Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
4 STARS
I absolutely loved this book for its unique and refreshing perspective. While discovering that your mother has Alzheimer’s is far from refreshing, the story itself felt original and unlike anything I’ve read before. The characters were deeply engaging, and their journeys resonated with me. Though the narrative was heavy at times, it remained captivating throughout, leaving me grateful to have experienced such a powerful and moving story

Cheesy, predictable... Did I mind? Not a jot.
This was gorgeous. Such a lovely idea for a mother to give her daughter a book on her birthday, with a little inscription, and add it to their library room at home. I would so do this if I had a daughter!
It brings out a real love of literature. The book mentions so many novels- contemporary as well as classics, and it made me want to read the ones I hadn't already.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Jilly Bond and Imogen Wilde. Both actors were excellent, but I truly adored Imogen Wilde's voice. I couldn't stop listening.
A wonderful audiobook, that I am now sad I read it too quickly.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. It's very moving and deals with a difficult family situation. It's well written, and the dialogue feels authentic.

"The Memory Library" by Kate Storey is family drama fiction. Her author's voice feels familiar to me, but this is the only book listed for her. This may be a debut novel for Kate Storey.

Ella lives in Australia with her husband and daughter. She receives a call from her mother's next-door neighbor who asks her to come back to England to help her mother, Sally. But... Ella hasn't been back to see her mother in over 20 years, and they have become estranged. Can they develop a loving relationship while navigating confusing health issues?

The audiobook was narrated by Jilly Bond and Imogen Wilde. It was hard to tell most of the voices apart. The emotions were well acted.

Characters - 4/5
Writing - 4/5
Plot - 3/5
Pacing - 4/5
Unputdownability - 4/5
Enjoyment - 4/5
Narration - 3/5
Cover - 5/5
Overall - 31/8 = 3 7/8 rounded up to 4 stars

Thank you to Netgalley, Harper Audio, and Kate Storey for providing this audiobook ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This story is about the complicated relationships between mothers and their daughters. Sally, an English woman who is in her early 70's, has had a nasty fall and breaks her hands/fingers on both arms. As a result, a neighbor calls her daughter Emma who lives in Australia. By all intents and purposes, they have been estranged for more than twenty years. Emma will contact Sally periodically and share photos and stories of her daughter, however, doesn't go out of her way to reach out on a regular basis just to talk. Emma believes Sally is busy with her friends and social groups and doesn't want or need to be bothered by her. Emma also has a lot of resentment towards her mother from the past.

When Emma and Sally are reunited in England as Emma is her caregiver, things are dicey at first, but as they both start to open up and reconnect, you can see the previously strong bond there. Emma also sees that her mother is not quite herself, becoming forgetful and sometimes overly emotional for no reason.

I enjoyed this book, but I figured out the twist very early on in the story. I loved the sense of community, and I came away feeling as if anyone can make an unexpected impact in other's lives if they only open themselves up to be present.

4.5

Narrated by: Jilly Bond; Imogen Wilde

• family dynamics • mother / daughter relationship • books • life lessons • diverse characters

This is a heartwarming story about our relationship with our mother and a mother's relationship with a daughter.

I loved the story and character development, especially for Ella. As her mother, Sally, is dealing with aging and medical issues, Ella is working to heal emotional scars from the past. As she navigates her mother's care, she is forced (sometimes willingly, other times not as much) to see the things around her in a new light.

This story may cause readers to reflect on their own relationships, bias, and how they show up in their community.

The narrators did a wonderful performance.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Listener Copy

This is like a love letter to books, and there are so many lessons to learn from this story! It was both sad and uplifting. I didn’t particularly like Ella, but really enjoyed the found family around Sally.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Audio for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to publication.

I chose to savor The Memory Library as an audiobook. Jilly Bond and Imogen Wilde give voice to the characters with lovely regional accents. I am sure that the fragility of Ella and Sally’s story was portrayed well within the pages of the novel, but there seemed to be a poignancy to hearing the unraveling then the rebuilding of such a delicate relationship between an daughter and her ailing, elderly mother.
Some stories you don’t know you need to hear until they fill your senses. The Memory Library may stop you in the tracks of your busy life and make you reconsider where you are heading.

This is a beautiful story about an estranged relationship between a mother and daughter and their journey to repairing their relationship. When I first read that Sally has been building a special library for her daughter for years and adds a book with advice on her birthday each year. I saw that Ella’s (her daughter) birthday is July 11th. I knew it was fate to read it! My daughter has the same birthday and how special that it’s about a mother/daughter relationship. Ella learns the truth of the past and is taking care of her mother in her old age. She learned so much about herself and how much she wasn’t appreciating and loving life to the fullest. It was a really sweet story 🩷 If you love to read about family dynamics and the journey to healing I suggest this!

I mainly listened to this on audio and really enjoyed it! I like that there were separate narrators for both women. You could really hear the emotion in their voice while reading. a great audiobook!

Mother -adult daughter relationships are complicated. This novel shows the importance of love and forgiveness especially when one doesn’t have all the pieces. As a lover of books, I appreciated the role books played throughout this novel and their relationship.

The Memory Library by Kate Storey is a heartfelt exploration of the complexities of family relationships, particularly the deep and often fraught bond between a mother and her daughter. The story beautifully captures the full emotional arc of teenage rebellion, bitter misunderstandings, and the profound healing power of forgiveness. It emphasizes how breaking down emotional barriers can lead to genuine connection and understanding, offering a touching message about love, community, and reconciliation.

Books play a central role in the narrative, acting as both a medium and a metaphor for storytelling and memory. The author skillfully weaves this element into the fabric of the story, delivering a gentle yet impactful message that never feels heavy-handed or condescending.

Jilly Bond’s narration is a standout, perfectly capturing the emotional nuances of the characters and enhancing the story’s themes. Her performance draws the listener in, making the audiobook an immersive and moving experience.

This audiobook is highly recommended for anyone seeking a tender and inspiring story about family, forgiveness, and the bonds that tie us together. It's a treasure for fans of emotional, character-driven narratives.

This book was so good but so heartbreaking. A wonderfully told story about loss of the future you were expecting told in two different times.

The Memory Library is an emotional journey back home—exploring themes of forgiveness, self-discovery, and the power of reconnection. An estranged Mother/Daughter is brought back together by obligation and circumstance, offering them a chance to rebuild their relationship as two adults.

Through tears and laughter, I felt a deep and personal connection to the characters and to this story. I understand firsthand the struggle of aging parents and the regret of time missed. I believe many readers will find themselves profoundly invested and connected as well, understanding the sadness and joy throughout. And BOOKS! So many books. All my fellow book lovers will be filled with joy as they read The Memory Library. The shared bond over books and reading runs deep; this story is no different.

Additionally, the narrators Jilly Bond and Imogen Wilde were fantastic! They brought the story to life even more. I found myself smiling, crying, and laughing alongside their narration. Highly recommend the book as well as the audio version!

I went into this book blind, just attracted to title and cover art, and was so surprised. What a lovely book!

This was a beautiful story about a mother and daughter, forgiveness, and found family… with the bonus of books! While the main character starts of a little unlikable, she has a great growth arc. I found the other characters exceptionally lovable. On top of all that, it has one of the most beautiful ideas about sharing books with loved ones that I have ever heard. I am telling everyone I know about it.
This book does deal with dementia, but as someone who last a parent to it, I found it was handled well.

A sweet, heartwarming story about family. Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an audio copy of this book.

I have never read anything by this author so I didn't know her writing style. Furthermore, I didn't know what the book was about but I liked the cover and the title...and I was right. It's a lovely story with a lot of sub plots. The narrators do a great job as well. I will definitely recommend it to my friends.

Thanks NetGalley, Kate Storey, and Avon for this ARC. I really enjoyed it.

Wonderfully written and crafted story, reminding us all of what's most important- time with one another. The book starts with an urgency and slows to showcase the challenges in a mother-daughter relationship, what's on the surface, what's understood and misunderstood and what we can take away from our time here. Moving and memorable! Great read!

What a wonderful book for all book lovers, although it will pull at your heart strings. I loved the beautiful legacy of choosing a book for your loved one for each birthday and writing a note inside each one. It’s something I always wanted to do, but never accomplished. My heart went out to the mother battling the beginning of dementia and I grew exasperated with the daughter at times.
Thank you, @NetGalley for granting my request for an ARC. This is definitely a book I will recommend!

The Memory Library by Kate Storey was beautifully done. From the narration to the writing, this was a wonderful book to listen to. It made me feel, think, laugh and cry. I am looking forward to more from Kate Storey. Thank you NetGalley, HarperAudio and Avon for being able to experience this ARC.

This was a beautiful, hopeful story about second chances. Sally and Ella’s mother-daughter relationship is layered and complicated and at first I was not liking Ella’s stubborn character at all, but she definitely grows as the story progresses. This is a slow but redemptive read for fans of women’s fiction. Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.