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.