This was such a lovely heartfelt read that I just didn’t want it to end. The story focuses on Conner a vulnerable young man whose home in Hope Street is about to be demolished. He doesn’t want to move because he’s been waiting for years for his mum to come back . Bernie would never leave Connor so what has happened to her. We then meet Lila who is a local reporter and Marcus his friend. Together they help to look for his mum. Along the way we meet all kinds of characters , some who want to help Connor and some who take advantage of his vulnerability. I loved the warmth this story gave and the goodness that can be found in people. There are moments of anger at people who take advantage and who are downright cruel. It’s a love story, a story about friendship and community spirit. I loved it and need to read more Mike Gayle books .

Journalist Lila is tasked with finding out Connor's story - a young man who is refusing to leave us house on Hope Street. The council need Connor to move so they can knock down the street, but Connor refuse to leave until his mum returns. The problem is, she went missing three years earlier.

Hope Street is an emotional book about friendship and compassion, with some lovely relationships and a bittersweet story. It is beautifully written and easy to read, packed full of compelling characters.

I was really excited to be able to read an advance copy of Hope Street by Mike Gayle. It’s an absolutely delightful heartwarming and uplifting story which will completely restore your faith in human nature.

It’s a real page turner which I read over two days. It moves along from the point of view of the two protagonists, Connor and Lila.

Lila is a trainee journalist for Derby’s local newspaper who dreams of working for national newspaper and moving away from the mundane local news stories. She is given a tip to visit Hope Street and the last occupied house on a street earmarked for redevelopment. There she meets Connor, a man in his late 20s living alone and refusing to leave his council house because he’s waiting for his mum, Bernie, to come home. She left three years ago and wouldn’t just leave him.

This becomes so much more than a story about urban redevelopment, Lila gets a break at a much bigger story of helping Connor find his mother.

The story is one of hope, friendship and love with social issues weaved in for good measure. I found Connor’s story of trying to navigate his way through life with the help of his childhood friend Marcus and his mum Bev really utterly compelling. Lila breaks her own rule of journalism and becomes involved and invested in helping Connor, which felt really believable.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Hodder & Stoughton, for making this e-ARC available to me in exchange for a fair and honest review.

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.

My thoughts:

This book was all expected it to be. Beautifully written and packed full of hope.

The story is told through 3 pov’s: Bernie, Lila and Connor and the chapters go back and forth alternating between them, building a picture of their lives.

Mike’s storytelling is exceptional. I was drawn in and fell in love with the characters. Lila was incredibly compassionate and caring, and the way she helped Connor was incredible. I loved reading through Bernie’s pov, the love and devotion she had towards her son, and in the end discovering what really happened to her. Connor, a vulnerable adult, it was interesting to read how he viewed and understood the world around him.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Hodder & Stroughton for the advance egalley of this book. Opinions expressed here are my own.

This book is a real heart-warmer! Lila is a journalist who is investigating why the final resident of a cul-de-sac refuses to move.
Connor is living alone on Hope Street, with every other house around him empty and waiting to be demolished by the council but he won’t leave. A firm friendship develops as we find out the reasons for his situation.
This is a story of friendship, having faith in people, doing what ever it takes, the family you are born with, the family you choose, and fighting for what you believe in.
I could not have guessed how this story developed, and that’s what brought so many emotions. Fabulously written. Read it in 2 sittings.
“Hope Street” is published 6th February 2025, and is available for pre-order now!
Thank you @NetGalleyUK for my ARC, it was wonderful to read.

I really, really, really enjoyed this one; it was so heartwarming and beautiful. Definitely one to look out for next year.

I am ashamed to admit that this is my first book by Mike Gayle; I have been gently nudged to read his other works, but I just hadn't (and I don't really know why). But boy oh boy will I know go back and read his entire back catalogue, because I adored this story so very much.

It is such a touching story; my heart just bled for Connor and his Mum on almost every page. They have such a beautiful and special relationship, one that you think has been turned on it's head.

This is a story about characters, relationships and family (both found and actual). Conner is such a fantastic character; he's so complex and interesting. There is so, so much more to him than meets the eye. He's so passionate, and loving, and caring; he builds really beautiful relationships with people who are important to him. It breaks my heart whenever anyone is less than caring towards him. I just want to give him a massive hug. I also think it's really beautiful that he has this community that has been built around him; even though it's just been Conner and his Mum for such a long time, he has so many people who love and care about him.

Something that I really enjoyed about Hope Street, is that it's not simply a contemporary fiction book, there's also a mystery that you have to unravel. And more importantly, it's all connected to the main story, and helps you gain a deeper understanding of all of the events. I really enjoyed this fusion of genres, and I think it worked really well.

Mike has such a fantastic style of writing; he writes and crafts his characters with such love, care and attention. It may sound silly, but it just reads like he really cares about his characters. They feel really well fleshed out and authentic.

I very much enjoyed Hope Street, and would definitely recommend it!!

Thank you to @netgalley and @Hodder&Stoughton for this ARC. Connor is the last one living on Hope Street. The council has sold to a development and he is being forced to move. When the local paper heard about his fight, they sent Lila to interview him. She learns he is suffering from social anxiety and his mom disappeared three years ago. He doesn't want to move because when his mom comes back, she needs to be able to find him. This book was such a sweet, sweet story and I absolutely loved it! #HopeStreet #MikeGayle #HodderandStoughton #Feb2025

Thirty-year-old Connor is the last remaining resident of Hope Street. Despite repeated warnings from the council he refuses to move out. When local newspaper reporter Lila gets hold of the story she discovers the heartbreaking reason for Connor's refusal to move.

Mike Gayle is one of those authors who you know is guaranteed to tug at the heartstrings and Hope Street is no different. Filled with wonderful characters and a plight that would melt the coldest heart the reader can't help but become immersed in the story.

The book opening does pull you up a little as we join 64-year-old Bernie McLaughlin taking a cup of tea to her 27-year-old son Connor who is still in bed. You immediately form an unfavourable opinion of Connor, thinking he's a layabout. Bernie then leaves the house, telling her son she has a few errands to run.

We then rejoin the story three years later and discover Connor living alone in the house on Hope Street, his mother has been missing for three years having never returned from her day out. It is slowly revealed that the reason Connor was still living with his mother was because he has a learning disability. He's had a job in the local DIY store since he was sixteen and copes well on a day-to-day basis because he likes routines.

When the local newspaper hears about the sole resident of soon-to-be demolished Hope Street they send a local reporter to find out more about the story. Reporter Lila is sucked into Connor's life when she learns about his mother's disappearance. Connor has never given up the belief that his mother will return. He is worried that if he moves and Hope Street is knocked down she won't be able to find him. Lila promises Connor that she will help him try to find his mother.

Hope Street is the perfect title as your hopes are raised, then dashed, then raised again as Lila investigates what happened to Bernie. Not everything centres around Connor either, some of the other characters have issues to contend with. The author also uses the story to shine a light on some real-life problems but this is done with a light touch so as not to detract too much from an uplifting tale.

I was dreading the conclusion, particularly after Mike Gayle's last novel, A Song Of Me And You. My heart was in my mouth as the events from three years ago were slowly revealed, bringing tears to my eyes.

I love Mike Gayles writing and was really looking forward to this.

I was not disappointed a great read.

Mike creates the best characters that you just want to be friends with and really hope they get the ending they deserve.

Loved this touching book

What a wonderful heart-warming story of friendships, love, never giving up and what home really means.
I adored Connor and thought the story really highlighted the challenges and injustices that happen to normal people who just want a quiet life, and yet how there is always good around us even in our darkest times.
I already know this will be one of my best books published in 2025.

This was a slow burner in the most heart warming way. It highlighted how horrifically some people can be treated in order to build bigger and better infrastructure, while forgetting the impact it will have on others. A beautiful story.

Hope Street by Mike Gayle is a heart warming book about community, family and friendship - with a mysterious disappearance skilfully woven in. It was an absolute joy to read.

Whilst writing an article about a street due to be demolished, journalist Lila forms an unlikely friendship with Conner, Hope Street’s only resident.

This was such an uplifting book, Conner faces some very difficult situations, but with the help of his friends, he manages to get through them and live his best life.

I love Mike Gayle’s writing, his stories are emotive and full of characters I can imagine meeting in my own life. I particularly enjoyed the friendship between Conner and Marcus, their mutual respect and love for one another was beautiful.

The ending, although bittersweet was very satisfying, leaving me very happy and full of hope.
If you are a fan of Mike Gayle’s previous work, then this won’t disappoint.

Thank-you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are my own.

This is such a lovely book, which explores loneliness, hope, and human connection. The story centers around Connor, a young man living with learning difficulties, possibly autism, whose life has been marked by the mysterious disappearance of his mother three years ago. Living alone in a council home, Connor is a bit of a loner, spending most of his time playing video games, listening to heavy metal music. He works at a local DIY store, where his only friend is an elderly co-worker named Alan.

When the council threatens to sell the land his childhood home sits on for development Connor is desperate to stay. He clings to the hope that his mother will one day return.

His world collides with that of Lila, a young local newspaper reporter assigned to cover the story of the man refusing to leave his home. Lila soon becomes personally invested in Connor’s story and, as she grows closer to him, she decides to help him search for his long-lost mother.

Mike Gayle’s writing is both heartwarming and heartbreaking and this a heartfelt tale about the power of hope and the unexpected ways in which people can change one another’s lives. It’s a book that will resonate with readers long after they’ve turned the final page, reminding them of the importance of compassion, connection, and never giving up.

Mike Gayle is one of my favourite authors.

His ability to get the reader invested in his characters and the community he builds in his stories is something he does beautifully time and time again.

Another heartwarming and engaging story. The ending was just a little too perfectly wrapped up for me to give it 5 stars but it was still a wonderful book and one I devoured in a day and a half.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy..

Oh my heart, this beautiful story has emotion pouring from every page, the wonderfully written characters tell the story of Bernie, Connor, Lila and Marcus in such a lovely way and I took my time reading so I didn't miss a single thing

Lila is a journalist for the local newspaper the Derby Echo. She is following the footsteps of her grandfather who was also one. But she dreams that one day she will work for one of the National newspapers in London. She is asked by her Boss to cover a news story of the last remaining resident of a housing estate called Cossington Park. Connor lives in Hope Street, and he refuses to move as he thinks his mother will return home. His mother Bernie left home 3 years ago and never returned home. Connor believes that one day she will come home.
When Lila hears of Connor’s plight. She agrees with her investigated skills to help Connor finding his mother and she will also het a great scoop for the front page of the local rag.
When you read a Mike Gayle story you know that it will never disappoint you. I have read several of his books now and ‘Hope Street’ is no exception. This is another beautifully written heartwarming story that will tug at your heartstrings. This is story of hope and friendship and finding love. This is such a beautiful read. I highly recommend. 5 stars from me.

I received Hope Street by Mike Gayle free from Netgalley free for a subjective review.

I really love Mike Gayle's books and especially enjoyed The Museum of Ordinary People so I was looking forward to reading Hope Street. It introduces some very relatable characters who you begin to root for and want to succeed in their quest. As with a lot of books recently, such as Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine and Strange Sally Diamond it has a character who is Neurodivergent and you really feel for their challenges. It has a central mystery within the story which keeps you wanting to read to the end to see what happened.

However, I kind of lost interest half way through the book and it did not seem to move at the same pace as the beginning. It soon picked up towards the end and it was a lovely satisfying feel good ending.

I would definitely recommend this book as it was a lovely read which had some lovely characters which I would like to revisit again.

I look forward to a new Mike Gayle book and this one looked interesting. It didn't pull me in as quickly as his other books and I have some niggles with the characterisation in places. Found myself neither loving nor hating it but it wasn't the 'go to' read that his books have been for me in the past

This is my second book I’ve read from Mike Gayle and whilst I enjoyed the story I wasn’t blown away.

This book is written from 3 different POVs: Bernie’s, Connor’s and Lila’s.

I like that Mike touched on things that happen ie. The council gentrifying areas and forcing residents to move out of their beloved houses. How society treats people who have learning disabilities or need extra support.

I really disliked Marcus in the beginning, but by the end he had grown on me.

Some parts were really heartbreaking to read. Connor not knowing where his mum is and the emotional turmoil he endured right until the end of the book. People taking advantage of him and him slowly but surely throughout the book becoming more certain and sure of himself, what he wants and standing up to people.

All in all, it was an easy read.

Thank you for the ARC!

Firstly thank you for my early access in exchange for a review .
Mike is a beautiful writer who evokes heartfelt emotion and connection to his characters .
I loved this book about friendship , new beginnings , trust and love.
As a mum to Sen children this both warmed my heart and make me emotional.
The characters all have their own voices and stories and the reader goes on a journey with them as they grow and start new chapters .
Mike takes the every day and makes it a beautiful story .
Poignant , life affirming , emotive and inspiring.
It showcases the wonders of being human flaws and all