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Inflexaen #1

Memory Walker

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Imagine having the power to view someone's past at the briefest touch of their skin.

During freshman year, seventeen-year-old Thea Scott developed the suckiest burden ever. At the slightest brush of a person’s skin, she’s forced to walk in their memories. She’d give anything to get rid of this uncontrollable ability. When breathtakingly gorgeous Cole Conway strolls through the auditorium doors and she faints, literally, he acts like he knows her secret. The last thing she wants is to end up in a lab with her brain in a jar, so she decides to use her ability to enter his memories.

Cole unveils out-of-this-world dangers she never imagined existed. Even worse, her own past is her greatest fear. The deeper she falls, the more turmoil and heartbreak she crashes into. Dreams of fitting in dissolve when she must protect herself from things far more terrifying than high school rumors.

341 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2018

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364 people want to read

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Carly Marino

7 books107 followers

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
Profile Image for Danielle's.
Author 1 book169 followers
June 2, 2018
Thea is different. She used to be popular and have boyfriends. Now she can't stand to be touched by anyone. She doesn't want to know their secrets and that's what happens if someone gets too close.

Cole is the new boy at school. He is the first boy Thea has an interest in, since she gained her ability. When she touches him she doesn't see his memories. Thea wants to learn more and needs to know more fast.

Thea lost her family and lives with her Aunt. The doctors have already tested her condition but now she just wants to be left alone. Cole is about to open doors to new possibilities.

Memory Walker is a mystery book which starts to unravel by about 20% but I feel I shouldn't give anything away. I've read similar themed books and they seem to be a popular choice at the moment. This one is full of twists and turns. Thea has a secret she doesn't remember. There will be dangers and redemption. This book will leave you wanting more.

An interesting read with some creative ideas. The romance was ok in this book, however I'm hoping it will heat up in the next instalment. 3.5 stars out of 5. It has potential but the next book will make or break this story.

*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review as part of the
YA bound book tour my date 20th June 2018.
Profile Image for Dianne.
6,815 reviews631 followers
May 30, 2018
Humans touch each other, teenage humans are particularly touchy-feely. Imagine Thea’s predicament, to be touched is to see another’s emotions, thoughts, and events that randomly float through their minds. Not only does it make her a bit of a freak at school it can be grueling to know someone’s deepest, darkest secrets. Why is Thea cursed with this sensatory monster?

In walks new kid, Cole Conway and he may just hold the answers Thea is looking for. But can she believe what he tells her? Are there others like her out there, somewhere in the world, or maybe somewhere in the galaxy?

Young adult “awesome” reading alert! MEMORY WALKER by Carly Marino is the start to what looks to be one heck of a scifi/fantasy series that sparks with intensity, rapid-fire action, and brings the teenaged persona to life! (read that: emotional drama-wait make that well-founded emotional drama!)

Thea is about to enter a world of danger, the impossible and there is no how-to guide to follow, just Cole, who seems to be doing a great job of turning Thea’s heart just as inside out as he does her life. Who is Thea? What is she? How does her power work and what does it do to humans, which she clearly is not? Just as she begins to accept her “new life revealed,” the cosmos find another twist to add to her already chaotic life…

Carly Marino has captured that teen essence that makes this tale one blistering rollercoaster ride from start to finish! Great dialogue, a feisty heroine with a heart, a mysterious boy who captures Thea’s heart, and a freefall dive into the clouds from a perfectly safe cable car…

I received a complimentary ARC edition from Evernight Teen!

Series: Inflexaen - Book 1
Publisher: Evernight Teen (May 18, 2018)
Publication Date: May 18, 2018
Genre: YA Paranormal | Scifi
Print Length: 272 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Profile Image for Julia.
Author 3 books13 followers
May 17, 2018
I was lucky enough to received a free copy of this book from the lovely author, in exchange for a review.

Synopsis:

Imagine having the power to view someone’s past at a brief touch of their skin. High school rumors are the worst. In fact, high schools the worst. At least as the school freak that avoids human contact. Freshman year, seventeen-year-old Thea Scott developed the suckiest burden ever. At the slightest brush of a person’s skin, she’s forced to walk in their memories. She’d give anything to get rid of this uncontrollable ability. When breathtakingly gorgeous Cole Conway strolls through the auditorium doors and she faints, literally, he acts like he knows her secret. The last thing she wants is to end up in a lab with her brain in a jar, so she decided to use her ability to enter his memories.

Cole unveils out-of-this-world dangers she never imagined existed. Even worse, her own past is her greatest fear. The deeper she falls, the more turmoil and heartbreak she crashes into. Dreams of fitting in dissolve when she must protect herself from things far more terrifying than high school rumors.


“His skin connected with my collarbone. One. Two. Three. Four. Five... and just like Alice, I fell down the rabbit hole.”

Thea can walk in people’s memory’s just by touching them. Being propelled through whatever memory is chosen. Could be a sad one, a happy one, or a violent one. She is sucked into that person memory and has no way out. She feels like she’s just a freak.
That is until some people show up and change her mind about that.

“Memories made someone who they were. Layers of their past created their personalities, beliefs and emotions.”

Got an “I am Number Four” feeling from this book. I found that I enjoyed this book quite a bit. It had the right amount of humor, action and romance.

“Drop your mask, Thea. Let me help you.”

Loved this book! It officially releases tomorrow so grab your copy!!
Profile Image for Cecily Wolfe.
Author 16 books493 followers
May 17, 2018
An incredible and compelling debut with an ending that left me wanting more!

The author really captures the intense emotional drama that is adolescence, including the need to fit in with other teens, as Thea struggles with her ability and how she is ostracized by her classmates. Full of vivid emotional and physical details, this is a perfect blend of romance and science fiction. A great fit for fans of Alexandra Bracken's Darkest Minds series.
Profile Image for Charlotte.
2,121 reviews80 followers
May 21, 2018
I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this book. It had me from page one, always something happening, never boring.
Thea's life is like an old winding country road with curves so severe you can't see around them.
Thea is a senior who has an odd gift or more like a curse. She see people's memories of their skin touched hers, that has to be tough in high school halls during a class change. This labels Thea as a freak. Then she sees Cole who she thinks is a new guy, but her best friend, Wynter says has been at the school since tenth grade. Cole tells Thea some things about herself that make thing clearer, but is also hard for her to accept.
I really like the idea of this book and I think that my 15 year old would also enjoy this one. The author does a great job telling the story of this peculiar girl. How she just wants to fit in. The action scenes are extremely descriptive, I can see them happening as I read.
This book is well written with an original story line. The characters are relatable teenagers, even though a few of them have something extra. It's action packed ride of surprise turns. The end leaves an opening for a book 2. I would read it!
Profile Image for Searcy.
382 reviews70 followers
June 27, 2018
2.5 stars

The underlying premise for MEMORY WALKER was so unique and interesting. I loved the concept of the Inflexaen and their abilities and that they have been hiding here on Earth among us. It was also smart for Carly Marino to have limited the types of powers the Inflexaen possess to just four, or things could have become far too confusing. And providing limitations - gaving them a weakness that prevents them simply taking over - was a very wise call.

Overall, this was a very strong debut effort. The writing was solid and mostly clean. It could use one more proofreading pass to pick up the few typos (primarily in the second half of the book), but the pacing and tension were both spot on.

Things fell apart for me a little with the characters. Outside of the main character, Thea, there was not a lot of character development. Most of the characters were fairly one dimensional. However, they were starting to grow and we were learning more about them as MEMORY WALKER progressed, so I think that Cole, Logan, and Nora will be fleshed out further in book 2. Possibly even Thea's friends Ethan and Wynter. However, the villains seem to remain one-dimensional stereotypes.

My biggest problem with MEMORY WALKER was the heroine. Thea Scott was one of the most vapid, vacillating, vacuous MC's it has been my misfortune to read. She rarely thought things through, was prone to knee-jerk reactions to everything , refused to ask questions to try to learn more about the new world she was thrust into, refused to train her abilities, refused to do anything but angst and wallow and constantly long to be "normal". Which apparently meant nothing more than being a HS senior, going to dances, getting a boyfriend and being able to touch and kiss him and others without being sucked into their memories. And that dream, that wish, did not grow at ALL as she learned more about who she was. Nope.

Honestly, Thea made the entire book unbelievably frustrating for me. Which is a real shame, because I loved the worldbuilding and the premise. And even the fundamental point of the entire romance - that all Inflexaens have a Yuenfan (a soulmate) - was not problematic. Yes, that means insta-love. But all of the tribulations Thea and Cole must overcome (and still need to overcome) mean that the insta-love had no more impact than to tell them who their soulmate was. It will take the entire series for their relationship to develop, I expect. So I was okay with a trope that normally drives me crazy.

Now if I could only give the MC a personality transplant...
Profile Image for Brona Mills.
13 reviews2 followers
May 8, 2018
I normally read romance books, and when I found the blurb for this one I jumped up and down and asked to be able to read an early copy. Despite it being a YA book (not my usual reads) the story really caught my attention and it was a breath of fresh air from my usual reads. (Perhaps I need to branch into other genres more often) There is romance in there, so that side of me was satisfied, but it's handled perfectly for the YA reader. It was the 'memory walker' part of the plot that caught and held my attention the entire way through. For me, to showcase a young romance but keep us on the edge of our seats while a whole other predicament and story played out was so entertaining. We are watching two young people find themselves, find and (hopefully) fall in love with each other, and deal with the usual teenage angst of growing up and realising the world is a big bad place where they have to look after themselves and each other. Carly Marino has taken these coming of age lessons, and showcased them seamlessly in her own fantasy world, complete with though provoking questions of soulmates and destiny, and those who try and meddle in other peoples lives. (something I love in a book ;) ) The plot of the Memory Walker was well thought out, and more than once I stopped reading and had a little conversation in my head where I connected x to y and see that yes, the author really had thought of everything and made sure everything connected. And to make it an easy to follow read is a tough task in a book this complex. I was impressed by the quick flow of the book, there's no hanging around the high school any longer than necessary - its all action and things happening, which is how I manged to read it so quickly. I really fell for the characters, (despite being old enough to be their mother, or perhaps a really cool aunt ;) ) as well as the support characters who are all completely different and important to the story. Even the ones you don't think are 'big' characters become central to the overall theme and how the book all ties together. The ending really left me wanting to read more and follow these guys through all their adventures, as this one is far from over. I've been opened up to a whole new world, a Carly Marino world, where she builds the rules and possibilities and by god it's exciting to be along for the ride! Would high recommend this book (and hopefully series if there is one planned) to your teenagers and young adults, but also to those grown ups who love reading about love and destiny, friendship and adventure.
Profile Image for Pike Perrie.
134 reviews9 followers
May 6, 2018
Oh what a fantastic read. My heart has gone on a roller coaster of a ride along with that of our heroine, Thea. Thea doesn’t fit in at school and feels like an outcast. She has a special ability, or curse in her mind. She can read the memories of people just with their touch. She doesn’t want this ability. No one believes her. When a new boy arrives at school, Cole, her life changes. We journey with Thea, Cole, Nora, and Drake as she learns more about herself, her past and her abilities There are twists and turns in this seamlessly written story and such beautiful descriptions that pull you into this world and have you on the edge of your seat waiting to know what happens next. A definite page turner!!!
Profile Image for amber.
282 reviews1 follower
May 8, 2018
What a unique read!

This is hands down one of my favorite reads of 2018. Read the first chapter and I was completely hooked and I devoured it. Whole! I seriously lacked in my adulting skills during this read. It was completely worth it. But that is just my humble opinion.

I didn't find anything really lacking in this new series.

The world building is spot on! Each characters has their own unique personality and trait that you can relate too. The pace....there are no slow moments!!! Which is a huge plus, nothing kills the vibe of a book than a slow pace. There were some moments for me where I didn't even notice I zipped through chapters. Another huge and I mean huge things for me was....I couldn't predict what was going to happen next. I know we've all been there. You're reading a book, you get to that point where all YA or Fantasy novels start to become predictable. I had none of those moments while reading Memory Walker!

I have one complaint and once complaint only. I'm ready for book 2!
Profile Image for Bookfritz86.
8 reviews1 follower
May 18, 2018
I had the extreme pleasure of receiving an ARC copy of this book and I ate it up in a little over a day...it was so good!!! (I’m also a big fan of paranormal romance, so this was right up my alley)

It is easy to get into and keeps your attention from start to finish.

The characters are all wonderful and well developed...you easily connect with them and care for them...which to me says a lot.

Carly Marino did an excellent job with this book and the concept of it. I’m look forward I reading more of her work.
Profile Image for Cora.
171 reviews3 followers
May 14, 2018
I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This story has a really interesting premise. The author uses a lot of descriptive words that really make every detail come to life. The characters are strong and have great flow and development; however, I didn’t really connect with the style personally. That said, I could still see myself reading further into this series purely out of curiosity. I've fallen for the characters, and I need to know what happens next!
Profile Image for Brittany Smith.
914 reviews15 followers
May 24, 2018
From the very first moment of reading the blurb I was hooked into this book!

Thea is a senior in High School and at the slightest touch she can see that persons memories. She’s made the school pariah and her main goal becomes just making it through the day. Until she sees him, Cole, the new school heartthrob. There is something that pulls her to him and she doesn’t quite know what. And thus the fun begins....

The story unfolds really quickly and is fast paced from the start to the end! It has come out just in time for summer and it is a page turning joyride! Carly Marino has done a brilliant job at making this story unfold and makes the reader feel fully immersed. Whether you are still in high school, have kids in high school,or just remember what it was like yourself this book is a definite must read and I highly recommend it to everyone!!
Profile Image for Cheyenne.
73 reviews1 follower
February 21, 2019
Oh my god. That ending. My heart. Ffs. I need the next book. Oh my god. This was the best book I've read in a looooong time
Profile Image for Beth Skye.
265 reviews41 followers
May 18, 2018
If you love a great, fast paced science fiction novel packed with action, mystery, and romance, this is definitely your next read!

Fans of Jennifer Armentrout’s Luxen series and S. K. Levy’s Reigntime series will be in heaven with this debut novel.

Thea is not your average senior. One year and she’s free to seclude herself and never risk touching another human being again. Somehow through touch Thea can absorb and live in another’s memory. Something she’s kept hidden from her Aunt and friends. The memories range from mortifying to horrifying, but always overwhelming. A life out of high school, a life free from everyone’s oppressive memories and there’s nothing she wants more. Enter a mysterious swoon-worthy guy who annoys the daylights out of Thea.
Cole seems to be holding some secrets of his own and they definitely involve Thea. Who is he and what does he know?

This first book of the Inflexaen series was such a heart pounding thrill ride! Carly Marino has packed her first book full of everything you could want: a strong female Protagonist,secrets, mystery, romance, crazy abilities, mega hot guys, amazing best friends, and so much more that I won’t share! No spoilers here!

I’m so happy and yet frustrated as the next book cannot come soon enough, until then head to Amazon to get your copy, a cup of tea, and prepare to be entertained.

*I received a copy of this book in return for my honest review.*
Profile Image for Geo.
355 reviews3 followers
May 15, 2018
I received a free arc for an honest review. What a ride. Although this was a great book, the reason I'm giving it four stars instead of five is because there were a bit of character flaws and confusion surrounding mainly Thea. She'd learn something but keep it to herself until the last possible moment even when it would have been better to tell it earlier. Anywho, don't let that stop you from reading it. It's adventurous and the imagery is vivid. My favorite character is probably Nora because she's pretty much the most honest person plus the way she's described reminds me of Dina from the tv show Deception. If you're a fan of the paranormal with hints of science fiction, this is the book for you.
Profile Image for PelicanFreak.
2,116 reviews
March 17, 2019
Absolutely addictive writing! Cannot wait for more in this series.
This book gripped me early on and I was never able to stop thinking about it; even now, having finished it days ago, it remains on my mind. The writing is very good and the characters are real. There are a few typos and a couple of continuity issues, but none of them made me miss this book any less when I put it down.

After reading this, I’m eager to read more from Carly Marino. She has a knack for developing complex characters that when thrown into chaos, remain true to themselves. Character development continuity was fantastic.

Overall I’d rate this somewhere between three and four stars - with the full four stars being awarded if the minor issues I mentioned were corrected.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Profile Image for Jeanette George.
649 reviews2 followers
October 21, 2018
Thea avoids touch at all costs. Cole changes every aspect of her life when they meet unexpectedly.

What impressed me most about Memory Walker was the inventive plot. The why behind the abilities is a cool angle. I enjoyed the writing style. It could be me, but I thought in the beginning there were a few choppy transitions in the story, but I didn't notice those later on. I have a bit of a love/hate about this being book 1 in the series. On the one hand, I really wanted a conclusion because so much happens, but I absolutely want to know what happens next.

All in all a fine debut novel from Carly Marino.
Profile Image for H.M. Gooden.
Author 36 books707 followers
July 30, 2019
High school can definitely be rough- but when the touch of anyone’s skin next to yours drops you into memories that aren’t yours, high-school totally sucks. When a handsome boy drops into Thea’s life though, everything begins to make sense. I love the way this book takes the handsome new bad boy at school to an entirely different place... or should I say planet? Can’t wait until the next one comes out!
Profile Image for Jamie Lee Zonneveld.
1,681 reviews51 followers
June 9, 2019
Memory Walker by Carly Marino is the first book in the Inflexaen serie. And it's amazing. I loved this book and the characters are great!! I love Cole and Thea. Can't wait to start the second book.
Profile Image for Shay.
301 reviews32 followers
May 14, 2018
You want to know a fantastic YA debut novel? You've come to the right place! Memory Walker isn't your run of the mill YA book. You know all those tropes that are classically attached to YA? Yeah, almost none of those apply here!(obviously it wouldn't be YA without a few so I'm letting those slide) It was such a breathe of fresh air to read a YA not bogged down by the tides of cliche! So what replaced these tropes? An actual well thought out story, complicated characters, out-of-this-world situations, a touch of romantic prelude, and my favorite, unpredictability!

So what is Memory Walker you ask? Let me give you a quick breakdown. Everyone knows of the trauma of standard high school life. For Thea though, it seems life is not so lenient as to let that be the crux of her issues. Throw in some rather unfortunate abilities to invade the mind of those around you unintentionally and boom! You've got yourself the basis of this book. Of course there is so much more! But here's the thing, it is SO much more then the plot! The characters are properly developed and quirky in their own ways. The tale is unusual while exciting! The writing left me wanting for nothing. I could not believe how well tied together everything was. Perfectly seamless in it's execution! I completely enjoyed EVERY second of this book! Carly did an amazing job! So seriously, what are you waiting for???

*I received a Beta/Arc copy from Carly and have voluntarily left this review*
Profile Image for R.M..
Author 2 books107 followers
August 24, 2018
I tend to be harsh on YAs with boxes to check and obvious tropes vomiting in every chapter. They take me a long time to read. It feels like work. This didn't feel like work. I casually started reading on a Sunday and finished on Thursday of that same week. What kept me reading? For one, the story was very inventive and the magic system intricate yet not overwhelming. The characters were fun. Sure it checked a few boxes, but that's part of the genre. Lovers of YA/Fantasy expect to see certain aspects on full display. It keeps them grounded. I didn't mind it, expecially when the story was self-aware:

"This guy was a walking, talking, paranormal cliche. A hot, flawlessly-cut, outer space being, standing in perfect lighting without a shirt."

Yes, Thea, that's what I thought, too. Haha. And yet, it didn't bother me here. The mc was strong enough to carry the whole story which isn't always the case. She was naively funny, too.

"I guessed he was right. I had saved his life. Maybe I was a destined vigilante."

Thea is a teenager with teenage needs. And I know how some would find it annoying that she thinks about wanting a normal high school life and getting kissed, but that's the want of a lot of teenage girls. If you're reading YA novel while projecting adult thoughts onto the characters you're not going to enjoy yourself. Thea wanted what a lot of girls want. It might not be to be extraordinary or a scientist but she didn't have to. Yet:

"I'm different? Great. So, I went from being a freak to the freak among the freaks. Awesome. Just awesome."

There are a few things we learn later on in the story that help explain why it woudln't have been wise of her to "reach for the stars." Still, she was plucky and fun and even though she wasn't always sure what was going on and to who or why, she never stopped wanting to learn and do better when better was the right thing to do. At the end, Thea is a much stronger person for having discovered her life was never meant to be simple.

As for the rest of the cast. I'm hoping to see more of them. I'm expecially talking about Cole. I liked Cole. I still wanted to know more about his journey. And I don't mean his one main goal in life, but the other parts of him. He was crazy for Thea and that was clear enough, but that also left a lot of room for him to grow and expand. Looking forward to that.

Nora, Drake, Logan, Wynter, and Ethan were all fun supporting characters. I was the most interested in Drake. He seemed the most complicated. As for Logan and Nora, they were a hoot, Logan, a pompous brat, and Nora, a hard-edged drunkard. Haha. Ethan was very interesting. And Wynter was a great friend. I like how the story balanced Thea's current life and friends and family, Aunt Karen, with the new life she finds herself in.

For the story itself. There is magic, high school, first kisses, first dates, angst, mystery, romance, adventure, etc. It's a YA novel. Expect fun and you will be entertained. The ride doesn't stop and there was never a dull moment. Good read.
Profile Image for Brona Mills.
13 reviews2 followers
May 18, 2018
Great read. Love the story and characters

I normally read romance books, and when I found the blurb for this one I jumped up and down and asked to be able to read an early copy. Despite it being a YA book (not my usual reads) the story really caught my attention and it was a breath of fresh air from my usual reads. (Perhaps I need to branch into other genres more often) There is romance in there, so that side of me was satisfied, but it's handled perfectly for the YA reader. It was the 'memory walker' part of the plot that caught and held my attention the entire way through. For me, to showcase a young romance but keep us on the edge of our seats while a whole other predicament and story played out was so entertaining. We are watching two young people find themselves, find and (hopefully) fall in love with each other, and deal with the usual teenage angst of growing up and realising the world is a big bad place where they have to look after themselves and each other. Carly Marino has taken these coming of age lessons, and showcased them seamlessly in her own fantasy world, complete with though provoking questions of soulmates and destiny, and those who try and meddle in other peoples lives. (something I love in a book ;) ) The plot of the Memory Walker was well thought out, and more than once I stopped reading and had a little conversation in my head where I connected x to y and see that yes, the author really had thought of everything and made sure everything connected. And to make it an easy to follow read is a tough task in a book this complex. I was impressed by the quick flow of the book, there's no hanging around the high school any longer than necessary - its all action and things happening, which is how I manged to read it so quickly. I really fell for the characters, (despite being old enough to be their mother, or perhaps a really cool aunt ;) ) as well as the support characters who are all completely different and important to the story. Even the ones you don't think are 'big' characters become central to the overall theme and how the book all ties together. The ending really left me wanting to read more and follow these guys through all their adventures, as this one is far from over. I've been opened up to a whole new world, a Carly Marino world, where she builds the rules and possibilities and by god it's exciting to be along for the ride! Would high recommend this book (and hopefully series if there is one planned) to your teenagers and young adults, but also to those grown ups who love reading about love and destiny, friendship and adventure.
Profile Image for debturk1970_bookvibes.
1,848 reviews18 followers
June 26, 2018
Wow!! This Story Is A Gripping & Amazing 5 Stars!!!🌟

This was an easy 5 star rating for me. This storyline was complex, gripping & intriguing!!!

Thea is an orphan that was raised by her Aunt. Thea's life changed overnight as she went from a popular, happy go lucky & fully confident High School girl to an introverted, outcast that didn't dare allow her skin to come in contact with that of any other person. If she she even brushed by someone she'd be swamped by their memories!!!😕 It hurt her physically and emotionally. The first time it happened she collapsed in a school corridor screaming at people to stop touching her - that's when she became a freak & an outcast 😢 This book takes us through part of Thea's extraordinary journey in her final year at School with her two bestfriends, Ethan & Wynter.

When Thea meets a new pupil, a very 'Special' guy, Cole and two of his closest friends Nora & Drake. Cole helps Thea come to understand her ability and he is the first person she can touch that she doesn't 'read'!! Cole & Thea have a really special connection, he seems to be fighting it but we shall see 😎 Things eventually come to light about Thea, Cole & his friends that begin to explain why she's different to everyone else. It's clear her very different-ness, even from them, has put a huge target on her back & those closest to her in peril😕!!!

I absolutely loved this book. It gripped me from page one all the way through to the end. It's full of emotion but it's thrilling too. It's really well written & I REALLY hope the next book will be out soon because I can't wait to find out what happens next!!🌟 I highly recommend this book to anyone & any age group 15+ 👍

Debbie, 1970, UK
Profile Image for Zoé-Lee O'Farrell.
Author 1 book241 followers
June 19, 2018
What I loved about this book is the 'twist' on the modern day clicks in a high school.  Thea is the commonly known 'freak,' once the second half of the popular group with her best friend Wynter. Now she can't bear to be near people, let alone touch her.

Why? I hear you ask....or was that a memory in my head?? 

Well, if anyone touches her in any capacity she lives their memories, their secrets. they are thrust into her mind, causing, in some cases, a blackout.  She can not literally bear to be touched by anyone, only her Aunt Kate has a vague idea of what is going on, then in walks Cole...

Cole Conway, the gorgeous new boy at school, and what does Thea do when she sees him... faint. Their lives become embroiled together as he knows who, and more importantly, what she is. Can he answer the questions she has been longing to ask all these years? Can he protect her? New dangers are now in her life and she has to learn to protect herself in new ways. 

And who is the man with the piercing blue eyes from her dreams nightmares???

This book eases you in, helping you to understand Thea and her life she has to lead and then without knowing it. It ramps up the intensity, Thea's powers and the new threat she had no clue about. All the while she has to try and maintain a 'normal' life with her friends and high school, a piece of cake no??

I am looking forward to the next instalment of this series...no news on it yet though

*Thank you so much to Sara at YA Bound Book Tours and the author Carly Marino for an ecopy of this book*
Check out my other reviews www.zooloobookblog.co.uk
Profile Image for Judi.
298 reviews6 followers
June 2, 2019
I normally don't like Sci Fi but this story was different enough, and had enough of an urban feel to it that I was able to completely enjoy it. The only thing that really made it Sci Fi was the characters. And I'm not giving the story away by telling you how.

Thea and company including Cole, Nora, Drake and of course Wynter, are a strange little group of teens. Wynter and Thea live a somewhat normal life as best friends, except Thea has a sort of...affliction. She can't stand to touch anyone because when she does she starts downloading all their memories. Imagine going through life being able to see people's memories when you touch them. Can you imagine how horrifying that would be after, maybe twice?

The whole book is centered around this premise, this affliction. The ways and whys of it are really fun to read. While there are trials and tribulations that these kids go through, and a bit of natural teenage angst, I found it really different to be reading a basically Sci Fi story again and enjoying it. I never thought I was the type for a teenage love story though. And this is one. A different one, a weird one, but still, basically a love story. Turns out I can still enjoy a good teenage love story. Who knew?

This is pure YA, nothing to say I wouldn't recommend it to a 14 year old as quickly as an 18 year old. And while I usually prefer a more adult storyline (not necessarily including sex, but not so quick to eliminate it either), this story was interesting enough that I didn't care that it was pure YA. I found it a delightful tale.

Can't wait for Memory Seeker! I gotta know what happens!

Great work, Carly Marino! Great work indeed!
Profile Image for Andrea.
728 reviews22 followers
July 23, 2018
It's been a while since I have read any YA paranormals, because for a while I felt like I was reading the same story over and over again. And then I saw the blurb to this one. I was intrigued. The concept of being able to touch someone and read their memories is something that hasn't been overly done. In fact, I can't even remember specifically the last time I saw it.

I enjoyed this book. It does follow somewhat of a typical pattern: teenager who is kind of a longer, other than her closest friend(s), is an orphan who discovers that she has powers and a past that she doesn't know or remember. Now her life is in danger and she needs to learn as much as she can to protect herself and those she loves. It is a general formula that works, but the details in this one make it a unique story in this genre.

I really like Thea. She seems to handle what she has been dealt in stride and is very eager to find a way to work with it and to find out more about who she really is. I think she is a relatable teen in dealing with the usual ups and downs of high school. And she definitely has enough naivete about so many situations that show she is still learning. She can trust too easily. And it's kind of hard to decide how you feel about her friends and the people in her life. They definitely keep you on a roller coaster.

This is definitely an interesting debut to a new series and one I'll keep an eye on for future installments.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Ketty.
206 reviews12 followers
April 9, 2019
This book. I’m not going to lie, I don’t think I even read the blurb of this book until I was probably about half way through it. I am a sucker for a beautiful cover and I sort of jumped into this book without even looking. It’s admittedly a horrible habit, but it’s just something I have always done and surprisingly, it hasn’t lever led me astray. I find that some of my favorite things, books or games or whatever, were found solely based on my draw to the cover.

That being said, this book is simply amazing! Carly was able to pull me into this book extremely quick. I usually struggle to get into the first person narrative, I am not sure why, but it always seems to take me a few chapters for me to adjust to the flow. With this book though, I was instantly and effortlessly falling into this book. That is something that has never been done before, so I am impressed by that alone.

I never wanted to put the book down, it was a struggle for me when it was time to do something or to sleep, because I wanted to know what happens next. I needed to know everything about Thea and Cole, and things just kept happening! It was almost infuriating, in the best possible way of course, how everything could change during a single conversation. It was wonderful!

I loved this book so much! I have never been so mad not to have the next book already on my shelf and the summer cannot come sooner! I need to know! I will be recommending this book to everyone who asks! My favorite read of the year so far!
Profile Image for Indie Wish List.
250 reviews3 followers
June 22, 2018
It’s been a long time since I read a YA Paranormal that was so fresh and new and like nothing I have ever read before! I absolutely LOVED this book … until the end when I realized book two isn’t out yet and had to grit my teeth in frustration because I WANT IT NOW!!!
Sorry, I was channeling Veruca Salt there.

Seriously, though, this book went in a direction I didn’t expect. I can’t say what I expected or where it went without giving anything away. I will just say that it was a shocking surprise. And to learn everything Thea went through and still has to go through … I REALLY can’t wait for the journey. Pst … Marino, don’t leave me hanging for too long!

OMG, my heart ached for Cole. This boy had to be so confused. I fell in love with his character right along with Thea. Then I got mad at him because, like all angst-ridden books, the guy just couldn’t wait around to COMMUNICATE! So much could have been prevented if he had just waited. Why, Cole, why?

The minor characters were all diverse. Wynter and Ethan … oh man, I know things are going to get flipped around in next book for them. Then you have Nora and Drake—there is gonna be a lot of conflict there. Lastly, Logan … yeah, again, there’s gonna be a lot of conflict in the next book between characters.

And I have to say the cover art is gorgeous! I also can’t wait to see the next cover.
Profile Image for Emily Beaver.
340 reviews44 followers
June 6, 2018
I love the concept of being able to view another’s memories and possessing the power to alter them. From the beginning, I was drawn into this book. I thought the characters were unique in their own way and progressed the story at a good pace. Unfortunately, once cliche Cole was introduced, the characters ceased being unique. Their actions became predictable and a little too childish for my taste.

I tend not to read romances because the characters often fall instantly in love. I understand wanting to establish so sort of connect with certain characters right away. But at times, I felt that the connection the two felt was a little overkill and annoying. Typically, the girl falls for a guy after swearing off of them for years. She tries to fight it, but ultimately, she cannot. I understand that many people enjoy this genre, it just wasn’t for me.

However, besides the romance element to the story, I liked the memory aspect. I’ve read a couple stories where the main character can control memories. I like reading the different perspective others have within this concept.

Memory Walker is perfect for fans of The Darkest Minds and I Am Number Four.
Profile Image for Kim Obregon.
10 reviews1 follower
June 27, 2018
/*I received a copy of this book at no cost from the author*/

The story is about a girl who can see memories of others just by any skin contact. I really like the story, it has a great concept especially the different powers, memory reading and manipulation, and life force part that gives "high". However I'm having doubts with the characters. I also cannot feel the chemistry between them, I think I'm missing some details or scenes to better build up their characters.

I'm not yet giving up on this one yet. I'll still read the next book. I still want to recommend this to everyone and give this a chance. It may have not totally work for me but it definitely did to others.
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