358 reviews for:

The Memory Library

Kate Storey

4.03 AVERAGE

doublexfesh's review against another edition

3.75

emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

kgentry4's review against another edition

4.0

emotional hopeful lighthearted sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

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While I completely wanted to click this "child"in the face repeatedly, it was a charming story overall, and thankfully, she came to her senses. Plus, Sally was just the best. 

ehmaleh's review against another edition

5.0

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

loonybin65's review against another edition

4.0

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True rating - 4.5 stars. Yes, it’s very predictable and sappy, but the ending moved me to tears.

katiefurfaro's review against another edition

3.25

hopeful reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

books_1820's review against another edition

5.0

emotional inspiring medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Loved this story about a mom and daughter rediscovering their relationship

mommy3skids's review

5.0

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

eesti23's review against another edition

3.75

emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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"I’d forgotten how mesmerising reading is, and how it makes you think about your own life, that book especially."

"I can’t watch you disappear when you’re still here."

"'I once read that whenever you read a good book, somewhere in the world a door opens to allow in more light.’ He smiled sadly. ‘I’ve read a lot of good books, so my world has always been full of light.’"

The Memory Library is a really lovely, albeit a bit sad, story. The premise of a mother creating a library for her semi-estranged daughter that she fills with books with personal messages, especially each year on her [daughter's] birthday. The community, Ella's rebuilding of the library in her own way, the importance of books, and the repairing of relationships was all really well done. However, there are two key reasons why this wasn't a five-star read for me.

One, I thought it was pretty obvious that Sally has dementia. Even if you hadn't seen your mother in a while, there were enough pretty cliché signs that Ella should have picked up on. Second, while I enjoyed the story, it and the writing felt a bit surface-level. It felt like the writing could have been a bit deeper. The dementia signs felt like a good example of this, as well as the cheap shots at Lewisham and Deptford.

livrobinson's review against another edition

1.75

emotional hopeful reflective relaxing sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

susanjanette's review

3.25

hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes