The Memories of Us

by Vanessa Carnevale

One moment can change your life

When Gracie Ashcroft wakes after a crash with severe amnesia, she must choose whether to live a life through other people’s memories or to start a new life all her own.

Discovering her late mother left her an old flower farm, Gracie leaves her fiancé, best friend and the home full of forgotten memories behind, hoping to learn who she is now.

Torn between wishing she could remember and afraid of losing what she now has, Gracie starts to wonder: if you had your time over, would you live the same life twice?

this is the UK edition

Genres: Romance, Chick Lit, Contemporary, Fiction, Book Club, Womens Fiction

338 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2018

About the author

Vanessa Carnevale is an Australian author of women's fiction. She is also the host of Your Beautiful Writing Life retreats held in Tuscany and Australia.

Vanessa loves to travel, and spent several years living in Florence, Italy, a place she considers her second home. She lives in Australia with her husband and two children.

Her previous novels, THE MEMORIES OF US and THE FLORENTINE BRIDGE are published by HarperCollins and have been translated into German and Slovenian. Vanessa's third novel, MY LIFE FOR YOURS will be published by Bookouture in August 2020.

You can connect with Vanessa on Instagram and Facebook or via her website: www.vanessacarnevale.com

Reviews

[Amanda - Mrs B's Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
In late 2016, a debut novel was released, The Florentine Bridge, by Australian author Vanessa Carnevale. Little did I know at the time that this book was going to be such a special read. The Florentine Bridge has stayed with me, despite time and many books later. Suffice to say, I have been twiddling my thumbs ever since I heard word Vanessa Carnevale was releasing her much anticipated second novel. When I finally got my hands on The Memories That Make Us, I literally jumped with joy. I loved this novel just as much as its predecessor but I adored it for its individual strengths and it has many.

The Memories That Make Us is about memory, or the process of recovering lost memories. Life changes in an instant for Gracie Ashcroft, who along with her fiancé Blake, are injured in a horrific car accident. The couple survive but Gracie is left with a case of amnesia. As a result, Gracie decides to leave the life she led before the accident behind her. She quits her job, moves to the country and sadly, ends her impending marriage to husband to be, Blake. Gracie takes her deceased mother’s flower farm off the market and decides now is exactly to right time to restore her family’s old flower farm. While bringing the farm back to life, Gracie tries to piece together the memories of her dearly loved mother and works on recovering the deep love she once felt for her fiancé Blake, who is hurting since Gracie left him behind. To complicate Gracie’s confused state of mind further, next door neighbour Flynn has begun to occupy a place in Gracie’s heart. With her heart and mind being pulled in every direction, Gracie’s pathway to recovery after the accident is fraught with frustration, confusion, heartbreak, love and hope.

Any doubt Vanessa Carnevale has about releasing her second novel should immediately be quashed. My response to this novel is one of much love and high admiration, it is just as good as Carnevale’s debut. I predict that my very positive response to The Memories That Make Us will be shared by many other readers that have the privilege to read this lovely book.

Now, the main theme of this novel is amnesia. I, like many other readers, will most probably cast their minds to some other well known books that feature this fruitful topic. Nineteen Letters by Jodi Perry has been mentioned in a few reviews of this book already. I also thought of What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty. However, I feel the calibre of The Memories That Make Us is second to none and this is a novel that easily stands on its own two feet.

Carnevale cannot be faulted on her dedication to her research. I found her passages related to her main character of Gracie’s amnesia carefully balances fact, insight and sensitivity, with the obviously confusing feelings that would come with being placed in this predicament. We get a very good feel for the high drama and emotions that would follow an amnesia case like Gracie’s. Through Carnevale’s involving writing style, I felt every frustration, every moment of clarity and the deep sense of loss that Gracie experiences along the way. Readers will find it hard pressed not to shed a tear or feel a tug at the heartstrings for Gracie. Tissues are a must with this novel!

I completely understood Gracie’s need to return home to her family’s abandoned farm after her accident. I loved this narrative choice. It enables Carnevale to shift the events of her novel from the city of Melbourne, to the tranquil countryside location of Daylesford. What a delight Daylesford is! I’m so glad Carnevale features this pretty little hideaway in her latest novel. The scenes in the book involving Gracie’s time at this small country location and the effort she puts into restoring her family’s farm was just beautiful. In simple terms, I loved the whole experience.

Flowers are the life blood of this heart rendering novel. From the pivotal first moments following Gracie’s accident, when she gives us detailed account of the flowers that decorate her hospital room, we know flowers are essential to this novel. Carnevale has a passion and an informed understanding of the properties of flowers. I really appreciated this aspect of the novel. When a book increases your understanding of a topic in a subtle way, through its engaging text, you know you are onto a winner. What I loved most about this aspect of the book was that Gracie’s story drew my attention to the healing properties of flowers themselves. There were also so many beautifully rendered passages relating to flowers and how they impact the characters in this novel, especially Gracie, my senses were in overload!

Another aspect of the novel I feel I must mention is the use of letters in the unfolding storyline. I am a big sucker for letters within texts, they get me every time! In The Memories That Make Us, communication via letters from hurting Blake, to confused Gracie, serves to heighten the mood and tension level in this novel. With the lack of letters in our current technology driven lives, it was a refreshing change to see handwritten letters play a part in mending the broken relationship between the lead characters in this book. I also loved how the letters played a vital role in recovering or reminding Gracie of some important memories from her past.

In terms of characterisation, Carnevale nails it. I loved the composition of lead Gracie. Gracie’s journey is such a momentous one that I know I will not be forgetting this character in a hurry. Supporting Gracie are a truly fabulous cast of sub characters, from loyal best friend Scarlett, to endearing Charlie and loveable Tilly, what a cast! I also must mention the male leads, who bring much light and activity to this warm tale.

Vanessa Carnevale certainly surprised me with the direction of her latest novel. I was not expecting a certain plot twist and when it hit me, I have to admit I stopped and sat astounded for a few minutes, while I gathered my thoughts on just what happened. I had absolutely no idea this excellent plot twist was going to happen and all I can say now on the matter is, wow! After this plot twist and the final conclusion of events, I have to say Carnevale’s writing has clearly has stepped up a notch in my eyes.

Returning to Vanessa Carnevale’s warm, wise and embracing writing style was an absolute comfort. I read this book in one sitting. It is the first book of 2018 that I have stayed up long past my bedtime to read, as I just could not part with this book until I knew what the final turn of events would hold for Gracie and her loved ones. Thank you from the bottom of my heart Vanessa for another utterly divine read.

*I wish to thank Harlequin Books Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.

The Memories That Make Us is book #14 of the Australian Women Writers Challenge

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Gracie Ashcroft woke in hospital, the confusion that hit her was intense. Because Gracie had no memory whatsoever of how she had ended up in hospital, who she was, who the woman crying in front of her was - nothing was there at all. She was terrified. But learning that she was engaged to marry Blake Beaumont - a man she didn't know, was the catalyst. The car accident had taken everything from Gracie, and even the doctors didn't know if she would ever get her memory back.

With Scarlett's help, Gracie gradually regained her health - but not her memory. Leaving Melbourne for Daylesford and Summerhill, the farm she had grown up on, Gracie hoped the memories would return when she found herself on familiar ground.

As Gracie slowly began to make new friends, her desire to recreate the magic of the flower farm her mother had loved was great. But could she do it? Her next door neighbour, Flynn was a kind and helpful man - but she still couldn't remember Blake. What was she to do? Focus on the future, or try to solve the past?

The Memories That Make Us by Aussie author Vanessa Carnevale is a poignant and moving story of how life can change in an instant. Of hope, friendship and love - of finding oneself when it seems there is no hope. I loved this story, as I loved this author's first - The Florentine Bridge - and highly recommend it.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read and review.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

After being involved in a car accident, Gracie Ashcroft wakes in a hospital bed with severe amnesia. Gracie can't remember who she is and she has no idea how or why she is in hospital. Family and friends are all just strangers, but the greatest shock comes when she finds out that in three months time she is to wed, Blake Beaumont. She holds no memories of Blake what so ever, so how can she marry a man she doesn't know.

Enduring a life of other people's memories was never going to work, so Gracie decides she needs to start a new life and leave her old one behind. This meant leaving behind her fiancé, Blake, but she could think of no other way to try and sort her life out.

Going to the country was hopefully going to give Gracie the space and time to try and remember who she once was. Will she ever remember Blake the man she was going to marry and all the special moments they shared or will he just remain a stranger?

This beautiful tale is set in the lovely countryside town of Daylesford in Victoria a place I'm quite familiar with. I absolutely loved this story and I truly didn't want it to end. A beautiful cover for a beautiful story. Highly recommended.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Gracie and her Fiancé Blake are driving to her best friend Scarlet’s birthday meal, they are arguing when they have a car crash.

When Gracie wakes up at the Hospital, she has no recollection of who she is or that her and Blake are about to marry in a few months time, which is scary as she has no memories of her and Blake together. He is a total stranger to her!!

Gracie decides that rather than friends and family telling her what her life was like before the accident, she needs to get away. She goes to the flower farm that she inherited from her mother. Gracie has some recollection of being happy there and feeling joy working with the flowers.

Beautifully written, the story of Amnesia was told in a very understanding and compassionate way. We look at how difficult it is for the family and for the victim, who has to learn how to cook and do her shoelaces up again. I felt every emotion reading this, I smiled, laughed and had a tear in my eye at the end.

Can you fall in love with the same person twice? That question I can not answer. But YES you will fall in love with this book!!

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.

[Elisa Glendenning (mostly off-line) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Stars

[Nila (digitalcreativepages) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Retrograde Amnesia a very difficult topic to write on, and to write it with sensitivity in a fictional tale, takes an amazing balance to make it both poignant and entertaining.

My first book by Vanessa Carnevale, and man, if this is the way she writes all her books, I am her forever fan. Gracie and her fiancé Blake are in a car accident where Gracie wakes up with total amnesia and does not even remember her mother, let alone her friends, fiancé, and workmates. Life becomes difficult for her, it is like seeing a child learn how to do things.

I loved the way the author has shown with a deep compassion, the helplessness, the confusion, the frustration and the anger at not remembering the simplest of things like how to cook eggs. Gracie then leaves the life she used to lead, her friends, work, fiancé and goes to the flower farm left to her by her mother, to relearn to discover herself and to accept a life which is now available to her, far away from what she used to live.

Vanessa’s story brings to the forefront the basic truth I had always believed in It takes a second for life to change. Gracie’s story made me feel the emotions that she goes through at every step of recovery, and that is the beauty of Vanessa’s writing.

I am a sucker for a book rich in emotions, and Vanessa is an awesome writer who put me through my paces, my heart wrenched at Gracie’s plight, my lips smiled when she did, and I soared with joy when she was happy. A total awesome read.

P.S I liked learning about flowers too, though I don’t have a green thumb.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and publisher Avon Books UK, and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

[Dale Harcombe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four and a half stars.
When a car accident leaves Gracie with amnesia, she decides she needs to not rely on other people’s opinions, memories and stories of her but find out for herself who she is. With only three months before her wedding to Blake, she needs space and time to sort herself out. She cuts herself off from Blake and even to some extent from her best friend Scarlett. Determined to find out who she is, Gracie moves to the country. Here she has some memories of her mother’s flower farm, which has been abandoned and on the market since her mother’s death. She takes it off the market. While working on the farm and trying to coax memories of her life prior to the accident back, she encounters Flynn a helpful neighbour who is a vet. Caught between a past and a fiancé she doesn’t remember, Gracie finds herself drawn to Flynn. Will her memories ever return and if they do what will that mean for her life and future?
I picked this book up because I had loved this author’s previous novel, The Florentine Bridge. This is just as good and did not disappoint. I loved spending time with Gracie as she tries to get her life back on track. Sometimes it is the simplest things that trip her up, like trying to remember how to scramble eggs or tie her shoelaces. Both Gracie and Flynn were good characters and Scarlett was a supportive friend. The setting of Daylesford in Victoria is portrayed well. It is so rich in description that at times I could just about smell the sweet peas and other flowers. I really loved the emphasis on flowers and their restorative and emotional value.
A story of friendship, family, romance, loss, rebuilding a life and hope, I really enjoyed it. Maybe a little neatly tied up at the end, but when the story and characters are emotionally involving, who cares? Just worth it to read a lovely story. An enegaging novel that I highly recommend. Will be keen to see what this author writes next.

[Lee at ReadWriteWish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our heroine, Gracie, suffers from complete amnesia after being involved in a car accident. She can’t remember her best friend, her mother, or her fiance, Blake, who she was supposed to marry in three weeks.

Yes, the old faithful amnesia trope. But with this book and her heroine, Carnevale has really done an excellent job at looking at the fear of memory loss instead of simply using it as a cliched romantic plot device.

As a reader, I was right there with Gracie when she struggled to tie her shoelaces, scramble an egg, and catch a bus. I cried along with her when she realised she couldn’t remember anything about her late mother. And understood when she couldn’t possibly get married to Blake, who had abruptly become a complete stranger.

Soon finding life impossible in Melbourne, Gracie returns to her childhood home, Summerhill. There, she meets her handsome neighbour, Flynn. This of course leads to complications. She can’t allow herself to fall for Flynn, not only because she’s still technically engaged to Blake, but because she might wake up one day and suddenly remember she is in love with Blake, breaking Flynn’s heart.

She is also loath to break Blake’s heart. After all, he’s quite chivalrous and understanding throughout, writing Gracie sweet letters, and pleading with her to give him a chance.

Although this love triangle was sorted out just as I guessed it would be very early on and there was no surprise moment for me, I still enjoyed it. (I lie, there was one small surprise. I won’t spoil. I will just say it had to do with Gracie’s friend’s, Scarlett, hubby.)

I loved how Carnevale covered Gracie’s struggles with her memory loss. Confession: I have this recurring nightmare where I am shifting to a new address but I can’t remember where my old one is. Therefore, when Gracie gets lost I was almost having a breakdown along with her.

I also liked the comparison of Gracie’s situation with that of Maggie's, a character suffering from Alzheimer's disease. The scenes featuring Maggie and Maggie’s husband were particularly poignant.

In truth, I would have rathered more of the memory scenes and less of the flowers. In Summerhill Gracie’s passion for flowers is reignited and she decides to restart her mother’s flower farm business. I’m sorry, I’m not a gardener or flower fanatic and I did find the endless descriptions of them waned at times. I also didn’t see the point in Gracie’s flower ‘gift’ nor the character of Tilly at all. Skimming was involved and I think the book plodded a little around the 80% mark due to this.

If you love flowers and gardening, however, you will enjoy that aspect more than me.

I still give the book a firm 4 out of 5 and recommend it to anyone looking for a thoughtful contemporary romance without any offensive smut.

[AusRomToday · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author presents a story rich in emotion; love, heartbreak, loss and discovery. Carnevale should be commended for what can only be described as meticulous research in regard to amnesia and exceptional creative licence in portraying how this might actually feel.

A story of finding yourself, believing in yourself, and most importantly living the way you feel is right for you free of familial or societal expectations.

This is a redemptive story and one that you can't help but feel hopeful whilst reading.

Carnevale's writing style is vivid and well articulated, so much so that you can't help but feel as though you are living each and every moment with the characters. This shows an impressive level of skill as a storyteller.

Told with sensitivity and compassion, The Memories That Make Us showcases Vanessa Carnevale's skills as a brilliant writer with exceptional storytelling talent.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Memories That Make Us is a unique and cleverly written Australian novel written by Vanessa Carnevale with many twists and turns.

Set in the beautiful town of Daylesford in countryside Victoria where nearby you'll find 'Summerhill' where beautiful flower farms bloom with peonies in Spring.

Making daisy chains and flower crowns, learn all about flower farming and the hard work and effort involved in creating your own special 'garden paradise'.

Find out who you really are and where you came from as your memory comes back to you after a life changing accident.

Life is not always straight forward or perfect.

Sometimes your mind may play tricks on you!

A beautiful, new captivating novel by Vanessa Carnevale with a 'surprise' ending.

[Janine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book although I did work out the twist about half way through which did change how I was reading it.

[Michelle Parsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every now and then you read a book that leaves you smiling. Vanessa's beautiful novel, The Memories That Makes Us, conjured so many feelings, so many memories of my darling nan, and made me fill my house with flowers. Vanessa had me captivated after reading the prologue. Never has a prologue envoked all my senses like this one. She then goes on to tell a wonderful story, full of many twists and turns, and just when you think you may have figured it out, she challenges what you assumed to be true. I loved this novel and can't wait to see what Vanessa writes next.

[Jenn J McLeod · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a writer in training (over a decade ago) a wise old writer told me to never start a book with your character in a car, on a train, or on a plane and to definitely ‘forget’ amnesia stories.

Well… I am SO glad Vanessa Carnevale did NOT get that same advice because that would mean missing out on reading this charming love story. And I’m not only referring to the characters when I use the word 'love'. A lot of author love has gone into the construction of this cleverly told tale that both tantalised and surprised me; so much so much I huffed a little ‘gotchya’ smile at one point which made my partner ask, ‘what’s so funny in that book you’re reading?'

The intricacy and narration of the storyline are flawless, with each plot twist carefully seeded and nurtured. Then, like the flowers the author tells us about throughout the novel, the truth blossoms (and what a beauty it is!)

I adore the theme, the cover, the setting, the storytelling, and the premise and that puts The Memories That Make Us on my ‘special reads’ list.

Vanessa and I have been eagerly awaiting each other’s novels this year (as we both touch on memory loss) and I read this one in two sittings (stopping only to sleep!)

The Memories That Make Us is the second ‘amnesia story’ I’ve read (and enjoyed) in the last six months — the other one being Nineteen Letters by Jodi Perry (and I agree with other reviewers here that the stories are very different. With my March release that makes three books (that I know of and ALL very different) and that might mean amnesia stories are coming back. So that wise old reader can go push up peonies! *wink*

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Memories that Make us is Vanessa Carnevale’s 2nd novel that I was thrilled to read as her first was a more than five stars for me. Gracie suffers from amnesia after a car accident a few months before her wedding and with not being able to remember her fiancé, best friend or her life, things are a struggle for Gracie as she tries to move on with her life. The setting in countryside Victoria is just beautiful with lovable characters and although I didn’t love it quite as much as Vanessa’s first book, this is still a solid 5 stars for me. (Her first book had me a blubbering mess for most of it!) By half way through I found this book very hard to put down – highly recommend!

[Jodi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Memories That Make Us isn’t only a book with a gorgeous cover, but what’s written on the pages within is equally as beautiful.

The story is about Gracie, who after a car accident is left with severe amnesia. She can’t remember who she is, who any of those around her are, (including her fiance Blake), or anything about the life she used to lead. She is forced to a crossroads; does she continue her life as it used to be trusting everything to the memories told by those around her, or does she leave and start anew in order to discover who she really is.

It’s such an interesting premise. One that had me continually asking myself, what would I do in Gracie’s situation. I mean, how many people would really have an opportunity to start their life again from scratch? I imagine in a brief moment of frustration, despair or sadness, we’ve all wondered what it would be like to start again, haven’t we?

In the novel, Gracie decides to take the time to find herself. She moves to her late mother’s flower farm on the outskirts of Daylesford where she hopes being at her childhood home will prompt memories of her old life. Meanwhile, her fiance Blake is beside himself thinking he has lost the love of his life forever.

The story is told in such a simple, yet tender way. In what is becoming increasingly rare these days, the story is told through Gracie’s eyes only rather than multiple points of view. What this singular view does, is allow the reader to entirely feel for and with Gracie. You feel her initial fear and frustration, and you grow with her as she begins to learn about the person she is. You experience her hesitation and hope, and her reluctance to break down her walls and let go of her emotions.

Set in Daylesford in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range in Victoria, Australia, Vanessa immerses you in the picturesque village and natural beauty of the area. From the first scene where Gracie arrives in Daylesford, you can visualize the gorgeous setting and the once thriving flower farm and warm cottage of Gracie’s childhood. As the novel progresses, you see yourself walking right alongside Gracie as she tends to the rows of the flower beds, and spends time under her special Willow tree.

Vanessa has obviously researched her subject matter intimately, with the knowledge of flowers and flower farming in the book just enough to draw you in without giving you a lesson. It has made me want to grow flowers – and I’m not a green thumb by any means!

The Memories That Make Us, is such a special book. It wraps it’s warmth around your heart, makes you ponder your own life, and the value of our memories. Do our memories make us who we are? Or do they hold us back?

There is of course there is a thread of romance woven through the storyline; delicate, tender, heartbreaking and heart-warming. And a climax that will knock your bed socks off!

[Jodie (Sunshinejode) W · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Do you make your memories,or do your memories make you?" this story line really makes you ponder this question.

I loved reading "The Memories that make us" by Vanessa Carnevale a great Australian Author who I now intend on reading her debut novel "The Florentine Bridge".

A car accident leaves Gracie with severe amnesia and she has to decide whether to live a life made up of memories told to her or start a new life on her own terms and find her own way back. She hopes leaving all that was near and dear to her, her best friend Scarlett and Fiance Blake and starting back at her happy place "Summerhill" a flower farm that she has a distant memory of, will help her put the pieces back together.

I found this an engaging, moving and beautiful story, one that will appeal to many especially as a Book Club read (it actually includes Book Club questions in the back of the book). I felt for Gracie and what she went through, Scarlett who lost her best friend and Blake the woman he loved, The characters of the book were easy to love and relate to and I found the novel sucked me in and I kept reaching for it over the weekend until I was finished. Summerhill (the flower farm) is like another character and it is easy to fall in love with the place, see it in your mind and understand why Gracie loves it. The dashing vet Flynn is easy to like and you start cheering for him and Gracie.

I also loved that it was not predictable and it really engaged me. The tale woven through the story about flowers, their meanings and the difference they can make to people was a nice touch.

5 stars from me! Hard to put down and just a beautifully written book that I truly enjoyed. Thank you Beauty and Lace and Harlequin Books for the opportunity to read and review this book. Vanessa Carnevale thank you for a beautiful novel.

[Jeannette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book blurb...
Gracie Ashcroft is supposed to marry Blake Beaumont in three months’ time. The trouble is, she doesn’t know who he is…
After an accident leaves Gracie with severe amnesia, she’s forced to decide: live a life that is made up of other people’s memories of who she was, or start a new life on her own. Leaving her fiancé Blake behind, she moves to the country where she takes on the task of reviving her family’s abandoned flower farm. 

While attempting to restart a business with an uncertain future, she tries to come to terms with the grief of losing a mother she can’t remember and a fiancé she so badly wants to fall in love with again. What she doesn’t count on is developing a deep connection with Flynn, a local vet. Worst of all is having to confront the fact that she might lose either chance at love.

Forced to examine the person she has become, Gracie confronts the question: if you had your time over, would you live the same life twice?


My thoughts…
This is a book I would call ‘beautiful’ - one word that can be applied to the cover, the premise, the prose… everything really.
It is a love story, but it’s cleverly told, which means The Memories That Make Us stands out from the bunch. There is some serious backstory and the flower theme that carries the story is presented seamlessly and with such passion I felt the author had a real connection with this element. (Or maybe the author is that good to make me feel that!) #TheMemoriesThatMakeUs #NetGalley

This review is also published on http://www.readroundoz.wordpress.com

[Claire Louisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really enjoyable read that made me think about how we determine who we are from the people around us. I read this in one sitting as I wanted to know how it was all going to turn out. Gracie has a terrible accident and loses her memory, she is determined to figure out who she is by herself, rather than from how others in her life perceive her and the things they say she used to like. I thought this was a great concept. I loved how she returns to her childhood home to find herself and to figure out what is really important in her life, it's a bit like having a second chance to redo life.

Thanks to Harlequin (Australia), TEEN / MIRA and Netgalley for an advanced copy in return for a honest review.

[Margi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an absolute gem of a book. I couldn't put it down and couldn't wait to get back to it. This was one very thought provoking story. Gosh can you imagine losing your memory ? I can't begin to imagine what it would be like and how draining, stressful, frightening and confusing life would be.
I highly recommend this wonderful and very emotional story about Gracie trying to come to grips with her amnesia and the many missing pieces of the puzzle that is her life now.
You'll have to read it to see how she goes.

[Leanne Francis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stories that move us and make us feel are the best books of all. This is just simply a beautiful book filled with heartbreak and fear and love and about finding out who we are when all is lost. The storytelling is so visual we can picture ourselves in the flower fields and can smell the powerful scents of the blossoming flowers. The story is well-told, beautifully written and filled with so much emotion it’s like we’ve been on the journey with the characters. Absolutely loved this one.

[Cassie Hamer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a gorgeous read. Actually 4.5 stars from me. The author writes from the heart and shows such compassion for her characters, even in their difficult moments. It is a truly touching story with some wonderfully evocative passages on the emotive power of flowers. There is also an excellent twist at the end, which I did not see coming but made me feel completely satisfied.

[Theresa Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Flowers were a constant presence in my life while growing up. My grandmother used to grow gladioli and carnations for flower shows and my mother grew roses. I love nothing more than having fresh flowers in the house, yet the green thumb seems to have passed me by entirely, so my flowers come from the shops rather than my own garden. But the memory of being surrounded by flowers, both inside in vases and outside in the yard, is one I preserve carefully. The Memories That Make Us might have easily been titled The Secret Lives of Flowers, so wonderfully rendered is the detail about all things that bloom, intricately woven into the narrative with seamless perfection. Reading this novel was like a trip down memory lane for me – the flower parts, not the losing your memory bit! – and the pages just flew by, that’s how absorbed I was in this gorgeous story.



I really enjoyed the entire premise of The Memories That Make Us. The idea of losing all of your memories and having to build yourself back up again was handled delicately by Vanessa Carnevale. I appreciated Gracie’s need to take herself back to her childhood in order to discover who she was now. Likewise, her separation from all of the people who were so eager to remind her of her lost memories. In this situation, so much would be so overwhelming. Some time and shush would be highly sought after, so I was definitely on board with Gracie’s plan for her own recuperation.



There were a couple of things within this novel, specifically about memory and how it works, that really stood out for me. The first was how Gracie knew nothing at all about herself, or her life, yet she knew things about flowers, instinctively, from the minute she opened her eyes upon waking from her coma. This was particularly fascinating to me and begs examination on just how deeply our memories can penetrate us. She was essentially a blank slate, but the residual knowledge she absorbed while growing up remained. The other thing that led me into contemplation was how Gracie ate different foods and drank different drinks after her memory loss. It makes me wonder how much of daily consumption is contrived by fashion rather than instinct. Do we drink herbal tea because we really like it or is it because we think we should because it’s perceived as better for you than coffee? Do we avoid eating eggs because we don’t like them or is it because we perceive they are no good for us based on the latest food news? I liked the way Gracie’s memory loss got me thinking about life in general. When you lose your memories, and you have to build yourself back up, how much of who you are from before is retained? Memory has always fascinated me and while it’s a very deep topic to delve into, Vanessa did very well with The Memories That Make Us.



I feel quite chuffed because for once in my life, I guessed what was going on before the character! I saw the twist! I have a feeling this was intentional, that as readers, we were meant to know what was going on before Gracie did as a means of heightening the allure. To be sure, waiting on the penny to drop for Gracie kept me turning the pages long into the night. But I’m still going to call this a victory on account of it happening so infrequently.



There’s much to enjoy within this novel and I believe it has widespread appeal. Congratulations to Vanessa Carnevale on a splendid follow up to her debut, The Florentine Bridge. The Memories That Make Us is a moving read that unfolds within a beautifully blooming setting.

[Helen - Great Reads & Tea Leaves · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Thoughts

I read Vanessa’s first book, ‘The Florentine Bridge’ and loved it - would her second novel be equally as compelling? Let me just say, I have only now come up for air - finished it in a day - beautifully compelling, I could not put it down. What not to love - the delectable cover, my home state setting (love Daylesford), the storytelling and the twist - yup, this is one special book to lose yourself in for a weekend.

‘Somehow, even if not by choice, you’ve been given a clean slate, a way to create a life you want that’s free from all the baggage and the drama that most people spend their whole lives trying to escape.’

Where to start? Well, how about at the beginning. What’s this book really all about, the blurb states it outright: ‘if you had your time over, would you live the same life twice?’ So very interesting and Gracie’s story here really gets you thinking what would you have done if in her shoes? Written in the first person throughout, you are totally aligned with all Gracie is going through with her amnesia. I love her decision to remove herself to her late mother’s flower farm for perspective and reflection.

‘I don’t want to be told stories about how things were and what I felt. I want to know it and feel it myself. Otherwise, how am I going to know if what I feel is real?’

Secondly, I have to make note of the setting - a small country town, Daylesford, in my home state of Victoria (Australia). This is a beautiful part of the world and Vanessa really captures everything about it - from the main street, to the local pub to the past glory of her mother’s flower farm. An area full of natural beauty and on this occasion, the perfect setting for all the reflection and memories that were to unfold. Next, let’s talk about flowers - my gosh! Has Vanessa done her homework here and how interesting is it! Without being overly burdened with facts, you are provided with an honest introduction to many things involved with not only flower farming but also individual flower meaning and significance (I loved the character of Tilly!)

Finally the characters - both primary and secondary - are so well thought out. You feel for Gracie and what her obvious frustrations must be. You understand her best friend Scarlett trying so hard to help remind her of all she once was. Even the likes of Charlie and his wife Maggie (suffering alzheimer's) have their part to play. Then there is the romance and Flynn ... sigh ... no words - just read the book.

‘But isn’t it our past that shapes our future?’
‘To a degree …’
‘Exactly,’ I say. ‘It’s our memories that make us who we are.’

This is just a really beautifully told story full of heartbreak, fear and ultimately, trying to discover who one really is, especially when all seems lost. I feel like I have been on a real emotional journey and that is just how one wants to walk away from a book of this nature. Considering, just how much does our past shape our future? Or ....

‘Maybe what matters is simply how I feel about you all, now.’


This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

[✰ BJ's Book Blog ✰Janeane ✰ · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC received via Netgalley for an honest review

I am not going to lie, when I first stated reading The Memories That Make Us, my initial thought was "oh this is Nineteen Letter by Jodi Perry again".

Whilst yes there are similarities at the start, the way the story continues has a totally different feel.

Gracie and Blake's story is one of loss and heartbreak, frustration and fear. We know things are not going to be easy for them after the accident, and whilst I got completely frustrated with Gracie's actions, I could understand her reasoning for it.

Not going to lie, I did want to throw my kindle at her at times for her actions. Yes, she turned me violent!

Blake - oh how my heart hurt for him. I wanted to give him a big ol' hug.

I adore the secondary characters, particularly Scarlett and Tilly.

There is a big twist in the tale that I certainly was not expecting. I was all like Keanu going "woah".

Well played Ms Carnvale.

The Memories That Make Us is heartbreaking, frustrating, beautiful and most of all hopeful. It makes you think how you would do things if you got a second chance.

I read this book in one afternoon, and now am impatient for what Ms Carnavale gives us next.

[Saarah Niña · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Exciting!

In 'The Memories Of Us' (alternate title: The Memories That Make Us), Vanessa Carnevale spins a brilliant romantic tale of a woman who loses her memory and with it, the man she was planning to marry and the future she always wanted.

Gracie wants to learn about herself and her life on her own terms. She doesn't want to hear about it, she doesn't know if she can just trust anybody to deliver her the full truth. So, she opts to learn it first-hand. That means leaving behind the well-meaning friends who want to help.

This is a real page-turner, of the non-thriller variety. Though there are some surprises along the way! I enjoyed the characters and how they all dealt with their personal conflict. And, I could definitely understand Gracie's desire to figure it out by herself after all, no one knows you better than you know yourself.

The big spoiler was an excellent one, I guessed it exactly halfway and it was eventually confirmed. Carnevale wrote such a gem of a romance, from the beginning pages you have high hopes for the book and she truly pulled it off through to the end. A satisfying ending. I also think fans of gardening and anything botany-related will have a lot of fun with this one. There's all these flowers' names mentioned, nature's wisdom and it really makes you want to get planting... Just, after one more chapter, of course.

I received this book through NetGalley.

[Eva · Rating 4 out of 5]

If the past determines our present, what happens when we lose our memories of who we are? When you can’t remember what you like or love, from breakfast to the man you’re supposed to be marrying?

"If memories are the delicate threads that knit our souls together and make us who we are, who can we be without them?"

After being involved in a car accident, Gracie wakes up suffering from amnesia. She can’t remember her own name, her best friend or her fiancé. Gracie is adamant nobody should tell her anything about what her life was like. She wants to find things out on her own because suddenly her job as an interior designer, for instance, doesn’t sound so appealing. So with a clean slate, so to speak, will the choices Grace now makes bring her back to the life she used to have or will things turn out completely differently?

Gracie returns to the flower farm her mother used to own. A place that should feel familiar to her but does nothing of the sort. Yet, it’s through the language of flowers, the stunning power of Mother Nature, that Gracie finds out a bit more about herself and may even find love again. I must say, I really enjoyed spending time at Summerhill. The beautiful descriptions almost made it sound magical. I’d move there in a heartbeat!

The Memories of Us isn’t quite my typical sort of novel. But I was swayed by the beautiful cover and the intriguing description. I soon found myself completely immersed in Gracie’s circumstances and I think the author handled the issue of Retrograde Amnesia quite wonderfully. It was easy to sympathise with Gracie, to imagine what her life was now like, how frustrating it must be when you realise you can’t even remember how to tie your shoelaces. Of course, there’s a dash of romance. While this usually makes me cringe, I actually quite enjoyed this part of the story as well and found myself rooting for a happy ending.

A wonderfully warm and beautiful story about love, heartbreak and hope that even almost left me with a lump in my throat. Thoroughly enjoyed it!

[Fernwehwelten · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nachdem ich in der letzten Zeit auch oftmals abseits meines Lieblingsgenres Fantasy fündig geworden bin, hatte ich beschlossen, mich wirklich bewusst an andere Bücher zu wagen. Immerhin kann sich der eigene Geschmack ja durchaus nochmal ändern, oder nicht?
„Was für immer bleibt“ sollte für mich einer dieser Versuche sein, gehört die Geschichte doch nicht unbedingt standardmäßig in mein Leserepertoire.
Die Protagonistin Gracie hat einen Autounfall, der sie das Gedächtnis kostet. Sie findet sich plötzlich in einem Leben wieder, das sie nicht als das ihre erkennt. Den Druck zu vieler Entscheidungen, die getroffen werden müssen, und fehlender Erinnerungen auf ihren Schultern spürend, flüchtet Gracie auf die verlassene Blumenfarm ihrer Mutter und lässt neben ihren Freunden und ihrem Job auch ihren Verlobten Blake zurück. Verzweifelt versucht Gracie, sich in ihrem Leben und mit ihrer eigene Person zurechtzufinden. Wird sie den Neustart schaffen oder dorthin zurückkehren, wo das Leben größtenteils aus Erinnerungen anderer gebaut wird?
Das Cover hat mir auf Anhieb gefallen und passt, wenn ich es nun im Nachgang betrachte, auch gut zu der Geschichte. Die sanfte Art der Gestaltung findet sich auch in den Kapitelanfängen und allgemein im Schreibstil der Autorin wieder. Man kann das Buch leicht herunter lesen, weshalb es sich super für die Stunden nach einem anstrengenden Arbeitstag eignet. Zu der Atmosphäre im Buch kommt man immer gern zurück, weshalb man immer schnell zwischen die Zeilen zurückkehren kann. Die Charaktere waren mir größtenteils sympathisch und die Kulisse malerisch! Wie man schon beim Klappentext und Cover vermuten kann, spielen Blumen in diesem Buch immer wieder eine Rolle und es hat mir ungemein gut gefallen, wie die Autorin dieses Thema eingeflochten hat. Zwischendurch glaubte ich selbst fast, die Pfingstrosen zu riechen.
So viele positive Dinge und trotzdem bekommt das Buch von mir nur 3 Sterne. Für mich war leider schon sehr früh vorherzusehen, wohin sich das ganze entwickeln wird – weshalb ich eigentlich in jeder Szene nur nach Hinweisen gesucht habe und stellenweise schon fast genervt darauf gewartet habe, dass sich meine Vermutung bestätigt. Außerdem waren mir die Reaktionen mancher Charaktere auf den Gedächtnisverlust der Protagonistin schleierhaft – vor allem die Handlungen der besten Freundin empfand ich stellenweise als nicht nachvollziehbar.
Dadurch, dass ich so früh ahnte, wie das Buch ausgehen würde, fehlte es mir zwischendurch an Spannung, was dann dafür sorgte, dass sich die Geschichte etwas gezogen hat.
Alles in Allem kam das Buch somit für mich leider nicht über 3 Sterne heraus. Es ist eine wirklich nette, stellenweise berührende und atmosphärische Geschichte, die mich aber schlichtweg nicht überraschen oder aus den Socken hauen konnte.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Confession time.
There are 2 reasons why I bought this book.
1. The beautiful cover. I mean, come on, isn't it gorgeous? How could you see this on a shelf and not go "OMG I must have you in my life!"?!?!? It practically jumps straight into your trolley.
2. The author, Vanessa Carnevale, is attending the West Coast Fiction Festival to be held in November this year. I'm trying to get one book by each author to get signed on the day. (Seriously, Google the festival if you haven't heard of it. One day. A bunch of awesome authors. Funds raised going to the awesome charity Share the Dignity.)
So look, not exactly an depth thought process went into cracking this little beauty open.

But. Oh. Em. Gee. From the very first page, I was hooked.

Gracie wakes up in hospital after a car accident, with no memory of who she is. Not only that, she can't remember her fiancé, her best friend, nothing. From there, she sets about trying to discover who she is, and how she fits into the world.

Look, I've read a few books dealing with memory loss/amnesia of late. Nineteen Letters. The Notebook. What Alice Forgot. The Memories
That Make Us totally blow these out of the water. The characters are incredible. The storytelling is compelling and addictive.

I predicted the twist about halfway through the book, but rather than dull my enjoyment of the novel it enhanced it. Every action and conversation took on a different light with that knowledge.

I only just finished it, and I'm already planning a re-read, and sharing it around everyone I have ever met. Just incredible.

[marlin1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

After experiencing a car accident and losing all memory of her former life, Gracie is scared. Any evidence of her previous life evokes no reaction and her upcoming marriage to fiancé Blake fills her with dread. Her best friend Scarlett is the only person she lets get close (even though she can’t remember her either).
Upon learning that she still has an abandoned flower farm that she had inherited from her mother, Gracie returns to the place where she grew up. Can she find herself again and can she learn to love Blake again as she really wants to.

This is another book that ‘makes me feel’, they are the books I fall in love with. I did pick up on the essence of the story very early on but it just made the whole thing sweeter and there were a few turns in there that I didn’t see.
It was beautifully descriptive of the different flowers and what they represent and I enjoyed learning their different meanings. The sub characters of Tilly and Charlie and their stories where lovely too. I also appreciated the Book Club questions at the back. I don’t often take time to think about them when I’ve finished a book but I must admit these gave me pause to think about my answers.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for a copy to read and review.

[Tonisbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 Sterne ⭐️

Ich bin in dieses Buch mit keinen Erwartungen gegangen. Ich wollte mich überraschen lassen & habe mir, wie immer, nicht nochmal den Klappentext durchgelesen. Ich hatte nur noch den groben Inhalt im Kopf. Als ich es dann begonnen hatte, war ich ab Seite 1 gefesselt.

Es beginnt unheimlich spannend & ohne unnötige Informationen. Durch einen schönen & einfachen Schreibstil war es auch sehr einfach die Beweggründe der Protagonistin Gracie nachzuvollziehen. Was ihr passiert ist - dass sie alles & jeden, den sie je kannte, vergisst - ist schrecklich, aber sie geht mit einer Art damit um, wie es wahrscheinlich jeder von uns tun würde. Sie ist Mensch Pur. Aber nicht nur ihre Beweggründe, sondern auch ihre Gefühle waren sehr gut nachzuvollziehen & ich habe es geliebt Gracies Geschichte zu verfolgen. Aber auch der Protagonist konnte mich total überzeugen. Er hat keine Probleme damit Emotionen zu zeigen & hat absolut um das gekämpft, was er wollte. Die Beziehung zwischen den beiden ist wunderschön. Hier kann ich leider nicht zu viel verraten, aber es ist eine Liebesgeschichte bei der man merkt, dass zwei Menschen einfach zueinander passen.

Das Buch ist sehr spannend geschrieben und hat sich überhaupt nicht gezogen, sodass ich mich kaum trennen konnte - immerhin habe ich es auch in weniger als 2 Tage durchgelesen!


Was ich außerdem wunderschön fand, war die Idee mit den Blumen. Das Einzige, was die Protagonistin nicht vergisst, ist ihre Liebe zu Blumen. Wie sie heißen, wie sie gepflegt werden müssen & welche ihre liebsten sind. Im Buch gibt es einige wunderschöne Metaphern, die mit Blumen zusammen hängen & perfekt zur Geschichte passen. Das Thema Blume wurde auch im Buch aufgegriffen, denn an jedem Kapitelanfang gab es eine Pusteblume, die immer mehr Pusteblümchen verloren hat. Wunderschön gemacht. Aber auch zwischen den Abschnitten findet man einen Marienkäfer, der Spitzname der Protagonistin! Insgesamt passt die Aufmachung des Buches, genauso wie das Cover, perfekt zum Buch und dessen Inhalt.

Leider muss ich gestehen, dass es mir manchmal aber auch zu viel um Blumen ging und die eigentliche Geschichte außen vor stand. Außerdem hat mir einfach das Besondere gefehlt.

Im Fazit kann ich das Buch wirklich jedem empfehlen. Die Geschichte ist wunderschön & hat ein Ende, das perfekt passt. Das Buch ist perfekt für zwischendurch & es macht einfach total Spaß es zu lesen. Die Schwächen sind nur sehr gering, also definitiv eine Empfehlung an euch ❤️