What I liked:
The writing style
Part of a series: Sanctuary Sound
Standalone
HEA
Epilogue

I had a hard time staying interested in this book.

teffi broke Ryan's heart when they were in college by ghosting him. Ten years later, she's back in her hometown renovating homes ... still single. But when Ryan's mother hires Steffi to renovate her house, Steffi thought she could be in and out before Ryan came home for a visit. After Steffi broke his heart, Ryan played the field ... to try and get over her. But Ryan becomes a husband and father after an unplanned pregnancy within a year. When Ryan's wife leaves him and his 9-year old daughter, they move in with his parents so he can get his life back together. Steffi is surprised, but happy to see Ryan and his daughter ... but Ryan isn't happy to see Steffi as he's still hurt from their breakup. Will Steffi be able to break into Ryan's heart again or has their time together been gone for 10 years?

This book just melted my heart. I couldn't help but root for Ryan to forgive Steffi so they could have their happily-ever-after. Although I didn't quite understand why she ghosted him in the first place because she always loved him. I really liked that Ryan had a little girl and how she was a typical teenybopper with mood swings. I also liked the supporting characters like Ryan's mom and Steffi's business partner Claire ... and I can't wait for Claire's story. Great start to a new series.

I received an ARC courtesy of Montlake Romance through NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

“The Memory of Us” (Sanctuary Sound series Book one) by Jamie Beck

A delightful read that starts off a new series by author Jamie Beck.

Ryan and Steffi were the high school couple that everyone thought were destined for “happily ever after,” so to speak. Until Steffani realized she really needed to be free. From her family and friends and Sanctuary Sound. She just took off with little to no notice to many. But she is back in Sanctuary Sound and has started a business with her friend Claire. What she didn’t ever suspect was that her first love, Ryan, would move back to Sanctuary Sound as a result of a contentious divorce. All Steffi wants if forgiveness. All Ryan wants is for her to go away before she creates more problems in his life and that of his spit-fire little girl (who everyone will fall in love with from the start).

The question is can they come to a place of peace and forgiveness? Can they learn to be friends? Understand why certain decisions were made long ago? If they are able to come to a place of trust where perhaps all the fractures of the past are able to be repaired so they can start from a new foundation?

An emotional story of regret, understanding, struggle, pain, trauma, strength, resilience, friendship, family, and healing.

Rating: 4.4
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

** I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this novel. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was my first Jamie Beck book and I really enjoyed it. I wasn't quite sure what to expect from the author, but I loved how well the story was presented; I love a good second chance at love story, Plenty of emotions, but not drowning in them, just enough to enhance the story. Both Steffi and Ryan end up back in their hometown for vastly different reasons, but Ryan's shock at seeing Steffi again was palpable. There are plenty of unresolved feelings, but both Ryan and Steffi have plenty of healing to do.

This is the first book in a new series and I couldn’t get enough. I loved everything this book. On the surface I thought it was a typical HEA book. I was so wrong, these characters had so much depth, so much part history, so much survival strength!
Steffi and Ryan were each other’s first and only love ,reconnecting after so many years and so much hurt! I loved Steffi from the beginning. She was strong, independent, honest, funny and intuitive. Ryan had been hurt by her and it took time for him to trust her enough to be friends again !
I loved their story and I can’t wait for the rest if this series !

If you’re looking for something a bit deeper that's emotional, wholesome, heartfelt and inspiring, you’ll love Ryan and Steffi's story! Steffi and Ryan were high school sweethearts with dreams and plans for a life together until Steffi ghosted Ryan with no explanation. Ten years later, Steffi has returned home to Sanctuary Sound to start a construction/renovation/decorating business with her best friend Claire. When they accept a job adding a family room to Ryan's childhood home Steffi has no idea that Ryan has returned home with his nine-year-old daughter and they'll be living with his parents as Ryan's divorce gets finalized.

With so much romance writing slapped together in a few days and passed off as publishable work, it’s refreshing when an author invests the necessary time in research to make a story compelling, accurate and believable, and Beck certainly did her homework for this one. Not only are there considerable details about Ryan's work as a district attorney, but Steffi suffers dissociative episodes due to repeated head injuries and an assault several months previous, and all of these details breathe life into the story. Although there are not detailed descriptions, Steffi's situation may act as a trigger for some readers, but Beck is careful with the portrayal.

Ryan and Steffi’s story pulled me in from the very beginning and I flew through this book, reading it in one sitting. Ryan’s shock at seeing Steffi and the way it brought back the old hurt and anger, as well as the love that never quite died was authentic and believable and certainly made me sympathetic. It was easy to see there were still feelings between them but they had so many obstacles to deal with. Between healing old hurts, a less than amicable divorce and Steffi's unresolved trauma, they certainly had their work cut out for them. My heart was fully invested and I eagerly traveled the journey with them to see how everything would work out.

I loved every aspect of this book. The strong, independent, construction worker heroine with a critical vulnerability and the kind, big hearted hero trying to find a new normal as a single dad. The ups and downs as they navigate their second chance along with the aspects of divorce and Steffi's unaddressed trauma are as heart wrenching as they are captivating. The secondary characters add additional dimension and are so well developed and compelling that it makes the reader eager for the next book in the series. If you like a small town, second chance romance, you absolutely can’t go wrong with this evocative, uplifting, phenomenal story.

*I reviewed an advance copy of this book freely and voluntarily, having made no commitment to provide a review and receiving no compensation of any kind from any source for this review.

This was a pretty emotional book. I love Steffi's character and she seems really strong, but it's clear she has been damaged (even if she doesn't want to admit just what may have happened to her when she was mugged previously.)

Steffi and her friend have been hired to do a remodeling project on Steffi's ex-boyfriend's mom's house. Ryan happens to be living with his mother, and his daughter, as he goes through a separation, so he and Steffi are forced to see each other - at least in passing.

Steffi clearly hurt Ryan when she broke up with him early on in college, and he doesn't take that lightly. I was happy to see how they were able to mend their friendship, and ultimately start over with a romantic relationship. When Ryan starts looking into Steffi's attack and realizes just how serious it may have been, their relationship is tested.

There are a lot of flashbacks to the attack that are mentioned throughout the book. This book took on a much more serious tone, and it is well researched and well written. While it was still a fast read for me, it's definitely not as lighthearted as some of other Jamie Beck's books. (And that's completely fine!)

I LOVE Jamie Beck’s books but this one has just become my favourite. This story is such an emotional read I really didn’t know which emotion was the strongest. I laughed, I cried, I smiled & I fumed all throughout this book. The storyline is one of dark misaligned memories coming to the surface at random times, young love lost, marriage failure, a horrific tragedy. The character strengths in this book were so strong & vibrant they leapt off the page with the strong, but vulnerable Ryan returning home with his young, rambunctious & very sassy & stubborn daughter & Steffie a very disciplined, hard working woman who is looking for a second chance. I enjoyed Ryan’s mom Molly & her meddling, as well as Steffie’s bestie & business partner Claire. Looking forward to reading the next book. Definitely recommend to read.

Steffi returns to her hometown after being brutally assaulted and is now having lapses in her memory. The mother of her ex-boyfriend asks her to help remodel her home and unbeknownst to Steffi her ex has also returned to his childhood home with his daughter. The two rekindle what they once had, but before they can move forward Ryan tries to help Steffi overcome her memory lapses.

I look forward to reading all of Jamie Beck's books and this one didn't disappoint. Very good read and I would definitely recommend it to others.

Ms. Beck loves to give her readers female characters that have made it out of tough situations. From the beginning, Steffi pulls at your heartstrings with the bewildering, tragic flashbacks & concussion symptoms. Claire & Peyton should see what’s going on with their friend but have issues of their own that they are struggling with. Now, Ryan Quinn, Steffi’s high school boyfriend, is back in town with his daughter & his mom is matchmaking. She’s remodeling part of her house using Steffi’s company & so is throwing them together.

The characters & their relationships are amazing realistic & pull the readers into the story. The plot & the descriptive dialogue keep you involved & interested. I loved how I was able to see emotional growth from each of the characters as the story progressed. It’s unreal what our minds will do to help us deal with trauma until it decides we can handle it. I can’t wait until the next story from Jamie Beck.

The Memory of You by Jamie Beck a four-star read that will haunt you. This is the first read in the Sanctuary Sound series and I cant wait to read the rest of the series, this was a beautifully written story, the author deals with harsh subjects and shows a graceful side when writing about them, I adored how she allowed Steffi to take her time with recovering, there was no one day she was suffering and the next she was fine, it was a natural progression and showed that you do face ups and downs and each journey is different that added something to the story that was missing as in some other ways there was something missing like with the ghosting that bothered me, Ryan deserved so much more. The setting of Sanctuary sound and the characters are described in such great detail that you will feel like you are there with them, feel the pain that Emmy feels like being in the middle of a tug-of-war and you can understand her pain.

"Some of us need to go far and wide before we find our way home."

Man, this review is kinda a tough one. When I first came across this book, I couldn't help but be intrigued by the synopsis. I mean it had the whole damaged heroine/second chance romance vibe going for it, so I had to give it a try....

The Memory of You follows the story of Steffi and Ryan and is told from dual points of view. When I started reading this book, I was definitely intrigued. Ryan and Steffi still had intense chemistry despite the years and pain between them. Neither Ryan or Steffi are the same as they used to be. Ryan hasn't been able to forget the pain of losing Steffi when they were younger and now he is going through a separation and has other responsibilities to worry about. And Steffi....well, lets just say Steffi was very immature when she was with Ryan. She didn't communicate well and really just devastated him. She never really got over Ryan and the feelings are clearly still there. Steffi also has a lot on her plate. She has a new business with her bestie and still reels from an attack she suffered years prior. This story had a lot going on, but I thought it had some good potential and was excited to see where it would go.

The Memory of You is one of those books that you love and hate at the same time. For the most part I really enjoyed this book. I loved the redevelopment of Ryan and Steffi's relationship. They took things slow and tried to work on their issues. I enjoyed watching them find their way back to one another and learn to forgive & trust again. I also really enjoyed Ryan's daughter Emmy. She so sweet and added a cuteness to the story that it really needed. Sure Emmy wasn't always the perfect kid, but she was just what I would expect from a little girl who had her world turned upside down. 

However, there were definitely some issues with this story. I love stubborn characters. I do. I know most people wouldn't say that, but I do. But with Steffi, she was just way too over the top. I mean at times her stubbornness made me feel like she was a child. She just refused to listen to any logic and it made me annoyed with her. If she were a real person, I would have totally shook her and tried to knock some sense into her; that's how crazy she made me. Also, I felt like she was really pushy with her friends and was the last person who should be doling out advice since she never listened to any of the advice that was given to her.

The next thing I need to address is the pacing and dialogue. While I appreciated the slow build and anticipation of Ryan & Steffi's relationship, it was just too slow. I mean, it felt like things were just progressing at snail's pace. Yes, I know there are reasons for some of the slowness, but there comes a point when enough is enough and the pacing has got to pick up. Please don't get me wrong, when done right I totally LOVE a slow burn, but I need to feel like the story is moving/going somewhere. And that just could be me, but I felt it was worth mentioning. As far as the dialogue goes, again for the most part it was fine. However, there were some instances where it felt repetitive. 

So, overall, I do think this will be a book that is a hit for some and a miss for others. For me, it was just ok. I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it either. I will say that The Memory of You does deal with some heavy subject matter and I do appreciate the way the author dealt with it. This story sends of strong message of healing and forgiveness. The characters are not perfect, but I think that made them more relateable. While this book wasn't a total hit for me, I'm still glad that I checked it out and gave it a chance.

3.5 Stars for this quick read. First book I’ve read by this author, and would read other in series. Characters are flawed, likeable and relatable. Situations are realistic. This book is a great break from thrillers or heavy dramas.

Thanks to NetGalley and Publisher for this ARC. Opinion is my own.

Fans of Jamie Beck will love her new Sanctuary Sound series!
The Memory of You is set in coastal Connecticut and is such a heartwarming story.
Reunited after 10 years, under unexpected circumstances, the reader immediately recognizes the passion between first loves Steffi and Ryan and wishes for a re-kindled relationship. Steffi and Ryan had both grown up and moved on but a failed marriage for Ryan and a return home to start a construction business for Steffi, force them together again.
Having recently experienced a traumatic assault, Steffi Is challenged daily by haunting flashbacks and struggles to make sense of them or understand why they keep happening. Who will finally get her to face her fears and her past and finally get the healing and help she needs to move on?
Seeking forgiveness from Ryan for how she ended things 10 years ago and the fact that he never stopped loving her make this a wonderful love story.

Don’t let the “heavy”preface steer you away from this beautifully written book. Beck skillfully and respectfully tackles the subject of trauma and how individuals react to, live with and conquer their battles.

Thanks to Jamie Beck and NetGalley for the ARC! Can’t wait to read #2!

This is a wonderfully written second chance romance. I absolutely loved everything about this book. The characters are real, flawed, and lovable. The plot is unique, it makes you think about the what-if's and is enjoyable at the same time. I am so excited to see where this series goes! Great job Jamie!

Yet again another good read from this author and I will look forward to reading more from you from this author

Jamie Beck launches her Sanctuary Sound series with a solid debut in The Memory of You. Beck has found her niche writing books in which interconnected individuals explore relationships in tight-knit communities. We meet Steffi and Ryan in her newest book - high school sweethearts with a lot of heartache between them. Beck explores deeper topics, including sexual assault, while still holding on to the narrative arc that many fans will be seeking.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Ten years ago, Steffi and Ryan had taken their passionate romance from high school to college, when she became overwhelmed by their commitment and decided to bolt. It wasn't her finest moment. She ghosted him without warning and disappeared from his life in order to find herself. She's now back in their small hometown, Sanctuary Sound, building up a renovation business with her best friend while still recovering from a vicious attack which has left her with concussion and memory lapses and perhaps more. Steffi has been unexpectedly hired by Ryan's mother to build an extension on her home. It turns out the extension is to accommodate Ryan, now a public defender, who has recently returned back in town with his daughter following his recent divorce. Their first meeting was awkward and tense. Already dealing with the recent betrayal of his wife who ditched both him and their daughter for another man, Ryan is in no mood to confront the woman he first gave his heart to and who broke it in pieces when she pulled a disappearance act on him.

Steffi wants a second-chance with Ryan, all too aware these last 10 years how foolish she was to throw it all away. They slowly reconnect again through forced interactions at his mother's house and Steffi's growing friendship with his little daughter. Ryan is wary as he has to protect not just himself but more so his daughter's heart from hurting, with Emmy still reeling from her mother's abandonment. Father and daughter cannot afford to face another desertion and Steffi hasn't exactly proven herself to be steadfast in the past. Then there is the issue of Steffi's memory lapses, which she refuses to seek help for. Perhaps they are manifestations of far greater trauma, but how do they move forward when there are still unaddressed things in the past holding them back?

This is my first book by Jamie Beck. It was nicely written. I do have issues. I don't get the necessity of Steffi ghosting Ryan, instead of just being honest with him and telling him she needs a bit of time to grow up and experience the world. Yes, she was 20 at the time, but they had a longterm relationship and he deserved far more than that not to mention he might have understood, being the nice guy that he was/is. Then there's the significant professional misconduct Ryan was guilty of when he accessed her police file. Let's not even mention the violation of her privacy by this act like she hadn't been violated enough by the crime. Steffi's interactions with her friends also bothered me. She was serving her own agenda by pushing Claire to forgive Peyton (their friend whom Claire's partner at the time betrayed her with), because if Claire could forgive Peyton for her transgression, then maybe Ryan could also forgive Steffi. Emmy fluctuated from being true to age to way too wise for her years. The ending also appeared a bit rushed.

I always feel terrible saying this, but unfortunately I just couldn’t even finish this book. I had trouble connecting with the story and the characters. The writing did not draw me in, and much of the conversations felt stiff and all over the place. This is my first book by this author, so maybe it’s just a one off. This was a miss for me.

It sounds like when they were dating, he wanted to have his cake and eat it too. Why shouldn't she study abroad, if he could keep his internship.

That was so scary. Poor woman!

Sheesh, are we still in high school?

She wasn't that young. She could have had an honest conversation with him.

Val wants him to plan ahead so his own daughter can talk to her mother? You left your daughter, lady!

So Claire's boyfriend not only left her for one of her best friends, but he did it after she was coming back from the worst time in her life? And Peyton! I would have definitely stopped being friends with her. Oof.

Not liking the Beatles is sacrilege.

Claire is a party pooper. She's Eeyore, not Ryan.

Steffi's family doesn't seem that welcoming.

I'm as worried as Benny. And her neurologist doesn't sound very good at his job.

Crap, it's Armageddon. I'm actually starting to like Val.

All I'm hearing is that Claire's mother coddles her.

Steffi and Claire are both too stubborn for their own good, in different ways. And they both need therapy.