Did I Ever Tell You About Genevieve Kington’s Newest Work?

Written By: Sable Quinn

Sable’s Rating: 4/5 stars

Content Warning: this memoir follows a parent through their terminal illness until they eventually succumb and pass away; deals with grief, loss, and growth.

Did I Ever Tell You?, Genevieve Kingston. MarySue Rucci Books, May 7, 2024. 277 pp.

Did I Ever Tell You? by Genevieve Kingston is a poignant, emotional, soulful, and most importantly, important read coming in 2024.** Kingston’s newest memoir follows her younger self throughout her early years; starting with her mother’s breast cancer diagnosis when she was only three years old. The audience accompanies Kingston throughout her childhood, watching her brave mother research her terminal illness until her hope and resilience were worn down, witnessing her mother’s acceptance that she might not win this battle, helplessly seeing her mother suffer for many years, and finally studying the all-encompassing love her mother contains for Kingston and her brother as she starts creating “time capsule” chests for their potential futures without her.

One of the things that I absolutely love about how Kingston created this book is the introduction she gives the audience. It is essentially just that: a brief introduction into her childhood, the toll it takes on a young child to witness their parent endure a long and rough terminal illness, and finally a brief glimpse at the all-encompassing love their mother holds for them when she starts her project.

I also adore and think it was genius for her to include the pictures of each gift that her mother left her. Her mother’s project was making two separate chests; chests that she hoped would never have to be opened. As her illness took more and more from her, she felt she needed to prepare something for her two children, something that would allow them to still have her during their most important moments in life. Gone went the mountains of research papers, statistics, and too many doctors to count; in its stead came art supplies, special gifts, and a whole lot of motherly wisdom and love.

Throughout the memoir, Kingston accompanies each story of her most important moments and the ritual of opening what her mother left her. Every milestone is accompanied with pictures of each piece that her mother gifted: her mother’s birthstone ring, a coral necklace, an amethyst brooch, an enamel sailboat pin, and many more. The simple fact that Kingston shared these precious memories and included photos of each special gift is not only genius but also helps the reader connect to the story on another level altogether.

This memoir does not just represent the undying love a mother holds for her children, but Kingston also gifted us with the timeline of healing and growth. She artfully shows that healing is most certainly not linear and there is absolutely no deadline for when one is supposed to be healed, that is, if they can ever truly and fully heal from their tragedy.

I did indeed need the tissues on standby for many occasions while devouring this book. Getting a bit personal—I don’t have a relationship with my birth mother. Nevertheless, I was able to absorb and grow from reading this touching and soulful memoir. Even though I may not have been able to relate to the different connections Kingston demonstrates to the audience, nor could I imagine myself in the position she grew up in, I can still understand and relate in some way to this work. In essence, this novel is not just for those who are searching for their own answers that may be in similar situations or have experienced similar situations. This memoir is truly for anyone that has experienced any level of personal tragedy; it’s a timeless piece that gives hope and a little bit of understanding to each person that reads it. An extremely moving and powerful work, Kingston is going to make many a reader weep from heartbreak and unwavering love. This is an important and soulful read that you will not want to miss this upcoming May 2024!

**Content Warning: this memoir follows a parent through their terminal illness until they eventually succumb and pass away; deals with grief, loss, and growth.

Such a tragic but bittersweet story. How that poor mother found the strength to leave such special gifts behind for her children while fighting to stay alive is just remarkable, and how her daughter found the strength to put her story out there and I’m sure relive it over and over through edits etc is just mind blowing to me. It was a privilege to be let into the authors life and see a glimpse of what she lived through. I think all her readers will be wishing nothing but happiness for her for the rest of her days. Her mother would be so proud. Thank you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this story.

When "Gwenny" was three years old, her mother learned that she had breast cancer. Miraculously, she lived another eight years. During this time, knowing that she would be leaving her two children behind much sooner than they deserved or she wanted, she began wrapping gifts and writing cards to them—gifts to be opened only on specific milestones in their life. The letters seep with a kind of love that only a mother can have for her children.
This is a beautiful memoir full of love, anguish and hope that will make your heart ache.

"Did I Ever Tell You?" by Genevieve Kingston is a deeply moving memoir that explores the emotional journey of a mother and daughter grappling with the mother's terminal cancer diagnosis. In an act of love, the mother leaves her daughter Gwenn a box filled with letters and presents to be opened throughout her life. This memoir isn't just about loss; it's also about coping with mental illness, navigating through feelings of being lost, and ultimately finding one's way again. The title captures those precious moments when Gwenn cherishes hearing stories from her past with the prompt, "did I ever tell you," leading into cherished memories of her parents. This aspect particularly resonated with me, as I deeply value such moments of shared memories, though they seem all too rare nowadays. I found this book incredibly beautiful and moving. It's an essential read for anyone touched by the themes of love, loss, and healing.

Thank you so much NetGalley for an advance arc of this beautiful memoir. I will start by saying I have already read 4 books in 2024 and this is my first 5 star book. This memoir tells the heartbreaking story of a mom and daughter. Mom has terminal cancer so she gives her daughter a gift of a box with letters and gifts that Gwenn will open thru her life. I also lost my mom to cancer so I didn't know if I'd have the strength for this book..but what it did was give me so many moments of recognition. I've been there, felt that, wondered that. Its also a story of moving on, mental illness, feeling lost, finding your feet again. The title refers to moments that Gwenn would love, when someone would say "did I ever tell you" then take her to a memory of her parents. That gutted me as I love when that happens, but it's not often enough anymore. I loved this book. It's a must read. So beautiful and touching.

A beautiful memoir open raw painful the heartbreak of losing her mom to breast cancer at such a young age .She shares other difficult issues in her life her story kept me turning the pages .#netgalley #simonelement.

What a powerful memoir.
I could feel the loneliness, the pain, the struggle of the authors when she was losing her mom to breast cancer.
The anguish of losing her mom, then the self control of opening the little chest.
There was many times I cried.

Then the gut punch of her father. I won't spoil it, but wow. I did not see that coming.

I am proud of the author for overcoming so much and still having the faith to find love, to go on, to still see the good in the world.

I hope that the author keeps writing, she has a unique voice that is needed in the world today.

I love the Modern Love NYT pieces and the show on Amazon so I desired to read a full length book about one of the features that had run in the paper. Kingston's words are effortless and flow beautifully to tell the story of her mom. The relationship they had was interesting to read about as she unpacked more and more details. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.