I really wanted to love this book—but it just didn’t click for me. It felt less like a thriller and more like a slow-burn mystery, and not in the way I was hoping for.

I’ve genuinely loved all of Stacy’s previous work, so maybe my expectations were a little too high this time around.

Sadly, this one just didn’t work out for me.

2.5 ⭐️

I received this as an ARC - thanks NetGalley!

Overall, this was a good thriller. I did feel like the beginning was a bit slow. The end had a good pace and wrapped up nicely. I especially like the different perspectives of past and present. This was my first read by this author and I’ll be reading more!

I never miss a Willingham book and this is another reason why. Her storylines and characters make her books a “one day read”. Although some clues came a little too easy sometimes, this is a must read!

Great, twisty read! I enjoyed the mystery of who Marcia and Marshall really were. Also really was engrossed by the story of Natalie and all the girls that drawn to the farm by the sense of escape

🍇💀 Forget Me Not 💀🍇
Genre: Mystery / Psychological Thriller
Format: ARC via NetGalley
📖 Read: June 2025 | ⭐️⭐️
🧳 Shelved under: mystery, NETGALLEY, books-I-gave-up-on

📖 Twenty-two years after her sister Natalie vanished, Claire Campbell returns home to South Carolina to face the past she tried to forget. When she takes a summer job at a vineyard near her hometown, she stumbles upon a hidden diary that hints at unsolved crimes — and a connection to her sister’s disappearance. What begins as a quiet summer escape turns into a chilling unraveling of secrets, lies, and Claire’s own dark history.

💭 I really wanted to love this one — the setup was moody, the cover was gorgeous, and I’m usually a Stacy Willingham girlie… but this time? I was flipping pages more out of obligation than intrigue. I noticed myself skimming before I landed on a DNF.


✔️The pacing dragged in places that should’ve snapped.
✔️I never connected with the characters. They felt flat, distant — and I didn’t care enough to figure out what was going on
✔️The setup had potential but it never delivered the punch: maybe I gave up too soon but I did try twice.


🥶The mystery just didn’t pull me in. It lacked the tension and tightness I’ve come to expect from her writing. Maybe I’ve read too many thrillers — or maybe this one needed another round of edits.


⁉️QOTD: What’s a book you wanted to love, gave a second chance, and still couldn’t finish⁉️🖱️OR🖱️ what are you currently loving: tv, podcast, book⁉️

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#ForgetMeNot #DNFReview #NetGalleyReads #BookstagramHonesty #ThrillerLetdown #BookDNF #SlowBurnMisfire #MysteryReads #PsychologicalThriller #ARCReview #ThrillerFails #scuppernongs #muscadinegrapes #forgetmenot #arc #netgalley

I absolutely love a good cult mystery and Stacy Willingham definitely delivered. I loved that this story wove in past and present timelines, journal entries, and a southern atmospheric setting. I love her writing style and I am always sucked into her stories. The pacing is a bit slower; however, don't let that fool you. This story is layered with suspense and clever twists. The characters in this story had just enough depth and the protagonist’s emotional complexities make this story that much more intriguing.

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this eArc of Forget Me Not. I will always look forward to Stacy Willingham’s next book.

This story starts slowly as we ease into the life of a woman in transition. She has quit her journalism job in protest for being passed over for promotion in favor of free lance work that isn’t going well. When her father calls unexpectedly, and sends her home to her estranged mother in South Carolina, the memories of her sister’s unexplained disappearance surface again. As she decides to visit areas that her sister used to frequent, she stumbles onto a seasonal job that seems like an answer. But finding a hidden diary will change everything, as the entries describe a similar situation to her sister, and sheds light on another unsolved murder. Like a freight train, the story gathers speed and momentum, building as it goes to the point where it become impossible to put down. Five stars!

**Rating:** ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.5 rounded up)

This book had twists and turns that kept the reader guessing—like putting together a puzzle where each piece was more intriguing than the last. I *loved* how layered the story became once it finally started to take shape.

But I’ve got to be honest: it took *way* too long for things to connect. Over half the book passed before the plot really gained traction, which made the first half feel slow, irrelevant, and uneven. Compared to the author’s debut, *A Flicker in the Dark*, this one struggled to take off.

That said, the character development was on point. I had no complaints about how the characters were written or how they were incorporated into the story. Claire and Liam had top-tier chemistry—I kept hoping they'd fall in love. And that ending? **So many questions!** What happened to Lily? Were there more victims we don’t know about? I kind of wish we got a little more closure.

**Pros:**

* Intriguing twists and puzzle-like mystery
* Well-developed characters
* Strong payoff once the plot picks up

**Cons:**

* Extremely slow start
* Lacks the instant pull of her debut
* A bit too open-ended at the end

***I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.***

What. A. Ride! This was my first book by Stacy and I've already added her entire back list to my tbr. I loved this thriller, the story flowed perfectly, and I was hooked from the beginning... then it never let me go. I HAD to know what was happening. The diary was pure gold, I thoroughly enjoyed the chapters from the past, and that they were told from a different pov.

You get twist after twist, once you think you know what's going on, another curve ball is thrown. Sometimes authors can get "too twisty" and it's not clever, this was not the case. I had a few things figured out as I read, but it was fun unwrapping the mystery with Claire, finally getting the answers we needed. Yes WE because I was fully invested 😆

This one has family drama, domestic suspense and true crime vibes. A little lingering romance too 😏 and the epilogue?! 🤌🏻🤌🏻

3.5 stars

Claire, the protagonist of Willingham's most recent effort, is working through her personal demons professionally. When that opportunity fizzles and a family obligation crops up, she become even more ensconsed in excavating the mysteries of her past and creating some new terrors in her present.

Though Claire's relationship with her parents is strained, she heads home almost immediately when she learns her mother needs her. The tension between Claire and her parents started long ago with the disappearance and later assumed murder of her older sister, Natalie. It's no surprise that the relationship and dynamics are complicated here.

When she returns home, Claire can't help but think of Natalie. A highlight of this novel is how effectively Willingham transports readers into a completely different world. Some of the details that might be more challenging to buy make absolute sense once Claire goes home and ESPECIALLY when she takes on a new job on a remote island. Willingham successfully depicts the otherworldly elements of this place, as well as its remarkably isolated feel, through description but more importantly through some nicely articulated infusions from the past. While I wanted more in the realm of suspense and thrills (frankly, what I came for, so a big deal in this case), some of that disappointment was mitigated by these inclusions.

I enjoy Willingham's writing: this one included. While it isn't my favorite of her works so far, it's still one I recommend for a pretty efficient and appealing read. I'm looking forward to what Willingham offers us next.

This book is like a piece of flesh on your finger that you can’t decide if you want to pull it off and let it heal or just push on it because the pain reminds you that you are somehow real.
While I started this book slowly, once I developed the story in my head and felt I knew where this was going I just couldn’t stop. Ripping through the pages trying to uncover the mystery of who is who and why was Claire’s older sister haunting her when they knew who murdered her…. Or did they? You would think that was the major plot twist but in true Stacy writing fashion she takes you on a rollercoaster ride that dips and turns so many times your left getting off saying, how did that happen and I not seeing it coming?

I enjoyed the setting and atmosphere of this one, but definitely didn’t enjoy it as much as the other books I’ve read by Stacy Willingham!

Had I known that this included a certain trope/set-up (don’t worry, I won’t say it!) I probably would have passed. It’s something I’ve come to figure out rarely works for me.

If you prefer more of a slowly unfurling mystery to a nail-biting thriller, and like past/present POVs, I’d recommend this one for you!

4.5 Stars
A gothic thriller that takes places in backwoods South Carolina, this murder mystery is both electrifying and gripping. With damaged and flawed but moving characters, and a story that pulls you in, the author methodically and painstakingly places each puzzle piece in place to reveal the final twists. The book was my first novel by this author and I plan to read more by her in the future. Kudos for working Claxton into the story too. Recommended for fans of contemporary thrillers.

Net Galley Feedback

Claire’s sister went missing 22 years ago, and she’s never really gotten over it. Now an investigative journalist, Claire avoids her own trauma by digging into other people’s. When her dad calls, she returns home to help her mom out and ends up working at a quiet vineyard in South Carolina, hoping for peace. Instead, she finds a hidden diary written by a woman named Marcia, full of dark secrets that may be tied to her sister’s disappearance.
The book slowly builds tension, blending past and present as Claire uncovers old crimes and buried truths. It’s not a straightforward mystery. It’s eerie, emotional, and unsettling, with a creeping sense that something’s wrong the whole time.
The pacing was a little off for me at the beginning of the book and the diary being told in 3rd person POV instead of 1st, was odd. Overall I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to friends!

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Release date 8/26/25

Twists that kept me guessing, a mystery that kept me glued to the page!

Claire is in the middle of change. She's quit her job as a journalist for being skipped over, again, for a promotion. But after months of looking around for freelance, she's not having much luck. She just has a few months of savings left and is trying to figure out what to do next when she her phone rings and it shows it's her dad. With her heart in her throat she answers. Her mom is okay but hurt. She needs to come home to take care of her. However, upon arriving, her mother isn't thrilled she's there. Feeling, again, like the world is a bit against her - she stumbles into a new job at a farm her sister once worked at, one long summer ago.

Claire was an interesting character and I liked how we could lean on her journalism abilities to understand why she would get so involved in the mystery. I loved the twists, the isolation - the way this book sucked me in. It was such a fast read because I couldn't stop, just like Claire with the diary. I had guesses but I never guessed so many of the twists. I loved it!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

I loved every bit of this work. This is my third book by Stacy Willingham and it didn't disappoint. The plot was perfectly paced and I was emotionally invested in the characters! If you love family drama, suspense, and isolated suspense this will be your next binge read! I loved it.

Another pulse-pounding thriller from Stacy Willingham! Forget Me Not is a gripping, fast-paced mystery set in the atmospheric South that kept me on edge from beginning to end. With its tense, twisty plot and unrelenting suspense, this one had me guessing until the very last page. A must-read for any thriller lover!

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

A moody, slow-burning thriller that rewards patience. If you enjoy layered mysteries with atmospheric settings and cascading revelations—like A Flicker in the Dark—this one is a compelling pick. Just expect a gradual build rather than immediate chills.

Forget Me Not is one of those thrillers that just sucks you in from the first page. Stacy Willingham does an awesome job mixing mystery with real emotions, so it’s not just about the twists (though there are plenty!). The story keeps you guessing but also makes you care about what’s going on beneath the surface. It’s perfect if you like your suspense with a side of heart. Definitely a page-turner you’ll want to finish in one sitting.

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

I am a big Stacy Willingham fan and absolutely could not wait to read this one! There is a lot to unpack in this book; a slow burn start (in a good way) with a fast paced and super twisty finish!

Throughout the entire book there was a dark and eerie vibe that truly vibrated right off the pages! Set to the background of the isolation of the farm, it really gave the scenery so much weight, but here it worked! You know a cold case mystery always needs a dual timeline; here it was our FMC in present day juxtaposed with the past timeline of journal entries. The journal entries were told in 3rd person POV to transport you right into the epicenter of the time when it would’ve been written, adding even more suspense. The isolation of the farm was very haunting and added to the overall atmospheric vibe!

The character development and depth was greatly appreciated and the plot was just so twisty, you’ll have to read it for yourself  I also am here for the cult-like plot of the farm and how one single man could have so much lure-power.

Add this to your TBR if you love: murder mysteries, cold cases, domestic suspense, family drama, small town, missing girls, trauma, guilt, identity.

5/5!!!!!