Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What did you think of the novel’s central premise of a secret “memory library” built as a form of unspoken love? Did this concept resonate with you? How did it shape your expectations for the story?

2. How did you feel about this story as an example of bibliophilic or “books-about-books” fiction? Have you read other novels in this genre, like Gabrielle Zevin’s The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry? How does The Memory Library compare in its celebration of reading and community?

3. The novel ends on a hopeful note, with Ella’s family moving to London and a new tradition beginning for Willow. Did you find this resolution satisfying? What feelings did the Epilogue leave you with regarding the family’s future?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Books play a huge role in how Sally communicates love and preserves memory. Has a particular book ever been a meaningful gift in your own life, either one you’ve given or received? What made it so special?

2. The novel explores the different ways of communicating (and sometimes miscommunicating) love within a family. Was there a time when a gesture or action, rather than words, conveyed a powerful message in your own relationships?

3. Ella lives the majority of her life with an idealized view of her father. Has there been a moment in your own life when you realized that someone wasn’t who you thought they were? How did you react?

4. The path to forgiveness between Ella and Sally is long and complicated, built on dismantling years of misunderstanding. When you’ve struggled to forgive or be forgiven in your own life, what elements complicated that process?

5. Ella’s reconnection with her old friend Verity offers her a fresh perspective on her mother and her own life. Has a long-standing friendship ever helped you understand yourself and your past better?

6. Sally’s community acts as a “chosen family” that supports her when her actual family is distant. Think about the people in your life who form your support system. How does the novel’s depiction of community in Greenwich connect with your own experiences of finding support outside of your family?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. This novel fits into the popular “book-club fiction” genre, which often focuses on relationships, healing, and the power of community. Why do you think stories like this, which offer a sense of hope and connection, are so appealing to readers today?

2. What did you think of the way the novel portrays Sally’s dementia diagnosis? How does the story illustrate the impact of such an illness on family dynamics, particularly the role reversal of a child becoming a caregiver for a parent?

3. Storey depicts the local public library as a vital community hub where characters like Jakub and Mina offer support and friendship. What role do you see public libraries playing in our communities today, and how does the novel’s portrayal reflect that?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. The story is told through dual timelines that gradually reveal key secrets. How did this narrative structure affect your understanding of Ella’s and Sally’s motivations and the history of their estrangement?

2. How do supporting characters like the compassionate Nathan and the initially prickly Pru serve as foils that highlight Ella’s and Sally’s defining traits? What do their individual stories contribute to the novel’s main themes?

3. The narrative is filled with literary allusions, from Little Women to Persuasion. Which of these references stood out to you the most? How did the inclusion of these classic texts deepen your understanding of the characters’ inner lives and relationships?

4. Neil’s character is constructed entirely through others’ memories and secrets, positioning him as a posthumous antagonist. How does this technique compare to the way other novels, like Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca, use an absent or deceased character to drive the plot?

5. What is Hadron’s symbolic role in the story? How does the one-eyed cat’s changing attitude toward Ella, from hostile to affectionate, mirror Ella’s own journey of reintegrating into the family home?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. At the Library of Your Life event, friends present Sally with books that represent their relationship. If you were to contribute a book to this new library for Sally, which title would you choose, and what message would you write in the inscription?

2. Sally finds great comfort in writing unsent letters to Andrew. Imagine you could read a series of unsent letters from another character, such as Charlie in Sydney or even Neil before his death. Whose perspective would you want to read, and what truths do you think their letters might reveal?

3. If you were to adapt The Memory Library for the screen, which scene do you believe would be the most emotionally powerful to watch? Whom would you cast in the lead roles of Ella and Sally?