This life-affirming memoir chronicles a mother’s extraordinary last gifts to her daughter, and the love, wisdom, and guidance she extended to her from beyond this mortal life. Based on the author’s “Modern Love” essay “She Put Her Unspent Love in a Cardboard Box.”

Praise for Did I Ever Tell You?:

"In this heartfelt memoir, Kingston reflects on her mother’s death, in her late 40s, from breast cancer and the carefully cataloged notes and gifts she left for her children to open when she was gone."
—New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice

“An unforgettable memoir about the power of love.”
—Good Morning America

"This debut memoir tells a daughter’s story of grief and a mother’s devotion... Two decades after her mother’s passing, Kingston is left with three remaining boxes—engagement, marriage, and first baby—and a lifetime of memories to unpack." —Oprah Daily, 'Most Anticipated Books of 2024'

“Gwen Kingston’s dying mother left her gifts that would carry her through age 30. In so doing, Gwen could mete out doses of her late mother throughout her young adulthood, clinging to her mother’s memory and voice, and feeling her love, all of which she chronicles in this wonderful memoir." —Katie Couric Media, '26 Books for Every Mom on Your List'

"In this memoir, Genevieve Kingston shares the story of losing her mother at the tender age of eleven. What she gained was a treasure chest... Admit it, you're already as moved and intrigued as I am.” —Parade, 'The Best New Book Releases This Week'

“[Did I Ever Tell You?] offers solace and an empathetic voice for readers who have contended with their own experiences of grief and loss. It is a powerful testament to a mother’s legacy and the importance of living a full and meaningful life, however long it may last.” —BookReporter

“Both a beautiful tribute to [Kingston’s] mother and a portrait of unconditional love, providing catharsis for anyone who has ever lost a loved one.” —Real Simple

“Kingston's beautifully written debut memoir is both heartrending and hard to put down. Her mother's gifts and words of love reached into Kingston's future life like ‘a trail of breadcrumbs,’ providing direction, affirmation, and affection and proving that a mother’s love is ‘stronger than death.’ Kingston’s generous telling of her youth and loss is unforgettable and profound.” —Booklist (starred)

“[A] wrenching memoir.” —Kim Hubbard, The New York Times Book Review

“Kingston is left with three remaining boxes—engagement, marriage, and first baby—and a lifetime of memories to unpack.” -Oprah Daily, “The Most Anticipated Books of 2024”

“A heart-tugging memoir about the many faces of loss.” -Kirkus Reviews

“An extraordinary testament to the power of love over death, this book is healing, moving, and ultimately, instructive. The example of one mother’s incredible, unconditional love for her daughter, and this daughter’s resilient search to live well in the face of devastating loss, will make readers cry and also help them through their grief.” -SARAH RUHL, Pulitzer Prize finalist and Author of Smile

“Don’t miss this gorgeous memoir.” -ANN NAPOLITANO, New York Times Bestselling author of Hello Beautiful

“I could not love this book more. Did I Ever Tell You? grabbed my heart from the very first pages and took me on a journey that has changed forever the way I think about the legacies we leave…I want to press it into the hands of everyone I know and say, simply, “you must, must read this.”” -WILL SCHWALBE, New York Times bestselling author of The End of Your Life Book Club

Rights to Quercus (UK); to Intrinseca (Portugal); to De Bezige Bij (Netherlands); to Robert Laffont (France); to Piper (Germany); to Matar (Israel); to Lira (Hungary); to La Nave de Teseo (Italy); to Baltos Lankos (Lithuania); to Nemira (Romania); to Norstedts (Sweden); to Citic (China); to Tatsumi (Japan); and to Woongjin ThinkBig (Korea)