The Memory Library

By Kate Storey

Book Overview

'A gorgeous story full of emotion and a very special library.' - Evie Woods, bestselling author of The Lost Bookshop Some stories stay with us forever...

For forty-two years, Sally Harrison has been building a library.

Each year, on her daughter's birthday, she adds a new book to her shelves - with a note in the front dedicated to her own greatest work.

But Ella - Sally's only child - fled to Australia twenty-one years ago after a heated exchange, and never looked back. And though Sally still dutifully adds a new paperback to the shelves every time the clock strikes midnight on July 11th, her hopes of her daughter ever thumbing through the pages are starting to dwindle.

Then disaster strikes and Ella is forced to return to the home she once knew.

She is soon to discover that when one chapter ends, another will soon follow.

All you have to do is turn the page...

Journey through the pages of this heartwarming novel, where hope, friendship and second chances are written in the margins. Perfect for book lovers everywhere and fans of Sally Page's The Keeper of Stories.

Praise for The Memory Library:

'An absolute joy to read. Uplifting, beautiful, and perfect for any book lovers ' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'The Memory Library delivers on its promise of hope, friendship and second chances. It's a love letter to the written word.' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'A powerful and poignant story. There were tears shed.' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'I laughed out loud and had more than one glassy eye ' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'A real treasure for booklovers everywhere who completely appreciate the joy, knowledge and healing that books can bring.' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'There's page after page of wonderful wisdom in this novel.' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Filled with tender moments of sharing, tears, forgiveness, revelation and healing.' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'What a beautiful, moving story this was It really had me sobbing my eyes out.' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0008658544
• ISBN13: 9780008658540
• Release Date: December 2024
• Publisher: Avon Books
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.0" x 7.7"

Customer Reviews

All the feels!

Well, this book has all the feels! Be warned about reading this in public because it is full of so many emotions! Not surprising since it is all about Ella returning to England to take care of her estranged mother who had fallen and injured herself. It is a story of learning about each other, changing from the static image Ella had had of her mother when she left 20 years before and figuring out that parents are real people, complete with faults and many sides that you don't know about when you are a child. I love the idea of the memory library, with books that are super special and have messages from loved ones in them. I love books in general but this is a wonderful idea. Besides books, you have the love and strength of community and friends coming together to help each other out without asking for anything in return. And the ending is so wonderful! Families made whole again, love found and rekindled and friends that stick with you no matter what! This was a wonderful story and the audiobook was super excellent too! The narrator did a grand job in playing all the characters and that also really helped with feeling all the emotions! I highly recommend this! Even if it made me cry. :)

Touching story about forgiveness

The Memory Library A touching read about forgiveness between a mother and her daughter. Ella moved to Australia… rather, she ran away from her mother’s house in England soon after Ella’s father died of a heart attack. Ella adored her father and he could do no wrong in Ella’s eyes, so when he died because of Sally’s actions, Ella decided she’d never forgive her mom, so she left and never looked back. Now Sally needs caregiving while she is unable to do things for herself. Ella feels she has a duty to her mother, so she heads out to stay with Sally several weeks while she recovers. During Ella’s stay at her mother’s, at first she sees her mother as the enemy and cause of her father’s death, but as days pass and she sees how the community people respond to Sally, she begins to see her mother differently and in a more positive light. She begins to see her mum through Sally’s friends eyes. And of course there are the books. Many well known titles are mentioned and each book’s message and meaning is told. Ella finally sees just how special her mother is and discovers the truth about her father. But when Ella takes her mother to her doctor and Ella is told about her mother’s condition, it may be too late for Ella to make things right between them. Now Ella has to decide what to do to make sure her mum is taken care of once she returns home to the other side of the world and will Ella’s husband and young daughter go along with her decision? This was a sweet read! My next selection is the Sweet Briar Junction series by Connie Parker. Book 1 is: Murder by the Inn