The Memories We Bury by Helene Andrea Leuschel
I want to start by saying that although it’s my turn on the book tour, I have not yet finished this book. It’s not because it’s a difficult book, or hard to get into – on the contrary, it’s a compelling read that has had me hooked from the very first page. This book speaks to me on so many different levels and I am honestly savouring every paragraph, sometimes going back and re-reading a whole page, as if to imprint the words written on the page to my mind and somehow commit them to memory.
The book : An emotionally charged and captivating novel about the complexities of female friendship and motherhood
Lizzie Thomson has landed her first job as a music teacher, and after a whirlwind romance with Markus, the newlywed couple move into a beautiful new home in the outskirts of Edinburgh. Lizzie quickly befriends their neighbour Morag, an elderly, resourceful yet lonely widow, whose own children rarely visit her. Everything seems perfect in Lizzie’s life until she finds out she is pregnant and her relationship with both Morag and Markus change beyond her control.
Can Lizzie really trust Morag and why is Markus keeping secrets from her?
In The Memories We Bury the author explores the dangerous bonds we can create with strangers and how past memories can cast long shadows over the present.
The author : Helene Andrea Leuschel
Helene Andrea Leuschel gained a Masters in Journalism & Communication, which led to a career in radio and television in Brussels, London and Edinburgh. She later acquired a Masters in Philosophy, specializing in the study of the mind.
Helene has a particular interest in emotional, psychological and social well-being and this led her to write her first novel, Manipulated Lives, a fictional collection of five novellas, each highlighting the dangers of interacting with narcissists.
She lives with her husband and two children in Portugal. Please find out more about Helene at heleneleuschel.com or on Facebook and Twitter.
My review
As already mentioned at the start of my post, this is the book I am currently reading and enjoying immensely. I’m not even halfway through yet but already I know this is easily one of the best books I have read this year (I have read a lot in 2020) and is potentially in my all time top five.
One of the main characters, Lizzie, really resonates with me and in parts I feel as though I could be reading about my own life. Also anyone that knows me really well will be amused to learn that one of the other main characters is called Morag. It was quite a shock to see “my name” in print in an adult novel (we have all read the Katie-Morag books, right?) but I was intrigued by that and I am SO invested in this story.
I am desperate to get to the end to see how their lives pan out, but I know I am going to feel desolate when it is over. There is so much detail in the writing, so many feelings and emotions captured beautifully and described to the nth degree.
This is my first experience of an H.A.Leuschel novel and you can bet it won’t be the last. I am thrilled to discover she has written more books and I can’t wait to read them all.
If you want to read a really insightful fictional account of female friendship and the sometimes all too complex mother-daughter relationship then this book is for you.
5/5 – not only highly recommended, but positively encouraged. Get your copy here. (affiliate link)
This is the last day of the book tour, but you could still go check out the previous hosts and find their reviews of The Memories We Bury.
Update – I finished the book!
When I wrote this review originally, I was only partway through the book, but I already knew it was something special. Having now finished it, I can honestly say I was not prepared for just how good it was going to be.
One of the best books I have ever read. I am trying hard to avoid spoilers, but I will just say this: read this book. You might think you have the plot worked out. You might assume you know what’s going on – you haven’t and you don’t.
A gripping, spine tingling read, psychologically horrifying and for many of us, a startling reminder of memories we have indeed buried.
Further up the page you can see I have said that The Memories We Bury is highly recommended and positively encouraged. Now I would go further and say this is essential reading.
If you want to read a book that will make a huge impact on you – look no further. This is the one.
My thanks to H.A.Leuschel & Love Books Tours for my gifted copy and the opportunity to be a part of this book tour.
Book review Books Fiction Friendship Love books tours Mother Daughter relationship
Thank you so much for taking part in the Book Tour and I’m so moved about your words. Thank you very much for reading and reviewing the novel and I can’t wait to hear what you make of the ending of the story 🙂