At first I didn't enjoy this book and stopped reading within the first 30% of the book. But recently I came back to it and I'm glad I did! I'll seek out more from this author.

What a beautiful story of pasts unknown. Undoing what you have been told and what you think you know. After Tidla's mother dies, she finds her diaries and starts to discover her past whilst also rewriting her future.

A lovely story, well written.

Thank you so much to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this for an honest review. Ruth Hogan, I'm now going to read whatever you've written!

This is the second book I’ve read by this author and it was just as good. It was set over two timelines and I loved the young Tilly. Although there was some sadness in her life it was very sweet how she viewed her situation and saw the world around her. I did laugh out loud when she muddled words up! Older Tilda had her issues but I admired the way she fought to overcome them. Everything was wrapped up nicely at the end and it all fell into place. I’m looking forward to reading more by this author. Thank you to NetGalley and John Murray Press, Two Roads for letting me read and review this book.

This was a brilliant read. As soon as I started reading this book I just knew I was going to love it. Highly recommended

Having enjoyed Ruth Hogan's other books, I had high expectations for this one, and I was right to do so!

The book tells us about Tilda and her younger self Tilly. Whilst they are the same person, Tilly is a curious and carefree child, whilst the adult Tilda has become far more uptight.
Following her mother's death, with whom she had a strained relationship, Tilda discovers the diaries her mother had left for her. On reading these, she unravels the secrets of her childhood and we realise why the free-spirited child changed so much.

A beautifully written, poignant story. 4.5*

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you to the publisher for my eARC copy of this book. Unfortunately I didn’t love this book and therefore didn’t finish, I just didn’t connect with this one. Not for me, sorry.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were lovely and really liked the twist. A well thought out book, not overly sentimental. Probably my favorite from the author.

The book cements Ruth Hogan as one of my favorite writers. Her writing is beautifully sentimental, vivid and often melancholy, in a way that just feeds my soul.

Queenie Malone's Paradise Hotel tells the story of Tilly as she delves into the past and tries to unwind her recently deceased Mother's life, and at the same time, her own.

It's an absorbing story and Ruth Hogan is certainly showing off her skills and doing what she does best, character building. As with all of Hogan's novels there's a strong cast of characters, all with their own quirks and idiosyncrasies. As Tilly's tale unwinds, so do other peoples. This gripping tale had me hooked and I loved watching events unfold and learning more about the last, Tilly and the people around her.

I can't wait to read my next Ruth Hogan novel!

Queenie Malone’s Paradise Hotel is only the second book by Ruth Hogan that I’ve read (The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes was the first), and I had only read the first 20% of this book when I pre-ordered her latest book Madame Burova. That’s how much I loved this book.

This story is told from two points of view: 6 year old Tilly and 46 year old Tilda. We see Tilly in flashbacks as Tilda goes to her late mothers seaside home to clear out her belongings.

Tilly had been an outgoing, happy child, who adored her Daddy. But one day he leaves the house and doesn’t return. Her Mummy tells her that he’s dead. Tilly doesn’t really seem to understand the concept of ‘dead’. Indeed, Tilly doesn’t seem to understand that there are people she sees that others don’t seem to notice - dead people (this isn’t a huge theme in this book , so if you don’t like reading about the supernatural, it doesn’t dominate. But I like the supernatural, so 🤷🏼‍♀️). This is such a lovely story filled with very likeable people, such as the flamboyant Queenie Malone and her mother, who has a different Hollywood starlet name according to the day of the week.

In the present day, Tilda starts to work through her feelings of resentment towards her mother: the way that she felt abandoned when went to boarding school, in particular.

Tilda is a very solitary figure - a polar opposite to her childhood self, in fact. When she finds her mothers diaries and starts to read them, there are many revelations that explain her mothers motivations - some of them very sad.

This is another wonderful book from Ruth Hogan, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it (I bought a copy for my mum as soon as I finished it, in fact!).

Always enjoyed the writing of Ruth Hogan and this was no exception. Well written, good storyline, enjoyable read. Recommended.

I truly love Ruth Hogans books but I wasn’t expecting anything to top The Keeper of the Lost things… but here we are topping it.

The book is told from two perspectives from the same person, one as a child and one from a 39 year old who has lost the innocence of her younger self.

Tilys story transports you into a world of eccentric and loveable characters, you see the world as you’d expect to see it – rose tinged and magical. However, Tilda is 39 she’s lost her mother and her way. You get to witness as she builds her life back up. I’m not saying its all a fun ride. But I thoroughly enjoyed it.

This book was emotional but it was also a joy to read. I came away with a heart bursting from the joy of it.

This book was just joy for me, pick it up and have some faith in humanity restored.

My introduction to this author has been mind blowing! I can really empathise with the child narrator’s view of the world and her stunning misunderstandings of lyrics and prayers!
Her adult reaction to dealing with her dead mother’s personal effects is also searing in its evocation of my experience.
All in all the writing is a dream, the lot may seem saccharine to some, but the package as a whole is balanced.
This writer provides everything I. Looking for in this type of fiction and I’m extremely grateful to Netgalley, the author and publisher in giving me the opportunity to read this gem.

What a delightful read. I was hooked straight away and could not put this down, I certainly did not want this to end. I especially loved the character of Tilly. I will definitely be reading more books by this author,

Unfortunately, I have not been able to read and review this book.

After losing and replacing my broken Kindle and getting a new phone I was unable to download the title again for review as it was no longer available on Netgalley.

I’m really sorry about this and hope that it won’t affect you allowing me to read and review your titles in the future.

Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity.
Natalie.

I adored The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes so I was excited to start this book.

I love the worlds and characters that Ruth Hogan creates. Her writing is infused with beautiful descriptions, complex characters with rich inner worlds. This was told in two alternate timelines of young Tilly and adult Tilda. Tilda on finding her mothers diaries decides to put the puzzle together.

Lovely story, recommended.

Please note that this book is not for me - I have read the book, However I had to DNF and because i do not like to give negative reviews I will not review this book fully - there is no specific reason for not liking this book. I found it a struggle to read and did not enjoy trying to force myself to read this book.

Apologies for any inconvenience caused and thank you for the opportunity to read this book

This was another beautiful, heartwarming book from Ruth Hogan. It brought out every emotion inside me and left me with a warm feeling inside. I love reading about mother/daughter dynamics and the characters in this novel are beautifully depicted.
I liked the contrast between Tilda's voice as a child and as a very different adult.
This book is one I would choose to read again and probably enjoy it just as much.

I found the writing style of this book was not my cup of tea. I did finish the book but I have to admit it was a struggle.

Tilda has returned to a place from her childhood where she was happiest until her mother sent her away. Now with her mother gone, Tilda wants to understand what really happened in those days and maybe why her mother did some of the things she did.

This was an interesting read but it jumps around a lot which wasnt always the easiest to follow. The plot was slow and steady but for me the ending felt a little flat. I wanted more. At times events seemed rushed like her relationship with Daniel. I did like the diary entries interspersed throughout the text giving us an insight into her mother more. A nice story but didn't quite appeal to me enough.

I raced to the end of Queenie Malone's Paradise Hotel. Thanks @netgalley and @tworoadsbooks for an advance copy of this beautifully heartwarming book. Tilly was an outgoing little girl who liked playing with ghosts and matches. She has a very unusual childhood which was ripped twice, the second time by her mother in a way that Tilly finds unforgivable. Now, Tilda is an independent woman still damaged by her mother's unaccountable cruelty. Wary of people, her only friend is her dog, Eli. But when her mother dies, Tilda goes back to Brighton and sets about unravelling the mysteries of her childhood, only to discover that her mother was not the woman she thought she knew at all... It's a story of friendships and that complicated mother-in-law relationship. But mainly it's all about love.