The premise of this book wasn’t particularly unique but I like time traveling books where characters connect in ways they aren’t aware. Meserve also did a great job of not getting too bogged down in the science of time travel. The how’s and the why’s of it wasn’t really the point and I appreciated that. I really like how each story was connected at the beginning, but very slightly, almost like you would miss it if you really weren’t paying attention. I like very much how the author doesn’t point this out and leaves it up to the reader to catch it especially early on. This was a fun and entertaining book. The writing style was very simplistic and easy to read. The connection between each of the characters wasn’t too complicated. The story does revolve around a mystery of sorts but I feel like it takes a little bit of a backseat to how the characters interact with each other and with the events of the past. Although it’s a bit predicable it was still a satisfying conclusion. Overall it wasn’t the best book, but it was a good time. I will probably read more from this author.

***Thank you NetGalley, Dete Meserve, and Crooked Lane Books for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. ***

I absolutely loved this story. I’m a huge fan of speculative fiction, especially time travel, and I couldn’t get enough.

In The Memory Collectors, a new form of time travel has been invented. Travelers can back in time into their own past and inhabit their own bodies aware that they’re back in time. They can only experience 60 minutes and they are unable to choose which 60 minutes they travel to. Nothing they do can change the future, so they mostly go back to try to see if they can see someone or something they lost in their past.

For four strangers, when they travel back to their past, they become stuck unable to get back to their current time. The four then become intertwined with each other and discover that one event coincided with all of them changing each of their lives forever.

I adored each of these four characters and the people they visit. This one stayed with me for a long time. I’ll happily read anything Dete Meserve writes!

*Thanks so much to partners Crooked Lane Books and Suzy Approved Book Tours for the gifted eARC and for including me on the booktour!*

I received a digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All of the opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I absolutely loved this story. I need friends of mine to read it, just so we can discuss it. It is definitely one of my favorite reads of 2025. I hope the characters are at least mentioned in other books just so I know how they are doing.

The Memory Collectors explores time travel and its emotional impact. The novel introduces a groundbreaking company that allows people to relive a single hour from their past. With no control over which moment they revisit, applicants pay a steep price for the rare chance to experience time in a way never before possible.

Four of the lucky ones are chosen to embark on this extraordinary journey, believing they are revisiting moments personally significant to them. However, their lives intertwine in ways they never expected, bound by a shared event that altered their futures. As their stories unfold, the novel reveals how memories shape identity, relationships, and the choices we make.

This book hit me right in the heart. It made me wish I could rewind time, even just for an hour, to reconnect with people I've lost and relive the moments that shaped me. The story dives deep into the idea that our choices ripple through our lives in ways we don’t always realize. This is one of those books that makes you pause, reflect, about the “what ifs.” I highly recommend it!

*I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for the free book.*

"The Memory Collectors" is about individuals being able to go back to the past for one hour. But when their one hour turns to hours, these people realise that they're all connected.

I found the beginning a bit slow-going and was annoyed because the focalisers changed so often but was then intrigued by the (murder) mystery built into the story. The ending was a bit rushed but I overall enjoyed this book.

3.5 stars

Content warning: de@th of a child, domestic v!olence and st@lking, car accident causing d@eath and disablement.

What if you had the chance to spend one hour in the past? What if you could go back in time - not to change events - but to gain a clearer perspective?

Aeon Expeditions have developed the technology to do just that, and as the (ex)wife of the founder, Elizabeth take a journey back to 20 August 2025 - five days before her son Sam was killed in an accident. This time round she is determined to do everything she can to prevent him from being on the dark highway at that moment, and gain some sense of closure by learning WHY he was there.

Logan, paralysed by the same accident that killed Sam, is sent back to the same date, to experience one last hurrah before he loses the use of his legs. Author Andy finds himself back on 20 August 2025, right before he meets - and loses - the love of his life.

And chef Brooke is sent back to Before - before she is involved in an accident on the highway that claims the life of one man and disables another.

And for their allotted hour, the four "Jumpers" as they are called revel in the life they knew before their worlds were shattered. But when they remain in the past beyond their extraction time, can they change the course of their own futures?

Told from alternating first person POVs, this book dives into the themes of grief and loss (tears in the first chapter!), and guilt and forgiveness and all those sliding door moments where we think we know what is going on but a different perspective shows another story. All four characters stories are tightly interwoven, and the pacing is just right, making this an unputdownable read.

There is a sub theme of DV, so readers who have experienced this may wish to be forewarned.

Really enjoyed this, and it was an unusual take on the timetravel idea.

~This is a NetGalley ARC. All opinions are my own~

We have had these moments in our lives where we want to relive that one moment that changed the trajectory of our lives or the happiest one where everything was just <i>right</i>, and the moments where you wished you didn't say the things you said or even wished for things you wished in burning anger. Nothing, can overcome the guilt, the regret, that lives with us long after the moment has passed. What would it mean for people with these emotions simmering for years to be given an option to relive those moments and do something different - a closure of sorts as it wont impact the present.

Science fiction elements make up the tool for the characters to come to terms with loss, life and people who are lost, and the time that's passed. Its not a fix for future, for the present but a measure to spend an extra hour with loved ones and life that's not there anymore, and hope for a peaceful resolution. The characters who make this journey have regrets - deep, troubling ones that eat away your hopes and dreams and your heart; unable to let go. The task gives them one hour in that moment, a memory replayed, a moment restructured and with wishful thinking they only hope it would help them to find peace.

<i>Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with a free copy of this e-book in exchange for an honest review.</i>

If I had to sum up my experience with The Memory Collectors in two words it would be, enduring love!

In 2028 Aeon scientists have developed the technology to allow a person to time jump within their own past.

The rules are as follows:

1. You can only stay an hour in your past before being retrieved.

2. You have no control over which part of your past you jump into. It could be a treasured memory or a mundane and forgettable one.

3. And the most crucial rule of all, a trip to the past cannot alter the future.

Four people, about to embark on their time jump journey’s courtesy of Aeon Expeditions, fates are connected and intertwined by a tragic day, 25th August 2025.

Elizabeth lost her son.

Andy lost love.

Logan lost the use of his legs.

And Brooke… she lost her freedom.

And none of them understand why or how it happened. Three years later and that fateful day is still shouldered in mystery. Elizabeth, Andy, Logan, and Brooke crave answers and closure, unable to escape their crippling grief and loss and move on in the present. When all four's jumps land them back in time five days before the event that shattered each of their lives it's a golden opportunity for them to uncover the truth. And even though they’ve been told it is impossible, change what happened…

What an original concept The Memory Collectors was. So much tension and emotion. If you are a literary fiction lover don't let the sci-fi or time travel aspects prevent you from reading this one. I will be recommending The Memory Collectors to my mum, even though I know she loathes sci-fi and time travel, and I am 100% confident she will love this brilliant and beautiful novel. Also, if you are worried about this being too technical or scientific, don't, as the relevant time travel stuff is drip-fed rather than info-dumped, is easy-to-follow, makes complete sense, and is relayed to reflect the character narrating’s own experiences. The Memory Collectors followed four relatable, sympathetic, flawed people’s stories, whose lives have been torn asunder in an instant, and time travel was a unique and clever way for these characters to reconnect with their lost loved ones and lost livelihoods. As I mentioned in my tagline the focus was on enduring love – burgeoning love, romantic love, parental love, friends love, and the love to help, protect, and save people, even those who are almost strangers. The intricate way the puzzles pieces of the plot slotted together by the end was pure magic.

Due to other commitments, it has taken me weeks to read this, but it stayed with me during my hiatus, I didn’t forget a single thing I’d read, and as soon as I had the opportunity to re-immerse myself, I had no trouble getting back into it. I encourage everyone to pick up The Memory Collectors. I’ve already read the synopsis for one of Dete Meserve’s previous novels, Good Sam, and it sounds amazing too. I’m excited not only to get to her backlist, but that she has a backlist.

I’d like to thank Netgalley, Crooked Lane Books, and Dete Meserve for the e-ARC.

Out now!

What if you could time travel into your own past and relive an hour of your life? What if that hour you spent in the past wouldn't have any impact on your past life's future, your current reality? Would you do it? Which memory would you visit?

Four people travel back in time to relive an important memory. When they are stuck in the past after their allotted hour has run out, they wonder whether they might be able to stay in the past and change the events that made them come back. Although the four people don't know each other it is soon clear that they might actually share the pivotal moment in their lives. What will happen if each of them tries to change the past?

The book made me turn the pages faster than I expected to. First I needed to find out what had happened on that specific night, then I needed to find out whether they could change the outcome. It's a story about grief and regret, but also about hope and forgiveness.

A very intriguing story! Four people given the chance to "visit" the past for an hour, ending up stuck there for days and discovering that they are all connected by the tragedy that occurred at that time and what can be done, this time around to possibly change that fate?

Told from the points of view from Elizabeth, Andy, Logan, and Brooke, it is revealed how the accident affected all of them and their search to find out why Sam had been on that road that dark night. I loved the interconnectedness of it all and seeing exactly when and how the characters crossed paths (sometimes unknowingly) and I liked the little aha moments when more of the story became clear, though it did get pretty dark and I was on the edge of my seat when it got back to that dark road!

Yes, there is heartbreak, the loss of a child, love disappearing, and trying to figure a way out of a horrible accident, plus living with a permanent disability. Some things can't be changed, but you can always change your point of view, if that is needed to move on. There are snapshots of good times in the past, and new connections made and I liked all the characters and their paths, hard though they may be to find happiness again, while still remembering the good things of the past.

A thoughtful take on fate, the collective-consciousness, and the interconnectedness of strangers in one-another's lives. A little predictable, but interesting to view the unfolding of the story. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this advanced readers copy!

A very human time travel novel for folks who like the idea of time travel but who are not really 'aci-fi readers'. This book takes on the topic of what would happen if people really could go back in their own timeline and relive or try to change things. There may be some logical impossibilities in this one, but nothing glaringly obvious, and the story holds together well. And, there is a romantic story arc in this one. Fun, fast read, and I won't be surprised if it gets talked about a lot online.

I picked up The Memory Collectors thinking I'd read a chapter or two—and ended up finishing it the same day.

I was intrigued by the premise: a group of strangers gets the chance to spend one hour in their past thanks to a mysterious new time-travel invention called Aeon Expeditions. One hour to revisit the moment that changed everything. But of course, things don't go according to plan—and that's when the real story begins.

This book is so much more than the synopsis lets on. It's emotional, twisty, and full of heart. What I loved about this book is that it's not just about time travel. There's some light sci-fi sprinkled in, but it's really a mystery at its core. There's loss, guilt, love, redemption, and yes—secrets. Big ones.

The pacing, especially in the middle, moved so quickly that I flew through chapter after chapter. If I have one minor complaint, it's that the momentum wobbles a bit near the end. Things slow down just enough to feel the shift—but honestly, the story itself is strong enough that I didn't mind too much. I was still desperate to know where everyone landed.

And let's talk about my favorite part: I did not see the last quarter of the book coming. I had theories, I made predictions, and I even smugly thought I'd figured out what would happen to the time travelers partway through—but Dete Meserve had other plans.

This was my first book by Meserve, and it definitely won't be my last. If you're looking for something that blends mystery, emotional resonance, and a little bit of time-bending intrigue, The Memory Collectors should be next on your list.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an advanced reader's copy; all opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The plot of this story was kind of flat but I’m always here for a time travel drama. While the plot was simple, the plot was driven by the depth of the characters and their interactions. I devoured it but when I finished, it left me wanting a bit more.

Most people carry regrets from their past that they have no way of really making peace with. What would we do to be given an opportunity to put those to rest?

Aeon Expeditions is a Time Travel innovation that allows four strangers in California the chance to do just that - to revisit the hour that changed their lives, even if they cannot alter the events that took place during that time period.

This is interesting speculative fiction, raising fundamental questions regarding the decisions we make and the consequences of our choices, whilst touching upon core emotional issues such as grief, loss and loneliness, which will resonate with most readers. It gets 3.5 stars.

I love me a good time travel novel and this one surely delivered. This one had so many great characters and I loved the multi POV story telling. Truly exceptional

I thought I was getting a hard hitting science fiction time travel story and this is not that. Luckily, I think I liked it more for what it was. Each of the character's stories was moving and relatable, and I found myself rooting so hard that they would be able to change their fates. It also was interesting to think about what moment in life you would go back to if you could choose and what you would do if you could change it. As a romance reader, I also loved all the endings. HEAs abound! I did keep thinking there was more mystery and more people were going to jump out as the bad guys, but I liked it better as it was written. The little mystery was still interesting, but the characters were the glue that made this one amazing

Nice read. It’s sci fi in nature but the science aspect is VERY minimal and even kind of murky at times. I didn’t mind this at all. It’s still well written and was difficult to put down. In The Memory Collectors we follow five people who have been selected to spend an hour in the past. The time travel company, Aeon Expeditions, is unable to send people to any specific time so it’s a bit of a gamble. It’s also incredibly expensive and even then the chance of being selected is very low. Pretty quickly you begin to realize the five travelers aren’t quite so random, and soon their stories intersect and build upon each other.

The book veers into more cinematic territory at times, but I still really enjoyed it. The characters are well fleshed out and I loved the growth they show. Much of the book follows an “appreciate life and all it contains” vein and this always hits the mark for me. There are some darker themes within the book but I still think most readers would appreciate this one,

The Memory Collectors is more of a sci fi drama than anything else, but it’s absolutely an enjoyable read. Meserve is a new author for me but one I’d definitely be open to reading more of in the future.

It has been a while since I sat down and read a print book from cover to cover in one day, but Dete Meserve's new time travel novel sucked me in, and I couldn't stop. It's part sci-fi, part mystery, and part family drama - all melded together to make a compelling and original plot. If you like a bit of time travel but mostly want an engaging story, here's a summer book pick for you. As a bonus, this book's setting is Ventura, CA, and the Pacific Coast Highway. I enjoy regional reads, and there isn't a of literature set here. This would be a good audio pick for a drive up the PCH.
One suggestion - pay attention to the first four chapters (they are short) as they introduce the four main characters. I was confused as I started the book and went back and reread the chapters before the characters began crossing paths.

Thanks to NetGalley for giving me an ebook copy in exchange for a review.

i love the idea of this book! the beginning of it also captured me. i wish we spent more time on the time travel aspect of things, which i really enjoyed. as the book progressed, i struggled a bit to sympathize with our characters.