The Once and Future Me - by Melissa Pace

Book Synopsis

Now in paperback, a gripping psychological thriller with a speculative twist about a young woman teetering on the edge

Virginia, 1954. When a woman wakes on a patient transport bus arriving at Hanover State Psychiatric Hospital, she remembers nothing of her life before that moment, none of the dark things she must've seen and done that forged her into the skillful and cunning fighter she is. Doctors tell her she's Dorothy Frasier, a paranoid schizophrenic, committed for her violent delusions. She's certain they're wrong--until disturbing visions of a dystopian future in which frantic scientists urge her to complete "the mission" and save mankind begin to invade her reality.

Believing it's Hanover causing the hallucinations, she tells no one and focuses only on escaping--until there's a visitor. A man whose loving face--and touch--she remembers, a man who knows all about her visions, because he's spent years helping her cope with them: her husband, Paul Frasier.

Now she's sure of nothing, caught between two realities. Believe in the future, and she might save the world. Believe in her husband and doctors' plans for her treatment, and she might save herself. She needs answers, but to get them she'll have to harness the darkness inside her as she risks her freedom, her mind, and ultimately her life in a heart-stopping quest for the truth.

Review Quotes

A CrimeReads Most Anticipated Book of Summer
One of Our Culture's Most Anticipated Books of Summer 2025

"Pace's debut novel yanks on readers' brains from about half a dozen different directions...Be sure to keep hands and feet inside the ride and beware of whiplash, folks."
--NPR

"Pace blurs reality and delusion in an utterly thrilling way. Easily re-readable, which is such a rarity these days."
--Debutiful, The Most Anticipated Debut Books of 2025

"A cinematic ride....One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest meets The Hunger Games--and what an offspring!"
--Kirkus Reviews

"In her debut novel, Pace asks intriguing questions about the nature of reality. Mixing elements of dystopia with feminist historical fiction, Pace creates a winning psychological thriller that will have readers eagerly turning the pages."
--Booklist

"Suspenseful....the harrowing hospital scenes ground the proceedings and spotlight science's historical mistreatment of 'inconvenient' women."
--Publishers Weekly

"A thrilling, genre-bending, and addictive read! The Once and Future Me is a page turner with a fascinating cast of characters and a feminist twist. I couldn't put it down!"
--Amy Tintera, New York Times bestselling author of Listen for the Lie

"A truly spectacular psychological thriller about memory and identity that will absolutely blow your mind. With twists, turns and a premise to die for - stop what you're doing now and read this book!"
--Matthew Blake, International bestselling author of Anna O

"Propulsive and gripping, The Once and Future Me grabs you from the first page and doesn't let go until the very last. A fast-paced, heart-pounding thrill of a book!"
--Sophie Stava, author of Count My Lies

About the Author

A graduate of Wesleyan University, Melissa Pace is a former editor and writer for Elle, as well as a past finalist for the Humanitas New Voices Fellowship for emerging film and television writers. The mother of three amazing children, Pace lives with her husband in Los Angeles, and when not writing she likes to lace up her cleats and get all her ya-yas out on the soccer field. The Once and Future Me is her first novel. Connect with her on Instagram @melissadugganpace.