Simply put: this is a roadmap of grief and love from a daughter to the mother she lost.
I don’t like to star my memoirs but this stirred up a lot of emotions for me thinking about my MIL and the letters I asked her to write for her daughter before she died. At 22 yrs old, not even sure how I thought of the idea, but I did, and I wish we had done more then just graduation, 13,16,18 and 21.

But while I think of the past, I also love that the author has given her mother a voice even if she’s no longer with her 🩷

….the voice doesn’t leave when it’s used.

“So what matters at the end? Being true to ourselves and each other. Loving and being loved. Kindness and compassion. Being remembered with pleasure. Leaving the least amount of harm and pain and suffering behind us that we can….
You two have taught me everything I know about love…”

Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to review this memoir.
As a motherless daughter, since I was 10, I thought I was alone in my grief for a long time. All my friends at school still had their parents, maybe divorced, but no one got me. As I became a mom to two daughters, my mom had two. More stories need to come out about other motherless daughters and motherless moms like me. The author’s mom’s gift to both her children made me a bit envious. For decades I wished I had known how my mom had felt especially when she was at the end. When my mom died, not many people told me stories of my mom.
When I first became a mom, I started writing my stories for my kids in case they had never heard them from me.
Did I ever tell you? answers the longing of all of us who wanted to hear from our moms again. The author's mom left a legacy years after she passed.
This memoir was so honest, heartfelt, emotional and brilliant all at the same time. She found her connection with her mom in unexpected places.
I have already bought my own physical copy of this book to be inspired to write my hopes and dreams for my kids without the tears I shed reading this book.

“Did I Ever Tell You?” is an extraordinary memoir about loss and love, and the ways in which a young girl navigates the complex terrain of grief following her mother's death. Their story unfolds as a tender exploration of the bond between mother and daughter, rendered with heartbreaking honesty and raw emotion. The prose is so beautifully crafted, offering readers an intimate glimpse into the depths of loss.

At the heart of the narrative lies a poignant gesture: Gwenny’s mother fills a chest with gifts and letters, a tangible embodiment of her enduring presence in Gwenny’s life. Through this chest, Gwenny finds solace and connection. As she reflects on her journey through childhood loss and grief, her words resonate with a profound sense of longing and acceptance. Each page is imbued with the bittersweet ache of memory, as she honours her mother's legacy and finds healing in the power of remembrance.

This memoir is a testament to the enduring power of love and the strength found in shared stories. It is a deeply moving tribute to the bonds that shape us and the courage it takes to confront loss. I was captivated by its beauty and moved by its honesty, bearing witness to a daughter's journey through grief and the enduring legacy of a mother's love. This could quite possibly be one of the best memoirs I’ve had the honour of reading in a very long time.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for the opportunity to read and review “Did I Ever Tell You?” before its publication date.

""Did I ever tell you" had become my five favorite words. They signaled that I was about to be transported, carried on the magic of someone else's words, into the past."

This book is Genevieve "Gwenny" Kingston's story following the death of her mother, Kristina Mailliard. Kristina was diagnosed with cancer when Gwenny was a young child. Most of her memories of her mother were all in a time where she was fighting for her life. In her final years, as Kristina tried to make peace with her situation, she also prepared priceless letters and mementos for each of her children to be opened at various milestones in their lives. From birthdays, to engagements and to having children of their own, Jamie and Gwenny were able to read/hear the wisdom and guidance of their mother.

Did I Ever Tell You? is a gut wrenching memoir proving that a mother's love can be just as powerful from beyond the grave. At each major milestone following her mother's death, Gwenny would go to her special trunk and pick out the corresponding package and uncover a hidden message or letter from her mother. Each note was carefully and purposefully written for that occasion and contained messages of joy, regret and hope for the future.

I chose to read this book slowly. Maybe it was because of the strong bond I have with my own mother and my two children - but there was no way I would have been able to consume this book in a few days. Many of the messages really hit home and you can't help but feel Gwen's anguish and desire to have her mother with her during crucial moments in her life. Gwen's story is devastating, but it is also one that is filled with hope. The messages left by her mother Kristina are ones that I will cherish and hope to pass on and convey similar messages to my own children. The book also highlights the relationships that Gwen has with her family, friends and acquaintances of her mother. Gwen was able to open up and have conversations with these people to not only talk about the memories of her mother, but to openly speak to them about her grief over the years.

Lastly, if you don't already follow Genevieve Kingston on Instagram (@genevieve__kingston), I would recommend checking out her Reels. There is one where she speaks about the process she went through while writing this book. Viewers also get a glimpse of her precious trunk and the trinkets that were once wrapped inside it.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an early copy of Did I Ever Tell You?. Opinions are my own

**Additional social links (Instagram & Threads) will be posted at a later date..