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A review by beate251
Hope Street: The Emotional and Unforgettable Novel for Fans of Up by Mike Gayle
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? Yes
4.5
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for this ARC.
Bernie is 64 and mother to Connor, 27. Connor has learning disabilities and has been living with his mother all his life in Hope Street. He has a job in a DIY shop which he loves and is generally quite happy, as he is loved and safe with his mother, even though strangers can often be cruel.
Then the council start planning a housing development which means that Hope Street needs to be demolished to make way for it. One by one people leave until it's only Bernie and Connor left - and then Bernie mysteriously disappears without a trace.
Three years later, journalist Lila from the local paper gets a tip about the last remaining resident of Hope Street steadfastedly refusing to move and sets out to interview him. She ends up vowing to help Connor find his mother because Connor can't leave while she's missing. She is helped by Connors's best friend Marcus who is initially very sceptical about her and about good news for Connor.
This compelling story is told in dual POV between Connor and Lila, with flashbacks giving us Bernie's rather surprising story.
We get a good insight into the main characters, Connor's motivation and Lila's ambition for a job with a national paper in London. The ending is surprising, and while it's not solving everything the way people wanted, it's full of potential and hope.
However, I feel like the Adele subplot was unnecessary because the drama ultimately went nowhere and was solved too neatly.
This is an emotional and heartwarming story about friendship, loss and not giving up. Mike Gayle has long been a favourite author of mine and he once again proves why. Highly recommended if you loved Joe Nuthin's Guide to Life.
Bernie is 64 and mother to Connor, 27. Connor has learning disabilities and has been living with his mother all his life in Hope Street. He has a job in a DIY shop which he loves and is generally quite happy, as he is loved and safe with his mother, even though strangers can often be cruel.
Then the council start planning a housing development which means that Hope Street needs to be demolished to make way for it. One by one people leave until it's only Bernie and Connor left - and then Bernie mysteriously disappears without a trace.
Three years later, journalist Lila from the local paper gets a tip about the last remaining resident of Hope Street steadfastedly refusing to move and sets out to interview him. She ends up vowing to help Connor find his mother because Connor can't leave while she's missing. She is helped by Connors's best friend Marcus who is initially very sceptical about her and about good news for Connor.
This compelling story is told in dual POV between Connor and Lila, with flashbacks giving us Bernie's rather surprising story.
We get a good insight into the main characters, Connor's motivation and Lila's ambition for a job with a national paper in London. The ending is surprising, and while it's not solving everything the way people wanted, it's full of potential and hope.
However, I feel like the Adele subplot was unnecessary because the drama ultimately went nowhere and was solved too neatly.
This is an emotional and heartwarming story about friendship, loss and not giving up. Mike Gayle has long been a favourite author of mine and he once again proves why. Highly recommended if you loved Joe Nuthin's Guide to Life.