A great historical fiction novel that happens to be somewhat relevant to today’s events. The classic two stories intertwined format provides a glimpse into Stalin’s move into Ukraine with a far less interesting current storyline. Fairly easy read that manages to stay engaging.

I would definitely recommend this book to fans of Kristin Hannah. It was a beautiful and heartbreaking story with lots of twists and turns. The writing was kind of that classic like...overwrought historical fiction style, which is not a bad thing but not necessarily what I was in the mood for.

That said, if you liked Kristin Hannah you'll definitely like this.

IT's also a very timely release for this book, it really demonstrates the strength and resilience of Ukrainians.

I have read many books that relate the horror of war. The memory keeper of Kyiv, however, is one that will stay with me. The story, is of course, more relevant than ever in view of present-day events in Ukraine and 'lest we forget' has never been more apt. What the writer does, however, is take us on a journey that allows the reader to learn more about the reality of Communism and the horror its implementation had on ordinary people.
The book is cleverly written, starting with a few of Stalin's activists arriving in the village until we see how easily power and greed corrupt until through fear of death and hunger, the villagers succumb to the new totalitarian regime.
Throughout it all, human nature remains undaunted and love will find a way. The two stories, past and present, give a timely insight into both the good and evil of human nature and the ever-present danger of history repeating itself.
A powerful book that should be on every school curriculum.

This historical fiction really captured my heart. My family origins are from Eastern Europe around Ukraine where my great grandfather was born in Kyiv, so when I had the opportunity to read this book I jumped at the opportunity. This story is written in multiple timelines with two different points of views.

It's a story about resilience and survival. Katya's family has a farm in Ukraine and the Russians have come into the area and are trying to get the farmers to join the collective in the 1930s. The book is about Katya's life on the farm and transitioning from being a child to an adult. This book describes what it was like trying to survive during the Holodomor. Many of my relatives left at the turn of the century so I hadn't heard about this. There's been debate as to whether this had occurred but it did and has recently been recognized. There were 3-5 millions deaths during this artificial famine.

I enjoyed this book, it made me cry in parts and I'm glad it was written. I recommend reading this and am really happy that I had the opportunity to be on this book tour to read this book. I would rate this book 9.5/10. It's one of my favourite books of the year.

Litteken has written a fictionalized account of the real events that happened in the 1930s with Stalin's push to force Russians to join a land collective - which is not good for individual survival and leads to starvation for too many.

The book is written from the perspective of a young woman who works with her family to become members of the resistance. Her story is heart breaking and empowering.

70 years later a woman finds the journal of that young woman -- which answers many long lost answers to familial questions.

This book is incredibly topical right now - as well as through out any era.

This is such a beautiful book. It is set and told about a brutal time in history and place which I knew little about but which we should all become aware, given the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Warning, this book portrays suffering and abuse, death and grief but somehow there is also resilience and bravery which shines through the characters. I couldn't quite match the present/later day story with the one set in the earlier 20th C but nether less, it tells and important and precious story.

The Memory Keeper of Kyiv was a wonderful and heartbreaking story! The way the author blended the memories from her family, facts and some fiction together was wonderful and makes for a powerful read! It has a dual timeline but it moves smoothly between them. It was hard at times to read about some of the events but I also enjoyed the love between the characters and their determination. This was a wonderfully written and heartbreaking historical fiction novel that will truly be with you long after the last page!

Thank you Rachel's Random Resources and Erin Litteken for sharing this beautiful story with me!

The Memory Keeper of Kyiv by Erin Litteken
MY REVIEW
This book features a dual timeline, one part following Cassie’s story and one following Katya’s. The novel begins in Wisconsin, USA in May 2004. Cassie lives with her young daughter Birdie, who hasn’t talked for over fourteen months since her father (Cassie’s husband) Henry died. Cassie and Birdie soon move to Illinois, as her mother Anna suggests it would be good for all of them if Cassie could move in with her grandmother Bobby, who is Ukrainian and seems to be struggling with health issues. Soon it is obvious Bobby is keeping her own secrets, but can Cassie find out what they are?
In the next section, we meet Katya (Kateryna Viktorivna Shevchenko) – a sixteen-year-old girl living in Ukraine in 1929 with her parents and her sister Alina. We see her romance developing with her best friend Pavlo.
As 1930 arrives, it is by now the time of Stalin and collectivisation, which affects Katya’s village as Soviet officials take over. As one of the characters says, “Everyone wants Ukraine’s fertile soil for their own, and nobody wants to let Ukrainians rule it.” Life changes and suddenly, Katya’s normality becomes fear and terror.
With what is happening in Ukraine in 2022, The Memory Keeper of Kyiv has a special poignancy. The author’s family are from the Ukraine and the authenticity of what she writes about come through really well. I learned about Stalinism at University (I studied Russian and Soviet Studies), but this book really brings to life the atrocities of the Holodomor (Great Famine) in Ukraine in a way that textbooks don’t manage.
I was hooked right from the start. It is very well-written and draws you into both timelines with enough intrigue to tempt you to read more. The characters are very realistic, right from the start. You see their strengths and weaknesses and sympathise with the things they have to deal with. It is a very sad book in many places, as there are deaths and grief and the whole injustice of what happened in Stalin’s time. But also hope, as we admire what people can accomplish in the hardest of times and how they keep going.
Overall, it is a very moving book and will stay with you for a long time, but be aware some of the scenes described are shocking and upsetting. I cried.
9.5 out of 10

Let’s look at this book in two different ways. First as the story of Katja and her family, which is absolutely heartbreaking. You really wonder how she survives all she did. The Memory Keeper of Kyiv truly shows the resilience of people and what we can endure when we need to, especially when love is involved. Katja’s story is one that drags you in and doesn’t let you go until a conclusion is met. This book is told through two different timelines and the love and heartbreak you feel for Katja, you will feel for her granddaughter too.

In addition, this is a story of the history of the Ukraine. Through the author’s words, the reader understands what the Ukraine has already gone through at the hands of Russia and the Soviet Union and why, like in the 1930s, they won’t give up without a fight today.

Wow, sometimes you read a book and you know it's going to stay with you for a long time after reading. This was that book for me, especially with the new atrocities that Ukraine are currently having to endure.

Very well written and researched, allowing the story to be told from a survivor of the Holodomor and also from Katya who is a victim of the Holodomor. Erin also draws on family members' memories allowing the book to become realistic and more personal.

Hard hitting, highly emotive and a powerful story of family and resilience.


Many thanks to Rachel's Random Resources for my tour spot.

Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Memory Keeper of Kyiv is told in dual perspectives (Katya and Cassie) and dual timelines (1930’s/Ukraine and 2004/USA). This is historical fiction based on real-life events.

I have to start off by saying that The Memory Keeper of Kyiv had me instantly hooked from the very beginning. I had a hard time putting it down and In a way, I didn’t want to stop reading. This is such a powerful and emotional read. It was truly heartbreaking. My heart went out to these Ukrainian people who were just trying to live their lives and to see a leader of another country take that all away from them. It’s really sad and heartbreaking to see that history is repeating itself again, Russia is doing it all over again. Why is there so much hate in the world?

Something I learned from reading this was all about the Holodomor. This was an absolutely horrifying time in history that I have to say I never learned about in school. This was a manmade famine that Stalin ordered and he basically said if you don’t join the collective farms you will pay the price. If you failed to join you were either killed or taken away. Stalin took everything away from Ukraine and left them to starve to death. It’s estimated that over 10 million lives were lost during this time.

The book’s main characters are Cassie and her bobby (grandmother). Cassie is still struggling with the loss of her husband who died in a car accident. Cassie is still grieving and even though everything around her is in chaos she is staying strong for her daughter, Birdie who hasn’t spoken since that day. Cassie tries everything to encourage her daughter but to no avail.

Cassie’s mom comes for an unexpected visit to let Cassie know that Bobby is in the hospital and isn’t doing so well. She hopes that Cassie will pack up and move back home to help her out. Unsure at first, Cassie decides to move back to help out. Little does Cassie know how bad the situation really is. Bobby is having almost dementia-like flashbacks to when she was a young adult in Ukraine growing up during the Holodomor. Cassie discovers notes written in Ukraine, a journal, and hidden food all over the house, and then she starts asking for Aline. The family has no idea what is truly happening or who Aline is because Bobby never spoke out about her life before moving to America with her husband. What will they do when they uncover the truths of Bobby’s past? Can Cassie overcome her grief?

With the help of Nick, a neighbor who has taken it upon himself to keep an eye on Bobby and help her as much as he can, he begins to translate Bobby’s journal. The journal documents Bobby’s life (Katya) and the hardship she went through. It begins with Katya being a young girl with dreams of the future. Katya is with her family and sister Alina. She also mentions Pavlo and Kolya (brothers) who are neighbors who eventually marry the girls. Life was not easy for them with so much loss. But somehow Katya survives and lives to tell her story. A story everyone must read about.

This is a debut novel that I highly recommend everyone to read. I will definitely read the author’s second book when it is released.

What a powerful book! I love historical fiction and I loved reading this beautiful book, although it made me cry like no other book ever did. The book is even more impactful and important in the light of current events in Ukraine.

The book follows two timelines, one set in the 1930s and one in 2004. In the 1930s story follows Katya, a young Ukrainian girl living in the Ukrainian countryside, who is so full of life, dreams, and love, and is surrounded by her loving family, her sister Alina and her parents. She is also in love with a neighbour’s boy who she wants to one day marry and have a big family with.

All her dreams are shattered when in the early 1930s Stalin decides to collectivise all the rural farms across the countryside where Katya and her family reside. People who were opposed to this faced deportation to gulags in Siberia, prison or death. Farmers and families that were left in the countryside faced starvation, as brutal grain and food quotas and taxes are introduced. Whilst most of the food were rotting away in train station wagons thousands of people were starving and dying, including Katya and her family. She is not only forced to eat whatever she found in the forests, including mice, worms, and rats but she also losses some of her loved ones.

The 2004 timeline follows Cassie who after losing her husband, moves to her grandmother’s house to look after her. Her grandmother and grandmother’s journal are the ones who tell her about Holodomor, an unimaginable tragedy and man-made famine that happened in the 1930s in Ukraine.

Katya’s storyline was heart-wrenching at times, especially her losing family members and seeing how her loved home and countryside turn into crumbles with people being killed, deported or starved to death. Reading these chapters made me cry so much, especially since similar things are happening right now in Ukraine. I admired Katya’s strength and ability to fight for what is right. She never lost her spirit no matter how much she lost.

I really loved that this book explored Ukraine’s traditions in the 2004 timeline. Even though they all lived in the USA, the family still had very strong ties to the Ukrainian language, culture and traditions. Also, I always love to read about nalysnyky, varenyky and borscht as it takes me straight back to my childhood.

I didn’t know much about Holodomor before this book, although I do know a lot about deportations that happened to gulags in Siberia before and during WW2. So for me, I had a big learning experience whilst reading this book too. I am glad I learned about Holodomor and it definitely sparked my interest to read more, to know what happened and how many people were actually affected. This book is an amazing way of increasing awareness of this in the Western world, where people might not realise what truly happened across Eastern Europe in the 1930s and 1940s.

Overall: This story is a must-read, especially with what is happening now. Also, it is an important read for learning about Holodomor, especially if you like me didn’t know much about it before. It is so beautifully written it didn’t feel like its author's debut book at all.

Can’t recommend this book enough!

Huge thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for eARC.

Wow, hard to believe this is a debut novel! Heartbreaking, devastating, life changing. Need I go on.
Katya suffers immeasurable sadness and loss in her life which only comes to light when she allows her granddaughter Cassie to read her journal which details her life. This has a profound effect on Cassie who has suffered loss after the death of her husband Henry. The extra sadness when her young daughter stopped talking after the accident. By reading her grandmother’s journal you could see the similarities.

The historical side to the story of Stalin’s treatment of the Ukrainians is both fascinating and horrific . The fact that we can see some similarities to events happening in the world today makes the book even more interesting.

The Memory Keeper of Kyiv follows the journeys of widow Cassie in 2014 and Katya in 1929. I really enjoyed the dual timeline but my favourite was definitely 1929. The author did a phenomenal job at creating such vivid imagery of the suffering and death that occurred during that timeline.

I had three favourite characters but I won’t mention who they are due to spoilers. These characters were intriguing, kind hearted and they made laugh out loud at times.


The ending of this book left me speechless and I honestly did not see it coming whatsoever. I can’t wait to see what this author does next.

“The past is done. We must look to the future.” That’s what Cassie’s Ukrainian grandmother Bobby always tell her. Coming of age in Ukraine, just as Stalin’s henchmen were riding roughshod through the country, enforcing his collectivisation of farming and industry, no wonder Bobby does not want to look back.
But now aware of her failing health and memory, Bobby entrusts Cassie with her journal, and gradually a story unfolds of two beautiful, vibrant Ukrainian sisters, Katya and Alina, in love with two handsome brothers, Pavlo and Kolya.
I found Bobby's story profoundly moving. Beautifully told, the narrative moves along swiftly and surely, unfolding a tale that offers themes of love, loss, danger and romance from the very first page.
Atmospheric writing portrays a picture of Ukraine when it was the “bread basket of Europe”, its people living in peace and plenty, before Stalin destroyed their lives. And while it doesn’t shirk from the horrors of that time, it’s never too hard to read, thanks to the strength and courage of its heroes and heroines, who never lose their humanity.
It’s heartbreaking, yes, but Katya’s is a story of triumph over tragedy, and gives us hope that tomorrow will be a better day.

Such an important and poignant story. What a debut!

My husband also being of Ukrainian descent and our children being raised to celebrate and honour Ukrainian traditions this story was such a beautiful glimpse of culture and the character of the Ukrainian people.

It tells of the Holodomor the horrendous famine Stalin created and the terrible terrible tragedies that ensued.

But more than that it tells of character. When you read it you glimpse the beautiful traditions of Ukraine. The Pysanky eggs, embroidery, beautiful flowers, sustainable way of life and of course the delicious food. We have shared many a borscht and of course delicious Varenyky.

Alongside the story of Katya and her tale into her past this very moving story also focuses on Cassie a young widow who is trying to find her way for the sake of her daughter after she lost her husband. Cassie and Katya share a special bond that deepens further as Cassie with the help of Katya’s neighbour Nick transcribes her journal from her past and her ordeal in Ukraine.

A moving and touching novel, I’d highly recommend reading to everyone. You will need tissues and will probably need to squeeze your loved ones very close soon after. A true revelation.

Thank you #netgalley and #boldwoodbooks for allowing me to read this ARC.
Erin Litteken has done a fabulous job writing this gripping and absolutely heart breaking and heart warming story.
We meet Katya and her family in 1930s Kyiv and Cassie and her family in Illinois in the early 2000s.
Cassie has lost her husband to a crash and her young daughter Birdie has stopped talking, they live with Cassie's gran Bobby who seems to be flitting between memories of the past in Ukraine and clear thoughts of the present day. The story touches on loss and infant death, the loss of family members and finding the strength to heal and survive in a time where people were starving to death.
There is so much strength in both women that you will need tissues at the ready. I read this book in a day I was hooked. Young Birdie has a very special connection that defies logic. Will Cassie open her heart to love again and can the secrets from the past heal in the present moment. This is absolutely a 5 Star read.
I expect to read many more books by Erin.

The best historical fiction books (in my opinion) introduce readers to a new setting and time in history, as well as provide some sort of connection to the readers' everyday life. The Memory Keeper of Kyiv does just that! It was a heartbreaking, emotional, yet uplifting book about one family's experience in Ukraine during the Holodomor. We learn Katya's story of hardship and surviving in Ukraine during the 1930s despite all hope through her words and her granddaughter Cassie's patient exploration. Cassie's story is also full of pain and hope in the present-day, and I also loved seeing her growth throughout the book. The story was well written and worth immersing yourself in! I will note that, as a mother especially (and a person!), it was hard to read at times but in my opinion, worth the read.

Sadly this book is relevant in the present day as well. I love hearing about the author's efforts to fundraise and use her work to support Ukrainians today.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the free advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

A relevant release in view of Putin's brutal attack on the Ukrainian people this spring. This well written historical fiction tells of the Holomodor, Stalin's horrific war on the Ukrainian people in the 1930s. By taking produce, farm animals and farm equipment, he ensured starvation on a mass scale, leading to more than 3 million famine deaths, all under the guise of collectivization. Poignant and sensitive, recommended reading.

In a Nutshell: A historical timeline that is almost painful to read because of its brutal depiction of the realities of Ukrainian life under Stalin’s collectivization scheme. The contemporary timeline is decent but pales in comparison. Still, I would count this as a must-read book.

Story:
Wisconsin, 2004. Ever since Cassie’s husband died in a road accident 14 months ago, her five year old daughter Birdie and she have been struggling to let go of their grief. When Grandma Bobby begins suffering from memory issues, Cassie’s mom decides that it would be best for Cassie and Birdie to shift into Bobby’s house for a mutual support. Here, Cassie discovers a journal written in Ukrainian, which seems to contain some secrets of the past.
Ukraine, 1930. Sixteen year old Katya has a lot to look forward to in life. She is part of a happy family and has a childhood sweetheart Pavlo right next door. But when Stalin’s activists come to their village and demand that everyone join the initiative of collective farming, the future suddenly doesn’t look so bright.
Both the timelines are written in a limited third person perspective.


Where the book worked for me:
💐 I have never read any book covering the topic of the ‘Holodomor’, the manmade famine that resulted in the loss of almost 4 million Ukrainian lives during the 1930s. That itself should be the biggest reason to go for this book. It reveals unheard-of details of a travesty that has never been highlighted. There were so many elements that felt like exaggerations because I simply couldn’t believe humans could do something as low. But the author’s note and her sources show that every despicable event is true. Kudos to her research.

💐 There are many parallels between the historical and the contemporary timelines such as handling grief and finding love after loss. The stories work well in sync.

💐 Despite the length and the heavy topic, it is a pretty fast-paced book.

💐 The characters in the 1930 timeline are well-carved and gutsy. Each of them creates an impact for various reasons. Of the 2004 characters, Birdie was the sweetest.

💐 I loved the glimpse provided into Ukrainian traditions and rituals. The book didn’t use Ukraine for the sake of it but actually incorporated its people, its culture and its values into the storyline. This is how places must be used in historical stories.

💐 Loved the author’s note. I was amazed to see how well she has incorporated her grandma’s Ukrainian roots in the historical timeline. There is a touch of authenticity to the entire story and it shows how well the content has been researched.

Where the book could have worked better for me:
⚠ The contemporary timeline, while interesting, is very drab in comparison to the past story. It is too predictable. The characters are pretty one-dimensional. I also found it very farfetched that Cassie’s family, especially her mom, knew zilch about their Ukrainian heritage. Cassie seemed quite incapable of understanding even the most obvious of connections while the rest of us could decode the clues from a mile away.

⚠ The ending felt rushed. After a long dilly-dallying by Cassie wondering about the past, the climax felt like it covered too much within a single chapter.

⚠ I didn’t like the romantic angle in the 2004 storyline, despite the swoon-worthy hero. It felt too sudden, and it didn’t add anything to the story.



Despite the issues I had with the modern timeline, the historical part of the book was enough for me to be a satisfied reader. (In fact, the book might have worked better as a historical story focussing only on the Holodomor instead of having the dual narrative.) It is a great debut work and I will surely love to read more by this author.

It is but obvious to connect this book with the situation in Ukraine right now. It is quite surreal, almost absurd that this book has come out in a year where history seems to be repeating itself. Wonder when leaders will learn from past mistakes and focus more on living in harmony than on satisfying their hunger for more power and control.

In solidarity with the people of Ukraine, the publishers of this book, Boldwood Books, will donate a share of their proceeds to the DEC's Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal. I appreciate them for this gesture.

Definitely recommended to historical fiction fans.

4.25 stars.

Note: If you are in a depressed state of mind, please stay away from the book until you are in a stronger mental headspace. There are many triggering events in the 1930s timeline. While most of the extreme triggers aren’t detailed out directly, what’s happening behind the screen is enough to induce nightmares.


My thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the DRC of “The Memory Keeper of Kyiv”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.