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The Puzzle of You
She’s woken up in a life she doesn’t recognize—with a daughter she doesn’t remember.
When Charlotte McKay wakes up in a hospital bed with no memory of how she got there, all she wants is to go back to the perfect London flat she shares with her husband, and the impressive career she’s worked so hard to build. But something’s not right. Her husband David is at her bedside—but so is a three-year-old girl, and she’s calling Charlotte ‘Mummy’…
Charlotte’s first instinct is panic. When—why—did she have a child? What about her promotion, her independence, her romantic weekends with David? She loved being that how can she have turned into the stay-at-home mother she swore she’d never be?
Back at home, she dives into her unfamiliar world, hoping to piece together the mystery of her transformation. But faced with so much that feels foreign and unnatural, will she ever be happy in a life she can’t remember having—or wanting to have?
When Charlotte McKay wakes up in a hospital bed with no memory of how she got there, all she wants is to go back to the perfect London flat she shares with her husband, and the impressive career she’s worked so hard to build. But something’s not right. Her husband David is at her bedside—but so is a three-year-old girl, and she’s calling Charlotte ‘Mummy’…
Charlotte’s first instinct is panic. When—why—did she have a child? What about her promotion, her independence, her romantic weekends with David? She loved being that how can she have turned into the stay-at-home mother she swore she’d never be?
Back at home, she dives into her unfamiliar world, hoping to piece together the mystery of her transformation. But faced with so much that feels foreign and unnatural, will she ever be happy in a life she can’t remember having—or wanting to have?
289 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2019
2392 people are currently reading
3844 people want to read
About the author
Leah Mercer
21 books249 followersLeah can't remember a time when she didn't love writing. From creating fake newspapers to writing letters to the editor, scribbling something was always on the agenda. Even the rejections she received after completing her first novel at age 13 didn't dent her enthusiasm.
So it makes sense, then, that she pursued a career in anything but writing. Public relations, teaching, recruitment, editing medical journals -- even a stint painting houses -- until she finally succumbed once more to the lure of the blank page.
When she's not being jumped on by her young son or burning supper while thinking of plot-lines, Leah can be found furiously tapping away on her laptop, trying not to check Twitter or Facebook.
Leah also writes romantic comedies under the name Talli Roland.
So it makes sense, then, that she pursued a career in anything but writing. Public relations, teaching, recruitment, editing medical journals -- even a stint painting houses -- until she finally succumbed once more to the lure of the blank page.
When she's not being jumped on by her young son or burning supper while thinking of plot-lines, Leah can be found furiously tapping away on her laptop, trying not to check Twitter or Facebook.
Leah also writes romantic comedies under the name Talli Roland.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 293 reviews
October 2, 2019
This is basically what the provided synopsis says it’s about, for the most part. Charlotte awakes from a crash losing the last 4 years of her memory. She forgot she had a daughter and struggles to accept the life she had been living the past four years. The first 2-4 chapters are Charlotte waking up in the hospital, thereafter the rest of the story is essentially Charlotte trying to decide if she wants to stay home with her daughter or go back to work while balancing an estranged relationship with her husband.
There is no mysterious element with her memory loss because flashbacks are added in throughout the story. Early on, starting with chapter 3, readers quickly know what her old life was like compared to her present life. After chapter 3, the chapters alternate between flashbacks and the present. Do not expect mystery with this.
The themes explored are family, marriage, and women in the workplace---explained below:
I love things that give women a voice and advocate for feminism, but this was not insightful towards either. The topic was touched on, albeit surface level, with Charlotte’s workplace and the treatment towards pregnant women, but it was not powerful enough; the story was too mundane.
Also, based on the synopsis provided I was expecting a story-line for mothers that was heartfelt and moving; something that was also emotionally family centered like the movie Click or The Family Man, but it was neither. I expected an emotional rekindling with her daughter or captivating connection, and it didn't happen. The style was bland. We do see a marriage crumbling, and it is easy to relate to; however, it is isolated without intense depth.
The story progresses at a snail-moving pace. Even at 60% (marked on my Kindle) it was still dragging. At 60%, Charlotte is still holding onto remnants of her past (job) while trying to accept bits of her present (daughter); nothing else has happened, the story has stayed completely stagnant at this point. This is much of the story: Charlotte prioritizing and weighing her options. No twists, turns, emotional scenes, or drama. After 60%, it stays on this same path.
Most of the story was anticlimactic, as mentioned above. The climax, in my opinion, was chapter 47; before this chapter the characters experience no growth or change, and little to nothing happened prior to this chapter. Please note there are only 48 chapters.
All in all, this is a story lacking a stimulating plot-line about a mother deciding to go back to work in order to climb the corporate ladder or stay at home with her toddler daughter. While this is a great premise and easy to relate to, feeling like you must choose between your career and a child, it wasn't executed well. It was very monotonous and simplistic, repeating the same ideas again and again.
There is no mysterious element with her memory loss because flashbacks are added in throughout the story. Early on, starting with chapter 3, readers quickly know what her old life was like compared to her present life. After chapter 3, the chapters alternate between flashbacks and the present. Do not expect mystery with this.
The themes explored are family, marriage, and women in the workplace---explained below:
I love things that give women a voice and advocate for feminism, but this was not insightful towards either. The topic was touched on, albeit surface level, with Charlotte’s workplace and the treatment towards pregnant women, but it was not powerful enough; the story was too mundane.
Also, based on the synopsis provided I was expecting a story-line for mothers that was heartfelt and moving; something that was also emotionally family centered like the movie Click or The Family Man, but it was neither. I expected an emotional rekindling with her daughter or captivating connection, and it didn't happen. The style was bland. We do see a marriage crumbling, and it is easy to relate to; however, it is isolated without intense depth.
The story progresses at a snail-moving pace. Even at 60% (marked on my Kindle) it was still dragging. At 60%, Charlotte is still holding onto remnants of her past (job) while trying to accept bits of her present (daughter); nothing else has happened, the story has stayed completely stagnant at this point. This is much of the story: Charlotte prioritizing and weighing her options. No twists, turns, emotional scenes, or drama. After 60%, it stays on this same path.
Most of the story was anticlimactic, as mentioned above. The climax, in my opinion, was chapter 47; before this chapter the characters experience no growth or change, and little to nothing happened prior to this chapter. Please note there are only 48 chapters.
All in all, this is a story lacking a stimulating plot-line about a mother deciding to go back to work in order to climb the corporate ladder or stay at home with her toddler daughter. While this is a great premise and easy to relate to, feeling like you must choose between your career and a child, it wasn't executed well. It was very monotonous and simplistic, repeating the same ideas again and again.
March 2, 2021
This book is about a woman who gets into a car wreck and she losing her memory of the last four years of her life. She cannot remember being pregnant or having her daughter. The book jumps to now and before the car wreck. I really enjoyed this book. I won a kindle edition of this book from a goodreads giveaway, but this review is 100% my own opinion. (*)
October 2, 2019
Amazon Prime First Read - October ‘19
This is a novella and so a quick read. Charlotte has a car crash as a result of which she cannot remember the last four years of her life which includes giving birth to her daughter Annabelle. She does not tell her husband David for a few days despite struggling to adjust to the shock of the discoveries she has made. The story is told from Charlotte a few years ago and Charlotte now and the firmer eventually joins up with the latter. I’m not convinced this works very well as a technique as it seems to lead to repetition.
The characters are quite likeable though none of them are particularly memorable. The author captures the fear of discovery of health issues for baby Annabelle well and you could empathise with that very easily but I found it hard to accept that Charlotte goes through a total character transformation as a result. She goes from being super ambitious and focused on promotion to super mum almost overnight and although I’m certain that a lot of soul searching will occur as to what’s important I’m not certain someone could change that radically. I didn’t find the story very riveting or challenging in any way but if you are looking for something easy to read then this fits the bill.
This is a novella and so a quick read. Charlotte has a car crash as a result of which she cannot remember the last four years of her life which includes giving birth to her daughter Annabelle. She does not tell her husband David for a few days despite struggling to adjust to the shock of the discoveries she has made. The story is told from Charlotte a few years ago and Charlotte now and the firmer eventually joins up with the latter. I’m not convinced this works very well as a technique as it seems to lead to repetition.
The characters are quite likeable though none of them are particularly memorable. The author captures the fear of discovery of health issues for baby Annabelle well and you could empathise with that very easily but I found it hard to accept that Charlotte goes through a total character transformation as a result. She goes from being super ambitious and focused on promotion to super mum almost overnight and although I’m certain that a lot of soul searching will occur as to what’s important I’m not certain someone could change that radically. I didn’t find the story very riveting or challenging in any way but if you are looking for something easy to read then this fits the bill.
October 16, 2019
Boring and Repetitive
SPOILER—The first 3rd of this book was intriguing. Unfortunately, after that it was just a long, drawn out shallow plot where the main character keeps agonizing over a corrected birth defect for years. The story took too long to get to the end and it was a very lack luster finish.
SPOILER—The first 3rd of this book was intriguing. Unfortunately, after that it was just a long, drawn out shallow plot where the main character keeps agonizing over a corrected birth defect for years. The story took too long to get to the end and it was a very lack luster finish.
January 19, 2020
Leah Mercer has written some sad novels so far, but they have also been really good. Her third, The Puzzle of You, has elements of sadness, but is also more hopeful and uplifting.
The story was really good overall. It reminded me of What Alice Forgot in some ways. I liked how Leah shifted between Charlotte's past and present personas, giving us a glimpse of what her life was like leading up to her amnesia. It also helped that she changed from third to first person each time.
This novel speaks volumes about the importance of balance for working mothers and how they judge stay-at-home mothers as much as those mothers judge them. I thought Charlotte's colleagues were so rude to her when she was pregnant and even when she was looking to re-enter the workforce.
This is my favorite of Leah's novels so far. It was very well-written and engaging. I know she has another one on the way (Ten Little Words) and I can't wait to get my hands on a copy!
Movie casting suggestions:
Charlotte: Anna Torv
David: Tom Ellis
Lily: Joanna Page
Miriam: Harriet Walter
The story was really good overall. It reminded me of What Alice Forgot in some ways. I liked how Leah shifted between Charlotte's past and present personas, giving us a glimpse of what her life was like leading up to her amnesia. It also helped that she changed from third to first person each time.
This novel speaks volumes about the importance of balance for working mothers and how they judge stay-at-home mothers as much as those mothers judge them. I thought Charlotte's colleagues were so rude to her when she was pregnant and even when she was looking to re-enter the workforce.
This is my favorite of Leah's novels so far. It was very well-written and engaging. I know she has another one on the way (Ten Little Words) and I can't wait to get my hands on a copy!
Movie casting suggestions:
Charlotte: Anna Torv
David: Tom Ellis
Lily: Joanna Page
Miriam: Harriet Walter
October 2, 2019
Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this book although I was interested enough to finish reading it. Essentially, it is a story of Charlotte who gets into a car accident with her three-year-old daughter and her head injury makes her forget the last four years so she doesn't remember becoming pregnant, giving birth to her daughter, her daughter's heart condition or deciding not to return to her job. The Charlotte that comes out of the accident still wants to be a career woman, and thinks she is one, as opposed to the stay at home mother she is in reality.
I typically really don't like novels like this one that have chapters mixing the past and present; especially where, like here, the past is what Charlotte (and the reader) are trying to discover. I usually find, and this book was no exception, that the back and forth broke up the story too much for me. The reader finds out what happened, but there is no "story" or suspense, it just sort of "is". Also, Charlotte and her husband had a fight right before her accident (ostensibly upsetting her/"causing" the accident) and I found the subject matter of their disagreement to be one that I could not get behind. Why is she so mad AT HIM that his genetics are in play? I get being frustrated at the situation but it just doesn't seem to account for the estrangement between them.
I felt like in addition to the pacing and lack of compelling story line, the character development was off. I didn't get a good feel for who any of the supporting characters were let alone Charlotte herself who is (maybe understandably) all over the place.
All in all, as with many of these Amazon First reads lately, I found this book lackluster.
I typically really don't like novels like this one that have chapters mixing the past and present; especially where, like here, the past is what Charlotte (and the reader) are trying to discover. I usually find, and this book was no exception, that the back and forth broke up the story too much for me. The reader finds out what happened, but there is no "story" or suspense, it just sort of "is". Also, Charlotte and her husband had a fight right before her accident (ostensibly upsetting her/"causing" the accident) and I found the subject matter of their disagreement to be one that I could not get behind. Why is she so mad AT HIM that his genetics are in play? I get being frustrated at the situation but it just doesn't seem to account for the estrangement between them.
I felt like in addition to the pacing and lack of compelling story line, the character development was off. I didn't get a good feel for who any of the supporting characters were let alone Charlotte herself who is (maybe understandably) all over the place.
All in all, as with many of these Amazon First reads lately, I found this book lackluster.
July 26, 2019
You think you have your life perfectly in place and then..... You wake up in a hospital and things are not how they were.
In fact, nothing is the same!
How could this happen? When did Charlotte decide to "NOT" follow the life plan?
Can she and her husband ever resume the "way they were?"
This is a well designed novel that alternates between a three year time frame. There is a smooth transition to help understand all the changes and confusion that Charlotte feels following her accident that has prompted her amnesia.
Interesting and well done book!
In fact, nothing is the same!
How could this happen? When did Charlotte decide to "NOT" follow the life plan?
Can she and her husband ever resume the "way they were?"
This is a well designed novel that alternates between a three year time frame. There is a smooth transition to help understand all the changes and confusion that Charlotte feels following her accident that has prompted her amnesia.
Interesting and well done book!
August 1, 2019
I'm not a huge reader of women's fiction but I love this authors work so gave this one a go. This was a really unique story and in places very interesting. I really liked the idea of waking up and finding out things were not as you thought they were. The author did such a good job of getting across Charlotte's confusion about her current life vs her old life. I felt the author also did a good job of highlighting the struggles of a working mum / mum going back to work after having a child and the problems and discrimination within the workplace. A thought provoking read!
October 21, 2019
This book literally could’ve been maybe four chapters long. Basically, this mother gets an accident, loses her memory, can’t remember having a child, and she and her husband (who are is now estranged) can’t seem to have a simple conversation to get them back on track and make this book much shorter than it needs to be. Finally, she does get her memory back at the last chapter and is flooded with all these emotions for her daughter and her husband and they finally have “the talk”. I wasted two weeks of my life reading this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 2, 2021
4.5 stars. This was a very good read about a woman who wakes up after a car accident and has forgotten the last few years of her life including that she has a three-years old daughter. Last she recalls she was a career woman. The story alternates between past and present and I thought it was done very well.
February 5, 2020
meh. Rather unlikeable main character. Lives her life making fairly selfish choices, has an accident, changes 180 degrees - yet still entirely selfishly, just in a different way. Of course, she doesn't remember any of this. The accident caused amnesia. So, you go back and forth in time as she tries to figure out how her life ended up where it did. And, of course, eventually she does figure it all out. Manages to find a less selfish balance. Lives happily ever after. meh.
(I did win a copy thru Goodreads giveaways. Thank you! I was intrigued by the description, just didn't love the main character)
(I did win a copy thru Goodreads giveaways. Thank you! I was intrigued by the description, just didn't love the main character)
August 1, 2020
Yeah, there is nothing unique about this story and kinda long for the content.
November 27, 2019
Charlotte McKay wakes up in hospital after a car crash having no memory of the last four years of her life. Despite tests, clinicians can find nothing wrong with her. She returns home to husband David and a completely changed world.
The story is written from two perspectives - Charlotte before the accident and Charlotte now as she struggles to adjust to this completely new environment. Her last memories are of her job; one where she had worked her way up the corporate ladder and was hopefully in line for Vice President. Now she is an out of shape stay at home mother to a three year old she can't even remember giving birth to. How can that possibly have happened?
The book is cleverly structured. The story deals with Charlotte as she tries to make sense of who she is now and why she made the choice to give up her successful career. It also takes the reader into her past and events leading up to the accident. A compelling read.
The story is written from two perspectives - Charlotte before the accident and Charlotte now as she struggles to adjust to this completely new environment. Her last memories are of her job; one where she had worked her way up the corporate ladder and was hopefully in line for Vice President. Now she is an out of shape stay at home mother to a three year old she can't even remember giving birth to. How can that possibly have happened?
The book is cleverly structured. The story deals with Charlotte as she tries to make sense of who she is now and why she made the choice to give up her successful career. It also takes the reader into her past and events leading up to the accident. A compelling read.
December 17, 2025
I'm trying to be better. There are so many books I want to read that if I force myself to finish books I'm not enjoying, I'll never get to the books I do enjoy.
There's nothing particularly wrong with this one, I just didn't connect with the main character, didn't find myself caring about her journey, didn't even get sucked into the mystery of it all. She just doesn't remember how she went from being so career driven to embracing her role as supermom.
Wasn't for me, but that doesn't mean it won't be for others.
There's nothing particularly wrong with this one, I just didn't connect with the main character, didn't find myself caring about her journey, didn't even get sucked into the mystery of it all. She just doesn't remember how she went from being so career driven to embracing her role as supermom.
Wasn't for me, but that doesn't mean it won't be for others.
July 7, 2020
This was a good story about a mom who questions everything she thought she knew about herself after a car accident wherein she loses her memory. The story is told through two perspectives - one of herself when she got married until present and the other perspective, from the date of the accident looking back. The two perspectives merge at the end. Overall, a really well done story with characters that were well developed; although not entirely likeable.
March 12, 2022
This was not at all what I was expecting, and not in a good way. It's advertised as a mystery and the blurb really interested me, however the blurb was the only mysterious part of this book!
If you're looking for a book about a woman battling with her conscience, trying to find a balance between being a successful career woman and being a mother, then this is definitely for you. But if, like me, you found the 'mystery' element intriguing, you may be a little disappointed.
If you're looking for a book about a woman battling with her conscience, trying to find a balance between being a successful career woman and being a mother, then this is definitely for you. But if, like me, you found the 'mystery' element intriguing, you may be a little disappointed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 28, 2019
Awful
Not the sort of book I usually read but the premise seemed interesting so I gave it a go. God I wish I hadn't. So much middle class angst. Oh how does Joanna cope with 3 kids and only one nanny. Mothers letting their kids run their lives with never a No!!!! quoted. Silly women and weak men. Is this really the way the middle classes live. Could have been an interesting story but 100 pages too long .
Not the sort of book I usually read but the premise seemed interesting so I gave it a go. God I wish I hadn't. So much middle class angst. Oh how does Joanna cope with 3 kids and only one nanny. Mothers letting their kids run their lives with never a No!!!! quoted. Silly women and weak men. Is this really the way the middle classes live. Could have been an interesting story but 100 pages too long .
February 23, 2020
4/5 ⭐️
Okay so if I woke up from amnesia and realized I had a kid and I was convinced I never wanted kids, I’d prolly act the same was as Charolette tbh. But I’m glad as the book went on her and Annabells relationship became more and more and it had a happy ending. I’m glad she remembered what she didn’t before.
Okay so if I woke up from amnesia and realized I had a kid and I was convinced I never wanted kids, I’d prolly act the same was as Charolette tbh. But I’m glad as the book went on her and Annabells relationship became more and more and it had a happy ending. I’m glad she remembered what she didn’t before.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 6, 2020
Awesome story! I loved how the story came together and it had me thinking about my own life and what I'd consider worth remembering. Our lives and priorities can change in an instant!
April 25, 2020
A review
This is a quick and easy read about a woman who wakes up after a car crash only to find out she doesn’t recognize her life. The previous 4 years erased from her memory. It’s captivating and the characters are very relatable.
This is a quick and easy read about a woman who wakes up after a car crash only to find out she doesn’t recognize her life. The previous 4 years erased from her memory. It’s captivating and the characters are very relatable.
May 14, 2022
I made it to chapter 34 but just couldn't stand the absolute drivel of this book so l have no idea how it ends, l almost gave up after chapter 1 because she is so bitchy and nasty its utter rubbish
October 3, 2019
A very thought provoking read. What if you woke up and found out nothing was as you thought it was? This novel was very well written and kept me thinking long after the last page was turned.
April 21, 2020
Again with the cliches and the describing every woman and what she was wearing. I didn’t care about any of the characters. Particularly disliked the husband. What a spineless, pitiful man.
December 31, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. There are no twists and nothing major happens. But it was realistic and entertaining to read.
October 14, 2019
Amazon First Reads selection. Rather bland, with no real surprises and quite a few cliches. Perhaps this would be more enjoyable for mothers of small children forced to choose between a career and being a stay at home mum, but as someone who is childless by choice and not a hard nosed career bitch, I found it quite offensive.
October 7, 2019
A quick easy read. My initial thoughts were that it reminded me of Liane Moriarty's 'What Alice Forgot'. Young married female has an accident and a number of years of her life are blotted out: she forgets she has a child and forgets she has marital difficulties.
In this book two plots go on at the same time. Charlotte writing about her life after her daughter Anabelle is born and the plot about trying to come to terms with her life after the accident. By the end of the book the two plots come together. Some aspects appear incredibly simplistic eg Charlotte goes to a Neurologist on Harley Street who examines her and tells her she may get her memory back or she might not! Did she actually write a diary? In the parallel after the baby plot she says she is writing things down so she won't forget. If so, why didn't she ever find it to help jog her memory. Anyway happy ending after all.
In this book two plots go on at the same time. Charlotte writing about her life after her daughter Anabelle is born and the plot about trying to come to terms with her life after the accident. By the end of the book the two plots come together. Some aspects appear incredibly simplistic eg Charlotte goes to a Neurologist on Harley Street who examines her and tells her she may get her memory back or she might not! Did she actually write a diary? In the parallel after the baby plot she says she is writing things down so she won't forget. If so, why didn't she ever find it to help jog her memory. Anyway happy ending after all.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 25, 2019
If you want to read a book seeped with maternal guilt then then is the book for you. Unfortunately, it was not the book for me. Feeling guilt is something most mothers are familiar with, however, the protagonist was so unlikable in this book it was hard to feel anything for her, let alone identify with her struggle to reconcile her role as a mother against her desire to continue her successful career. I mostly skimmed through this hoping that it would get better. It didn't. I disliked the fact as well that somehow she internalised the guilt without ever really stopping to question it. I know we are meant to be asking what would have happened if she hadn't been in an accident and lost her memory (hello cliche alert), but the reality was that I just didn't care. I heard that the author was good so this book was a disappointment. I might try another one. On the other hand, I have so many books on my TBR pile that I am not tempted to add another one of Mercer's just yet.
January 1, 2020
Quick read
This book is quite a quick read. I liked the format of flipping back and forth from her journal to her life with memory loss although I thought at some moment she’d discover and read her own assessment of the years she can’t remember.
The themes of guilt, shame, motherhood and resentment were incredibly relatable. This story reminds us that the resentments and bitterness w shave are keeping us from life as it’s meant to be.
This book is quite a quick read. I liked the format of flipping back and forth from her journal to her life with memory loss although I thought at some moment she’d discover and read her own assessment of the years she can’t remember.
The themes of guilt, shame, motherhood and resentment were incredibly relatable. This story reminds us that the resentments and bitterness w shave are keeping us from life as it’s meant to be.
Read
May 28, 2020Somehow my toddler got a hold of my kindle and marked this one read. I tried to read this one, but the main character is super annoying. I don’t care if she has amnesia that doesn’t make me sympathetic towards her. She needs to stop swearing, worshiping her husband and thinking about sex. No thank you.
June 12, 2021
Good read
Had no idea how this book would end....good read ....not great but still satisfying story
Funny how when people do not communicate so much time can be wasted ..both characters pissed me off for that
Had no idea how this book would end....good read ....not great but still satisfying story
Funny how when people do not communicate so much time can be wasted ..both characters pissed me off for that
Displaying 1 - 30 of 293 reviews