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
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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.