Engaging and well written, got a good sense of the characters and settings, and I would definitely read more by this author.

What a gem this book is. It’s wrong to call this story simplistic as it’s far from it, however there’s a charm that takes you by surprise – even in the moments of sadness. Told from the point of view of three characters, each narrated with unique and clear voices, Hope leads us through the trauma, the desperation and the anticipation of freedom that swells from the page.

The moments of brutality that brush against the moments of beauty are astonishing. From start to finish, the words flow over you, surround you and leave you feeling somewhat claustrophobic. Exactly how you might imagine a life inside these walls to feel.

I found myself wanting more but also feeling glad it was finished- especially with that epilogue! Definitely worth taking the time to read.

So beautifully written that it made my heart ache. Highly recommended.

An excellent read, not as grim as one might expect when knowing the setting is a lunatic asylum. It's based on a real place, details of which are given at the end, and which astonishingly did have a ballroom. I guess for its time it was quite a 'progressive' institution, but nonetheless a harsh and confined life for the inmates. At its heart is a love story, and I thought it well written and engaging.
Thanks to the publisher for the digital galley copy.

Sometimes you come across a book that is just…special. A book that makes reading anything else in the days after you finish almost impossible. A book that stays with you days, weeks even months after you finish. The Ballroom is one of those books. This review will not be able to put into words how beautiful, moving and genuinely brilliant I thought this book was but I shall try.

The Ballroom tells a beautiful story of romance, friendship and history. It deals with issues such as mental health, social oppression, homosexuality and gender issues without being preaching or treating the subjects like something less than they are. Anna Hope has written a story of depth whilst also making it relatable and interesting.

The story moves along at a good pace, and from page one to the end I was never bored. Every page, character, location and plot turn is interesting. I found The Ballroom so engaging that I struggled to put it down and when I had too I could not stop thinking about it. Anna Hope does a great job of at weaving together a romance, the historical significance of the book, the social ramification and well-rounded characterisation. One does not over shadow the other and the result is a well-balanced book and story. There is a lot going on here but it is never confused or overdone.

Anna Hope’s writing is simply beautiful. Her prose is effortlessly powerful and meaningful. She shows and doesn’t tell the reader and every emotion, moment and intention feels real and powerful. She treats the emotional and significant themes that run through The Ballroom with the upmost respect without censoring it. The historical period felt authentic as did the social and cultural issues that were prevalent in the period.
The storyline and writing are fantastic but it is the characters that really make this book what it is. Ella, John, Clem and Charles are all well rounded and well built. They each bring something to this novel and each drive the story. Ella is the character I related to the most. She is an ordinary working girl who finds herself in an awful situation. She is not ‘mad’ just fed up with the cards she has been dealt. There is a hope in her that really drives the book and which is the life force of her romance with John.

Clem and Charles are more secondary characters but in some ways, they are the most important characters in the book. Clem represents a lot of the heart and heartbreak in the book. She is a much-needed friend to Ella but also carries a lot of the emotion depth. Charles represents the conflict. Yet there is more to him than just menace. He starts as a good man, a man who wants to do the best for the people in the asylum but his demons are hard to fight and the more he denies who he is the colder and more horrifying he becomes.

I did want to talk about the romance even though it is not all this novel is about. I am a romantic at heart and this romances really invested me. It was glorious and beautiful and made my stomach churn with nerves. Ella and John find in each other escape, hope and true love. The use of The Ballroom, the only place where they get to see each other was inspired and added so much to the genuine emotion of their romance.

Anna Hope has really created something special here. If you are a fan of history, romance and real, raw characters then read this book. If you love the Bronte’s and Atonement and other books that are ‘more than just a romance’ then read this book. If you just love books then find yourself a copy of this. I read a lot and I enjoy a lot of books so when I say this was the best book not only of 2016 but that I’ve read in a long while I don’t say it lightly. The Ballroom is the type of book that comes along rarely and it has easily found its way into my favourite list.

I am not going to be reviewing this book, but thank you for the approval.

There was much romanticism in this book-Ella in particular and John as well. Their characters were almost too lyrical, too hopeful and beautiful, to feel real. The whiff of the supernatural and the unreliable storytelling (are all these characters actually real?) keeps that from being a flaw actually. I was most intrigued by the character of Charles the doctor whose plotline provided such a finely tuned tension that I almost skipped Ella and John at times to get to Charles.