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Before I Forget
"A tender, funny portrait of love in its myriad forms." —Mikki Brammer, bestselling author of The Collected Regrets of Clover
A funny, heartfelt, late coming-of-age story that examines the role of memory in holding us back—and in moving us forward—for fans of The Collected Regrets of Clover and Maame.
Call it inertia. Call it a quarter-life crisis. Whatever you call it, Cricket Campbell is stuck. Despite working at a zeitgeisty wellness company, the 26-year-old feels anything but well. Still adrift after a tragedy that upended her world a decade ago, she has entered early adulthood under the weight of a new her father’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
When Cricket’s older sister Nina announces it is time to move Arthur from his beloved Adirondack lake house into a memory-care facility, Cricket has a better idea. In returning home to become her father’s caretaker, she hopes to repair their strained relationship and shake herself out of her perma-funk. But even deeply familiar places can hold surprises.
As Cricket settles back into the family house at Catwood Pond—a place she once loved, but hasn’t visited since she was a teenager—she discovers that her father possesses a rare as he loses his grasp of the past, he is increasingly able to predict the future. Before long, Arthur cements his reputation as an unlikely oracle, but for Cricket, believing in her father’s prophecies might also mean facing the most painful parts of her history. As she begins to remember who she once was, she uncovers a vital the path forward often starts by going back.
With laugh-out-loud humor and profound grace, Before I Forget explores the nuances of family, the complexities of memory, and how sometimes, the people we know the best are the ones who surprise us the most.
A funny, heartfelt, late coming-of-age story that examines the role of memory in holding us back—and in moving us forward—for fans of The Collected Regrets of Clover and Maame.
Call it inertia. Call it a quarter-life crisis. Whatever you call it, Cricket Campbell is stuck. Despite working at a zeitgeisty wellness company, the 26-year-old feels anything but well. Still adrift after a tragedy that upended her world a decade ago, she has entered early adulthood under the weight of a new her father’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
When Cricket’s older sister Nina announces it is time to move Arthur from his beloved Adirondack lake house into a memory-care facility, Cricket has a better idea. In returning home to become her father’s caretaker, she hopes to repair their strained relationship and shake herself out of her perma-funk. But even deeply familiar places can hold surprises.
As Cricket settles back into the family house at Catwood Pond—a place she once loved, but hasn’t visited since she was a teenager—she discovers that her father possesses a rare as he loses his grasp of the past, he is increasingly able to predict the future. Before long, Arthur cements his reputation as an unlikely oracle, but for Cricket, believing in her father’s prophecies might also mean facing the most painful parts of her history. As she begins to remember who she once was, she uncovers a vital the path forward often starts by going back.
With laugh-out-loud humor and profound grace, Before I Forget explores the nuances of family, the complexities of memory, and how sometimes, the people we know the best are the ones who surprise us the most.
279 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 2, 2025
958 people are currently reading
45446 people want to read
About the author
Tory Henwood Hoen
2 books286 followersTory Henwood Hoen is a writer based in Vermont, where she is a solo mom to her toddler daughter. Her second novel, BEFORE I FORGET, will be published December 2, 2025. Her debut, THE ARC, is out now. You can find her on Instagram @toryhenwoodhoen.
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November 12, 2025
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Let me start with a shout-out and a HUGE thank you to my Goodreads friend, Heather Adores Books . It was because of her wonderful five star review that I requested this book. Heather's review can be found HERE . Now on to MY review...
Oh my gosh, this book! It's about 26-year-old Cricket, and she is stuck in a rut. She is traumatized by a tragedy in her past and in a funk at her wellness job. When her dad is diagnosed with Alzheimer's, she goes against her sister's plan to move him into a care home and instead returns to her family home and becomes his caretaker. She hopes that doing this will help to fix her strained relationship with him. As she settles in, she finds that her dad's illness of forgetting the past makes him able to predict the future.
This book is freaking incredible and truly special. It was incredibly profound and funny. The humour was witty and the story heartfelt. It sort of reads as coming of age, but the protagonist is in her twenties. The way the author dealt with Alzheimer's was very tender and emotional. I have had to deal with this with three different family members over the years, and it was so realistic. I liked how the author didn't just focus on the loss of a loved one with this disease; it was so uplifting at times that it surprised me. Cricket realises what she's missed by not spending time with her dad in such a joyful way. I wanted to reach through the pages and hug her at times. I will miss both her and Arthur.
This is a short book that can be read easily in a day or two. It was funny, magical and heartbreaking. Family is complex, and so is our love for them, and Tory Henwood Hoen writes this story that way. I can't recommend this book enough. It was captivating, charming and unforgettable from the first page to the last. All. The. Stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
The Book Review Crew Blog
Let me start with a shout-out and a HUGE thank you to my Goodreads friend, Heather Adores Books . It was because of her wonderful five star review that I requested this book. Heather's review can be found HERE . Now on to MY review...
Oh my gosh, this book! It's about 26-year-old Cricket, and she is stuck in a rut. She is traumatized by a tragedy in her past and in a funk at her wellness job. When her dad is diagnosed with Alzheimer's, she goes against her sister's plan to move him into a care home and instead returns to her family home and becomes his caretaker. She hopes that doing this will help to fix her strained relationship with him. As she settles in, she finds that her dad's illness of forgetting the past makes him able to predict the future.
This book is freaking incredible and truly special. It was incredibly profound and funny. The humour was witty and the story heartfelt. It sort of reads as coming of age, but the protagonist is in her twenties. The way the author dealt with Alzheimer's was very tender and emotional. I have had to deal with this with three different family members over the years, and it was so realistic. I liked how the author didn't just focus on the loss of a loved one with this disease; it was so uplifting at times that it surprised me. Cricket realises what she's missed by not spending time with her dad in such a joyful way. I wanted to reach through the pages and hug her at times. I will miss both her and Arthur.
This is a short book that can be read easily in a day or two. It was funny, magical and heartbreaking. Family is complex, and so is our love for them, and Tory Henwood Hoen writes this story that way. I can't recommend this book enough. It was captivating, charming and unforgettable from the first page to the last. All. The. Stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
December 18, 2025
Some books don’t just tell a story — they reach inside you, stir up feelings you didn’t know were buried, and gently remind you that healing is never linear, but always possible. Before I Forget by Tory Henwood Hoen is one of those rare novels that feels like a warm hand on your shoulder during a moment of reckoning.
At 26, Cricket Campbell isn’t a fresh-faced heroine chasing her dreams — she’s stuck. Lost in the fog of unresolved grief, stalled potential, and a tragedy she’s never really made peace with. When her older sister decides it’s time to move their father Arthur, who’s been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, into a memory-care facility, Cricket steps in. Not because she’s ready — but because somewhere deep inside, she knows she needs to be.
What follows is not a straightforward journey of redemption, but a layered, funny, and quietly aching late coming-of-age story. Returning to her childhood home on Catwood Pond is like opening a time capsule sealed with emotion — familiar, yet hauntingly changed. Arthur, once unreachable, now carries a surprising gift: as his memories fade, he begins predicting the future. This beautiful twist doesn’t just serve as a whimsical plot device; it becomes a mirror through which Cricket is forced to confront her own truths — and perhaps for the first time, allow herself to rewrite them.
The brilliance of this book lies in how effortlessly it weaves humor into heartbreak. I found myself laughing out loud on one page and wiping away unexpected tears on the next. Hoen’s writing is whip-smart, lyrical, and profoundly observant. She captures the subtle nuances of family — the silence between words, the inherited habits, the unsaid regrets — with so much grace and accuracy, it made me pause more than once just to breathe it all in.
Cricket’s relationship with Arthur is the heart of this novel. It’s raw, layered, and astonishingly tender. Watching their roles shift — daughter becoming caretaker, father becoming prophet — is both devastating and deeply human. Their connection reminded me that even in the face of illness and memory loss, love doesn’t disappear. It simply changes shape.
Before I Forget isn’t just about Alzheimer’s. It’s about what we remember and what we choose to forget — and how both can shape the stories we tell ourselves. It’s about home, grief, time, identity, and above all, hope. That elusive, quiet kind of hope that whispers: you can still begin again.
This novel left a mark on me. Not with flashy plot twists or dramatic crescendos, but with the slow, steady unfolding of emotional truth. It’s the kind of book that feels like it was written just for you — like someone reached into your chest, found your most hidden hurt, and gave it space to exhale.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sharing this embracing, emotional women’s fiction digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts. This story will stay with me for a long, long time — and I feel incredibly lucky to have read it.
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At 26, Cricket Campbell isn’t a fresh-faced heroine chasing her dreams — she’s stuck. Lost in the fog of unresolved grief, stalled potential, and a tragedy she’s never really made peace with. When her older sister decides it’s time to move their father Arthur, who’s been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, into a memory-care facility, Cricket steps in. Not because she’s ready — but because somewhere deep inside, she knows she needs to be.
What follows is not a straightforward journey of redemption, but a layered, funny, and quietly aching late coming-of-age story. Returning to her childhood home on Catwood Pond is like opening a time capsule sealed with emotion — familiar, yet hauntingly changed. Arthur, once unreachable, now carries a surprising gift: as his memories fade, he begins predicting the future. This beautiful twist doesn’t just serve as a whimsical plot device; it becomes a mirror through which Cricket is forced to confront her own truths — and perhaps for the first time, allow herself to rewrite them.
The brilliance of this book lies in how effortlessly it weaves humor into heartbreak. I found myself laughing out loud on one page and wiping away unexpected tears on the next. Hoen’s writing is whip-smart, lyrical, and profoundly observant. She captures the subtle nuances of family — the silence between words, the inherited habits, the unsaid regrets — with so much grace and accuracy, it made me pause more than once just to breathe it all in.
Cricket’s relationship with Arthur is the heart of this novel. It’s raw, layered, and astonishingly tender. Watching their roles shift — daughter becoming caretaker, father becoming prophet — is both devastating and deeply human. Their connection reminded me that even in the face of illness and memory loss, love doesn’t disappear. It simply changes shape.
Before I Forget isn’t just about Alzheimer’s. It’s about what we remember and what we choose to forget — and how both can shape the stories we tell ourselves. It’s about home, grief, time, identity, and above all, hope. That elusive, quiet kind of hope that whispers: you can still begin again.
This novel left a mark on me. Not with flashy plot twists or dramatic crescendos, but with the slow, steady unfolding of emotional truth. It’s the kind of book that feels like it was written just for you — like someone reached into your chest, found your most hidden hurt, and gave it space to exhale.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sharing this embracing, emotional women’s fiction digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts. This story will stay with me for a long, long time — and I feel incredibly lucky to have read it.
medium blog
December 20, 2025
Delightful. Gentle. Loving. Heartwarming...
26-year-old Cricket Campbell is the daughter-caregiver to her father, Arthur, who has Alzheimer’s. They live together in the old family home on Catwood Pond in the Adirondacks. She moved back home from NYC, her choice, after years of estrangement. Arthur no longer recognizes Crickett, but it doesn't seem to matter. Getting reacquainted in their new roles seems easy, natural, and comforting to both of them. Hearing about their life together is the joy in reading this book...
Before I Forget was a welcome read, and I quickly connected with the story and the characters. We learn about the Campbell Family dynamics before and after Crickett's return, as well as why she left Catwood Pond a decade ago. Arthur is quite the character and has a special, newly discovered talent. He reminds me of Teddy Roosevelt: a larger-than-life personality with energetic determination, childlike enthusiasm, and a deep love of nature. He even sounds a bit like him, or what I think he should sound like.
An immersive read with the advanced reading and listening copies, the audiobook is narrated by the amazing Barrie Kreinik, a master of gender voicing who delivers a satisfying listening experience. Hands down, the audiobook is the way to go with this entertaining read.
Before I Forget could have been a challenging, heavy, triggering read given its sensitive topic. Instead, the author created a story that was thoughtful, tender, touching, and one I'll think about for a long time. It's a hidden jewel!
5⭐
Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and Tory Henwood Hoen for the gifted DRC and ALC through NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
26-year-old Cricket Campbell is the daughter-caregiver to her father, Arthur, who has Alzheimer’s. They live together in the old family home on Catwood Pond in the Adirondacks. She moved back home from NYC, her choice, after years of estrangement. Arthur no longer recognizes Crickett, but it doesn't seem to matter. Getting reacquainted in their new roles seems easy, natural, and comforting to both of them. Hearing about their life together is the joy in reading this book...
Before I Forget was a welcome read, and I quickly connected with the story and the characters. We learn about the Campbell Family dynamics before and after Crickett's return, as well as why she left Catwood Pond a decade ago. Arthur is quite the character and has a special, newly discovered talent. He reminds me of Teddy Roosevelt: a larger-than-life personality with energetic determination, childlike enthusiasm, and a deep love of nature. He even sounds a bit like him, or what I think he should sound like.
An immersive read with the advanced reading and listening copies, the audiobook is narrated by the amazing Barrie Kreinik, a master of gender voicing who delivers a satisfying listening experience. Hands down, the audiobook is the way to go with this entertaining read.
Before I Forget could have been a challenging, heavy, triggering read given its sensitive topic. Instead, the author created a story that was thoughtful, tender, touching, and one I'll think about for a long time. It's a hidden jewel!
5⭐
Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and Tory Henwood Hoen for the gifted DRC and ALC through NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
December 12, 2025
The Publisher blurb describes this story as “A funny, heartfelt, late coming-of-age story that examines the role of memory in holding us back—and in moving us forward” and that description is actually quite perfect.
Can “heartbreak and healing be intertwined”?
Cricket’s older sister Nina announces it is time to move their father Arthur from his beloved Adirondack lake house into a memory-care facility, as his Alzheimer’s is progressing but Cricket has another idea. The twenty six year old no longer believes in the “wellness products” that her boss Gemma is peddling and she feels more than ready for a change.
She has stayed away from Catwood Pond because of a tragedy that occurred there when she was sixteen, and is hoping that by returning home to become her father’s caretaker, she can repair their uneasy relationship and find purpose in her own life again.
As the pair settle into their new routine, she discovers that her father may possess a rare gift. His memories may be failing him, but he seems able to predict the future. Could an Alzheimer’s patient both forget the PAST but possibly see what is ahead?
As she watches her father as he unknowingly speaks with and brings comfort to others, Cricket learns to make peace with her own past and she will find forgiveness in unlikely places.
It’s a beautiful story but the best part to me was how Cricket felt this time with her Dad was a gift-not a burden.
Instead of being sad, the story is quietly uplifting.
I initially passed on the opportunity to read this last Summer. The book cover didn’t attract my attention and the tag “coming of age” put me off as I don’t typically enjoy spending time with young adults discovering themselves. (a small part!) Also, her first book didn’t work for me.
But recent reviews from Sarah, Terrie and Shelley had me rethinking that decision and downloading this book after publication date. I am so glad that they shared their love and praise for the story on Goodreads, or I may have missed out. 🤧
AVAILABLE NOW
Thank You to St. Martin’s Press for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts!
Can “heartbreak and healing be intertwined”?
Cricket’s older sister Nina announces it is time to move their father Arthur from his beloved Adirondack lake house into a memory-care facility, as his Alzheimer’s is progressing but Cricket has another idea. The twenty six year old no longer believes in the “wellness products” that her boss Gemma is peddling and she feels more than ready for a change.
She has stayed away from Catwood Pond because of a tragedy that occurred there when she was sixteen, and is hoping that by returning home to become her father’s caretaker, she can repair their uneasy relationship and find purpose in her own life again.
As the pair settle into their new routine, she discovers that her father may possess a rare gift. His memories may be failing him, but he seems able to predict the future. Could an Alzheimer’s patient both forget the PAST but possibly see what is ahead?
As she watches her father as he unknowingly speaks with and brings comfort to others, Cricket learns to make peace with her own past and she will find forgiveness in unlikely places.
It’s a beautiful story but the best part to me was how Cricket felt this time with her Dad was a gift-not a burden.
Instead of being sad, the story is quietly uplifting.
I initially passed on the opportunity to read this last Summer. The book cover didn’t attract my attention and the tag “coming of age” put me off as I don’t typically enjoy spending time with young adults discovering themselves. (a small part!) Also, her first book didn’t work for me.
But recent reviews from Sarah, Terrie and Shelley had me rethinking that decision and downloading this book after publication date. I am so glad that they shared their love and praise for the story on Goodreads, or I may have missed out. 🤧
AVAILABLE NOW
Thank You to St. Martin’s Press for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts!
December 11, 2025
5⭐
Genre ~ family life fiction, coming of age
Setting ~ New York
Publication date ~ December 2, 2025
Publisher ~ Macmillan Audio
Est Page Count ~ 288 (54 chapters)
Audio length ~ 9 hours 11 minutes
Narrator ~ Barrie Kreinik
POV ~ single 1st
Featuring ~ dual timeline, parent with Alzheimers
If you have read my reviews before you might know that I’m scared of getting Alzheimers. More so scared for my daughter than for myself and here we have a daughter, Cricket, choosing to become a caregiver for her father, Arthur (74). She’s only 26 and still trying to figure her own life out. As she spends time at the lake house in the Adirondacks, a place that holds painful memories, she’ll come to find her way.
We get a story of patience and making the most of the time you have left while you can. They create a phenomenon that people travel far and wide to experience. Arthur sounded like a truly lovely person in both the flashbacks and in the present.
Overall, just heartbreakingly lovely.
Narration notes:
She did a wonderful job.
Pre-reading notes:
Seems like I might need to have the tissues handy for this one 🥹
Genre ~ family life fiction, coming of age
Setting ~ New York
Publication date ~ December 2, 2025
Publisher ~ Macmillan Audio
Est Page Count ~ 288 (54 chapters)
Audio length ~ 9 hours 11 minutes
Narrator ~ Barrie Kreinik
POV ~ single 1st
Featuring ~ dual timeline, parent with Alzheimers
If you have read my reviews before you might know that I’m scared of getting Alzheimers. More so scared for my daughter than for myself and here we have a daughter, Cricket, choosing to become a caregiver for her father, Arthur (74). She’s only 26 and still trying to figure her own life out. As she spends time at the lake house in the Adirondacks, a place that holds painful memories, she’ll come to find her way.
We get a story of patience and making the most of the time you have left while you can. They create a phenomenon that people travel far and wide to experience. Arthur sounded like a truly lovely person in both the flashbacks and in the present.
Overall, just heartbreakingly lovely.
Narration notes:
She did a wonderful job.
Pre-reading notes:
Seems like I might need to have the tissues handy for this one 🥹
December 20, 2025
Even though Cricket Campbell works for a wellness company in New York City, she feels stuck. At twenty-six, she should have life figured out by now, right? But after a tragedy years prior leaves her heart shattered, on top of her dad’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis that rocks her world, Cricket’s life feels purposeless. So when her sister, Nina, tells her that it’s time to move their dad from his Adirondack home and into a memory-care facility, Cricket returns to the small town of Locust, which she’s been avoiding since that fateful night.
But when she sees how much Arthur loves his home at Catwood Pond, mixed with her desire to be with her dad, Cricket decides that she’ll take care of him until it’s completely necessary to move him. As she spends more time with Arthur, she notices that even though he is losing his grasp of the past, he can somehow predict the future. And when his fame as an oracle spreads, Cricket realizes that her dad’s extraordinary gift is forcing her to revisit the painful past that made her lose sight of who she really is.
Hello? Yeah, hi. It’s me again. I want to make another appointment for a therapy session. And be sure to have plenty of boxes of tissues on standby because I can’t even stop crying at this point. 😭
Oh my gosh, this book was EVERYTHING that I needed! 🤧❤️🩹 There was humor that made me laugh. There were life lessons that made me rethink my life choices, and want to do and be better. There were heartbreaking moments that made me hide under my blanket and sob like a baby. The writing was so beautiful yet simple. The story was both moving and engaging. The characters were flawed, relatable, and so, so memorable. Ugh, I loved them so much, and I wished I were a part of their small group. Also, can I live near Catwood Pond, please? It sounds like paradise. 😍
I have read many good books this year, but this one is in the top 5 that I think are THE BEST OF THE BEST. I mean, I was supposed to read another book while I read this, but I was instantly HOOKED. I could not put this down. I tried to stay up all night to finish this, but my body wanted to rest. 😂
Have you ever wanted to personally thank an author for writing such a wonderful book that may have just changed your life? Yeah, that’s how I feel about this one. If I could give this a million stars, I would because this was so freaking beautiful and amazing. Arthur, you are such a freaking gem! 😭❤ Cricket, I related so much to how you felt about yourself and life, and I wish I could give you a big hug! 😭🫂 And that ending? Yeah, it completely and utterly destroyed me, and I don’t regret any minute of it. 😅😭
You know, I think this book hit so close to home for me because I lost my sweet and beautiful grandma a month ago, and good Lord, this story constantly reminded me of her and those painful last days before she passed. It hurt a lot, but I’m glad I got to think more of her as I read this. 🩷 I know not everyone will love this book, but that’s okay. This was exactly what I needed, and I’m so, so glad that my GR friends put this on my radar because I just found a new favorite that added some healing to my soul. 🫶🏼
Do I recommend this? Heck yes. Absolutely. I probably won’t ever shut up about it, and I apologize in advance. 😂 If and when Tory Henwood Hoen writes more books, I will be the first person in line to get a copy of whatever she writes next.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own.
❗Content Warnings❗
Death and mentions depression.
Swearing: Yes
Spice: No–mainly kissing and talking about sex. (🌶/5)
But when she sees how much Arthur loves his home at Catwood Pond, mixed with her desire to be with her dad, Cricket decides that she’ll take care of him until it’s completely necessary to move him. As she spends more time with Arthur, she notices that even though he is losing his grasp of the past, he can somehow predict the future. And when his fame as an oracle spreads, Cricket realizes that her dad’s extraordinary gift is forcing her to revisit the painful past that made her lose sight of who she really is.
Hello? Yeah, hi. It’s me again. I want to make another appointment for a therapy session. And be sure to have plenty of boxes of tissues on standby because I can’t even stop crying at this point. 😭
Oh my gosh, this book was EVERYTHING that I needed! 🤧❤️🩹 There was humor that made me laugh. There were life lessons that made me rethink my life choices, and want to do and be better. There were heartbreaking moments that made me hide under my blanket and sob like a baby. The writing was so beautiful yet simple. The story was both moving and engaging. The characters were flawed, relatable, and so, so memorable. Ugh, I loved them so much, and I wished I were a part of their small group. Also, can I live near Catwood Pond, please? It sounds like paradise. 😍
I have read many good books this year, but this one is in the top 5 that I think are THE BEST OF THE BEST. I mean, I was supposed to read another book while I read this, but I was instantly HOOKED. I could not put this down. I tried to stay up all night to finish this, but my body wanted to rest. 😂
Have you ever wanted to personally thank an author for writing such a wonderful book that may have just changed your life? Yeah, that’s how I feel about this one. If I could give this a million stars, I would because this was so freaking beautiful and amazing. Arthur, you are such a freaking gem! 😭❤ Cricket, I related so much to how you felt about yourself and life, and I wish I could give you a big hug! 😭🫂 And that ending? Yeah, it completely and utterly destroyed me, and I don’t regret any minute of it. 😅😭
You know, I think this book hit so close to home for me because I lost my sweet and beautiful grandma a month ago, and good Lord, this story constantly reminded me of her and those painful last days before she passed. It hurt a lot, but I’m glad I got to think more of her as I read this. 🩷 I know not everyone will love this book, but that’s okay. This was exactly what I needed, and I’m so, so glad that my GR friends put this on my radar because I just found a new favorite that added some healing to my soul. 🫶🏼
Do I recommend this? Heck yes. Absolutely. I probably won’t ever shut up about it, and I apologize in advance. 😂 If and when Tory Henwood Hoen writes more books, I will be the first person in line to get a copy of whatever she writes next.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own.
❗Content Warnings❗
Death and mentions depression.
Swearing: Yes
Spice: No–mainly kissing and talking about sex. (🌶/5)
December 27, 2025
Powerful in its simplicity Before I Forget grabbed me by the hand and took me on a unique journey that I'm grateful to have traveled.
Cricket has been unfulfilled and rather aimless in her 20's following an accident that occurred in her teens. She seems to have needed help that she didn't receive because the adults in her life were chasing their dreams and she probably wasn't receptive anyway. The result is she's twenty-seven and stagnant. Her sister Nina has been caring for their ailing father who has Alzheimer's but is preparing to move to Stockholm for work. The sisters decide to look at care facilities together with their father. As Cricket tours these facilities, she notices how much her father wants to go home. She decides to abandon her city life and move to the family cabin her father calls home in the Adirondacks to care for him. She knows the past will haunt her there, but maybe it's time to face some ghosts.
I've read novels that look at Alzheimer's and dementia, but nothing like this. There was the grim reality juxtaposed with growth and happiness that felt like hope. Sometimes we smile through the tears when life gets overwhelming and that is the feeling this novel conveyed for me. Cricket sitting across from her father who doesn't know she's his daughter and having conversations struck my heart. Her father still had words to offer her that reframed her thinking and shared pieces of who he still was. It was lovely and sad, but wonderful too. I couldn't put this endearing novel down.
I loved the cover even more after reading. The way the loons were written into the narrative was a treat. I found myself looking forward to each mention of the birds and all they represented.
A beautiful story sure to pull at your heartstrings!
*Now Available*
All the stars!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing an ARC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Cricket has been unfulfilled and rather aimless in her 20's following an accident that occurred in her teens. She seems to have needed help that she didn't receive because the adults in her life were chasing their dreams and she probably wasn't receptive anyway. The result is she's twenty-seven and stagnant. Her sister Nina has been caring for their ailing father who has Alzheimer's but is preparing to move to Stockholm for work. The sisters decide to look at care facilities together with their father. As Cricket tours these facilities, she notices how much her father wants to go home. She decides to abandon her city life and move to the family cabin her father calls home in the Adirondacks to care for him. She knows the past will haunt her there, but maybe it's time to face some ghosts.
I've read novels that look at Alzheimer's and dementia, but nothing like this. There was the grim reality juxtaposed with growth and happiness that felt like hope. Sometimes we smile through the tears when life gets overwhelming and that is the feeling this novel conveyed for me. Cricket sitting across from her father who doesn't know she's his daughter and having conversations struck my heart. Her father still had words to offer her that reframed her thinking and shared pieces of who he still was. It was lovely and sad, but wonderful too. I couldn't put this endearing novel down.
I loved the cover even more after reading. The way the loons were written into the narrative was a treat. I found myself looking forward to each mention of the birds and all they represented.
A beautiful story sure to pull at your heartstrings!
*Now Available*
All the stars!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing an ARC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Want to read
November 24, 2025more books about quarter life crises!
December 16, 2025
⭐⭐.5
Pre-Read Notes:
I couldn't resist the amazing cover here. The water fowl combined with the glaring pink typeface made me so curious! This book takes on some important and brave subjects in the first quarter and I'm looking forward to the rest.
"There are some problems that solve themselves if you simply wait a while." p39
"I have a vague feeling that, when it comes to my life, not only am I sitting on the sidelines, but I’m playing the wrong game altogether. As I look around at the leftover mess from the weekend, I think: I’m ready to be something other than young." p41
Final Review
(thoughts & recs) I feel like I'm about to disappoint some friends, because almost everyone I know loves this book. I really get *why* everyone loves this book. But I feel an overwhelming need to remind everyone that magical disabled people don't exist and real disabled people still have value, live creatively, and deserve care, respect, and love without performing their disability for other people.
Basically, if a disabled person makes you feel inspired in a story, I encourage you to have a conversation with that text about why disability is "inspiring". Disabled people are just trying to live and our acceptance should not rest on being inspiring to not disabled people.
It's important because people who actually get Alzheimer's don't magically become psychics or oracles. And even though they are not magical they are still important, which is an idea not at all communicated by this story. This character was considered valuable in this story specifically because he did something no actual person, disabled or not, could have actually done. (Oh and because he could forgive the main character.) Thus not inherently valuable. So sadly I rounded down to 3 stars despite the spectacular subplot development going on in this book.
My Favorite Things:
✔️ "“Do you taste that spice?”“Yep. It kicks you right in the esophagus.” He laughs and says, “Let me get you one. We have all kinds of wonderful drinks here.” As he shuffles toward the kitchen, my sadness shifts to curiosity. What if Alzheimer’s isn’t just a slow death? What if it’s another dimension entirely— an ascension, even? We humans are so fixated on our minds that we see their loss as a tragedy. But what if it’s a gift? Maybe the erosion of memory clears space for something truer. Maybe the intellect gets in the way of the heart, until little by little, it doesn’t. How freeing, I think. For him —but also for me." p31 This is a great premise, and not just for a book. I think we too often think of disease and illness from the perspective of what we think is lost, rather than what remains and changes us. *unfortunately, the author ruins it.
✔️ I relate so much to the isolation illness can create. "“How’s your dad?” I don’t know how to answer this question. My father is himself, but he’s changing. He’s alive, but he’s dying. The ground is shifting, but in slow motion. There’s nothing we can do about it, even if we wanted to. I’m tired, so I just say, “He’s fine.”" p37
✔️ The writing style in this book is phenomenal. "...I wake in my creaky twin bed from a confounding dream: I coughed up my own heart. One quick retch and there it was in my hand, continuing its steady, purple thud. Bewildered, I thrusted it toward hazy passersby, asking, “Can I live without this?” They all shrugged— not knowing, not caring, or both. Can I live without this? Perhaps I don’t need my heart after all, my dream-self decided, so I threw it toward the frozen pond, where it fell through a hole in the ice and sank." p59
✔️ "I couldn’t imagine being apart from my father for a full school year, even though he assured me I could spend my vacations with him. I knew I would miss one of my parents either way, but I preferred to miss my mother and live with my father, rather than the other way around." p152 I get this. Divorce is so hard on kids, no matter how old they are.
✔️ "After four years of caretaking for our father, with very little in the way of medical or government support— because that’s not really America’s thing— she is now reaping the benefits of a system that actually wants to help its citizens thrive. Swedes don’t need to win the lottery; they already have." p164 Yeah I wish America took better care of it's citizens also. I really love how the author takes the opportunity to critique society whenever she can with hammering me over the head.
✔️ "In that moment, I had never felt more alone in my life. ... It’s not that I had lost my father—it’s that he had lost me. I had been erased. ... I now had to face the fact that my relationship with my father would never be repaired." p173 Poor thing. It's not over yet Cricket!
✔️ "I know that she has given me a gift, too: the feeling of being both mothered and understood. I hadn’t realized how badly I needed those things, and I never knew heartbreak and healing could be so intertwined." p269 In freaking deed.
Notes: Alzheimer's, caretaking, estrangement, dementia, memory loss, nursing care, alcohol, underage drinking, driving after consumption, divorce, family separation, joint custody, unexpected pregnancy, magical disabled person trope
Thank you to Tory Henwood Hoen, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an accessible digital arc of BEFORE I FORGET. All views are mine.
Pre-Read Notes:
I couldn't resist the amazing cover here. The water fowl combined with the glaring pink typeface made me so curious! This book takes on some important and brave subjects in the first quarter and I'm looking forward to the rest.
"There are some problems that solve themselves if you simply wait a while." p39
"I have a vague feeling that, when it comes to my life, not only am I sitting on the sidelines, but I’m playing the wrong game altogether. As I look around at the leftover mess from the weekend, I think: I’m ready to be something other than young." p41
Final Review
(thoughts & recs) I feel like I'm about to disappoint some friends, because almost everyone I know loves this book. I really get *why* everyone loves this book. But I feel an overwhelming need to remind everyone that magical disabled people don't exist and real disabled people still have value, live creatively, and deserve care, respect, and love without performing their disability for other people.
Basically, if a disabled person makes you feel inspired in a story, I encourage you to have a conversation with that text about why disability is "inspiring". Disabled people are just trying to live and our acceptance should not rest on being inspiring to not disabled people.
It's important because people who actually get Alzheimer's don't magically become psychics or oracles. And even though they are not magical they are still important, which is an idea not at all communicated by this story. This character was considered valuable in this story specifically because he did something no actual person, disabled or not, could have actually done. (Oh and because he could forgive the main character.) Thus not inherently valuable. So sadly I rounded down to 3 stars despite the spectacular subplot development going on in this book.
My Favorite Things:
✔️ "“Do you taste that spice?”“Yep. It kicks you right in the esophagus.” He laughs and says, “Let me get you one. We have all kinds of wonderful drinks here.” As he shuffles toward the kitchen, my sadness shifts to curiosity. What if Alzheimer’s isn’t just a slow death? What if it’s another dimension entirely— an ascension, even? We humans are so fixated on our minds that we see their loss as a tragedy. But what if it’s a gift? Maybe the erosion of memory clears space for something truer. Maybe the intellect gets in the way of the heart, until little by little, it doesn’t. How freeing, I think. For him —but also for me." p31 This is a great premise, and not just for a book. I think we too often think of disease and illness from the perspective of what we think is lost, rather than what remains and changes us. *unfortunately, the author ruins it.
✔️ I relate so much to the isolation illness can create. "“How’s your dad?” I don’t know how to answer this question. My father is himself, but he’s changing. He’s alive, but he’s dying. The ground is shifting, but in slow motion. There’s nothing we can do about it, even if we wanted to. I’m tired, so I just say, “He’s fine.”" p37
✔️ The writing style in this book is phenomenal. "...I wake in my creaky twin bed from a confounding dream: I coughed up my own heart. One quick retch and there it was in my hand, continuing its steady, purple thud. Bewildered, I thrusted it toward hazy passersby, asking, “Can I live without this?” They all shrugged— not knowing, not caring, or both. Can I live without this? Perhaps I don’t need my heart after all, my dream-self decided, so I threw it toward the frozen pond, where it fell through a hole in the ice and sank." p59
✔️ "I couldn’t imagine being apart from my father for a full school year, even though he assured me I could spend my vacations with him. I knew I would miss one of my parents either way, but I preferred to miss my mother and live with my father, rather than the other way around." p152 I get this. Divorce is so hard on kids, no matter how old they are.
✔️ "After four years of caretaking for our father, with very little in the way of medical or government support— because that’s not really America’s thing— she is now reaping the benefits of a system that actually wants to help its citizens thrive. Swedes don’t need to win the lottery; they already have." p164 Yeah I wish America took better care of it's citizens also. I really love how the author takes the opportunity to critique society whenever she can with hammering me over the head.
✔️ "In that moment, I had never felt more alone in my life. ... It’s not that I had lost my father—it’s that he had lost me. I had been erased. ... I now had to face the fact that my relationship with my father would never be repaired." p173 Poor thing. It's not over yet Cricket!
✔️ "I know that she has given me a gift, too: the feeling of being both mothered and understood. I hadn’t realized how badly I needed those things, and I never knew heartbreak and healing could be so intertwined." p269 In freaking deed.
Notes: Alzheimer's, caretaking, estrangement, dementia, memory loss, nursing care, alcohol, underage drinking, driving after consumption, divorce, family separation, joint custody, unexpected pregnancy, magical disabled person trope
Thank you to Tory Henwood Hoen, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an accessible digital arc of BEFORE I FORGET. All views are mine.
October 23, 2025
A very sweet moving story about a girl who returns home after being away for nearly a decade to take care of her ailing father. It wasn’t as heavy as I thought it would be even though the topics of dementia and Alzheimer’s were there. The author was able to bring light to the story with the heavy subject matter and I appreciated the whimsy.
December 30, 2025
5⭐️ Cricket Campbell is stuck in an unsatisfying wellness job in NYC, away from her home, estranged from her father. When her sister Nina takes a job in Norway she takes the plunge to care for her dad Arthur who is suffering from Alzheimer’s.
Being back home in the family home by the lake in the Adirondacks brings back memories of a tragedy that struck when she was 16. Though Cricket’s dad, Arthur doesn’t remember her as his daughter, they find their way back in their relationship due to his premonitions.
This one was a great page turner, beautiful family story, funny, smart, sad at times, with a perfect ending! I loved it! Highly recommend!
Thank you NetGalley and Saint Martin’s Press for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Being back home in the family home by the lake in the Adirondacks brings back memories of a tragedy that struck when she was 16. Though Cricket’s dad, Arthur doesn’t remember her as his daughter, they find their way back in their relationship due to his premonitions.
This one was a great page turner, beautiful family story, funny, smart, sad at times, with a perfect ending! I loved it! Highly recommend!
Thank you NetGalley and Saint Martin’s Press for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
December 9, 2025
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to read and listen to an advanced copy of Before I Forget by Tory Henwood Hoen. Put this on your Want To Read list ASAP!
*****
I wasn’t sure what to expect from a book that is essentially about a man in his 70s with Alzheimer’s. I figured it would be pretty emotional, and it was, but not in the way I had anticipated. I had a close relative who had dementia and it was heartbreaking. But somehow this book was almost the opposite of heartbreaking. It was heartwarming, in fact. And kind of funny too.
Cricket is 26 and has been drifting from job to job for several years. Her older sister, Nina, seems to have/be everything Cricket isn’t: organized, for one thing. Their dad, Arthur, has Alzheimer’s and Nina has been his caretaker for a while now, living in their childhood Adirondack lakeside home. (Their mother isn’t in the picture much, remarried and living in England.) When Nina gets a great opportunity in Sweden in her field, Cricket steps up to be with her dad. Problem is, Cricket and her dad haven’t really spoken much in several years. A tragedy during Cricket’s senior year in high school sent her fleeing the Adirondacks for a distant college and then, after dropping out, all over the US in various jobs. So there’s a lot of turmoil wrapped up in her return to Locust, New York and the house on Catwood Pond.
We gradually get Cricket’s backstory. There’s a bit of magical realism woven into the current day story, with Arthur supposedly seeing dead people and foreseeing events. He, of course, doesn’t realize there’s anything out of the ordinary. (He doesn’t even remember that Cricket is his daughter.) Cricket’s growth throughout the year or so she takes care of her dad is portrayed beautifully. She gradually learns to let go of the past.
Cricket’s latest job in NYC was for a wellness company whose products made me grin. Her former boss, Gemma, is a nut job of an influencer and provided a good bit of levity to what could have been a very sad story.
I mostly listened to the audiobook which was beautifully narrated by one of my favorite narrators, Barrie Kreinik. If you like audiobooks, this one was terrific.
*****
I wasn’t sure what to expect from a book that is essentially about a man in his 70s with Alzheimer’s. I figured it would be pretty emotional, and it was, but not in the way I had anticipated. I had a close relative who had dementia and it was heartbreaking. But somehow this book was almost the opposite of heartbreaking. It was heartwarming, in fact. And kind of funny too.
Cricket is 26 and has been drifting from job to job for several years. Her older sister, Nina, seems to have/be everything Cricket isn’t: organized, for one thing. Their dad, Arthur, has Alzheimer’s and Nina has been his caretaker for a while now, living in their childhood Adirondack lakeside home. (Their mother isn’t in the picture much, remarried and living in England.) When Nina gets a great opportunity in Sweden in her field, Cricket steps up to be with her dad. Problem is, Cricket and her dad haven’t really spoken much in several years. A tragedy during Cricket’s senior year in high school sent her fleeing the Adirondacks for a distant college and then, after dropping out, all over the US in various jobs. So there’s a lot of turmoil wrapped up in her return to Locust, New York and the house on Catwood Pond.
We gradually get Cricket’s backstory. There’s a bit of magical realism woven into the current day story, with Arthur supposedly seeing dead people and foreseeing events. He, of course, doesn’t realize there’s anything out of the ordinary. (He doesn’t even remember that Cricket is his daughter.) Cricket’s growth throughout the year or so she takes care of her dad is portrayed beautifully. She gradually learns to let go of the past.
Cricket’s latest job in NYC was for a wellness company whose products made me grin. Her former boss, Gemma, is a nut job of an influencer and provided a good bit of levity to what could have been a very sad story.
I mostly listened to the audiobook which was beautifully narrated by one of my favorite narrators, Barrie Kreinik. If you like audiobooks, this one was terrific.
December 2, 2025
Dementia is a gnarly beast. My father was diagnosed with it about a year before his passing, and he became a completely different person. I picked up Before I Forget by Tory Henwood Hoen knowing it would be a deeply emotional read, and yes, probably a tearful one. I tend to seek out stories that hit me hard, and this one had all the makings of a book that would do exactly that.
It had all the makings, and it delivered, though not until near the very end. I was pleasantly surprised to find a perspective on Alzheimer’s I hadn’t seen before, one rooted in hope. When Cricket returns home to help care for her father, she ends up staying far longer than planned and discovers that his forgetfulness comes with an uncanny gift: he seems to predict the future. What follows is a quiet, moving exploration of family, purpose, and how letting go of the past can be the only way to move forward.
Cricket is our main character and narrator, and she feels like someone you might actually know. She even reminded me a little of myself. Over the time she spends caring for her father, she grows into her confidence and purpose, and it’s genuinely empowering to witness. It’s easy to root for both her and her dad. The supporting cast is likable and adds texture to the story, though none of them have quite the same emotional depth as Cricket. Her father, in particular, stands out as one of the most compelling and quietly moving figures in the book.
The story moves at a steady pace, never too fast or too slow. Henwood Hoen fills it with the rhythms of everyday life and the complicated emotions that come with becoming a parent’s caretaker. Through quiet moments of reflection, Cricket begins to see herself more clearly and to heal old wounds from her adolescence. These wounds are revealed through occasional dual-timeline chapters, and while the structure makes good sense, it did take me a moment to re-orient to the present after those sections ended. There are moments of genuine laughter, and yes, as hinted above, moments of tears. Henwood Hoen captures many of the same experiences I went through with my own parents, and that sense of recognition made the story deeply moving. She really hits the target with that. There is a clear sense of seasonality woven through the story. The trauma of Cricket’s past took place in winter, and now, as her father enters the winter of his own life, those emotional cycles begin to mirror one another. It becomes a poignant reminder that life, much like memory, moves in seasons and each one eventually fades into the next.
Before I Forget is a moving story about family, love, loss, and the gradual reinvention that comes from rediscovering oneself. It should resonate deeply with readers who enjoy stories that are both heartwarming and a little bittersweet. As a work of women’s fiction, it captures the emotional complexity and quiet strength that define the genre, making it a rewarding read for anyone drawn to character-driven storytelling.
I read a digital copy made available by St. Martin's Press through NetGalley, and this review reflects my honest opinion.
It had all the makings, and it delivered, though not until near the very end. I was pleasantly surprised to find a perspective on Alzheimer’s I hadn’t seen before, one rooted in hope. When Cricket returns home to help care for her father, she ends up staying far longer than planned and discovers that his forgetfulness comes with an uncanny gift: he seems to predict the future. What follows is a quiet, moving exploration of family, purpose, and how letting go of the past can be the only way to move forward.
Cricket is our main character and narrator, and she feels like someone you might actually know. She even reminded me a little of myself. Over the time she spends caring for her father, she grows into her confidence and purpose, and it’s genuinely empowering to witness. It’s easy to root for both her and her dad. The supporting cast is likable and adds texture to the story, though none of them have quite the same emotional depth as Cricket. Her father, in particular, stands out as one of the most compelling and quietly moving figures in the book.
The story moves at a steady pace, never too fast or too slow. Henwood Hoen fills it with the rhythms of everyday life and the complicated emotions that come with becoming a parent’s caretaker. Through quiet moments of reflection, Cricket begins to see herself more clearly and to heal old wounds from her adolescence. These wounds are revealed through occasional dual-timeline chapters, and while the structure makes good sense, it did take me a moment to re-orient to the present after those sections ended. There are moments of genuine laughter, and yes, as hinted above, moments of tears. Henwood Hoen captures many of the same experiences I went through with my own parents, and that sense of recognition made the story deeply moving. She really hits the target with that. There is a clear sense of seasonality woven through the story. The trauma of Cricket’s past took place in winter, and now, as her father enters the winter of his own life, those emotional cycles begin to mirror one another. It becomes a poignant reminder that life, much like memory, moves in seasons and each one eventually fades into the next.
Before I Forget is a moving story about family, love, loss, and the gradual reinvention that comes from rediscovering oneself. It should resonate deeply with readers who enjoy stories that are both heartwarming and a little bittersweet. As a work of women’s fiction, it captures the emotional complexity and quiet strength that define the genre, making it a rewarding read for anyone drawn to character-driven storytelling.
I read a digital copy made available by St. Martin's Press through NetGalley, and this review reflects my honest opinion.
December 20, 2025
A big thanks to Macmillan Audio for the audio. I have a feeling this is going to be a winner.
December 7, 2025
4.25 stars "A funny, heartfelt, late coming-of-age story that examines the role of memory in holding us back—and in moving us forward."
Cricket Campbell is stuck. After a tragedy ten years earlier, she flees her hometown in the Adirondacks for the Big Apple. Now she returns home as her father's Alzheimers is getting worse and her older sister can no longer care for him. Nina tells her she is planning to sell the house to afford long term care for him. But Cricket decides that they shouldn't sell the house and she will stay and care for their father.
What follows is both Cricket and her father forging a new relationship and both discovering who they are and what they want along the way. This is an emotional and tender read, reminding us that early in life you don't have to have it all figured out to be important and during Alzheimers, forgetting small details isn't as important as the gifts a person has and can still offer others.
This is a deeply moving and emotional story that will touch the deepest parts of your soul. I loved the fully fleshed characters and thought-provoking prose and insights.
The audiobook performance by Barrie Kreinik is outstanding and her voices for each character are nuanced and give insight into each personality. Many thanks to Macmillan Audio, NetGalley, and Tory Henwood Hoen for an advance listening copy in exchange for my honest review.🎧
Cricket Campbell is stuck. After a tragedy ten years earlier, she flees her hometown in the Adirondacks for the Big Apple. Now she returns home as her father's Alzheimers is getting worse and her older sister can no longer care for him. Nina tells her she is planning to sell the house to afford long term care for him. But Cricket decides that they shouldn't sell the house and she will stay and care for their father.
What follows is both Cricket and her father forging a new relationship and both discovering who they are and what they want along the way. This is an emotional and tender read, reminding us that early in life you don't have to have it all figured out to be important and during Alzheimers, forgetting small details isn't as important as the gifts a person has and can still offer others.
This is a deeply moving and emotional story that will touch the deepest parts of your soul. I loved the fully fleshed characters and thought-provoking prose and insights.
The audiobook performance by Barrie Kreinik is outstanding and her voices for each character are nuanced and give insight into each personality. Many thanks to Macmillan Audio, NetGalley, and Tory Henwood Hoen for an advance listening copy in exchange for my honest review.🎧
October 31, 2025
Wow. This was such a fantastic book. I loved how this approached topics that normally feel overwhelmingly heavy with a quiet grace. These characters felt like real people and not overdramatized versions.
This is the kind of novel that stirs up thoughts and feelings that you weren’t planning on confronting anytime soon. I loved it.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins press for the advanced copy.
This is the kind of novel that stirs up thoughts and feelings that you weren’t planning on confronting anytime soon. I loved it.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins press for the advanced copy.
December 28, 2025
5 stars. 🎧
April 6, 2025
Wow!! Thank you, NetGalley and to Macmillan publishers for an ARC of this awesome story. I absolutely loved it. Read it in a day. 4.5 stars easy.🥲🌟
When I first started the book, I was open to the premise but a part of me almost wasn’t in the mood for something “heavy”. But the author did such an excellent job of highlighting both the bittersweet moments that accompany tough family-level struggles like Alzheimer’s. Topics like loss, memory, coming-of-age struggles, and interpersonal conflicts were handled super well and refreshingly.
I also found that I liked it much more as the plot went on. And I really liked watching our protagonist’s arc develop next to her sister. It was a great way to characterize while “show don’t tell”-ing. The writing is riddled with moments that are quotable and subtly profound. Lots of good lines.
I think at the start of the book I had some moments where I wanted the plot to reflect some more back in time— to almost get me right away super invested in cricket and her family’s dynamics and flaws. However, that reflecting was something the story very much did later! And very excellently! So that might have been my personal preference.
I also really felt attached to her dad. He was so fun and felt like such a real character. And loved the late 20’s coming of age story. It’s a needed perspective and I think a lot of people will resonate. :)
When I first started the book, I was open to the premise but a part of me almost wasn’t in the mood for something “heavy”. But the author did such an excellent job of highlighting both the bittersweet moments that accompany tough family-level struggles like Alzheimer’s. Topics like loss, memory, coming-of-age struggles, and interpersonal conflicts were handled super well and refreshingly.
I also found that I liked it much more as the plot went on. And I really liked watching our protagonist’s arc develop next to her sister. It was a great way to characterize while “show don’t tell”-ing. The writing is riddled with moments that are quotable and subtly profound. Lots of good lines.
I think at the start of the book I had some moments where I wanted the plot to reflect some more back in time— to almost get me right away super invested in cricket and her family’s dynamics and flaws. However, that reflecting was something the story very much did later! And very excellently! So that might have been my personal preference.
I also really felt attached to her dad. He was so fun and felt like such a real character. And loved the late 20’s coming of age story. It’s a needed perspective and I think a lot of people will resonate. :)
October 23, 2025
This story drew me in right away with its immersive opening—the setting was so vividly described that I could easily imagine being at Catwood pond alongside the characters! I enjoyed the heartwarming and emotionally rich plot, thoughtfully balancing heavier themes with moments of humor and lighter tones, creating a steady rhythm throughout.
The touch of magical realism adds a unique and memorable layer, giving Cricket and Arthur’s journey both meaning and a gentle sense of wonder. I loved getting to know them, and even the minor characters stood out with their own charm and distinct personalities.
Barrie Kreinik did a fantastic job giving Cricket’s voice depth and authenticity, deepening my connection to her and enhancing the listening experience.
Overall, this is a sweet, touching story filled with atmosphere, heart, and just enough magic to make it truly shine!
** I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to the author and publisher! **
The touch of magical realism adds a unique and memorable layer, giving Cricket and Arthur’s journey both meaning and a gentle sense of wonder. I loved getting to know them, and even the minor characters stood out with their own charm and distinct personalities.
Barrie Kreinik did a fantastic job giving Cricket’s voice depth and authenticity, deepening my connection to her and enhancing the listening experience.
Overall, this is a sweet, touching story filled with atmosphere, heart, and just enough magic to make it truly shine!
** I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to the author and publisher! **
December 8, 2025
This is quite possibly one of the best books I've read all year. It both touched, and broke, my heart. As a nurse, I have worked closely with patient's suffering from Alzheimer's/Dementia, but having a parent with it would be absolutely devastating.
I love the relationship that Cricket and her father had and were able to build. Having that kind of quality time at the end of your parent's life is priceless. I didn't want this book to end. Her dad was an absolute gem, and watching Cricket "grow up" and take full advantage of their time together was heartwarming.
I laughed, I cried...I didn't want to put it down.
I love the relationship that Cricket and her father had and were able to build. Having that kind of quality time at the end of your parent's life is priceless. I didn't want this book to end. Her dad was an absolute gem, and watching Cricket "grow up" and take full advantage of their time together was heartwarming.
I laughed, I cried...I didn't want to put it down.
December 1, 2025
4.25 / 5 Stars
This was a really unassuming book that was exceptionally moving. It’s the story of Cricket, who is having a bit of a quarter life crisis. When her sister announces that it’s time to move their father, who has Alzheimer’s, from his beloved home in the Adirondack into a memory care facility, Cricket makes an impulsive decision to quit her job in NYC and move to upstate New York to become his caregiver. She hasn’t been to the lake house in over a decade, not since a tragic accident killed her high school boyfriend there, and hasn’t been close with her father ever since either. As Cricket and her father establish a new relationship, she discovers that as he loses his memory, he starts to see the future in bits and pieces. This is a beautiful story about grief, relationships, and figuring yourself out.
You will probably like this book if you like:
🦆 Fiction with magical realism
🦆 Complex father-daughter relationship
🦆 Discussion of death and grief
🦆 Romantic subplots
🦆 Protagonist rediscovering herself
🦆 Discussion of life as a caregiver for a parent with Alzheimer’s
This is a story of two people living at a lake house trying to navigate a relationship with each other given their new circumstances – nothing flashy and audacious – and yet, it really packed an emotional punch. There was enough complexity woven into each relationship to make it feel real without being overwritten. Cricket with her dad. Cricket with her sister. Cricket with the lake house and her history there. It all had great nuances. And yet, it wasn’t all sad. Cricket’s relationship with her dad in its current state was complex and then you add the history that led to their fractured bond and it could have felt heavy and tough but there were really sweet moments and moments of levity.
The storyline that really broke my heart was Cricket’s teenage relationship and the grief that followed. I think the author did a good job capturing the feelings following a loss, including the immense guilt, and how that can shift and affect life.
I wasn’t sure at first what to make of the oracle storyline. Originally it felt so tonally different and kind of unserious and then it evened out and wove into the story in a more seamless way. I think it also gave Cricket some closure though part of me wishes that that could have happened without magical realism.
Overall, this is a really moving book with characters you care about and root for.
Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing this eARC! All opinions are my own.
Publication Date: December 2, 2025
This was a really unassuming book that was exceptionally moving. It’s the story of Cricket, who is having a bit of a quarter life crisis. When her sister announces that it’s time to move their father, who has Alzheimer’s, from his beloved home in the Adirondack into a memory care facility, Cricket makes an impulsive decision to quit her job in NYC and move to upstate New York to become his caregiver. She hasn’t been to the lake house in over a decade, not since a tragic accident killed her high school boyfriend there, and hasn’t been close with her father ever since either. As Cricket and her father establish a new relationship, she discovers that as he loses his memory, he starts to see the future in bits and pieces. This is a beautiful story about grief, relationships, and figuring yourself out.
You will probably like this book if you like:
🦆 Fiction with magical realism
🦆 Complex father-daughter relationship
🦆 Discussion of death and grief
🦆 Romantic subplots
🦆 Protagonist rediscovering herself
🦆 Discussion of life as a caregiver for a parent with Alzheimer’s
This is a story of two people living at a lake house trying to navigate a relationship with each other given their new circumstances – nothing flashy and audacious – and yet, it really packed an emotional punch. There was enough complexity woven into each relationship to make it feel real without being overwritten. Cricket with her dad. Cricket with her sister. Cricket with the lake house and her history there. It all had great nuances. And yet, it wasn’t all sad. Cricket’s relationship with her dad in its current state was complex and then you add the history that led to their fractured bond and it could have felt heavy and tough but there were really sweet moments and moments of levity.
The storyline that really broke my heart was Cricket’s teenage relationship and the grief that followed. I think the author did a good job capturing the feelings following a loss, including the immense guilt, and how that can shift and affect life.
I wasn’t sure at first what to make of the oracle storyline. Originally it felt so tonally different and kind of unserious and then it evened out and wove into the story in a more seamless way. I think it also gave Cricket some closure though part of me wishes that that could have happened without magical realism.
Overall, this is a really moving book with characters you care about and root for.
Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing this eARC! All opinions are my own.
Publication Date: December 2, 2025
December 29, 2025
4 stars
Review to come…
Review to come…
June 22, 2025
I was so excited to get an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from St. Martin's Press, I ate this book UP this week. Finished it at work and had to go take a walk and cry a little. I really enjoyed the characters and saw myself in Cricket a lot and the silliness and seriousness of life was just very well written in this i loved it
December 22, 2025
This book touches on some difficult and complex topics. Cricket and Nina’s father has Alzheimer’s, and for years Nina has been the primary caregiver. She’s ready to move their father to a memory care center. Cricket doesn’t want to do that and offers to come back home and take over his care.
Highlights |
•Alzheimer’s
•Grief & loss
•Healing & reconciliation
•Family relationships
•Friendship
•Romantic subplot
The story has some paranormal aspects to it. It may bother some, but in the context of the storyline, it worked for me and one part even made me feel quite emotional. I may not have had experiences like those portrayed, or necessarily believe in them, but I can’t say that others haven’t, to one extent or another.
I think a lot of us are reaching for something to help us through our darkest times. For me, that’s where my faith comes in. That’s what gives me strength and peace.
I appreciate that the author handled a sensitive subject with such grace and care. It didn’t feel depressing where it absolutely could have. It was emotional for sure, but lovely in so many ways. The conclusion is especially tender, beautiful, and moving.
4.5/5 stars
Heads up for | Contains a small amount of strong profanity and one very brief implied intimate scene.
Highlights |
•Alzheimer’s
•Grief & loss
•Healing & reconciliation
•Family relationships
•Friendship
•Romantic subplot
The story has some paranormal aspects to it. It may bother some, but in the context of the storyline, it worked for me and one part even made me feel quite emotional. I may not have had experiences like those portrayed, or necessarily believe in them, but I can’t say that others haven’t, to one extent or another.
I think a lot of us are reaching for something to help us through our darkest times. For me, that’s where my faith comes in. That’s what gives me strength and peace.
I appreciate that the author handled a sensitive subject with such grace and care. It didn’t feel depressing where it absolutely could have. It was emotional for sure, but lovely in so many ways. The conclusion is especially tender, beautiful, and moving.
4.5/5 stars
Heads up for | Contains a small amount of strong profanity and one very brief implied intimate scene.
December 8, 2025
There's something profoundly unsettling about watching a parent forget who you are. In Tory Henwood Hoen's sophomore novel Before I Forget, twenty-six-year-old Cricket Campbell confronts this heartbreak head-on when she returns to her family's Adirondack lake house to care for her father Arthur, who is slipping deeper into Alzheimer's disease. What begins as an act of filial duty transforms into something far more unexpected—a meditation on grief, healing, and the peculiar gifts that arrive when we least expect them.
Hoen, whose debut The Arc explored contemporary romance with wit and insight, shifts registers here to deliver a more contemplative work that blends literary fiction with touches of magical realism. The result is a novel that feels both achingly real and quietly enchanted, much like the liminal space Cricket herself occupies throughout the narrative.
The Weight of What We Carry
Cricket arrives at Catwood Pond carrying more than luggage. A decade earlier, her first love Seth died in a New Year's Eve snowmobile accident—a tragedy for which she has spent years blaming herself. The guilt calcified into a directionless adulthood: she drifted through dead-end jobs, hollow relationships, and a general state of what she calls "perma-funk." When her older sister Nina—pregnant and living in Sweden—announces plans to move Arthur into memory care, Cricket seizes the opportunity to intervene. Perhaps by caring for her father, she reasons, she can repair their strained relationship and shake herself from her emotional paralysis.
What Cricket doesn't anticipate is how deeply familiar places hold their ghosts. Catwood Pond, once her sanctuary, now pulses with memories she's spent years avoiding. Hoen captures this duality beautifully, rendering the Adirondack setting with prose that's both spare and evocative. The lake house isn't merely a backdrop but a character itself—weathered, intimate, haunted by what was and what might have been.
When Forgetting Becomes Seeing
The novel's most compelling conceit emerges gradually: as Arthur loses his grip on the past, he appears to gain an uncanny ability to glimpse the future. At first, Cricket dismisses these moments as coincidence or confusion. But as Arthur's predictions prove eerily accurate—from the arrival of loons to more significant life events—Cricket begins to wonder if dementia has stripped away some barrier between her father and deeper truths.
This is where Hoen takes her biggest risk, and it largely pays off. The magical realism here is understated, woven so subtly into the fabric of the story that readers may debate whether Arthur possesses genuine prophetic abilities or whether Cricket is simply finding meaning in randomness. Hoen wisely refuses to provide definitive answers, allowing the ambiguity to serve the novel's larger themes about the stories we tell ourselves and the truths we divine from uncertainty.
The Oracle Project: Strengths and Stumbles
When Cricket transforms Arthur into "the Oracle at Catwood Pond"—complete with ceremonial tea, cold plunges, and choreographed meditations—the novel shifts into more precarious territory:
The Setup: With help from neighbors Carl and Paula, Cricket creates an elaborate ritual around Arthur's prophecies, welcoming visitors seeking guidance
The Evolution: What begins as an experiment becomes a regional phenomenon, attracting pilgrims from across the country
The Complications: When Cricket's former boss Gemma arrives with plans to commercialize and digitize the oracle, Cricket must confront questions about exploitation, legacy, and what she truly wants
These sections showcase Hoen's sharp satirical eye, particularly in her portrayal of wellness culture through Gemma and her company Actualize (tagline: "What would your best self do?"). The send-up of commodified spirituality and self-optimization culture feels both timely and pointed. However, some readers may find the oracle subplot strains credibility, particularly as it escalates toward its climax. The novel asks us to accept quite a bit, and while the emotional truths remain resonant, the logistics occasionally feel contrived.
The Architecture of Grief
Where Before I Forget truly excels is in its portrayal of complicated grief—not just for the dead, but for lost versions of ourselves and relationships that can never be restored. Cricket's journey isn't about finding closure so much as learning to live with permanent incompleteness.
Hoen structures the narrative through alternating timelines, weaving Cricket's present caregiving duties with flashbacks to that fateful summer when she fell in love with Seth. These sections, told with the heightened intensity of teenage emotion, provide necessary context while allowing Hoen to explore how trauma calcifies into identity. Cricket has spent a decade defining herself by what she lost rather than what remains, and watching her slowly dismantle that architecture of guilt forms the novel's emotional core.
The prose here adapts accordingly—crisp and matter-of-fact in present-day sections, more lush and urgent in the flashbacks. It's a subtle but effective technique that mirrors Cricket's own relationship to memory.
Characters Who Complicate
The supporting cast enriches the narrative considerably:
Carl: The taciturn neighbor who becomes Cricket's unexpected mentor, offering hard-won wisdom from his own caregiving experience
Paula: The exuberant dance instructor whose nephew Max provides Cricket's tentative entry into new romance
Nina: Cricket's overachieving sister, whose practical approach to their father's care creates necessary friction
Max: The arborist love interest who represents Cricket's tentative steps toward a future untethered from past trauma
These relationships feel earned rather than convenient, each serving to illuminate different facets of Cricket's character. The romance with Max, in particular, unfolds with restraint—Hoen resists the temptation to make romantic love the solution to Cricket's existential malaise, instead positioning it as one thread among many in her gradual reweaving.
Where the Novel Falters
Despite its considerable strengths, Before I Forget isn't without weaknesses. The pacing sags in the middle section as Cricket establishes the oracle practice—what begins as whimsical ritual starts to feel repetitive as visitor after visitor arrives for prophecies. While Hoen uses these encounters to explore different forms of grief and seeking, the structure becomes somewhat formulaic.
Additionally, the novel's climax involving Gemma's wellness resort plans and the reappearance of Greg Seavey (Seth's cousin and Cricket's teenage tormentor) feels overly convenient. The coincidences pile up in ways that strain the novel's otherwise grounded emotional realism. It's as if Hoen felt compelled to manufacture external conflict when the internal journey already provided sufficient dramatic tension.
The ending, while emotionally satisfying, also wraps up rather quickly. After spending over three hundred pages in Cricket's meandering present, the resolution of both Arthur's decline and Cricket's professional future feels somewhat rushed. Readers invested in the character may wish for more time with these hard-won transformations.
The Verdict: A Flawed but Moving Portrait
Before I Forget succeeds most profoundly as a character study—a portrait of a young woman learning to forgive herself and embrace uncertainty. Hoen writes with empathy about Alzheimer's, resisting both sentimentality and despair. Instead, she asks: what if dementia isn't only about loss? What if it can also be about transformation, revelation, even magic?
This isn't to romanticize a devastating disease. Arthur's decline is portrayed honestly, including the frustration, indignity, and sorrow it brings. But Hoen also insists on Arthur's continued personhood and the unexpected gifts that emerge from their transformed relationship. It's a delicate balance she mostly maintains.
The novel will resonate particularly with readers who have experienced caregiving, grief from preventable tragedy, or the paralyzing effect of survivor's guilt. It's also a love letter to the Adirondacks and to the idea that place holds memory in ways we can't always articulate but always feel.
Final Thoughts
Before I Forget establishes Tory Henwood Hoen as a novelist willing to take risks and explore emotionally complex terrain. While not every element succeeds equally, the novel's heart—its insistence that we are always "between selves," always growing, always capable of transformation—resonates deeply. Cricket's journey from paralyzed guilt to tentative hope, from bitter rootlessness to chosen rootedness, feels earned and true.
This is a novel about the courage required to return to the places that haunt us, to care for parents who no longer remember us, and to forgive ourselves for being imperfect humans in an imperfect world. It's about learning that the path forward often requires going back, and that sometimes the most profound prophecies are the ones we already know but haven't yet allowed ourselves to believe.
In the end, perhaps that's what every good oracle does: shows us what we've known all along but needed permission to accept. Hoen's second novel provides that permission generously, imperfectly, and with considerable grace.
Hoen, whose debut The Arc explored contemporary romance with wit and insight, shifts registers here to deliver a more contemplative work that blends literary fiction with touches of magical realism. The result is a novel that feels both achingly real and quietly enchanted, much like the liminal space Cricket herself occupies throughout the narrative.
The Weight of What We Carry
Cricket arrives at Catwood Pond carrying more than luggage. A decade earlier, her first love Seth died in a New Year's Eve snowmobile accident—a tragedy for which she has spent years blaming herself. The guilt calcified into a directionless adulthood: she drifted through dead-end jobs, hollow relationships, and a general state of what she calls "perma-funk." When her older sister Nina—pregnant and living in Sweden—announces plans to move Arthur into memory care, Cricket seizes the opportunity to intervene. Perhaps by caring for her father, she reasons, she can repair their strained relationship and shake herself from her emotional paralysis.
What Cricket doesn't anticipate is how deeply familiar places hold their ghosts. Catwood Pond, once her sanctuary, now pulses with memories she's spent years avoiding. Hoen captures this duality beautifully, rendering the Adirondack setting with prose that's both spare and evocative. The lake house isn't merely a backdrop but a character itself—weathered, intimate, haunted by what was and what might have been.
When Forgetting Becomes Seeing
The novel's most compelling conceit emerges gradually: as Arthur loses his grip on the past, he appears to gain an uncanny ability to glimpse the future. At first, Cricket dismisses these moments as coincidence or confusion. But as Arthur's predictions prove eerily accurate—from the arrival of loons to more significant life events—Cricket begins to wonder if dementia has stripped away some barrier between her father and deeper truths.
This is where Hoen takes her biggest risk, and it largely pays off. The magical realism here is understated, woven so subtly into the fabric of the story that readers may debate whether Arthur possesses genuine prophetic abilities or whether Cricket is simply finding meaning in randomness. Hoen wisely refuses to provide definitive answers, allowing the ambiguity to serve the novel's larger themes about the stories we tell ourselves and the truths we divine from uncertainty.
The Oracle Project: Strengths and Stumbles
When Cricket transforms Arthur into "the Oracle at Catwood Pond"—complete with ceremonial tea, cold plunges, and choreographed meditations—the novel shifts into more precarious territory:
The Setup: With help from neighbors Carl and Paula, Cricket creates an elaborate ritual around Arthur's prophecies, welcoming visitors seeking guidance
The Evolution: What begins as an experiment becomes a regional phenomenon, attracting pilgrims from across the country
The Complications: When Cricket's former boss Gemma arrives with plans to commercialize and digitize the oracle, Cricket must confront questions about exploitation, legacy, and what she truly wants
These sections showcase Hoen's sharp satirical eye, particularly in her portrayal of wellness culture through Gemma and her company Actualize (tagline: "What would your best self do?"). The send-up of commodified spirituality and self-optimization culture feels both timely and pointed. However, some readers may find the oracle subplot strains credibility, particularly as it escalates toward its climax. The novel asks us to accept quite a bit, and while the emotional truths remain resonant, the logistics occasionally feel contrived.
The Architecture of Grief
Where Before I Forget truly excels is in its portrayal of complicated grief—not just for the dead, but for lost versions of ourselves and relationships that can never be restored. Cricket's journey isn't about finding closure so much as learning to live with permanent incompleteness.
Hoen structures the narrative through alternating timelines, weaving Cricket's present caregiving duties with flashbacks to that fateful summer when she fell in love with Seth. These sections, told with the heightened intensity of teenage emotion, provide necessary context while allowing Hoen to explore how trauma calcifies into identity. Cricket has spent a decade defining herself by what she lost rather than what remains, and watching her slowly dismantle that architecture of guilt forms the novel's emotional core.
The prose here adapts accordingly—crisp and matter-of-fact in present-day sections, more lush and urgent in the flashbacks. It's a subtle but effective technique that mirrors Cricket's own relationship to memory.
Characters Who Complicate
The supporting cast enriches the narrative considerably:
Carl: The taciturn neighbor who becomes Cricket's unexpected mentor, offering hard-won wisdom from his own caregiving experience
Paula: The exuberant dance instructor whose nephew Max provides Cricket's tentative entry into new romance
Nina: Cricket's overachieving sister, whose practical approach to their father's care creates necessary friction
Max: The arborist love interest who represents Cricket's tentative steps toward a future untethered from past trauma
These relationships feel earned rather than convenient, each serving to illuminate different facets of Cricket's character. The romance with Max, in particular, unfolds with restraint—Hoen resists the temptation to make romantic love the solution to Cricket's existential malaise, instead positioning it as one thread among many in her gradual reweaving.
Where the Novel Falters
Despite its considerable strengths, Before I Forget isn't without weaknesses. The pacing sags in the middle section as Cricket establishes the oracle practice—what begins as whimsical ritual starts to feel repetitive as visitor after visitor arrives for prophecies. While Hoen uses these encounters to explore different forms of grief and seeking, the structure becomes somewhat formulaic.
Additionally, the novel's climax involving Gemma's wellness resort plans and the reappearance of Greg Seavey (Seth's cousin and Cricket's teenage tormentor) feels overly convenient. The coincidences pile up in ways that strain the novel's otherwise grounded emotional realism. It's as if Hoen felt compelled to manufacture external conflict when the internal journey already provided sufficient dramatic tension.
The ending, while emotionally satisfying, also wraps up rather quickly. After spending over three hundred pages in Cricket's meandering present, the resolution of both Arthur's decline and Cricket's professional future feels somewhat rushed. Readers invested in the character may wish for more time with these hard-won transformations.
The Verdict: A Flawed but Moving Portrait
Before I Forget succeeds most profoundly as a character study—a portrait of a young woman learning to forgive herself and embrace uncertainty. Hoen writes with empathy about Alzheimer's, resisting both sentimentality and despair. Instead, she asks: what if dementia isn't only about loss? What if it can also be about transformation, revelation, even magic?
This isn't to romanticize a devastating disease. Arthur's decline is portrayed honestly, including the frustration, indignity, and sorrow it brings. But Hoen also insists on Arthur's continued personhood and the unexpected gifts that emerge from their transformed relationship. It's a delicate balance she mostly maintains.
The novel will resonate particularly with readers who have experienced caregiving, grief from preventable tragedy, or the paralyzing effect of survivor's guilt. It's also a love letter to the Adirondacks and to the idea that place holds memory in ways we can't always articulate but always feel.
Final Thoughts
Before I Forget establishes Tory Henwood Hoen as a novelist willing to take risks and explore emotionally complex terrain. While not every element succeeds equally, the novel's heart—its insistence that we are always "between selves," always growing, always capable of transformation—resonates deeply. Cricket's journey from paralyzed guilt to tentative hope, from bitter rootlessness to chosen rootedness, feels earned and true.
This is a novel about the courage required to return to the places that haunt us, to care for parents who no longer remember us, and to forgive ourselves for being imperfect humans in an imperfect world. It's about learning that the path forward often requires going back, and that sometimes the most profound prophecies are the ones we already know but haven't yet allowed ourselves to believe.
In the end, perhaps that's what every good oracle does: shows us what we've known all along but needed permission to accept. Hoen's second novel provides that permission generously, imperfectly, and with considerable grace.
December 14, 2025
"Before I Forget" has so many ingredients that I usually devour: charming characters, quirky personalities, and family drama that isn’t too heavy. Add in its genuinely fun magical realism hook, and this book will be a home run for many.
Cricket Campbell, feeling the weight of her "failure to launch" in her mid-twenties, heads back to her family’s lake house to care for her father as his Alzheimer’s progresses. As Arthur’s grip on the past slips, Cricket has more than just his advancing disease to contend with; she also must process a past trauma and lost love that's kept her away from the town for the last decade.
For me, this ended up being a case of the wrong book at the wrong time. Because I currently have a family member with advanced dementia, the experience was a little too relatable, while simultaneously having too many things that didn’t ring true. Of course, each person’s experience with the disease will be individual, but I felt this was more like a Hallmark experience of dementia — too sanitized and thus not entirely believable. There weren’t really any of the messy or heavy moments of caregiving that are pervasive with this disease. I kept wanting to experience the emotional cut of the worst side of the illness alongside the best parts of her father's charming personality. That same longing for more followed me into Cricket’s relationship with Max, which is generally just surface-level. Still, the twist of her father becoming seemingly clairvoyant is a refreshing and fun addition to the plot that helps this book stand out from more traditional family dramas. Regardless of how it portrays dementia, "Before I Forget" undeniably delivers warmth, community, and a hopeful look at self-reinvention.
Read this if you like family-centered literary fiction with a small-town cast, a light brush with magical realism, and a story that leans into tenderness without getting too heavy. If dementia caregiving is part of your life right now, be aware that your mileage may vary.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio, NetGalley, and Tory Henwood Hoen for an advance copy for honest review. While it wasn't the right book for me, I'll wholeheartedly recommend it to others. 3.75 stars rounded up.
Cricket Campbell, feeling the weight of her "failure to launch" in her mid-twenties, heads back to her family’s lake house to care for her father as his Alzheimer’s progresses. As Arthur’s grip on the past slips, Cricket has more than just his advancing disease to contend with; she also must process a past trauma and lost love that's kept her away from the town for the last decade.
For me, this ended up being a case of the wrong book at the wrong time. Because I currently have a family member with advanced dementia, the experience was a little too relatable, while simultaneously having too many things that didn’t ring true. Of course, each person’s experience with the disease will be individual, but I felt this was more like a Hallmark experience of dementia — too sanitized and thus not entirely believable. There weren’t really any of the messy or heavy moments of caregiving that are pervasive with this disease. I kept wanting to experience the emotional cut of the worst side of the illness alongside the best parts of her father's charming personality. That same longing for more followed me into Cricket’s relationship with Max, which is generally just surface-level. Still, the twist of her father becoming seemingly clairvoyant is a refreshing and fun addition to the plot that helps this book stand out from more traditional family dramas. Regardless of how it portrays dementia, "Before I Forget" undeniably delivers warmth, community, and a hopeful look at self-reinvention.
Read this if you like family-centered literary fiction with a small-town cast, a light brush with magical realism, and a story that leans into tenderness without getting too heavy. If dementia caregiving is part of your life right now, be aware that your mileage may vary.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio, NetGalley, and Tory Henwood Hoen for an advance copy for honest review. While it wasn't the right book for me, I'll wholeheartedly recommend it to others. 3.75 stars rounded up.
December 14, 2025
Man, this book made me miss my dad. ♥️
November 2, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Cricket Campbell is just kind of stuck as she tries to navigate adulthood. She experienced a life-altering tragedy a decade ago that really set her on an aimless journey, but now she has to return home to Catwood Pond to be a caregiver for her father with his #Alzheimers diagnosis. But it’s just as she’s settling back in that she realizes that her father has a gift: as he loses his memory of the past, he begins to predict the future. But just as Cricket looks ahead, she’ll have to grapple with some of those painful parts of her past.
Let me first state that this book is far less metaphysical (or even magical realism) than it sounds, and it’s all such a beautifully written story you overlook the allegations of the father being an oracle in the best way possible. There’s so much complexity here, and the nuances of intentionally versus unwillingly forgetting the past are not lost on readers. In the audiobook version, Barrie Kreinik so expertly captures the wit and despair that Tory Henwood Hoen so expertly crafted into Cricket. It’s a relatability that even if the reader hasn’t quite experienced the same type or degree of loss, the raw emotions are universal and encapsulate how limited our time truly is. Grab a tissue and get ready for a read you won’t forget.
Reviewed as part of #ARC from #NetGalley. Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for the #gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. #MacAudio2025
Read this book if you like stories:
🎓 in coming-of-age settings
🕰️ of families grappling with the pain of Alzheimer’s disease and loss
📖 that stick with you, reminding you of the past as you build your future
Follow me on Instagram for more book reviews!
Cricket Campbell is just kind of stuck as she tries to navigate adulthood. She experienced a life-altering tragedy a decade ago that really set her on an aimless journey, but now she has to return home to Catwood Pond to be a caregiver for her father with his #Alzheimers diagnosis. But it’s just as she’s settling back in that she realizes that her father has a gift: as he loses his memory of the past, he begins to predict the future. But just as Cricket looks ahead, she’ll have to grapple with some of those painful parts of her past.
Let me first state that this book is far less metaphysical (or even magical realism) than it sounds, and it’s all such a beautifully written story you overlook the allegations of the father being an oracle in the best way possible. There’s so much complexity here, and the nuances of intentionally versus unwillingly forgetting the past are not lost on readers. In the audiobook version, Barrie Kreinik so expertly captures the wit and despair that Tory Henwood Hoen so expertly crafted into Cricket. It’s a relatability that even if the reader hasn’t quite experienced the same type or degree of loss, the raw emotions are universal and encapsulate how limited our time truly is. Grab a tissue and get ready for a read you won’t forget.
Reviewed as part of #ARC from #NetGalley. Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for the #gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. #MacAudio2025
Read this book if you like stories:
🎓 in coming-of-age settings
🕰️ of families grappling with the pain of Alzheimer’s disease and loss
📖 that stick with you, reminding you of the past as you build your future
Follow me on Instagram for more book reviews!
December 3, 2025
You’re looking at my favorite book of November right here, book friends! BEFORE I FORGET by Tory Henwood Hoen exceeded my expectations and then some. It’s no secret that family dramas are my jam, and I always give authors extra bonus points for a father-daughter storyline as I feel that the world doesn’t have enough of them! As a self-proclaimed daddy’s girl, this one really moved me. I’ve always been close with my dad, and as we both get older, I’m quickly realizing that our time is precious.
I really warmed up to the female protagonist, Cricket even though I wasn’t quite sure if I would at first. At the age of 26, I was skeptical of her ability to step up and take on the huge responsibility of caregiving for her father with his memory issues. Somehow, some way, she surprised the heck out of me. It was an absolute pleasure to witness her growth throughout. Talk about character development at its finest!
READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:
- Father-daughter relationships
- Family drama and dynamics
- Dementia and memory loss
- Caregiving for an elderly parent
- Insight on grief, loss, and healing
- Late coming-of-age stories
- Character-driven novels
- Adirondack setting
- Dual timeline
- Unique storylines
- Confronting one’s past
- Emotional reads
Barrie Kreinik did a phenomenal job with the narration, so I highly recommend the audio version if you’re undecided on which route to go with this one. I’ll definitely be seeking out more audiobooks narrated by her.
This story is messy and heavy as most family situations with an Alzheimer’s patient are, but the author handles it wonderfully. The writing is bursting with so much tenderness, heart, and humor. If you love themes of forgiveness, healing, and family, then this one is definitely for you. 5/5 stars!
I really warmed up to the female protagonist, Cricket even though I wasn’t quite sure if I would at first. At the age of 26, I was skeptical of her ability to step up and take on the huge responsibility of caregiving for her father with his memory issues. Somehow, some way, she surprised the heck out of me. It was an absolute pleasure to witness her growth throughout. Talk about character development at its finest!
READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:
- Father-daughter relationships
- Family drama and dynamics
- Dementia and memory loss
- Caregiving for an elderly parent
- Insight on grief, loss, and healing
- Late coming-of-age stories
- Character-driven novels
- Adirondack setting
- Dual timeline
- Unique storylines
- Confronting one’s past
- Emotional reads
Barrie Kreinik did a phenomenal job with the narration, so I highly recommend the audio version if you’re undecided on which route to go with this one. I’ll definitely be seeking out more audiobooks narrated by her.
This story is messy and heavy as most family situations with an Alzheimer’s patient are, but the author handles it wonderfully. The writing is bursting with so much tenderness, heart, and humor. If you love themes of forgiveness, healing, and family, then this one is definitely for you. 5/5 stars!
October 26, 2025
An engrossing tale- a late coming of age story that ends up being incredibly relatable. That time of life where you look from side to side and realize you are the adult in the room. Cricket, at 26, comes back to the Adirondacks to sit with her father, who is healthy aside from Alzheimer’s. Sometimes he doesn’t know her at all. After a tragic accident ten years earlier left a grieving Cricket to lash out at her family, she realizes now she can’t truly reconcile with her father, but she needs to create a new relationship instead.
Soon she starts to notice that he is able to predict the future in small ways- that the blueberries were ready, much earlier than usual. That they were looking forward to a visit from Seth, who had died years earlier. Together, Cricket and her father co-create a final chapter to determine if he is an oracle.
Some believe that Alzheimer’s is a gift for the end of life, to forget your hangups, your resentments and regrets. To live fully in the moment and be fully present. This story explores that concept, while at times it is heartbreakingly sad, it is also sweet and touching at others.
It’s a stunning audio performance from Barrie Kreinik. Inner dialogue with just the right amount of hesitation and insecurity, this is perfect for a long ride or while doing errands. I listened while at a Big 10 football game with AirPods in, everyone around me cheering and I was silently listening and wiping tears from my cheeks.
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC. book to be published December 1, 2025.
#macaudio2025
Soon she starts to notice that he is able to predict the future in small ways- that the blueberries were ready, much earlier than usual. That they were looking forward to a visit from Seth, who had died years earlier. Together, Cricket and her father co-create a final chapter to determine if he is an oracle.
Some believe that Alzheimer’s is a gift for the end of life, to forget your hangups, your resentments and regrets. To live fully in the moment and be fully present. This story explores that concept, while at times it is heartbreakingly sad, it is also sweet and touching at others.
It’s a stunning audio performance from Barrie Kreinik. Inner dialogue with just the right amount of hesitation and insecurity, this is perfect for a long ride or while doing errands. I listened while at a Big 10 football game with AirPods in, everyone around me cheering and I was silently listening and wiping tears from my cheeks.
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC. book to be published December 1, 2025.
#macaudio2025
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