A wonderful novel that gripped me from the start. This is the first book I've read by this author but it certainly won't be my last.

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.

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,

"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.

The best book I have read in ages. I was gripped from the start and couldn’t put it down. The writing style was warm and friendly and the characters loveable. A great story line with an unexpected twist at the end.

It's 2019 and Jenny Tanner turns 100. She lives in a care home with Candice Barnes as her carer. They look through Jenny's memory box together. This leads to a journey of self discovery for Candice and a journey of acceptance for Jenny.

Told in a dual timeliness of the 1940's and 2019. The memory box is a beautiful read. The characters are interesting and plenty of twists and turns.

It is a tearjerker. If you are a fan of romantic historical fiction you will love it but I do think this will be a lovely read for those who don't.

Thank you to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

#TheMemoryBox #Netgalley

Fantastic read, have read previous Kathryn Hughes books and they have been brilliant so I was looking forward to this one and it did not disappoint

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. What a story! I was drawn in from the beginning and could not put it down. Even when I stopped reading I was thinking of the characters. It was not your typical historical fiction book and kept me drawn in with all of the twists and turns all the way up to the end. This is the second book I have read by Kathryn Hughes and it did not disapoint. I will be recommending this book!!!

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read an advance copy of The Memory Box in return for an honest review.

This book kept me captivated from start to finish.
The parallel stories of Jenny and Candice are both heartbreaking and life affirming. And as for the ending……I would never have guessed it.
This is more than a love story, more than a novel about memories. This book shows just how much one person’s story can affect another’s life. Despite the huge age difference between Jenny and Candice, they become more than just carer and the cared for. They become friends and confidants.
Jenny has reached the momentous age of one hundred years old. She is determined to lay some very old ghosts to rest and shares her story with Candice a young carer at the home where Jenny now resides.. This novel takes us from pre war Manchester to Wales and onto Italy as Jenny relives her life and the choices she made.
Candice lives with her boyfriend Beau, but as Jenny’s story unfolds, Candice begins to realise that things may not be as they seem.
Beautifully written, this novel will enchant the reader and is in my opinion a must read.

An excellent novel about love and family. I was engrossed with the characters immediately and enjoyed the story enormously. It taught me a lot about World War Two and how people lived and died. A wonderful tale that I’d highly recommend!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a free ARC of this book.I have chosen to write this honest review voluntarily.
This is the first book I have read by this author. The final pages of the book are used to makes it clear that some of the events are historically correct, albeit that the group of characters are fictional. The story is told from the viewpoint of Jenny, she's reached the age of 100 living in an expensive care / residential home without any living relatives. She becomes close to one of the young carers, and shares her life story with her as they travel to Italy for a commemorative event.
The plot is excellent, with unexpected twists right to the end, and the story is told at a good pace. The characters were realistic, and mostly likeable. I was enthralled throughout, I fully recommend this as an engaging read you won't want to put down.

Wow … I have just finished reading this book and I’m speechless.

This story had me laughing and sobbing. Hooked in straight away and couldn’t put down.

The way Kathryn Hughes transports from the present to the past is like no other. It flows naturally.

The story is heart wrenching and jaw dropping all at the same time.

Okay, new author for me here!
This book intrigued me, and I am huge fan of the dual timeline narrative, so I was so excited to get approved on NetGalley. A few weeks ago, I was casually browing my Goodreads books when I saw that Hughes is from Altrincham, my hometown! I sent her a Tweet and we had a great chat about growing up there.
I felt this book calling me, so I started it earlier than I had planned, but I got hooked in straight away. Jenny, the 100 year old woman with a difficult past, also walked with a limp and used a crutch like myself so I definitely identified with this character! She was superbly written, as were the others. I have to say it, Beau made my blood boil throughout and I can't think of a less appropriate name for him than Beau!
The dual timeline was executed very well, with the characters and timelines well defined so there was no confusion about when events took place.
I have to say, there wasn't as much of a mention of the actual memory box until later in the book, but the twist at the end made me gasp!
I loved this book and would recommend it to historical fiction fans and those who like dual timeline narratives.

The Memory Box by Kathryn Hughes. Headline, 2021.

This engrossing book tells Jenny’s story at twenty-one, during World War II. First in Manchester and Wales with her brother Louis, and then in Italy. And at her 100th birthday, in 2019 in an English nursing home with her best friend Frank, and her favourite caregiver Candace, who is twenty-two. And then in Italy with Candace.

As Jenny says, there is nothing wrong with her brain; along with a polished wooden jewellery box of mementos, she has a lifetime of memories in her head that she pulls out slowly to Candice in small snatches during their time together, partly because she wants Candice to do something for her, and perhaps partly because she wants Candice to learn from some of the mistakes that Jenny made around the same age.

Jenny and Candace’s stories are more complex than I expected; as I read, I was keen to learn what happened next. The writing is excellent, with consistent, well-developed, interesting, and appealing main characters.

There is great dialogue, often with Candice using her Manchester vernacular. Descriptions of Wales and Italy and of comfortable, contented nursing home life are equally vivid.

This lovely book was an unexpected pleasure to read.

Disclosure: I received a review copy of The Memory Box for free via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. #TheMemoryBox #NetGalley

Thanks to Headline and Netgalley for ARC.

This is an interesting premise for a novel - a woman turning 100 looks back on her century and most importantly the upheavals of her youth. She enlists her young carer to hear the tale and undertake what will probably be her final journey, to lay ghosts to rest.

This started well, with Jenny Tanner an engaging protagonist. The story is a real page turner, covering evacuees, 'enemy aliens', love triangles and family drama across a sweep of 80 years. Sadly for me, I thought the characterisation was inconsistent and the men in particular were reduced to cliche. I thought the story dragged a bit, especially in the latter third and the denouement was a long time coming and not very satisfying when it did.

However, I'm aware that this is not my usual style of reading material and that many people will get totally swept away by the period detail and the romantic elements.

I instantly was curious to read this book after it stated it was similar to the Notebook which is one of my favorite movies and books..
Premise .

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?
This was another one of those cool dual historical reads that ties in two different protagonists and their different love stories. It was beautifully written and you felt like you were in Italy all throughout the book. It would make a gorgeous movie.

Kathryn Hughes, I have missed you!!

It's been over two years since I read her last book and I have been desperately waiting to get my hands on this one! Like all of the others, The Memory Box did not let me down. It was a fast and easy read. Fans of The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult will love this one!

Jenny Tanner is a feisty and quick-witted centenarian residing in a posh care facility. On her 100th birthday, she is heavily reminded that her time is quickly running out. Jenny decides to reveal her Memory Box with all its belongings to her close friend and favorite caregiver, Candice. Long buried secrets and painful memories are held inside this box. Ones that she cannot bear to take with her to the grave.

This story will lead you on the journey of a strong, resilient young woman throughout Europe during WWII. From England to Wales to Italy, you will experience "all the feels" as the tale unfolds.

I hope you love this book as much as I did...as well as all of her others! 5 HUGE STARS

Thank you to Kathryn Hughes and NetGalley for allowing me access to this DRC!

A really brilliant story. I liked uncovering Jenny’s story over the course of the book and loved both the modern and historical threads of the story.

I have loved every single one of Kathryn Hughes books, but this one…was my absolute favourite! So well written and I loved the back and forth of the story. I loved the way that Candice befriended Jenny in the care home and the natural role of friendship that blossomed into so much more. Jenny’s story was harrowing in so many ways, what she endured during her younger years, overcoming polio, losing her parents to the war, her and Louis’ move to Wales for safety, her relationships with both Nico and Lorcan. I loved the way it ended too, it’s not often a book makes me cry, but this one did several times. I feel like I was there, living through the war in Italy, it’s unthinkable what happened. A truly beautiful story that I made last as long as possible! I honestly didn’t want to finish this book!

A huge thank you to Netgalley and Headline for gifting me this book in return for an honest review.

The Memory Box is a wonderful story of Jenny, who reaches a 100 years of age and has one wish that she still needs to fulfil but she needs someone to help her do it. In to the story comes Candice a carer at the home Jenny lives at and their trip to Italy together.
This is an amazing story and covers the lives of two women and tells their stories. Jenny was evacuated in the Second World War with her younger brother Louis and has an uplifting story to tell. Candice is in a relationship with a controlling and bullying young man and only realises when the two women are in Italy and Jenny steps in to save her. Loved the duel story line from 1940 to 2019. And the little twists and turns.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.
Highly recommended it.
Thanks NetGalley for the early read.