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Remember Me
A new neighbour becomes a new friend. She looks up to you. She admires you, but is it you she wants? You begin to wonder if she wants your husband, or even your child. But then you realise, she wants your life.
When Sharni and Tom move into 24 The Pines, it seems like Clare and Chris have the perfect neighbours. Sharni is always there to help, especially with childcare for Clare’s two-year-old, Ben. But Clare can’t shake off the feelings of anxiety that assail her whenever Sharni is near. Is Clare just being overprotective, or are her feelings justified? As Sharni‘s influence touches everyone around her, Clare finds herself fighting for her sanity as well her family.
When Sharni and Tom move into 24 The Pines, it seems like Clare and Chris have the perfect neighbours. Sharni is always there to help, especially with childcare for Clare’s two-year-old, Ben. But Clare can’t shake off the feelings of anxiety that assail her whenever Sharni is near. Is Clare just being overprotective, or are her feelings justified? As Sharni‘s influence touches everyone around her, Clare finds herself fighting for her sanity as well her family.
241 pages, ebook
First published March 24, 2017
1086 people are currently reading
1095 people want to read
About the author
Lynda Renham
41 books249 followersLynda Renham has been writing for as long as she can remember and had her first work published in a magazine at age nine and has continued writing in various forms since. She has had several poems published as well as articles in numerous magazines and newspapers. Recently she has taken part in radio discussions on the BBC.
She has studied literature and creative writing and has a blog on her web page: www.renham.co.uk
Lynda lives with her second husband and cat in Oxfordshire, England. She is Associate Editor for the online magazine The Scavenger and contributor to many others. When not writing Lynda can usually be found wasting her time on Facebook.
She has studied literature and creative writing and has a blog on her web page: www.renham.co.uk
Lynda lives with her second husband and cat in Oxfordshire, England. She is Associate Editor for the online magazine The Scavenger and contributor to many others. When not writing Lynda can usually be found wasting her time on Facebook.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 263 reviews
April 12, 2017
In my recent efforts to integrate with the blogging community, I've come across some really great bloggers who focus specifically on the genre of suspense and found my own interest in the genre piqued. So it seemed fortuitous when Lynda Renham reached out to me and offered me a copy of this novel to read and review for my blog. This in no way impacts my review, which will be an honest one.
I feel like to say much in way of plot in my actual review would be to give away too much, so I want to keep my points a bit vague here in the hopes of avoiding spoilers. As someone relatively new to psychological thrillers, I really enjoyed going into this and getting to know the characters of Clare and Sharni.
They're deeply layered and each are filled with their own flaws, hopes and heartbreaks, to the point that I absolutely couldn't make up my mind what was actually going on! I really enjoyed not being able to totally pin down character motivations within the context of a few varying narrative voices, which varied between those reliable and trustworthy, and those completely off the rails unreliable.
Although this is not her first novel, this is Renham's first foray into the suspense genre, and for a debut psychological thriller, I thought this was great! There are some strong themes of parenthood and the bond between a mother and her child present in this book that I thought were very well played upon. I'm not a parent myself, but I still understood and related to specific characters fears and anxieties - even if the characters actions were often in conflict with how I wanted them to behave.
As for my final rating of 4 stars over 5: there was a bit of backtracking about midway through to let the reader witness certain events from a new POV. To be honest, I thought that could have been glossed over in favor of a couple more anxiety-inducing events to really ratchet up the tension before that incredibly tense final act of the story. It caused a bit of a break in the narrative flow, but the knowledge gained within it was imperative to final act, so it's not a total deal-breaker by any means.
Final verdict: I really enjoyed this! I wouldn't be surprised to see Renham go on to find a very eager audience within this genre in the future.
★★★★✩ = 4/5 suspense-filled stars
_______________________________
See this review and more like it on my blog: Book Bastion
Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I feel like to say much in way of plot in my actual review would be to give away too much, so I want to keep my points a bit vague here in the hopes of avoiding spoilers. As someone relatively new to psychological thrillers, I really enjoyed going into this and getting to know the characters of Clare and Sharni.
They're deeply layered and each are filled with their own flaws, hopes and heartbreaks, to the point that I absolutely couldn't make up my mind what was actually going on! I really enjoyed not being able to totally pin down character motivations within the context of a few varying narrative voices, which varied between those reliable and trustworthy, and those completely off the rails unreliable.
Although this is not her first novel, this is Renham's first foray into the suspense genre, and for a debut psychological thriller, I thought this was great! There are some strong themes of parenthood and the bond between a mother and her child present in this book that I thought were very well played upon. I'm not a parent myself, but I still understood and related to specific characters fears and anxieties - even if the characters actions were often in conflict with how I wanted them to behave.
As for my final rating of 4 stars over 5: there was a bit of backtracking about midway through to let the reader witness certain events from a new POV. To be honest, I thought that could have been glossed over in favor of a couple more anxiety-inducing events to really ratchet up the tension before that incredibly tense final act of the story. It caused a bit of a break in the narrative flow, but the knowledge gained within it was imperative to final act, so it's not a total deal-breaker by any means.
Final verdict: I really enjoyed this! I wouldn't be surprised to see Renham go on to find a very eager audience within this genre in the future.
★★★★✩ = 4/5 suspense-filled stars
_______________________________
See this review and more like it on my blog: Book Bastion
Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
July 4, 2018
3.5 stars
Overall, I did enjoy this book and was gripped by the story from start to finish. That being said, I feel it will be a little forgettable for me, maybe just because I have been reading so much crime fiction lately and the stories are starting to blur together. The ones that stand out do so as they have memorable characters more even than an engaging plot. The characters in Remember Me, though interesting enough, were not as well developed as I might have hoped. I also have to mention something which is becoming a real pet peeve and was present in this book (as well as many others in this genre, I've begun to notice). When the female character is noticing something weird going on or something creepy and the husband is really quick to dismiss her. Often he is more willing to believe wife is losing her grip on reality than trusting her suspicions or intuition! This is so annoying to me! If my husband were to treat me as if I'm going crazy instead of trusting my fears, I would be furious! Please tell me I am not alone with this peeve;-)
That aside, though, Remember Me was a solid psychological thriller and the final twist came as quite a stunning surprise! I would read more by this author in the future.
Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
Overall, I did enjoy this book and was gripped by the story from start to finish. That being said, I feel it will be a little forgettable for me, maybe just because I have been reading so much crime fiction lately and the stories are starting to blur together. The ones that stand out do so as they have memorable characters more even than an engaging plot. The characters in Remember Me, though interesting enough, were not as well developed as I might have hoped. I also have to mention something which is becoming a real pet peeve and was present in this book (as well as many others in this genre, I've begun to notice). When the female character is noticing something weird going on or something creepy and the husband is really quick to dismiss her. Often he is more willing to believe wife is losing her grip on reality than trusting her suspicions or intuition! This is so annoying to me! If my husband were to treat me as if I'm going crazy instead of trusting my fears, I would be furious! Please tell me I am not alone with this peeve;-)
That aside, though, Remember Me was a solid psychological thriller and the final twist came as quite a stunning surprise! I would read more by this author in the future.
Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
April 20, 2017
Clare, Chris, and their two-year-old son Ben, lived a quiet life. That was until Sharni and Tom moved in next door. The couple are a bit ‘full on’, and go out of their way to get to know their neighbours, with Clare being the main target of attention from Sharni.
Clare keeps on getting a niggling feeling about Sharni, but then starts to doubt herself, blaming the amount of prescription medication she takes, clouding her thoughts, medication that she can’t get through the day without.
Over the coming weeks Sharni imposes herself more and more on Clare, Chris, and Ben, even offering her baby-sitting services when Clare is given more hours at work.
Clare’s niggly feelings come to the forefront when Sharni tries it on with her husband Chris, leading to Clare trying to distance herself from her. But has Sharni really managed to infiltrate Clare’s life, or is it Clare that is the one who is unhinged?
I’ve read nearly every book by Lynda Renham. I love that laugh-out-loud, feel good factor that they give you, so when I heard Lynda had written a psychological thriller, I was a little apprehensive of whether someone who writes chick-lit for a living, could turn her hand to such an ‘on the edge of your seat’ genre. The easy answer is; Yes!
The book will have you caught up in the lives of Clare and Sharni. At the start you get the sense that Sharni is the unhinged one of the two. Well this is a woman who basically wants to be Clare. Styling her home like Clare’s, dressing like her, and taking an unhealthy interest in her son. But as the story progresses, and you get to know Clare more, you start to doubt yourself, especially when you get to read Sharni’s point of view about Clare.
Alongside the plot there are pages with a woman visiting a psychiatrist, talking about her past, and feelings. You are kept guessing as to which woman is having the therapy.
The book is filled with twists, turns and plenty of ‘red herrings’. It will have you in suspense until the very end, keeping you on the edge of your seat. Be warned, this book may just have you wary of getting to know any of your neighbour! Fantastic job Ms. Renham, just fantastic!
Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com
Clare keeps on getting a niggling feeling about Sharni, but then starts to doubt herself, blaming the amount of prescription medication she takes, clouding her thoughts, medication that she can’t get through the day without.
Over the coming weeks Sharni imposes herself more and more on Clare, Chris, and Ben, even offering her baby-sitting services when Clare is given more hours at work.
Clare’s niggly feelings come to the forefront when Sharni tries it on with her husband Chris, leading to Clare trying to distance herself from her. But has Sharni really managed to infiltrate Clare’s life, or is it Clare that is the one who is unhinged?
I’ve read nearly every book by Lynda Renham. I love that laugh-out-loud, feel good factor that they give you, so when I heard Lynda had written a psychological thriller, I was a little apprehensive of whether someone who writes chick-lit for a living, could turn her hand to such an ‘on the edge of your seat’ genre. The easy answer is; Yes!
The book will have you caught up in the lives of Clare and Sharni. At the start you get the sense that Sharni is the unhinged one of the two. Well this is a woman who basically wants to be Clare. Styling her home like Clare’s, dressing like her, and taking an unhealthy interest in her son. But as the story progresses, and you get to know Clare more, you start to doubt yourself, especially when you get to read Sharni’s point of view about Clare.
Alongside the plot there are pages with a woman visiting a psychiatrist, talking about her past, and feelings. You are kept guessing as to which woman is having the therapy.
The book is filled with twists, turns and plenty of ‘red herrings’. It will have you in suspense until the very end, keeping you on the edge of your seat. Be warned, this book may just have you wary of getting to know any of your neighbour! Fantastic job Ms. Renham, just fantastic!
Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com
May 20, 2017
All of my reviews can be found on www.novelgossip.com
Oohh what an addictive read! Once I started I didn’t put this one down, and despite one minor complaint, I loved every second of this read. Clare and Sharni were both woman who clearly had very dark, troubled pasts and trying to figure out which one of them was actually reliable was so fun. Clare is so fragile and already unstable, so when Sharni moves in next door, something about her immediately sets her on edge. Already a highly anxious person, Clare delves into full blown paranoia and I love nothing more than a erratic, edgy narrator.
Things are told from Clare’s point of view until the halfway point when it flips to Sharni’s perspective and while I liked seeing things from her side, it was pretty repetitive. It basically, albeit more quickly, retold chunks of what you’ve already read from her eyes. I think it was definitely necessary to hear from her, I just wish it would’ve been done differently. It disrupted an otherwise fantastic flow to the story, BUT once the timelines merged it was very intense until the end.
There were also brief sections from a therapy session between one of the woman and a doctor and I really liked trying to figure out which woman it was. This wasn’t predictable in the slightest and has plenty of killer twists and turns that surprised me. This book is pure entertainment of the best kind as long as you don’t think too hard about plausibility and the like.
Oohh what an addictive read! Once I started I didn’t put this one down, and despite one minor complaint, I loved every second of this read. Clare and Sharni were both woman who clearly had very dark, troubled pasts and trying to figure out which one of them was actually reliable was so fun. Clare is so fragile and already unstable, so when Sharni moves in next door, something about her immediately sets her on edge. Already a highly anxious person, Clare delves into full blown paranoia and I love nothing more than a erratic, edgy narrator.
Things are told from Clare’s point of view until the halfway point when it flips to Sharni’s perspective and while I liked seeing things from her side, it was pretty repetitive. It basically, albeit more quickly, retold chunks of what you’ve already read from her eyes. I think it was definitely necessary to hear from her, I just wish it would’ve been done differently. It disrupted an otherwise fantastic flow to the story, BUT once the timelines merged it was very intense until the end.
There were also brief sections from a therapy session between one of the woman and a doctor and I really liked trying to figure out which woman it was. This wasn’t predictable in the slightest and has plenty of killer twists and turns that surprised me. This book is pure entertainment of the best kind as long as you don’t think too hard about plausibility and the like.
December 3, 2021
Boring, repetitive and unbelievable.
March 29, 2017
I’ve read quite a few novels by this author now and enjoyed every one of them. Remember Me though is very different to the rest of her novels as she has gone to the dark side and written a psychological thriller. Psychological thrillers are my all time favourite genre so was very much looking forward to reading it.
It’s obvious from the start that Clare has a few issues. She seems very paranoid and over the course of the story it is obvious she is struggling to cope with her every day life. You would think having a loving husband and an adorable little boy that she has it all made. Sadly she seems dependent on prescription drugs and has everyone worried about her.
As soon as we meet Sharni, I was wary of her. I just knew she was up to something and wanted to scream to Clare to be careful. To be fair to Clare she is also extremely wary of her. If anything it makes Clare very paranoid and she just seems to unravel before our eyes.
I won’t go anymore into the story but I will say that it takes some surprising turns that I was not expecting. We know that things are not quite right but finding out exactly what, makes for a highly entertaining read.
Remember Me is a gripping story full of suspense. It will have your mind working over time and second guessing everything. Full of twists and turns, I’m sure it will be a hit with fans of this genre.
My thanks to the author for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
It’s obvious from the start that Clare has a few issues. She seems very paranoid and over the course of the story it is obvious she is struggling to cope with her every day life. You would think having a loving husband and an adorable little boy that she has it all made. Sadly she seems dependent on prescription drugs and has everyone worried about her.
As soon as we meet Sharni, I was wary of her. I just knew she was up to something and wanted to scream to Clare to be careful. To be fair to Clare she is also extremely wary of her. If anything it makes Clare very paranoid and she just seems to unravel before our eyes.
I won’t go anymore into the story but I will say that it takes some surprising turns that I was not expecting. We know that things are not quite right but finding out exactly what, makes for a highly entertaining read.
Remember Me is a gripping story full of suspense. It will have your mind working over time and second guessing everything. Full of twists and turns, I’m sure it will be a hit with fans of this genre.
My thanks to the author for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
November 30, 2017
Wow.. that was really good.. and twisted!!
January 16, 2018
I waffled on rating this, and the only reason it gets 3 stars is because I was genuinely interested enough to read through to the ending.
This book is a serious case of failure in executing a good idea.
The very first sentences were so choppy and poorly constructed that I almost quit right there. But I told myself, no, other people really seemed to like this book, so you gotta give it more of a chance than 2 percent. And I'm glad I did; overall, I enjoyed the story. There wasn't anything terribly shocking about it, and by about 50 percent of the way in, I started to realize what was going on. It still took until the very end before I got the whole picture, which was just a little unrealistic.
One of the biggest issues that I had with this book, that bothered me to no end? Ben is right at 2 years old, yet he never speaks in the book, has *just* learned to walk, is carried everywhere, screams the way one would expect a newborn to, still eats pureed baby food, etc, etc. It genuinely drives me a little nuts when an author writes a child into a story with no real concept of what is developmentally appropriate for that child's age. If his age had never been mentioned in the book, I would have assumed him, at most, being 9 months old. It was confusing and frustrating and took away from the story, for me.
Overall, an alright read. You don't feel like you wasted your time reading this book, and there is just enough to keep it interesting, but otherwise, not one I can see revisiting or talking about with friends.
This book is a serious case of failure in executing a good idea.
The very first sentences were so choppy and poorly constructed that I almost quit right there. But I told myself, no, other people really seemed to like this book, so you gotta give it more of a chance than 2 percent. And I'm glad I did; overall, I enjoyed the story. There wasn't anything terribly shocking about it, and by about 50 percent of the way in, I started to realize what was going on. It still took until the very end before I got the whole picture, which was just a little unrealistic.
One of the biggest issues that I had with this book, that bothered me to no end? Ben is right at 2 years old, yet he never speaks in the book, has *just* learned to walk, is carried everywhere, screams the way one would expect a newborn to, still eats pureed baby food, etc, etc. It genuinely drives me a little nuts when an author writes a child into a story with no real concept of what is developmentally appropriate for that child's age. If his age had never been mentioned in the book, I would have assumed him, at most, being 9 months old. It was confusing and frustrating and took away from the story, for me.
Overall, an alright read. You don't feel like you wasted your time reading this book, and there is just enough to keep it interesting, but otherwise, not one I can see revisiting or talking about with friends.
January 26, 2018
Sharni moves next door to very anxious Clare and her Husband Chris, seeing how overwhelmed Clare is with everything she offers to take care of Clare's baby, Ben, whilst Clare is at work. Clare doesn’t quite trust Sharni though, she thinks that Sharni is trying to steal something from her, her life, her husband... perhaps her son.
I thought the majority of the way through that I knew what was happening, that the story was predictable and a little obvious, so I was happy to be proved wrong!
The twist was a stretch, but done well enough and really turned everything on it’s head.
I was pleasantly surprised and would happily read the author’s next work.
3.5 stars.
I thought the majority of the way through that I knew what was happening, that the story was predictable and a little obvious, so I was happy to be proved wrong!
The twist was a stretch, but done well enough and really turned everything on it’s head.
I was pleasantly surprised and would happily read the author’s next work.
3.5 stars.
February 27, 2023
One of the best thrillers I’ve read, lots of twists & turns. Definitely recommend.
February 4, 2023
I have loved Lynda Renham’s previous books which have been humorous women’s fiction so I will rather surprised, and incredibly intrigued, to find out that she had written Remember Me which is a psychological thriller! I loved the cover when I first saw it so I was very keen, but ever so slightly cautious, to start reading. Would Lynda be able to make a successful move over to the dark side? Well, I’m pleased to tell you that not only does she manage it very well indeed, this is also the book to pull me kicking and screaming from the reading slump I’ve been suffering from recently! It is BRILLIANT and I think Lynda has now found her niche in the very busy psychological suspense market, and I hope she stays there for the foreseeable future!
I think we have all met women like Sharni before, someone who seems to admire other women but shows it in a rather unorthodox way. Having moved in next door to Clare and Chris, with her husband Tom, Sharni starts showing an unhealthy interest in Clare’s life and starts copying her clothes, her home furnishings but worst of all trying to steal the affections of Clare’s son, Ben. Clare does have some sympathy for her new friend but when Sharni seems to be making moves on Chris, she decides its time to back off. But is it already too late?
This book really did have it all for me. It had the shocks and surprises, the twists, the unreliable narrator, the woman in peril, the unknown narrator and I loved every single page of it! I especially loved the “Single, White, Female” feel to it that built up to a powerful and dramatic finale. The way the plot gradually unfolded was so believable as Sharni gradually infiltrated Clare’s family, friends and workplace. Honestly, I just couldn’t put this book down! I have always loved Lynda’s writing style so it was wonderful to see that it translated well to a different genre for her. More please!
I think we have all met women like Sharni before, someone who seems to admire other women but shows it in a rather unorthodox way. Having moved in next door to Clare and Chris, with her husband Tom, Sharni starts showing an unhealthy interest in Clare’s life and starts copying her clothes, her home furnishings but worst of all trying to steal the affections of Clare’s son, Ben. Clare does have some sympathy for her new friend but when Sharni seems to be making moves on Chris, she decides its time to back off. But is it already too late?
This book really did have it all for me. It had the shocks and surprises, the twists, the unreliable narrator, the woman in peril, the unknown narrator and I loved every single page of it! I especially loved the “Single, White, Female” feel to it that built up to a powerful and dramatic finale. The way the plot gradually unfolded was so believable as Sharni gradually infiltrated Clare’s family, friends and workplace. Honestly, I just couldn’t put this book down! I have always loved Lynda’s writing style so it was wonderful to see that it translated well to a different genre for her. More please!
April 12, 2019
Implausible psychological thriller - repetitive with a laughably unbelievable twist!
Having seen Lynda Renham’s novel billed as a “gripping psychological thriller with a jaw-dropping twist” after reading I can confirm that the only thing I found remotely jaw-dropping about the twist was how ludicrous it was! The galling denouement, which in itself requires a slew of ludicrous conditions, is just the icing on the cake. However the story does get off to a solid start when Clare Ryan, a part time teacher and mother to toddler, Ben, opens her front door to be greeted by her new next door neighbour and professional photographer, Sharni Wilson. Narrated in the first person by Clare, who can’t help thinking that Sharni looks vaguely familiar, readers see over-anxious, Clare, reluctantly agreeing to housewarming drinks with her husband, Chris, at Sharni and Tom’s place.
Plagued by feelings of inadequacy, overthinking and being a failure, Clare gets through the days reliant on a prescription for diazepam, reaching for a pill at the first feelings of panic, and feels a dowdy failure next to her new neighbour. However in no short order Sharni is offering to babysit and encroaching on every aspect of Clare’s life, charming Chris and doing her best to disrupt Clare’s life and promote the idea that Clare’s medication and forgetfulness is behind her paranoia and fragility, leading everyone to question her ability to care for Ben. Within just two weeks Sharni is babysitting for Ben while Clare works at the school and it becomes pertinent to question just what she really does know about her dream neighbour.. But as Clare begins to doubt herself, grows convinced that Sharni wants her life and son, has she left it too late? And just who can she trust to believe her?
The reader immediately suspects gaslighting, but are things really as they appear? In the second half Lynda Renham covers the exact same events of the first, this time from Sharni’s perspective and again narrated in the first-person. It gradually becomes clear just what it actually going on and that both women’s behaviour is grounded in the events of the past... A second strand of the narrative (written in italics) alternates with day to day events throughout the entire book, beginning a year earlier and showing a therapist attempting to help an unnamed woman after a suspected car accident.
The about turn at the half-way mark and showing the exact same events inevitably entails a large degree of repetition and it is at this point that I found a fairly anodyne story becoming dreary and monotonous. Although the writing style is nothing more than workmanlike throughout it is at this point that I really felt my interest wane before an over-the-top climax and an outlandish twist. Credible? Not on your nelly!
Some basic research and common sense would have undoubtedly made for a more convincing novel with readers expected to believe that a town planner and part-time teacher would ever be able to afford a home in Kensington, or that school teacher’s going out in the middle of the day for a cafe lunch would be the done thing!
Having seen Lynda Renham’s novel billed as a “gripping psychological thriller with a jaw-dropping twist” after reading I can confirm that the only thing I found remotely jaw-dropping about the twist was how ludicrous it was! The galling denouement, which in itself requires a slew of ludicrous conditions, is just the icing on the cake. However the story does get off to a solid start when Clare Ryan, a part time teacher and mother to toddler, Ben, opens her front door to be greeted by her new next door neighbour and professional photographer, Sharni Wilson. Narrated in the first person by Clare, who can’t help thinking that Sharni looks vaguely familiar, readers see over-anxious, Clare, reluctantly agreeing to housewarming drinks with her husband, Chris, at Sharni and Tom’s place.
Plagued by feelings of inadequacy, overthinking and being a failure, Clare gets through the days reliant on a prescription for diazepam, reaching for a pill at the first feelings of panic, and feels a dowdy failure next to her new neighbour. However in no short order Sharni is offering to babysit and encroaching on every aspect of Clare’s life, charming Chris and doing her best to disrupt Clare’s life and promote the idea that Clare’s medication and forgetfulness is behind her paranoia and fragility, leading everyone to question her ability to care for Ben. Within just two weeks Sharni is babysitting for Ben while Clare works at the school and it becomes pertinent to question just what she really does know about her dream neighbour.. But as Clare begins to doubt herself, grows convinced that Sharni wants her life and son, has she left it too late? And just who can she trust to believe her?
The reader immediately suspects gaslighting, but are things really as they appear? In the second half Lynda Renham covers the exact same events of the first, this time from Sharni’s perspective and again narrated in the first-person. It gradually becomes clear just what it actually going on and that both women’s behaviour is grounded in the events of the past... A second strand of the narrative (written in italics) alternates with day to day events throughout the entire book, beginning a year earlier and showing a therapist attempting to help an unnamed woman after a suspected car accident.
The about turn at the half-way mark and showing the exact same events inevitably entails a large degree of repetition and it is at this point that I found a fairly anodyne story becoming dreary and monotonous. Although the writing style is nothing more than workmanlike throughout it is at this point that I really felt my interest wane before an over-the-top climax and an outlandish twist. Credible? Not on your nelly!
Some basic research and common sense would have undoubtedly made for a more convincing novel with readers expected to believe that a town planner and part-time teacher would ever be able to afford a home in Kensington, or that school teacher’s going out in the middle of the day for a cafe lunch would be the done thing!
March 24, 2023
Trigger Warning : Miscarriage.
This was the first book I read by this author I looked her up and saw she writes mostly romance. The book was very good. A lot of twists and turns and I read it over 2 two days. This could have been a 4 star book for me, but I was irked by something, which I'll explain soon. We have Chris and Clare who have a 2 year old son. They get new neighbors who are the same age, Tom and Shrmi. Sharmi begins copying everything that Clare does, decorating her house the same, getting the same hairstyle, etc. Why is Sharmi doing this? We shall find out soon enough. Clare is very anxious. She has a definite anxiety disorder and this is where the stars come off on my review. Her husband tells her she needs to stop with her anxiety. Get over it. This just makes my blood boil. I realize this is fiction, however, the world is just starting to look at mental illness without such a stigma attached. Books like this make it seem like one can just say, oh ok, I won't be anxious. Thanks. I have struggled with an anxiety disorder since I was 20 and no, I cannot shut it off because someone tells me to. Besides for that, the book was very good with a good ending. I'd recommend it.
This was the first book I read by this author I looked her up and saw she writes mostly romance. The book was very good. A lot of twists and turns and I read it over 2 two days. This could have been a 4 star book for me, but I was irked by something, which I'll explain soon. We have Chris and Clare who have a 2 year old son. They get new neighbors who are the same age, Tom and Shrmi. Sharmi begins copying everything that Clare does, decorating her house the same, getting the same hairstyle, etc. Why is Sharmi doing this? We shall find out soon enough. Clare is very anxious. She has a definite anxiety disorder and this is where the stars come off on my review. Her husband tells her she needs to stop with her anxiety. Get over it. This just makes my blood boil. I realize this is fiction, however, the world is just starting to look at mental illness without such a stigma attached. Books like this make it seem like one can just say, oh ok, I won't be anxious. Thanks. I have struggled with an anxiety disorder since I was 20 and no, I cannot shut it off because someone tells me to. Besides for that, the book was very good with a good ending. I'd recommend it.
April 2, 2017
wow this is this authors first thriller and it blew me away. what a story full of twists that had me shivering. and a cracking ending that i didnt expect at all
June 11, 2017
Excellent!!
August 18, 2023
Not really a standout book
July 29, 2017
Clare barely makes a living as a school teacher, but her life is peaceful with her beautiful son,Ben. While her husband makes enough money to pay the bills, the two of them barely have money leftover so they live modestly, not a bad thing as long as they have their son with them. When they meet their neighbor, instantly a connection is build and Clare looks up to a stranger that is oddly attached to her son. Against her better judgment, she hires a babysitter that treats Ben like her own, causing Clare to have anxiety attacks,fearing that she made the wrong decision getting close to someone she barely knows.
The story shifts from Past to Present, as more secrets are revealed in this epic drama that will have your savoring every page!
This literally had the best twist I ever read, just when you think you have it all figured out, the twist at the end will have your mouth drop. Besides the great characterization and the perfect pace, this one by far one of the best books I read in awhile. It has now become my favorite book, it puts on a new perspective on 'friendly' neighbors, this is one roller-coaster ride.
Highly recommended, one of the best books I read!
The story shifts from Past to Present, as more secrets are revealed in this epic drama that will have your savoring every page!
This literally had the best twist I ever read, just when you think you have it all figured out, the twist at the end will have your mouth drop. Besides the great characterization and the perfect pace, this one by far one of the best books I read in awhile. It has now become my favorite book, it puts on a new perspective on 'friendly' neighbors, this is one roller-coaster ride.
Highly recommended, one of the best books I read!
April 23, 2018
I found this book well written and we are given the chance to get to know both characters inside out. There are clues woven into the text throughout making the ending really obvious.
During the first half of the book we are given the opportunity to get to know one of the two leading characters, woven into this are flashbacks in a counselling room, but we aren’t sure whose memories these are. The book then swaps to tell the story of the other leading lady in the story. It was great to get both sides of the story but I would have preferred this to be done in smaller segments rather than halfway through as I felt too attached to one character by this point.
I found the ending to be so unbelievable and this really did spoil the whole book for me. I’d got to know both characters so well throughout the book and the ending just totally went against the personality of the characters and if I’m honest was a little far fetched and stupid. It’s a shame because other than that the book was pretty good. I can’t see me recommending this one.
During the first half of the book we are given the opportunity to get to know one of the two leading characters, woven into this are flashbacks in a counselling room, but we aren’t sure whose memories these are. The book then swaps to tell the story of the other leading lady in the story. It was great to get both sides of the story but I would have preferred this to be done in smaller segments rather than halfway through as I felt too attached to one character by this point.
I found the ending to be so unbelievable and this really did spoil the whole book for me. I’d got to know both characters so well throughout the book and the ending just totally went against the personality of the characters and if I’m honest was a little far fetched and stupid. It’s a shame because other than that the book was pretty good. I can’t see me recommending this one.
June 25, 2019
This book was painfully stupid, but for the most part it was actually good despite the stupidity. Clare and Chris are unlikable and there was no way around that. Sharni was not as bad, but heading in their direction. This was basically another story where people do the dumbest things and don't seem to have an ounce of common sense. Readers are expected to believe a person would be unrecognizable in a fairly short amount of time because they now wear eyeglasses and throw in some hair dye.
I'm not a fan of books that tell the exact same story from two different points of view. It's like going back to the start and reading it from scratch only with the names flipped around. Once Clare and Chris said it, why would I want to read Sharni and her husband use the same dialogue to retell it? I suppose that can work on occasion, but this time it made me want to flip the pages and not in the same way I had been earlier on when I was enjoying things.
The ending drama was so over the top it was almost absurd.
I'm not a fan of books that tell the exact same story from two different points of view. It's like going back to the start and reading it from scratch only with the names flipped around. Once Clare and Chris said it, why would I want to read Sharni and her husband use the same dialogue to retell it? I suppose that can work on occasion, but this time it made me want to flip the pages and not in the same way I had been earlier on when I was enjoying things.
The ending drama was so over the top it was almost absurd.
April 27, 2017
Sharni seems like a perfect new neighbor for Clare; she admires her sense of style and her interior decorating skills. She even offers to take care of Clare's two year old son, Ben, while Clare works part time. She seems too good to be true........and she is. It starts out with Sharni decorating rooms of her home like Clare's, then she buys the same outfits as Clare, and has her hair cut in the same style. Soon, Clare begins to feel that Sharni is taking over
her life, and that she wants to everything that Clare has, including her husband and son.
Remember Me is a slow burning thriller that culminates in an insane twist that nobody would see coming. Enjoy!
her life, and that she wants to everything that Clare has, including her husband and son.
Remember Me is a slow burning thriller that culminates in an insane twist that nobody would see coming. Enjoy!
May 3, 2017
Easy to read, a good storyline, over all enjoyable
July 13, 2017
Great twists
Really good book with lots of twists and turns. I enjoyed it and was a fit surprised by the ending
Really good book with lots of twists and turns. I enjoyed it and was a fit surprised by the ending
October 2, 2017
Insidiously creepy and disturbing, a very tangled web indeed.
June 18, 2019
Excellent, hard to put down thriller! I have to say I didn't see the twist coming, and thought it was well executed!
July 11, 2017
I have read a few of Lynda Renham's books and loved them, however this is the first foray of hers into a different genre (to my knowledge anyway) and I was unsure what to expect. I was very pleasantly surprised and found myself totally engaged with this rather dark story Involving Claire and a new neighbour named Sharni. It's very clear from the outset that Claire is not your average person. She seems incredibly highly strung and it doesn't take long before as a reader you are questioning why she is like that. Then add in to the mix the new neighbour Sharni who instantly made me feel like Claire should be on guard. Sharni was over familiar from the outset and it's clear there is more to her introduction to Claire than just being a friendly neighbour.
Although Claire was slightly edgy as a charcter I still quite liked her and as we see her interact with her husband Chris and young son Ben. Sharni and her husband Tom very quickly seem to make themselves part of Claire and Chris life and there is always an underlying question mark as to why. As the story progresses, more and more things start to go wrong and it doesn't take long before you are questioning who is at fault.
Towards the end, we then see the same events but from Sharni's point of view. I understand the reasoning for this but at times it felt a little bit of a chore. Maybe it might have worked better by mixing the chapters up by time frame and character rather than by repeating the same time frame in one hit. That small niggle aside I loved this book and just had to get to the end to find out what the truth was. I was surprised by the ending, but at the same time it was always a possibility in my mind. Overall, a hugely enjoyable book and I will look forward to reading more by this author in this genre.
Although Claire was slightly edgy as a charcter I still quite liked her and as we see her interact with her husband Chris and young son Ben. Sharni and her husband Tom very quickly seem to make themselves part of Claire and Chris life and there is always an underlying question mark as to why. As the story progresses, more and more things start to go wrong and it doesn't take long before you are questioning who is at fault.
Towards the end, we then see the same events but from Sharni's point of view. I understand the reasoning for this but at times it felt a little bit of a chore. Maybe it might have worked better by mixing the chapters up by time frame and character rather than by repeating the same time frame in one hit. That small niggle aside I loved this book and just had to get to the end to find out what the truth was. I was surprised by the ending, but at the same time it was always a possibility in my mind. Overall, a hugely enjoyable book and I will look forward to reading more by this author in this genre.
September 15, 2024
A story of massive betrayal, deep lies and family destruction.
Sharni and Tom move in next door to Clare, Chris and their young son Ben. The couples soon become fast friends but Clare has demons of her own and is struggling with a prescription drug addiction. Things move fast in this twisted tale and the ending was harrowing. Truly heartbreaking, even for the character we are meant to dislike.
Great, emotionally charged read.
Sharni and Tom move in next door to Clare, Chris and their young son Ben. The couples soon become fast friends but Clare has demons of her own and is struggling with a prescription drug addiction. Things move fast in this twisted tale and the ending was harrowing. Truly heartbreaking, even for the character we are meant to dislike.
Great, emotionally charged read.
November 10, 2024
Omg what a brilliant book. I just didn't know who was telling truth right until end. I kept changing my opinion so often . If you want a book that keeps you on your toes I highly recommend this book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
January 9, 2024
I really enjoyed this one. It was fast, it held my interest and I was pleased with the outcome and ending. I had a vague inkling at the twist but wasn't sure how it would play out but I was happy with the way it did.
December 24, 2019
Audio version of this book 📚- A great listen ! Really enjoyed . First book by this author but won’t be the last
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