Cover Image: Memory Lane

Memory Lane

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

This story intrigued me from the start, but fell flat and didn't deliver as I had hoped.

Alex finds herself in the midst of another scheme at the hands of her mother, Cassie. This time part of a scientific experiment to put Cassie's memories into Alex's head. Following the procedure and the advice of their doctor, the two take themselves and their rocky relationship on a road trip, to help spur the memories along. Alex went along with the plan to hopefully find out information about her father, whom Cassie never talks about, but is shocked when memories actually start appearing in her mind that aren't hers. What follows is an emotional rollercoaster of moments, until the dramatic ending that you are not supposed to see coming, but you do.

The characters and story really didn't hold the appeal that I was hoping for. I found both Cassie and Alex very annoying and their relationship overly frustrating. The story could have been more exciting, and I felt that the ending was too predictable. I would not recommend this book.

Was this review helpful?

The relationship between a mother and daughter is always a complex combination of love and conflict. Just ask me, I have a daughter…. hence, daddy's girl, and mama's boy.

MEMORY LANE is a soft science fiction serial that feels like it is in both a contemporary and near future timeframe. Through some scientific machinations, a mother and daughter can physically share memories. Under the auspices of a study into this possibility, Cassie (the mom) and Alex (the daughter) undertake this transfer of memory from mother to daughter.

I found the story both more interesting than I expected yet somewhat lacking in substance. In length and language it seems to be directed to new adult readers. The premise is tantalizing, but the abrupt ending leaves something to be desired. If you're looking for a thought-provoking fast read, I'd say give this one a go.

Was this review helpful?

Would you agree to an experiment where you could receive your mother’s memories?

What if you have always wondered about her past...or more like YOUR past?

This was a solid read. I enjoyed how SHORT the book was and it had such a unique plot and premise. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me access to this ARC for review.

I recommend this if you’re looking for a fast, easy read that will still have you going (hmm and wow and woahhh).

Was this review helpful?

I received an ARC of Memory Lane through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Memory Lane is a story about a strained mother-daughter relationship. This is about to change when Alex's mother, Cassie, signs them up for a memory experiment. Some of Cassie's most happy memories are transferred to Alex, in an effort to grow closer to each other. To trigger the memories, they're going on a week-long road trip, the same one Cassie went on in her memories. But things get a strange turn when Alex's memories aren't all happy and seem different from the way Cassie remembers them. Who is the strange man Alex keeps seeing in these memories? And why does she remember being drowned?

The story itself is quite thrilling, with lots of cliffhangers and questions that you want to be answered. There are some decent twists and turns along the way as well, as things start to get more and more mysterious and sinister.

However, the book does read more like a screenplay than an actual book, with episodes instead of chapters. I don't know if this will be changed in the final version of the book, though. But there was quite some dialogue and inner monologue, but very little exposition. There weren't many descriptions of what things looked like, where I think the story could have benefited from a clearer scene-setting. I also didn't feel extremely attached to the characters. I liked Alex, we stay inside her head throughout, but I didn't feel that connected to her. I think it's because the interactions between her and her mother are mostly dialogue and some internal reflection, but it's missing some action. There's too much being told to the reader instead of shown, which is why I felt more detached from the characters.

It was a fast read: I read the book in just one evening. So if you're looking for a fun, thrilling, quick read, with an interesting premise, then Memory lane would definitely do the trick.

Was this review helpful?

This was a well written thriller of a mother daughter relationship and memory transfer. What if you have a memory from someone’s past that should be buried? The premise was very good and had me flipping pages.
Many thanks to Serial Box and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Was this review helpful?

A quick and easy read that questions the veracity of memories. The very light science fiction elements enable the mysteries of the plot to both unfold and the fragmentary clues to become less trustworthy. This works well until a rather unsatisfying ending that seems a set up for a sequel.

Was this review helpful?

This book had an interesting premise. Cassie transfers her memories to her daughter Alex hoping she will learn about her father. She learned way more than she expected. I wish there had been more. It just felt like something was missing. The layout was also a bit odd - like this should have been a podcast.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #SerialBox and the author for the #gifted copy of this book.

Was this review helpful?

OMG!!! This was so much more than I expected. Like I just expected a mother and a daughter going on a road trip and it being all happy with a few twists, but nothing too severe. When I tell you this had so many unexpected twists and I loved them. It's been so long since I've read a book where I couldn't even guess what was gonna happen next. Really glad I was able to get my hands on the ARC thanks to netgalley.

Was this review helpful?

Cassie brings her daughter to a memory study where memories may be passed down from mother to daughter. This book was amazing up until the end where I felt it was rushed. I would love to read more of this author's works since the writing was excellent. I really enjoyed the plot. The ending just seemed like the author ran out of time so that's why I rated it 3 stars.

Was this review helpful?

When I went through NetGalley and I saw this book it instantly pulled my curiosity so when I was approved for the advanced reader's copy of this book I was thrilled. While it had major promise for me it fell a little flat. Mother and daughter, Cassie, and Alex respectively, took part in a scientific memory transfer with Alex being the recipient of her mother’s memories. The memory that was transferred involved Cassie’s life when she was the same age as Alex presently, 21. This was also the time period in which Cassie was pregnant with Alex. At first, Alex thinks this is her mother's way of making a quick buck, but when the memory transfer begins to work and Alex gets bits and pieces of the memories, she has always been curious about them set off on an adventure.
As they continue their journey and the memories continue to pass from mother to daughter you as a reader get this underlining fear that creeps in because you do not know what to believe who is telling the truth and who is not. I am hoping that this book is part of a series because with the way that this ended, I am for sure in need of knowing what happens next.

Was this review helpful?

Fast paced, but slow to reveal. We follow the story of Alex (daughter) and Cassie (mother). Cassie isn’t the most motherly -- often too busy dealing with her own painful past and vices. Alex, however, is sensible, level-headed, and yearning to learn more about her father’s past.
One day, the two check-in for a mother-daughter study focused on memory which may hopefully help Cassie heal from her past and give Alex the answers she needs. Dr Novik performs a memory transfer from Cassie to Alex and suggests the two recreate the trip from Cassie’s memories in order to start transferring them.

I liked seeing the little moments where Cassie and Alex seemed to bond over. It was interesting to compare past memories with the present -- I kept trying to piece everything together and find the truth behind any discrepancies. Each fading memory left me in suspense with more questions than answers. The buildup was pretty good, but the ending felt a little rushed and tied together a bit too well -- it was shocking though. I would’ve also liked to know what happened beyond the last scene.

Overall, I’d say this is a good book if you’re looking for a quick thriller, fast-pace/suspense, and something that keeps you guessing.

*Thank you to Netgalley and Serial Box for a copy of the ARC in return for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Cassie and Alex are mother and daughter, respectively. They participate in a mother-daughter science experiment where Alex receives Cassie's memories from when she was in her early twenties. However, Cassie can't remember specific details of when she was pregnant with Alex at that time. Alex slowly receives the memories overtime, and the experience isn't what either woman expected.

Was this review helpful?

This is the story of Alex and her mother Cassie and the road trip they embark on to recall memories transferred to Alex from Cassie from many years ago. Alex and Cassie are a part of this scientific study that implants/transfers a mothers desired memories into their daughter. Cassies desired memory was from the time in her life when she was pregnant with Alex at the age of 21. But everything starts to go awry when Alex starts recalling the memory differently to how Cassie remembers it.
The thing that drew me into this book originally was the memory transfer aspect which I think was interesting and was done well. I didn't know what to expect of the plot but I was definitely invested and was keen to figure out what was happening. I was not expecting and didn't see the plot twists coming and was definitely surprised. This was a quick and easy read and I would definitely be intrigued to read a sequel or continuation of this if they released it.

Was this review helpful?

Memory Lane has an intriguing premise, and I found myself really enjoying the read almost immediately. There is the futuristic tech that would fall under science fiction, but other than that, I would say this one is more a psychological thriller. There are many twists and turns - enough to keep the pages turning all the way through. Right up to the end, and that's where I had problems. I would call it a cliffhanger, which it is technically, but it kind of feels like an open ending, maybe even speculative. It feels a bit abrupt to me, and maybe it's my need to have things tied up in a neat little bow, but this ending just didn't work for me. There were way too many loose ends along with a couple of threads that felt like they just fizzled out and were left to dangle. So, what I ended up with was a really good story with a really disappointing end. I did like the rest of the book enough that I'd definitely check out a sequel if there is one, sp there's that.

Was this review helpful?

Staying home during the COVID quarantine has it's benefits. I finished this short serial type book in an afternoon.
An estranged mother and daughter sign up for an experimental memory exchange with a mysterious doctor. A road trip is recommended so that the mother's lost memories can be transferred to her daughter. Each stop on their journey awakens disturbing memories. What do these vague memories mean for a daughter searching for the father that she never knew.
Characters were well developed and the story kept me swiping the short chapters until a satisfying ending.

Was this review helpful?

This book starts the twists and did that just happen from the get go. Quite interesting and new aspect of exploring the sharing of memories amongst family members quite literally. With each "season" a new path emerges. This one keeps you guessing!

Was this review helpful?

Memory Lane aimed straight but missed the mark.

This fast-paced read will have you guessing what’s real or not and what really happened to Alex’s mother and father all those years ago. However, other than the main character Alex, the characters are flat and the ending rushed to an unfinished close.

Alex and her mom Cassie agree to participate in a scientific study where some of Cassie’s memories are transplanted into Alex’s mind in hopes she will be able to recall them as if they were her own. Cassie has spent 20 years as an off and on addict with mental illness. Alex has tried to make something of herself by going to college and finding a good job while she cares for her mother. The only reason she agrees to the experiment is that Cassie refuses to tell her anything about her father and why she left him 20 yrs prior. Alex hopes she can learn more about him from cassie’s memories. Instead, Alex recalls memories that Cassie says aren’t real, including one of a body on a table and one of Cassie being drowned.

This is another book that was issued as a serial, so it has “season x episode y” at the start of every chapter. I really wish authors would take this out when publishing as a full book because it's distracting and irrelevant to a full-length book. The book did not feel long at all, making me think the plot could have been filled in more in a few places or a bit more added to the ending.

Overall I think the idea has promise but the authors just didn’t pull it off. If you like sci-fi type thrillers you would like this one. It’s written like it’s the future but really set in modern-day times. I’m not quite sure when it publishes as the ARC states 1/13/21 but Amazon states 12/21/21.

Thank you to #NetGalley and Serial Box for providing me an #ARC of #MemoryLane to review.

Was this review helpful?

3.5 stars

A great premise of what is a memory and how we can manipulate our thoughts to protect ourselves but also give us hope.

I loved the character growth of both Alex and Cassie throughout. Though I enjoyed the story, I found elements of the plot predictable. But would recommend it to friends. A nice way into light scifi.

Was this review helpful?

This is a very interesting read that has left me with a lot of questions, but in a good way.

Alex is indulging her mother Cassie by doing an experimental treatment with her. Alex will get her mother’s memories imported to her brain to experience her past and maybe solve why Cassie is the way she is. The embark on a Roda trip to trigger the memories. What unfolds is a crazy trip, where Alex questions what she sees and experiences and leaves her confused and questioning her mother even more.

Just when you think you have it all figured out the book pulls out a twist and you question things even more. I like how this is a bit of sci-if thriller, it’s clearly set in some future, without mentioning it, but with all this brain tech and only self driving cars with city limits. It’s a super quick read and I was really surprised by it, but I think stretching it out would have made it repetitive and a lot less thrilling than it is now. I think there could be a sequel, but if the authors don’t write one that is fine as well. Sometimes being left with some questions is why makes story even better.

Was this review helpful?

3.5 stars...This was fast-paced, which usually I love in a thriller, but it was almost too abrupt at the end. There wasn’t a page count listed, but it was very short. I read it in one sitting, less than 2 hours, and was kept enthralled the entire time. When I put it down though, I had a moment of “wait, what?” about the ending.

This follows a young woman and her not-very-motherly Mom, who she always thinks of as Cassie, as they try to share memories and find out what’s real and what isn’t. I loved how right off the bat you just knew something wasn’t going quite right, I don’t tend to like when thrillers pack all the thrilling bits at the end. The end wrapped up a bit too neatly, and just didn’t make sense to me. I know we suspend some disbelief to believe they can share memories, but how it all tied together was a little much. Overall, I found it a very enjoyable reading experience and would definitely recommend picking it up.

Was this review helpful?