kriste's review against another edition
4.0
Loved the 2 main characters, but wanted more closure! I'm glad there is a second book!
skymama's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
michaela002's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Drug abuse, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Drug use, and Emotional abuse
cook_memorial_public_library's review against another edition
4.0
A 2018 staff favorite recommended by Erica. Check our catalog: https://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__Smy%20hope%20next%20door%20gray__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=gold
meezcarrie's review against another edition
4.0
Real characters dealing with real life, some really great chemistry and some really hot kisses – right up my alley!
Katie and Asher have both made mistakes they regret, but they come from very different backgrounds and have very different reputations to overcome. The classic “bad girl” image follows Katie around town, even at home, no matter how deeply she knows she is a new person. For Asher, it’s just the opposite. He has to fight the “pastor’s son” reputation – of being held to a higher standard by the church and by the community. Both are afraid for people to really see the depth of their failures, and both are weary of the facade each has been maintaining. One of the most beautiful and touching things to me about My Hope Next Door is watching their friendship develop and deepen – long before they fall in love – into one that allows them to be flawed safely with each other.
If you were a bit of a wild child before you met Jesus and you’ve got a past you regret, you (and Katie) will find much grace in this book. If you, like me, were the “good girl” but you have a moment you regret, you (and Asher… though he is not a girl lol) will find much grace in this book. If you find it difficult to move beyond your reputation, you will find much grace in this book. And if you’ve ever been bullied or belittled by people who should have been your biggest champions, you will find much grace in this book.
You will also find some fantastically fan-requiring kisses in My Hope Next Door! And a swoonworthy hero (once he sets his mind to pursue Katie… watch out!!) and a heroine you’ll want to hug. And an antagonist you’ll want to purse whomp – on a day when you’ve returned from the library with an extra large haul – at least until you find a whole lot of grace in his story too. You’ll also find one of my favorite depictions of a pastor and pastor’s wife ever – I adore Asher’s parents!!! Wise and compassionate and fun and full of … you guessed it …GRACE.
In fact, Tammy L. Gray wraps every page of My Hope Next Door in grace. Gray doesn’t shy away from the raw reality of brokenness but it’s written tastefully and with great care, and the spiritual elements are equally met head-on without being “in your face” or preachy. The main characters have an electric chemistry, but their romance is more of a slow burn – and the friendship that forms first is one of my favorite things about the book. But… never fear! Once the slow burn gets some heat behind it, you’ll need to break out your trusty fan for the kisses that follow! If you like Julie Lessman’s Isle of Hope series or Kristen Heitzmann’s novels, make sure you check out My Hope Next Door and Tammy L. Gray as well.
(I received a copy of this book in exchange for only my honest review.)
See my full review at Reading Is My SuperPower
Katie and Asher have both made mistakes they regret, but they come from very different backgrounds and have very different reputations to overcome. The classic “bad girl” image follows Katie around town, even at home, no matter how deeply she knows she is a new person. For Asher, it’s just the opposite. He has to fight the “pastor’s son” reputation – of being held to a higher standard by the church and by the community. Both are afraid for people to really see the depth of their failures, and both are weary of the facade each has been maintaining. One of the most beautiful and touching things to me about My Hope Next Door is watching their friendship develop and deepen – long before they fall in love – into one that allows them to be flawed safely with each other.
If you were a bit of a wild child before you met Jesus and you’ve got a past you regret, you (and Katie) will find much grace in this book. If you, like me, were the “good girl” but you have a moment you regret, you (and Asher… though he is not a girl lol) will find much grace in this book. If you find it difficult to move beyond your reputation, you will find much grace in this book. And if you’ve ever been bullied or belittled by people who should have been your biggest champions, you will find much grace in this book.
You will also find some fantastically fan-requiring kisses in My Hope Next Door! And a swoonworthy hero (once he sets his mind to pursue Katie… watch out!!) and a heroine you’ll want to hug. And an antagonist you’ll want to purse whomp – on a day when you’ve returned from the library with an extra large haul – at least until you find a whole lot of grace in his story too. You’ll also find one of my favorite depictions of a pastor and pastor’s wife ever – I adore Asher’s parents!!! Wise and compassionate and fun and full of … you guessed it …GRACE.
In fact, Tammy L. Gray wraps every page of My Hope Next Door in grace. Gray doesn’t shy away from the raw reality of brokenness but it’s written tastefully and with great care, and the spiritual elements are equally met head-on without being “in your face” or preachy. The main characters have an electric chemistry, but their romance is more of a slow burn – and the friendship that forms first is one of my favorite things about the book. But… never fear! Once the slow burn gets some heat behind it, you’ll need to break out your trusty fan for the kisses that follow! If you like Julie Lessman’s Isle of Hope series or Kristen Heitzmann’s novels, make sure you check out My Hope Next Door and Tammy L. Gray as well.
(I received a copy of this book in exchange for only my honest review.)
See my full review at Reading Is My SuperPower
bekaaaah's review against another edition
5.0
"Ignoring him wasn't working. As much as she wanted to push Asher away, as she'd been able to do with every other person in her life, she couldn't. He'd infiltrated and claimed some part of her soul." -Tammy L. Gray, My Hope Next Door
Wow, it took me a while but I finally finished this gorgeous novel. I think a part of me was trying to delay the end, I enjoyed everything about this story so much. Katie and Asher were perfection, each with difficult choices and mistakes in their past. They felt so undeniably human. Emotional and downright beautiful, I recommend to anyone looking for a romantic contemporary!
Wow, it took me a while but I finally finished this gorgeous novel. I think a part of me was trying to delay the end, I enjoyed everything about this story so much. Katie and Asher were perfection, each with difficult choices and mistakes in their past. They felt so undeniably human. Emotional and downright beautiful, I recommend to anyone looking for a romantic contemporary!
betherin02's review against another edition
5.0
Full review on Faithfully Bookish http://wp.me/p7ngfE-ic
Katie Stone is a small town bad girl who ran away and turned her life around. More accurately, God turned Katie’s life around only she’s having a hard time forgiving herself for her past mistakes.
Asher Powell is a straight-laced pastor’s son who set high standards for himself and stuck to the straight and narrow. My Hope Next Door is a sweet romance full of redemption and hope.
I received the opportunity to read and review this title through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own.
Katie Stone is a small town bad girl who ran away and turned her life around. More accurately, God turned Katie’s life around only she’s having a hard time forgiving herself for her past mistakes.
Asher Powell is a straight-laced pastor’s son who set high standards for himself and stuck to the straight and narrow. My Hope Next Door is a sweet romance full of redemption and hope.
I received the opportunity to read and review this title through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own.
jillie's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
5.0
I would give this 10 stars if I could. First book I’ve read from Tammy Gray & I will absolutely be reading more. This has automatically become my favorite Christian fiction novel.
Gray is an incredible writer. Her characters felt real. Their backgrounds & stories were so well fleshed out & I cried multiple times. The faith was genuine & not shoehorned in to the story.
I identified with some of what Katie has gone through & appreciated the hopeful, yet not completely wrapped up in a neat little bow, arc that she had. And Asher. What a great MMC!
I didn’t intend to read this in one sitting, but once I started I couldn’t stop.
CW: the ones I’ve marked as “Minor” are from Katie’s life before Christ & are mentioned as part of her story. The one I’ve marked “Moderate” has to do with how she reacts being back in certain situations.
1/31/23
Gray is an incredible writer. Her characters felt real. Their backgrounds & stories were so well fleshed out & I cried multiple times. The faith was genuine & not shoehorned in to the story.
I identified with some of what Katie has gone through & appreciated the hopeful, yet not completely wrapped up in a neat little bow, arc that she had. And Asher. What a great MMC!
I didn’t intend to read this in one sitting, but once I started I couldn’t stop.
CW: the ones I’ve marked as “Minor” are from Katie’s life before Christ & are mentioned as part of her story. The one I’ve marked “Moderate” has to do with how she reacts being back in certain situations.
1/31/23
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Toxic relationship, Addiction, and Drug abuse