I love Stacy Willingham, particularly her first two novels, so I was very excited to read this one.

It was a pretty slow start and I felt it took a little long to establish suspense and my interest. But once it did, it was a good read.

With a small town, diary entries from years before, unsolved murders, disappearances and an isolated farm, this had a great atmosphere and mysterious intrigue.

I did guess on a few twists and would say this was more mystery than thriller, the ending was still good and I did enjoy it.

Overall, an enjoyable slow-burm mystery but not my favourite from Willingham.

3.5⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

Twenty-two years have passed since Claire Campbell's older sister, Natalie, went missing. Eventually, the police arrested a man who was rumoured to be dating Natalie, but her body was never found. Now a journalist in New York City, Claire doesn't tell people what happened to her sister. But her parents cannot get over her draw to reporting on ghastly murders. As the story begins, Claire leaves her full-time job and is looking for something else. Before any plans can be made, she receives a call from her father, stating that her mother needs her to come home. Their family reunion is uneasy, so Claire finds herself taking a nearby job at a place where she remembered Natalie working. However, it soon becomes clear that the couple she is working for have many secrets to hide. Secrets that seem to lead to her sister, Natalie.


A perfect read for a rainy Saturday. It's a slow-burning suspense, but I was immediately drawn into the storyline. I like the whole "everyone has secrets", discovered diary, and protagonist sibling guilt that hovers over the protagonist, Claire. Also, kudos to Stacy Willingham for focusing on creating a thriller without the main protagonist getting roped into a romance. A breath of fresh air since so many of them do go down that road. I can easily see why this has hit the anticipated fall reads list.


Expected publication 26/08/25
Goodreads Review 23/08/25

Talk about a slow burn suspense! The first third had me truly questioning if I wanted to go on. It was well written but extremely slow. Because I loved the authors first two books I was determined to keep going, and I’m glad I did! Once the story got going I was hooked. It had a nice mix of classic tropes and a few surprises. I would say it felt more mystery than thriller but still a good read.

Forget Me Not is a very gripping psychological thriller by Stacy Willingham and her fourth book. I have read and enjoyed them all.

Forget Me Not is one of those books that once you've picked it up its hard to book down as it sucks you right in to the plot with some great characters and plot twists.

Claire Campbells's sister, Natalie disappeared 22 years ago just after she turned 18, Days later blood was found in a car and a man was arrested, but the body was never found.

Claire has always avoided going home to see her parents after tis terrible tragedy but now with a career break and her mum's injuries she decides to go home and face her past and ends up getting a job at Galloway Farm for the Summer. It was supposed to help her move forward with life, but instead, finds herself immersed in a dark and dangerous past.

Really enjoyed this thought provoking, twisty and highly addictive book.

A big thanks to St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books and Netgalley for the ARC.

I’ve always enjoyed Stacy Willingham books and this one did not disappoint. Claire has just resigned from her journalism position when her Dad asks her to come home to help her injured Mother. Their relationship has been strained since her sister disappeared and was presumed murdered years ago and she only lasts a day at home with her. With no job or apartment to return to, she goes to Galloway farm to visit and be closer to her sister’s memory where she accidentally lands a job there for the summer. In her cabin she finds a hidden diary from long ago that sends her on a dangerous journey for answers about the farm’s owners but also her sister. Loved all the twists and how I could not put it down at the end!

Thank you to St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the arc!

Twenty-two years ago, Claire’s sister disappeared causing a divide in her family. Now, Claire, an investigative journalist, is in between jobs and is convinced by her father to return home to help her mom after an accident. While she is home, she decides to accept a job at Galloway Farms and discovers a diary that contains information about unsolved crimes. Claire decides to investigate and begins to wonder if her sister’s disappearance could be connected.
This was my favorite novel by Willingham and a five star read for me! Claire’s character fits the bill of an investigative journalist. She makes risky choices and is determined to find answers. At times, I found myself shaking my head at some of things she did. Willingham’s writing is filled with beautiful descriptions and imagery. It builds the setting making the plot that much more compelling, adding to the mystery and suspense. The plot was easy to follow and contained a non-linear timeline which is something I always enjoy. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery/ thriller. Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this arc!

My love for Stacy Willingham’s writing continues! This novel was a little bit faster paced than her last one, which I really liked. Slow burn= definitely for me. I was definitely on my toes the entire time I read this novel. I would recommend it to anyone who loves to solve true crime or any type of murder mystery.

Stacy Willingham never disappoints! This had me on the edge of my seat when I thought I knew where things were going... and then as always she finds the most creative ways to introduce twists and turns that the reader isn't expecting.

Forget Me Not by Stacy Willingham

Thank You NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
Claire Campbell is presently an investigative journalist, who older sister, Natalie, disappeared 22 years ago. The suspect was apprehended, arrested and the case was closed. Now, although her parents are divorced, her dad calls her to come help her mom because she broke her leg. However, while back at her childhood home in South Carolina, the past comes flooding back. Her mother has no need of Claire’s helps, so Claire finds work at Gallaway Farm, that serves as a vineyard among other things, as a seasonal worker. This is where her sister also spent her last summer before she went missing. While staying in a cabin on Gallaway Farm, Claire discovers a hidden diary inside an air vent. She finds out it’s written by the wife of the farm’s owner. As she gets deeper into reading the diary, long lost secrets begin to reveal themselves. Claire realizes that the vineyard has way more secrets than she bargained for. However, the investigative journalist in her has her curiosity stirred and it’s possible her own sister’s disappearance and that of a few others may be somehow linked to the farm! But will Claire be able to discover the truths before she becomes the next victim?
This novel was really good! There were quite a few twists I did not see coming! AVAILABLE August 26, 2025!

This twisted thriller is haunting, gripping, and dark. I have read other Stacy Willingham creations, and this book is just as beautifully written, with well-developed characters and intense emotion. If you appreciate true crime vibes, buried secrets being revealed, and countless twists I highly recommend this addictive story. The plot was heartbreaking, and there was a constant sense of foreboding and mystery. Addictive, shocking, and with a satisfying conclusion describes this compelling story. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my copy.

Y’all, Stacy Willingham has done it again. I’ve genuinely enjoyed everything she’s written, but "Forget Me Not" might just be ONE of my favorites. It’s got that signature Willingham pacing, moody, immersive, and atmospheric from the first chapter. Think slow burn, southern heat, and just enough shadowy corners to keep your heart rate up.
The story kicks off when a mysterious old diary is discovered, and from there, the plot begins to unravel piece by chilling piece. There’s simmering tension throughout, and while it’s a slow burn, it never drags. Every chapter adds just enough to keep you hooked. Willingham does an excellent job balancing atmosphere with forward momentum.
And can we talk about the cult vibes? I’m fascinated by cults, and this story delivers on that front. I honestly would’ve loved even more of that element, but what we do get is eerie and so well done. Those scenes were some of my favorites in the whole book.
The characters felt fully formed, the southern setting was vivid, and the emotional threads were handled with care. I felt pulled into their world and didn’t want to leave.
*Forget Me Not* is a solid southern thriller with just the right mix of mystery, tension, and that slow-building unease I love in a good psychological suspense. If you like stories that simmer before they boil over, definitely give this one a read.

This was a slog for me to get through. I was bored for the whole ride and don’t know why I didn’t DNF. Maybe bc I was hoping it would get better? Honestly, writing this review after having just finished the audio and I barely remember anything from the story. What a big disappointment. My least favorite Stacy Willingham, but it looks like I’m in the minority? Oh well. Thanks to NetGalley for an ALC and ARC to review.

NetGalley gave me an ARC of this book for an honest review. I must say, I very much enjoyed this book and all the twists and turns it took with Claire, the lead female character never being able to get over the death of her sister years before. It still is a central issue in her life and she has finally come to a breaking point in her personal life that leads her in the journey to find out what really happened to her sister. I could tell I was going to get thrown for a little bit of a curve ball early on and I definitely never figured it out until all was revealed so this book kept me fully engaged. I would definitely recommend to anyone wanting a good mystery to read.

Wow I thought I had an idea of how this would end, but I would have NEVER guessed the ending.

Love Stacy Willingham books, been a huge fan since A Flicker in the Dark. But this book drew me in, in a differnt way. As always, I loved the author's writing. So sophisticated and even though it is a murder mystery book, it made me reflect on a lot of aspects of life through the characters.

I enjoyed the character development of all the characters, except Ryan who only appeared in for maybe 5% of the book. I especially loved learning more about Marcia, through the journal entries, along with Claire.

I think my only critique is that a majority of the reveals happen at the very end of the book.

Claire returns home to face her sister’s decades-old disappearance. The story starts slowly, but it’s worth sticking with—Stacy Willingham’s writing shines, the audio narration is excellent, and while this isn’t my favorite of hers, it’s still a good listen.

Forget Me Not was a solid read! I really appreciated that the twists were revealed gradually and were, for the most part, fairly plausible, rather than being over the top bombs dropped randomly. Claire did get a little annoying at times; she had blinders on and was so focused on discovering the truth that she got a bit ahead of herself too often. I loved the cult-like vibes, but I do wish we would have gotten a little more background info on Mitchell – I feel his history could have added more depth to the story.

All the Dangerous Things and A Flicker in the Dark, also by Stacy Willingham, were the first two books I read when I rekindled my love for reading last year – before diving into ACOTAR like every other millennial woman who hadn’t picked up a book since high school – so I was thrilled when I saw she was releasing a new novel! Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5⭐️

Summer is for thrillers.

Okay, this felt so similar to Last Seen with a lot of the major plot points, which I read last month. So I feel like that impacted my read.

It’s wild. A sister that went missing years ago. A return home. Maybe more missing people. A lot of people you can’t trust and a place that feels entirely unsafe despite.

I guess some of the twists but a couple got me at the end which I loved!

Pub Date: August 26

Thank you @minotaur for the earc 🤍🤍

Stacy Willingham is one of those can't miss thriller writers who can weave a story rich in setting and with a cast of characters that balances out a thrilling story full of twists and connections.

Claire has recently been looked over for a job yet again and decides to resign from her journalism position. When she gets a call from her father that her mother has taken a fall, she feels as if she must return to her small town to look after a mother that has pulled away since the disappearance of her sister Natalie more than 2 decades prior. While there, she discovers something of Natalie's that has her trying to piece together a past and what took place leading up to Natalie's disappearance. With her mother all but kicking her out, Claire leaves her mother's home in search of answers and ends up in the very place that Natalie worked for a summer, Galloway Farms. Will she find what she is looking for? Does her sister have any connection to the place that is so far off the map with a handful of questionable characters?

As I said before, what draws me to Willingham's thrillers is the setting that is just as important as the characters. Forget Me Not has this farm that has few people living and working there, and everyone feels a little off. From Mitchell, the owner to his wife Marcia that always seems like she is holding back, you feel like the people and the land have secrets that they are keeping. But it's Liam, the caretaker that is balancing both the eerie and comfort. When Claire discovers a diary written 40 years prior, that's when you feel like answers are going to be revealed.

Willingham delivers a story that connects the past to the present and has twists that you must really pay attention to. But it was the cultish vibes that got me pulled in and questioning what was happening in the diary and how that connected Natalie to what Claire was uncovering piece by piece. Two sisters, decades apart, captivated by a place that at once seemed like the calm they desired, but something more sinister is at play. I was drawn in from the start and really liked following along with Claire as she discovered there was much more to past than she could even imagine.

Overall, a great thriller told in dual timelines by a diary and a woman looking for answers. Slower to medium pacing with a great setting and interesting characters lending to the overall eerie vibes.

Stacy Willingham is quickly becoming one of my go-to authors. She has a talent for writing thrillers and mysteries that keep you guessing from start to finish, and Forget Me Not is no exception. Packed with twists and turns, it's a story that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Forget Me Not is a well-crafted suspenseful story. Claire has recently quit her job in NYC as an investigative reporter when she was passed over for promotion. As she flounders for a good paying freelance story, she’s presented with a request by her father to return home to South Carolina to help her mother after an accident. Having been estranged for many years and with a rather tenuous relationship, she does return home but finds the situation untenable. The estrangement was, in part, a result of the disappearance of her older sister. When she goes off to trace some of her sister’s last known steps, she finds clues to what may have happened.

There are surprising developments and twists that kept me riveted. A good read due out September 9. Thanks to Net Galley for the advance review copy.