*The Memory Library* by Kate Storey is an extraordinary journey that will stay with you long after the final credits roll. Listening to the audiobook version of this novel adds a unique depth to its emotional resonance, with the narrator’s subtle nuances and heartfelt delivery perfectly capturing the soul of this beautiful, bittersweet story. It’s a novel about memory, love, loss, and the stories we carry with us, and the audiobook brings these themes to life in a deeply moving way.

The story itself is a delicate dance between the past and present, with the protagonist navigating a world where memories are not just part of the past, but tangible, living things that shape and haunt us. The concept of a "Memory Library" is both fascinating and profoundly emotional. As the protagonist explores these memories, the audiobook gently guides you through a tapestry of moments—some joyful, some painful—that make up a life. It’s impossible not to be moved by how our memories define us and the people we love, and how they shape our future.

The narration elevates the experience. The voice actor does an exceptional job of capturing the vulnerability and strength of the characters, infusing each line with the emotion required to truly make the story come alive. The pacing is deliberate, drawing you into the contemplative atmosphere of the novel while keeping you engaged in the tender moments and devastating truths the characters must face. The way the narrator shifts between the subtle sadness of loss and the warmth of remembrance will bring tears to your eyes and make your heart swell in equal measure.

What makes *The Memory Library* so emotional is its profound exploration of how we hold onto the past. It doesn’t just tell a story—it forces you to reflect on your own memories and the moments that have shaped you. It’s one of those books that makes you feel seen, even as it makes you confront the deep, often painful parts of yourself. Listening to it as an audiobook amplifies that feeling, as the words become a kind of intimate conversation, echoing in your mind long after you’ve stopped listening.

In short, *The Memory Library* is a stunning, emotional experience—one that will make you laugh, cry, and reflect on the power of memory and the connections we share. The audiobook version is an especially powerful way to experience it, as it wraps you in a blanket of emotions that feels both personal and universal. If you’re looking for a story that touches the heart in a way that only the best literature can, this is the one.

The Memory Library is a beautiful book. Its pace is slow at first, and Ella, resentfully returning to London from Australia to attend her mother, is a bit hard to love. But author Kate Storey skillfully shows us Ella's eyes opening over time and introduces a lovely array of characters and subplots that enrich the story. Reverence for books and the sharing of their magic is, of course, at the heart of The Memory Library, but the relationships that evolve over the course of the book reminded me of a tree coming to life in the spring. At first the branches appear almost dead, but little by little buds push forth and finally burst into vibrant color. Sally's unsurprising diagnosis is sad, but the overall tone of the book, especially towards its conclusion, is joy.

I just finished listening to The Memory Library by Kate Storey, who also writes under Lisa Timoney, and I enjoyed it immensely. The culmination of an estranged adult daughter finally realizing how much her mother gave up for her, and the entire community, with the impeccable narration, brought me to tears near the end of the book. It is a rare book indeed that makes me cry. If you enjoy contemporary novels that pull at your heart strings, with lots of literary references, and a happy ending, I highly recommend this audiobook!

Thank you, Harper Audio, for an audio ARC of The Memory Library by Kate Storey!

Ella and Sally, and mother/daughter duo that became estranged 20+ years ago after a heated argument. Present day, Ella is informed that her mother has had a recent fall and needs some assistance. Upon her return, Ella discovers that her mother has been keeping a few secrets.

A story about family drama, community support, and books about books.

I loved what Sally had done with the books for Ella ♥️

The lack of communication frustrated me at times among characters.

Ella fled from her childhood home many years ago after a heated disagreement with her mother. Out of the blue, she is called back to England from her new home in Australia to help her mother Sally. Sally recently was injured and is alone and in need of assistance. Being her only family, Ella agrees to come for a quick stay. When she gets there, Ella learns that Sally has kept her childhood tradition of buying and inscribing a book for Ella every year on her birthday. But due to a flooding that leaked into the room with the books from Sally's accident, all were destroyed. The longer Ella stays and helps her mother, the more Ella realizes that she may have been wrong about her judgement and tries to make up for her mistakes.

This was such a heartwarming and emotional story that was very well written. I love how the author was able to create a story around the healing power of books. It seems like most of the books that have this theme resonate extremely well with me and I will continue to seek them out to read. The author did a fantastic job of developing and growing the relationship between mother and daughter so naturally. Even with some deeper topics covered, it ends with a very beautiful and optimistic message.

Thank you to Avon Books UK, NetGalley and Kate Storey for the ARC audiobook in exchange for my honest review of the book.

Ella, a 42-year-old woman who has been living in Australia for the last 21 years after becoming estranged from her Mother, Sally, is forced to return to her hometown in England after Sally is injured during a fall. After discovering a special gesture Sally had been working on for years, the two confront missteps and miscommunications from their past as they learn to navigate their new relationship and an unexpected change in Sally's life.
Will this gesture, along with finding family in the form of community, be enough to repair the damage that had been done?

Overall, I enjoyed this book. It was well-written, the characters were likable and relatable, and the audio narration was excellent. As the reader, I felt like I was several steps ahead of Ella and sometimes wished the plot moved a bit faster to catch up. There was a lot of miscommunication between the two main characters, which became a little overused by the end. That said, the book had heart, a touch of humor, and was a feel-good read.

What is not to like with a book about books? Sally Harrison has been building a memory library. Every year, on her daughter Ella’s birthday, Sally adds a book to her personal library. Each book has a note to Ella who sadly has never read any of the entries. Sally and Ella have been estranged for over 20 years. Ella moved to Australia where she has a husband and an 8 year old daughter who Sally has never met. When Sally falls and injures herself, Ella returns home to England. Can they reconcile and forgive each other? This was heartwarming, well written story. I love the idea of creating a personal library of books filled with memories. A nice ending although a bit predictable.

The audiobook was very well narrated bringing the characters to life. This is a nice debut novel by Kate Storey. It’s a truly enjoyable read. I look forward to future books by this author.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the Advanced Reader’s Copy.

Anything I liked about this book - A sweet, cozy comfort story about the power of books and love and friendship - was ruined by the absolutely infuriating, selfish and unlikable MC who ruined 20 years of her mother's life. And on the flip side of being infuriated, is the fact that her mother LET her ruin 20 years of her life. I mean C'mon lady STAND UP. 2.5 Stars rounded up.

In The Memory Library Sydney-based Ella receives word that her mother, Sally, has fallen and broken her hands and will need assistance. Sally is back in England, where Ella lived the early years of her life before fleeing from a perceived wrong by her mother. Ella reluctantly decides to come help her mother.

Once she is back living in her old house with her mother, Ella has to face that Sally's world is not as she imagined. She is loved by a wide variety of friends, Ella slowly starts to thaw towards Sally and question her long-held beliefs in the wrongs her mother did. This is a hearwarming story of redemption, forgiveness, and the power of books.

I love stories about books, so was happy to embrace their redemptive presence in this story, but for me personally it was a bit heavy handed. Ella's character was beyond annoying to me. I just didn't buy why she would flee to the other side of the world to escape her Mom, without even having a serious conversation to see that she was correct in her assumptions. Then when she started to thaw, but would quickly jump back to her original conclusions just confirmed to me she was a horrible person. So at the end of the story, Ella's change to this wonderful person just rang false to me.

I listened to an andio version of The Memory Library, and I must say it was well done and kept me listening.

I am obviously in the minority here. Most reviewers seemed to welcome the happy ending, and it is a very sweet conclusion and ending. So maybe take my viewpoint with a grain of salt.

I do appreciate the offer from NetGalley, Kate Storey and Harper Audio Adult for the opportunity to listen to this audio book in exchange for an honest review.

"The Memory Library" by Kate Storey and skillfully narrated by Jilly Bond; Imogen Wilde is the story of a mother and daughter repairing their relationship. They haven't seen each other in more than twenty years: Ella moved to Australia and started a new family there and Sally stayed in England, building a library that she hopes to leave to her daughter someday. When an accident requires Ella to return to England to take care of her mother she discovers how wrong she had been all those years.
I liked how books and reading were woven into the story and I liked the setting and the details. But I just could not bring myself to like Ella at all. Who would carry a grudge over such a minor thing toward their mother for such a long, long time? She seemed childish and petulant and was really an annoying character. She did improve over time, but I found her way to selfish and self-centered. I just hope her own daughter doesn't do the same to her someday.

Ella for me was incredibly unlikable. She doesn't seem to me emotionally mature and pretty ungrateful for the things in her life. The entire book, I thought to myself whatever Sally did, it was going to have to be momumental in order to justify Ella's behavior and it wasn't. In fact, the rift was such a ridiculous thing, it would have been resolved if either party showed a modicum of maturity. I also think they went too far with the Saint Sally act. Every page it seemed like she ran into a burning building to save orphans or something. It was just very heavy handed and too long to actually get to the crux of the story.

I 'read' The Memory Library in audio form. The narrator choice is well done. She is so easy to listen to. The production itself is also well done, transitions between chapters is smooth.

The author, Kate Storey, has written a beautiful story that will make you feel all of the emotions. This book will make you feel happy and also break your heart. I love it.

Absolutely loved this story of second chances, books bringing the community together, and the power of friendship! You don’t want to miss this story! The audiobook was great to listen to as well.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you to #katestorey #netgalley and #avonbooks for the opportunity to review this book. All opinions are my own.

What a beautiful story I will be talking about for some time! At the most basic level, this is a family story of a daughter traveling to a different country to care for her mother who was injured in a fall. However, at a deeper level this was a story about relationships, appreciating others (including their differences) and showing this by one's actions, slowing down, truly seeing people and listening, priorities, values, the power of story, open-mindedness, and more. Book clubs will have much to talk about with this heartwarming tale.

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Kristen Cook - A Book Ninja
Kristen Cook - A Book Ninja's Reviews > The Memory Library
The Memory Library by Kate Storey
The Memory Library
by Kate Storey
27399370
Kristen Cook - A Book Ninja's reviewDec 09, 2024 · edit
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bookshelves: 2024, netgalley, audiobooks-completed

The Memory Library is an impressive debut release by Kate Storey. This is a perfect example of how we can think we know what is the truth but we do not know the whole story which then skews our perception.

Sally, Ella's mother, has taken a bad spill and has hurt herself. Ella feels like she must leave her home in Australia and return home to England to care for her mom. The two have not been close for many years ever since Ella thought she knew what her mom was doing in a certain situation. Ella struggles returning to her childhood home and quickly discovers she knows nothing of her mom's life as it is today.

This is a good example of how a unique set of people make a beautiful story. I did find this story very heavy at times. As someone who is currently in the sandwich generation, I found much of this story hit too close to home. I often found that I didn't want to pick up the book. This is not a reflection of the writing or the story.


Possible triggers: parental aging, Alzheimer's diagnosis

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Memory Library by Kate Storey
This book almost broke me. It was so beautiful and tinged with sadness.
Ella doesn’t want to return home but she has to. The mother she left without a backwards glance has hurt herself and needs help for a few weeks. She hasn’t wanted to be part of her mothers life since the argument after her dads death. Coming home is a challenge and when she finds out her mother has flooded a room she has kept locked, she breaks a bit at the realization that the room held the greatest treasure, a book bought every year on her birthday and a handwritten note by her mother in each copy. Can the ice be thawing in Ella's heart?
MY HEART! What a beautiful book. What a lovely story. It broke my heart that books were destroyed but what comes out of the pages is some rapid healing for a woman who wouldn’t bend for her mother or the family she left in australia.
Ella was hurt by the past but little did she know she didn’t even know the truth. The time she wasted. Sally is such a sweet lady. UGH it pains me, PAINS ME!! Second chance at love.. Second chances all round. It was simply breathtaking and I cannot find the words to tell you to read this book, right now. Like run to the store. GOOOO.


It is poetic and you won’t want it to end.


4.5 stars

Thank you Netgalley, Kate Storey and publisher, this was great. I didn’t fall in love until the second half or so, so if that’s how you feel, I promise you’ll end up loving it if this is your kind of book.
After being apart for years, a mother and daughter find a way to reconnect - part of which is through a love for books. The narration on the audio made this even better!

I was not expecting to hate the main female character in this as much as I did. She was so terrible in the start. Why is she so mean and hateful to her husband? I know the story is about her strained relationship with her mother, but she was so unlikeable. I wasn't able to get past how terrible the inside of her head was in order to get to the rest of the story. Clearly other people have enjoyed the book, but I did not.

The Memory Library, written by Kate Storey and narrated by Jilly Bond and Imogen Wilde, tells the story of mother and daughter Sally and Ella. The two have been somewhat estranged for many years, but Ella needs to put this behind her when Sally has some health issues that require Ella to move home and help her. Throughout their time together Sally and Ella both Come together and grow in different ways, while also experiencing joys and challenges.
I really loved this book, loved the mother daughter relationship and how it grew and developed. I also really enjoyed how Ella learned more about her mother, her past and current life. I appreciated meeting the various neighbors and friends that Sally has, as well as how they all worked together for a common cause. I really enjoyed the writing and narration of this book, and definitely recommend it!
Thank you to NetGalley and to the author, publisher, and narrator of this book for an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow where to begin! This book has inspired me in so many different ways as a mother, as a daughter and as a friend. This book is about all those relationships we have in life and how we navigate them as they grow and change. I loved the narrators of this book I felt Jilly Bond and Imogen Wilde were perfect choices for the main characters of Sally and Ella. This book truly displays a mothers love for her child no matter how old they are or how distant and estranged from them we may be. This book is also about community and how important that relationship is. Kate Storey has written a book that will resonate with so many people it has something for everyone. A beautifully written story I didnt want to end and that is still in my thoughts after several days. I am also excited to read many of the books that were written about in this book as well. I am currently working on a memory library list for both of my children and books I would like to have in my own. A truly inspiring read!