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Before the Tea Gets Cold
Memories LostMargo, the matriarch, struggles with her ailing mind as the lines between her past and present blur and disappear. She has spent her life trying to create the life she wanted, but now that her memories are slipping away, she finds herself in a reality somewhere between the two.Memories HeldSadie, the young granddaughter, is desperate to hang on to the memories to keep them safe for both of them. Granny has always been a steady force in her life, but now there is a forgetful Granny, a sad Granny, and a regular Granny all swirling together in a storm.Memories FoundAlice, both daughter and mother, is the caregiver trying to hold it all together while stumbling upon hidden secrets. She has always been the one with the list, the plan, and the first hand to reach out, but being pulled in multiple directions might be too much for her carefully built fortress to endure.Memories QuestionedIn this emotional, multi-generational story, relationships are tested and memories are questioned. Alice discovers her childhood wasn’t entirely what she thought it was. Or is her mom’s deteriorating mind just playing tricks on her? Can people live through the same shared experiences but walk away with different memories? And what happens when the only person with the answers cannot remember?Not All Memories Are the SameA multi-POV women's fiction novel perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty, Robyn Carr, Jodi Picoult, and the television series This is Us.
288 pages, Paperback
Published February 20, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 3, 2024
A beautiful multi generational book that will leave you in tears but also with a happy heart. If you’ve cared for or lost a parent this book will speak to your heart. Can’t wait for the sequel and learn more about Jake!
March 22, 2024
It's hard to believe this is Amelia's first book! I was sucked into the story right away. Margo is the mom and granny we all wish we had. Sadie is a hilarious 7 year old. And Alice. Oh, Alice, trying so hard to be the perfect mom and wife while also caring for her mother, grieving her, and being angry at her. I loved this story even though it broke my heart multiple times. I'm not sure if I can forgive Jake, but I'm excited for the sequel to hear more of his story.
March 29, 2024
4.5 Loved the connection between Alice and Margo. Having your parent age and watching their memories slip away is so difficult. The author handled it with grace and dignity. Love this book!
March 22, 2024
Amelia pulls you in by the heart strings to a warm, loving world created from the memories of three generations of women. It will make you laugh, make you cry, and give you a view into life with dementia that is so well written you can almost feel it. It enables the reader to experience first hand the struggles a mother, daughter, and granddaughter face as they work together to navigate these new challenges and hold onto precious memories. It is such a wonderful, moving story you won't be able to put it down.
June 2, 2024
4.5 stars. Loved this story told through the lens of three generations (daughter, mother, grandmother) and the memories we make, share and hold in our hearts. Loved the memory rocks! 💕A good reminder to cherish every moment together❤️
March 29, 2024
Okay so I’ll start with this… it was emotional for me to read. It’s a daughter’s journey through her mom getting older and trying to also manage her life also some points of view from the granddaughter’s memory as well. So many little parts I read made me feel like I was living in it. I’ll be honest it’s not for everyone, but not in a bad way. It’s someone journey in their eyes. I think it’s a wonderful story, but for me it’s a 4 star. “Tea time” holds a special place in my heart so it was a good weird to read about it in someone else’s story! And the rocks❤️
February 27, 2024
This is an incredible first novel by Amelia. Excellent and captivating storyline with beautiful characters. Easy to get lost in. Can’t wait for the next book by this author.
December 1, 2024
3/5 Stars ⭐️
I guess I enjoyed Before The Tea Gets Cold. It was a book club pick, and I’m certain it’ll spark plenty of discussion, but as a standalone read, it didn’t completely captivate me.
Sadie’s perspective felt a bit too youthful for her actual age, which made it difficult to fully connect with her. While the author attempted to add depth to the characters, they came across as somewhat flat, leaving much of the emotional resonance unrealized.
That said, there was nothing fundamentally wrong with the book. The pacing, however, wasn’t as engaging as I’d hoped—I found myself only able to read a chapter or two at a time without feeling compelled to continue. The story finally picked up in the last 20 pages, which were, in my opinion, the most captivating part of the novel.
One aspect that stood out, though, was the portrayal of dementia. Venjoy handled this sensitive subject with care and clarity, explaining its impacts in a way that felt authentic and poignant. This part of the story was particularly well done and added an important layer to the narrative.
Overall, Before The Tea Gets Cold wasn’t a page-turner for me, but it has its merits and will likely make for a thought-provoking book club discussion.
I guess I enjoyed Before The Tea Gets Cold. It was a book club pick, and I’m certain it’ll spark plenty of discussion, but as a standalone read, it didn’t completely captivate me.
Sadie’s perspective felt a bit too youthful for her actual age, which made it difficult to fully connect with her. While the author attempted to add depth to the characters, they came across as somewhat flat, leaving much of the emotional resonance unrealized.
That said, there was nothing fundamentally wrong with the book. The pacing, however, wasn’t as engaging as I’d hoped—I found myself only able to read a chapter or two at a time without feeling compelled to continue. The story finally picked up in the last 20 pages, which were, in my opinion, the most captivating part of the novel.
One aspect that stood out, though, was the portrayal of dementia. Venjoy handled this sensitive subject with care and clarity, explaining its impacts in a way that felt authentic and poignant. This part of the story was particularly well done and added an important layer to the narrative.
Overall, Before The Tea Gets Cold wasn’t a page-turner for me, but it has its merits and will likely make for a thought-provoking book club discussion.
January 6, 2025
Reading Before the Tea Gets Cold is like stepping into a very familiar story. When Alice feels guilty about forgetting to complete her daughter’s permission slip, I was right there with her. When Sadie plays in her granny’s storage room, I was immediately transported to my childhood.
Yet what’s the most familiar about Before the Tea Gets Cold is the experience of being part of a sandwich generation – having to care for your aging parent while also being responsible for your own children.
Before the Teat Gets Cold describes a specific moment in time, was Alice’s mother, Margo, succumbs further to her dementia. The series of events takes place in the lead-up to Christmas, which means traditions need to adapt. In an attempt to grapple with her new reality, Alice attempts to unravel new memories from the past. What she learns, though, is that not all memories are the same. It’s a hard truth to swallow, but one she ultimately comes to terms with. Sometimes, we won’t have the full picture of our parents’ lives, and sometimes, we need to accept that.
Before the Tea Gets Cold is by local author, Amelia Venjoy. It is a delight to read and easy to get into. Thanks to the three perspectives (daughter, mother, grandmother), no matter where you are in life, this book is very relatable.
Yet what’s the most familiar about Before the Tea Gets Cold is the experience of being part of a sandwich generation – having to care for your aging parent while also being responsible for your own children.
Before the Teat Gets Cold describes a specific moment in time, was Alice’s mother, Margo, succumbs further to her dementia. The series of events takes place in the lead-up to Christmas, which means traditions need to adapt. In an attempt to grapple with her new reality, Alice attempts to unravel new memories from the past. What she learns, though, is that not all memories are the same. It’s a hard truth to swallow, but one she ultimately comes to terms with. Sometimes, we won’t have the full picture of our parents’ lives, and sometimes, we need to accept that.
Before the Tea Gets Cold is by local author, Amelia Venjoy. It is a delight to read and easy to get into. Thanks to the three perspectives (daughter, mother, grandmother), no matter where you are in life, this book is very relatable.
April 7, 2024
A simple yet poignant story of 'life' that follows the lives of three generations: a grandmother grappling with memory loss, a busy mother juggling life's demands, and a curious granddaughter. The book navigates the complexities of aging and memory loss with grace and sensitivity. It also makes you think of the fleeting nature of time and the importance of cherishing every precious moment with our loved ones.
July 24, 2024
This book is so authentic and beautifully written that I honestly struggled to put it down. Told from the perspectives of 3 generations you get a deep and emotional range of storytelling. By the end I was sobbing. An incredible debut from a talented writer.
August 13, 2024
A mother and daughter and the estranged father deal with the mom's journey with dementia and how their roles have changed and how to manage this all in a positive way. Hard to read at times but a realistic story of life in transition.
October 8, 2024
heartwarming
A story of relationships and how they change as we grow older. Told from the perspective of three characters. Would highly recommend this book.
A story of relationships and how they change as we grow older. Told from the perspective of three characters. Would highly recommend this book.
July 28, 2025
I was drawn in and invested with the characters right from the start.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews