For five decades, Venetia Hargreaves revolved her life around her spouse. She meticulously managed their life, centered on his thriving career, with dinners ready promptly at six, a well-maintained home, and a son who inherited his father's entrepreneurial spirit. Now, left as a prosperous widow, Venetia resides in a beautiful but solitary home, possesses considerable wealth, and grapples with the regret of missed chances. In her youth, she was an enthusiastic dance instructor with aspirations of establishing her own ballroom academy alongside a fellow teacher she held dear. Yet, Venetia chose the more cautious path.

This novel presents a heartwarming and captivating tale with a varied ensemble of characters who swiftly charm their way into readers' hearts. Anticipate captivating personalities that transition from initial doubts to profound depth, lingering mysteries from the past, dreams awaiting realization, lively dialogues, evocative settings, and authentic emotions.

A heartfelt thanks to Netgalley and William Morrow for this reading experience.

Ruth Hogan has a knack for writing beautiful stories that give hope about the goodness of ordinary people. I has previously read The Keep of Lost Things, and this has a similar vibe, but it's a completely original story.

The plot follows the connection of the recently widowed Venetia, and Liberty, who recently lost her mother. As they each enter this new chapter of their lives, they have a renewed chance to find and become their best selves.

During the process, they learn and grow. Venetia discovers new information about her husband that helps her let go and move on. Liberty finally understands that she made mistakes, and being pushed up against a wall, she figures out how to make something more of herself.

The plot involves a spiritual church and a ballroom, of course. There's a bird theme that comes into all parts of the story and adds a layer of meaning throughout. There are multiple people who have made mistakes or have been hurt and feel guilt and the weight of life. Can they forgive themselves? Can they forgive people who hurt them? Can they start to fly?

This is a feel-good novel about redemption and the courage to move on from the past. Some readers may not love the religious aspect or the way things tie up perhaps a bit too nearly at the end. It's that kind of story, meant for readers to feel like there is a lot of good in the world, and things really can turn out ok, even when they look hopeless.

I really enjoyed this. 4.5 stars rounded up.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an advanced copy for review.

This book was refreshing. The mash of characters who are all flawed but grow to find themselves was wonderfully done. I love how the author intertwined the past and present. This author is new to me but I will definitely be reading her other books soon. Thank you to William Morrow Books and Net Galley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

"The Phoenix Ballroom" by Ruth Hogan is a heartwarming tale about Venetia Hamilton Hargreaves, a 74-year-old widow who's figuring out life after her husband's passing. Along the way, she finds friendship from a diverse group of people, each dealing with their own struggles.

Hogan brings these characters to life, each with its own ups and downs. Everyone learning and growing.

The book gives a cozy vibe, and I love that it's filled with resilient characters.

"The Phoenix Ballroom" is another feel-good novel from Ruth Hogan. It centers on 74-year old Venetia Hamilton Hargreaves, recently widowed and seeking to reimagine the next phase of her life. As she re-discovers herself, she builds a community of family and new friends that support each other and grow together. All of the characters are endearing and I appreciate the opportunity to get insight into their thoughts. If I could change anything about the book, it would be to have less of a focus on the Crow "mystery" (which didn't really add much to the story at all) and more flashbacks to the 1970s. Overall, I really enjoyed this book!

Thanks to the publisher William Morrow and NetGalley for an eARC; all opinions are my own.

Charming, and hopeful, with the delight of a vital 74 year old main character.

This story centers on Venetia, a 74 year old recent widow who is adding new meaning to her life and starting over. I love that Hogan has taken the main character as well as the auxiliary characters and given them fullness and joy. I also love the wink to her previous novel, Keeper of Lost Things, with the collection of donations at the drop in church.

The story takes not only Venetia, but Venetia’s new “granny nanny” Liberty, grandson Kite, sister-in-law Swan, and son Heron, and made them lovable characters with great purpose in the story (beyond unusual names). Add in a ballroom renovation (said building also houses a drop in center and church), a bookstore, and a dog rescue, and there is plenty to enjoy in this novel.

It’s definitely a positive novel, where all setbacks are overcome, which some may describe as unrealistic. However, I find it refreshing and much needed in our current climate, and am happy to embrace.

The Phoenix Ballroom by Ruth Hogan is a witty, heartfelt novel by the author who wrote The Keeper of Lost Things. The story moves at a leisurely pace as the main protagonist Venetia learns to navigate life after the death of her spouse of 50 years. With a cast of characters that include her "granny nanny" Liberty, her grandson Kite, and her furry new pet Colin. Each character has their own unique life situations as the story unfolds.
This novel is one that tells of unlikely friends and sews their life together as a community who cares for each other. The authors cheeky names for the "bird" family made me smile. There are several witty descriptions that made me laugh out loud (especially the Cher references).
Overall, I enjoyed the story and where the author went with each character. Thank you to NetGalley, Ruth Hogan, and HarperCollins for the opportunity to read the novel. I will post a review on Insta books.before.sleep. All opinions expressed are my own.

Well, that was relentlessly positive. Even bad events somehow turn out OK. No apparent punishment for kicking a classmate, no PTSD from <spoiler>sexual assault</spoiler>, rescue dogs always get along, building fires don't delay schedules, and great-aunt Swan never gets a hangover.

For me, this went over the line from pleasant and comforting into not at all credible, but I expect it is just right for some people. I do wish that the author wouldn't lapse into a page or two of internal monologue to catch up on the plot. That is just lazy.

“The Phoenix Ballroom” by Ruth Hogan is a charming story about the ability to reinvent oneself after the death of a spouse. The story revolves around a vital 74 year old woman whose son decides she needs a Granny Nanny because of her age. She however is determined to pick up her past life as a dance instructor by buying a building which held the Ballroom where she worked in her past. She also winds up caring for her precious grandson as his parents find themselves in a crisis of their own. This book is entertaining with quirky fun characters, a great dog, secrets to be discovered, and hopes and dreams yet to be fulfilled.

Thank you NetGalley & William Morrow for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is another wonderful and heartwarming novel from Ruth Hogan! I just love her stories so I was excited for this one, and the premise drew me in right away. Venetia’s story is compelling from the first page. I'm glad authors are beginning to feature older main characters a bit more often. It's refreshing. The side characters are also wildly entertaining, and Hogan makes sure all of her characters are multi-dimensional and realistic.

The theme shines through: we don't need to let the past define us.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review; all opinions expressed herein are 100% my own.

This is a tender, emotional, and just plain wonderful story.
The characters feel real and each has a story for them to tell and for us to learn.
There is love, friendship, family, heartbreak, hope and newfound happiness.
Throw in some surprises that I sure never expected and you have one great book that I loved!

Thank you to @NetGalley and to @William Morrow for this amazing Arc and allowing me to read and provide my own review.

I love Ruth Hogan books! Her characters are always well defined and are usually someone you want as a neighbor and friend. The Phoenix Ballroom characters are no exception. The Phoenix Ballroom tells the story of Venetia, recently widowed and on her own, but only briefly as her home quickly fills with her grandson, a personal assistant and an a sister-in-law. Venetia, at 74, doesn't think it is time to fade away-she is ready to finally go after her dream of being a dance instructor she set aside when she married Hawk as a young girl. So she buys the old ballroom in town that also holds a church and drop in support center. Venetia's story is one many can relate to, regardless of age.

I absolutely loved this novel! Right from the very first page, I was drawn into Venetia’s story. I love books that feature older women heroines, and this one definitely did not disappoint. The story is well laid out timeline- wise and it was easy to follow the stories of the different characters and their situations. For me, the whole book is a testament to the fact that when one person makes positive changes in their lives, it positively affects others, whose lives stay touch. It also is a testament to what Venetia says at the end about how we don’t have to let our past define us. Thoroughly enjoyable! Highly recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for the Advanced Reader’s Copy of The Phoenix Ballroom by Ruth Hogan. This is an amazing read full of humanity, compassion, understanding, tolerance and lots of emotion. The characters in the story are well developed and full of personality. I urge everyone to pick up this well written book that immediately draws you in.

This is a cozy, sweet story that will have you rooting for all of the quirky characters. Following the loss of her husband, Venetia, a former dance instructor, is living in her big house all alone. Her son persuades her to hire a “granny nanny; the wrong descriptor for what she needs as she is a healthy active woman in her early seventies. Before long, she has a full house: her assistant, her young and precocious grandson, a wild sister-in-law, and a dog she names Colin Firth. Venetia is inspired to buy the building housing the ballroom where she used to teach ballroom dancing. The building also houses a spiritual church and a drop-in center for needy people, run by Evangeline. The characters in this book have dark secrets and are unhappy. They seek and find meaning and happiness in their lives as Venetia introduces people and restores the ballroom. With thanks to Netgalley and William Morrow for this ARC. My opinions are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for this Advanced Reader’s Copy of The Phoenix Ballroom by Ruth Hogan due to be published June 11, 2024.
When Venetia Hargreave’s husband, Hawk, passed away she was left very wealthy but knew she had to do more than sit around. Her whole life had revolved around Hawk and his career, so it was time to do something on her own. So, Venetia declared her independence by buying a ballroom – the one where she and Hawk met and danced.
This is outside my usual thriller genre but sounded wonderful – and it was. The characters – Hawk’s family were all named after birds – Swan was my favorite. She was loud and boisterous and wore turbans! Kite, her grandson (and sometime wingman), Liberty Bell, her “caretaker”, Evangeline – the spiritual leader of the church housed above the ballroom – and the mysterious Crow - they were all described so well it’s as if I knew them.
It was wonderful to watch Venetia come into her own as an independent woman who could have simply donated money to various causes without getting involved.
This is a book that should not be missed – 5 stars for this one!
#NetGalley #RuthHogan #WilliamMorrow #ThePhoenixBallroom

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for allowing me to read an ARC of The Phoenix Ballroom by Ruth Hogan in exchange for my honest review.

Absolutely amazing! I binge read Ms. Hogan's other books, and was impatiently waiting for another. I was so excited to be selected to read an ARC of The Phoenix Ballroom, and Ms. Hogan did not disappoint!

Humanity, compassion, understanding, tolerance, love, and so much emotion! This was an absolute treasure to read, and I'm only sorry that I've finished it.

I urge you to pre-order this book, and have your calendar cleared for June 11th!

I've enjoyed Ruth Hogan's work before & the club for her latest, "The Phoenix Ballroom" really appealed to me. Happy to say that this one lived up to my expectations - I found this quite entertaining, quirky and very heartfelt. I loved how we watch senior MC Venetia move on in her remaining years of widowhood and find a new life in her community with both her family and her new "found family". And I loved both the grandson & doggo! Very moving at times! My sincere thanks to Net Galley & the publisher for the complimentary DRC, my pleasure to review this one.

I absolutely love Ruth Hogan. Her stories are so beautifully written and emotional. This book was as enjoyable and heartfelt as her others!

Lovely, gentle, and understated. A deeply kind and life-affirming book with heroes of the sort one doesn't usually get to root for.