The Memory Keeper

Author: Abigail Johnson

Modern & contemporary fiction (post c 1945)

Published on 30 July 2026 by PAN MACMILLAN (Pan Books) in the United Kingdom.

Paperback | 304 pages
204 x 133 | 210g

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’