Springtime at Hope Hall

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Pub Date 21 Feb 2020 | Archive Date 08 Jul 2020
Lion Hudson Ltd | Lion Fiction

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Description

There's never a dull moment at Hope Hall, as its rooms are filled throughout the day with gossipy grandmas, body-popping teenagers, temperamental dancing teachers, a choir without one decent singer to their name, knitters who natter, caterers who bake glorious cakes, slimmers nibbling chocolate, and a nursery group where it's the grown-ups who are near to tears!4

But it's all in a day's work for administrator, Kath, whose job it is to make sure Hope Hall offers something for everyone! Mind you, she can see that some key members of her team are struggling - like caretaker Trevor, who is nursing his beloved wife who has cancer, and Maggie, their wonderful cook, whose husband of twenty-five years has just left her for a woman half her age.

As the team works to pull off their ambitious Hope Hall Centenary Easter Monday Fayre, Kath realizes reinforcements are needed. Brash, loud and inexperienced though she may be, Kath has a feeling that Shirley might be just the ticket! The Fayre is a triumph but when Kath's old flame comes back on the scene, she suddenly has some tough choices to make...

Springtime at Hope Hall is the first book in a delightful new trilogy centred on a Victorian church hall, the like of which can be found at the heart of life in so many towns across England - full of friends and neighbours with stories that will have you giggling one minute, and dabbing your eyes the next.

There's never a dull moment at Hope Hall, as its rooms are filled throughout the day with gossipy grandmas, body-popping teenagers, temperamental dancing teachers, a choir without one decent singer...


Advance Praise

"Oh, the hours I've spent over the years in halls just like this one! All of life is there, the laughter and tears, the upsets and triumphs - Pam's storytelling captures it in a BRILLIANT way!" Aled Jones, singer and broadcaster


"A heart-warming story of small town life, beautifully written." Jack Sheffield, author of the Teacher series


"Brilliant, witty, and full of down-to-earth humour. Springtime at Hope Hall is the perfect 'Church Hall' anecdotal read. It brings back fond personal memories of my time in such halls, and it's a funny reminder of how similar we all are as people... similar, yet quirkily different. Enjoy!" JB Gill, TV presenter


"Once again Pam Rhodes has created a community that you want to know more about, all centred around the activities of those who use the town hub, Hope Hall. All human life is there and is vividly brought to life as we follow the stories of people who hire it - from dance groups to drop-ins, from food banks to faith groups. We meet Kath, Maggie, Ray and the many others whose lives are connected through the hall, and see the importance it plays in their lives. Having been involved with many halls over the years, this book totally captures the different groups who 'own it' for an hour or two each week... A delightful read." Revd Cindy Kent MBE, broadcaster



"Oh, the hours I've spent over the years in halls just like this one! All of life is there, the laughter and tears, the upsets and triumphs - Pam's storytelling captures it in a BRILLIANT way!" Aled...


Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9781782642855
PRICE $12.95 (USD)
PAGES 256

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Average rating from 39 members


Featured Reviews

Lovely feel good read it was lovely. Nice wee location all the characters just as you imagine in these wee villages. The book was well written and flowed well

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Such a lovely book. The story of five friends who run Hope Hall. This book follows their lives both at work and outside of work. The problems they face and how with help from friends and other people they overcome these problems.
This book also covers other issues found in daily lives and has handled these brilliantly. I really enjoyed reading this book. It was funny, sad and laughable.

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Description
There's never a dull moment at Hope Hall, as its rooms are filled throughout the day with gossipy grandmas, body-popping teenagers, temperamental dancing teachers, a choir without one decent singer to their name, knitters who natter, caterers who bake glorious cakes, slimmers nibbling chocolate, and a nursery group where it's the grown-ups who are near to tears!

But it's all in a day's work for administrator, Kath, whose job it is to make sure Hope Hall offers something for everyone! Mind you, she can see that some key members of her team are struggling - like caretaker Trevor, who is nursing his beloved wife who has cancer, and Maggie, their wonderful cook, whose husband of twenty-five years has just left her for a woman half her age.

As the team works to pull off their ambitious Hope Hall Centenary Easter Monday Fayre, Kath realizes reinforcements are needed. Brash, loud and inexperienced though she may be, Kath has a feeling that Shirley might be just the ticket! The Fayre is a triumph but when Kath's old flame comes back on the scene, she suddenly has some tough choices to make...

Springtime at Hope Hall is the first book in a delightful new trilogy centered on a Victorian church hall, the like of which can be found at the heart of life in so many towns across England - full of friends and neighbors with stories that will have you giggling one minute, and dabbing your eyes the next.


This was a beautiful, smile making book. Such a wonderful place Hope Hall is. It is full of women and men who help the community with entertainment. It is also a story of 5 friends whom run the Hope Hall. I want to be part of Hope Hall.

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everything happens at Hope Hall, beavers, choirs, dance clubs and food for the elderly. Not only do we get an insight into the importance of the hall but we follow the lives of the team who work so hard to bring the community together.

We have friendship, divorce, tricky relationships and happy endings. Although the ideas are good and it is well written I did have difficulty with the way the storyline kept switching between characters.

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A lovely tale of journeys and personal discovery. Really warm and inviting with great characters, would make a great summer holiday read.

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I really enjoyed this book so much. It has a really great plot, superb main characters and I read it in one sitting. I would highly recommend this book.

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I was looking for a light read with a community feel and this one did not disappoint.

A tiny bit disjointed in that it was like a stream of consciousness for the diary of all the various users of a hundred year old community hall and in some cases I felt storylines were light on content and I desired more but it was a fun ride with some really colourful characters and I enjoyed this book immensely.

Rest assured I shall be reading the second book in 2021 as the foundation of characters will draw me back

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I really liked this book, it was easy to read and had a nice flow to it. Suddenly i was sad it was over, i'd hoped for more time with the characters, because i would have learned more about them and grow to like them even more, i mean i liked some more than others so i looked forward til i read about them again. Though, it might have been a little bit of too many characters at some point? so it got a bit confusing.because of it.

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This is a gentle story with loveable characters in a charming setting. I love reading about close-knit communities where people are nice and helpful to each other. I was pleased to see that most of the conflicts could be handled and solved. I like a happy ending which I was given here with some cliffhangers of course to make the next part more exciting.

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A lovely old fashioned charm to this book of a community hall used by many. There were lots of characters in it which could be a little hard to keep track of but nothing too taxing. Really makes you want to live in a village setting with a vibrant community.

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Fantastically written book loved it. Loved the way all the characters seemed to sprung to life within the story enjoy all of this author’s books but this one was the best so far. Would love to have a Hope Hall near me. Highly recommend

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Living in a small community myself, I knew that I would connect with this story straight away, with almost clones of the people that I know as friends that would pop up in this book. Reading it was like relaxing with familiar faces as I nodded my head, smiled and laughed at what the people in Hope Hall got up to.
In a small community, the heart and soul are the church and village hall, often with people that organise them belonging to both. Kath had worked in London in a pretty high flying career but when she came to the to live in the community a temporary position came up to be the administer of Hope Hall. The position was hers as soon as she went through the door.
Kath is an incredible character in the story and manages to make every available minute of Hope Hall work for the community. I loved the versatility and energy of Della with her dances classes that covered everyone from 3 to 103. The traditional meals that made my mouth water and nursey classes to girl guides. The centre buzzed with energy cringed at the singers and rocked with community spirit.
This story gets behind the scenes into the lives of the people that make the place tick, their heartaches and problems, their dreams and achievements. It is a beautifully written story that you feel you become part of. The best news is this is the first book of three, so I am already looking forward to the next hurdles that the Hope Hall team are faced with.
I wish to thank NetGalley, the publisher and MidasPR for a copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.

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A lovely light hearted read that will be quickly devoured as I did, a lovely story of friendship, community and personal discovery. Well written and addictive reading, can’t wait for the next.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

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This is such a delightful book. Everything centers around Hope Hall, a community center that has something for all ages. There are different characters working at Hope Hall and we get a glimpse of each person and the life they live. My favorite character was Kath Sutton, she is the manager of Hope Hall. She left London to help her mother when she was sick. She didn't go back to London but stayed to be the manager. She doesn't regret not going back to the city but enjoys the small interaction between people.
If you like Maeve Binchy and the way she breaks her books into short stories that intertwined you will enjoy this book as well.

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Lovely book perfect story to cuddle up with and join the lives of these characters.Their village five friends working together their lives families daily interactions. I was sorry to finish this book,#netgalley#lionhouse

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Springtime at Hope Hall by Pam Rhodes.

Kath Sutton has retuned to the small town from London giving a very successful job as a business management on the death of her father & care for an ailing mother. On her mother’s death she accepts the job as manager at Hope Hall a place she remembers from her childhood with affection. It has always been the centre of the community. There’s a drop in Cafe. Dance classes, a playgroup, keep fit for the older members, WI and many other things besides. The book is following the lives of the people who run hope hall and the people attending. Showing the good and not so good of the community.


An absolutely adorable book. Loved the stories, the people and their lives. Beautifully written, you want to laugh and cry all at the same time due to the injustice of life and all it brings. Can’t wait for next instalment of Hope Hall. Definitely 5/5!

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Hope Hall is the centre of the village. Kath, once a high powered hospital administrator now the hall manager juggles the variety of events from the regular cafe, the playgroup, the advisory sessions, the dance classes etc etc! The book is full of terrific characters and their stories. It was a delightful read. I am already looking forward to meeting them all again in the next book in the series. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book

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A lighthearted look at the users of the village hall. Culminating with a glorious gala day featuring all the different groups.

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An uplifting story of how a local village hall is the heart of the community.
Kath is the anchor of the village hall who manages the day to day running with skill and compassion.
There is a plethora of local characters with interesting back stories and a lovely warm feel good factor to the whole book.

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I will start by giving this 5 stars, it is a book to be read and enjoyed as much as I have done. This is set around the lives of the people who live and use Hope Hall in so many ways, community life at its best. Very well written and I recommend it to all.

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A good read about the people who use Hope Hall. This is where many community organisations meet every week. Everyone has a story and troubles in their lives. At Hope Hall they find friendship and advice and support.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

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Pretty straight forward book, what you read in the synopsis is what you get. If you like reading about British life in small communities, you won't be disappointed with this one.

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Gentle easy read really capturing the spirit of a local village hall and it's users. I enjoyed and look forward to the rest of the series.

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A really enjoyable, gentle tale of a village hall and the people who used it. The book takes the form of vignettes as the reader peeks into the lives of the various groups and individuals, and the author is able to draw us in to each one. From Kath, the Hall Manager, who gave up the chance of love to look after her ailing mother, to Maggie who runs the catering and has a husband who left her for a young love, to several couples struggling to find their life balance between family and work commitments. And all this centres around the centennial year of the village hall.

Endearing, interesting and great fun to read. I look forward to the next in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lion Hudson Ltd for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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Oh, this was such a lovely read. It had a gentleness about it that was exactly what I wanted as a bedtime read. The sense of community from this book was a joy.

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Very cute. Multiple short stories about the lives of people in a small community, all revolving around their experiences in a parish hall. Cozy and satisfying.

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This was one of my favorite reads for the year so fast. I loved the number of stories being told in one book with so many characters and so many perspectives. At first, it was a little confusing, but the more you read, the more you got to know the characters and understand their storylines. I will recommend this book to my friends who read.

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There is a lovely charm to this story, of a community hall. I'll be honest and say it took me a little while to get into the story and remember all the characters. Once I was in to the story it was such a cute book that makes you want to either work at a place like Hope Hall or live in their community.
A really enjoyable read, thank you.

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Springtime at Hope Hall by Pam Rhodes is quite simply the story of the events at the local community's village hall in the Springtime. But it is not just any Springtime happenings nor is it just any old villagers! This village is home to some lovable, kind, funny characters. The hall is enjoyed by everyone from the youngest in nursery to the oldest. A group of scouts called the Beavers where two lonely parents begin a friendship, a older wife and mother begins a new life, a dancing class for all ages, a group of singers that really can't sing at all, a lunch club full of senior members and one grumpy old lady, a knitting club and a club with the purpose to remember the past. They are a village of people who seem to really care about each other. The big performance they are all practicing for is the 100 year celebration of Hope Hall. Something for everyone. It is the beginning of a trilogy and I eagerly await the next one!

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Very cute book! Filled with multiple stories, struggled to get into but play the end I realaied I had quite enjoyed them.

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A ‘slice of life’ which at first seems to be another pleasant, light book that skims along the surface of things; but gradually real life intrudes & becomes more complicated. Events which at first seem almost too trivial to mention, take on added import. The book can probably be read on more than one level, depending on how demanding you want it to be - & how much feeling you wish to expend (maybe to do with what is going on in your own life at the time.) Oh - & I loved the Centenary Fayre : it sounded great fun & was really well thought-out. It was so well-described, it felt like being there! A good way of ending the book, leaving us all on a ‘high’. I am glad that I read this book, & would be interested in following up with the characters in future volumes.

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Thank you to Netgalley for a pre publication copy. In return for an honest review! #springtimeathopehall #netgalley

Hope Hall was built in 1920 in memory of those effected by the war. Since then it has been home to the villages laughs, cries, grief and love. Through its many clubs, lunches and groups which use the hall to benefit the community. Follow the hall, it's employees and members as they go through the throngs of life during the build up too the centenary events.

The strong and happy looking hall standing strong on the front cover drew me to this book. Since then I have been recommended this book too.

Once opening the book it is a page turner. You are there with the characters as they live their life through the ups, downs and turmoil that life throws them. They are all warm individuals who have very different lives and sometimes existances. With the common ground of Hope Hall which brings them together as a community. Whilst supporting their individual growth as life throws curveballsalong the way.

This book is a great easy read and you certainly need the tissues for this one! You never feel that you are missing anything from the story line allowing you to follow it through until the end with confidence that Hope Hall will welcome and support them all.

Although their are some emotional subjects included in this book such as divorce, dementia, single parent hood/working lots as parents, cancer and loosing the love of your life. I do not feel this takes away from the cosy feel of the book and I feel actually gives each character a third dimension to get your teeth into. Making it a very relatistic and heartfelt read.

Furthermore I loved learning about each characters past, present and future. Including the history involved with Hope Hall and its former and present members.

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I loved this book and everyone in it.
How all the groups work together and the community around hope hall pull together.
I had to re read this book just so I could remember little bits of it like teaching the children how to play the spoons. And the 4 older women joining in with the tap dancing.
Glad it had a happy ending for most people in this book. It's always sad when people die no matter if you know it's happening right from the start.

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What a lovely book as usual by Pam Rhodes. Can't wait for the next one. The people in it you can relate to locally - always similar characters in every village/town. Read quite quickly as had a job to put it down.

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Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me a copy to review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

3.5 Stars
I have been reading so many small-town romances lately, specifically ones that are set in Britain. I love these because they are easy, fun light reads. This one was no different, what you saw in the synopsis was what you got in the novel. I feel like these are the type of reads that I am gravitating towards because of everything going on and this book really delivered the escapism that I needed. I loved the community aspect as well, and the hall felt like it's own character in this, as well as all the characters in this small town that we meet through the hall I wish there was more time to explore and see more of al the characters.
This is truly an uplifting story about the power of community and I can't wait to read more by Pam Rhodes.

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I enjoyed this book about a village hall and the people that use it. A fun, light hearted read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me read this book in exchange for a review. I will be putting this review on Amazon too.

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Cozy story with loveable characters in a cozy setting. . I love reading about small town and the people that live there. . I love a happy ending which I was given here with some just a little suspense to keep the story moving.

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