THE MEMORY THIEF by Emily Colin

Publisher:  Ballantine Books

Date published:  August 21, 2012

ISBN:  978-0-345-53039-4

Fiction/Contemporary/Romance

Paperback

Reviewed by Lynne

http://www.amazon.com/The-Memory-Thief-A-Novel/dp/034553039X

Obtained via publisher.

Aidan is a mountain-climbing enthusiast.  But when he falls in love and marries Maddie Kimble, he is hard-pressed to give up his passion.  They have a son, Gabe.

When Aidan, against Maddie’s wishes, goes off on another adventure, he never returns, although he had promised Maddie that he would come back to her.

Maddie’s world comes crashing down around her at Aidan’s death and wonders how she will survive without him.  Gabe, also trying to deal with his loss, tells Maddie that Aidan came to his bedside when he died.  She does not believe him.

Meanwhile, a man, Nicholas Sullivan, wakes up in a hospital room, with a strange woman beside him and strange thoughts in his head.

As Maddie copes with Aidan’s death, she leans on his best friend, J. C., who has loved Maddie for years.  As he steps in to comfort her and Gabe, Nicholas is in North Carolina trying to make sense of the dreams he is having, of a woman other than his supposed fiancé, Grace, and of a small boy.

As Maddie begins having feelings for J. C., Nicholas is trying to figure out why he can’t remember anything about his past.

Eventually, Nicholas takes a leap of faith and goes in search of the woman and child who haunt his dreams, hoping they will hold the key to his lost memories.  Maddie flees to New York to analyze her own feelings and is suddenly shocked into believing there may be more to her son’s initial story about Aidan than she cares to believe.

THE MEMORY THIEF by Emily Colin is a wonderfully written story of despair and longing and lost love.  Ms. Colin’s debut novel quickly wrapped me around its finger and drew me in completely.  Although written from three different points of view, it is easy to follow.  And I absolutely loved it.

THE MEMORY THIEF is a book one simply cannot put down.  Colin’s writing skill is unquestionable.  Her characters are well-developed and believable.  More importantly, they are very likeable.  But yes, it is sad, but I doubt the reader will really care by the end. 

THE MEMORY THIEF has a great plot, is paced appropriately, and makes you really feel for and empathize with the characters.  All except for one, but I won’t give that away.

There is enough drama in this story to keep the reader hooked.  Always, she will want to know what is going to happen next and how things are going to turn out in the end. 

The fact that there seem to be three heros in this story, including a ghost, makes this a very important part of THE MEMORY THIEF.  And it is easy to relate to Maddie, her love for Aidan, and for her pain.  Not to mention her guilt and confusion as she grows closer to J.C., going against all the social taboos so soon after Aidan’s tragic death.

The reader will find herself rooting for Maddie when she finally comes to accept what fate has in store for her.

For a debut novel, this one is exceptional.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.