Twelve hours was all they spent together, but to them, it meant everything.
Nora and Elliot’s meeting was predetermined. They both believed that wholeheartedly. It was fate. No last names, no identifying information, only an all-consuming need to be near each other and the belief in falling hopelessly in love with a stranger. But circumstances beyond their control separated them, and twelve years later they’re still searching.
Apart, they’re broken and they won’t give up until they find each other.
But what if they never do?
The Memory of Us is a complete standalone angsty soulmate romance with all the feels. You can expect heartbreak, miscommunication, searching, crying, loving and a sigh-worthy ending. No cliffhanger!
I don’t know how I’m going to make this book justice, but I’m going to try. THIS BOOK IS PHENOMENAL!!! It gives you all the feels. This story is so unexpected. I went into it blind and I’m so happy I did because the experience was so unexpectedly beautiful.
This story changed me in a way. I feel different now that I’ve read it. It gives you hope and the magic of a love that you don’t quite often see. As time went on my heart really hurt for both of them because all that time they lost, but it made the reunion even sweeter. Each page I kept reading on, I kept saying they’re going to meet again now, but nope it happened in a way I least expected, but was obvious now that I think about it haha.
That night on the beach was a teenage love, but over the course of 13 years you see the love grow with them. With each year it grows into adulthood as they do. It was beautiful to see, but at the same time I felt desperate for them.
When the reunion did happened I was at the edge of me seat not knowing what was going to happened next. They’re love was beaming from them even when they wouldn’t say anything. The ending was so misleading and I loved it. I cried my eyes out with the last page. It was a cry I needed to let out how deeply this story touched me. I feel so giddy after every emotion I felt and I can only imagine what their future looks like. The writing was so beautiful. It kept me hooked the whole time.
This book is one of my top favorites now and I can’t wait to reread it again. I would love a sweatshirt or mug with this quote from the book. 🙈
The Memory of Us is a book that will have you pulling an all nighter. This story will captivate, it will suck you in, it will take you on an emotional ride that you’ll never want to end. Claire Raye wrote a beautiful, emotional romance about how twelve hours with one person can forever change your life.
The story is split into three parts. Part one is Nora’s POV, part two is Elliot’s POV and part three is a dual POV. The Memory of Us spans a decade, the undeniable connection between Nora and Elliot is so strong. Their romance is epic. It is one that is truly standing the test of time, even though throughout all the time searching for each other time was never on their side.
I loved Nora’s relationship with her sister, Alice. They acted like any sisters would. They bicker, they fight, they support each other and they love each other. Alice was one of my favorite secondary characters, even though she started out as a spicy disaster I loved her and the gift she gave to Nora.
The Memory of Us is full of chemistry, emotions, laughs, frustration because of all the missed chances, love, hope, and an epic love. This story is written in a way that you’ll feel deep in your soul. You’ll feel the pain and heartache of these characters and all the emotions. This story is a MUST READ and hands down one of my all time favorites from Claire Raye.
Massive thank you to Claire Raye for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
WOW! Just bloody wow! I’ve always struggled with getting my thoughts and feelings down after reading a book. When I love a book so much, it can either go two ways. I either cannot stop rambling about every little detail or I get stuck in my head and know that my words and reflections won’t do the story justice. The Memory of Us is the latter. My mind is a jumbled mess, but what I can tell you, is this book is a phenomenal read. The only things I had been told before beginning this book was it was like nothing Claire Raye had ever written before, and well they were right. Whilst similar plots have been explored a few times in other romance novels, it’s never quite been to this degree. It was fresh, invigorating, captivating and I was hooked after just reading the blurb. I knew this was going to be a wild ride and I thought I had prepared myself. Well, my mum can attest to the fact that I was not prepared. At all. I think it was around the 50% mark that I rang her in a flurry of adrenaline and excitement filled rambling about how incredible this book was, and I was only halfway. I want to shout from the rooftops about how incredibly well written and thought out it was. How multi layered and complex the characters were. How I felt so many emotions in the span of the four hours it took me to devour it. My nerves are still recuperating. In my personal opinion, this is Claire Raye’s best work to date. At least, of the books that I have read. Long story short, I cannot recommend this book enough.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
“𝘐’𝘮 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘺, 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘶𝘴. 𝘉𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘥, 𝘮𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴, 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘺.” • 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐄𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐘 𝐎𝐅 𝐔𝐒 by Claire Raye is a gorgeous second chance story of first loves and soulmates. Spanning 14 years, it is told in three parts - the first being Nora’s POV, then Elliot’s and finally ending with them both finishing up the story. It was full of heartache and hope and I loved every moment of it. I don’t want to give any of it away at all because you need to go into this one completely spoiler free. This was my first time reading a book by this writing duo, but it most certainly won’t be my last.
A wonderful and beautiful story that will have you captivated from the beginning to the very end. This book will stay with you long after you’ve finished.
I liked everything about this book. I liked the story, I liked the characters, I liked that the book was split into three parts, so that we could see different stages of the characters’ lives. I found I got to know the characters through the different POVs, and it made me care for them. Where as in the beginning I just desperately wanted them to find each other again.
I do like to be completely transparent in my reviews, so I will tell you that I struggled a little with the length of the book. There was moments that I felt the story dragged and therefore I skim read paragraphs and sometimes skipped chunks of a chapter to get the story flowing again. And it did! In fact the second part of the book was my favourite, and it was then that I savoured every second. I’m an impatient reader, I enjoy instant gratification, so this may have nothing to do with the book and may just be that I’m a brat.
All I know is I very much enjoyed it, this is my first read by the authors, and I look forward to reading more from them in the future.
Soul Mates? Do you believe in them? Love at first sight? Do you believe in that? A deep rooted connection felt right away when you first meet someone? Is that possible? Would you spend a decade searching for the one that got away?
Reading Nora & Elliot’s story had me asking myself all of those questions. Their love story spans over a decade and it’s filled with heartbreak,beautiful moments of self discovery,so many miss connections and that deep rooted connection/love that they left all those years ago. I really didn’t know what to expect when I started this book but Claire Raye this story was beautiful and it was just what I needed to read at the moment.
What an emotional ride! I devoured this book, because of all the feels. The different POV was interesting and helped the reader build more love for each Elliot and Nora.
By this point, I shouldn't be surprised by this duo. Because it feels like Claire Raye simply know what I really need every time I pick up one of their books. And it's simply amazing how versatile their books are, something few authors can actually master.
The Memory of Us is at its core a romance book, but also so much more. It would be classified as a slow burn it really doesn't feel like one if you truly get the true story here. This book is really all about one's journey and not just the destination. It is not rushed or solely focused on the main couple. It is a tale of grief and how much of a struggle it is to overcome it. It is a story of connecting with family and realising you're not as different as you thought. It's about fighting and trying to conquer your inner demons or helping someone else with theirs. It's about hearing everyone around you saying your dreams and aspirations might be crazy and unattainable but you end proving them wrong, because nobody knows you as best as you know yourself. It's about letting people in even though you don't feel like it and letting them pull you jut a bit further even if they don't end up in your life long term. It's about life beating you down and you stand up, dust off and go another round. And it's about giving you hope that a cosmic, everlasting love is possible and it is beautiful but not as easy as fiction wants us to believe.
For me personally, it was an intensely powerful book and I could not put it down even though I had things needing to get done. I felt Elliot and Nora's connection and all their struggles for years on end, the missed chances and all the heartache, the desperation and the feelings of everything else feeling kinda less.
This is a story of a once in a lifetime, unconventional love and I simply can't recommend it enough. Can't wait for more stories from this duo because they keep me on my toes, not knowing what's coming my way.
This book left my soul happy. It’s one I couldn’t put down but also tried to read as slowly as possible just so I could savor every word. Beautiful writing, beautiful story and a beautiful addition to my READ pile. I can’t wait to read it again.
Do you believe in love at first sight? If you answered no, then you haven't heard Nora and Elliot's story ❤ The Memory of Us is a beautiful heartfelt story of the power of love in an instant connection. One that stands the passage of time by embedding itself into your heart and soul. A love so powerful that no matter the path your life takes, the people you meet or the experiences you treasure, it is all a little duller without them by your side. The book is written in 3 parts: Nora's POV from meeting to twelve years later, Elliot's POV in the same time frame, and then the final part is dual POV depending on chapter for the rest of their story. This style was refreshing and really symbolised the distance between them during those separated years. I liked being able to see the meeting from both POV's too, showing how much that night truly meant to both of them 🥰 Their story isn't a perfect fairytale though and they have plenty of obstacles in their way, with time turning out to be the least of their problems. They each face confusion, speculation and doubt from the people in their lives, because after only meeting for 12 hours and with years of distance, surely there is too much life between them for them to be the same people? For their love to outshine the adversity? This book will hit you in the feels and had me tearing up before I had finished the first part! You'll be drawn in and invested, urging this couple on, holding your breath in expectation and pulling hair in frustration in parts of it! But it will ultimately have you believing in the magic of love at first sight. I'd also like to note that this would be an amazing place to start for anyone new to the romance genre, the steamy scenes aren't too frequent or heavy and with such an excellent story you would be missing out not to try it 😘 𝑰 𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒍𝒚 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒅𝒗𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝒄𝒐𝒑𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌.
“ꜱᴏᴍᴇᴛɪᴍᴇꜱ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ɪꜱ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ꜱᴀɪᴅ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ꜱɪʟᴇɴᴄᴇ ᴛʜᴀɴ ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴀɴ ᴇᴠᴇʀ ꜱᴀʏ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴡᴏʀᴅꜱ.” 💜 Let’s talk about “The Memory of Us by Claire Raye”. 💜 Someone once said to me that sometimes things actually happens when you lost all hope of things come through. When you loose all the faith. With this book this duo of authors brought a deeply unique and emotional story, filled with perseverance, love, struggle and healing.
Nora and Elliot had an exceptional first time meeting and for twelve hours they managed to create a connection and love that no one would understand, maybe not even them when after more than thirteen years they are still trying to find each other. They don’t give up their love and the one who really hold their hearts.
While her search for Elliot, Nora was also finding herself and, mostly important, get to know her sister better and fix what was broken between the two of them. But she wasn’t alone in her quest, Elliot also spent the same time trying to find her. Although the authors guarantee to me that the story had a happy end, I kept thinking that maybe when they found each other it wouldn’t be the same. Twelve years is a long AF time for a person to change. I’m definitely not the same person I was today last year.
My feelings and emotions kept changing so much during my read, it must be so difficult to live their lives knowing that at any moment something could happen in their lives that would change everything. That somehow their lives would really begin. Or that would never happened.
This is such a different and original story. I can honestly say that I’ve never ever read a story like this, I couldn’t put down, even when the angst almost “killed” me! It put the whole soulmates thing in a whole new perspective. Another must read from them.
The Memory of Us is a complete new stand-alone from the Claire Raye duo. Elliot and Nora’s relationship is one filled with tons of emotions! I always say, “I devoured this (insert Claire Raye book name.)” And I do, but this one I read in one sitting. I was all consumed by the need to read what happens. From the blurb I was so invested to see how Claire Raye would pull it out. I believe in everything fated or destined. Memory of Us reaffirms that. Elliot and Nora’s unconventional story had me turning page after page. Whether you believe in fate, Elliot and Nora’s story will have you believing. Believing in a love so powerful, and unique despite obstacles. The Memory of Us was so original, and all consuming. I could not put it down. It was so easy to get emotionally attached to the characters. I find that to be true with any of Claire Raye’s characters. The characters of Nora and Elliot were so imperfectly perfect. I am totally obsessed with the whole plot of The Memory of Us. The entire emotional ride it takes a reader on. I laughed, cried and just let myself feel for both Elliot and Nora. The Memory of Us has it all. I love the hard work and emotions poured out by the Claire Raye ladies. Claire and Raye write so fluidly I sometimes forget they’re two instead of just one author lol. The Memory of Us has easily become my favorite read from Claire and Raye. I’m definitely going to reread it again. The Memory of Us is such a angsty love that hits in all the right places. I will always recommend anything by Claire Raye. The Memory of Us is a total knock out and great book to start 2021 out!
‘The Memory of Us’ is a story that will take you on an emotional journey. A journey of love and loss, heartbreak and so much more. Every book that Claire Raye has written, I devour, I adore them all, but this one, this is a book that I finished a few days ago and I still am thinking about it. The emotion that this evoked from me, isn’t something that I’ve experienced while reading in quite some time. It’s taken me a few days to figure out the right words to describe the utter perfection that is this story.
Nora and Elliot’s story is a love story for the ages. It’s about the journey to not only finding love, but also discovering yourself. Claire Raye made me feel like I was a part of the story. It felt like everything they were going through I was going through as well. They painted a picture that I could visualize. The descriptions were so vivid and so perfect, I could see the scenarios playing out in my mind, and that’s something that I sometimes struggle with. I’m not good at painting the picture in my mind, but with this story it was easy. That’s how fantastic this writing duo is.
They also created characters that were so darn loveable. Even the secondary characters, especially Alice, played such an integral part in this story. I will say that there were many moments where I wanted to slap not only Alice who is Nora’s sister, but also Matt, Elliot’s best friend. Hands down this book will forever be a favorite, and I already know will be one of my top reads of 2021 and it’s only 5 days in. Thank you for this story, and taking us on the journey of Nora and Elliot. This is a book that you won’t be able to put down!
The story starts with Nora and Elliot who meet at a college party, form an instant connect, and end up spending the night together. However, the next morning Nora has to leave in a hurry and Elliot is nowhere in sight. What follows is a heartbreaking yet beautiful story of two people holding on to a chance encounter and the great lengths they’ll go to find each other again.
“I’m still holding on to her memory, holding on to the memory of us. Because in the end, maybe that’s all it was, just a memory.”
While reading, I got major Serendipity vibes. That movie is magical and this book captured the same essence. Talk about missed opportunities and wrong timing! My heart was breaking every time they were so close to reconnecting and something got in the way. This felt like reading a slow burn romance but instead of waiting for the characters to come to terms with their feelings, it was waiting for the characters to find each other again.
Overall, this was such a fast read and a great introduction to this author duo. I’m excited to pick up their backlist!
Memory Of Us by Claire Raye Release Day 13/01/2021
“I will never be able to recreate what I found with Elliot. It ends now. So I write it. A romanticised version of what really occurred, a true love story that may never come to be.”
This is an absolutely amazing book that will have you captivated from the very beginning to the very end. It will also stick with you well after you’ve finished. I loved this book and I can not recommend it more. And the emotion that come from the book will have you wanting more.
This story is about Nora and Elliot who by chance meet at a party and form this instant connection and end up spending the night on the beach under the stars. The only problem is that Nora has to leave in a hurry with out getting a chance to say goodbye. What follows is a heartbreakingly long search to find one another again, they go to great lengths to find each other but once they finals meet it was oh so worth it.
Overall, this was a brilliant read and it’s definitely a book I would recommend to anyone.
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of Memory of Us and for that I’m very grateful.
The Memory of Us by Claire Raye will make you believe in the power of falling in love and the beauty of happily ever afters
I binge read a generous copy as an ARC on a 5-hour plane ride home and I fell in love with Elliot and Nora. Their love story is complex, difficult, heartbreaking, and glorious! As much as you rip out your hair you’ll immediately swoon.
It took 12-hours, one night, for Elliot and Nora to know that this precious time was all they needed to believe in love at first sight & to fall in love...or obsession. A night filled with dreams, secrets, and a shared connection fuels the next 12 years of their lives. With all their missed opportunities and poor timing can Elliot and Nora overcome their obstacles to find themselves and their happily ever after?
My first 5+ star review for 2021. Release date January 13, 2021- this is a MUST READ of 2021! Claire Raye start the new year with a BANG and I’m intrigued at the rest of their lineup for the year. Pre-order now because you will not regret picking up this book!
"Sometimes we're given choices, but there's no choice in them at all"
Have you ever had a book that you wind up literally yelling at for the answers to all of your questions-- but in the end, you are given all the answers you need, plus a little more, and an HEA?! Yes- well, I bet you just finished this book. I literally can't even put into words the rollercoaster ride this book takes you through. From Nora's decade-long journey to find Elliot; all the while creating a journey of self-discovery and understanding of herself...to Elliot finally understanding that it's ok to not always have all the answers. Nora and Elliot have a way of digging into a piece of your heart so that you feel fully investing their relationship. This was truly a great story Claire Raye, thank you for sharing it with me.
Oh this book. This book was an amazing love story with so much emotion. From the first chapter all the way to the last, you felt Nora's and Elliot's pain and happiness. You felt how they were supposed to be with each other. Makes you believe in love at first sight and all of that. It took me a little while to get through this book, and I'm glad it did. This book was a book that was meant to be read slowly, to get to know what really pushed Nora and Elliot to go through the paths that they did. To see what brought them back together. The ladies of Claire Raye, did an amazing job with this one. I don't usually get emotional with a book or a story, but with this one I did. Thank you ladies for bring this story to us, to me it was much needed. My Rating : 4.5 Stars / ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
4.5⭐️ Man, this book is just so heartfelt! The first half of the book got me aching for Nora and Elliot. They only spent 12 hours together, but that night meant more for them than any other night. For 12 years, they have missed and longed for each other, trying to get another chance to be together again. But never did..
Their story got me so emotional. Just when you thought they're going to finally meet, nope, they had to wait a bit longer for that. I have not read anything like this before. And I loved it! It was so emotional, unexpected and unpredictable. It got you rooting for these two to finally cross paths again and just be together. And that ending! It satisfied me so much to know that they finally got their HEA.
Wow...what an amazing story of determination, love and the will to never give up on what you believe in. I read this book in once sitting because I had to know what happened. I wanted to jump into the book and say look here, ask that man about her...wait go back that way! Lol.
Nora and Elliot have a chance encounter that will change their lives for many years. An Instant attraction and an unfortunate separation takes the reader on an incredible journey that will have you cheering, crying, wishing, hoping and wanting along the way.
I received and an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
This was my first book by this author duo and it was such an emotional read that even now days after I've finished reading it still hurts my heart! Nora and Elliot are two pieces of the same soul. After their brief but life changing encounter in their youth, they search for each other for over 12 years. And although they carry on with their lives, they both feel like the biggest part of them is missing. It was painful to see the longing in both of them and kept hoping that they would meet again. This book is a testament that when you meet the other half of your soul you don't let go even if you have to battle through time.
An utterly outstanding read. Claire Raye pulls on all the heart strings in this provocative, thought provoking novel. The eloquent writing style reaches deep down into the soul with characters sure to leave their mark well after the close of the last chapter. It’s a coming of age, a realization of oneself, a lesson in forgiveness, love, loss, and so much more. Absolutely fantastic!
Thank you to Author Claire Raye for the beta copy which was read and reviewed voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Claire Raye has a knack for the emotional roller coaster, a writing style that pulls you in and characters that you cannot help but love. The Memory of Us is no different.
This book had me intrigued from the tagline- 12 hours together was all they had and something in that night changed them both. This is a unique story line was captivating from the first page.
We meet Nora and Elliot as teenagers as they form an instant connection and then follow their quest for love, each other and themselves. Nora is passionate, sweet and funny. The intricate relationship she has with her sister is endearing and watching their bond is a wonderful addition to the story. Elliot is strong and calming but you feel his struggles.
It was easy to become invested in these characters, and the journey they took. You want to support them each step of the way. My heart broke a few times throughout this book, be prepared for tears of all kinds. As emotional as this story is, with all its ups and downs I still found myself rooting for each character’s happiness no matter the outcome.
This writing duo had me as a fan already, but with each book they further cement their spot on my favourite author list. The Memory of Us is a MUST read book for 2021, you do not want to miss out. 5+ stars.
Thank you to Claire Raye for an advanced copy. This review and the opinions here are my own.
The Memory of Us lived up to every expectation I had and more! I am a firm believer in fate, and this story affirms that. Nora and Elliot’s story was heartbreaking. And beautiful. And incredible. I was crying reading this story because it was so moving and powerful. I couldn’t put this book down, it was that amazing! My heart ached at these two ships passing in the night. You can feel them getting closer to one another, but you never know if it will be them. The love and devotion over time these two have is truly unique in how it was written. Claire Raye wrote a truly incredible book, and their words told a love story for the ages ❤️
Nora and Elliot make you believe in true love, fate, happiness while breaking your heart in the process. This book gives you so many feels, I'm almost at a loss for words. It makes you believe that one day, one night can truly change your life. That the right person, can have such an impact on you that you are willing to hold on to that person even when you aren't together. The roller-coaster of emotion that claire-raye takes you on is unlike any other.
This was my first book by Claire Raye and these ladies took me on a journey like no other. This has to be one of the most unique books I have ever read. And the "angsty" description listed above is not an exaggeration.
Nora and Elliott's story gave me sooo much anxiety in the best possible way. Nora and Elliott met once 12 years ago and had an instant connection. The bond of soulmates. They spent 12 hours together and circumstances kept them apart. Their story was so unpredictable. I never expected any scene of this book. Sometimes it's easy to get a feel for what's coming next when you're reading a book. Not this one. I was so stressed, but I enjoyed every minute.
This review is shorter than normal because it's hard for me to summarize or explain without spoiling part of the storyline. If you enjoy unique reads that take you on an unexpected journey and play with your emotions this book is for you.
Nothing pulls quite at the heart strings like an epic love story and Claire Raye have managed to tug on all of them and deliver a book full of all the feels with this one!! My full review is to come, but all readers of romance should get this one ❤️
I loved the chemistry between Nora and Elliot.This book is uniquely written and emotional. I also loved the plot..this book just sucks you in. Its so good.