Cover Reveal and Interview: The Memory Box by Kathryn Hughes

Kindle showing a blurred cover and the words Cover Reveal on top

Are you ready to be one of the first to get an exclusive look at Kathryn Hughes’ next novel? The Memory Box follows a woman who is finally ready to confront her past. We Are Bookish has an exclusive reveal of the cover, but first, read our mini-interview with the author.

 

Tell us about your book cover! What was the cover design process like for you?

I am fortunate enough to be working with a very talented team at Headline and can give way to their greater talents in this area. I am always excited to see what they come up with and the cover for The Memory Box surpassed all my expectations. I love the color palette in particular and the memory box front and center with a tantalizing glimpse of the treasures within.

 

What inspired you to write The Memory Box?

The inspiration for The Memory Box did not start with an intellectual idea, a striking newspaper cutting or a visit to a deserted monastery. This time, the book was fueled by an image: an image of a woman at her own one-hundredth birthday party, having outlived everybody she ever cared about. As Jenny reflects on her past with her young carer, Candice, she picks through the precious keepsakes in her memory box and finally resolves there is one important, painful journey she has to make before it’s too late. 

 

In three words, what can readers expect from The Memory Box?

Regrets, redemption, wisdom, humor. Sorry, I know that’s four words, but I want to emphasize that there are definitely lighter moments in this book. 

 

Do you judge books by their covers? What’s your favorite cover of all time?

I don’t judge a book by its cover but I am drawn to books that have a fabulous cover. It’s hard to choose a favorite but I love the cover of Three Things About Elsie by Joanna Cannon. It is a gloriously simple cover made up of Battenberg and it looks good enough to eat.

 

What books do you recommend we pick up while we wait for The Memory Box to hit shelves on November 16?

You mean apart from my own back catalog! I’ve recently read and thoroughly enjoyed Magpie Lane by Lucy Atkins. It’s a psychological thriller centered around the disappearance of a young girl. It’s expertly crafted and stunningly written with a gripping plotline and evocative Oxford setting.

 

Now, let’s get our first peek at The Memory Box!

Design by Emily Courdelle

Here’s the official summary for The Memory Box:

 

A heartbreakingly beautiful novel, The Memory Box unlocks an unforgettable epic story of love and war, from the million-copy-selling author of The Letter, Kathryn Hughes.

Some love stories can’t be forgotten…

Jenny Tanner opens the box she has cherished for decades. Contained within are her most precious mementos, amongst them a pebble, a carving and a newspaper cutting she can hardly bear to read. But Jenny knows the time is finally here. After the war, in a mountainside village in Italy, she left behind a piece of her heart. However painful, she must return to Cinque Alberi. And lay the past to rest.

After a troubled upbringing, Candice Barnes dreams of a future with the love of her life – but is he the man she believes him to be? When Candice is given the opportunity to travel to Italy with Jenny, she is unaware the trip will open her eyes to the truth she’s been too afraid to face. Could a place of goodbyes help her make a brave new beginning?

Kathryn Hughes author photo
© Robert Hughes

Kathryn Hughes was born in Altrincham, near Manchester. After completing a secretarial course, Kathryn met her husband and they married in Canada. For twenty-nine years they ran a business together, raised two children, and traveled when they could to places such as India, Singapore, South Africa, and New Zealand. Kathryn and her family now make their home in a village near Manchester.

 

Kelly Gallucci

Kelly Gallucci is the Executive Editor of We Are Bookish, where she oversees the editorial content, offers book recommendations, and interviews authors and NetGalley members. When she's not working, Kelly can be found color coordinating her bookshelves, eating Chipotle, and watching way too many baking shows.

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