Ebook: 432 pages
Genre: Contemporary Literary Fiction, Fiction,
Publisher: Harper Collins 12 March 2026
Source: NetGalley
First Sentences: To be or not to be... That is all that is written on the orange card. Six little words. Nothing more.
Review Quote: 'I LOVE Sally Page's story-telling and her characters, who, quite frankly, could simply sit about a room for an entire novel and I'd still be entranced' Freya North
My Opinion:
Having been recommended to Sally Page's novels a couple of years ago, she is now a firm favourite of mine. 'Six Little Words' is the fourth I have read and it is just as captivating as her previous ones.
A group of very diverse men and women get together as a group to try and discover creativity within themselves. They all have inner struggles ranging from battling cancer to difficult childhoods. The group gives them the confidence to form new friendships and regain their self esteem. Using quotes from Shakespeare to introduce each chapter, cleverly leads the characters into the creative ideas they come up with.
Both funny and sad the story is to be recommended to readers that enjoy character driven fiction that deals with contemporary problems.
With thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read and review.
Précis Courtesy of Goodreads:
Can one small note give her the courage to find a new path?One Note. One Act of kindness. Her new beginning is closer than she thinks.
Kate gave up her dreams of being a painter years ago. But six little words pinned to the noticeboard of her local café could change her path forever.
‘To be, or not to be…’ – printed on orange card with no explanation – appears one morning.
Each day, a new line from a different Shakespeare play is added, sparking curiosity throughout the café. Among the regulars is Bardy, a retired English teacher grappling with writer’s block.
As Kate and Bardy follow this breadcrumb trail, they discover a local community group encouraging people to rediscover their own creative spark – and the long-lost courage to chase it.
For Kate, their new group might just offer a second chance at happiness, if only Bardy can find the strength to share his story too…
Previous Review: The Keeper of Stories. The Book of Beginnings The Secrets of Flowers
Author Profile:
After studying history at university, Sally moved to London to work in advertising. In her spare time she studied floristry at night school and eventually opened her own flower shop. Sally came to appreciate that flower shops offer a unique window into people’s stories and she began to photograph and write about this floral life in a series of non-fiction books. Later, she continued her interest in writing when she founded her fountain pen company, Plooms.co.uk.
In her debut novel, The Keeper of Stories, Sally combines her love of history and writing with her abiding interest in the stories people have to tell. Sally now lives in Dorset. Her eldest daughter, Alex, is a doctor and her younger daughter is the author, Libby Page. Both are keen wild swimmers.
Photograph, Trailer and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites:
Amazon Author Page. Author's Official Website. Instagram Profile Twitter Profile