This is a fascinating look at the science of memory. Hope has been admitted to a high-tech facility for treatment and to help her recover memories after a traumatic event. But there's something sinister about the facility and the people running it as Hope tries to piece together her life and what is going on. The characters of the other patients are interesting and it was a lovely weekend read, I also liked the research that went into the book. But the twists and reveals fell a bit flat and didn't quite build on the promise of the book.

Thank you to Audrey Lee, CamCat Books and Net Galley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for a review.

In the pie chart of my reading, the biggest slice is taken up by fantasy with science fiction a close second. I love science fiction, but I am deeply terrified of dystopian futures which is all the rage right now so it's harder to find a sci-fi story that won't give me nightmares. I had been reading lots of fantasy books and watching fantasy anime which was getting all mixed up in my brain so this was a welcome break.

The facility Hope Nakano is in aims to heal people who have suffered traumatic events and repressed their memory of it. They work to regain those memories using various technologies such as VR, but in a more advanced form.

The Mechanics of Memory is everything sci-fi should be. The best sci-fi, at least for me, explores aspects of ourselves that we take for granted, like our memories, and sees what happens when technology progresses enough for us to control it.

This story, like so much science fiction, acts as a cautionary tale for a problem we have yet to face. A Churchill quote comes to mind, but I'm going to change it to “Those that fail to learn from science fiction are doomed to live it.”

We have hopes as humans that any new technology will be used for good, but they're inevitably used for evil. Technology evolves faster and faster every year, but humans by and large stay the same. AI might be used to spot cancer cells before they become deadly, but it can also be used to create pornographic images of you that you definitely didn't pose for.

I like sci-fi that makes you think and The Mechanics of Memory is definitely one of those stories. It calls our own concept of memory into question. How much of our own makeup is stored in our memory? How easy would it be to manipulate your memories until you've become a completely new person? Could you just forget you've got an alcoholic addiction or a fear of going outside?

The plot unfolds slowly at first, ramping up to one hell of a twist that I did not see coming. I obviously won't spoil it here, but the only thing I will say is when you're reading this, question everything.

The Mechanics of Memory is a real home run of a debut. It's out now, but only in the US I believe, but it's 100% a book you should be keeping your eyes peeled for in the UK.

I give The Mechanics of Memory five stars!

This review will be posted on clearyreads on 24th November.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

The Mechanics of Memory by Audrey Lee is a third person dual-POV contemporary sci-fi exploring possible technology to alter someone's memory and how that can go terribly wrong. Luke and Hope are a married couple raising Luke’s daughter, Charlotte. Hope has been sent to a facility and Luke is not allowed to see or talk to her and hasn't been able to for months. For her part, Hope is constantly having her memory questioned and erased and replaced.

I was really curious about this one because the summary felt like it would be an exploration on gaslighting but by a high tech company instead of an individual abuser. That is very much how I would describe the situation. We later learn the original reason for the technology, but it certainly feels less like someone taking a new thing that could have done a lot of good and turning it bad and instead the people involved weren't thinking about how it could be transformed into something they hadn't considered. As an exploration of technology and how people use and abuse it, this worked for me.

Hope and Luke are our two POV characters and their POVs reveal very different things about what is going on and how all the layers and pieces fit together. Luke’s POV is more about how things used to be and how life was when he first met Hope, revealing bits and pieces of her habits and interests, such as her intense love of movie theater popcorn to the point that she had him go to the movie theater to buy it when they watched films at home. Hope’s POV is more about what is going on inside the facility and some of it is pretty rough. There is a lot of abuse going on inside the facility and is happening in the lives of some of the patients and Audrey Lee doesn't shy away from it.

I think this is the kind of contemporary sci-fi that is ultimately for lovers of film and TV. There are a lot of references to famous films, such as Batman and Iron-Man, and Hope’s love of the medium comes up often. It feels like the kind of book I would recommend to someone who loved Inception and sci-fi exploring one specific type of technology rather than an alien planet or a cyberpunk. To me, it felt quite accessible and more on the speculative side instead of hard sci-fi.

Content warning for child abuse, gaslighting, and abuse from a health care worker towards a patient

I would recommend this to fans of Inception and readers who prefer the more speculative side of sci-fi

“The Mechanics of Memory” by Audrey Lee is a beautifully introspective novel that explores the fragility and complexity of memory, identity, and personal history. Set in a near-future where advancements in memory manipulation are possible, the story follows characters grappling with the power and ethical dilemmas of altering the past—or at least, how it is remembered.

Lee’s writing is poetic and thought-provoking, delving into the nuances of how memories shape who we are and how we relate to the world around us. The novel poses profound questions about the nature of truth, the fallibility of human perception, and whether forgetting can truly heal or if it only masks deeper wounds. The plot is intricately crafted, weaving moments of quiet emotion with suspenseful twists, as the characters face increasingly difficult choices about which memories to keep and which to erase.

What sets “The Mechanics of Memory” apart is its delicate balance of speculative fiction with deeply personal, emotional stakes. It’s not just a futuristic tale about technology—it’s a meditation on the essence of humanity, love, and loss. Lee’s characters feel fully realized, their inner worlds richly drawn, making the narrative both cerebral and intensely personal.

For readers who enjoy contemplative, character-driven stories that wrestle with moral questions and the impact of memory on the human psyche, “The Mechanics of Memory” is a poignant, beautifully written exploration of how the past can define—and haunt—us.

Many thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an ARC and allowing me to provide my honest reviewWe

Wasn't able to connect with any of the characters in this novel. Was really hard for met o get into and therefore struggled reading. The story really dragged on and lacked mystery.

After months of reconsolidation treatments at a sleek new flagship facility, Hope Nakano still has no idea what happened to her lost year, or the life she was just beginning to build with her one great love. Each procedure surfaces fragmented clues which erode Hope’s trust in her own memories, especially the ones of Luke. As inconsistencies mount, her search for answers reveals a much larger secret Copeland-Stark is determined to protect.

Then the reader figures out how Hope came to be at the facility and why…

A very interesting concept for this book. The author obviously did some impressive research into the biology and mechanisms of memory; yet also created some believable treatments that are not too far fetched or futuristic.

You’ll spend ages as you read this novel wondering what’s going on. Hope Nakano has been admitted to a mysterious facility that seems to be trying to help her recover her memories about a really bad event—or are they? Because there’s something pretty sinister going on, even though on the surface it’s a bright and sunny health facility focused on providing the best care for its patients. Maybe what’s creepy is that the techniques they’re using are experimental, including pills, strange scents, and something very much like hypnotherapy.

I liked *The Mechanics of Memory*, but feel I should have liked it more. The premise is great, and the novel has so many interesting ideas in it, as well as a very cute romance (at least, it seems cute at first). Some of the characters are really fun—like one of the patients at the facility, Quinn, who is quirky and sensitive and emotionally honest and supportive, and as grounded as one can be in that situation. But something about the novel never really gelled for me, and I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s because the implications of corporate memory manipulation are never fully explored, with the story instead leaning on the emotional aspects from the perspective of the patients—which works for readers who fully invest in those emotional aspects, and I did not. And then the mystery and reveal did not really work for me, nor did the science (even with the suspension of disbelief).

Still, an interesting thought experiment. Thank you to CamCat Books and NetGalley for early access.

Hope Nakano has undergone reconsolidation treatments at Copeland-Stark's memory facility but still can't remember her lost year with Luke. As she digs for answers, she discovers a larger secret that the facility is hiding. Hope soon realizes that everyone, including herself, has secrets.

This experience was completely different from what I had anticipated. After reading all the five-star reviews, I was filled with excitement. However, I found the book to be quite slow-paced and difficult to engage with. Perhaps this was due to English not being my first language, leading to confusion and the need to constantly backtrack in order to fully concentrate.

Despite these challenges, I found the premise of the book to be intriguing and the writing style to be refreshingly unique. I approached the story with an open mind and was ultimately satisfied with the fast-paced ending. The book delves into the captivating concept of technology that aids in the recovery of lost memories caused by dementia or trauma, while also shedding light on the potential for misuse and exploitation.

In conclusion, I would describe this book as a worthwhile read, albeit a bit sluggish and overly prolonged at some parts.

Thank you, CamCat Books for digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

DNF’d at 48%. This book has everything that should make it a winner for me, namely a spa/retreat type place that the main character finds out is actually experimenting on and manipulating memories. I love a good near-future dystopian sci fi, especially that deal with memories, dreams, etc. but something about this story just wasn’t working. I was a little confused on whether the tone was supposed to be suspenseful or confusing (or both) and I got bored of not understanding everything that was going on. There might be some great twist or explanation that I just didn’t get to, but unfortunately I don’t have the time or brain space right now to force myself to stick it out. I’d definitely be interested in trying another book by this author if the synopsis intrigued me and/or I see a lot of positive reviews, and I wouldn’t discourage anyone from trying this one if it sounds like it might be for them!

Captivating mystery-thriller that presents a dystopian mental institution/"wellness retreat for the rich." The center has classic high SES touches, such as all-organic-everything, mindfulness courses, yoga, and endless meditation. In a unique twist, the center also focuses on using virtual reality to help its patients overcome their traumatic memories.

Readers quickly discover that things are not as they seem and are introduced to a diverse and complex cast of characters and an unreliable narrator along the way. This is an extremely promising debut from Audrey Lee. 5/5; hard to put down!

Thank you to NetGalley and CamCat Books for an advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review.

*spoiler alert*

At the core of this story is a truly fascinating premise - what if you can't trust your own memories? And what if you REALLY can't trust the people who say they are trying to help you rebuild those memories? That's the situation Hope Nakano finds herself in. One moment she's at home with her loving boyfriend and his daughter, next thing she knows she's being held in an institution, told her boyfriend is not actually her boyfriend but her doctor, and that she can't remember any of her trauma from the past year because what she did was so terrible. Huh??

I've always been interested in the fundamental capacities of the human brain, and this book explores the types of narratives our minds are capable of creating when forced to interpret what we are experiencing. Or perhaps simply what we've been told we've experienced? I was in turns confused, intrigued, and then horrified as the story slowly began unravelling and the chilling truth of Hope's situation became more readily apparent. Overall I also found the scientific elements of the plot super interesting as well, i.e. the mechanics of memory and retention, the Maelstrom program and its neural interfaces, etc.

The book was just one great thrill ride because every time I thought I had FINALLY figured something out in the plot, the author threw another twist in. This story had me up way past my bedtime because I just couldn't put it down!

Thank you to NetGalley, author Audrey Lee, and CamCat Books for providing me with a digital ARC of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.

The Mechanics of Memory is a must read psychological thriller. The mind games within this novel make the reader feel immersed in the confusion of the characters, and connect the reader with the emotions throughout. The plot and the characters are extremely well developed, and the story is one that will stick with the reader.

I also listened to the audiobook version of this story which was well done. I thought the narrators did an excellent job bringing the characters to life. I listened at 1.7x speed (my normal audiobook listening speed is 1.75-2x speed).

Thank you NetGalley and CamCat Books for this advanced readers copy. I purchased the audiobook on Audible.

This is a book that operates heavily on vibes, somewhat on plot, and is very, very light on character work. The vibes are somewhat of a Catherine House meets The Silent Patient combo, with very light sci-fi added in. Our main character, Hope, is stuck in an apparent mental health institution after being unable to remember the last year of her life. She is undergoing treatments to "reconsolidate" her memory, but they don't appear to be working, and what she does remember doesn't line up with what the doctors are telling her actually happened. The vibes are good; the facility has this "calm but creepy" feel going on, and the quiet menace in the background is very atmospheric.

The plot is...okay. There's a fairly standard "what is the evil corporation really doing here" story going on, mainly played out through Luke's chapters, because Hope's chapters are...fairly transparent and not a lot really happens. She and her buddies bop around doing light investigation but find out relatively little. Later in the book, we find out that what THEY found out was stuff that Hope knew before she even went into the facility, so the point of her going in at all is somewhat dubious. She is apparently investigating The Evil Corporation for another company called MacMillan-Howe...but we know literally nothing about that company, or why Hope is investigating/what they hope to do with the results, etc. which is definitely a HUGE gap in exposition that should have been filled at some point. The story also somewhat abruptly switches to being very action-y in the last twenty percent, and I'm not sure that sudden switch in vibe benefited it.

Which brings us to Hope herself, who is unfortunately the weakest part of the book. Don't get me wrong; I liked Hope. She seems like a nice person. But she is a cardboard cutout of a character. We know literally nothing about her before she ended up in the facility except that she was with Luke and liked his daughter. She has apparently lost the last year of her memories, but that means she should remember OTHER stuff, certainly? We know nothing about what Hope likes (other than waffles; liking waffles is literally her only personality trait), her family, friends, life before Luke...nothing. It feels like this was a choice the author made to obscure the fact that Hope was investigating the Evil Corporation, but it could have been done better. For example, we could have really leaned into the idea of Hope being an unreliable narrator with a mix of flashbacks that are actually real, and flashbacks that the Evil Corporation is trying to implant in her memory, so she would have more character development but we would have to parse out which bits were real and which were fake. This lack of background and development also really affects the ending of the book; she and Luke apparently stay together, because "love is enough" but is it really in this exact situation? And she maintains that Luke is "one of the last good ones" but we, the reader, don't see ANY evidence of that based on Luke's actions in this book...and honestly he probably should have gone to jail too.

Overall, I did like the story; it kept me reading at a good clip and I enjoyed the overall feel of it. But there were some big gaps that could have made this an AWESOME book if they were filled, and I'm not sure how they got so obviously missed.

The Mechanics of Memory is a fast-paced, speculative psychological thriller that examines the nature and importance of memory.

Hope Nakano has been receiving memory reconsolidation treatment at Copeland-Stark's in patient facility, but she still can't remember what happened to her in the last year. Bursts of memory come through for her of her relationship with Luke Salinger, but she's told the memories are faulty. After multiple procedures, she starts to question what's going on at Copeland-Stark, and friends she's made at the facility help her unravel the truth.

I was glued to the pages from the beginning, intrigued to figure out what the procedures were doing to the patients. Fans of Severance and Westworld will enjoy this twisty thriller!

Heartbreaking, fascinating, captivating. This is a book that really pulls at your heartstrings and makes you stop and think about the use of technology these days, the impact it has on relationships, and how far humans will go to protect the ones they love.

The premise of this book drew me in. Sci-go is typically not my genre of choice, but this one made me curious. I was into the concept of memories and enjoyed that aspect of it. I just feel like I got lost along the way. I wouldn’t discourage anyone from reading this because for those who really love sci-fi, this will probably be amazing to you. I’m still really glad I read it. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

⭐️: 4/5

“Purpose is but the slave to memory.”

I didn’t really know what to expect going into this one.
This was a truly unique sci-fi thriller that is based on the loss and then retrieval of memories. It is an intriguing and complex read told with top notch story telling.

Hope finds herself in the Wilder Sanctuary working towards regaining her lost memories from the past year. But what if what she thinks she’s remembering isn’t even real? What if none of what she’s remembering even happened? And what is really going on at the Wilder Sanctuary?

The characters are well developed and likable. I just wish we had more of a backstory about Quinn! I really enjoyed learning about the technology used at the Institution. I’d love to learn more about the Labyrinth!

This was an excellent debut novel. I look forward to more books by @audreyleeauthor 🖤

Unfortunately this one did not work for me. DNF at page 100. I couldn't connect with the characters or the story at all sadly. I thought the idea of what was happening interesting but there just wasn't enough going on to keep me reading. There has to be a choice and cut off made with this one for me😬

Many thanks to Netgalley for the ARC

The Mechanics of Memory was a bit of a disappointment for me. It started off well - it has a really intriguing premise, I enjoyed the mystery aspect, and wanted to find out what was happening. I also found the writing style quite engaging.
However, I had real issues with the cast of characters and their lack of development. Hope is the only non-male character to get anything approaching a detailed inner life - and even she has seemingly no connections other than Luke. Some of my issues turned out to have perhaps been "clues" for things we learnt later, but these remained mostly inconclusive - they weren't satisfactorily reckoned with when they were finally revealed in the last quarter.
There are many five-star reviews for this book, and a lot of my dissatisfaction could definitely be a personal taste thing. I feel like there was the potential to go deeper with the novel's themes - it becomes all about the mystery and skims over the philosophical and moral considerations. This deeper thought is precisely what draws me to speculative fiction, and sadly it is glossed over here. A strong debut, but unfortunately not for me.

The main focus of this book revolving around human memory (and its ability to be compromised) was fascinating, unique, and completely horrifying to think about. I really think that this would be an amazing movie adaptation, which is rarely the case. It was hard to follow at times with the science/technology jargon. That being said, this book doesn't feel punishing if you don't 100% understand the mechanics of the technology. The twists were really good, and I wanted to pick this up whenever I had a few minutes.
Thanks to Netgalley and CamCat Books for the eARC!