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 forever.
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 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.
About the Author
Val Emmich is truly a man of varied talents. As an actor, he's had recurring roles on HBO's Vinyl (produced by Martin Scorsese and Mick Jagger), Showtime's The Big C, ABC's Ugly Betty, and a memorable guest role as Tina Fey's coffee-boy fling, Jamie, on NBC's 30 Rock. He was the lead in the feature film Fighting Fish and has appeared in dozens of commercials. Emmich is also an award-winning recording artist who's released a dozen albums and toured the U.S. several times over. The Star-Ledger called him "one of the finest songwriters in the Garden State, [and] also one of the most prolific."
Industry Reviews
A touching story told from two points of view * Prima * 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 * Shelf Awareness * Charming and relatable * Booklist * 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 * Quirky, touching and addictive * Library Journal * Achingly sweet and unexpectedly nuanced . . . This is a book that leaves you feeling better about life and the role we play * Kirkus * Beautiful and beguiling, a story that will stay with you long after you finish reading it * Popsugar * This delightful book is perfect for fans of The Rosie Project and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Ten-year-old Joan was born with a rare gift: she can remember every single day of her life in perfect detail . . . With a memorable cast of quirky characters, Emmich weaves a touching, character-driven story of grief and new beginnings. The Reminders is tender without being saccharine and tackles complex themes like relationships and forgiveness with considerable subtlety * Book Riot * In a story that is both startlingly original and deeply familiar, I could not stop reading, and was bereft when the story ended. -- Jacquelyn Mitchard, bestselling author of The Deep End of the Ocean Val Emmich has created an indelible cast of complex and quirky characters who drew me in for an emotional and humorous ride . . . A book brimming with heart and soul - you really must read it! -- Garth Stein, bestselling author of The Art of Racing in the Rain A charming, whimsical Odd Couple story that should be read while listening to The Beatles * Red * Endearing and wise . . . I adored the unlikely friendship between a gifted child who remembers everything and a grieving man who is trying to forget. Emmich brings a compassionate, often comical, and always true eye to his storytelling. Ten-year-old Joan says a good song should either make you want to dance or cry, and The Reminders does both' -- Eowyn Ivey, bestselling author of The Snow Child Achingly tender and charming * Daily Mail * I thoroughly enjoyed The Reminders. It's a wonderful and unusual story told in a beautifully understated way. Quietly magnificent''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
