A heart-warming tale of how one incident can help you to turn your life around. Also, that it is never too late to change and that we should make the most of the time we have left to us - once you are over 75 (or maybe younger!) you really need to live each day to the full, just in case! A wonderful story of families and friendships.

Gloria is a seventy-something woman, widowed and living on her own in her very cluttered house. So cluttered, in fact, that it’s revealing all of the cracks in her life, her depression and her safety: with a fire starting and her son stepping in to redirect and, as she sees it, control her life. He’s less than altruistic in his motives – she’s always found him difficult, not seen her grandchild in near ten years, and relies on Tisbury, her old friend and boyfriend to run to the shops and manage with her pension cheque. But, Clegg is determined, and with the fire social services have been brought in, moving her to a nursing home for the immediate moment, where she can get some meals more nutritious than the potato soup she’s survived on, and perhaps help her to deal with the depression that appeared as the piles of clutter and her refusal to step outside.

But this is a turning point for Gloria, as she starts to find her old determination, and discovers that her son’s plan is to sell her house and commit her to a care home on a permanent basis. He’s never been particularly attentive, and she’s been at home waiting for hope, and someone or something to alleviate the loneliness she feels and her depression that is exacerbated with the isolation and aging. She’s not going to take it all lying down though as she toddles off to find her own purpose, making new friends, visiting old ones and grabbing for all of the gusto that she found in one short scooter ride away from the care home with Tisdale.

There’s much to be said about the lightness and hope in this story, with most issues able to resolve simply with a cup of tea and a chat – but we all know that nothing is ever quite that simple, and the refrain (however loved and completely British) of how about a cuppa became an oft-repeated refrain, seeming to recycle issues and solutions with a pat response. Oh sure, there’s hope – and Gloria is a wonderfully complex woman as one would expect in her near eighty years on earth, but there was an imbalance that kept me from LOVING the story – even though it was a perfect sort of pick-me-up read when one thinks of being aged and pushed aside for the new and shiny. A story that is higher on hope and light moments than actual substance, it was an enjoyable palate cleanser sort of read when other books or actual life becomes too weighty.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=” https://wp.me/p3OmRo-aaq/” > <a> I am, Indeed </a>

Funny, heart warming, sad and thought provoking. This was a real page turner. What a turnaround Gloria made to her life when she started taking control of it. I couldn't put the book down wondering where she would go next on her travels. An underlying love story with a real feel good factor, A whole plethora of emotions came over me as I read this book. Brilliant.

This is a gentle and easy read for people who love England and places where all problems are solved with a "cuppa" tea.

Gloria Frensham is a 79 year old widow and a hoarder. You can barely step around the house for all the newspapers and garbage strewn about. Not only has she let the house go, but she rarely gives herself a wash as well. It's gotten to the point where her only child Clegg rarely visits, and she hasn't seen her grandchildren in ten years. She relies on her oldest friend (and ex-boyfriend) Tilsbury to fetch her pension check and bring around anything that she needs...like the sack of potatoes from which she's been making soup day after day.

Then one day there's a loud bang and the smell of burning in the kitchen. This "sparks" a life-changing moment in Gloria's life, for this necessitates the electricity board coming to check on the problem. More importantly, social services gets involved. While the electrical problem and the mess is being sorted out, Gloria is sent to Green's Nursing Home for a respite. While a resident, she receives counselling from a social worker which is very enlightening and helpful to her. After a couple of weeks at the nursing home, Gloria briefly stays at her son Clegg and his wife Val's home. However, it's an uneasy atmosphere as Clegg has always been a difficult son. In fact, one evening Gloria overhears an argument: Clegg wants to sell his mother's house behind her back and put her permanently into a nursing home!

One day while Clegg and Val are at work, Tilsbury coaxes Gloria out for an afternoon tea, something she hasn't enjoyed in ages. Scandalously, they ride there on a scooter bike! The joy that Gloria experienced on this rare and special jaunt inspired her to keep making new memories. So she uses the credit card her son had given her for emergencies to extend the afternoon tea into trips to other places. She picks up new friends along the way...and visits an old one. She's remembering the lessons she learned in the nursing home, applying them to her own life and helping others.

This very much reminded me of a Frances Garrood book, a British author I recently came to know and admire. This is a very British story; there is a lot of British lingo such as "ruddy" and "grand", and there are always cups of tea! This was a touching and heartwarming story that was a pleasant read.

Gloria has got herself in a bit of a mess. Aged 79 and widowed she's neglected her house and herself to a catastrophic degree, and when choices are taken out of her hands she's set on a path that revolutionises not just her own life, but those around her too.
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.
I loved Gloria and her posse of friends and family and seeing how their stories all were interwoven and on their own journeys.
Being born in Nottinghamshire I loved the use of many colloquial phrases like ducks etc and the way Gloria spoke, it was wonderfully authentic and endearing, a d Gloria is the type of granny I can only hope to be. Powerful, sentimental and inspiring, I truly loved this book

Sweet captivating story that was well written and just lovely. I think this new genre of sweet books on aging will help us all as we gracefully follow these footsteps!

Gloria is an elderly hoarder. When an accident forces her to leave her home, she gets some perspective on her problem and ends up going on a bit of an adventure to "find herself." It was a nice book, not excpetional and I didn't love the writing style, personally, but it was enjoyable overall. Three stars.

This is a heartwarming story of family, forgiveness, growing old and the effects grief can have on a person. It is also a story of coming out the other side from depression.
If you like stories with a happy ever after then this is a book for you.

Growing old is great when you consider the alternative, so what a shame that older people are often overlooked. Our protagonist, Gloria, has a great deal to offer but often hasn’t had the opportunity, cast aside by her family for the crime of hoarding. Stockpiling stuff has been an easy habit for Gloria to fall into but an impossible one to break. Until now. “The Woman Who Kept Everything” is an endearing tale of one elderly woman with a sense of adventure who embarks on a voyage of self-discovery. A lovely read and a reminder that it’s never too late.

You'll feel happier having read Gilley's novel - especially if you are over 75 years old. The storyline centres round Gloria, a 79 year old widow, who lives alone in her rubbish -filled house. A major electrical fault demands that she move out while it is fixed. Her son Clegg finds her a Care home and it is from that this point that Gloria's life starts to change. The remainder of the novel follows Gloria as she gradually rediscovers what really matters to her. Her budding confidence allows her to engage with long lost friends and make new ones. Her whole family relationship changes and ultimately she is able to reveal her lifelong secret. The Woman Who Kept Everything seamlessly blends an endearing plot with wonderful characters. Fun though it is to read, it contains a serious message for all of us about treasuring family and friendship.

Not my usual choice of book I usually read thrillers or Sci Fi ,but I do enjoy a feelgood book now and again,as long as it is not too cheesy.This for me was one slice away from cheesy, but on the right side.I did enjoy it.If you are looking for a fairly undemanding read that will keep you interested with a very likable main character and some more interesting characters thrown in, pull up a seat and grab a cuppa, and enjoy.I did enjoy this and would like to thank the publishers and netgalley for an ARC.

I really enjoyed this book, it tells the story of Gloria Frensham a 79 year old woman who is a hoarder. It was lighthearted and portrays some serious issues which did not detract from the seriousness it made me really think.
Great characters definitely recommend.

A well written poignant tale of our times. Gloria is 79 and after the death of her husband hoards everything, after this reaches a crisis point and her controlling son takes over Gloria turns a corner rediscovering the art of the possible. What follows is a voyage of discovery for Gloria with quite a large amount of humour and a fair sprinkling of sadness. The only criticism I had was Gloria's transformation happened in such a short time scale but despite that one can't help but warm to this character, slightly quirky and childlike at time but likeable nonetheless.

I think it could make many of us think about what happens with old people as they are increasingly left alone in old age and what, often widely dispersed, families can do to alleviate their loneliness.

I understand that this is this writer's first novel and I look forward to reading some further works.

A lesson on how to live life. It’s not easy getting old, and losing your husband, and finding your family don’t want to see you. How easy it is to let things pile up and become unmanageable. But once Gloria has been cleaned up, and moved into her sons home, then finds out he’s plann8ng on selling her home, and eventually moving her into an old people home, she suddenly decides life’s too short and she needs to do the things she’s always wanted to. A very readable book, with lots of humour, and a marriage and a twist at the end. This is definitely a wake up call, to stop putting off what you really want to do, and do it!

Oh Gloria Frensham what a fabulous ride you gave us on your adventures in this book. Some really great characters surround Gloria and reading the book makes you feel like part of the gang. I suspect this will turn out to be a film and very much on a par with Lady in the Van. It has all the appeal and would especially be devoured by ladies who are wondering what their future has in store for them. Follow Gloria's lead, ladies, and go for it. You never know what fun and adventures await. Thoroughly enjoyable read and one that will remain in my memory for a long time.

“Cor, I never thought owt could be as nice as this, ducks!”

The dialogue in Jane Gilley's novel, The Woman Who Kept Everything, is absolutely delightful! She has captured the British West Midlands' dialect brilliantly. The story is a nice, light read detailing the adventures of a widow named Gloria who overcomes her need to hoard all manner of things, asserts her independence with her family, regains her enjoyment of life, and finds love and friendship in her twilight years.

Although this reviewer enjoyed reading about Gloria's trials and tribulations she did not appreciate the blithe treatment that mental health issues were given in this book. Just as it is unrealistic to believe that a long-term hoarder can be “cured” in less than two weeks during a few chats with a social worker, it is equally improbable that her son's anger and depression could be overcome quickly and painlessly after only a few visits to a professional. However, it is a huge leap for society that mental health issues are being identified and written about by Gilley, so kudos for that.

“Ta-ra, love!”

Gloria Frensham is in a bad place at the beginning of The Woman Who Kept Everything, by Jane Gilley. If the title wasn’t enough to clue you in to Gloria’s problems, the first sentences the describe Gloria navigating her extremely cluttered, nasty smelling home in an attempt to make a cup of tea. She might have been content(ish) to go on living as a hoarder except that a blown fuse tips off the authorities and her very angry son. That blown fuse means that Gloria is suddenly homeless and without her possessions.

The plan, Gloria is told, is for her to temporarily go to a nursing home for some intense therapy for her hoarding, before going to live with her son and his family. This part was the least satisfying for me, because it glosses over the hard work it must have taken for Gloria to come to terms with her urges to collect and keep. After that, the book picks up. Gloria can only stand to live with her son, Clegg, who struggles with anger the way she does with hoarding, for a few days before she starts to look for an out. Fortunately for her, her longtime friend Tilsbury shows up with a scooter and an offer of tea—which leads to Gloria going on the lam.

Gloria’s escape takes her to rediscover an old friend who’s hoarding and house are in even worse shape than hers was and to visit London and Eastbourne for the first time. Most importantly, Gloria finds her metaphorical feet again. She stops letting her son boss her around, reclaims her funds, and finds a new home for herself. Not only that, but she finds Gloria again. Her wit and take-no-crap attitude make The Woman Who Kept Everything hilarious. Even though the book tackles uncomfortable issues, Gloria’s attitude keeps things surprisingly breezy.

I had a lot of fun reading The Woman Who Kept Everything.

Gloria is a delightful 79 year old widow, who has been hoarding everything possible since the death of her husband. When she is forced to leave her house, she refuses to go into a care home and embarks on an adventure instead, a journey of self-discovery that shows her that there is more enjoyment in making new memories than holding onto old ones.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book with its gentle insights into aging and how it's never too late to experience life to the fullest.

Many thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

I wanted to like this book more than I actually did, but that’s not to say that I disliked it, I’m more neutral. It was okay, it has some lighthearted moments balanced out by more serious ones, and a somewhat charming 79 year-old woman, Gloria, who as this story begins is a hoarder. A way of life, which seems to have begun when her husband died. Her son Clegg decides that he has the right to take over her, her life.

Gloria, indignant over his self-righteous attitude, makes other plans for herself, and in the amount of time it takes to incant bippity-boppity-boo, tries to show him that she’s no pushover.

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.

This is Jane Gilley’s debut novel and I look forward to seeing more from her in the future.


Many thanks for the ARC provided by Avon Books UK

Uplifting and thoroughly entertaining; this is a realistic look into aging, into a woman's discovery of who she is, a story of kindness and of the search for joy that shows it's never too late to learn how to love life and enjoy it to the fullest.