Gayle does it again! Perfection!

A heartwarming hug of a book. Beautifully written characters and relationships. This writer just has a way of expressing and describing emotions in a way that speaks to my heart.

I absolutely love Mike Gayle books which are always beautifully written. Connor is a wonderful character and I loved this story. This was s fantastic book I highly recommend

What a lovely, heartwarming read. I became lost in the world of Connor, Lila and Marcus as they worked together to find Connor’s missing mother. The writer captured the many emotions and very skilfully dealt with tricky topics like mental health and neurodiversity. This is the first book I’ve read by Mike Gayle and I now intend to work my way through his back catalogue.

My thanks to the author, to the publisher and to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review the book.

Such a beautiful heartwarming story to read. Fully invested in the characters and the hope of the happy ending for all. Loved it.

Mike Gayle has done it again. He always manages to bring about feels of love, sadness and the story leaves you rooting for the characters from the off.

I adored Lila, her drive for her ambition, her softness and care for Connor and of course I was thrilled with the romance weaved in as well.

Mike sensitively and accurately uses a character with neuro diversity and his story couldn't have been more beautifully told.

With twists and a fitting ending, this is one of his best.

A great read. Connor meets journalist Lila when he is the last person refusing to move out of his street. He has his reasons for wanting to stay, but can Lila help him? I liked that it was told from both points of view.

What an easy to fall in love with book! Hopeful albeit heartbreaking, with character arcs that are moving and a story which is so easy to follow. I found Connor particularly heart wrenching, given his own difficulties and the way he is treated. I really enjoyed that - a bit different to my usual!

A moving, warm-hearted and sad tale of the loss of a community when a neighbourhood is compulsorily purchased for a new development. Connor, a vulnerable young man with learning difficulties is the final resident of Hope Street and is refusing to leave as he is still waiting for his mother to return home, having disappeared several years previously while out on an errand. His story is picked up by local journalist Lila, who hopes to highlight the human interest of both Connor’s imminent eviction and the unsolved mystery of his mother’s disappearance.

Thanks to the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

I've read a few of Mike Gayle's books, and I love how he writes stories about everyday people that feel nostalgically British.

Hope Street follows Lila, a local journalist in Derby, who is sent to investigate a potential story about the last resident refusing to leave the street where the council is planning to build a new development. We also follow Connor, who is holding on to hope that his mother - who went missing a few years ago - will one day return.

Gayle’s writing style is light and accessible, and I flew through this book so quickly. It's heartwarming and emotional, and it made me shed a tear towards the end.

The only thing I struggled to care about was Lila's relationship drama, although thankfully, it didn’t overshadow the whole book.

This is the first book I have read by this author.
It concerns a journalist who is sent to interview the sole resident of a development who won't leave.
There is genuine friendship in the book and you start to care about the people in it.
Connor does not want to leave as he is waiting for his mother to return. He is vulnerable and lonely.
It is a sad book but it shows the good and bad in people.
Thanks Netgalley and the publisher.

A Mike Gayle book is always a great read and this was no exception. Lila is a journalist on a local paper. She is sent to Hope Street, where a man is refusing to leave his home which is due to be demolished. This is how Lila meets Connor, a man with learning difficulties in his late 20s. Connor is refusing to leave because his mum went missing 3 years ago and he doesn't want to move in case she comes back. Lila offers to help him try to find out what happened to her. This is a heart warming and uplifting story which I recommend as a great read!
Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
Copied to Goodreads.

As one would expect from Mike Gayle, Hope Street is a heartwarming, engaging read, written with empathy and populated by characters you genuinely care about. It’s a hug in a book, a life-affirming story charged with emotion, hope, and the idea of found family.

The story plays out from three perspectives: that of journalist Lila, who is assigned to interview the one remaining resident of Hope Street, who’s holding up redevelopment plans; that of twenty-something Connor, the neuroatypical resident in question, who’s refusing to move out, as he’s waiting for his mum to return; and that of mum Betty, who left home on an errand three years ago and never came back.

As soon as Lila hears Connor’s tragic story, she pledges to publicize his plight and do what she can to try and track down his mum.

From the beginning you know that this is going to end happily, so there are no real surprises. That, however, doesn’t make the journey any less immersive. I loved the support network that Connor had around him and how people came together to help prevent his eviction. And I appreciated how Gayle explored topical issues like urban regeneration and bullying. This delicate balancing of the positive and the negative aspects of life added real depth to the overall story.

I must confess, however, to having a bit of an eye roll at the appearance of yet another fictional, neurodivergent character. I know that diversity in literature should be applauded, but I can’t help feeling that this is a bandwagon every writer of up-lit is keen to jump on, and if I’m honest, it makes me a little bit uncomfortable.

Another lovely book by Mike gayle. You can always trust his books are going to hit the right spot. Great story

Another brilliant read by Mike Gayle. As an author he is so skilled at creating believable characters and places so as the reader you can very clearly imagine it all. He is also very good at pulling the emotional strings and you really feel for the characters you get to know so well. Thank you to the author, publisher and efor my arc

Another feel good story from Mr Gayle.
Connor lives in Hope Street with his mother Bernie.
Bernie goes out one day and doesn’t return.
The police have no luck finding her and the case is closed.
The house in Hope Street is being knocked down for redevelopment but Connor refuses to leave in case Bernie returns.
Lila is a reporter for a local paper and gets wind of the story. She promises to help track down Bernie or at least find out what happened.
A really nice light read story with a twist.

Cosy domestic drama
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For an easy and digestible read, Gayle hits it out the park again, following the gentle tale of Connor, living alone in his council house after his mum’s disappearance three years before, and local journalist Lila who promises to help Connor, even while she faces her own life challenges at work and at home.

Told in alternating chapters, the mystery of Connor’s mum is the glue that holds together multiple domestic plots including romance and families. With moments of light peril and good character moments, this would be good for dipping into, the story never losing sight of its eventual goal.

Three and a half stars.

Great read, characters were really real and the story felt like you were part of it. Thank you for the advanced read,

It’s so rare to be able to read a book with a smile on your face and tears in your eyes, it was honestly such an incredible heartfelt story that I loved every second of. The council want to demolish Connor’s house, the local paper send journalist Lila to investigate and here we meet such amazing well written characters.
Such a special book I would highly recommend.

This is going to be one of my favourite feel good books of the year and I can’t imagine anyone not enjoying it.

Hope Street starts one morning with Bernie, a loving mother, who wakes her son, Conner, up with a cup of tea. Initially, we see Bernie do everything for Conner and we might wonder why she is still running around her 27 year old as if he’s still a child.

But then we learn quite quickly, that it’s three years later and Bernie is missing. Conner is now the sole resident on his street. The council want him to leave as he’s holding up the development of a new residential area that is going to be built there. Conner is devastated for the situation he is in but absolutely positive his mum will return. And because of that, he’s refusing to leave his house.

In comes Lila, a journalist with a heart, Conner’s best friend, Marcus, and a story that will tug at your heartstrings because of the recognition of those that slip between the cracks of the system.

If there was only one way to describe Mike Gayle's writing it would be a warm hug from the pages of a novel. Every one of his books I've read have caused me tears of happiness whilst being a realistic representation of life in the 21st century.
At the start of this novel we are introduced to Lila, a local newspaper reporter just like her dad before her, but with dreams of bigger things. Her boyfriend lives in London but she's starting to feel a bit adrift from him as their long-distance relationship takes its toll. Perhaps it's time to for her be brave and apply for an opportunity to be a journalist in the capital?
Then Lila's boss tasks her with writing a piece for the local newspaper about the council's plans for redevelopment of an area of social housing, however one stubborn resident is refusing to move. A young man named Connor whose mum Bernie left home one day and failed to return. Despite extensive searches by the police and Bernie's best friend, she's never been located. Connor's reason for staying put: what happens when Bernie comes home and the house - and Connor - have both gone? In his mind, he can't possibly leave.
Lila quickly establishes that Connor has learning difficulties, so she is going to have to build a rapport with him if she's going to be able to research his story properly. Luckily, they take a shine to one another and it's not long before Lila has made him a promise she's not sure she will be able to keep. She's going to find his mum. But can she persuade her editor that this is a story worthy of the pages of the local paper? And how will she explain to Connor if she can't keep her promise?
The book follows Lila as she pulls in favours from all the contacts she can think of in order to locate Bernie. The diversity throughout this book is truly representative of life in the UK - the good, the bad and the downright ugly sides of modern life. Each character is written to perfection, one of the author's absolute strengths.
I can guarantee you'll have tears as you follow Connor's story, but whether they're the ones you'll be expecting will depend on the individual. Some readers may find the story a bit predictable in places, but for me the storytelling ability of the author cancels out that argument 100%.
Another resounding success from Mr Gayle in my humble opinion.