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Pull
Alex isn’t just running from his past—he’s running from everyone’s.
Born with the ability to see people’s memories by touch, he spends his days trying to shut out the lifetime of traumatic memories he’s collected while he focuses on his work at his brother’s tech company, desperate for some semblance of a normal life. But that proves difficult with rumors of security breaches at rival companies, and the mysterious disappearance of a beloved employee.
Just as he feels he’s about to take a step toward normalcy, a violent kidnapping turns his world upside down. Unable to stand by any longer, Alex must turn to his ability to search for clues in the memories of the people around him to find the perpetrator before the ransom clock ends.
Born with the ability to see people’s memories by touch, he spends his days trying to shut out the lifetime of traumatic memories he’s collected while he focuses on his work at his brother’s tech company, desperate for some semblance of a normal life. But that proves difficult with rumors of security breaches at rival companies, and the mysterious disappearance of a beloved employee.
Just as he feels he’s about to take a step toward normalcy, a violent kidnapping turns his world upside down. Unable to stand by any longer, Alex must turn to his ability to search for clues in the memories of the people around him to find the perpetrator before the ransom clock ends.
308 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 26, 2026
About the author
C.J. Finch
1 book3 followersC.J. Finch is the pen name of composer and sound designer Kristen Hirlinger. Her music can be heard under the pseudonym Tannins. She lives in Los Angeles with her partner and their bossy tortoiseshell cat.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 1, 2026
I first picked up Pull after a friend gave it a strong review — and that was basically enough to send me straight into it out of curiosity.
Alex as the main character was such an easy one to get invested in. His ability to see people’s memories with a single touch is such a unique and fascinating premise, and I genuinely can’t think of another thriller I’ve read with a concept quite like this one. The idea of being able to carry a lifetime of other people’s memories and trauma is such an interesting one, and it made Alex’s perspective on the world such a compelling part of the story.
I also really liked the idea of Pullers and Pushers. Alex being a Puller, someone who can pull memories from others, was already such a cool concept, but expanding the world around these abilities added another layer of mystery to the story. It raised so many questions about what these abilities mean, who can be trusted, and how much you can really rely on what you’re seeing.
Every time Alex touched someone, I found myself immediately bracing for what their memories would reveal. Those scenes had this fragmented, almost fever-dream quality to them, which reinforced that feeling of unreliable memories and uncertainty. There were definitely moments where I had to reread sections because I was questioning whether I’d missed something or if the book was intentionally making me feel confused. It reminded me of films like The Butterfly Effect in the way it leans into the emotional consequences of fragmented memories, and Memento in its overall atmosphere, where you’re constantly trying to piece things together and wondering what is actually going on.
Apart from how well this was written, the twists were also well done and made me gasp a couple of times. I did have a strong suspicion about one reveal, but the way everything unravelled still didn’t disappoint, and there were definitely some moments I didn’t see coming. As the story wrapped up, I actually found myself looking back at earlier parts and realising there were little pieces of the puzzle that I hadn’t even noticed at the time.
Pull is a solid 4 stars for me and I genuinely had a great time with this one, even if it didn’t quite reach favourite status for me. Still, this debut is seriously impressive and punches well above its weight. I’m really glad to have found a new author to add to my radar and would highly recommend this if you're after a mind-bending thriller with some speculative/paranormal elements.
I received a free copy of this book from BookSirens in exchange for an honest review.
Alex as the main character was such an easy one to get invested in. His ability to see people’s memories with a single touch is such a unique and fascinating premise, and I genuinely can’t think of another thriller I’ve read with a concept quite like this one. The idea of being able to carry a lifetime of other people’s memories and trauma is such an interesting one, and it made Alex’s perspective on the world such a compelling part of the story.
I also really liked the idea of Pullers and Pushers. Alex being a Puller, someone who can pull memories from others, was already such a cool concept, but expanding the world around these abilities added another layer of mystery to the story. It raised so many questions about what these abilities mean, who can be trusted, and how much you can really rely on what you’re seeing.
Every time Alex touched someone, I found myself immediately bracing for what their memories would reveal. Those scenes had this fragmented, almost fever-dream quality to them, which reinforced that feeling of unreliable memories and uncertainty. There were definitely moments where I had to reread sections because I was questioning whether I’d missed something or if the book was intentionally making me feel confused. It reminded me of films like The Butterfly Effect in the way it leans into the emotional consequences of fragmented memories, and Memento in its overall atmosphere, where you’re constantly trying to piece things together and wondering what is actually going on.
Apart from how well this was written, the twists were also well done and made me gasp a couple of times. I did have a strong suspicion about one reveal, but the way everything unravelled still didn’t disappoint, and there were definitely some moments I didn’t see coming. As the story wrapped up, I actually found myself looking back at earlier parts and realising there were little pieces of the puzzle that I hadn’t even noticed at the time.
Pull is a solid 4 stars for me and I genuinely had a great time with this one, even if it didn’t quite reach favourite status for me. Still, this debut is seriously impressive and punches well above its weight. I’m really glad to have found a new author to add to my radar and would highly recommend this if you're after a mind-bending thriller with some speculative/paranormal elements.
I received a free copy of this book from BookSirens in exchange for an honest review.
August 12, 2026
Alright so I just finished this ARC I received from BookSirens and WOW. This may be the second book I rate ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Pull by C. J. Finch was ABSOLUTELY MIND BLOWING.
We meet Alex, who has an ability that allows him to see people's entire life time of memories with just a touch. I don't know how to explain the rest without giving away the story… but this book had me questioning reality, suspecting every single character introduced into the story, trusting absolutely NO ONE and not knowing what was real and what wasn't 🤣
This book had me second guessing EVERYTHING and EVERYONE. It is a must read!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
Pull by C. J. Finch was ABSOLUTELY MIND BLOWING.
We meet Alex, who has an ability that allows him to see people's entire life time of memories with just a touch. I don't know how to explain the rest without giving away the story… but this book had me questioning reality, suspecting every single character introduced into the story, trusting absolutely NO ONE and not knowing what was real and what wasn't 🤣
This book had me second guessing EVERYTHING and EVERYONE. It is a must read!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
August 9, 2026
This is a unique and fascinating story about a young man, Alex Hemsley, who has the ability to absorb other people's memories when he touches them. This gift is not small and manageable as he does not read flashes of memories but rather every memory the person has. This talent has a positive side as he can 'pull' someone and gain all their knowledge thereby gaining a huge intellectual advantage. The down side is he also sees anything bad a person has done. He can also feel the persons dark emotions.
The story kicks off with Alex assisting the police with the interrogation of a suspected child molester and murderer. The murderer deliberately touches Alex thereby passing all the details of his unbalanced and cruel mind and emotions on to Alex, along with all his memories of the numerous murders he has committed.
The story then moves on to Alex in his job as the head of security for his brother, Drew's, data storage company. Some of the data stored is highly sensitive and relates to details about people who have made information deals with the police in exchange for new identities. Many of these people are very evil and, through the eyes of the families of their victims, do not deserve police protection. Drew's company and the companies of his competitors, make a lot of money out of the data protection services they provide.
Drew informs Alex that one of their competitor company's has suffered a major data security break and that information has been leaked. He tells Alex to tighten security in anticipation of a similar attempted breach. The brothers quickly become embroiled in a murder and kidnapping where the ransom is the provision of their company's data in each for the life of the victim. With the clock ticking, Alex and Drew set out to try and find the kidnapped woman and Alex is pressed into using his skill as a 'puller' to help their investigation. During the course of inquiries, Alex discovered another type of ability called 'pushing' where the 'pusher' can implant false memories into the minds of their victims thereby manipulating their memories, thoughts, and actions. The kidnapper appears to be the mysterious 'pusher' but who is this person, and why does he/she so desperately want the secret data held by Drew's company?
Due to the nature of the villain and their ability to 'push' people and override their real memories, the story takes on an unreliable narrator perspective which is very interesting. It does mean, however, that the reader needs to read with attention as there are periods in the book when you don't know what is real and what isn't. The reader has to stay on his/her toes to pick up the unreliable parts and where the story changes.
I enjoyed this novel and this clever plot immensely and recommend it to readers who like a book that's different and a bit challenging.
The story kicks off with Alex assisting the police with the interrogation of a suspected child molester and murderer. The murderer deliberately touches Alex thereby passing all the details of his unbalanced and cruel mind and emotions on to Alex, along with all his memories of the numerous murders he has committed.
The story then moves on to Alex in his job as the head of security for his brother, Drew's, data storage company. Some of the data stored is highly sensitive and relates to details about people who have made information deals with the police in exchange for new identities. Many of these people are very evil and, through the eyes of the families of their victims, do not deserve police protection. Drew's company and the companies of his competitors, make a lot of money out of the data protection services they provide.
Drew informs Alex that one of their competitor company's has suffered a major data security break and that information has been leaked. He tells Alex to tighten security in anticipation of a similar attempted breach. The brothers quickly become embroiled in a murder and kidnapping where the ransom is the provision of their company's data in each for the life of the victim. With the clock ticking, Alex and Drew set out to try and find the kidnapped woman and Alex is pressed into using his skill as a 'puller' to help their investigation. During the course of inquiries, Alex discovered another type of ability called 'pushing' where the 'pusher' can implant false memories into the minds of their victims thereby manipulating their memories, thoughts, and actions. The kidnapper appears to be the mysterious 'pusher' but who is this person, and why does he/she so desperately want the secret data held by Drew's company?
Due to the nature of the villain and their ability to 'push' people and override their real memories, the story takes on an unreliable narrator perspective which is very interesting. It does mean, however, that the reader needs to read with attention as there are periods in the book when you don't know what is real and what isn't. The reader has to stay on his/her toes to pick up the unreliable parts and where the story changes.
I enjoyed this novel and this clever plot immensely and recommend it to readers who like a book that's different and a bit challenging.
June 10, 2026
Rating 4.0/5.0 stars:
“Pull” is a well written “who done it” mystery with an interesting twist on the genre. It takes the idea of a murder mystery and adds a bit of spy/espionage, supernatural with a splash of tech thriller concepts to create something unique and wildly interesting.
Breakdown: I have broken my review into several parts weighted in their scoring to give me my overall rating above.
Characters: 5/5 stars
I found the characters to be well written and complex. This is very important in a thriller such as this as a lack of depth can break the plot and make the story too predictable. This was not the case here. The main character Alex is very deep and complex along with the other main characters. But for the sake of no spoilers we will stick with Alex in my example. He shows a well developed character arch near the end of the book. I found that his character was relatable, even though some of his choices through the book were questionable.
Writing style: 4/5 stars
I thoroughly enjoyed the writing style the author uses through the book. Using a first person point of view really narrowed the visible scope of the scenes to only what Alex could observe in the moment. This is a great choice because some details are left out or are obscured by design. There were times I had to go back to places in the book to see if I just missed something or if I overlooked it like Alex did. I’m a big fan of small details like. One minor critique I have is there were a couple spots where my immersion was disrupted by an out of place time skip. Not big but what would equate to a minute or two in real time within the story.
Plot/pacing: 3.5/5 stars
This is where the real heart and soul of the story comes into play. I found the plot to be really creative and a good spin on a mystery thriller. Having said that there were a few points where it was a little predictable. I called who was the antagonist was relatively early in the story. It the story was still a fun ride because there were so many mind bending twists and plays on classic tropes I still don’t know what’s real.
Engagement: 4/5 stars
I found the story to be engaging, in depth and interesting. There were times where I got lost in what was happening during the memory dives. But other than that I enjoyed the story.
Lasting Impact: 3/5 stars
While this was a fun read, I find mystery thrillers are the least likely books to be reread on my shelf. This is at no fault of the author or the book itself but once I’ve read it it’s kind of lost its suspense for me.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
A special thank you to BookSirens and C.J. Finch for giving me access to this copy.
“Pull” is a well written “who done it” mystery with an interesting twist on the genre. It takes the idea of a murder mystery and adds a bit of spy/espionage, supernatural with a splash of tech thriller concepts to create something unique and wildly interesting.
Breakdown: I have broken my review into several parts weighted in their scoring to give me my overall rating above.
Characters: 5/5 stars
I found the characters to be well written and complex. This is very important in a thriller such as this as a lack of depth can break the plot and make the story too predictable. This was not the case here. The main character Alex is very deep and complex along with the other main characters. But for the sake of no spoilers we will stick with Alex in my example. He shows a well developed character arch near the end of the book. I found that his character was relatable, even though some of his choices through the book were questionable.
Writing style: 4/5 stars
I thoroughly enjoyed the writing style the author uses through the book. Using a first person point of view really narrowed the visible scope of the scenes to only what Alex could observe in the moment. This is a great choice because some details are left out or are obscured by design. There were times I had to go back to places in the book to see if I just missed something or if I overlooked it like Alex did. I’m a big fan of small details like. One minor critique I have is there were a couple spots where my immersion was disrupted by an out of place time skip. Not big but what would equate to a minute or two in real time within the story.
Plot/pacing: 3.5/5 stars
This is where the real heart and soul of the story comes into play. I found the plot to be really creative and a good spin on a mystery thriller. Having said that there were a few points where it was a little predictable. I called who was the antagonist was relatively early in the story. It the story was still a fun ride because there were so many mind bending twists and plays on classic tropes I still don’t know what’s real.
Engagement: 4/5 stars
I found the story to be engaging, in depth and interesting. There were times where I got lost in what was happening during the memory dives. But other than that I enjoyed the story.
Lasting Impact: 3/5 stars
While this was a fun read, I find mystery thrillers are the least likely books to be reread on my shelf. This is at no fault of the author or the book itself but once I’ve read it it’s kind of lost its suspense for me.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
A special thank you to BookSirens and C.J. Finch for giving me access to this copy.
June 28, 2026
Pull is the kind of book that quietly takes hold of you and keeps you thinking long after you've put it down. C.J. Finch has created a story that is immersive, emotionally engaging, and filled with the kind of authentic human moments that make readers genuinely care about what happens next. Rather than relying on spectacle alone, the novel builds its impact through strong characters, meaningful relationships, and a steady sense of emotional investment that grows with every chapter. What impressed me most was how natural everything felt. The characters are believable, the emotions feel genuine, and the story unfolds in a way that keeps readers fully invested without ever feeling forced. There is a strong sense of heart beneath the narrative, and that emotional core is what makes the book so memorable. The writing flows effortlessly, making it easy to lose track of time while reading, and the story consistently rewards readers who enjoy character driven fiction with depth, sincerity, and purpose. Beyond the plot itself, Pull feels like a book written with care. Every page reflects thoughtfulness, patience, and a genuine love for storytelling. It is a story that entertains, but it also connects. It reminds us why we read in the first place to experience different lives, different emotions, and different perspectives while discovering something meaningful along the way. Pull is a memorable, heartfelt, and beautifully crafted novel that I would happily recommend to anyone looking for a story that combines emotional depth with an engaging reading experience.
June 1, 2026
Massive thanks to C.J. Finch, Little Bird Books and NetGalley for this advanced copy of Pull. This review is being left voluntarily and all opinions expressed are my own.
This started of as quite an emotional and haunting story but then developed into a fantastic thriller that had me guessing and gasping until the very last page.
Main character Alex has a "gift" - he is able to see all of a person's memory when he touches them. Although he has used this ability for good by helping to convict criminals and find missing people, it weighs very heavily on him.
This was a really good thriller which focuses on Alex trying to uncover some sort of conspiracy that is affecting his brother's company, which he also works for. It is also linked to a range of strange deaths and disappearances.
The pacing of the story was excellent and I felt fully immersed in the plot as Alex tried to work out who was masterminding events. There was a big reveal that genuinely shocked me and the pace was relentless as the book reached its conclusion.
I won't give too much away but what an ending! It turned what would have been a solid 4-star read into a definite 5-star and one of my favourite books of 2026 so far.
This started of as quite an emotional and haunting story but then developed into a fantastic thriller that had me guessing and gasping until the very last page.
Main character Alex has a "gift" - he is able to see all of a person's memory when he touches them. Although he has used this ability for good by helping to convict criminals and find missing people, it weighs very heavily on him.
This was a really good thriller which focuses on Alex trying to uncover some sort of conspiracy that is affecting his brother's company, which he also works for. It is also linked to a range of strange deaths and disappearances.
The pacing of the story was excellent and I felt fully immersed in the plot as Alex tried to work out who was masterminding events. There was a big reveal that genuinely shocked me and the pace was relentless as the book reached its conclusion.
I won't give too much away but what an ending! It turned what would have been a solid 4-star read into a definite 5-star and one of my favourite books of 2026 so far.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
PULL didn’t just surprise me—it hit me. There’s this slow, unsettling tension that builds like a pressure in your chest, and I kept telling myself I was ready for whatever was coming. I wasn’t. Not even close.
When the twist landed, it felt like the air got sucked out of the room. My heart actually dropped. It wasn’t just unexpected—it was the kind of reveal that makes you rethink every page you’ve already read, every assumption you made, every tiny detail you thought you understood. I had to sit there for a moment, just absorbing it, because it changed everything in a way that felt both devastating and brilliant.
What really got me was the emotion behind it. It wasn’t shock for shock’s sake. It carried weight. It made the story feel deeper, sadder, more human. I found myself feeling for the characters in a way I didn’t anticipate, like the twist cracked something open inside the narrative—and inside me, too.
This book didn’t just give me a plot twist. It gave me a moment I’m going to remember. Five stars, easily.
When the twist landed, it felt like the air got sucked out of the room. My heart actually dropped. It wasn’t just unexpected—it was the kind of reveal that makes you rethink every page you’ve already read, every assumption you made, every tiny detail you thought you understood. I had to sit there for a moment, just absorbing it, because it changed everything in a way that felt both devastating and brilliant.
What really got me was the emotion behind it. It wasn’t shock for shock’s sake. It carried weight. It made the story feel deeper, sadder, more human. I found myself feeling for the characters in a way I didn’t anticipate, like the twist cracked something open inside the narrative—and inside me, too.
This book didn’t just give me a plot twist. It gave me a moment I’m going to remember. Five stars, easily.
June 10, 2026
What would you do if you could capture the memories of everyone you came into contact with? What if you could influence those memories? Pull is an interesting blend of suspense and supernatural abilities. The first half of the book I found myself aligned with the protagonist and his desire to help people but seeing his ability as an obstacle. However, once the conflict reached a climax I could understand why the antagonist used her abilities in the way she did. It left me asking "Would I do the same?" "Would I take it as far as she did?". Pull is a novel that dives into the way memories affect human nature and our everyday interactions. The ending left me questions the reality of the book and left me wondering what really happened?
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 8, 2026
Pull has one of the most interesting and unique speculative sci-fi thriller concepts I’ve read in a very long time. One character can pull memories out of people, while another can push memories in. Alex's power comes with a price: he has to live life avoiding casual contact, thinks ahead about being touched, and treats touch as risky because it can expose him to memories he does not want.
The book will leave you disoriented a little since the timeline & scenes are being manipulated, leaving you feeling gaslit and unsure as to what is real and what is not.
While I did get a little confused here and there... the push-pull concept was memorable enough for me to land it a 4-star personal rating.
The book will leave you disoriented a little since the timeline & scenes are being manipulated, leaving you feeling gaslit and unsure as to what is real and what is not.
While I did get a little confused here and there... the push-pull concept was memorable enough for me to land it a 4-star personal rating.
August 6, 2026
This was honestly such a great book - it was easy to picture what was going on and was very interesting. What I also enjoyed was the depth of the characters. To me, they almost felt like real people. Alex can see people's memories just by touching them, and this leaves him afraid of touching people.
There were a lot of twists that I did not see coming (won't spoil it), and I would definitely recommend this book to people who like thrillers as well as well-developed and realistic characters.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
There were a lot of twists that I did not see coming (won't spoil it), and I would definitely recommend this book to people who like thrillers as well as well-developed and realistic characters.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 5, 2026
The concept on this one intrigued me--someone who can pull others' memories. I really liked where the story started off and I was 100% in trying to figure out what was going on with Melanie.
I wish the story had run with that more rather than the direction it took. The story was good, but it was not as gripping as the first quarter of the book in my opinion.
The twists were great though!
I wish the story had run with that more rather than the direction it took. The story was good, but it was not as gripping as the first quarter of the book in my opinion.
The twists were great though!
August 17, 2026
Pull
Kept my attention but not my kind of read, I couldn’t make this story up if I tried and I have a vivid imagination but this is out there!,
Kept my attention but not my kind of read, I couldn’t make this story up if I tried and I have a vivid imagination but this is out there!,
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews