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The Good Parts
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Expected 28 Jul 26Win a free print copy of this book!
4 days and 23:06:11
15 copies available
U.S. only
She erased their past. He’s rewriting their future.
When Landon receives a letter from Rose—the woman he once planned forever with—he learns their love story is over. She’s undergone a radical memory-erasing treatment, leaving behind her grief, her past… and him. But Landon can’t bear to lose the love of his life. If she fell for him once, couldn’t she fall for him again?
Now living in Edinburgh, Rose’s world is a blank canvas, and she’s dating someone new. When Landon reenters her life as a stranger, they become fast friends, their lives entwining once more. But what Rose doesn’t know is that this new friend carries the weight of everything they once shared: their firsts, their marriage, and the heartbreak they barely survived. And when she starts exhibiting strange symptoms, it becomes clear their history isn’t gone—it’s just buried. And remembering could come at a devastating cost.
Told in alternating timelines—his from the present, hers from the past—The Good Parts is an achingly poignant story about the people we become across a lifetime, and the beauty of finding our way with what remains.
When Landon receives a letter from Rose—the woman he once planned forever with—he learns their love story is over. She’s undergone a radical memory-erasing treatment, leaving behind her grief, her past… and him. But Landon can’t bear to lose the love of his life. If she fell for him once, couldn’t she fall for him again?
Now living in Edinburgh, Rose’s world is a blank canvas, and she’s dating someone new. When Landon reenters her life as a stranger, they become fast friends, their lives entwining once more. But what Rose doesn’t know is that this new friend carries the weight of everything they once shared: their firsts, their marriage, and the heartbreak they barely survived. And when she starts exhibiting strange symptoms, it becomes clear their history isn’t gone—it’s just buried. And remembering could come at a devastating cost.
Told in alternating timelines—his from the present, hers from the past—The Good Parts is an achingly poignant story about the people we become across a lifetime, and the beauty of finding our way with what remains.
352 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication July 28, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 133 reviews
April 8, 2026
getting hit by a truck would've hurt me less than this book 😃 how am I supposed to cope with that outcome??
this is a book that's going to stick with me forever. this has the perfect balance of romance and devastation and consider me DEVASTATED. this follows landon and rose in a world where a memory erasing pill exists. it doesn't just erase a moment/moments but your whole entire life and essentially makes you a completely different person, just with the same face and body. this book reminded me of the severance tv show because they refer to their old self as their 'other.'
rose experiences something horrible and decides to take the pill without even writing a letter to her husband landon. she completely forgets him but since he didn't take the pill, he still remembers her. he can't live without her so he goes in search of "her" and starts to hang out with the new version of her. this book was such a good mix of magical realism/scj-fi/romance and really had me thinking about how horrible it would be to be landon in this situation but then also getting glimpses into why rose felt it was the only right choice.
thank you to grand central publishing for sending me this ARC, it's the best feeling for an ARC to be 5 stars ⭐️
this is a book that's going to stick with me forever. this has the perfect balance of romance and devastation and consider me DEVASTATED. this follows landon and rose in a world where a memory erasing pill exists. it doesn't just erase a moment/moments but your whole entire life and essentially makes you a completely different person, just with the same face and body. this book reminded me of the severance tv show because they refer to their old self as their 'other.'
rose experiences something horrible and decides to take the pill without even writing a letter to her husband landon. she completely forgets him but since he didn't take the pill, he still remembers her. he can't live without her so he goes in search of "her" and starts to hang out with the new version of her. this book was such a good mix of magical realism/scj-fi/romance and really had me thinking about how horrible it would be to be landon in this situation but then also getting glimpses into why rose felt it was the only right choice.
thank you to grand central publishing for sending me this ARC, it's the best feeling for an ARC to be 5 stars ⭐️
May 18, 2026
4.5
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review. This book was like eternal sunshine but ten times more sad to read. The build up between Landon and Rose was so beautiful and the reveal of what happened between them felt like a rug being pulled out from beneath you. This entire book portrayed all of the ways people deal with grief gorgeously and was definitely a tear jerker. The ending was bittersweet but I think it fit the characters and the story perfectly. I would check trigger warnings on this one because one of the main themes can be really difficult to read about but I 100% recommend this.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review. This book was like eternal sunshine but ten times more sad to read. The build up between Landon and Rose was so beautiful and the reveal of what happened between them felt like a rug being pulled out from beneath you. This entire book portrayed all of the ways people deal with grief gorgeously and was definitely a tear jerker. The ending was bittersweet but I think it fit the characters and the story perfectly. I would check trigger warnings on this one because one of the main themes can be really difficult to read about but I 100% recommend this.
January 11, 2026
I want to thank NetGalley and Grand Central for allowing me the utmost privilege to read The Good Parts.
This may have been one of the best books I have ever read. I loved the story, the concept, but most of all I love Rose and Landon. This book broke me, I cried at so many chapters, especially nearing the end. Understanding why we got to where we were, but I also, surprisingly, thought it ended perfectly.
The writing is so well done that you can’t help but find yourself there watching the story unfold. I love the way the story is from Rose in the past and Landon in the present. It shows you the story in such a way that keeps you involved and hanging on for each chapter and then for the next to finish the one before.
I would pay to see this book turned into movie or limited series, played exactly as the author intended with the back and forth.
I cannot praise this book more, I hope everyone reads it and loves it and feels as broken as I do now.
Thank you again for allowing me an early release of this amazing book.
This may have been one of the best books I have ever read. I loved the story, the concept, but most of all I love Rose and Landon. This book broke me, I cried at so many chapters, especially nearing the end. Understanding why we got to where we were, but I also, surprisingly, thought it ended perfectly.
The writing is so well done that you can’t help but find yourself there watching the story unfold. I love the way the story is from Rose in the past and Landon in the present. It shows you the story in such a way that keeps you involved and hanging on for each chapter and then for the next to finish the one before.
I would pay to see this book turned into movie or limited series, played exactly as the author intended with the back and forth.
I cannot praise this book more, I hope everyone reads it and loves it and feels as broken as I do now.
Thank you again for allowing me an early release of this amazing book.
October 27, 2025
The Good Parts is an exquisite exploration of memory, grief, the choices we make, and the ways we love. The fantastical premise drew me in, and the cozy backdrop of Edinburgh made me want to stay. Normandin's characters navigated the moral and ethical dilemmas she posed in such a way that, despite the surreal elements, made the narrative feel entirely true. For a book about forgetting, The Good Parts will not let you go, and will keep you thinking about the world she has built long after you've finished reading.
May 13, 2026
Upon further reflection, it’s going to get a 3 😅
I’m really conflicted on how to rate this book…I think I’ll stick with 4 but in some ways, it’s a solid 3.
On one hand, I loved the premise and set up of the book; her story line in the past, watching their love story unfold and his in the present.
But on the other hand, I’m wholly unsatisfied. I won’t go into details because I don’t want to ruin the story for anyone but I am not conflicted by the ending. While I completely understand the choice of that ending, I would have liked it to go the other way.
I think that many will love this book and it would be a great book club pick, a lot of good conversations would come from it!
Definitely thought provoking and an engaging read! Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!
I’m really conflicted on how to rate this book…I think I’ll stick with 4 but in some ways, it’s a solid 3.
On one hand, I loved the premise and set up of the book; her story line in the past, watching their love story unfold and his in the present.
But on the other hand, I’m wholly unsatisfied. I won’t go into details because I don’t want to ruin the story for anyone but I am not conflicted by the ending. While I completely understand the choice of that ending, I would have liked it to go the other way.
I think that many will love this book and it would be a great book club pick, a lot of good conversations would come from it!
Definitely thought provoking and an engaging read! Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!
April 26, 2026
5 ⭐️ Wow this was an emotional roller coaster. Rose and Landon’s love story was interrupted by her decision to take a memory loss pill and start over. Landon grapples with the why and if it’s possible to get his true love back.
I loved the way the book jumped in time between their first meeting and present day. I was completely immersed in this one and loved the character development throughout. It broke my heart and picked up the pieces repeatedly.
Thank you NetGalley and publishers for the early copy!
I loved the way the book jumped in time between their first meeting and present day. I was completely immersed in this one and loved the character development throughout. It broke my heart and picked up the pieces repeatedly.
Thank you NetGalley and publishers for the early copy!
March 12, 2026
The Good Parts uses magical realism in a similar way to Rachel Serle. Using a magical element that drives the plot leaving you sobbing at 1am questioning life and the genius author behind such a whimsical, grief driven story. Thank you to Net Galley for allowing me to read this amazing debut novel!
I would also like to add that Coming Up Roses by Harry Styles is literally this book.
I would also like to add that Coming Up Roses by Harry Styles is literally this book.
April 21, 2026
Wow did this book fuck me up. Full ARC review to come..
The Good Parts left me pretty devastated at the end, a sign that Normandin's story hit me so emotionally that it will stay with me for a while.
In a world where a memory-erasing pill exists, Rose takes one following a devastating tragedy and her new "other" moves to Edinburgh to start anew (literally; the story gave me some Severance vibes because the pill not only erases your memory but your whole self, leaving your body with a fresh, blank slate). Meanwhile, her ex-husband Landon is cluelessly left behind and desperately still in love with Rose. In an attempt to get "Rose" back, and despite their best friends advice, Landon, too, travels to Edinburgh to see if he can get the other Rose to fall back in love with him. In a dual timeline, Rose takes us through her relationship with Landon from its inception at an unnamed college in Vermont through her decision to take the pill.
Normandin intricately explores grief and memory with just enough surrealism to make the story feel true. Rose and Landon's journey of deep love and loss and what it takes to find ourselves will leave you wondering what you would do if you found yourself in a similar situation.
EVERYONE needs to read this book!!!!!!!! Thank you to NetGalley to the publisher for this ARC (and broken heart) for an honest review.
The Good Parts left me pretty devastated at the end, a sign that Normandin's story hit me so emotionally that it will stay with me for a while.
In a world where a memory-erasing pill exists, Rose takes one following a devastating tragedy and her new "other" moves to Edinburgh to start anew (literally; the story gave me some Severance vibes because the pill not only erases your memory but your whole self, leaving your body with a fresh, blank slate). Meanwhile, her ex-husband Landon is cluelessly left behind and desperately still in love with Rose. In an attempt to get "Rose" back, and despite their best friends advice, Landon, too, travels to Edinburgh to see if he can get the other Rose to fall back in love with him. In a dual timeline, Rose takes us through her relationship with Landon from its inception at an unnamed college in Vermont through her decision to take the pill.
Normandin intricately explores grief and memory with just enough surrealism to make the story feel true. Rose and Landon's journey of deep love and loss and what it takes to find ourselves will leave you wondering what you would do if you found yourself in a similar situation.
EVERYONE needs to read this book!!!!!!!! Thank you to NetGalley to the publisher for this ARC (and broken heart) for an honest review.
April 27, 2026
4.75 ⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Book Group for my advanced copy of this genre-bending love story.
Would you take a pill to forget your life and start over again? What if the person you love took the pill and forgot you? These are the deeply emotional and thought-provoking questions at the heart of this story, one that examines love, friendship, grief, and forgiveness in ways that will stay with you long after the last page.
This is a perfect book club pick. You feel deeply for the two main characters, even when you don’t always agree with their decisions. The love in this story is the kind you can almost feel pouring off the page. And because of where the book begins, you know tragedy is ahead, yet you simply have to know how their story ends.
This isn’t a romance. It has love, moments of joy, and genuine humor, but at its core it’s a stark and unflinching look at relationships and the ways life can throw you curve balls you may never fully recover from. A brilliant debut from Evann Normandin. Highly recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Book Group for my advanced copy of this genre-bending love story.
Would you take a pill to forget your life and start over again? What if the person you love took the pill and forgot you? These are the deeply emotional and thought-provoking questions at the heart of this story, one that examines love, friendship, grief, and forgiveness in ways that will stay with you long after the last page.
This is a perfect book club pick. You feel deeply for the two main characters, even when you don’t always agree with their decisions. The love in this story is the kind you can almost feel pouring off the page. And because of where the book begins, you know tragedy is ahead, yet you simply have to know how their story ends.
This isn’t a romance. It has love, moments of joy, and genuine humor, but at its core it’s a stark and unflinching look at relationships and the ways life can throw you curve balls you may never fully recover from. A brilliant debut from Evann Normandin. Highly recommend.
April 7, 2026
Perfection.
Rose, Landon, Poppy and Conor: felt like I was their personal friend in this beautiful and heartbreaking story of friendship, grief and eternal love. This story was so beautifully and eloquently written and I felt so connected to each of the characters.
I don’t think I will ever get over this book. Beginning was so moving and beautiful and ending was the same. Wouldn’t change a thing.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is coming up very soon on my rewatch list bc this shattered me the same way.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review ✨📖💛
Rose, Landon, Poppy and Conor: felt like I was their personal friend in this beautiful and heartbreaking story of friendship, grief and eternal love. This story was so beautifully and eloquently written and I felt so connected to each of the characters.
I don’t think I will ever get over this book. Beginning was so moving and beautiful and ending was the same. Wouldn’t change a thing.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is coming up very soon on my rewatch list bc this shattered me the same way.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review ✨📖💛
May 9, 2026
Wow, what a fabulously written story about love, loss and friendship. Normandin’s writing had me hooked from the first chapter. The way she mirrored Rose and Landon’s story from past and present timelines was truly beautiful.
May 22, 2026
Great debut novel. Wish I could take the pill to relive all the good parts of this book again.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
I am so honored to have received an ARC copy of this book as part of a Goodreads Giveaway.
To say this book was devastatingly beautiful is beyond an understatement. It has been a while since I have read a book that made me cry and sit in thoughtful silence for longer than I would like to admit.
If you are thinking of picking up this book, for the love of all that is holy, please do so. The entire journey of an incredible love, profound loss, and finding while simultaneously losing oneself is written with such care, precision, and truth, that the reader is left wondering what they would do if they found themselves in a similar situation.
If you could forget it all, would you? Would you choose to forget everything, or would you want to remember the good parts?
I know one thing is for certain, I will forever and always treasure The Good Parts.
To say this book was devastatingly beautiful is beyond an understatement. It has been a while since I have read a book that made me cry and sit in thoughtful silence for longer than I would like to admit.
If you are thinking of picking up this book, for the love of all that is holy, please do so. The entire journey of an incredible love, profound loss, and finding while simultaneously losing oneself is written with such care, precision, and truth, that the reader is left wondering what they would do if they found themselves in a similar situation.
If you could forget it all, would you? Would you choose to forget everything, or would you want to remember the good parts?
I know one thing is for certain, I will forever and always treasure The Good Parts.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Good Parts took me on a journey I won’t soon forget. The raw emotion woven through this story is stunning - love, grief, hope, and the ever-present question of how far one would go in the pursuit of happiness. I found myself deeply attached to every character, each of them feeling fully realized and essential to the story.
The portrayal of true friendship through Conor, Poppy, and even Dave, adds a beautiful layer of humanity and warmth to Rose and Landon’s lives. Their loyalty and presence ground the story in moments of light amid its darker times.
This novel masterfully blends comforting settings with dystopian undertones and the stark realities of a harsh world, creating an atmosphere that is both immersive and gripping. Rose and Landon’s love story is powerful, tender, and unforgettable, one that lingered with me long after I turned the final page.
The portrayal of true friendship through Conor, Poppy, and even Dave, adds a beautiful layer of humanity and warmth to Rose and Landon’s lives. Their loyalty and presence ground the story in moments of light amid its darker times.
This novel masterfully blends comforting settings with dystopian undertones and the stark realities of a harsh world, creating an atmosphere that is both immersive and gripping. Rose and Landon’s love story is powerful, tender, and unforgettable, one that lingered with me long after I turned the final page.
May 20, 2026
Let me preface this by saying — this is NOT a romance book. If that's what you're looking for, this isn't it. But what it is, is a remarkable love story that spans years... I'd argue, even lifetimes.
The Good Parts by Evann Normandin is an absolute masterpiece. You may have seen reviews comparing it to Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and while the similarities exist, this book surpasses that magic realism — delving deeper into human relationships, flaws and consciousness than I ever expected.
At its core, this is a story about people. It explores loss and grief with a tenderness that will physically ache in your chest. It explores motherhood — the weight, the love, the sacrifice of it — in a way that feels deeply honest. It explores family, old friendships and new ones, and a love story, full of devotion that winds its way through all of it. Normandin writes every one of these themes with such authenticity that you'll find pieces of your own life tucked quietly inside the pages.
What makes this book truly unique is its unpredictability. Just when you think you've figured out where the story is going, you haven't. Your assumptions will be dismantled, quietly and brilliantly, every single time. As someone who reads and listens to over 200 books a year, I'll be the first to admit that stories can start to feel repetitive. This one never does. It is genuinely refreshing— and it gave me a whole new level of appreciation for what writing and storytelling can be.
And yes, this story is melancholic. But another thing that makes it truly special is the author's remarkable ability to inject laugh-out-loud moments so perfectly timed that they feel like a gift — a little breath of air for your poor, battered heart right when it needs it most.
This book kept my heart racing, shattered it into a million pieces, and then somehow — healed it.
A heartfelt thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the advanced read. This is beautiful, intentional work from Normandin, and this book will stay with me for a very long time. Infinity stars, all around.
The Good Parts by Evann Normandin is an absolute masterpiece. You may have seen reviews comparing it to Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and while the similarities exist, this book surpasses that magic realism — delving deeper into human relationships, flaws and consciousness than I ever expected.
At its core, this is a story about people. It explores loss and grief with a tenderness that will physically ache in your chest. It explores motherhood — the weight, the love, the sacrifice of it — in a way that feels deeply honest. It explores family, old friendships and new ones, and a love story, full of devotion that winds its way through all of it. Normandin writes every one of these themes with such authenticity that you'll find pieces of your own life tucked quietly inside the pages.
What makes this book truly unique is its unpredictability. Just when you think you've figured out where the story is going, you haven't. Your assumptions will be dismantled, quietly and brilliantly, every single time. As someone who reads and listens to over 200 books a year, I'll be the first to admit that stories can start to feel repetitive. This one never does. It is genuinely refreshing— and it gave me a whole new level of appreciation for what writing and storytelling can be.
And yes, this story is melancholic. But another thing that makes it truly special is the author's remarkable ability to inject laugh-out-loud moments so perfectly timed that they feel like a gift — a little breath of air for your poor, battered heart right when it needs it most.
This book kept my heart racing, shattered it into a million pieces, and then somehow — healed it.
A heartfelt thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the advanced read. This is beautiful, intentional work from Normandin, and this book will stay with me for a very long time. Infinity stars, all around.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
[ARC gifted from Grand Central Publishing]
I finished this book in three days and had to give myself a night of sleep to process it all because my mind was actually blown.. in the all the good ways for an emotional reader. The Good Parts made me feel everything. Initially I was excited and filled with promise, in between I was eager with thoughts of devastation and anger, and in the end I understood. The author managed to create an element of ease paired with inevitable heartbreak and made me cry… which I believe to be essential from time to time (don’t blame me, I’m a cancer sun and pisces rising).
Memory is a focal theme of the plot that I found beautiful and profound, the experience of when the mind fades the body remembers. Do we ever truly forget? When do we begin suppressing? Will precedent events always seep familiarity in the chapters of lives we live? How do we truly move forward? The questions, the thoughts, the multifaceted aspects to it all.
This story and the characters will follow me for a while.
I finished this book in three days and had to give myself a night of sleep to process it all because my mind was actually blown.. in the all the good ways for an emotional reader. The Good Parts made me feel everything. Initially I was excited and filled with promise, in between I was eager with thoughts of devastation and anger, and in the end I understood. The author managed to create an element of ease paired with inevitable heartbreak and made me cry… which I believe to be essential from time to time (don’t blame me, I’m a cancer sun and pisces rising).
Memory is a focal theme of the plot that I found beautiful and profound, the experience of when the mind fades the body remembers. Do we ever truly forget? When do we begin suppressing? Will precedent events always seep familiarity in the chapters of lives we live? How do we truly move forward? The questions, the thoughts, the multifaceted aspects to it all.
This story and the characters will follow me for a while.
May 2, 2026
The Good Parts follows Rose and Landon, a married couple in a world where you can take a pill that erases your entire past. After something devastating, Rose chooses to leave her old life behind. Landon, who still remembers everything, can’t let her go and reenters her life as a stranger, hoping they might somehow find their way back to each other.
this book really stayed with me. I’m convinced it’s probably going to be my best read of the year.
it’s one of those stories that makes you pause and think about what you would do in that situation. there are so many small, quiet moments that feel real, and I kept putting myself in both of their places.
it’s deeply about grief, letting go, and trying to understand who you are when everything you knew about your life is gone. I found myself understanding Rose, even when it hurt to, and at the same time feeling how heavy everything was from Landon’s side.
the writing felt poetic. I wanted to highlight every line.
I was not okay after this one but I loved it so much.
thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC.
5 stars.
this book really stayed with me. I’m convinced it’s probably going to be my best read of the year.
it’s one of those stories that makes you pause and think about what you would do in that situation. there are so many small, quiet moments that feel real, and I kept putting myself in both of their places.
it’s deeply about grief, letting go, and trying to understand who you are when everything you knew about your life is gone. I found myself understanding Rose, even when it hurt to, and at the same time feeling how heavy everything was from Landon’s side.
the writing felt poetic. I wanted to highlight every line.
I was not okay after this one but I loved it so much.
thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC.
5 stars.
April 30, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- “Breautiful”
Brutal and beautiful ♥️ This book absolutely wrecked me, and I knew it would. I kept putting off reading it because I had a feeling it would break my heart… and wow, was I right.
Despite the cover vibes, this is NOT a rom-com, so do not be fooled. Yes, there’s romance, moments of joy, genuine humor, and even a little magical realism/sci-fi with the memory-erasing pill concept, but at its core, this is a raw and unflinching look at love, grief, relationships, and the ways life can throw curveballs you may never fully recover from.
I loved the dual timeline and dual POV- Rose telling the past and Landon navigating the present made the storytelling feel so layered and emotional. The love in this book isn’t just romantic either; it’s deeply rooted in friendship and connection. Conor and Poppy deserve a special shoutout because that kind of lifelong friendship is something everyone hopes to find.
Oh, my heart. Tears. All of them. Not even kidding a little bit when I say I closed the book and stared at the wall for a bit to disassociate. This was devastating in the best way and such a brilliant debut from Evann Normandin. If you’re dealing with grief, proceed with caution- but wow, what a beautiful book.
Brutal and beautiful ♥️ This book absolutely wrecked me, and I knew it would. I kept putting off reading it because I had a feeling it would break my heart… and wow, was I right.
Despite the cover vibes, this is NOT a rom-com, so do not be fooled. Yes, there’s romance, moments of joy, genuine humor, and even a little magical realism/sci-fi with the memory-erasing pill concept, but at its core, this is a raw and unflinching look at love, grief, relationships, and the ways life can throw curveballs you may never fully recover from.
I loved the dual timeline and dual POV- Rose telling the past and Landon navigating the present made the storytelling feel so layered and emotional. The love in this book isn’t just romantic either; it’s deeply rooted in friendship and connection. Conor and Poppy deserve a special shoutout because that kind of lifelong friendship is something everyone hopes to find.
Oh, my heart. Tears. All of them. Not even kidding a little bit when I say I closed the book and stared at the wall for a bit to disassociate. This was devastating in the best way and such a brilliant debut from Evann Normandin. If you’re dealing with grief, proceed with caution- but wow, what a beautiful book.
May 19, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 WOW, top read of the year thus far!
Everything about this book is just chefs kiss. I ugly cried at the end of this book, I will not be able to let this one go for a long time.
The Good Parts is about a woman, Rose, and a man, Landon, who have been together since their freshman year of college. Told in dual timelines of the past (in Roses' POV) and the present (Landons POV), Rose decides to take a memory erasing pill to forget all the trauma she's experienced, including forgetting Landon. Landon, who loves Rose more than life itself, cannot bear to a person she forgets so he makes it his mission to get Rose to fall in love with him again..because he was able to do it in before so why not try again?
UGH, this book just wrecked me in the worst ways. I will never be able to recover from this. I NEED this to be turned into a movie, I know that it would be SO good. This book has elements of chosen friendships, love, grief, and memories. This is one of the most beautiful reads I've read in a very long time.
Everything about this book is just chefs kiss. I ugly cried at the end of this book, I will not be able to let this one go for a long time.
The Good Parts is about a woman, Rose, and a man, Landon, who have been together since their freshman year of college. Told in dual timelines of the past (in Roses' POV) and the present (Landons POV), Rose decides to take a memory erasing pill to forget all the trauma she's experienced, including forgetting Landon. Landon, who loves Rose more than life itself, cannot bear to a person she forgets so he makes it his mission to get Rose to fall in love with him again..because he was able to do it in before so why not try again?
UGH, this book just wrecked me in the worst ways. I will never be able to recover from this. I NEED this to be turned into a movie, I know that it would be SO good. This book has elements of chosen friendships, love, grief, and memories. This is one of the most beautiful reads I've read in a very long time.
April 19, 2026
I liked this but I’m torn because Rose started becoming unlikeable to me throughout. I can feel for her grief but it makes me think of the saying “is it better to have loved and lost than never to loved at all”. Is erasing all that grief worth forgetting the good parts?
May 4, 2026
Thank you Netgalley for the arc copy!!
Yea so….. that WRECKED ME. But 6 stars.
This is my favorite type of book, the real life moments, the imperfections of a REAL relationship. The grief, trying but failing to salvage something. THATS REAL. This is real life. This makes every reader ask themselves what they would do if they were put in rose AND Landon’s situation … and it’s a TOUGH choice.
This is the definition of when you love something let them go. IT HURT SO GOOD.
I cried like a baby.
Loved every minute.
Yea so….. that WRECKED ME. But 6 stars.
This is my favorite type of book, the real life moments, the imperfections of a REAL relationship. The grief, trying but failing to salvage something. THATS REAL. This is real life. This makes every reader ask themselves what they would do if they were put in rose AND Landon’s situation … and it’s a TOUGH choice.
This is the definition of when you love something let them go. IT HURT SO GOOD.
I cried like a baby.
Loved every minute.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 24, 2026
I genuinely think this might be one of my favorite books ever. The hope, love, grief, new beginnings, new endings. Everything was so much more than I bargained for. The authors writing style is so mesmerizing and detailed that you truly feel like you’re there experiencing the emotions first hand. It didn’t end how I wanted it to but I think that’s what makes it so perfect and more real. Wow, this book was amazing
Thank you NetGalley for one of the best ARCs!!
Thank you NetGalley for one of the best ARCs!!
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April 5, 2026ended up skimming this but truly do not read this if you are in an emotionally vulnerable moment in life!! this is a message for your own good !! Even skimming it made me want to bawl
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
After taking a pill erasing her memories, Rose leaves behind her life and her great love, Landon, and he follows her hoping she’ll fall for him again. WOW, I loved this. The premise is compelling and makes you wonder if you’d take such a pill, and I really enjoyed the dual timeline between the present and their past, slowly revealing why Rose made her choice. The characters, both main and secondary, are lovable, and the story is beautiful, emotional, and at times heartbreaking. The ending isn’t necessarily happy, but it feels right. A truly memorable read that I’d highly recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central publishing for the ARC.
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central publishing for the ARC.
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May 12, 2026received this as an arc, will not be sharing thoughts until published!
Did Not Finish
May 18, 2026Reading should be fun
Read
March 28, 2026Hands down, one of the best books I have read this year so far.
Read
February 2, 2026This debut novel reminded me of a satisfactory mashup of One Day and Time Traveller’s Wife, delivering big emotions in an interesting narrative structure that also posed evocative questions about love and memory. Good stuff.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I adored the entire premise of this book. Of course I wanted to read initially for the speculative memory-erasing treatment feature. I am not usually a romance reader, but thought I’d try it out anyway. The way this love endures through so many monumental phases of life was nothing short of incredible. Not going to lie, my heart was shattered by the end and I ugly cried a few times more than I would have liked. Will be healing from this one for a while.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
If you've read any of my other reviews, you'll know that speculative fiction (especially stories that deal with memory or alternate histories) is one of my absolute favorite tropes. Novels like Once and Again by Rebecca Serle, Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid, or Tell Me an Ending by Jo Harkin hook me on the premise alone. Some of these love stories ask whether two people are meant to find each other and explore the circumstances around what happens if one or two things change. The Good Parts asks the more devastating question: what happens when one of them chooses to forget they ever did?
Evann Normandin’s The Good Parts is a deeply emotional, speculative love story about Rose and Landon, a couple whose relationship begins with the bright, ordinary magic of college friendship and grows into the kind of life-altering love that feels impossible to untangle from identity itself. But when a life-shattering loss leaves Rose unable to keep living inside her own memories, she takes a pill that erases her past completely. Not just the pain. Not just the trauma. Everything. Her marriage, her friendships, her history, and the version of herself shaped by all of it.
Landon, however, remembers everything.
The novel unfolds across two timelines: Rose’s past, where we see the love story build, and Landon’s present, where he follows the new Rose to Edinburgh, desperate to understand whether the person he loved still exists somewhere inside this blank-slate version of her. That structure works beautifully because it lets the reader fall in love with them while also watching the aftermath of that love’s destruction. I felt like I was constantly holding two emotional truths at once: I understood why Landon could not let go, and I understood why Rose believed forgetting was the only way to survive.
What makes the book so effective is that it does not treat memory as a simple container for pain. It asks whether our worst experiences can be separated from our best ones, and whether losing grief also means losing love. The speculative premise gives the story a slightly surreal edge, but the emotions are painfully grounded. This is not just a romance, though the love story is central. It is also about trauma, friendship, parenthood, guilt, forgiveness, and the frightening possibility of becoming someone new because staying who you are hurts too much.
The supporting relationships add a lot of warmth, especially through the friendships surrounding Rose and Landon. Those characters give the story texture and relief, reminding us that grief does not happen in isolation. People witness it, misunderstand it, carry pieces of it, and sometimes love us through it even when they cannot fix us.
It also hints at and dances around the ultimate question of whether we are a collection of our past experiences and memories. If, by erasing our past, we are in essence erasing the very things that make up who we are as individuals. Multiple times throughout the book, Rose refers to herself before taking the pill as a different person, a separate person from herself that she doesn't know or understand.
I loved this book. The writing is tender without feeling overly polished, and the dual timeline kept me emotionally invested from start to finish. I especially appreciated how the book lets both Rose and Landon be flawed. Landon’s devotion is moving, but it is also complicated. Rose’s decision is heartbreaking, but the book provides enough emotional context that I could not reduce it to a single judgment.
My only hesitation is that some readers may struggle with Rose’s choices, especially if they come in expecting a more traditional romance arc. This is not a light, tidy love story. It is painful, morally messy, and at times emotionally heavy. You may hate Rose and her decisions; they may not be the ones you would have made in her situation, but thankfully, you are not presented with her choices. And, hey, the book got you thinking about it, and that's a win. Life is not easy. It's messy, and it's that messiness that made it feel honest.
The question at the center of the novel stayed with me like a line I could not stop underlining: If you could erase the worst parts of your life, would you also be willing to lose the best ones?
Read this if you like: emotional speculative fiction, love stories with moral complexity, dual timelines, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The Time Traveler’s Wife, Rebecca Serle, Jojo Moyes, or Taylor Jenkins Reid-style relationship stories with a heavy emotional core.
Thank you, Grand Central Publishing (@GrandCentralpub) and NetGalley, for this advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my unbiased review. It was my favorite read in April. If you love this type of book, look for it at your favorite book seller in July 2026.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐(5 stars)
Evann Normandin’s The Good Parts is a deeply emotional, speculative love story about Rose and Landon, a couple whose relationship begins with the bright, ordinary magic of college friendship and grows into the kind of life-altering love that feels impossible to untangle from identity itself. But when a life-shattering loss leaves Rose unable to keep living inside her own memories, she takes a pill that erases her past completely. Not just the pain. Not just the trauma. Everything. Her marriage, her friendships, her history, and the version of herself shaped by all of it.
Landon, however, remembers everything.
The novel unfolds across two timelines: Rose’s past, where we see the love story build, and Landon’s present, where he follows the new Rose to Edinburgh, desperate to understand whether the person he loved still exists somewhere inside this blank-slate version of her. That structure works beautifully because it lets the reader fall in love with them while also watching the aftermath of that love’s destruction. I felt like I was constantly holding two emotional truths at once: I understood why Landon could not let go, and I understood why Rose believed forgetting was the only way to survive.
What makes the book so effective is that it does not treat memory as a simple container for pain. It asks whether our worst experiences can be separated from our best ones, and whether losing grief also means losing love. The speculative premise gives the story a slightly surreal edge, but the emotions are painfully grounded. This is not just a romance, though the love story is central. It is also about trauma, friendship, parenthood, guilt, forgiveness, and the frightening possibility of becoming someone new because staying who you are hurts too much.
The supporting relationships add a lot of warmth, especially through the friendships surrounding Rose and Landon. Those characters give the story texture and relief, reminding us that grief does not happen in isolation. People witness it, misunderstand it, carry pieces of it, and sometimes love us through it even when they cannot fix us.
It also hints at and dances around the ultimate question of whether we are a collection of our past experiences and memories. If, by erasing our past, we are in essence erasing the very things that make up who we are as individuals. Multiple times throughout the book, Rose refers to herself before taking the pill as a different person, a separate person from herself that she doesn't know or understand.
I loved this book. The writing is tender without feeling overly polished, and the dual timeline kept me emotionally invested from start to finish. I especially appreciated how the book lets both Rose and Landon be flawed. Landon’s devotion is moving, but it is also complicated. Rose’s decision is heartbreaking, but the book provides enough emotional context that I could not reduce it to a single judgment.
My only hesitation is that some readers may struggle with Rose’s choices, especially if they come in expecting a more traditional romance arc. This is not a light, tidy love story. It is painful, morally messy, and at times emotionally heavy. You may hate Rose and her decisions; they may not be the ones you would have made in her situation, but thankfully, you are not presented with her choices. And, hey, the book got you thinking about it, and that's a win. Life is not easy. It's messy, and it's that messiness that made it feel honest.
The question at the center of the novel stayed with me like a line I could not stop underlining: If you could erase the worst parts of your life, would you also be willing to lose the best ones?
Read this if you like: emotional speculative fiction, love stories with moral complexity, dual timelines, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The Time Traveler’s Wife, Rebecca Serle, Jojo Moyes, or Taylor Jenkins Reid-style relationship stories with a heavy emotional core.
Thank you, Grand Central Publishing (@GrandCentralpub) and NetGalley, for this advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my unbiased review. It was my favorite read in April. If you love this type of book, look for it at your favorite book seller in July 2026.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐(5 stars)
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