There’s nothing quite so refreshing as sitting down with a hot cup of coffee, cracking open a new book, and following a protagonist into insanity. Sorry, did I say refreshing? I meant uncomfortably captivating. Reading this novel felt like watching the beginning of a horror movie. You know the type: a classic horror where it’s all sunshine and blue skies, white picket fences and smiling, normal faces. Until that soft lyrical background music starts speeding up, getting louder, more intense, and you’re forced to reconcile that something horrible is about to happen in this perfect, peaceful place. Except, in the horror movie where you’d expect a jump-scare and immediate resolution, you’ll instead have that sense of dread and unease throughout the entirety of The Memory Ward.

Bassoff crafted a psychological novel, while somehow expertly weaving in sci-fi and dystopic elements, and deftly interlacing multiple perspectives and storylines. To say I’m impressed with this novel would be an understatement.

I've enjoyed every book by Jon Bassoff so I was excited to see he had written a new one, and I got the chance to read it ahead of time. This book was great I read through it in a few days. I thought I knew what was going on but the twist or multiple twists at the end surprised me and was pretty emotional for me. Thanks Jon Bassoff ,Blackstone Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC for this review.

I really liked the sci-fi dystopian vibes this book gives, and also personally enjoyed that this is not a long one. lol
But I'll admit the characters didn't please me that much, only because I couldn't connect with them. I could empathise with them, for sure - they live in a reality that is not (or couldn't be) so far-fatched from our own reality. Yet, I felt it lacked something for me to care more about them, to feel better the high-stakes.
All in all, I had a good time and I do recommend this book to sci-fi dystopia readers out there.
Thank you, Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing, for providing me with a free eARC of this novel.

Starting off, I was afraid this was going to be too much like The Truman Show. While there were eerie similarities in the beginning pages, that's where it ended. This kept the reader on their toes, creating more questions with each passing chapter. This was unique and highly intriguing the further in I got, reading stories within stories, all connected and flowing together by the end. While I was afraid that the title may have been a spoiler in itself, I can guarantee you it's not. Each character was either very likable or just downright despicable, making me more invested and rooting for a good outcome. The ending was not afraid to shy away from typical endings we often see, and I loved that about this book. Four stars for a unique, memorable read.

Thank you, Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing, for this ARC.

this is suchhhh a good book. I love the confusion you feel, and how you are wondering if the characters are crazy, or if they are onto something. I like the premise a lot. It is so entertaining, and it kept me reading until I finished it. I like the writing style, I like the characters, and the emotions the book made me feel.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

I really like the voice, which reminds me of 50's-era American writing. The tone and description take the reader back to a utopian worldview of communities (that never existed). Like the story concept. Nothing earth shattering with plot or resolution.

Another terrific effort from Bassoff, one of my favorite authors, about a seemingly idyllic community where some of the residents begin to suspect that things may be just a tad off, and the investigation leads to surprising revelations for them. It's rather reminiscent of The Blinds, another terrific book I read a short time ago, in its exploration of memories, past lives and paranoia either real or imagined. The writing is top notch as always and the characters are real, not cardboard. If you haven't read any of Bassoff's work, I strongly suggest you start soon. He's a top talent in the genre. 4.5 stars, very highly recommended. Thanks to Netgalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Bethlam seems like the perfect place to live, but some residents are not so sure. If you like tv shows like “Black Mirror” or books by Blake Crouch, you will devour this mind-bending thriller by Jon Bassoff. The story became stranger and stranger the more I read, and I was just as lost as the characters were, but in the very best way. This was a fantastic, one-sitting read that I highly recommend!

Thanks for the opportunity to read in advance!

The Truman Show meets Westworld is this compelling thriller that wrestles with the theme of memory and what it means. I read this book in one long night. Great writing and pacing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for an ARC of The Memory Ward.

This was exactly my type of weird!! I love a story where you as a reader slowly descend into madness right along with the main character and this book really nails that vibe. The unique plot drew me in and I couldn't put it down until I knew how it ended. Perfect for fans of Blake Crouch.

5 stars!

This book was so strange in the best possible way! The first half I had no clue what was going on but told myself to trust the process. At part 3 I thought I had it figured out… I was wrong!

I seriously don’t know how some authors can portray certain life experiences so brilliantly, but Jon totally knocked it out of the park with this one. Never in my wildest dreams could I come up with this craziness and yet have it make so much sense. If you like psychological thrillers with a sci-fi twist, definitely add this to your TBR!

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for an ARC of this novel.

This is one of those small mind-bending roads to insanity. As soon as I read the synopsis, I immediately had to read it!

Imagine a man with the personality of Mr Rogers delivering the mail. One day something out of the ordinary happens. The people of the town are also acting suspicious. What is really happening here?

I freaking love a book that has me baffled and searching for answers! A total memory loss trope that will leave readers shocked! Jon Bassoff has written a creepy tale of a boring monotonous daily routine eventually turned into madness.

What’s real and what isn’t?
4.5 ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was a good and eerie read. I pretty much had an idea of where this was going, but it was still entertaining.

The Memory Ward by Jon Bassoff is absolutely a page-turner. The story’s dark atmosphere and complex characters draw you in, keeping you guessing with every chapter. Just as you think you’ve figured it out, another twist comes along, making it impossible to put down. Bassoff masterfully creates a sense of unease, weaving together a narrative that’s equal parts mystery and psychologically suspenseful.

However, the ending left me hanging. While the unpredictability is part of the charm, I found myself hoping for a bit more clarification. The conclusion was open-ended, leaving me questioning what was real and what wasn’t. Did the protagonist actually figure things out? Was Iris/Mrs. P just an actor? Was the bunker even real? Or did the protagonist suffer from a mental disorder, tormented by auditory hallucinations? Seriously, inquiring minds like mine need answers to these questions. This lingering uncertainty made me wish for a part two to tie up the loose ends and provide a clearer resolution. Hopefully, there will be a sequel, as this story deserves a satisfying conclusion.

Despite the ambiguous ending, The Memory Ward remains a gripping read for anyone who enjoys suspenseful and unpredictable storytelling.

A great read! It was intriguing and interesting, and I just had to know what was going on! I thoroughly enjoyed my foray into the memory ward. A very original idea. Brilliant!

I personally loved this book. Hank's journey through the book was tense and definitely had a message of what it means to be human and what it is to be driven into madness. Quite the evocative read, this one will stick with you for a bit.