The Memory Watcher explores the idea that what we see—especially on social media—is often a carefully curated illusion. Through its dual narrators, the novel delves into the ways people manipulate how they’re perceived, both online and in real life.

From the beginning, it’s clear that both Autumn, the birth mother who gave up Grace for adoption, and Daphne, Grace’s adoptive mother, are unreliable narrators hiding deep secrets. Autumn obsessively follows the McMullens online, inserting herself into their lives by dating their neighbor and eventually becoming their seemingly perfect summer nanny. But as she gets closer, the cracks in the McMullen family's polished facade begin to show.

The connection between Autumn and Daphne deepens as the story unfolds, revealing hidden truths that threaten to unravel everything they’ve tried to protect. The tension builds steadily, with twists that defy the typical psychological thriller formula. Just when I thought I had uncovered the central secret, the story would reveal it—and then take another unexpected turn. The final twist caught me completely off guard and carried the story through a satisfying and dramatic conclusion.

I highly recommend this book to fans of psychological thrillers that go beyond surface-level suspense and dive into the complexities of identity, perception, and the secrets we keep.

I didn't know this was an older book that I have already read. I really liked this book it was good and held my attention. I love this author and will definitely be reading more of her stuff.

‘Lies, secrets, and obsessive motherly love collide in a chilling novel of psychological suspense….’

The Memory Watcher has gotta be my favorite Kent to date! Clever & chilling, I was willingly baited and thoroughly hooked!🙌🏻 I couldn’t put it down.

So naturally, I absolutely recommend!

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this arc in exchange for review!

Pub: May 06 2025.

Autumn is observing the mother raising her daughter. Autumn had a baby that she couldn’t raise. The McMullens were the perfect couple to provide her baby the life she couldn’t give. Autumn spent years watching her daughter on Instaface. Then one day all activity came to a halt. Autumn will do anything to keep watching her daughter to make the life she deserves is being given to her.
…
The McMullens have three young children. They live in a wealthy neighborhood. Daphne the mother is a stay-at-home mom with her hands full. Her husband Graham is at work more than he’s at home helping with the children. Daphne’s tired of playing the perfect housewife. Graham hires a nanny to help.
…
Daphne’s got secrets. She needs an escape from being a wife and mother. She just needs time to be herself without being judged.
…
Grace is a troubled child who constantly causes destruction. Daphne has done everything she can think of to make her a better person. Grace tests Daphne’s patience on a daily basis stirring up a whirlwind of frustration within the household.
…
Minka Kent gives readers an unbelievable psychological thriller that will knock your socks off. In the beginning, Minka Kent builds the suspense slowly by creating the story of Autumn and Daphne. You get to understand who these women are before getting invested in them.
…
This story isn’t anything like I imagined. Minka Kent is definitely taking me on a journey of the unknown. Expect the unexpected because Minka Kent has a few tricks up her sleeve. Everything you thought you knew about the direction of this story would be wrong. I’m impressed with how many twists and turns she’s taken.
…
That was a doozy of an ending. I’m not even sure I understand what just happened. I feel bamboozled. I need some assistance in my thinking process to verify what I just read. Huge curveballs. Everything I thought I was reading about became something else. Bravo! Well done.

This is not one of Ms. Kent’s best but it makes for decent reading until the end, which is a cheap trick.

I received this book from the publisher and NetGalley.

The Memory Watcher is a fast paced, edge of your seat, thriller. This is the second book I’ve read by Minka Kent. Still Water Girls was the first and that was so good too! I read The Memory Watcher in one day! There were so many shocking twists and turns! I will definitely be reading more of her books!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Suspenseful and intense while slightly predictable. I love that I can always count on Minka Kent for a thriller I can read in one sitting and this didn't disappoint!

MINKA KENT NEVER DISAPPOINTS!!!! I’ll forever read any and every book. I’ve read this before but I had to re-read it. Love the POV, the story itself.

I have read several books by this author, and she never disappoints! Memory Watcher is no exception.

Autumn is addicted to scrolling through social media, glimpsing at everyone's perfect lives. One day, she stumbled upon the blog of the lady who was raising her daughter. This starts an obsession with her attempting to learn everything about the family in an attempt to keep tabs on her daughter.

Things posted on social media are not always what they seem, and Autumn eventually learns that the family raising her daughter isn't as happy as they lead people to believe.

The premise of the story seemed intriguing to me. The first half of the book seemed repetitive and mundane. Things finally started to pick up approximately halfway through, and wowza, things happened that I definitely did not see coming! I must say, I did not see that ending coming!

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion/review.

this novel is worst at its ending. the story chugs along quite pleasantly and interestingly until around 75%, where it starts to feel like a badly written soap opera with murder. 3 stars. tysm for the arc.

Minka hits it out of the park again with her edge of the seat thriller. Autumn is obsessed with the family next door and wiggles her way into the family only to find out it's not as it seems online. Twists and turns keep you turning the page to see what is going to happen next!

First, thank you Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for this ARC!

I first did not even noticed I did own the older version of this book as paperback at some point. I've never read it, though. Anyway, I am glad I did now, because Minka Kent is an author I do really enjoy.

The book is written in the POV of Autumn - who is a bit of an internet stalker - Daphne, and also Sarah towards the end. The chapters are not too long, and I really enjoyed yet again the way Minka Kent is writing. Very much recommended!

I thought this was a new book, it was one I had read previously (quite a while ago) but omg it reaffirmed that I need to check out all of Minka Kent’s backlog of books to check I have read them all! Stillwater Girls is my favourite of what I have read but this is also a great read and I will never not recommend anything by this author. Outstanding writing!

4.5 stars!

Autumn Carpenter becomes obsessed with the social media account of the family who adopted her infant daughter. When the family unexpectedly closes their account, Autumn applies for a nanny position to reconnect with her daughter, only to realize that the perfect family she once admired has dark secrets.

I love the element of surprise when diving into a book without reading the blurb first. It's like unwrapping a present and discovering a twisted gem each time! This particular book took the craziness to a whole new level - it was a wild ride that I struggled to tear myself away from when necessary.

The story mainly follows two perspectives, Autumn and Daphne, with Sarah joining the mix towards the end. The main character is incredibly well-developed and possesses a scary, twisted mind. The narrative immediately captivated me, and I couldn't wait to uncover more. This may have been my first encounter with this author, but I'm already hooked.

The vivid descriptions of the environment tied the whole story together seamlessly. Everything must flow effortlessly, especially the setting, as it sets the tone and evokes specific emotions. The open-ended conclusion left me wondering if there's a sequel in the works - fingers crossed!

If you're a fan of dark, twisted reads with unpredictable twists and unstable characters, this book is right up your alley. It's a binge-worthy delight that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Thank you, Thomas & Mercer, for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

After the 4th reference to "instaface" I was very much pulled out of the book a bit. I liked everything else about this book, but I could not get past the "instaface" references and also, the policies written about the platform are wrong and I don't know if that was intentional or not. This seems so nit picky but I spend way too much of my time trying to keep up with social media updates so this pulled me out of the book.

Regardless, I love the other books written by this author and enjoyed the writing style.

Thank you for allowing me to read a free eARC of this book! I am leaving this honest feedback voluntarily.

I realized after starting this that I read it back in 2017. I enjoyed it then as much as I did today. It was entertaining from start to finish and was hard to put down.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my gifted copy.

The Memory Watcher by Minka Kent is a full length, standalone romance novel with a twist. Just like the other books by this author is The Memory Watcher a excellent written story, captivating and full of twists and unexpected turns that had me on the edge of my seat from start til the end. 4 Stars.

Full of alluring characters and desperate, obsessive measures taken in the quest for happiness and love, mixed in with an engrossing and unpredictable plot, makes this one memorable!

It all begins with a heartbreaking decision and spirals downward to the point of unethical when the realization hits that a wrong choice was made. It’s about identity, reconnection, and how far we’ll go to protect those we love. There are lots of twists, gasps, and chances for introspection.

Please avail yourself of trigger warnings.

I was gifted this copy by Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

Was a fantastic book that i thoroughly recommend and will be buying as I need a trophy version lol. I enjoying the different dynamics at play between the main characters especially towards the end.

I have become a Minka Kent fan!! Anything she writes I'll read. Autumn is a bit of an internet stalker and watched the family who adopted the baby girl she gave up years ago. Once their social presence is no longer available she starts to worry and begins her real life watching of the family. This book had two stories running parallel to each other with Autumn's story and the adoptive mom's story taking place at the same time. The end of this book was crazy and I don't want to say to much to give any of it away.