Ahhhh, this book is so lovely! Annie Lyons writes with such warmth that you can feel it radiate from the pages! I kind of want to join a choir now, although I can't carry a tune at all! What a wonderful story!

An entertaining read. I especially enjoyed the focus on the choir and the joy that communal singing can bring.

Really enjoyable read. Good characters and a Good story. Well worth a read. Think others will enjoy.

Thank you to Net Galley and Harper Collins UK for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This was an uplifting story about how something unexpected that comes along in your life can be the biggest catalyst for change. Natalie is facing the revelation that her husband doesn't love her anymore and what that means for the family she once thought of as so happy. Caroline puts forth an image of perfection, yet she is dealing with her mother who has dementia and a not so perfect family life. When the two of them join forces with other neighbors to save the local community hall by forming a choir, this impacts them both in ways they never anticipated.
This was a enjoyable read even though at times the characters seemed a little one dimensional. Overall the story had a nice balance of humor and emotion.

A very interesting tale that held my attention all the way through. Great plot, twists and turns & the writing kept me hopping! Thanks for the opportunity with this ARC!

Another exciting eBook I was keen to read this year was the latest book from author Annie Lyons, called The Choir on Hope Street. It isn't Annie's first novel, but it is the first one I have read by this author. I had heard good things on Twitter about this book, and as someone who used to sing in choirs a lot when I was younger, I was looking forward to reading this one because it sounded just like my cup of tea. I have to confess to not being completely sold on the front cover, but I ploughed into it regardless.

The story tells the tale of two women, in very different places in their lives but thrown together for one cause. Nat has been left by her husband, who has suddenly decided he doesn't love her anymore. She's devastated, and doesn't know how she's going to get through, sure that he will realise he's made a mistake. Then there's another mum at the school, Caroline, who from the outside seems to have the perfect life. But when her mother's nursing home says Caroline has to take her mother in as they can't cope anymore, her perfect life is thrown into disarray, and Caroline is forced to face up to some serious home truths. Together, however, the women are determined to save the local community centre, and set about raising some serious funds, starting with the new Hope Street Choir. Will the woman overcome their personal obstacles to save the centre for the good of everyone?

I really enjoyed this book, and found the writing and the pace of the book to be very enjoyable throughout. I love how the story followed two very different women, united by one special cause. Too many local centres are being shut down these days due to lack of funding, and the way the ladies decide they have to save it and work together is very admirable, although a very big task! The creation of the Hope Street Choir sounds such fun, something I would love to do myself, and attracted all sorts of local people, some of which were fun to read about.

My favourite of the two women was Nat. the woman who has been left broken-hearted by her husband, and now has to raise her son as single parent, a daunting prospect for anyone. I admired how strong she was, how determined she was for her son to keep his relationship with his father, despite their personal upheaval. It was hard to read her upset, but I admired how determined she was to save the community centre, and keep her mind focused. I did struggle to warm to Caroline, found her quite stand-offish and didn't like her attitude towards her sick elderly mother. As the story goes on, things are revealed which explain why Caroline is how she is, but for me it just sat uneasily. However, I think her story will probably resonate with a few readers. Outwardly, she seemed to have it all - head of the PTA, handsome husband, beautiful home, but inside, she was falling apart, especially regarding her mother. Annie Lyons' writing about Caroline's mothers suffering, and the effect it has on the family was so well written, and was an emotional read.

The best part of the book, though, was the choir and their determination to win a competition which would secure funding to help save the community centre. I loved the competitive nature between the choirs, there was one in particular that did make me laugh out loud! I actually wish there was more of this throughout the book, but I did understand that the personal stories of Nat and Caroline were the main focus and obviously explained a lot about these characters. Annie Lyon's writing was excellent, she created a warm-hearted story with believable characters, and I found myself rooting for the choir to win and save the centre! I'll definitely be looking out for more from Annie Lyons, this was a great book, and one I can certainly recommend.

Wow, this book was so much more than I anticipated. It covers a roller coaster of emotions with real world situations. Each chapter alternates with Natalie and Caroline, the two main characters, telling the story. They are very different women. Natalie is fun, loves to joke around, is a children's author who has a very good relationship with her eight year old son Woody. Unfortunately, her marriage falls apart in the book. Caroline, is a perfectionist. She is very closed emotionally and wants to run everything. She is the president of the PTA and it is her goal to save the Hope Street Community Centre. Her family is well off financially, but she and her daughter Matilda (Tilly) do not have a very close relationship. That is one regret that Caroline has. Caroline is also dealing with her mother who has dimentia.

Even though their children are friends, Caroline and Natalie do not seem to know one another. They meet when Caroline knocks Natalie over by accident outside the school gates. Natalie is thinking about her marriage and not paying attention. Caroline offers to drive Natalie home and they discover they both live on the same street. Shortly after this, Caroline asks/demands/persuades Natalie and her friend Doly to join her committee to save Hope Street Community Centre. When they decide to start a Community Choir to draw attention to the campaign, Guy enters the story. He is the music teacher at their children's school and he agrees to conduct the choir. There is something mysterious about him. He looks familiar to Caroline, yet he is very closed and does not want to discuss his past. The story evolves from there.

I do not want to say anymore about the plot at this point except to say that the story moves quickly and I wanted to keep reading to see what was going to happen next. The author was able to tell the stories of the personal lives and problems the characters were dealing with in an entertaining way, yet not diminishing the emotional impact. Getting to know the characters has me changing my opinions of them throughout the story. I did not like Caroline at the beginning. She seemed very selfish and self-involved. She was rather snobbish and very unlikable. As the story went on, she changed dramatically and became one of my favourite characters. Natalie was likable from the beginning and I continued to feel badly for her, yet not always agree with her decisions. The secondary characters were quirky, kind, loyal and funny. This story focuses on that idea of loyalty and friendship. It also dealt with handling whatever life throws at you, persevering, listening to others and not being afraid to ask or accept help from your friends. The book reminded me that we all deal with different things in life and it is important to remember that and not become too self-involved. The idea of music helping to relax, soothe and assist in finding solutions was wonderful We all need more music in our lives.

I highly recommend reading this book and thank my Goodreads' friend who recommended it to me. As she said, The Choir on Hope Street isn't just about saving a hall, it's about the coming together of a community, it's about the personal journey each member has taken, it's about Family and Friendship, it's about having faith and strength even when you get knocked down. I couldn't have said it better myself. I would like to thank the author and pubisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book, it was a delight.

This is a perfect read to cheer you up when it's raining or you need a boost for any other reason. Annie Lyons has a light touch with the pathos and a wonderful way of making you feel her characters. Nat and Caroline might be classic opposites but they really have the same goals. Like a good romance (and there is a touch of it in this novel) you watch them journey toward true friendship. Their personal struggles, especially Caroline's with her mother and her mother's dementia, are so real. I loved the choir, loved the community center, and could do nothing but root for everyone. I had not read Lyons before (thanks Netgalley for the ARC) but I'm going to look for her again. This really is a feel good book, largely because it's so true to life. Working together is so much better than struggling alone.

*Book provided by the publisher On NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

I got so excited when I saw the title and the cover of this book. I sing in a choir myself and I just love it. Reading about one of my passions in a book is just fab.

The story follows Natalie, who sees her life crashing down around her at the beginning of the book. Her husband leaves her and she is alone with their son Woody. Then we have perfect Caroline, she couldn’t be more different to Nat. However, she actually has a difficult relationship with her mother and has to deal with her dementia.

The two women have a wrong picture of the other and it’s only when they spend more time together that they get to know each other. A friendship slowly builds up and both women are also trying to find themselves and move on in life. I really liked how their friendship developed and Annie Lyons’ described it beautifully.

The characters were well drawn and it was a real pleasure to follow them around. The were real and authentic and that’s very important for me in a book.

I really liked the scenes at choir with all the musical elements, like a warm up, the songs and other things. I felt like being at home, it gave me a warm and cosy feeling all throughout the book. I was hooked from the first page onwards. Annie Lyons’ writing is uplifting, heart warming, sweet, happy, emotional and much more. It covers happiness, sadness, friendship, the passion for a hobby like singing and all these elements created a wonderful atmosphere.

I honestly gave this book several tries before deciding not to finish it. I just couldn't develop an affinity with the main characters.

The Choir on Hope Street is a beautifully written novel. It is the story of an unlikely friendship. I loved this book.

Oh my! This is just a lovely, lovely book! It made me laugh, smile, yearn to be part of a choir and yet at times it also made me struggle to swallow the lump forming in my throat and blink through blurring tears.

The Choir On Hope Street tells the story of two women, Nat and Caroline, in alternating chapters. Both women are going through a time of uncertainty and change, with their family dynamics shifting and the lives they'd grown comfortable with reshaping. Nat's husband has just dropped a bombshell - he doesn't love her anymore and is moving out. In emotional turmoil, she finds herself bumping, quite literally, into Caroline, and before she knows it she's agreed to join a choir in the hope of saving the community hall on the street. But despite her perfect image, Caroline's family is also under great strain, exasperated when her elderly mother's care home states they can no longer meet her needs due to her increasingly challenging behavior. Never a strong relationship, things are even more fraught. But her mum has a secret locked in her diminishing memory that will change everything, if only Caroline can find a way to unlock it.

These two women endeared themselves to me thoroughly, so that I became fully immersed in their stories, feeling as if I knew them myself. I loved Nat - she reminded me of myself in some ways. Chaotic, emotional and a little bit sarcastic. But there's something really likeable about her too, and when she's at her lowest I felt like I just wanted to give her a hug. At other times, I wanted to sit down to a bottle of wine with her, her quick wittedness and outlook making me smile.

Yet it was Caroline's story which I felt most connected to. Caroline is the opposite of Nat - she's the PTA mum, the perfect wife and host, aiming for the higher social circles and everything done in capable and organised precision. At first, I didn't particularly like her but as her story unfolded, it brought tears of understanding to my eyes. Like Caroline's mother, my grandmother had dementia and Annie Lyons perfectly captured this terrible and heartbreaking disease. I saw my own Grandmother when I read her descriptions of the small, unrecognisable lady Caroline saw and recalled the feelings of frustration and grief, at having lost someone who is still there. There's a particularly touching scene that made me choke up completely, and I think Annie Lyons tackled a difficult and emotional subject with true tenderness, understanding and care.

The Choir On Hope Street surprised me by being not as light as I first imagined it would be. Yes there are funny, laugh out loud moments but there's also depth to this story - one of facing change, the real ups and downs of family life and how when what you know and think you want shifts and life takes you in a different direction, it can turn out for the best. I really loved the importance the community held for these two women, and it made me both smile and a little sad and wistful to be part of such a wonderful community myself. But the overall feeling of this book is hope...and that's how I finished it. Smiling, comforted and hopeful, and like I'd just spent a few hours with old friends. An absolute gem of a book.

I was thoroughly entertained whilst reading this book, everything from the characters to the story drew me in and held my attention perfectly. I have to admit to getting a little teary at times as I became attached to the characters flaws and all. I didn't expect to feel the range of emotions that I did when I first sat down to read this book. It was a pleasant surprise to feel such a connection to the book and the characters. With plenty of emotion, hope and friendship I loved the message that Annie Lyons puts across in this story.

It was great to read the story from both the perspective of Nat and Caroline you definitely got a better insight into the characters this way. The character of Nat was probably the most likeable out of the two main characters and I couldn't help but feel sorry for her and the situation she found herself in. The rug was well and truly pulled from under her but I loved how determined she was to try to put her life back in order. Caroline was an intriguing character and I felt like the more I read the more layers there were to her character. Just like Nat she finds herself in a difficult situation but keeps things to herself whereas Nat will openly talk about her feelings. So I loved the almost chalk and cheese friendship they build together they really are a force to be reckoned with along with the rest of the choir. I loved the community spirit within the story, it was a delight to see all different personalities come together with the one objective of saving the community centre.

I also really enjoyed how music was used throughout the book to evoke memories whether they were good or bad ones. Whenever the choir sang "Something Inside So Strong" it took me right back to school when we used to sing that song in music lessons.

Emotional and heartwarming in equal measure!

Thank you to HQDigitalUK & Netgalley for my copy. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.

When I requested this book from NetGalley, I thought, that it will be yet another eye-roll worthy chick-lit romance book. But actually it was much better, that I expected.

The story begins with to ladies Natalie and Caroline, whose world turns up upside down in an instant and they are forced to became frenemies at first and a real friends later. They both were so different, yet they found some common things to relate. And that is the beauty of this book, that it wasn't focused on the romance, instead it was about loosing old friends and gaining new ones, about finding who you are during tough times and learning to forgive.

I definitely recommend this book. I will for sure read more of Annie Lyons books.

I've got to admit, whilst I was looking forward to Annie Lyon's new novel, the cover had me thinking that the storyline was going to be a lot tamer than what it actually was. Don't get me wrong, the storyline wasn't all harsh and completely serious but the cover was rather simple for such a rollercoaster ride of a book. It really was a pleasant surprise.

One of the main characters, Nat, has just been told five words that no wife (or husband), really want to hear; 'I don't love you anymore'. As far as Nat was concerned, everything was fine and their family life with their son was a happy one. Unfortunately, that was not the case. The other main character, Caroline, has a life where anything she requires, she gets. Is her life like the 'Jones's', a way of over compensating for many years of resentment? Both ladies are like chalk and cheese yet they come together to support a community building's closure by starting their very own choir. A contender for the number one spot in the music charts, you think?

Nat's family situation was quite heart wrenching to read as everything she had ever known to be real, now had a big, red question mark looming over its head. Would she have to move out of the family home with her son? How would she explain the split to their son? Rather her than me, I'll be honest. Despite all of that, her attitude to life in general was fantastic. The way she tried to solve her problems with humour had me in hysterics. Yes, sometimes she went over the top but who am I to judge? People deal with things in a different way; her included.

I found Caroline a little bit hit and miss as her personality and attitude drove me up the wall to begin with. However, when the storyline began to unfold a little bit more and we got to see a different side to Caroline, I found myself becoming a little more lenient to the way she came across. You'll need to read the book yourself to find out what I'm meaning!!

To look at Annie Lyons' novel at first, you may assume that all it contains is a choir, when in actual fact, the community starting their own choir just seemed to be the key to unlock a whole chest of drama, secrets and hidden agendas. There is A LOT more to this novel than 'just a choir', and whilst the change in direction caught me by surprise, I found myself respecting the author even more as she was able to completely change my views.

Overall, 'The Choir on Hope Street' is a fabulous, fun and surprising read which covers a lot of topics from serious family matters, to hilarious personal dramas. If you're after a storyline to tickle every single one of your literary taste buds, then my friends, this book is most definitely one to buy. As long as you have support from good friends and family, and your very own choir, what more could you possibly want? After all, it is Hope Street, right?

A heart-warming, cosy read from the wonderful Annie Lyons and The Choir on Hope Street. I wonder if they did get their number one chart position....

Thank you HQ & Netgalley.

The words no woman ever wants to hear from her husband are " I don't love you any more" but that is just how the book starts, and it sends Nat into a tailspin, as she thought their marriage was rock solid and working really well.

While reeling from this bombshell, she meets Caroline who lives at the "posh" end of Hope Street. Caroline then ropes Nat into the campaign to save the Hope Street Community Centre, which involves them forming a community choir.

Nat is a children's book writer, and has her son Woody to look after. She likes a bit of a drink and generally seems up for a laugh, when she isn't confused as to what is happening between her and Dan. Caroline on the other hand seems to be all about appearances, doesn't have a job outside the home, but does have her mother who suffers from dementia in a care home. However it is becoming harder for the care home to cope with the mother's behaviour, and Caroline is put into a tricky position given she had a troubled relationship with her mum.

I loved the sense of community of Hope Street especially from the choir members, where new friendships are formed, and the members discover just how freeing singing can be. I loved Guy the music teacher who steps up as choirmaster, and Doly who has a wonderful singing voice, and Pamela who provides all the cakey goodness you can need.

The story is told in alternating chapters between Nat and Caroline's view points, and I had a good amount of sympathy for both ladies as neither of their current circumstances are particularly easy, and although they may not see it, it is clear that they could help each other out, if they can get past their differences.

I reckon most people will recognise the music that the choir sings, as there is a mix of songs for all generations, and I could really imagine them singing the songs. I loved the journey of self discovery Caroline especially was one, as she learns more about herself and her family.

The Choir on Hope Street is an uplifting book, guaranteed to brighten up a horrible day. It is an enjoyable story and one I didn't really want to finish.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and HQ Digital for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Hope Street is a small neighborhood, like so many in the world, where many of the residents can exist quite neatly within the small area. An aging community center becomes the catalyst for the story, as a developer’s interest may result in changes to the neighborhood, unwelcome changes. We start the story with Natalie: a children’s book author with a husband, son and gay best friend who is also responsible for bringing her books to life. Things are busy, but good and comfortable, at least until Nat’s husband announces he doesn’t love her anymore. Nat’s world is, understandably, upended, and when she is wandering sightlessly in traffic after walking her son to school, she is hit by Caroline, the original “too busy appearing perfectly put together and in control” woman with little patience or liking for those who don’t meet her rather impossible standards. Naturally, Natalie dissolves into an emotional mess much to Caroline’s discomfort, but she has a plan. Well, a plan that is less about Natalie and more about her zealous determination to create a committee to save the Community Center.

Oh this was fun, as Natalie went through a series of emotional moments from barely hanging on to the plot right over into her fun-loving, never quite allow things to get you down wonderful self, she was certainly the easiest to understand. Caroline is that mean girl who can’t abide deep emotion, preferring to compartmentalize her life, her interactions and her friendships are superficial at best, mean girl at worst. Caroline is DESPERATE to be needed, but only in positions where she feels there is some sort of control and admiration for her work. And, the Community Center, with the brilliant idea of starting a choir to compete for a prize that will not only help them to raise much needed funds BUT also get them publicity – she’s all in.

And the community comes together: people from all walks of life who were, at first, simple acquaintances become friends of the best sort: supportive, encouraging and helpful: whether for a quick sitter requirement or a shoulder and a hug. Never a dull moment as they sing, learn and discover, even as lives and trials go on. Most importantly, both Natalie and Caroline come to grow and change. Natalie starts to make changes and become more settled in her own life, with her husband at loose ends. And Caroline, from ignoring and shunting her mother off to a care home to discovering long-held family secrets and finding a new appreciation for her mother, her life and her newly found friends in the community, the story has one memorable moment after another.

Exactly what you’d want from a story about a community banding together, with characters that grow, change and develop in front of your eyes as the story unfolds. A wonderful escape into a story that will leave you smiling.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

A warm hug of a book!

Thank you HarperCollins and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.

I grew up with parents who both sang in a choir. Our house was always filled with music and because my parents had me and my three brother within six years after their marriage, they could sure do with an 'evening out' for the both of them each week. My parents sang in a classical choir so I grew up not with Something Inside So Strong (one of my favorites by the way!) but with Bach and others. It really makes no difference; I could relate to Caroline and Natalie because of the joy and laughter they shared when being with the other choir members and once more, I regret that I cannot sing at all. Not even to save a community hall ;-)
I think you understand by now I loved the book. Two quite ordinary women, living close and not knowing that within a few short months they will have to come to terms with large changes in their lives. Not knowing that they are more alike then they think. And not knowing that their lives will change forever, although not always in a way the reader may think at the beginning of the book.
There was one little thing I'm wondering about. That is the fact that Caroline's mother had to leave her care home because of her dementia (we call it Alzheimers'). Are there no homes that are especially for people like Carolines' mother? Or is it just that the author wanted Caroline to have to take care of her mother herself, to find out something important?
Anyway, reading this book was like having a nice cup of tea in the company of good friends. For me, it was a resting point in my busy life.