02 September 2025

This is only the second book I’ve read by Stacy Willingham, and once again, she’s delivered a twisty, atmospheric, and emotionally charged thriller that kept me hooked from start to finish. While her previous work impressed me with its tension and psychological depth, Forget Me Not takes a slightly different approach, blending family secrets, unresolved trauma, and a haunting sense of nostalgia into a story that’s as much about grief and identity as it is about mystery.

Claire Campbell’s story pulled me in right away. Two decades after her sister Natalie’s disappearance, she’s spent her adult life trying to bury the pain, but when her father’s phone call drags her back home, all those old wounds resurface. The decision to take a summer job at Galloway Farm — a charming, secluded vineyard close to where Natalie vanished — feels innocent at first, almost like an escape. But, of course, this is a Stacy Willingham book, and nothing stays idyllic for long. The discovery of an old diary belonging to one of the vineyard’s owners adds a chilling layer to the story. What begins as a tale of love and rebellion slowly twists into something much darker, hinting at secrets, cover-ups, and unsolved crimes that may have more to do with Natalie’s disappearance than Claire ever imagined.

I loved the atmosphere in this book. Willingham has such a talent for making settings feel alive, and Galloway Farm becomes almost its own character — sun-soaked, lush, and nostalgic on the surface, yet hiding shadows and whispers beneath. It gave the entire book a simmering tension, like something dangerous was always just out of sight.

Claire is a compelling protagonist, messy and complex, and I appreciated how Willingham explored her fractured family relationships alongside the mystery. The strained dynamic with her estranged mother, the lingering guilt, and the obsession that begins to take hold as she dives deeper into the diary all made her feel real and relatable. The pacing is steady at first, building layer upon layer of suspense before unravelling into a more intense and chilling final act.

If I had one complaint, it would be that a few sections felt slightly drawn out, with Claire’s internal struggles occasionally circling the same ground. But it didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment — in fact, it added to the sense of emotional weight this book carries.

Forget Me Not is a beautifully written, atmospheric thriller with a haunting mystery at its heart. It’s about sisters, secrets, and the way the past refuses to stay buried. If you enjoy slow-burn suspense that steadily escalates into a gripping, twist-filled conclusion, this one’s definitely worth picking up.