The Reminders by Val Emmich

The Reminders by Val Emmich
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Overcome with the loss of his boyfriend Sydney, Gavin Winters has set fire to every reminder in their home. A neighbour has captured the blaze on video, turning this little-known TV actor into a household name. Gavin flees LA for New Jersey, where he hopes that ten-year-old Joan, the daughter of a close friend, can reconnect him with the memories of Sydney he is now in danger of losing for ever.

Joan was born with a rare ability to recall every single day of her life in perfect detail, and in return for sharing her memories of Sydney, Gavin will help her write a song for a local competition. For Joan has had enough of being the girl who can't forget – she wants to be the girl who will never be forgotten . . .

Charming, beautifully observed, poignant and funny, The Reminders by actor and musician Val Emmich is an irresistible story of the unlikely friendship between a grief-stricken man who can’t remember and a ten-year-old girl who can’t forget.

Joan Lennon Sully is a ten year old little girl with HSAM - Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory which means she is one of the very few people in the world who can remember exactly everything that has happened in her life including events, dates, and conversations which she can relay verbatim.

She loves the Beatles and enters a song writing contest helped by her father and new actor friend. Gavin the actor friend finds her to be sometimes tiresome and annoying and finds himself traipsing all over town searching for clues to a mystery.

To be honest not much goes on and it was a bit schmaltzy for me - very sweet but just a little too much saccharine which made it hard for me to really like this novel. Sorry only a 2 stars from me.

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.