Reviews - Sipsworth | The StoryGraph

1.28k reviews for:

Sipsworth

Simon Van Booy

4.17 AVERAGE

vodaas's review against another edition

3.5

hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

“The only consolation of being the last to go is knowing the people you loved the most won't suffer the way you do in their absence.”

Loneliness has a sneaky way of creeping in—it arrives silently, wrapping itself around you before you realize it’s there. Sipsworth captures this feeling with heartbreaking tenderness and unexpected hope. Helen, an 80-year-old widow, spends her days quietly—bathing her aches away, sticking to her television schedule, and avoiding the world outside. She has no grand plans or purpose beyond enduring until her time comes. But all of that begins to shift on a rainy morning when she salvages an old fish tank from her neighbor’s trash. Among the discarded boxes, she finds not childhood trinkets, but a small, unexpected guest: a mouse.

This tiny creature—soon to be named Sipsworth—upends Helen’s routine life in the most profound way. What begins as a mission to get rid of the “exotic animal” slowly becomes a journey of rediscovery. Through small, tender interactions with her community—Cecil at the hardware store, Dr. Jamal at the hospital, and a local librarian and her son—Helen begins to reconnect with a world she thought had long forgotten her.

There’s so much more to this story than meets the eye. It’s about grief, yes—but also about second chances, surprising friendships, and the quiet, slow way a heart can reopen. Helen’s world grows—she adopts a mouse, turns vegetarian, breaks a law or two, and even gets a library card. With Sipsworth by her side, she rediscovers purpose, connection, and a spark she thought long extinguished.

If you loved A Man Called Ove, this little gem may warm your heart in similar ways. With humor, tenderness, and a furry friend to cheer for, Sipsworth is a quiet triumph.

sdecoste's review

5.0

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

lee_ann_a's review against another edition

4.5

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This was a sweet, heartwarming tale of how Helen, aged 83, finds new purpose for the life she had all but given up on, by loving a tiny little mouse.

Helen has lost everyone in her life, she's the last one alive in her family. She seemingly has no friends, no connection to anyone. She has moved into a small cottage, having destroyed every memory of the people she has lost, to simply wait for death.

But then one day, Sipsworth enters her life. A common field mouse you may say, how can a mouse give this woman a reason to live? In caring for Sipsworth, Helen opens her heart to love, she meets people in her community, and she finds purpose! Through the course of the novel we learn bits and pieces of Helen's life and as it turns out, she's not just your average little old lady.

The writing was lovely and meaningful. It really filled my cup. My complaint is that I wanted more!!

booksandfin's review against another edition

3.5

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

A cute very mild read. Would recommend the audiobook as it’s a perfect bedtime story. There were some elements I didn’t jive with, but I enjoyed the topics of grief and loneliness covered.

mcat1's review

4.0

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

hannah_reads_sometimes's review

4.0

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Very cute and light book about the dark subjects of death and loneliness. The ending is too abrupt for me, but a very enjoyable read nonetheless. Helen and Sipsworth are great but the rest of the ensemble is what really makes the book for me.