In this story, Ella returns home after being estranged from her mother for 21 years. She is surprised to find out that her mother has been continuing the tradition of adding a book to her library every year on her birthday. Each book includes an inscription that tells why Sally has chosen the book to add to the collection. When Ella returns home, she finds that things were not what she thought and examines her part in the break-down of the relationship.

I originally picked up this book because it was recommended by a book club, but when I started reading, I realized that it touched me in ways I wasn't expecting. I've been both a daughter and a mother. I've been the one to walk away for periods of time, and I've been the one to have my whole life walk away for periods of time. I think this is pretty common among mothers and daughters for unexplained reasons. I couldn't imagine a 21-year estrangement, though. Both of these characters definitely had some healing to do. The events of the story lead the reader to think through important relationships and how a little bit of communication can go a long way.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has ever had a relationship that ended too soon or who needs to feel hope that all can be well with the world again after experiencing an estrangement. Keep the tissues handy. This is one book that will stay with me for a long time. It is touching and thought-provoking. This is my first book by this author, but it definitely won't be the last!

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing a free audiobook copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I listened to the audiobook and I really enjoyed this book. I have an affinity towards books about books, so the idea of a library consisting of special and meaningful books spoke to me. British narrators are my favorite storytellers, so the book was easy to listen to as well as maintain my interest. The conflict between the two main characters, Sally and Ella (mother and daughter) are relatable to me as I am both a mother and a daughter. One of the character development issues prevents me from giving this a higher rating. Although I understand how Ella was so frustrated and angry with her mother, I am not really understanding why she has such an extreme reaction before her mother even has the chance to explain her situation. Although Sally's life has been full of friends and people who appreciate her, she has a gaping hole in her life for over twenty years and
Ella's path to forgiveness is so tenuous when she finally visits her mother. It is heartbreaking and very frustrating to read/listen to Ella's grievances. I did enjoy the story and dialogue, but I was less excited about the character development. All in all, I thought "The Memory Library" was a great book for fiction readers who don't mind a tearjerker.

I have read this book in traditional format and had to opportunity to listen to the audio version. The book still blew me away and the audio narration of this book was excellent!!

Oh my heart this book gave me all the feels. It’s a book about a mother who is estranged from her daughter. The mother buys a book for her daughter each year on her birthday which is intentionally selected based on the theme and she writes an inscription before adding it to a library she’s building for herself (and the daughter).

The mother has an accident in her home and the library she has built is ruined by water damage. The daughter comes to help her mom recover from the injury and also learns of the library. The mother is later diagnosed with dementia and the daughter has builds a special library with inscriptions for her.

Tissues please 😭😭😭. Amazing story, beautiful writing and I cried several times at the end of the book (which if you know me is NOT a regular occurrence). I totally loved this book and give it a 5/5

The good:

*second chances
*mother daughter relationships
*books
*found family
*quoteable
*narration

*and a cat


The not-so good (for me):

*terribly unlikeable main character
*serious lack of communication

Most readers loved this one but I wasn’t ever able to connect with the story (mostly due to Ella); I wasn’t the right reader for this.



Thank you to Harper360 and NetGalley for the ALC

The Memory Library by Kate Storey is a heartwarming story between a mother and a daughter. Ella left home when she was a teen and didn’t return until 22 years later, when her mother had a an accident. The story follows Ella and her mother as they reconnect after a misunderstanding.

I really loved the tradition in the book where the mom bought a new book each year and wrote a personal note to her daughter inside. I wish I had done something similar with my own kids while they were growing up.

#TheMemoryLibrary #NetGalley
Publication day- December 3. 2024

This book is about healing. Ella fled England after her father's death and her mother's betrayl. She comes home after twenty-one years when her mother has an accident causing her to lose the use of both hands (one full arm). Seeing her childhood home and mother for the first time in decades is odd. Somethings are exactly how she remembered and others are not. As she spends the next several weeks caring for her mother, she learns that she made a lot of false assumptions. They both get the chance to heal as the truth is revealed.

Very sweet with a whole lot of character growth. I just didn't emotionally connect, which is why it is not rated higher.

Both narrators (Jilly Bond and Imogen Wilde) did a good job on the audiobook.

I received an advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

Peel back the surface of most mother daughter relationships and the complexities bubble up. In the case of Sally and her daughter Ella their relationship has become strained by past mistakes resulting in an incomplete view of the present and uncertainty hovering over their futures.

The audiobook is voiced by an excellent duo of narrators Jilly Bond and Imogen Wilde who brought Sally and Ella to life. The narrators captured the emotions the characters experienced and listening to this was quite engaging. The story is presented in a dual timeline format. The themes of forgiveness, empathy, community and books are a path towards healing. I enjoyed this thought provoking compassionate book and would recommend it to those who like to explore the gravity of real life situations through fiction.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult for the Advance Listening Copy

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.

The narrators were good and I have no complaints.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for granting me an advanced reader copy of the audiobook in return for my honest review. This book will be published on December 3, 2024.

I listened to the audio version of this book. The narration is great and it is easy to follow. It is a heartwarming story of a mother and daughter reuniting and becoming close again after a misunderstanding.

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my review.

4.5⭐️
Wow, this was a great listen. I put it on 1.75x speed whilst I prepped thanksgiving dishes for tomorrow. It wasn’t too fast at all at that speed.

I’ll start off with my one real criticism other than that murdering Andrew Carnegie’s name… and that’s the title. Why? Because they have actual memory libraries where you can go and speak to a mature individual and get first hand stores about history and anything! So it gives a false sense of what the book is about. It’s not an incorrect title it just confused me as I thought it would be a bit different.

That being said, the exploration of the mother daughter relationship was beautiful. I read that some DNFd the book because of how selfish the daughter was but had they finished the book they would have realized how important that was and why.

With such a prevalent theme of children going no contact with their parents this book gives a great message of communication and how rarely do you know the reality of a situation. (Abuse aside)

This book comes out in the US on Dec 3rd 2024 and it is such a heartwarming book to read during this season.

I am thankful to have gotten the audio AlC for free from Netgalley and Harper Audio to enjoy which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars and I rarely round up.

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

Ella is selfish and emotionally stunted. She could get a lot further if she quit worrying about what it would be like if she were "queen of the world." Instead, she judged every one and every thing by her selfish perspective. She never really gave anyone else a chance. She was very hard to like. I wish I would have read about a female relationship that was giving, equal, and satisfying. Instead I got a selfish child in the form of an adult. I couldn't like or care. Am I really supposed to identify with this child who never realizes that being an adult is actually complicated and hard?

The memory library explores relationships that are complicated and complex. The rocky relationship between Sally and Ella, as well as Sally's past loves. Ella and Sally had a misunderstanding that kept them apart for over 20 years. When Sally gets sick Ella has to go back and help her. Through connections to the past, she slowly starts to understand her mother and heal their relationship. I loved the premise of this story but I felt at times the complexity of the characters falls a little flat. I wanted to see more layers for both Sally and Ella. I loved we learn about the past through books and rebuilding the beautiful library. I enjoyed this story.

THE MEMORY LIBRARY by Kate Storey is meant to be a feel good book about a mother, Sally, and daughter, Ella. Sally lives in Greenwich, London and her estranged daughter has lived for over 20 years in Australia. Ella, modeling on her father, is very work-focused and relies on husband Charlie to care for their house and 8-year-old daughter, Willow. When Sally has a fall and needs care, Ella reluctantly heads back to England where over the course of six weeks she learns to more fully appreciate her mother and the values of the people (neighbors, local shopkeepers, library patrons) who care for Sally. I listened to the audiobook which is narrated by Jilly Bond and Imogen Wilde. I found their voices to be quite soothing and able to vividly evoke Sally's neighborhood environment as well as the emotions in the conversations with Ella. THE MEMORY LIBRARY seems to have garnered very positive reader response so I think there is a wide audience, especially amongst bibliophiles, but I found it dragged a bit and Ella was not at all a sympathetic character. She was extremely self-centered: "...she didn't like talking. If she was queen of the world, all personal problems would be resolved by leaving them alone and getting on with things. All talking did was allow other people to tell you what they thought you were doing wrong." Although Ella clearly matured over the course of the story, it was difficult at times to think that she would have changed so dramatically in the relatively short time that she cared for Sally. As a former teacher, Sally modeled life lessons like "check your privilege and remember that who you are is more important than what you have." It was fun to reflect on the many books referenced throughout the story (e.g., The Alchemist, Persuasion, We All Want Impossible Things, The Life of Pi) and gratifying to see that Ella ultimately realizes that "It was only when she discovered the books and the way Sally had continued her tradition [of gifting one with an inscription to Ella each year] that she'd fully appreciated how loved she was. Through rebuilding the library Ella had learned so much about her mother but also about herself."

What a wonderful read (or “listen to” in my case!). A story of family, love, misunderstandings, and the loss of close years because of assumptions. In the end the story was redeeming and treated some sensitive topics (dementia, infidelity, mother-daughter relationships) with grace and humor. Highly recommend this book and narrator!

Overall, I really enjoyed "The Memory Library"! The story centers around Ella and her mother, Sallie. Their relationship has been quite strained since Ella was a teenager. Now, in her early 40s, Ella must return to England from Australia to look after her mother who has had a bad fall. Early on, we find out that the books that Sallie had given Ella as a child have been destroyed in a flood. The story explores the ultimate cause of their fallout and if they can repair it. While there no real twists and turns, it is an enjoyable listen on audiobook! I loved that books also figure quite prominently into this story, especially how magical and healing they can be for people.

Every year on her daughter’s birthday, Sally adds a new book to her shelf, inscribing a heartfelt note on the first page, a tribute to the one she considers her greatest work.

But Ella, her only child, left for Australia twenty-two years ago after a painful argument and hasn’t looked back since. Though Sally faithfully places a fresh paperback on the shelf as the clock strikes midnight each July 11th, her hopes of Ella ever reading her messages are beginning to fade.

Then, a sudden crisis compels Ella to return to the home she left behind.

The narration was great! They did a great job keeping the reader (listener) interested. I typically do not read this type of book but as a person who struggles with mother issues, a tear was shed.

Ella is a 42 woman living in Australia with her husband and daughter. She left England 21 years ago after the death of her father and a betrayal by her mother. Ella's relationship with her mother has been strained for the past two decades. Her mother had a serious fall and needs her daughter to care for her while she recovers. Ella reluctantly travels to England, dreading every minute that she will be with her mother. Once there, she learns her mother had been keeping a library specifically for Ella, adding a book each year with a special memory on Ella's birthday. As she spends time with her mother, Ella learns so much about not only her mother, but also herself. The question remains as to whether their relationship can be repaired.
The Memory Library by Kate Storey is a poignant look at how misunderstandings can shape lives, and how forgiveness can save relationships.
I was given an ARC of The Memory Library by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

#thememorylibray
#katestory
#mothersdaughters
#netgalley
#goodreads
#dementia

The Memory Library by Kate Storey is a beautifully woven family story centered around the complex relationship between a mother and daughter. The narrative is both engaging and heartfelt, exploring themes of reconciliation and the importance of community.

Ella, the daughter, experiences significant growth as she learns to understand her mother, Sally, and the community that Sally has built around her. Storey’s portrayal of their evolving relationship is both realistic and moving, highlighting the struggles and joys of familial bonds.

As a lover of books that focus on libraries and bookstores, I found this novel particularly delightful. It beautifully captures the magic of literature and its ability to connect people, making The Memory Library a rewarding read. This book is a must for anyone who appreciates stories that celebrate the power of community and the healing that comes from understanding one another.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this book.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC audiobook of The Memory Library by Kate Storey.

To be honest I wasn't the biggest fan in the beginning of this book. As the book progressed I enjoyed it more and more. This is a story about being young and reading into things and not finding out the truth. About running away from your problems and starting over. About torn apart families. About a group of friends that are willing to help each other in good times and hard times. About coming home and peeling aways those preconceived notions of how things were and realizing that things have changed.

It was a beautiful story of getting older and mending fences in your life. It is definitely worth reading or listening to.

Prepare to have a lot of emotions! Classic chicklit, family drama and health crises.

There's so much in this book to unpack. Perhaps for each reader the chief takeaway will be different. For me it was regret. Regret for not communicating better with loved ones, regret for cutting family out, regret for all the things not said or done, regret for who the people we honored to forsake those more deserving, regret for lost love, regret for how we treat one another when we become complacent, regret for decades wasted. It pulled hard at my heart strings.

Also, I loved the fact that the story revolved around books. Beloved books, meaningful quotes, heartfelt dedications, and a collection of memories and love. The tribute to Sally was beautiful.