I found it very difficult to get into the story. The concept was what drew me in the first place, but the execution was a bit lacklustre to me. I had zero to no connection with the characters, which made this a less enjoyable read for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins One More Chapter for the ARC of this book.
When I started the book I really didn’t think I would be able to finish it , felt very slow , but I was on holiday so persevered and I was very glad I did.
The more you read the more you want to know what happens next. It was a heartwarming story in more ways than one and a perfect light holiday read.
Will certainly be happy to read more from Sally Page.

This story is set around Janice, a cleaner whose marriage is finally failing, and her clients. She collects stories during the course of her work from those clients plus others on the bus, in coffee shops etc.
This book is a slow burner for me, it didn't grab me immediately but I did start becoming immersed in the story. There is a marvelous cast of characters, I particularly enjoyed MrsB and Decius, the dog. There are many threads, which gradually come together and there are some startling revelations. Ideal for those who prefer their books to have greater depth and worth the investment in time to read it, I shall certainly be looking forward to the author's next book.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

I really struggled with a star rating for this book, I really did enjoy the story however I didn’t fully get into it. I felt like it wasn’t really for me, but I wanted to find out the ending

Wow what amazing Debut book by the author, I loved this book and could not put these down, This Book tells the story of Janice who's a cleaner who cleaner for lots of different people, I won't ruin this review with any spoilers but I loved all the characters and have recommend it to everyone to buy.

With thanks to netgalley and the publishers for the arc of this book in exchange for this honest review

I really liked the idea of this book from the blurb. I engaged with all the central characters from the get go, even Janice’s awful husband! The employers Mrs Yeah Yeah Yeah and her husband were perfectly awful people but they were important threads in the tapestry of this story as was the indomitable Mrs B . I was rooting for Janice the whole way through the book and was not disappointed with the ending at all but I would have liked more stories.

Oh what a gem of a book! I am so pleased to have found The Keeper of Stories and leading lady Janice now sits firmly in my hall of favourite characters. Couple that with a fiesty little fox terrier and this one is an absolute winner for me!

Janice, a cleaner in Cambridge, is a sweet and selfless woman, who’s there for anyone and everyone who needs her. Quiet and unassuming, she is unappreciated by her pompous and undeserving husband Mike who jumps from job to job before being fired again. Janice holds everything together and keeps her family afloat financially, while Mike does as he pleases. At her clients’ houses, Janice keeps everything spotless and provides an ear for their worries, building friendships and collecting stories along the way. Janice is an excellent listener and loves hearing the tales that people have to tell. Because everyone has a story right? Everyone except Janice she thinks, but all that is about to change when she’s instructed to start cleaning for a particularly demanding client’s formidable mother-in-law. Janice is hesitant at first, Mrs B is rude and does not want her there, but she is a story keeper after all and Mrs B is most intriguing..

I loved everything about this book! The varied cast of characters kept me interested and the ‘heroes and villains’ if you will are equally well drawn. You really feel for Janice throughout but you also admire her strength and resilience. She’s the sort of character you’d love to sit down for a coffee with and the friend/family member you wish you’d had. I loved her story arc and I enjoyed hearing all the different tales she shared with others throughout the book. Mrs B and Euan are wonderful characters too, though Mrs B is a great example of the dark and the light in a person. And of course Decius, the lovely fox terrier featured on the cover 😍 as a fox terrier mum myself of course I fell in love with him! Sally Page has nailed the descriptions of him, they really do walk along on tippy toes like little ballerinas, they are super protective, and mine would absolutely swear like a trooper if he could! 😆

On top of the fab characters this is a wonderful story that moves along at a nice pace that’s easy to follow, but also keeps you hooked from the start. I was immediately drawn in and I kept reading on thinking ‘just one more chapter’ until it was midnight and I had to sleep! I had to know what would happen to Janice, to Mrs B, to Fiona and Adam, and to Decius, and I had to find out how Becky’s story would end too! I’m still a little unsure at to Mrs B’s connection to Becky but I *think* I have it? I’d love to know others thoughts if you’ve read it too though!

Overall The Keeper of Stories is an easy read that’s charming but also thought-provoking too. It feels like a cosy hug in a book but it’ll also make you think about your own life and what you would like your story to be. Ultimately we are all the authors of our own stories to a certain extent and, while we may not get to choose our beginnings and there may be plot twists thrown, it’s still up to us whether we let that define us and we can still choose different paths for ourselves. It made me think that there’s always the potential for a happy ending and that was a lovely feeling to come away with. I highly recommend ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌟(especially to my fellow fox terrier fans!)

Huge thanks to author Sally Page, One More Chapter and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy and for allowing me to take part in your readalong - I loved it!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this novel.
I really enjoyed it. There was a bit of a slow start but in the end I just wanted to get on to the next, and then the next chapter. Light hearted, sad, easy reading in equal measures. Go on, give it a go !

So today I came to the end of this book and feel a bit bereft that the book has ended to be honest. This is a beautiful story about love, friendships and stories and ultimately how one woman finally finds the strength to tell her own story. I loved it so much and I’m going to read more on “Becky’s” story as that’s fascinating. Don’t miss this book.

I got The Keeper of Stories by Sally Page from NetGalley for a fair and honest review.


Janice is a cleaner or as her husband of many jobs describes her as just a cleaner, who loves collecting stories from those she cleans for all well as those Janice picks up by listening to people around her on the bus.
However, while Jannice listens to other people’s stories, she will keep her story secret.
There are times as a reader of books that you come across a story that is such well written and has several features that griped me and probably many readers from the start.
Firstly, the engaging narrator of the story Janice a cleaner who is much in demand, by the residents of the English University town of Cambridge and the surrounding area. As well as being able to collect stories from the people around her.
With her husband who has never been able to keep a job for any length of time, who calls her “just a cleaner”, while down at the pub.
As well as the number of intriguing people who are in her life from a dog which Janice thinks swears a lot, through a mother and her son trying to cope with the loss of a husband and father, and 90 odd year-old women who once killed a man.
All these and more are brilliantly brought to life by the narration of the main character, with each one adding to the narration of the story.
Which means as Jannice’s character develops thought the novel we get to see her grow as she begins to tell her story while helping those around her.
In conclusion The Keeper of stories by Sally Page is a read that will have you gripped throughout the novel, with both the writing style and story working hand in hand to make such a wonderful story and one I can very Highly recommend.

Janice is a cleaner and she collects stories. It could be random people on the same bus of stories from the people of the places she cleans but always true stories and given freely, with the exception of overhead conversations.

She's asked which book she would take on a desert island and answers “Vanity Fair. Lots of stories within stories. Well-written, great humour, delightful sense of the ridiculous, and what a cast of characters.” which pretty much sums this book too. I found myself wanting to know Beckys story just as much as Janice did.

Decius the fox terrier is quite the character as are all the people she meets. I loved her friendship with Mrs B and how they both seemed to need each other without actually realising it. I found it quite sad in places but uplifting in other parts and overall I really enjoyed this book.

I listened and read along with an audiobook. I always experience a much better story this way. I liked the narrator she was able to introduce a certain charm to each character with her different voices for each person.

What an interesting read!!!! I find it so interesting that the main character, Janice, goes around collecting other people’s stories, but will not share her own (saying she doesn’t have one and we obviously see the what and why later on.) I love all the characters that are part of the story we, the reader, are reading about Janice’s life. Mrs B and Decius are my favourite and definitely the most outspoken and eclectic of them all lol.

As with so many books I’ve read recently, this book is an onion that slowly peels back it’s layers and we get rid bits of information that help lead us to this incredible conclusion to the story. This book is an adventure in that we follow along with Janice and everything she goes through, it is hopeful in that we see a lot of gangs and the things that happen (for the better) as a result, and there are definitely a lot of emotions on these pages (and from the reader!)

I sincerely hope you will pick this one up and give it a try! It’s a lovely story!

Thank you to One More Chapter, Harper Collins UK, Sally Page, and Netgalley for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

A interesting and unusual story about Janice who is a house cleaner. She collects stories from her customers as well other places.
The Keeper of Stories is somewhat sad while also being funny. Be ready to feel a mix of emotions….you will find yourself laughing and then crying.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

This is a beautiful story about human connection and goodness. Janice is a keeper of stories. She goes into people's houses and cleans for them, and she collects their stories, stories about what makes them who they are and about the inner goodness in people. Still, she doesn't see the good in herself, and she doesn't want to share her own story. Then, she meets Mrs. B. and everything changes Although not every character in this book has motives that are pure and cares about others enough of them do that it will make you feel hopeful. Janice in particular is a really kind-hearted caring character. Reading this book is very uplifting.

I have to thank you for this beautiful written book. So many stories in one. Just I could not get into emotionaly. But anyway they are something special and if you areca sebtimental kind of people you should give itva try any enjoy.
Thank you Netgalley and HarperColins Uk for Arc copy.

What an absolute delight! This is the story of Janice who in her words is 'just a cleaner'. Along with her job cleaning people's home Janice collects stories. She picks these up in all sorts of places; on the bus, in shops and some times from her employers.
Janice is married to Mike who changes his employment in a regular basis. It soon becomes apparent that he does not appreciate Janice, not does he value how much she has done to keep their marriage going.
The love of Janice's life (apart from her son) is a very sweary fox terrier named Decius. He is owned by one of Janice's employers and she only has to look at him to know what he is thinking.
Janice has a story of her own but she is so traumatised by it that she is unable to share it.
I loved the characters in this book; except perhaps Decius' owners, but they are there for a reason. Mrs B; cantankerous but wonderful. Euan with his own stories and Janice who really is a lioness.
I look forward to reading much more from this author

Thank you to #NetGalley for the advance copy of #TheKeeperOfSecrets by #SallyPage.

Brilliant Brilliant Brilliant !,!!!
What a superb story Janice is the best cleaner in Cambridge but she is so much more if she will allow herself to be.
A heartwarming story that will stay with you a long time.
Loved it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I am writing this review in exchange for an advance copy of the novel. I will be honest in my response to it.
The story is of Janice who works as a cleaner in various houses in Cambridge. She is unhappy and uncared for in her marriage to Mike and has developed a habit of collecting stories from those she meets. She collects true stories and also uses her imagination to create others around strangers. For example, her regular bus driver who she calls ‘the geography teacher’ and who she shyly watches from her seat on the bus.

The story has a story within the story too as one of Janice’s eccentric clients tells her the true story of Becky the lover of Edward VIII who got away with murder. Intertwined in all these tales is the journey takes from sad unfulfilled cleaning lady to a more empowered person who makes decisions and in the process heals herself from old emotional wounds.

What I liked in this book was the central character being someone who is traditionally invisible and undervalued. Watching Janice emerge triumphant, hearing her stand up at last to those who tried to bully her, was satisfying and joyous.

I was slightly disappointed in the ease of boy meets girl, or man meets woman, and live happily ever after. Such a predictable but highly unusual story. How lucky for Janice that after her poor choice of husband she managed to find an extremely sensitive and emotionally mature new man.
But its only a story after all and dont we all love a fairytale?

The other thing that slightly dissatisfied me was the character of Mike - he seemed to have no depth and was rather two dimensional. Also Tiberius, another flawed man.

However, I enjoyed the book and was happy to keep reading and to stay on till the (predictable) end. I loved the character of Decius the terrier and also liked the exchanges between Janice, clearly a strong woman under her meek and quiet exterior, and Mrs B who is a marvellous creation.

The writing flowed well and there were moments of wisdom such as when the bus driver found his way in to open a young mans broken heart.
There was humour and interesting snippets of information. I liked the chapter headings and there were stories and characters which I would like to know more about. Were there perhaps slightly too many stories? Perhaps, and maybe with fewer of them we could have gone deeper with some. But, I still enjoyed it.

Recommended and I look forward to this authors next book.

This is one of the few books that I have read in one sitting.
Janice works as a house cleaner in Cambridge. She is proud of her work, creative, diligent and much in demand. In contrast to her own sad home life, where her husband is a dismal failure in everything he touches, each character in the homes she visits gives her a joyful insight into their life stories. Each one a hidden history of joy and betrayals, love and loss.
Then she is asked to help the mother of one of her clients. Mrs. B is a feisty but elderly ex-spy who helps Janice to see that she can move on from her own dark secrets and is worthy of her own story and happy every after.
This is a wonderful story and beautifully written.
Definitely a book for the “keeper” shelf.

This is a very interesting read. I love the interact between Mrs. B and Janice. I adore the way she collects stories. It's very refreshing type of book. It makes you think about your own story. I like how how character driven this book is