Page’s poignant debut novel follows Janice, a cleaner who comes to understand the people in her community and herself through the stories she collects. People naturally share with Janice, but she never reveals her story in the bargain. However, everything changes when she starts cleaning for Mrs. B, a 90-year-old former intelligence officer. Janice tries to convince Mrs. B that she has nothing worth sharing, but it seems her secrets can’t stay hidden forever. Embodying everyone from opera singers to snooty fundraisers, narrator Jessica Whittaker brings all of the stories beautifully to life. Some tales are melancholy, but the overall mood is heartwarming and uplifting. As Janice’s story is revealed, listeners will become increasingly invested and hope she finds happiness and belonging.
VERDICT This novel sometimes feels like a collection of short stories, with many tales nested within the whole; as such, it would be welcome in any collection where short stories do well. Share with fans of Matt Haig’s The Midnight Library or Ruth Hogan’s The Keeper of Lost Things.
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