Review of 'The Lost Memories' by Lorna Cook

Review of 'The Lost Memories' by Lorna Cook

Release date: March 28th, 2024

Publisher: Avon Books UK

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REVIEW

The Lost Memories by Lorna Cook is a very special novel. It is delivered with a warm and loving hand. This dual timeline (set in Suffolk 1944 and 2011) truly swept me away and pulled my heart in so many directions while invoking tears, sighs, smiles and laughter. For though this story has many sad moments that are quite shattering, caused mostly by the horrors of war and the oceans and landscapes that separated these lovers, it still delivers a positive and clear message that dreams can come true and miracles can happen—even after a lengthy passage of time.

I adore dual timelines and this one works extremely well. It is not the unusual back and forth from chapter to chapter but rather the author lets us settle in to each era and spend a while getting to know the characters and their circumstances. It was very appropriate for the story and it kept me in the zone. I never once felt ripped out of a timeline and pushed into another. Rather, there is a gentle ebb and flow that carefully plays out the plot and allows us to stop for a breath before moving into the past or present. This kept me immersed in the threads at equal measure and I became emotionally invested in each of the leading women and their loves. I must say I really enjoyed both Kitty’s and Amy’s story, a grandmother and granddaughter—something I can relate to. And it is beautiful how their lives intersect, converge and mold together to provide a fascinating ending.

There are many memorable moments in this novel— including the scenes of the carvings being made and discovered later on the old oak tree ‘where young lovers of years gone by had etched their initials.’ This spot has special meaning for Kitty and granddaughter Amy found ‘comfort under its boughs.’ But she has not visited it in a long while, until Jack, a young American photographer shows up with his father to do some sightseeing of areas used during the war.

Amy is a very likeable lady who appreciates her mom and is close to her sister. She is hardworking and has a teashop business that she wants to expand. When asked to cater the Heritage Day event, she is delighted but knows it is a task that could use an extra set of hands. So, Jack steps in and offers to help in the kitchen. They hit it off and she offers to show him around her family’s property where he is able to take some stunning photos—including one of her. She comes up with the idea to sell his artistic work in her shop and he is pleased. They feel a strong connection to each other and later we learn there is good reason for this. But it is lovely to watch their affection blossom—even though we know Jack must return home to the US shortly.

Kitty’s life is gracefully told through her journal and her own conversations with her granddaughter. The past begins to surface and the threads of this woman’s life are carefully unveiled for us to get a clear picture of where she came from and where she ended up. The heartache she endured left me in tears and Charlie—well he is adorable and who could not love him? He was a devoted man, faithful in service and in his relationship with Kitty. Then something terrible happens that tears these two apart and you can just fill the grief dripping from the pages.

There are wonderful things about this novel that readers will learn and love about it, as I have. Including lines that many of us can relate to— such as: ‘When you are young you don’t pay attention to what your elders tell you,’ and ‘wish later you had’. Somehow we don’t realise the importance of family history when we are young. It is not until much later in life. Then we have new obstacles. Family members are gone, so it is a lot harder or impossible to get the information we so desperately crave. If we are lucky, though, there may be old letters and other memorabilia remaining to help us put the pieces together. So we grasp with both hands those precious memories. And then weave them into the tapestry of our lives. Blending the threads together in one luminescent whole. To lose them would be a tragedy. Which is why preserving our stories is so important— to keep passing them down from generation to generation.

The Lost Memories provides this more positive scenario and gives us the happy ending we long to experience. Kitty is able to pass on to her granddaughter her story so that she can learn from it—and she does. This novel has a very uplifting ending that ties all the threads together in a joyous weave. I adored it immensely and highly recommend this dual timeline gem that celebrates timeless love. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Avon Books and Netgalley for my review copy.