I hadn't read the Keeper of Stories, it's on my kindle, but after this, I am looking forward to it. The Book of Beginnings is exactly the sort of book it's good to snuggle down with, Jo was relatable and friendship was not only a corner stone, but the very glue that held the story together. The ghosts were an unexpected treat. thank you Sally and HC for the advance read! I look forward to cheering this on as publication day approaches.

A wonderful book that really searches for the answer to the question, what is friendship? Jo Sorsby is a likeable and relatable main character, her struggles are things we can all relate to in our own ways. The setting of the small stationary shop really captured my imagination right from the beginning. Page weaved a world filled with such intriguing and familiar characters that it was impossible not to get swept along with their adventures.

As an avid historian I adored hearing the stories of Highgate's ghosts as they were weaved into the adventures shared by Jo, Ruth and Malcolm and I loved that their unlikely partnership was what kept me gripped throughout as we learnt their individual stories and as we shared in the struggles and their triumphs!

It was evident that the friendships were Page's priority and therefore took centre stage leaving the characters romantic endeavours to take second place, some readers may as a result feel that this relationship was underdeveloped or rushed but to me it was apparent that Page did this to show that friendships were more important than anything else in the story.

A book I thoroughly enjoyed and I shall wait with interest to see what is next from Sally Page! Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the Advanced copy to review.

I loved The Keeper of Stories so was really excited when I was granted the ARC of The Book of Beginnings and it didn't disappoint. In fact, I think I enjoyed it even more than The Keeper of Stories. I loved the characters especially Jo (obviously) and the intriguing Runaway Vicar, not forgetting Eric the Viking. Really gorgeous book - thank you so much for letting me read!

4.5* read. Loved this book. Characters were great and loved how the friendships developed. Would definitely recommend

The Book of Beginnings is a heart-warming, warm hug of a book. I loved this cosy ghost mystery that is fully of friendship and love and how you can find it where you least expect it. I love how this makes you reflect on your own life and your true friends. Overall I really recommend if you want a sweet cosy book you can read in one go.

This book is full of finding friendship with the people who just turn up in your life. This book fall of happiness and laughter. With a few sad bits along the way. This is the 2nd book by sally page and I fully enjoyed it. I would recommend this book to anyone who looking for a nice easy read for the summer

I loved this book - it was read in one sitting.

This is all about friendships and how they can be forged in the most unlikely of places. Jo has just left a toxic relationship and is minding her uncle’s London shop falling his fall and onset of dementia. Here she meets the disappearing vicar, Ruth and Malcolm, who is struggling to write a book and Eric, the Viking. Each make her reflect on her friendships and relationships and question what is important to her.

Each is helped by the others to take a step into a different future with the support of true friends.

Just a lovely heartwarming book. A gentle tale set around the Highgate Cemetery with its history and ghostly goings on.

This book is the equivalent of snuggling on the sofa under a blanket with a cup of hot chocolate listening to the rain outside. A book all about friendship and love, I adored every minute.

Jo, from the north east of England, finds herself in London looking after her Uncle’s stationery shop. At a low point in her life following a breakup from her long-term boyfriend, can she find a fresh start?

The characters in this one were SO lovable. Malcolm and Ruth will firmly have a place in my heart from now on. This book is very much about character development and honestly the whole thing just warmed my heart.

Filled with wit, banter and some philosophical debate, I couldn’t put this one down. I will likely recommend this to everyone for the next few months!

I’m thankful for the opportunity to review this advance copy. A review will be posted on my Instagram page (@_thats_what_she_read) in the week preceding the release.

Firstly, thank you to Sally Page and Harper Collins UK for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for a review.

After reading Page’s debut, The Keeper of Stories, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on her new novel! I always worry when I have enjoyed an author’s debut that their subsequent novels won’t live up to my newfound high expectations but I definitely needn’t have worried in this case. I absolutely 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 this book!

“𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘮𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘢 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴; 𝘱𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥, 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘥, 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘦𝘴, 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘭 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘴. 𝘕𝘰𝘸 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴”

This is a story about friendship, belonging and regret. The characters were utterly charming - especially Malcolm 🥹 - and I found myself deeply invested in all of their stories. Both of Page’s novels have led me down a very reflective path post-reading and I am so grateful for it! This book left me feeling utterly warm and fuzzy.

I absolutely loved learning about the famous characters stories and the 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘮𝘢𝘴 𝘌𝘷𝘦 𝘎𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘴 chapter was a fabulous addition! I would have loved to have read Malcolm’s book on this subject.

The prologue set the scene perfectly and had me immediately captivated. I was enthralled throughout.

There were so many beautiful quotes and thought-provoking moments. I loved Uncle Wilbur’s favourite saying: “𝘈 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦” and when Ruth said: “𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢 𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳. 𝘐𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘸 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 ‘𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘳’.”

Sally Page has earned herself the title of the Queen of Stories Within Stories in my opinion! 👑

This book is released on 28 September 2023 and, in my opinion, is an absolute must read! So run, don’t walk to pre-order! 🙌🏼

Immediately you are drawn into Jo's story - the warmth of the character enables the reader to have a genuine liking for her plight that of her betrayal by the man she loved with such depth and there is an immediate connection between her and the reader; even if you yourself have never experienced the raw pain of betrayal you will have known someone who has. Sally Page's penship makes this such an easy heartwarming read filled with relatable characters and so it is the perfect addition to a cosy night in.
I also love that Sally hasn't strayed too far from the essence of her debut #TheKeeperOfStories as within the pages of The Book of Beginnings, Jo also shares the stories of her customers through the letters she writes to her childhood best friend Lucy and the collage of fountain pen 'scribbles' she adds to the notice board in the shop.
The Book of Beginnings is most definitely a story with connection, with emotion and with heart. A beautiful tale with the sentiment "a place for everything and everything in its place" at its core.
I cannot wait for a third book from this author and I love that Malcolm's idea it brought to life - such a fitting ending too.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for this early read.

The Book of Beginnings is a warm hug, a cup of soothing hot chocolate on a snowy day and a wonderful book of friendship, loneliness and ordinary life. I loved it. Set in London with the North-East as it's shadow, the book of Beginnings is a most heart warming story of friendships hidden in the most unlikely olaces.

A beautiful, heartwarming book despite its predictability. Perfect read for a down in the dumps kind of day that will leave you feeling grateful for good friends and family. Thank you to Harper Collins and NetGalley for the digital ARC. This review is written honestly and from the heart.

Just loved this book and the way it was written, I found myself imagining the little stationary shop and the array of fountain pens. Eric the Viking, Lando, the runaway vicar Ruth and the strange but lovely Malcolm and of course Jo who was feeling very lost until she found new friends and new beginnings.
My thanks as always to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK, Harper Fiction for the early read

Having enjoyed Sally Page’s debut novel, I had high hopes when I was gifted an ARC for her second novel, and they have not been disappointed. Apposite for a writer who herself has a keen interest in writing implements, the protagonist of this novel is a female by the name of Jo Sorsby who agrees to look after her uncle’s stationery shop. Jo astutely observes the myriad of customers that come through the door. A conflicted vicar and a reluctant pensioner who fancies himself as an author are just two of these customers. But perhaps the biggest insights for Jo (and for us as readers) are not to be gained from the written words on the page, but from unspoken acts of kindness and the tender offers of friendship? And do we genuinely have to go away to come back to the original us?

I warmly recommend this book for readers who have already enjoyed the novels of Cecelia Ahern and Jojo Moyes. You will not be disappointed! Thank you to the publishers and to NetGalley for the free ARC that allowed me to produce this impartial book review.

A heart warming story about friendship, forgiveness, opening your heart to strangers and acceptance. Very easy to read and leaves you in a warm place. Just off to buy a fountain pen now…….. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the advance review copy.

I loved this book. It was so heartwarming. Seeing Jo reassess almost all of her relationships and realise that she has not treated her friendships with the respect they are due was genuinely helpful for me and made me think about not taking my own friends for granted. The friendship she developed with Ruth and Malcom was beautiful and it was lovely to have a book that had a hint of romance but that was chiefly about friendship above all else, and finding your purpose after years of feeling a bit too average.
“A place for everything and everything in its place.” A phrase that will stay with me, along with the hope that I take the time to prioritise my friends a little more than I have been doing.
Thanks for such a wonderful book

Loved The Keeper of Stories, so was so excited to read this second book by Sally Page,
The Book of Beginnings is a story of friendship tied up in grief and hidden histories.
Jo, who the story centres around, finds herself in London, looking after a quaint shop owned by her unwell uncle. As she settles into her temporary job, she meets fascinating people, neighbouring business owners, and interesting customers, some of whom become trusted and treasured friends.
There were so many layers to this story, including a little love story or two that tugged at the heartstrings.
A great read!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for an ARC.

I really enjoyed Sally Page’s debut The Keeper of Stories so was excited to read her next one. This took me a while to get into as I didn’t warm to the main character Jo at first. I couldn’t see why she’d stay with someone that thinks her hobbies childish and embarrasses her in public! Sally Page does however have a wonderful talent for writing stories within stories. I don’t think Jo’s story will stay with me but the ‘ghosts’ stories will, especially that of John Lobb. I was left wanting to visit Highgate Cemetery!

Thank you Netgalley, Sally Page and HarperCollins for this ARC.

This is a novel about the need for friendship and how its source can come from unexpected places. Jo Sorsby is looking after her ailing Uncle Wilbur’s somewhat eccentric hardware and stationary shop, which has a wonderful display of fountain pens amongst other delights. Although Jo is stepping into the brink here to help her family out, she is also nursing a broken heart and is glad of the distraction. Two customers become very important to her, “The Runaway Vicar“ a.k.a. the Reverend Ruth Hamilton, whose first purchase is envelopes and Malcolm Bussell, who buys notebooks as he is writing his first novel at the ripe old age of 80. Then, of course, there is Eric the Viking, from Birmingham, but that’s quite another story.

Initially, I don’t find it easy to get into this as it’s a bit ponderous and over detailed at the start. However, I soon find myself drawn into these characters lives, in understanding
Jo’s backstory as well as that of Ruth and Malcolm, and they become more and more interesting. I love the theme of friendship, the necessity and power of it which is hard to deny and how it can span the ages. The characters are all really likeable though I confess to a particular soft spot from Malcolm who has an interesting background and his Highgate cemetery research for his novel gives the storytelling a fascinating edge. Eric provides some good story lines too as well as some amusement.

As the novel progresses, there are some really enjoyable scenes, those in Highgate Cemetery are especially good with its resident ghosts, there are some entertaining ones in Malcolm‘s house and a chilly one where Ruth and Jo cold water swim. It’s very evident with the Highgate strand to the storytelling that Sally Page has extensively researched and it makes me want to visit!

This is a gentle tale, it takes its time, it’s a heartwarming story with an ending that makes me happy. Although I do enjoy it, it’s not quite in the same league as the Keeper of Stories.

PS. The repetitive “a place for everything and everything in its place“ drives me bonkers!

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins/HarperFiction for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

A nice feel good story but I found that I was bored at times. It lacked intensity and I struggled to keep reading. I don’t think it is a memorable book but I’m sure others will enjoy it..