Some lives are simply unforgettable…
On an ordinary night in an ordinary year, Tommy Llewellyn’s doting parents wake in a home without toys or nappies, without photos of their baby scattered about, and without any idea that the small child asleep in his cot is theirs.
That’s because Tommy is a boy destined to never be remembered.
On the same day every year, everyone around him forgets he exists, and he grows up enduring his own universal Reset. That is until something extraordinary happens: Tommy Llewellyn falls in love.
Determined to finally carve out a life for himself and land the girl of his dreams, Tommy sets out on a mission to trick the universe and be remembered. But legacies aren’t so easily won, and Tommy must figure out what’s more important – the things we leave behind or the people we bring along with us.
Michael Thompson has been a successful journalist, producer and media executive for the last fifteen years, and now co-owns a podcast production company. How to be Remembered is his debut, and it’s an unforgettable, brilliant, moving and hopeful novel that leads you to the things that matter in life.
Since finishing it in one sitting, this novel has vividly stuck with me – it’s that good. It’s a unique premise, following Tommy, a heartwarming protagonist whose existence resets for everyone around him. Tommy’s pursuit to be remembered and to challenge the reset is honorable, and you’ll root for him from childhood through to adulthood.
This is an incredibly moving novel that prompts questions and conversations about legacy, what it means to be seen and the different layers of feeling forgotten – both literally and figuratively. At various points throughout, I pondered about life and the importance placed on leaving our mark. What is it in our seemingly mundane lives that allow us to be seen and, ultimately, how do we make an impact? These contemplations and questions are addressed in this exquisitely written, perfectly plotted novel, with a host well-crafted characters.
The magical realism and intriguing supernatural twist are core elements of the novel, though Thompson weaves them in so seamlessly that you’ll think this world is exactly like your own. It’s heartbreaking yet uplifting, with an intriguing end that will linger with you for days.
How to be Remembered is a fantastic debut by Thompson, and I predict book clubs will quickly snap this up as their next group read – there’s so much to unpack. Heartwarming, poignant and ultimately inspiring, this is a novel about the important things in life.
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