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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
Another heartwarming, emotional rollercoaster of a read from Mike Gayle.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
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
Lila Metcalfe is a trainee journalist in Derby & she's very used to being given the stories that no one else wants. So, when her editor tells her that the city's Cossington Park development is being held up by a solitary resident on Hope Street who is refusing to leave, she knows she is going to be the one sent to find out more. And that's how she meets Connor. Twenty-something Connor is the sole resident of Hope Street & he is not at all what Lila is expecting. And he has a very clear reason not to move: he is waiting for his mum to come home.
Needless to say I am a huge Mike Gayle fan so have excitedly been counting down to this latest release, and once again, the wait was most definitely worth it!
Mike has a wonderful talent of producing titles that are full of characters that you fall in love with instantly, accompanied by a beautiful, heartfelt story, written in his unique, embracing, captivating & emotional style.
Hope Street is no exception, introducing us to Lila, a character that knows what she wants, her journey in this title being one of deeper self-discovery. And then there’s Connor, someone who doesn’t believe in himself but lives in a world of gentle naivety, but with one clear focus; wanting to know what happened when his mum didn’t return home one day three years ago.
I loved reading how the story unfolded, as always in Gayle’s books there are moments that make you smile, moments that make you laugh & moments that make you cry, it’s an emotional rollercoaster that you enjoy every single minute of. It is a thought-provoking, cleverly executed story that can’t fail to leave you with a heartwarming, fuzzy feeling inside, reminding you to never ever give up hope - I didn’t want it to end!
“We can’t change what’s already happened, all we can do is deal with what’s in front of us”
Needless to say I am a huge Mike Gayle fan so have excitedly been counting down to this latest release, and once again, the wait was most definitely worth it!
Mike has a wonderful talent of producing titles that are full of characters that you fall in love with instantly, accompanied by a beautiful, heartfelt story, written in his unique, embracing, captivating & emotional style.
Hope Street is no exception, introducing us to Lila, a character that knows what she wants, her journey in this title being one of deeper self-discovery. And then there’s Connor, someone who doesn’t believe in himself but lives in a world of gentle naivety, but with one clear focus; wanting to know what happened when his mum didn’t return home one day three years ago.
I loved reading how the story unfolded, as always in Gayle’s books there are moments that make you smile, moments that make you laugh & moments that make you cry, it’s an emotional rollercoaster that you enjoy every single minute of. It is a thought-provoking, cleverly executed story that can’t fail to leave you with a heartwarming, fuzzy feeling inside, reminding you to never ever give up hope - I didn’t want it to end!
“We can’t change what’s already happened, all we can do is deal with what’s in front of us”
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I really enjoyed this multi-person narrative about the remaining resident of Hope Street and his refusal to move because he must wait for his mother to return home. Connor's Mum went missing 3 years earlier and with the council having plans to demolish his estate to make way for a new housing development, Connor tries everything to stay in the house.
He befriends a journalist, Lila, who interviews him for a local paper and ends up helping him try to track down his Mum. His childhood friend, Marcus (son of his Mum' best friend) also helps, resulting in an unlikely trio banding together on the hunt for answers and justice.
It's an emotional story without being twee and the three narrators are all likeable, particularly Connor, who Whilst tracking down Connor's Mum is prevalent to the story, the author is keen to highlight the abomination and callous behaviour that some local councils have towards the less needy.
One downside - I felt the Adele story arc was unnecessary - I can see why the author wanted to include it but the story was strong enough on its own to highlight Connor's plight.
All in all a captivating read.
He befriends a journalist, Lila, who interviews him for a local paper and ends up helping him try to track down his Mum. His childhood friend, Marcus (son of his Mum' best friend) also helps, resulting in an unlikely trio banding together on the hunt for answers and justice.
It's an emotional story without being twee and the three narrators are all likeable, particularly Connor, who Whilst tracking down Connor's Mum is prevalent to the story, the author is keen to highlight the abomination and callous behaviour that some local councils have towards the less needy.
One downside - I felt the Adele story arc was unnecessary - I can see why the author wanted to include it but the story was strong enough on its own to highlight Connor's plight.
All in all a captivating read.
Usual Mike Gayle full of wonderful characters that you care for. 20 something Connor is vulnerable with learning difficulties. He lives alone on Hope Street - the only resident left. Hope Street has been earmarked by the council for demolition. All the other occupants have left but not Connor - he is refusing to leave. Lila works for the local newspaper and her editor sends her to interview Connor. She gets drawn into his story because the reason he won’t move is that he is waiting for his mum to come home. Three years previous she walked out and never came back. He won’t move because when she comes back, how will she find him? We see his back story, the love his mum, Bernie, has for him. We see her story as well. The other characters just leap off the page. Alan, who works with Connor, Marcus who grew up with Connor and is his best friend, Adele who was thgirl who made Connor’s life a misery when he was at school. Connor is someone whose side you are on, you are drawn to him and the author sends you on an emotional rollercoaster. We even have romance. A lovely story and a true Mike Gayle.
I love when a new Mike Gayle book comes out as you know you will get a well-written story with a varied, believable and relatable cast of characters who you are rooting for before you know it! Hope Street was no different and I highly recommend if you are in the mood for a warm hug of a read!
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Lila is a journalist for the local newspaper the Derby Echo. She is following the footsteps of her grandfather who was also one. But she dreams that one day she will work for one of the National newspapers in London. She is asked by her Boss to cover a news story of the last remaining resident of a housing estate called Cossington Park. Connor lives in Hope Street, and he refuses to move as he thinks his mother will return home. His mother Bernie left home 3 years ago and never returned home. Connor believes that one day she will come home.
When Lila hears of Connor’s plight. She agrees with her investigated skills to help Connor finding his mother and she will also het a great scoop for the front page of the local rag.
When you read a Mike Gayle story you know that it will never disappoint you. I have read several of his books now and ‘Hope Street’ is no exception. This is another beautifully written heartwarming story that will tug at your heartstrings. This is story of hope and friendship and finding love. This is such a beautiful read. I highly recommend. 5 stars from me.