How To Be Remembered

I just finished How to Be Remembered A Novel by Michael Thompson and here are my thoughts.

Just as Baby Tommy turns 1 something obscure happens.... His whole life is wiped from the memories of everyone who knows him, along with all photos and items that belong to him. His parents wake to find a child they don't know in their home.

The authorities come and take him away. He spends his childhood watching people forget him every single year on his birthday. Like he is destined to never be remembered but Tommy has a plan. A plan to trick the universe so he can keep a little piece of his life at the reset and the girl that he loves... He wants her to remember him when she wakes up...

This book was wonderfully bizarre and a real page turner! The author has the most incredible imagination to come up with something so incredibly fantastical!
The book is told mostly from Tommy's perspective and you can really feel how disheartened he was having to make friends with his friends over and over again. His time at the orphanage was steep in heartache but he was well cared for there. He obviously understands why he ended up there when the reset keeps happening but to know your parents have no idea you are even out there is super sad. Tommy has a plan though and he works hard at achieving it.
The character development was excellent and I loved Tommy and Carey. The way she found herself and grew... sigh!!! The resilience of Tommy, of not giving up... Of not turning to drinking to numb the pain.... Inspiring.
The timeline starts from when Tommy is a baby up into adulthood so it covers a vast time frame but it is handled very well. I am partial to magical realism so I have high standards. I would definitely recommend this book if you enjoy watching a character grow through their whole life and like a dash of magic in your books.
5 stars. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you @netgalley and @sourcebooks for my gifted copy!
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