Thanks to Harper Collins Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC of this book.
I absolutely loved this book. There are quite a lot of characters but you can imagine them all as they are so well described and you soon fall in love with them all too. The concept is fairly simple but it develops and turns beautifully and is a page turner. I will certainly be recommending it as a read to my book club because I think they will all enjoy it too. Perfect holiday read as well.

I loved the keeper of stories,, and the last sentence in my review was that I would be looking forward to Sally pages next novel. I was there for delighted to see this one and it’s just jump straight to the top of my to be read pile.
The novel deals with loneliness and the power of friendship , it looks at the way friendships can develop in unexpected ways, and in unexpected places. In the snow for the narrator needs to a small London hardware and stationery shop to look after it when her uncle becomes unwell, we follow her as she meets her neighbouring store, storekeepers, and develops lasting friendships with the people who she meets.

I loved the way that the author shares her personal love of Fountain pens with us novel definitely made me want to pull out my collection of Fountain pens and restart my journalling
As a recent convert to the joys of cold water swimming, I was delighted to find out the novel mentions, the camaraderie of cold water, swimming in it
I enjoyed the inventive ghost stories from Highgate Cemetery and Malcolms gradual change from gray to vibrant colours as his friendship with the women develops
He also has a clear easily read prose style, and I found the novel a heartwarming emotional memorable read.

I would recommend the novel to those who love a relationship based novel
I read nearly copy of the book on NetGalley UK. The book is published in the UK on the 28th of September 2023 by HarperCollins UK Harper fiction.

This review will appear on NetGalley UK, good reads and on my book blog bionicSarahsbooks.wordpress.com

The Book of Beginnings by Sally Page

Read The Keeper of Stories in my book group and we all loved it so was really looking forward to read this one.

Jo Sorsby knows she is hiding from her past when she steps in to look after her uncle’s stationery shop. glimpsing the lives of her customers between the warm wooden shelves, as they scribble notes with fountain pens and browse colourful notebooks, distracts her from the life she has left behind.
Yet far from home, Jo feels adrift . . .
When she meets Ruth, a vicar running from a secret, and Malcolm, a septuagenarian struggling to write his first book, she realises that she isn’t alone.

Sally writes about women who don't quite feel they fit in with the norm , and are watching life happen in front of them whilst looking in from a distance. But what they don't understand they are the watchful strong , women who can draw people together and make things happen.
Really enjoyed it.

This is an enjoyable read with clearly defined characters that bring the story to life. We see Jo, Ruth and Malcolm each facing a crisis of confidence as they gradually come to terms with their different situations. It is a lesson to us all that trust, love and friendship can be found in the most unlikely circumstances.

The Book of Beginnings by S. Page, published by Harper Collins UK, is a beautiful piece of literature. I lready read and loved very much the previous book, The Keeper of Secrets and couldn't wait to get my hands on this next novel. And I was so not disappointed.
Jo is looking after her uncle's shop while hiding from her past. She loves hearing her customer's stories told between pens and staionary paper.
One day she meets Ruth, hiding from her own past and Malcolm, n up and coming writer in his seventies.
These three form a beautiful friendship. A touching story, literally unputdownable. A read cover to cover in one sitting book that gives all the feels.

I liked this heart warming story of human behaviour with believable, endearing characters. It is set in a stationery shop in London with stories of friendship revolving around heartbroken Jo and her customers and neighbours. I am also a big fan of the titled chapter headings.
I thought it a good holiday read which I didn't want to end.