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The Truth About Melody Browne
10 hours, 25 minutes
When she was 9 years old, Melody Browne's house burned down, and it took all of her childhood memories with it. Now she's a single mother of a teenage boy living in Central London. She hasn't seen her parents since she left home at 15, but she doesn't mind. She's better off on her own. She works as a dinner lady at her son's school and has no idea where her humdrum life is heading. But one summer's night, a hypnotist inadvertently unlocks memories of her childhood, and her whole life is turned upside down.
At first, these new memories mean nothing to her, but as Melody slowly begins to piece together the real story of her childhood, she begins to uncover mystery after mystery and wonders if she'll ever know the truth about her past...
When she was 9 years old, Melody Browne's house burned down, and it took all of her childhood memories with it. Now she's a single mother of a teenage boy living in Central London. She hasn't seen her parents since she left home at 15, but she doesn't mind. She's better off on her own. She works as a dinner lady at her son's school and has no idea where her humdrum life is heading. But one summer's night, a hypnotist inadvertently unlocks memories of her childhood, and her whole life is turned upside down.
At first, these new memories mean nothing to her, but as Melody slowly begins to piece together the real story of her childhood, she begins to uncover mystery after mystery and wonders if she'll ever know the truth about her past...
Audible Audio
First published January 1, 2009
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About the author
Lisa Jewell
45 books89.9k followersLISA JEWELL was born in London in 1968.
Her first novel, Ralph's Party, was the best- selling debut novel of 1999. Since then she has written another twenty novels, most recently a number of dark psychological thrillers, including The Girls, Then She Was Gone, The Family Upstairs and The Night She Disappeared.
Lisa is a New York Times and Sunday Times number one bestselling author who has been published worldwide in over twenty-five languages. She lives in north London with her husband, two teenage daughters and the best dog in the world.
Lisa's Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/LisaJewelloff...
Her first novel, Ralph's Party, was the best- selling debut novel of 1999. Since then she has written another twenty novels, most recently a number of dark psychological thrillers, including The Girls, Then She Was Gone, The Family Upstairs and The Night She Disappeared.
Lisa is a New York Times and Sunday Times number one bestselling author who has been published worldwide in over twenty-five languages. She lives in north London with her husband, two teenage daughters and the best dog in the world.
Lisa's Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/LisaJewelloff...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,295 reviews
March 11, 2022
This is another great reading experience! Dear Ms. Jewell ‘s amazing books never disappoint me!
I realized this is one of her old time works: its genre is a little different from her regular suspense books, this is mostly women’s fiction and mystery but it’s filled with true emotions wrench your hearts and it directly speaks with your soul.
And Melody Browne is so much likable heroine you can honestly resonate with. Her journey to discover herself by gathering pieces of her missing past hooks you from the beginning and time traveling between back and forth turn into a satisfying, spectacular wild train ride. Both the present and past stories of her are intriguing, capturing.
Let’s give you the introductions about the storyline to draw a neater picture:
Melody Browne suffers from traumatic experience: when she was nine, her family house was burned to the ground. No family belongings or any specific memory left behind.
Then she grew up, raising her 17 years old son Ed alone because her family rejected to contact with her when she decided to keep her baby at her young age .
She still seems pleased with her life even though Stacey- her best friend she’s met when she was also a teen mother like her moved on her life, married , with three kids.
Melody barely makes ends meet, working her son’s school cafeteria but everything suddenly changes when she accepts to go on a date with Ben. They attend to a hypnotist’s show and she finds herself at the stage. She passes out and as soon as she wakes up she starts to remember some pieces of her missing past which drags her to the out of the country to face with her estranged parents to fill the blanks about her own life.
It’s truly impressive family drama with bunch of deeply layered, impeccably developed and memorable characters. I always enjoy the powerful writing style of the author so it was another hit for me to highly recommend.
I’m giving my four emotional, poignant, amnesiac, mysterious, motherhood, family, gripping stars!
Special thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
I realized this is one of her old time works: its genre is a little different from her regular suspense books, this is mostly women’s fiction and mystery but it’s filled with true emotions wrench your hearts and it directly speaks with your soul.
And Melody Browne is so much likable heroine you can honestly resonate with. Her journey to discover herself by gathering pieces of her missing past hooks you from the beginning and time traveling between back and forth turn into a satisfying, spectacular wild train ride. Both the present and past stories of her are intriguing, capturing.
Let’s give you the introductions about the storyline to draw a neater picture:
Melody Browne suffers from traumatic experience: when she was nine, her family house was burned to the ground. No family belongings or any specific memory left behind.
Then she grew up, raising her 17 years old son Ed alone because her family rejected to contact with her when she decided to keep her baby at her young age .
She still seems pleased with her life even though Stacey- her best friend she’s met when she was also a teen mother like her moved on her life, married , with three kids.
Melody barely makes ends meet, working her son’s school cafeteria but everything suddenly changes when she accepts to go on a date with Ben. They attend to a hypnotist’s show and she finds herself at the stage. She passes out and as soon as she wakes up she starts to remember some pieces of her missing past which drags her to the out of the country to face with her estranged parents to fill the blanks about her own life.
It’s truly impressive family drama with bunch of deeply layered, impeccably developed and memorable characters. I always enjoy the powerful writing style of the author so it was another hit for me to highly recommend.
I’m giving my four emotional, poignant, amnesiac, mysterious, motherhood, family, gripping stars!
Special thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
February 13, 2021
Ever have one of those days where you jump on a book only to say "oh no, I didn't mean it." Well, that happened here... but let me explain. I've read many of Lisa Jewell's books, and I do want to read all of them in the next few years; however, I saw this one on NetGalley and requested it, believing it was a new release. Then I read the description and realized my error, so I tried to cancel the request, which you cannot do on NetGalley, as far as I know. Since not reading it wasn't an option (OCD right here), I put it in my queue and finished it this week.
I would've read it in time, yet fate must've wanted it read sooner. Fate is sometimes smarter than me. She won here... wow, this was a great book. I had some struggles connecting in the beginning, as the tale starts as erratically as Melody Browne's memory. There are a lot of characters and some strange moments where she stops investigating... and I was like... 'No, honey... Google that now, you'll have your answer.' But I decided to just let it go and enjoy the story as it unfolded. When I did that around 15 to 20% into the book, it became so much stronger.
Melody is 32 and has no memory before she was 8 years old. Truthfully, I don't either, and I've always worried that I've blocked something out. I generally have no memory before 18, but this isn't about me. Back to the real drama queen. Melody visits a hypnotist on a date, and a memory is triggered. From there, this becomes a search of all her history but in the present day... yet in opposite chapters, readers see what's happening to Melody before she was 8 as well as other characters who seemingly have no connection. In the end, it all becomes quite clear.
As a whole, this is a good book. In parts, I felt there were too many contrivances and missed opportunities. I know we need to let the story develop at the narrator's pace, but in many moments, I wanted to stop the book and say, but "wait, what about..." and when that happened, it took me out of the story. For that reason, I deducted a star... also because the author's later books are much tighter, so I had to show the growth. Still, the writing is beautiful and has so much detail. All of which is interesting and keeps me invested. Much of it takes place in the UK, and there are lots of times when I just don't understand how American and Britain can be so different when it comes to language and raising children. Not in a bad way, but I had to really analyze it to understand what was happening.
As a story, it's ripe with conflict and emotion. Melody and her past have a war to fight together, and it's interesting to see how it all comes together. I'm glad I accidentally downloaded the book as it was perfect for this snowy weekend. Now... when is the next one really dropping, Ms. Jewell? :)
I would've read it in time, yet fate must've wanted it read sooner. Fate is sometimes smarter than me. She won here... wow, this was a great book. I had some struggles connecting in the beginning, as the tale starts as erratically as Melody Browne's memory. There are a lot of characters and some strange moments where she stops investigating... and I was like... 'No, honey... Google that now, you'll have your answer.' But I decided to just let it go and enjoy the story as it unfolded. When I did that around 15 to 20% into the book, it became so much stronger.
Melody is 32 and has no memory before she was 8 years old. Truthfully, I don't either, and I've always worried that I've blocked something out. I generally have no memory before 18, but this isn't about me. Back to the real drama queen. Melody visits a hypnotist on a date, and a memory is triggered. From there, this becomes a search of all her history but in the present day... yet in opposite chapters, readers see what's happening to Melody before she was 8 as well as other characters who seemingly have no connection. In the end, it all becomes quite clear.
As a whole, this is a good book. In parts, I felt there were too many contrivances and missed opportunities. I know we need to let the story develop at the narrator's pace, but in many moments, I wanted to stop the book and say, but "wait, what about..." and when that happened, it took me out of the story. For that reason, I deducted a star... also because the author's later books are much tighter, so I had to show the growth. Still, the writing is beautiful and has so much detail. All of which is interesting and keeps me invested. Much of it takes place in the UK, and there are lots of times when I just don't understand how American and Britain can be so different when it comes to language and raising children. Not in a bad way, but I had to really analyze it to understand what was happening.
As a story, it's ripe with conflict and emotion. Melody and her past have a war to fight together, and it's interesting to see how it all comes together. I'm glad I accidentally downloaded the book as it was perfect for this snowy weekend. Now... when is the next one really dropping, Ms. Jewell? :)
February 23, 2021
3.5*
Melody Browne Is about to embark on a journey into her past. Is she prepared for where it will lead her?
Melody is a single mom in her thirties, raising her seventeen year old son. At the age of nine Melody suffered a tragic event when her home burnt to the ground. It left her with no possessions and no memories of anything before this time.
We’ve all experienced slightly embarrassing first dates🙋🏻♀️. But Melody’s may be the worst.
With her date at her side, they attend a show featuring a hypnotist. Melody is then chosen from the audience to participate. During the act Melody faints in front of everyone (Eeks!🙈). When she awakens …a window into Melody’s past has been opened.
Told in two timelines, a picture of Melody’s childhood starts to take form. Perhaps this is not the upbringing she imagined.
This is a re-release of a much earlier work of Lisa Jewell. The writing is recognizable but you can see the growth this author has experienced over the years.
Though this was not a favorite from Ms. Jewell, I am glad I had the opportunity to read one of her older publications.
A buddy read with Susanne.
Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...
Thank you to Ariele Friedman at Atria Books for my copy.
Melody Browne Is about to embark on a journey into her past. Is she prepared for where it will lead her?
Melody is a single mom in her thirties, raising her seventeen year old son. At the age of nine Melody suffered a tragic event when her home burnt to the ground. It left her with no possessions and no memories of anything before this time.
We’ve all experienced slightly embarrassing first dates🙋🏻♀️. But Melody’s may be the worst.
With her date at her side, they attend a show featuring a hypnotist. Melody is then chosen from the audience to participate. During the act Melody faints in front of everyone (Eeks!🙈). When she awakens …a window into Melody’s past has been opened.
Told in two timelines, a picture of Melody’s childhood starts to take form. Perhaps this is not the upbringing she imagined.
This is a re-release of a much earlier work of Lisa Jewell. The writing is recognizable but you can see the growth this author has experienced over the years.
Though this was not a favorite from Ms. Jewell, I am glad I had the opportunity to read one of her older publications.
A buddy read with Susanne.
Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...
Thank you to Ariele Friedman at Atria Books for my copy.
April 9, 2021
Well, hot dancing dang!! Lindsay and I are doing a little dancing because we finally read a book together that we both enjoyed!!! Well not a perfect read for us it's one of the better books we have read in awhile!!!
My first book by Lisa Jewell was I Found You and I have loved every one published after that. I was a bit worried about whether I would like The Truth About Melody Browne because it's Lisa Jewell's older work, and she has developed more of a darker side to her stories and characters now. Well, I am happy to say even though I didn't enjoy this one as much as her latest books because I have also developed a darker side to me as a reader, her signature writing style won me over. She has grown more as a writer with layering those signature reveals, twists, and turns that come just at the right time to figure things out with her characters, and she has moved forward with developing her plots and characters as times change.
I was pleasantly surprised to see Lisa Jewell take a darker turn in The Family Upstairs with the storyline and the characters. The Truth About Melody Browne has some similarities to it but is a lighter, easier read with colorful, rich, likeable characters. While there is a little dark to the story, drama drives the story forward, and it has a heartwarming tone to it with the likeable characters. I thought it was a refreshing change of pace that still had suspense and tension to keep me engaged in the story.
I started off reading this one and then decided to switch to the audiobook. I thought the narrator did a great job pulling me into the story. I think I enjoyed the story more by listening to it, and I found it an easy one to get back on track with the story when my mind wanders away a bit. I highly recommend listening to it.
I received a copy through NetGalley from the publisher.
My first book by Lisa Jewell was I Found You and I have loved every one published after that. I was a bit worried about whether I would like The Truth About Melody Browne because it's Lisa Jewell's older work, and she has developed more of a darker side to her stories and characters now. Well, I am happy to say even though I didn't enjoy this one as much as her latest books because I have also developed a darker side to me as a reader, her signature writing style won me over. She has grown more as a writer with layering those signature reveals, twists, and turns that come just at the right time to figure things out with her characters, and she has moved forward with developing her plots and characters as times change.
I was pleasantly surprised to see Lisa Jewell take a darker turn in The Family Upstairs with the storyline and the characters. The Truth About Melody Browne has some similarities to it but is a lighter, easier read with colorful, rich, likeable characters. While there is a little dark to the story, drama drives the story forward, and it has a heartwarming tone to it with the likeable characters. I thought it was a refreshing change of pace that still had suspense and tension to keep me engaged in the story.
I started off reading this one and then decided to switch to the audiobook. I thought the narrator did a great job pulling me into the story. I think I enjoyed the story more by listening to it, and I found it an easy one to get back on track with the story when my mind wanders away a bit. I highly recommend listening to it.
I received a copy through NetGalley from the publisher.
April 9, 2021
3.5 stars.
This is an older publication from Lisa Jewell that was recently rereleased. As with all of Lisa Jewell’s work, this was compulsively readable and addictively enjoyable. It had “The Family Upstairs” vibes to it (which I loved!) with a lighter feel. I really enjoyed the Past and Present day timelines. They kept the pace and flow engaging and enticing.
I really enjoyed following these unique and intriguing characters along their journey. The mysterious plot had a constant feel of tension and suspense that kept me curious and flipping the pages.
Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for the review copy!
This is an older publication from Lisa Jewell that was recently rereleased. As with all of Lisa Jewell’s work, this was compulsively readable and addictively enjoyable. It had “The Family Upstairs” vibes to it (which I loved!) with a lighter feel. I really enjoyed the Past and Present day timelines. They kept the pace and flow engaging and enticing.
I really enjoyed following these unique and intriguing characters along their journey. The mysterious plot had a constant feel of tension and suspense that kept me curious and flipping the pages.
Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for the review copy!
April 22, 2020
This book was excellent, moved easily between the past and the present. Well written, flowed naturally and a great story line that kept me hooked throughout. Pretty sure this is going to start a love affair with this author.
March 10, 2012
The truth is...
I found this boring.
I found this boring.
March 8, 2024
3.5 stars
Londoner Melody Browne experienced a trauma at the age of nine, when a housefire destroyed the Browne family home and left Melody with almost no possessions and no memories of her childhood.
Melody grew up, became a teenage single mother.....
and raised her now 17-year-old son Ed alone.
Melody's best friend is Stacey, a girl she met when they were both pregnant teens.
Stacey went on to become a married mother of three but Melody - who fell out with her parents over having the baby - never felt the urge to expand her tiny family of two.
Melody is now contentedly thrumming along, working as a cafeteria lady in her son's school, when a quirky event changes her life. Melody meets a gentleman named Ben on a bus, accepts an invitation to go out, and attends a hypnotist show.
Melody is randomly selected to participate on stage, and is mesmerized into behaving like a gassy five-year-old child. After giving the audience a good laugh, Melody faints, and wakes up with random recollections of her early years.
Melody feels compelled to fill in the newfound flashbacks, an undertaking that (at least figuratively) takes her across England and beyond. Melody comes to find that her connections extend beyond her estranged parents, and sets out to become re-acquainted with her past.
The story skips back and forth from the present to the past, so we observe Melody's young years, and see how her early experiences affected Melody's life going forward.
As she makes surprising discoveries, Melody confides in her friend Stacey, who urges her BFF to move ahead with her life, maybe even allow a man in. Melody's son Ed - a well-adjusted teenager - is also a wonderful support.
As the story unfolds we meet a group of characters who exhibit a wide array of behaviors: praiseworthy, generous, selfish, uncaring, foolish, troubled, etc. It's more than the average child has to deal with, and helps explain Melody's amnesia. (There's no child sex abuse in the book, in case you need to know.)
The most significant themes of the book are parent-child bonds and the importance of families - be they conventional or off the beaten path.
Some parts of the story strain credulity, but I enjoyed the novel, which is touching, heart-rending, and inspiring - like the journey through any complicated life might be.
You cab follow my reviews at http://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com/
March 24, 2021
The Truth About Melody Browne was initially published in 2009, but this is the first time in the US. I am obsessed with this cover- the image, the font, the size, the shape! Love it!
Onto what’s inside! Lisa Jewell’s earlier books were more contemporary fiction than her thrillers of late; however, Melody’s story includes a compelling mystery, so it’s a mash-up of the two genres she’s written in.
Melody is in her thirties and cannot remember anything that happened before her ninth birthday. Her memory loss is related to her childhood home burning down. What a trauma. Something happens and slowly Melody begins to remember, and the past unravels.
I enjoyed this emotional mystery and was fully invested in Melody’s story! Jewell fans will definitely want to have this one on your shelves.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
Onto what’s inside! Lisa Jewell’s earlier books were more contemporary fiction than her thrillers of late; however, Melody’s story includes a compelling mystery, so it’s a mash-up of the two genres she’s written in.
Melody is in her thirties and cannot remember anything that happened before her ninth birthday. Her memory loss is related to her childhood home burning down. What a trauma. Something happens and slowly Melody begins to remember, and the past unravels.
I enjoyed this emotional mystery and was fully invested in Melody’s story! Jewell fans will definitely want to have this one on your shelves.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
February 23, 2021
Abandonment. Repressed Memories. Dysfunctional Families.
As a child, something happened to Melody Browne. There was a fire and everything was lost. She has no recollection of the fire or her life before it.
Now, Melody is a single mother who lives in London with her teenaged son. Life is good, until the night she goes out on a date, is hypnotized, and faints. Thereafter she has “flashes” of memory from her life before, which she can’t escape from and because of it, is forced to regain her memory, regardless of where it leads.
Switching between the past and the present, this tale will bring you to tears with everything Melody goes through to face the horrors of her past. It will, however, also make you smile at times, as Melody is the epitome of strength and resilience.
Another buddy read with Kaceey.
Thank you to Ariele Friedman at Atria Books and Lisa Jewell for the mass market paperback.
Published on Goodreads on 2.23.21.
As a child, something happened to Melody Browne. There was a fire and everything was lost. She has no recollection of the fire or her life before it.
Now, Melody is a single mother who lives in London with her teenaged son. Life is good, until the night she goes out on a date, is hypnotized, and faints. Thereafter she has “flashes” of memory from her life before, which she can’t escape from and because of it, is forced to regain her memory, regardless of where it leads.
Switching between the past and the present, this tale will bring you to tears with everything Melody goes through to face the horrors of her past. It will, however, also make you smile at times, as Melody is the epitome of strength and resilience.
Another buddy read with Kaceey.
Thank you to Ariele Friedman at Atria Books and Lisa Jewell for the mass market paperback.
Published on Goodreads on 2.23.21.
January 22, 2022
Melody Brown is thirty-three years old. When was nine years old a fire destroyed her home. She and her parents were saved, but she has no memory of her early childhood from before the fire. She grew to be a rebellious teenager. When she found herself pregnant and abandoned by the father of her baby, her parents were angry, disappointed, and hurt – and, at the age of 15, Melody found herself on her own, giving birth to a baby boy, Edward. She raised her son alone in a Council housing flat near Covent Garden and remained estranged from her parents, working as a dinner lady at Edward’s school and devoting herself entirely to raising her son. She met her best friend at a home for unwed expectant mothers and they remained close friends since that time. Her friend’s life evolved in one direction, meeting and marrying a man who raised her daughter as his own. She had two more children and a happy family life. Melody’s life went in a different direction as she remained aloof to others, and devoted herself entirely to providing a loving warm home environment for her son.
When Melody agreed to meet with a man after an inevitable meet-cute, her son passes on tickets that his friend gave him for orchestra seats to a performance of a famous hypnotist. This is a first date in donkey’s years for Melody, and it didn’t go as expected. She was chosen to participate in the first act which resulted in her fainting on stage when coming out of her trance…..
….and that is when the book becomes truly interesting, as a switch of sorts gets turned on in Melody’s brain and she begins to have flashes of different people, tastes, and events that make no sense to her.
The rest of the book covers a two-week period where Melody begins to delve into a myriad of memory snapshots which fill in the blanks of a life that she lived before the age of nine, and it wasn’t a very happy one.
I won’t spoil. I found the book absorbing and thought-provoking, parts were sad and parts were heartwarming. It is not steeped in atmosphere, nor is it a furious page-flipper or twisty suspense thriller. By the end of the novel, Melody opens many doors to memories of her younger childho0d, recalling people and events that were lost to her. She contacted as many persons as she could from her past - all of whom were happy to finally learn what happened to Melody, and who revealed much information to which a 7 year old child would not be privy, nor would comprehend (mature and intuitive as she was for her age). I was disappointed in her reunion with her mother, Gloria Browne. I felt that after raising her own child, Melody might have cut the woman some slack, especially after learning the circumstances of her early childhood. The book was originally published in 2009 and recently released in audio. The audio version was very good and Lisa Jewell’s talent for story-telling shone throughout.
When Melody agreed to meet with a man after an inevitable meet-cute, her son passes on tickets that his friend gave him for orchestra seats to a performance of a famous hypnotist. This is a first date in donkey’s years for Melody, and it didn’t go as expected. She was chosen to participate in the first act which resulted in her fainting on stage when coming out of her trance…..
….and that is when the book becomes truly interesting, as a switch of sorts gets turned on in Melody’s brain and she begins to have flashes of different people, tastes, and events that make no sense to her.
The rest of the book covers a two-week period where Melody begins to delve into a myriad of memory snapshots which fill in the blanks of a life that she lived before the age of nine, and it wasn’t a very happy one.
I won’t spoil. I found the book absorbing and thought-provoking, parts were sad and parts were heartwarming. It is not steeped in atmosphere, nor is it a furious page-flipper or twisty suspense thriller. By the end of the novel, Melody opens many doors to memories of her younger childho0d, recalling people and events that were lost to her. She contacted as many persons as she could from her past - all of whom were happy to finally learn what happened to Melody, and who revealed much information to which a 7 year old child would not be privy, nor would comprehend (mature and intuitive as she was for her age). I was disappointed in her reunion with her mother, Gloria Browne. I felt that after raising her own child, Melody might have cut the woman some slack, especially after learning the circumstances of her early childhood. The book was originally published in 2009 and recently released in audio. The audio version was very good and Lisa Jewell’s talent for story-telling shone throughout.
February 8, 2021
Even though Lisa Jewell is one of my favorite writers, this book wasn't even on my radar until a few weeks ago. (Note to self: Look up an author's catalog on Goodreads instead of assuming your well-stocked library has every book) The Truth About Melody Browne was first published in 2009. This book is more of a regular fiction read when compared to her more recent novels. However, a good portion of the story is unraveling the mystery of Melody's childhood. It's worth a read if you are a fan of the author.
When Melody Browne was 9 years old, her family's home burned down and it left her with no memories prior to the tragedy. She is now in her early 30s and a single mother living in London. While attending a hypnotist show, Melody faints onstage. And that jumpstarts her desire to learn more about her past. The story alternates between the present day and key moments in Melody's life when she was a child.
Melody is a character I felt very protective of and I'm sure that is in large part due to the fact you see her as a child for half of the story. The young Melody is the driving force but adult Melody is interesting too. Her kid, who she singlehandedly raised, will be leaving the nest soon and so she is at a point in which she will need to redefine her life because she is no longer needed in the day to day mothering role. And so you have this typical storyline of a woman trying to find her place in life along with this slightly bizarre, soap opera amnesia plot but yet they both work well together.
I did have some mixed feelings about the last few chapters of the book. In general, the current day storyline wasn't as fully developed as Melody's childhood. And in the end it felt like the author was rushing to wrap everything up.
Overall, a good read for me. Even though this is an early work from the author, the writing talent I have come to love was present throughout. I've said this before in my reviews of her books, she's a solid storyteller.
Thank you to Atria Books for providing me with a copy of this book! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
When Melody Browne was 9 years old, her family's home burned down and it left her with no memories prior to the tragedy. She is now in her early 30s and a single mother living in London. While attending a hypnotist show, Melody faints onstage. And that jumpstarts her desire to learn more about her past. The story alternates between the present day and key moments in Melody's life when she was a child.
Melody is a character I felt very protective of and I'm sure that is in large part due to the fact you see her as a child for half of the story. The young Melody is the driving force but adult Melody is interesting too. Her kid, who she singlehandedly raised, will be leaving the nest soon and so she is at a point in which she will need to redefine her life because she is no longer needed in the day to day mothering role. And so you have this typical storyline of a woman trying to find her place in life along with this slightly bizarre, soap opera amnesia plot but yet they both work well together.
I did have some mixed feelings about the last few chapters of the book. In general, the current day storyline wasn't as fully developed as Melody's childhood. And in the end it felt like the author was rushing to wrap everything up.
Overall, a good read for me. Even though this is an early work from the author, the writing talent I have come to love was present throughout. I've said this before in my reviews of her books, she's a solid storyteller.
Thank you to Atria Books for providing me with a copy of this book! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
February 6, 2021
3.5 stars, rounded up
This is a reprint of an older title of Lisa Jewell's and it made me smile remembering the women's fiction books of hers I have read in the past and really enjoyed (A Friend of the Family, Ralph's Party, etc.) I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Melody.
The general premise of the story is that Melody doesn't remember anything about her childhood prior to a house fire when she was seven years old. After getting pregnant at 15, she has been estranged from her parents, raising her now-almost-18-year-old son alone. She goes on a date with a nice guy and they attend a hypnotist show, while there Melody faints and then starts to remember bits and pieces of her past, which aren't exactly part of the childhood she remembers. As the weeks go by, she begins to put things together and learns a lot about herself and her family.
Once I got to the end, I sighed with satisfaction. The story comes full circle and Melody remembers and learns about her childhood--the good and the bad. It's both touching and meaningful as she finds her family--both the ones she is related to by blood and the ones that have become like family, and she is all the better for it in the end.
Delightful book and just what I needed to read today.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
This is a reprint of an older title of Lisa Jewell's and it made me smile remembering the women's fiction books of hers I have read in the past and really enjoyed (A Friend of the Family, Ralph's Party, etc.) I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Melody.
The general premise of the story is that Melody doesn't remember anything about her childhood prior to a house fire when she was seven years old. After getting pregnant at 15, she has been estranged from her parents, raising her now-almost-18-year-old son alone. She goes on a date with a nice guy and they attend a hypnotist show, while there Melody faints and then starts to remember bits and pieces of her past, which aren't exactly part of the childhood she remembers. As the weeks go by, she begins to put things together and learns a lot about herself and her family.
Once I got to the end, I sighed with satisfaction. The story comes full circle and Melody remembers and learns about her childhood--the good and the bad. It's both touching and meaningful as she finds her family--both the ones she is related to by blood and the ones that have become like family, and she is all the better for it in the end.
Delightful book and just what I needed to read today.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
April 4, 2024
Poor Melody Browne. She has lived her life adrift, just she and her almost eighteen year old son. She is estranged from her parents and her son’s father walked out when he found out she was pregnant at fifteen. She goes on a first date and is chosen from the audience to be hypnotized. After that…all hell breaks loose for her. She starts having flashbacks that seem real…little snippets of a life unknown…are they real?? What happened to her??? Who is Melody Browne?
Read this and you will find out!
Read this and you will find out!
January 31, 2024
My first unfinished book of 2021. This story fell flat for me and I could not connect with any of the characters. I wanted to like it but at 30% I was bored and felt like it wasn’t going anywhere. Just not for me.
October 9, 2022
Well, I managed to finish it, by the will of "I've got almost all the way through it!" It was so terribly boring, and even though it was, I thought it was going somewhere at one point and it just.. didn't. It had a little potential but I wouldn't recommend it. Sorry!
Update 2022 - I've read and enjoyed many more books by Lisa Jewell four years later this is still my least favourite one, but we all have to start somewhere right.
Update 2022 - I've read and enjoyed many more books by Lisa Jewell four years later this is still my least favourite one, but we all have to start somewhere right.
April 11, 2024
The Truth About Melody Browne by Lisa Jewell was a book I knew very little about and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. This book was written in dual timelines which was easy to follow the story flowed easily and it had me intrigued all of which made for great reading. Recommended.
March 19, 2023
The Truth About Melody Browne concentrates on Melody, a young woman who has spent her life alone since leaving home at 15, after discovering she was pregnant. Fast forward 18 years and a date with a guy for the first time in years leads Melody to a hypnotist show, where she is hypnotised and subsequently passes out. On waking Melody suddenly starts experiencing memories from her past, but a past that she doesn't recognise as her own. As the story progresses, Melody learns more and more about this new past and the people in it. You share in her confusion as her life is revealed, not always fully and not always in order, but always with more intrigued attached, which certainly makes you want to keep reading.
As Melody finally pieces together her early life, those years before the age of 9 (the earliest age she has any recollection of), you start to get a real sense of who she is and why, as a youngster, she would have consciously blocked out the memories of her past. What makes this book stand out is the fact that you care about Melody and her story. She starts off as a closed book and you can almost see her unfurl as she learns more about who she really is.
As Melody finally pieces together her early life, those years before the age of 9 (the earliest age she has any recollection of), you start to get a real sense of who she is and why, as a youngster, she would have consciously blocked out the memories of her past. What makes this book stand out is the fact that you care about Melody and her story. She starts off as a closed book and you can almost see her unfurl as she learns more about who she really is.
June 5, 2021
Audio - 4 Stars
Story - 3.5 Stars
Story - 3.5 Stars
August 21, 2017
What a beautiful, touching story! As usual, Lisa Jewell has created characters that seem to leap out of the pages of her book, and became so real to me as the story progressed that I felt I had known them all my life. Even more so, since we slowly get to discover the truth about Melody’s past, feel her joy and her pain, which at times broke my heart – expect to cry! There is a rich cast of supporting characters which defy any stereotype and add a depth to the story lacking in many other books. It shows what a skilled, accomplished writer Jewell is, and why she is firmly embedded on my list of favourite authors.
Written in a dual time format, the story starts with Melody Brown’s life in the present, and it may seem a bit slow and run-of-the-mill for the first few pages – but don’t be fooled! The rest of the story jumps back and forth between Melody’s past (starting with her earliest memories) and the present, as she slowly uncovers the truth about her childhood. Whilst this is a format that can feel disjointed in some books, Jewell marries the two stories together so cleverly that it worked perfectly for me. a) I never got bored with one of the stories, wishing to jump back to the other; and b) I never got confused as to what period she was relating to, even with the audio version. And whilst I am talking about the audio version, I must give credit to Julie Maisey, who lent her voice to the characters and made them come to life for me. I loved Maisey’s ability to give each character their unique voice, especially the small Melody Brown, whose voice I loved!
I could say a lot more about this book, but it is best delved into without spoilers, so I will leave it at: read it, you won’t be sorry. A touching, thought provoking and emotional read by a writer on top of her game. I loved it!
Written in a dual time format, the story starts with Melody Brown’s life in the present, and it may seem a bit slow and run-of-the-mill for the first few pages – but don’t be fooled! The rest of the story jumps back and forth between Melody’s past (starting with her earliest memories) and the present, as she slowly uncovers the truth about her childhood. Whilst this is a format that can feel disjointed in some books, Jewell marries the two stories together so cleverly that it worked perfectly for me. a) I never got bored with one of the stories, wishing to jump back to the other; and b) I never got confused as to what period she was relating to, even with the audio version. And whilst I am talking about the audio version, I must give credit to Julie Maisey, who lent her voice to the characters and made them come to life for me. I loved Maisey’s ability to give each character their unique voice, especially the small Melody Brown, whose voice I loved!
I could say a lot more about this book, but it is best delved into without spoilers, so I will leave it at: read it, you won’t be sorry. A touching, thought provoking and emotional read by a writer on top of her game. I loved it!
June 5, 2016
What an emotional journey this novel has taken me on.
As the description says, Melody can't remember anything prior to being nine years old. I think in some ways it has held Melody back not knowing and she struggles to fully move on with her life.
The story flicks between present day and to different parts of Melody's past leading up to her being nine. This way we slowly learn along with Melody, what her life was like in those missing years.
This is such a beautifully written novel with a whole array of characters. Each character seems to be quite flawed, some are an absolute joy to read about where as some others, I was cross with, yet my heart went out to them.
There is so much I could say about this book as it truly is wonderful. I don't want to say to much though as I want every bit of Melody's past to be totally un spoilt for any new readers. All I will say is, that it is a story of self discovery that at times maybe heart breaking yet one that as a reader, I wouldn't have missed for the world. It made me feel like a mother hen as I couldn't be anymore prouder of Melody and the person that she was as a child and the beautiful person that she has become in present day. Totally moved me.
As the description says, Melody can't remember anything prior to being nine years old. I think in some ways it has held Melody back not knowing and she struggles to fully move on with her life.
The story flicks between present day and to different parts of Melody's past leading up to her being nine. This way we slowly learn along with Melody, what her life was like in those missing years.
This is such a beautifully written novel with a whole array of characters. Each character seems to be quite flawed, some are an absolute joy to read about where as some others, I was cross with, yet my heart went out to them.
There is so much I could say about this book as it truly is wonderful. I don't want to say to much though as I want every bit of Melody's past to be totally un spoilt for any new readers. All I will say is, that it is a story of self discovery that at times maybe heart breaking yet one that as a reader, I wouldn't have missed for the world. It made me feel like a mother hen as I couldn't be anymore prouder of Melody and the person that she was as a child and the beautiful person that she has become in present day. Totally moved me.
July 10, 2021
This book is a re-release from Lisa Jewell- so although it’s not as dark as her more recent work, there’s still her outstanding character development. Even though it wasn’t quite my thing, I had no trouble reading it right through.. She’s that good! Just know going in that although the main character is trying to solve her own mystery.. It’s not a thriller, definitely reads more like a character study or even women’s lit. Just my opinion. Still if you like an amnesia type story or you’re just a fan of Lisa Jewells writing, this 1 will go down easy (& I thought it was interesting to see where she’s come from.)
December 8, 2022
Story & audio 4.5 stars**
Narrator Antonia Beamish
Narrator Antonia Beamish
February 8, 2012
I loved this, as with many of you on here I too could not put it down and read it in less than 24 hours.
Melody is an ordinary 'dinner lady' with a realistic character, not unlike myself, far from the usual early twenties Irish girl, living in New York, with a handsome successful business man for her love interest blah blah blah, as is the case in many other chick lit's, so it made what in some ways was an unrealistic story into a believable, heart rendering and beautiful account of a lovely little girls struggle to survive a chaotic and at some points terrible childhood.
As a mother this story had me in tears at some points, for example when she overhears her dad and stepmother talking about her future and her dad breaks down while she is sleeping on the nursery floor - any parent would be shouting at the book and struggle to comprehend what they were saying.
I would love for a follow up to this, I would like to know more about her meeting up with ken for a start, and also what happens between her and her adoptive mother, oh, and of course the lovely Ben, this book made me want to hold my children extremely tight and smother them with love, protection and affection.
Melody is an ordinary 'dinner lady' with a realistic character, not unlike myself, far from the usual early twenties Irish girl, living in New York, with a handsome successful business man for her love interest blah blah blah, as is the case in many other chick lit's, so it made what in some ways was an unrealistic story into a believable, heart rendering and beautiful account of a lovely little girls struggle to survive a chaotic and at some points terrible childhood.
As a mother this story had me in tears at some points, for example when she overhears her dad and stepmother talking about her future and her dad breaks down while she is sleeping on the nursery floor - any parent would be shouting at the book and struggle to comprehend what they were saying.
I would love for a follow up to this, I would like to know more about her meeting up with ken for a start, and also what happens between her and her adoptive mother, oh, and of course the lovely Ben, this book made me want to hold my children extremely tight and smother them with love, protection and affection.
May 4, 2021
This book started off very strong, and very interesting. I became very involved with all of the characters, especially that of Melody Browne. But sadly enough, I am left very underwhelmed with the ending...
Throughout this story Melody Browne tries to uncover her past, and she eventually does, but there was no shocking ending or anything that made this read worthwhile. I’m left with too many questions that I did not get answers to. Very unfortunate as I thought this may have been my favorite read by Lisa Jewell.
Throughout this story Melody Browne tries to uncover her past, and she eventually does, but there was no shocking ending or anything that made this read worthwhile. I’m left with too many questions that I did not get answers to. Very unfortunate as I thought this may have been my favorite read by Lisa Jewell.
August 9, 2021
the ending was so boring. why wasn’t there a twist ?
December 12, 2020
5⭐️
This is the kind of book you hug after reading it! I loved it. It was just a mess. So many things happed. Melody’s life had all the mysteries of a great documentary. The things that touched this girl life were absolutely unbelievable. It unraveled like a messed up ball of yarn.
The strength of the book is in the unfolding of the truth and its rich with humanity. I highly recommend this book if you love mystery-suspense and women’s literature with a little romance.
This was an audiobook and I loved the narrator. Very well placed.
This was a library loan from my local library.
This is the kind of book you hug after reading it! I loved it. It was just a mess. So many things happed. Melody’s life had all the mysteries of a great documentary. The things that touched this girl life were absolutely unbelievable. It unraveled like a messed up ball of yarn.
The strength of the book is in the unfolding of the truth and its rich with humanity. I highly recommend this book if you love mystery-suspense and women’s literature with a little romance.
This was an audiobook and I loved the narrator. Very well placed.
This was a library loan from my local library.
June 12, 2024
The Truth About Melody Browne, to be honest, wasn't all that interesting. The premise seemed to hint at something more exciting: a woman in her early 30's goes with her date to a hypnotist show, which accidentally unlocks memories from her forgotten childhood.
But as Melody slowly fills in the missing pieces of her past the truth that is revealed is, not boring exactly, but instead of a big surprise we get just a long and really, really depressing story. The format of the revelations is a strange, confusing choice on the part of the author. We get a flashback that describes a bit of what happened, and then in the next chapter Melody stumbles upon the same information. If this duplication had to exist, it would have been more effective if Melody found something out, and THEN the flashback filled in the details.
A few other quibbles:
Lisa Jewell is a favorite writer of mine. I have enjoyed all of her books that I've read, including this one, even though it wasn't one of her best.
But as Melody slowly fills in the missing pieces of her past the truth that is revealed is, not boring exactly, but instead of a big surprise we get just a long and really, really depressing story. The format of the revelations is a strange, confusing choice on the part of the author. We get a flashback that describes a bit of what happened, and then in the next chapter Melody stumbles upon the same information. If this duplication had to exist, it would have been more effective if Melody found something out, and THEN the flashback filled in the details.
A few other quibbles:
Lisa Jewell is a favorite writer of mine. I have enjoyed all of her books that I've read, including this one, even though it wasn't one of her best.
January 17, 2021
4.75 Stars!
It’s been a long time since a book has made me really cry and here I am, ugly crying. I’m not even sure it was meant to evoke that kind of reaction, but sometimes a book will simply hit at the right feels and cause an emotional reaction.
The Truth About Melody Browne was a compelling domestic mystery that slowly unfolded throughout the duration of the story. It’s not suspenseful in the mystery/thriller kind of way, but suspenseful nonetheless. I anticipated the slowly revealed truth via Melody’s memories, while at the same time, my heart broke for her and the reasons behind her repressed history.
This story was honest, unapologetic, and full of unconventional characters. I enjoyed it so much.
April 11, 2021
Lisa Jewell books seem to serve a purpose in my life. They are easy and relatively enjoyable audios that I can follow despite frequently leaving the room to put away or flip the laundry. My son overheard some of this book and it was only when I described in more detail the plot, that I realized just how much this sounded like a soap opera! Would I recommend this? Probably not, but it was decent, if a little long. 2.75 stars
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