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!

Dreamlike and intoxicating - the prose was gorgeous and the story was rich and thrilling. I loved The Mechanics of Memory and I can't wait to recommend this to my friends!

I loved this sci-fi thriller so much! I was so invested in Hope and her story. This is one you reallllyyyyt have to pay attention to. There are so many characters and so many moving components that play a part in figuring out the mystery. This def gave me Dark Matter vibes but there was an emotional element to the characters and their reasons for being at Wilder. THE TWIST was so unexpected, I wasn’t initially sure if I liked it but once I was finished, I realized it worked for me!!! This is a hell of a debut novel.

A speculative thriller that will have you wondering what would you do. What if you could erase memories? Traumatic ones that no one wants to remember. There were a lot of characters to keep track of but it didn't feel like too much. This was a great concept with the mystery and all the gaslighting. I enjoyed this book and can't wait to see what the author comes up with next!

Pros: Good writing, good plot and slow burn(in a good way).

Cons: characters are not introduced well. Technical terms are explained more than halfway through.

Long part:

Truth be told, I went into this book blind. I had just read the first line "Memory is Copeland-Starks business" and for some reason I imagined that this will be a book where memories are bought and sold! But as I started to read the book I realised that that wasn't the case.

The book is a slow burn at the start. There are way too many characters and too much stuff thrown at you in the beginning that it slightly confuses the reader. Not to mention that the writer doesn't use He She much, she keeps using the names like "xyz" Hope said. Hope picked up a book. Hope sat down. I found it disorienting. Pronouns could be used liberally. Due to this I always kept wondering of Quinn was a He or She or Them. Not to mentions in the middle Quinn tells Hope "It's just us girls". That further confused me so much that I had to traverse back to check if I had misunderstood that Quinn was a Gay man because few pages earlier they had referred to him as Tomas' boyfriend.

Strangely enough, the VR sequences aren't introduced well. For that matter, we don't get much descriptions of anything more than halfway into the book.

And even more strangely we get a description of Arkham 65% into the book after we have seen them use it multiple times. Despite being a programmer my profession I found it hard to follow the AR or VR things that they had.

75% into the book I felt that the MC was a dull same-me-I-am-a-princess types but boy was I wrong! There are also 2 spelling mistakes, Masala is spelt as Marasala and Jonah is spelt Johan. Apart from that, the book is good, the ending feels somewhat rushed though

Considering that this is the author's debut book, I must say that it is good. Much better than I had expected when I started reading it! I laughed out loud twice in the book!

A big thanks to NetGalley and CamCat Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

If you know me, I'm sucker for any sort of read that deals with memory and amnesia, and boy was this one perfect!

The Mechanics of Memory by Audrey Lee is a science fiction novel that is built on the concept that the memory can be saved and reconstructed, though in very flawed ways. Never Forget. Memory is Copeland-Stark’s business. Yet after months of reconsolidation treatments at their 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 that 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. But everyone has secrets, including Hope.

I don't want to spoil anything, because this book is best when you go into reading it blind. But this is one I will never forget.

This sci-fi thriller presents an intriguing premise centered on technology that can reprogram memories. The story begins as a slow burn, following the main character, Hope, as she undergoes treatment at a facility designed to help her recover her lost memories. As the plot unfolds, Hope begins to recall events that contradict what the facility has told her to remember, leading her to question everything she's been told. Despite the uncertainties, her love for Luke, the very person who placed her in the facility, drives her forward. But the ultimate question remains: why did he do it?

While sci-fi isn’t usually my preferred genre, I decided to give this book a try based on a recommendation. The characters were compelling, especially Quinn, who brought a welcome dose of humor to the story. Although I found some of the technological details a bit overwhelming, the narrative remained engaging, and the plot twist at the end was satisfying.

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I had so much fun with this book! I have been in such a mystery/thriller mood lately so this book was right up my alley. It had everything that I wanted from a book in that genre. It had twists and turns, it had suspense and kept the truth from the reader while slowly giving a trickle of information to give the feeling of the reader "solving" the mystery themselves.

I absolutely loved the addition of the codes and made a whole page in my notebook trying to decipher the simple code that Hope and Luke use, but I was not able to completely crack it. I wish there was a cipher key in the back of the book so that I could have finally deciphered all the code in the book, but oh well 😅

Absolutely loved the asian representation and asian protagonist, as well as how the book portrayed some family expectations within Asian communities that are unfortunately far too prevalent.

My absolute favourite line in the book was "from farmhouse to nuthouse" 🤣

This is a 3.5 ⭐️ leaning more toward a 4 rather than 3 for me. This is a truly unique and engaging science-fiction thriller set in a technologically advanced treatment facility for mental health, addiction, and patients who have memory loss after experiencing traumatic events. The facility is presented as a state-of-the-art wellness center, with yoga and meditation in the Zen Garden, and clean organic meals prepared by in-house chefs. Only those who are famous or wealthy can afford to check in to Wilder. However, it’s not long before the reader can see that something more sinister is going on.

I really enjoyed reading The Mechanics of Memory, and would read more from @audreyleeauthor . I found myself staying up later than usual to read just one more chapter. While I did not feel a strong connection to Hope’s character, I felt like the supporting cast of characters made up for that. I absolutely loved Quinn. He was my favorite character by far. He was charming, witty, and entertaining. In chapter 41, more is revealed as to the reason for Hope’s presence at Wilder wellness facility. While I did feel like that reason did make sense and tie into the story, I felt a little disappointed. Also, the relationship between Luke and Hope--it felt very weak and unbelievable to me (other than the prologue, which is the only part where I felt a strong connection between the two). Maybe that’s just because I felt no connection to either of their characters individually throughout the book. I recommend reading The Mechanics of Memory if you enjoy science fiction, mystery, and thriller reads. Also, if you enjoy reading books with themes involving neuroscience, psych, bougie wellness center vibes, big pharma, virtual reality, and advanced technology.

Thank you @camcat_books for allowing me to read this ARC via @netgalley All thoughts are entirely my own.

📚 The Mechanics Of Memory
✍️ Audrey Lee
🎉 Releases 8/27/24

BANGER ALERT ‼️ ‼️‼️
Debut author WHAT????? NO WAY!

- ATTENTION SCI-FI enthusiasts and all THRILLER READER LOVERS! This one is FOR YOU!

Imagine you wake up one day with no memory of the past year. Bits and pieces come back to you, but are they real?

Hope Nakano wakes up in a strange treatment facility. A facility to help assist with the recovery of memory. But what if the doctors are telling you that you did something really bad? Frightening right?

The doctors administer trial medications with state of the art technology. Virtual world therapy and clinical sessions as well. When these things are combined… Hope is in one hell of a ride for her life!!!

Not gonna lie!!! I loved this more than Dark Matter! Sorry, Crouch 🥺
This should be a SERIES! Someone call APPLE TV right now!!! I’m serious y’all!

Unique take on the whole memory loss trope. What you think is going on….. YOU HAVE NO IDEA!
- 5 BANGIN’ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Much gratitude to @audreyleeauthor and @camcat_books for the opportunity!! Can’t wait to see what you come out with next!!

Let me tell you that THIS WAS SO ORIGINAL! Don’t miss out on the BEST DEBUT of THE YEAR!

One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest meets Inception 🔥🔥🔥🔥

This turned out to be an exhilarating thrill ride! It has all the ingredients of a five-star thriller. It begins as a captivating slow burn, leading you through a maze of cunning manipulations and unexpected twists. Combine that with expertly crafted characters, and you have an unforgettable five-star read!

It's astounding that this is a debut. I'm calling it now—Audrey Lee is destined to be a powerhouse in the literary world.

This book started off strong but really fizzled out for me. DNF at 35%. I just didn't care about the characters and the plot seemed really stagnant.

I highly recommend this book! I loved the concept and the different points of view. I would have given it 5 stars, but there was one plot line I felt could have more development. This was the twist you learn about later in the book. Overall, it’s a great book!

Hmmm creepy, ugly and challenging. Scientific facility where people are held and experimented on. It wasn’t my thing. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.