A heartwarming, well-written story told by Jenny who is a resident of a luxury care home. She is 100 years old and as she tells the story of her life she realises that her carer Candice is in a controlling relationship, she feels that she must do something to help her. Despite her age, Jenny is determined to return to Italy where she spent time during the German occupation. She needs to lay ghosts to rest and come to terms with her past. Heartbreaking in places but a story that had to be told.

Wow wow wow this book!!!
What a gorgeous story which had me hooked from the first chapter. I have been staying up to all hours to get my fix. This is one I will be buying when it is published so I can own a physical copy to read again and again. Thank you so much for allowing me to read an advance copy of this as it truly is the best book I have read all year.
Make sure you have a box of tissues when you read this heartwarming beautiful story

This was a lovely story centering on Jenny who is 100 years old. I've never read anything by this author before but will certainly be keeping an eye out for more now!

I could not put this one down. I loved the story and the author. I was not disappointed at all! Thanks to publisher and NetGalley for this wonderful read!

Several times I nearly gave up on this book. I found the character of Beau irritating from page one and felt that he was not needed. The storyline regarding him did not add anything to the book except irritation.

Having worked in care some of the storylines regarding Candice would never have been allowed such as a resident leaving her money.

I also felt that the violence from Nico added nothing to the storyline; it would have been better to say he had shell shock from the war and was simply not the man the main character Jenny knew. For something I read on going to bed each night I don't want to read about violence towards people.

I persevered to the end but in all honestly was glad to finish the book and move on to something else.

I could not put this book down! It is absolutely phenomenal from the very first page right until the very last page. It is heartbreaking, joyful, hopeful, and a book that you won't want to put down.

I absolutely loved this book. Devoured it in a few days and yet again the author didn't disappoint.
I eagerly await more of Kathryn Hughes books. I will be first in line.
Excellent

The Memory Box is a lovely heartwarming story. It is told from the perspective of 100 year old Jenny and her carer, Candice..

The Memory Box by Kathryn Hughes follows the story of 100 year old Jenny as she tells it to her carer Candice. She is estranged from her little brother Louis and Candice has 'issues' with her boyfriend Beau. Will Jenny reunite with Louis and what about Candice and Beau?

This was an extremely well researched story, beautifully told through Jenny's narration. It is sad in places, but heart-warming in others.

Jenny and Candice are easy to relate too due to the way the story is told.

Overall another great read from Kathryn.

This was a lovely, warming book that made me want more! An easy read with a believable storyline, I loved the relationship between Candice and Jenny and the way Jenny’s childhood/ life story was told! I would read more books by this author

First off, Thank you so much for letting me review this wonderful book! I absolutely adored this book! I enjoyed the characters and the story! The story flowed great and had me reading and finishing the book in no time! I highly recommend this book!!! A story that will stay with me a while. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The book starts in an upmarket care home where Jenny is celebrating her 100th birthday. As she looks back on the years gone by, she opens her memory box – a cherished keepsake full of mementoes including a pebble, a carving and a newspaper cutting she can hardly bear to read.

Candice, meanwhile, is young and full of ambition. She wants to eventually run her own salon and be content with the man she loves. Jenny and Candice form an unlikely bond and begin to confide in each other. Jenny starts to tell Candice the story of her life, and the meaning behind her memory box. She persuades Candice to accompany her on a return trip to Cinque Alberi, a place that holds so many memories from the 1940s. She hopes the trip to to the small Italian village will finally allow her to lay the past to rest.

I really liked the character development and how Kathryn Hughes created characters that are nuanced – even our protagonists have flaws. The questionable decision-making and naivety shown at times, made the characters all the more relatable. I found myself routing for a happy ending for them both.

I felt the dual timelines ran seamlessly alongside each other without creating any confusion. I loved how the fictional village of Cinque Alberi was described so beautifully that I could vividly imagine the location both in the 1940s and the present day.

I love WW2 fiction and The Memory Box didn't disappoint. It's an emotive, thought-provoking read about love, loss and forgiveness.