A psychological thriller in which a traveler receives the memories of every other person on his flight—and is unable to control who takes the lead in his mind.

When SF writer Brian Watson takes Flight 2164 from Philadelphia to Chicago, he doesn’t expect it to be eventful. But as all the passengers make their way to the baggage carousel, confusion sweeps through the crowd; suddenly, no one knows who they are or where they are. Everyone except Brian, that is, who now has the memories of all 110 passengers and members of the flight crew. However, he can’t control when these recollections will pop to the forefront of his brain—sometimes he wakes up unsure of his own name, what his interests are, or even what he was doing just a few moments before. Brian just wants to get rid of these excess memories and resume his normal, happy relationship with Brenda, to whom he’s engaged to be married. Doctors don’t know what to make of what’s happening to him, although one nurse, Marci, shows an unusual interest in him; she’s after very specific memories from Brian and even tries to overwhelm his senses with a makeout session that feels oddly familiar to him. Soon, Brian recalls talking to Marci about being able to transmit memories from one person to another—but whose memory is he experiencing? Debut author Austin delivers a psychological thriller novel with just enough science fiction mixed in to interest fans of either genre. The story can feel jarring and confusing at times, as Brian fades in and out of other people’s recollections and lives and the text occasionally falls into a stream-of-consciousness style. The tale is told from Brian’s point of view but also from the perspective of whomever’s in the lead in his head at a given time. However, the author makes sure that his protagonist floats in and out of memories seamlessly, giving the overall narrative a steady flow that makes for an easy read. 

An intriguing, original tale for readers looking for something a bit out of the ordinary.

Jotham Austin takes you on a crazy ride down the highway of memories in his psycho-thriller, Will You Still Love Me If I Become Someone Else? Forget memory lane, this is a traffic jam of chaotic intersecting memories. Twenty-nine days ago, Brian boarded a flight from Philadelphia to Chicago. He has been away for a few days on a business trip. When the plane lands in Chicago, all the passengers on board the flight have amnesia, except for Brian. Brian now has all the passengers' memories, as well as his own. What happened on flight 2164? Brian battles 110 voices in his head. He takes on their personalities, switching from one person to another in an instant. With the help of psychologists and a team of memory mapping specialists, Brian fights to get his life back. Yet, one haunting question lurks in the background – who are the players behind this tragic event? The collateral damage of this bizarre event is overwhelming, especially for Brian’s fiancée Brenda. Brenda wants Brian back. But who is Brian, really? … who is Brenda? Our memories make us who we are, so who are we without them?

Will You Still Love Me If I Become Someone Else? is a mind-blowing piece of fiction. Jotham Austin II pens inconceivable chaos, cultivating confusion in his characters and his readers. Beyond the mystery and intriguing psychology, Will You Still Love Me If I Become Someone Else? uncovers the power of memories. The conflict of this narrative is the star. The characters are tugged and pulled from the inside out, revealing the good, the bad, and the ugly. The narrative is in three parts. Part One is written from the main character’s point of view. The disturbing twists and turns expose the internal turmoil of his character. During Part Two, the viewpoint changes to the supporting cast and the plot gradually begins to unravel as the power and manipulation of the two female characters take center stage. The shock and awe conclusion leaves you hopefully perplexed. Overall, this story reveals the connecting fiber of memories. The complexity and controversy of memories are depicted from beginning to end. As individuals, we suppress and compartmentalize traumatic memories, while we cleave to the good and joyful ones. I applaud Jotham Austin II and his imaginative and thrilling storytelling. Memories do influence who we are. Who would we be, and what would we become without our past to guide us?

Will You Still Love Me If I Become Someone Else? is an ingenious tale that combines science fiction with a psychological thriller, although the science is far from being plausible. But that does not matter, because author Jotham Austin, II gives you a plot that props up the intriguing story of Brian Watson, whose mind becomes inhabited by the memories of the 110 passengers who were with him on flight 2164. This becomes highly problematic, as these different memories begin to take control over his life, and a memory rehabilitation session with a shrink is not enough. Apparently, someone has dispersed an experimental nano-construct on the plane that causes a memory transfer to a subject while fading it out of the others. As Brian suffers from the torment of multiple personalities, the only way to restore his memory is through the help of a neuroscientist. But this restoration comes with a costly price: Someone will try to steal his life, and memories of his dark past will be uncovered that will threaten his relationship with his fiancée, Brenda.What we have here is hard science fiction. But the fancy, existential way that Brian deals with his multiple personas and the exploration of his relationship with Brenda gives it a dramatic touch. Jotham Austin, II has created a rare idea in the genre, and this is something worth celebrating, given that most ideas in sci-fi books and films are mostly the same. It only differs in execution. Another good hallmark that is present in this story is that the author starts with an idea and then profoundly explores its ramifications. Will You Still Love Me If I Become Someone Else? has a protagonist who is not so sure of things, but has the right spirit. Here is a novel that makes you accept everything that it explains because the story is engaging.