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4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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
The Memory Library by Kate Storey is a wonderfully, touching, inspirational story about a mother-daughter relationship. Sally was blessed with one child, a daughter Ella. Sally, a teacher, loved to share stories with her daughter so each year on her birthday, she would buy Ella a book and write a loving note inside the book with the lesson she would like her to learn. When Ella's becomes a teenager, she and her mother have a disagreement and Ella runs off to Australia. Their relationship becomes estranged for 22 years, until Ella receives a call that her mother is in the hospital, forcing Ella to return home. Will this reuniting make or break their tenuous relationship?
I absolutely loved this book from start to finish. As both a mother and a daughter, I could relate to both Sally and Ella. This story made me look at my own relationships with my mother and my daughter. It was touching, a heart warming and a heart breaking tale at the same time. This book teaches you about how what you perceive and what is true can be two totally different things. It shows you that misunderstandings can be life altering and that communication is the solution. You will tear up numerous times as you read this delightful story so be sure to have tissues on hand. I will cherish this book and it has inspired me to start my own memory library for my daughter.
Thanks to Netgally and Avon Books for the advanced copy. The opinions are my own.
I absolutely loved this book from start to finish. As both a mother and a daughter, I could relate to both Sally and Ella. This story made me look at my own relationships with my mother and my daughter. It was touching, a heart warming and a heart breaking tale at the same time. This book teaches you about how what you perceive and what is true can be two totally different things. It shows you that misunderstandings can be life altering and that communication is the solution. You will tear up numerous times as you read this delightful story so be sure to have tissues on hand. I will cherish this book and it has inspired me to start my own memory library for my daughter.
Thanks to Netgally and Avon Books for the advanced copy. The opinions are my own.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
4.5 Stars
One Liner: Beautiful (even made a wee bit teary-eyed)
Sally Harrison has been building a special library for forty-two years. Each year, on her daughter Ella’s birthday, she chooses a book and writes a note on the first page. Of course, Ella left twenty-two years ago after a fight and hasn’t bothered to come back.
However, an emergency forces Ella to visit her mother. Slowly, she realizes things may not have been what she assumed. This could be a chance for the mother and daughter to reconnect.. if they can revisit the past and find closure.
The story comes in Ella and Sally’s third-person POV.
My Thoughts:
January seems to be my month for mother-daughter books. One book was toxic, the other was super sweet, and this is bittersweet.
The book starts with a prologue hinting at what could have gone wrong. We then jump into Ella’s POV (she has a major share with Sally’s POV popping up once in a while to show her side) in the present timeline.
It’s hard to like Ella at first. Her constant ‘If I Were the Queen of the World’ thinking gets on her nerves. However, it is deliberate and meant to show her judgmental side. It shows us how Ella has restricted herself to materialistic things to avoid being hurt. We see her learn, realize, and change as the story progresses.
Sally is very easy to like. She is kind, compassionate, warm, helpful, and supportive. We can feel her loneliness and how she tries to fill the gap through her activities.
The side characters are sweet. Their purpose in the story is to show Ella the truth of her mother’s life. Of course, for the characters, Sally is a dear friend/ teacher/ neighbor/ etc., whom they value and cherish. They are diverse, too, but without taking the attention away from the central plot.
The book is surprisingly steady-paced. I expected this to be a slow burn of sorts, but the % moves ahead steadily. Even with some repetition about the past and Ella’s struggle in coming to terms with the difference between her opinions and reality, the story doesn’t linger for long. The second half feels a bit slower, but it suits the plotline.
The ending is neatly tied up and a little too sweet, but I don’t mind. I read for HEA endings, so this was right in my alley. However, I did want one aspect to be different (Ella should have continued working. She has become capable enough to handle a career and her family now).
Books, naturally, play a vital role. I love how seamlessly they are incorporated into the plot. Hadron, the one-eyed cat, is the icing on the cake. Love her!
I have to mention Charlie as a separate point. While Sally’s friends are all good, Charlie (Ella’s husband) is a rock and a solid support. He is laid back but assertive and accepts Ella with all her flaws. He is mostly in the background, but without him, Ella wouldn’t have done what was necessary.
To summarize, The Memory Library is a heartwarming story about family, forgiveness, second chances, healing, friendship, connection, and books. It did make me teary-eyed a couple of times. I also love the unsaid – a person will have to live actions and decisions for the rest of their life. Some things cannot be undone even when we move on.
Thank you, NetGalley and Avon Books UK, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #TheMemoryLibrary
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Infidelity, Dementia
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
medium-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
I couldn't tell if this started a little slowly, or if I was just in a New Year stupor. But once Ella and Sally's stories started to develop, I was totally engrossed. And that was heightened every time I would get to know one of the brilliant set of supporting characters (Jakub and Nathan are wonderful). They're all so well drawn and I could see them so clearly - I wanted to give Pru a bit of a shove for most of the book, but actually I quite enjoyed that!
For me I think this imagery was helped enormously by the setting. I used to live in Greenwich and Storey brings the area to life so wonderfully that the whole thing was brimming with delightful nostalgia for me, which helped me identify with Ella even more. The book also has books at its heart, with every character connected by a different love of stories. And how can a book lover not love to read about book lovers?!
This is a hopeful book, but it's one that doesn't gloss over the characters' mistakes. It doesn't pretend to fix everything that's broken and really highlights how we often have no choice but to live with regret. But it does carve a way forward despite that; the end is so touching I was quite emotional. It's a lovely, fitting end to a book filled with complex issues and fantastic characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia, Death of parent
emotional
reflective
medium-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
The Memory Library by Kate Storey is an impressive debut and one that will really resonate with book lovers everywhere.
For forty two years Sally has been building a library for her daughter Ella, carefully choosing and inscribing a special volume each year, which is added to the library on Ella's birthday. Sadly because of a falling out following the death of Sally's husband, Ella's beloved Dad , for over twenty years Sally has not been able to give Ella her gift. Instead Ella is living her life on the other side of the world, in Australia where she is married and raising a daughter of her own. Her only contact with her mother is superficial, quick emails and hurried phone calls, occasional photos sent online, and that is the way Ella likes it, She is too busy with her career and her life to worry about what is happening with the woman she feels betrayed both her and her father all those years before. When an unfortunate accident results in Sally being injured and incapacitated Ella somewhat reluctantly agreeing to go home to England and help out , though she dreads leaving her family and her work behind. It is only when she arrives that she learns of the existence of the library, and by then it is too late as it has been destroyed, along with much of her mother's house by a flooding incident, At first Ella struggles with being forced to spend so much time with Sally and their fractious relationship is not helped by Sally's need for independence nor indeed the more serious health issue she has been hiding, but as Ella begins to see the place that Sally has built for herself in the local community and the vibrant and often unexpected group of friends she has collected , she begins to see that there is more to her mother than she ever realised, and that maybe there is a lesson or two she could still learn from her.
This really is a character driven novel and I found myself loving almost all of the characters, obviously Sally and Ella were wonderful but there is a full cast of fun and funny secondary characters that really help to bring the community to life, with my personal favourites being Jakub the librarian and Nathan, the fashion and design student living next door to Sally. I loved how books played a really important part of the story too, as someone who gravitates to books about books this was right up my alley and I think that fans of books like The Reading List by Sarah Nisha Adams will find a lot to like about this book, with its similar themes of found family. While the book is definitely sweet, it does not shy away from difficult topics, nor does the author give her characters an easy out from the mistakes they have made, but this means that there is a real sense of character growth over the course of the book, which is always something I enjoy in my reads.
This book feels like a warm hug from one of your favourite people, it is so full of heart . I am not going to lie, there are some truly sad moments but the overall feeling is one of hope and the message of love, growth and acceptance is a powerful one.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own .
For forty two years Sally has been building a library for her daughter Ella, carefully choosing and inscribing a special volume each year, which is added to the library on Ella's birthday. Sadly because of a falling out following the death of Sally's husband, Ella's beloved Dad , for over twenty years Sally has not been able to give Ella her gift. Instead Ella is living her life on the other side of the world, in Australia where she is married and raising a daughter of her own. Her only contact with her mother is superficial, quick emails and hurried phone calls, occasional photos sent online, and that is the way Ella likes it, She is too busy with her career and her life to worry about what is happening with the woman she feels betrayed both her and her father all those years before. When an unfortunate accident results in Sally being injured and incapacitated Ella somewhat reluctantly agreeing to go home to England and help out , though she dreads leaving her family and her work behind. It is only when she arrives that she learns of the existence of the library, and by then it is too late as it has been destroyed, along with much of her mother's house by a flooding incident, At first Ella struggles with being forced to spend so much time with Sally and their fractious relationship is not helped by Sally's need for independence nor indeed the more serious health issue she has been hiding, but as Ella begins to see the place that Sally has built for herself in the local community and the vibrant and often unexpected group of friends she has collected , she begins to see that there is more to her mother than she ever realised, and that maybe there is a lesson or two she could still learn from her.
This really is a character driven novel and I found myself loving almost all of the characters, obviously Sally and Ella were wonderful but there is a full cast of fun and funny secondary characters that really help to bring the community to life, with my personal favourites being Jakub the librarian and Nathan, the fashion and design student living next door to Sally. I loved how books played a really important part of the story too, as someone who gravitates to books about books this was right up my alley and I think that fans of books like The Reading List by Sarah Nisha Adams will find a lot to like about this book, with its similar themes of found family. While the book is definitely sweet, it does not shy away from difficult topics, nor does the author give her characters an easy out from the mistakes they have made, but this means that there is a real sense of character growth over the course of the book, which is always something I enjoy in my reads.
This book feels like a warm hug from one of your favourite people, it is so full of heart . I am not going to lie, there are some truly sad moments but the overall feeling is one of hope and the message of love, growth and acceptance is a powerful one.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own .
Since she was born, Ella’s mom Sally had picked out a book and inscribed it with a note for her daughter. But at a young age, Ella fled to Australia and kept her mom at arms length. When her mom has a fall, Ella returns to help care for her. She doesn’t want to be there, but the ruined library and the town she grew up in slowly show her a different side of the life she experienced.
This book was not what I expected, but I read it in a single night! I immediately wanted to know what had caused the rift between Ella and Sally, and why they were so estranged. I just adored every second of this book and highly recommend it!
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Dementia
A truly lovely book and my first 5 star of 2024!
This had characters that I really cared about and would have liked to have known them in real life! They were an estranged mother and daughter but came back together through an accident. Ella’s mum has been adding a book to her daughter’s bookshelf for 22 years, and each book has a personal dedication which has a meaningful memory for them both. The neighbourhood where they live has a big part in this storyline too, which was lovely to watch unfold. It is written beautifully and I enjoyed reading all the book references in the story, it’s made me think about reading some of those classic books that I haven’t read yet.
I recommend this one if you want a nice heartwarming story. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This had characters that I really cared about and would have liked to have known them in real life! They were an estranged mother and daughter but came back together through an accident. Ella’s mum has been adding a book to her daughter’s bookshelf for 22 years, and each book has a personal dedication which has a meaningful memory for them both. The neighbourhood where they live has a big part in this storyline too, which was lovely to watch unfold. It is written beautifully and I enjoyed reading all the book references in the story, it’s made me think about reading some of those classic books that I haven’t read yet.
I recommend this one if you want a nice heartwarming story. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
emotional
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:
Complicated
I will forever cherish this book, despite the sad themes throughout this book it is like getting a big bear hug. I also felt it was like looking into a mirror and being able to see myself and it truly made me reflect and appreciate who I am as a person and reminded me to make time for those I love and cherish.
The story is centered around Ella and her strained and distant relationship with her mother Sally. It's so much more than that but I recommend you read this book spoiler free.
I absolutely adored the sense of community within these pages. It was refreshing to read it was all based in London where we expect hustle bustle, not knowing your neighbours and not speaking to people in our streets. Originally from down south I know we get communities like this but it's a common misconception that places like London aren't.
The bookish references made this even more special. I loved Ella's Library - [ read the book to find out more ].
When Ella says " If I was Queen of the world... " I grinned everytime because I've said this phrase so many times and I can imagine most people have. I saw myself in Ella and as scary as that was I've definitely opened my eyes to my own self.
I cannot recommend this book enough I think I'll be going on about it for a long time to come and I think its the ideal book to kick off 2024 when we're all in the process of reflection and making changes.
A huge thankyou to netgalley & Avon Publishing for giving me the pleasure of reading this book.
The story is centered around Ella and her strained and distant relationship with her mother Sally. It's so much more than that but I recommend you read this book spoiler free.
I absolutely adored the sense of community within these pages. It was refreshing to read it was all based in London where we expect hustle bustle, not knowing your neighbours and not speaking to people in our streets. Originally from down south I know we get communities like this but it's a common misconception that places like London aren't.
The bookish references made this even more special. I loved Ella's Library - [ read the book to find out more ].
When Ella says " If I was Queen of the world... " I grinned everytime because I've said this phrase so many times and I can imagine most people have. I saw myself in Ella and as scary as that was I've definitely opened my eyes to my own self.
I cannot recommend this book enough I think I'll be going on about it for a long time to come and I think its the ideal book to kick off 2024 when we're all in the process of reflection and making changes.
A huge thankyou to netgalley & Avon Publishing for giving me the pleasure of reading this book.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Oh my gosh, this is an amazing read. It’s a powerful story about the importance of libraries. The importance of books, the importance of empathy and compassion. It’s about the importance of friendship, love and community.
This story features the greatest idea: A mother gifting her child a book with a life lesson dedication at the front, each year. What an amazing gift to receive. Books are so personal and to have someone take the time to pick one out for you and dedicate it is really special
In this story, a mother and daughter are estranged, but, after years of resentment and misunderstanding, they are forced to spend time together due to an unfortunate chain of events. Books become a common denominator for them.
There are so many great books referenced and I love a book featuring books. People music is healing and that’s true, but I also believe books are healing. They allow you to escape, they are a conversation starter, they transform the way you think and can connect you to other people. It was a complete privilege to read this powerful and poignant story. There were tears shed.
This will be a top book for me for 2024, when it publishes.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.