you thought about a time where you made a decision that changed your life forever? Wished you could go back and do it differently? Or lost someone you wished you could have back?
Sometimes life throws us curve balls. It’s what we do with them that counts! A compelling story that shouldn’t be missed!
Thank you to Dete Meserve, Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the opportunity!
Publication date May 20, 2025
July 26, 2025
I’m just back from vacation and feeling way behind on Goodreads and I can’t wait to catch up with all of you!
Transportive, emotional, and unexpectedly suspenseful, The Memory Collectors swept me away with its genre-blending magic. What begins as a story about four strangers revisiting the hour that changed their lives soon becomes something deeper. A stirring mystery with a heart of grief, longing, and the fragile beauty of second chances.
I read this slowly over vacation, dipping in and out between days in the sun, and I’ll admit I mixed up a couple of characters and their storylines along the way. But even with that, the emotional undercurrent and the central mystery stayed with me. It made me think about how a single moment can echo across time and what we’d do if we had the chance to step back into it.
Borrowed this one from the library and I’m so glad I did!
Transportive, emotional, and unexpectedly suspenseful, The Memory Collectors swept me away with its genre-blending magic. What begins as a story about four strangers revisiting the hour that changed their lives soon becomes something deeper. A stirring mystery with a heart of grief, longing, and the fragile beauty of second chances.
I read this slowly over vacation, dipping in and out between days in the sun, and I’ll admit I mixed up a couple of characters and their storylines along the way. But even with that, the emotional undercurrent and the central mystery stayed with me. It made me think about how a single moment can echo across time and what we’d do if we had the chance to step back into it.
Borrowed this one from the library and I’m so glad I did!
May 24, 2025
3.5
Aeon Expeditions offers a once in a lifetime opportunity to travel back in time to revisit a loved one or relive a time that had an importance to them. There are a few restrictions. They only get one hour, whatever they do in the past does not change the future, and they can’t guarantee at what point in the past the jumpers will land. In this instance, however, 60 minutes have gone by and the jumpers still are in the past. They use this to their every advantage, in hopes of trying to live their lives in a way around their tragic past events.
This author sure does know how to tell a story and I liked how all the pieces at the beginning we’re starting to connect, but once they did, I felt like it lost it’s oomph for me. It became too mushy for lack of a better word. Part one and part two I was totally immersed and then part three just didn’t work for me. I was expecting something a little bit deeper into the sci-fi realm or even the butterfly effect( I suppose I was hoping to bend the aformentioned rules on this one). This is definitely me looking into a book wanting something a little bit different than what it provided. I can see other readers completely enjoying this, and the fact that it only dabbles a bit in the sci-fi will definitely be a plus for users not into that genre.
Aeon Expeditions offers a once in a lifetime opportunity to travel back in time to revisit a loved one or relive a time that had an importance to them. There are a few restrictions. They only get one hour, whatever they do in the past does not change the future, and they can’t guarantee at what point in the past the jumpers will land. In this instance, however, 60 minutes have gone by and the jumpers still are in the past. They use this to their every advantage, in hopes of trying to live their lives in a way around their tragic past events.
This author sure does know how to tell a story and I liked how all the pieces at the beginning we’re starting to connect, but once they did, I felt like it lost it’s oomph for me. It became too mushy for lack of a better word. Part one and part two I was totally immersed and then part three just didn’t work for me. I was expecting something a little bit deeper into the sci-fi realm or even the butterfly effect( I suppose I was hoping to bend the aformentioned rules on this one). This is definitely me looking into a book wanting something a little bit different than what it provided. I can see other readers completely enjoying this, and the fact that it only dabbles a bit in the sci-fi will definitely be a plus for users not into that genre.
June 26, 2025
If you're a fan of sci-fi and cool time travel stories, despite what the blurb suggests, this will likely not appeal to you. This is mostly because, aside from the quality of the writing and book, this is more of a mild thriller/mystery than any kind of sci-fi.
I found the characters really shallow. They're united by one night in their lives when everything went to shit for them: one lost a son, another lost the use of his legs, a third committed a crime and the fourth had his several days old connection vanish without a trace. All four of the characters travel back to the same point in time, five days before the major event, and are all told that the past cannot change no matter what they do there, but all decide to try and change the events of that fateful night. I had to keep checking who was who because, as we rotate through the four POV characters in successive chapters, I had a hard time keeping them straight because they all sound exactly the same. Their characterisation is shallow enough that if I had started reading from the middle of a chapter, I would have no idea if I was reading the POV chapter of a 50-year-old mother or a young man.
Going into spoiler territory, I don't normally care about plot holes but there are really dumb ones here, such as .
Anyway, the purpose of good sci-fi is to show us the human repercussions of using technology, and in this case, these people are lost in the past for a few days, and they do dumb things, and in the end, we have a neat little bow tie on the whole thing. It feels really surface-level and unsatisfying to me, so this was definitely not for me.
I found the characters really shallow. They're united by one night in their lives when everything went to shit for them: one lost a son, another lost the use of his legs, a third committed a crime and the fourth had his several days old connection vanish without a trace. All four of the characters travel back to the same point in time, five days before the major event, and are all told that the past cannot change no matter what they do there, but all decide to try and change the events of that fateful night. I had to keep checking who was who because, as we rotate through the four POV characters in successive chapters, I had a hard time keeping them straight because they all sound exactly the same. Their characterisation is shallow enough that if I had started reading from the middle of a chapter, I would have no idea if I was reading the POV chapter of a 50-year-old mother or a young man.
Going into spoiler territory, I don't normally care about plot holes but there are really dumb ones here, such as .
Anyway, the purpose of good sci-fi is to show us the human repercussions of using technology, and in this case, these people are lost in the past for a few days, and they do dumb things, and in the end, we have a neat little bow tie on the whole thing. It feels really surface-level and unsatisfying to me, so this was definitely not for me.
July 24, 2025
What would you do if you had an hour to spend in the past? Who would you want to share it with, and what part of your life? In this book time travel has become possible with Aeon Expeditions. You can’t change the past, and we’re told they can’t control what part of your life you’ll return to. But as the book progresses we learn that four strangers have returned to the same days. What is the connection?
I’ll admit I had some trouble following along in the beginning. Not only do we have four POVs, but we also see them in different times. Before long though I learned the characters better and could really follow along. We learn that instead of returning after an hour, their visit last days. And as they relive the meaningful events that pulled them all back to this time, they find there are connections they never knew. Also, as one character explains, it’s not just reliving an experience, but seeing it with fresh eyes…. Noticing people and things around you that you missed previously. Finding meaning in small moments, and finding understanding. All four of them experienced life-changing events, but previously they only saw it from their own perspective, and immersed in grief.
Grief is so personal. Every experience is different. And while these characters had very different experiences than I’ve had, I was still able to connect with them. These characters who were so immersed in their grief that they were just stuck, they couldn’t move forward. But also, they had questions… mysteries that they were able to find some resolution and peace. While it was an emotional book, it also kept me engaged and wanting to better understand the connection and how the events would occur and be seen this second time around.
Don’t go into it expecting a sci-fi adventure about time travel, or you may be disappointed. While it occurs, it’s just the vehicle, not really the story. The audiobook narration was excellent.
I’ll admit I had some trouble following along in the beginning. Not only do we have four POVs, but we also see them in different times. Before long though I learned the characters better and could really follow along. We learn that instead of returning after an hour, their visit last days. And as they relive the meaningful events that pulled them all back to this time, they find there are connections they never knew. Also, as one character explains, it’s not just reliving an experience, but seeing it with fresh eyes…. Noticing people and things around you that you missed previously. Finding meaning in small moments, and finding understanding. All four of them experienced life-changing events, but previously they only saw it from their own perspective, and immersed in grief.
Grief is so personal. Every experience is different. And while these characters had very different experiences than I’ve had, I was still able to connect with them. These characters who were so immersed in their grief that they were just stuck, they couldn’t move forward. But also, they had questions… mysteries that they were able to find some resolution and peace. While it was an emotional book, it also kept me engaged and wanting to better understand the connection and how the events would occur and be seen this second time around.
Don’t go into it expecting a sci-fi adventure about time travel, or you may be disappointed. While it occurs, it’s just the vehicle, not really the story. The audiobook narration was excellent.
December 9, 2024
This was an exceptionally written story that was full of suspense, introspection, what-ifs, and heart. When four strangers are brought together to revisit a night that haunts them all, they must work together to figure out why, putting aside resentments and learning to forgive.
July 6, 2025
3.5 stars
In the near future, a tech company has invented a way to travel to the past. Anyone can apply - it costs five figures to go for an hour and you have no control over where you land on your life's timeline. Any and all actions you take in the past will not impact your future, they are closed circuits.
Four people, struggling with demons of days gone by, jump back to August 20, 2025. Their jumps intertwine in the past, they get stuck there for 5 days, and they end up solving the mystery of the night that collectively changed the trajectory of their lives forever.
So, this one is super light on the sci-fi and heavy on the mystery. There is no explanation of how the time jumping works, you must just accept that it does. I honestly liked the story, it was a fun, quick easy read. Perhaps a bit sappy for me at times, and way too neat and abrupt of an ending, hence the rating.
In the near future, a tech company has invented a way to travel to the past. Anyone can apply - it costs five figures to go for an hour and you have no control over where you land on your life's timeline. Any and all actions you take in the past will not impact your future, they are closed circuits.
Four people, struggling with demons of days gone by, jump back to August 20, 2025. Their jumps intertwine in the past, they get stuck there for 5 days, and they end up solving the mystery of the night that collectively changed the trajectory of their lives forever.
So, this one is super light on the sci-fi and heavy on the mystery. There is no explanation of how the time jumping works, you must just accept that it does. I honestly liked the story, it was a fun, quick easy read. Perhaps a bit sappy for me at times, and way too neat and abrupt of an ending, hence the rating.
May 4, 2025
Four strangers are sent back in time to relive an hour of their lives. But they find themselves stranded in the past, trying to change the outcome of the day their lives all intertwined with horrible consequences.
I was torn on this one. There was a lot I really liked about it: I love time travel stories. I love “if you turned left this would have happened, but you turned right, so this other thing happened” sliding-doors-style stories. I love random connections. But I very much do not love cheesy redemption arcs.
The first 3/4 was great - the one hour of time travel concept and the backstories for all of the characters were interesting, but by the end I was kind of sick of all of these people and didn’t really care where they ended up. And Andy… YIKES. That boy was flying some SERIOUS stalker sad boy red flags and never really grew on me.
Audiobook-wise, the narration was fine. Logan’s voice was grating, but everyone else was ok.
I think fans of The Measure and This Time Tomorrow (both of which I loved) and The Midnight Library (which I did NOT love) would probably like this one!
* thanks to Spotify Audiobooks for the NetGalley review copy. The Memory Collectors publishes May 20, 2025.
I was torn on this one. There was a lot I really liked about it: I love time travel stories. I love “if you turned left this would have happened, but you turned right, so this other thing happened” sliding-doors-style stories. I love random connections. But I very much do not love cheesy redemption arcs.
The first 3/4 was great - the one hour of time travel concept and the backstories for all of the characters were interesting, but by the end I was kind of sick of all of these people and didn’t really care where they ended up. And Andy… YIKES. That boy was flying some SERIOUS stalker sad boy red flags and never really grew on me.
Audiobook-wise, the narration was fine. Logan’s voice was grating, but everyone else was ok.
I think fans of The Measure and This Time Tomorrow (both of which I loved) and The Midnight Library (which I did NOT love) would probably like this one!
* thanks to Spotify Audiobooks for the NetGalley review copy. The Memory Collectors publishes May 20, 2025.
February 8, 2025
This was a very interesting premise and a read that kept you on the edge of your seat - up until the last third. I feel like it ended too bland and basic, and I definitely expected more from the setup.
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing me the ARC.
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing me the ARC.
October 17, 2024
The Memory Collectors is a gripping speculative mystery where four strangers are given the chance to time-travel and revisit a pivotal hour from their past. Elizabeth wants one last moment with her lost son, Andy is chasing a vanished love, Logan misses his life before an accident, and Brooke is haunted by guilt. Full of hope, mystery, and emotion, this story explores how one moment can change everything.
Admittedly, I felt a bit overwhelmed at first, jumping between four narratives in the first few chapters—all starting their journeys with Aeon Expeditions and reflecting on how quickly 60 minutes would fly by. But by the second round of narrations, I started to feel more comfortable. While the narrative style doesn’t change between characters, each of their stories stands out in its own way.
The story really took off about a third of the way in. The first part flew by—I found myself breezing through 100 pages in no time—but I hadn’t fully sunk into the plot yet. Then came the second third... Suddenly, my surroundings faded away, and I was half-listening to my boyfriend talk, only humming in response as my eyes raced through the pages.
“We don’t change time. But time changes us.”
This book hit me with a whirlwind of emotions. It covered so much in what felt like so few pages, yet nothing felt underdeveloped. Would I have liked to linger a bit longer before everything unraveled? Absolutely! But that’s probably because I was enjoying uncovering the connections so much. It’s rare to find such a gripping story packed into a short 300-page read.
I can’t wait for this book to be published so more readers can experience it!
Thanks to the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, for providing an ARC copy through Netgalley! All opinions are my own.
Admittedly, I felt a bit overwhelmed at first, jumping between four narratives in the first few chapters—all starting their journeys with Aeon Expeditions and reflecting on how quickly 60 minutes would fly by. But by the second round of narrations, I started to feel more comfortable. While the narrative style doesn’t change between characters, each of their stories stands out in its own way.
The story really took off about a third of the way in. The first part flew by—I found myself breezing through 100 pages in no time—but I hadn’t fully sunk into the plot yet. Then came the second third... Suddenly, my surroundings faded away, and I was half-listening to my boyfriend talk, only humming in response as my eyes raced through the pages.
“We don’t change time. But time changes us.”
This book hit me with a whirlwind of emotions. It covered so much in what felt like so few pages, yet nothing felt underdeveloped. Would I have liked to linger a bit longer before everything unraveled? Absolutely! But that’s probably because I was enjoying uncovering the connections so much. It’s rare to find such a gripping story packed into a short 300-page read.
I can’t wait for this book to be published so more readers can experience it!
Thanks to the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, for providing an ARC copy through Netgalley! All opinions are my own.
January 21, 2025
A fun twist on the classic time travel novel! Instead of traveling back to a specific time in history, the traveler is instead taken back to a random time in their own personal history for just a one-hour visit, courtesy of tech developer Aeon Expeditions. Four people with an overlapping past soon discover that the time they were taken to feels anything but random, though, and their one hour stretches into days.
The novel circles around the events of a tragic day three years prior, when one man was killed and another was left paralyzed. While Aeon Expeditions assures the time travelers that nothing they can do in the past can change the future, they begin to wonder if the glitch in the system that has kept them locked in the past for far too long might also allow them to circumvent tragedy.
This is a great multiple-POV narrative, providing a lot of room for the reader to deeply understand each character and witness their growth. I found this not only one of my favorite reads of the year so far, but also one that seems to be keeping space in my head rent-free — no small feat given my proclivity for forgetting plots the minute I move on. It's fast paced and immersive, and light enough on the scifi that it still manages to feel mostly grounded in our world. 4.5 stars rounded up.
The novel circles around the events of a tragic day three years prior, when one man was killed and another was left paralyzed. While Aeon Expeditions assures the time travelers that nothing they can do in the past can change the future, they begin to wonder if the glitch in the system that has kept them locked in the past for far too long might also allow them to circumvent tragedy.
This is a great multiple-POV narrative, providing a lot of room for the reader to deeply understand each character and witness their growth. I found this not only one of my favorite reads of the year so far, but also one that seems to be keeping space in my head rent-free — no small feat given my proclivity for forgetting plots the minute I move on. It's fast paced and immersive, and light enough on the scifi that it still manages to feel mostly grounded in our world. 4.5 stars rounded up.
November 3, 2024
An extraordinary yet entirely believable premise: What if you could visit any moment in the past for just one hour?
Through the innovative Aeon company, time travel has become a reality, but it comes with strict limitations. You can’t choose the exact time you visit, you have to be selected through a rigorous application process, and most importantly, nothing you do can alter the present—at least, that’s the rule everyone has always believed to be unbreakable.
In The Memory Collectors, four strangers are unexpectedly brought together, each haunted by a life-altering incident from their past. When they discover that they’re still trapped in the past long after their hour should have ended, the group must unravel the mystery of what went wrong. As they work together to uncover the truth, they grapple with their past actions and their current desires to make changes.
Part thriller, part mystery, part romance, and fully immersive speculative fiction, The Memory Collectors will pull you in and make you reflect on the impact of your own past actions!
thank you netgalley!
#crookedlanebooks #thememorycollectors #detemeserve
Through the innovative Aeon company, time travel has become a reality, but it comes with strict limitations. You can’t choose the exact time you visit, you have to be selected through a rigorous application process, and most importantly, nothing you do can alter the present—at least, that’s the rule everyone has always believed to be unbreakable.
In The Memory Collectors, four strangers are unexpectedly brought together, each haunted by a life-altering incident from their past. When they discover that they’re still trapped in the past long after their hour should have ended, the group must unravel the mystery of what went wrong. As they work together to uncover the truth, they grapple with their past actions and their current desires to make changes.
Part thriller, part mystery, part romance, and fully immersive speculative fiction, The Memory Collectors will pull you in and make you reflect on the impact of your own past actions!
thank you netgalley!
#crookedlanebooks #thememorycollectors #detemeserve
December 24, 2024
It is a relatable story in a way that the majority of us have fantasized of a plot in our own life where we go back at time in our past to that one event that changed us or affected our life irrevocably. While this might be a story about time travel, it is more so a story about grief, guilt, survival, fate, and overall love. We follow the lives of interconnected people while they are finding themselves in the past thing to change the future.
*thanks to the netgalley for the copy of the book, all opinions are my own
*thanks to the netgalley for the copy of the book, all opinions are my own
August 28, 2025
I knew from the minute I heard about this book that I wanted to give it a try. If you had the opportunity to go back and spend 60 minutes in your past, would you do it? Undo a mistake, a conversation/visit with a deceased loved one, visit your younger self, find the one that got away, undo a moment when fear held you back, etc. Well, four people are given that chance and each go back for different reasons and the story draws them all together. Part mystery, little romance, and a lot to think about. I really think I would have enjoyed it a whole lot more if I’d had time to read it consistently. The ending could have used a little tweaking, but overall, it was a thought provoking read.
August 22, 2025
I really enjoyed this one. The time travel elements were so well done and I loved seeing how all the pieces came together. It felt so different from the other books I’ve read lately and the overall message really stuck with me.
August 20, 2025
Finished this one in a day because I was so hooked on seeing what each character would do with their time in the past. I really enjoyed how all the different characters ended up connected. Fast paced and entertaining, a page turner I’d definitely recommend!
July 7, 2025
"We think all we are is what we see on the surface. But there's always more."
What a wonderfully scintillating and moving tale of memory, trauma, grief and second chances set within a speculative world of time travel!
The way Dete Meserve cleverly wound these four narratives together was nothing short of brilliant as well as incredibly touching. Told in multiple POVs focusing on the past AND future, each person's unique situation was gripping. Complex situations, events and behaviors made for even more complicated emotions and I could empathize with each person. Despite being told they can't change their future by their actions in the past, when they end up stranded past the hour time limit, each of them attempts to alter the future anyway. Are they stuck in the past? Will they succeed in changing certain outcomes for their futures? The suspense was palpable as I flipped through the pages desperate to know the answers!
I highly recommend the audiobook also as each performance was fantastic. A full cast of narrators each brought to life their respective characters with authenticity and the perfect amount of emotion whether it was sorrow, joy, longing, or hope!
THE MEMORY COLLECTORS is compelling, poignant, thought provoking and utterly MEMORABLE. If you love genuine characters, a multi layered plot with increasing intensity combined with heart and a feel good conclusion, then by all means DO NOT MISS this emotional suspense ride!
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Narrators: Andrew Eiden, Erin Bennett, Hillary Huber, Michael Crouch
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Thank you Dete Meserve and Spotify Audiobooks for my free copies. All opinions are my own.
What a wonderfully scintillating and moving tale of memory, trauma, grief and second chances set within a speculative world of time travel!
The way Dete Meserve cleverly wound these four narratives together was nothing short of brilliant as well as incredibly touching. Told in multiple POVs focusing on the past AND future, each person's unique situation was gripping. Complex situations, events and behaviors made for even more complicated emotions and I could empathize with each person. Despite being told they can't change their future by their actions in the past, when they end up stranded past the hour time limit, each of them attempts to alter the future anyway. Are they stuck in the past? Will they succeed in changing certain outcomes for their futures? The suspense was palpable as I flipped through the pages desperate to know the answers!
I highly recommend the audiobook also as each performance was fantastic. A full cast of narrators each brought to life their respective characters with authenticity and the perfect amount of emotion whether it was sorrow, joy, longing, or hope!
THE MEMORY COLLECTORS is compelling, poignant, thought provoking and utterly MEMORABLE. If you love genuine characters, a multi layered plot with increasing intensity combined with heart and a feel good conclusion, then by all means DO NOT MISS this emotional suspense ride!
____
Narrators: Andrew Eiden, Erin Bennett, Hillary Huber, Michael Crouch
____
Thank you Dete Meserve and Spotify Audiobooks for my free copies. All opinions are my own.
March 15, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a free e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Wow. This book was so good! It really makes you think about the things that have happened in your own life and regrets that you may have. It makes you realize that things from the past are no longer important, to put the past behind you, that it makes you into the person you are today, things can change for the better, and to always look to the future.
The book is about a group of people who are selected for an experiment called the Aeon Expedition where they can travel to the past for 1 hour, but they can't try to alter what has already happened. When these individuals jump into the past, they are there for an hour usually, but this time, they are left in there for days. The individuals are aware of what is going on and slowly find out how they are all connected to each other to resolve issues from the past.
I feel like the pacing was good. Most of the time, when there are multiple POVs, it can get a little chaotic and hard to keep track of, but this story flowed very well, and you are able to keep up with the story well. I am definitely interested in reading more by this author and recommend this book for a good, thought-provoking read!
Wow. This book was so good! It really makes you think about the things that have happened in your own life and regrets that you may have. It makes you realize that things from the past are no longer important, to put the past behind you, that it makes you into the person you are today, things can change for the better, and to always look to the future.
The book is about a group of people who are selected for an experiment called the Aeon Expedition where they can travel to the past for 1 hour, but they can't try to alter what has already happened. When these individuals jump into the past, they are there for an hour usually, but this time, they are left in there for days. The individuals are aware of what is going on and slowly find out how they are all connected to each other to resolve issues from the past.
I feel like the pacing was good. Most of the time, when there are multiple POVs, it can get a little chaotic and hard to keep track of, but this story flowed very well, and you are able to keep up with the story well. I am definitely interested in reading more by this author and recommend this book for a good, thought-provoking read!
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