Reviews

The Memo by Rachel Dodes, Lauren Mechling

books_by_your_bedside's review

challenging emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

kdentroux's review

adventurous funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

chelshudsonreads's review

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

frombethanysbookshelf's review

3.0

 A laughter-full riot of chaos and catastrophe that will make any 20-30 somethings who are waiting to feel like they’ve got it together cringe with its relatable and brutally honest story.

Jenny is a hot mess, a little lost and I absolutely loved her - she was real, authentic, confused and so far from perfect just trying to keep up with what everyone (including herself) expected her to be. It’s all normal, real-life drama until a mysterious figure from a secret shadow organisation aimed to pave the path of success for women pops out to explain she isn’t on the right path and the story takes a strange twist.

At times it felt a little haphazard to me when we’re first introduced - the twist didn’t quite hit right or feel finished and the jumping between times or realities didn’t flow as I’d expected but I still had a great time as we rushed around exploring friendships, love, success and sadness in heartwarming and heartbreaking ways.

Make sure you don’t miss the memo and get your hands on this book! 

pagesfromhome's review

hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• 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

This is one of those books where the idea is fantastic and the book itself is just...not. While the book wasn't bad by any means, it just felt like it spent too much time bouncing around between timelines and not enough time developing the characters or the story. Jenny never seems to find her footing (in either timeline) and her friendships always seems to be lacking true love.

Moving between the timelines, it's pretty clear from the start that

the "successful" timeline is pretty atrocious and the Memo isn't all it's cracked up to be, but Jenny continues to accept everything that's going on...to the very last moment she still wants to move into the successful life. It's only her delay that stops it from happening.

I would have loved to see some more character development and more chemistry between the characters so I could root for everyone and really lose myself in the story.

Thank you to Harper Perennial for the gift NetGalley copy!

carammcdermott's review against another edition

3.5

While the book was overall enjoyable, I can’t help but feel like there was a spark that was missing to really push this book over the edge and make it one to remember. It is not entirely unpredictable, but as with Jenny’s own life, the joy is in the journey, not the destination.

cathy1665's review

challenging dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

ashleywv's review

funny lighthearted reflective fast-paced

4.0

kencil's review against another edition

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I absolutely loved the concept of this book, because who doesn’t feel like they’ve missed the memo sometimes, and who wouldn’t love the chance to go back in time to try to right the wrongs?
While the book was overall enjoyable, I can’t help but feel like there was a spark that was missing to really push this book over the edge and make it one to remember. 

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

andrearbooks's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

3.5

 What if there as a memo that told you what you needed to do with your life? And then, what if you literally didn't get the memo?!? That' the premise of this one. Jenny's 15 year college reunion is on the horizon, and life is nothing like what she hoped it would be. Then, she finds out that this could be because she didn't seize the opportunity to get her memo way back in college. The good news is she has a second chance, and she takes it. What follows is some time travel to decide what she wants to change, as well as to consider what she wants to keep the same. I will say that I really wanted even more about Jenny. Because she was (literally) travelling through time, that was much of the focus, but particularly at the end, I wanted more of her present-day self because I was rooting for her to figure things out, and I wanted to know how it all worked out. But overall, this was an unique spin on the Groundhog Day inspired subgenre I do love so. Thanks to NetGalley for the early look at this June 2024 release!