Can we please get half stars?! 4.5 solid stars for this thriller that kept me up all night reading. I love Stacy Willingham and she has done it again. 🙌 Read this if you like twists and turns and "can't put it down" vibes.

Fresh out of a job, Claire decides to visit home for the first time in years. Her older sister Natalie disappeared when she was 11 and she couldn't wait to leave her past behind. When she's drawn to Galloway Farm, the last place her sister worked before she disappeared, she feels closer to her. Galloway Farm seems off though, she can't put her finger on it. The owner Mitchell seems nice enough but maybe a little controlling and his wife Marcia seems out of it. Liam, the other farmhand seems nice and more normal at least.

When she's offered a job and the guest cabin for the summer, she feels like it's a sign. And when she finds Marcia's diary in the cabin, she knows she shouldn't, but she can't stop reading it. It reveals more than she bargained for and she thinks Marcia may have been kidnapped or coerced by Mitchell, but she isn't sure. Her sisters disappearance and some of the things in Marcia's diary seem eerily similar. She can't stop digging, but at what cost?

You won't be able to put this down as Claire reads Marcia's diary and tries to figure out what is really going on at the farm.

Thank you to netgalley for an ARC to enjoy.

I have read all of Stacy Willingham's books, and I think this is my favorite. It was compelling, the twists were well-plotted and well-executed, and despite a really wild set of circumstances, the characters all felt like real people. I thought the setting of Galloway Farms was absolutely perfect - haunting but intriguing - peaceful, but slightly sinister. The writing really spoke to me, and the diary absolutely sucked me in. I felt like Claire, desperate to find our what had happened to Marcia and Mitchell and reading faster and faster to get to the bottom of it. Sometimes, mysteries and thrillers have these rushed twists that aren't satisfying or provide more questions than answers, but I thought this ending was right in the sweet spot.

Things in the book did feel a little rushed or under-explored. For instance, I felt like we didn't get to know a ton about Claire and her journalistic pursuits and career or really that much into her relationship with her parents and sister pre-disappearance. Other than Ryan, she didn't seem to have a life at all and we weren't really clued into what would make Ryan so dedicated to Claire. That said, once she was in Galloway, her journalistic skills and single-mindedness were extremely clear. I just think I additional exposition into her personal life could have helped connect some dots. Also, I would have liked more of a backstory on Mitchell and his goals for his Farm, but I thought the mystery around Lily was super intriguing.

Overall, I would absolutely recommend this book. It has a true crime vibe, there is a summery quality to it, and it's a satisfying thriller.

That prologue 🙌🏼 if you know you know ‼️

When you wish you could go back to that D on your report card or when you use to be afraid your parents would find your edible or condom stash….

I appreciated the modern day slang and use of tik tok. I was engaged immediately, but it did take me a minute to follow the multiple pov & characters.

Forget Me Not is such a fantastic page turner! Many unexpected twists and turns that I did not see coming. A slow burn that reeled me in quickly. I did love how this book would go in between what Claire was facing at the time and then would switch to what Claire was reading in the journal. Highly recommend!

This slow-burn Southern thriller hooks you with eerie atmosphere and a haunting mystery. Claire returns home decades after her sister’s murder and stumbles across a roll of film that leads her to Galloway Farm, where her sister once worked. As she digs deeper, uncovering a hidden diary and strange behavior from the farm’s residents, she begins to suspect Natalie’s death wasn’t what it seemed. The writing feels almost like true crime—creepy, believable, and layered with tension. Though I predicted the ending, the twists and unsettling moments along the way made the journey worthwhile. Every detail seemed to matter, building toward a dark and satisfying conclusion. A chilling, well-crafted read that Stacy Willingham fans will enjoy.

If you need a palate cleanser, this is a good one to pick up. There was no adrenaline rush while reading- it was more mystery and less thriller in my opinion but none the less, still good!

Absolutely loved the southern vibes!

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy of Forget Me Not!

I was really excited when I received this ARC. I love Stacy Willingham's work and couldn’t wait to read her newest book. The story was incredible! At one point, I felt so on edge and anxious for Claire that I sped through the chapter to make sure she was safe.

This story jumps around in time, letting you guess what’s coming next. I found Claire to be somewhat lost and broken, but still likable. I appreciated how everything came together smoothly at the end, leaving no loose ends.

This new upcoming release of Stacy Willingham is focused around Claire, an investigative journalist who focuses on crime. Her sister was missing and presumed dead 20 years ago and the current headliner is bringing her past roaring back.

In an attempt to flee her past she ends up going home and on a journey that leads her to another story she can’t stop chasing until she solves as it feels intertwined with her sisters disappearance.

This book has a slow drag in the middle that you need to get through to be pulled out of but all ends will be tied together in the end. Willingham does a great job making books easy to read with twists to keep you going in her psychological thrillers. I found this one more mysterious than thrilling, but there were a few suspenseful parts to it.

Easy book to read between genres if you need one. Add it to your TBR before the release in August.

Thank you #NetGalley for an ARC for my honest review.

Over two decades have passed since Claire Campbell's sister Natalie vanished into thin air, presumed murdered by an older man, case closed. And yet, with no body ever confirming Natalie's death, Claire finds it harder than ever to let go of her completely. As she struggles with the lack of closure, she propels herself head first into her work as an investigative journalist; and then, an unexpected call from home comes through.

With hardly any warning, Claire is thrust back into the past as she returns home to the South Carolina low country and finds work at the esteemed Galloway Farm, a muscadine vineyard near her childhood home. At first, her work at Galloway is a welcome reprieve to Natalie's ever-present memory. But as time passes, Claire finds herself confronted with more questions than answers at the vineyard.

Why is a decades-old diary hidden away in the farmhouse?
Who is the owner's wife, the ghost of a woman who barely speaks and never leaves the grounds?
And most importantly, what does any of this have to do with Natalie?

"Forget Me Not" is Stacy Willingham's latest thriller set against the all too familiar backdrop of a city-dweller-returns-home-to-the-South. While Willingham's transportive writing and well-paced storytelling abilities keep her apart from so many writers in the genre, "Forget Me Not"'s setting was hardly its only cliche. Overall, this story felt a bit lazy when compared to Willingham's second and especially first novels; the controlled, dread-inducing suspense, the masterfully-nuanced characters, and most of all, the twist, were either barely-present or poorly-executed here. More slow-burn mystery than page-turning thriller, "Forget Me Not" simply doesn't showcase Willingham's talents in the way it should have.

It’s been 15 years since Claire returned home to South Carolina, a place haunted by the disappearance of her older sister, Natalie.
Claire finds herself drawn to Galloway Farm, a place Natalie spent time before she went missing. Hoping to escape her mother and feel closer to her sister, Claire takes a job there. It seems to be just the escape she was hoping for. She uncovers a journal and finds herself drawn into the story of Marcia, one of the owners.
The journal describes a story of young love, when Marcia met Mitch, but soon changes when they move to the farm. The journal hints at unsolved crimes that lead Claire to investigate Natalie’s ties to the farm. When she uncovers clues of another possible missing woman, Claire begins to wonder if these are more than coincidences - and if she’s getting too close to a truth that could put her in danger.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. I've enjoyed all of Stacy Willingham's books that I've read and would recommend this to fans of hers. I look forward to future books by Willingham, this kept me guessing until the end and had several shocking twists that I wasn't prepared for!

It's been more than two decades since Claire's sister Natalie went missing at 18. Though her body was never found, her blood and a clump of her hair is found in the car of a man who is then sentenced to life in prison.

Claire, now living in NYC, gets a call from her father that her mother has broken a few bones and he asks her to come back to SC look after her. After getting into a fight and staying with her mom less than a day, Claire heads to the vineyard where Natalie spent some of her final days. Touched by deep nostalgia for her sister, Claire takes a job picking grapes for a month and living on the vineyard. After finding an old diary, she reads of multiple crimes committed in the vicinity of where she has chosen to stay. Is her sister's disappearance somehow related and can Claire make it out alice?

I zoomed through this one in an afternoon. What a great, twisty, web author Stacy Willingham has woven in Forget Me Not. There were so many unexpected surprises, and that ending, wow!

The small town and the island of South Carolina where the vineyard is located are the perfect location for this spookily southern tale. The author does such a great job making the vineyard a dark locale that absolutely pops off of the page and gives completely spooky vibes.

The characters also come across as mostly sinister or mysterious (aside from Claire) and they add handily to the creepy vibe Willingham has created. My main criticism is the amount of time Claire continues to talk about how she shouldn't be reading the diary and how guilty she feels while continuing to plunge into the story headfirst. Just a small complaint for this spooky southern tale. 4 stars.

I received this advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

The story is centered around Claire, a true crime journalist, who's sister disappeared twenty years ago. Her sisters disappearance fractured the family and each person is still dealing with it their own way. When Claire's mother is in an accident, she returns home to help her out, just to find out her mother doesn't want her around. Claire takes a job at Galloway Farm and while living in the staff house, discovers a diary. Claire quickly becomes addicted to her sisters past, the secrets she kept and events she couldn't imagine. The second half of the book was a slower read, due to the detailed, descriptive writing. Forget Me Not is a good mystery that made me want to keep reading.

Another great novel by Stacy Willingham - I will continue to read anything she publishes. Okay, this book gave me anxiety but in the best way! Claire, the main character, pushes the boundaries with her hosts that make you think 'Girl, what are you doing??". I absolutely didn't see the twist coming! If you have even slightly enjoyed any of Willingham's previous books, Forget Me Not to be on your TBR immediately. Multiple POVs and changing timelines

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this book before the release date. I will be telling every reader I know about it!

Thank you @minotaur_books @netgalley #partner for the gifted copy of this book!

Another Stacy Willingham book down, and yep — she’s still got it! I’ve been a huge fan of hers for a while now, and Forget Me Not was everything I hoped. This one leaned a little more into mystery than straight-up thriller, but honestly, I loved that about it.
From the very start, there’s this slow-building sense of dread that just kind of wraps around you like a foggy, eerie small-town night. The atmosphere in this book was so good — that classic “everyone knows everyone” vibe where you can’t quite tell who’s trustworthy and who’s hiding something. It made the whole thing feel extra tense in the best way.

I consider myself am ok-ish guesser when it comes to mysteries, but this one had me second-guessing everything and not even close to what I thought by the end. Stacy is so clever with how she drops hints and misleads you without it feeling forced.
I also really liked the use of the diary in this story. It tied the timeline together in a way that made the unfolding mystery feel layered and like one big puzzle. It’s one of those details that just worked!

Overall, Forget Me Not kept me hooked, creeped me out just enough, and reminded me why I’ll happily pick up anything Stacy Willingham writes. If you’re into atmospheric small-town mysteries with a side of chills and clever storytelling — add this one to your list.

This book was a real win for me! I loved the concept. It was so interesting to read the diary excerpts! Some of the twists I was able to predict, but there were a few that were very surprising! I would definitely recommend this book to others!

8/10

I had read Stacy’s debut novel, A Flicker In The Dark,’and thought it was pretty good - especially for a debut. So three years and an equal number of novels later, I was excited to read this one. I could only imagine that she’d gotten better in her writing and storytelling. Lo and behold, she did.

This is a really compelling suspense that I kinda couldn’t put down.

Claire lives in NYC. She doesn’t talk to her parents, only has one close friend (who she pushes away), and is still struggling to recover from the emotional weight of her sister’s murder some twenty-odd years earlier.

She’s called back to home and, in a twist of circumstances, ends up visiting the farm where her sister last worked.

But the farm isn’t all it seems.
And things start going a little sideways on Claire.

In a world that seems like every suspense plot has been written, Stacy keeps coming up with uniquely engaging stories.

If ever there was a good beach read, this is it.

#netgalley #forgetmenot

This book absolutely could have been an episode of Criminal Minds. I thought it was SO good. Claire’s sister Natalie disappears at 18 & Claire’s life is never the same. When she moves back home after quitting her job as a journalist, she ends up at the last place her sister worked with a new job and a chance to find out more about what might have happened that summer. So many twists - only 1 of which was pretty unbelievable to me (but no spoilers) - overall loved it. Thanks Net Galley & Minotaur Books for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

Forget Me Not had an intriguing premise, and I was eager to see where the story would go. Unfortunately, the pacing just didn’t work for me. It moved too slowly, and I found myself having a hard time staying engaged through the middle sections. There were moments that felt repetitive or overly drawn out, which made it a challenge to stay fully invested.

That said, I did appreciate how everything came together in the end. The final reveal was satisfying and tied up the threads in a way that felt earned. Stacy Willingham’s writing style is atmospheric and polished, and she clearly knows how to build suspense—this one just took a bit too long to get there for my liking.

Readers who enjoy slow-burn mysteries with a strong payoff might enjoy this more than I did.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Another great thriller by Stacy Willingham! This book took me for a ride and kept me interested the whole time. Just when I thought I knew who the killer was, the book went in a completely different direction. It was a fun mystery to read and I can’t wait for more books to come by this author.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

More mystery than thriller! Somewhat predictable plot with enough little twists to keep you guessing.