Remembering Us
<— This blurb tricked me (but in such a goooooooood way)!!! It’s about exactly what it says it’s about… and yet totally different than what I was expecting. I now realize my mind came up with it’s own story before going in, and while I was anticipating that one, I was pleasantly surprised when I realized the direction it was taking. TOTALLY different. Yep. And much better than my “imagined” version.
Cathy: I just noticed that Remembering Us has been dropped Maryse! It was an amazing book! You have to read it!
Maryse’s Book Blog: Remembering Us by Stacey Lynn <— Thank you Cathy!! Ooooooh this one looks goooood too!
Jean: Ooooo….I just 1-clicked Remembering Us……looks soooo good!!
LOL re-reading the synopsis I can’t help but do a facepalm. 
An extremely unique and intriguing love story that had my nerves teetering on the edge the entire way. Because the mind can play tricks on us. And so can people.
We get to explore life via a main character that has lost her memory (and essentially, the last two years of her life), as she tries to piece together the puzzle that comes back to her in pieces. Having to “trust” those around her in the meantime, that insist she is where she wanted to be, even if she’s not feeling it, while battling her not-so-happy flashbacks.
So what’s it about?
I’m going to tread VERY lightly here, because I LOVED going into this having no real clue. Or let’s just say, having my pre-conceived notion regarding her dreams, and delightfully realizing that I was way off! BUT!!! For those that are like me and like to be clueless reading a book, skip the rest of this review and just know that I LOVED IT!!!! 
No spoilers below or anything, but this book is definitely better read “blindly”.
Okay here goes:
Amy comes out of a coma (accident induced, although no one will tell her much about that) not remembering anything from the past two years of her life. She finds herself going back to her run-down apartment that doesn’t resemble anything about her life as she remembers it. She discovers clothes and shoes that she can’t imagine having ever worn, and lives with an attractive guy (Adam), that she feels nothing for, at all. Other than apprehension.
There was a hiking accident. That’s all I know. The rest is being left up to my memory, which my doctors have assured me will return. How in the hell do they know? What if I never remember?
It’s been weeks since I woke up from my coma, and I don’t remember anything more than the fact that I live with a stranger and I don’t like him when I dream.
He claims to love her, yet she is struggling to connect to him.
He’s handsome. A soccer player. He has a nice laugh. These are the only thing I know about him.
His kisses remind me of dark chocolate, full of all those feel-good hormones.
My stomach flip-flops and I stop laughing, sobered by the memory.
And her dreams (and potential memories) are confusing her. Because she’s seeing a whole different side of… things.
… they come to me at night as dreams and I have no idea what’s true and what isn’t until I have to sit here and talk about them with my new therapist, dissecting them over and over again.
How in the hell do I know if they’re true?
And how do I know if I’m supposed to trust the guy explaining everything to me? He may dress nice and we might live together, but every time I close my eyes, I see a different version of him than the one everyone else sees during the day.
And what the hell am I supposed to do with that?
And while she remembers her well-to-do (yet emotionally distant) family, and long-time best friend, their vague responses in regards to the last two years of her life have her suspicious.
You would think my parents would want their daughter, who apparently almost died from a hiking accident, around all the time. But not mine. This is only the third time visiting them since I got out of the hospital, and every time I’m around them our conversations are uncomfortable – more strained than I remember.
I want to ask them what happened to make them treat me more distant than normal.
The only answer she is getting from everyone around her is that she was… and still is living life just as she wanted. Her memories will come back. Everything is fine.
Maybe. Maybe not. And that’s the journey you are about to embark upon if you choose to read this.
I loved it!
Maryse’s Book Blog: So I started “Remembering Us” from the latest lists I’ve placed it on (looked good) and boy is it ever! I’m almost done. Very unique story, wonderfully explored, great writing style, and held my rapt attention. Yay me!
Sarah: This is my next read.
Toski: I bought this one!cant wait to hear what you think!!
Tj: Finished this last night… Very clever indeed Maryse Once I started reading it I just can’t seem to stop…
Manny: Just bought it. thank you.
Brittainy: I really LOVED this one! !
Angie: Kind of reminds me of Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Watson, which came out awhile back. However, it was billed as a psychological thriller, not exactly romantic suspense.
Liv: Yep. MBR….Must Be Read.
Maryse’s Book Blog: *phew* wow just finished! That was kinda… perfect, wasn’t it? Loved!
TK: I love this book so much!!!! Stacey Lynn Is awesome! ️
Kristen: I couldn’t put remembering us down I was up until 2 reading it!! Lol good book
Wow. So much fun!
This author allows us to be blank slates along with the heroine. No dual POV’s here. What she knows, we know. What she questions, we question. We are not privy to any more information than she is, and we experience her strange dreams and flashbacks as she does. Things that seem to oppose what everyone is telling her. Amy has no choice but to build her life again, find herself again as she attempts to understand… to remember who she was and why she feels so different.
That’s part of what made this an exciting, unputtdownable read. It’s secrets were gradually revealed which kept me guessing to the very end. Well paced, and it kept me emotionally invested. Oh yes, this one is not just “mystery” and secrets. It’s about emotion and love. And learning to trust again (but let’s just say… learning who to trust is the first step).
Oh… how do I say this without saying *it*? Let’s just say, I LOVED experiencing her life, and re-experiencing er.. *things* again through her eyes. I was right there with her, every step of the way, connecting to her and her life 100%, but doing so at HER pace.
Such a clever, and unique way to explore this kind of… “potential” love story! Ahhhh my heart!!! I devoured it in one sitting and I loved every single bit of it. And the ending was the delicious icing on the cake! Read it!!
4 to 4.5 stars! (I’m thinking 4.5 stars because I was so pleasantly surprised by the unique story, the clever writing and the fact that it held me the entire way through).
I am happily addicted to reading but I need to expend my book energy (especially when one puts me in an emotional frenzy - SO fun!). So, I release my feelings about the stories, by writing them down here. It's my book therapy. 
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
I beta read for Stacey and she is an awesome writer. Have you read any of her other books yet? If not, read Just One Song. I can tell you that it stole my breath. Then Just One Week was awesome and so was Don’t Lie to Me.
She has a writing ability like no other. She will be at the Authors in the City book signing and I am going to meet her there. Are you going to that?
I skipped most of your review when I saw the part about going in “blindly,” so I have no idea what I’m getting into. But, I’m trusting you here on the 4 to 4.5 rating. Why? Because I’m all worked up and angry over the book I just finished (won’t name it because, well, that just wouldn’t be right), and I’m cleaning my house like a ticked-off harpy to work off the frustration, and I’m in a book funk now!! Alright, rant over. Here’s to finishing a book and *not* being upset. *lifting my martini glass*
Well now I’m super curious about your upsetting book, Amy.
Now I’m dying to know what book you’re talking about, too!
Melinda, don’t mind me. I usually don’t have a filter between my brain and my mouth/hands/whatever.
I’d rather not put out the title (I’m not that much of a bee with an itch!), but I will say that when you start a series and notice that the sequel is getting one star from multiple people who gave the first book(s) four and five stars, then something is up, lol!
Ugh, I’m dying to say Maryse! I just don’t think it would be the right thing to do in a place like this, KWIM? I *will* give someone a heads-up though if it’s ever mentioned! Hope that doesn’t seem too hypocritical. Aw hell, I’m going to go watch some SOA to get out of this mood. Jax should take care of that…yummy…
I really liked this one too, but I could not understand why her bf, friends and family didn’t just tell her everything. That really frustrated me, and not in an enjoyable way. It felt manipulative and unnecessary on the author’s part; however, I still enjoyed the book a lot!
I wondered that myself Rachel… but I just went with the whole “she needed to remember it herself, in due time” thing. Naturally. I dunno. Kinda like waking up a sleepwalker? LOL! Sorry. I’m a goof.
But I get you. That was about my only “pet peeve” with this.
Aaaah, 30% into it, and I’m already feeling better. Guess the “hair of the dog” can apply to books, too.
Started reading this yesterday and really could not put it down….I also had a totally different story played out in my mind from the synopsis alone…..boy, was I wrong!
Reminded me of Danielle Steele’s earliest books, when I liked her books. Really good!
Loved it! Definitely 4.5, because I didn’t ugly cry.
MBR!
Great storyteller! I know it was frustrating that no one was up front with her but it was such a great plot thickener, soup for the soul. There were storylines that my mind started to project and then it went in a different direction. It had all the right element
PS. Amy needs to give up the name of the book. For the good of the blog-cause.
Oh! The book cover doesn’t match the main character!? Maybe that’s why we are so pleasantly surprised?
Alright…it was After Forever (Ever trilogy #2). I should have calmed down before going on my tirade. *covering my face in shame* The books are really good (especially #1 – so sweet!), I just *really* didn’t like the direction AF took. I’ll be reading #3, however, even though on Sunday I swore I wouldn’t. Change of heart and all that.