The Memory Box
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- Create Date：2021-11-13 00:16:15
- Update Date：2025-09-24
- Status：finish
- Author：Kathryn Hughes
- ISBN：1472265955
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Summary
A heartbreakingly beautiful novel， The Memory Box unlocks an unforgettable epic story of love and war， from the million-copy-selling author of The Letter， Kathryn Hughes。
Some love stories can't be forgotten。。。
Jenny Tanner opens the box she has cherished for decades。 Contained within are her most precious mementoes， amongst them a pebble， a carving and a newspaper cutting she can hardly bear to read。 But Jenny knows the time is finally here。 After the war， in a mountainside village in Italy， she left behind a piece of her heart。 However painful， she must return to Cinque Alberi。 And lay the past to rest。
After a troubled upbringing， Candice Barnes dreams of a future with the love of her life - but is he the man she believes him to be？ When Candice is given the opportunity to travel to Italy with Jenny， she is unaware the trip will open her eyes to the truth she's been too afraid to face。 Could a place of goodbyes help her make a brave new beginning？
Readers adore the bestselling novels of Kathryn Hughes:
"Hope rises from despair and new beginnings are forged in the most extraordinary and unexpected way。 Kathryn Hughes delves deeply into the heart and soul of her characters， making them totally relatable。。。like friends you really care for。 My addiction to this novel was total and uncompromising *****"
"Wonderful！ First book I have read by Kathryn Hughes and will now read her previous stories。 I loved it *****"
"Another great story from Kathryn Hughes *****"
"As always， a lovely story by Kathryn Hughes *****"
"An amazing， heartwrenching， unforgettable story *****"
"This beautiful story will bring tears and joy *****"
"Loved this story ！！ It kept me totally gripped although I was sobbing in places as well *****"
"A tale of love and hope with lots of twists and turns。 A great story！ *****"
Some love stories can't be forgotten。。。
Jenny Tanner opens the box she has cherished for decades。 Contained within are her most precious mementoes， amongst them a pebble， a carving and a newspaper cutting she can hardly bear to read。 But Jenny knows the time is finally here。 After the war， in a mountainside village in Italy， she left behind a piece of her heart。 However painful， she must return to Cinque Alberi。 And lay the past to rest。
After a troubled upbringing， Candice Barnes dreams of a future with the love of her life - but is he the man she believes him to be？ When Candice is given the opportunity to travel to Italy with Jenny， she is unaware the trip will open her eyes to the truth she's been too afraid to face。 Could a place of goodbyes help her make a brave new beginning？
Readers adore the bestselling novels of Kathryn Hughes:
"Hope rises from despair and new beginnings are forged in the most extraordinary and unexpected way。 Kathryn Hughes delves deeply into the heart and soul of her characters， making them totally relatable。。。like friends you really care for。 My addiction to this novel was total and uncompromising *****"
"Wonderful！ First book I have read by Kathryn Hughes and will now read her previous stories。 I loved it *****"
"Another great story from Kathryn Hughes *****"
"As always， a lovely story by Kathryn Hughes *****"
"An amazing， heartwrenching， unforgettable story *****"
"This beautiful story will bring tears and joy *****"
"Loved this story ！！ It kept me totally gripped although I was sobbing in places as well *****"
"A tale of love and hope with lots of twists and turns。 A great story！ *****"
Reviews
C S
，
A book to loses your self inThis book had me from the start on minute it's a warm hug the next it rips in to your heart of will stay with me for a long time A book to loses your self inThis book had me from the start on minute it's a warm hug the next it rips in to your heart of will stay with me for a long time 。。。more
Mel Pretorius
，
"The Memory Box" by Kathryn Hughes starts out as a light， enjoyable read。 I was genuinely interested in the lives of Jenny， Candice and Beau in the present。 The sections set in World War 2 didn't seem as in depth and atmospherical as say for example as "The Nightingale" by Kristin Hannah。 However as the story unfurled there were definitely some dark， tragic parts。 The trip to Italy was well written and although the reunion of characters was wrapped up more neatly than in real-life， it was done w "The Memory Box" by Kathryn Hughes starts out as a light， enjoyable read。 I was genuinely interested in the lives of Jenny， Candice and Beau in the present。 The sections set in World War 2 didn't seem as in depth and atmospherical as say for example as "The Nightingale" by Kristin Hannah。 However as the story unfurled there were definitely some dark， tragic parts。 The trip to Italy was well written and although the reunion of characters was wrapped up more neatly than in real-life， it was done well。 。。。more
Lorna Holland
，
Full review now up on the blog: https://www。thewritinggreyhound。co。uk。。。 Emotional and packed full of twists and turns， The Memory Box is a timeless story set against the backdrop of the Second World War。 This is a timeslip novel， told in two parts。 First and foremost is Jenny's story。 She is a 100-year-old lady living in a retirement home， determined to finally set the ghosts of her past free。 To do so， Jenny takes a trip to Italy to confront her past and finally seek some answers。 Her young ca Full review now up on the blog: https://www。thewritinggreyhound。co。uk。。。 Emotional and packed full of twists and turns， The Memory Box is a timeless story set against the backdrop of the Second World War。 This is a timeslip novel， told in two parts。 First and foremost is Jenny's story。 She is a 100-year-old lady living in a retirement home， determined to finally set the ghosts of her past free。 To do so， Jenny takes a trip to Italy to confront her past and finally seek some answers。 Her young carer， Candice， accompanies her。 Candice is an aspiring beautician， working in the care home where Jenny lives to try and make ends meet。 She's living with her boyfriend Beau， yet trouble is brewing under the surface of their relationship。 Will the Italian holiday bring about change for both women？Both Jenny and Candice are strong women and interesting， multi-faceted characters。 Jenny has so many tales to tell - not surprising， given her age！ Candice is hardworking and determined， yet always makes time for Jenny and the other residents。 As Jenny begins to recount her past to Candice， both get drawn into the secrets of the past。 It's a twisty journey with plenty of surprises; at times sweet， at others heartbreaking。 The story is beautifully written， with poignant prose and some great descriptions。 The characters are full of life and just jump off the page。 In fact， the book finished far too soon。 I'd love to read more about these characters！ The Memory Box is an enjoyable read and an emotional rollercoaster of a story！ 。。。more
Joan
，
Love historical fiction butThis story had a decent enough plot。 It just wasn't told well。 The author wasn't very convincing with the love story between the two main characters。 And that was the whole basis on why this story took place to begin with。 There was a little intrigue which goes along with this subject matter。 It just wasn't entertaining。 Love historical fiction butThis story had a decent enough plot。 It just wasn't told well。 The author wasn't very convincing with the love story between the two main characters。 And that was the whole basis on why this story took place to begin with。 There was a little intrigue which goes along with this subject matter。 It just wasn't entertaining。 。。。more
Audrey Haylins
，
Have you ever found yourself reading a book and loving it？ And I mean really loving it — the setting， the characters， the storytelling。 When out of the blue comes a plot twist that makes you slap your forehead and groan aloud in dismay。 It doesn’t fit， it’s not plausible。 It’s corny and clichéd AND IT’S RUINED THE STORY！ I’ve read many novels by Kathryn Hughes and enjoyed them immensely。 And The Memory Box promised similar joy。 An intriguing premise。 An engaging writing style — one that I know a Have you ever found yourself reading a book and loving it？ And I mean really loving it — the setting， the characters， the storytelling。 When out of the blue comes a plot twist that makes you slap your forehead and groan aloud in dismay。 It doesn’t fit， it’s not plausible。 It’s corny and clichéd AND IT’S RUINED THE STORY！ I’ve read many novels by Kathryn Hughes and enjoyed them immensely。 And The Memory Box promised similar joy。 An intriguing premise。 An engaging writing style — one that I know and love。 And a truly fabulous， female protagonist。 I confess， I was hooked from the first page。 I immediately warmed to the endearing character of centenarian Jenny Tanner and the reminiscences of her younger 1940s self， who was evacuated with her little brother from bomb-torn Manchester to a farm in the Welsh countryside。 The two timelines — a tragic， wartime love story and an old woman’s desire to make peace with her past —are beautifully interwoven。 The fact that they are set against actual historical events make them all the more compelling。 I also enjoyed the parallel story of Jenny’s carer， Candice， and the genuine affection between the two women， despite the enormous age gap。 I liked them both， was invested in their stories and wanted happy endings for them。 What I struggled with， though， were the male characters。 Unlike Jenny and Candice， who were so well rounded， in all their frailties and feistiness， the men appeared insipid and half formed。 This had a knock-on effect on the plot， giving rise to events and actions that just didn’t seem to fit to the characters as I understood them。 In all honesty， there were just too many plot elements that felt like the product of an overly fertile imagination。 Even the ending was all a bit too twee and saccharine for my liking。 Perhaps I’m being too harsh。 Perhaps the majority of readers will enjoy this for the romance and the escapism。 The writing is great， and the story — if you can suspend disbelief — is emotional and captivating。 I’m really not averse to a bit of romance myself; I just prefer it to have some connection to reality。 。。。more
Pat
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The Memory BoxThis was an excellent book about relationships during WWII。 This story took place mainly in Italy and England。 It was a very touching story。
Hannah Symonds
，
I have only read a couple of Kathryn's books and always ask myself why I don't read more of her books as they are really good reads。 This story we get transported from 2019 back to 1940， I like reading some books that are set in that era as it is interesting to find out what life was like then。 This story involves Jenny who now is 100 years old and lives in a residential home。 Her carer is Candice who loves looking after Jenny and hearing about her life。 When Jenny tells Candice that she would l I have only read a couple of Kathryn's books and always ask myself why I don't read more of her books as they are really good reads。 This story we get transported from 2019 back to 1940， I like reading some books that are set in that era as it is interesting to find out what life was like then。 This story involves Jenny who now is 100 years old and lives in a residential home。 Her carer is Candice who loves looking after Jenny and hearing about her life。 When Jenny tells Candice that she would love to visit Italy to pay her respects we see Jenny flitting to the past and we hear her story about why she wants to go to Italy。 Meanwhile we also hear Candice's story and the two run alongside each other but also intertwine。 I think the story had a great pace and it kept me captivated reading Jenny's story， I hoped she would make it in time to go to Italy and be at peace。 I like how the chapters are different years and either Jenny or Candice。 There are also a couple of twists that I was not expecting that seemed to come out of nowhere but brilliantly written in。 It was such a good story one that has impacted on me and one that I will not forget。 I look forward to Kathryn's next book but in the mean time I will catch up and read her previous novels as I feel as though I am missing out on another great read。 。。。more
William J Zaremba
，
Memory BoxAs a male reader of Kathryn Hughes books I have to say I just love her books and this one did not disappoint。 What she does in this story is take us back in time and yet the story always leads to the future。 Just amazing and she leaves you wanting more。
Jaffareadstoo
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Jenny is celebrating her one hundredth birthday with a party in the care home where she has been resident for some time。 Her young carer， Candice， fusses over her comfort and is determined that Jenny will have a celebration to remember。 However， with great age comes long buried memories and Jenny， over her long life， has had more than her share of heartache and by confronting her past Jenny hopes to lay away the ghosts which have followed her for such a long time。The story moves seamlessly betwe Jenny is celebrating her one hundredth birthday with a party in the care home where she has been resident for some time。 Her young carer， Candice， fusses over her comfort and is determined that Jenny will have a celebration to remember。 However， with great age comes long buried memories and Jenny， over her long life， has had more than her share of heartache and by confronting her past Jenny hopes to lay away the ghosts which have followed her for such a long time。The story moves seamlessly between Jenny and Candice's story in 2019， whilst， at the same time， allowing us to go deeper into Jenny's past and to the time she spent， with her brother， Louis， as an evacuee to Wales during the Second World War。 Jenny keeps the reminders of her treasured memories in a beautifully made wooden box which has great significance， particularly a pebble， a carving and a newspaper cutting and as the story behind each one is revealed so a story emerges of heartbreak and pain。 The story flows beautifully and I was just as enthralled by Jenny's complicated past as I was in the sadness of her present， and particularly enjoyed the warmth of the relationship between Jenny and Candice where old and young come together with tenderness and compassion。 Moving effortlessly between northern England， Wales and Italy， The Memory Box is a wonderfully imagined story about both the joy and heartbreak of love which is made all the more poignant by both its wartime setting and the intricacies of maintaining a difficult relationship in the present day。Beautifully written with a fine eye for even the smallest detail， The Memory Box is an emotional read which is both heartbreaking and heartwarming in equal measure and is a perfect read for a cosy afternoon by the fire。 。。。more
Lori Sinsel Harris
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Jenny lives in a care home and has just celebrated her 100th birthday。 Taking her favorite caregiver， Candice， aside， Jenny tells her she must ask a huge favor of her。 Jenny wants Candice to accompany her on one last trip Jenny must make before her time is up。 A trip to Italy。 Jenny begins to tell Candice her story， believing that after she hears all of it she will agree to make the journey with Jenny。 。Jenny knows that the only way for her to atone for the past is to make this journey to Italy， Jenny lives in a care home and has just celebrated her 100th birthday。 Taking her favorite caregiver， Candice， aside， Jenny tells her she must ask a huge favor of her。 Jenny wants Candice to accompany her on one last trip Jenny must make before her time is up。 A trip to Italy。 Jenny begins to tell Candice her story， believing that after she hears all of it she will agree to make the journey with Jenny。 。Jenny knows that the only way for her to atone for the past is to make this journey to Italy， no matter how much pain it will bring when old memories are dug up and unburied。 She is hoping that by doing this she will finally achieve peace。 Can Jenny's journey into the past help Candice find the fulfilling life and purpose she is seeking？ This novel is a tear jerker at times， very touching and emotional。 You can't help but feel for Jenny and all she endured in her lifetime。 She had a full life， at times filled with pain and agony， but also with love and joy。 Candice is seeking to make such a life for herself。 I feel in love with Jenny and Candice， Candice's boyfriend Beau， not so much！ The characters are great， you feel as if you have been friends forever （except Beau）。 This story is poignant， thought provoking， and beautifully written， readers will not be disappointed。 I recommend this book highly。 Thank you to the publishers at Headline Review and to Net Galley for the free ARC， I am leaving my honest review in return。 。。。more
julie futcher
，
A wonderful storyThe first book I've read by Kathryn Hughes and won't be the last。 Very well rounded characters and a story that was hard to put down。 The lead up to the trip to Italy was so engrossing I felt for everyone involved， except for Beau of course。 Kathryn made him very easy to dislike。 Thoroughly recommended A wonderful storyThe first book I've read by Kathryn Hughes and won't be the last。 Very well rounded characters and a story that was hard to put down。 The lead up to the trip to Italy was so engrossing I felt for everyone involved， except for Beau of course。 Kathryn made him very easy to dislike。 Thoroughly recommended 。。。more
Becky
，
I read this book in just over a day （which is very fast for me！） It gripped me from the very beginning and I couldn't put it down。Jenny has just reached 100 years old and is in a care home。 She forms a connection with a young carer called Candice who works there and she gradually shares her story with her （through her memory box）。 This begins at the start of World War Two when she is in her twenties。 The story is dual time frame and moves between the present （2019） and Jenny's life through the W I read this book in just over a day （which is very fast for me！） It gripped me from the very beginning and I couldn't put it down。Jenny has just reached 100 years old and is in a care home。 She forms a connection with a young carer called Candice who works there and she gradually shares her story with her （through her memory box）。 This begins at the start of World War Two when she is in her twenties。 The story is dual time frame and moves between the present （2019） and Jenny's life through the War starting in Wales and then in Italy。Candice has her own struggles in the present with her overly controlling and toxic boyfriend。 Together they travel to Italy for a commemorative trip。 I loved the two main characters and slowly becoming immersed in each of their lives。 There was certainly a lot of turmoil and a few big secrets in Jenny's life。 Some of the memories were heart wrenching and there were a few big twists that I didn't see coming at all。 I equally enjoyed reading about Candice's life in the present and I was really rooting for her to achieve her life ambitions and get her life back on track。 An emotional and beautifully written story which I would definitely recommend。 Thank you to NetGalley for this advanced reading copy。 。。。more
Jenny H
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A beautiful story with an unexpected ending。 Jenny is celebrating her 100th birthday in a retirement home。 Her young carer， Candice， is fond of her and listens to her life story in stages， Jenny being too weary to tell it all at once。 She has led a life of trauma as well as happiness， particularly during WWII， when she lived in Italy。 She also helps Candice see how to make a better life for herself。 I enjoyed The Letter and the Tuscan Contessa but this is my favourite by Kathryn Hughes。 A truly A beautiful story with an unexpected ending。 Jenny is celebrating her 100th birthday in a retirement home。 Her young carer， Candice， is fond of her and listens to her life story in stages， Jenny being too weary to tell it all at once。 She has led a life of trauma as well as happiness， particularly during WWII， when she lived in Italy。 She also helps Candice see how to make a better life for herself。 I enjoyed The Letter and the Tuscan Contessa but this is my favourite by Kathryn Hughes。 A truly touching tale with a wonderful final chapter。 。。。more
Rebecca Weeks
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Loved this book。。。such a lovely story。 Literally could not put it down。 If you want a book to take you away and keep you wondering what is on the next page - this is it。 Heart warming and lovely。 Nice ending too。。
Catherine Morrow
，
I was kindly sent a #paperback copy by Rosie at Headline and I was determined to read it before it’s out in paperback on 11 November。 I haven’t read any of Kathryn’s novels so I plunged straight into this one。 We follow 100 year old Jenny who lives in a care home， and is looked after by young Candice。 The book has two timelines in terms of Jenny’s long life - during World War Two when she was evacuated with her brother Louis from Manchester to Wales， and now when Jenny is determined to go on a t I was kindly sent a #paperback copy by Rosie at Headline and I was determined to read it before it’s out in paperback on 11 November。 I haven’t read any of Kathryn’s novels so I plunged straight into this one。 We follow 100 year old Jenny who lives in a care home， and is looked after by young Candice。 The book has two timelines in terms of Jenny’s long life - during World War Two when she was evacuated with her brother Louis from Manchester to Wales， and now when Jenny is determined to go on a trip to honour the past。 Kathryn gives us a story packed with emotions - there’s love， hope， loss， fear， and everything in between。Jenny is tangled up in a love triangle of sorts all against a wartime backdrop which Jenny recalls to Candice in snippets in modern day。 Be warned， there’s a tragedy or two。 With Candice， her situation makes for uncomfortable reading。 She is being gaslighted and psychologically abused by her boyfriend， Beau。 You will her to get out of the relationship。I enjoyed the different timelines and also the different settings， including wartime Wales and Italy - it felt escapist and unlike anything I’ve read before。 I read it in 4 days which was good going at more than 400 pages in total。 I hadn’t realised how some of the book was based on real life events in terms of Italians being rounded up in England and labelled and deported as ‘alien enemies’， so that was interesting。 All in all， The Memory Box was heartwarming and tender， and had a couple of surprise plot twists up its sleeve which I didn’t see coming。 If you get chance to read it， do！ #books #bookstagram #bookish #bookworm #booksaremybag #fiction #paperback #booksof2021 #bookblogger #bookphotography #flatlay #nofilter #lingerlongerwithbooks 。。。more
Ellen
，
This novel forms around two timelines， WWII in both England and Italy， as well as current day。 Jenny turns 100 and her caretaker， Candice is convinced to take a trip to Italy with her to a special commemoration。 Jenny tells Candice her story， of first being transported out of London to Wales for her and her brother’s safety as the Blitz proceeded。 Candice has her own story， with her boyfriend， Beau， who is obviously using her。 There are many twists to Jenny’s story， both heartbreaking and happy。 This novel forms around two timelines， WWII in both England and Italy， as well as current day。 Jenny turns 100 and her caretaker， Candice is convinced to take a trip to Italy with her to a special commemoration。 Jenny tells Candice her story， of first being transported out of London to Wales for her and her brother’s safety as the Blitz proceeded。 Candice has her own story， with her boyfriend， Beau， who is obviously using her。 There are many twists to Jenny’s story， both heartbreaking and happy。 I recommend this book and thank NetGalley for the ARC。 。。。more
Angela Smith
，
This is such a great book， from one of my favorite authors！ It takes us back to times of war， and the present， seamlessly。 Lots of twists and turns， and everything has a meaning。 The characters are so real， it’s like I know them。 It’s an emotional journey that leaves me very satisfied。 A true gem！
Megan
，
While the premise of the book was exciting and I was looking forward to reading it， the whole thing just seemed a bit dry to me。 I couldn't really connect with the characters all that well， and some of the language/wording it used would take me out of my "reading zone" to have to think about what that word could mean。 It made falling into my reading pattern difficult。 Plus， most of the "big reveals" were not all that surprising to me。 Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC。 While the premise of the book was exciting and I was looking forward to reading it， the whole thing just seemed a bit dry to me。 I couldn't really connect with the characters all that well， and some of the language/wording it used would take me out of my "reading zone" to have to think about what that word could mean。 It made falling into my reading pattern difficult。 Plus， most of the "big reveals" were not all that surprising to me。 Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC。 。。。more
Evie
，
The Memory Box is a page-turner with a twist after another from beginning to end， and a dash of dry humor for good measure。I really loved this book。 It brings together two women who couldn’t be anymore different from each other， yet the similarities in their lives （despite the huge age difference） creates a friendship like no other。Jenny is one woman with way too many secrets and the best part is that regardless of her age， deep inside her soul is that of someone young。 She lived through the war The Memory Box is a page-turner with a twist after another from beginning to end， and a dash of dry humor for good measure。I really loved this book。 It brings together two women who couldn’t be anymore different from each other， yet the similarities in their lives （despite the huge age difference） creates a friendship like no other。Jenny is one woman with way too many secrets and the best part is that regardless of her age， deep inside her soul is that of someone young。 She lived through the war， married the love of her life even if that turned sour afterwards， and has lived a long life。 She has many regrets。 Some are due to her own decisions， others are a result of things people kept from her。 I enjoyed that she sees a lot of her failed love story in Candice and helps her as much as possible so that Candice doesn’t make the same mistakes。 Candice is a young woman in need of love。 Her relationship with Beau is horrible and it drove me nuts that she refused to see Beau for the lying dirtbag that he was。 I was excited when she finally stood up for herself and decided that she was enough for herself， and how Jenny came to her rescue。I definitely didn’t see coming the truth behind Frank， and the plot twist that results in Candice inheriting enough to set up her own business。I loved it！ 。。。more
Lisa
，
I thought this was somewhat predictable and Jenny， the primary protagonist and Candice， the secondary protagonist made me a little nuts with their consistently bad decisions。。。but redeeming in the end。
Anna Williams
，
Predictably enjoyable。
Nuala Livingstone
，
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 3。5 stars really。 Nice easy read。 Fairly predictable as I guessed many of the twists early on， but still enjoyed escaping into the story。
Kathleen Gray
，
A lovely dual time line novel。 It's 2019 Jenny just turned 100 and she's telling her life story to Candice， her caregiver。 Jenny's lived both a big and a small life- it spans so many events but the strongest parts of the book are during WWII。 And then Jenny asks Candice to go to Italy with her。 There are some delightful characters （and there's Beau） and some nice twists that take this beyond what I expected。 Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC。 Good storytelling will pull you in and keep you reading A lovely dual time line novel。 It's 2019 Jenny just turned 100 and she's telling her life story to Candice， her caregiver。 Jenny's lived both a big and a small life- it spans so many events but the strongest parts of the book are during WWII。 And then Jenny asks Candice to go to Italy with her。 There are some delightful characters （and there's Beau） and some nice twists that take this beyond what I expected。 Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC。 Good storytelling will pull you in and keep you reading past when you mean to sit this aside， 。。。more
Lynn
，
Lots of unexpected events and twists。 Good development leading up to the ending。
ROCKY
，
Wow， what a great book！！
Barb Olt
，
Definitely som surprises at the end！ I think I would have enjoyed it more I there were less slang British words used， but I really enjoyed Jenny’s sassy character and the story！
Srivalli Rekha
，
3。75 Stars One Liner: Effective in some ways。 Jenny is living at an elder care center and has just celebrated her 100th birthday。 As her favorite caretaker Candice takes out an old wooden box from the drawers， Jenny feels the memories rushing in。 She knows there’s something she needs to do， and that involves traveling to Italy。 Being a child of delicate health， it took persistence and grit for Jenny to outlive many others。 She hopes for an additional couple of months to lay the past to rest。 Jen 3。75 Stars One Liner: Effective in some ways。 Jenny is living at an elder care center and has just celebrated her 100th birthday。 As her favorite caretaker Candice takes out an old wooden box from the drawers， Jenny feels the memories rushing in。 She knows there’s something she needs to do， and that involves traveling to Italy。 Being a child of delicate health， it took persistence and grit for Jenny to outlive many others。 She hopes for an additional couple of months to lay the past to rest。 Jenny asks Candice to accompany her to Italy。 It’s for physical support as well as to help Candice see the truth of her relationship with a douche bag manipulative jerk of a boyfriend Beau （eww！）。 How will the trip to a place full of past events and memories help both women come to terms with their lives？ Can Jenny find her peace？ Can Candice force herself to see the truth she so desperately wants to ignore？ The Memory Box has a dual time is as smooth as butter。 The story weaves in and out between the 1940s and 2019。 The first-person narration by Jenny and the third-person narrative to show Candice’s life seamlessly blend across the chapters。 Can’t tell you how many times I wanted to shake Candice to make her see what everyone around her saw。 There were enough red flags to supply for a global red-themed party， and still have some left to spare。 The book starts slow and picks up a little pace as the story moves ahead。 The focus isn’t much on the setting but rather the thoughts of the characters。 Jenny feels real with her strengths， flaws， and uncertainties。 Candice， well， there are girls like her。 I think the author drove her point straight in about toxic relationships using Candice and Beau。 The actual story takes place after 65-70% of the book。 Things crucial to the book enter the picture and bring the threads together。 I guessed all the twists except for one， and I must admit I’m not fully convinced about it。 It works more as a plot device， IMO。 Also， a couple of things were a tad too convenient。 I do like happy endings， so I’m not complaining as such。 While Jenny’s arc was pretty much stable， Candice’s arc seemed confusing in the second half。 I was pretty much fed up with her by then， or it would’ve annoyed me more。 That girl could do with some solid dumping of sense into her brain。 The reason the book still has it rounded off to 4 stars is the portrayal of toxic love and gaslighting in relationships。 It irked me to no end to see Candice make excuses and deny the truth， and that I would say is the biggest achievement。 That part is very realistic。 To sum up， The Memory Box is not a must-read historical， but it has some valuable relationship lessons that can start a discussion。 Thank you， NetGalley， Mobius Books， and Headline Review， for the ARC in exchange for an honest review。 All opinions expressed are my own。#TheMemoryBox #NetGalley 。。。more
Jodie Davis
，
4。5 stars
Millie
，
Amazing！ I've been waiting for KH's new book since reading her first three that I absolutely devoured and each story has stayed with me。 The memory box didn't disappoint！ If i I was to re read books （ something I never do） this book would be on that list。 Jenny and Candice's relationship is beautiful。 Amazing！ I've been waiting for KH's new book since reading her first three that I absolutely devoured and each story has stayed with me。 The memory box didn't disappoint！ If i I was to re read books （ something I never do） this book would be on that list。 Jenny and Candice's relationship is beautiful。 。。。more
Reference
google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=The Memory Box
hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=The Memory Box&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft
The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,The Memory Box&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0