Review of My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares

Summary

Some of you may know Ann Brashares from her famous series, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, but I’m here to tell you about a standalone book she wrote called My Name is Memory. And it’s very different from the Sisterhood. If you’ve ever seen the movie Hancock, it’s the same concept. A couple who is destined to be together, continue to find each other with each lifetime. Sometimes as a couple, sometimes just in passing.

Daniel has “the memory,” the ability to recall past lifetimes, and he can’t forget the first time he saw Sophia. He has followed her for centuries, across continents, just to be with her. But they’ve never been able to stay together for long. When Sophia (or Lucy this time around) finally realizes who Daniel really is, the force that drives them apart each time reappears. If they are ever to spend a lifetime together, they must understand what continues to break them apart each time.

Review

If you’re looking for a quick recommendation, yes, I would definitely recommend this book!

I’ve always loved Ann Brashares. She’s one of my favorite authors, and I think she does really well with love stories. And this one is no different. I especially love the concept, as I’m a sucker for historical fiction, and to see through the eyes of a character what it was like to live in different times is amazing to me.

Daniel shares with the reader what it was like the first time he saw Sophia in 541 AD near Antioch in ancient Greece. He recounts each time after, from 773 AD in Asia Minor to 1918 in England and eventually to 2009 when they meet as teenagers. I love how it feels like hundreds of years have passed over the span of several pages. It makes me feel like I’ve made a lot of progress.

Not only do I enjoy the historical fiction aspect of the story, but I also love the romance story as well. Daniel’s devotion to Sophia and his ability to remember past lives where their lives intercepted makes for an exciting story. And what makes it even more exciting is that it isn’t just a love story.

The force that continues to reappear and threaten their relationship is a soul who also remembers his past lives. However, he has developed the ability to kick other souls out of their bodies and hijack them. He’s also known Sophia for almost as long as Daniel and was once married to her. Although he was incredibly abusive toward her. Not only has Daniel attempted to find Sophia in each lifetime because he loves her, but also because he wants to keep her safe from her abusive husband from a past lifetime.

The only complaint I had is that the book cannot be mistaken for anything other than a young adult novel. You can definitely tell that it was written for teenagers, but it’s still an engrossing story. Overall, I would recommend this to a busy mom. This story is sure to transport you to multiple different times and keep you turning the pages with anticipation to know what comes next.

Rating

Four out of five stars

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If you enjoyed my review of My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares, you might also like Every Day by David Levithan. Check out my review!

If you’re interested in purchasing My Name is Memory, here are some quick links to buy the book on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. And, if you’re interested to see what others think, here’s the link to the book on Goodreads.