The Memory Garden Society: A Novel of War, Family Secrets and Healing

by Riley Knight

Genres: Amazon

398 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 8, 2026

Reviews

[Ericka Jade · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this as a free kindle book from Amazon. I loved it. I’m a botany nerd. Clara is a chemist and pharmacologist. She inherits her estranged grandmother’s estate in England and plans to sell it but is drawn in by the history. The grandmother had an extensive estate with a greenhouse. she had been a botanist and during WWII, when the physicians were recruited for the war effort or moved to larger cities to care the citizens and enlisted soldiers the village women were the ones who kept the country folks healthy with herbal remedies passed down through the centuries.

[Vesta Tobin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Something learning and joy

The story develops with difficult decisions and even poor decisions.
It's about healing plants and healing people. It is about the continuity of life and learning evidenced throu the gardens, the plants and the people's choices and decisions. It is a story that touched my heart in fear with some choices and joy and gratitude with other choices.
Wonderful book and a pleasure to read.

[Carol Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

too many in constituencies !

Well researched as far as botanical content but confusing in storyline. Clara’s parents are dead but her mother keeps ringing her to return to America ? Lillian is her grandmother but at no point is the birth of any daughter mentioned, in fact just the opposite. Lillian lost her great love in WWII and continued toiling alone with no family. Clara is excited to become pregnant, a year later is married. 5 years later, her daughter is 3 years old.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

History and Medicine

A fascinating read, one where I actually took notes for research into plants as healing systems. What have we done to ourselves as a society relying on pills for a quick fix? Loved that this book took me back in time yet remained relatable. Wanted to know about Clara's relationship with her mother after moving back to England.

[Misti Yocum · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to give this 5 stars SO BADLY!! I loved the premise and the characters, but there were so many inconsistencies I felt like either I was losing my mind or my kindle was broken. I kept having to go back and make sure I hadn’t missed anything!!

[Trana Mathews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but

The historical aspect of traditional healing kept me reading. But the chronology of events was out of whack and brought me out of the story. Also the ages of people were inconsistent.