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Sipsworth
Over the course of two weeks in a small English town, a reclusive widow discovers an unexpected reason to live.
Following the loss of her husband and son, Helen Cartwright returns to the village of her childhood after living abroad for six decades. Her only wish is to die quickly and without fuss. She retreats into her home on Westminster Crescent, becoming a creature of routine and “Each day was an impersonation of the one before with only a slight shuffle—as though even for death there is a queue.”
Then, one cold winter night, a chance encounter with a mouse sets Helen on a surprising journey.
Sipsworth is a reminder that there can be second chances. No matter what we have planned for ourselves, sometimes life has plans of its own. With profound compassion, Simon Van Booy illuminates not only a deep friendship forged between two lonely creatures, but the reverberations of goodness that ripple out from that unique bond.
Following the loss of her husband and son, Helen Cartwright returns to the village of her childhood after living abroad for six decades. Her only wish is to die quickly and without fuss. She retreats into her home on Westminster Crescent, becoming a creature of routine and “Each day was an impersonation of the one before with only a slight shuffle—as though even for death there is a queue.”
Then, one cold winter night, a chance encounter with a mouse sets Helen on a surprising journey.
Sipsworth is a reminder that there can be second chances. No matter what we have planned for ourselves, sometimes life has plans of its own. With profound compassion, Simon Van Booy illuminates not only a deep friendship forged between two lonely creatures, but the reverberations of goodness that ripple out from that unique bond.
198 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 5, 2024
1419 people are currently reading
22882 people want to read
About the author
Simon Van Booy
61 books1,082 followersSimon Van Booy is the award-winning, bestselling author of more than a dozen books for adults and children, including The Illusion of Separateness and The Presence of Absence. Simon is the editor of three volumes of philosophy and has written for The New York Times, The Financial Times, The Washington Post, and the BBC. His books have been translated into many languages and optioned for film. Raised in rural North Wales, he currently lives in New York where he is also a book editor and a volunteer E.M.T. crew chief.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,627 reviews
May 23, 2024
4.5⭐
“Memory has never come to her like this in the physical world. It has always been something weightless—strong enough to blow the day off course, but not something she can reach for and hold on to.”
Widowed and having lost her adult son to a tragic accident years ago, eighty-three-year-old Helen Cartwright, had moved back to Westminster Crescent, after sixty years in Australia, to quietly live out the rest of her life. Helen is content in her solitude, surrounded by her memories and her daily life built around a set routine with minimal social interaction. Despite having lived in Westminster Crescent before her marriage, she has no friends or acquaintances with whom she could spend time even if she were so inclined and isn’t motivated to forge new connections.
“It wasn’t easy coming back after so long. Everything had been going on without her as if she’d never existed.”
Helen’s life changes when she encounters a mouse in a discarded heap of trash – a mouse she begins to care about and names Sipsworth. We follow Helen over the course of a little over a week as she is inspired to effect positive changes in her life in her efforts to take care of her new friend.
Sipsworth by Simon Van Booy is a charming story about friendship, community, second chances and how life can surprise you when you least expect it. Helen is an interesting protagonist and is portrayed as an intelligent, inquisitive and compassionate person. I liked that we did not have to rely solely on Helen’s memories to know her backstory but some interesting facts about her life are also shared with a few surprising revelations as the narrative progresses in the present timeline. The author addresses sensitive themes such as aging, loneliness and grief with wisdom and compassion. The narrative is relatively slow-paced, which suits the nature of the story and I thought the supporting characters were well thought out. While I can’t say I’m personally fond of mice (unless the mouse in question is an animated character named Mickey), there is no doubt about the profound positive impact that our furry friends have on our lives and the author captures this sentiment beautifully in this story.
I paired my reading with the audiobook, which made for an engaging immersion reading experience. Christine Rendel’s heartfelt audio narration breathes life into this beautiful story and the characters.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and didn’t want it to end. A short yet impactful read, this heartwarming story left me with a lump in my throat and a smile on my face. This is my first time reading Simon Van Booy and it surely won’t be my last.
Many thanks to David R. Godine for the digital review copy via Edelweiss+ and HighBridge Audio for the ALC via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Connect with me! ✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph
“Memory has never come to her like this in the physical world. It has always been something weightless—strong enough to blow the day off course, but not something she can reach for and hold on to.”
Widowed and having lost her adult son to a tragic accident years ago, eighty-three-year-old Helen Cartwright, had moved back to Westminster Crescent, after sixty years in Australia, to quietly live out the rest of her life. Helen is content in her solitude, surrounded by her memories and her daily life built around a set routine with minimal social interaction. Despite having lived in Westminster Crescent before her marriage, she has no friends or acquaintances with whom she could spend time even if she were so inclined and isn’t motivated to forge new connections.
“It wasn’t easy coming back after so long. Everything had been going on without her as if she’d never existed.”
Helen’s life changes when she encounters a mouse in a discarded heap of trash – a mouse she begins to care about and names Sipsworth. We follow Helen over the course of a little over a week as she is inspired to effect positive changes in her life in her efforts to take care of her new friend.
Sipsworth by Simon Van Booy is a charming story about friendship, community, second chances and how life can surprise you when you least expect it. Helen is an interesting protagonist and is portrayed as an intelligent, inquisitive and compassionate person. I liked that we did not have to rely solely on Helen’s memories to know her backstory but some interesting facts about her life are also shared with a few surprising revelations as the narrative progresses in the present timeline. The author addresses sensitive themes such as aging, loneliness and grief with wisdom and compassion. The narrative is relatively slow-paced, which suits the nature of the story and I thought the supporting characters were well thought out. While I can’t say I’m personally fond of mice (unless the mouse in question is an animated character named Mickey), there is no doubt about the profound positive impact that our furry friends have on our lives and the author captures this sentiment beautifully in this story.
I paired my reading with the audiobook, which made for an engaging immersion reading experience. Christine Rendel’s heartfelt audio narration breathes life into this beautiful story and the characters.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and didn’t want it to end. A short yet impactful read, this heartwarming story left me with a lump in my throat and a smile on my face. This is my first time reading Simon Van Booy and it surely won’t be my last.
Many thanks to David R. Godine for the digital review copy via Edelweiss+ and HighBridge Audio for the ALC via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Connect with me! ✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph
February 2, 2025
Awful Writing, Unoriginal, Ridiculous (and not in a good way)
From the first page, this book was a festering wound on my literary soul. The book is written in the present tense and contains extremely awkward, childish sentence fragments.
The plot could have been summarized as follows: Old woman needs cat.
As if this train wreck could get any worse, incredibly, it does. It really does.
Spare yourself.
The Green Light at the End of the Dock (How much I spent):
Hardcover Text – $26.58 on eBay
Audiobook – Free through Libby
Connect With Me!
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From the first page, this book was a festering wound on my literary soul. The book is written in the present tense and contains extremely awkward, childish sentence fragments.
The plot could have been summarized as follows: Old woman needs cat.
As if this train wreck could get any worse, incredibly, it does. It really does.
Spare yourself.
The Green Light at the End of the Dock (How much I spent):
Hardcover Text – $26.58 on eBay
Audiobook – Free through Libby
Connect With Me!
Blog Threads BookTube Facebook Insta My Bookstore at Pango
December 8, 2024
In a Nutshell: A beautiful contemporary fiction about an old lady and a mouse. Covers several dark as well as light themes. Loved this unusual story that isn't like the other golden-years fiction novels thronging the book market. Recommended!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
At its simplest, this is just the story of a lonely old lady and a lonely not-so-old mouse. But can a simple premise turn into a memorable reading experience with good storytelling? Indeed, it can!
Bookish Yays:
🐭 There are so many books these days with geriatric characters in the lead, all focusing on the beauty of these so-called golden years, with the characters still spry and enjoying life to the fullest. They join various clubs, enter new romantic relationships, come out from the closet, and even solve murders. As such, this new genre has become too formulaic too soon. This book breaks the pattern in a refreshing way.
🐭 Helen is such a lovely character. A typical old lady and yet not so typical. You can feel her loneliness and grief even when she denies it. I especially enjoyed her random mildly-crotchety observations on today's world.
🐭 Sipsworth. The titular character. Also the name of Helen’s murine housemate. Most of us love books with dogs and cats, but this book will make you look at mice differently. (But not *so* differently that you would begin to welcome mice in your home! 😉)
🐭 The various secondary characters who become a part of Helen’s life, whether she likes it or not. I won't reveal their details as it takes a while for them to pop up in the story, but they are all nice and loveable. Perhaps a bit too good to be true, but who cares!? This is feelgood fiction!
🐭 The easy storytelling with many heartwarming moments and even a few tense ones. There is also enough humour, with the comic elements being more subtle than slapstick. Loved all of this!
🐭 Short chapters that are put to great use without making us feel like the story is rushing.
🐭 Just because this is a straightforward narrative, don't think that there's no twist. There's one surprising reveal that truly impressed me!
Bookish Mixed Bags:
🐁 The ending is a bit too abrupt. Don’t get me wrong: it's complete and even quite satisfying. But I wanted much more! Especially keeping in mind that this is feelgood fiction, I would have loved a Bollywoodish happy-hugs-galore kind of ending, though without the final group song. 😆
🎧 The Audiobook Experience:
The audiobook, clocking at 5 hours 10 minutes, is narrated by Christine Rendel. She is EXCELLENT! Her voice brings Helen's personality to life. It was so refreshing to hear a voice for an older character actually sound older. Her tempo was too slow for my liking, but this was a non-issue as an increase in the speed worked wonders. I'd definitely recommend the audio version. The straightforward timeline and the fabulous narration, combined with the shorter listening length, would make this a great option even for audiobook newbies.
All in all, I'm glad I read this book when I was in the mood for something slow and sweet. The characters and the storyline both work excellently in unison. It's nice to have feelgood fiction that's light without being comic or romantic.
Much recommended when you want something heartwarming and mellow and somewhat quirky.
4.5 stars, delighted to round up!
My thanks to HighBridge Audio for providing the ALC of “Sipsworth” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the audiobook.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
After sixty years in Australia, eighty-three-year-old Helen Cartwright has returned to Westminster to spend her final years in her childhood hometown. She knows she doesn't have much time left and she has made her peace with it. After all, she's alone in the world, and has no one and nothing to live for. However, one day, due to her own error, a mouse enters her house. And suddenly, her life has a new purpose.
The story comes to us in Helen's close third-person perspective.
At its simplest, this is just the story of a lonely old lady and a lonely not-so-old mouse. But can a simple premise turn into a memorable reading experience with good storytelling? Indeed, it can!
Bookish Yays:
🐭 There are so many books these days with geriatric characters in the lead, all focusing on the beauty of these so-called golden years, with the characters still spry and enjoying life to the fullest. They join various clubs, enter new romantic relationships, come out from the closet, and even solve murders. As such, this new genre has become too formulaic too soon. This book breaks the pattern in a refreshing way.
🐭 Helen is such a lovely character. A typical old lady and yet not so typical. You can feel her loneliness and grief even when she denies it. I especially enjoyed her random mildly-crotchety observations on today's world.
🐭 Sipsworth. The titular character. Also the name of Helen’s murine housemate. Most of us love books with dogs and cats, but this book will make you look at mice differently. (But not *so* differently that you would begin to welcome mice in your home! 😉)
🐭 The various secondary characters who become a part of Helen’s life, whether she likes it or not. I won't reveal their details as it takes a while for them to pop up in the story, but they are all nice and loveable. Perhaps a bit too good to be true, but who cares!? This is feelgood fiction!
🐭 The easy storytelling with many heartwarming moments and even a few tense ones. There is also enough humour, with the comic elements being more subtle than slapstick. Loved all of this!
🐭 Short chapters that are put to great use without making us feel like the story is rushing.
🐭 Just because this is a straightforward narrative, don't think that there's no twist. There's one surprising reveal that truly impressed me!
Bookish Mixed Bags:
🐁 The ending is a bit too abrupt. Don’t get me wrong: it's complete and even quite satisfying. But I wanted much more! Especially keeping in mind that this is feelgood fiction, I would have loved a Bollywoodish happy-hugs-galore kind of ending, though without the final group song. 😆
🎧 The Audiobook Experience:
The audiobook, clocking at 5 hours 10 minutes, is narrated by Christine Rendel. She is EXCELLENT! Her voice brings Helen's personality to life. It was so refreshing to hear a voice for an older character actually sound older. Her tempo was too slow for my liking, but this was a non-issue as an increase in the speed worked wonders. I'd definitely recommend the audio version. The straightforward timeline and the fabulous narration, combined with the shorter listening length, would make this a great option even for audiobook newbies.
All in all, I'm glad I read this book when I was in the mood for something slow and sweet. The characters and the storyline both work excellently in unison. It's nice to have feelgood fiction that's light without being comic or romantic.
Much recommended when you want something heartwarming and mellow and somewhat quirky.
4.5 stars, delighted to round up!
My thanks to HighBridge Audio for providing the ALC of “Sipsworth” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the audiobook.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
April 8, 2024
Sipsworth was the first book that I have had the opportunity to read by Simon Van Booy. I was drawn to the cover immediately but I wasn’t sure how I felt about reading about a relationship between an older woman and a mouse. How silly of me! I soon discovered that this heartfelt story was so much more. It was written so beautifully and allowed me to feel the feelings of loss, discovery, sadness and hope. I listened to the audiobook that was narrated so well by Christine Rendel. I was so invested in the characters, the acts of love, and the changes in heart that I didn’t want Sipsworth to end.
Helen Cartwright was an eighty something year old woman. She had moved from England to Australia as a young bride and never looked back. When Helen’s beloved husband died, though, and when her son died a senseless and premature death, Helen left Australia and returned to the home she had grew up in. It was located in England. Helen Cartwright had lost her will to live. She had returned home to England to wait for death to find her as well. She had lost all the reasons that were important to her to want to continue to live. All Helen Cartwright wanted was “to die quickly and without fuss”.
Helen settled into a daily routine quickly. Her routine included taking her meals in front of the television where she watched the news in the morning and movies in the evening, venturing out to buy food and necessities, an occasional solitary walk and lots of naps. Helen was lonely and her existence was mundane. She often found herself reminiscing about memorable occasions in her past that included either her late husband or her son.
One night, as Helen stood by the window, she observed her neighbor placing certain items of trash at the curb. Amongst the things her neighbor was getting rid of was an old aquarium. Inside the aquarium, Helen discovered a box and several children’s toys. These things spurred old memories that involved her son. Helen knew that she couldn’t let those things be carted away. Helen knew that she needed to save those things from being taken away by the garbage collectors. That night, Helen learned that beside the aquarium, box and children’s toys, she also inherited a little mouse.
Over time, Helen and the mouse who became known as Sipsworth, learned to rely on one another in a way that I am quite certain Helen never imagined. Helen and Sipsworth found a way to wriggle themselves into each other’s hearts. One became dependent upon the other but in quite different ways. Ultimately, it became hard for both Helen and Sipsworth to imagine a life without the other.
Sipsworth was so profound on so many different levels. As a person ages and looses the people they love and care about, their outlook on life can and often changes as it did with Helen Cartwright. Sipsworth came into Helen’s life for a reason. For others like Helen Cartwright, dormant feelings need to be sparked to give them a reason to want to continue living. Everyone needs something or someone to inspire them to want to live. For Helen Cartwright, it was Sipsworth. I really enjoyed getting to know the character of Helen Cartwright. Her unique idiosyncrasies were welcomed, appreciated and enjoyed. Sipsworth packed a lot into its short length. It was most delightful, funny at times, sad at other times and quite relatable. I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook of Sipsworth by Simon Van Booy and highly recommend it.
Thank you to HighBridge Audio for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of Sipsworth by Simon Van Booy through Netgalley in exchange for this honest and unbiased review.
Helen Cartwright was an eighty something year old woman. She had moved from England to Australia as a young bride and never looked back. When Helen’s beloved husband died, though, and when her son died a senseless and premature death, Helen left Australia and returned to the home she had grew up in. It was located in England. Helen Cartwright had lost her will to live. She had returned home to England to wait for death to find her as well. She had lost all the reasons that were important to her to want to continue to live. All Helen Cartwright wanted was “to die quickly and without fuss”.
Helen settled into a daily routine quickly. Her routine included taking her meals in front of the television where she watched the news in the morning and movies in the evening, venturing out to buy food and necessities, an occasional solitary walk and lots of naps. Helen was lonely and her existence was mundane. She often found herself reminiscing about memorable occasions in her past that included either her late husband or her son.
One night, as Helen stood by the window, she observed her neighbor placing certain items of trash at the curb. Amongst the things her neighbor was getting rid of was an old aquarium. Inside the aquarium, Helen discovered a box and several children’s toys. These things spurred old memories that involved her son. Helen knew that she couldn’t let those things be carted away. Helen knew that she needed to save those things from being taken away by the garbage collectors. That night, Helen learned that beside the aquarium, box and children’s toys, she also inherited a little mouse.
Over time, Helen and the mouse who became known as Sipsworth, learned to rely on one another in a way that I am quite certain Helen never imagined. Helen and Sipsworth found a way to wriggle themselves into each other’s hearts. One became dependent upon the other but in quite different ways. Ultimately, it became hard for both Helen and Sipsworth to imagine a life without the other.
Sipsworth was so profound on so many different levels. As a person ages and looses the people they love and care about, their outlook on life can and often changes as it did with Helen Cartwright. Sipsworth came into Helen’s life for a reason. For others like Helen Cartwright, dormant feelings need to be sparked to give them a reason to want to continue living. Everyone needs something or someone to inspire them to want to live. For Helen Cartwright, it was Sipsworth. I really enjoyed getting to know the character of Helen Cartwright. Her unique idiosyncrasies were welcomed, appreciated and enjoyed. Sipsworth packed a lot into its short length. It was most delightful, funny at times, sad at other times and quite relatable. I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook of Sipsworth by Simon Van Booy and highly recommend it.
Thank you to HighBridge Audio for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of Sipsworth by Simon Van Booy through Netgalley in exchange for this honest and unbiased review.
June 4, 2024
If Ratatouille and A Man Called Ove had a baby, it would be this book.
June 2, 2024
Wow, I loved this sweet little novel so much!!!!!!! Very quirky, heart warming & real!! Highly recommend this charmer
May 10, 2024
3.5 stars rounded up.
Eighty three year old Helen has lost her loved ones and all she has left are her memories and her grief. But then her outlook on life suddenly changes as she rifles through a neighbor’s discarded items, looking for what - she isn’t sure. She does connect to a memory of her son when she finds a toy like one he had as a child and that was touching . But, it’s a mouse, who she names Sipsworth that makes all the difference in her life. The turning point, a poignant moment when she says that nothing can happen to her , otherwise Sipsworth will be alone. At that point, while I thought this would be a sweet, feel good story which I was hoping for, it felt predictable and a bit cliche.
But then I was hooked in the second half when Helen’s story is revealed and we learn things about her life before moving back to England from Australia . I loved how she connected with the other characters because of Sipsworth and how her loneliness and grief are replaced with purpose and hope when there seemed to be none, with people who care, with friendship, with people coming together for a common cause.
I’m a fan of Simon Van Booy’s beautiful writing and moving story telling and am making my way through his fiction. Glad I read this sweet story . I needed this feel good one !
I read with my book buddy, Diane .
I received a copy of this book from David R .Godine Publishers through Edelweiss.
Eighty three year old Helen has lost her loved ones and all she has left are her memories and her grief. But then her outlook on life suddenly changes as she rifles through a neighbor’s discarded items, looking for what - she isn’t sure. She does connect to a memory of her son when she finds a toy like one he had as a child and that was touching . But, it’s a mouse, who she names Sipsworth that makes all the difference in her life. The turning point, a poignant moment when she says that nothing can happen to her , otherwise Sipsworth will be alone. At that point, while I thought this would be a sweet, feel good story which I was hoping for, it felt predictable and a bit cliche.
But then I was hooked in the second half when Helen’s story is revealed and we learn things about her life before moving back to England from Australia . I loved how she connected with the other characters because of Sipsworth and how her loneliness and grief are replaced with purpose and hope when there seemed to be none, with people who care, with friendship, with people coming together for a common cause.
I’m a fan of Simon Van Booy’s beautiful writing and moving story telling and am making my way through his fiction. Glad I read this sweet story . I needed this feel good one !
I read with my book buddy, Diane .
I received a copy of this book from David R .Godine Publishers through Edelweiss.
March 21, 2025
What did I just read? Let me just say that I wanted to love it. Well, first I wanted to like it. Because I really wasn’t sure what I read here. I just know my emotions were left between these pages here. This was a deep, moving, tale, and it got me…but…
Was it real? Whether or not it was, there is something to be said about this deeply moving story.
Helen, an 80-something widow has given up on herself. Her life. And she has left everything behind and moved to her old home. That she grew up in at one point in her life. But everything she knew once, has changed, so why did she do it?
We can tell that Helen’s spirit is gone. And, it certainly is at this point as a reader that we are feeling her aloneness and sadness and loss of self and hope for anything more from this life.
Does this make it a depressing saga? Not necessarily. But it definitely will touch readers with its heart-felt moments. There is something relatable here. And, we can’t help but pay attention.
Helen is alone. Very alone. And, we definitely can feel that intensity of aloneness that is felt through aging. The author highlights it so well. And, for this I give him credit for having readers feel it so deeply. And, as readers, experiencing this intensity of aloneness, we can’t help but feel Helen, as we inhabit her movements, when one night, late, she goes out, and picks up her neighbor’s trash. There is something surreal about this, especially as she finds memories of her son in one of the toys she finds in that trash.
And, as readers we can’t help but be caught up in her aloneness and routines. And, her fascination with this trash, when there is this moment, as she is exploring and cleaning, she finds a…mouse? That she names Sipsworth. (Hence: the name of the book!) And, she makes it her mission to bring this mouse back to health.
Or does she? Hence, my confusion.
And, eventually she starts to meet people. And, now she has a life, worth living? And, friends who are helping her, help Sipsworth live? Yes, these are question marks.
But when it is time to have other people come and get Sipsworth the help it needs…no spoilers. Because that would give away everything. And, perhaps my confusion, most of all.
Still, the closeness of the community connection, takes Helen out of her head and creates something she didn’t have, which gives Van Booy’s writing a softness, and a sensitivity even in my confusion about the story. Because, even if I struggled to like or love it, I recognize there was something deep here. A place we all know that could happen to any one of us.
Questions that we might even ask ourselves.
How do we overcome this loneliness as we age? When people we loved in partnership are no longer with us? And, it is just us navigating this life on our own?
This was a very quick, one sitting read. But even as eloquent as the prose was, it was still a confusing read. Of a lonely lady who didn’t want to live, who found something (a mouse?) that gave her a reason to live. And, maybe that was the point? Definitely a compelling one. Maybe we all need something to give us a reason for living.
Side note: I know, even this one was an unusual one for me to pick as my last book for the year. But I have come to recognize that even around the holidays, not all people are in celebration mode. Look around you. Be sensitive. Be open to the private and hidden stories others might be harboring. Some might be in shadow or challenged by grief. I know that the holidays aren’t always filled with presents and joy for everyone. Wherever you are on your journey, please know you are not alone. Sending love and hugs and hearts and prayers and light to all who need and want it today and always. And, a radiance of blessings in 2025. ❤️🩹
Was it real? Whether or not it was, there is something to be said about this deeply moving story.
Helen, an 80-something widow has given up on herself. Her life. And she has left everything behind and moved to her old home. That she grew up in at one point in her life. But everything she knew once, has changed, so why did she do it?
We can tell that Helen’s spirit is gone. And, it certainly is at this point as a reader that we are feeling her aloneness and sadness and loss of self and hope for anything more from this life.
Does this make it a depressing saga? Not necessarily. But it definitely will touch readers with its heart-felt moments. There is something relatable here. And, we can’t help but pay attention.
Helen is alone. Very alone. And, we definitely can feel that intensity of aloneness that is felt through aging. The author highlights it so well. And, for this I give him credit for having readers feel it so deeply. And, as readers, experiencing this intensity of aloneness, we can’t help but feel Helen, as we inhabit her movements, when one night, late, she goes out, and picks up her neighbor’s trash. There is something surreal about this, especially as she finds memories of her son in one of the toys she finds in that trash.
And, as readers we can’t help but be caught up in her aloneness and routines. And, her fascination with this trash, when there is this moment, as she is exploring and cleaning, she finds a…mouse? That she names Sipsworth. (Hence: the name of the book!) And, she makes it her mission to bring this mouse back to health.
Or does she? Hence, my confusion.
And, eventually she starts to meet people. And, now she has a life, worth living? And, friends who are helping her, help Sipsworth live? Yes, these are question marks.
But when it is time to have other people come and get Sipsworth the help it needs…no spoilers. Because that would give away everything. And, perhaps my confusion, most of all.
Still, the closeness of the community connection, takes Helen out of her head and creates something she didn’t have, which gives Van Booy’s writing a softness, and a sensitivity even in my confusion about the story. Because, even if I struggled to like or love it, I recognize there was something deep here. A place we all know that could happen to any one of us.
Questions that we might even ask ourselves.
How do we overcome this loneliness as we age? When people we loved in partnership are no longer with us? And, it is just us navigating this life on our own?
This was a very quick, one sitting read. But even as eloquent as the prose was, it was still a confusing read. Of a lonely lady who didn’t want to live, who found something (a mouse?) that gave her a reason to live. And, maybe that was the point? Definitely a compelling one. Maybe we all need something to give us a reason for living.
Side note: I know, even this one was an unusual one for me to pick as my last book for the year. But I have come to recognize that even around the holidays, not all people are in celebration mode. Look around you. Be sensitive. Be open to the private and hidden stories others might be harboring. Some might be in shadow or challenged by grief. I know that the holidays aren’t always filled with presents and joy for everyone. Wherever you are on your journey, please know you are not alone. Sending love and hugs and hearts and prayers and light to all who need and want it today and always. And, a radiance of blessings in 2025. ❤️🩹
July 7, 2024
A sweet story about an elderly woman named Helen Cartwright who is alone, having lost her husband and son.. moves back to her native English village after having lived in Australia for many years.
She is ready to go to… she’s so lonely.. one day she picks up a neighbors old aquarium filled with other things…that’s been put out for the trash.. drags it into her house.. becomes aware of a mouse living in the bottom of all the junk.
This mouse gives her something to care for and helps her with getting on with life.
She is ready to go to… she’s so lonely.. one day she picks up a neighbors old aquarium filled with other things…that’s been put out for the trash.. drags it into her house.. becomes aware of a mouse living in the bottom of all the junk.
This mouse gives her something to care for and helps her with getting on with life.
May 15, 2024
We all need something or someone to care for, as an 82 year old woman soon finds out. Having lost all those dear to her, she thinks the only thing left for her to do, is to die. She never expected to find, rummaging in a neighbors trash, an aquarium. An aquarium with a little mouse in it, a muse she calls Sipsworth. A mouse that will soon become her reason to live, but that also the impetus to bring her back into the world of finding new friends.
A very unusual book for this author but a quiet, mostly sweet read. It reminded me of a parable, a lesson to never give up hope regardless of age. There is always more to experience in life.
I liked this but it was a bit too twee for me. This is my monthly read with Angela and as always it s a joy to have her as my reading buddy.
Listened to this on audio and it was well done.
A very unusual book for this author but a quiet, mostly sweet read. It reminded me of a parable, a lesson to never give up hope regardless of age. There is always more to experience in life.
I liked this but it was a bit too twee for me. This is my monthly read with Angela and as always it s a joy to have her as my reading buddy.
Listened to this on audio and it was well done.
June 14, 2024
It’s the last day of my vacation in Nevis and this was such a perfect book to read! It is so sweet and heartwarming and just made me feel good! 😊 it follows Helen who is in her 80s and lives alone after having both a career and family. She has returned to England after living abroad for 60 years and expects to end her days by herself with only her favorite tv shows and radio programs to keep her company. Little did she know Sipsworth would enter her life and bring new purpose to her days, and new friends into her dreary little world! Please read this! You won’t be sorry!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
July 5, 2024
I apparently have a cold, dead heart because I didn't care about this book until there were other humans introduced to the story (at approximately 96% into the book).
February 4, 2025
Made a long car ride pass quickly. The story of an old woman and a mouse. Loss, loneliness and old age isolation. A heartwarming story that was unique and a most easy read. Saw this a few times as a favorite book of 2024 so I was drawn to see what makes it so special.
Helen has moved back to England from Australia to live out the rest of her days. She is in her 80's and feels that the people and things that gave her life value are now gone. She lives day to day and seems to be mostly waiting for the days to pass until she does. Then she finds a mouse. Along the way we learn more about Helen, not in great detail but enough to understand her losses and why there is still time for her to live
It shows how the smallest things can be a doorway to life. It is a lovely story. And has a great ending.
Narration by Christine Rendel and she does an excellent job. The writing is excellent. If you like stories about older characters I would encourage you to try this audio. Sad at first and then it finds life.
Helen has moved back to England from Australia to live out the rest of her days. She is in her 80's and feels that the people and things that gave her life value are now gone. She lives day to day and seems to be mostly waiting for the days to pass until she does. Then she finds a mouse. Along the way we learn more about Helen, not in great detail but enough to understand her losses and why there is still time for her to live
It shows how the smallest things can be a doorway to life. It is a lovely story. And has a great ending.
Narration by Christine Rendel and she does an excellent job. The writing is excellent. If you like stories about older characters I would encourage you to try this audio. Sad at first and then it finds life.
August 25, 2024
83-yr-old Helen Cartwright has recently become curious about what other people throw away. Very early one morning—long before dawn—she is awakened by the noise of a neighbour taking things to the curb. Once he’s gone back inside, she quickly dresses, and sneaks outside to find a small glass aquarium with some tiny toys and damp boxes inside. She brings them home and while looking through the items, notices a cone-shaped face with whiskers, a pink nose, and tiny dark eyes looking up at her.🐭
This is the beginning of a lovely tale of an elderly woman and the tiny mouse she’ll call Sipsworth. It’s one of the funniest, most endearing books I’ve read. I found myself giggling over and over again. Helen’s reasons for “temporarily” holding onto Sipsworth are very amusing, and her call to a Rescue Centre that takes in unwanted animals is one of the most hilarious phone calls I’ve read in a long time!
It’s not until almost 2/3rds into the book that we discover some rather interesting things about Helen. For now, though, all we know is that she was born in this same small town in Britain. She’s returned to her hometown after living in Australia for the past 30 years, where she recently lost her husband and then her son. Now, in the twilight of her own life, she’s come home to die.
Well… that’s all I’m going to say because it’s a rather short book that I hope many of you will read for yourself. This enchanting, terribly charming little book is, in my opinion, a must-read.
5 “Families-come-in-all-shapes-and-sizes” stars 👵🐁 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is the beginning of a lovely tale of an elderly woman and the tiny mouse she’ll call Sipsworth. It’s one of the funniest, most endearing books I’ve read. I found myself giggling over and over again. Helen’s reasons for “temporarily” holding onto Sipsworth are very amusing, and her call to a Rescue Centre that takes in unwanted animals is one of the most hilarious phone calls I’ve read in a long time!
It’s not until almost 2/3rds into the book that we discover some rather interesting things about Helen. For now, though, all we know is that she was born in this same small town in Britain. She’s returned to her hometown after living in Australia for the past 30 years, where she recently lost her husband and then her son. Now, in the twilight of her own life, she’s come home to die.
Well… that’s all I’m going to say because it’s a rather short book that I hope many of you will read for yourself. This enchanting, terribly charming little book is, in my opinion, a must-read.
5 “Families-come-in-all-shapes-and-sizes” stars 👵🐁 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
May 18, 2024
I've liked both Van Booy's books read in the past, so signed up for his newest one at the library. He has a gentle way with words and characters but gets to the deeper truth buried in us all as the story progresses.
A lonely, bitter 83 year woman who has lost both her husband and her son, slowly makes friends with a mouse she finds underneath a box of trash. In the course of which she must reach out to people in her community. Not easy, because she's spent the last few years avoiding people in general. A sweet read, but not sappy, as there are a few surprises along the way for the reader.
This was a nice "in-between other reads" type of novel. The cover art is wonderful as well.
A lonely, bitter 83 year woman who has lost both her husband and her son, slowly makes friends with a mouse she finds underneath a box of trash. In the course of which she must reach out to people in her community. Not easy, because she's spent the last few years avoiding people in general. A sweet read, but not sappy, as there are a few surprises along the way for the reader.
This was a nice "in-between other reads" type of novel. The cover art is wonderful as well.
December 23, 2025
A sadly sweet story about a very unlikely friendship. That last line 🥹 RTC
He has me, I'm alone, too.
He has me, I'm alone, too.
April 20, 2024
Helen Cartwright lived and worked in Australia for decades. Now in her 80s, and following the deaths of her husband and son, she has returned to the village where she grew up and is waiting to die. One day she drags home a discarded fish tank and discovers that a mouse is living inside. Helen apparently does not realize that, when it comes to stray animals, if you feed it it’s yours.
This book had its touching moments. Important details of Helen’s past were nicely withheld until the surprising reveal. I liked the way that the presence of the mouse named Sipsworth brought Helen into contact with villagers who eased her loneliness and enriched her life. I definitely related to the example of how caring for an animal can relieve other pressures in your life. I did not buy the premise that an intelligent adult would ever entertain the notion that an animal shelter would accept mice. I also thought that the story was a little too twee. However, I liked Helen and the book held my interest.
I received a free copy of this audiobook from the publisher.
This book had its touching moments. Important details of Helen’s past were nicely withheld until the surprising reveal. I liked the way that the presence of the mouse named Sipsworth brought Helen into contact with villagers who eased her loneliness and enriched her life. I definitely related to the example of how caring for an animal can relieve other pressures in your life. I did not buy the premise that an intelligent adult would ever entertain the notion that an animal shelter would accept mice. I also thought that the story was a little too twee. However, I liked Helen and the book held my interest.
I received a free copy of this audiobook from the publisher.
February 23, 2025
Octogenarian Helen Cartwright lived in Australia for six decades with her husband and son. After their deaths, she returned to the English village of Westminster Cresent, where she grew up.
Living alone, doing the same things day after day, Helen is simply waiting for death to take her, too. Then, on a cool autumn evening, she sees an abandoned pet mouse outside, sparking her immediate interest...
Sipsworth is my first Simon Van Booy book. It is about aging, loneliness, unexpected kindness, and friendship. It shows how we make assumptions about others based on their appearance and how life provides surprises if we look beyond what awaits us.
Christine Rendel narrates the 5H 10M audiobook, bringing the story and characters to life. I adored Helen and her little buddy, Sipsworth!
Sipsworth was the perfect respite between the heavier, longer reads and one I enjoyed. I look forward to reading more from this bestselling author. 3.75⭐
Living alone, doing the same things day after day, Helen is simply waiting for death to take her, too. Then, on a cool autumn evening, she sees an abandoned pet mouse outside, sparking her immediate interest...
Sipsworth is my first Simon Van Booy book. It is about aging, loneliness, unexpected kindness, and friendship. It shows how we make assumptions about others based on their appearance and how life provides surprises if we look beyond what awaits us.
Christine Rendel narrates the 5H 10M audiobook, bringing the story and characters to life. I adored Helen and her little buddy, Sipsworth!
Sipsworth was the perfect respite between the heavier, longer reads and one I enjoyed. I look forward to reading more from this bestselling author. 3.75⭐
February 3, 2025
Lovely little feel-good story. If I had read on a Kindle, I would have highlighted these two brief passages. If you are an older person or are a caregiver for an older person, perhaps these may resonate with you as well.
“And herein lies the cruel paradox of human existence -not that you die, but that all happiness eventually turns against you.”
‘The only real proof of her advanced age are a chronic, persistent feeling of defeat, aching limbs, and the power of invisibility to anyone between the ages of ten and fifty.”
“And herein lies the cruel paradox of human existence -not that you die, but that all happiness eventually turns against you.”
‘The only real proof of her advanced age are a chronic, persistent feeling of defeat, aching limbs, and the power of invisibility to anyone between the ages of ten and fifty.”
September 30, 2025
Doesn't a book that you don't want to end deserve 5-stars? If this book is any indication, I'm going to be reading a lot of this author who had not been on my radar until he was announced as a Booktopia author.
This is a lovely story about a woman who moves back "home" to England after 30 years in Australia. Who she is and what she is about is revealed at the pace of a canoe traveling down a shallow river. You don't get anywhere very quickly, but oh, the scenery is breathtaking.
There are so many little twists. The farther I got into the book the warmer I felt about the world I was experiencing in this slim volume.
Don't rush through it. Savor it, like a very fine wine.
Thank you to Edelweiss and David R. Godine, Publisher for the advance reader's copy.
This is a lovely story about a woman who moves back "home" to England after 30 years in Australia. Who she is and what she is about is revealed at the pace of a canoe traveling down a shallow river. You don't get anywhere very quickly, but oh, the scenery is breathtaking.
There are so many little twists. The farther I got into the book the warmer I felt about the world I was experiencing in this slim volume.
Don't rush through it. Savor it, like a very fine wine.
Thank you to Edelweiss and David R. Godine, Publisher for the advance reader's copy.
June 25, 2024
3.5⭐️
🚩 red flag warning on the GR book summary. It gives too much away while also being inaccurate. I can’t fix it without dropping a spoiler, so either go in blind or read reviews rather than the summary.
The book itself nibbled at being in the same league as A Man Called Ove and How the Penguins Saved Veronica, but fell a few crumbs short for me. The first half reads more like a daily log of Helen’s activities. Maybe that’s intentional to emphasize her humdrum and isolated existence? But I couldn’t easily get endeared to a character through their eating, bathing and tv viewing habits.
Am I bad person alert??? I 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 to 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 to be the kind of person who would become a mouse’s guardian angel 😇. But in reality, if I find a mouse in my house, I scream my head off 😱 then call the exterminator ☠️.
Everyone but me is calling this book “heartwarming” so maybe my heart warms differently. I found it a sad glimpse into the frequently lonely and oft-dismissed lives of the elderly.
🚩 red flag warning on the GR book summary. It gives too much away while also being inaccurate. I can’t fix it without dropping a spoiler, so either go in blind or read reviews rather than the summary.
The book itself nibbled at being in the same league as A Man Called Ove and How the Penguins Saved Veronica, but fell a few crumbs short for me. The first half reads more like a daily log of Helen’s activities. Maybe that’s intentional to emphasize her humdrum and isolated existence? But I couldn’t easily get endeared to a character through their eating, bathing and tv viewing habits.
Am I bad person alert??? I 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 to 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 to be the kind of person who would become a mouse’s guardian angel 😇. But in reality, if I find a mouse in my house, I scream my head off 😱 then call the exterminator ☠️.
Everyone but me is calling this book “heartwarming” so maybe my heart warms differently. I found it a sad glimpse into the frequently lonely and oft-dismissed lives of the elderly.
March 22, 2025
Sipsworth by Simon Van Body reminds me of myself and my grand. We are always befriending a critter or two. Dogs, cats, lizards, snakes, mice, ect. As I get older I appreciate all living things more. After losing my sweet boy a week ago to a terrible accident I feel the loneliness Helen Cartwright feels in this sweet novel. This pet mouse finds Helen at a very lonely time in her life, her son and husband have died. As Helen cares for her pet mouse, Sipsworth becomes ill. Once nursed to back to health, Helen becomes ill. But where did Sipsworth go? Sweet memories in the end all we have.
June 15, 2024
I was very taken with this book about a woman and a mouse. As the story moves on, we get to see that this is not some old woman waiting to die — she’s a full person, still capable of life and activity. She makes friends with a mouse, and their relationship, and the relationships the woman forms with other people, are truly touching. Sipsworth is a truly enjoyable and lovely book. I definitely recommend reading this novel.
4.5 stars
4.5 stars
May 9, 2025
Okay, this one is... kinda weird, but in a sweet, slow, cozy way. I didn’t totally know what I was getting into, but it’s basically about a quiet woman and this tiny, almost invisible life she’s built. And then she makes this weird, heartwarming connection with a mouse.
At first I wasn’t sure how to feel. The writing is beautiful, like, truly stunning in parts. But it’s very slow and soft and you kinda have to be in the right mindset for it. Some chapters felt like reading a poem.
There were parts that stuck with me though. Like: “The small things we save are often the things that saved us first.” That line hit me hard for some reason. The story does this subtle thing where you start to realize how lonely she is, and then how a tiny bit of kindness or connection can shift everything.
That being said, it wasn’t something I devoured or felt totally invested in. I appreciated it, and I liked the quiet message it carried, but it didn’t completely grab me. Still, I’m glad I read it!
At first I wasn’t sure how to feel. The writing is beautiful, like, truly stunning in parts. But it’s very slow and soft and you kinda have to be in the right mindset for it. Some chapters felt like reading a poem.
There were parts that stuck with me though. Like: “The small things we save are often the things that saved us first.” That line hit me hard for some reason. The story does this subtle thing where you start to realize how lonely she is, and then how a tiny bit of kindness or connection can shift everything.
That being said, it wasn’t something I devoured or felt totally invested in. I appreciated it, and I liked the quiet message it carried, but it didn’t completely grab me. Still, I’m glad I read it!
July 28, 2024
I received a copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review as part of the book tour hosted by Random Things Tours.
Sipsworth is one of the most adorable, heartfelt, and beautiful books I have ever read. I felt so many emotions reading this and flew through it on one sitting.
Helen Cartwright has returned to the UK following the deaths of both her husband and son and has returned to her hometown to love out the last of her days. Helen goes through the motions daily and hopes her life will be over soon. That is until a chance encounter with a mouse...
The connection between these unlikely friends is just adorable. I loved how Helen rescued Sipsworth the mouse, and he rescued her right back. Helen found herself surrounded by new wonderful friends, and this touched my heart. I don't want to say too much as I don't want to ruin the book for anyone else, but this is certainly a book that makes you think about life, laugh, cry and even has your heart pounding at one point. When I finished the book (at 4am) I sat and just hugged it for the longest time - that's how beautiful and heart melting this story was.
Sipsworth is one of the most adorable, heartfelt, and beautiful books I have ever read. I felt so many emotions reading this and flew through it on one sitting.
Helen Cartwright has returned to the UK following the deaths of both her husband and son and has returned to her hometown to love out the last of her days. Helen goes through the motions daily and hopes her life will be over soon. That is until a chance encounter with a mouse...
The connection between these unlikely friends is just adorable. I loved how Helen rescued Sipsworth the mouse, and he rescued her right back. Helen found herself surrounded by new wonderful friends, and this touched my heart. I don't want to say too much as I don't want to ruin the book for anyone else, but this is certainly a book that makes you think about life, laugh, cry and even has your heart pounding at one point. When I finished the book (at 4am) I sat and just hugged it for the longest time - that's how beautiful and heart melting this story was.
June 7, 2024
4 stars
A charming little book about second chances.
An octogenarian is resigned to everyday life, just waiting for her final moments, until something - or should I say someone - comes into her life. Sipsworth brings renewal - a second chance for them both.
Great story of renewal - a new reason for being. Wonderful characters that you like from their first appearance. An unlikely story, but one with such charm that you embrace it and cheer it on to the very end. The end, which is also surprisingly good.
I believe my first Van Booy book, but definitely not my last.
A charming little book about second chances.
An octogenarian is resigned to everyday life, just waiting for her final moments, until something - or should I say someone - comes into her life. Sipsworth brings renewal - a second chance for them both.
Great story of renewal - a new reason for being. Wonderful characters that you like from their first appearance. An unlikely story, but one with such charm that you embrace it and cheer it on to the very end. The end, which is also surprisingly good.
I believe my first Van Booy book, but definitely not my last.
May 18, 2024
Excellent.
October 12, 2025
A short but uplifting story about how a very small thing can cure someone's debilitating loneliness and lift us out of grief long enough to connect with others.
December 7, 2024
Well! I absolutely loved this!
Helen is living back in England after spending her adult years in Australia. Really she’s come back home to die and spends every day waiting for it to happen. Although she’d never admit it, she’s very lonely and is measuring her life in hot baths and cups of tea. She has become less than herself, effectively unseen by those around her. Then, into her life comes Sipsworth, a little mouse, and her life takes an upward turn. Helen’s achievements in life are exposed and what a surprise that is. She’s forced to make contact with other people and realises how much she has missed that.
Yes, I know this sounds terribly twee and perhaps it is but honestly, it’s such a lovely story. It made me laugh many times and some of the turns of phrase are delightful. I won’t be parting with this book. I will definitely read it again if ever my heart is in need of warming. A straight 5 stars from me.
Helen is living back in England after spending her adult years in Australia. Really she’s come back home to die and spends every day waiting for it to happen. Although she’d never admit it, she’s very lonely and is measuring her life in hot baths and cups of tea. She has become less than herself, effectively unseen by those around her. Then, into her life comes Sipsworth, a little mouse, and her life takes an upward turn. Helen’s achievements in life are exposed and what a surprise that is. She’s forced to make contact with other people and realises how much she has missed that.
Yes, I know this sounds terribly twee and perhaps it is but honestly, it’s such a lovely story. It made me laugh many times and some of the turns of phrase are delightful. I won’t be parting with this book. I will definitely read it again if ever my heart is in need of warming. A straight 5 stars from me.
May 27, 2024
4.5 stars. Over the course of two weeks in a small English town, a reclusive widow discovers an unexpected reason to live. This short novel packs a big punch. I am a huge fan of stories about the importance of community and our need for connection, and Sipsworth is one of the best that I have read in a long while. For fans of tales about found family and stories that are uplifting.
This is one of my 2024 Summer Reading Guide Preview selections. Check out the preview for more great summer reads: https://www.thoughtsfromapage.com/blo....
This is one of my 2024 Summer Reading Guide Preview selections. Check out the preview for more great summer reads: https://www.thoughtsfromapage.com/blo....
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