When a fun night with an escort ends in a trip to the emergency room…
Valarie Sundale needs to unwind. Her best friend, Penny, is worried about her all-work-no-play life balance. Valarie finally lets Penny talk her into a no-strings-attached night with a stranger. And what a fun evening it is, until disaster strikes and she’s left with an unconscious escort on her kitchen floor—an escort who soon becomes her new roommate.
Addison Cooks might not remember her past, but luckily, she has a hot stranger named Valarie to help navigate her new reality of living with retrograde amnesia. Working through the sparse information they gather, Valarie and Addison go on an adventure to help Addison remember her past. In doing so, they might just find more than Addison’s memories.
This definitely isn't the best book ever written but I enjoyed my time. It's short and sweet and a great palate cleanser.
I liked the characters and found them very cute together. There are quite a few spice scenes but most of them are rather short and not that detailed, so I didn't mind them.
There were a lot of small time jumps in between chapters, sometimes a week sometimes a month, which made it feel a little jumpy. Every now and then, there would be scenes with a little too much tell rather than show. I feel like a few of the scenes, with penny could've been cut down and instead a few of the scenes with the main couple could've been longer. Especially after Addison got her memories back, which seemed rather lackluster and I absolutely hated that reveal towards the end.
I found it rather boring that the book ended with a spice scene, considering they had a lot to talk about. I feel like an epilogue would've helped, to see how their relationship progressed after Addison got her memories back.
I was trying to get it, got to 30% but the plot premise was hanging by threads, sadly I didnt feel anything for the characters..sorry but not invested enough.
4.5⭐️ This was a lovely read by a wonderful author and narrated by an absolute fave! Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an advance listening copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Allie Shae definitely pulled me into the story from the start. I think they could narrate anything to be honest ;).
I loved Addison. She was so sweet and vibrant. She definitely picked the right person to have amnesia around. Valarie was the more stoic and structured. She also felt deeply and was so generous. She truly went above and beyond and I loved how she began to open up and relax and really enjoy life.
I loved their chemistry. The steamy bits were sizzling and flowed well with their story.
I loved Penny! I can only hope she either has, or will have, her own story. She deserves a hea as well :).
I read a lot and this has easily moved up to my top 3 fav books if not my fav book.
The emotions are real and relatable. The characters are well written. It’s hot. And funny. And sad. And all the emotions we feel as humans. I won’t write a summary or give anything away besides to say, read this one.
Very cool idea for a story but the execution was lackluster. It was messy and shallow and needed another draft for everything to line up correctly. It was a slog to get through and the reveal of the MC’s backstory wasn’t worth it.
Allie Shae narrates this story written by Violet Morley
I’ve read 2 books my Morley previously, loved one, mediocre other. This one is going more into the love category.
It was a bit of a shock for me to start my walk with the start of this book and it being an escort going to meet their client. And it’s pretty explicit. Yeah, that was an interesting start of my day. The book evolves into something else when the escort, one of the mains, drops down in the clients home (other main). For a weird reason there is a pull between them and they can’t seem to let go of each other. Together they start kind of a mission to finding memories, lost ones, but also creating new ones.
While there is one character with retrograde amnesia and the other perfectly fine (health wise), they both go through a lot of development and do it together. It is nice.
This book, and the narration, feel like a comfort. Something you just want to wrap yourself into, even with a late dark moment and late resolution. Not to mention the dark moment being something I could spot from miles away and definitely could have done without. Anyway, the story and the narration felt comfortable and I was sad when it was over.
A one-night stand leads to a prolonged entanglement following a medical mishap. The plot is a little out there, but I’m a sucker for forced proximity. The characters felt deep and well-developed, the plot moved forward at a decent pace, and overall, this was a very enjoyable story.
The narration was fantastic, with great flow that worked perfectly with the story.
Dnf @40% Thanks to netgally and the publisher for the arch! I have been obsessed with the amnesia trope since my Disney channel days more than a decade ago, so I was thrilled to get this arch! Unfortunately the book couldn't keep my attention. It's a sweet romance, but the medical problem was never explained neither the cause or what it meant. Inconsistencies like this took me out of the story.
Review of an ALC received from NetGalley. Despite it being instalovey, I actually had a good time with this novel. This was such an easy listen and I flew through it. One point of critique I have: I needed it to be longer so the ending wouldn't feel so rushed.
💜 This turned out to be such an enjoyable read. While it wasn't a flawless book for me, I had a genuinely good time with it. It's the kind of story that's easy to binge in a day and works perfectly as a light palate cleanser between heavier reads.
✨ The premise immediately caught my attention. Valerie, a career-focused lawyer who's spent far too long putting work before herself, decides to hire an escort for one unforgettable night. What neither of them expects is for Addison to suffer a medical emergency that leaves her with no memory of who she is. With no one else to rely on, Valerie steps in to help Addison rebuild her life while searching for the pieces of her forgotten past.
❤️ What I enjoyed most was watching the relationship between Valerie and Addison evolve. Their connection felt sweet, and I liked seeing Valerie slowly lower the walls she'd built around herself. At the same time, Addison's journey of trying to rediscover her identity added an emotional layer that kept me invested. It was interesting to see her navigate a future when she couldn't even remember her past.
🔥 The chemistry between them is undeniable, and there are quite a few intimate scenes throughout the story. They never felt overly drawn out, and they fit naturally into the progression of their relationship. If you're planning to listen to the audiobook, though, maybe don't press play in public. 😂
🎧 Speaking of the audiobook, Allie Shae did a wonderful job with the narration. She captured the emotions behind every conversation and made both Valerie and Addison feel distinct and believable. Her performance definitely added to my overall enjoyment of the story.
📖 I also appreciated how fast-paced the novel was, although I did notice that the frequent time jumps occasionally disrupted the flow. Some chapters would skip ahead by weeks or even months, making certain developments feel a little abrupt. There were also moments where I wished the story had shown more instead of explaining events after they had already happened.
💭 My biggest issue came toward the end. I wanted more time spent on Valerie and Addison, especially after Addison regained her memories. That part felt surprisingly quick considering how important it was to the overall story, and I expected a deeper emotional payoff. The final reveal also didn't quite land for me, and I found myself wishing the book had wrapped up with an epilogue showing where they ended up instead of ending where it did.
🌸 Overall, this was a charming, heartfelt romance with an original premise, lovable characters, and plenty of emotional moments mixed with chemistry. Even though there were a few aspects I would have liked to see explored further, I still enjoyed the journey and found myself rooting for Valerie and Addison until the very last page.
Who I’d recommend this book to: People seeking a calm, low-drama sapphic romance with a mystery at its core. Readers who prefer books that avoid graphic or emotionally heavy scenes / triggers
Audiobook: The narrator was wonderful. She has a warm, expressive voice and gave every character their own distinct personality. She really brought the story to life and made it an enjoyable listen.
Pros:
* Mystery-driven plot with a romance woven throughout. * Wholesome, supportive sapphic relationship with some steamy moments. * Fun dynamic between a buttoned-up, Type A lawyer and a more whimsical, manic-pixie-esque love interest. * Great friendships and healthy communication. * A fun twist near the end. * Doesn’t rely on trauma or graphic scenes for emotional impact. * Excellent audiobook narration with expressive character voices.
Cons:
* I had a hard time emotionally connecting with Addison because of the amnesia and the more distant narration style. * The navigation of the amnesia storyline requires a bit of suspension of disbelief. * I wanted more insight into Addison’s background and inner thoughts so the emotional moments would hit harder.
⸻
I went into this expecting more of a romance, but I’d actually describe this as a mystery with a romance woven through it. The overall vibe is quiet, a little dark, and mysterious rather than sunshiney or super swoony. Addison is an amnesiac whose manic pixie dream girl personality remains intact and perfectly balances out Valerie’s buttoned up, Type A lawyer personality.
My biggest struggle was connecting with Addison. Since she has amnesia and doesn’t know who she is, it’s hard to really know her. Combined with the narration style, I always felt like I was observing the characters instead of getting to know them. I honestly think I would’ve been more emotionally invested if the story had been told entirely from Valerie’s POV—hearing all of her anxieties while discovering Addison alongside her.
That said, I really enjoyed how supportive and healthy Valerie and Addison’s relationship was. Their dynamic felt like a buttoned-up, Type A lawyer paired with a more whimsical, manic-pixie-esque love interest, which made for a fun contrast. Their romance felt wholesome while still having some steamy moments, and I loved that the friendships were just as supportive.
The twist near the end was fun! I just wish we’d gotten a little more insight into Addison’s past and inner thoughts because I think the emotional payoff could’ve landed even harder.
The only thing that required a bit of suspension of disbelief for me was the amnesia plot. Considering Addison’s line of work and the extent of her memory loss, I kept expecting more “OMG” moments or bigger consequences than we actually got.
Finding Her Memories by Violet Morley is almost a masterclass in modern sapphic romance! It offers a refreshing blend of humor, high-stakes emotional depth, and genuine heart. Prepare to be captivated from the very beginning by the delightfully untraditional setup. What begins as a practical attempt by Valarie Sundale to break her workaholic routine, hiring an escort for a single, no-strings-attached night, swiftly spirals into a trip to the emergency room and an unexpected cohabitation arrangement. Sounds a bit chaotic? Not at all, and the opening seamlessly anchors a high-concept premise into a tender, grounded narrative.
I really enjoyed the delicate progression of Valarie and Addison’s relationship. Rather than rushing into unearned intimacy, their connection unfolds organically. As they piece together the sparse clues of Addison’s past, their dynamic shifts step-by-step through daily shared routines, small acts of caretaking, and steady mutual trust. Watching them evolve from cautious strangers brought together by circumstance into deeply attuned allies is hugely satisfying.
The overall relationship arc is executed with super emotional resonance. Almost-ice-queen Valarie starts out quite rigid and somewhat obsessed with control, but gradually lets down her guard as she learns to embrace spontaneity. Meanwhile, Addison navigates the frightening uncertainty of her forgotten identity with vulnerability and grace, finding a safe harbor in Valarie's steady support.
Ms. Morley’s deployment of retrograde amnesia as a narrative device is clever. While memory loss in fiction can sometimes lean into melodrama, here it functions as an effective emotional filter. By stripping Addison of her past baggage and social context, both MCs are forced to interact with present-moment authenticity. Their romantic bond is forged not on history or expectations but on raw character and mutual care.
This is an exquisite, uplifting read that I cannot recommend highly enough. Narrator Allie Shae does a great job at bringing the characters, and the full heart of the story, to life in my audio version.
Thank you to the author, the publisher and to NetGalley for the chance to remember what falling in love can be in this ARC.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading and listening to this story. Quite an original story, tbh. But then again, that's the thing about Violet Morley's narrative, innit? She takes an otherwise known concept and gives it an intriguing twist that quietly [and subversively] plays a vital role in enhancing the story, case-in-point, Sprinkled in the Stars (my fave Morley, thusfar), and Unexpected Harmony. Finding Her Memories is my 3rd Morley book.
But add Allie Shae's performance into the mix? Valarie and Addison's unique love story becomes alive! Shae's honest portrayal of the polar opposite MCs creates their chemistry so irresistibly grounded throughout their memory-finding adventure, which became a journey of self-discovery, no less, that their love story feels even more authentic and real. Love comes in many different ways and circumstances. Who knew, eh?
Oh, let's not forget the hilarious moments, too! I love Morley's sense of humour! The witty banter, some dark (well, lighter shade of dark?) humour mixed into it, voila!! You've got yourself some hilarious moments (usually in the midst of a not-so-funny sits! Heh!) in her stories! Love it!
Shae, in all their immersive performance, always exudes great comic timing as they seem to grasp the precise moment to switch on that comic relief button beyond the written words and makes us chuckle, giggle, laugh! No exception in this story, either.
Once again, Allie Shae has nailed the happy, the sad, and the funny in this captivating story about recovering lost memories but in the end it's really about finding your true self in the most unexpected circumstance and having the courage to discover, take the risk and embrace love in all its glory.
A highly recommended story to explore! A MUST, MUST-LISTEN!
This was actually my first book with the amnesia trope, so I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. From what I’ve heard from other readers, this trope is often used as a sort of “get out of jail free” card, where a love interest who treated the FMC terribly is suddenly forgiven because she loses her memories. I really appreciated that this story didn’t go that route.
Instead, the memory loss gave these characters the chance to genuinely get to know each other. Since they barely knew one another before the accident, it never felt like the amnesia was being used to erase past mistakes or excuse bad behavior. It simply created a unique opportunity for them to build a relationship from the ground up, and I thought that made their connection feel much more authentic.
This book also tackles some heavier topics, but I thought the author did a great job balancing those emotional moments with lighter ones so the story never became overwhelmingly sad. It definitely pulled at my heartstrings, but it still left me with a hopeful feeling.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one. It was heartfelt, emotional, and full of genuinely sweet moments. While it didn’t completely blow me away, it was a touching take on the amnesia trope and one I’d happily recommend if you’re looking for an emotional romance without it becoming too emotionally draining.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Media for letting me listen to this one early.
If you're looking for a read that's going to grab your heart, keep you guessing, and leave you feeling wonderfully happy, Violet Morley's Finding Her Memories is it! Especially if you snag the audiobook – Allie Shae does an absolutely incredible job of bringing everything to life.
Valarie is totally swamped with work, and her best friend, Penny, finally convinces her to let loose with a no-strings-attached evening. What starts as a simple, fun night takes a wild, unforeseen turn when Valarie finds herself with an unconscious stranger. Addison wakes up with retrograde amnesia, having no recollection of her past, and in a turn of events, she ends up moving in with Valarie.
Together, Valarie and Addison embark on this incredible quest to piece together Addison's forgotten life. As they dig into the fragmented clues, they uncover a deep connection and a blossoming romance!
What truly sets this book apart is how brilliantly Morley uses Addison's amnesia. Instead of it feeling like a dramatic trope, it becomes this amazing catalyst. It strips away all the usual past experiences and social pressures, forcing Valarie and Addison to build their relationship purely on who they are in the present moment. Their love isn't about shared history or pre-conceived notions; it's about genuine personalities and how deeply they come to care for each other. It’s seriously a beautiful and uplifting read that I can’t recommend enough.
One night Valerie, a workaholic lawyer, decides to let go and hires an escort to take care of her lacking sex life. A fantastic night ensues with wishes and fantasies fulfilled. It was just to be one night for her to satisfy some intimate needs; until a medical event causes her escort to go to the hospital and lose all her memories.
Valerie steps in when Addison doesn't seem to have anyone else to turn to or anywhere to go and works to help her find her memories.
There are incredibly spicy scenes that are fun to listen to, but I'd say it isn't safe for work, or listening loudly in your car at stop lights!
It was nice to see the softness come from Valerie as she learned what can be more important than work. The struggle of Addison as she tries to figure out who she was as she attempts to plan her future was interesting, but I think it all would have been a touch more complicated, although that wouldn't make the story as sweet or romantic.
Allie Shae does a tremendous job of putting emotions into the words. Her inflection was spot on and her reading made me connect with the characters.
Thank you to Tantor Media for providing an advanced listening copy via NetGalley for me to listen to and review.
Finding Her Memories was a delightful surprise of a listen. Violet Morley delivers an inventive, grounded twist on the Pretty Woman dynamic, striking a great balance between upbeat contemporary romance and authentic emotional weight. The narrative voice feels refreshingly modern without leaning into cringey tropes, and the audiobook performance elevated the experience even further.
My main critique lies in the pacing and heat level. While the high-steam scenes are undeniably well-crafted, their frequency and intensity occasionally stalled the momentum of the main storyline. The story itself holds its own quite well, and dialing back the spice a bit would have given the central relationship and plot more room to breathe.
Overall, Morley is a talented author with a distinct voice, and I’ll be eager to see how her work continues to evolve. I’d certainly recommend this title to contemporary readers—particularly those who enjoy a solid story and don't mind a high heat level.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advanced listening copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
I’m sorry but I just can’t agree with the other (5 star) reviewer of this book. The plot is OK but nothing special and personally I thought there was too much sex and not enough story! I found the characters somewhat shallow too and, even when Addison gets her memory back, there’s very little back story to flesh out her character. Just some of my unanswered questions were: Why did she choose being an escort in preference to another sort of job to earn money? How did she get into the relationship with Nick (when she seems to prefer women)? Why did he consider it was OK for her to continue to sleep with women? Why is Valarie so accepting of her ‘profession’ in considering both Addison’s past and a future relationship? I’m not a fan of characters banging on about an age gap but that’s completely ignored in this.. I’ve read others by this author and really enjoyed them (eg. Under the Sitka Sky) but this was rather a miss for me I’m afraid. Compared to others of this type (eg. Chasing Mercury by Kimberly Cooper Griffin and 143 by Jade Winters) this is purely a pale imitation…
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Enjoyable quick and spicy sapphic read where a one night stand turns into one FMC getting amnesia and the other FMC taking care of her while she attempts to regain her memories.
Without giving too much to say, Valerie is a complete saint. She did everything for Addison, and somehow how endless patience and understanding while doing it. I felt a little bit more difficult connecting with Addison due to the amnesia storyline. I agree with another reviewer that I think the story would have done well with a single POV from Valerie after Addison wakes up with amnesia.
The best friend Penny was interesting and I wasn’t sure where they were going with her at times. However, by the end, I was rooting for her and would be interested to see if she gets her own book.
I think the narration was done well however at times I felt it was difficult to figure out who was talking as both FMCs sounded the same.
Thank you to Violet Morley and Violet Morley for providing a copy. I am voluntarily leaving this honest review.
This is a steamy contemporary sapphic romance. I would rate steam level a 6/5 😂🌶️. It was hot and it had good build up. Key themes are sex worker, age gap, mental trauma, hurt/comfort, fem/dom, light bdsm, and bisexual / lesbian relationships f/f. This book is dual POV. I’ve listened to a ton of Allie Shae narrations and as always her performance on this one was a stunner. This was the first novel I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading from Violet Morley, but I will be following her to see what books she’ll release next. The story is about an escort who get amnesia and her client doesn’t just toss her out for her to figure it out, but helps support her recovery into learning who she is again. I wouldn’t say it’s insta love but they had a connection that couldn’t be overlooked. I’m giving the book an overall 5/5. I listened to audiobook all the way through into the night. It kept me engaged.
Thank you NetGalley and Tantor Media for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.
This story completely surprised me. I expected a lighthearted romance, but it delivered so much more. I laughed, smiled, and found myself emotionally invested in Valarie and Addison's journey. Watching their relationship grow while unraveling Addison's missing memories made the story both heartwarming and engaging. It left me feeling hopeful, happy, and rooting for them until the very last page.
Told through dual POV, I loved getting both Valarie and Addison’s perspectives and seeing their fears, desires, and emotional growth unfold. The chemistry between them was intense, and their relationship explored trust, vulnerability, power dynamics, and comfort in a way that felt deeply emotional. With elements of Prostitution, romance, light BDSM, and a bisexual/lesbian relationship, this story brings a unique blend of passion and emotional depth.
Listen in release date 07/21/2026. Thank you Netgalley, and Tantor Media for the Audiobook.
I received an ARC of Finding Her Memories and leave this review voluntarily.
The first line of the blurb caught my attention so much I had to pick up the book, regardless of what the rest of it said. When coupled with the title, Finding Her Memories, "When a fun night with an escort ends in a trip to the emergency room . . ." is such a wonderful hook that does an amazing job at capturing the core of the story (which I have lately learned is not always the case). I enjoyed the characters and how they differ from each other. I also enjoyed how there is this underlying tension throughout related to Addison's missing memories. I can't imagine how devasting retrograde amnesia (forgetting the past) might be but Addison does a better job at coping with it that I think I ever could, but I believe a big part of that is the unyielding support she gets from Valerie. I loved watching the characters together and seeing them evolve.
Valerie hires a escort, and the beautiful 'Raven' arrives. She's toppy as Val requested, and they have a great night together. In the morning Val makes her coffee... when she suddenly collapses. She rushes her to the hospital, where she sees her license, Addison Cooks.
When she awakens in hospital, Addison has no memory, and is hugely frightened. She's so happy Val is there, and she keeps visiting every day. When the hospital finally releases her, Val volunteers to take care of her.
Using stuff in her purse they first find a old address of Addison's, then her current one. Sadly, her apartment flooded, wrecking her stuff.
(That's a bit much for a coincidence.)
Val falls for Addison as she helps her try to remember. But Addison is scared if she does regain her memory, she'll fall out of love.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the audiobook.
As an audiobook I thought it was well read and I liked the voice. No problems there. The story is a little outlandish but I think I liked that. You're not getting a masterpiece but I don't expect that out of an escort amnesia romance. lol. I was certainly intrigued because I knew this was sapphic but I did not read the synopsis. I liked all the characters somehow. I want a book for Penny. She deserves to find love again.
I will say the pacing was really jumpy so you need to focus in on the timeline. Now the ending is the real issue at hand. It was a third act "breakup" and so rushed. Addison finally gets all her memories back and is like will you love the new old me? And Valerie's like yeah no problem. Turn the next page and the book is done. Whoa. Hold up. I think we missed something here.
I didn’t dislike this book, i just think the amnesia trope is really hard to love. I enjoyed my time reading it, but it isn’t one that will stick with me.
a sex worker amnesia trope sounds like something that should be high stakes, high angst and really emotion heavy - unfortunately, i didn’t feel that in this. It was quite literally so lighthearted that i kept forgetting that she had lost her memories with the exception of her consistently saying it.
I wanted more emotion. I wanted more realism i guess for the situation? Our FMC that has the medical trauma didn’t really seem like the emotion or power behind such a scary situation was there.
The audiobook was well done. I enjoyed the narrators and was engaged from start to finish.
I’d recommend if youre looking for a low stakes, quick easy read.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an a copy in exchange for an honest review.
I genuinely enjoyed this book. The characters were easy to connect with, and they felt like real people rather than exaggerated fictional personalities. Their relationships and interactions developed naturally, which made it easy to become invested in their story.
One of my favorite aspects was how believable the overall plot felt. The way everything unfolded felt grounded and realistic, making it easy to imagine something similar happening in real life.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read with relatable characters, authentic emotions, and a story that kept me engaged from beginning to end. I’d definitely recommend it to readers who enjoy character-driven contemporary fiction.
It started off as many other sapphic books, Valarie, a rich busy MC is hiring an escort, Addison. They have a fun night and perhaps have more feeling for each other than a client escort type of arrangement. The next morning Addison is suddenly unconscious, need medical attention and somehow Valarie is handling it all, even when clear that Addison has amnesia and need somewhere to live.
The spice level rather high in the book so if you like that a perfect listen. Not a very realistic story, rather surface level and a few very strange choices done. Despite all this I had fun listening and Allie Shae is an amazing narrator.
I received a free ALC via NetGalley and leave an honest review voluntarily.
This book was about the uptight, type A, Valarie stepping out of her comfort zone, cutting loose and enjoying a night with an escort, Addison. Unfortunately the next morning, Addison suffers a medical event and looses her memory. Valarie stays by her side during the ordeal, and the two of them work together to try a piece together Addison's life. While doing so, they try to manage their attraction and growing fondness to each other.
This was a well-paced, easy read/listen. Low angst. Medium spice. Both MCs were likable. There were few side characters, but they were a great addition.
The book was narrated by Allie Shae. She did a wonderful job.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ALC of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
I was provided an audio ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I wanted to love this. And I didn't hate it. I should just read synopsis. I was not expecting that first set-up and it kind of threw me. I think, overall, I was a bit too ace for this. I did feel the connection grow between the main characters and I liked them as they grew and as their relationship evolved but I didn't really feel the love before they started mentioning that word? I mean I was rooting for them but it all kind of felt fast. Still, this was a really fast read and I enjoyed the overall dynamics and would gladly read another book set in this world!