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The Orchid #5
When Hearts Remember
She doesn’t remember her first love. But her brother’s best friend never forgot her.
Two love stories unfold—one in the past, full of stolen moments and reckless devotion, and one in the present, where fate has given them a second chance.
Alexis Vaughn first fell in love with a forbidden stranger through the pages of a secret journal. Their romance burned fast and bright—until a car crash stole her memories and nearly her life. Eight years later, she wakes up from a coma to a world she doesn’t recognize. When her brother’s best friend offers her an internship, she accepts. But something about the brooding, enigmatic billionaire unsettles her.
Ethan Anderson made a promise—to love Alexis even when she forgot him. For years, he’s kept it, watching over her, honoring the dreams she never got to chase. But now that she’s awake, she looks at him with no memories of their past. Pretending that doesn’t shatter him may be the hardest thing he’s ever done.
But as the truth behind her accident unravels and danger closes in, will love be enough to save them this time?
Note: All my books are standalones and can be read out of order.
Tropes:
• Brother’s best friend
• Amnesia
• Billionaire
• Office romance
• Angsty and emotional
• It’s always been you
• Second chance
• Pining hero
• Secrets and twists
• Letters/pen pals
• Dual timelines
• Standalone and dual POV
• Spicy and HEA!
Two love stories unfold—one in the past, full of stolen moments and reckless devotion, and one in the present, where fate has given them a second chance.
Alexis Vaughn first fell in love with a forbidden stranger through the pages of a secret journal. Their romance burned fast and bright—until a car crash stole her memories and nearly her life. Eight years later, she wakes up from a coma to a world she doesn’t recognize. When her brother’s best friend offers her an internship, she accepts. But something about the brooding, enigmatic billionaire unsettles her.
Ethan Anderson made a promise—to love Alexis even when she forgot him. For years, he’s kept it, watching over her, honoring the dreams she never got to chase. But now that she’s awake, she looks at him with no memories of their past. Pretending that doesn’t shatter him may be the hardest thing he’s ever done.
But as the truth behind her accident unravels and danger closes in, will love be enough to save them this time?
Note: All my books are standalones and can be read out of order.
Tropes:
• Brother’s best friend
• Amnesia
• Billionaire
• Office romance
• Angsty and emotional
• It’s always been you
• Second chance
• Pining hero
• Secrets and twists
• Letters/pen pals
• Dual timelines
• Standalone and dual POV
• Spicy and HEA!
438 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 4, 2025
174 people are currently reading
708 people want to read
About the author
Victoria Lum
11 books344 followersVictoria is a lover of all things romance, including movies, books, and television shows. A hopeless romantic since childhood, she is always dreaming up stories and happily ever afters. Caramel lattes are her fuel in the morning and she can usually be found reading anything she can get her hands on. She lives with her family and a beautiful Siberian husky in sunny California.
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July 19, 2025
Safety:
Spoilers…
•
•
•
This book has dual timelines
➥ Past (2 years before the h’s accident) :
— H (22 ~ 24) / h (18 ~ 20)
— Strangers to pen pals to lovers
— Brother's best friend (the MCs had never met before, so at their first meeting and during their time as pen pals the H didn’t know the h was his bff’s sister and she had no clue who he was either).
— Secret relationship (for 2 years… one as pen pals and another as secret lovers)
— Virgin h (she said she got close to having sex a few times before)
— Very experienced H and he’s got commitment issues, until the h.
— About the MCs’ celibacy during their time as pen pals :
The MCs stayed pen pals for a year. They had a rule that they’d never meet in person but they had actually met once super briefly before the whole “pen pals” thing started but neither of them knew they’d already met…
╰┈➤ The H’s celibacy during that year was vague and that bothered me tbh, especially since he had feelings for the h the whole time.
╰┈➤ The h was a virgin but she was in a relationship with OM for a while before she became pen pals with the H and she didn’t break up with OM until like two months into her friendship with the H. She never slept with OM and didn’t date anyone after him bc she had feelings for the H.
— OMD :
➜ OM1:
The h had a boyfriend at the start of the book and broke up with him around 17% mark. He was the first guy she ever dated but she never slept with him. The H started feeling jealous of the h’s boyfriend once he began catching feelings for her (the MCs are pen pals for two months at this point).
➜ OM2:
One of the h’s brother’s friends tries to hit on her but the H shuts him down (the MCs are secretly together at this point).
— Unnecessary OWD :
The H broke up with his ex just two weeks before meeting the h (and before the whole pen pal thing even started). He was never in love with this OW but she loved him and wanted more from the relationship, so he ended things ‘cause he doesn’t believe in love and is afraid of commitment. OW was texting him and trying to get him back but he wasn’t interested.
At some point while the H was waiting the h for a tutoring session (see note) he randomly ran into his ex a year after they broke up and they were way too friendly for my taste 😕. This happens after he and the h had already started seeing each other in person but they weren’t together yet…
(Note: Back when the MCs were still just pen pals, they decided to finally meet up after a year because they both had feelings for each other… When they met, they couldn’t resist the chemistry between them, so they ended up making out pretty heavily but once he found out she was his bff’s sister he tried to back off and refused to be in a relationship with her all bc he had promised her brother he’d stay away from her. Still her brother ended up asking him for a favor to help her out with her studies, so they started seeing each other a few times for tutoring. He tried to fight his feelings but that didn’t last long).
The h saw the H and OW together and OW was clearly trying to make her jealous… touching the H, hugging him in front of her and then asking him to be her date to an event. And what did the H say? That he’d “check his schedule.” He didn’t do anything to reassure the h. Instead he told her that his relationship with OW was none of her business and that jealousy didn’t look good on her. 😒 Then just a few moments later her ex called and asked to see her and suddenly the H was all jealous and hypocritical, telling her not to meet up with her ex 😒. That scene made me so mad at the H tbh. In the end the h didn’t meet her ex bc the H showed up at her place to stop her and they ended up sleeping together for the first time. The ex-girlfriend was basically ignored! We don’t even know if the H went to meet her or just ditched her completely. She just disappeared after that scene 🤷🏻♀️.
Anyway the H was clearly never into OW from the beginning, so that whole scene felt unnecessary. It was just there to make the MCs jealous and finally give in to their feelings so they could be together 🙄.
— Push away from the H
➥ Present (8~9 years after the accident) :
— H (32~33) / h (28~29)
— Second chance
— The h has amnesia (she forgot the last 4 years before the accident Including her relationship with the H)
— The h was in a coma for 8 years
— The H has been celibate for 9 years (almost 10 years)
— OM:
The h’s ex visited her a year after she came out of the coma and the H happened to be there too, so a little jealousy moment happened. She and the ex still texted occasionally and hung out once (she only saw him as a friend). Eventually OM asked her out and she said no.
— No ow/cheating
— No scenes with other people
— Push away from the h
— HEA
Spoilers…
•
•
•
This book has dual timelines
➥ Past (2 years before the h’s accident) :
— H (22 ~ 24) / h (18 ~ 20)
— Strangers to pen pals to lovers
— Brother's best friend (the MCs had never met before, so at their first meeting and during their time as pen pals the H didn’t know the h was his bff’s sister and she had no clue who he was either).
— Secret relationship (for 2 years… one as pen pals and another as secret lovers)
— Virgin h (she said she got close to having sex a few times before)
— Very experienced H and he’s got commitment issues, until the h.
— About the MCs’ celibacy during their time as pen pals :
The MCs stayed pen pals for a year. They had a rule that they’d never meet in person but they had actually met once super briefly before the whole “pen pals” thing started but neither of them knew they’d already met…
╰┈➤ The H’s celibacy during that year was vague and that bothered me tbh, especially since he had feelings for the h the whole time.
╰┈➤ The h was a virgin but she was in a relationship with OM for a while before she became pen pals with the H and she didn’t break up with OM until like two months into her friendship with the H. She never slept with OM and didn’t date anyone after him bc she had feelings for the H.
— OMD :
➜ OM1:
The h had a boyfriend at the start of the book and broke up with him around 17% mark. He was the first guy she ever dated but she never slept with him. The H started feeling jealous of the h’s boyfriend once he began catching feelings for her (the MCs are pen pals for two months at this point).
➜ OM2:
One of the h’s brother’s friends tries to hit on her but the H shuts him down (the MCs are secretly together at this point).
— Unnecessary OWD :
The H broke up with his ex just two weeks before meeting the h (and before the whole pen pal thing even started). He was never in love with this OW but she loved him and wanted more from the relationship, so he ended things ‘cause he doesn’t believe in love and is afraid of commitment. OW was texting him and trying to get him back but he wasn’t interested.
At some point while the H was waiting the h for a tutoring session (see note) he randomly ran into his ex a year after they broke up and they were way too friendly for my taste 😕. This happens after he and the h had already started seeing each other in person but they weren’t together yet…
(Note: Back when the MCs were still just pen pals, they decided to finally meet up after a year because they both had feelings for each other… When they met, they couldn’t resist the chemistry between them, so they ended up making out pretty heavily but once he found out she was his bff’s sister he tried to back off and refused to be in a relationship with her all bc he had promised her brother he’d stay away from her. Still her brother ended up asking him for a favor to help her out with her studies, so they started seeing each other a few times for tutoring. He tried to fight his feelings but that didn’t last long).
The h saw the H and OW together and OW was clearly trying to make her jealous… touching the H, hugging him in front of her and then asking him to be her date to an event. And what did the H say? That he’d “check his schedule.” He didn’t do anything to reassure the h. Instead he told her that his relationship with OW was none of her business and that jealousy didn’t look good on her. 😒 Then just a few moments later her ex called and asked to see her and suddenly the H was all jealous and hypocritical, telling her not to meet up with her ex 😒. That scene made me so mad at the H tbh. In the end the h didn’t meet her ex bc the H showed up at her place to stop her and they ended up sleeping together for the first time. The ex-girlfriend was basically ignored! We don’t even know if the H went to meet her or just ditched her completely. She just disappeared after that scene 🤷🏻♀️.
Anyway the H was clearly never into OW from the beginning, so that whole scene felt unnecessary. It was just there to make the MCs jealous and finally give in to their feelings so they could be together 🙄.
— Push away from the H
➥ Present (8~9 years after the accident) :
— H (32~33) / h (28~29)
— Second chance
— The h has amnesia (she forgot the last 4 years before the accident Including her relationship with the H)
— The h was in a coma for 8 years
— The H has been celibate for 9 years (almost 10 years)
“It’s been almost ten years.”
“T-Ten years? You haven’t—” He hasn’t been with anyone for a decade?
“How could I? I’m taken. My heart and body belong only to one woman.”
— OM:
The h’s ex visited her a year after she came out of the coma and the H happened to be there too, so a little jealousy moment happened. She and the ex still texted occasionally and hung out once (she only saw him as a friend). Eventually OM asked her out and she said no.
— No ow/cheating
— No scenes with other people
— Push away from the h
— HEA
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 3, 2025
When Hearts Remember by Victoria Lum
5/5⭐
2,5/5🌶️
I've been meaning to read this author's books since last year, and now I'm kicking myself for waiting so long! I’m honestly speechless—this book has completely taken my heart. Ethan and Alexis' love story is just beautiful and powerful. If you don't have Ethan Anderson on your list of book boyfriends, you're missing out big time! He's now in my top three best book boyfriends ever.
Ethan and Alexis start as pen pals, writing to each other for weeks and falling in love through their letters. When they finally meet, there's this amazing instant connection. But Alexis is Ethan's best friend's little sister, and she’s off-limits! They can't resist each other, though, and end up in a secret relationship for two years. Just when everything seems perfect, a tragic accident puts Alexis in a coma for 8 years. When she wakes up, she forgets four years of her memory, including all her memories of Ethan.
Ethan is the fourth child in a wealthy family, but he often feels like he doesn't fit in. He's a bit reserved and quiet, but he's hardworking and strives to prove himself to everyone. Writing to Alexis felt like finding someone who truly understood him. Their connection is deep, and he falls head over heels for her. The way he loves Alexis? I was so jealous of her. I wish someone would love me the way Ethan loves Alexis. For 10 years, he waited for her, and even when she was in that coma, he kept her dreams alive by visiting places on her bucket list. When she wakes up and doesn’t remember him, he quietly loves her for two years—supporting, protecting, and encouraging her. My heart ached for him so many times and I did cry a few times.
Alexis is such a fantastic character, too! Before her accident, she was fun, bold, and a dreamer. Afterward, she becomes more resilient and determined, even though she feels lost and like she’s missed out on so much. I admired her strength and how hard she tried to get back on her feet. The connection between her and Ethan is truly special; even when her mind forgets him, her heart remembers.
Ethan and Alexis’ love story is filled with power, selflessness, and heartfelt emotion. I loved watching Alexis fall in love with Ethan all over again—she couldn’t stay away from him and felt so safe in his arms. Their willingness to sacrifice for each other is something that will keep you rooting for them until the very end. There’s even a bit of suspense and mystery that had my heart racing! This book is amazing, and I know I’ll remember it for a long time. I know I'm going to read the previous books in this series!
5/5⭐
2,5/5🌶️
I've been meaning to read this author's books since last year, and now I'm kicking myself for waiting so long! I’m honestly speechless—this book has completely taken my heart. Ethan and Alexis' love story is just beautiful and powerful. If you don't have Ethan Anderson on your list of book boyfriends, you're missing out big time! He's now in my top three best book boyfriends ever.
Ethan and Alexis start as pen pals, writing to each other for weeks and falling in love through their letters. When they finally meet, there's this amazing instant connection. But Alexis is Ethan's best friend's little sister, and she’s off-limits! They can't resist each other, though, and end up in a secret relationship for two years. Just when everything seems perfect, a tragic accident puts Alexis in a coma for 8 years. When she wakes up, she forgets four years of her memory, including all her memories of Ethan.
Ethan is the fourth child in a wealthy family, but he often feels like he doesn't fit in. He's a bit reserved and quiet, but he's hardworking and strives to prove himself to everyone. Writing to Alexis felt like finding someone who truly understood him. Their connection is deep, and he falls head over heels for her. The way he loves Alexis? I was so jealous of her. I wish someone would love me the way Ethan loves Alexis. For 10 years, he waited for her, and even when she was in that coma, he kept her dreams alive by visiting places on her bucket list. When she wakes up and doesn’t remember him, he quietly loves her for two years—supporting, protecting, and encouraging her. My heart ached for him so many times and I did cry a few times.
Alexis is such a fantastic character, too! Before her accident, she was fun, bold, and a dreamer. Afterward, she becomes more resilient and determined, even though she feels lost and like she’s missed out on so much. I admired her strength and how hard she tried to get back on her feet. The connection between her and Ethan is truly special; even when her mind forgets him, her heart remembers.
Ethan and Alexis’ love story is filled with power, selflessness, and heartfelt emotion. I loved watching Alexis fall in love with Ethan all over again—she couldn’t stay away from him and felt so safe in his arms. Their willingness to sacrifice for each other is something that will keep you rooting for them until the very end. There’s even a bit of suspense and mystery that had my heart racing! This book is amazing, and I know I’ll remember it for a long time. I know I'm going to read the previous books in this series!
July 9, 2025
Normally, I’m someone who avoids dual timeline/books with flashbacks like the plague. However, for some reason I decided to give this book a chance, and I’m SO GLAD I did!!
This book had me C R Y I N G! Ethan’s love for Lexy, and his loneliness and hopelessness/sadness was killing me 😭 that man loved her !! He never gave up hope throughout all the years she was in a coma, even when her family started to refer to her in the past tense. I feel like when reading books, years don’t actually seem that long to me, but when you think about how long 8 years actually is, the fact that his love endured for her that whole time is just amazing to me. Like I don’t even remember who I was 8 years ago and when I look at books I read from 8 years ago, I sometimes wonder what I was thinking. So, him living for her the whole time she was in a coma is so romantic to me😭 and I loved that we got to see a couple of his visits to her while she was in a coma because I feel like that really helped me connect to him.
Reading about him crying for her, not only while she was in a coma, but after she woke up too just twisted my heart right up !!
And I’m so glad we got to experience their connection from before her accident, because I felt their love so strongly
Ugh I just loved this book so much!
This book had me C R Y I N G! Ethan’s love for Lexy, and his loneliness and hopelessness/sadness was killing me 😭 that man loved her !! He never gave up hope throughout all the years she was in a coma, even when her family started to refer to her in the past tense. I feel like when reading books, years don’t actually seem that long to me, but when you think about how long 8 years actually is, the fact that his love endured for her that whole time is just amazing to me. Like I don’t even remember who I was 8 years ago and when I look at books I read from 8 years ago, I sometimes wonder what I was thinking. So, him living for her the whole time she was in a coma is so romantic to me😭 and I loved that we got to see a couple of his visits to her while she was in a coma because I feel like that really helped me connect to him.
Reading about him crying for her, not only while she was in a coma, but after she woke up too just twisted my heart right up !!
And I’m so glad we got to experience their connection from before her accident, because I felt their love so strongly
Ugh I just loved this book so much!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 20, 2025
Made me cry like a baby. This was a beautiful work of art and creativity. The author really does justice to love, loyalty and soulmates. The characters were all beautifully portrayed, but it was Ethan , right from the very start, that stole away our hearts. His never-ending belief, loyalty and the depths of his love for his Nova, for Alexis, far surpass this realm.
This book really gives the feels, and what makes it all the better, Ethan never strayed or had one night stands (to forget his anguish, to forget the hell he is being living in for years).
5 starts are certainly far far far less than what this book deserves.
This book really gives the feels, and what makes it all the better, Ethan never strayed or had one night stands (to forget his anguish, to forget the hell he is being living in for years).
5 starts are certainly far far far less than what this book deserves.
July 17, 2025
this was okay
Read
June 4, 2025Dear Friends,
When Hearts Remember is finally out in the world and I don’t quite have the words (a rare thing for a writer!) to express how much this story means to me.
This is a book about memory, love lost and rediscovered, and the long, winding path back to the heart of the one person who never forgot you. Ethan and Alexis’s story is emotional, intense, and deeply personal. It’s about second chances and the kind of love that endures even when everything else fades.
And yes, it’s angsty. Yes, it’s a little devastating.
But it’s also healing, redemptive, and ultimately…hopeful.
To those of you who’ve been with me since the beginning of The Orchid series: thank you.
From Steven and Grace, the Anderson twins and their women, the golden prince Charles and his black cat ballerina, Taylor, to the others in their wonderful family, you’ve embraced these beautifully flawed characters and their messy, passionate journeys.
To new readers discovering me through this book, I hope you enjoy the journey. I hope When Hearts Remember will stay with you.
I hope all of you can find a love that is like Ethan Anderson and Alexis Vaughn’s love for each other.
For those of you who’ve stumbled upon my post before reading their story, here’s what you can look forward to:
• A brother’s best friend romance that spans a decade.
• A heroine waking from a coma with no memory of the man who would’ve burned the world for her.
• A hero who never stopped loving her and who’s about to find out if love is strong enough to rewrite fate.
• And a bucket list…with one final item that might just break your heart and then put it back together.
• And of course, the spice and tension that ignite the pages.
Thank you for reading, reviewing, and riding the emotional rollercoaster with me. You’re the reason these stories come to life.
With love and gratitude,
Victoria
When Hearts Remember is finally out in the world and I don’t quite have the words (a rare thing for a writer!) to express how much this story means to me.
This is a book about memory, love lost and rediscovered, and the long, winding path back to the heart of the one person who never forgot you. Ethan and Alexis’s story is emotional, intense, and deeply personal. It’s about second chances and the kind of love that endures even when everything else fades.
And yes, it’s angsty. Yes, it’s a little devastating.
But it’s also healing, redemptive, and ultimately…hopeful.
To those of you who’ve been with me since the beginning of The Orchid series: thank you.
From Steven and Grace, the Anderson twins and their women, the golden prince Charles and his black cat ballerina, Taylor, to the others in their wonderful family, you’ve embraced these beautifully flawed characters and their messy, passionate journeys.
To new readers discovering me through this book, I hope you enjoy the journey. I hope When Hearts Remember will stay with you.
I hope all of you can find a love that is like Ethan Anderson and Alexis Vaughn’s love for each other.
For those of you who’ve stumbled upon my post before reading their story, here’s what you can look forward to:
• A brother’s best friend romance that spans a decade.
• A heroine waking from a coma with no memory of the man who would’ve burned the world for her.
• A hero who never stopped loving her and who’s about to find out if love is strong enough to rewrite fate.
• And a bucket list…with one final item that might just break your heart and then put it back together.
• And of course, the spice and tension that ignite the pages.
Thank you for reading, reviewing, and riding the emotional rollercoaster with me. You’re the reason these stories come to life.
With love and gratitude,
Victoria
May 26, 2025
When Hearts Remember is, in my opinion, Victoria Lum’s best work to date. The angst, the emotions, the EVERYTHING. She poured her heart and soul into this book and you can tell.
🖤Amnesia trope
🖤Second chance
🖤Brother’s best friend
🖤Billionaire romance
🖤Secret relationship
🖤Penpals
Ethan and Lexy met anonymously and fell in love long before they knew who the other was. But they could never be anything other than a secret because Ethan was Lexy’s brother best friend. So they dated and fell in love in the most beautiful way. Until tragedy strikes and eight long years go by where their future is in limbo.
I loved the flipping between past and present. This was so well done and really made all the longing and pining that much more heightened. You can literally feel their love through the pages.
I love how they were able to fall in love, not once, but twice. Ethan’s character really just needed a hug. I felt so bad for him because of how strong his love for Lexy is and how he had to sacrifice his own happiness at times.
🖤Amnesia trope
🖤Second chance
🖤Brother’s best friend
🖤Billionaire romance
🖤Secret relationship
🖤Penpals
Ethan and Lexy met anonymously and fell in love long before they knew who the other was. But they could never be anything other than a secret because Ethan was Lexy’s brother best friend. So they dated and fell in love in the most beautiful way. Until tragedy strikes and eight long years go by where their future is in limbo.
I loved the flipping between past and present. This was so well done and really made all the longing and pining that much more heightened. You can literally feel their love through the pages.
I love how they were able to fall in love, not once, but twice. Ethan’s character really just needed a hug. I felt so bad for him because of how strong his love for Lexy is and how he had to sacrifice his own happiness at times.
June 4, 2025
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️
When Hearts Remember is the 5th book The Orchid series and the one I was most nervous for because it had the amnesia trope. I usually have a difficult time with this trope, but of course, Victoria Lum delivered it perfectly. This was another angsty and heartbreaking book. My heart just went out to Ethan, and he is definitely top book boyfriend material.
I loved the setup for this romance because Ethan and Alexis fall in love through writing letters in a journal they share. It was beautiful to watch their connection grow on a deeper level through their letters. They finally agree to meet in person, and Ethan is shocked to learn she was actually his best friend's little sister. He had already promised to stay away from his sister, but it was impossible for him to keep his distance when he already had intense feelings for her. They had such a sweet relationship until the tragic event happens where Alexis almost dies and is in a coma for 8 years.
Ethan never moved on and closed off his heart while waiting for a miracle. The miracle finally happens when Alexis wakes up from her coma, but she has partial amnesia and has no idea who Ethan is. This was so heartbreaking! Ethan could not tell her about their past, so he had to keep his distance while she struggled through PT and participated in a medical trial that would hopefully return her memories. The amount of longing this man had for his woman was so devastating.
I loved the connection and endless love these two had for each other. There were so many beautiful moments in this book. Ethan is everything you want in a hero, and I appreciated how strong Alexis was.
There is a suspense element that has ties to the previous book that deals with some triggering content. I will say I guessed who the embezzler was from the start, but I still thought the 3rd act was exciting.
Can I also just start begging Victoria to write a book for Elias or start a new series with him? I'm so intrigued by his character.
Thank you to Victoria Lum for providing the ARC.
TW: SA of side character
🌶️🌶️🌶️
When Hearts Remember is the 5th book The Orchid series and the one I was most nervous for because it had the amnesia trope. I usually have a difficult time with this trope, but of course, Victoria Lum delivered it perfectly. This was another angsty and heartbreaking book. My heart just went out to Ethan, and he is definitely top book boyfriend material.
I loved the setup for this romance because Ethan and Alexis fall in love through writing letters in a journal they share. It was beautiful to watch their connection grow on a deeper level through their letters. They finally agree to meet in person, and Ethan is shocked to learn she was actually his best friend's little sister. He had already promised to stay away from his sister, but it was impossible for him to keep his distance when he already had intense feelings for her. They had such a sweet relationship until the tragic event happens where Alexis almost dies and is in a coma for 8 years.
Ethan never moved on and closed off his heart while waiting for a miracle. The miracle finally happens when Alexis wakes up from her coma, but she has partial amnesia and has no idea who Ethan is. This was so heartbreaking! Ethan could not tell her about their past, so he had to keep his distance while she struggled through PT and participated in a medical trial that would hopefully return her memories. The amount of longing this man had for his woman was so devastating.
I loved the connection and endless love these two had for each other. There were so many beautiful moments in this book. Ethan is everything you want in a hero, and I appreciated how strong Alexis was.
There is a suspense element that has ties to the previous book that deals with some triggering content. I will say I guessed who the embezzler was from the start, but I still thought the 3rd act was exciting.
Can I also just start begging Victoria to write a book for Elias or start a new series with him? I'm so intrigued by his character.
Thank you to Victoria Lum for providing the ARC.
TW: SA of side character
June 2, 2025
Obsessed
This was my first read in the series, and while there are a lot of characters, I was never lost. Now I need to go back and read the earlier books and I’m already counting down to book 6!
This was also my first amnesia romance, and oh...em...gee! The angst! The heartbreak! I broke right alongside Ethan! I pined with him! His unwavering hope that his Nova would come back, paired with the quiet way he supported her while falling apart inside, was gut-wrenching.
I can’t imagine waking up from a coma after nine years and still losing memories from the four years before the accident. Alexis was put through hell in her own way, and my heart ached for her just as deeply.
The dual timeline was everything. Watching their pen-pal relationship evolve, seeing them try to become better versions of themselves for each other, and then finally finding happiness only to lose it before it's even started and have to fight their chemistry all over again really added an emotional gut-punch to the already forbidden/brother’s best friend dynamic.
And the bucket list? The way Ethan quietly fulfilled it and left space for her in every photo? Yeah, I was done. Ethan may have just claimed the crown as my ultimate book boyfriend.
I won’t spoil more, because honestly, I went in 100% blind and I think everyone should. This is a beautiful, heartbreaking, healing journey and absolutely worth taking.
💔Brother’s best friend
✨Amnesia
💔Billionaire
✨Office romance
💔Second chance
✨Angsty and emotional
💔It’s always been you
✨Pining hero
💔Secrets and twists
✨Letters/pen pals
💔Dual timelines
✨Standalone and dual POV
💔Spicy and HEA!
Thank you, Victoria and The Author Agency for this ARC.
This was my first read in the series, and while there are a lot of characters, I was never lost. Now I need to go back and read the earlier books and I’m already counting down to book 6!
This was also my first amnesia romance, and oh...em...gee! The angst! The heartbreak! I broke right alongside Ethan! I pined with him! His unwavering hope that his Nova would come back, paired with the quiet way he supported her while falling apart inside, was gut-wrenching.
I can’t imagine waking up from a coma after nine years and still losing memories from the four years before the accident. Alexis was put through hell in her own way, and my heart ached for her just as deeply.
The dual timeline was everything. Watching their pen-pal relationship evolve, seeing them try to become better versions of themselves for each other, and then finally finding happiness only to lose it before it's even started and have to fight their chemistry all over again really added an emotional gut-punch to the already forbidden/brother’s best friend dynamic.
And the bucket list? The way Ethan quietly fulfilled it and left space for her in every photo? Yeah, I was done. Ethan may have just claimed the crown as my ultimate book boyfriend.
I won’t spoil more, because honestly, I went in 100% blind and I think everyone should. This is a beautiful, heartbreaking, healing journey and absolutely worth taking.
💔Brother’s best friend
✨Amnesia
💔Billionaire
✨Office romance
💔Second chance
✨Angsty and emotional
💔It’s always been you
✨Pining hero
💔Secrets and twists
✨Letters/pen pals
💔Dual timelines
✨Standalone and dual POV
💔Spicy and HEA!
Thank you, Victoria and The Author Agency for this ARC.
November 10, 2025
5⭐️
the dreamer and her keeper 😭😭😭
this was the most beautifully heartbreaking book. the angst and yearning and the pining…so so good. i adored this book so so soooooo much. i felt so deeply while reading and felt so connected to these characters.
ethan and alexis, the dreamer and the keeper, the north star and his nova. i loved them sooo incredibly much. my heart broke and healed with the emotion and the love that they had for each other and how they found their way back to each other, how ethan always remembered her and always loved her, how lexy knew deep down that they loved each other. i loved reading about their initial love story and watching them fall in love again and again (play everything is romantic by charli xcx)
this may be one of my favorite reads of the year
the dreamer and her keeper 😭😭😭
this was the most beautifully heartbreaking book. the angst and yearning and the pining…so so good. i adored this book so so soooooo much. i felt so deeply while reading and felt so connected to these characters.
ethan and alexis, the dreamer and the keeper, the north star and his nova. i loved them sooo incredibly much. my heart broke and healed with the emotion and the love that they had for each other and how they found their way back to each other, how ethan always remembered her and always loved her, how lexy knew deep down that they loved each other. i loved reading about their initial love story and watching them fall in love again and again (play everything is romantic by charli xcx)
this may be one of my favorite reads of the year
June 7, 2025
Spice: 3
Tropes:
Brother's Best Friend
Billionaire romance
Second Chance
grumpy x sunshine
Dual Timelines
amnesia
Dual POV
I knew going into this story, that it would be emotional, just based off the ending of The Orchid book 4.... and boy, did the Queen of Emotional Romances nail this one. My heart was destroyed and put back together in the most beautiful way. I honestly think that Ethan and Alexis' story is probably my favorite of Victoria Lum's so far! The dual timelines of pre- and post- accident were perfection. I have never read a book with 2 timelines that were written with such care and emotions as these were.
MMC Ethan may be a member of the Anderson family, but he keeps to a strict routine and hard exterior. On the inside, Ethan is broken. The woman he loves has been in a coma for the last 8 years and she's finally awake! Only... her memory ends 2 years before she ever met Ethan. Ethan must find a way to his Nova's heart... to help her heart remember, or risk his own forever.
FMC Alexis has just woken up from a coma after a traumatic accident. While her memory stops 4 years before the accident, she continues to feel that there was more to her accident than anyone knows. She also finds herself drawn to the broody Ethan Anderson. Is it her heart trying to help her memories? And what will happen if she does or doesn't ever get her memories back?
When Hearts Remember will probably live rent free in my head for the next few days. I loved it so much. There was romance, heart break, suspense, and mystery. Just a great read! *I say this after every Victoria Lum book but I hope we get an Elias Kent book at some point lol
Tropes:
Brother's Best Friend
Billionaire romance
Second Chance
grumpy x sunshine
Dual Timelines
amnesia
Dual POV
I knew going into this story, that it would be emotional, just based off the ending of The Orchid book 4.... and boy, did the Queen of Emotional Romances nail this one. My heart was destroyed and put back together in the most beautiful way. I honestly think that Ethan and Alexis' story is probably my favorite of Victoria Lum's so far! The dual timelines of pre- and post- accident were perfection. I have never read a book with 2 timelines that were written with such care and emotions as these were.
MMC Ethan may be a member of the Anderson family, but he keeps to a strict routine and hard exterior. On the inside, Ethan is broken. The woman he loves has been in a coma for the last 8 years and she's finally awake! Only... her memory ends 2 years before she ever met Ethan. Ethan must find a way to his Nova's heart... to help her heart remember, or risk his own forever.
FMC Alexis has just woken up from a coma after a traumatic accident. While her memory stops 4 years before the accident, she continues to feel that there was more to her accident than anyone knows. She also finds herself drawn to the broody Ethan Anderson. Is it her heart trying to help her memories? And what will happen if she does or doesn't ever get her memories back?
When Hearts Remember will probably live rent free in my head for the next few days. I loved it so much. There was romance, heart break, suspense, and mystery. Just a great read! *I say this after every Victoria Lum book but I hope we get an Elias Kent book at some point lol
May 24, 2025
✨ ARC Review: When Hearts Remember ✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book wrecked me, in the best way.
When Hearts Remember is one of those rare stories that doesn’t just tug at your heartstrings, it wraps around them like a fist and doesn’t let go. From the very first chapter, I was hooked. The dual timeline is done so beautifully, revealing a love story full of longing, devotion, and second chances.
Ethan and Alexis? Their connection is unforgettable. The emotional weight of their bond, the pain of lost memories, and the quiet hope threaded through every interaction had me turning pages late into the night. And Ethan… he’s the kind of character who redefines dedication. His love never wavers. He might be my TOP book boyfriend of all time.
There are so many tropes I love - brother’s best friend, amnesia, secret letters, emotional slow burn, and they’re done with such heart. There’s tension, mystery, healing, and moments that made me tear up in the middle of my living room. It’s a story that captures the ache of what was lost and the beauty of what can be found again.
This book is a masterpiece. A slow burn, second-chance, soul-reclaiming kind of love. It’s the kind of story that reminds you why you fell in love with reading in the first place—the escape, the ache, the healing.
When Hearts Remember didn’t just break my heart, it carefully pieced it back together, reminding me that love this deep, this enduring, can exist in pages... and maybe even in life. I’ll carry this one with me for a long, long time. One of my favorite reads of 2025 so far!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book wrecked me, in the best way.
When Hearts Remember is one of those rare stories that doesn’t just tug at your heartstrings, it wraps around them like a fist and doesn’t let go. From the very first chapter, I was hooked. The dual timeline is done so beautifully, revealing a love story full of longing, devotion, and second chances.
Ethan and Alexis? Their connection is unforgettable. The emotional weight of their bond, the pain of lost memories, and the quiet hope threaded through every interaction had me turning pages late into the night. And Ethan… he’s the kind of character who redefines dedication. His love never wavers. He might be my TOP book boyfriend of all time.
There are so many tropes I love - brother’s best friend, amnesia, secret letters, emotional slow burn, and they’re done with such heart. There’s tension, mystery, healing, and moments that made me tear up in the middle of my living room. It’s a story that captures the ache of what was lost and the beauty of what can be found again.
This book is a masterpiece. A slow burn, second-chance, soul-reclaiming kind of love. It’s the kind of story that reminds you why you fell in love with reading in the first place—the escape, the ache, the healing.
When Hearts Remember didn’t just break my heart, it carefully pieced it back together, reminding me that love this deep, this enduring, can exist in pages... and maybe even in life. I’ll carry this one with me for a long, long time. One of my favorite reads of 2025 so far!
May 27, 2025
✨ ARC Review ✨
This is my first book by the author and boy what an introduction!!
This story tugs at the heart strings and made me cry a few times.
There is no 3rd act breakup.
Ethan & Alexis- The Keeper & His Dreamer- The North Star & His Supernova.
I love these characters so much!
This story deals with love, loss, grief, guilt, amnesia and second chances to fall in love again.
These two met by chance or by fate depending on what you believe. They start a sweet friendship and that grows into something more but then he finds out she’s the one person in the whole world he’s supposed to stay away from. His best friend’s little sister, the one his best friend told him he would never meet because he doesn’t trust him, but fate brought them together.
If you’re a fan of The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks you’ll love this story.
If you’re a Shain Rose fan I think you’ll enjoy this story too.
My review is freely given.
This is my first book by the author and boy what an introduction!!
This story tugs at the heart strings and made me cry a few times.
There is no 3rd act breakup.
Ethan & Alexis- The Keeper & His Dreamer- The North Star & His Supernova.
I love these characters so much!
This story deals with love, loss, grief, guilt, amnesia and second chances to fall in love again.
These two met by chance or by fate depending on what you believe. They start a sweet friendship and that grows into something more but then he finds out she’s the one person in the whole world he’s supposed to stay away from. His best friend’s little sister, the one his best friend told him he would never meet because he doesn’t trust him, but fate brought them together.
If you’re a fan of The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks you’ll love this story.
If you’re a Shain Rose fan I think you’ll enjoy this story too.
My review is freely given.
May 28, 2025
When Hearts Remember is my first read of Victoria Lum’s, and is the fifth book in The Orchid Series. It has me wondering where this series has been hiding on my Booksta feed. Ethan and Alexis was definitely binge worthy, I devoured their story in less than 24 hours. They have a magnetic chemistry that pulls you right in and tugs on your heartstrings. You’ll definitely need the tissues with this one, or I did at least. They have a love story that was written in the stars.
Are you searching for your next introverted broody billionaire book boyfriend? Look no further, Ethan will check off all the boxes. I could say so much about this character but I do not want to spoil it for other readers. Oh sweet sweet Alexis! She is one of my favorite fmc’s to date. My heart ached for both of these characters, they endured so much to get to their hea. When Hearts Remember is a standalone dual timelines with dual pov’s second chance romance. It has a cohesive coherent storyline with strong character dynamics. I highly recommend this one especially if you love a good secret penpal.
Are you searching for your next introverted broody billionaire book boyfriend? Look no further, Ethan will check off all the boxes. I could say so much about this character but I do not want to spoil it for other readers. Oh sweet sweet Alexis! She is one of my favorite fmc’s to date. My heart ached for both of these characters, they endured so much to get to their hea. When Hearts Remember is a standalone dual timelines with dual pov’s second chance romance. It has a cohesive coherent storyline with strong character dynamics. I highly recommend this one especially if you love a good secret penpal.
May 24, 2025
Ethan + Alexis
-billionaire romance
-office romance
-brothers best friend
-second chance
-letters/pen pals
-amnesia
wellllllll aint love just a bitch!!! 😩😭 mannnn my heart hurt so much for my man ethan! he really had to go thru it yall!! but he did & he loved our girl lexy thru it all & like THE FUCKING PHOTOS?? stfu i can't with them! it was just too sweet!
-billionaire romance
-office romance
-brothers best friend
-second chance
-letters/pen pals
-amnesia
wellllllll aint love just a bitch!!! 😩😭 mannnn my heart hurt so much for my man ethan! he really had to go thru it yall!! but he did & he loved our girl lexy thru it all & like THE FUCKING PHOTOS?? stfu i can't with them! it was just too sweet!
June 20, 2025
it's always the quiet ones GOD BLESS
May 12, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
If you follow me and my reviews you will notice I DO NOT GIVE many books over a 4⭐️ so pay attention.
This review will have no spoilers
Within the first couple chapters I knew what kind of book this was going to be. I knew that is was going to wreck me emotionally and the patch me up by then end and if it didn’t this would have been a completely different review.
This story had amazing characters with passion and so much love to give that it made you want to be a part of it. You become invested very early on and it only gets more deep as you read. This is not the first book in the series but it can be a stand alone.
The plot had me. I’m a sucker for books that have this emotional pull. Where one MC has to work their way back to themselves or earn love again. I question it in the moment of reading but at the end I’m reminded of how good a book can be when an author puts the details and depth to their book. The work shows through each chapter.
There is spice and there is some trigger warnings so read them.
If you like your books to emotionally hit you but make you whole again in the best way then this is a book to read. I will for sure be going back and reading the rest of the series and I will be reading more from this author as she makes more amazing stories come to life.
If you follow me and my reviews you will notice I DO NOT GIVE many books over a 4⭐️ so pay attention.
This review will have no spoilers
Within the first couple chapters I knew what kind of book this was going to be. I knew that is was going to wreck me emotionally and the patch me up by then end and if it didn’t this would have been a completely different review.
This story had amazing characters with passion and so much love to give that it made you want to be a part of it. You become invested very early on and it only gets more deep as you read. This is not the first book in the series but it can be a stand alone.
The plot had me. I’m a sucker for books that have this emotional pull. Where one MC has to work their way back to themselves or earn love again. I question it in the moment of reading but at the end I’m reminded of how good a book can be when an author puts the details and depth to their book. The work shows through each chapter.
There is spice and there is some trigger warnings so read them.
If you like your books to emotionally hit you but make you whole again in the best way then this is a book to read. I will for sure be going back and reading the rest of the series and I will be reading more from this author as she makes more amazing stories come to life.
July 11, 2025
Boring and corny
August 3, 2025
Rating: 4.25✨
Spice: 3🌶
Thank you to the author for the eARC opportunity. This review is voluntary & honest.
Y’all, this book was some angsty, emotional goodness that I absolutely devoured. If there’s a book that will make me cry and feel all types of emotions, it immediately becomes a MUST read for me and that was my first thought when Victoria first revealed what this book would be about months back. This book definitely did not disappoint.
The story of Alexis and Ethan was one of heartbreak, of holding on to hope even when it feels lost, of a love story that has you falling in love over and over again; regardless of whether it was the past or present events. Their story wasn’t one without hardship and conflicts and it was one where you knew the happily ever after would be WELL DESERVED and a long time coming. I can honestly say I loved these two!
Alexis was a heroine whose personality and view of life was endearing and also contagious in a way. Not to say she was happiness and sunshine all the time, she was realistic in still having moments where she felt lost and was trying to find her way. Trying to find herself. And when her life was forever changed, although she had all the right to be angry, frustrated and feel defeated, and there were moments where she felt exactly that, the Alexis she used to be found a way to shine through. The Alexis who never stopped dreaming & kept on going, regardless of whether she faltered at times. I loved reading her story & seeing her journey to the very end.
Ethan, this man is the king of longing, of loving from a distance and doing so very loudly, even when that love must be silenced. When I tell you I wanted to wrap myself around this man and give him the biggest, longest hug, I’m not even exaggerating. Ethan is a man who has always been his own biggest critic and the one who has pushed himself the hardest. Pushing himself beyond his own limits. And when a shining light found its way into Ethan’s life, his plans on what he was wanting in life completely changed in the best of ways. But then, that light, that positive impact, was put out and taken from him, turning Ethan’s world & personality dark, cold and desaturated of all color and life. His story was one of suffering in silence, while putting the one he loves first. Of holding on to hope quietly, while also preparing himself to let go if need be. I love Ethan so much and I cannot wait to see more of him as a side character in future books.
As always, it was amazing to see the protagonists of the past books in The Orchid series again as side characters in this book. All of them hold a place in my heart, so it always brings a smile to my face to see them in their happily ever after era. It is also amazing to see how Victoria perfectly sets up the characters and their own stories for the following book. I’m so excited to see what’s to come and I am READY to devour Rex’s book, “When Hearts Unravel.” If you’re a lover of the amnesia trope, brother’s best friend books and forbidden and/or second chance romances that are angsty and emotional, this one is for you! 🧡
Spice: 3🌶
Thank you to the author for the eARC opportunity. This review is voluntary & honest.
Y’all, this book was some angsty, emotional goodness that I absolutely devoured. If there’s a book that will make me cry and feel all types of emotions, it immediately becomes a MUST read for me and that was my first thought when Victoria first revealed what this book would be about months back. This book definitely did not disappoint.
The story of Alexis and Ethan was one of heartbreak, of holding on to hope even when it feels lost, of a love story that has you falling in love over and over again; regardless of whether it was the past or present events. Their story wasn’t one without hardship and conflicts and it was one where you knew the happily ever after would be WELL DESERVED and a long time coming. I can honestly say I loved these two!
Alexis was a heroine whose personality and view of life was endearing and also contagious in a way. Not to say she was happiness and sunshine all the time, she was realistic in still having moments where she felt lost and was trying to find her way. Trying to find herself. And when her life was forever changed, although she had all the right to be angry, frustrated and feel defeated, and there were moments where she felt exactly that, the Alexis she used to be found a way to shine through. The Alexis who never stopped dreaming & kept on going, regardless of whether she faltered at times. I loved reading her story & seeing her journey to the very end.
Ethan, this man is the king of longing, of loving from a distance and doing so very loudly, even when that love must be silenced. When I tell you I wanted to wrap myself around this man and give him the biggest, longest hug, I’m not even exaggerating. Ethan is a man who has always been his own biggest critic and the one who has pushed himself the hardest. Pushing himself beyond his own limits. And when a shining light found its way into Ethan’s life, his plans on what he was wanting in life completely changed in the best of ways. But then, that light, that positive impact, was put out and taken from him, turning Ethan’s world & personality dark, cold and desaturated of all color and life. His story was one of suffering in silence, while putting the one he loves first. Of holding on to hope quietly, while also preparing himself to let go if need be. I love Ethan so much and I cannot wait to see more of him as a side character in future books.
As always, it was amazing to see the protagonists of the past books in The Orchid series again as side characters in this book. All of them hold a place in my heart, so it always brings a smile to my face to see them in their happily ever after era. It is also amazing to see how Victoria perfectly sets up the characters and their own stories for the following book. I’m so excited to see what’s to come and I am READY to devour Rex’s book, “When Hearts Unravel.” If you’re a lover of the amnesia trope, brother’s best friend books and forbidden and/or second chance romances that are angsty and emotional, this one is for you! 🧡
June 6, 2025
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.When Hearts Remember" is my first read from Victoria Lum, and I can’t help but wonder—why am I only now discovering her work? Although it’s the sixth book in a series, it stands strong on its own. Still, it left me eager to dive into previous books from the series.
Meet Ethan and Alexis, whose love story began with letters and grew into something neither expected.
Ethan, a college intern weighed down by family expectations, never imagined falling for a pen pal. Alexis, bright and bold, was preparing for college when their weekly letters forged a deep, undeniable connection. When they finally met, sparks flew—until Ethan discovered Alexis was his best friend’s sister. Bound by loyalty, he tried to step back, but their love was too strong to ignore. For two secret years, they nurtured their bond, hearts beating quietly against the odds.
Just as they prepared to reveal their truth, tragedy struck. A devastating accident left Alexis in a coma for eight years. When she awoke, she had no memory of Ethan or their shared past.
Before the accident, Alexis’s fearless spirit lit up every page. Now quieter but fiercely resilient, she fights to reclaim her life—and herself. Ethan, who found in her someone who truly saw him, honored her dreams by visiting places on her bucket list, quietly loving her through years of silence.
When Alexis wakes, Ethan stays—supporting, encouraging, loving her from the shadows despite her forgotten memories.
Their story weaves two timelines—one full of stolen moments, the other of uncertainty and loss. Suspense and secrets add depth to a romance that’s more than just love—it’s a battle for memory, trust, and a second chance.
Ethan and Alexis’s journey is a powerful reminder that true love endures through time, silence, and even forgotten memories. Sometimes, the heart remembers what the mind cannot.This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading
Meet Ethan and Alexis, whose love story began with letters and grew into something neither expected.
Ethan, a college intern weighed down by family expectations, never imagined falling for a pen pal. Alexis, bright and bold, was preparing for college when their weekly letters forged a deep, undeniable connection. When they finally met, sparks flew—until Ethan discovered Alexis was his best friend’s sister. Bound by loyalty, he tried to step back, but their love was too strong to ignore. For two secret years, they nurtured their bond, hearts beating quietly against the odds.
Just as they prepared to reveal their truth, tragedy struck. A devastating accident left Alexis in a coma for eight years. When she awoke, she had no memory of Ethan or their shared past.
Before the accident, Alexis’s fearless spirit lit up every page. Now quieter but fiercely resilient, she fights to reclaim her life—and herself. Ethan, who found in her someone who truly saw him, honored her dreams by visiting places on her bucket list, quietly loving her through years of silence.
When Alexis wakes, Ethan stays—supporting, encouraging, loving her from the shadows despite her forgotten memories.
Their story weaves two timelines—one full of stolen moments, the other of uncertainty and loss. Suspense and secrets add depth to a romance that’s more than just love—it’s a battle for memory, trust, and a second chance.
Ethan and Alexis’s journey is a powerful reminder that true love endures through time, silence, and even forgotten memories. Sometimes, the heart remembers what the mind cannot.This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading
June 4, 2025
When Hearts Remember by Victoria Lum 🧡
The Orchid, Book 5
Interconnected Standalone
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Adult • Romance
ARC Review
438 Pages
🗓️ June 3
🖤amnesia
🧡brother’s best friend
🖤secret relationship
🧡second chance at their love
🖤suspense
🧡slow burn
🖤dual timeline
📌“It’s always been you, Nova. If my world burned around me, the only thing I’d want to save, the only person I’d want by my side…would be you.”
“It’s the first snow of the new year! The sign of new beginnings and fresh starts.” — Lexi believes the first snow signals new beginnings and I feel the same way. My haven is also a library and I’ve always been a dreamer. It’s funny — or many not funny, maybe it’s just the magic of it all — how connected we get to certain characters. How some books burrow inside of whatever exists in us and make a home there.
You may not understand this yet, but you will once you pick this book up: the world needs more Ethans. The world needs more people who love with their whole body, who believe with their whole soul, and who give with their whole heart.
Amnesia is one of my favorites tropes. I’m weak for second chance and amnesia is my favorite driver: all the angst without any fault. And this book was a masterpiece at conveying all the feelings, the struggles, the hopes and insecurities of a romance destined to be despite it all.
All the words are not enough. They will never be enough to praise When Hearts Remember. A flawless telling of a timeless love.
Thank you so much @authorvictorialum for writing this book and for letting me experience it before the world melts down at its feet.
The Orchid, Book 5
Interconnected Standalone
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Adult • Romance
ARC Review
438 Pages
🗓️ June 3
🖤amnesia
🧡brother’s best friend
🖤secret relationship
🧡second chance at their love
🖤suspense
🧡slow burn
🖤dual timeline
📌“It’s always been you, Nova. If my world burned around me, the only thing I’d want to save, the only person I’d want by my side…would be you.”
“It’s the first snow of the new year! The sign of new beginnings and fresh starts.” — Lexi believes the first snow signals new beginnings and I feel the same way. My haven is also a library and I’ve always been a dreamer. It’s funny — or many not funny, maybe it’s just the magic of it all — how connected we get to certain characters. How some books burrow inside of whatever exists in us and make a home there.
You may not understand this yet, but you will once you pick this book up: the world needs more Ethans. The world needs more people who love with their whole body, who believe with their whole soul, and who give with their whole heart.
Amnesia is one of my favorites tropes. I’m weak for second chance and amnesia is my favorite driver: all the angst without any fault. And this book was a masterpiece at conveying all the feelings, the struggles, the hopes and insecurities of a romance destined to be despite it all.
All the words are not enough. They will never be enough to praise When Hearts Remember. A flawless telling of a timeless love.
Thank you so much @authorvictorialum for writing this book and for letting me experience it before the world melts down at its feet.
June 2, 2025
I LOVE THESE TWO SO MUCH!! This series just continues to rip my heart apart over and over again, and yet I keep coming back for more!! I loved this book so much!! Alexis's story was so beautiful and so heart-breaking and seeing her navigate the absolute nightmare she lived through was so incredible! The emotions we got to see her live and push through were so beautifully conveyed! I just felt so much for her through both timelines! And Ethan was just so amazing and his full devotion to Lexy and what she needed was so wonderful to see! His acceptance of the circumstances they found themselves in, and the acceptance of his own need to heal and grow, was so raw and real!! I loved watching these two navigate both timeline streams and come together as they deserved and needed!! My heart just got ripped out over and over in this book, but it was eventually stitched back together by the end! And I really love seeing all the Vaughn and Anderson siblings again, and I cannot wait to see if/when we get more of Elias's story! Overall, this was such an incredible book, and I am just reeling from the emotions that this one left me with!! I cannot wait for more, and I'm so glad I get to be a small part of it's journey!! 5 stars; 3.75 chili peppers
Tropes:
- Amnesia
- Second Chance
- Brother's Best Friend
- Dual Timeline
- Romantic Suspense
- Hidden Identities
Tropes:
- Amnesia
- Second Chance
- Brother's Best Friend
- Dual Timeline
- Romantic Suspense
- Hidden Identities
June 5, 2025
You are in for a treat if you haven’t experienced a Victoria Lum book yet. When Hearts Remember is part of an interconnected standalone series with outstanding billionaire MMCs that will put their women first in every way. Each book outdoes the last—from tortured and pining heroes, family curses, and with When Hearts Remember, the amnesia trope. Ethan Anderson waits ten years for the woman he loves. That’s right, there’s no one else but her for him. He is known to others as the “Deliminator” because of the shrewdness of his calculations. He’s not like that with Alexis.
Victoria Lum is a true storyteller. She pulls readers in immediately as we become the characters fully invested in Ethan and Alexis, and they begin their path back together through all the peaks of emotional tragedy. We feel Ethan’s tears as he tries to mask them with the ghost pepper meal. We are heartbroken when Alexis doesn’t remember her past. Victoria weaves this beautifully through the past letters of Ethan and Alexis. In addition, the romance is built around suspenseful and steamy scenes—Ethan, the ultimate guy.
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘈𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳 𝘝𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘢 𝘓𝘶𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳 𝘈𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘈𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘊𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘙𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳. 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘺.
Victoria Lum is a true storyteller. She pulls readers in immediately as we become the characters fully invested in Ethan and Alexis, and they begin their path back together through all the peaks of emotional tragedy. We feel Ethan’s tears as he tries to mask them with the ghost pepper meal. We are heartbroken when Alexis doesn’t remember her past. Victoria weaves this beautifully through the past letters of Ethan and Alexis. In addition, the romance is built around suspenseful and steamy scenes—Ethan, the ultimate guy.
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘈𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳 𝘝𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘢 𝘓𝘶𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳 𝘈𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘈𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘊𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘙𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳. 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘺.
June 5, 2025
ARC Review: 4.5 ⭐️
When Hearts Remember is book 5 in The Orchid series featuring Ethan Anderson & Alexis Vaughn.
Ethan & Alexis have a chance run in outside of a library many years ago. They don’t realize who each other is and that Ethan is best friends with Alexis’s brother. As fate would have it they end up becoming panels in a hidden journal for months afterward.
After some time, they end up meeting up and they have a whirlwind romance behind her brother’s back. When they finally feel it’s time to come clean and be together publicly, the unthinkable happens and Alexis winds up spending the next eight years in a coma.
When she finally wakes up she has no memories of the 4 years prior to her accident, meaning she doesn’t remember her relationship with Ethan amongst many things.
Ethan must find a way to make her fall in love with him all over again, while silently praying her memories will fully come back. But will two people be able to fall in love for a second time or will they have lost more then just time following her accident ?
This was my first Victoria Lum book and holy crap it will not be my last ! This was a very emotional read for me, at times I was sobbing my head off but I absolutely loved it ! These two were absolutely perfect for one another and I was so hopeful for how everything would work out!
Thank you Victoria & The Author Agency for the ARC! Grab your tissues and download this one today !!
When Hearts Remember is book 5 in The Orchid series featuring Ethan Anderson & Alexis Vaughn.
Ethan & Alexis have a chance run in outside of a library many years ago. They don’t realize who each other is and that Ethan is best friends with Alexis’s brother. As fate would have it they end up becoming panels in a hidden journal for months afterward.
After some time, they end up meeting up and they have a whirlwind romance behind her brother’s back. When they finally feel it’s time to come clean and be together publicly, the unthinkable happens and Alexis winds up spending the next eight years in a coma.
When she finally wakes up she has no memories of the 4 years prior to her accident, meaning she doesn’t remember her relationship with Ethan amongst many things.
Ethan must find a way to make her fall in love with him all over again, while silently praying her memories will fully come back. But will two people be able to fall in love for a second time or will they have lost more then just time following her accident ?
This was my first Victoria Lum book and holy crap it will not be my last ! This was a very emotional read for me, at times I was sobbing my head off but I absolutely loved it ! These two were absolutely perfect for one another and I was so hopeful for how everything would work out!
Thank you Victoria & The Author Agency for the ARC! Grab your tissues and download this one today !!
June 2, 2025
❣ 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 - 5✨
❣ 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 - 4 June 2025
❣ 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 -
- brother’s best friend
- amnesia
- billionaire romance
- office romance
- emotional, angsty hero
- second chance
- protective mmc
- slow burn + pining
- dual pov
- secret past & letters
❣ 𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 -
Thank you so much The author agency and Author for the free ARC!
My new boyfriend's name is Ethan Anderson 💔 and no one can change my mind. His POV was devastatingly beautiful. His lines was so raw, so full of pain and love, I swear, my eyes welled up every single time. He never gave up on her. NEVER. Even when she forgot him. Forgot their love. Forgot herself.
And Alexis ugh, my soft, strong girl. She lost everything but still had this quiet fire in her.
Her journey of rediscovering herself, her memories, and the boy she once loved? Heart-shattering yet healing. She wasn’t weak. She was fighting her way back to the truth with every step. Victoria Lum really gave us a love story that’s not just romantic it’s soul-deep.
He waited. She remembered. And we cried 😭
❣ 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 - 4 June 2025
❣ 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 -
- brother’s best friend
- amnesia
- billionaire romance
- office romance
- emotional, angsty hero
- second chance
- protective mmc
- slow burn + pining
- dual pov
- secret past & letters
❣ 𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 -
Thank you so much The author agency and Author for the free ARC!
My new boyfriend's name is Ethan Anderson 💔 and no one can change my mind. His POV was devastatingly beautiful. His lines was so raw, so full of pain and love, I swear, my eyes welled up every single time. He never gave up on her. NEVER. Even when she forgot him. Forgot their love. Forgot herself.
And Alexis ugh, my soft, strong girl. She lost everything but still had this quiet fire in her.
Her journey of rediscovering herself, her memories, and the boy she once loved? Heart-shattering yet healing. She wasn’t weak. She was fighting her way back to the truth with every step. Victoria Lum really gave us a love story that’s not just romantic it’s soul-deep.
He waited. She remembered. And we cried 😭
June 12, 2025
You will fall in love with these tropes!
* Brother’s best friend
* Amnesia
* Billionaire
* Office romance
* Angsty and emotional
* It’s always been you
* Second chance
* Pining hero
* Secrets and twists
* Letters/pen pals
* Dual timelines
* Standalone and dual first person POV
* Spicy and HEA!
This story is so good! I love an amnesia romance that is full of angst, a full onslaught of emotions, and surprising suspense filled moments. This whole series so far has been drop dead awesome. This one is Alexis and Ethan's story. Ethan has loved her for so long and when a car accident steals her memories, she is in a coma for years. When she finally wakes up, it tears him apart that she doesn't remember him. But his love for her is steadfast. I loved that this is told in a dual timeline. Victoria Lum is such a talented writer, you really need to read this book.
* Brother’s best friend
* Amnesia
* Billionaire
* Office romance
* Angsty and emotional
* It’s always been you
* Second chance
* Pining hero
* Secrets and twists
* Letters/pen pals
* Dual timelines
* Standalone and dual first person POV
* Spicy and HEA!
This story is so good! I love an amnesia romance that is full of angst, a full onslaught of emotions, and surprising suspense filled moments. This whole series so far has been drop dead awesome. This one is Alexis and Ethan's story. Ethan has loved her for so long and when a car accident steals her memories, she is in a coma for years. When she finally wakes up, it tears him apart that she doesn't remember him. But his love for her is steadfast. I loved that this is told in a dual timeline. Victoria Lum is such a talented writer, you really need to read this book.
June 3, 2025
6/5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
3/5🌶️🌶️🌶️
What to Expect:
✍🏻Forbidden Romance
📙Billionaire Romance
✍🏻Brothers Best Friend
📙Amnesia - Coma Awakening
✍🏻Second Chance Love
📙Remembering Love
✍🏻It’s ALWAYS Been YOU!
📙Dual Timeline - Past & Present
✍🏻Letters to Remember
I dove into When Hearts Remember expecting EMOTIONAL DAMAGE, because if you know Victoria, she writes to break your heart and mend it back together!!! I indeed, found myself swept into a tidal wave of feels that I absolutely drowned in. Ethan and Alexis start out trading anonymous letters that bloom into the kind of slow burn, deep-hearted connection most of us only dream about—until the bomb drops that she’s his best friend’s little sister. Forbidden? Absolutely, 100%. But the sparks ignore every rule, and for two glorious, loving, secret years they build a world of “us” in whispered phone calls and stolen weekends, their true love sizzled off every single page.
Then tragedy slams into them/us like a BRICK WALL!!! A car accident, a trauma coma, eight frozen years for Ethan, and unknowing times for Alexis. When Alexis wakes, four years of memories—including every stolen kiss, every letter written, every drop of love—have been wiped clean in her mind. Reading all of that happening to Ethan, completely shattered me, my soul broken, I cried like the baby I am. The billionaire golden boy who never felt like he fit inside his own family suddenly has the one person who saw him, loved him for him… now, looking back at him, more like through him like a complete stranger. Yet he refuses to let go—checking off her bucket-list solo, leaving space in every photo for the girl who can’t remember she took his heart with her… ohhh my heart. This man is a walking Prince Charming.
The beauty of the story… Alexis re-learns to fall for him (similar to their original story, just with a new twist… thanks to Ethan's creativity), proving that soulmates don’t rely on memory—they run on instinct and complete heart. Every scene where her heart recognizes what her mind has lost gave me GOOSEBUMPS. When she pieces together the letters, the photos, the quiet vigil he kept by her bedside, it’s like watching dawn break after the longest night. Their love story isn’t just second-chance; it’s proof that some connections are carved so deep they survive time, tragedy, even amnesia. I ugly cried through this, but when I closed the book, I had hope that true love will always prevail!!!
3/5🌶️🌶️🌶️
What to Expect:
✍🏻Forbidden Romance
📙Billionaire Romance
✍🏻Brothers Best Friend
📙Amnesia - Coma Awakening
✍🏻Second Chance Love
📙Remembering Love
✍🏻It’s ALWAYS Been YOU!
📙Dual Timeline - Past & Present
✍🏻Letters to Remember
I dove into When Hearts Remember expecting EMOTIONAL DAMAGE, because if you know Victoria, she writes to break your heart and mend it back together!!! I indeed, found myself swept into a tidal wave of feels that I absolutely drowned in. Ethan and Alexis start out trading anonymous letters that bloom into the kind of slow burn, deep-hearted connection most of us only dream about—until the bomb drops that she’s his best friend’s little sister. Forbidden? Absolutely, 100%. But the sparks ignore every rule, and for two glorious, loving, secret years they build a world of “us” in whispered phone calls and stolen weekends, their true love sizzled off every single page.
Then tragedy slams into them/us like a BRICK WALL!!! A car accident, a trauma coma, eight frozen years for Ethan, and unknowing times for Alexis. When Alexis wakes, four years of memories—including every stolen kiss, every letter written, every drop of love—have been wiped clean in her mind. Reading all of that happening to Ethan, completely shattered me, my soul broken, I cried like the baby I am. The billionaire golden boy who never felt like he fit inside his own family suddenly has the one person who saw him, loved him for him… now, looking back at him, more like through him like a complete stranger. Yet he refuses to let go—checking off her bucket-list solo, leaving space in every photo for the girl who can’t remember she took his heart with her… ohhh my heart. This man is a walking Prince Charming.
The beauty of the story… Alexis re-learns to fall for him (similar to their original story, just with a new twist… thanks to Ethan's creativity), proving that soulmates don’t rely on memory—they run on instinct and complete heart. Every scene where her heart recognizes what her mind has lost gave me GOOSEBUMPS. When she pieces together the letters, the photos, the quiet vigil he kept by her bedside, it’s like watching dawn break after the longest night. Their love story isn’t just second-chance; it’s proof that some connections are carved so deep they survive time, tragedy, even amnesia. I ugly cried through this, but when I closed the book, I had hope that true love will always prevail!!!
June 22, 2025
I’m grossly obsessed with this series as is, but the men just keep getting better.
Broody, moody, quiet Ethan Anderson holds on to hope and love for 8 long years after a horrible accident puts the LOHL into a coma. He is determined to make her fall in love with him all over again when she wakes up and he realizes she has no recollection of their love story. ❤️🩹
Alexis Vaughn wakes up after 8 years and doesn’t have any memories from the last 12 years of her life. Those years including how and when she fell in love with the LOHL and brother’s best friend, Ethan Anderson. She knows something is missing from her life and her heart but it takes her some time to figure out just what or who that missing piece is.
After a few years, the pieces fall back into place and their sweet love story continues on after a gut wrenching plot twist surfaces that causes another near death experience for the two of them.
Broody, moody, quiet Ethan Anderson holds on to hope and love for 8 long years after a horrible accident puts the LOHL into a coma. He is determined to make her fall in love with him all over again when she wakes up and he realizes she has no recollection of their love story. ❤️🩹
Alexis Vaughn wakes up after 8 years and doesn’t have any memories from the last 12 years of her life. Those years including how and when she fell in love with the LOHL and brother’s best friend, Ethan Anderson. She knows something is missing from her life and her heart but it takes her some time to figure out just what or who that missing piece is.
After a few years, the pieces fall back into place and their sweet love story continues on after a gut wrenching plot twist surfaces that causes another near death experience for the two of them.
June 4, 2025
When Hearts Remember ARC Review
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
Move over Ryland and Maxwell, I have a new favorite Anderson. And his name is Ethan.
I was crying on page 2 of this book. Like tears down my face.
"You're my north star, Ethan. You anchor me.
With you, I'm never lost."
"You're ridiculous, Nova. And you got it wrong. I'm not your north star. You are my supernova, brightening up my dark skies."
"My poet," she had murmured, and I leaned down and captured her lips with mine, tasting her smile and love in our kiss.”
I was unwell as the story progressed. Finding love and then having it ripped away for almost a decade, amnesia trope, just for them to NOT REMEMBER YOU 😭
Heartbreaking over and over again. But I loved the journey Ethan and Alexis took to get there happily ever after.
Thank you Victoria Lum for the opportunity to read the 5th book in The Orchid series. Loved everything about it 🧡
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
Move over Ryland and Maxwell, I have a new favorite Anderson. And his name is Ethan.
I was crying on page 2 of this book. Like tears down my face.
"You're my north star, Ethan. You anchor me.
With you, I'm never lost."
"You're ridiculous, Nova. And you got it wrong. I'm not your north star. You are my supernova, brightening up my dark skies."
"My poet," she had murmured, and I leaned down and captured her lips with mine, tasting her smile and love in our kiss.”
I was unwell as the story progressed. Finding love and then having it ripped away for almost a decade, amnesia trope, just for them to NOT REMEMBER YOU 😭
Heartbreaking over and over again. But I loved the journey Ethan and Alexis took to get there happily ever after.
Thank you Victoria Lum for the opportunity to read the 5th book in The Orchid series. Loved everything about it 🧡
July 1, 2025
Amazing!!!
Wow! This is my first book by this author, but it will definitely not be my last. Her writing is captivating.
This book is a roller coaster of emotions, it broke me, and it put me back together again. It's a beautiful story, that will steal your heart.
Ethan, this man is absolutely perfect! The lengths he goes to for the woman he loves are endless.
Livy was so relatable, strong, and resilient. Even if her mind forgot her love for Ethan, her heart gave her signs of their love.
Ethan & Livy's story was not easy, it was emotional, heartbreaking, but so worth it! Their love was beautiful, endless, and perfect!
I loved this book! ♥️
Wow! This is my first book by this author, but it will definitely not be my last. Her writing is captivating.
This book is a roller coaster of emotions, it broke me, and it put me back together again. It's a beautiful story, that will steal your heart.
Ethan, this man is absolutely perfect! The lengths he goes to for the woman he loves are endless.
Livy was so relatable, strong, and resilient. Even if her mind forgot her love for Ethan, her heart gave her signs of their love.
Ethan & Livy's story was not easy, it was emotional, heartbreaking, but so worth it! Their love was beautiful, endless, and perfect!
I loved this book! ♥️
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