Stacy Willingham has delivered us yet another page-turner here. The dual timelines were executed masterfully, the characters were well-developed, and the story kept me engaged.

Stacy Willingham beguiles with her magnetic writing and atmospheric setting, drawing readers easily into a decades-old mystery where a constant sense of danger and unease brews beneath the surface. Shocking and totally twisted. Totally unique, I've never read anything like it.

I really enjoyed this book. I started and finished it in one day. I actually got completely lost in it so much that I forgot supper and to do the laundry! I loved the bouncing back and forth between timelines. I did figure a lot of twists out before they were revealed but there were definitely a few things that caught me off guard. I would definitely recommend this book to other readers.

Claire quit her job as a crime reporter to go freelance, but the gigs aren’t happening, so she decides to rent out her New York apartment and go home to her small South Carolina home for the summer. Claire is largely estranged from her parents, who divorced when she was 11, shortly before her older sister’s disappearance. The body was never found, but a small-time criminal it was believed Natalie was dating at the time, had her bloody clothes in his car, and was convicted of her murder. Obviously, Claire is still haunted by the memory of her sister, and when she finds out Natalie used to work at Galloway Farms, she goes there just to have a look. Instead, she ends up taking a job, which includes room and board as well as income.

In the guest house, she discovers a diary that suggests the owners might have a few secrets. Along with some photos and a roll of undeveloped film she found, Claire begins to investigate the farm to see if she can solve unanswered questions.

This is well written, but some things about Claire’s mother and a couple other things didn’t quite work for me.

NetGalley provided an advance copy of this novel, which RELEASES AUGUST 26, 2025.

It was a slow burn for me but was a great read and the twists hit just right. I kept guessing what was going to happen but I was wrong every time. I love stories that take you down rabbit holes and you just keep getting new information all the time that keeps connecting everything together. I got more mystery than thriller but still a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me. Definitely put this on your TBR list it comes out Aug 26th.

Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the opportunity to read an ARC copy.

Forget Me Not by Stacy Willingham
4.5 stars

After reading and thoroughly enjoying Willingham's previous novels I was so excited for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of her upcoming release, Forget Me Not. Thank you St Martin's Press / Minotaur Books, and Netgalley, for providing me with a digital ARC.

Forget Me Not follows Claire, an investigative journalist whose sister disappeared without a trace over 20 years ago. When a family emergency forces her to travel back to her small town, she hastily decides to accept a seasonal position at Galloway Farm, where her sister seemed truly happy the summer before her disappearance. When Claire finds an old diary written by one of the owners of the farm, she begins to fear that Galloway isn't what it seems.

I love a thriller with a strong, well-thought-out plot, and this book certainly delivered.. I binged the second half of this book in a single night, desperate to find out how it was going to end. I loved the past and present storylines, and how Claire's unique perspective brings them together. One thing is for sure, Willingham knows how to write an exciting thriller. that keeps readers coming back for more.

Forget Me Not is on sale August 26, 2025.

📚 Forget Me Not
✍ Stacy Willingham
📖 Mystery/Thriller
⭐4/5
📆 Out 8/26/2025
➡ 22 years after the mysterious disappearance of her older sister and 15 years since she's been home, Claire returns to the small southern vineyard where she last remembers her sister happy and unexpectedly uncovers decades of secrets that may lead to answers about her sister.

🙏 Thank you to Minotaur Books, NetGalley and the author for the advanced digital copy of Forget Me Not. All opinions are my own.
◾
🎯 What I loved: Like Willingham's previous novels, Forget Me Not is atmospheric. It's incredibly descriptive and prosaic and the southern farm where much of the story unfolds almost feels like it holds its own as a character. I love multiple timelines that wind themselves together seamlessly and loved the the dual timeline in this book was generated via diary entries. Though I put some of the pieces of the story together, I still found the twist really satisfying and liked most of the way things unfolded in the end. The writing on this was wonderful and though there were multiple timelines and quite a few characters, everything was described in a way that made it very clear what was happening.

🙅‍♀️ What I didn't: Surprisingly, it was the male characters that left me wanting more from this one. I thought that Claire's father needed to have a bigger role in the book- especially toward the end and found it odd that she didn't even communicate with him once she was back in her hometown. I'm also not really sure what role Ryan served and don't think he added much to the plot.
◾
Read if you love:
*characters coming home after a long life interlude & something pushed them away
*unresolved or potentially falsely solved cases
*dual timelines + two mysteries
◾
See also: The Return of Ellie Black, A Flicker in the Dark, No One Can Know

I am a big fan of Stacy Willingham’s books! They are always twisty, and leave you stunned at the end. They also always have a southern, gothic vibe. This one is no different. Five stars for the story about a family that was torn apart years ago and the sister still searching for answers.

From the beginning of this one, I really liked Claire Campbell. She had just left her job at a newspaper to freelance. She gets a call from her Dad that her mother has fallen, and he asks Claire to come home and help her out. But Claire hasn’t been home in many years. She has never recovered from losing her 18-year-old sister Natalie. Claire still has a lot of questions and a lot of unresolved feelings.

When Claire gets home, things don’t go the way they were planned, and she ends up on Galloway Farm - a place she visited with her family. She found a picture of a trip when she returned home. She takes on a job there for the summer. And then, she finds a diary, and events are set into motion.

This book has so many twists and turns. I listened to a large part of it on a road trip. The miles flew by, and I had to get to the end - which does not disappoint.

While this book is a thriller/mystery, it is also a story of grief and trauma. It handles both magnificently. The secrets are shocking. That is all that I will say.

Karissa Vacker and Helen Laser do a phenomenal job with the audiobook. If you prefer audio, this is a winner!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books, and Macmillan Audio for my digital and audiobook copies! I am grateful for the chance to read/listen early. Stacy Willingham is an auto buy author for me, and this book is fantastic! Preorder this one now - it is out on August 26th!

Murder, family trauma, secrets, cults, and twists and turns galore! A quick but fun read. Loved that the book ended with a sense of justice for the female victims.

This book devoured me. From start to finish, was packed with suspense. The plost, thr characters all interwoven in a story across 40 years. Brilliantly told and one of my favorites this year!

4.5 stars

Forget Me Not had everything I've come to expect in a Stacy Willingham book. An easy to follow and root for protagonist, great atmosphere and a compelling mystery that'll keep you reading until late into the night. I've loved all of Willingham's books, and Forget Me Not is my favorite one yet. I felt so connected to this story and these characters. The dairy entries created a really interesting dual timeline and I loved finding things out with Claire and piecing together the puzzle. This book also really connected emotionally for me; I was so invested and towards the end found myself crying multiple times because I really felt for these characters and what they went through. If you're a fan of the thriller genre, you should definitely pick this one up!

Absolutely love Stacy Willingham and everything she has written. Always gets me with the twist! Thank you to Netgalley for letting me read this before release.

A deep seated thrilled based in the South. It begs the question how far will you good to seek redemption for your missing sister? Even when her killer is locked up in jail? It’s the story of half truths and deep mystery that will have you at the edge of your seat. thanks to NetGalley for the read!

Great book! Nice storyline that was paced well and kept me interested. This author always has a unique way to her storytelling. She keeps me intrigued

5 stars for this one, such a good read. I was hooked right from the start and didn’t want to put it down. The plot pulled me in immediately, and even though I had a few guesses about where things were going, I was never totally sure, which kept me turning the pages.

The setting was written so well I could picture everything. There was this peaceful, almost too perfect vibe that made the story feel just a little eerie in the best way. I loved how the author created that atmosphere without making it overly dark.

Claire was a great main character. I did find myself questioning a few of her decisions, but overall, she was easy to connect with and believable. The suspense built at a good pace, a little slow at first, but it picked up quickly and kept a solid rhythm throughout.

This was one of the best thrillers I’ve read in a while. I’d absolutely recommend it to anyone looking for a suspenseful, well written story with a setting that feels like its own character.

Big thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

Stacy Willingham creates such a visceral sense of place, and Forget Me Not is no exception. I found the pacing to be the perfect contrast of heart-pounding moments with a slow unraveling mystery. The characters were easy to follow, and I enjoyed the twists along the way.

Narration performed by Helen Laser and Karissa Vacker was outstanding as usual. They are two of my favorite narrators.

I received an ARC and ALC from St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Hooked from the beginning & couldn’t put it down. It’s eerie. It’s got creepy characters. The main character POV felt personal. It didn’t leave me saying “why is she doing that” & “what is she getting at”. It’s got so many twists and turns that are so perfectly timed they deserve 👏👏👏.

Once you get into this book, it keeps you intrigued and guessing as to what's coming next. I liked the setting of a farm and the south. I know what those summers are like, lol. I liked also the passages from the diary and then back to present day. So good.

Sooooo good! I got swept up into the mysteries that were in this book and I did get a surprise twist that got me!
I did have one smaller question at the end that wasn't really answered or brought back up at all but I did read an arc copy so maybe it'll be in the finished version which I definitely will be getting!

Thank you to the publisher for an early copy!

Forget Me Not had me hooked from the very first page (my pulse was racing) and I found myself staying up way too late because I just had to know what would happen next. Stacy Willingham knows exactly how to build tension and keep you guessing.

My only critique is that the ending felt unnecessarily drawn out and it could have wrapped up tighter without losing any of its impact. Still, it’s a solid thriller that I’d definitely recommend to anyone who loves suspense that won’t let you sleep until you finish. Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion!