This was a Hallmark movie in book form :). It's all about a small town and the lovely people who live there, including a young man who's fighting cancer, a veterinarian who left the love of her life and moved to a new town, and an older couple who cope with the husband's secret. I'm not sure why this book wasn't more successful for me - it's the kid of story I like to read - multiple characters and points of view, nothing too graphic, small-town life. But there was just so much sadness and so many dire events, some of which felt unnecessary. There was a lot of internal dialog (much of which I skimmed), and because there were so many characters, I had to occasionally look back at chapters I'd already read to figure out who was doing what. There were some lovely passages, though, and it was a relatively quick read. Thank-you to NetGalley, Scribner, and Ethan Joella for the ARC of this title.

Interconnected stories of different characters are not everyone's cup of tea, but this book manages to do a fair job of it.

A Little Hope tells us the stories of various characters at different stages of life - recent diagnosis, loss of spouse, addiction, lost love, quarter-life crisis, childhood trauma etc. You get frustrated by some characters, root for a few others, but the thing that remains constant is that you stay interested in their stories throughout the book.

The book shows the trials and tribulations of the lives of these handful of people in this small town of Connecticut. It does have a little bit of a depressing tone throughout the book, since it handles grief, regret and just general ennui. The lives of these people intersect throughout the book, but it doesn't distract you from the story of the narrator of that chapter. The characters are well rounded but I still felt an emotional distance from the characters which I don't think was deliberated by the author.

All in all, if you like multiple narrators and don't mind the 'jumping from one story to the other' type of narration, this is a good option.

A LITTLE HOPE is an interesting and uplifting read about the residents of a fictional Connecticut town. Joella explores in exquisite detail the lives of a few of the residents and how their lives intersect. Every word rings true as he relates their fears, their sorrows and their hope. I can't imagine that there are many that wouldn't relate to this gem of a book. It would make an excellent holiday gift!

A Little Hope is a big venture from my typical reading selections. I tend to gravitate towards romance and thrillers. You know, grand romantic gestures or crazy plot twists that have you furiously flipping pages. A Little Hope has neither of these, yet kept me enamored and savoring each page while connecting with each character in a deeply profound way. The small town residents of Wharton, CT have their fair share of tragedy, loss, and heartbreak. A Little Hope is a series of small glimpses into how they each deal with it, both publicly and privately. Each of the characters stories seamlessly weave together to create this amazing book full of heart, hope, and emotional highs and the lowest of lows. Real and raw. I loved the pacing of the book and the various point of views. I can really see this book coming to life on the big screen. This is 100% a book that I will recommend to friends and family! Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner for an egalley in exchange for my honest review. Five stars.

THis is a wonderful little read that will evoke so many different emotions while you turn every page. It was a book that I did not want to put down and was looking forward to each time I had the time to pick it up. I really enjoyed the ways the characters evolved throughout the book and how in each chapter, you learned how they were all part of each other's lives.

This book was quite simply okay. I know that the whole point of the novel was to show people in their everyday lives living in a community, but I found this story to be a bit lackluster. Not bad, but nothing special, unfortunately.

I had a hard time getting into this book about the inhabitants of a small town in CT. They each seem to have something terrible going on in their lives; addiction, cancer, death, failed pregnancies. I initially had a hard time connecting because I got lost in the changing characters and perspectives. It def a hit like short stories weaved together. In the end it was a heart wrenching and of course hopeful book.
3.75 stars

I’ve seen this one everywhere so I figured I’d give it a chance even though I don’t normally gravitate towards this genre. It was horrible but just not my cup of tea. I liked the story line and the ending was well put together.

I really wanted to like this book and went into it with a positive attitude. But in the end I just didn’t connect to it.

It begins by setting up the story of Greg and Freddie. I thought they were the main characters. They were not. They were brought up again several times, but many other characters were introduced -- so many that it got a little confusing. All the characters -- some connected to each other, some not -- had such devastating problems, and I thought that by the end it would all come together with a happy, positive ending. But that didn’t really happen. It just seemed like so many of the characters were dealing with the death of loved ones. The only hope in the end was that they were trying to work through their grief to figure out how to go on living.

I think the author really tried to write something meaningful, but it just felt so sad. I didn’t feel much hope, even in the end.

I'd like to thank NetGalley, Ethan Joella, and Scribner for the advanced reader's copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

What a beautifully written book with Interwoven storylines! Each chapter has a different storyline with different people that make up a small town in CT (although some characters do have longer stories or are a little more prominent). As I started reading, I was worried I would not remember all the characters and their stories or that I wouldn't "care" or grow attached since there's so many and each got a blurb. Far from the truth and I definitely got attached to this little community.

I adored the way they all came together, I've never quite read a book like this before. It all fell into place. Some of it was a hard read but it was also up-lifting. I'll miss all my friends in this story.

4.5 Stars

A story of navigating life, the changes brought through living our lives, and the various emotions that accompany us on that journey. Some of those changes are a result of choices, where others are unwelcome surprises that we would never choose.

Set in a small city in Connecticut, these stories share the lives of various people living their quietly unassuming lives from day to day. Assuming that if changes come, they will be easy ones to deal with. Each family has their own struggles, but for some the changes that come with news are devastating. Cancer. Affairs. Loss of loved ones. Guilt. Fear. Addiction. The wish to begin again, to undo mistakes made. A guarded hope for the future.

’The trees are starting to turn, just blushing now with hints of red, and she pictures a deer somewhere tiptoeing its way around. She imagines knowing those lots would always stay the same, knowing they could make that happen. But this isn’t a good time to talk about the future’

These past few weeks Freddie has had a need to save, to hang on to every---Addie’s drawings, receipts, and even land that hasn’t been built on. She wants to put yellow caution tape around everything.’

A quietly shared, poignant novel of life, love, and hope that kept me turning the pages, and aching for each of these souls and their individual journeys toward hope.


Published: 16 November 2021

Many thanks for the ARC provided by Scribner

Interwoven storylines connect a community as they navigate challenges and losses.

A Little Hope was a depressing read and somehow uplifting.

This is a beautifully written book that definitely tugs at the heartstrings. A few of the sad parts hit so close to home that it was hard to read - but it's also so true to life and heartwarming.

I loved all the characters with their individual stories that intertwined with each other. I look forward to future books by this author.

And I LOVED the surprise ending! More tears here.

A beautiful story about life and death and all of the moments in between. It will break your heart, but will ultimately leave you feeling more than just A Little Hope. The characters lives are intertwined and you’ll feel as though you know them. A must-read for anyone who enjoys family dramas.

Thank you to Scribner and NetGalley for this ARC.

What is life ,(for most of us) a dash of hope, a sprinkle of optimism, a cup of happiness mixed with sadness. That's how I would describe this book..all the ingredients we need to get us through ups, downs and the moments we barely notice but become the anchor of our daily lives. Lovely story.

This book is a story about life. There are good times and bad times And we don’t know what the future will hold. Sometimes, all we can do is plug on and hope for the best. The characters in this story just need “a little hope.” After reading this book and reflecting on it, I realize that in the midst of our present times I would be lost without hope. Thank you to the author for that reminder. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A heart wrenching, emotional story of the residents in a small New England town. A poignant tale of love, loss, and hanging on. The novel is evenly paced and follows multiple characters. Relatable, sad, thought provoking. Lovers of domestic drama will enjoy A Little Hope.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Scribner for gifting me a digital ARC of the debut novel by Ethan Joella - 5 stars - don't miss this debut!

In Wharton, Connecticut, Greg and his wife, Freddie, are faced with his medical diagnosis of multiple myeloma and what it means for their family. Ringing out from this family are a community of individuals, all facing their own issues and challenges.

I loved this novel and all the emotions it brought out. The story plays out in short chapters focusing on different characters at increasing periods of time. I was slightly confused in the beginning, but quickly grew to love the way the author gave us glimpses into these people's lives as time marched on. Beautifully written, we quickly see that small connections add up to big impacts in the lives of those around us. While these characters face illness, bad decisions, grief - you know, life! - it's a reminder that as long as there is life, there is hope. There are second chances around the corner if we open ourselves to them and let other people help us on our way.

Highly recommended - can't wait to read more from this author!

This book was real, sad at times, but also filled with hope. It centers around residents of a town in Connecticut and their daily life and struggles, real struggles that affect people and families every day. It is relatable in a soul-deepening way and provides different perspectives on how to face and endure tragedy. It is also told in an interesting way which makes it engaging for the reader. Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for giving me this chance to read and review this delightful novel.

A Little Hope is what each of the characters in Wharton, Connecticut are holding onto. Some are dealing with deep grief while others are fearing impending loss. The multiple viewpoints made the book challenging to read at bedtime, instead it's best read when you have time to sink into the story and the characters. With the multiple viewpoints there's likely a character that will resonate for you as they did for me. All in all a nice debut novel. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.