Before I Forget - a moving and tender story of a father and daughter.

Cricket Campbell is 26 years old and living in New York City. She's bright but is still searching to find herself. Her older sister Nina has been caring for their father, Arthur, who has Alzheimer's. When Nina gets an opportunity that requires her to move abroad, the plan is to move Arthur into a memory care facility. However, Cricket decides it's her turn to take responsibility, and she becomes her father's caregiver, moving into his house on Catwood Pond in the Adirondacks. This place, which Cricket cherished as a child, had not been visited by her for many years due to a tragic incident that occurred when she was a teenager. Although Arthur doesn't remember who Cricket is, he is pleasant company and begins making predictions about future events. When he turns out to be right, word spreads that Arthur possesses a unique ability that could potentially help others.    

Before I Forget by Tory Henwood Hoen turned out to be one of my most pleasant surprises of the year. Initially, the idea of reading a book about an Alzheimer's patient with a family caregiver felt too sad and personal. However, I can assure anyone with similar concerns that this moving story is also uplifting and often quite funny. Through reconnecting with her father, Cricket finds purpose and also has the opportunity, with Arthur's help, to confront her past. The friends she makes in this lakeside town are all sweet, wonderful characters. This is a tender, magical, late coming-of-age tale that will stay with me for a long time.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press for the advance.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars.

Literary Fiction.

Publication Date: December 2, 2025.

Please "like" this post if Before I Forget sounds like a book you’d enjoy reading. I'd love to know. Scroll below the photo and click on the red outlined heart on the lower right-hand side of the page. Comments can also be left below.