In its own subtle way, The Memory Library aptly depicts the tiny difference between merely doing the right thing that is expected from you and acting out of love. With a relationship severed for years due to a misunderstanding, a mother-daughter duo find their way back to each other in this lovely tale. The most relatable aspect of their journey is how we just conveniently assume various things and believe our version to be the truth when reality is far from it.

“It’s easy to pretend everyone else is lucky and you’ve been dealt a bad hand. It stops you having to address your own shortcomings.”

As a bookish book, this one gives out plenty of recommendations as well which is obviously a big plus. Also, like all well-written characters, there is a heartwarming growth and redemption arc which wraps things up quite perfectly. The story is also a lesson in knowing that even if the future is scary, you still have the present.

Ella and Sally will meet the world early next year. Thank you @netgalley for my advance copy.

This book combines several of my favorite themes. The power of books, caring communities and healing relationships.

It`s the story of Ella and Sally who became estranged without ever getting reconciled. When Sally falls and is injured, Ella travels to England from Australia to be with her, and she gets to know her mother agian. At first I didn`t like Ella, since she made materlistic choices that didn`t sit well with me. Slowly I learnt why she carved out a life for herself where she avioded thinking and feeling deeply, and I loved how she developed as she learnt more about her mother`s choices. The best parts of the book was how she became a part of a lovely community. There were many wonderful moments. When she got the idea to do something for her mother, the books stood out from others. It was creative and interesting, and it made my heart swell.
The ending was absolutely lovely.

If you want a heartwarming novel to keep your spirits up, this one will be a safe pick.

Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the arc

What an incredibly moving story! The Memory Library by Kate Storey really brought tears to my eyes! It left quite a lasting impression on me for various reasons but this beautiful novel is a real treasure for booklovers everywhere who completely appreciate the joy, knowledge and healing that books can bring.

Sally Harrison has a unique library in her home that she lovingly created for her daughter. She has been adding a new book for forty-two years on Ella’s birthday. She continued the tradition even after Ella moved to Australia from her home in England. Each book has been carefully chosen based on a life message Sally wanted to share with her daughter. Then she personalised the edition with a special hand-written inscription—a loving note with her heartfelt wishes. Sally hopes that this collection will become a beautiful memory treasure for her daughter after she passes on. It is Sally’s unique legacy of love for Ella.

As a child, Ella received so much comfort from the stories her mother shared. ‘The bookcase had been her happy place….’ It is lined with exquisite editions of the classics and other fiction books by world renowned authors. Her parents held a different view on what she should read. Her mother had broader tastes that included commercial fiction and encouraged Ella to read these along with the long-time greats. But her father was a firm believer in sticking to the classics. He had no patience with modern literature. Yet Ella loved both and enjoyed escaping to different worlds between the pages. Of course, Jane Austen’s novels are mentioned as Ella loved the formality of the prose and found the satire hilarious. She enjoyed unlocking the hidden meanings in Austen’s paragraphs. These books and other great novels are mentioned and I enjoyed the inspiring connections they provided throughout the text.

An unfortunate event with her mother’s health brings Ella home to England for a visit. She hasn’t been there in over twenty years since moving to Australia. Her departure was a painful one: the death of her father and revelation of a secret that rocked her world deeply. This conflict caused a wedge between her and her mother. Anger and blame festered over many years and ‘tainted every memory and thought she had of home.’

Since Ella kept her distance from all that was familiar—including her mother, her reunion is a nervous one. Initially she is motivated by a sense of ‘duty’ and still affected by her resentment and anger. But during her return, she becomes re-acquainted with the feeling of lightness of heart in losing oneself in a book and remembering her special connection with her mother. For a brief while she allows herself to get lost in the scent of books while they carry her to some of the more pleasant memories of her family’s past.

When Ella discovers that her mother’s home library and books with their inscriptions have been affected by a flood, she feels terrible. A wonderful room her mother had created in her memory, ‘because memories were all Ella had left her with.’ As she stands at the door and sees the mess, pity and guilt fiercely battle within her. When Ella eventually comes face to face with the truth that things are very different from what she believed, she is confronted with all those twenty-two years of resentment that caused her to lose precious time with her mother. And she realises the magnitude of loneliness that cloaked Sally for years.

There’s page after page of wonderful wisdom in this novel. One of the messages that resounds clearly for Ella is that things are not always as they appear. And like Sally, we may hope time will build a bridge between those who have fallen out with us, but that can never happen unless the truth is released. It is the only way to be cleared of false betrayal.

Being a positive story, good things happen for Sally and Ella that allow for restoration to begin. Plus, there is a chance for mother and daughter to sit in this little library crafted by love and read books together again. There are some tender moments of sharing, tears, forgiveness, revelation and healing. And a new understanding bursts across these pages like sunlight on a once darkened shore. It is truly a beautiful story where friendship and love bind every thing together and deliver an uplifting ending.

There are many appealing support characters in this novel like Ella’s husband, the professor and Verity. On Ella’s trip back to England, she not only gets re-acquainted with her mother and her English roots but she also reconnects with her old friend. Verity is a great support for Ella and helps her through some rough patches while she tries to make sense of all that she discovers about her mother, father and the life they portrayed. But Ella, also after listening to Verity’s woes, offers her some good advice that will help her friend rediscover a part of herself she has neglected. Verity begins art classes and everything changes for her—for the better. She is refreshed and her talent for art is re-born.

This is a story mostly about relationships: particularly between a mother and daughter—and their connection through the magic of books. Words that free, teach, enchant and deliver joy. This story made me feel and think. For I live on the opposite of the world from my eighty-six year old mother and remaining family, too. At times when sickness and loss occur, the distance becomes challenging, so I can relate.

I highly recommend this gorgeous novel that made me cry, stirred up lots of emotions, released some memories and reminded me of why I love books so much. Well done to author Kate Storey for this magnificent debut. I look forward to more of her work! 5 Star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Avon Books and Netgalley for my review copy.

I absolutely 100% loved this book. A daughter and mother who due to the mothers accident try to repair their relationship while using lessons from the books that they’ve read over the years. It was also about a community coming together to welcome that the daughter back and showing her what an integral part of the community her mother is and how they rely on her. They might have had a strained relationship for year but this time together brings a lot of healing even during a tough healing recovery and finding out some shocking information from the past and present.
I didn’t want to put this book down and lost sleep reading.
A fantastic and smooth read. You will laugh, cry and laugh some more.

As a book lover, a book about book lovers is the perfect thing to read.

This story centres around Ella and her tumultuous relationship with her mother, Sally. After Sally has a fall, Ella must return from Australia to England to help her throughout her recovery. Reading and immersing herself in books, Ella learns valuable lessons that change her outlook on life.

This book was an absolute joy to read. It was uplifting and beautiful. It’s a perfect read for any book lovers and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Avon Publishing for allowing me the pleasure of reading this eARC.

When Sally has an accident in her home she is admitted to hospital.
Her neighbour contacts Sally’s daughter Ella in Australia and asks her to come home to help her mother.
Ella hasn’t been home in over twenty years after a falling out with her mum but she reluctantly travels to London to help.
A story about family and second chances.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a lovely story about the bond between mother and daughter and although heartwarming it’s also bittersweet too. Ella has had a strained relationship with her mum Sally since the death of her beloved father twenty one years ago, she was so determined to put some distance between them that she moved to Australia. Now a fall at home leaves Sally in need of short term support so Ella reluctantly returns for a month and finds herself questioning the relationship between them.

There’s some lovely characters in this and a great sense of community as well as some brilliant references to many classic books. The relationship between Elle and Sally makes for emotional reading but the overall feel of this is one of warmth, it’s a fabulous character read with a real love of books thrown in.

I just loved this book and enjoyed Ella and Sally’s story. I have to say when I read the chapter about the visit to the professor it sounded familiar. I will look forward to the next book from this author
My thanks as always to NetGalley and Publisher Avon Books for the early read

This is different from what I usually read but I enjoyed this overall. To see the strength and courage in loss was inspiring.