My Name is Memory

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Ann Brashares may be best known for a little series she wrote for young adults about a pair of jeans (Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, anyone?), but she has also written two novels that steer toward a more adult audience.  The more recent publication, My Name is Memory, caught my eye while I was shelving books at my local library.  A Florida girl cannot say no to a book cover that features water like that.
The gist of Memory is that Daniel and Lucy are meant to be together.  Daniel was born with the ability to remember his past lives, back to around 500ish AD, which is the first time he recalls laying eyes on the soul of Lucy.  The novel is told by both characters: Lucy in the present day, figuring out the attraction she feels to this mystery man she first encounters in high school, and Daniel recounting his past, including his many families and lives that have led him back to Lucy.  The idea itself is intrinsically intriguing; who hasn't tried to fall for the concept of love at first sight?
The problem is the story's execution.  Daniel's history is based solely on his connections with Lucy, so don't expect any social commentary or big moments being documented here.  Lucy is written so flatly and with little personality that it's difficult to believe that a man would spend centuries trying to work his way into her life; honestly, is there no other woman he's had intense feelings for over 1600 years?  Daniel's ability is interesting enough, to the point where I wish he had been the sole narrator.
Don't even get me started on the ending.  Ugh.  Can I just say a lot of this book reminded me of Twilight, and leave it at that?  From the author trying to make romance out of thin air, to the descriptions of intimacy, I felt so underwhelmed by the love story.  It was a bummer.  I'd pass on this one.