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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
2.5⭐️
This book broke my heart, and not really in a good way.. there are MAJOR trigger warnings associated with this book (drug addiction, multiple deaths, cancer) and for being called “A Little Hope” I found myself searching and searching for the hopeful moments. It felt like one depressing thought after another.
I liked the small town setting and how thoughtfully the characters were woven into each others lives, however there were SO many characters and only 20 chapters. This left each character with one, maybe 2 short chapters each. The final chapter did include everyone and it was clear it had tried to wrap things up, but I did find myself searching for more about each characters story and what happened next. The only characters I felt fully wrapped up were Greg and Freddie (yay!) but that did leave a lot left untold.
This book broke my heart, and not really in a good way.. there are MAJOR trigger warnings associated with this book (drug addiction, multiple deaths, cancer) and for being called “A Little Hope” I found myself searching and searching for the hopeful moments. It felt like one depressing thought after another.
I liked the small town setting and how thoughtfully the characters were woven into each others lives, however there were SO many characters and only 20 chapters. This left each character with one, maybe 2 short chapters each. The final chapter did include everyone and it was clear it had tried to wrap things up, but I did find myself searching for more about each characters story and what happened next. The only characters I felt fully wrapped up were Greg and Freddie (yay!) but that did leave a lot left untold.
This book makes you feel like you’re in the town and you know the people. It makes you feel so many emotions as you read through it. I’m already ready for a reread.
Welcome to Wharton, a quiet little town in Connecticut. All seems peaceful, but what goes on behind the doors of this small town? We are about to get a glimpse into the lives of some of Wharton's residents, as we follow their trials and tribulations, their loves and losses... and get an intricate picture of how their little private bubbles interconnect.
Let's begin with the family that sit at the centre of what is to follow: the Tyler family. Freddie and Greg seem to have it all, with a lovely house on the edge of the woods, a beautiful daughter Addie, and the obligatory pet cat and dog to complete the picture of domestic bliss. But things are about to unravel in this household - Greg has been diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer, and while he is determined to tackle his illness head-on, the future of this American Dream is uncertain.
Then we meet Greg's boss Alex Lionel, and his wife Kay, who have endured years of unbearable grief after the loss of their son in a tragic accident. Alex looks upon Greg as a surrogate son, something openly acknowledged between him and Kay, but Alex also holds a secret - one that Kay cannot bear to come to terms with in her seemingly never-ending anguish about the future that was denied them.
Meanwhile, Freddie's boss Darcy Colley misses her late husband Von terribly, and worries constantly about her son Luke and the direction his life has taken; as Luke struggles to get his life back on track, reeling from the death of his father, and for ever regretting the loss of Ginger the one true love of his life. Ginger Lord is also back in town to be a bridesmaid, thinking about what might have been with Luke; the bride Suzette has last minute jitters; and groomsman Ahmed is pondering whether he will ever find true love.
The next few months will tell which of Wharton's close-knit community will sink or swim, but there's always hope, isn't there?
A Little Hope is one of those shining literary jewels that perfectly sums up what it means to be human. Ethan Joella writes beautifully about the rhythm of life, its peaks and troughs, and the way the lives of those in a small community interconnect, by taking you through a few months of small town existence in Wharton. This is a quietly intense story, that draws you in and stirs your emotions in a profoundly moving way, simply by looking behind the facade of the public images we show to the world at large. There are no bells and whistles here, despite our characters experiencing some significant life-altering moments, but in the hands of a talented writer, real life is more than enough.
The focus of this story is a family whose happiness is shattered by a diagnosis that throws everything into uncertainty. Greg, perhaps not yet understanding the full implications of his condition, tries to carry on as normal, but it is clear from the outset that Freddie is unable to do the same. Her fear is paralysing, and her mind cannot help but run on into what this means for them all. Through them, we are introduced to the wider community and their own private sorrows - Greg's boss Alex and his wife Kay, still finding a way to cope with the loss of their son, and the fracture in their relationship that it caused; and Freddie's boss Darcy, attempting to come to terms with the recent death of her beloved husband, and the distance that has arisen between her and her son Luke.
Like trailing vines that weave beyond these characters, we come to know more members of the Wharton community, and the full impact of the experiences that have shaped them. I loved how for each new character we meet, spreading out through different parts of the community like a chain reaction as their lives touch, we quickly become intimate with their hopes, dreams and worries - often bringing with it the knowledge of the stark differences between the faces they show to their family, friends and neighbours, and their inner turmoil. By and large, they share the connection of how grief, fear and regret dictate their interactions with the world, which I think is essentially true for us all - especially as you get older. So much of what happens in this book strikes a chord, and rings with truth, which is the mark of an insightful writer.
At each turn, Joella gets to the heart of what makes these people who they are, and how their lives reverberate with those they come into contact with. The community itself takes on the sense that it is a living, breathing thing, with each person being an integrated part of something much bigger. There is a wonderfully circular notion about the whole piece too, that brings us full circle by the time we reach the end of our time in Wharton, which I found very powerful.
I cannot express quite how impressive this life-affirming debut really is. As an exploration of humanity; the things we cling to; the moments we ponder about the road not taken; and our fears that the future we envisaged can be snatched away from us all too easily, this is magnificent. There is a lot of loss in this story, but underpinning all there lies the comforting whisper of hope, and this makes it utterly compelling. I absorbed this little beauty in one delicious bite, and sobbed when I reached the final page.
This is a serious contender for my book of 2022, which is saying a lot, and I cannot wait for Joella's second novel, A Quiet Life, which is out in November 2022. If you enjoy the kind of genuine and many layered tale that Elizabeth Strout makes look so easy, then you will love this!
Let's begin with the family that sit at the centre of what is to follow: the Tyler family. Freddie and Greg seem to have it all, with a lovely house on the edge of the woods, a beautiful daughter Addie, and the obligatory pet cat and dog to complete the picture of domestic bliss. But things are about to unravel in this household - Greg has been diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer, and while he is determined to tackle his illness head-on, the future of this American Dream is uncertain.
Then we meet Greg's boss Alex Lionel, and his wife Kay, who have endured years of unbearable grief after the loss of their son in a tragic accident. Alex looks upon Greg as a surrogate son, something openly acknowledged between him and Kay, but Alex also holds a secret - one that Kay cannot bear to come to terms with in her seemingly never-ending anguish about the future that was denied them.
Meanwhile, Freddie's boss Darcy Colley misses her late husband Von terribly, and worries constantly about her son Luke and the direction his life has taken; as Luke struggles to get his life back on track, reeling from the death of his father, and for ever regretting the loss of Ginger the one true love of his life. Ginger Lord is also back in town to be a bridesmaid, thinking about what might have been with Luke; the bride Suzette has last minute jitters; and groomsman Ahmed is pondering whether he will ever find true love.
The next few months will tell which of Wharton's close-knit community will sink or swim, but there's always hope, isn't there?
A Little Hope is one of those shining literary jewels that perfectly sums up what it means to be human. Ethan Joella writes beautifully about the rhythm of life, its peaks and troughs, and the way the lives of those in a small community interconnect, by taking you through a few months of small town existence in Wharton. This is a quietly intense story, that draws you in and stirs your emotions in a profoundly moving way, simply by looking behind the facade of the public images we show to the world at large. There are no bells and whistles here, despite our characters experiencing some significant life-altering moments, but in the hands of a talented writer, real life is more than enough.
The focus of this story is a family whose happiness is shattered by a diagnosis that throws everything into uncertainty. Greg, perhaps not yet understanding the full implications of his condition, tries to carry on as normal, but it is clear from the outset that Freddie is unable to do the same. Her fear is paralysing, and her mind cannot help but run on into what this means for them all. Through them, we are introduced to the wider community and their own private sorrows - Greg's boss Alex and his wife Kay, still finding a way to cope with the loss of their son, and the fracture in their relationship that it caused; and Freddie's boss Darcy, attempting to come to terms with the recent death of her beloved husband, and the distance that has arisen between her and her son Luke.
Like trailing vines that weave beyond these characters, we come to know more members of the Wharton community, and the full impact of the experiences that have shaped them. I loved how for each new character we meet, spreading out through different parts of the community like a chain reaction as their lives touch, we quickly become intimate with their hopes, dreams and worries - often bringing with it the knowledge of the stark differences between the faces they show to their family, friends and neighbours, and their inner turmoil. By and large, they share the connection of how grief, fear and regret dictate their interactions with the world, which I think is essentially true for us all - especially as you get older. So much of what happens in this book strikes a chord, and rings with truth, which is the mark of an insightful writer.
At each turn, Joella gets to the heart of what makes these people who they are, and how their lives reverberate with those they come into contact with. The community itself takes on the sense that it is a living, breathing thing, with each person being an integrated part of something much bigger. There is a wonderfully circular notion about the whole piece too, that brings us full circle by the time we reach the end of our time in Wharton, which I found very powerful.
I cannot express quite how impressive this life-affirming debut really is. As an exploration of humanity; the things we cling to; the moments we ponder about the road not taken; and our fears that the future we envisaged can be snatched away from us all too easily, this is magnificent. There is a lot of loss in this story, but underpinning all there lies the comforting whisper of hope, and this makes it utterly compelling. I absorbed this little beauty in one delicious bite, and sobbed when I reached the final page.
This is a serious contender for my book of 2022, which is saying a lot, and I cannot wait for Joella's second novel, A Quiet Life, which is out in November 2022. If you enjoy the kind of genuine and many layered tale that Elizabeth Strout makes look so easy, then you will love this!
3.5 stars, rounded up. A sweet, sad, quick read with some nice insights on grief and hope. A few of the stories felt underdeveloped because of the short length of the book, and by the end a plot point or two stretched credulity. But overall I really enjoyed it and would read this author again.
This book was a beautiful contemporary fiction. From Goodreads “This book explores the intertwining lives of a dozen neighbors as they confront everyday desires and fears: a lost love, a stalled career, an illness, and a betrayal.” Reading each story unfolds was magical and immersive. It is interesting to read how each character relates to the other, how each web is woven.
Reading this book really made me think of the connections in my own life. How I am connected to my friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, and even the grocery store workers. Each interaction is a chance to make a difference with someone else, you don’t know the struggles they may be going through. That is why I enjoy reading books like this occasionally, they make me reflect on my own life and what is important to me.
I gave this book 4/5 stars. It was a great read.
Reading this book really made me think of the connections in my own life. How I am connected to my friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, and even the grocery store workers. Each interaction is a chance to make a difference with someone else, you don’t know the struggles they may be going through. That is why I enjoy reading books like this occasionally, they make me reflect on my own life and what is important to me.
I gave this book 4/5 stars. It was a great read.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
89: A Little Hope by Ethan Joella
This is a delightful read! Though the content is surely the perfect parallel blend to real life of drama and joy and tragedy and blessing, and thus not all "delightful" to read, the writing is fantastic, and I would certainly call this a highly successful debut novel overall. I am truly bummed to learn that there is not more of Joella's writing to next read--yet!
I am tickled to learn that Joella himself took a lot of time to get to doing this writing/publishing place after having been teaching others to work on theirs for so long. That all gives me..."a little hope!"
These many characters--Darcy and Freddie and Greg and Luke and Ginger and Suzette and Ahmed and others--whose lives all intersect in some way or ways, sometimes with a degree or so of separation, are each believable and relevant and interesting...and each contain an aspect or many quite relatable to readers. Their lives shared here, as they are being lived and/or have been built in the sweet town of Wharton, Connecticut, are all worth living...and very much worth reading about.
Additionally, Joella's selection of details to include to enhance and support this place, these times, these people, is just spot on: nothing excessive or irrelevant but richly presented to fully color in the reader's impressions and mostly very neatly within the lines. It is a beautiful book about lives ordinary and what happens for some of those with and some of those without "a little hope."
My copy is available for borrowing from my personal lending library, as I am always happy to share.
This is a delightful read! Though the content is surely the perfect parallel blend to real life of drama and joy and tragedy and blessing, and thus not all "delightful" to read, the writing is fantastic, and I would certainly call this a highly successful debut novel overall. I am truly bummed to learn that there is not more of Joella's writing to next read--yet!
I am tickled to learn that Joella himself took a lot of time to get to doing this writing/publishing place after having been teaching others to work on theirs for so long. That all gives me..."a little hope!"
These many characters--Darcy and Freddie and Greg and Luke and Ginger and Suzette and Ahmed and others--whose lives all intersect in some way or ways, sometimes with a degree or so of separation, are each believable and relevant and interesting...and each contain an aspect or many quite relatable to readers. Their lives shared here, as they are being lived and/or have been built in the sweet town of Wharton, Connecticut, are all worth living...and very much worth reading about.
Additionally, Joella's selection of details to include to enhance and support this place, these times, these people, is just spot on: nothing excessive or irrelevant but richly presented to fully color in the reader's impressions and mostly very neatly within the lines. It is a beautiful book about lives ordinary and what happens for some of those with and some of those without "a little hope."
My copy is available for borrowing from my personal lending library, as I am always happy to share.
emotional
inspiring
A really good Debut novel, I really enjoyed this story.
Every detail works to make this book and each of its characters feel real and honest and tug at all the reader’s emotions. I loved how it all came together in the end too!