Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I enjoyed reading this book.

We meet four strangers, each one comes to the library for their own reasons.

They come together to form a story group, entering a competition to win the library son’s money. They will each write one chapter, after reading

Will is the librarian at the library, but his position is temporary until the person who he has taken the place of comes back. He also helps his parents when he’s not at the library. Hairdresser Avril, doesn’t like her job that much and is on the lookout for another. Hattie recently lost her husband and is at the library so she can find her old boyfriend by using the computer, and finally Stuart, he’s finding it hard to spend his days after retiring.

Each person has to write their own chapter, after they have read the previous chapter. But, they can’t talk about it. When they each write their chapter, we begin to know more about them. None of the group know what the last chapter will be or how their book ends.

When they meet at the library, they begin to learn more about each other and slowly become friends.

I recommend this book.

The local library is a place for community members to enjoy a cup of coffee, to read a book, to swap a book, to exchange ideas, and maybe even share a piece of themselves. it's also a refuge for people like Hattie, looking to reconnect with her past, and Avril, trying to hide from the future, and Stuart, search for a new purpose, and librarian Will, whose life has been in an unexpected direction. Apart they couldn't be more different from one another, but when a flyer for a writing competition draws Hattie, Avril, Stuart and Will together, they to discover that a good story doesn't just open your eyes, but also your world.

When the local library puts out a flyer for a creative writing competition, they want the entries to be a collaborative attempt. Four people, Hattie, Avril, Stuart and Will come together to write a story. Each characters voice is well-defined. We learn how the characters met and formed friendships, The competition soon becomes a vehicle for them to express their emotions. This si a lovely written story.

Published 1st August 2025

I would like to thank #NetGalley #HarperCollinsUK #OneMoreChapter for my ARC of #TheStorytellers in exchange for an honest review.

A love letter to libraries, stories, and the people who write them.

4.5 stars rounded up.

"The Storytellers" is a heartfelt, quietly powerful novel that celebrates the stories we carry and the unexpected ways they bind us together. Set in a charming, cozy local library, author Sue Heath introduces us to four characters - Hattie, Avril, Stuart, and Will - each walking their own path of grief, regret, reinvention, or rediscovery. Hattie is trying to make peace with a past she never fully understood. Avril is hiding from a future she dreads. Stuart is newly untethered and unsure of where to go next. And Will, the librarian who brings them all under one roof, is dealing with his own shaken foundations. A community writing competition becomes the gentle spark that nudges them all toward healing, connection, and the transformative power of storytelling.

Sue Heath has crafted a heartwarming, quietly uplifting novel with an unforgettable cast of characters. Her prose is warm and accessible, with just the right amount of wit and emotional insight. What stood out most was her ability to create real emotional intimacy without ever overstepping into melodrama. Each character’s voice is distinct, believable, and layered, and as their stories unfold - both the ones they write and the ones they live - you’re reminded of just how vital human connection and creativity can be. Hattie, Avril, Stuart, and Will couldn’t be more different on the surface, but when a writing competition brings them together, something beautiful begins to take shape. What unfolds is not just a shared project, but a shared journey.

I absolutely adored "The Storytellers". There’s a quiet magic to this book - it doesn’t rely on grand plot twists or high drama, but instead leans into the deeply relatable moments. Every character feels fully real, uniquely compelling, and deeply human. I found myself rooting for all of them - not just as budding writers, but as people trying to find their way forward. The setting adds another layer of comfort and charm. Heath clearly understands the magic of libraries- not just as places to read books, but as places where stories begin, where people connect, and where lives quietly change.

Whether you’re a writer yourself or just someone who’s found refuge in a well-loved library corner, "The Storytellers" speaks to the part of us that still believes in the redemptive power of words. This is the kind of novel that sneaks up on you: gentle, thoughtful, and unexpectedly moving. A beautiful reminder that a good story doesn’t just open your eyes - it opens your world.

A must-read for book lovers, writers, and anyone who’s ever found solace in a quiet library corner.

Many thanks to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter | One More Chapter and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

"The Storytellers" is slated to be released on August 1, 2025.

I was able to get this ARC through NetGalley.

While I did enjoy the story, at times I felt it was slow going and a little drawn out. The book was a light and easy read though, filled with an eclectic mix of characters. Allowing the reader to experience different sub-plots throughout the book.

While the characters, Hattie, Will, Avril and Stuart each come from different backgrounds and ages. Their story weaves together beautifully. The one thing that brings them all together is the library. Giving them each their own place to rest and regroup.

The Storytellers lets the reader find their own escape within its pages, giving you the perfect balance of hope, love and growth

My first Sue Heath novel and I absolutely loved it.
This actually felt like 2 stories in one, with the story the writing group writes and this book itself.
What wonderful characters Sue has created in Will, Avril, Hattie and Stuart, with real life dramas, relationships, loves and concerns.
I loved discovering who each of the main characters were, what had led to them becoming the person they are at the time they all meet up, and seeing how they all blossom from their shared experience writing their competition story.
The supporting characters are also wonderfully created.
Some difficult personal situations are covered in this book but Sue handles them respectfully.

Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter for the digital arc. All opinions are my own.

Four individuals each searching for something missing in their lives come together through the catalyst of a writing competition in their local library. A testament to the power of friendship to bring solutions.
It is easy to read and a joy to follow the growing camaraderie led by the indomitable Hattie

I have a copy of Sue's book The Secret Ingredient but haven't yet read it.

This was lighthearted and easy to read, cosy and uplifting.

There's a range age of characters and they're so charming in their own way. They're all flawed, all grieving something (in the literal and metaphorical sense), and all fabulous in their individual stories and the book as a whole.

Honestly, I think Hattie was actually my least favourite character, which was unexpected seeing that she was probably meant to be this cute old lady protagonist. There were elements I liked about her and she's an interesting person, but she irked me. She was curmudgeonly and complaining and egotistical and I really struggled to find her positive side, although she did wear me down slightly by the end.

It is very much a story within a story, which was lovely. It was interesting to read the different "voices" Sue has created.

It's a love letter to libraries, about how they're about more than just bokos, they're a place of community.

There's not so much of a plot - although there is obviously a storyline; it's mostly character-led and I really enjoyed that. We get to know our characters as individuals and how they work in aa group setting and their histories etc. which was fascinating.

I normally read a book in 1-2 days but this took me nearly a week and I can't exactly say why. I enjoyed it and it had everything I wanted from an uplifting book, but it took me a little while to get fully enveloped.

If you love a library and you love books, then this is the book for you.

Set in a local library, a strange collection of people make up 'The Storytellers'
They meet by chance but end up entering a writing competition together.
As they come together to write, they end up learning a little more about their own stories and finding out what brought them to this point.

A beautifully written book about how people come together and connect. Such great characters....loved it.

It is really a blessing how an assumingly simple fiction book can make you analyze your life and make you think about the people in it in a different way. Characters in a book, or real-life people are composed of many layers, like an onion. On the surface they present something that is not always what is inside and certainly does not show all the life experiences that they went through to become the current person you know.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story and find myself thinking about it often. I finished it several days ago and wanted to absorb it before trying to write a review.

The book I read previously to this one was not in my comfort zone. I managed to finish it, but I am definitely not reading the next two books in the series, even though the solution does not come until the end of the third book.

This wonderful book by Sue Heath set my reading world back on its axis. This is the type of book that I truly love to read. Although it could be classified as a “romance”, I think it is more a “Women’s Fiction” classification. I do think a man could enjoy it and get quite a bit of self-knowledge from it also.

I suppose it is a sad fact that, within the pages, I found myself being judgmental in my life, however I have taken the lesson to heart and am trying to change my outlook. I think that is the highest compliment I can pay to an author. Their words not only gave me great joy while reading, but also, they influenced my life.

I highly recommend this lovely book and hope that readers will pick it up and find joy and insight within the pages!

A sincere thank you to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter | One More Chapter and NetGalley for giving me the immense pleasure of reading the advance reader copy, with no obligation to write a review. My review is written freely as a hobby, and is totally my own opinion, not influenced by receiving the ARC.

Heartwarming. Comforting. Uplifting. Engaging...

The community library is a place to share ideas and stories, chat about family and neighbors, relax with a book and a cup of coffee, or bring a book home on loan. What could be better than that?

How about four vastly different people who find one another there, who wouldn't have met otherwise:
Hattie looks for a connection from long ago.
Avril finds a place to think.
Stuart contemplates a new niche.
Will, the librarian—where or what is next?

Then a flyer about a writing competition brings them together, and creating a story as a team gives them a purpose...

I love reading a book about books. This one is a layered story; sort of like a story within a story, but not really. It's about the four main characters who are writing a story and getting to know each other, and themselves, better in the process. The character mix is diverse, and they're fun and funny, so trust me. This is a good one.

"The Storytellers" proves that connections with books and like-minded people make one's life a whole lot fuller. That's a fact, folks!

3.75⭐

Thank you to One More Chapter and Sue Heath for the gifted DRC through NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review. Publication date: 8/1/25!

There's something about books about libraries or bookstores that just ooze charm. and then there's the added bonus when the book takes place in the UK (one of my favourite places)...so with those two in mind, I knew this book would be one for me.
And it was.
Charming.
Cute.
Satisfying.
A total "Up-Lit" book that focuses on empathy and community.

I would also say it's a book cleanser of happy <3

So I don’t want to give the story away but I would recommend this book whole heartedly. It is like being wrapped in a cozy blanket and whisked away into the story. An excellent cozy read I would highly recommend it.

The concept of completely different characters coming together to form a group at their local library to write a story for a competition was great, and it was wonderful to read such positive representation of libraries and their importance in the community for all different ages. I found the pacing of the story a bit slow and the different perspectives felt like the story jumped about a bit for me, but the concept was sweet and heartwarming and I enjoyed the feel good ending

The library - a place where people meet, escape to another world, read books, and many more reasons to enjoy a hub of the community.

WIll escaped his Cambridge book shop to help look after his parents and takes a job in the local library, Hattie has recently been widowed and moved home to an apartment with many retirees - who want to interfere .... she visits the library with the aim to learn how to use a computer to look up an old friend.... Avril has walked out on her job as a hairdresser.... and finds the library when she returns a book she found in a cafe. Stuart has recently taken redundancy / early retirement and is at a loss of what to do... 4 unlikely friends who unite in a library competition to write a story.... each person has to write a different chapter starting from where the last one ended.

A great read, on how different people can join forces and become friends and support for each other.

The Storytellers by Sue Heath is a sweet story about how four people’s lives interact at a library in their town when they decide to enter a writing competition together. As their lives intertwine, friendships grow and lives will be changed.

I loved this book! I couldn’t put this book down! I loved the characters. They were three dimensional and well developed. I also enjoyed reading their story interspersed within their chapters. I would definitely recommend it!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for access to an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Four people who are feeling a bit more lost and lonely then they might be able to admit find each other at the library. Through writing a novella together as apart if the newly formed writing group they find themselves.
This was a really sweet story about self discovery and unlikely friendship. I enjoyed getting to read the novel within the novel as the characters wrote it, and enjoyed how it gave more insight to the characters hearts.
Thank you to @onemorechapterhc and @netgalley for letting me have an advanced copy of #thestorytellers by @zarastoneley
Look for this one August 1 2025
#bookstagram #bookreview #readmorebooks #reading #summerreads

I enjoyed this book, it was a bit different in subject matter. I loved the main story, about the group who get together to write a novella, writing alternate chapters within the group. The characterisation of the main story is excellent, and I felt I got to know the different group members. Hattie, the elderly lady who persuades them all to join, Will the young part-time librarian, Stuart, the recently retired high- powered businessman, and Avril, the young woman floundering as she tries to make sense if her life, and where it is going. All of their back stories are interesting, and they seem an unlikely group of people who would probably never have got together were it not for the novella competition.
Where I had a problem was with the novella itself. I found it confusing and disjointed, not surprisingly given that each contributor wanted to bend the ongoing storyline to their own desired narrative.
I got no sense of the characters in the novella, they were all a bit one dimensional and unconvincing. I suspect that was due in part to my eagerness to return to the ‘main’ story, and find out what was happening there. The novella pulled me out of that narrative when I wanted to read on with the main characters, so I skimmed over the novella story, and didn’t really care what happened there, to be honest. Therefore I don’t feel that this plot device worked well for the main body of the book.
It was a heartwarming read, and I did enjoy the continuing awareness of their own lives and problems that happened to each character as the book progressed. A cosy, feel- good book. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars for me..
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy of this book.

The local library is a place where all sorts of people meet and all for different reasons.
Its a place where friendships are formed and maybe romance as well.
Will is the librarian and when a flyer appears about a writing competition he inspires his three friends to enter.
But for each of them its not only a story its their life story and it helps them all to write things down but can they win the competition?

Four strangers, who happened to be in their library at the same time,agreed to form a story telling group to enter a contest to help the library win money. Will is a a temporary librarian who is in town to help his parents. Avril, a hairdresser, realizes she is not passionate about her profession and is seeking a new job. Hattie, a recent widow, who is using the library computer to find her old boyfriend.And Stuart, who is recently retired and hanging out at the library because inherited doesn’t know what to do with his free time. Each person has to write their own chapter, after they have read the previous chapter. The group cannot discuss the book, so no one knows how it will end. As each person writes their chapter, a bit of their life is revealed to the others. As the story progresses, friendships grow, and they begin to truly understand each other.
This is a wonderful book, so go to your library to check it out. Who knows what lovely people you may meet, who could change your own story?

This was my first by this author, the title and premise really intrigued me and once I started reading the characters really pulled me in.

I thought that this book would be not only about the characters but also about writing, that there would be writing technical speak but there wasn’t and on reflection, there really wasn’t much talk about what they were actually writing, but it was what they were writing that was really interesting. A story within a story. Each characters writes their chapters how they want, the only constraint is that they have to go with what the previous person has written.

I really enjoyed how each persons chapters were truly unique to them and the character and plot twists reflected something within their own personal life, yet put all together it makes an interesting puzzle to put together.

Avril and Hattie are great together, they have a solid friendship despite only just meeting. Stuart is great too, I loved how he took time to reflect how much he loved his wife and that he wanted to change to show her how much he loved her. Will was a great librarian and it takes a lot for him to open his heart again, but Avril is the best person possible to keep it safe.

Each character brings their own plot and twists, just like the chapters they write. It was really clever how it was woven together and I felt really invested, especially with the search for Peter and Avril’s mum. Such great writing.