Search This Blog







2025 Cover Lovers Reading Challenge (hosted by Yours Truly)

2025 Literary Escapes Challenge
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado (3)
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida (1)
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine (1)
- Maryland
- Massachusetts (1)
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York (2)
- North Carolina (1)
- North Dakota
- Ohio (1)
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island (1)
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont (1)
- Virginia
- Washington (1)
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin (1)
- Wyoming
- Washington, D.C.* (1)
International:
- Australia (1)
- England (3)
- France (1)
- Puerto Rico (1)
- Scotland (1)


2025 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge



2025 Build Your Library Reading Challenge









Monday, September 21, 2015
Remember Mia: The Thriller That Just ... Wasn't
4:21 PM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
When Estelle Paradise awakens in a hospital room, the 27-year-old is totally confused. The doctor says she's been in a car accident, but Estelle has no memory of a crash. In fact, she can't remember anything. Nothing except her 7-month-old daughter, Mia. As she pushes past the amnesia that clouds her head, Estelle learns that Mia has been missing for several days. According to Estelle's own account, the infant disappeared from her crib—along with her diapers, clothing, toys, and every other trace of her—while Estelle was napping. The story sounds ridiculous even to Estelle. But it's the truth. She just has to convince the police, her angry husband, and, most of all, herself. Estelle knows she's been a little off since giving birth to Mia, but she's not crazy. She's not.
The question remains: Where is Mia? Was she taken by some desperate, baby-crazy stranger? Did her father do something to her? Estelle couldn't have harmed the baby, could she? Even though Mia drove her half-crazy with her colicky screaming? Do clues to the child's whereabouts lie buried somewhere in Estelle's fractured memory? Estelle must find the answers before she's convicted of a crime she didn't commit. Or did she?
I love mind-twisting psychological thrillers that keep me wondering what's real and what's not. The not knowing guarantees I'll turn the pages until I find out. With its very intriguing premise, as well as comparisons to Gone Girl, Remember Mia—a debut novel by Alexandra Burt—seemed to be just this kind of novel. And it could have been. It had the potential, for sure. What kept it from hitting the spot for me? First off, the writing and plotting seemed rocky and disjointed. A more subtle, streamlined story would have been nice. Then, there were the flat, cliché characters. Despite the battle with post-partum depression/exhaustion which should have made her sympathetic, Estelle continually came off as cold and self-absorbed. I don't need a warm, fuzzy narrator in order to really feel a story, but I do need to feel some connection with the main character. Which didn't happen here. Lastly, I felt like Remember Mia needed a subplot, or something to give it more depth and richness. As is, the book missed the mark somewhat. Although there were some pulse-pounding moments, overall, this thriller fails to thrill. Or stand out. Too bad, because I'm still haunted by its incredibly promising premise.
(Readalikes: Similar to other books where the heroine wakes up with amnesia and has to piece together what has happened to her. The First Wife by Erica Spindler comes to mind, as does Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Watson.)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for strong language and violence
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Subscribe to:
Posts
(Atom)


Reading
Something in the Walls by Daisy Pearce

Listening
The Brightwood Code by Monica Hesse


Followin' with Bloglovin'

-
-
-
-
-
-
No Comfort For The Dead by R P O’Donnell12 hours ago
-
Forever with You by Barb Curtis13 hours ago
-
Alphabet Authors ~ F is for Follett16 hours ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
Review: The Frozen People by Elly Griffiths23 hours ago
-
Blood Over Bright Haven1 day ago
-
14. First State of Being1 day ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Bonded in Death by J.D. Robb2 days ago
-
-
-
-
Sunday Post #5616 days ago
-
January 2025 Reading Wrap Up1 week ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
I'm Still Reading - This Was My October2 months ago
-
Review: The Duke and I5 months ago
-
Girl Plus Books: On Hiatus6 months ago
-
-
-
What Happened to Summer?1 year ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
Are you looking for Pretty Books?2 years ago
-
-
-
-
-
-

Grab my Button!


Blog Archive
- ► 2021 (159)
- ► 2020 (205)
- ► 2019 (197)
- ► 2018 (223)
- ► 2017 (157)
- ► 2016 (157)
- ▼ 2015 (188)
- ► 2014 (133)
- ► 2013 (183)
- ► 2012 (193)
- ► 2011 (232)