This YA thriller with a speculative twist follows Lucy, whose dad can take away unwanted memories. People come from far and wide to Tumble Tree, Texas to have their burdens removed. But when Lucy notices gaps in her own memory, she must work with a boy she only vaguely remembers to find out what’s really going on in Tumble Tree …

This book is everything I want in a thriller: atmospheric, twisted, emotional, and impossible to put down! There were times when I could sort of guess what was coming next, but the biggest twists caught me completely off guard and left me shocked to my core.

Lucy’s emotional journey hit me right in the gut. I also liked Marco, but I have a particularly soft spot for Manuela, because I do adore a mean girl redemption arc!

I especially enjoyed the threads of moral grayness woven throughout the story. Is it ethical to take people’s memories even if they ask for it? Can bad memories still make us better people?

Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who wants an emotional read with a speculative twist, especially if you like small town settings.

Thanks to Penguin Teen for sending me a finished copy!

CWs: parent death, manipulation/gaslighting, amnesia, violence (inc. police violence), captivity, drugging, fatal car accident mention.