Hope Street by Mike Gayle

 

Thirty-year-old Connor is the last remaining resident of Hope Street. Despite repeated warnings from the council he refuses to move out. When local newspaper reporter Lila gets hold of the story she discovers the heartbreaking reason for Connor's refusal to move.

Mike Gayle is one of those authors who you know is guaranteed to tug at the heartstrings and Hope Street is no different. Filled with wonderful characters and a plight that would melt the coldest heart the reader can't help but become immersed in the story.

The book opening does pull you up a little as we join 64-year-old Bernie McLaughlin taking a cup of tea to her 27-year-old son Connor who is still in bed. You immediately form an unfavourable opinion of Connor, thinking he's a layabout. Bernie then leaves the house, telling her son she has a few errands to run.

We then rejoin the story three years later and discover Connor living alone in the house on Hope Street, his mother has been missing for three years having never returned from her day out. It is slowly revealed that the reason Connor was still living with his mother was because he has a learning disability. He's had a job in the local DIY store since he was sixteen and copes well on a day-to-day basis because he likes routines. 

When the local newspaper hears about the sole resident of soon-to-be demolished Hope Street they send a local reporter to find out more about the story. Reporter Lila is sucked into Connor's life when she learns about his mother's disappearance. Connor has never given up the belief that his mother will return. He is worried that if he moves and Hope Street is knocked down she won't be able to find him. Lila promises Connor that she will help him try to find his mother.

Hope Street is the perfect title as your hopes are raised, then dashed, then raised again as Lila investigates what happened to Bernie. Not everything centres around Connor either, some of the other characters have issues to contend with. The author also uses the story to shine a light on some real-life problems but this is done with a light touch so as not to detract too much from an uplifting tale.

I was dreading the conclusion, particularly after  Mike Gayle's last novel, A Song Of Me And You. My heart was in my mouth as the events from three years ago were slowly revealed, bringing tears to my eyes.

Hope Street by Mike Gayle will be published on 6th February 2025 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for a review copy.

Author Details

Mike Gayle was born and raised in Birmingham. After graduating from Salford University with a degree in Sociology, he moved to London to pursue a career in journalism and worked as a features editor and agony uncle. He has written for a variety of publications including The Sunday Times, the Guardian and Cosmopolitan. Mike became a full-time novelist in 1997 following the publication of his Sunday Times top ten bestseller My Legendary Girlfriend, which was hailed by the Independent as ‘full of belly laughs and painfully acute observations’, and by The Times as ‘a funny, frank account of a hopeless romantic’. Since then he has written eighteen novels, including The Man I Think I Know, selected as a World Book Night title, and Half A World Away, selected for the Richard and Judy Book Club. His books have been translated into more than thirty languages. In 2021, Mike was the recipient of the Outstanding Achievement Award from the Romantic Novelists’ Association. He lives in Birmingham with his wife, kids and greyhound

We All Live Here by Jojo Moyes

 

Lila Kennedy's life is in turmoil. Her house is falling down around her, her teenage daughter has reached the rebellious phase, her agent is pestering her for the book she hasn't even started writing, and each day she has to face the woman her husband abandoned his family for at the school gates. The last thing she needs is her estranged father turning up on her doorstep.

I've read the odd book by Jojo Moyes in the past but I wouldn't call myself a "fan". I've mentioned in a previous post that I sickened myself with chic lit thirty years ago and Jojo Moyes always seemed to sit firmly in that category as far as I was concerned. The synopsis for We All Live Here grabbed my attention and has completely changed my opinion of the author's writing.

I loved every word of this tale of the messy lives of a blended family. Lila is struggling to cope. She's still not come to terms with the death of her mother or the fact that her husband, Dan, has left her for another woman. Shortly before Dan left the couple bought a large house with the intention of doing it up, unfortunately, it's turned into a money pit. To make matters worse finances have become a problem. The money from her best-selling self-help book, ironically about reinvigorating a stale marriage, has just about gone and Lila's struggling to even start her next book. Added to this misery is the fact that Lila has to see the other woman every day at the primary school gates.

The couple have joint custody of their daughters. Violet is a precocious child with an obsession for x-rated rap lyrics and poo. As you would expect Violet has no filter. Celia is sixteen and has reached that moody and rebellious phase where all adults are the enemy and parents are the absolute worst.

And then there's Bill, her stepfather. Bill has been there for most of her life after her real father, Gene, abandoned Lila and her mother for a life of fame. Bill has been lost since his wife died and has moved in to "support" Lila. 

The sudden appearance of Gene is a catalyst for everyone. There is immediate friction between Bill and Gene, to the extent that Lila compares it to having two toddlers to deal with. Gene is self-centred and flaky, you immediately dislike him, but as the story progresses you begin to realise that he's unselfish, bighearted and altruistic. 

Each character is so well written that as the story focuses on them and the issues they are dealing with you feel every emotion, particularly for Lila who is trying to hold everything together, striving for perfection instead of accepting "good enough". I cared deeply about what happened to everyone, especially when Jojo Moyes avoided a series of saccharin-coated plot points and threw in a couple of anguishing moments. The story reminds us that life isn't perfect, it's chaotic, challenging and unexpected. We need to learn to enjoy what we have and embrace the imperfections. 

We All Live Here by Jojo Moyes will be published on 11th February 2025 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for a review copy.

Author Details

Jojo Moyes is a novelist and screenwriter. Her books include the bestsellers Me Before You, After You and Still Me, The One Plus One, The Giver of Stars, Someone Else's Shoes and her short story collection Paris for One and Other Stories. Jojo's novels have been translated into forty-six languages, have hit the number one spot in twelve countries and have sold over fifty-seven million copies worldwide. Me Before You has now sold over fourteen million copies worldwide and was adapted into a major film starring Sam Claflin and Emilia Clarke. In 2023, Jojo joined BBC Maestro’s online platform of world-class experts with her course, Writing Love Stories, which is available now. Jojo lives in the UK.

The Many Futures Of Maddy Hart by Laura Pearson

 

Teenager Maddy Hart has her whole life ahead of her, a life full of wonders and possibilities. Her first experience of sex isn't quite what she expected as it gives her a glimpse of her life ten years in the future - and she doesn't like what she sees. This happens each time she has sex and as a result Maddy quickly swears off relationships altogether, until she meets Oliver.

Laura Pearson's last two books have had novel plots and The Many Futures Of Maddy Hart is the same. As a teenager, Maddy discovers that when she has a sexual encounter she gets a glimpse of her life ten years into the future. She doesn't like the life on display each time and after a while decides to avoid relationships completely. Instead, she's going to concentrate on her career as an actress.

Becoming a successful actress isn't easy and Maddy ends up taking some strange jobs. Through one of these jobs she meets Oliver, another aspiring actor. The description of the actual job is hilarious, you can feel Maddy's astonishment and then indignation at having to demean herself.

There is a spark between Maddy and Oliver but Maddy doesn't think their paths will ever cross again. Fate has other ideas. And that is the crux of the story, what if our fate is already mapped out for us? A little bit like "sliding doors", Maddy can glimpse her future if she stays with her current partner. This peek into her future allows her to change course if she doesn't like what she sees.

When Maddy finally begins a relationship with Oliver the flashes of their future look perfect. Eventually, Maddy begins to question what she sees, realising that she's been making assumptions about the intervening ten years and this has a major impact on her relationship with Oliver.

I loved all the conundrums Maddy's "curse" (or is it a blessing?) raised. How sure can Maddy be that the visions of the future are real and will actually happen? There's also a big question about what it means if Maddy sees nothing at all? Will Maddy keep getting glimpses of the future for the rest of her life? What should she do if she learns information that could impact a friend's future? All these questions, and more, are ones that the reader ponders alongside Maddy.

Maddy has to make some difficult decisions that effect not only her and Oliver but also her wider family. As I read I felt my heart breaking because Maddy couldn't explain her actions to the people around her. 

The Many Futures Of Maddy Hart by Laura Pearson will be published on 4th February 2025 in paperback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for a review copy.

Author Details

Laura Pearson is the author of seven novels. The Last List of Mabel Beaumont was a Kindle number one bestseller in the UK and a top ten bestseller in the US. Laura lives in Leicestershire, England, with her husband, their two children, and a cat who likes to lie on her keyboard while she tries to write.

The Queen Of Fives by Alex Hay (Audiobook)

 

Quinn Le Blanc is the best con woman in Victorian London. Working with her team of likewise criminals she sets out to ensnare a wealthy husband in five days.

Although I'm a big fan of crime and thrillers I tend to steer away from reading historical crime. The opportunity to listen to the audiobook of The Queen Of Fives by Alex Hay seemed an ideal way to rectify this.

You are straight into the story thanks to the excellent narration of Polly Edsell and the almost thirteen hours of audio never felt overly long or tedious thanks to the many twists. Quinn is the lead confidence trickster of The Chateau, a criminal fraternity based in London. Their aim is to separate wealthy individuals from their money, usually bankers, and they have a strict set of rules they abide by.

With no obvious mark in sight, Quinn decides to use an old tactic from their playbook and ensnare someone with a title. According to their rules, she needs to meet and marry the man all within the space of five days. Thankfully, the small world of the privileged classes makes this a possibility with the right introductions and a beautiful wardrobe.

The narration switches regularly between Quinn, her partner-in-crime, the Duke she has set her sights on and his sister. Alongside this we also hear from another voice, someone watching from the sidelines, not connected to any of the main characters.

I felt completely immersed in high society thanks to the brilliant descriptions and was intrigued as the story progressed. As we got to know each character better we discovered that they were hiding secrets, secrets that they would do anything to keep hidden. It also became obvious that despite the meticulous planning of Quinn and her partner someone was trying to sabotage their exploits. I was sorry when the story reached its conclusion, I could have easily listened to more of Quinn Le Blanc's escapades.

The Queen Of Fives by Alex Hay will be published on 30th January 2025 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Headline Publishing Group for a review copy.

Author Details

Alex Hay grew up in Cambridge and Cardiff and has been writing as long as he can remember. He studied History at the University of York, and wrote his dissertation on female power at royal courts, combing the archives for every scrap of drama and skulduggery he could find. He has worked in magazine publishing and the charity sector, and is a graduate of the Curtis Brown Write Your Novel course. His debut novel The Housekeepers won the Caledonia Novel Award 2022 and was published to great critical acclaim. Alex lives with his husband in South East London

Instructions For Heartbreak by Sarah Handyside

 

Katie, Liv, Dee and Rosa have been friends since university. Katie's world falls apart when her boyfriend of nine years ends the relationship. Turning to her closest friends for support they offer advice for surviving the grieving process.

I can't resist a quirky title, or cover, and Instructions For Heartbreak by Sarah Handyside offered both. Probably because of the title and cover I was expecting something more akin to romantic fiction. However, the book really is a guide for surviving the anguish following the end of a long-term relationship with the steps following those of the grief process after a bereavement.

The women met at university and have all ended up working in London. Liv, Dee and Rosa share a home while Katie lives with her boyfriend Chris. When Chris suddenly announces the relationship isn't working for him Katie flees to the safe haven of her friends. You are immediately sucked into Katie's world. Sarah Handyside clearly conveys the suffering and disbelief she is experiencing. Any woman who has suffered the end of a relationship will be thankful that Katie has friends willing to throw their protective arms around her. This really is a story about the power of female friendship.

After a drunken evening denigrating Chris the women decide to write a handbook for Katie offering help and advice to suvive the coming months. Having all had relationships end over the past year the friends are ideally placed to offer guidance. It was at this point that I found the storyline became too introspective.

Just like the grieving process following bereavement, healing a broken heart isn't linear and it's not a one-size-fits-all model. I am sure that readers will recognise elements of the healing process in their own break-ups. 

While I sympathised with Katie I didn't really warm to the other female characters. No doubt this story will resonate with Millennials or someone who has recently seen a relationship crumble. Unfortunately, it didn't work for me.

Instructions For Heartbreak by Sarah Handyside will be published on 30th January 2025 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for a review copy.

Author Details

Sarah Handyside is a Northumbrian in London, a former communications consultant and a current government policy advisor. She lives with her husband and two children. The opening pages of Instructions for Heartbreak were longlisted for the Curtis Brown First Novel Award.

Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister

 

Camilla Deschamps is flustered, she's returning to work following maternity leave. The note left by her husband Luke before he left the house is unusual but not enough to worry her until she receives a visit from the police informing her that Luke is involved in a hostage situation.

I only discovered author Gillian McAllister a couple of years ago when it seemed like everyone was talking about Wrong Place Wrong Time. I loved the book and the author's following novel, Just Another Missing Person. When the chance to read and review  Famous Last Words came up I leapt at the chance, knowing I wouldn't be disappointed.

What follows is probably one of my shortest-ever reviews because I don't want to spoil anything for the reader. It's clear from the outset that Cam and Luke have a happy marriage, so when Luke holds hostages at gunpoint in a warehouse Cam is filled with disbelief. I felt every emotion as Cam tried to understand her husband's motivation. What would possess a quiet and unassuming writer to turn violent?

The hostage situation becomes a watershed moment for Cam, splitting her life into before and after. Still unable to comprehend what had driven her husband to commit such a terrible crime she decides to investigate, tracking what her husband was doing in the days before the incident and discovers that he was keeping secrets. You can also feel the turmoil she suffers as she has to continue living her life and protecting her daughter from the knowledge of what her father did.

The reasons behind the crime are slowly revealed, but that doesn't mean the storyline is slow, the way in which the author has broken the story in to sections makes for a pacey read. Revelations are impossible to guess as twist after twist is uncovered.

Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister will be published on 30th January 2025 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for a review copy.

Author Details

Gillian McAllister is the Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author of nine stand-alone novels. Her books have been selected for the Radio 2 Book Club, Reese's Book Club and the Richard & Judy Book Club. Her previous novel, Wrong Place Wrong Time, was a Waterstones Thriller of the Month and was shortlisted for The British Book Awards 2023 Crime & Thriller Book of the Year and the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year. Gillian's books are published in thirty-eight languages.