Memory Minefield

by Mel Torrefranca

A seven-day pandemic results in less than one percent of the worldwide population forgetting everything.

Ari Cortez is one of eight memory loss victims from her high school. Although her parents and best friend promise to guide her down a seamless path of self-discovery, their facts about who she was contradict each other, and she struggles to trust them. When Ari finds a letter with risky instructions on how to get her memories back, she jumps on the opportunity.

Jeremy Sargo wakes up to discover that his best friend lost his memories and moved away. Struggling to deal with the sudden isolation, he plans a money-making scheme to distract himself by volunteering for paid research testing as a fake memory loss victim. Jeremy begins to enjoy this new persona, and he takes the scam one step too far.

When the government funds memory loss counseling as part of the Mental Health Initiative Act, Ari and Jeremy cross paths every Tuesday and Saturday afternoon. While Ari struggles to find her memories, Jeremy fights to keep his a secret. But it's only a matter of time before their true identities are exposed.

Genres: Science Fiction, Mystery

127 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 1, 2022

About the author

Mel Torrefranca is an award-winning author from the San Francisco Bay Area, now residing in the jungly mountains of Northern Thailand. Her books feature morally gray characters, bold endings, and a pinch of awkward humor. Mel discovered her passion for writing at the age of seven and published her debut novel Leaving Wishville before graduating from high school. She also drinks way too many lattes.

Reviews

[Mel Torrefranca]

Memory Minefield is coming January 1, 2022 🖤

I wrote this novella a few months after writing the first draft of Capsule in 2020. One year later, I'm finally diving back into the small town of Pentaware, and I'm falling in love with it. For a free eBook of Memory Minefield before it hits the shelves, join the early waitlist here.

This novella is a short read with lighter elements compared to Capsule. If you're a fan of memory loss, heists, and character-driven stories, please add Memory Minefield to your Want To Read list.

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mel’s clear writing style coupled with the intrigue of this story made Memory Minefield an interesting read. The unique concept with clues scattered throughout left me craving answers and continually flipping pages. Despite it not being a long book, depth and backstory was woven throughout each character.

And I also just kinda think Jeremy needs a hug ya feel me???

[Thibault Busschots · Rating 4 out of 5]

Knowing yourself is an important key to happiness. If you know who you are, you can find out what you really want in life and how to get it. This is a story about two young people who don’t really know who they are anymore, as they’re both hanging on to their past. But it’s time to move on, they need to let go of who they were and become who they are now.


There’s a pandemic where a very small percentage of the population suddenly loses their memory. Ari Cortez is one of those unlucky people. She realizes everyone around her is lying to her, like they’re hiding something from her about who she was. When she has a chance to regain her lost memories, she decides to take it. Jeremy Sargo on the other hand has not lost his memories. But he pretended that he did and now he feels forced to live a lie. One has a secret to uncover, the other has a secret to keep. And the truth will come out eventually.


Ari and Jeremy are two people who feel lost in life. Ari’s memories are gone and she’s desperately trying to regain them with a daring heist. Jeremy finds himself trapped, living a lie. And Ari’s heist provides him with a welcome distraction, a temporary way out of the lie he’s living. The heist brings them together but the lies and deceit will tear them apart.


While this story seems to be all about lies and betrayal, it really is a well-written sweet little character-driven story about self-discovery, letting go of the past and friendship. Truth be told, I’m not the biggest fan of the ending but the ride getting there is absolutely worth it and everything gets wrapped up nicely. Easy recommendation.

[Millie Florence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Memory Minefield by Mel Torrefranca is a novella that explores lies, truth, and memories. It’s a quick read, and Mel once again displays her great talent for raising the right questions which pull the reader easily through the story.

From a personal standpoint, the conclusion of the story felt a bit unsatisfying for me. To be fair, I’m generally the sort of person who prefers happy feel-good endings, but I did love Capsule, Mel’s second novel, and its conclusion was very opened ended as well.

I think the characters in Memory Minefield go through disillusionment arcs, rather than the positive change character arcs that Capsule’s protagonists experience. So while both stories end on a bittersweet and open-ended note, Capsule feels more hopeful, while Memory Minefield feels a bit more jaded.

There’s nothing wrong with this, it’s just not my personal cup of tea, and I still enjoyed the story. The writing is masterful, the world is vivid and the themes and characters are carefully crafted. As usual, Mel has created a high-quality book.

[Diya · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a HUGE fan of Mel Torrefranca's YouTube channel (If you haven't come across it, you should check it out). She's an inspirational author with incredible talent and the rare gift of staying motivated. Although she has written two other novels, Memory Minefield was the first of her works that I've read. That being said, I was unfortunately disappointed by the novella.

First, a summary: Ari Cortez is a memory loss victim of this pandemic, struggling to find a normal life. But with everyone telling her different versions of who she used to be, Ari has to trust herself to discover the truth. Jeremy Sargo, who is suffering from the loss of his best friend, fakes being a memory victim for money. The two people meet in a memory loss therapy session and both help each other regain their lost identities.

Let me start simple: The novella really could have been amazing. The premise is fascinating and the plot is fast-paced and well thought out. Mel has put a lot of thought into this. But I felt the execution of the book felt lazy and underdeveloped.

In terms of plot, this story was super unexpected; pretty much all the plot twists surprised me, and I liked how the story ended. I think it succeeded in staying true to the theme of truth vs. lies throughout.

On the other hand, I have MAJOR complaints about the character development in this book. Most of the characters feel one-dimensional and even in the dialogue, everyone sounds the same.

Ari, specifically, doesn't have any strengths or weaknesses. She lacks the personality and flair that is necessary to connect with her as a character and as a result, I find that her story doesn't particularly resonate with me. That being said, this isn't necessarily a problem. Ari's whole dilemma is that she is a memory loss victim; her entire arc is struggling with her identity. As a reader, I can forgive Ari for not having a personality at the start of the book. However, even by the end, Ari fails to change or develop in any way. She comes across as a side character in her own story in some ways. That is, I cared more about the events of the novella than how they affected Ari. This is a problem, considering Ari is the main protagonist.

On the contrary, I think Jeremy was a character who was portrayed well, especially the way his arc progressed throughout the story. While in the beginning, much of the subtlety with Jeremy's internal conflict is lost (the majority of the writing in this book breaks the traditional rule of "show, don't tell"), by the end I do feel as though Jeremy has been changed by the events in the story and that his ending, while bittersweet, makes sense in the context of the story.

One more thing that I was disappointed about with the novella is the lack of worldbuilding. I think world-building would have made this story come to life, especially since the premise has so much potential to expand. The entire plot is based around this "memory pandemic," but the scale of what the main characters are going through is unclear because we are not given a chance to see how the pandemic has affected other people or society as a whole. If someone asked me why Mel chose to focus on these two characters, in particular, the truth is I would have no idea what to say. Their stories don't fit into any sort of bigger picture.

Overall, I think Memory Minefield was a mixed novella, some parts were good, others not so great. Even though this review is not the most positive, I will say that reading this book will not change the way I see Mel as an author. She's talented, hard-working, determined and I've seen her deliver before. Even if I feel as though her novella did not reach its full potential, I do not doubt that her next works (including an upcoming dystopian trilogy) will continue to build on her skills. I look forward to reading more of Mel's work in the future!

[Nayraaaaa.67 · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars for a perfect novella that've been accompanying me days before new year.

Thank you for the author and the publisher, Lost Island Press for providing me this ARC on Bookfunnel.

Basically, I've been waiting to be Mel's book ARC since 2020 (but couldn't get the spot, lol) and this was her first book I read before it was released. Yes, I am completely happy about it.

Mel has a very clear yet light writing style that doesn't really take me time to understand each sentence of it, it was easy to read it in one sitting (even though it really take me a lot of time to read it, due to a bunch of reason interrupting my time on reading this). Also, she executed this novella quite flawless-ly. But something that also really intrigued me in this book was the themes: hope, heist, truth, lies (and many other themes I didn't notice)

Overall, Memory Minefield has any great things; flawless execution, lovable - likeable - interesting characters, great plot twist. And very recommended for a light read indeed!

[Serena ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beginning was great and filled with mystery. I hoped this would be mystery and “magic” filled like Capsule, but the conclusion was more so because of characters hiding the truth for unnecessary reasons.

And Jeremy... He was probably the most interesting character yet I think his “crazy” wasn’t just him “running from his problems” as much as him needing actual professional help.

[mya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jeremy was the best. I hope he finds a good friend at his new school.
This book was really intriguing, thought provoking, and fast paced. The only thing I didn’t love was a small writing style thing where instead of just referencing something that happened previously, the quote was repeated in italics. This was kind of repetitive and broke up the flow.

[Leah Giorgio · Rating 4 out of 5]

*no spoilers*
Mel Torrefranca is back at it again with another mysterious and dark book filled with deceit and betrayal! Mel Torrefranca's writing is descriptive and beautifully crafted which creates a vivid scene with dark elements through her work.

I found that the two main characters, Ari and Jeremy, were developed and had distinct character voices. Even without reading which POV the chapter focused on, I could tell right away by the first few lines of every chapter. Jeremy is morally gray while Ari is persistent. They both take many risks on their own so it creates for an interesting dynamic when they work together on the heist.

The only downside about this book is its length. I wish it was longer so readers could further have a grasp on the characters and their inner turmoil & pasts. Other than that, the book was incredible and I can't wait to read more from Mel Torrefranca!

[-May- · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. The characters and settings felt unique, very different to the stories I usually read. I liked how I felt emotionally connected to the characters when I read it because it feels like I can't connect to books as much anymore. I also like that it was straightforward to read and that I didn't expect the plot twists. Overall I recommend anyone to read it even if the book isn't a genre you usually read.

[Wrigley · Rating 3 out of 5]

To me, this was a very unique concept, so I was very excited to read it. I was actually on the beta reading team originally, but due to some difficult things going on in my personal life at the time, I wasn't able to be of much assistance. This time reading I was able to finish the book (clearly) and it was a nice Saturday read. If I'm being honest, I'm not sure if it's anything more than just "nice".
Jeremy was my favorite character due to his more twisted character, but in this story, none of the characters had much depth to them. Yes it was a novella, so there wasn't much time to develop their character, but they felt too lacking.
I liked this story due to its mystery, but because of my view of the characters, I could get bored or distracted often.
The ending twist was surprising as well, which I found as a pleasant surprise. I'm planning on rereading the book though because I felt like I didn't get what was going on in the book.

[Nila Eslit · Rating 3 out of 5]

Memory loss is caused by several factors like sleep deprivation, drugs, or vitamin B-12 deficiency, just to name a few. But, in the case of Ari Cortez and some students, the loss of memory comes in a bizarre manner. Read their story in Mel Torrefranca’s Memory Minefield.

A seven-day phenomenon called the memory loss pandemic hits a community that randomly affects students. It occurs for an uncertain reason. At least eight students suffer, including the teenager Ari Cortez. In just like a snap of a finger, Ari suddenly finds herself not remembering some events in her past. She’s neither involved in any accident nor in anything that can possibly cause an impact on her brain.

On the other hand, a boy from another school sees an opportunity to cash in on the situation. Jeremy Sargo is not a memory loss victim, but he pretends to be one. He learns that a psychiatrist conducts a study on the phenomenon. The psychiatrist announces that she’s willing to pay anyone that agrees to be the subject of her study. So, accompanied by his twin brother, Jeremy visits Dr. Singh and agrees to the psychiatrist’s condition.

Meanwhile, the government promptly conducts memory loss counseling programs in public schools. Albeit unwilling, Ari attends the program at Pentaware High School in deference to her parents’ effort. Besides, she’s intrigued by a letter she got earlier. The unknown sender of the letter promises that Ari will regain her memory as soon as she accomplishes her “mission”.

Jeremy also attends the counseling program at Pentaware High School. He tries his best to remain consistent in his lies. It’s on that program that Ari Cortez and Jeremy Sargo get to know each other. Eventually, the two students strike a deal together. Learn more about this deal and follow their little adventure. Read Memory Minefield.

Memory Minefield: The Book and the Author

Written by Mel Torrefranca, Memory Minefield is a feel-good YA fiction. The story is simple and fast-paced. I acknowledge Mel Torrefranca’s adeptness at making a fantastic story out of otherwise ordinary life. She’s also keen on providing detailed descriptions of the events so that the reader virtually sees them with their own eyes.

What I like the most in the book is the heist part. It is here that the author engages her readers on a higher level. However, I’m just curious why Ari Cortez remembers her parents when she’s supposed to lose her memory. It’s quite odd. Or, does she implies only selective memory loss? The ending is also a bit hanging, especially regarding Ari’s condition.

Overall, I give Memory Minefield a rating of 3 out of 5 stars. But, I still recommend the book to readers 12 – 17 years old.

NOTE: The above review is also posted in The Catalyst.

[Haxel Banks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like how mel describes the first time Ari caught a glimpse of her own self in a mirror. It feels creepy to "wake up" with your memories gone like that.

Its hard not to feel sorry for ari afterwards.
The tremendous confusion of the person she used to be, her parents and her friend Stella, whom were trying to help her but didn't know better.
Each person's description of her past self
only perplex poor Ari further. She didn't know the person to believe. Who is telling the truth and who isn't? Or had she been living a lie all along?

I can't help but emphathise with Jeremy either, the pain he's going through because of his friend rei's memory loss.

At first I thought he'll break out of the lie
he'd gotten himself to, as soon as he got into it, but then as the plot developed I realized how hard it could have been to confess that he's been lying all along, about his own memory loss.

Piper from the memory support group is a side character I admire, for seeing a silver lining in an otherwise horrible situation.
She wasn't as anxious as Ari, Technically, she thinks the remembrance week had granted her wish by wiping away her memories so she could re-read her favorite books for the first time again, funny and true.
Isiah might have appeared cold but deep down he cared for his brother, they might be identical but they are just two different people all along.
Ari, Jeremy, and Stella were all going through a roller coaster, and apparently do not know how to better manage the strange changes or even learn to accept the fact that things are different and move on. Which is fine, really, things like that take time.

I loved the character change at the end. How Ari had let go of that desperation about trying to find her old self. All those missing puzzles, and begin to see the new life ahead of her and all the possibilities.
Lastly, and more enthralling part is when I find out Jeremy had finally visited rei. The fact that he's adopted to deer Creek and even thought the students there are way cooler than the boys at Damon academy puts a smile on my face.

Excellent work Mel.

[em · Rating 4 out of 5]

FULL REVIEW at https://frappesandfiction.com/2022/01...

I’ve been watching Mel Torrefranca’s YouTube channel for a few months and she is so inspiring, so when I saw that her publishing house Lost Island Press was giving away free ebooks of her new novella, I had to download it!

This is the first one of her books that I have read, and I enjoyed it. The concept of a “memory loss pandemic” was really intriguing, and I love how the plot centered around Ari trying to piece together the mystery of her own life through the people around her. You never think about how contradictory other people can be— imagine losing your entire sense of self and then relying on those other people to regain it. That’s such a creative plot.

The writing style was clear, engaging and reflective, and I thought the book did a great job driving home the messages at the end and subtly throughout the story. There was a lot of continuity and callbacks between scenes which I really enjoyed.


Overall this was a fun YA novella though I wish it had been a little longer to give more time to expand on the world and the characters

[Aniket Kadam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mel gets even better at beginnings that get you so invested in the characters right off the bat. Her characters are so thoughtful and surprising and deeply characterised that the novel is one you can't put down.

Exploring the meaning of memory, identity, betrayal and it's consequences Memory Minefield is a thriller in interpersonal tension. Looking at what it means to you and the people around you, to suddenly change.

This is a sci-fi at its best, where the science only sets the stage for the human condition. It leaves you in a surprising place, unexpected from novels in general and bittersweet in its telling. For such a short piece it's so deeply beautiful.

The only thing I had to steel myself for is that the reason why such a thing happened or if it can happen again is left unsaid and untouched. It would've been nice to have resolution on that.

[Bethany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the simple and clear writing style and I thought the two POVs were distinct. However, while the mystery is intriguing in the beginning, I felt that the ending was unclimactic. The character motivations seemed weird to me. I think it would've been better if the book was longer.

I wish the memory loss thing was explained more. Because it isn't, this book is more in the contemporary genre than the sci-fi.

There were also a few confusing parts that I think could've been cleared up with a little extra editing, but I'm not docking stars for that.

Recommended if you like contemporary with sci-fi undertones, morally gray characters, mystery, heists, and non-traditional character arcs.

[Ashmikaa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my second book by the author and needless to say I will be picking up more of her books in the future!
I think the concept of this novella was very interesting, i was skeptical on how it could be executed in a novella form and this book really fulfilled! Having all the clues and lies here and there were super interesting and I’m happy with how it left off. I really enjoyed Ari and Jeremy and their storyline was very satisfactory.
The only reason I’m rating this 4 stars rather than 5 is personal preference. I tend to read novels for the most part, but objectively this was a great story and I’d defiantly recommend it to anyone who wants a quick and interesting read

[Dominic Bachmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this novella. It amazed me how well it delivered its message despite its shorter length. The two main characters, Ari Cortez and Jeremy Sargo have distinct writing styles depending on whose point of view you are reading. Even the supporting characters contribute to the story's depth.

The plot is well-developed, and all loose ends are seamlessly tied up. The author subtly reveals Ari's past, while Jeremy's lies become more complex as the story progresses.

I highly recommend this novella to anyone seeking an engaging and thought-provoking read, as it will definitely deliver.

[Nathania Demecillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping narrative of searching for lost memories and identity, along with fascination as to whether Jeremy will get caught or not. I read this book a few years ago and I absolutely adore it. The dual POVs are so fun to get into. When Ari forgets everything and looks into the mirror only to see a stranger, it is all so interesting with the sensory details of taste. As Jeremy tries to fake his memory loss, you can see that he's struggling to keep it undercover. I especially enjoyed this book because it's one that I was actually able to finish. I definitely recommend it to anyone who likes stories filled with different perspectives, self-discovery, and heists.

[lola ariella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book so quickly, I don't think I've ever read like this before. As if the book just swallowed me whole into the story, which I lived until the very end before leaving.
Mel's writing has amazed me since Capsule. The plots are incredebly intelligent and every detail has a huge impact in the story which is just fascinating to observe.

As someone who loves memory and memory loss as topic in books, this did not disappoint at all and I enjoyed reading this a lot.

[Arctic7X · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd love to see the Heist between Ari and Isaiah play out and have them become friends. That would be an interesting short story or novella to explore. It was a good novella to read, honestly the first book I've finished reading in years.

The story closed all the storylines, but honestly still hungry to hear more of this! I would love to see this universe of a memory loss pandemic explored more! I feel like there are untold stories to dig into (not a sequel, but other victims).

[A.y. Johlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full Review Found Here: https://ayjohlin.wixsite.com/mysite/p...

Memory Minefield's idea and execution of a pandemic causing permanent memory loss was fascinating to read. Plus, I really enjoyed seeing the pandemic from two different perspectives. The choice definitely made for a better story since I was able to understand the effect memory loss would have on a variety of people.

My only major problem with this book was the logical inconsistencies throughout the story. Essentially, Ari genuinely believes that stealing a painting will get her memories back. While I understand that without her memories she may be more gullible, I still wasn't convinced that someone could believe stealing a painting would do anything to help memory loss.

[Keyur Aundhekar · Rating 3 out of 5]

After a long pause in reading this one helped me regain my pace. There are moments in the book where the words symphonize wonderfully making your reading more gripping and takes you into its rabbit hole. In the first few chapters, the perspectives of characters got a little messy to understand but later on, you catch up (read & remember the chapter names).

[Sarah Calaway · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this short novella. It’s a quick read that keeps you turning the pages, wondering what’s going to happen next. I love how character driven the story was and how all the pieces fit like a puzzle. I loved the writing!

[Arthur Ni · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book for free, the review is of my own accord.

I enjoyed this short novella and found the concept quite interesting. A tale of people trying to figure things out, something that we always feel we have to do on our own. I think the only thing that could have been fleshed out a bit more was the ending, but nonetheless was enjoyable and felt complete. I couldn’t put it down as I wanted to know the mystery and find out who Ari was.

[Vollkornbrot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhhhh Mel did it again!!
All the intertwining concepts - It was amazing to read and another unbelievable work from Mel. I loved it so much! The ending did leave me a little sad that Jeremy and Ari wouldn't continue to be together, but it was a satisfying read nonetheless.
5/5 - Amazing!

[Arcanas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy reading it. The plot and characters are interesting. Writing about something related to mental health is not easy. One has to experience, imagine, or conduct research about it to get it at least connected. You did well. I appreciate the hard work you put into this.

[Just Human · Rating 3 out of 5]

once again, just like Capsule it didn't make sense where everything came from.
the writing was great thoo
love mel torrefranca

[anaiah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not a fan of the characters, but Mel crafting such a dark-themed yet easy-to-digest story is absolutely superb. I like it. This is a novella that I would highly recommend to all teen readers.

[Geya · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75