The Woman Who Kept Everything is one of those books that touches your heart and stays there.  There are many YA coming of age novels and I would describe this was a coming of 'old' age book.  The book is narrated by Gloria who is seventy nine, and when we meet her at the beginning she is a recluse, never leaves the house which is filled top to bottom with stuff; newspapers, rubbish, things accumulated over her life.  She sees no reason to go out, she doesn't see her son or grandchildren who have stopped visiting, her only visitor is lifelong friend Tilsbury.  An electrical fault sees her having to move out and is an epiphany for Gloria, she realises what she has been missing out on.  So at the age seventy nine, Gloria takes charge of her life and goes on an adventure that takes her from her native Norfolk to Skegness, Eastbourne and London and enjoy swimming in the sea, visiting Big Ben and making some new friends whilst reconnecting with old.

Gloria is such a wonderful character and you can't help but love her as she gains confidence  and retakes control of her life.  I liken her to a butterfly, emerging from her chrysalis and turning into a beautiful butterfly ready to spread her wings and go on a journey. Her character opens up many issues that can come with old age, depression, loneliness, lack of money, and family who can't visit as much as they should.  In contrast to Gloria's likability, there is her son Clegg who is a horrible character, he  neglects his mother as he doesn't want to face up to his responsibilities.  He never visited her, denied her access to her grandchildren and just wants the money from the sale of her house.  The other character I took to my heart was Tilsbury, it is obvious he is in love with Gloria, he is always there for her and gives some comical moments to the story.  There is also the sadness that his pension doesn't give him enough money to live on, and finds himself sleeping on friends floors.

Jane Gilley's writing makes this book a pleasure to read.  She shows great empathy to her characters, even to the selfish Clegg, and highlights a lot of issues that surround the elderly and their families.  The balance between these serious issues and the light humour is perfect and the plot flows seamlessly making this a delightful and easy read.

The Woman Who Kept Everything is a charming read, that takes a look at the problems with getting old with a sense of humour.  There is no doubt that the message of this book is to seize the day and make the most out of everyday as it may your last.  Heartwarming, witty, realistic and poignant in its plot and with a wonderful and memorable cast  of characters.  This book is simply delightful and will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy, a fabulous read.

THE WOMAN WHO KEPT EVERYTHING by Jane Gilley is an emotional story that spreads the message that life can be short and to live each day to the max.

Gloria Frensham is 79 years young and is content living in her house surrounded by all of her belongings. She would love for her son to visit her more and she would love to get to know her grandchildren whom she hasn't seen for ten years but she realises that this is unlikely to happen. She has her stuff and her close friend and that is enough.
​But when a small accident leads to her son putting her into a nursing home, it will spark a chain of events that will change Gloria's life forever. For as her son begins to throw away everything that has kept her sane, Gloria knows that there is only one thing she can do - run away. And so begins the adventure of a lifetime.

THE WOMAN WHO KEPT EVERYTHING by Jane Gilley is a compelling and heartwarming story that at times will bring a tear to your eye, but also inspire you to grab a hold of life and take chances. Gloria is a wonderful character and as I got to learn about her past and be there for her present, I felt a real connection to her. In our society, the elderly are often overlooked or dismissed and this story really showed how wrong a judgement that can be.

There are ups and downs, friendship and a fighting spirit all combining together in THE WOMAN WHO KEPT EVERYTHING and I highly recommend it.

This is a charming and sad book all rolled into one. Gloria hadn’t had the easiest starts in life, always short of this or that so when good fortune had come her way, for her and her husband, she didn’t waste anything. In fact Gloria kept everything because one day she may need it. At 79 and now widowed, Gloria lived in her little house that was bulging at the seams, she was a hoarder until one day something went bang in the kitchen and she was forced to leave her home because it was so unsafe.
This put her only son in a bit of a conundrum. He didn’t really want her to live with him and his family but he also didn’t want to see his inheritance, his mother’s house, being sold and used to pay for her to be looked after in residential care. Gloria had been careful all her life saving for a rainy day, well that time had come and the journey she took herself on would need one mighty umbrella. Ok she wasn’t going to go globe-trotting but I will just say that Skegness, Eastbourne and London knew that she had been! You have got to love the emergency credit card!
This is such a beautifully written book that really reflects modern society, people living longer and busy family units that pay courtesy calls on aged parents, just to be able to say they have visited. Gloria is quite a character that over the years hadn’t realised just what a mess she had got into until she saw it from the other side. I loved her visit to her old friend, so very touching. The story took me through so many emotions as I travelled with Gloria revisiting old friends and making new ones and never forgetting the ones that had always been there for her.
This is a lovely uplifting story, with a ‘you are never to old’ theme. One to bring a tear and make you chuckle too. I wish to thank NetGalley for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly

This is a story of life being too short and seizing opportunities to live it in your own way. It teaches you the value of friendship and believing in yourself, no matter what age you are.

This was an enjoyable and easy read that follows the story of 79 year old Grace as she leaves behind her life as a hoarder and begins to enjoy life again, despite the best intentions of her son who just seems more interested in pound signs than the welfare of his own mother!

Grace never found the way she lived a problem. Yes she couldn't reach certain parts of rooms as they were covered in clutter, and yes there was a smell, but her home was her safe place, where she led a very simple life since losing her beloved husband. A friend would bring shopping in for her and she made do with what she had. But when disaster strikes she is forced to move into a care home for a couple of weeks, and breaking out of this routine seem to set her off on an amazing journey to meet new friends and have new experiences. Life begins at 79 it seems!

This book does look at the issue of extreme hoarding and depression and it was sensitively portrayed, although I did feel at times it was a little rushed in how quickly it all seemed to get out of her system. She then met others who had the same issue and she was the right person to help them understand how they were living wasn't helping them, and showed a touching and caring side that many who choose to live this way are just lonely and how the presence of friends or family can help them move on and escape this sadness.

I loved Grace and how she took to her new way of living so well! She was out to have a good time, and she did! Her son wasn't a pleasant character at all and just highlighted the sadness of those people in the world that can just give up on elderly relatives - until there is money to be had.

I think the ending fell a little flat for me with so much happening so quickly but I did enjoy this book overall and it was a story that did well in its' portrayal of a woman who had suffered for so long but managed to get her happy ending!

The Woman Who Kept Everything by Jane Gilley is an uplifting story about aging. The main character is one that goes through a transformation and turns aging into a positive journey. Gloria is an interesting character to read about and her ability to overcome adversity is inspiring.

I have read quite a few books that discuss aging lately and it really does seem to be something that is becoming more prevalent in books as our society ages. The aspect of hoarding is really intriguing to me and is what drew me into wanting to read this novel and know more about the issues surrounding it. While the beginning of the story describes Gloria’s sad state of affairs, it seems to move on from this situation fairly quickly. The Woman Who Kept Everything is actually more about a woman who still has a lot of life to live.

Gloria was living a lonely life amongst her things in a ramshackle house when her son finally intervenes. Things escalate to the point that Gloria’s life became endangered. The intervention opens Gloria’s eyes and she realizes through counselling that her way of living was unhealthy for her. The story comes to life as Gloria decides to enjoy spending time with friends and learn new things in her travels.

There are lots of light-hearted moments that happen throughout the novel. It was especially fun to read about Gloria and her old flame taking a motorbike to the beach. The story really does show that there are so many exciting adventures Gloria has to look forward to.

If you are looking for a feel-good story that looks at the effects of aging on families, this is one book to check out. Hoarding is definitely something that is intriguing to read about. The Woman Who Kept Everything is the story of what happens as the hoarder heals and reclaims her life.

Rating: 3 stars (Rounded down from 3.5)

I fell in love with Gloria, the main character in Jane Gilley’s “The Woman Who Kept Everything”, but some of the other characters and plotline were a little less believable for me. Hence the 3 star rating.

Gloria Frensham is 79, and living in a falling-down house stuffed to the gills with her hoarded items. The description of the living situation sounds like something out of the ‘Hoarders’ reality television show with rotting food in the kitchen, and tiny pathways throughout the house. A possible electrical short in the house brings her son, and the fire department running. The story of Gloria’s miraculous transformation starts from there.

I really did bond with Gloria. I loved her very British sayings, and her opinion that a cup of tea could help put everything right, ‘Ducks’. She transformed from a hermit living in a smelly cave to something pretty extraordinary given her circumstances. She moved forward one step at a time despite her son Clegg’s animosity and duplicity; and with the help of her friends, Tilsbury and Joyce. Every time Gloria was presented with a chance to get out of her comfort zone, she took it. I loved that about her.

What I had a hard time swallowing was that a severe hoarder like Gloria could change her ways with just a few counseling sessions and a couple of weeks in a nursing home. But if you can get beyond that premise, I think you’ll enjoy following Gloria along on her journey to a new life. She’s spunky, curious and big-hearted. This 79 year-olds even crafted a new life for herself. It’s never too late to make a change, which I think is a good motto for everyone to live by.

‘Thank-You’ to NetGalley; the publisher, Avon Books UK; and the author, Jane Gilley; for providing a free e-ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book. Gloria certainly learnt how she wanted to live the rest of her life. There is a lesson for everyone about living life to the full and enjoying life while you can. This is a feel good read about friends, family, love and enjoying life.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

When reading the bio of this book I really wanted to like it. However I think I ended up wanting to like this book more than I actually did, but that’s not to say that I disliked it, It was okay and an easy read but I would not reread. The story follows Gloria who is a hoarder. A way of life, which seems to have begun when her husband died. What follows is a journey that leads to a new outlook on life, a willingness to become a more adventurous and engaged-in-life woman, and who may have just reclaimed her real self.

Good to read a book with a main female character who isn’t in her twenties/thirties for once! Gloria is funny, down to earth and definitely a ‘senior citizen with attitude’ but for many years she has been hiding her wonderful personality in the mounds of junk she has hoarded in her home. When things come to a head and she receives some counselling during a temporary stay in a home she decides to do a bit of travelling in order to escape her controlling son.
The story has a lot to say about not writing off the elderly when they still have so much to give and further adventures to have. I loved Gloria and I hope to be just as feisty as her when I get older! Interesting to read about what can trigger hoarding too; heartbreaking, but interesting.

Gloria lives on her own in a house both full of memories and rubbish. She is a hoarder and would have carried on but one day her electrics blow up. Her son, Clegg, then puts in an appearance and while the house is being cleared and made habitable, she goes into a home. she enjoys being there and being clean and free from rubbish and vows not to return to her old ways. She moves in with her family but soon becomes bored. She calls her friend, Tilsbury and her third age begins!!
We are never to old to change our lives and who knows what is round the corner?

Can you change at age 79? That's the question for Gloria when she is forced from her home where she's been hoarding for ages. The hoarding has cost her so much and now she's going to make an attempt to reverse course and come into the light. I liked Gloria- I was highly sympathetic to her-but I do think things resolved much more easily than they would in real life. This would have benefited from another edit but it's an easy, enjoyable read. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

Gloria Frensham is a 79 year old hoarder. She lives amongst piles of magazines, squashed cardboard boxes, surplus carpet rolls, heaps of towels and nick-knacks littering the stairs. She hasn't left her home in years., until a loud bang and the sudden smell of singeing sets in motion Gloria's sudden exodus from her home. She has spent two weeks in a nursing home and put in the annex of her sins family home. She has now had enough and takes herself to Skegness, Eastbourne and London. She is having the time of her life. She is getting back her independence.

This is quite a delightful story. It will make you laugh but at times it's quite sad. It's more light hearted that it is serious. A tale of a woman who finally discovers who she is, helps a fellow hoarder and realising just how unhappy she had been. She finds the things that were missing in her life; happiness, friendship and love. To grab every moment and live life to the full. Gloria is a marvellous character and if there's a lesson to be learned, it's to live each day like it's your last. Enjoy every moment.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Avon Books UK, and the author Jane Gilley for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a great addition to the emerging genre of senior books: stories with main characters who are retired and/or past what is generally considered the prime of their life. In this particular book, Gloria has about killed herself in her house that has become overrun by her hoarding. Spurred on by an overbearing and demeaning son, Gloria takes to the road for what seems to be her final adventure. Luckily for the reader, Gloria finds new life in her late 70s instead. One word of caution, the British slang was a bit too much for even me. It started to detract from my reading instead of adding to it.

*Many thanks to Jane Gilley, Avon Books UK and Netgalley for providing me with ARC in exchange for my honest review.*
The novel is not really about the 'woman who kept everything' but rather about an 'elderly lady who, being 79, manages to quit her habit and finds the joy of life. We meet Gloria Frensham when, after years of neglect from her family, she understands, that she needs to change her life and that there may be still a lot of excitement in her life despite her age. In a way, her son's selfish decision to sell Gloria's house provokes a series of events which have a beneficial effect on his mother. I liked Gloria, her good heart, her language and, yes, her courage to travel on her own and take pleasure in small delights. At times, I just wondered if such metamorphosis is possible .... if an 80-old may change so much within a short period of time ..... But then, this is not a biography, is it? All in all, a light read with a nice cup of tea (and a scone or two) in the background.

I really liked the concept of The Woman Who Kept Everything - its protagonist is Gloria Frensham, a seventy-nine year old hoarder, and that’s a very unusual sort of person you have as a main character. When I say hoarder, we’re not talking a few old newspapers - no, Gloria’s done a proper job of it. We’re talking piles of festering rubbish. When Gloria is eventually forced to move out - first into a care home temporarily and then to her son’s house - something sparks in her and Gloria goes on a bit of a voyage of self-discovery.

I loved Gloria’s voice which is different and refreshing, as are the other characters - her friends Tilsbury and Jocelyn, son Clegg (no wonder he turned out not great, being lumbered with a name like that) and the rest. Reading Gloria’s adventures and battle to live her own life was hugely enjoyable.

I did feel it unrealistic that Gloria’s hoarding issues appeared to be solved so quickly. It takes a long time to get into the state she was in at the beginning and it wasn’t believable that, at seventy-nine years old, a few conversations with a social worker would be enough to completely transform her life. She seems to get her act together remarkably quickly as indeed does her friend Tilsbury.

If you can suspend your disbelief at how neatly everything works out, it’s a very enjoyable, warm and uplifting read.

The premise of this story was decent but the execution really fell flat for me. It went from plausible to just too unrealistic, and while different details changed with each smaller event, the story began to feel repetitive. It felt like there were too many oversimplified scenes. Paraphrasing here but, “I asked for a job and they gave it to me!”

That said, the story is a reminder that it’s never too late to make a positive change in life or reclaim your happiness.

An amusing story of the escapades of an octogenarian and her friends as they “grab what’s left of life now and enjoy every turn.” There is lots of British slang that creates an authentic adventure for American readers. My issue with the book is that it is so similar to several others that have been released over the past few years. It doesn’t feel original or as polished as a couple of them.

Gloria Frensham is 79 and a hoarder and I liked her!
The book basically follows Gloria’s freedom from hoarding, rather than focusing on it and although it is mentioned and dealt with it is at a much lower % of the actual story than perhaps the title would have you believe....Gloria, once free of hoarding and after 2 weeks in a Nursing Home and being shunted into the annexe of her son’s family home has enough and takes herself to Skeggy, Eastbourne and London and has quite the adventure!
The book then focuses on her gaining her independence and enjoying life and giving back to her son a bit of what he deserves
There are laughs and sad bits but it all ends up well for Gloria!
Its a strange book as it deals sometimes with serious mental health issues and deals with them well and also deals with family problems and how elderly relatives are treated but then at times the book is quite childish in its narrative ( I note with interest the author used to write children’s books )
It also is annoying at times as the terms ‘Duck’ ‘yes my love’ and ‘Ruddy’ are so over used they became a nuisance, also characters ‘accents’ change from say the Midlands to broad Yorkshire!
Some of the characters have unusual names, Clegg for example, is her son and Tilsbury (!) her life long beau
Its a happy ( in the end ) tale though and more ahhhh than grrrr and I think anyone who enjoys stories of OAP’s having an adventure will enjoy it and their is.as said, a very poignant side to the story

When I requested this book I was interested in "The Lady in the Van" part as I love Alan Bennett.
Even if the plot is different, it met all my expectations as it's an amazing read.
It moves you and entertain at same time. The style of writing is great and the plot keeps you hooked till the end.
It's a lot of food for thought and makes you think about your life and what it means living.
A very good novel, I look forward to reading other by this author.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Avon Books UK and Netgalley for this ARC