Title: A Little Hope by Ethan Joella
Publisher: Scribner
Genre: Contemporary, Fiction
Length: 288 pages
Book Rating: C
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley
Summary:
A Read with Jenna Bonus Selection
An “immersive…illuminating” (Booklist) and life-affirming novel following the residents of an idyllic Connecticut town over the course of a year, A Little Hope explores the intertwining lives of a dozen neighbors as they confront everyday desires and fears: a lost love, a stalled career, an illness, and a betrayal.
Freddie and Greg Tyler seem to have it all: a comfortable home, a beautiful young daughter, a bond that feels unbreakable. But when Greg is diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer, the sense of certainty they once knew evaporates. Throughout their town, friends and neighbors face the most difficult of life’s challenges and are figuring out how to survive thanks to love, grace, and hope.
“A quietly powerful portrait of small-town life…told with wisdom and tenderness” (Mary Beth Keane, author of Ask Again, Yes) A Little Hope is a deeply resonant debut that immerses the reader in a community and celebrates the importance of small moments of connection.
Review:
A Little Hope by Ethan Joella is an interesting novel featuring stories of interconnected lives.
Opening with the discovery that Greg Tyler has cancer, the chapters then vary between a variety of different characters. Each of the chapters detail that particular character’s issues which range from long standing grief, brief infidelity, drug addiction and regret over ending a relationship. While each individual stories are intriguing, readers looking to witness Greg Tyler and his wife Freddie’s journey after his cancer diagnosis might be disappointed.
A Little Hope is a well-written novel that takes place in a small Connecticut town. The characters are well-developed but some are definitely not easy like. The individual chapters are emotional and it is difficult watching them try to navigate their personal losses. As the title suggests, there are glimpses of hope for some of the characters. Some of the stories resonate more than others and Ethan Joella brings this debut novel to a heartwarming conclusion.
