This heartwarming book should come with a warning, because by the end of it, your TBR will have grown!

Ella and her Mum, Sally, had a very close relationship and a shared love of books, when Ella was a child, but when she was 21, something happened and she left and went to live in Australia.

Forced to return home, out of a sense of duty, Ella and Sally have to find a way to get on together. I really enjoy books where the community plays a big part in the story and this community won my heart!

The characters were all superbly written and developed, I could relate to them all, even the ones I didn’t particularly like.

The pace was slow in parts, but overall a great read and now I want my own library…

4 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Kate Storey and Avon, for an ARC in return for an honest review.

I’m slightly conflicted about my review for this book. It is very well written, with some lovely, lively characters, like Nathan next door, and Jakub from the library. Sally herself, a retired school teacher, loved by all, seems to be a little too good to be true, whilst her daughter Ella is the polar opposite, and a thoroughly dislikeable individual sadly lacking in humanity, for the first few chapters at least. Suspicious, judgemental, snobbish and utterly selfish, she bordered on narcissistic and I struggled to read about her. Quite how her long-suffering house husband Charlie had put up with her for so many years was beyond my understanding.
The story line was predictable, and I rather resented having my emotions manipulated in this way, as Ella became more ‘human’, pleasant, tolerant and forgiving. All of this was achieved through the power of community, old friendships, a huge increase in Ella’s self- awareness, and her Mum Sally’s increasing ill- health, and of course, books. The power of books was the ultimate focus of this story, and I loved that aspect of it. It was an ultimately uplifting story, but just a bit too saccharine sweet for my taste.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy of this book.

Sally Harrison lives in Greenwich, England, she's been estranged from her only daughter Ella, who moved to Sydney, Australia over twenty years ago. Each year, on her daughter’s birthday July the 11th at midnight, she adds a new book, with a personal inscription and dedication to Ella and keeps in a library she’s created in her house.

After Ella’s dad suddenly passed away and she was really upset and this caused her to jump to the wrong conclusion and she felt betrayed by her mum and they had a big argument. Ella’s married to Charlie and she has an eight year old daughter Willow and Sally has never met her granddaughter.

When Ella receives a call from her mum's neighbour, she tells her Sally has had a fall, and she reluctantly travels back to England. Ella feels all kinds of emotions returning to her childhood home on Circus Street, when she sees her mum in hospital she’s shocked by how much she’s aged and how frail she is, after she returns home Ella notices her mum isn’t right and is it due to her fall or something else?

Sally has had a positive impact in many people’s lives, she’s provided friendship, a hug when needed and someone who they could share their problems with and without judgement. So how did her relationship with Ella fall apart, she starts looking at her mum from a different perspective, by doing this she not only discovers things about Sally she didn’t know, but herself, and is she following in her father’s footsteps and putting work before family?

I received a copy of The Memory Library by Kate Storey from Avon Books UK and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This is the author’s debut novel in the book club space, what an incredible story and one that will really make you think long after you finished it. A narrative about the power of books, reading and the joy they bring, how they connect and impact people, libraries, friendship, family, love, community and hope. Sally and Ella story is off to a new start, like the beginning of a chapter and five stars from me.

Every year on her daughter Ella's birthday, Sally buys a book with significance and writes a personal message inside. However, Ella and Sally are estranged, and for the past 21 years, Sally has placed the book in a lovingly kept library, unbeknownst to Ella. When an accident results in the destruction of the library, Ella has to leave her husband and daughter in Australia and return to the UK to be with her mother. What follows is a wonderful lesson in acceptance, familial relationships and understanding, all with the help of literature.

I really enjoyed this book. The story was beautifully linked to famous pieces of literature, and I loved the tale of mother/daughter acceptance - not everything is as it seems. The characterisation in the book was fabulous - the main two characters are of course engrossing, but I also loved Hannah, Jacob and Nathan. A great read, one I will certainly recommend.

This is a warm, sweet, captivating novel about forgiveness and love. It’s a love letter to books and reading. Sally builds a library for her daughter, Ella, lovingly choosing a book each year with an inscription. Even after they are estranged and Ella moves to Australia, Sally continues to add a book each year on Ella’s birthday. The library is destroyed by water damage and Sally has a medical emergency where she needs her daughter to come home and take care of her. Can Ella rebuild her relationship with her mother and rebuild the library?

The cover may be blue but the content of this lovely book is pure gold. It's a wonderful warm bath of a read, a comforting, restorative tale of kindness, compassion and the selflessness of maternal love. Billed as a book about books, the literary references frame the story beautifully and add extra depth to the main characters, but it's really about mothers and daughters. Growing up, growing apart and growing old... The Memory Library charts it all and will strike a chord with anyone negotiating the role-reversing challenges of dementia. I loved all the supporting characters too and in my head the whole thing played out like a classic Richard Curtis movie. An absolute treat.

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 .

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.

Sally and Ella are a mother and daughter living at opposite ends of the world for over 20 years after a misunderstanding caused young Ella to storm off. Sally's accident brings them together again, very reluctantly on Ella's part, and we slowly learn what caused the rift between them. What follows is a beautiful story of friendship, growth and love through ageing and illness. I can't recommend this book enough and I wish I could give it 10 stars. A definite winner.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

Aww this is such a wonderful book that I will be recommending it to everyone!
Thanks for the opportunity to read & review it.

I don't know what to say about this book. I am still crying.

It touched me in so many ways. It should really come with a packet of tissues.

Moving and an ode to books and the traces they leave.

I have no more words.

OK I AM IN LOVE WITH THIS BOOK!! When it is released I will purchase it and add it to my library. This was so real, how often we waste time being angry at each other missing out on milestone events for simple misunderstandings. I cried, I smiled, I giggled, I am planning my own This Is Your Life Library event! This book gave me all the feels. I loved the way the author made sure that we the readers understood the conflict from both points of view, How we were able to go back in time to understand the issue between Ella and Sally, be in the moment and share in the confusion of the current state of things and then to walk with Ella as she and Sally begin to mend and heal. I really enjoyed the growth that took place in Ella and how in her helping her mother helped her become a better mother and wife. This book really drives home the importance of connection, patience, and forgiveness. Understanding that no matter what we think we know, there is always a missing piece that could make or break our outcome. Life is fleeting, memories are important, cherish the time we have with each other.

Definitely will recommend this book!

The Memory Library by Kate Storey is a heartwarming tale addressing themes of grief, forgiveness, family, and love. Ella left her home at 18 and never returned until 22 years later after her mom Sally had a fall. She quickly realized things were not as they seemed and Ella now has a difficult decision to make. Readers follow Ella’s journey of reconnecting with her mother and her past as she learns what’s truly important in life.

This was an enjoyable read that really touched my soul. It addresses some difficult topics in life, but does it in such a way that is gentle and relatable. The characters are wonderful, and the story is very uplifting despite the heavy themes. It’s well-written and kept me engaged throughout the progression of the story.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for granting me an advanced reader copy of the ebook in return for my honest review. This book will be published on February 1, 2024.

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.

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 centred 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 every time 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.

Sally's daughter Ella moved to Australia 21 yrs ago. She found something out about her mother's life just after the death of her father. She refused to listen to what her mum had to say and instead fled to the other side of the world.
When her mum,Sally has a fall Ella is persuaded by her husband that she has to do the right thing and fly home to England and take care of her.
Slowly Ella finds out about her mum's life and how much she means to other people and through that what she used to mean to her.
A story of a mother's love and what she would do to protect her child and what she gives up to protect her child. There is forgiveness and redemption and finding out that everything is not always as it seems.
A lovely cast of neighbours and friends are alongside the two main characters of Sally and Ella and make this book an enjoyable read.
I did shed some tears near the end and that shows what a good story it was.

"The Memory Library" is really heartwarming read. It centres around the strained relationship between Ella and her mother, Sally. For 42 years, Sally has been building a library, adding a new book with a personal note to her daughter each year on her birthday. However, following a heated argument, Ella moved to Australia and has never returned. Despite this, Sally continues to add a new book to the library every year, hoping that Ella will someday read them.

When Sally has a fall, Ella is forced to return to England to help her mother recover. During her stay, she discovers the library her mother has been building in her honor. This discovery, coupled with the time spent with her mother, prompts Ella to reflect on her own life, including her marriage and her relationship with her eight-year-old daughter.
A really worthwhile read, just make sure you have tissues to hand!

After Sally has a fall at home, her daughter Ella returns after being essentially estranged for more than 20 years to help with her recovery. While back at her mother's home, Ella discovers that Sally has kept up her tradition of choosing and inscribing a book for Ella each year for her birthday, only the personal library was ruined by the water damage that occurred during Sally's fall. Ella realizes that maybe the reasons she ran away were not what she thought. This was one of those nice, (mostly) happily ever after books where everyone learns something and most problems are resolved. It was good, a quick and fairly light read. 3.5 stars rounded to 4.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Ella left home when she was in her early twenties and never looked back. When she visits her mom many years later alot has changed but sine things have remained the same. This book was well written.

I loved this so much! I thought it was so good. I couldn't put it down. I loved the story and the characters.