Scan barcode
sogladtoreadyou's review
4.0
The Mendenhall's have been through a lot of trauma the last year all from a car accident. Lori is recovering from traumatic brain injuries and cannot remember the last few years up to the accident. Lori and her husband, Michael, have lost their son, Austin. Austin is a twin, and his sister, Avery, has survived the car accident.
Throughout the book, you learn about the family dynamic. While Lori is recovering at home, she has memory lost and she starts to learn about her life before the accident. She doesn't know why her husband is hiding things and she isn't sure who to believe: her husband or her friends. You start to uncover what went on with the family right before the accident.
This book was a bit slow, but I really enjoyed Avery's relationship with her twin brother's best friend, Xander. Towards the middle of the book, it starts to pick up and I really became invested in the characters.
Throughout the book, you learn about the family dynamic. While Lori is recovering at home, she has memory lost and she starts to learn about her life before the accident. She doesn't know why her husband is hiding things and she isn't sure who to believe: her husband or her friends. You start to uncover what went on with the family right before the accident.
This book was a bit slow, but I really enjoyed Avery's relationship with her twin brother's best friend, Xander. Towards the middle of the book, it starts to pick up and I really became invested in the characters.
randikaye's review
5.0
There are many books that--- though perhaps entertaining to read at the time--- tend to be forgotten fairly quickly once you've moved on to the next. Then there are others that absolutely take hold of your heart and your emotions, and those are the ones that you know will stick with you long after the final pages. With Every Memory most certainly falls into that second category for me.
The story opens with Lori preparing to leave the hospital after a tragic accident that took her son and the last eight years of her memory. As readers, we are drawn into her life as she adjusts to her new life--- a life that looks nothing like the life that she remembers. It alternates between her POV and that of her teenage daughter Avery as she struggles with her own grief and anger over the loss of her twin brother. Throughout the story, the author takes on some really tough topics to include grief, infidelity, sexual assault and betrayal. With topics such as these, this book definitely could have gone to a much darker place. Admittedly, there were definitely several times throughout that I found myself reaching for the tissues... but at the same time, the author handled these topics with sensitivity and grace, and I walked away with a sense of healing and hope rather than sadness. I do think part of that might have been the romance between Avery and Xander, which I absolutely adored! I thought that offered a nice light not just among the heavier topics, but also in comparison to the strained marriage between her parents too.
This is not a story with perfect characters. Their story was in many ways broken and messy and heartbreaking. Yet it was a story that reminds us that there is forgiveness and second chances too. Overall, I thought this was a fantastic read, and one that I would highly recommend!
**I received a complimentary copy for consideration. All opinions are my own.
The story opens with Lori preparing to leave the hospital after a tragic accident that took her son and the last eight years of her memory. As readers, we are drawn into her life as she adjusts to her new life--- a life that looks nothing like the life that she remembers. It alternates between her POV and that of her teenage daughter Avery as she struggles with her own grief and anger over the loss of her twin brother. Throughout the story, the author takes on some really tough topics to include grief, infidelity, sexual assault and betrayal. With topics such as these, this book definitely could have gone to a much darker place. Admittedly, there were definitely several times throughout that I found myself reaching for the tissues... but at the same time, the author handled these topics with sensitivity and grace, and I walked away with a sense of healing and hope rather than sadness. I do think part of that might have been the romance between Avery and Xander, which I absolutely adored! I thought that offered a nice light not just among the heavier topics, but also in comparison to the strained marriage between her parents too.
This is not a story with perfect characters. Their story was in many ways broken and messy and heartbreaking. Yet it was a story that reminds us that there is forgiveness and second chances too. Overall, I thought this was a fantastic read, and one that I would highly recommend!
**I received a complimentary copy for consideration. All opinions are my own.
kriste's review
4.0
This story had a bit of mystery in it, with a family's past slowly being remembered by the Mom. I really enjoyed the high school daughter. Well told!
kbranfield's review
4.0
4.5 stars.
An emotional novel of healing. This incredible novel tackles some difficult topics with sensitivity and grace. The characters characters are wonderfully developed with realistic flaws that are relatable. The storyline has plenty of depth and substance and features unexpected plot twists. An excellent novel that I highly recommend.
An emotional novel of healing. This incredible novel tackles some difficult topics with sensitivity and grace. The characters characters are wonderfully developed with realistic flaws that are relatable. The storyline has plenty of depth and substance and features unexpected plot twists. An excellent novel that I highly recommend.
redreviews4you's review
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
One of the highlights for me in any book is the author's use of dialogue. And I must say that in the first chapter of With Every Memory, I was delighted and held captive by the way that Janine Rosche uses dialogue to capture not just a character's actions and voice, but how the way people talk to each other and themselves to showcase their motivations -- externally and internally..
I cannot image how I would respond if I was in Lori's shoes. What would I do if I was the victim of a serious accident that left me with a traumatic brain injury and robbed me of almost a decade of memories. Saddest of all, how would I feel if that same accident took my child and robbed me of most of my memories of him? Add to this the changes that I now observe within know my family and I don't know if I wouldn't crumble under the pressure of it all. I know I would wonder if the changes were because of the death of our son, my own inability to remember our lives together, the pressure that my accident and absence had inflected on my daughter....or is there something more dark at the heart of this? I know I would have to know and in that way, Lori speaks to me!
These are the questions that drew.me into this excerpt and which leave me wondering what else the book will uncover! The tone reminded me of a.Hitchcock movie and I loved the hint of suspense and thriller that seems to be bubbling to the surface.
I cannot image how I would respond if I was in Lori's shoes. What would I do if I was the victim of a serious accident that left me with a traumatic brain injury and robbed me of almost a decade of memories. Saddest of all, how would I feel if that same accident took my child and robbed me of most of my memories of him? Add to this the changes that I now observe within know my family and I don't know if I wouldn't crumble under the pressure of it all. I know I would wonder if the changes were because of the death of our son, my own inability to remember our lives together, the pressure that my accident and absence had inflected on my daughter....or is there something more dark at the heart of this? I know I would have to know and in that way, Lori speaks to me!
These are the questions that drew.me into this excerpt and which leave me wondering what else the book will uncover! The tone reminded me of a.Hitchcock movie and I loved the hint of suspense and thriller that seems to be bubbling to the surface.
deniset's review
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
sheilasamuelson's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Rating: 5 Stars!!
Review:
Thank you to BookishFirst and Revell for picking me to win this FREE ARC COPY in a raffle on BookishFirst.com a few months ago. This was my first time reading a Novel by Janine Corynn Rosche so i wasnt sure what to expect but i have to say she really did a Phenomenal Job with telling this story about a woman who suffered a Tramatic Brain Injury from a Car Accident with a Train at a Railroad Crossing.
The Characters were interesting to read about. Lori and Avery were definately my favorites. I felt bad for both of them as their trying to move forward after losing a son and brother in the accident just 1 year prior, Michael i disliked early on in the book because he came off as not caring and trying to alter memories his wife was trying to remember but surprisingly he came around in the last 1/3 of the book.
The Setting was beautifully described which made me feel like i was actually in Denver, Colorado while reading especially when the scenery was described.
Overall a Phenomenal Based on a True Story Novel about a Woman who tries to remember the last 5 years of her life after substaining Amnesia after suffering a Tramatic Brain Injury during a Automobile/Train Accident!! Can't wait to read more by Janine in the future!!
Review:
Thank you to BookishFirst and Revell for picking me to win this FREE ARC COPY in a raffle on BookishFirst.com a few months ago. This was my first time reading a Novel by Janine Corynn Rosche so i wasnt sure what to expect but i have to say she really did a Phenomenal Job with telling this story about a woman who suffered a Tramatic Brain Injury from a Car Accident with a Train at a Railroad Crossing.
The Characters were interesting to read about. Lori and Avery were definately my favorites. I felt bad for both of them as their trying to move forward after losing a son and brother in the accident just 1 year prior, Michael i disliked early on in the book because he came off as not caring and trying to alter memories his wife was trying to remember but surprisingly he came around in the last 1/3 of the book.
The Setting was beautifully described which made me feel like i was actually in Denver, Colorado while reading especially when the scenery was described.
Overall a Phenomenal Based on a True Story Novel about a Woman who tries to remember the last 5 years of her life after substaining Amnesia after suffering a Tramatic Brain Injury during a Automobile/Train Accident!! Can't wait to read more by Janine in the future!!
paperwitches's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
(Trigger Warning’s: Death of child, Sexual Assault, Leaked Nudes, Cheating}
TLDR: Absolutely adored this book, though it did have triggering content that could’ve been left out - it was an emotionally compelling and intelligent quick read.
Story Synopsis: Lori, a traumatic brain injury survivor after an accident with a train that kills her teenage son Austin. After recovering from amnesia, she returns to a broken and mostly forgotten home where she must try to reunite her distracted husband and closed off daughter.
Review:
First off, my thanks to author Janine Rosche, BookishFirst, and Revell Books for the complimentary physical advanced reader copy of, ‘With Every Memory,’ per my request. This review is being voluntarily given and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
I am so glad I won a copy of this wonderful book, I had a long reading slump - and have not been able to really settle down with a book in a while due to a precarious living situation. This book was able to get me to sit down, and read, for the first time in a few weeks - and I appreciate it for that.
This is told in a rotation of two points-of-view, Lori and her daughter Avery. These switches helped fully cover the story where Lori’s memory could not. It was still very easy to digest, and did nothing to complicate the narrative. I usually feel jarred by such quick POV changes, but this was able to switch seamlessly. I have no doubt readers would enjoy both characters' narration.
The novel is an emotional rollercoaster, literally. The author is VERY witty in the way she writes, and many of the quotes will stick with you. This novel contains the most well written, fleshed out family I have ever read about. There are real dynamics and interactions, a lot of show and not tell - which you appreciate after reading so many novels where families essentially cease to exist outside of the main character. I saw a few users mark this novel as, ‘slow burn,’ but I see this as inherently wrong - as there is not a page that passes that something important or integral DOESN’T happen. So much was happening that I actually had to keep putting the book down for a breath towards the end. It felt smothering emotionally upon the big reveal, and it captures frustration and desperation so well that it was no big step to believe you saw it in yourself as well. It is a deep and relatable pain. This book also has a good deal of romance, which I felt surprised as I figured this would focus on the marriage troubles of an adult woman and lots of secrets. The premise doesn’t prepare you for this, but I was so glad for it! The romance was refreshing and so sweet between Avery and Xander, and I often related to the way they fell in love - unsure but always honey-sweet. It is also CLEAN, which I appreciated. I cannot explain enough how tired I am of forced smut in novels, or even smut in general - so it was a nice reprieve. However, there are mentions of someone else's (not the MCs) nude leak, which I am giving a warning for if this is a trigger for you. It was also nice to see Lori and Michael fall in love all over again, a type of romance I have never read about - but found even more enticing.
Still, this does not mean that the plot was without its cons. Some of the subplots were badly handled, namely the one involving sexual assault. Without including spoilers, it was simply thrown in while wholly out of place and had no point except to justify a character’s ‘good guy,’ characterization. Some of the book’s characterization of Lori is also to be critiqued, she is an odd one. She can be downright naïve, and childish, which can be expected with a TBI. However, this does not seem like an intentional write. You start off initially feeling a lot of sympathy and care for her. Eventually, though, you realize how almost everyone around her deserved better. It’s not that her predicament isn’t understandable or even unrelatable - but that she constantly victimizes herself in situations where she was at fault, and then hops on a unrealistic forgiveness train almost instantly. There is a moment where Lori selfishly attempts to talk about a very PRIVATE piece of information with Avery in front of Avery’s entire school at prom. When warned to stop by Michael, she continues with no regard for Avery’s privacy or the sake of space and respect. It’s a childish moment that made me dislike Lori. I am VERY glad she is now so far removed from who she was before, and that somehow such a horrible situation restored her to her true self. The whole subplot about adultery was interesting enough and made me speculate the entire story, but looking back at it -it was something that only made me appreciate the other characters even more. Which directly juxtaposed how I felt when I first started the novel.
Avery’s POV is at first so edgy it’s daunting, uncomfortable, and reeks of the YA I used to read when I was a 17 year old girl. This is a brilliant choice to start with, as you can actually witness Avery’s change from a defensive and sensitive stereotypical teen into a fully fledged caring and open young woman. She no longer takes so much of her identity in Austin in the end, while still keeping him in her heart. After the second chapter I was very invested in her brilliantly written character. She is very layered, and perhaps the best written of all of the characters - and it was so rewarding to watch her become happy. I did not at all find her snobby, I found her understandable and I cannot say I would not have reacted differently in her situation. It was great to see how well studied the author was in emotional intelligence, and how well they portrayed projection of others' jealousy onto women. Avery is at the figurehead of this and I felt it was handled responsibly.
The ending felt very quick, as everything comes together quite literally in the last chapters. For so much paranoia and speculation to wrap up so quickly in under three chapters - it was immensely satisfying. It took me a while to ponder the book fully, but at no point did I feel unhappy with what I read or questioning. I did feel like the book could’ve been longer, but it was brilliant at exploring grief and its relation to love and forgiveness. A topic which, I feel, is greatly underappreciated in both life and novels. I would recommend this to everyone who loves general fiction with a hint of tragedy, seeing as you aren’t easily triggered by death or SA, as it is a very underappreciated gem of a read that I’ve since moved to have a cozy spot at the top of my bookshelf for constant rereads on long summer days!
I am deeply looking forward to more from this author, including the upcoming spin off that she sneak peeked at the end of this arc.
Bookish Pros:
TLDR: Absolutely adored this book, though it did have triggering content that could’ve been left out - it was an emotionally compelling and intelligent quick read.
Story Synopsis: Lori, a traumatic brain injury survivor after an accident with a train that kills her teenage son Austin. After recovering from amnesia, she returns to a broken and mostly forgotten home where she must try to reunite her distracted husband and closed off daughter.
Review:
First off, my thanks to author Janine Rosche, BookishFirst, and Revell Books for the complimentary physical advanced reader copy of, ‘With Every Memory,’ per my request. This review is being voluntarily given and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
I am so glad I won a copy of this wonderful book, I had a long reading slump - and have not been able to really settle down with a book in a while due to a precarious living situation. This book was able to get me to sit down, and read, for the first time in a few weeks - and I appreciate it for that.
This is told in a rotation of two points-of-view, Lori and her daughter Avery. These switches helped fully cover the story where Lori’s memory could not. It was still very easy to digest, and did nothing to complicate the narrative. I usually feel jarred by such quick POV changes, but this was able to switch seamlessly. I have no doubt readers would enjoy both characters' narration.
The novel is an emotional rollercoaster, literally. The author is VERY witty in the way she writes, and many of the quotes will stick with you. This novel contains the most well written, fleshed out family I have ever read about. There are real dynamics and interactions, a lot of show and not tell - which you appreciate after reading so many novels where families essentially cease to exist outside of the main character. I saw a few users mark this novel as, ‘slow burn,’ but I see this as inherently wrong - as there is not a page that passes that something important or integral DOESN’T happen. So much was happening that I actually had to keep putting the book down for a breath towards the end. It felt smothering emotionally upon the big reveal, and it captures frustration and desperation so well that it was no big step to believe you saw it in yourself as well. It is a deep and relatable pain. This book also has a good deal of romance, which I felt surprised as I figured this would focus on the marriage troubles of an adult woman and lots of secrets. The premise doesn’t prepare you for this, but I was so glad for it! The romance was refreshing and so sweet between Avery and Xander, and I often related to the way they fell in love - unsure but always honey-sweet. It is also CLEAN, which I appreciated. I cannot explain enough how tired I am of forced smut in novels, or even smut in general - so it was a nice reprieve. However, there are mentions of someone else's (not the MCs) nude leak, which I am giving a warning for if this is a trigger for you. It was also nice to see Lori and Michael fall in love all over again, a type of romance I have never read about - but found even more enticing.
Still, this does not mean that the plot was without its cons. Some of the subplots were badly handled, namely the one involving sexual assault. Without including spoilers, it was simply thrown in while wholly out of place and had no point except to justify a character’s ‘good guy,’ characterization. Some of the book’s characterization of Lori is also to be critiqued, she is an odd one. She can be downright naïve, and childish, which can be expected with a TBI. However, this does not seem like an intentional write. You start off initially feeling a lot of sympathy and care for her. Eventually, though, you realize how almost everyone around her deserved better. It’s not that her predicament isn’t understandable or even unrelatable - but that she constantly victimizes herself in situations where she was at fault, and then hops on a unrealistic forgiveness train almost instantly. There is a moment where Lori selfishly attempts to talk about a very PRIVATE piece of information with Avery in front of Avery’s entire school at prom. When warned to stop by Michael, she continues with no regard for Avery’s privacy or the sake of space and respect. It’s a childish moment that made me dislike Lori. I am VERY glad she is now so far removed from who she was before, and that somehow such a horrible situation restored her to her true self. The whole subplot about adultery was interesting enough and made me speculate the entire story, but looking back at it -it was something that only made me appreciate the other characters even more. Which directly juxtaposed how I felt when I first started the novel.
Avery’s POV is at first so edgy it’s daunting, uncomfortable, and reeks of the YA I used to read when I was a 17 year old girl. This is a brilliant choice to start with, as you can actually witness Avery’s change from a defensive and sensitive stereotypical teen into a fully fledged caring and open young woman. She no longer takes so much of her identity in Austin in the end, while still keeping him in her heart. After the second chapter I was very invested in her brilliantly written character. She is very layered, and perhaps the best written of all of the characters - and it was so rewarding to watch her become happy. I did not at all find her snobby, I found her understandable and I cannot say I would not have reacted differently in her situation. It was great to see how well studied the author was in emotional intelligence, and how well they portrayed projection of others' jealousy onto women. Avery is at the figurehead of this and I felt it was handled responsibly.
The ending felt very quick, as everything comes together quite literally in the last chapters. For so much paranoia and speculation to wrap up so quickly in under three chapters - it was immensely satisfying. It took me a while to ponder the book fully, but at no point did I feel unhappy with what I read or questioning. I did feel like the book could’ve been longer, but it was brilliant at exploring grief and its relation to love and forgiveness. A topic which, I feel, is greatly underappreciated in both life and novels. I would recommend this to everyone who loves general fiction with a hint of tragedy, seeing as you aren’t easily triggered by death or SA, as it is a very underappreciated gem of a read that I’ve since moved to have a cozy spot at the top of my bookshelf for constant rereads on long summer days!
I am deeply looking forward to more from this author, including the upcoming spin off that she sneak peeked at the end of this arc.
Bookish Pros:
solenophage's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
One year ago the Mendenhall family suffered a devastating car accident, which killed the teenage son, Austin, and left the mother, Lori, badly injured and dealing with the loss of the last nine years of her memories. Now as Lori returns home from her care facility, she finds her relationships with her husband, Michael, and daughter, Avery, strained both by grief and in ways she no longer has context for. She struggles to understand the woman she became in the missing nine years and to uncover the source of her family's dysfunction which both her slowly healing mind and her husband seem intent on keeping hidden. At the same time, Avery, Austin's twin, must begin to pull herself out of her self-imposed isolation and redefine herself without her twin and the friends who abandoned her during her grief.
Despite the compelling premise, this book was only a 2.5 read for me. I generally felt apathetic towards all the characters, which was unfortunate for such a character-focused story framed around heavy emotions -- grief, loss, and the way relationships can crumble or reform. The characters' actions and emotional ups and downs - even those of the point-of-view characters - felt arbitrary, more so the further the story went on. At times I was also surprised by how little weight Austin's death had in the story. Michael seemed to have no raw emotions about it at all, despite being the most directly responsible for Austin's death, and Lori came across the same way at times. I had to keep reminding myself, 'it's been a year, feelings dull,' but it still came off as odd given the framing of the story. I think it was a product of trying to do too much in not enough space. If this had just been Lori's story or just Avery's, there might have been more balance between their rebuilding of surviving relationships and exploring of grief as well as more chance to bring out their character.
Despite the compelling premise, this book was only a 2.5 read for me. I generally felt apathetic towards all the characters, which was unfortunate for such a character-focused story framed around heavy emotions -- grief, loss, and the way relationships can crumble or reform. The characters' actions and emotional ups and downs - even those of the point-of-view characters - felt arbitrary, more so the further the story went on. At times I was also surprised by how little weight Austin's death had in the story. Michael seemed to have no raw emotions about it at all, despite being the most directly responsible for Austin's death, and Lori came across the same way at times. I had to keep reminding myself, 'it's been a year, feelings dull,' but it still came off as odd given the framing of the story. I think it was a product of trying to do too much in not enough space. If this had just been Lori's story or just Avery's, there might have been more balance between their rebuilding of surviving relationships and exploring of grief as well as more chance to bring out their character.