4.5 ⭐️

Claire's trip back home sets into motion a series of events that she never could have predicted. She's been avoiding her hometown ever since her sister went missing and was presumed dead. However, she discovers some items amongst her things, and she sets off to learn what happened. I went into this one totally blind, and I'm glad I did. It was a fun story, though the pacing was slightly off at times. I enjoyed how it all came together in the end.

4.5/5 stars!
After returning home, Claire gets sucked into the past trying to connect with her sister who was murdered 22 years previously.
I love mysteries with dual timelines and I loved that this book kept going back and forth between the present day and the 1980s. The characters were so interesting and you knew something wasn’t right from the very beginning.
I did manage to piece together a couple things that happened in the story but not the whole thing and there’s always something satisfying about coming up with a theory in the early chapters of a book and finding out you’re right even if you didn’t figure out the whole story.
Another gem from Stacy Willingham and I can’t wait to see what she delivers next!

Forget Me Not is a gripping psychological thriller following Claire, a journalist who returns to her hometown to care for her injured mother. As she uncovers dark secrets about her sister Natalie’s disappearance, the twists and turns keep the suspense high. From hidden diaries to shocking revelations, the story is packed with intrigue. Willingham delivers another masterful, fast-paced read full of surprises. Highly recommended for fans of thrilling, unpredictable plots.

Forget Me Not by Stacy Willingham is a murder mystery and a cautionary tale about the danger of trusting the wrong person. After losing out on an expected promotion, the main character, Claire Campbell, quits her job as a newspaper journalist in New York, but finds herself unable to make a living as a freelancer. When she is called home to help her mother recover from an accident, Claire returns to rural South Carolina for the summer and, ultimately, Claire ends up delving into the 22-year-old unsolved murder of her sister.

Virtually from page one, the book has a creepy, foreboding tone that persists throughout. The plot is clever and the story is well-crafted, moving along at a fast pace without needless fillers. The author relies very heavily on the use of similes (a figure of speech comparing one thing with another thing of a different kind, used to make a description emphatic or vivid). Used judiciously, similes heighten our sensory awareness. But used excessively, they become sensory overload, and at times I wished that the author had pulled back a bit.

There is no graphic violence, which I appreciate, but also no humor, no love, no emotional relief from the dark moodiness and sensory bombardment of this book. At the end, multiple murders were ultimately resolved, but many questions remained. The Epilogue, which attempted to sort everything out, felt rushed and brought up even more questions. It was as though the author was exhausted by the end, and just needed for it all to be over.

I'm giving this book four stars, because the story is intriguing and unique, and I believe it will appeal to murder-mystery lovers.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an Advance Reader's Copy of this book to read and review.

@stacyvwillingham has done it again with Forget Me Not—another thrilling, mind-bending masterpiece that you won’t be able to put down. If you’re a fan of her work, you already know she’s one of those authors you don’t even have to think twice about purchasing. Her books are automatic buys, because you know from the first page that it’s going to be phenomenal. Forget Me Not is no exception. I was so happy to get this over spring break so I didn’t have to worry about lack of sleep at work from reading all night!

This book had me hooked from the very first chapter. It’s the kind of story that pulls you in so effortlessly, you find yourself devouring pages faster than you can blink. And just when you think you’ve got it all figured out, Willingham throws in a twist that makes you reconsider everything. The pace is relentless—so much so that it’s hard to tear yourself away, even for a second. You’ll finish this one in record time, and the characters, plot, and suspense will stick with you long after the last page.

What continues to amaze me about Willingham is how she constantly delivers unique, jaw-dropping storylines. I honestly don’t know how she comes up with these plots—they’re so intricate and cleverly crafted that it feels like you’re reading something entirely new, each time. You won’t find clichés or predictability here. She knows exactly how to keep you on the edge of your seat, guessing and second-guessing everything you thought you knew about the characters and the story.

Five stars aren’t enough to rate Forget Me Not. If you’re looking for a psychological thriller that’s impossible to put down, this is it. Willingham’s ability to weave complex, unpredictable narratives is unmatched, and this book proves once again why she’s an author who will always have a spot on my shelf.

Something about a thriller book set in the south. This book was creepy and mysterious in the best way possible.
This story follows Claire, who travels back to her home town where her sister disappeared 22 years prior.
While back, she discovers a diary that reveals so many new secrets.
This did have a slow start, but once it picked up I was completely sucked in.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Minotaur Books for providing this book, with my honest review below.

Forget Me Not had slower pacing but it opens up a mystery that would have been harder to digest if it moved quickly. From the perspective of Claire, a journalist who lost her sister decades ago, the events kick off when Claire goes home for the first time in years. While home Claire discovers her sister, Natalie’s, last days were spent at Galloway Farms and she takes a job there in turn. While Natalie’s murderer was found and prosecuted years ago, Claire’s discovery of a diary (the book’s other point of view) and the eerie farm call the events around Natalie’s murder into question.

This has a mix of cult vibes to its mystery coupled with very real grief and baggage that would follow a family who had a loved one taken from them too soon. It will leave you unsettled but definitely intrigued throughout!

I was completely thrilled to have been selected to receive an eARC of Stacy Willingham’s new novel, Forget Me Not. Thank you to @stacywillingham and NetGalley!

This book was incredible! 5 stars highly recommend! This might be my new favorite from this author.

Claire is a journalist in New York City, struggling to find her way in freelance after leaving her previous newspaper. During an evening out with former colleagues when she is really starting to question her decision to leave the publication, she gets a call from her father, urging her to come home after 15 years away to help her injured mother. Seeing a way to make some extra money by subletting her apartment, she makes the journey south.

She quickly realizes that she cannot stay in the home with her mother or sleep in the room next to where her sister used to sleep, before she disappeared and was presumed dead at the hands of an older boyfriend.

As Claire’s interest in her sister’s disappearance continues to eat at her, she looks for any opportunity to build a connection with her, and thinks she finds it at Galloway Farm, an out-the-way farm where her sister briefly worked.

This book follows Claire’s journey to find herself as she works to find her sister, and as with any Stacy Willingham novel, not all is as it seems, and the twists just keep coming.

I cannot rave about this book enough and can’t wait for everyone to get a chance to read it!

4.25 stars

This is definitely a slower paced thriller that didn't have much of the thriller aspect come into play until about 1/3rd into it, but once we got there it was so hard to put down and I couldn't wait to see where it was going. I wasn't a fan of the main MC at first but she grows on you lol. Another great read from Stacy, can't wait to see what she comes up with next!

Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press Early Readers and Minotaur Books for access to an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was a good and interesting thriller. I enjoyed reading about Claire and following along on her journey. Still wishing she could find answers to her past and the murder of her sister Natalie all those years ago. Of course something happens and now it's time for Claire to return to her hometown which she really isnt sure is the greatest idea but decides to do it anyway.
Once arriving home at her mother's house, she discovers an old roll of film that was never developed but once she did she discovers the Galloway Farm which was the place where Natalie worked before her death. With Claire wanting more answers about natalie she ends up taking a job at the farm. What's even crazier is once she arrives she finds a hidden diary which was from one of the people actually still there, Marcia and well of course Claire had to read it too. So what will this diary end up revealing?? Even more secrets from this mysterious farm.

This book definitely gave you that suspense and mysterious feeling along with of course just being a great thriller read that I am sure many will enjoy!

Forget Me Not is a standalone thriller written by Stacy Willingham

*Journalist FMC
*Family trauma
*Cult vibes

After returning to her hometown to check on her mother, Claire finds an undeveloped roll of film to leads her to the last place her sister was seen alive.

After arriving at the rundown farm/vineyard she meets three individuals who live and work there year round. From there this book turns into an almost cultish horror story based on current day events, and events that took place in 1983, told through the POV of another young woman who went missing after her family stayed at the farm/vineyard.

Very well written, ends with a HFN for the main character.

Format: NetGalley ebook
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
Overall score:⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level:🌶️
Characters: Claire (FMC)

I looove Stacy Willingham and this one was really good!! I couldn't put it down and was really intrigued the whole time, but some of the MC's decisions really pissed me off, especially with her mother. The unsolved crimes also seemed very convenient.

Overall though, I would recommend this!!

Stacy Willingham does it again! 👏🏼 👏🏼

I needed a good thriller to get me out of my reading slump and this was it. This one had Verity and The Last Housewife vibes for me. The first half can be a bit slow, but stick with it because once you get to the second half, you are in for a RIDE. Every chapter felt like a new revelation with so many twists and turns. This will definitely be a must have book this summer!

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this eARC!

A slow burn southern thriller perfect for summer. I have devoured every Stacy Willingham book and this one was no different. Thank you so much for the ARC! The story was compelling, the characters were interesting and the twists were surprising. This book had everything I was looking for and more. If I were you I would read this book!

“I dream of you sometimes. Erratic and impulsive, just like in life, I never know when you might show up. When I might close my eyes, attempt to lose myself in the merciful black, only for your face to click into existence like an intrusive thought. Like an unwelcome visitor, your foot wedged in the door, coercing your way inside my mind the way you always did.“

From the opening line to the very last sentence I was locked in. Willingham delivers her signature haunting southern slow burn and I think it might be her best one yet! Those final twists and reveals? I totally didn’t see them coming and I love that for me 😮‍💨

Once the story got going, I had a fun time trying to piece together the mystery. The problem was, it took until 30% for anything to happen. The beginning was slow background and lead up that could have been summed up in a much shorter way. After that though, I enjoyed the journey this took! I was constantly trying to figure out “who done it” and making guesses as to what the twist could be. I figured out some, but not all. After the slow start, it really is a fun book that keeps you guessing.

Thank you to SMP/Minotaur Books for the arc.

Claire Campbell has been dealing with the loss of her older sister's death for the last twenty years when she disappeared at her window one night and was killed by her older boyfriend. Claire's parents divorced her mother seemingly forgetting about raising Claire and her father moving out. When Claire was finally able to she moved as far away as she could to New York City becoming a journalist, until one day she gets a call from her dad asking her to come back home. Secrets are dredged up and the past comes alive again hauntingly taking Claire with it.
A perfect thriller that you will not want to put down!

FORGET ME NOT BY STACY WILLINGHAM

Stacy Willingham does it again! Author of the fabulous A Flicker In the Dark serves up another deliciously dark and atmospheric Southern thriller with Forget Me Not.

As you meet our protagonist, Claire you learn why the young journalist has made herself a loner with only one friend to her name. She is mostly estranged from her parents. Her 18 year old sister disappeared when Claire was only 11. Having been recently passed over for a promotion she quit her job. All this piled up to carve Claire into quite a forlorn individual. When called back home from New York City to help her injured mother she begins to have to face all the issues which have been hanging over her.

All thriller readers expect a GOOD twist or two in their reads and believe me you will not be disappointed!

In her incredibly written ending the author artfully unravels all the mysteries we encounter along the reading of this story. The ending was absolutely phenomenal. In fact I have to say it is the best written ending I have read since I started reading thrillers in earnest two years ago.

I highly recommend Forget Me Not.

Thank you to Stacy Willingham, Minotaur Books and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy.

Stacy does it again! This suspense thriller had me on the edge of my seat until the very end! I loved all of the plot twists leading up to the biggest one of them all. There are many characters mentioned, but every single one plays a role in this thriller. The author does a great job tying it all together in the end. A must read by one of my favorite thriller authors!

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this is advanced copy!

4.25 stars

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for getting the chance to review this ARC

(Hands clapping rapidly) YESSSS, Stacy! A must read book by a must read author.

This was the perfect Southern summer psychological thriller. Forget Me Not is set in a vineyard and the mysteries that lie within those 50 acres will have you at the edge of your seat. Filled with complex characters, decades long secrets, and cult-like culture, this book is sure to keep you guessing.

Claire's sister Natalie went missing 22 years ago. For the first time in 15 years, Claire is back in her hometown in South Carolina and desperate to find answers to her sister's disappearance. As she starts to unravel the mystery of her missing sister, she becomes entranced by Galloway Farms (the vineyard Natalie worked at the summer of her disappearance) and the mysterious couple that resides there.

I was able to guess a few of the twists, but was left shocked at the end as Claire unfolds the mystery of the farm. She was relentless is discovering the truth and I felt so much angst and hope for her during her journey.

An absolute must read for psychology thriller fans! Pick it up when it's released in August 2025