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The Memory Keeper
- Author
- Abigail Johnson
- Narrator
- Charlotte Worthing
- Publisher
- Pan Macmillan
- Publish Date
- 30 July 2026
- Run Time
- 8 hours 47 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
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What to expect
Full of warmth and joyful community, this is the uplifting story of one woman’s journey towards letting go of the past and creating memories worth holding on to . . .
‘I adored this heartwarming tale’ – Kate Storey, author of The Memory Library
'Full of charm' - Laura Pearson, author of The Last List of Mabel Beaumont
Meet Gracie. At mid-life, she’s fed up with her unhappy marriage and humdrum career. So when a new housing estate threatens to sever her last connection to her late father – the oak tree he planted as a child – she decides to take a stand. Only Gracie has never stood up to anyone.
When Gracie’s five-year-old neighbour, Tilly, unexpectedly bounds into her life, she shows Gracie that you shouldn’t always take no for an answer. Despite long-buried family secrets being revealed and conflicts taking root, Gracie begins to think that this could be the beginning of a new chapter – one in which she finally discovers her inner strength and realizes that even in the face of loss, there is hope.
'Warm and tender . . . this book had me smiling, crying and cheering' - Jay McKenzie, author of How to Lose the Lottery
‘Very real and heartwarming . . . I loved it’ – Alexandra Potter, bestselling author of Confessions of a Forty-Something
‘Wonderfully drawn characters you really root for’ – Mike Gayle, author of All the Lonely People
‘It’s not often that a book can make me cry, but this one definitely did’
‘Both heart-wrenching and happy, a rollercoaster of emotions’
‘Very moving’
‘Heartwarming with some genius touches of humour’
‘Really made you feel like you knew the characters. Loved it’
‘The best book I have read for ages’
Critics Review
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I adored this heartwarming tale of finding love and strength in the most unexpected places. Gracie and Tilly stole my heart
Kate Storey, author of The Memory Library
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A very real and heartwarming story about the life-changing power of friendship and found family. A complete joy. I loved it
Alexandra Potter, bestselling author of Confessions of a Forty-Something F**k Up
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A lovely, beautifully executed novel, full of compassion, warmth and insight. An immersive, uplifting read for these troubled times
Laura Barnett, author of The Versions of Us
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I thoroughly enjoyed this story of family secrets, standing up for what you believe in and forging new friendships . . . it's full of charm
Laura Pearson, author of The Last List of Mabel Beaumont
See more reviews See fewer reviews
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With wonderfully drawn characters you really root for and plenty of twists and turns, The Secret Collector is a delightfully uplifting story about hope, redemption and the transforming power of friendship
Mike Gayle, author of All the Lonely People
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I loved this warm and tender novel by Abigail Johnson. Gracie Meadows is exactly the sort of protagonist I love to root for: creative, courageous and ripe for change. With her beautiful team of unlikely sidekicks, this book had me smiling, crying and cheering them all on
Jay McKenzie, author of How to Lose the Lottery
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A convincing case for how much we need friendship and community to sustain us
The Times
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An uplifting read - heartwarming and full of hope. Throughout the book, I found myself really rooting for Gracie and the ending was just gorgeous
Neil Alexander, author of The Lost Past of Billy McQueen
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This is a treasure of a story. Told with humour and heart, the writing is so beautifully skilful that it appears effortless. I loved Alfred and Kian, loved their dynamic, and was genuinely moved by the growing bond between them. A must-read
Fiza Saeed McLynn, author of The Midnight Carousel
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Emotional, tense and deeply moving. Abigail Johnson is able to bring both characters – and Alfred’s chaotic home – to life in a wonderful way
WI Life magazine
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A touching story about grief . . . and the surprising way we can make connections
People's Friend
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This uplifting story about friendship across generations is full of compassion and tenderness
Platinum Magazine
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With wonderfully relatable characters, Johnson’s debut novel is a heartwarming and poignant story of loss, loneliness and finding friendship in unexpected places
Culturefly
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You won't want this touching story to end
Peterborough Telegraph
User Reviews
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Details
- Author
- Abigail Johnson
- Narrator
- Charlotte Worthing
- Duration
- 8 hours 47 minutes
- Release Date
- 30 July 2026
- ISBN
- 9781035058693
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Pan Macmillan
- Genre
- Contemporary lifestyle fiction, Humorous fiction, Family life fiction / Stories about family, Modern and contemporary fiction: literary and general, Narrative theme: love / relationships, Narrative theme: death, grief, loss
Synopsis
Full of warmth and joyful community, this is the uplifting story of one woman’s journey towards letting go of the past and creating memories worth holding on to . . .‘I adored this heartwarming tale’ – Kate Storey, author of The Memory Library'Full of charm' - Laura Pearson, author of The Last List of Mabel BeaumontIt's never too late to start a new chapter . . .Meet Gracie. At mid-life, she’s fed up with her unhappy marriage and humdrum career. So when a new housing estate threatens to sever her last connection to her late father – the oak tree he planted as a child – she decides to take a stand. Only Gracie has never stood up to anyone.When Gracie’s five-year-old neighbour, Tilly, unexpectedly bounds into her life, she shows Gracie that you shouldn’t always take no for an answer. Despite long-buried family secrets being revealed and conflicts taking root, Gracie begins to think that this could be the beginning of a new chapter – one in which she finally discovers her inner strength and realizes that even in the face of loss, there is hope.'Warm and tender . . . this book had me smiling, crying and cheering' - Jay McKenzie, author of How to Lose the Lottery ‘Very real and heartwarming . . . I loved it’ – Alexandra Potter, bestselling author of Confessions of a Forty-Something‘Wonderfully drawn characters you really root for’ – Mike Gayle, author of All the Lonely PeopleReaders LOVE Abigail Johnson:‘It’s not often that a book can make me cry, but this one definitely did’‘Both heart-wrenching and happy, a rollercoaster of emotions’‘Very moving’‘Heartwarming with some genius touches of humour’‘Really made you feel like you knew the characters. Loved it’‘The best book I have read for ages’
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