"Forget Me Not" follows Claire Campbell, a currently unemployed investigative journalist whose sister Nathalie was murdered 22 years ago. When her estranged mother seemingly needs help, Claire reluctantly returns to her hometown in South Carolina for the first time, finding traces of Nathalie's life before her disappearance that lead Claire straight to Galloway Farm, a coastal vineyard an hour away where Nathalie used to work. When Claire is offered a seasonal job on the farm, she is only too happy to accept. But when she finds a hidden old diary, she becomes consumed by its contents, soon suspecting that it somehow ties into her own past and her sister's disappearance.

The author excels at painting a vivid, atmospheric picture in this tense Southern thriller. You can practically feel the oppressive summer heat radiating off the pages while reading. Claire's search for answers regarding the disappearance of her sister was compelling, though I was a bit confused as to her methods - has no one ever looked through Nathalie's room in 22 years? Why did it take Claire so long to finish reading the diary (surely she could have skimmed it)? Why did she not buy a freaking flashlight in town when her phone was already dead?

I would have happily skipped over those little things, but Mitchell and Marcia's story rubbed me the wrong way from the start. The whole "young girl and older boyfriend" storyline, with icky parallels to Nathalie's case, was probably intentional. But if Marcia was 17 in 1983, and Mitchell in his late twenties or early thirties, that certainly wouldn't qualify as them being "kids. Just two kids who stumbled in love", as Claire characterizes them.

All in all, "Forget Me Not" had a solid backstory, strong writing, and some thrilling tension, but the pacing was off (the addition of the diary entries certainly didn't help with that particular issue), and when it finally picked up speed, the conclusion felt very over the top (IYKYK).

Sadly, this didn't quite live up to my expectations, but I won't let that deter me from reading the author's next book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

"Forget Me Not" is slated to be released on August 26, 2025.

What a chilling thriller! Many twists and turns along with misdirection keep you guessing until close to the end. Enough drama to keep you engrossed in the story line and reading way past bedtime!

This is a story I regret not reading all in one fell swoop as it demands attention. Really detailed attention. So I did spend some time going back over the chapters to reacquaint myself with the characters, setting and timeline.

It's the present and Claire Campbell leaves her job as a journalist to return home and help out her mother, who has taken a bad fall. Going home also means reliving memories of her older sister Natalie, murdered 22 years ago by her boyfriend. But her mom is less receptive to Claire's return and hurt by the seeming rejection, Claire takes on a job at a farm in a nearby town. In some ways to feel close to her sister while seeking peace.

While her new coworker Liam is friendly enough, the farm's owner Mitchell Galloway and his wife Marcia are mysteries to Claire. Her journalists instincts ignite when she discovers a hidden diary penned by Marcia in the 1980s. It's a story in itself that ties the past with the present, and could unlock clues to Natalie's murder.

I'll give this to the author, it's well plotted out to reveal clues that in retrospect should have stuck out more. The subtleness of those reveals are what makes the a-ha moments all the more stunning. And, if I'd paid attention by reading it in one long arc, I might have caught those! Still, it's a delicious, absorbing mystery that fans of the author will appreciate.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for the ARC. #ForgetMeNot is not-to-be missed!

This was a binge worthy read. I was able to enjoy it even on my kindle which is usually a deal breaker for me. It was a slow burn, but the writing style hooked me in from the beginning.

I had no idea where this one would end up, and I enjoyed the storyline. Lots of mystery, murder and also cult vibes packed into this one.

I’ve read all four thrillers published by this author and after A Flicker In The Dark, I would say this is my next favorite. I recommend you add this one to your TBR.

I absolutely loved this book! I felt completely immersed in Claire’s journey, drawn into the haunting beauty of Galloway Farm and the unsettling secrets lurking beneath its idyllic surface. I appreciated the way nostalgia and mystery blended together, creating an atmosphere that was both comforting and deeply unnerving. I connected with Claire’s determination to unravel the truth, and I felt every ounce of her growing obsession as she dug deeper into the diary’s contents. The tension built masterfully, making each revelation feel more chilling than the last. I loved how the novel balanced emotional depth with suspense, keeping me hooked until the very end. I finished the book feeling completely satisfied and utterly captivated. The writing was lush, the twists were gripping, and Claire’s journey was unforgettable.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a mystery filled with rich atmosphere, emotional complexity, and secrets that refuse to stay buried.

This was an absolute page-turner! I was hooked from the first chapter and couldn’t put it down. The diary entries were one of my favorite parts, they added such a personal layer that pulled me deeper into the mystery.

The way everything fell into place was just so well done. Every twist made sense, and the final reveal was both surprising and satisfying. The writing was tight, emotional, and full of tension in all the right places.

If you love psychological thrillers with strong writing and a storyline that keeps you guessing, this one’s a must-read.

4.5 Stars

This was SO GOOD. After "A Flicker in the Dark," Stacy Willingham became in instant-buy author for me and her newest book did not disappoint. I loved the dual timeline and voices. There were several twists, a few I saw coming but several I was not prepared for. Stacy Willingham does not disappoint with this book.

Book: Forget Me Not
Author: Stacy Willingham
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Pub Date: August 26, 2025

This was one of my most anticipated reads for the year and it didn’t disappoint. While it’s not my favorite book by this author it is still a four-star read. I did feel like it dragged at times and was a little slow. There were a few loose ends that I thought were too neatly tied up and easily fixed and the twists were good but not necessarily shocking. Beyond that it was a fast and easy read and easy to follow. It is a very enjoyable who-done-it. This will make a great summer beach read.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this sneak peak! Publication date is August 26, 2025.

This book held incredible promise, and I specifically picked it up due to being from South Carolina. I wanted to feel immersed in the small town southern environment and knew it would make for a pulse pounding mystery. However, I found the book lacking in immersion. It felt very surface level, with opportunities to grow the environment and the characters. I DNF'd at 50% as I was struggling to stay interested in where the story was headed.

I've loved other books by Stacy Willingham, but unfortunately, this one just wasn't for me. It didn't feel like a thriller to me.

It begins as a great story of what happens to a family that has experienced the murder of a child. It does a great job at really diving into how that family deals (or in this case - avoids dealing with) the aftermath of such a horrific event. It's slow start, but at about the 35% mark, a mystery is introduced in the way of a diary our main character, Claire, has found. First, this didn't feel like a diary at all since it was written in the third person. Who writes a diary in the third person? Most importantly, it really didn't feel like a big enough mystery to suck me in. It just felt like Claire was intruding on these people's lives. I was really hoping that the big hook would be that she was completely wrong and there was no mystery here.

Those who enjoy slow-burn mysteries will enjoy this, but if you are looking for a thriller, this isn't it. There is a climactic ending, but for me, that was too little too late. I didn't love it, but I can see that there are readers who will.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for this advanced review copy.

Claire Campbell’s eighteen-year-old sister, Natalie, disappeared 22 years ago. After moving away to forget about it all, an unexpected call from her dad brought her back to town for the first time in 15 years. With nothing to do for the summer, she starts a seasonal job at Galloway Farm, where her sister once worked. It seems like a tranquil retreat…until Claire finds a diary from one of the vineyard’s owners. She has this unsettling feeling that Natalie’s disappearance may be connected to this place.

This new Southern thriller from Stacy Willingham starts off a little slow, but once you get into it, it’s hard to put down!

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books, for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Forget Me Not by Stacy Willingham

While I enjoyed the last two Stacy Willingham books that I read, this book was just too frustrating for me to enjoy as much as I enjoyed the other books. The mystery sounds very intriguing and and there are thrilling aspects to the story but the main character made me want to stomp my feet and throw my Kindle at her. I think I shouted at her a few times, too!

Thirty three year old Claire Campbell is heading back home because she's been asked by her dad to go take care of her mom. Long ago they split up about the time that Claire's older sister, Natalie, started all kinds of suspicious behavior. Then Natalie went missing and because of things found, was declared dead. Claire's mom won't allow her dad to help her but really, Claire's mom doesn't want anything from Claire either, so Claire finds a job at the place her late sister used to work before she went missing.

Claire's sister was seventeen when she was doing unwise things and then went missing. I'd like to think that thirty three year old Claire would have gained something from her years of experience as an adult. But no, Claire doesn't seem to have any situational awareness, no ability to say no when she most certainly should say no, and no ability to keep her electronics charged and in working order. As I've mentioned before, I'll never get to be a MC in a mystery/thriller because I never let my phone's battery get close to 0. In fact, I carry mini portable chargers with me to totally ruin that plot twist for me getting into huge messes.

Once again the author has filled the story with twists and turns and just as I would think I had something figured out, I'd find out I was wrong. There is a lot of enjoy here and I just wish it could have happened with a more alert, clear thinking MC. I always look forward to the work of this author and will be waiting impatiently for her next book. I was able to buddy read this story with Jayme, Mary Beth, and DeAnn so I was able to rant to them about my gripes, always fun when reading a perplexing mystery/thriller.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books and NetGalley for this ARC.

Once again, Stacy Willingham did not disappoint! Thriller with all the thrills. I really enjoyed how the POV was written. Multiple POV always makes it more enjoyable to me. Then the twist...Yes!!

What a great southern mystery - I loved the description of all the scenery! This book follows many mysteries over the course of a few decades, with a handful of plot twists thrown in. I thought this book was a quick, captivating read!

Many thanks to NetGallery and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!

I have to give Stacy Willingham many thanks for getting me back into reading with A Flicker in the Dark a few years ago—that book was what made me realize that I enjoy thrillers and suspenseful books! I was extremely excited to see Forget Me Not available on NetGalley and even more excited when I was granted an advanced copy! The book is slow to start but still suspenseful, riveting, thoughtful, and surprising, too! It has everything you would look for in a Stacy Willingham novel! Enjoy!

What happens at Galloway stays at Galloway…

Claire Campbell’s older sister, Natalie, disappeared shortly after her eighteenth birthday, and although a body was never recovered the case was quickly closed.

Upon graduation, Claire moved to N.Y. to become an investigative journalist, and she hasn’t returned to her small town since. But after getting passed over for a promotion that should have been hers, she resigns from The Journal” to freelance. So when her mom is hurt in an accident, she is able to return home to help, since she can write from anywhere.

Claire finds that her sister’s room has remained untouched, and while looking through her belongings, she comes across a photo of Natalie taken at Galloway-the Muscadine vineyard on Wadamaw Island where Natalie worked the Summer before her death.

Claire impulsively decides to visit and when she learns that they are looking for seasonal help and that the position comes with room and board, she applies for the job, since Freelance writing hasn’t exactly been paying the bills and her Mom doesn’t seem to really welcome her assistance.

Perhaps it will nice to spend time at the last place where Natalie seemed so happy?

However, soon after settling in, Claire she finds a hidden diary which seems to detail various unsolved crimes, and as a journalist, she feels compelled to investigate, making one reckless decision after another.

Could her own sister's disappearance be tied to the events from the past chronicled in the diary?

Had I known the direction that this book would take, I would have passed on it, as it isn’t a favorite trope of mine (no spoilers) even though I have enjoyed two out of three of the author’s earlier books.

But, the “trope” wasn’t my only issue with it.

I was often taken out of the story with the purple prose, especially in the first half, as the story sets up. And, the last 25% felt longer than it was as we listen to drawn out confessions.

This wasn’t a bad book, despite these drawbacks, but for me it rates just an average three stars.

But, now that I know the secrets, I noticed something in the intriguing book cover that I hadn’t noticed prior…

Available August 26, 2025

Thank You to Minotaur Books for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts.

3.75 ⭐️ rounded up!

This was reeeeeeaaaally slow to start. The story is very slow moving for a majority of the book, then starts to pick up in the last quarter. Definitely not the page turning thriller that I was expecting, but still with twists and an unexpected ending. Everything wrapped up really well in the end, and I felt satisfied with the story. Just wished the pace was a bit faster!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a DRC in exchange for my honest review.

Immediately got very excited when I saw this was a Stacy Willingham thriller! I absolutely adored A Flicker In The Dark, All The Dangerous Things and Only If You’re Lucky! So I went into it with high expectations and they were definitely met! I love when the main character returns to their small hometown. It sets the tone and I automatically know it’s about to get creepy and crazy! I loved the format of the story and getting to experience the scenes that Claire was reading in her sister’s diary. Can’t wait to listen to the audiobook when it comes out!

Stacy Willingham is one of my auto-read authors. After A Flicker in the Dark and All the Dangerous Things (both 5-star reads for me), I had high expectations—and this one delivered.

This Southern thriller had perfect pacing kept me turning pages late into the night. My only complaint? I didn’t want it to end! I was left wanting more—in the best way.

What a page-turner!!!!! This was my first book by Stacy Willingham and I feel like I need her ENTIRE collection. If I could recommend a next thriller to everyone, it would be this one! I enjoyed reading the diary entries and the switch in POV. The writing allowed me to vividly imagine the scenes and what was occurring. The plot twist was unpredictable and I wish I could read it again for the first time!

Many thanks to NetGallery and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!