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The Notekeeper
Listening Length 13 hours and 5 minutes
Following a tragedy, Zoe flees Australia and makes a life for herself in the UK. Now working as a care nurse in The Oaks hospice, and knowing just how much comfort last words can bring, Zoe has taken it upon herself to become a notekeeper – writing down the final thoughts of her patients and delivering them to their loved ones.
Zoe’s new boss, Ben, isn't happy about her getting so involved in the residents’ lives. But even as the two clash, they discover they have more in common than either could have ever imagined.
As Zoe learns to confront her past and her own grief, her heart can finally begin to mend. With the broken pieces slowly becoming whole, will she cope when her world is shattered once more?
A captivating, moving story that will make you laugh and cry, perfect for fans of Jojo Moyes, Dani Atkins and Libby Page.
Following a tragedy, Zoe flees Australia and makes a life for herself in the UK. Now working as a care nurse in The Oaks hospice, and knowing just how much comfort last words can bring, Zoe has taken it upon herself to become a notekeeper – writing down the final thoughts of her patients and delivering them to their loved ones.
Zoe’s new boss, Ben, isn't happy about her getting so involved in the residents’ lives. But even as the two clash, they discover they have more in common than either could have ever imagined.
As Zoe learns to confront her past and her own grief, her heart can finally begin to mend. With the broken pieces slowly becoming whole, will she cope when her world is shattered once more?
A captivating, moving story that will make you laugh and cry, perfect for fans of Jojo Moyes, Dani Atkins and Libby Page.
14 pages, Audible Audio
First published January 12, 2023
78 people are currently reading
747 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 214 reviews
February 23, 2023
In a Nutshell: Minor focus on the notes, major focus on the notekeeper’s personal life. Has some good moments and ought to click with the right reader. Will work better if read with the heart and not the head. This was not my kind of book (unlike what I had assumed), so I’ll be somewhat lenient.
Story Synopsis:
Where the book worked for me:
😍 The prologue is excellent and set the right tone for the book. (Too bad it didn’t continue that way.)
😍 There are plenty of UK and Australian locales explored through the scenes. I enjoyed the vividness with which these scenes were written. The places appeared stunning even to those who might not have seen them in real life.
😍 It does offer a good message about living in the moment and not letting life go by with unresolved grudges.
😍 Such a pretty cover with one of my favourite shades of blue in the background!
Where the book left me with mixed feelings:
😐 Zoe is supposed to be in her mid-forties, but she is penned more like someone in her twenties. (No offence to that age group; I am just talking of the character’s voice.) Her constant “giggling” got on my grumpy nerves.
😐 I loved *almost* everything connected to the notes: how they provided closure, how they ranged from emotional to funny, how they were written for and delivered to varied people (and ‘non-people’),… The process fit in well with the key idea of the book, and made sense with Zoe’s personality and situation. However, I didn’t like how Zoe read the notes aloud to the intended recipient. Even if she had written them, surely the right thing would have been for her to hand them over to the person and allow them to read the same.
😐 Ben having a twin was a novel experience. I haven’t read many women’s fiction novels where the male lead has a twin sister. Their rapport was excellent. But during some crucial scenes near the end, she gets totally side-lined. It was implausible! (Something Zoe did during these scenes also BUGGED me, but as that is a major spoiler, I can’t go into more details.)
😐 While the ending was too convenient, it was the right level of hopeful and bittersweet.
Where the book could have worked better for me:
☹ The character development is quite ad hoc. People are angry, people patch up, again they are crabby, again they are lovey-dovey. Many scenes proceed mainly by virtue of the character’s mood swings. This is not the writing I expect from established authors.
☹ For a book where three main characters work as nurses in the hospice care facility, there is surprisingly little about the actual care. Most of the “working hours” are depicted with the characters chatting with each other and passing remarks on various people. There are even offensive remarks about a staff member’s rumpled appearance. I would have preferred a more detailed insight into what goes into a nurse’s work balanced with the lighter side.
☹ While Zoe’s role as a nurse is good, she still is intrusive at times. She is perceived to be a professional superstar, but her domineering nature overpowered her niceties. Moreover, she is highly judgemental and interfering in her personal life. As she was our central character, I tried my best to like her more, but after every few pages, she did something that pushed her down my esteem once again. Most importantly, she spoke of closure and forgiveness to her hospice patients, but she herself didn’t follow the same with David. Her treatment of David was horrible, and I can’t believe the story clearly expected us to side with Zoe after how she behaved with him. It was totally unconvincing.
☹ I had assumed this to be an emotionally impactful drama with a focus on handling grief and finding joy in life again. The book does have that, but these elements are overshadowed by the romance. I wanted more focus on the notekeeper’s professional life than her personal upheavals.
☹ There is a supposed ‘twist’ in the situation of two of the key characters, but there are so many blatant clues to this that most readers will see it coming as clearly as an elephant in the savannah; there’s just no subtlety to the hints. (Keep in mind that I was listening to this at 2x speed and I still caught a multitude of these hints. If I had been reading this, I would have been more annoyed at how obvious the writing was.)
The audiobook experience:
The audiobook, clocking at a little more than 13 hours, is narrated by Sofia Zervudachi. She was amazing, proving the right voices and emotions to all scenes. If this is your kind of book, and you are an audiobook reader, then you can certainly opt for the audio version of this one. Newbie audiobook listeners might also like to try this on audio as the narration is quite straightforward, with a single timeline and limited characters ensuring no confusion if you are not used to this format.
I don’t mind stories being formulaic; that is to be expected in this genre. But I do prefer them to have a greater emotional impact rather than proving only a surface-level exploration of feelings. Relatable, likeable characters would have been a bonus.
I can see how this book might be a tearjerker for a few readers. I'm anyway not much of a crier while reading - it takes a lot to get me going the ‘sniffly’ way, especially for predictable books. But if you are someone who loves romance novels, who always keeps tissues at hand while reading women’s fiction, and are okay with straightforward, somewhat schmaltzy stories, you will enjoy this far more than I did.
2.5 stars, rounding up for the excellent narration and for the fact that I was the wrong reader for this book.
My thanks to Bolinda Audio and NetGalley for the ALC of “The Notekeeper”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the audiobook.
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
Story Synopsis:
After losing her young son in an accident two years ago, Zoe fled her hometown of Sydney, Australia without informing anyone (not even her husband David) and arrived in the UK to forget her grief. Currently working as a hospice nurse, Zoe is also an unofficial ‘notekeeper’, helping patients to write final notes to their loved ones. Her new boss, Ben, isn’t happy about her getting personally involved in her patients’ lives. However, the two of them have more in common than they realised. Just as things seem bright again, grief looms around the corner.
The story is written in the third person limited perspective of Zoe.
Where the book worked for me:
😍 The prologue is excellent and set the right tone for the book. (Too bad it didn’t continue that way.)
😍 There are plenty of UK and Australian locales explored through the scenes. I enjoyed the vividness with which these scenes were written. The places appeared stunning even to those who might not have seen them in real life.
😍 It does offer a good message about living in the moment and not letting life go by with unresolved grudges.
😍 Such a pretty cover with one of my favourite shades of blue in the background!
Where the book left me with mixed feelings:
😐 Zoe is supposed to be in her mid-forties, but she is penned more like someone in her twenties. (No offence to that age group; I am just talking of the character’s voice.) Her constant “giggling” got on my grumpy nerves.
😐 I loved *almost* everything connected to the notes: how they provided closure, how they ranged from emotional to funny, how they were written for and delivered to varied people (and ‘non-people’),… The process fit in well with the key idea of the book, and made sense with Zoe’s personality and situation. However, I didn’t like how Zoe read the notes aloud to the intended recipient. Even if she had written them, surely the right thing would have been for her to hand them over to the person and allow them to read the same.
😐 Ben having a twin was a novel experience. I haven’t read many women’s fiction novels where the male lead has a twin sister. Their rapport was excellent. But during some crucial scenes near the end, she gets totally side-lined. It was implausible! (Something Zoe did during these scenes also BUGGED me, but as that is a major spoiler, I can’t go into more details.)
😐 While the ending was too convenient, it was the right level of hopeful and bittersweet.
Where the book could have worked better for me:
☹ The character development is quite ad hoc. People are angry, people patch up, again they are crabby, again they are lovey-dovey. Many scenes proceed mainly by virtue of the character’s mood swings. This is not the writing I expect from established authors.
☹ For a book where three main characters work as nurses in the hospice care facility, there is surprisingly little about the actual care. Most of the “working hours” are depicted with the characters chatting with each other and passing remarks on various people. There are even offensive remarks about a staff member’s rumpled appearance. I would have preferred a more detailed insight into what goes into a nurse’s work balanced with the lighter side.
☹ While Zoe’s role as a nurse is good, she still is intrusive at times. She is perceived to be a professional superstar, but her domineering nature overpowered her niceties. Moreover, she is highly judgemental and interfering in her personal life. As she was our central character, I tried my best to like her more, but after every few pages, she did something that pushed her down my esteem once again. Most importantly, she spoke of closure and forgiveness to her hospice patients, but she herself didn’t follow the same with David. Her treatment of David was horrible, and I can’t believe the story clearly expected us to side with Zoe after how she behaved with him. It was totally unconvincing.
☹ I had assumed this to be an emotionally impactful drama with a focus on handling grief and finding joy in life again. The book does have that, but these elements are overshadowed by the romance. I wanted more focus on the notekeeper’s professional life than her personal upheavals.
☹ There is a supposed ‘twist’ in the situation of two of the key characters, but there are so many blatant clues to this that most readers will see it coming as clearly as an elephant in the savannah; there’s just no subtlety to the hints. (Keep in mind that I was listening to this at 2x speed and I still caught a multitude of these hints. If I had been reading this, I would have been more annoyed at how obvious the writing was.)
The audiobook experience:
The audiobook, clocking at a little more than 13 hours, is narrated by Sofia Zervudachi. She was amazing, proving the right voices and emotions to all scenes. If this is your kind of book, and you are an audiobook reader, then you can certainly opt for the audio version of this one. Newbie audiobook listeners might also like to try this on audio as the narration is quite straightforward, with a single timeline and limited characters ensuring no confusion if you are not used to this format.
I don’t mind stories being formulaic; that is to be expected in this genre. But I do prefer them to have a greater emotional impact rather than proving only a surface-level exploration of feelings. Relatable, likeable characters would have been a bonus.
I can see how this book might be a tearjerker for a few readers. I'm anyway not much of a crier while reading - it takes a lot to get me going the ‘sniffly’ way, especially for predictable books. But if you are someone who loves romance novels, who always keeps tissues at hand while reading women’s fiction, and are okay with straightforward, somewhat schmaltzy stories, you will enjoy this far more than I did.
2.5 stars, rounding up for the excellent narration and for the fact that I was the wrong reader for this book.
My thanks to Bolinda Audio and NetGalley for the ALC of “The Notekeeper”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the audiobook.
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
January 17, 2023
OMG.
This was absolutely wonderful.
This is in no way cute and fluffy. I can tell you it is one of the most uplifting and life-affiorming books I have ever read.
The subject matter is extremely painful to read about, as following a nurse, Zoe, who works in a hospice caring for people in the end stages of their life.
How can a book that is ultimately about death be so uplifting?
The most wonderful part of this book stems from the title. Zoe takes down the last words of her patients, as they make peace with their life decisions. Zoe's reasons for doing this become clear fairly early, and I won't spoil it. But that reason had a profound effect on me. After reading it one night before I went to sleep, I woke up consumed by the pain I felt.
The characters are truly quite special. Zoe has her own past to confront and goes on a journey of her own through the book.
There's a lot of great humour through the book to balance the sadness.
I laughed, I cried (so much) and I couldn't stop reading it. I thought about it all the time, and I still find myself thinking about it now, days after finishing.
Poignant and memorable, this is one not to be missed.
This was absolutely wonderful.
This is in no way cute and fluffy. I can tell you it is one of the most uplifting and life-affiorming books I have ever read.
The subject matter is extremely painful to read about, as following a nurse, Zoe, who works in a hospice caring for people in the end stages of their life.
How can a book that is ultimately about death be so uplifting?
The most wonderful part of this book stems from the title. Zoe takes down the last words of her patients, as they make peace with their life decisions. Zoe's reasons for doing this become clear fairly early, and I won't spoil it. But that reason had a profound effect on me. After reading it one night before I went to sleep, I woke up consumed by the pain I felt.
The characters are truly quite special. Zoe has her own past to confront and goes on a journey of her own through the book.
There's a lot of great humour through the book to balance the sadness.
I laughed, I cried (so much) and I couldn't stop reading it. I thought about it all the time, and I still find myself thinking about it now, days after finishing.
Poignant and memorable, this is one not to be missed.
September 4, 2024
Un libro que he disfrutado muchísimo,es duro porque trata temas que aunque pasan cada día pues son dolorosos.Al terminarlo no me ha quedado sólo tristeza,si no esperanza,ya que por mucho que sufras, siempre hay esperanza de superarlo.Si lo lees tendrá más sentido lo que he escrito
May 5, 2024
Emotional, tender and uplifting all at once, The Notekeeper is a beautifully written story about death and loss but also new beginnings. I really enjoyed it and will be looking to read more from Hannah Treave.
July 12, 2025
6⭐️
Heartfelt, Moving, and Unforgettable
The Notekeeper by Hannah Treave is a beautifully written and emotionally resonant novel that truly touched my heart. The story follows Zoe, a hospice nurse who delivers final messages from patients to their loved ones, a premise that is both heartbreaking and deeply life affirming.
Treave’s writing is warm and empathetic, and she masterfully weaves themes of grief, forgiveness, and healing throughout the narrative. The characters felt real and complex, especially Zoe, whose own emotional journey added a powerful depth to the story.
I laughed, I cried, and after finishing the book, I felt a little more hopeful about the world. If you enjoy character driven stories with emotional weight and a touch of redemption, the Notekeeper is absolutely worth reading.
Heartfelt, Moving, and Unforgettable
The Notekeeper by Hannah Treave is a beautifully written and emotionally resonant novel that truly touched my heart. The story follows Zoe, a hospice nurse who delivers final messages from patients to their loved ones, a premise that is both heartbreaking and deeply life affirming.
Treave’s writing is warm and empathetic, and she masterfully weaves themes of grief, forgiveness, and healing throughout the narrative. The characters felt real and complex, especially Zoe, whose own emotional journey added a powerful depth to the story.
I laughed, I cried, and after finishing the book, I felt a little more hopeful about the world. If you enjoy character driven stories with emotional weight and a touch of redemption, the Notekeeper is absolutely worth reading.
January 22, 2023
Both a gut-wrenching and illuminating reading experience that invites readers into a heartrending story of life, love, death, grief and new beginnings. It’s not an easy read — but ultimately hopeful.
Treave’s writing is masterful and awe-inspiring. The portrayal of the entire cast of characters is well-developed and fleshed-out adding depth and quality that leaves a lasting impression.
Reading this exceptional story was such an affecting and special experience – one that I won’t soon forget.
January 18, 2023
This is a hard hitting book, it gets you right where you don't want anyone to go. It will make you cry. And it's the first book in a while, to end in both a happy ending, but also, a sad heartbreaking one.
Zoe moves from her Australian home suddenly. Ups and leaves, and starts a new life working as a nurse in a hospice across the pond.
We slowly learn why she couldn't live her life in Oz anymore, and it's a really sad story she's keeping all to herself.
It's one of those stories where you see the MC finally finding their feet , finding their way in life - but can feel the dread between the pages that something bad is about to happen again.
It's such a lot of sadness to take in one book, but with some hidden gems of happy moments and some beautiful positive messages it does balance it all out.
And just like that, when you think it's all Ok, just like life itself, the sadness returns and breaks hearts.
A little bit too sad for my usual taste, but beautiful writing.
I'd be so very happy if Nurses were really like Zoe Evans. A woman of pure heart ❤️ .
Zoe moves from her Australian home suddenly. Ups and leaves, and starts a new life working as a nurse in a hospice across the pond.
We slowly learn why she couldn't live her life in Oz anymore, and it's a really sad story she's keeping all to herself.
It's one of those stories where you see the MC finally finding their feet , finding their way in life - but can feel the dread between the pages that something bad is about to happen again.
It's such a lot of sadness to take in one book, but with some hidden gems of happy moments and some beautiful positive messages it does balance it all out.
And just like that, when you think it's all Ok, just like life itself, the sadness returns and breaks hearts.
A little bit too sad for my usual taste, but beautiful writing.
I'd be so very happy if Nurses were really like Zoe Evans. A woman of pure heart ❤️ .
January 25, 2023
3.5 rounded down
This book started off so well. I felt all of the emotion and loved Zoe's role in passing final messages to loved ones. I thought it was such a lovely thing to do and the fact that each persons story was unique made it all the more special. I even enjoyed the initial crosswords between Zoe and Ben. I liked that they were both fiery and clearly had their own reasons for acting how they did.
Unfortunately for me the book quickly slid downhill. Without spoiling it for anyone I found the storyline between Ben and Zoe fall into the predictability category. I had foreseen all that was going to happen even the ending which took away some of the enjoyment for me.
I felt this book would have been better without the romance element. I would have liked more time with characters such as Ricky and Mrs Harper, as well as the letters Ben delivered. These were the golden moments for me that filled me with so much emotion.
Overall it was a good read but it didn't live up to my expectation.
This book started off so well. I felt all of the emotion and loved Zoe's role in passing final messages to loved ones. I thought it was such a lovely thing to do and the fact that each persons story was unique made it all the more special. I even enjoyed the initial crosswords between Zoe and Ben. I liked that they were both fiery and clearly had their own reasons for acting how they did.
Unfortunately for me the book quickly slid downhill. Without spoiling it for anyone I found the storyline between Ben and Zoe fall into the predictability category. I had foreseen all that was going to happen even the ending which took away some of the enjoyment for me.
I felt this book would have been better without the romance element. I would have liked more time with characters such as Ricky and Mrs Harper, as well as the letters Ben delivered. These were the golden moments for me that filled me with so much emotion.
Overall it was a good read but it didn't live up to my expectation.
March 14, 2023
Zoe suffers much tragedy before she flees her homeland, Australia, and runs to the UK. Working as a nurse at The Oaks hospice, she sets out to ensure all her patients have their last say before leaving the world - because she knows, first hand, how much last words can mean to, not only the patients, but to their loved ones as well.
The hospice has acquired new owners and a troubleshooter is brought in to fix the management issues within. Ben Tasker is not happy with the way Zoe is so involved in her patients lives. Claiming that her notes could be legally detrimenal to the company, he puts a stop to them.
But as the two clash heads more often than not, Zoe and Ben start to develop a feeling for each other. Zoe helps Ben let loose and Ben helps Zoe come to terms with her past. Hopefully it is enough to get her through the tradgey that shatters her world once more.
My thoughts:
Oh. My. Soul. I don't think I'll every recover from this book. So much pain and grief, not just with the main characters but the entire hospice environment as well. I loved Zoe's journey to find herself again, to realise that instead of being stuck she could actually live for the people she has lost. Ben really annoyed me at first. I didn't like his asshole moments, but once he revealed his true self, he became such an outstanding person. I loved the side characters, especially Candice and Mike! The story was wonderfully written and so intense. This was an utterly gut-wrenching read and I totally sobbed over the last few chapters.
The hospice has acquired new owners and a troubleshooter is brought in to fix the management issues within. Ben Tasker is not happy with the way Zoe is so involved in her patients lives. Claiming that her notes could be legally detrimenal to the company, he puts a stop to them.
But as the two clash heads more often than not, Zoe and Ben start to develop a feeling for each other. Zoe helps Ben let loose and Ben helps Zoe come to terms with her past. Hopefully it is enough to get her through the tradgey that shatters her world once more.
My thoughts:
Oh. My. Soul. I don't think I'll every recover from this book. So much pain and grief, not just with the main characters but the entire hospice environment as well. I loved Zoe's journey to find herself again, to realise that instead of being stuck she could actually live for the people she has lost. Ben really annoyed me at first. I didn't like his asshole moments, but once he revealed his true self, he became such an outstanding person. I loved the side characters, especially Candice and Mike! The story was wonderfully written and so intense. This was an utterly gut-wrenching read and I totally sobbed over the last few chapters.
June 30, 2025
Si quieres llorar, leete este libro que es cortito.
January 11, 2025
Reseña completa en el blog Letras, Libros y Más próximamente
No os voy a mentir, el libro me ha gustado, sin embargo, tiene muchas cosas que no me han convencido y por ello no he podido disfrutarlo como dios manda.
Esperaba una historia dramática, pero es que este libro tiene otro nivel, todo lo malo que puede pasar se multiplica por 100 y encima todo sucede súper rápido. Así que tenemos una historia con drama, segundas oportunidades, romance, familia, amistad, crecimiento personal, esperanzas y sueños, un cóctel que a cualquier lector puede enamorar. No obstante, todo sucede de manera precipitada así que hay muchas cosas que no te puedes creer, también hay drama por doquier y la protagonista puede sacarte un poco de tus casillas así que aunque la historia es bonita y la trama es interesante y te mantiene bastante pegada a sus páginas no he llegado ni a conectar ni a sentir nada, me ha dejado un poco fría.
Drama, emociones, sentimientos y amor.
No os voy a mentir, el libro me ha gustado, sin embargo, tiene muchas cosas que no me han convencido y por ello no he podido disfrutarlo como dios manda.
Esperaba una historia dramática, pero es que este libro tiene otro nivel, todo lo malo que puede pasar se multiplica por 100 y encima todo sucede súper rápido. Así que tenemos una historia con drama, segundas oportunidades, romance, familia, amistad, crecimiento personal, esperanzas y sueños, un cóctel que a cualquier lector puede enamorar. No obstante, todo sucede de manera precipitada así que hay muchas cosas que no te puedes creer, también hay drama por doquier y la protagonista puede sacarte un poco de tus casillas así que aunque la historia es bonita y la trama es interesante y te mantiene bastante pegada a sus páginas no he llegado ni a conectar ni a sentir nada, me ha dejado un poco fría.
Drama, emociones, sentimientos y amor.
January 9, 2023
Oh my gosh this book should have come with a tissues for the amount of tears I shed ! This book completely pulled on my heart strings , it had me on a complete rollercoaster of emotions.
The main character of Zoe is so easy to love , she has everything that you could want in a main character, she is relatable and you absolutely find yourself rooting for her. The book is beautifully written , it flows with grace throughout the story , taking you on the journey. Definitely a book I would recommend.
The main character of Zoe is so easy to love , she has everything that you could want in a main character, she is relatable and you absolutely find yourself rooting for her. The book is beautifully written , it flows with grace throughout the story , taking you on the journey. Definitely a book I would recommend.
February 9, 2023
Narrated by Sofia Zervudachi
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Fantastic voice and did a great job with all the characters
Story by Hannah Treave ⭐⭐⭐
The premise of this book is really lovely. I wish it focused more on the notes and less on the relationship between Ben and Zoe as he was an absolute dick. No matter how hard I tried I just couldn't take to him and didn't buy into the relationship between the two.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Fantastic voice and did a great job with all the characters
Story by Hannah Treave ⭐⭐⭐
The premise of this book is really lovely. I wish it focused more on the notes and less on the relationship between Ben and Zoe as he was an absolute dick. No matter how hard I tried I just couldn't take to him and didn't buy into the relationship between the two.
March 12, 2023
What a unique heart breaking premise for a book.
Zoe is a nurse in a hospice who prides herself on taking notes for those close to dying on anything they would like to say to those left behind. She knows what it is like to not only experience such horrific loss but receive a note of that person's final thoughts and she wants to share that feeling with the world.
After losing someone so dear to her, Zoe leaves Australia and her family behind, in a spur of the movement decision, she packs a bag, goes to the airport and buys a ticket to the UK.
2 years later she is a senior nurse and said hospice and meets Ben, part of the team to 'merge' hospices.
This story was so beautiful and heart breaking in the same breath. Incredible fast paced read!!
Deals with alot of death and grief so if those are triggers for you just be aware ❤️
Zoe is a nurse in a hospice who prides herself on taking notes for those close to dying on anything they would like to say to those left behind. She knows what it is like to not only experience such horrific loss but receive a note of that person's final thoughts and she wants to share that feeling with the world.
After losing someone so dear to her, Zoe leaves Australia and her family behind, in a spur of the movement decision, she packs a bag, goes to the airport and buys a ticket to the UK.
2 years later she is a senior nurse and said hospice and meets Ben, part of the team to 'merge' hospices.
This story was so beautiful and heart breaking in the same breath. Incredible fast paced read!!
Deals with alot of death and grief so if those are triggers for you just be aware ❤️
January 8, 2023
Zoe Evans is a 44 year old nurse working in an English hospice. She’s very devoted to her work and it soon becomes clear that work is all her life.
Zoe fled Australia in a hurry two years ago and now she is trying to rebuild her life.
She realises the importance of the ‘last words’ from her patients to their loved ones, so she offers a service where she takes notes and passes them on to patient’s family upon their death.
Zoe’s new boss, Ben Tasker, is so unhappy with her notekeeping that he bans her from doing it. What are his reasons? Will that make Zoe stop?
I loved this book from start to finish.
It was so poignant, beautiful – I had tears in my eyes on numerous occasions.
Zoe’s past was so heart-breaking, the note she kept carrying was utterly devastating, yet it kept bringing her comfort over and over again. She was such a special person, nursing wasn’t her profession, but a vocation, a calling.
I loved the characters portrayed in this book. My favourite was Mrs Harper who was dying of a brain tumour. Her wit and sharp tongue made me cackle a lot of times.
Working in a hospice means that death is a constant. However, despite the gruesomeness of this, this book is uplifting and full of hope.
It’s a story of loss, grief, and a change it brings.
I definitely recommend it.
Zoe fled Australia in a hurry two years ago and now she is trying to rebuild her life.
She realises the importance of the ‘last words’ from her patients to their loved ones, so she offers a service where she takes notes and passes them on to patient’s family upon their death.
Zoe’s new boss, Ben Tasker, is so unhappy with her notekeeping that he bans her from doing it. What are his reasons? Will that make Zoe stop?
I loved this book from start to finish.
It was so poignant, beautiful – I had tears in my eyes on numerous occasions.
Zoe’s past was so heart-breaking, the note she kept carrying was utterly devastating, yet it kept bringing her comfort over and over again. She was such a special person, nursing wasn’t her profession, but a vocation, a calling.
I loved the characters portrayed in this book. My favourite was Mrs Harper who was dying of a brain tumour. Her wit and sharp tongue made me cackle a lot of times.
Working in a hospice means that death is a constant. However, despite the gruesomeness of this, this book is uplifting and full of hope.
It’s a story of loss, grief, and a change it brings.
I definitely recommend it.
December 30, 2022
"And if you are a mess, it doesn't stop you deserving to be loved."
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Zoe is a thirty something hospice nurse. She wants to help people have a "good death," something that was denied to one of her family members. After that death she fled Australia to set up shop in Bath, England. She is living but has no real spark in her day to day until the hospice brings in new management. Ben immediately criticizes her and her practice of helping her patients write notes to those they are leaving behind. But she quickly begins to suspect there is something more behind Ben's brusque behavior.
Be forewarned, this one is definitely full of heavy topics. I totally agree with the comparison to Jojo Moyes Me Before You, it deals with death but has romance as well as themes of self discovery. It reminded me a lot of The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot, because death is a thing that happens to everyone not so much a thing to be feared and in that you can find a lot of solace as well as inspiration.
Thanks to Love Books Tours for the gifted copy. All opinions above are my own.
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Zoe is a thirty something hospice nurse. She wants to help people have a "good death," something that was denied to one of her family members. After that death she fled Australia to set up shop in Bath, England. She is living but has no real spark in her day to day until the hospice brings in new management. Ben immediately criticizes her and her practice of helping her patients write notes to those they are leaving behind. But she quickly begins to suspect there is something more behind Ben's brusque behavior.
Be forewarned, this one is definitely full of heavy topics. I totally agree with the comparison to Jojo Moyes Me Before You, it deals with death but has romance as well as themes of self discovery. It reminded me a lot of The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot, because death is a thing that happens to everyone not so much a thing to be feared and in that you can find a lot of solace as well as inspiration.
Thanks to Love Books Tours for the gifted copy. All opinions above are my own.
January 19, 2023
If you want a story that brings you to tears whilst also making you feel really heart warmed, this is just perfect! It touches on such emotional and heart wrenching subjects, whilst somehow still making you feel really warm and fuzzy inside!
I loved this story so much! I’m not sure if it’s my background as a carer that made me love it so much but I raced through this in a matter of days! I love Zoe and her notes, it was touching to read how much she cared and how much the notes helped. I also loved seeing Zoe grow and enjoy life again as the story went on.
Her new boss Ben comes along and really rocks the boat with her notes and I really really ✨did not✨ like him to start with. He did grow on me when he stopped being a massive idiot, but I did think he went from idiot to lovely a bit too fast for my liking, his complete personality transplant just a bit too swift 😂 but nevertheless I did really like him once he mellowed and his storyline really made me sad, for him and Zoe.
I did guess how it was going to end early on but that didn’t take away from how sad yet beautiful it was, and it really does make you think about life and what matters.
I loved this story so much! I’m not sure if it’s my background as a carer that made me love it so much but I raced through this in a matter of days! I love Zoe and her notes, it was touching to read how much she cared and how much the notes helped. I also loved seeing Zoe grow and enjoy life again as the story went on.
Her new boss Ben comes along and really rocks the boat with her notes and I really really ✨did not✨ like him to start with. He did grow on me when he stopped being a massive idiot, but I did think he went from idiot to lovely a bit too fast for my liking, his complete personality transplant just a bit too swift 😂 but nevertheless I did really like him once he mellowed and his storyline really made me sad, for him and Zoe.
I did guess how it was going to end early on but that didn’t take away from how sad yet beautiful it was, and it really does make you think about life and what matters.
December 29, 2022
A huge thanks to Canelo for my complimentary copy and all opinions expressed are entirely my own,
Oh my word! This book tore me apart , opened the flood gates and had me hugging everyone around me. The Notekeeper is not only amazing but devastating and do not go in expecting a light fluffy read. The book follows Zoe, is a hospice worker, who records the last words of her patients via notes and hands them over to their loved ones once they've passed. Absolutely incredible. Read it ! Go buy two copies one for yourself and one to share
Oh my word! This book tore me apart , opened the flood gates and had me hugging everyone around me. The Notekeeper is not only amazing but devastating and do not go in expecting a light fluffy read. The book follows Zoe, is a hospice worker, who records the last words of her patients via notes and hands them over to their loved ones once they've passed. Absolutely incredible. Read it ! Go buy two copies one for yourself and one to share
May 23, 2023
Zoe is an amazing character, what she went through and her career is amazing. Hospice nurses are amazing. I loved all the characters in this book.
January 18, 2023
I am a true believer that the simplest things in life will bring true happiness and this can be the final words before death. In The Notekeeper it's the note left by a young child to his mother that was written right before the child was killed in a hit and run accident that changes his mother's life. In the beginning, the mother grieved for the loss of her child, but as time went on Zoe found that by working in a hospice, final words of someone they love is what they need to hear, to heal, and finally be set free to live happily.
As you can probably guess, this book is and can be quite emotional, but the meaning behind the story is special and comforting. I love a book that can start sad but have a happy ending, and you'll find this in The Notekeeper! Available now at Barnes and Noble, Kobo, and Indie Bookstore!
Thank you to Canelo Books and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
As you can probably guess, this book is and can be quite emotional, but the meaning behind the story is special and comforting. I love a book that can start sad but have a happy ending, and you'll find this in The Notekeeper! Available now at Barnes and Noble, Kobo, and Indie Bookstore!
Thank you to Canelo Books and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 23, 2023
I went through a lot of tissues by the time I got to the end of this book. It is such a beautifully written book with the subject matter.
I really felt for Zoe, having fled Australia after tragedy strikes. It was such a brave move and as we make our way through the story life doesn't seem to get any easier for her but she perseveres and learns to live again, especially with the help of Ben.
The idea of writing notes and delivering them to relatives after a person has died seemed morbid and strange, however, when we find out why Zoe does this, it added a different perspective. I loved some of the hospice patients Zoe wrote notes for and the words they wanted to share. We also come to understand why Ben wants her to stop writing them.
An emotional but uplifting and hope filled read. Make sure you keep some tissues nearby.
I really felt for Zoe, having fled Australia after tragedy strikes. It was such a brave move and as we make our way through the story life doesn't seem to get any easier for her but she perseveres and learns to live again, especially with the help of Ben.
The idea of writing notes and delivering them to relatives after a person has died seemed morbid and strange, however, when we find out why Zoe does this, it added a different perspective. I loved some of the hospice patients Zoe wrote notes for and the words they wanted to share. We also come to understand why Ben wants her to stop writing them.
An emotional but uplifting and hope filled read. Make sure you keep some tissues nearby.
February 7, 2023
This was a lovely read, very emotional - some would say too emotional reading on a train for my commute but I braved it and didn’t shed one tear isn front of everybody! Though there was a point where I had to stop to take it all in.
The subject matter isn’t light at all, it’s hard, upsetting, and one that we doesn’t want to face - but this book also brings some light - makes us see the light in the darkness and in the depression that is out there.
Zoe is a great character, with one simple reason to live: to help others. There were certain times where I was like “OH COME ON! HOW MUCH MORE DOES SHE NEED TO GO THROUGH?!” But nonetheless I preserved and read through Zoe’s journey.
This was a great read, and many thanks for letting me join in!
The subject matter isn’t light at all, it’s hard, upsetting, and one that we doesn’t want to face - but this book also brings some light - makes us see the light in the darkness and in the depression that is out there.
Zoe is a great character, with one simple reason to live: to help others. There were certain times where I was like “OH COME ON! HOW MUCH MORE DOES SHE NEED TO GO THROUGH?!” But nonetheless I preserved and read through Zoe’s journey.
This was a great read, and many thanks for letting me join in!
February 7, 2023
The Notekeeper has probably one of the most beautiful covers I've ever seen in a book. If you find yourself reading this book, you'll be surprised by how beautifully written it is and how important the message it brings. Our protagonist, Zoe, flees her home in Australia following a tragedy and finds herself arriving in the UK.
Zoe seems to just go with the flow and not experience any real joy. She starts working in a hospice, where she wants to help the residents there to confide in her, their last words. She starts writing them down and delivering them to their loved ones. You get to know Zoe, and you feel what she feels, and you just want to jump into the book and comfort her. This book can seem heavy at times, but it definitely opens your eyes and makes you realize to live life to your fullest and be empathetic towards everyone.
Zoe seems to just go with the flow and not experience any real joy. She starts working in a hospice, where she wants to help the residents there to confide in her, their last words. She starts writing them down and delivering them to their loved ones. You get to know Zoe, and you feel what she feels, and you just want to jump into the book and comfort her. This book can seem heavy at times, but it definitely opens your eyes and makes you realize to live life to your fullest and be empathetic towards everyone.
January 23, 2023
The first book of 2023 that has made me cry. I absolutely loved this book, and read most of it one morning. It made me laugh and cry, and the characters are all adorable.
Zoe is a hospice nurse who has been writing notes for patients during their last days for a while and then her new boss, Ben, says she has to stop. This is not a good thing, but over time things change and the two of them become close. I knew after a while that this book was going to rip my heart out and it did, but in such a good way. The relationship she had with her flatmate, Sarah, and her daughter was just lovely, and the way she was with the patients was written so beautifully, I was welling up several times throughout.
Definitely one you need to read if you love an enemy to lovers genre and just a good old fashioned heart reaching story. An author that is going to be on my radar now for sure.
Zoe is a hospice nurse who has been writing notes for patients during their last days for a while and then her new boss, Ben, says she has to stop. This is not a good thing, but over time things change and the two of them become close. I knew after a while that this book was going to rip my heart out and it did, but in such a good way. The relationship she had with her flatmate, Sarah, and her daughter was just lovely, and the way she was with the patients was written so beautifully, I was welling up several times throughout.
Definitely one you need to read if you love an enemy to lovers genre and just a good old fashioned heart reaching story. An author that is going to be on my radar now for sure.
January 9, 2023
You will inhale this book in one sitting - but beware - you need a good head and a lot of tissues! It's a real tearjerker!
Zoe flees from her home in Australia when tragedy strikes and she attempts to make a new life in the UK.
As a hospice nurse, surrounding herself with those close to death and making their final days beautiful, is how she feels that she's making a difference. That and taking down notes of their final words for their loved ones.
When Ben comes in to manage the hospice and tells Zoe she can't take down the last words any more, his presence doesn't go down well. But there is much more to their story!
I think that this plot is amazing! I absolutely loved the idea of the notes and having something to remember their loved ones by when grieving. All the mini stories within the main were so heart wrenching and beautiful. And, of course, the development of the character's relationships was really lovely.
I also found this a really comfortable read - not in topic - but in style. Well written in the main and a gorgeous atmosphere created which really allowed us to connect with some of the characters (especially in the later parts of the book)
However, from the start, I really didn't connect with our MC's! I found them to be unlikable at times and unreliable at best. I think this spoiled the overall story a little for me. I grew closer to them later on in the book, but would have loved to have loved them from the start. I found that I cared more for some of the side characters instead.
I was also quite distracted by some inconsistences throughout. Quite big ones at the start, smaller later on, but I was irritated by them which made me more sensitive to finding them as I went along.
Sadly, these niggles stopped me being able to give this one that fifth star. But if you go in prepared and try not to overthink it - I really think you'll get sucked into this one and love it too!
Zoe flees from her home in Australia when tragedy strikes and she attempts to make a new life in the UK.
As a hospice nurse, surrounding herself with those close to death and making their final days beautiful, is how she feels that she's making a difference. That and taking down notes of their final words for their loved ones.
When Ben comes in to manage the hospice and tells Zoe she can't take down the last words any more, his presence doesn't go down well. But there is much more to their story!
I think that this plot is amazing! I absolutely loved the idea of the notes and having something to remember their loved ones by when grieving. All the mini stories within the main were so heart wrenching and beautiful. And, of course, the development of the character's relationships was really lovely.
I also found this a really comfortable read - not in topic - but in style. Well written in the main and a gorgeous atmosphere created which really allowed us to connect with some of the characters (especially in the later parts of the book)
However, from the start, I really didn't connect with our MC's! I found them to be unlikable at times and unreliable at best. I think this spoiled the overall story a little for me. I grew closer to them later on in the book, but would have loved to have loved them from the start. I found that I cared more for some of the side characters instead.
I was also quite distracted by some inconsistences throughout. Quite big ones at the start, smaller later on, but I was irritated by them which made me more sensitive to finding them as I went along.
Sadly, these niggles stopped me being able to give this one that fifth star. But if you go in prepared and try not to overthink it - I really think you'll get sucked into this one and love it too!
January 18, 2023
The Notekeeper by Hannah Treave follows Zoe an Australian nurse come to live and work in the UK after having been dealt a huge tragedy in her life at home in Oz. Zoe ran from her present to start anew and works in a hospice, where she writes down the last thoughts and wishes of the dying to pass on to their loves ones. Zoe's new boss is comes in and upsets the norm when he bans her from making those final notes for the patients. They soon butt heads and sparks fly.
Now, what can I say - for starts, the writing was lovely and very engaging! I felt like I was so immersed in the story that before I knew it I was over half way through! Right away I felt a lot of empathy for Zoe and I loved the fact that she was helping others in a state of grief to get some comfort in their final days and also to give comfort to their loves ones also.
My only issue was predictability - I knew from very early on exactly what was going to happen and my guess was bang on the money also, however that being said, it didn't actually take away from the story either and it didn't make me want to stop read, which I think in itself speaks volumes about how well and engaging the writing was.
I have read a lot of reviews where people found this book to be sad and a tear jerker - I think guessing the plotline took that element out of it for me as I didn't cry once!
I really enjoyed how grief was explored in this book though and the different ways people process it, some healthy and some not so healthy. The topic of blame was also very present, which is a very real and upsetting emotion to feel during grief.
The concept of the book and being able to give some form of closure in death was also a really heartwarming and engaging idea. The cast and characters in the book were loveable and flawed and those who featured in hospice were valuable additions to the story too.
overall I found it an enjoyable and engaging read, just a little too easy to predict the plot all in.
The wee book lady. xx
Now, what can I say - for starts, the writing was lovely and very engaging! I felt like I was so immersed in the story that before I knew it I was over half way through! Right away I felt a lot of empathy for Zoe and I loved the fact that she was helping others in a state of grief to get some comfort in their final days and also to give comfort to their loves ones also.
My only issue was predictability - I knew from very early on exactly what was going to happen and my guess was bang on the money also, however that being said, it didn't actually take away from the story either and it didn't make me want to stop read, which I think in itself speaks volumes about how well and engaging the writing was.
I have read a lot of reviews where people found this book to be sad and a tear jerker - I think guessing the plotline took that element out of it for me as I didn't cry once!
I really enjoyed how grief was explored in this book though and the different ways people process it, some healthy and some not so healthy. The topic of blame was also very present, which is a very real and upsetting emotion to feel during grief.
The concept of the book and being able to give some form of closure in death was also a really heartwarming and engaging idea. The cast and characters in the book were loveable and flawed and those who featured in hospice were valuable additions to the story too.
overall I found it an enjoyable and engaging read, just a little too easy to predict the plot all in.
The wee book lady. xx
December 18, 2022
I received an ARC from Canelo via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book was equally beautiful but heart-breaking!
It is in no way a light read, but it has many strong messages about love, life, health and relationships.
The protagonist, Zoe, is a hospice worker, who records the last words of her patients via notes and hands them over to their loved ones once they've passed. It was a truly emotional, heartfelt and beautiful read and it has quite easily become one of my favourites.
The author is a gifted writer, who knows how to set a scene and make the readers fall in love with her characters. I felt as though I knew them and what they were going through. It felt like real life.
100% would recommend!
This book was equally beautiful but heart-breaking!
It is in no way a light read, but it has many strong messages about love, life, health and relationships.
The protagonist, Zoe, is a hospice worker, who records the last words of her patients via notes and hands them over to their loved ones once they've passed. It was a truly emotional, heartfelt and beautiful read and it has quite easily become one of my favourites.
The author is a gifted writer, who knows how to set a scene and make the readers fall in love with her characters. I felt as though I knew them and what they were going through. It felt like real life.
100% would recommend!
March 11, 2023
This book if anything was devastating.
I cannot imagine living through life as a hospice nurse and dealing with my own grief.
I wish I could say this book was healing but as I flipped through the last pages I was nothing but sad. Sad for Zoe's biggest loss and then sad for the loss of her biggest love.
It was good to read about Zoe's progress and to see her finally heal and come to terms with her new life, however, the journey there was really difficult to stomach.
I'd like to thank the author for portraying the devastation of loss so purely. It gave me hope that in this life somehow I too will one day learn to live without the deepest sadness.
I cannot imagine living through life as a hospice nurse and dealing with my own grief.
I wish I could say this book was healing but as I flipped through the last pages I was nothing but sad. Sad for Zoe's biggest loss and then sad for the loss of her biggest love.
It was good to read about Zoe's progress and to see her finally heal and come to terms with her new life, however, the journey there was really difficult to stomach.
I'd like to thank the author for portraying the devastation of loss so purely. It gave me hope that in this life somehow I too will one day learn to live without the deepest sadness.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 5, 2023
An endearing and heartbreaking story. A grieving mother, who helped the dying, with notes because that’s what got her through her days. The story of running away from your past, only to figure out you can’t fully live until you deal with it all.
“That was how life was – amongst the darkness there was always a ray of hope, a glimmer of sunshine, and that was what made it all so very bearable in the very worst of moments.”
“That was how life was – amongst the darkness there was always a ray of hope, a glimmer of sunshine, and that was what made it all so very bearable in the very worst of moments.”
January 16, 2023
This was SO damn sad. Like uplifting but god get the tissues ready!
Zoe annoyed me at times, she could be pretty judgey especially to Sarah, but you could see her kind heart throughout. Her notes were beautiful.
Zoe annoyed me at times, she could be pretty judgey especially to Sarah, but you could see her kind heart throughout. Her notes were beautiful.
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