Having read Keeper of Lost Things, I wasn't disappointed . The story of Tilly, 7 years old, the young girl, and Tilda, 46 years old, the woman and the story in between. Love, betrayal, confusion, misunderstanding. An uplifting story in the main, but also quite whimsical, and also sad. Both Tilly and Tilda are described so well, and I loved the magic of it. A great read, and I zipped through it.

I thoroughly enjoyed this beautifully written tale of Tilly the child and Tilda the adult processing the happy and often sad parts of her life. Tilda remembers a steady, normal and happy time when she was very young and then her father moves away for work and she no longer sees him. Her mother then becomes increasingly unpredictable and this culminates in her taking Tilly to the seaside to live at Queen Malone's Paradise Hotel. Here she is surrounded by a group of very quirky people.
Following the death of her mother, Tilda has to clear the house and finds some diaries hidden away. These diaries are the key to the many questions that have been on her mind as she has grown up. Tilda is a survivor and with a little help from her friends she negotiates the often sad truths about her earlier life. Amusing in many parts and also sad, I loved this book. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for an ARC.

Holy shit. Have you read this book yet? If not, you absolutely should. Queenie Malone’s Paradise Hotel is a captivating and beautifully written book which will have you going ‘hannnng on a minute’ multiple times whilst filling you full of joy and happiness. Cheesy, I know.

This book will have you grinning like an absolute nutcase, have you smirking on the bus whilst the person perched next to you gives you a dirty side-eye and bring you crashing back down to reality when the sad bits kick in.

Right, so you’ve got Tilly and you’ve got Tilda. Both the same person, but this is a book that focuses on both the past and the present along with the clusterfuck that’s family politics and the death of her much loved father.

Tilly (aged 7) was a curious child (who’d lost her dad at an early age), eager to learn everything and anything in the best way a child could possibly to; with pure and delightful innocence. This kid comes out with some crackin’ stuff that’ll have you wanting to wrap up your niece, nephew, best friend’s tiny human, your own spawn in cotton wool/bubble wrap to protect them from the nasty and pretty shit world we call real life.

Then you’ve got Tilda. At 46, she had never forgiven her mother for dragging her kicking and screaming from Queenie’s beloved hotel and dumped into a soulless boarding school. After Gracie’s death, Tilda returns back to her childhood home next to the seaside to clear our her mother’s things. There she finds the diaries – deliberately left for her to find – where the gaps in her life finally get filled.

The teeniest, tiniest thing I wish I had a little more of? I wish I got to know more about her dad, but I’ll get over it.

You need to add this to your Goodreads list, like, right now.

Having loved Ruth Hogan’s previous novel ‘The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes’, I was very excited to get my hands on an advance copy of her third book for review. There’s something about this author’s writing style that is so engaging to me but I just can’t put my finger on what exactly it is. Let’s just say it has that ‘je ne sais quoi’ that makes a book really special, and ensures that you think about it long after you’ve finished the story.

As the start of the novel, we meet 46 year old Tilda as she arrives at her late mother’s seaside home to carry out the unenviable task of clearing through Grace’s things. We then meet her younger self – the vibrant, funny, curious and determined six year old Tilly, and as the story moves on we see things through their alternating viewpoints. We also find out that Tilly has a gift and can see people who aren’t there, although she doesn’t realise the importance of this yet. (In case anything of a supernatural nature puts you off, rest assured that this is not a major theme of the story, rather an accepted fact that she can see dead people – as could her father before her. It’s actually quite a refreshing take, to just accept it, without question and I think the author was quite brave to do this).

Through Tilly’s flashbacks, we learn that her Dad, Stevie, disappeared when she was just six years old. Tilly never really understood what happened to him, and her Mum never really seemed to be coping with it. We see Tilly trying to come to terms with it, and after a holiday becomes a permanent move, she finds herself living in Grace’s old home town and living in Queenie Malone’s Paradise Hotel. Grace is working at the hotel and the change has made her seem like a new woman and of course little Tilly is a huge hit with the vibrant and colourful characters that are drawn to Queenie’s circle like moths to a flame, and before long she is loving her new life, and apart from the Stevie sized gap in her life, she is happy and content.

Thirty-nine years later, and Tilda is a world away from the little girl she once was. Touched by OCD, and virtually estranged from Grace for many years, she has never understood why her Mum suddenly ripped her out of her happy life at Queenie’s hotel and sent her to boarding school, and more importantly, she’s never forgiven her for it. While clearing out her things, Tilda comes across a stack of Grace’s diaries – left for her to find – and as she works through them she meets a version of her Mum that she has never met before and starts to understand more about her life than she ever thought possible.

Ruth Hogan writes beautifully about people and the complexity behind seemingly simple lives. She paints such wonderful pictures in your mind. The characters in this book are wonderful too; Tilly is funny and sweet, and curious – exactly as a little girl should be, and Tilda is endearing and damaged, and you’re rooting for her the whole way through. The plot is well planned out with a few surprises thrown in for good measures. The only downside to this book is that I’m extremely sad that I can’t actually visit Queenie and her colourful hotel!

Did not finish.
I feel like I've given this book a good go, but I don't connect with Tilda or any of the other characters. I'm nearly half way through and the only mentions of Queenie have confused me and not mentioned anything about who she is, how Tilda knows her, or what her hotel has to do with the story. I feel she may be dead but I don't know for sure. I know the contrast between Tilda's first person and Tilly's third person chapters and probably to help you keep the two timelines separate in your head, but I found it, again, confusing, and unnecessary and jarring.
Like I say, I'm nearly half way through and feel like I haven't got any real plot from the book as of yet, and there are far too many books in the world for me to be reading instead of powering through with this one.
Apologies, as I don't like not finishing ARCs.

Loved this book for many reason but the main one being I felt like I was surrounded by all these characters and I could idenfity with each and every one. I got totally lost within the pages.
As always the author doesn’t disappoint.
I would highly recommend this to friends and would even purchase it as gifts.

This will grab your interest from the first sentence in a "Say what now?!" way; the bluntness of that first sentence had me intrigued from the off.  I also thought it was refreshing that our main character, Tilda was in her mid-forties, so many of the books I read; which may just be a result of my own tunnel vision reading follow female leads in their mid-twenties to mid-thirties.

At age seven Tilly's mother moves the two of them to Brighton to stay with her friend Queenie Malone; starting out as guests but soon becoming part of the staff at the Paradise Hotel. Tilly loves the seaside, starts dance lessons and loves living with the hotel's staff and guests; so when her mother sends her off to boarding school she's left heartbroken.  Over forty years later Tilly, who now goes by Tilda has still never quite understood why she was sent away from the life she enjoyed, assuming that her mother must have just not liked her very much.   Following her mother's death, Tilda moves into her old Brighton flat to start clearing out her things.  While she's there she re-discovers her love for Brighton and finds her mother's old diaries as well as a rather nice waiter in the local cafe; I enjoyed this book so much I'm prepared to forgive the insta-love!

In a clever use of dual perspective writing the book switches between a third person narrative of seven-year old Tilly and first-person forty-six year old Tilda; who at the start I really didn't find to be the most likeable of characters.  If you reading enjoy character journeys and don't mind a bit of magical realism thrown into a 'real-life' setting then I think you'll enjoy this; I absolutely loved this and knew from about halfway through that this was on its way to being given 5 stars. I've enjoyed Ruth Hogan's previous two novels but for me, this topped them both,  I just didn't want it to end.  The only thing that could have improved the experience is if I'd of saved it for a holiday or weekend where I had nothing else to do but get lost in Brighton with the characters.

I really do like the gentle pace of this book. Such a relaxing read. Characters to fall in love with, indeed the book. The covers of Ruth Hogan books are so eye catching. I found the last part of the story wasn't clearly defined on who it was. One moment it was Tilly but the next was a continuation of her Mum's diary. A tough moment though at the end regarding her Dad. Hope Ruth is working on another book soon.

Fantastic. Definitely on par with The Keeper of Lost Things, this has all the depth, emotion and twists with a dash of humour. I love the way everything is interconnected, and told with such compassion, there are so many layers.
Such great characters that jump off of the page and into your heart.

Another wonderful novel by Ruth Hogan, with her trademark blend of colourful, often eccentric, characters and wonderful storytelling. This time the story concerns a woman called Tilda whose mother has recently passed away. Tilda's relationship with her mother was complicated to say the least, and the story alternates between Tilda as a grown woman, returning to Brighton to sort her mother's belongings, and Tilda (Tilly) as a 6/7 year old.

A very touching story with every kind of emotion, but even the sad bits often have flashes of wry humour.

A good read and a lovely way to reminisce about the 1970s and summer holidays by the seaside.

I loved reading this book, it’s made me laugh out loud, feel sad, happy and hopeful. I can’t stop thinking about this story, Tilly/Tilda is in my head, what a wonderful little girl, she struck me as someone who was full of love and kindness and enjoyed life, with the exception of missing her father.

Her innocence and her way of thinking about things made me sit with a grin and a giggle. Her thoughts that anyone who had been bad in life headed to Bermondsey as opposed to Purgatory, was brilliant. I had images of people catching trains and buses to Bermondsey and depending on whether it was the weekend or the beginning of the week, the rail and bus staff were overworked.

As an adult, she takes over her mothers flat, after her death and starts clearing out her things, she discovers the box with diaries and the journey this took her on was so well written, the characters, Queenie, Mrs O’ Flaherty, Joseph Geronimo, Eli and the list goes on.

This is a wonderful book, I will read again and again, buy for friends and recommend to all, a must read, thank you Ruth Hogan.

Wow! Wow! Wow!
This is the 3rd book written by Ruth Hogan & the 3rd one I have read. I must say I absolutely loved it.
As mentioned I have read all of her books and each one is so different. You never get bored and they are so well written.
This book is all about Tilly / Tilda. The story is set in today with learning about Tilda and in the past where you learn about Tilly (Tilda the child).
Tilly / Tilda tells us her life story in 2 parts. Tilly tells us of life a little girl. She lives with her mother and finds out that her father has died. Her mother then moves the two of them to Brighton to start a new life.. It is here in Brighton that the main story is told. Tilda then tells us her story today as a grown woman. After the death of her mother Tilda finds diaries that fill in the gaps of her life story. She is a complex character and the mystery surrounding her is cleverly woven as the story progresses.
Well worth a read!

Ruth Hogan really does create the most charming characters that you completely take into your heart and this book delivers this, just as her previous two novels did. This book is told from the viewpoint of Tilly as a child and, as an adult, now known as Tilda. I really like this as it does make you think about how your perspective changes as you mature and experience life and so much of the young Tilly explains the Tilda that we come to know. Tilly's character is completely endearing and I loved her word muddles. There is humour throughout the book but it still deals with deep issues such as mental health, loss, regret, parenting and love. The Paradise hotel is where Tilly was happiest and the chapters describing life there would have us all queuing up for some Queenie style therapy! All of the characters we meet there are intriguing and beautifully described in a vibrant and engaging way.
This book made me think about my own mother and also the mother that I am myself. None of us are perfect and this novel accepts that and perhaps even celebrates that we manage to survive anyway!

Having read and loved Ruth Hogan's 'The Keeper of Lost Things', when Queenie Malone's Paradise Hotel came up on Netgalley, I had to request it.

A beautiful book. Some books stay with you, this is one of those. Poignant, touching and strangely hopeful, it was a book, I couldn't put down.

Narrated by Tilly, both as a 6/7 year old as well as an adult bound by her past, it's a beautiful book. One that had me laughing out , stifling a tear.. A book I would wholeheartedly recommend.

Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for the review copy of this book.

I really enjoyed this book. Highly recommended, easy read that draws you in with its heartfelt story.

Wonderful, simply wonderful. Ruth Hogan's third novel is the best yet. It tells the tale of Tilly, who feels unloved as a child as she is sent away to boarding school, rather than stay in the wonder of Queenie's Paradise Hotel.
As with her other novels, the characters are quirky and different. The story keeps you thinking and the way Tilly's innocence is portrayed is so enthralling. The story flits between the present and the past with seamless skill. The backdrop of Brighton comes alive within the pages. It's perfect. A terrific read and I would highly recommend this to all. I read it in a few days and enjoyed every page. Ruth Hogan rocks.

"I pick up the framed photograph ... and stare at the child I used to be next to the woman who so spectacularly failed to be the mother I wanted. What were her secrets and where was the key."

The smells of the seaside pier, the candy floss, sticks of rock, hot fresh doughnuts, salty chips and shellfish delicacies are all hidden inbetween the pages of this book. Hogan describes the pier and ballroom metropolis as a childhood paradise.
Meet Tilda, returning to her childhood paradise all grown up and grieving for her mother who has passed away. Of course there used to be a father, but one day he was just ... gone. Her only memory of a man who had "... that golden syrup, 'sun has got his hat on' happiness."

This seafront is Brighton. Her beloved Queenie, along with her dog Eli and her father are dead. Tilda (Tilly) is clearly struggling. She walks to the shops and Eli is with her, she gets dressed to go out and Queenie is telling her how she looks. Her coping mechanism is a daily quota of matches she can strike. Things are not quite right. It is in this moment that Tilda unravels the secret of who her mother really was.

Several chapters are uniquely enjoyable. I particularly enjoyed the chapter where Tilda has "torture by afternoon tea" with Ms Danes - witty, dry humour, perfect. The stories are endearing and warming. I also enjoyed the way our author uses Tilly's voice to describe "Truth" as being a bit like cats cradle in Chapter 11 - "it was easy enough at the start, but lose your grip for a second and soon there would be knots and tangles all over the place."

Hogan has walked into my home through the back door put the kettle on and opened a box of cakes before I even knew she was there. Her writing style is full of colourful description evoking visual and olfactory senses. The chapters are divided between Tilly and her grown up self, Tilda. Each has her own voice and in this way the story unravels between the voice of a young girl and an adult simultaneously. This mechanism is also a device for separating memories from revelations.
I thoroughly recommend this latest creation from Ruth Hogan, author of The Keeper of Lost Things and The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes. 
Themes: abandonment, deceit, grief, anxiety, secrets

3.5 stars
I was really chuffed to receive a copy of this, from NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review as I follow Ruth Hogan on Twitter and think she is fab.
The story deals with issues of grief, childhood abandonment, mental health issues and addiction. The addition of Queenie, the other eccentric characters at the Paradise Hotel and the perspective of Tilly as a child, provides light relief and humour.
I think the idea of having the dual narrative from the same character's point of view (Tilly/Tilda) was clever and worked well. However, the use of different tenses and some head-hopping was slightly distracting.
If you have enjoyed Ruth's previous titles then I think you'll still enjoy this, it just wasn't my favourite. I still look forward to reading her next book.

I lived in Brighton for several years before I met my OH and settled down elsewhere, and this book which is set there for the majority of the book brings back strong memories of the place.

This is a wonderful Book.  Interesting, complex and full of wonderfully flawed people, a masterclass in writing character led fiction.

Told in two timelines, a third person account from young Tilly, aged around 6 at the beginning of the tale and a first-person narration by Tilda, all grown up but haunted by her childhood losses in ways she doesn't yet understand.

It all starts when Tilda's mother dies and leaves her the Brighton flat and all of her worldly possessions.  Tilda's life before this must have been pretty lonely as she ups and moves into her mothers flat from an unnamed town without much of a thought.  Working from home has advantages I guess. Amongst her mother's things, she finds diaries which she reads when she plucks up the courage, and we are introduced to Grace.  Grace, Tilda's mum is a complex, mentally ill and very real woman who made some difficult choices and had to live with the consequences.  Her excessive drinking is an ill-advised coping strategy.

In Tilly's timeline, we see her losing her father without understanding why and life with a lonely alcoholic mother.  Then they go on holiday to Brighton to the Paradise hotel of the title, and suddenly her mother has a job and they live there leaving her old life and friends behind.  Queenie's is full of characters that would be implausible in anywhere but Brighton.  If you have never lived in Brighton you may not realise but it's a place where you can be wildly eccentric and fit in just fine, in fact, you can belong.  And that is the Brighton of this book, which is part of why I love it so much.

Ohh and there is a romance, it's not the focus of the book, and blossoms around halfway in but it's an essential part of the book.

This book reminded me of a couple of other wonderful books that I have read over the past couple of years.  It has the feel of Eleanor Oliphant by Gail Honeyman and The Hoarder by Jess Kidd, but it is not a pale copy of either.

I am not sure if it was intentional but the character of Queenie Malone herself was more in the background of the book.  She is talked about by other characters, both in life and death, but doesn't say much herself, I guess this could be a homage to works such as the great gatsby which uses this technique widely.

To sum it all up: Highly recommended, an easy read but one that can have you laughing and crying, all in the same paragraph.

Although I have the first two books by this author they are currently on my to read list and after reading Queenie Malone's Paradise Hotel - I hope they turn out to be as good as this book. It is a tale of a lost childhood and a search for answers. The reader is drawn into the past by a series of memories documented in the diaries of Tilda's mum (following her death) as well as following Tilda in present time as she delves into her past and forges new relationships in the search for her father who left when she was aged 6. Tilda goes on a journey which helps her to come to terms with the actions of her mother many years ago. This was a great read and I am looking forward to reading the other books!