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Hope
THE POWERFUL AND UPLIFTING NUMBER ONE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
In March 2022, much-loved pop star, father and son Tom Parker died from incurable brain cancer. This story is his legacy, in his own words.
A proud working-class lad from Bolton, he rose to chart-topping fame with The Wanted and even took America by storm. A loving father to Aurelia and Bodhi and a devoted husband to Kelsey, his life after pop superstardom was all about family, friends and finding new purpose.
After his diagnosis in 2020, he become a prominent campaigner for brain cancer research, appearing in the House of Commons as well as holding a massively successful concert in aid of Stand Up to Cancer in the Royal Albert Hall.
Throughout it all, Tom had hope. This inspirational memoir shows how far hope and daring to dream can carry you, no matter what cards you're dealt.
In March 2022, much-loved pop star, father and son Tom Parker died from incurable brain cancer. This story is his legacy, in his own words.
A proud working-class lad from Bolton, he rose to chart-topping fame with The Wanted and even took America by storm. A loving father to Aurelia and Bodhi and a devoted husband to Kelsey, his life after pop superstardom was all about family, friends and finding new purpose.
After his diagnosis in 2020, he become a prominent campaigner for brain cancer research, appearing in the House of Commons as well as holding a massively successful concert in aid of Stand Up to Cancer in the Royal Albert Hall.
Throughout it all, Tom had hope. This inspirational memoir shows how far hope and daring to dream can carry you, no matter what cards you're dealt.
203 pages, Paperback
Published February 16, 2023
1 person is currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
Tom Parker
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There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
This profile may contain books from multiple authors of this name.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 29, 2025
4 Stars.
I picked up this book on Bookoutlet, at first because it was the story of a young man living with brain cancer. I did not know who "The Wanted" were, I did my research after I ordered this book.
Pros: This is a quick read. It is less than 300 pages, and some pages only have a quote or a few words on it. But it is well put together. Tom, who wrote this during his cancer journey, discusses his early life with his family, going through school, getting into music, his experiences there, and then moving on after the band as a husband and father. You get a real sense of who Tom was as a person, husband, father, and musician. The end of this book is memorials for Tom after his passing. Tom also does a very good job with talking about his symptoms, his experiences with treatment and experimental therapies. I really liked that Tom acknowledged his privilege in terms of accessing some treatments that others could not because he was in a good financial position. I do not think that is mentioned enough in memoirs of this kind. I like that Tom was trying to bring light to brain cancer through his story.
Cons: I do think this book was too short. I think Tom's wife, Kelsey, or his mom should have included an ending chapter about Tom as the cancer progressed. The books ends abruptly and, if you did not know that Tom had passed, you might think he is still fighting his cancer. I wanted closure here and I did not get it. His wife has written her story as well, perhaps the closure is there.
I picked up this book on Bookoutlet, at first because it was the story of a young man living with brain cancer. I did not know who "The Wanted" were, I did my research after I ordered this book.
Pros: This is a quick read. It is less than 300 pages, and some pages only have a quote or a few words on it. But it is well put together. Tom, who wrote this during his cancer journey, discusses his early life with his family, going through school, getting into music, his experiences there, and then moving on after the band as a husband and father. You get a real sense of who Tom was as a person, husband, father, and musician. The end of this book is memorials for Tom after his passing. Tom also does a very good job with talking about his symptoms, his experiences with treatment and experimental therapies. I really liked that Tom acknowledged his privilege in terms of accessing some treatments that others could not because he was in a good financial position. I do not think that is mentioned enough in memoirs of this kind. I like that Tom was trying to bring light to brain cancer through his story.
Cons: I do think this book was too short. I think Tom's wife, Kelsey, or his mom should have included an ending chapter about Tom as the cancer progressed. The books ends abruptly and, if you did not know that Tom had passed, you might think he is still fighting his cancer. I wanted closure here and I did not get it. His wife has written her story as well, perhaps the closure is there.
October 10, 2023
Every now and then I like reading autobiographies. Makes a nice change from novels or theory-type reads. This was short and fast, but not unlike Tom’s life. It was prefaced with the fact he was writing it whilst undergoing treatment and so his memory was being affected.
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A highlight of how age really is just a number and we never really know how long we have on this earth. His book and story are a great way to raise awareness to glioblastoma’s and that brain cancers only receive 1% of cancer research funding 😳🤯
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Book 23 of 2023 ✅
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📚🤓#2023bookchallenge #bookworm #readmorebooks
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A highlight of how age really is just a number and we never really know how long we have on this earth. His book and story are a great way to raise awareness to glioblastoma’s and that brain cancers only receive 1% of cancer research funding 😳🤯
.
Book 23 of 2023 ✅
.
📚🤓#2023bookchallenge #bookworm #readmorebooks
July 12, 2024
This book is so different from what I usually read and it is such a beautiful, inspirational, and devastating story. I originally read this because I loved The Wanted and grew up watching their #WantedWednesdays and felt like I knew the lads. Reading Tom’s story hits home for me and I cried more reading this than I care to admit.
Tom’s story is a great reminder to live every day like it’s your last and to make the best of any situation.
Rest easy Tom 🕊️🦋
Tom’s story is a great reminder to live every day like it’s your last and to make the best of any situation.
Rest easy Tom 🕊️🦋
June 16, 2024
This is the first autobiography/memoir I have read. I wanted to read this as I was a fan of his band the Wanted and I saw his documentary which is mentioned in this book. I found this book very well written and it split into two halves his life before diagnosis and after, he was diagnosed. It’s great read emotional at points but very reflective.
April 7, 2023
Inspirational. A must read for everyone, we all should be more like Tom.
May 9, 2024
Such a beautiful, heartbreaking, inspirational read.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews