This review was done by craftychicken. This review is for Down Memory Lane by sparklingauthoress 

Title 5/5 I couldn't think of a more perfect title for this book.

Cover 4/5 I actually prefer the cover you have at the start of Chapter 1 but it's up to you and your current cover is still nice too.

Blurb 4/5 I like your blurb but I think this story could have an even better one.

First chapter 8/10 Not the most intriguing first chapter but it sets up the characters really well.

Characters 15/15 I have fallen in love with Clara. I can really resonate with her.

Plot 18/20 I was hooked from Chapter 2 onwards and I'm interested in reading the rest of the story.

Grammar/Vocabulary 20/20 Not a single grammar mistake to be seen.

Writing 10/10 I really love your writing. It's descriptive without being boring or affecting the pacing.

Personal enjoyment 9/10 Unfortunately due to the first chapter I can't give a 10 but I very rarely give out high scores as I can be quite picky.

Total 93/100

Review This is one of only five books I've given 90 or above so welcome to the 90s club.

Overall I really enjoyed this story. You have an absolute gem here and why this story has less than 500 reads is a mystery to me.

As you asked me to focus on everything, I'll go through my review criteria in order.

The title. I honestly couldn't imagine a more perfect title for this story. I think you have chosen an absolutely wonderful title. From the slightly hidden meaning about Clara discovering a secret about her family to actually taking a trip down memory lane by being transported back to the past, this story's title is incredible.

The cover. While I like your current cover, I personally prefer the cover that you included at the start of Chapter 1. I think the addition of the road adds another layer of meaning to the title and really helps the reader understand that this is a story of Clara discovering her family's history as well as the reason behind her getting sucked into the past.

The blurb. The only reason I think your blurb could be even better is by mentioning the family secret that gets revealed to us in chapter 2. I think this could help intrigue the reader as to what this secret is. Other than that, your blurb is excellent.

The first chapter of your story does a great job at setting the scene and introducing us to the characters. The only thing I didn't like about it is that we are introduced to quite a lot of characters in quick succession and it can get a little confusing to who is who. I know you included a list of the characters at the start of the book to help with this problem, but some readers may not want to switch back and forth between the author's note and the current chapter they're reading. A little rewrite for the first chapter that introduces the characters more slowly would solve this problem.

Characters. I really fell in love with Clara. She acts exactly how someone going off to college would. When we are introduced to her, we get a great sense of who she is based on how she acts towards her brother Tony. This means that when the family's secret is revealed to her in chapter 2, her reaction seems very in character. This really helps to solidify with the reader who Clara is and her character as a whole. Excellent work.

The plot doesn't really get kicked off until chapter 2 but that's ok as by this point we have a great idea of who Clara is so we want to know what happens to her. The introduction of her meeting her younger self felt a little rushed to me which is why I didn't give full marks in this criteria.

Nothing to say about grammar and vocabulary, it's all perfect. I didn't find a single mistake in the first four chapters.

Lastly, your writing. It's incredible. I really like your writing style. You manage to be descriptive without affecting the pacing of the story. The story is still fast paced despite the fact that we are getting a lot of worldbuilding and descriptions.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and I will definitely be reading the rest of it.

As I had very little feedback to give you, I usually recommend a book that I think the author would enjoy. So here's my recommendation for you. 'An inspector calls' by J.B Priestley. It's actually a play which is about a family in 1912 who are rather high class. They are eating dinner when they hear that one of their servants has committed suicide. An inspector arrives to question the family about her and we learn that each member of the family was a lot closer to this girl than they realised and they all had a part to play in her death.

I really hope this review was helpful to you.

Thank you so much for asking me to review your book for you. I wish you all the best for the future and good luck on your writing journey.

Craftychicken <3