Hope Street – Book Review

Quick Review:- an emotional heartbreaking and fun story to read, that shows how community works together.

Rating:- 4.5/5

The greatest adventure is coming back home.

Lila Metcalfe is a trainee journalist in Derby and she’s very used to being given the stories that no one else wants. So, when her editor tells her that the city’s Cossington Park development is being held up by a solitary resident on Hope Street who is refusing to leave, she knows she is going to be the one sent to find out more. And that’s how she meets Connor.

Twenty-something Connor is the sole resident of Hope Street and he is not at all what Lila is expecting. And he has a very clear reason not to move: he is waiting for his mum to come home.

The uplifting and heartfelt new novel from the author of A Song of Me and You.

Lila is a journalist working for the small newspaper organization the Echo in Derby. She has a boyfriend in London and wants to be closer to him as she applied journalism jobs in and around London. When her boss wants her to write an article about a man who refuses to leave the childhood house as the council is taking over all the houses in Hope Street to build a park, Lila goes to interview Connor. What she finds is a heartbreaking story of Connor, who is waiting for his mother to safely return back home when she disappeared two years ago. Lila decides to help Connor finds his mother and promised to find his mother.

This was an emotional and uplifting story. Particularly when reading Connor’s part. You feel so much empathy and sympathy for Connor’s character and that you actually feel overjoyed when you see there are people in the community who supports and cares for Connor–like Alan, his co-worker, his friend and Lila. I like the past memories showing Connor’s mother before she disappeared, how she took care of little Connor and how this house in Hope Street is actually a special place for Connor as that was where he grew up. I also like his profound and wavering love towards his own mother, his willingness of not leaving the house until his mother returns home.

I also like Lila the journalist as well, even though she is dealing with her own personal drama with her boyfriend, she would do anything to help Connor find his mother.

This story talks about support, friendship and loyalty and of course empathy. It’s moving and emotional, particularly the ending part. I actually enjoyed reading the story, some parts are tear-jerking and the ending to me was great. The writing was great as the author did a great job, making the reader feel sorry for Connor’s character.

Overall, this story is worth 4.5 stars.