This was a really interesting tale, I actually really enjoyed that it was told from an older perspective and our journey within the book itself

This was such a brilliant read and my first by this author I was drawn to it by the title and the blurb this story tells not just one story but that of the four main characters and how they find themselves in the local library.

This was a heartwarming and uplifting story of friendship and of how books can bring people together and of how a library can be the hub of a community.

This was a great story!

In a library, a random group of strangers come together to enter a writing contest and make a beautiful story! I loved the characters, how they worked together, came together as friends, solved mysteries, found old love, found new love and learned so much about themselves in the process.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

Thanks to #netgalley and #onemorechapter for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. The cover art alone was enough to put this book onto my add to TBR radar- so gorgeous. A book set in a local library was all I needed to read and I was in! When the library announces a creative writing contest and that the entries have to be a collaborative effort we see an unlikely group of 4 people come together to not only write a story for the contest but to also share their lives and histories, hopes and dreams with each other and form a library/book loving family that they never realised that they all needed. Our 4 main characters are, Hattie- recently widowed and looking to reconnect with a former love interest, Avril a considerably younger library goer who has recently quit her job and seems at a loss as to where her life should go from there, Stuart, recently retired, has always dreamed of writing a novel and now has a lot of spare time to do just that and Will, a bookstore owner from Cambridge, working as a librarian here, temporarily, while home helping his sick Dad. All very engaging, likeable characters with their own storylines, it was a delight to see the bonds and friendships developing between them. This book will show you, that even the most unlikeliest of people have more in common than differences and can develop strong friendships and find "family" in the unlikeliest of places, being their local library. A heartwarming, fun read. #thestorytellers #sueheath #onemorechapter #netgalley #goodreads #fable #getlitsy #thestorygraph #tea_sipping_bookworm #goodreads #bookqueen #bookstagram #contemporary #humourousfiction

The Storytellers is a warm and heartfelt exploration of community, connection, and the power of storytelling. Set against the cozy backdrop of a local library, the novel brings together an unlikely group of characters—Hattie, Avril, Stuart, and Will—each carrying their own burdens and searching for meaning in different ways.

The writing competition serves as a clever catalyst, drawing these diverse lives together and reminding us how stories can heal, inspire, and transform. The characters feel genuine and relatable, and their personal journeys are both touching and believable.

While the plot moves at a gentle pace, it’s perfect for readers who enjoy character-driven fiction with emotional depth. A lovely reminder that sometimes, it’s the people we meet and the stories we share that help us find our way.

This was my first book by this author but I am keen to read more. This story had me from page 1 - it was such an interesting idea that the story was built around. Four people enter a competition at their local library where they each have to write chapters for a book which gets put together at the end and the best story wins. As they each write their chapters we learn about the lives of each of them and how they all learn more about themselves as they write. When they started out they barely knew each other but by the end they would all be life long friends. Thank you to HarperCollins UK, One More Chaper, NetGalley and Sue Heath for the eARC of this book.

This is one of those heart-warming books that is perfect for a rainy day, or whenever you feel like an easy read. I loved all the characters, the writing was great, and the touches of humour were really enjoyable. Dogs get me every time, and little Nutmeg in the shopping basket made my day! An easy 4 stars from me. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the electronic copy.

This was a gentle tale.
It centres on Hattie who is a widow having had an overbearing husband and is feeling her way in new found freedom.
This story follows others as well after Hattie reads about a story writing competition and needs others to help.
It really amounts to lonely people finding comfort and friendship.
I found it to be a good warm hearted story.

A novel about friendships forged in a library. Whilst I liked the four main characters, I did not particularly enjoy the competition story within the story and some of the romance was a little contrived. A pleasing read for a rainy day.

A beautiful read about a group of people who come together by a chance meet in the library and through a story competition. Each of the group is searching for something and the library is the place they can all find themselves again. We meet Hattie a woman looking for a lost love after the death of her husband and wondering what could have been if she had taken a different path. Will manning the library and trying to make sense of his life as he’s home helping his father. Avril who has quit her job and is hiding out in the library but feeling lost in her life and Stuart who is at a crossroads and needs a distraction from
His life for a bit. These strangers come together to write a story but end up rewriting their own. A beautiful read not to be missed!!

The Storytellers is a truly wonderful book filled with wonderful characters, all of whom complement each other. Their story is set largely in the town library, where our four heroes are drawn together to write a short novella as part of a regional writing competition. Eighty-seven year old Hattie has recently moved out of the house she shared with husband Harold for sixtry years before his sudden death from a heart attack. She’s resented Harold for his domineeringf ways for much of her marriage, at the same time wishing she’d instead married Harold’s friend Peter and is using the library computer to see if she can track him down. Librarian Will is a kind and gentle man, who ensures there are the biscuits in stock that Hattie likes to drink with her coffee. He’s moved home for a year to help care for his father, who has health issues. Twenty six year-old Avril has just left her job as a hairdresser and is trying to find out what career direction to follow. She’s not a reader but goes to the library one day after finding a library book in a café. She immediately hits it off with Hattie and Will and Hattie convinces them both to become part of her writing team. Last to join is Stuart, who was retired out of his job earlier than he’d have liked. He now finds himself at a loose end, a situation that is made worse by the fact that his wife Jo has made a life for herself that doesn’t involve Stuart. He has taken to visiting the library to read the papers on Thursdays, the days that Jo does her life painting classes. It would be hard to find four more different characters, yet as they begin to write and begin to get to know each other, they also un wittingly help each other address their various issues. The story they’re writing is central to the plot, however it is the personal growth and healing that takes place as their own stories are revealed that makes this such a compelling book. I loved The Storytellers for so many reasons, though for me the one that resonates most is the friendship between the characters, something that transcends age and sex and which I found really heartwarming.

Like a few other books I’ve read this year, The Storytellers by Sue Heath surprised me. On the surface, it seemed easy to predict: a feel-good contemporary novel about the power of stories to bring people together, with cosy, wholesome vibes and perhaps a dash of romance. And it is that - but also more.

I’ve been drawn lately to novels about libraries and bookshops, and The Storytellers sits comfortably alongside bestsellers like What You Are Looking For is in the Library and Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop, weaving together the perspectives of several characters connected by a building full of books. What sets Sue Heath’s novel apart for me, though, is its distinctly British tone. It reminded me of the library I loved as a child, as well as my new local library I’ve been making a point of visiting this year.

Avril, Hattie, Will and Stuart are all likeable, three-dimensional characters with flaws that make them feel real. Their unlikely friendship grows naturally as they come together to write a collaborative story for a competition. We learn about them not only through narration, but also through the chapters each of them contributes to the wider piece, slowly knitting together into a greater whole.

Hattie stood out for me, largely because her story unfolded in unexpected ways - but I was equally invested in Stuart’s navigation of his marriage post-retirement, as well as Will and Avril’s tentative romance. Overall, this was a truly lovely read - cosy, yes, but with a welcome layer of depth. I’d happily recommend it to anyone in need of a heartwarming bookish escape.

This was an absolutely gorgeous book to read. I decided on this one as I had been reading a lot of crime and was looking for something more thought-provoking and less dark. This book hit the spot.

People visit the library for many reasons now. Before, it used to be more for borrowing books, but now, with computers, different groups and various other activities, it is more open to those from different walks of life and ages.

Will worked in the library on a Thursday while he had moved back home to keep an eye on his Dad. Stuart came in to read the paper, a bit at a loss to do with his time now that he has retired. For Hattie, it was a way of avoiding people and looking for somewhere to do a spot of research. Avril was just returning a book she had found on the table in a cafe. But they all happened to be together when Hattie noticed a competition for aspiring writers, a group writing competition.

The idea of the competition is a brilliant way of bringing this mix of people together. They all have histories, secrets and things they would rather keep to themselves. But, through the competition, they gradually form a friendship, they bond, and for the first time, they feel part of something, not as lonely and looking forward.

The author has done a wonderful job with her characters and also with the competition story that they write. Each of the characters writes a section, there is to be no collaboration. Where one ends, the other continues. During this time, the characters gel and get to know each other, they learn to trust and start to share titbits from their lives, their worries and things that make them fret.

The author has brought two stories, one with the friends and their competition entry. But then, when I think about it, each of the characters has their own individual stories, so there is a lot going on. There was never once when I felt I lost track.

This is a story of people from different backgrounds finding a common theme that unites them and allows them to form a bond. It is a lovely story and one that I adored from the very start through to the end. A story for fans of contemporary fiction, mystery, drama, romance and of friendships and family. It is one I would definitely recommend.

Avril is looking for somewhere to hide for the day, she finds herself at the public library, not somewhere she has ever considered before. Hattie finds it a place to escape and look for past connections. Stuart is at a bit of a loose end since retirement and finds it a place to get out from under his wife's feet for some time. Will, the librarian, keeps an eye out for everyone and is surprised when Hattie decides to enter the local library writing competition. A charming, gentle, enjoyable story.

I was sent a copy of The Storytellers by Sue Heath to read and review by NetGalley. I was really keen to read this novel as I love this type of writing genre – anything to do with books and stories. Unfortunately I ended up being rather disappointed. The premise of the story was a good one and the characters were varied and quite well-drawn, but it was oh so predictable, rather repetitive and I thought overly romanticized. I know the book is partially listed as ‘Romance’ but it seemed to cover everything with rose tinted glasses! It was good enough for me to give it 3 stars but I was so glad the book wasn’t any longer! Such a shame.

This is a warm and uplifting read that offers a welcome change from my usual genre.

Set in a local library, it brings together a cast of very different characters – Hattie, reconnecting with her past; Avril, hiding from the future; Stuart, searching for purpose; and librarian Will, whose life has taken an unexpected turn.

A flyer for a writing competition draws them into each other’s lives, and from there, a story within a story begins to take shape.
It is a book about connection, loss, moving forward and the kind of unlikely friendships that change you for the better.

The format works beautifully, with each character’s past and present adding depth to their shared journey. Hattie’s humour brings lightness, while the growing bond and trust between the group is genuinely heartwarming. Their collaboration on the story of Eliza becomes a shared act of healing, as much for themselves as for the reader.

Easy to read, creative and filled with charm, this is a gentle reminder of the power stories have to bring people together.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

The title and front cover of this book captured my attention! It didn’t disappoint too.
A story within a story that keeps you wanting more throughout. A very clever idea with a very good entwining of the two story's.
It’s based around a library and how a mismatched group of people become friends whilst entering a writing competition. Really enjoyed it!

Hattie´s husband recently passed away and now is the time for her to change her live. She moved into a small flat and when she saw information that you can go online in the local library she decided now is the perfect time to try finding an old friend. So she is meeting Will who helps out there after moving back home to take care of his dad and putting off his dream of an own bookshop.
When a writing contest is announced in the library Hattie wants to join in and as the idea is that not only one person shall write the story, instead a group shall wok on it and each person shall write chapters in it, she decides that the young woman passing by is perfect as an additional member and for sure Will has to help her building a writing group. Unexpectedly another person using the library to read his news paper and to have something to do wants also to join the group and soon all four of these so different characters get to know each other better while creating a story.
None of them would have anticipated how their lives change during this course.


What a wonderful story!
I really like the authors writing style, how she creates this wonderful setting and the story is for me wonderfully written.
Right from the start these wonderful characters, which are so totally different - not only in age, and become such a wonderful group captivated me.

I really like that we have 2 stories in here. One is about the four characters and the other one is the story they write together. That this story has bits and pieces’ reflecting their own lives is wonderfully worked into it.

The four main characters have different ages, all have their own problems and burdens but to read how all of them meat in the library, join the competition and due to this they get to know each other, become friends, help and support each other is for me perfectly worked out.
Hattie is for me the star of this book. This elderly lady, who brings all of them together, thought she knew all about her passed away husband and their live together is wonderfully worked out and how she is opening up, trying out new things.
Avril as the youngest one is in search what she wants to do in future and is still terribly missing her mother and in search of more details about her. It is so wonderful to read her journey.
Stuart struggles to adapt to his early retirement and holds himself responsible for an incident at work.
Will who work part time in the library and only came back home to take care of his dad and whose past is haunting him.

For me a wonderful book! It made me feel cosy and warmed my heart.
You could say it is a simple story but getting to know the secrets, the despair of our characters and how they work on in while creating a story together, finding new friends, new meaning in live is for me perfectly written.
We don´t have action in it, no huge and big revealing, no huge fights and conflicts. All this is for this wonderful story not needed at all. The author is captivating us with great characters and a well told story. Less is often more is perfect for this book in my opinion.

This was a lovely book with great characters, each of them trying to overcome a challenge. They each write a part of a book that will be entered into a competition and as they do, it draws them all closer together despite different ages and upbringings.

Four lonely people come together at the library. Hattie, with the large black bag, that moves on its own, is a cantankerous female in her 80's. Stuart, a recent retiree, doesn't feel that he has much to contribute to life anymore. Will, a bookshop owner turned librarian, has come back home to help his parents out. Avril misses her mother who died when Avril was a young child. As they come to know each other and enjoy each other's company, they spend time outside the library together, wanting to help each other out with life problems. Together they enter the Team Writing Contest that has been organized by the library. The theme is love, lies and loyalty. As they each take turns writing a chapter in round robin, they work out their own life problems. The story they write, comes together in the book written by Sue Heath. This book is creative and the characters were lovely. Slow pacing caused me to rate it 3 stars rather than 4.
Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter for the complementary digital ARC. It was a good read. The review is my own.