The Memory Police

slow burn, the last 2/3 chapters were basically Endgame with characters disappearing. good writing but the pacing was not my forte.

A reviewer named Laura McGaha mentioned this article and it cleared up some confusion.

https://www.newyorker.com/books/under-review/how-the-memory-police-makes-you-see

Plus Lavka's answer in one of the FAQs made sense as well.