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3.43 AVERAGE
3.43 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
adventurous
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:
Yes
This was a fun time jump contemporary fiction! The humor and changing fate reminded me of the TV show Upload. I really liked how the story made her choose between a seemingly perfect life and her current messy life with mistakes. This was a great read.
Fun concept and an interesting enough book. Nothing groundbreaking about it, but an easy read that’s relatively enjoyable.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The premise is interesting and well-executed, if a bit silly at times. The Memo is a mid-life crisis coming of age novel that explores themes of personal growth, self doubt, and friendship. The characters are vibrant and well written, making some of them loveable and some of the hateable. The Memo grapples with the idea of a perfect life and whether a life without mistakes or choices can truly be a happy one. An overall enjoyable reading experience. I’d read more from these authors.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Infertility, Sexism, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship
Moderate: Addiction, Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Alcohol
Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Jenny didn't receive the memo her career advisor wanted to give her when she graduated college. Now, with her 15th college reunion looming and her facade of a happy, full-filled life cracking, she won't escape it this time.
I found myself laughing at Jenny’s being forced to return to crucial moments in her life for the kind of do-over we often imagine. However, I did struggle with keeping track of a few characters.
I found myself laughing at Jenny’s being forced to return to crucial moments in her life for the kind of do-over we often imagine. However, I did struggle with keeping track of a few characters.
The whole premise of this book (aside from the magic of it all) is so relatable. Everyone around you seems like they know exactly what to do and they're doing the right thing, while you're floundering and wondering what you missed. In this book, Jenny finds out that she literally did miss The Memo, and that's why her life has been one disaster after another. There's time travel, the butterfly effect concept, and lots of questions about if the grass is really greener.
I really enjoyed this story! I'm a sucker for anything involving time travel, and while there are some things I would've loved to see improved, I liked this a lot as a whole.
*Thanks to Harper Perennial and NetGalley for the ARC!*
I really enjoyed this story! I'm a sucker for anything involving time travel, and while there are some things I would've loved to see improved
Spoiler
(for example, the way to propel back is to look at a curated collection of "Pathetic" moments in your life - didn't love that as a concept or how at the end, we see a glimpse of resolution but don't get any firm like yes, Jenny made the right choice and is happy with her choice)*Thanks to Harper Perennial and NetGalley for the ARC!*
3.5 is more accurate - a mostly light, somewhat meta game of What If? The characters were very frustrating to follow, and it probably went a bit long, but was overall enjoyable once leaning into the silly.