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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-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:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
So happy to be reading another of Mike Gayle’s books! His writing style is very comforting and the characters in his stories are so down to earth. I rooted for Connor the whole way through and fell in love with many of the supporting characters as well - shout out Alan 😂
A really lovely story - not quite 5 stars as I didn’t care too much for the romance sub plot but would recommend overall for a charming read ☺️
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Cosy domestic drama
—
For an easy and digestible read, Gayle hits it out the park again, following the gentle tale of Connor, living alone in his council house after his mum’s disappearance three years before, and local journalist Lila who promises to help Connor, even while she faces her own life challenges at work and at home.
Told in alternating chapters, the mystery of Connor’s mum is the glue that holds together multiple domestic plots including romance and families. With moments of light peril and good character moments, this would be good for dipping into, the story never losing sight of its eventual goal.
Three and a half stars.
—
For an easy and digestible read, Gayle hits it out the park again, following the gentle tale of Connor, living alone in his council house after his mum’s disappearance three years before, and local journalist Lila who promises to help Connor, even while she faces her own life challenges at work and at home.
Told in alternating chapters, the mystery of Connor’s mum is the glue that holds together multiple domestic plots including romance and families. With moments of light peril and good character moments, this would be good for dipping into, the story never losing sight of its eventual goal.
Three and a half stars.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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:
Complicated
I really enjoyed this book as it's a heartfelt emotional story. Told from 3 points of view, Bernie, the loveable main character Connor and Lila. It covers loads of different themes, such as; abandonment, neurodivergence, a missing mum, cheating partners, new romances, job struggles, developing romantic relationships, eviction, regeneration of urban areas, and bullying, to name a some. It's beautifully written, and whilst there are many themes they do come to together for an interesting, engaging read. Told with some flashbacks, it is heartbreaking, not all rosey, and some parts are difficult to read, but you really get involved with Connor and his life. Bernie, his mum, disappears. Lila is a journalist who is sent to cover a story as to why Connor is refusing to leave his home due to a planned redevelopment with eviction on the cards as he wants his mum to come home to their Hope Street house. They become friends, and Lila agrees to help him find her. It's an easy, gentle, but compelling read. It's touching, moving funny, romantic, uplifting, with beautifully developed relatable characters. Your heartstrings are tenderly plucked and skillfully by the author. A book to fall in love with. I loved it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Hate crime, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Pandemic/Epidemic
emotional
hopeful
sad
slow-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:
Complicated
Hope Street is a heartfelt and emotionally rich read that kept me hooked with its many intertwining storylines: a missing person, neurodivergence, eviction, cheating exes, new romance, job struggles, bullying, and emotional flashbacks. Despite the number of threads, the story never felt overwhelming, and it all came together beautifully. I really appreciated that not all the storylines had a happy ending, but they still felt neatly tied up by the final page. If you love Beth O’Leary or Helly Acton’s books, this one is definitely for you!
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
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:
Yes
My Review –
Fot those that follow me you will know I’m a firm crime fiction/thriller reader, however sometimes I see a book cover and just know that it will be brilliant even if its outside my normal genre, and that was exactly what happened with Hope Street. I didn’t even read the blurb, I just brought it knowing I would love it!
Hope Street is a very easy read, that doesn’t mean its got no substance, it is a gripping and compelling read, and one that consumed me over the period of three days it took me to read it.
Lila, a journalist on a local paper, is assigned a job reporting on a new development that’s being held up by one resident who won’t move out. Connor is the last resident of Hope Street, but he can’t move yet, his Mum went missing three years ago, and he just knows she’s coming home, and he plans to stay in their home until she turns up.
Hope Street follows the story of Lila and Connor, and their quest to find Bernie, Connor’s missing Mum. A mystery that must be solved so that Connor will agree to move out of Hope Street. I absolutely adored Connor, he is a special & lovely character who will affect anyone who reads Hope Street. Mike Gayle has written this character so well, with wit and charm and compassion, I was rooting for Connor all through the book!
I won’t give all the secrets away, but suffice to say this is a lovely, beautiful, uplifting and heartwarming novel that is exactly what’s needed in the dark times, it worked for me in making my heart swell and my mind feel a little lighter. I just adored Hope Street from the outset and am so pleased I used my skills at choosing books by their cover, knowing I would love it (it’s my superpower!). Having read Hope Street, I think I may see what other books by Mike Gayle I would like to read, because he is such a superb author and he has a great talent at writing about real people, which makes his books sing!
A massive 5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star read, and one I would thoroughly recommend.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No