The plot for this had so much potential, since I love the concept of self vs. memories. Ultimately, it came down to how the book was structured; it seemed more like a compilation of POVs in short stories that weren't connected, so it was difficult to follow and feel the purpose throughout the story.

Thank you, NetGalley, for an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! This book has such an dark and interesting concept - it reminded me of an episode of Black Mirror. This sharp and poignant novel confronts the reader with their own choices about what it means to truly forget as well as the power of memories and the consequences that occur after you make that choice. I really enjoyed the doctor’s character in this novel who willingly dissents to protect her patients - she provides such a great counter! While I really enjoy sci-fi novels, at times this did drag a bit, but I overall enjoyed this book and am looking forward to what the author comes out with next!

This book really drew me in at the beginning, but, unfortunately, it lost me. I think this is due to the length--it felt REALLY long.

| BOOK REVIEW |

Title: Tell Me An Ending
Author: Jo Harkin
Format: 🎧
Rating: ✩ ✩

This book had such a cool premise; it's set in an alternate universe where a company is able to remove memories from people. It truly sounded like the perfect novel for me. Unfortunately, it fell short.


It's one of those novels where, despite its exciting idea, not much actually happens. I didn't find the characters particularly compelling either, so it was hard to find a lot to keep me engaged with.

Key Points:
• Fascinating premise
• Philosophical undertones
• Multi POV
• Dragging pace

I did not finish the book ahead of its publication date. At this point it has been so long since I read the book that I don't remember enough detail to provide an honest review.

I was immediately intrigued by the premise of this novel which felt somewhat eerie and akin to a Black Mirror episode. I truly could not put this book down, I found myself enthralled by the never-ending questions raised by the possibility of deleting memories. I enjoyed the complexities of the characters and how their lives overlapped. Highly recommend for anyone who likes sci-fi, multiple POVs, and thought-provoking philosophical musings.

My rating: 4/5 stars

Tell Me and Ending is a book that I really needed to sit with after reading. And I've sat with it for over a year before writing any review. Unfortunately, a lot of the crisper details and twists have faded but bigger impressions remain. Harkin's book is truly rooted in our socio-technological times. In it, a medical tech company has wiped unpleasant or traumatizing memories of many customers. However, the technology seems not to be quite as effective as expected and the company is forced to offer retrieval of erased memories to past clients, some of whom didn't even know they had undergone any such procedure. The company is run by a charismatic (maybe corrupt and sinister?) woman CEO, named Louise. Though the most compelling character is most certainly Noor--intelligent, lonely, workaholic, principled, yet naively dedicated to the company's mission statement, motivated by near-messianic admiration for her mentor. Noor's moral and personal development as she unravels the secrets her company holds is a jarring and gripping read. Noor's POV is accompanied by the POV of several memory removal patients. Their lives create many opportunities for the reader to grapple with the philosophy of memory and it's loss.

If you could have your memory removed, would you? Nepenthe is a company that does just that. But what often sounds too good to be true often is. The novel follows four characters who had a memory removed and a woman who works at Nepenthe and considers the ethical considerations of both the company and the people who get the procedures done.

This speculative fiction had all the markings of everything I would love. Each of the four characters stories starts so strongly, I was invested to see what memories were deleted and how they came to make the decision to delete in the first place. But for how long the novel is (448 pages), it felt like very little happened when it seemed like there was so much to explore. Although this book wasn’t for me, I still loved the premise of the book and will pick up the Jo Harkin novel and see what fantastic idea she dives into next.

Thank you @netgalley and @scribnerbooks for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this one! It feels almost like a bunch of short stories rather than a novel, but then all the threads twist tighter at the end. It's a good philosophical one about the role of memory in building our perceptions of ourselves and relationships with others, and also how deeply rooted some aspects of memory might be.

First, apologies for the late comments. I tried a few times to dig into this book. I like the premise and the idea of erasing memories is fascinating. I have some people in mind who’d like this and will be sure to pass on the information.

Excellent. Thought-provoking. Chilling. Affirming of the human experience and what makes us who we are. Is man made of memories? Or do memories make the man? Highly recommend.

Note: Some may not appreciate the gay female character.

I thought that the book started strong. We begin with Noor, one of the main characters, interviewing someone who has had a memory erased. Noor works at the facility that does these limited erasures and the company is going into cover-your-ass mode after new data starts to show that sometimes memory traces will resurface after the procedure. I liked Noor. She had a very dry sense of humor, was uncomfortable in social situations, and pushed emotions away- yes, I liked all of that.

I was a bit disappointed when the next chapter featured Mei, a schoolgirl in Malaysia. Mei maybe(?) had some link to memory erasure, but we didn't get very far with her.

Then I was a bit more disappointed when the next chapter was about Finn. Finn is a charming Irishman with a beautiful wife who may have had a memory erasure that she's no longer aware of.

Next we get Will, in therapy with his wife because Will won't open up emotionally at all. Will is a police officer, maybe.

And we're STILL not done. The next chapter is about Oscar, a troubled young man.

So then after four chapters of absence we finally swing around to Noor again. Thus far the connections between all these people are only the most tenuous. I despaired of having to read four MORE chapters that meander vaguely around before getting back to the character that I was attached to.

I suppose you could call this a mosaic novel. But the mosaic is sort of an abstract form that might remind you of something but doesn't really cohere as an actual picture. Reader, I skipped to the end. And what I found there didn't make me want to go back and read the whole foggy thing.

Oh, and I'm pretty sure memory doesn't work the way the book thinks. There are not separate discrete areas for memories.

This original and thought provoking novel centers on the idea that you can have your most horrific or emotional memories erased from your memory — and go on to live a normal life, never knowing you may have had a traumatic event. Finn, Mae, Oscar and William are all characters who are deeply affected by this memory procedure and until a lawsuit with the company, Nepenthe, comes to light, they may not have realized they were affected at all. Noor, who is our fifth character, is a psychologist who works for the company.

<i>Tell Me An Ending</i> is told from the perspectives of each of the characters and features huge questions and ramifications for each. Some may be having snippets or flashes of their prior life - the memories they wanted suppressed. Others are told they had their memories altered and did they want to regain those memories? Difficult choices for each character and their partners, friends and families.

I found myself wondering if I would suppress my own emotions or grief, as this novel was very thought provoking. It also held an air of suspense, drama and left a lasting impression.

'What if you didn’t have to live with your worst memories?' This is the question asked. Sci-fi with a dash of BLACK MIRROR, yes please!! This book has gotten the coveted very few given 5 stars. This book was a fun, intriguing read. The characters and situations were thought provoking. I laughed and cried and found myself asking what would I do, how would I handle the situation. Our memories help shape and define who were are. This was an excellent experience reading. Right now as I write this review, this book just won't leave me alone. I recommend this as a must read to whomever I can.

#NETGALLEY #TELLMEANENDING

Imagine if you could erase the most traumatic memories of your past. Jo Harkin creates that world in Tell Me an Ending.
After an issue with the memory removal, Nepenthe, the company that provides these services, is forced to tell past customers that they had a memory removed. They are then given the option to retrieve those memories. However, they don't know what has been erased and why. This book is told through multiple perspectives including a psychologist working for Nepenthe.
This was a really interesting look into the ethics of memory. The characters and their stories were all very interesting. This is a perfect book for any sci-fi fan.

This book was good. It is a thought provoking story that captivated me as I got to know the characters and their backgrounds. It's fascinating and heartbreaking, suspenseful and thoughtful. Morality comes into play and its interesting to think if a company like this is actually beneficial or not. After reading this, I imagine if could go both ways.

This was a really solid one, my patrons who are fans of speculative fiction enjoyed it. First or second round purchase

Enjoyable but I’m not sure I would recommend it to others. I found the plot line to be confusing and the characters were not likeable at all.

forgive such a late review / feedback but it worked for me, though not as much as i wanted it to. i think I'll always compare these memory works to recursion and eternal sunshine of the spotless mind

I love Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, so I was excited to read this book. I’m happy to say that it did not disappoint! I liked all of the characters and it consistently held my interest. Thanks for letting me check it out!