Thank you NetGalley and AmazonCrossing for an ARC in return for my honest review of this book.

Hope is a departure from my usual genre but a s I-go romance intrigued me. I loved both the characters and the story. Marc Levy is a very talented writer and this book really shines under his authorship.

The technology aspects of the story are just in depth enough to further the story line and do not detract, the story instead focuses more on the relationships—friendships, father/daughter relationship, mentor/student,, and of course deep love.

This was an intriguing read and sure to be unlike any novel you have experienced. I definitely recommend.

This wasn't my first book from Marc Levy. And as all his previous books this was amazing. I really enjoyed every single page of it.

Sadly, this book just could not hold my interest. I tried several times to get through it but it was just not for me.

I loved "Hope" by Marc Levy! A sweet, whimsical, creative novel of a love story and the power of science in inventing a second chance in life. Lovable characters and a wonderful build up to bring a magical conclusion together. Thank you NetGAlley, the author and publisher for the e-reader for my review. All opinions are my own.

I thought this was a cute, lighter love story. The writing style left me a little held back from being fully immersed in the story (3rd person POV seems to do that), but I did enjoy the big question the story made me think about.

What is true love? Does it stand the test of time? I liked the sci-fi element added in to a love story. I wasn't sure how it would all work but I did enjoy the light, sweet style of it. The medical element could add a whole new slew of moral questions, but I kept this one light and easy. I enjoyed it.

<i>A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.</i>

I'm a huge fan of Marc Levy. The first book I read by him was "All those things we never said" and since then... I have tried to read everything that he publishes! So I was very happy when I got the advanced copy for Hope.

Hope actually has common elements with that first book I read many many years ago and overall it is an interesting, sci-fi love story. I didn't fall in love with any of the characters but I enjoy my time reading this one.

Really enjoyed this book! It was the first one for me to read by this author and I can't wait to read more! The characters stick with you long after the book is over.

🔬Too much science talk, too little drama for me🙁

2.5🌟 stars
I just did not see what all the hype was about for this book. I had great hopes for the personal drama but I had to throw in the towel and admit I was not enjoying all of the discussions of neurotransmitters and science around memory just over a third of the way into the story. Maybe it lost something in translation but the extended scholarly discussions could not keep my interest and I just did not connect to the three principal characters. I was not expecting the story to be so technical: something that just did not fit for me.

Thanks to Amazon Crossing and NetGalley for providing a complimentary copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.

As someone who doesn't tend to enjoy science fiction (although there have been some good hybrids in the last couple years) Hope by Marc Levy fits the category of science fiction/love story. Hope, Josh and Luke are three brilliant college students attending a top college program in Massachusetts. Josh and Luke are on a grant program that requires research projects at a top secret facility in exchange for a free education. Financed by her father Hope is intrigued by their studies-and by Josh. Not expecting to fall in love, Josh adores Hope and has never been happier. Tragedy strikes when Hope is diagnosed with a terminal illness. Not wanting to lose the love of his life, Josh speeds up his research project that transfers the human consciousness (memory and personality) to a digital computer program that could ultimately replicate the essence of what makes us each unique. How far will they go-and does love transcend science?

Hope is a charming, futuristic sci-fi novel that doesn't fit in that specific genre. It is a story of hope, love and the lengths someone is willing to go to protect those they love-with a healthy dose of scientific details included. If you are not a reader of science-fiction do not let that throw you off-this is an enjoyable story that is beautiful, heartbreaking and yes, one that asks the reader to bend reality. This is a 3.5 star read that had the ending been better developed/elaborated upon would be a solid 4 stars.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

This is my first book by this author. He’s got such a lovely way of story telling. Its a combo romance and sci-fi. While I really like combo genres I’m not much of a sci-fi fan and yet the editors blurb drew me in and mostly did not disappoint. Much of it seemed obvious in the romance arena. Three bff’s. 2 male 1 female . So guess what happens?? And she isn’t the nicest of people early on so it took a bit to get lost in. It is certainly fantastical and interesting to think “what if” or “if only”, but I’d have liked if the main 3 all actually matured some throughout the story emotionally as much as they did scientifically. Interesting stuff, but overall not for me, but a really interesting read and gentle dip of the toe back in to the sci fi genre.

Another whimsical romantic novel from Marc Levy. I really don’t understand how he keeps getting away with his implausible storylines, but somehow he does, and I always find his books entertaining and compelling – even if I do have to put my critical faculties to one side and just go along for the ride. In this one, set in Massachusetts, we meet Luke, Josh and Hope, neuroscience students, who become close friends and then later Josh and Hope fall in love. Their world is turned upside down when Hope is diagnosed with a brain tumour, but maybe, just maybe, their radical and revolutionary neuroscience experiments will find a solution. Engaging and touching, the plot certainly stretches the reader’s credibility and the love story element is definitely a bit schmaltzy, but nevertheless as a story of love and loss it works pretty well, with a good sprinkling of thought-provoking neuroscience added in to the mix, and although I don’t think this is one of Levy’s best it’s definitely a good read.

Thank you to the publisher and author for the opportunity to read Hope: A Novel by Marc Levy. Romance AND improbable science?? Yes, please! It was an absolutely delightful read!! This whole book had my brain scrambling to try and believe that the neuroscience elements were possible. I got some vibes of the Johnny Depp movie Transcendence in parts, but this story was far more my speed because everyone desperate for a scientific breakthrough stayed dedicated to the cause for love rather for the sheer force of said science discoveries. And I loved that. It was a beautifully ended, perfectly heartbreaking story!!

I found the premise of the story very interesting. Although the idea of merging human and machine has been explored by many authors now, the stories are usually much more dystopian, even apocalyptic. This blend of romance and futurism with only a slight dystopian flair was a nice change from that.

I found the story to be slightly predictable, the ‘meet cute’ romance isn’t really for me, but I did enjoy how the author wove together so many different elements; romance, friendship, technology, life and health. I have no background in neuroscience, so it wasn’t hard for me to suspend my disbelief and go along with the plot.

My French class read If Only It Were True in French and English alongside each other in high school (later adapted into a screenplay for the film Just Like Heaven). We absolutely loved it and it’s a shame my TBR list became so unmanageable that I didn’t keep up with Marc Lev’y writing.

Overall, this is a pleasant, wholesome book about love, science and needing to believe in miracles, and I’m really glad I read it.

I didn't get very far into the book before I gave up on it.
I liked the premise, but the execution was lacking. The romance felt forced, and as my teen would say cringe. It didn't make any sense to me whatsoever. I came for the nerdy science aspect, and was turned off by the love scenes. Just not the type of book I wanted to be reading, at this point in time.

This book was just blah. The characters were all flat & lifeless and it took way too long for the story to go anywhere. The second part in particular dragged on way longer than it should have.

3.5⭐
"The only really true thing is the importance of feeling alive, and that means keeping hold of your ability to feel wonder."

Two neuroscience students, Josh and Luke, are working on a revolutionary project: a software that can create a digital map of a person's brain's connections. Therefore, not only a person's memories can be stored but also their personality and feelings.

They met Hope at the beginning of their studies. From that moment, the three of them became inseparable, and after a while Josh and Hope started a relationship and she also joined the project.

Meeting Hope caused a change in the project. It seemed even more important than before for Josh and Luke. Their friend suffered a severe illness and it made them work harder to make this work. They needed to get a full map of Hope's brain in order to keep her alive.

The story is fascinating. It made wonder about so many things. Would it be possible to continue living just by storing our digital brain's map? Would one be the same person after transferring all this information to an "empty" brain? Wouldn't our "essence" be lost? Maybe death is another essential step in our lives, and we shouldn't interfere with it. The questions and ideas keep on and on.

Thanks to Amazon Crossing and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This books was originally published in french as "L'Horizon à l'envers" in 2016 and this english translation was published in May 11th 2021.

Three friends and brilliant neuroscience students research how to upload human memory, consciousness, and personality on a computer.

I liked the concept and the story, but sometimes I felt it could draw me in more. Otherwise, it is a good, thought-provoking story about immortal love and life.

Thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to read this! All opinions are my own.

OH. MY. GOD.
WHAT HAVE I JUST READ?!
This book started (and continued) as the love I'd want in my life but as it went on it tore my heart bit by bit until we got to the end and there were just so many feelings, omg. I'm crying, for real.

I can't find the words to explain what I felt reading this book. Seriously. It's been a long time since a story made me feel this way. I wanted to scream at some point (in a good way, lol).

The beginning is a bit slow, I thought that maybe I wouldn't finish it. But I'm glad I decided to go on, because now it's one of my favorite books. The second part is amazing. I love this feeling of reading one sentence and suddenly realizing everything that's happening even before the characters know it. If I think too much, I could probably find some ethical issues and reasons why their project should never exist, but at the same time I totally understand why Josh worked so hard on it. I also think they deserve a second chance.

* I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Until I discovered Marc Levy's books, I was never a fan of science fiction. His books are sci-fi with a romantic twist. "Hope" wowed me. Love living on after death and being rediscovered in another form! WOW! Another hit for this author! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!