Can one small note give her the courage to find a new path?
One Note. One Act of kindness. Her new beginning is closer than she thinks.
Kate gave up her dreams of being a painter years ago. But six little words pinned to the noticeboard of her local café could change her path forever.
‘To be, or not to be…’ – printed on orange card with no explanation – appears one morning.
Each day, a new line from a different Shakespeare play is added, sparking curiosity throughout the café. Among the regulars is Bardy, a retired English teacher grappling with writer’s block.
As Kate and Bardy follow this breadcrumb trail, they discover a local community group encouraging people to rediscover their own creative spark – and the long-lost courage to chase it.
For Kate, their new group might just offer a second chance at happiness, if only Bardy can find the strength to share his story too.
Six Little Words by Sally Page is published by HarperCollins, with publication scheduled for 12 March 2026 and you can pre-order on Amazon or Bookshop.org.
Warm, gentle, and emotionally resonant, it’s a novel that lingers rather than rushes, inviting the reader to slow down and settle into its kindness and quiet depth. I was lucky enough to read an early digital copy via NetGalley, and it’s a book that stayed with me long after I’d finished — one I felt compelled to share simply because it deserves to be discovered. If you’re drawn to thoughtful, character-driven fiction that celebrates community, creativity, and second chances — stories that comfort without ever feeling slight — Six Little Words is very much one to watch for.
Sally Page
After studying history at university, Sally moved to London to work in advertising. However, in her spare time she studied floristry at night school and eventually opened her own flower shop. She soon came to appreciate that flower shops offer a unique window into people’s stories and eventually she began to photograph and write about this floral life in a series of non-fiction books. Later, she continued her interest in writing when she founded her fountain pen company, Plooms.
In her debut novel, The Keeper of Stories, Sally combines her love of history and writing with her abiding interest in the stories people have to tell. The novel sold over half a million copies in the UK and was translated into 30 languages, making Sally a Sunday Times Bestseller. It was also shortlisted for British Book of the Year.
Sally’s second novel, The Book of Beginnings, was launched in September 2023 and her third book, The Secrets of Flowers, in August 2024. In both books, friendship and hope are major themes. Sally’s three books have sold over a million copies in the UK. In October 2025 Harper Collins released a Christmas Novella, New Beginnings for Christmas – a sequel to The Book of Beginnings, and in the Spring 2026 will be launching her novel, Six Little Words.
Sally lives in Dorset. Her eldest daughter, Alex, is a doctor and her youngest daughter is the author, Libby Page.
You can find out more at sallypage.com
My Review
Why Six Little Words Is a Book to Be Savoured
Some books gently ask you to slow down, and Six Little Words is one of those rare novels that seems to set its own pace from the very first page. I found myself reading more slowly than usual, not because the story demanded concentration, but because it encouraged lingering — over sentences, over moments, over the quiet emotions threaded throughout. There is a warmth to Sally Page’s writing that feels instantly reassuring, and yet this is not a slight or inconsequential book. It has depth, confidence, and a calm emotional intelligence that allows its meaning to surface naturally, without ever being pushed.
What stayed with me most was the feeling of being completely at ease while reading, held by a story that understands the value of gentleness. There’s a strong sense of community woven through the novel, one that feels lived-in and authentic rather than idealised, and it creates an atmosphere that is deeply comforting without being cloying. The world of the book feels welcoming in a way that makes you want to return to it, and that sense of belonging becomes an essential part of the reading experience. This is storytelling that doesn’t rely on drama or momentum, but on connection, familiarity, and emotional truth.
Running quietly beneath the surface is a thoughtful exploration of creativity, courage, and the ways in which dreams can be put aside not through failure, but simply because life becomes busy and demanding. What I appreciated so much was the compassion with which these ideas are handled. Nothing feels rushed, resolved too neatly, or overstated. Instead, the story honours small steps, tentative beginnings, and the bravery it takes to say “yes” when starting again feels uncertain. That restraint gives the book its power, allowing the emotional moments to land softly but with lasting impact.
By the time I reached the final pages, I realised how much the book had invited me to reflect on my own life. Six Little Words has a quiet way of encouraging openness — to possibility, to connection, to the idea that change doesn’t have to be dramatic to be meaningful. It reminded me that growth can happen gently, that creativity can be rediscovered slowly, and that it’s never too late to listen to the small nudges that guide us forward.
Tender, hopeful, and quietly uplifting, this is a novel to savour rather than rush through, one that speaks softly but lingers long after it’s finished. I closed the book feeling calmer, encouraged, and deeply content — certain that this is Sally Page at her very best, and a book I’ll be thinking about for a long time to come.
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See About My Reviews and Review FAQ for full star rating explanations and review guidelines. This review may also appear on my social media channels and selected book platforms. All links were correct at the time of publication. Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley, thanks to HarperCollins. This review reflects my own reading experience. This review is original content. Please credit and link back if you wish to quote.
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