A Lovely Cup of Tea: A Review of The Keeper of Lost Things

Ruth Hogan’s debut novel, The Keeper of Lost Things is a sweet, satisfying read

The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan isn’t a new book, but it is one I read last year, and it quickly emerged as one of my favorite books of the year. (It even made The Bookery’s list of Top Reads in 2023!) It’s endearing and sweet, with an interesting approach to storytelling, a premise I hadn’t seen before and a tiny little bit of a ghost story. All things I personally enjoy! 

The Keeper of Lost Things is Hogan’s debut novel and revolves around a small cast of characters—the cast grows throughout the book—and the ways their lives intersect. At the center is Anthony Peardew, a writer who lost an important trinket on the day his fiance died and has since begun collecting lost, misplaced and forgotten items he discovers, hoping to one day reunite them with their owners. His story intertwines with Laura, his housekeeper/assistant, who he charges with continuing his mission of reuniting people with their lost things after his death. 

There’s also a parallel storyline beginning in the 1970s that follows Eunice as she accepts a job as an assistant to Bomber, who runs a publishing house. All of these varying storylines are intertwined with the stories of the lost things Anthony has cataloged—and eventually, even Laura and Eunice’s lives intersect. 

All in all, The Keeper of Lost Things is a sweet, satisfying read. While numerous characters face difficulties and hardship—there is deep sadness and loss—it isn’t the overwhelming sense of the book. Instead, it’s a hopeful book. You’ll come away feeling refreshed, like after a long chat with a good friend with a hot cup of coffee—or the lovely cup of tea, as Sunshine, one of the characters you’ll meet in the novel, likes to say. If you’re looking for old-fashioned storytelling with a little bit of magic thrown in, this is the perfect book to curl up with on a chilly winter day. 

Please note: The Keeper of Lost Things isn’t a Christian book. There is a bit of language, and a plotline around Portia, Bomber’s sister who writes novels based on the plotlines of classics that tend toward vulgar. If you prefer to read books that don’t include cursing, it may not be the novel for you.

The Bookery Rating: 📙📙📙📙

Old-fashioned storytelling, intertwining stories and a little magic for good measure—what’s not to love about this novel? Enjoy it with a lovely cup of tea (or coffee) on a gloomy winter afternoon. 

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