I could not put this book down! I finished it in 24 hours. The Memory Collectors follows four people as they travel back in time to the days before their lives changed forever. They are only supposed to have 60 minutes in the past but end up staying for much longer. The big question is: can they change the future?

The author really hooked me in from the beginning and I could not stop reading. Sometimes I get confused with multiple story lines but this was super easy to follow. The character development was strong and I absolutely loved the ending. This was a very reflective story about loss, forgiveness and second chances.

I loved it as an audiobook and the narrators did an awesome job. I highly recommend this book, especially for fans of Dark Matter by Blake Crouch.

Oh, this was so good. What a moving sci fi mystery thriller. I mean, there are so many genres in this story and they are all mixed together beautifully. You get the cool sci fi/ time travel aspects. You get like four different mysteries. Which I thought was so well done. Like every time a mystery was resolved, there was a new mystery to figure out. And don't even get me started on the human aspects and the ruminations on grief, memories and love. Also, the "memories are a form of time travel." is such an interesting way to think about it. I think I'm going to suggest this book for my book club when it comes out.

And I owe an apology to Andy, who I thought was gonna be a psycho stalker. I stand corrected. (He's just a little bit of a stalker.)

And the narrators! This book gives us narration from Hillary Huber, Andrew Eiden, Michael Crouch and Erin Bennett!? What an amazing group.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC!

If you could go back in time and revisit one hour in your previous life, would you? This story is centers around fort people who pay to have this experience. When they discover that their lives intersect the focus becomes on whether you can change the past I don't know how to say much more without giving ventral components of the story away but I appreciate the direction that it went. Unfortunately I liked the first half more than the second which just became kind of sloggy. I think I needed more character development to care about them more so that when the book moved from action to reflection I cared enough to stay engaged.

This is a touching story that uses its sci-fi elements to explore themes of forgiveness, fate, and acceptance. The characters, each shaped by trauma, travel back in time to relive memories—only to stay longer than expected and confront difficult truths about their pasts. I enjoyed this story and think it would make a great book club selection.

I liked that the story was told from four different characters' perspectives and appreciated following along and waiting for all their storylines to intersect. There were certain parts of the storyline that were less believable (e.g. if you knew a bad outcome happened from a choice in the past, why would you willingly repeat and make that same choice again knowing what is going to happen?), but it was a good chance to reflect on some of the bigger themes of the book. I think I would have enjoyed it more as a physical book instead of the audiobook because one of the narrators has such an "angry" voice which made his character a bit deterring. The overall message/takeaway of the story will stick with me.

Ding. Ding. Ding. We have a winner, folks. Give this new time travel read five "lived up to the hype" stars. It is not often that a book has me biting my nails and reaching for the tissues.

What if you could travel back in time for one hour? Would it be worth your life savings? Even if your time there would change nothing about the future?

Four people jump back in time with Aeon Expeditions:

Elizabeth Saunders - divorced wife of Aeon founder Mark Saunders and grieving mother. Could she just have some more time with her son Sam?

Andy Schapiro - bestselling author whose own story is unfinished. What happened to Kate, the love of his life? Where did she go after leaving him on the beach?

Logan Sandoval - a once vibrant athlete, but now angry and imprisoned in a wheelchair. What if he could experience the thrills of walking, running, and more again?

Brooke Dalton - a confusing experience on the PCH has doomed her to a life of regret. Her family will never be the same, nor will two other families affected by that moment in time. If she could go back, would anything change?

This will be one of my favorite reads for the year. All four characters and the supporting roles were well-drawn and relatable. If you decide to go the audio route, you will not be disappointed. Hillary Huber, Erin Bennett, Michael Crouch, and Andrew Eiden do a top notch job of bringing this book to life. Where have you been hiding, Dete Meserve? I will be reading some of you back catalog when I get the chance.

Thank you to Spotify Audiobooks and NetGalley for an audio ARC . All opinions are my own.

In a gut-wrenching novel of love, loss, and technology - reminiscent of Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow - Meserve pulls at the threads of four lives gone awry and all the ways they are knotted up in one another.

Four strangers - people who have never met, yet are irrevocably linked by a tragedy three years ago - embark on a time travel expedition that few have experienced. Aeon Expeditions allows clients to revisit an hour of their past, with no impact on the future. All four travelers have their own reasons for reliving that perfect moment trapped in the amber of the past. Andy is desperate to find his lost first love. Logan craves the freedom of his body before his paralysis. Brooke wishes to experience a moment unencumbered by the guilt of a terrible mistake. And Elizabeth grieves for her dead son, Sam, whose tragic accident links all of them together.
Their promised sixty minutes, however, becomes hours and days. They are stranded in the past, trying to course correct the paths of fate that, ultimately, they cannot change. Because no matter what they do in the past, it will make no difference to the future they return to. The only thing they can change is themselves.

This audiobook is narrated by a cast of characters, allowing the reader to become immersed in the individual voice of each of the four Memory Collectors. This not only helps to distinguish which plotline the reader is following, but also allows for incredible nuance between character's individual mannerisms. Each narrator is expressive in their own way - Brooke's narrator conveys her internal anguish and anxiety; Logan's offers a hint of arrogance and boyish charm; Andy's is the consummate writer, both thoughtful and pondering; and Elizabeth's conveys her maternal love with sincerity and depth. All narrators offer a smooth reading experience that is pleasant to listen to.

The biggest heartache of this story is that the reader spends the entire time walking out the days before the fatal tragedy with the four travelers. We are also hoping against hope that the scientists at Aeon Expeditions are wrong - that the travelers can change the course of history and wake up in a bright new world. After all, the scientists were wrong about only spending an hour in the past; the whole book's premise is that the time travel machine does not work as intended. Is it too much to hope for a happy ending?
But happy endings are not always what we think they should look like. The tidy, wrapped-up-with-a-bow version (accident averted, families made whole, futures changed for the better) fails to take into account the inherent messiness of the human condition. How do you find a happy ending in the midst of grief, sorrow, tragedy? Ultimately, the four The Memory Collectors choose connection and love over being stuck in the past.

A time travel story that will leave you thinking about the "what-if" ramifications of being able to revisit your past! The technology for people to go back to an hour of their life now exists and it is a highly coveted experience. But what happens when the hour expires and you still find yourself stuck in the past? When 4 strangers seize the opportunity to go back in time, all for very different reasons, and their return doesn't happen as expected, they try to figure out why they are still there. When they each begin to stumble upon one another, they soon find their visits may be connected, and it might not be as coincidental as it seems.

I read sci-fi/time travel books pretty sparingly, they aren't usually my favorites, but every once in awhile I will read a synopsis of a book in this genre and think it might be worth a read (i.e. "Tomorrow, And Tomorrow, And Tomorrow"). Once again, I have been very pleasantly surprised at how much I loved my toe-dip into sci-fi! I devoured this audio book in just a day, I needed to know what the fate of the 4 main characters was, and how their pasts all intertwined! This was a first read for me of Dete Meserve, but I will be going back for more!

The audiobook featured several audio narrators, which I am a huge fan of to help differentiate each character and give them more realness. I thought the story took off right at the beginning and didn't stop, it never lagged for me or got too wordy. I will absolutely be recommending this book to our library patrons and my colleagues and anyone else who will listen!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Spotify Audiobooks for this advanced audio copy!

The Memory Collectors is my first book by Dete Meserve — but it definitely won’t be my last! I love stories about time travel, and this one has quickly jumped to the top of my list. While time travel plays a central role, the novel is just as much a character-driven mystery as it is science fiction.

In this world, time travel involves the traveler’s consciousness being transported back to a specific point in time, allowing them to fully experience and interact with a memory for 60 minutes. It’s like stepping into an hour-long immersive video — except you're living it. When the traveler returns to the present, nothing has changed; the Butterfly Effect doesn’t apply here.

The story follows four main characters, each with their own point of view. All are emotionally wounded in some way and long to revisit a memory from before their lives unraveled. But when something goes wrong, they become trapped in the past for longer than intended — their stories begin to intersect, and each hopes to change the one moment that altered everything.

I was completely drawn into The Memory Collectors and the journey of each traveler. The plot is compelling, the characters are well-developed, and the way it all comes together is satisfying. I’d highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good sci-fi mystery with heart.

I also listened to the audiobook, which features a different narrator for each POV. If you're a regular audiobook listener, you’ll probably recognize some of the voices, and each one brings their character vividly to life.

This was an interesting take on time travel. I thought it was convenient that the travelers couldn't actually change anything because their time in the past would be "reset." However, their purpose in the past was more part of an investigation and self- reflection. The four people who make a jump at the same time have a common history based on a tragedy that changed all of their lives. When the jump goes awry and their paths cross in the past, they all try to change what happened. The ultimate result and lesson is that while they can't change the past, they CAN change how they let it affect their present and future. The story flowed well, and the 4 voices were unique and easy to follow.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an audioARC.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 Stars (Excellent)
Setting: Ventura, California
Genre: Science Fiction

The Memory Collectors by Dete Meserve is a captivating and deeply emotional novel that lingers with you long after you turn the final page. Meserve masterfully blends elements of mystery, science fiction, and heartfelt human drama to explore one of the most universal longings: the desire to go back and change—or simply relive—a moment from the past.

Set in the sun-drenched beach town of Ventura, California, the novel brings together four strangers, each desperate to reclaim an hour they’ve lost: Elizabeth, a grieving mother; Andy, a heartbroken romantic; Logan, an adrenaline-seeker bound by a wheelchair; and Brooke, a woman haunted by guilt. Through the fascinating and fragile technology of Aeon Expeditions, they are given that chance. But when the past refuses to let go, they soon realize their lives are more entangled—and more haunted—than they ever imagined.

Meserve shines in her portrayal of grief, regret, and the fragile beauty of memory. Each character’s journey feels authentic and raw, and the twists that emerge as their stories converge are both surprising and satisfying. The author handles the emotional weight of loss and healing with nuance, offering moments of genuine hope and redemption without veering into sentimentality.

If there’s one small drawback, it’s that at times the pacing falters—particularly in the middle when the narrative juggles multiple perspectives and timelines. But by the final third, the threads tighten into a poignant, suspenseful climax that delivers both heart and intrigue.

The Memory Collectors is more than just a time-travel novel; it’s a moving exploration of what it means to forgive, to let go, and to carry love forward even when time refuses to stand still. Fans of Jodi Picoult, Matt Haig, or Taylor Jenkins Reid will find much to love here. Highly recommended. #netgalley #thememorycollectors #booked_this_weekend

Four strangers are sent back in time to relive an hour of their lives. But they find themselves stranded in the past, trying to change the outcome of the day their lives all intertwined with horrible consequences.

I was torn on this one. There was a lot I really liked about it: I love time travel stories. I love “if you turned left this would have happened, but you turned right, so this other thing happened” sliding-doors-style stories. I love random connections. But I very much do not love cheesy redemption arcs.

The first 3/4 was great - the one hour of time travel concept and the backstories for all of the characters were interesting, but by the end I was kind of sick of all of these people and didn’t really care where they ended up. And Andy… YIKES. That boy was flying some SERIOUS stalker sad boy red flags and never really grew on me.

Audiobook-wise, the narration was fine. Logan’s voice was grating, but everyone else was ok.

I think fans of The Measure and This Time Tomorrow (both of which I loved) and The Midnight Library (which I did NOT love) would probably like this one!

I want to start by saying that this book is categorized as Sci-Fi and I think that's a big misstep on the part of the publisher. I tend to avoid this genre of writing because I tend to prefer stories with a basis in reality. Every once in a while I'll pick up a magical realism that really is light on the magic and more about realistic "what-ifs". This book feels like one of those exact stories with it's question, what would you do if you could go back to a point in time from your past and revisit it with new eyes. Maybe see things you missed before or just experience the idea that you didn't have all the information. The audiobook is narrated by 4 different voices and they are so distinct and perfect to each character. One of my favorite narrators is Hillary Huber and she voiced Elizabeth, a mother who lost her son so perfectly. The other narrators I have also had some experience listening to before and I think the voice of Andy made his character come across as portrayed (insecure, unsure and lost) wonderfully as well.
The four characters embark on this journey to revisit a point in time in their past and their worlds all intersect.

I think the heart and emotion that is written into this book is exactly the difference I was looking for in another book I recently read that pondered the "what-if" about erasing grief by using science and technology. The book I'm drawn to compare this to is The Poppy Fields and that book made you wonder the question of removing grief from your consciousness and there is a possibility that you would also remove your "attachment" to that person. I don't think that story went deep enough. On the other hand, the Memory Collectors felt raw and full of emotion. You could feel the pain of the two mothers that had their lives torn apart and of the grief felt my Logan when his life as an extreme sports guy is shattered because the accident causes him to be paralyzed. Andy has unanswered questions from a girl who has left him without any word as to where she went or why. They all get a better understanding of the events of that day and you can feel that their worlds have improved because of the "second" chance to look at that day in their life. This book made me contemplate things in ways that felt interesting and new. This quote was one of my favorites:

"Now that I see the extraordinary in all of it. The random things in life that I once took for granted take on new meaning. The first time I'd lived this life, I'd rushed through it, ignoring the details around me. I'd looked at the things in my life without really seeing them at all. Today, it's the little things I latch on to".

Perfectly describes a feeling that I resonated with.

So I was midway through this when for whatever reason I lost access to the audiobook. What I read, I loved, and I am now waiting patiently for the release so I can finish! I'm hearing about this book a lot...all good things....and I know it's going to be a five star read for me.

It is a story of hope, regrets, and healing.

Regretting an event that happened in the past, hoping that traveling back in time can/will change the outcome, and healing from all you learn along the way.

Imagine getting another chance to go back in time to a moment that haunts you! More time with a loved one, fix a mistake or take a chance on something?
Time travel is the theme and four people get a chance to do just this. Californian Mark Saunder, owner of Aeon Expeditions provides this chance.

One has lost their son, one wants a second chance, one looses mobility and one wants to fix a mistake.

Will this be the chance of a lifetime, or will this make things harder for those involved. After all we can’t change the past but we can learn to move forward.

The narrators were amazing!