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.

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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.

This was such a super sweet story. We all have things we assume about our parents, we all have things we learn about our parents which give us so much more understanding into our lives, their lives, and our past. Dementia and Alzheimer's is so rough on the children, especially the daughters I think because we tend to be the caregivers. This author reminded me a lot of the Comfort Food Cafe series by Debbie Johnson and anything by Beth Moran. Super sweet with themes of found family.

We are all human. We all make mistakes. Sometimes those mistakes hurt those who love us the most. This books is about healing, about community, about the love between generations. This books has the power to heal, and oozes with the love of literature. A wonderous reminder to love those around you and to live life and spend each moment making the most of it.

A heartwarming read about mother-daughter relationships, the power of books, and the importance of community. I loved this story and all the literary references! While I have bought many books for my son over the years, this book made me wish I had thought to create a tradition of buying and inscribing a book each year for him. The narrators of the audio version did an excellent job.