THE MEMORY OF BUTTERFLIES

To keep a devastating family secret from being revealed, a young mother’s desperate lies could end up destroying everything, and everyone, she loves. The Memory of Butterflies is a poignant story of family and forgiveness—of knowing when to let go and when to hold each other close.

Hannah Cooper’s daughter is leaving for college soon. The change is bittersweet. A single mother since the age of eighteen, Hannah isn’t eager to confront the pain of being alone, but she’s determined not to let her own hang-ups keep Ellen from the future she deserves. As Ellen’s high school graduation approaches, Hannah decides it’s time to return to her roots in Cooper’s Hollow along Virginia’s beautiful and rustic Cub Creek.

With the help of longtime friend Roger Westray, Hannah devotes her energies to building a new house on the site of the old family home, destroyed in a fire more than a decade ago. But Hannah’s entire adult life has revolved around one very big secret. And her new beginning comes with unanticipated risks that will cost her far more than she could have imagined—perhaps more than she can survive.

When a confrontation forces Hannah to expose her secret, the truth may destroy her beloved daughter. Hannah is prepared to sacrifice everything to protect her family, but can their lives and their bond withstand the seismic shift that’s coming? 

Release Date: September 5, 2017

Lake Union Publishing

Women's Fiction

Review copy provided by publisher

Liza's Review:

The Memory of Butterflies is the newest book from Grace Greene. It is a beautiful story that is filled with family, love, secrets and lies, and forgiveness. I will be very vague in my description of much of what goes on in the story, as I really don't want to give away any spoilers. 

Hannah Cooper is such a strong character. She is repeatedly place in situations that have her making tough decisions. She is responsible for caring for her grandmother and young daughter at a very young age.  I honestly feel like Hannah was put into an unwinnable situation with one of her choices. I honestly don't know if I were put into her situation for at least one of her choices I would have made a different choice. Honestly more than once, my heart broke for Hannah and I won't lie, I cried multiple times while I read this book from both happy tears and sad tears. 

I loved the relationships that were explored in The Memory of Butterflies. We had the relationship of grandmother and granddaughter, mother and daughter, and even great-grandmother and great-granddaughter. The different family dynamics that were explored across generations at times made me think of how close I was to both of my grandmothers before they passed away. I love when relationships in a book can seem real world to me, and Ms. Greene did a great job exploring the family dynamics in The Memory of Butterflies.

The Memory of Butterflies truly is a beautiful story that will tug on your heartstrings over and over again. Highly recommended to all readers who love an emotional story about family and all the dynamics it includes.

Rating: 4 Stars (B)