The Definitions

by Matt Greene

An elegant and haunting dystopian novel about a group of individuals gathered to relearn how to navigate the world after a mysterious illness strips them of their memories

Nestled in an idyllic locale beside the sea, The Center is a place of rehabilitation and rebuilding. Students arrive nameless, their memories and sense of identity wiped by a strange illness.

Each day, they attend classes that will help them relearn the right ways to speak and live; they practice the roles they'll assume once they've graduated and returned to society. In their free time, they negotiate a burgeoning social hierarchy and watch old DVDs together; stories of characters whose names they adopt: Maria, Chandler, Chino, Gunther . . . But as shards of memories--of pets, lovers, errands, and beloved music--begin to threaten the strict curriculum of The Center, some students start to question the definitions given to them, and explore the ways in which they might define themselves.

A stunning, intimately told story about what makes us who we are, The Definitions examines the limits of language, the power of human connection, and the ways the human spirit can flourish even under the most oppressive conditions.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Dystopia, Adult, Dark Academia, Fantasy, Literary Fiction

Audible Audio

First published October 2, 2025

About the author

Matt Greene is a novelist and essayist. His first novel, Ostrich, published in 2013, won a Betty Trask Award and was a Daily Telegraph book of the year. His memoir, Jew(ish) was published in 2020. He lives in London with his partner and two sons.

Reviews

[TheConnieFox · Rating 4 out of 5]

♥ My Overall Thoughts ♥

I thought this short dystopian novel was great! I really enjoyed it and found it to be thought provoking. I also found it to be ominous and mysterious. It comes with some humor in it as well. I felt like I was playing detective throughout the book, which I really liked. While reading it, this book made me cry and laugh! I found the characters to be likable and interesting. This book was unputdownable and I will be reading it again!

♥ Synopsis, Rating & Who I think would like reading this book ♥

“The Definitions” is about a group of people getting their memories stripped from them after an unknown illness and having to relearn how to navigate the world again. Be sure to read the content warnings. I think people that like to read short dystopian novels will find this intriguing! Overall, I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars!

♥ Thank You ♥

Thank you to NetGalley, author Matt Greene, and Henry Holt & Company for this digital advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

♥ Publication Date ♥

This book is expected to be published on December 2, 2025!

♥ Quick Review ♥

◾️ Fiction / Sci Fi & Fantasy
✔️ Dystopian
◾️ Emotional
✔️ Their memories get erased
◾️ Some Humor
✔️ Unknown illness
◾️ Mystery & Dark vibes
✔️ Lovable Characters

》* 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ * 。° 。 • ˚《

❥ ୨⎯ Connie ⎯୧ ❥

ツ౨ৎ

[Linzie (suspenseisthrillingme) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cerebral, thought-provoking novella that was both prescient and timely, The Definitions made quite the impression by exploring language, relationships, identity, and what it means to be human. While often vague and purposefully obscure, the story within this short, ambiguous read was as hard-hitting as you can get for this current time in our AI-riddled world. Illustrating the profound importance of memories, language, and human connection all while giving an ominous, dystopian vibe, I was beyond impressed by the author’s obvious skill. After all, it couldn’t be easy to write such a unique tale that somehow combined speculative and literary fiction into one concise, little book of haunting ideas.

At the same time, I struggled with the level of clarity I was left with by the end. I’m sure it was done on purpose in order to strike up conversation and force the reader into thinking long and hard (which it did), but I’m still one who loves a nice pretty, little bow by the last page. Instead of that, though, the open-ended conclusion left me scratching my head. To say I was frustrated is the biggest understatement of the year, considering how slow the pace was from beginning to end. In spite of that, however, this is one book I won’t be forgetting anytime soon. So as long as you’re not looking for any real answers, perhaps try this dark, eerie read. I mean, I finished it in one sitting without even blinking an eye. Rating of 3 stars.

SYNOPSIS:

Nestled in an idyllic locale beside the sea, the Center is a place of rehabilitation for those afflicted by a strange illness that has swept through the population, erasing their memories and any sense of identity. Students arrive at the Center nameless―none of them know who they are or how they got there.

Each day, they attend classes that will help them relearn the right ways to speak and live; they practice the roles they hope to assume once they graduate and return to society. In their free time, they negotiate a burgeoning social hierarchy and watch old videos together, stories of characters whose names they adopt: Maria, Chino, Ross, Chandler, Gunther…But as flashes of memories―of pets, lovers, errands, and beloved music―emerge, some students start to question the Center’s strict instruction and begin to explore different ways in which they might define themselves.

Thank you to Matt Greene and Henry Holt for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

PUB DATE: December 2, 2025

Content warning: forced institutionalization, miscarriage, bullying, toxic relationship

[Pamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finished this book a week ago and took some time thinking about it, because it’s not your typical short novel. It is reminiscent of I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman. I started my review of Harpman’s book with “A dystopian book, without a lot of answers.” And that line fits well with this book as well: short, left with ambiguity, and more questions in the end. Seems also to be not really my kind of book.

A virus has rendered people amnesiacs. They don’t remember anything, so are at this facility to learn how to behave in society, maybe regain their memories of who they were before. They take new names. The narrator, however is unnamed. They are unsure about the virus, there appears to be a new version that may reinfect or not.

There is a lot of focus on words. The narrator and a friend are focused on the meaning of a few, such as chair and bench. How to define exactly these words and what they represent.

It felt like the students at the center aren’t being told the full truth. Things are going on in the outside world they don’t know about, at least anymore, and are sheltered or given a new story. It’s hard to tell since we as readers never get the full story either.

This will likely work better for some people, while others who don’t like vagueness and obscurity, this may be a pass.

Book rating: 2.75

Thanks to Henry Holt and Co. and NetGalley for an uncorrected electronic advance review copy of this book.

[Andrea Gagne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This strange, thought-provoking little book is going to stay with me for a long time.

An unnamed narrator finds herself in a re-education center with no memories, no language, and no understanding of the world around her. The center is designed to rehabilitate people who came down with total amnesia after contracting a virus that essentially wipes you of your past. If they are very good and pass their classes, they are told their memories will return to them, and they will Graduate back out into the Wider Population.

I am fascinated by the mind of Matt Greene for putting this thought experiment together. It ponders so much that we take for granted: about the inexactness of language, and about the foundations of shared understanding that our society is built on. A thing can be the thing it is, and also another thing. What makes a chair a chair and not a bench? "Batteries died, banks had branches, journeys had legs, and woods had necks. A lake shuddered as a breeze whipped across it. A resting face was an empty stage. Snow fell in asterisks, a million silent caveats."

Classes like English and Ethics were placed alongside Intermediate Subservience, which gave the center an ominous vibe. Was the premise the students were given about the virus the truth? Sometimes, a throwaway line would stir up a whole new line of questioning, like mentioning how everyone knew dogs were mythological creatures that no longer existed.

The writing itself is also unique and strange, in a way that added to the eerie ambiance of the book. The use of italics and capitalizations to highlight a mind forming new neural pathways for understanding language carved a second layer of insight into the story.

There were descriptions that were as odd as they were beautiful: "He smiled in triangles." And there were scenes that felt like revelations despite my not being fully sure what was going on: "He looked back at me and furrowed his brow, then upturned his palms so I could see the creases running like channels of ocean carving rivulets through a beach on their way back to the shore."

If you are looking for a story to be tied up in a neat bow, know that there is a lot of ambiguity you'll have to be comfortable with. If you liked Memory Police, this one may be for you.

4.5 stars, rounded up

Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Co for this ARC to read and review.

[Quill&Queer]

"The thought of his crooked grey teeth pincered round her toe filled me with a strange kind of excitement."
"I'd learned that he was the one who'd bitten off the wart. Since I'd learned about this I'd thought of him often."

Perhaps it's my fault for having eyeballs.

[Tabitia · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this dystopian novel the protagonist finds herself in an institution amidst a group of other people. They get told by the instructors that each one has lost their memory due to a virus and they will now be trained in classes basically to relearn how to function in a society. Except for the working and muscle memory, they seem to have lost everything: their names, their personal story and beliefs and most of the words to express their thoughts. So in their free time they try to figure out who they are, what they like, what feelings they have and how to express all this. This is being influenced by all the lessons, that are telling them how to talk and behave and offer them simple solutions to complex problems.

I like that the novel is evidently dystopian, but there is no descriptive violence or fearful atmosphere. It does have some weird moments though that are caused by this sub-society full of people trying to see where their place is and having forgotten normal interaction.

Like the protagonist the reader doesn't have inside knowledge about the system and so a lot of it stays mysterious until the end. The book is an invitation for interpretation and pondering. About what is really happening but also about the questions that come up when words and knowledge on behaviour are missing and being learnt anew.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Jess Nahikian and her voice added a lot to the mysterious yet calm atmosphere.

Overall, I enjoyed the read and the thoughts that it evoked in me. I wouldn't have minded it to be longer and more in depth though, maybe also with insides from other characters. That's why I'm not giving five stars.

Thank you to Brilliance audio for the review copy!

[BiblioPeeks · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting and quite odd little book. It was giving off teen boot camp or wilderness therapy program vibes but more subtle and utterly vague. The classes the "students" take to help them prepare to rejoin society teach them to be submissive and conformist under the guise of "politeness". Even the definitions they're given for words are wrong and mean something else entirely.

The main narrator is unnamed and at first their gender isn't specified and there's no indication of age. This reads as a stream of consciousness with a lack of identity but it's clear the narrator is an intelligent and thinking person by their recall and understanding of certain words. The use of language, words and definitions was the best part. Without understanding language, how can we express ourselves to each other or even understand our own thoughts and feelings?

Emotions are confusing for the main character and they have trouble distinguishing what they're feeling, which was conveyed perfectly by Jess Nahikian's performance in the audiobook. The tone she uses is understated and somewhat emotionless which adds to the peculiar quality of the situation.

THE DEFINITIONS is an intriguing and fast read which held my interest even as I questioned everything. Normally I love ambiguity, but in this case, I was left with WAY more questions than answers, though I had my suspicions. It was a bit underwhelming when all is said and done, but it DID give me a lot to ponder, and there are some beautiful passages that showcase Matt Greene's obviously talented writing capabilities. If you're a bit of a word nerd and enjoy stories that make you question the meaning of self, identity, and how we relate to one another, definitely check this out. It can easily be read in one sitting, and will stick with you once you've finished!

[Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Center is a place for rebuilding memories. After exposure to a virus that removes memories, Students arrive to The Center to learn the right way to speak, to live, and to practice for reentry to society. But as some memories slip through the cracks, Students question if The Center is for brain rehabilitation or brainwashing.

This book is equal parts creepy, conspiracist, communicative, and contemplative. There are so many questions about the definitions of language, of our role in society and with each other, and how the human experience can transcend it all. It’s a short read, but one that will absolutely stay with you; even the short questions like how to define the difference between a chair and a bench still have my brain spinning. Matt Greene did a phenomenal job of making me second guess the Students’ reality, notoriously difficult in only 176 pages. Jess Nahikian's haunting yet beautiful narration served to keep me locked in from the first minute. Its eeriness is in its beauty; its cleverness in its communication. I’d recommend this to anyone interested in relatively quick total head-spin.

Reviewed as part of #ARC from #NetGalley. Many thanks to Brilliance Publishing/Henry Holt Books for the #gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

Read this book if you:
🤫 love the seaside asylum vibes of Shutter Island
🤯 know just how powerful, and scary, language can be
😭 still cry over Peeta Mellark’s questioning “real or not real?”

Follow me on Instagram for more book reviews!

[Emily Poche · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Henry Holt & Company for providing this ARC for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

The Definitions by Matt Greene is a dystopian science fiction novel, set in a near future or present in which there is purportedly a virus that has randomly destroyed people’s memories. Contained in an unnamed center to help restore memories, the narrator journals their interactions with learning their new system of existence and interacting with other students.

It becomes clear, within the first few chapters of the book, that whatever the truth of the situation, it certainly isn’t what the students are being told. I would categorize this book a lightly science fiction, because of the off handed mentions of scans and data, and a virus threatening the planet. However, this is very light, and I would say that for those looking for very heavy mechanics or a world building based on existing science, this isn’t going to scratch the itch. It’s far more of a dystopian novel than anything sci-if.

I think that this book is a very interesting literary experiment into the power of language, words, and strategically changing the definitions of things. At times it’s even clear to the characters that the schema they’re in is artificial and that things are being purposefully altered in ways to exert control. I think it really does pose many moments for the reader to think about our perceptions of things, and to challenge how ideas may have come into our world.

What I struggled with, is that as the center is internationally vague to its residents, so the author is vague with us. There’s very little in way of central plot. It’s a stream of consciousness journal recollection that gives a slice of life. However, that life is not particularly interesting. The plot moves along simply because time passes and things naturally change. Beyond that, many of the interpersonal interactions are “things that never get said” to each other. This means that there’s a lot left hanging in the air between characters, and there’s a lot of deeply emotional exchanges that occur entirely within the narrator’s feelings.

This means that after the establishing chapters that build a slightly ominous yet thought provoking world, the story hits a snag and loses steam. The book is, to put it blindly, pretty boring for the latter half.

I’m going to give this book a 3/5 because I do think it’s conceptually interesting. I think the author takes risks, and ultimately this book had a cerebral element that I enjoyed. However the plot is paper thin and moved glacially towards no payoff. If you are looking for something that can challenge ideals about language and education’s role in understanding our world, it’s a good option.

[this_eel · Rating 3 out of 5]

The short: The Definitions is a brief novel populated with many ideas, but it adds up to much less than the sum of its parts. As a piece of dystopian fiction, it’s underwhelming and a bit haphazard, but I can tell that Greene thought hard about both the concept and his driving principles, and that is admirable.

[vacillating between 2 and 3 stars - what are stars, anyway?]

SOME SPOILERS BELOW!

The idea driving this book is that this group of “patients” at a hospital are learning to recover from a “virus” that steals all of their memories, from (most? all?) language to experience to personal history and knowledge of the outside world. However, what we gather over time is that they are essentially inmates of a brainwashing prison, forced to cycle through the program over and over until they fit the mold that their keepers have set for them. What is happening outside the walls of the hospital and what happens when the patients graduate is unclear.

The protagonist is–as we eventually learn–a woman and specifically a queer woman, in a position where she understands that she is feeling attraction but can’t name it and doesn’t have social context for why it’s “wrong” to feel same-sex desire. The subject of her attraction-revulsion is a really horrible woman with a rotten personality and a wart on her toe that she keeps trying to get people to bite off. (The entire toe wart plot is disgusting but one of the only truly memorable aspects of the book, so while I hated reading about it, kudos, I guess.) Ultimately the protagonist does not bite the wart and a man does.

I myself cannot imagine doing anything at all for the woman in question, let alone bite a chunk off her contagious toe with my literal and only mouth. In any case, the protagonist spends a lot of time picnicking alone with men and noting that people approve of this, while not feeling anything. That’s compulsory heterosexuality for you, I suppose, except I think in real life the compelled often do feel something, which is “bad.” I question the idea that she (in her flattened state) would both have a drive towards lesbianism and have no negative reaction to being forced towards men. In this world compulsory heterosexuality does help you avoid biting a wart. Who's to say, then, if it's all that bad? In case you think I’m making too much of this, it’s really and truly a major plot element.

The protagonist’s emotions are (as mentioned) flattened, deadened. That is clearly a choice driven by the idea that this place strips the personhood and vibrancy of humanity out of its victims, but it makes for dull reading (even though it took about 2 hours to read). Something I like about the dystopian works I will mention below, and about more concrete books like Station Eleven, is that while they’re driven by a bludgeon-like premise, the characters subdued by their societies are trapped in a battle between innate human desire for freedom and the constrictions of a profoundly unfree existence. Even Ayn Rand, a despicable being, manages this. This is a matter of personal taste, but I would much, much, much rather read a book where even an unpleasant protagonist (as in 1984) is pummeling the walls of their cage than one where the protagonist is so profoundly trapped that she doesn’t pummel at all.

Perhaps her flatness would be more bearable if I bought into the ways in which Greene indicates the sociopolitical landscape of his novel. However, I found the whole approach clumsy and off-balance. Reeducation classes with laughable titles whacking you in the head with their (I think poorly selected) specificity and aim to control. The basic conceit of language loss, and language retrieval, is something I also think is weakly managed. You can tell he thought about how people would interpret words without the context of remembering society, but most of the time it misses the mark for me. He’s just not delivering on a perfectly fine idea.

I think the best element of the book, although it still didn’t impact me as intensely as it could, is the matter of (especially women’s) sexual and reproductive autonomy. The entire plot of picnics with women / picnics with men is quiet, but unnerving; it’s brought home with another character’s miscarriage, in a situation where, horrifically, none of the “patients” even understand what pregnancy is. I appreciate the layers of this, the thematic coherence.

I also genuinely think that the array of ideas and impulses in the book is interesting and good, very solid material for the genre.

The Definitions isn’t unique in boiling its dystopian setting and storytelling down to a thought experiment with the characters operating as signifying rats running through its maze. Dystopian fiction (from Divergent, which I like, to We, which I love, to Brazil, one of the most effective movies I’ve ever seen) tends to blunt the complexity of reality in order to yell home its political and moral points. I get that. And while I have been writing about The Definitions, I believe I have gleaned a lot of Greene’s intentions and choices, and those intentions and choices feel both thoughtful and appropriate to the genre. So why does it feel like such an ineffectual novel? Why don’t I like it?

I believe it’s literally a skill issue. Classic dystopia may use rough abstractions to elicit complex ideas, just as cubism elicits complex forms through rough or distorted shapes. But cubism isn’t just making things square or putting eyes on sideways, and to be successful it requires a unique eye and control of the medium; and dystopia requires structure and precision in its bluntness. It needs to be built, not thrown at the wall. I don’t think Greene knows how to pick the slim moments of horror and implication that would make this really pop, and some of his choices for worldbuilding are too vague or gimmicky or just slightly off in terms of hammering home his points. It just wasn’t satisfying.

And truly, dystopian fiction is a hard genre to break into with enormous impact. While every genre has its repeated conventions and the threat of sameness, dystopian fiction has produced a number of the most memorable, affecting, and lasting books of the last 100 years. It’s very hard to stand in direct comparison to literally half the high school curriculum AND Suzanne Collins. It’s hard, and he tried, and he thought very hard about it, which I appreciate. It made me want to dig into its guts, which I appreciate. So in this case A for effort, B for thoughtfulness, but something much lower for how it all comes together.

--

This book was received via the publisher as an E-ARC and I think what I think.

[ari · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 - Hmm this was a weird one. It's very, very vague, and for me was reminiscent of works of George Saunders. This was short, but deep. The vagueness kept me invested and guessing. I liked all of the characters and their interactions. The mystery of the story reminded me a bit of I Who Have Never Known Men - so if you don't like being left with questions, this isn't for you. This was also a bit slow for me, as there isn't a main plot, but rather a study of the center and its inhabitants. I definitely will be reflecting on this for a bit.

Thank you to Henry Holt and Co. & NetGalley for the ARC.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Thank you to Henry Holt & Co. for providing me with a gifted ebook copy of The Definitions through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

The Definitions is a thought-provoking, strange novella length story that explores the definitions of language, as well as oneself. The concept of this near-future dystopian world was great, as it followed a post virus rehabilitation of people who lost their memories, due to the sickness.

I really enjoyed the characters rediscovery of language and words, plus their meanings, and the debate of how things are defined. The story raised great questions of defining oneself and being defined by those around us, as the characters began as a blank slate following the virus.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭:
* Unnamed Narrator
* Post-Virus World
* Memory Loss
* Sci-Fi Elements
* Quick Read

𝐈𝐬 𝐈𝐭 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐲?
🥶 (No)

The narration of the story is mostly a stream of consciousness type storytelling and mainly focused on the relationships between the characters. I would have loved to have seen a stronger plot line surrounding the dystopian aspect of the story, but I definitely think this one is worth the quick read, since it's just over 170 pages.

[Salty Swift · Rating 2 out of 5]

Can't say this dystopian novel goes anywhere It's dry and drips along like molasses. Painful read to be avoided at all costs.

[Anna Vaa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not a traditional narrative. You can expect something akin to Never Let Me Go and the ambiguity of I Who Have Never Known Men interwoven with meditations on language, memory, and the body. Our narrator doesn’t remember who she is and no one else at the Center does either. They relearn themselves through bizarre etiquette-like classes and decaying tapes of TV shows and movies. The Center tells them this will bring back their memories and heal them from the virus that took them away. But is that true?

I thoroughly enjoyed this odd little book. I wish there was more of it and with some resolution.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC! This is my honest review.

[Ryan Davison · Rating 3 out of 5]

With an innocence usually reserved for children The Definitions processes adults through a relearning....of sorts.

Conceptually, it begins with an intriguing premise - adults with no memory of their past hope to remember who they are and how the world works. Writing is crisp and the novel engages immediately, but rather than extensive plotting the book's strengths are amusing word play and insightful social commentary. It makes us reflect on how memory molds reality and identity, while poking fun at the countless contradictions of the English language. Smart questions such as "What was the first word? No one person could decide since a word is an agreement between two people and also the world," are everywhere and thought experiments abound.

What we know of the world in this short novel is purely speculative and based on the thoughts and conversation of characters hidden from the outside. They don't know if they can believe their teachers and doctors any better than the reader does. It is a thought provoking piece of literary fiction and is recommended to those looking for a well written, linguistically-driven, cerebral read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt and Co. for a review copy.

[❀Heather❀Brown❀ · Rating 5 out of 5]

#ad much love for my advance copy @henryholtbooks + @brillianceaudio for the ALC #partner

The Definitions
< @
Releases: December 2, 2025
Dystopian | friendship | literary
160 pages

“To regret one thing is to regret the whole world,” (p. 67).

The virus came from them and it was gone they had no more memory. It stole their episodic memories but left the semantic ones. Now they’re at the Center - hoping to work hard enough to be reintegrated into society and get their memories back.

But now they’re here trapped in the Center having to relearn everything from English to math. Only once they’ve completed these courses can they leave and be conditioned back into society.

This book was entirely way too short. This is why I don’t read many novellas. I love the book and always, always end up not wanting the story to end. It ends too soon.

I loved how the story had a major focus on English words and how ridiculous all the grammar rules are. Hilarious but so true.

🎧: I also listened to the audiobook while following along and recommend it. Great narration. An easy listen.

The story explores what it means to be human. Our memories, our relationships, the very fiber of who we are at our core - our identity - and those who wish to make us smaller, to fit us all into a single box, to strip us of that identity. Thought-provoking and just an overall solid read.

[SJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

In many ways this book felt tailor made for me - a dystopian school/ prison setting, a plague that’s caused loss of memory for its inhabitants, some absolutely delicious linguistic acrobatics, sprinkles of humour and an uneasy atmosphere in which the truth trickles slowly out.

However, despite the intriguing concept and gorgeous writing (and it really is sumptuous, I underlined some of the passages in awe), I found myself feeling a little underwhelmed by the time I finished. I don’t need everything answered and I love an open ending, IWHKNM being one of my favourite novels of all time (iykyk). But in this case I feel like even Greene himself wasn’t sure what existed outside the Centre nor why they were there himself.

I’d say Ishiguro, Harpman and St John Mandel fans should give this a go, just be aware that it’s full of hypotheticals and ethical pontifications rather than plot. That said, anyone with any interest in linguistics who has a penchant for the existential would revel in this rich, elliptical novel.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really did not enjoy reading this dystopian novel, but I am giving it three stars because it is a genre that is new to me, and I don't want to be too judgmental. The main character did not seem to have more than just casual relationships with the other characters in the story. Yes, there was interaction, but it seemed that everyone was too afraid to get too close to anyone else. For the longest time, I didn't know whether the main character was a man or a woman, and that was unsettling for me. I just expected more!

[Laurel · Rating 1 out of 5]

Intriguing premise, but it didn’t go anywhere. What was the point?

Thanks to NetGalley for an opportunity to read this advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Dave Musson · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5/5 rounded up.

Either this book isn’t particularly good, or I’m not smart enough to get it - probably the latter, but you never know!

It was all so vague and nowhere near as threatening or, indeed, dystopian as I’d hoped. There were a few lines or moments here and there where I wanted to dig deeper, but never got the chance. A lot of it seemed very surface level to me…I got darker vibes from reading the author’s Q&A that was sent with my review copy than I did reading the actual book.

Definitely well written…I just did not get it at all.

Thanks to Dead Ink for the review copy. I wish I had liked it more!

[Pujashree · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a VERY curious little thought experiment that strung me along with excellent dystopian intrigue, fascinating character dynamics, well-executed examination of memory and language and the ways they can and cannot be manipulated to control/contort a population. In the beginning and for a large part of this story, I had a hard time not comparing the setup to the Joss Whedon atrocity that was Dollhouse; however, the crucial difference is that the gaze is not exploitative but subversive. The larger mystery around what actually happened to the inhabitants of the centre never gets resolved and I did feel kinda led on by the tantalizing bait of the "memory-wiping" virus, the blatantly distorted "education" and "scans" the inhabitants are being subjected to, and the consequences to those who deviated. Perhaps it's my unfamiliarity with the author and the resolution was never the point, since there is still enough going on that is subtle commentary about narrative control and power and identity. That said, I received this as an audiobook ARC from Netgalley, and the narrator did a beautiful job of capturing the understated tone of the narrator POV without making it emotionless. She captures that delicate and subtle sense of loss and wonder and quiet resistance that is simmering under everyone trapped in this narrative about narratives, and finds ways to reclaim even the smallest of corners of agency as closure. Absolutely stunning.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

LGBTQ friendly, no swearing that I remember, told first person from one POV.

It wasn't bad, it just wasn't my cup of tea. If you are a woman who likes stuff about emotions and feelings then you might like this. I was more interested in the world-building (or lack thereof). I thought it might be something I'd like after reading the blurb since I'm fascinated by stuff about memory, and that we are who we remember we are. If our memories are wiped out then we will most likely end up a different person than we were in the past.

Our nameless main character, a woman probably in her 20s or 30s, has had her memories erased by a virus (or so we are told) and has been brought to a place where those like her are housed in dorms and attend classes to help them reintegrate in society if/when they graduate. It's easy to fall into a YA mode when reading this because of the school setting but these are adults even if they are more like kids because of memory loss.

The whole short book is basically a recitation of what happened to our MC, the friends she makes, interesting things that happen, classroom anecdotes, etc. It's easy reading, very smooth, however I was jarred by some things. The character remembers basic words but in the telling there will be a, what we call a "ten dollar word"--a big word like 'juxtaposition' or 'lackadaisical', and I'm like "wait a minute how can this memory wiped person still remember such big words? I understand now that we are supposed to get from that that this is being told by the same person at a later time, years later, as someone looking back. Still it jarred me just about every time that happened.

Another thing that bothered me, and I don't know if this was intentional by the author for some reason, but the adults who run this school of sorts are untrustworthy. They give every student a copy of a booklet full of words and definitions, only the examples given are false. That made me wonder about the story of a virus and if that was the truth or not. Alas we never find out because that's not the author's focus.

So I ended up not knowing quite sure how to rate this book in the end. I decided to rate it by how much I liked it or not liked it. And gave it a 3, which I consider 'average'.

I received a free advance reader copy through Netgalley and that did not impact my opinion one bit.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a complimentary copy of THE DEFINITIONS by Matt Greene from Henry Holt & Company.

THE DEFINITIONS is set in a place which has been hit with an illness that completely erases people's memories. At the Center, people arrive as students to relearn language and basic life skills and forge out a new identity for themselves. Resources are scarce and answers about the rest of the world are lacking, but the objective is to learn the skills needed to reintegrate back into society.

I picked up a copy of this book at an influencer event, drawn in by the dystopian and memory related concept and I overall enjoyed this. It was really interesting to follow as our main character navigates herself as a new student, joining the ranks of those who have been there a bit longer. They learn things like language, but also take classes in subjects like being polite and social queues. They live in hope that their memories might return to them, even as shards of potential memories seem to cause more problems for those who begin to remember.

I found this a little on the slow side and it definitely left me with unanswered questions. This was a really interesting character study with a good amount of world building within the Center. I like the way it ended, which is absolutely vague on purpose, but this isn't one I'd recommend to those who want to know everything about the wider world.

[Ryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up to 4

A thought-provoking and often times eerie little book, The Definitions is about a virus that causes complete memory loss. Those that are affected are sent to a coastal facility called The Center where they engage with others who have lost their memories and go to classes in an attempt to reintegrate into society.

As a dystopian novel, I think this is really well written. The prose is great, the sort of gallows humor is entertaining, and the actual story is very thought-provoking. I found myself questioning the state of their world and what was actually going on at multiple points--and even after reading I'm still trying to reel in my thoughts. This story leaves a lot to be answered, but I think it's fascinating that many theories can be crafted from this story.

The Definitions is a great exploration on control, memory, language, and what it means to be human when everything is stripped away from us. It was a short read, but I'm sure I'll be thinking about it for a long time.

*Thank you to Netgalley and Henry Holt & Company for an ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are entirely my own*

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed emotions since completing this paperback. Prior to divulging my full review, I would like to thank Henry Holt for sponsoring the Advanced Reader Copy Giveaway here on Goodreads. The contest ended on September 6th and I received my ARC by September 16th. Talk about promptness for receiving a free ARC.

The concept of this novel focuses on an unknown illness affecting the world in a dystopian future that strips humans of their memories. Once humans have recovered from the illness, they are placed in The Center. The Center helps humans learn how to interact with one another and teaches them the "definitions" of the world. Since they have a snippets of their former lives, most the characters do not recall their previous name and are allowed to name themselves deriving from cartridges (Hello Ross, Joey, Rachel, etc.).

I had to go back and re-read portions of the book to confirm that the first-person narrator doesn't reassign a name to themselves. This unnamed narrator moves through the center and navigates their "new norm" between classes, socialization with others, and understand the world around them.

The novel is an intriguing concept since my normal reading habits do not gravitate towards sci-fi/dystopian plotlines. Overall, the book lacked execution and I believe the first-person narration was the limiting factor. The narrator presented the novel from a stream of conscious and could not formulate a full understanding of what was going on through her. In the same respective, there wasn't a plotline and much character growth. Sure, there was a few conflicts between characters but everything wrapped up within two paragraphs (and a lot of Maria ignoring the narrator). I am glad the book was only 160 pages because if it drug on longer, I don't know if I would be willing to give is more than 3 stars.

[RoseDevoursBooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m honestly surprised I made it to the end. It started off intriguing, especially with the whole concept of people losing their memories due to a virus and having to relearn basic things like language, emotions, mannerisms, and friendships. But after that initial setup, it just kept sliding downhill. There’s nothing that really grabs you - no real mystery, no suspense, and not a single character worth caring about. They were all painfully dull. The constant ambiguity didn’t help either; we never got any real answers to anything. I’m sure there was some deeper message I completely missed, but ultimately this just wasn’t for me. The writing felt flat, the characters were uninteresting, and the story never truly went anywhere. Unfortunately, it’s not a book I’d easily recommend.

Thank you to the publisher Henry Holt & Co for an ARC of this title.

[RavenReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wonderfully bizarre little novella! The Definitions is a thought provoking exploration of sociopolitical hierarchy, human nature, and the fine line between conditioning and instinct.

In this unsettling world, survivors of a mysterious “virus” are reeducated in The Center, stripped of their memories and taught everything anew. From your typical math and art to eyebrow raising ethics and politeness. But as the students begin forming cliques, establishing hierarchies, and even bullying one another, the story raises a fascinating question: are these behaviors taught, or are they fundamentally human?

Matt Greene handles these ideas with a deft mix of sharp commentary and quiet subtlety. It’s both overtly philosophical and deeply human, leaving you pondering. A strange, smart, and memorable read that asks big questions in a deceptively small package.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Matt Greene, and Henry Holt & Company for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Hijabi_booklover · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Definitions by Matt Greene is an ambitious and often moving exploration of identity, grief, and the slippery nature of language. Greene’s blend of humor and poignancy stands out, and several chapters deliver sharp emotional insight. The experimental structure framing life events through dictionary-style entries is clever and occasionally powerful, giving the book a distinctive voice.
That said, the format can also feel limiting. Some sections come across as fragmented rather than artfully concise, and the narrative momentum sometimes gets lost in the alphabetized vignettes. Readers who prefer a more traditional story arc may find themselves wanting more cohesion and depth in certain character moments.
Overall, The Definitions is an inventive and heartfelt read with memorable highlights, even if its stylistic choices don’t always hit the mark. Ideal for readers who appreciate unconventional storytelling and introspective themes, but it may not fully satisfy those looking for a more seamless narrative experience.

[Pamela Carvalho · Rating 4 out of 5]

A virus that affects the memories of those infected and as a result causes them to be child-like as they try to regain their memories and re-learn words and social queues. This is one of those novels that is a piece of art. It’s less about having a a generous plot, and more about how the story makes you feel. It explores the importance of words and how we use them to express how we feel, especially in relation to other people. I loved the prose of this book. It was such a charming little read and although it was short I will be thinking about it for a long time.

[Selma Stearns]

I liked the sci-fi elements and ambiguity of what The Centre is, and the interesting questions about linguistics. After hearing Matt speak I see it in a new light - more as a metaphor for starting school / how we teach children the rules of the world.

"What was the first word? We'd had this debate one day on the benches but we'd given this up and had soon jumped ship to who had decided it. We'd decided this was unanswerable too, that no one person could have decided the first word, since a word was an agreement, between two people and also the world."