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THE REMINDERS | A Novel

  • Barnes & Noble DISCOVER NEW WRITERS SELECTION

  • Amazon BOOK OF THE MONTH PICK

  • School Library Journal (STARRED REVIEW)

  • Harper's BAZAAR “12 BOOKS YOU HAVE TO READ IN MAY”

  • Entertainment Weekly “19 BOOKS YOU NEED TO READ IN MAY”

  • New York Post “REQUIRED READING” 

  • AM New York “10 BOOKS TO READ IN 2017”

  • HELLO! Canada “10 BEACH READS”

Val Emmich’s debut novel is a hilarious and tender exploration of loss, memory, friendship and renewal told in the alternating voices of two irresistible characters.

Grief-stricken over his partner’s death, Gavin sets fire to every physical reminder in the couple's home. A neighbor captures the ordeal on video, turning this unsung TV actor into a household name. Now, Gavin is fleeing the hysteria of Los Angeles for New Jersey, hoping to find peace with the family of an old friend. Instead, he finds Joan.

Joan, the family's ten-year-old daughter, was born with the rare ability to recall every day of her life in cinematic detail. In seconds, she can tell you how many times her mother has uttered the phrase "it never fails" in the last six months (twenty-seven) or what she was wearing when her grandfather took her fishing on a particular Sunday in June years ago (fox socks). Joan has never met Gavin until now, but she did know his partner, Sydney, and waiting inside her uncanny mind are half a dozen startlingly vivid memories to prove it.

Gavin strikes a deal with Joan: in return for sharing all her memories of Sydney, Gavin will help Joan win a local songwriting contest she's convinced could make her unforgettable. The unlikely duo sets off on their quest until Joan reveals unexpected details about Sydney's final months, forcing Gavin to question not only the purity of his past with Sydney but the course of his own immediate future.

Info 312 Pages, Paperback, Adult Fiction

Publish Date Sept 25, 2018

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PRAISE:

“Brimming with heart and soul — you really must read it!” — Garth Stein, author of THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN

“Endearing and wise.” — Eowyn Ivey, author of TO THE BRIGHT EDGE OF THE WORLD and THE SNOW CHILD

“Beautiful and beguiling, a story that will stay with you long after you finish reading it.” — Popsugar

“A charming debut novel....Like Nick Hornby, Emmich has a knack for avoiding the treacly and saccharine while finding magic in unlikely relationships.” — National Book Review

“Startlingly original and deeply familiar.” — Jacquelyn Mitchard, author of THE DEEP END OF THE OCEAN

“I thoroughly enjoyed The Reminders. It’s a wonderful and unusual story told in a beautifully understated way. Quietly magnificent.” — Ruth Hogan, author of THE KEEPER OF LOST THINGS

“Achingly sweet and unexpectedly nuanced....This is a book that leaves you feeling better about life and the role we play, either on purpose or inadvertently.” — Kirkus Reviews

“Quirky, touching & addictive.”— School Library Journal (starred review)

“A sad, sweet story of the pain and joy of the past, the curse of remembering everything, and the importance of new friendships.” — Book Riot

“A lovely debut novel exploring the bonds of friendship....enchanting....definitely worthy of being remembered.” — The Star-Ledger

“Charming and relatable.” — Booklist

“An endearing and sincere paean to the bonds of music and family.... Quirky and lighthearted yet still soulful, Emmich’s debut reveals his skilled hand for crafting relationships and voice, adult and child alike.” — Shelf Awareness

“A charming, whimsical Odd Couple story that should be read while listening to The Beatles.” — Red Magazine

“Achingly tender and charming.” — The Daily Mail

“A heartfelt and compelling debut.” — Largehearted Boy

“A delightful and entertaining novel…Emmich somehow manages to perfectly capture the inner and outer voices of these two disparate and distinct personalities.” — Ghetto Blaster

“An entertaining and emotionally powerful read.” — Jersey Journal

“Full of charm and humor.” — Providence Journal

“Charming, raw and filled with empathy and sorrow, THE REMINDERS is also a refreshing look into the lives of people on the road to healing and new purpose, and for these reasons alone I give THE REMINDERS five stars.” — Aquarian Weekly

“[The] characters jump off the page with their authenticity and whimsy.” — HELLO! Canada

“Countless poignant moments that leave the reader on the verge of tear-tinged chuckles. Comic timing and a gentle, knowing grasp of the uncertainties of childhood and adulthood alike make this a fast, gratifying read.” — Bikini.com

12 BOOKS YOU HAVE TO READ IN MAY - Harper's BAZAAR

19 BOOKS YOU NEED TO READ IN MAY - Entertainment Weekly

10 BOOKS TO READ IN 2017- AM New York

REQUIRED READING - New York Post

10 BEACH READS - HELLO! Canada

BEST HOLIDAY READS - Top Shop Blog