Hope Close
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Pub Date Mar 24 2020 | Archive Date Apr 7 2020
Amazon Publishing UK | Lake Union Publishing
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Description
Quiet street. Perfect homes. Not so perfect lives.
Hope Close: a leafy, tranquil backwater in the heart of the English countryside. But when Andy Meyer moves in, it soon becomes clear that picture-perfect homes can hide less-than-perfect lives. Fresh from rehab and with no interest in meeting his neighbours, Andy erects forbidding gates to keep the ghosts of his past—and any prying eyes—at bay.
Next door, in the grandest house, Layla is unhappily married to a much older man and desperately misses her young son, who has been banished to boarding school. When lonely Nicole from over the road confides her own secret heartache to Layla, the two women form an unlikely bond—until one of them attracts the attention of their mysterious new neighbour.
The only person to sense something dangerous about Andy is busybody Joan. But will her suspicions bring her more than she bargains for?
As the past catches up with the residents of Hope Close, it becomes clear that the intriguing new neighbour isn’t the only one with something to hide…
A Note From the Publisher
Tina's first novel, One Step Too Far, was released in 2013, and has since been published in 18 languages in over 60 countries. Home Truths is her fourth novel. Tina's fifth novel, Hope Close, will be published in Spring 2020.
Tina grew up in Hampshire, before going off to study in the beautiful city of Bath and then moving to London, where she has lived on and off ever since. She started south of the river, but now lives in North London with her husband and son.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781542093606 |
| PRICE | $14.95 (USD) |
Average rating from 84 members
Featured Reviews
anne k, Reviewer
to be honest i found this a bit confusing of a story .i felt there were too many story lines running throughout .it did however pick up a bit towards the end so all in all an ok book.
Reviewer 347544
A quote (from ARC):
“Solitariness was closing in on her, and even her husband felt like a stranger now.”
A gripping and suspenseful novel about loneliness, pain and secrets, and how the past always catches up with you.
Set in a Surrey (England) small community, “Hope Close”, by Tina Seskis (Lake Union Publishing), features four neighbors, three women and one man with different ages and backgrounds, each with secrets of their own.
The writing is very good and the novel structure, told from the neighbors’ (three women and one man) perspectives, very smart.
The romance takes a back seat but the story is still very rewarding as we get to know the characters’ secrets and even the more horrible ones become a little more human and friendly.
Andy is such a broken, tortured hero, I felt glad that in he was able to find some peace, although the redemption process seemed a bit undeveloped.
Leona O, Reviewer
This was an excellent thriller based around a cul de sac of houses in the English countryside. Right from the beginning I just knew that this book would suck me right in and yes it sure did do that. This book had everything I love in a good book, great storyline, strong characters, mystery, intrigue and plenty of thrills. I highly recommend this book and have no hesitation rating it a 5⭐ read.
My thanks to the author Tina Seskis for the opportunity to review an advance copy of this book and my opinions are all entirely my own.
Tina Seskis is on form with this intriguing story of a secretive, reclusive young man with regrets about something shameful in his past. Her depiction of Hope Close as an environment of anxious, claustrophobic, mis-matched people and their random houses, which is supposed to be a pleasant retreat in a beautiful area is skillful. The diverse characters and dissatisfactions, jealousies and fear of discovery, leading to neighbourly, and often un-neighbourly, interactions, which eventually give rise to a series of denouements, some unexpected as per Tina's clever storytelling, some quietly but satisfyingly predictable. Sensitive, observant, timely. A good read all round.
DNF. Could not get past chapter 8. Not my type of read, too drawn out and boring. Thanks for the ARC.
I enjoyed this book quite a bit. Eventhough it is quite a lot of backstory with secrets woven in, that back story in so necessary for the twists and secrets to be revealed. I also feel that the descriptive elements made you feel that you were part of Hope Close, just another neighbour peeking out of her curtains to see what was going to happen next.
The thing about this book, is that all of it is so believable especially if you have lived on a cul-de-sac. Everyone knows your business and nothing can be kept secret. Even if you think it is!
I’ve only read one of Tina Seskis’s books so when I was offered the chance to read an ARC copy of her newest novel I was keen to take part!
I loved the previous book I read and this was no exception. The characters who live in Hope Close are all well developed, described in detail and made me feel like I knew them. But, they all held their own secrets! I felt compassion, intrigue and suspicion of all of them and was eager to find out what those secrets were.
Through the book there were many suspicions which grew and revolved about all characters and mostly the new resident in Hope Close, Andy. The neighbours all had their own views about him but which of them will be the one to rumble his secrets?
A fantastic thriller! Thoroughly recommend you read this!
I have read and thoroughly enjoyed all books by this author, so when offered the opportunity to read an ARC for this one in return for an honest review, I jumped at the chance.
The book follows the residents of a small cul-de-sac in Surrey who all have various issues in their home lives, including a new neighbour who you learn has recently been released from prison and has suffered from addiction and mental health issues.
The characters in this book were so well fleshed-out that I felt like I really knew them and genuinely cared for where their stories were going. I especially enjoyed the character of Joan, we all know a 'Joan' and I laughed out loud at a couple of her observations about her fellow neighbours. I liked Andy's character as well, I found it interesting to follow his journey as he attempted to readjust to normal life.
My only criticism would be that the story is a little bit slow-going in parts but in my opinion it is completely worth it to be involved in the lives of these wonderful characters.
Bookseller 401796
This book didn't impress me as much as I had hoped; however, I always like to offer some positive feedback, and this book did reach some high notes. Firstly, I thought the writing was top-notch. The storyline was easy to follow and I was never confused about what was going on. Some books can get very wordy, and I didn't find that to be an issue with this book at all. Second, I really could relate to the characters. I always like when the characters in a novel are relatable. It helps me connect more with the book. Finally, I did find the plot very interesting. The parts of the book that I took issue with was the pacing. For me, an excellent book requires the reader, achem <me.> to have a very hard time putting down the book. In this case, I found myself taking breaks more often than not. While I did finish this novel, I could not call it a 'pageturner'. When I find a book impossible to put down, that is for me, a memorable read. I would rate this book 3/5 stars.
Reviewer 266180
What Secrets Hide On The Close...?
The seemingly quiet Hope Close hides a multitude of secrets and suspicions. Solid characterisation and engaging storytelling make this a rather compulsive read. There is much backstory but nothing irrelevant and all necessary to tell the tale. Well drawn, enjoyable suspense.
Three women, Layla, Joan and Nicole live in Hope Close with their husbands. A mysterious new neighbour moves in, keeps himself to himself and erects a large set of gates. What does the new neighbour have to hide.
I have read a books before with the premis about neighbours and one or the other have a secret and for me I find the stories quite entertaining. This book I thought was ok but had enough to keep my interest until the end.
Each chapter follows each of the women and how they entwine and how they each live their lives. The reader also follows the new neighbour who clearly has something to hide. The story progresses until all is revealed and why.
I felt this book had enough to keep my interest and I did want to find out what the big secret was. I felt however that the story just plodded along at times and I just wanted it to move up a notch and move on a little.
I would say if you like Liane Moriarty then this book is for you. A modern setting with a very mismatched bunch of characters. There was some funny moments in the book especially with what some of the characters did get up to. A good, ok
read.
I would like to thank Tina Seskis via Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review the book.
I have read quite a few books from this author and enjoyed them all. This was no exception, I found it to be an excellent read with good, well developed characters all with their own secrets.
The book held my interest throughout and I would have no hesitation in recommending it.
Thank you to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
Gavin D, Reviewer
Another terrific book from the pen of Tina Seskis, who is fast becoming adept at writing nuanced and complex characters that are compulsive reading. As ever, her plot is fiendishly wicked and great fun to read.
Hope Close by Tina Seskis The premise of the book was intriguing. There were multiple story lines some of which did not mesh together well. The transitions between the POVs were confusing and distracting. An interesting read but slow paced.
Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.
A fantastic read, full of intrigue that will keep you in suspense throughout!
Welcome to Hope Close a cul-de-sac in the countryside with just four houses, who’s occupants prove that so much more goes on behind closed doors!
The story is told from four POV’s – Layla, the unhappy housewife who has just had to agree to send her beloved son to boarding school.
Nicole, the bored, lonely housewife whose children have all flown the nest and whose husband pays her little attention.
Joan, an elderly lady who seems to despise her husband and pretty much anyone or anything!
Then there’s Andy the new resident on Hope Close, who is fresh out of rehab and has a very mysterious past.
All very different types of people but one thing the ladies all have in common is that they are all very nosey neighbours! As Andy wants to keep himself to himself and let his secrets remain in the past, I think he has picked the wrong neighbourhood to move too.
I really enjoyed reading this book, it felt like starting with a jigsaw puzzle where all the pieces are initially scattered around but they all come together by the end. It was very easy to read, and the chapters flit perfectly between each character. I love the way Tina makes things so intriguing in her books that you just want to keep turning the pages. It is the third book I have read of hers and each one I have been wowed and haven’t guessed the outcome.
The setup reminded me a lot of Desperate Housewives which I used to love watching! I think this book would make a fantastic TV drama.
An awesome curtain twitcher read which bought out the nosey neighbour in me!
Thank you so much to Tina Seskis, Amazon/Lake Union Publishing & NetGalley for my ARC of this book.
I don't know how to rate or review this book. There were too many people, and the storylines did not blend well. I picked it up a number of times and finally felt a relief when finished,
Thank you, NetGalley for the advance copy toreview.
Reviewer 251001
I absolutely love all the books Tina Seskis has written and her familiar writing style was evident in her latest offering, I raced through the book really looking forward to the twists unfolding but I hate to say it but it’s not one of my favourite books by her. I found I could guess some of what was going to happen and I’ve not been able to do that with her other books.
This would be a good one to start with if you’ve not read anything by this author then read some of her other books. You won’t be disappointed!
Tammy R, Reviewer
This is the first book I have read by Tina Seskis but it won’t be the last. I really enjoyed this book, it immediately pulled me in and then was very cleverly written to keep me intrigued with different strands of story interwoven between all the residents of Hope Close.
I rated this 4⭐️ and would recommend it.
Annie B, Reviewer
I only read about 10% and couldn't get into this book. I wanted to give it more of a chance, but Layla sending her 8-year-old to boarding school prejudiced me against it from the start and I didn't really want to find out what the new arrival's likely terrible secret was.
Emma B, Reviewer
I really enjoyed the way this book has been written as in each chapter is dedicated to each character. The story builds up really well and you get to know the characters on Hope Close. As the story was building I expected things to get quite sinister with Andy, which is the mysterious neighbour that moves in, as a few things happen to lead you to believe that is where the story may be heading. I think because of this, I felt slightly underwhelmed by the overall outcome at the ending of this story. This is purely just my opinion from what the book lead me to believe was going to happen, plus the fact I do read a lot of thrillers, I think also made me think that way too. Having said that, the book does tie up all the loose ends well.
Thank you to Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The premise of the book sounded intriguing, but the execution did not quite live up to that potential. The multiple story lines did not always mesh very well, and I found the transitions between the various POVs confusing and distracting. Partly due to the continuous changes in POV, the story advanced very slowly and I found it hard to sustain interest at times. There were constant references to past events, some of which were never actually revealed - and those that were eventually revealed fell a bit flat, and therefore I found the ending disappointing.
Hope Close, at first glance, seems like a nice and cosy neighbourhood.
But each of its residents has baggage of their own.
Layla is unhappily married and missing her son, who has just been sent to a boarding school.
Nicole is a lonely woman, whose children have left home and whose husband pays no attention to her.
Joan is a busybody who finds problems with everything and everyone.
So when Andy Mayer, a mysterious new neighbor, settles in one of the recently vacated houses, it spells trouble.
The story, told in the third person, follows each of the neighbours and is interspersed with Andy Mayer's firsthand narration.
When I started reading, I was instantly intrigued. The opening chapters offered a really good premise, and I was excited to be sucked in.
Unfortunately, it quickly turned out that the story was really slow and not suspenseful enough. The new neighbour's secrets were the only thing that kept my interest, but sadly even that eventually fell flat. Andy's motive seemed random and far-fetched, and therefore the ending was disappointing.
I was really battling with myself whether to give this book 2 or 3 stars, but in the end, I just couldn't justify the higher rating.
I'm aware that my opinion is in the minority, so I think you should check it out for yourself.
Jill B, Reviewer
Tina Seskis is fast becoming one of my go-to authors as her attention to detail surpasses any plot lines. While this doesn't really qualify as a domestic or psychological drama it certainly is an magnificent domestic noir portraying the inner lives of the occupants of four homes in a claustrophobic cul-de-sac in the picturesque Sussex countryside. It’s difficult to conjure a sense of foreboding throughout a novel where, to be honest, nothing too externally drastic happens. However, my heart was pounding at so many times and I felt as if mass murder had just happened. It didn’t. . But that’s how it felt, and as surely as it’s difficult to read, its surely more difficult to write in this style. Instead we are treated to the murder of dreams and marriages, the death of expectations and the acceptance of loneliness as a norm. More devastating than any pile-up-the -bodies stories. The street is disrupted by the mysterious arrival of a young single man into their midst and finally the street name becomes symbolic as well as a mail delivery technique.
Sandra S, Reviewer
I was not a fan of this novel. I struggled to find a redeeming feature in any of the characters. They were mostly mean spirited, strange and bitter. The novel is set in England in a country town in a street called Hope Close. It is told from the point of view of several of the occupants of Hope Close who are mostly fueding, suspicious or spying on each other. The plot was so convoluted that I struggled to work out what was going on, and even at the end of the novel I still wasn’t completely sure what had happened. A total miss for me.
So gripping and intense!! I was hooked straight from the beginning. Great domestic thriller with a fast plot and well written characters
This story introduces the residents of a small cul-de-sac in Surrey who all have their issues. Suddenly a new neighbour shows up which nobody is sure about...it seems that the peace is disturbed by this intruder.
In the beginning i thought beeing pushed into some kind of desperate housewife-ish story which is not my cup of tea....but i was so wrong. All the charakters are very special and well constructed!
to me the story never seemed to be boring or superficial, on the contrary!
dive into the world of HOPE CLOSE to see for yourself and enjoy!
thank you very much for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
kATHLEEN G, Reviewer
Lots and lots of secrets in placid Hope Close. The arrival of Andy, who has his own things he'd like to keep hidden, starts a waterfall. Layla, Nicole, and Joan all lived quietly - or did they? No spoilers bit know that this is told from multiple perspectives. Pay attention to Joan as she's the one who prompts the others to look at both themselves and everyone else with a different eye. Is she right? No spoilers. There's no big drama or trauma here but that doesn't mean it isn't a good read with nice storytelling and characters. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
A story of secrets, relationships, loss and new beginnings. Hope Close is a quiet well-to-do English countryside cul de sac. Life 'should' be easy here, but "you never know what someone else is going through". The four main characters are well developed, the plot moves along quickly with enough mysteries to keep your mind working. A good book that makes you adjust what you were thinking as the story unfolds, providing more bits of the puzzle as you move toward all the answers at the end.
Thank you to Netgalley for an advance copy of the book.
Mesmerising
The whole book
Hope Close, so wonderfully described by the author is a well 2 do cul de sac in leafy Surrey, consisting of only 4 abodes yet rammed full of ‘perfect to read about’ characters
From Joan the wiry haired curtain twitcher gossip with her venomous tongue to Layla the bored housewife
forever regretting sending her young son off to boarding school to the new arrival, the mystery man, dressed in black and reluctant to leave his newly gated property, they all fizz into Hope Close and once Joan with her instantant dogged determination sets about to alienate everyone and find out who the mystery man is she sets off a chain of events even she could not foretell
Told mainly in the now by various characters with ‘mystery man’ delving into his past this book kept me on my toes all the time, I thought I had it all worked out, quite a few times only to have it proved wrong
Absolutely loved it, page after page of book goodness, fabulousssss
10/10
5 Stars
Pam C, Reviewer
So many different types of household on a random cul de sac in England. I didn't guess many of the plot twists and, although I did find the book slow at times, I really did enjoy watching it all come together.
I have read other books by this author and enjoyed so I was keen to read this. The story focuses on the residents of Hope Close and is told from the perspectives of 4 main characters, each with their own mini plot going on. Each character is different and has you guessing about how their part in the story will develop. The new resident Andy is the one which has you gripped the most , what did he do and how does he fit in to it all? Although I thoroughly enjoyed this I was expecting a bigger twist at the end, I'm not sure what but I just sort of felt a bit deflated by the end. After saying that , it is a good read though and I would recommend it to others who like this genre.
Thank you Netgalley and Tina Seksis for this ARC.
The premise of this book was so intriguing. I have read multiple books about neighbors and secrets and have always found them very entertaining. This one barely seemed to keep my interest throughout. I had a hard time staying engaged and really skimmed chapters to get to the end and to find out the secret.
Told in alternating perspectives per chapter, this follows the group of neighbors and their lives on their quiet little street. While usually a novel like this works well, this one seemed to be disjointed. Not all the stories seemed to mesh well together. Because of this choppiness, I felt completely set back from the overall story and actually had to remind myself why I was still reading- I wanted to find out the BIG SECRET!
This is a cast of unique characters- an odd bunch of sorts. Since each chapter follows a different character, I did like how I got to know each one individually. However, there were times I felt like I was getting too much story which lead to complete boredom and skimming on to the next chapter.
The ending was quite the letdown. I, of course, will not give anything away and you can decide for yourself how you feel about Hope Close when it is released here in the U.S. on March 24, 2020.
Thanks to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for allowing me an eARC to read and give my honest review. It was a 3 star read for me.
Happy Reading!
I stayed up way too late last night finishing this book off 😆 but I really enjoyed it!
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𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀 ⠀
"Hope Close is a small cul de sac with residents who are terrible curtain twitchers who stick their noses in one another’s business. They think they know everything about each other until the newest resident arrives. He puts physical walls in place to keep his busy body, prying neighbours out and they’re all convinced he has something to hide.⠀
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Unbeknownst to each other, it appears that they all have secrets behind closed doors, and once they start unraveling the impact is explosive."⠀
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𝗠𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀⠀
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I found this book really intriguing and I couldn’t put it down.⠀
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It was very cleverly written as each chapter was told from a different characters perspective, with their name heading the chapters. This differed when written from the mysterious new residents point of view , who has so much anonymity that it keeps you turning the pages. Nothing was ever given away about who he was, where he came from, or what impact he would have on this street.....very clever in my opinion. It kept me gripped.⠀
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This is my first book by this author and I look forward to reading more of her books.⠀
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 from me ⠀
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You never really do know what's going on behind closed doors... Or gates.
A great twisty read about the residents of Hope Close, Old Battleaxe Joan who doesn't like change. Trophy wife Layla and bored housewife Nicole. Things are fairly quiet on the close until the arrival of a new neighbour who is very much keeping himself to himself.
The mysterious neighbour unlocks secrets that have ramifications right across the close.
This book made me miss the good old days of Brookside Close!
This was definitely a page turner. Thanks to net galley for the opportunity to review this book this is my honest opinion.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and Tina Seskis for the opportunity to read and review her latest novel. Just finished a glass of wine and this book - totally escapism reading and I loved it! 4 stars.
A well-to-do Surrey cul-de-sac with four houses and four very different inhabitants. There's the older couple, Joan is the local busybody, angry at the world. Nicole is depressed after her children moved out and her husband isn't paying enough attention to her. Layla is the newest wife of Charles, and mother to Henry. She's coping with her husband's insistence that Henry go off to boarding school at the age of 8. Then there's the mysterious new neighbor, who installed privacy gates and talks to no one, but we know that he just got out of prison and a halfway home. So very many secrets for one cul-de-sac!
Just a fun read but also one that teaches us about judging others.
Pauline S, Reviewer
I’ve read all of this author’s books and though I enjoyed this one it wasn’t as good as her others I felt.
It’s an overall OK read.
Danielle L, Reviewer
I'm quite disappointed with Hope Close. The story sounds intriguing and potentially scandalous but I felt it fell short of all it suggested. I didn't really warm to any of the characters. Their relationships and interactions with each other are fractious and don't feel genuine. The introduction of Andy should've made things interesting but this fell flat too. His interactions with the his neighbours on Hope Close are awkward and uncomfortable. The book is filled with curveballs that don't go anywhere and basically just keep looping round to keep you guessing who Andy is related to and what his secret past was. I just found it more frustrating than anything and found it a bit of a slog to finish.
It's a shame because I loved One Step Too Far and The Honeymoon from Tina Seskis but Hope Close just didn't come near for me.
Thank you to NetGalley, Tina Seskis and Amazon Publishing UK for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Hope Close is Tina Seskis’s fifth domestic-based psychological thriller and is every bit as addictive and captivating as her previous books. From initial perusal, the synopsis reads like a trillion other similar novels but in its defence, the author does a great job of depicting the small-town community living in which everyone knows everyone else and their business, or so they think, and many tensions fester underneath the surface of most peoples pristine facade. This time it takes place in a Surrey town and charts the intertwining lives of neighbours Andy, Layla, Nicole and Joan. Andy is a bit of an oddball who very much keeps to himself; Layla is the great pretender and for all intents and purposes her family life appears idyllic yet nothing could be further from the truth; Nicole who is unlucky in love and life; and elderly Joan the common local busybody who loves nothing more than to be the instigator or perpetrator of idle gossip about other residents.
This is a superb character-driven thriller mixed with aspects of women fiction/chick lit with tonnes of drama, secrets and twisty surprises throughout. What really makes this as addictive and engaging a read as it is though is undoubtedly the depth of characterisation, and although the cast are all pretty unlikeable it created a underlying sinister undertone and chilling atmosphere that run the entirety of the plot and emphasises just how deft and talented Ms Seksis actually is. The slow unfurling of everyone's secrets kept me hooked and I was ultimately intrigued at quite how the characters had managed to keep them under wraps for so long. It can often be a minefield deciding which domestic dramas to pick up as there are so many with almost identical plotlines, but I urge you to give this a go if you enjoy the genre as it is compulsive, gripping and absorbing from cover to cover. Recommended. Many thanks to Amazon Publishing for an ARC.
A few things I really like about this book was the neighborhood and some of the characters like Andy. He was super mysterious and I couldn’t figure out what he is hiding, but he still showed so much emotion. I also loved that the chapters were short which made it feel I was going through the book really fast. Going into this book i thought there was going to be a lot of suspense and twists and turns but i was wrong. this book was not suspenseful to me, it did have some twists that i liked and i feel like that’s what kept me from DNF this book. It started out slow and then it gave me a twist but I figured it out so fast that it didn’t even feel like a twist. This book was just a slow read and it only really started to get interesting about 85% through it.
Hope Close by Tina Seskis features three women who live in a lovely neighborhood called Hope Close. The peaceful neighborhood changes with the arrival of a mysterious man named Andy who puts up a big gate, why? What is he hiding? Naturally, the women are curious and want to know what’s going on. But each of them has something they are hiding too…
Synopsis:
Hope Close: a leafy, tranquil backwater in the heart of the English countryside. But when Andy Meyer moves in, it soon becomes clear that picture-perfect homes can hide less-than-perfect lives. Fresh from rehab and with no interest in meeting his neighbours, Andy erects forbidding gates to keep the ghosts of his past—and any prying eyes—at bay.
Next door, in the grandest house, Layla is unhappily married to a much older man and desperately misses her young son, who has been banished to boarding school. When lonely Nicole from over the road confides her own secret heartache to Layla, the two women form an unlikely bond—until one of them attracts the attention of their mysterious new neighbour.
The only person to sense something dangerous about Andy is busybody Joan. But will her suspicions bring her more than she bargains for?
As the past catches up with the residents of Hope Close, it becomes clear that the intriguing new neighbour isn’t the only one with something to hide…
I love books like this where everyone has a secret. The plot was intriguing and I liked the characters. I love it when a book keeps me guessing and I’m not sure how things will play out.
Free if you have Kindle Unlimited, out on March 24!
Hope Close by Tina Seskis
I enjoyed this book, a good level of tension and good plot. There are a good few characters to keep track of but easy enough to remember who is who.
This book kept me guessing right to the end, and was enjoyable.
Enter the world of Hope Close, a small neighborhood of four houses in the bucolic English countryside. The residents are three very different couples linked together only by their unhappy marriages. Into this gloomy world comes Andy Meyer, who buys the only vacant house and may or not be a murderer. He is, however, deeply disturbed.
It’s hard to find a likable character in Hope Close. There’s Layla, beautiful third wife to Charles and mother to small Henry who is sent off to boarding school as the novel begins. That sad act is observed by watchful neighbors. Joan is perhaps the nosiest of the neighbors, a frequent complainer and a true busybody. She and her husband Lionel have lived in Hope Close the longest. Nicole and Ted are the third couple, empty nesters who have little in common now that their children have moved out. The addition of Andy Meyer adds a new focus to the residents’ lives until a disastrous party reveals most of what has been hidden for a long time.
Hope Close reads like a play. There is only one main location, Hope Close, with scenes set in each of the four houses. I think it would easily adapt to the stage and I would love to see that. Although the novel is deliberately slow paced, you will lose yourself in this perfectly described insular little world. I did. 5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and Tina Seskis for this ARC.
“Quiet street. Perfect homes. Not so perfect lives”.
Andy Meyer moves into Hope Close a quiet, tranquil and leafy backwater in the English countryside full of picture perfect homes. However he soon discovers that behind those homes doors are hidden not so perfect lives. Andy is just out of rehab and is not feeling very sociable and so not wanting to meet his neighbours he sets about installing large gates to keep prying eyes out. Andy’s neighbour Layla lives in the grandest house in the close and to those looking in leads a wonderful life, however Layla is unhappy, married to a much older man and missing her son who her husband has sent away to boarding school. Layla forms a bond with fellow Hope Close resident Nicole who is also lonely and dealing with her own heartache. Meanwhile the busy body of the close, Joan thinks there is something dangerous about their new neighbour Andy, but no one is willing to listen to her suspicions. The past catches up with all the residents of Hope Close and it seems Andy is not the only one with a past and something to hide.
This is a wonderfully written novel which brings together a mix of great characters and the author weaves a story around them all. Her descriptions of Hope Close are so detailed that I could picture myself there amongst the residents. I liked how each chapter was given over to one character and written from their point of view. This is a domestic based psychological thriller full of suspense and drama. I was hooked from page one and the storyline had me hooked until the final page. A great read and offered total escapism as I was fully immersed in Tina Seskis’s world of Hope Close. Definitely recommend this fantastic thriller.
Hope Close is a beautiful little neighborhood in the Surrey countryside. Behind the beautiful houses lie ugly truths. Each family is fully fleshed out, secrets and dysfunction coming to the fore. Very readable tale of tight neighborhoods and the people who hide in them. It all comes to a spectacular confrontation while the fallout settles into the whole neighborhood. First time author for me and I look forward to her next!
Sarah M, Reviewer
I really enjoyed this story. A domestic saga with a mystery. Great characters all living in one cup de sac. A curtain twitcher, two disillusioned at home woman and a new mystery man. All have secrets which slowly come out during the story. The story of Andy, the new man living in isolation is enthralling and so cleverly written. I devoured this over the weekend.
Michele Y, Reviewer
I loved The Honeymoon by Tina so was eager to read this book. I found none of the characters particularly likeable and didn’t engage with any of them. There wasn’t a big reveal in my opinion and I felt a bit let down. Nevertheless, worth a read if you like an easy read with curtain twitching characters.
Reviewer 605165
a nice neighborhood in the countryside with only 4 houses & in each lives residents with secrets. the story follows 4 of the neighbors, layla who is unhappily married and misses her son, joan who sticks her nose into everyone’s business and causes trouble, nicole who is lonely, who’s children have left to live their lives, and who’s husband pays no attention to her, and andy, the mysterious new neighbor who built gates around his house to keep his neighbors out.
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going into this book i thought there was going to be a lot of suspense and twists and turns but i was wrong. this book was not suspenseful to me, it did have some twists that i liked and i feel like that’s what kept me from DNF this book. it started out slow and then it gave me a twist but i figured it out so fast that it didn’t even feel like a twist 🤔 this book was just a slow read and it only really started to get interesting about 85% through it.
Hope Close is the story of four very different families living in a cul-de-sac called Hope Close. There is the mysterious new guy who keeps to himself and who is hiding a terrible secret...the lonely wife with the much older husband.....the desperate rich housewife who is obsessed with looking young and who is also hiding a secret from her family and then the older busy body who is spying on everyone and out to make everyone's life miserable. In other words just an ordinary street like you get everywhere in the world.
I found it an easy read and I like the style of writing. I felt like a peeping Tom looking in from the outside and you feel empathy for all the characters. Can we really judge people if we don't know them?
Thank you to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Teresa G, Educator
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of Hope Close by Tina Seskis.
Hope Close is a cozy English suburb, quiet and beautiful. But as most neighborhoods, this one is not without it's secrets and long standing feuds. But what really shakes up the community is when a mysterious new neighbor, a single man moved in. He is stand offish and an odd fit for this family community.
But feuds and tensions come to a head one fateful Christmas party. After a scorned neighbor marches over there, outraged for not being invited, she drops a verbal bomb on the whole community.
I did enjoy this one. I love a quirky cast of characters, and I especially love reading about casual interactions because they are so much of what makes up normal life. I was disappointed in the ending. It just didn't have that satisfying click that you would hope for after so much escalation.
Hope Close, by Tina Seskis, is more of a domestic suspense novel versus thriller. The story unfolds in Hope Close, a neighborhood near Surrey, England. The book follows the lives of 4 different neighbors, each with secrets of their own: Nicole, Layla, Joan and Andy. Andy, the new mysterious neighbor, has drawn everyone's attention as he has constructed large gates on his property that shield the view. What is he hiding?
Told from multiple viewpoints-and through more narrative than conversation-the story picks up in the second half of the novel. Without any spoilers, I did not expect one of the revelations that was the catalyst driving Andy to Hope Close.
Thank you to the writer, publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.
Readers who liked this book also liked:
Val McDermid; Jo Sharp
General Fiction (Adult), Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction