Nobody Wants to Remember

by Courtney McLean Thompson

420 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 20, 2026

Reviews

[Buffy Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Y’all. This book. I could not put it down. The earnestness of the characters and the believability of the plot is spot on. Courtney addresses the intricacies of race conversations between family members and generations. Beautifully told and rightfully convicting, it causes the reader to see themselves and ask themselves some tough questions. Giving it to my teenagers, teachers and book clubs. It should be required reading - so poignant. Loved it

[Casey Cockrum · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the joy and privilege of reading this while it was being written and edited. Y’all! Go get this book. It is so, so good and so well written. You will be enveloped in the worlds of Kackie and Walt as they navigate dating in a town that has some strong beliefs about race!
Nobody wants to remember and it’s time that we do!

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Southern coming-of-age story across race lines, told with sensitivity and feeling by Courtney McLean Thompson. Thompson writes with quiet confidence and intention throughout this compelling story set in the fictional town of Mandeville, South Carolina. Her characters, particularly Kackie, grow up a lot in these pages and come to reckon with present-day racism and injustice as they explore civil rights history, all within the context of their own complicated relationships. An accomplishment!

[Diane Hidey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coming of age in a very southern town in South Carolina is harder when you've spent time studying in NYC. Kackie returns for her senior year of HS, enrolls in a class on Race and is quickly thrust into a friendship with a black student. Walt shares his life, history and family. Most of this is so eye opening to Kackie. This is a powerful story of repressed racism and you may think it's exaggerated....and perhaps it might be, but so much rang true for me having lived in SC for 18 years. But there is hope and this story shows redemption, truth and forgiveness. Definitely a book to be read and discussed. Well done Courtney, first time author! ❤️

[ab · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow. what a story. tears were shed, hearts were broken, laughs were had, and hope was present.

i recommend this to literally every white person in the world. being from charlottesville, a high schooler when the riots happened, so much of this story really hit home for me. thank you, courtney, for unflinchingly talking about the some of the hardest parts of american history.

walt and kackie for life ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️