What do you think?
Rate this book
The Rewind Effect
Not yet published
Expected 11 Aug 26There are two types of those who want to forget and those who would do anything to remember.
Jamie Kessler wants to remember. After a car accident wipes away most of her memories, she's left with fragments of a life she no longer recognizes. Confused and overwhelmed, Jamie undergoes an experimental procedure to recapture lost memories. With each recollection, she pieces together a feeling that something—or someone—is clinging to her heart and won't let go. One name keeps coming up and is impossible to forget, Mallory Ziegler. The woman she met in an AOL chatroom when she was nineteen, the woman she fell madly in love with, and the woman she somehow lost.
The more she digs, the deeper she falls for Mallory and embraces the love that memory never erased. But some memories were buried for a reason, and the pain and betrayal she discovers could completely change the direction of her life.
Jamie Kessler wants to remember. After a car accident wipes away most of her memories, she's left with fragments of a life she no longer recognizes. Confused and overwhelmed, Jamie undergoes an experimental procedure to recapture lost memories. With each recollection, she pieces together a feeling that something—or someone—is clinging to her heart and won't let go. One name keeps coming up and is impossible to forget, Mallory Ziegler. The woman she met in an AOL chatroom when she was nineteen, the woman she fell madly in love with, and the woman she somehow lost.
The more she digs, the deeper she falls for Mallory and embraces the love that memory never erased. But some memories were buried for a reason, and the pain and betrayal she discovers could completely change the direction of her life.
- GenresLGBT
Audible Audio
Expected publication August 11, 2026
About the author
Morgan Lee Miller
10 books177 followersMorgan Lee Miller started writing at the age of 5 in the suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio. Since there is absolutely nothing to do there, she entertained herself by writing her first few novels by hand.
She currently resides in Washington, D.C. with her two feline children, Milo and Elsa. She has a serious problem with oversharing pictures of her cats on Instagram and promises never to apologize for it.
She currently resides in Washington, D.C. with her two feline children, Milo and Elsa. She has a serious problem with oversharing pictures of her cats on Instagram and promises never to apologize for it.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
It’s been 24 hours since finishing this book, and I am still actively thinking about it.
THE CHARACTERS
Jamie is in her forties when the accident happens, leaving her with memories from her teenage years. I am in my mid to end 20s, and Jamie felt, in the beginning, younger than me, and quite relatable, which makes sense. As the chapters progressed, her mental age grew, but she still stayed relatable to me.
Despite all the flashbacks, it’s fairly easy to keep track of all the characters! As the main story is about Jamie and Mallory, we don’t learn too much about anyone else, sadly. I would have loved to learn more about certain characters and their relationships towards/with Jamie, as she is more than just the woman who crushes on Mallory. It bothered me a bit how Mallory was always on her mind. However, the story is about THEIR story, as said in the abstract, so it made sense, and I lowkey would love to read this entire story from Mallory’s POV as well. As a lesbian myself, their relationship felt realistic: it was beautiful, messy, there was joy, there were mistakes, it had so many feelings.
THE STORY & REALISM
As the experimental procedure is set in a couple of days, the story felt quite fast-paced. When I googled, the title of the procedure existed, but it was completely different. I’m not sure if it exists, but it’s quite believable, as music therapy is used in relation to the brain. I actually loved the concept a lot, I keep thinking about it. Like PLEASE give me more with this concept.
It makes sense that the memories Jamie recovers are mostly connected to Mallory, as it’s the thing Jamie wants to explore the most as well. I like that certain events were mentioned, and I remember there being a moment where my heart just STOPPED. You’ll know it when you get there. I didn't know many of the songs mentioned (whoops), but I loved how every song connected properly with the flashback.
There is spice in this book. I am not always the biggest fan of the spice, and I wouldn’t have minded a bit less spice, but I did like that most of the spice was part of the story and not just there to make it spicy.
THE WRITING & COVER
English is not my native language, but reading this book was very, very doable. The things I had to look up were more age-related (sorry for making people feel old, I did not know what AOL was). The writing is very easy and flowy to read; I ended up reading the entire book in 2 goes! You just want to keep reading and discovering what is happening and where it’s going.
The cover is cute, it's quite fitting for the story! and definitely catches your eye. The cover and abstract is one of the reasons I requested this arc.
CONCLUSION
I just kept wanting to read and discovering where we were going. I ended up settling for 3,5, rounded up to 4, stars as I really would have loved to read more about Jamie outside of her relationship with Mallory (her job also seemed so interesting to me). It’s also a bit more tell than show to me, but the experimental concept alone is *chef’s kiss*. The storyline also definitely has all the feels! And the ending... Oh, the ending... It's beautiful.
Thank you to Bold Strokes Books for the arc and NetGalley for giving me to opportunity. Lastly, thank you, Morgan Lee Miller, for writing a lovely book!
THE CHARACTERS
Jamie is in her forties when the accident happens, leaving her with memories from her teenage years. I am in my mid to end 20s, and Jamie felt, in the beginning, younger than me, and quite relatable, which makes sense. As the chapters progressed, her mental age grew, but she still stayed relatable to me.
Despite all the flashbacks, it’s fairly easy to keep track of all the characters! As the main story is about Jamie and Mallory, we don’t learn too much about anyone else, sadly. I would have loved to learn more about certain characters and their relationships towards/with Jamie, as she is more than just the woman who crushes on Mallory. It bothered me a bit how Mallory was always on her mind. However, the story is about THEIR story, as said in the abstract, so it made sense, and I lowkey would love to read this entire story from Mallory’s POV as well. As a lesbian myself, their relationship felt realistic: it was beautiful, messy, there was joy, there were mistakes, it had so many feelings.
THE STORY & REALISM
As the experimental procedure is set in a couple of days, the story felt quite fast-paced. When I googled, the title of the procedure existed, but it was completely different. I’m not sure if it exists, but it’s quite believable, as music therapy is used in relation to the brain. I actually loved the concept a lot, I keep thinking about it. Like PLEASE give me more with this concept.
It makes sense that the memories Jamie recovers are mostly connected to Mallory, as it’s the thing Jamie wants to explore the most as well. I like that certain events were mentioned, and I remember there being a moment where my heart just STOPPED. You’ll know it when you get there. I didn't know many of the songs mentioned (whoops), but I loved how every song connected properly with the flashback.
There is spice in this book. I am not always the biggest fan of the spice, and I wouldn’t have minded a bit less spice, but I did like that most of the spice was part of the story and not just there to make it spicy.
THE WRITING & COVER
English is not my native language, but reading this book was very, very doable. The things I had to look up were more age-related (sorry for making people feel old, I did not know what AOL was). The writing is very easy and flowy to read; I ended up reading the entire book in 2 goes! You just want to keep reading and discovering what is happening and where it’s going.
The cover is cute, it's quite fitting for the story! and definitely catches your eye. The cover and abstract is one of the reasons I requested this arc.
CONCLUSION
I just kept wanting to read and discovering where we were going. I ended up settling for 3,5, rounded up to 4, stars as I really would have loved to read more about Jamie outside of her relationship with Mallory (her job also seemed so interesting to me). It’s also a bit more tell than show to me, but the experimental concept alone is *chef’s kiss*. The storyline also definitely has all the feels! And the ending... Oh, the ending... It's beautiful.
Thank you to Bold Strokes Books for the arc and NetGalley for giving me to opportunity. Lastly, thank you, Morgan Lee Miller, for writing a lovely book!
July 30, 2026
The Rewind Effect follows Jamie, who loses years of her memories after a tragic car accident. Through an experimental music based therapy, she’s able to slowly recover them, with every memory leading her back to the girl she met on AOL in the late 90s.
I requested this book thinking it would be a cute, funny sapphic rom com. I couldn’t have been more wrong and I’m so glad I was.
This is one of the most beautiful, intimate and realistic portrayals of a relationship I’ve ever read. The story follows Jamie from her college years, through moving to the city and starting her career, all the way to her forties. At the heart of it all is her relationship with Mallory, the girl she met on AOL at the dawn of the internet.
This book captures so perfectly what it feels like to meet the love of your life when you’re so young and everything that comes with that, the joy, the heartbreak, the uncertainty, the longing and all the ways your lives grow together and apart over the years. It’s such a tender story, full of yearning and so much emotion.
I had to put this book down multiple times because I was crying so much. I loved experiencing everything through Jamie’s perspective, her love, her mistakes, her grief, her anger and her happiness. It genuinely felt like growing up alongside her, finding the people who become your family and never quite being able to let go of the girl who changed your life all those years ago.
The nostalgia was another thing I absolutely loved. The late 90s and early 2000s felt so vivid and the music woven throughout the story made it even more special.
The ending had me crying and smiling at the same time and I don’t think I’ll be forgetting this story anytime soon. I don’t want to say much more because I truly think this is a story that’s best experienced going in almost completely blind. This is easily one of the best books I’ve read all year and I immediately wanted to pick up everything Morgan Lee Miller has ever written.
An easy 5 stars. A perfect read.
This book comes out on 08/11/26.
Thank you so much netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for the Arc!
I requested this book thinking it would be a cute, funny sapphic rom com. I couldn’t have been more wrong and I’m so glad I was.
This is one of the most beautiful, intimate and realistic portrayals of a relationship I’ve ever read. The story follows Jamie from her college years, through moving to the city and starting her career, all the way to her forties. At the heart of it all is her relationship with Mallory, the girl she met on AOL at the dawn of the internet.
This book captures so perfectly what it feels like to meet the love of your life when you’re so young and everything that comes with that, the joy, the heartbreak, the uncertainty, the longing and all the ways your lives grow together and apart over the years. It’s such a tender story, full of yearning and so much emotion.
I had to put this book down multiple times because I was crying so much. I loved experiencing everything through Jamie’s perspective, her love, her mistakes, her grief, her anger and her happiness. It genuinely felt like growing up alongside her, finding the people who become your family and never quite being able to let go of the girl who changed your life all those years ago.
The nostalgia was another thing I absolutely loved. The late 90s and early 2000s felt so vivid and the music woven throughout the story made it even more special.
The ending had me crying and smiling at the same time and I don’t think I’ll be forgetting this story anytime soon. I don’t want to say much more because I truly think this is a story that’s best experienced going in almost completely blind. This is easily one of the best books I’ve read all year and I immediately wanted to pick up everything Morgan Lee Miller has ever written.
An easy 5 stars. A perfect read.
This book comes out on 08/11/26.
Thank you so much netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for the Arc!
Review of advance copy
Similar to The Memories of Marlie Rose, this is a story that revolves around memories. This time, instead of erasing memories, Jamie has lost her memories and the experimental procedure helps restore them, from oldest to most recent. And… the majority of those memories turn out to revolve around Mallory. Who, in the present, Jamie doesn’t know much about, except it’s Jamie’s sister with her not Mallory, and Jamie is not wearing a ring. So, whatever happened, it’s over. Except, her memories are a little inconsistent on this… it’s there, and then it’s over, and then it’s back, and then… well, they could never walk away from each other, but apparently they also had trouble sticking the landing? Leading to… what?
I suppose this is a second chance in concept, because maybe Jamie can track down Mallory and make it work this time? Except, unlike the typical second chance, the present isn’t really heavily featured, until very very late. It’s more just a story of Jamie and Mallory’s long and winding path, from college into their 40s, revealed over the course of the memory restoration process. And the thing is, that was a lovely story. There was a ton of 90s-2000s nostalgia, which I appreciated in principle, but it wasn’t the food and drinks (or, hilariously, the labeling) that stuck with me, but the music. So, it was great for me that Jamie also drove the progress of the story via the music of the day!
All in all, I’m not really filing this under second chance, but under “great story” and “unique and wonderful use of memory reveals.” It’s a safe bet my next D&D game will feature crucial memories stashed all over the place for the party to track down and unveil… 😁
I suppose this is a second chance in concept, because maybe Jamie can track down Mallory and make it work this time? Except, unlike the typical second chance, the present isn’t really heavily featured, until very very late. It’s more just a story of Jamie and Mallory’s long and winding path, from college into their 40s, revealed over the course of the memory restoration process. And the thing is, that was a lovely story. There was a ton of 90s-2000s nostalgia, which I appreciated in principle, but it wasn’t the food and drinks (or, hilariously, the labeling) that stuck with me, but the music. So, it was great for me that Jamie also drove the progress of the story via the music of the day!
All in all, I’m not really filing this under second chance, but under “great story” and “unique and wonderful use of memory reveals.” It’s a safe bet my next D&D game will feature crucial memories stashed all over the place for the party to track down and unveil… 😁
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I absolutely loved this book. It's a beautiful story about mid-forties Jamie, who suffers memory loss after a car accident, and Mallory, who was Jamie's first love and is in the forefront of almost every story as Jamie slowly starts to recall her past. Jamie's memory recovery begins as she she starts college in the late 90s and she meets Mallory in an AOL chat room. The book continues to chronologically document their lives as Jamie remembers things pieces at a time.
I will say - part of my absolute love for this book has to be because I am 46 and I came out in 90s too. There is so much about this book I relate to, as I remember the events happening so clearly, and I was the same age as the MCs. The reference to Ellen's coming out episode, Melissa Etheridge's "Yes I Am" album, Don't Ask Don't Tell, etc. This entire book wasn't just a great story, it was also a journey through my formative years. The music references alone made me feel like the author was along for every ride in my 1992 Geo Tracker with its after-market 6 disc CD changer. That said, I don't think you have to have been born in 1980 to love this book, it could stand on it's own regardless of your age.
This was a well-paced, easy read/listen. Both MCs were likable. The side characters were perfect. The spice was excellently done as well. I will definitely be checking out more of Morgan Lee Miller's work, as she was new to me. I was thrilled to see this wasn't her debut!
The book was narrated by Quinn Riley. She killed it, as usual. Love her work.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ALC of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
I will say - part of my absolute love for this book has to be because I am 46 and I came out in 90s too. There is so much about this book I relate to, as I remember the events happening so clearly, and I was the same age as the MCs. The reference to Ellen's coming out episode, Melissa Etheridge's "Yes I Am" album, Don't Ask Don't Tell, etc. This entire book wasn't just a great story, it was also a journey through my formative years. The music references alone made me feel like the author was along for every ride in my 1992 Geo Tracker with its after-market 6 disc CD changer. That said, I don't think you have to have been born in 1980 to love this book, it could stand on it's own regardless of your age.
This was a well-paced, easy read/listen. Both MCs were likable. The side characters were perfect. The spice was excellently done as well. I will definitely be checking out more of Morgan Lee Miller's work, as she was new to me. I was thrilled to see this wasn't her debut!
The book was narrated by Quinn Riley. She killed it, as usual. Love her work.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ALC of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Rewind Effect is a beautifully constructed second-chance romance that balances nostalgia, heartbreak, and hope with remarkable skill.
I wasn't sure how I'd feel about the back-and-forth timeline at first, but it ended up being one of the book's greatest strengths. Watching Jaime and Mallory's relationship unfold piece by piece allowed every new revelation to deepen my understanding of them, and I found myself completely invested in their story. Rather than interrupting the momentum, the shifting timelines steadily built emotional tension and made me eager to uncover the next chapter of their shared history.
The nostalgia was another highlight. The references to music from the '90s and early 2000s felt wonderfully authentic, and I loved listening along to many of the songs as Jaime revisited them. They became more than a soundtrack—they were woven into the emotional fabric of the story.
What ultimately made this book stand out was the romance itself. Jaime and Mallory's relationship felt like a lifelong journey, full of joy, mistakes, missed opportunities, and enduring love. Their emotional growth, both individually and together, made the ending feel deeply satisfying and beautifully earned.
This is a thoughtful, heartfelt romance that understands the power of memory, timing, and choosing each other—even after life has taken unexpected turns.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I wasn't sure how I'd feel about the back-and-forth timeline at first, but it ended up being one of the book's greatest strengths. Watching Jaime and Mallory's relationship unfold piece by piece allowed every new revelation to deepen my understanding of them, and I found myself completely invested in their story. Rather than interrupting the momentum, the shifting timelines steadily built emotional tension and made me eager to uncover the next chapter of their shared history.
The nostalgia was another highlight. The references to music from the '90s and early 2000s felt wonderfully authentic, and I loved listening along to many of the songs as Jaime revisited them. They became more than a soundtrack—they were woven into the emotional fabric of the story.
What ultimately made this book stand out was the romance itself. Jaime and Mallory's relationship felt like a lifelong journey, full of joy, mistakes, missed opportunities, and enduring love. Their emotional growth, both individually and together, made the ending feel deeply satisfying and beautifully earned.
This is a thoughtful, heartfelt romance that understands the power of memory, timing, and choosing each other—even after life has taken unexpected turns.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book pulled me in more than I expected. I recently read another novel about memory loss after an accident, but this story stands completely on its own. At times I felt like I was living Jamie's confusion myself — trying to piece together "what happened," except in my case, imagining not remembering anything before turning nineteen. The way the story moves between the early AOL chatroom days and the present gives it a wonderful sense of time passing, and it made me reflect on what you want from love and relationships when you're young versus what you want later in life.
What really stayed with me were the questions underneath the plot: what choices did Jamie make, how do we relive our past when given the chance, and what would we do differently if we could? The book has a touch of speculative fantasy with its memory-recovery technique, and it left me genuinely wishing something like it could exist in real life — especially for conditions like dementia, where recovering lost memories would mean so much. That little spark of "what if this were real" made the story even more special to me. It's not a book full of dramatic twists or fast-paced adventure, but that's exactly its charm — it's quiet, warm, and deeply feel-good, the kind of story that stays with you rather than rushes past you.
This is the perfect book for a lazy sunny afternoon — easy to sink into, emotionally rich, and ultimately hopeful about second chances. I'm giving it 4.5 stars. I voluntarily wrote this review after receiving a free copy of the book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
When I picked up this romance, I expected more than what I got. To read two people stuck in a situationship only to keep breaking up and getting back together was exhausting. I despised the main character and there was never any good conclusion to her insecurities because the moment the external factor causing them was removed, things returned to "normal" until it happened again.
I cringed reading through Jamie's POV with how immature she acts (sounding nearly the same at 19 and 45). I also wasn't convinced by their chemistry because it kept reading like infatuation and limerence first before any genuine romance.
There's also some doctor-patient relationship ethical concerns towards the end when Jamie finds out more about herself, and it broke my immersion with it being spun as a way to bolster the romance's tragedy. The real tragedy was in these two people being unable to let go of each other to an obsessive degree.
It wasn't for me, as much as I wanted to be. While I normally like messier romances, there wasn't enough strength in the relationship that made me want to root for them. It kept harping on how electric it was but mainly described scenes with physical intimacy or huge explosive conflicts. I couldn't get a grip on what they were like together aside from this "picturesque" couple Jamie kept describing them as. By the end, I felt frustrated and disillusioned with the couple.
I cringed reading through Jamie's POV with how immature she acts (sounding nearly the same at 19 and 45). I also wasn't convinced by their chemistry because it kept reading like infatuation and limerence first before any genuine romance.
There's also some doctor-patient relationship ethical concerns towards the end when Jamie finds out more about herself, and it broke my immersion with it being spun as a way to bolster the romance's tragedy. The real tragedy was in these two people being unable to let go of each other to an obsessive degree.
It wasn't for me, as much as I wanted to be. While I normally like messier romances, there wasn't enough strength in the relationship that made me want to root for them. It kept harping on how electric it was but mainly described scenes with physical intimacy or huge explosive conflicts. I couldn't get a grip on what they were like together aside from this "picturesque" couple Jamie kept describing them as. By the end, I felt frustrated and disillusioned with the couple.
August 3, 2026
The Rewind Effect was my first FF romance, and I really enjoyed it! It was sweet, emotional, and had such a unique premise.
After an accident leaves Jamie with a huge gap in her memories, she undergoes a procedure that lets her relive the last 25 years of her life over the course of a couple of weeks. Watching her rediscover everything she had forgotten was incredibly moving. She falls in love all over again, relives her biggest heartbreak, and even experiences major moments like 9/11 from her own perspective. There were several scenes that really tugged at my heart.
At its core, this is a beautiful second chance romance, but I did have one lingering frustration. It felt like Mallory was responsible for a lot of the hurt that caused Jamie’s trust issues in the first place, yet by the end, most of the blame seemed to fall on Jamie. I kept waiting for a little more accountability from Mallory, and I never quite got it. It didn’t ruin the story for me, but it did keep me from fully buying into their reconciliation.
Overall, this was a heartfelt, emotional read with a really creative concept. If you enjoy second chance romances with plenty of nostalgia, big feelings, and a touch of science fiction, this one is definitely worth picking up.
And of course, thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ALC!
After an accident leaves Jamie with a huge gap in her memories, she undergoes a procedure that lets her relive the last 25 years of her life over the course of a couple of weeks. Watching her rediscover everything she had forgotten was incredibly moving. She falls in love all over again, relives her biggest heartbreak, and even experiences major moments like 9/11 from her own perspective. There were several scenes that really tugged at my heart.
At its core, this is a beautiful second chance romance, but I did have one lingering frustration. It felt like Mallory was responsible for a lot of the hurt that caused Jamie’s trust issues in the first place, yet by the end, most of the blame seemed to fall on Jamie. I kept waiting for a little more accountability from Mallory, and I never quite got it. It didn’t ruin the story for me, but it did keep me from fully buying into their reconciliation.
Overall, this was a heartfelt, emotional read with a really creative concept. If you enjoy second chance romances with plenty of nostalgia, big feelings, and a touch of science fiction, this one is definitely worth picking up.
And of course, thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ALC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
About the audiobook of The Rewind Effect
For me, this is the perfect second-chance romance.
I have a few favorites, and this one has shot straight to the top of the list. It’s packed with heart, emotion, heartbreak, and euphoria—a chance to revel in a truly great love story.
The audiobook—combined, of course, with the brilliant writing of author Morgen Lee Miller—gripped me so completely that I couldn't stop listening and finished the whole thing in under 24 hours!
Narrator Quinn Riley conveys those devastatingly beautiful moments—as well as the steamy and the destructive ones—exceptionally well.
I was moved to tears more than three times, which is just amazing. It’s sad, sure, but there’s something brilliant about a book or story that stirs up so many emotions and stays with you long after it ends. It’s magnificent—I can’t say that enough.
You can read the synopsis in the blurb;
I highly recommend simply listening to the audiobook with an open mind if you enjoy second-chance romances—complete with plenty of ups and downs and drama. Wonderful characters—every single one of them—make this story truly wonderful.
Many thanks to author Morgen Lee Miller, Tantor, and NetGalley for the ALC.
For me, this is the perfect second-chance romance.
I have a few favorites, and this one has shot straight to the top of the list. It’s packed with heart, emotion, heartbreak, and euphoria—a chance to revel in a truly great love story.
The audiobook—combined, of course, with the brilliant writing of author Morgen Lee Miller—gripped me so completely that I couldn't stop listening and finished the whole thing in under 24 hours!
Narrator Quinn Riley conveys those devastatingly beautiful moments—as well as the steamy and the destructive ones—exceptionally well.
I was moved to tears more than three times, which is just amazing. It’s sad, sure, but there’s something brilliant about a book or story that stirs up so many emotions and stays with you long after it ends. It’s magnificent—I can’t say that enough.
You can read the synopsis in the blurb;
I highly recommend simply listening to the audiobook with an open mind if you enjoy second-chance romances—complete with plenty of ups and downs and drama. Wonderful characters—every single one of them—make this story truly wonderful.
Many thanks to author Morgen Lee Miller, Tantor, and NetGalley for the ALC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Oh my goodness… what a book! The Rewind Effect completely pulled me out of a major reading slump, and I genuinely haven’t stopped thinking (or talking) about it since.
I went into this one not really knowing what to expect, but what I got was a beautiful romance told across two timelines, characters I couldn’t help but root for, and an emotional payoff that left me grinning like a fool.
Mallory and Jamie completely stole my heart. Their AOL friendship was pure nostalgia, and watching their relationship develop through cute conversations, flirting, and so so much tension had me kicking my feet the entire time.
And then around a third of the way through the book. OMG WHAT?! I genuinely did not see it coming. It completely caught me off guard, and before I knew it, I’d stayed up far too late because there was absolutely no way I was putting this book down.
Heartwarming, nostalgic, emotional, and impossible to stop reading. If you’re looking for a romance that will make you laugh, swoon, and keep you turning the pages long past bedtime, I can’t recommend The Rewind Effect enough!!
Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Stroke Books for the ARC, all opinions are my own!
I went into this one not really knowing what to expect, but what I got was a beautiful romance told across two timelines, characters I couldn’t help but root for, and an emotional payoff that left me grinning like a fool.
Mallory and Jamie completely stole my heart. Their AOL friendship was pure nostalgia, and watching their relationship develop through cute conversations, flirting, and so so much tension had me kicking my feet the entire time.
And then around a third of the way through the book. OMG WHAT?! I genuinely did not see it coming. It completely caught me off guard, and before I knew it, I’d stayed up far too late because there was absolutely no way I was putting this book down.
Heartwarming, nostalgic, emotional, and impossible to stop reading. If you’re looking for a romance that will make you laugh, swoon, and keep you turning the pages long past bedtime, I can’t recommend The Rewind Effect enough!!
Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Stroke Books for the ARC, all opinions are my own!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
August 1 update:
I have now also listened to the audiobook as an ALC received via NetGalley and Quinn Riley made an excellent book even better. I think reading and then listening was the perfect combo, but just listening would also work. So many surprising things happening and this book is the perfect combo of a NA/Adult romance.
July 30:
The Rewind Effect is a wonderful second chance romance with a very special twist that made it all so much better. I was feeling Jamie’s despair during the memory retrieval process and that was both so hard to go through and awesome that possible to write so you get that exact experience. The author seems to be intrigued by memories we either have and want to lose (The Memories of Marlie Rose) or as in this case trying to retrieve memories lost as in this book. All I can say is that she is handling it all perfectly and I love both books.
This is a must read, and I would like to write so much more about the great story in the book, but I don’t want to spoil and destroy the reading experience for other readers. Just give this book a chance and get all the amazing revelations when doing so.
I received a free ARC via NetGalley and leave an honest review voluntarily.
I have now also listened to the audiobook as an ALC received via NetGalley and Quinn Riley made an excellent book even better. I think reading and then listening was the perfect combo, but just listening would also work. So many surprising things happening and this book is the perfect combo of a NA/Adult romance.
July 30:
The Rewind Effect is a wonderful second chance romance with a very special twist that made it all so much better. I was feeling Jamie’s despair during the memory retrieval process and that was both so hard to go through and awesome that possible to write so you get that exact experience. The author seems to be intrigued by memories we either have and want to lose (The Memories of Marlie Rose) or as in this case trying to retrieve memories lost as in this book. All I can say is that she is handling it all perfectly and I love both books.
This is a must read, and I would like to write so much more about the great story in the book, but I don’t want to spoil and destroy the reading experience for other readers. Just give this book a chance and get all the amazing revelations when doing so.
I received a free ARC via NetGalley and leave an honest review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a sweet second-chance (or maybe 3rd-chance) romance full of personal reflection and 90s/early 2000s nostalgia. We follow Jamie as she undergoes a clinical procedure to recover lost memories after an accident, basically reliving her life from college thru adulthood in a very short time span, alternating between present, post-accident time and her memories during the procedures. I’m not usually a fan of novels that flick between past and present, but this was masterfully done in a way that was very smooth and easy to follow. I’m not touching on the romance aspect of the novel in this review, because I don’t want to spoil it for anyone, but I quickly found myself rooting for and really liking both main characters. With so many music references, this is definitely a novel deserving of its own curated playlist. And a trip to a party supply store to try to track down some ‘blast-from-the-past’ treats.
I received an ARC of this novel from NetGalley
I received an ARC of this novel from NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really liked this.
I was so into the premise, and I love that the execution lived up to it. I loved the mystery and the slow unfolding of Jamie and Mallory's relationship. I was dying to find out how they ended up where they were, and every new memory made me want the next one even more.
Jamie and Mallory's relationship felt genuine, messy, and very real. I was rooting for them the whole time, and I appreciated that the romance never got lost behind the high concept premise.
I'm usually not a fan of songs being woven into books, but it worked so well here. Every song felt intentional and actually served a purpose in the story, rather than feeling like a random reference.
I also really enjoyed Quinn Riley's narration. She was a great fit for the story.
Overall, this was such a unique concept done really well, and I'm glad I got the chance to listen!
Thank you to NetGalley, RBmedia, and Morgan Lee Miller for the ALC!
I was so into the premise, and I love that the execution lived up to it. I loved the mystery and the slow unfolding of Jamie and Mallory's relationship. I was dying to find out how they ended up where they were, and every new memory made me want the next one even more.
Jamie and Mallory's relationship felt genuine, messy, and very real. I was rooting for them the whole time, and I appreciated that the romance never got lost behind the high concept premise.
I'm usually not a fan of songs being woven into books, but it worked so well here. Every song felt intentional and actually served a purpose in the story, rather than feeling like a random reference.
I also really enjoyed Quinn Riley's narration. She was a great fit for the story.
Overall, this was such a unique concept done really well, and I'm glad I got the chance to listen!
Thank you to NetGalley, RBmedia, and Morgan Lee Miller for the ALC!
July 25, 2026
I’ve always been someone who uses music to relate to books. I create playlists in my head while reading and am constantly saying “Hey Siri play …”
Morgan Lee Miller made it easy by inserting music throughout the book even if I still had songs by The Gin Blossoms, Pearl Jam, Hootie and The Blowfish, Chantal Kreviazuk, Fiona Apple, Goo Goo Dolls (Slide and Name but not Iris) and Lisa Loeb came to mind myself.
It was a great journey with the characters as the pieces were put into place throughout the book and this is a book that will stick with me. It was a rollercoaster that had me tearing up at moments and smiling/laughing at others.
I’m sure I’ll be rereading it as I listen to music from the best decade.
Thanks to NetGallery, the publisher, and the amazing author for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
Morgan Lee Miller made it easy by inserting music throughout the book even if I still had songs by The Gin Blossoms, Pearl Jam, Hootie and The Blowfish, Chantal Kreviazuk, Fiona Apple, Goo Goo Dolls (Slide and Name but not Iris) and Lisa Loeb came to mind myself.
It was a great journey with the characters as the pieces were put into place throughout the book and this is a book that will stick with me. It was a rollercoaster that had me tearing up at moments and smiling/laughing at others.
I’m sure I’ll be rereading it as I listen to music from the best decade.
Thanks to NetGallery, the publisher, and the amazing author for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I'll be honest—I wasn't sure about The Rewind Effect at first. The opening chapter didn't really grab me, but as the story progressed, I found myself getting more and more invested. I really enjoyed the dual timeline and getting to relive the love story alongside the main character.
At first, I was a little confused by the intense focus on the love interest, but once the story came full circle and returned to the present, everything clicked into place. That reveal made the entire plot feel satisfying and well thought out.
Overall, this was a compelling read that became hard to put down once it found its rhythm. If you're willing to stick with it through the opening, you'll be rewarded with an emotional and engaging story.
At first, I was a little confused by the intense focus on the love interest, but once the story came full circle and returned to the present, everything clicked into place. That reveal made the entire plot feel satisfying and well thought out.
Overall, this was a compelling read that became hard to put down once it found its rhythm. If you're willing to stick with it through the opening, you'll be rewarded with an emotional and engaging story.
August 3, 2026
I enjoyed this book, it was a different style, with flashbacks used as a diagnostic medical method to restore Jamies's memory. It was also very much a YA story since the majority of the book is told through the flashbacks going back 25 years when Jamie and Mallory met on an AOL chat room.
Jamie's insecurity was a big problem in her relationships, she could never fully trust any of her partners. Mallory was also a bit troubled because, she didn't like the long distance relationship that she had with Jamie and settled for other women to fill her romantic needs.
Thanks to Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
Jamie's insecurity was a big problem in her relationships, she could never fully trust any of her partners. Mallory was also a bit troubled because, she didn't like the long distance relationship that she had with Jamie and settled for other women to fill her romantic needs.
Thanks to Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was good and a fairly unique concept. Amnesia storylines are not overly common. At least not in the books I have read. It did require a bit of a suspension of disbelief on the medical parts but that didn't take away to much of the enjoyment. Told from Jamie's POV and told in a dual timeline-although I wish there was more distinction on if we were in past and present. The physical book may make it more apparent but it was hard to tell in audio when it swapped until it got a few lines in.
It partially taking place in the 90's was really fun as I grew up in the late 90's, early 2000's, so there was a good sense of nostalgia as well,
Thank you to NetGalley for the ALC.
It partially taking place in the 90's was really fun as I grew up in the late 90's, early 2000's, so there was a good sense of nostalgia as well,
Thank you to NetGalley for the ALC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book broke my heart.
It’s so beautifully written, I couldn’t imagine loosing all my memories and being so desperate to claw them all back, to relive love, trauma, heartbreak and so many emotions. This book made you feel all that and more
I can’t say anything without spoiling it but I hope this author writes more of these stories about the rewind effect, it’s beautiful.
* full disclosure I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
It’s so beautifully written, I couldn’t imagine loosing all my memories and being so desperate to claw them all back, to relive love, trauma, heartbreak and so many emotions. This book made you feel all that and more
I can’t say anything without spoiling it but I hope this author writes more of these stories about the rewind effect, it’s beautiful.
* full disclosure I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
August 2, 2026
Thank you so much to the publisher for the advanced listener copy on NetGalley.com
I knew right from the first few pages I was in for something special. If you are a sucker for early 2000s nostalgia, Morgan Lee Miller captures that * simpler time * vibe perfectly. I thoroughly enjoyed the way the focal relationship unfolded for us. This might be one of the best reads I’ve had the pleasure of listening to in a long time!
I knew right from the first few pages I was in for something special. If you are a sucker for early 2000s nostalgia, Morgan Lee Miller captures that * simpler time * vibe perfectly. I thoroughly enjoyed the way the focal relationship unfolded for us. This might be one of the best reads I’ve had the pleasure of listening to in a long time!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4/5
Thank you Netgalley for an audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Jamie gets into a terrible car accident and loses her memories. With the help of experimental music based therapy, she's able to regain her memories and remembers a girl she had fallen for in the 90's in an AOL chatroom. This book is filled with nostalgia with music from the 90s/2000s. My favorite thing about music is that it can take you back to a time in your life, good or bad.
Thank you Netgalley for an audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Jamie gets into a terrible car accident and loses her memories. With the help of experimental music based therapy, she's able to regain her memories and remembers a girl she had fallen for in the 90's in an AOL chatroom. This book is filled with nostalgia with music from the 90s/2000s. My favorite thing about music is that it can take you back to a time in your life, good or bad.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Wow!
This is extremely cleverly done, and veeery heartfelt. Full review to come...
This is extremely cleverly done, and veeery heartfelt. Full review to come...
Review of advance copy
Love always finds a way.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews