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The Phoenix Ballroom
Recently widowed Venetia Hamilton Hargreaves is left with a huge house, a bank balance to match and an uneasy feeling that she's been sleepwalking through the last fifty years. Determined to live fully again, she embraces life with an enthusiasm and purpose she'd forgotten she could muster.
Buying the dilapidated Phoenix Ballroom and with it a drop-in centre and spiritualist church could be seen as reckless, but Venetia's generosity, courage and kindness provide a refuge for a touching cast of damaged and lonely people who find their chosen family. As their stories intertwine, long buried secrets are revealed, missed opportunities seized and lives are renewed as the Phoenix lives up to its name.
The Phoenix Ballroom is a story of hope and second chances across the generations.
Buying the dilapidated Phoenix Ballroom and with it a drop-in centre and spiritualist church could be seen as reckless, but Venetia's generosity, courage and kindness provide a refuge for a touching cast of damaged and lonely people who find their chosen family. As their stories intertwine, long buried secrets are revealed, missed opportunities seized and lives are renewed as the Phoenix lives up to its name.
The Phoenix Ballroom is a story of hope and second chances across the generations.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published June 27, 2024
305 people are currently reading
11391 people want to read
About the author
Ruth Hogan
10 books2,780 followersI was born in the house where my parents still live in Bedford: my sister was so pleased to have a sibling that she threw a thrupenny bit at me. As a child I read everything I could lay my hands on: The Moomintrolls, A Hundred Million Francs, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, the back of cereal packets and gravestones. I was mad about dogs and horses, but didn't like daddy-long-legs or sugar in my tea.
I studied English and Drama at Goldsmiths College which was brilliant, but then I came home and got a 'proper' job. I worked for ten years in a senior local government position (I was definitely a square peg in a round hole, but it paid the bills and mortgage) before a car accident left me unable to work full-time and convinced me to start writing seriously. It was going well, but then in 2012 I got cancer, which was bloody inconvenient but precipitated an exciting hair journey from bald to a peroxide blonde Annie Lennox crop. When chemo kept me up all night I passed the time writing and the eventual result was The Keeper of Lost Things.
I live in a chaotic Victorian house with an assortment of rescue dogs and my long-suffering partner (who has very recently become my husband - so I can't be that bad!) I am a magpie, always collecting treasures, and a huge John Betjeman fan. My favourite word is 'antimacassar' and I still like reading gravestones.
I studied English and Drama at Goldsmiths College which was brilliant, but then I came home and got a 'proper' job. I worked for ten years in a senior local government position (I was definitely a square peg in a round hole, but it paid the bills and mortgage) before a car accident left me unable to work full-time and convinced me to start writing seriously. It was going well, but then in 2012 I got cancer, which was bloody inconvenient but precipitated an exciting hair journey from bald to a peroxide blonde Annie Lennox crop. When chemo kept me up all night I passed the time writing and the eventual result was The Keeper of Lost Things.
I live in a chaotic Victorian house with an assortment of rescue dogs and my long-suffering partner (who has very recently become my husband - so I can't be that bad!) I am a magpie, always collecting treasures, and a huge John Betjeman fan. My favourite word is 'antimacassar' and I still like reading gravestones.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 572 reviews
June 24, 2024
In a Nutshell: A sweet and heartwarming contemporary novel about an eclectic group of characters who learn to live and work in harmony. Great for those who enjoy found family stories with relatable and loveable characters. Only one thing was a major bugbear for me, but it might not be an irritant for all. Definitely recommended to women’s fiction readers.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Bookish Yays:
💐 Venetia: Not a typical geriatric character. Comes with oodles of wit and spunk. Hates being considered elderly, and uses Cher as her inspiration towards age. I loved her independence!
💐 Venetia’s sister-in-law Swan, the “granny nanny” Liberty Bell, and a mysterious character named Crow (the only “bird” not related to the Hargreaves family) all add much to the proceedings with their layered arcs. I would have loved to know more about Liberty's mom Bernadette, an amazing character who, though no longer alive, leaves a major impact on the story. The character descriptions are impeccable.
💐 One special fellow I have deliberately not mentioned above is Venetia’s ten-year-old grandson Kite, who deserves his own “Yay” appearance. He is funny, sensitive, caring, genuine, outspoken and unconcerned about convention just as kids are. In short, Kite is adorable!
💐 Another special fellow deserving a distinct “Yay”: Venetia’s pet German Shepherd, who is named ‘Colin Firth’! How can I not love Colin Firth! 😍 (Just in case you are confused about which Colin Firth I am referring to in that last sentence – human or canine, the answer is, ‘Both!’)
💐 The ornithologically inspired names of the Hargreaves family were ridiculous to the point of being hilarious. It was fun to see so many “birds”, and also how each bird shaped the respective character’s personality.
💐 Though not exactly a found family story, as some characters are already part of the same family, the novel has the same kind of warm vibes, where the individuals learn to function with, support and motivate each other. The theme of ‘second chances’ also has a strong role to play in the story.
💐 The plot plays around with plenty of emotions, ranging from fun moments to sentimental ones, but it never gets melodramatic.
Bookish Mixed Bags:
🌹 The story is mostly predictable, as is obvious and acceptable considering the genre. But it does spring a couple of surprises. One of these secrets was fairly guessable, but I like how the author didn’t drag out the revelation just to add to the suspense.
🌹 The ending is too positive and too “couple” dominated. While this is also a common feature of the genre, I wish there hadn’t been romantic matches for so many key characters. After all, happiness can be found even without a partner. Of course, this is a personal preference; most fans of the genre love such endings.
🌹 It is cool to have a story with a ballroom and a ballroom dancer. But I wish these had more presence in the plot. Though we see glimpses of the titular ‘Phoenix Ballroom’ in the first half as well, it's only in the second half that it's more prominent in the story.
🌹 Though the book has a mostly feelgood effect, there is one dark scene in the final section, which is also connected to a main character’s backstory. I didn’t find the aftermath of the event convincing. But I appreciate how the author handled the event sensitively and realistically.
Bookish Nays:
🌵 Only one Nay but a strong one for me: the presence of the “spiritualist church”, and its being treated as a religious location throughout the story. No offence to those who believe in it, but to my head, using the word "church" for such a place is balderdash. Moreover, the “spiritualism” aspects are not even prevalent in the story, in which case the presence of this "church" in the plot could have been justified. This place was more like a community outreach centre, with more focus on the social service performed by the "church" than any mention of the "spiritualist" activities such a "church" is actually involved in.
All in all, despite my annoyance at the “church”, I enjoyed this story quite a lot. The characters are the main reason to try this out, because each of them brings their own charm to this otherwise straightforward tale.
I have read only one Ruth Hogan book prior to this, and that was ‘The Keeper of Lost Things’. I still remember how impressed I had been with her implementation of magical realism in that novel. While this latest novel doesn’t have magical realism (sadly!), it still has the same vibes, with memorable lost characters who find happiness and friendship over the course of the novel.
Definitely recommended to those who enjoy this genre. It is a fairly quick and highly comfortable read.
4 stars.
My thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for the DRC of “The Phoenix Ballroom”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Seventy-four-year-old Venetia Hargreaves, recently widowed after almost fifty years of marriage, now has a huge empty house, a hefty bank balance, and a newfound determination to finally live her life the way she wants, even if her son Heron is adamant that she cannot survive on her own and forces her to employ a caretaker, or a “granny nanny”, as her grandson Kite puts it. But Venetia makes sure that her new employee Liberty follows her commands and no one else’s.
When a dilapidated old ballroom comes on the market, the lives of the key characters change, not just because of echoes from the past but also through influences of the present and dreams of the future.
The story comes to us in the third person perspective of various characters, with Venetia’s story coming from two timelines.
Bookish Yays:
💐 Venetia: Not a typical geriatric character. Comes with oodles of wit and spunk. Hates being considered elderly, and uses Cher as her inspiration towards age. I loved her independence!
💐 Venetia’s sister-in-law Swan, the “granny nanny” Liberty Bell, and a mysterious character named Crow (the only “bird” not related to the Hargreaves family) all add much to the proceedings with their layered arcs. I would have loved to know more about Liberty's mom Bernadette, an amazing character who, though no longer alive, leaves a major impact on the story. The character descriptions are impeccable.
💐 One special fellow I have deliberately not mentioned above is Venetia’s ten-year-old grandson Kite, who deserves his own “Yay” appearance. He is funny, sensitive, caring, genuine, outspoken and unconcerned about convention just as kids are. In short, Kite is adorable!
💐 Another special fellow deserving a distinct “Yay”: Venetia’s pet German Shepherd, who is named ‘Colin Firth’! How can I not love Colin Firth! 😍 (Just in case you are confused about which Colin Firth I am referring to in that last sentence – human or canine, the answer is, ‘Both!’)
💐 The ornithologically inspired names of the Hargreaves family were ridiculous to the point of being hilarious. It was fun to see so many “birds”, and also how each bird shaped the respective character’s personality.
💐 Though not exactly a found family story, as some characters are already part of the same family, the novel has the same kind of warm vibes, where the individuals learn to function with, support and motivate each other. The theme of ‘second chances’ also has a strong role to play in the story.
💐 The plot plays around with plenty of emotions, ranging from fun moments to sentimental ones, but it never gets melodramatic.
Bookish Mixed Bags:
🌹 The story is mostly predictable, as is obvious and acceptable considering the genre. But it does spring a couple of surprises. One of these secrets was fairly guessable, but I like how the author didn’t drag out the revelation just to add to the suspense.
🌹 The ending is too positive and too “couple” dominated. While this is also a common feature of the genre, I wish there hadn’t been romantic matches for so many key characters. After all, happiness can be found even without a partner. Of course, this is a personal preference; most fans of the genre love such endings.
🌹 It is cool to have a story with a ballroom and a ballroom dancer. But I wish these had more presence in the plot. Though we see glimpses of the titular ‘Phoenix Ballroom’ in the first half as well, it's only in the second half that it's more prominent in the story.
🌹 Though the book has a mostly feelgood effect, there is one dark scene in the final section, which is also connected to a main character’s backstory. I didn’t find the aftermath of the event convincing. But I appreciate how the author handled the event sensitively and realistically.
Bookish Nays:
🌵 Only one Nay but a strong one for me: the presence of the “spiritualist church”, and its being treated as a religious location throughout the story. No offence to those who believe in it, but to my head, using the word "church" for such a place is balderdash. Moreover, the “spiritualism” aspects are not even prevalent in the story, in which case the presence of this "church" in the plot could have been justified. This place was more like a community outreach centre, with more focus on the social service performed by the "church" than any mention of the "spiritualist" activities such a "church" is actually involved in.
All in all, despite my annoyance at the “church”, I enjoyed this story quite a lot. The characters are the main reason to try this out, because each of them brings their own charm to this otherwise straightforward tale.
I have read only one Ruth Hogan book prior to this, and that was ‘The Keeper of Lost Things’. I still remember how impressed I had been with her implementation of magical realism in that novel. While this latest novel doesn’t have magical realism (sadly!), it still has the same vibes, with memorable lost characters who find happiness and friendship over the course of the novel.
Definitely recommended to those who enjoy this genre. It is a fairly quick and highly comfortable read.
4 stars.
My thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for the DRC of “The Phoenix Ballroom”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
November 17, 2025
Another great book from Ruth Hogan who is certainly on my list of favourite authors these days. I really enjoyed its setting in Bedford, England which is where I believe the author lives. I lived there for a while once myself and worked in Bedford Library. A long time ago but happy memories.
Anyway back to the book! The main character is Venetia, who is 74 years old and has just lost her husband of fifty years. She misses him but at the same time is experiencing a sense of freedom she did not have before, so when her interfering son decides to find her a carer she is not happy. Luckily along comes Liberty whose mother has recently died and who has lost her job, her married lover and her home. She becomes Venetia's personal assistant and solves the problem.
The book tells a tale of friendship and people caring for each other. One great highlight is the character of Kite, Venetia's grandson who is a very special young person. There's a very large dog too, called Colin Firth, which is indicative of the gently humorous tone of the narrative.
I found it very difficult to put the book down as I kept feeling a need to find out what was going to happen next. Always the sign of a good read. Five stars from me.
Anyway back to the book! The main character is Venetia, who is 74 years old and has just lost her husband of fifty years. She misses him but at the same time is experiencing a sense of freedom she did not have before, so when her interfering son decides to find her a carer she is not happy. Luckily along comes Liberty whose mother has recently died and who has lost her job, her married lover and her home. She becomes Venetia's personal assistant and solves the problem.
The book tells a tale of friendship and people caring for each other. One great highlight is the character of Kite, Venetia's grandson who is a very special young person. There's a very large dog too, called Colin Firth, which is indicative of the gently humorous tone of the narrative.
I found it very difficult to put the book down as I kept feeling a need to find out what was going to happen next. Always the sign of a good read. Five stars from me.
June 23, 2024
4 stars
One Liner: Low-stakes cozy read
At seventy-four, Venetia spent fifty years of her life being a wife and a mother. After her dear husband’s death, she finally decides to find her previous self, a beautiful dance instructor who wanted to open her own ballroom school.
Liberty is in her mid-forties and has lost her mother. She also lost her job. An unexpected chance gives her a fresh start. But can she build a new life without dwelling too much on her past and making safe choices?
What brings these two women and many others together? What decisions will they make? How will their lives change?
The story comes in the third-person POV of Venetia and Liberty, with some chapters from Kite, Crow, Swan, and Evangeline (also in the third person).
My Thoughts:
I read the author’s The Keeper of Lost Things a few years ago and liked it. Glad to say this one gave me the same enjoyment.
The book deals with many heavy themes like mourning, grief, parental death, assault, bullying, lost love, etc. However, none of them are overwhelming or intense. This is a low-stakes version, so the characters manage to move on without too much trauma. It may not work for everyone, but I like it since the aspect is consistent throughout the book.
It is a story of second chances for Venetia and Liberty. They all have distinct personalities, which make them react differently to the circumstances. This also brings out a nice contrast while establishing the found family trope.
Kite is my absolute favorite character. He is Venetia’s ten-year-old grandson, a delightful darling with a huge heart! I cannot imagine the book without him, so a majority of my rating is only for Kite and Colin Firth (secret).
The pacing is slow, especially in the middle when we get the backstories (in the info dump). This could have been better and spread out more evenly across the chapters. Luckily, the pace picks up in the last quarter.
There’s a spiritual church, too. I’m usually wary of such stuff, but this one is well done. It’s not really a church kind of church. More like a community center that opens the door to anyone who needs help with a touch of god’s blessings and service. (Turns out this church is not a church but I didn't know that.)
Things start to come together even as they fall apart, just like life! Secrets are revealed, and decisions have to be made. One teeny element hasn’t been made clear. I wish there was a line mentioning that.
Naturally, everything ties up in a sweet and neat bow at the end. It’s not that realistic, but who cares. I liked it enough and enjoyed it.
To summarize, The Phoenix Ballroom is a sweet and heartwarming book about second chances, finding one’s tribe, kindness, hope, and doing what makes one happy (without hurting others).
(Alcohol freely flows and no one seems to get hangovers!)
Thank you, NetGalley and William Morrow, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #ThePhoenixBallroom
One Liner: Low-stakes cozy read
At seventy-four, Venetia spent fifty years of her life being a wife and a mother. After her dear husband’s death, she finally decides to find her previous self, a beautiful dance instructor who wanted to open her own ballroom school.
Liberty is in her mid-forties and has lost her mother. She also lost her job. An unexpected chance gives her a fresh start. But can she build a new life without dwelling too much on her past and making safe choices?
What brings these two women and many others together? What decisions will they make? How will their lives change?
The story comes in the third-person POV of Venetia and Liberty, with some chapters from Kite, Crow, Swan, and Evangeline (also in the third person).
My Thoughts:
I read the author’s The Keeper of Lost Things a few years ago and liked it. Glad to say this one gave me the same enjoyment.
The book deals with many heavy themes like mourning, grief, parental death, assault, bullying, lost love, etc. However, none of them are overwhelming or intense. This is a low-stakes version, so the characters manage to move on without too much trauma. It may not work for everyone, but I like it since the aspect is consistent throughout the book.
It is a story of second chances for Venetia and Liberty. They all have distinct personalities, which make them react differently to the circumstances. This also brings out a nice contrast while establishing the found family trope.
Kite is my absolute favorite character. He is Venetia’s ten-year-old grandson, a delightful darling with a huge heart! I cannot imagine the book without him, so a majority of my rating is only for Kite and Colin Firth (secret).
The pacing is slow, especially in the middle when we get the backstories (in the info dump). This could have been better and spread out more evenly across the chapters. Luckily, the pace picks up in the last quarter.
There’s a spiritual church, too. I’m usually wary of such stuff, but this one is well done. It’s not really a church kind of church. More like a community center that opens the door to anyone who needs help with a touch of god’s blessings and service. (Turns out this church is not a church but I didn't know that.)
Things start to come together even as they fall apart, just like life! Secrets are revealed, and decisions have to be made. One teeny element hasn’t been made clear. I wish there was a line mentioning that.
Naturally, everything ties up in a sweet and neat bow at the end. It’s not that realistic, but who cares. I liked it enough and enjoyed it.
To summarize, The Phoenix Ballroom is a sweet and heartwarming book about second chances, finding one’s tribe, kindness, hope, and doing what makes one happy (without hurting others).
(Alcohol freely flows and no one seems to get hangovers!)
Thank you, NetGalley and William Morrow, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #ThePhoenixBallroom
April 24, 2024
4.5
The once glorious Phoenix Ballroom is now sadly neglected and down at heel, though if the light is right its once bright chandeliers cast a vibrant spectrum across the dirty floor.
Seventy four year old Venetia Hamilton Hargreaves attends the funeral of her husband Hawk around whom her world has revolved for the last fifty years, her dreams subsumed to motherhood, home and loyalty. However, despite the views of her son Heron, Venetia has decided it's time for a last tango in Bedford, a reinvention which includes a personal makeover, the employment of Liberty Bell (yes, I know!) as her PA/companion and she even gets a blooming great, soft as, German Shepherd, formerly known as Terminator and renamed Colin Firth. Don’t ask. A chance meeting with Evangeline whilst in the park with Colin, leads Venetia back into her past but also catapults to a different and hopefully brighter future. This is a novel of redemption, of reinvention, of embracing new challenges and the second chance lifeline it offers - a phoenix rising from the ashes.
A new Ruth Hogan leads to some highly appropriate happy dancing in Yorkshire! This is a very entertaining, feel good novel at a time when that’s exactly what’s needed although that’s not to say that some characters haven’t suffered or made sacrifices but they find their way to happier days. This adds layers to the storytelling and some back stories are sad or they shock.
Ruth Hogan is a wonderful writer who really makes me care about her often quirky characters and in her latest creation we meet some who are so colourful they jump off the pages. At the centre is Venetia whose generosity of spirit is easy to see as her household expands exponentially. However, it’s probably her ten year old grandson Kite who steals the show. He’s absolutely delightful and funny as he often tells it how it is and he too has a generous warm spirit. Another show stealer is Colin Firth - a big woof and a hug for him! Hawk’s eccentric sister Swan is also marvellous with her very individual and colourful outfits that make me smile. You watch Liberty grow and grow surrounded by this fabulous cast.
Overall, this is a captivating novel with terrific dialogue that is frequently funny. Although it is predictable in some ways but as it’s the outcome I want, who cares! It’s a reminder that just because characters have reached their 70’s it doesn’t mean they should purchase a bath chair just yet!
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Atlantic Books, Corvus for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
The once glorious Phoenix Ballroom is now sadly neglected and down at heel, though if the light is right its once bright chandeliers cast a vibrant spectrum across the dirty floor.
Seventy four year old Venetia Hamilton Hargreaves attends the funeral of her husband Hawk around whom her world has revolved for the last fifty years, her dreams subsumed to motherhood, home and loyalty. However, despite the views of her son Heron, Venetia has decided it's time for a last tango in Bedford, a reinvention which includes a personal makeover, the employment of Liberty Bell (yes, I know!) as her PA/companion and she even gets a blooming great, soft as, German Shepherd, formerly known as Terminator and renamed Colin Firth. Don’t ask. A chance meeting with Evangeline whilst in the park with Colin, leads Venetia back into her past but also catapults to a different and hopefully brighter future. This is a novel of redemption, of reinvention, of embracing new challenges and the second chance lifeline it offers - a phoenix rising from the ashes.
A new Ruth Hogan leads to some highly appropriate happy dancing in Yorkshire! This is a very entertaining, feel good novel at a time when that’s exactly what’s needed although that’s not to say that some characters haven’t suffered or made sacrifices but they find their way to happier days. This adds layers to the storytelling and some back stories are sad or they shock.
Ruth Hogan is a wonderful writer who really makes me care about her often quirky characters and in her latest creation we meet some who are so colourful they jump off the pages. At the centre is Venetia whose generosity of spirit is easy to see as her household expands exponentially. However, it’s probably her ten year old grandson Kite who steals the show. He’s absolutely delightful and funny as he often tells it how it is and he too has a generous warm spirit. Another show stealer is Colin Firth - a big woof and a hug for him! Hawk’s eccentric sister Swan is also marvellous with her very individual and colourful outfits that make me smile. You watch Liberty grow and grow surrounded by this fabulous cast.
Overall, this is a captivating novel with terrific dialogue that is frequently funny. Although it is predictable in some ways but as it’s the outcome I want, who cares! It’s a reminder that just because characters have reached their 70’s it doesn’t mean they should purchase a bath chair just yet!
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Atlantic Books, Corvus for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
September 23, 2024
First of all, many thanks to my GR friend, MarilynW, for writing her lovely review of this book, which stirred me to read it. I really enjoyed the story and the charming cast of characters touched my heart.
Seventy-four-year-old Venetia is newly widowed and has decided that it's not too late to recreate herself and live her life to the fullest, except her son thinks she needs a "granny nanny". But that's not going to stop Venetia from making an old dream of opening a ballroom and school of dance come alive again. Along the way, old secrets are revealed as she discovers things about herself, her deceased husband, and their marriage.
Unemployed, forty-six-year-old, Liberty Bell is on her own after her mother leaves her with no inheritance after her death, not the house, not the camper, and no money. Much to her chagrin, Liberty must start out on a new path alone. Like Venetia, she too learns that she has what it takes to reinvent herself when she takes a job working as a personal assistant for Venetia.
Two of my favorite characters were Venetia's 10-year-old grandson, Kite, and her sister-in-law, Swan, who both add a humorous thread to this story. These characters and many others come together to explore and celebrate friendship and love.
Ultimately, this story is about forgiveness and finding second chances. If you are looking to add some sweetness and tenderness to your reading queue, I thoroughly recommend you check out this delightful book.
Seventy-four-year-old Venetia is newly widowed and has decided that it's not too late to recreate herself and live her life to the fullest, except her son thinks she needs a "granny nanny". But that's not going to stop Venetia from making an old dream of opening a ballroom and school of dance come alive again. Along the way, old secrets are revealed as she discovers things about herself, her deceased husband, and their marriage.
Unemployed, forty-six-year-old, Liberty Bell is on her own after her mother leaves her with no inheritance after her death, not the house, not the camper, and no money. Much to her chagrin, Liberty must start out on a new path alone. Like Venetia, she too learns that she has what it takes to reinvent herself when she takes a job working as a personal assistant for Venetia.
Two of my favorite characters were Venetia's 10-year-old grandson, Kite, and her sister-in-law, Swan, who both add a humorous thread to this story. These characters and many others come together to explore and celebrate friendship and love.
Ultimately, this story is about forgiveness and finding second chances. If you are looking to add some sweetness and tenderness to your reading queue, I thoroughly recommend you check out this delightful book.
October 8, 2024
Dance with Me?
The Phoenix Ballroom is an uplifting character driven story featuring a recently widowed seventy two year old. Her pompous son wants to hire a granny nanny before taking off to France with his wife to open a business there.
Venetia doesn't view herself in the same vain as her son and sets about to liven up her life and create opportunities for herself. She blends together a family of friends and is a catalyst for making the other people around her recognize their strengths and happiness too.
A feel good story without being too sugary.
The Phoenix Ballroom is an uplifting character driven story featuring a recently widowed seventy two year old. Her pompous son wants to hire a granny nanny before taking off to France with his wife to open a business there.
Venetia doesn't view herself in the same vain as her son and sets about to liven up her life and create opportunities for herself. She blends together a family of friends and is a catalyst for making the other people around her recognize their strengths and happiness too.
A feel good story without being too sugary.
December 9, 2024
I want to live in Ruth Hogan's head where I like everything and I like everybody.
Me with my silly pipe dream.
Me with my silly pipe dream.
June 23, 2024
I chose to read this because it says it is about an older woman who has forgotten her purpose - which I can relate to. When we get older - and especially after the death of a spouse, it is hard to find your footing again and find ways to still feel alive and useful.
Description:
When it's time to face the music, all we can do is dance...
Recently widowed Venetia Hamilton Hargreaves is left with a huge house, a bank balance to match and an uneasy feeling that she's been sleepwalking through the last fifty years. Determined to live fully again, she embraces life with an enthusiasm and purpose she'd forgotten she could muster.
Buying the dilapidated Phoenix Ballroom and with it a drop-in centre and spiritualist church could be seen as reckless, but Venetia's generosity, courage and kindness provide a refuge for a touching cast of damaged and lonely people who find their chosen family. As their stories intertwine, long buried secrets are revealed, missed opportunities seized and lives are renewed as the Phoenix lives up to its name.
The Phoenix Ballroom is a story of hope and second chances across the generations.
My Thoughts:
I found this to be a heartwarming book filled with hope and a new sense of purpose. Yes there was some sadness as well, but I loved the relationships of the characters and how they grew to become so close. Venetia was amazing with her determination to reconstruct the ballroom she remembered. I enjoyed the concept of the spiritualist church and how it served the community. The secrets revealed were surprising and added depth to the story. The "found family" that came together was great and ultimately formed a warm and loving bond just like a real family and I love that. The humor in the book was icing on the cake. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys stories about relationships and second chances.
Thanks to William Morrow through Netgalley for an advance copy.
Description:
When it's time to face the music, all we can do is dance...
Recently widowed Venetia Hamilton Hargreaves is left with a huge house, a bank balance to match and an uneasy feeling that she's been sleepwalking through the last fifty years. Determined to live fully again, she embraces life with an enthusiasm and purpose she'd forgotten she could muster.
Buying the dilapidated Phoenix Ballroom and with it a drop-in centre and spiritualist church could be seen as reckless, but Venetia's generosity, courage and kindness provide a refuge for a touching cast of damaged and lonely people who find their chosen family. As their stories intertwine, long buried secrets are revealed, missed opportunities seized and lives are renewed as the Phoenix lives up to its name.
The Phoenix Ballroom is a story of hope and second chances across the generations.
My Thoughts:
I found this to be a heartwarming book filled with hope and a new sense of purpose. Yes there was some sadness as well, but I loved the relationships of the characters and how they grew to become so close. Venetia was amazing with her determination to reconstruct the ballroom she remembered. I enjoyed the concept of the spiritualist church and how it served the community. The secrets revealed were surprising and added depth to the story. The "found family" that came together was great and ultimately formed a warm and loving bond just like a real family and I love that. The humor in the book was icing on the cake. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys stories about relationships and second chances.
Thanks to William Morrow through Netgalley for an advance copy.
May 3, 2024
Ruth Hogan has a knack for writing beautiful stories that give hope about the goodness of ordinary people. I had 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.
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.
January 22, 2025
A comfortable, nostalgic read about living the life once dreamed of. . .a second round that takes, using the resources of the first. Second chances with all the perks = having cake and eating it, too.
And there's ballroom dancing, a dog known as Colin Firth, while family members are named after birds. A refreshing read all around.
*A sincere thank you to Ruth Hogan, William Morrow and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.*
And there's ballroom dancing, a dog known as Colin Firth, while family members are named after birds. A refreshing read all around.
*A sincere thank you to Ruth Hogan, William Morrow and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.*
May 1, 2024
3.5 Stars
In typical Ruth Hogan fashion, this is a book that is filled with charm, unforgettable characters, a few twists here and there, navigating life as the years pass, and, eventually, fulfilling a dream.
This is a very character oriented novel, and while it has a story line that was interesting, this is all about the characters. Some family, some not, and how they eventually connect as the story continues, and the impact they have on each other. If you’ve ever read Ruth Hogan before, you likely know that this is more about their lives, how they connect, and navigate their lives. The characters’ names alone seem to share that this family wants nothing to do with living a conventional life.
This is very much about the connections we make, friend or foe, and how much our thoughts and opinions change as the years pass, and how much we are able to open our hearts to others.
Pub Date: 11 Jun 2024
Many thanks for the ARC provided by William Morrow
In typical Ruth Hogan fashion, this is a book that is filled with charm, unforgettable characters, a few twists here and there, navigating life as the years pass, and, eventually, fulfilling a dream.
This is a very character oriented novel, and while it has a story line that was interesting, this is all about the characters. Some family, some not, and how they eventually connect as the story continues, and the impact they have on each other. If you’ve ever read Ruth Hogan before, you likely know that this is more about their lives, how they connect, and navigate their lives. The characters’ names alone seem to share that this family wants nothing to do with living a conventional life.
This is very much about the connections we make, friend or foe, and how much our thoughts and opinions change as the years pass, and how much we are able to open our hearts to others.
Pub Date: 11 Jun 2024
Many thanks for the ARC provided by William Morrow
January 12, 2024
Ruth Hogan, your fabulous books are just what I look for when I need to reinvigorate my faith in human nature or just need the perfect comfort read. I have savored all of your previous four books, and I think The Phoenix Ballroom just might be your best (to date).
This lovely book has everything I look for in a life-affirming, entertaining read: quirky characters of diverse ages who instantly feel like friends, initially questionable characters who develop into more engaging humans, past secrets or troubles that need to be resolved, dreams that haven't yet been fulfilled, sparkling dialogue, a vibrant setting, and heartfelt emotion. Throw in a rescue German shepherd named Colin Firth, and I am even more invested.
The central character, Venetia, is a spirited widow of a certain age whose fussy son nevertheless insists on hiring her a "granny nanny" before he and his wife move to France on business. Their 10-year-old son, Kite (all of the males in the family have bird names), is left behind at a boarding school but would rather live with his beloved "Nisha." Venetia's fortyish personal assistant (definitely not a granny nanny) is also facing a big life change and isn't at all sure this live-in job is going to work for her. And Venetia's brash, larger-than-life sister-in-law comes to visit and never leaves. Then there's a neighborhood spiritual church that's in danger of losing its lease and a rundown ballroom where Venetia taught dancing many years ago.
I absolutely loved every page of this book, and now I sadly have to wait for the next one. Ruth, please keep them coming. You are one of my go-to authors, and you deserve all of the accolades you are sure to collect when this book is released in June.
My review is based on a complimentary pre-release copy of the book.
This lovely book has everything I look for in a life-affirming, entertaining read: quirky characters of diverse ages who instantly feel like friends, initially questionable characters who develop into more engaging humans, past secrets or troubles that need to be resolved, dreams that haven't yet been fulfilled, sparkling dialogue, a vibrant setting, and heartfelt emotion. Throw in a rescue German shepherd named Colin Firth, and I am even more invested.
The central character, Venetia, is a spirited widow of a certain age whose fussy son nevertheless insists on hiring her a "granny nanny" before he and his wife move to France on business. Their 10-year-old son, Kite (all of the males in the family have bird names), is left behind at a boarding school but would rather live with his beloved "Nisha." Venetia's fortyish personal assistant (definitely not a granny nanny) is also facing a big life change and isn't at all sure this live-in job is going to work for her. And Venetia's brash, larger-than-life sister-in-law comes to visit and never leaves. Then there's a neighborhood spiritual church that's in danger of losing its lease and a rundown ballroom where Venetia taught dancing many years ago.
I absolutely loved every page of this book, and now I sadly have to wait for the next one. Ruth, please keep them coming. You are one of my go-to authors, and you deserve all of the accolades you are sure to collect when this book is released in June.
My review is based on a complimentary pre-release copy of the book.
September 12, 2024
This is a sweet story of a recent well to do widow who reinvents herself after the death of her husband of almost 50 years. She has always been submissive and compliant but now it is time to be the women she always wished she could be. This was not a page turner but a nice diversion with a predictable happy ending for all.
April 5, 2024
The Phoenix Ballroom by Ruth Hogan is a novel about love, sacrifice, friendship, and the importance of never giving up on your dreams. We follow Venetia Hargreaves after the death of her husband of 50 years. Venetia must learn to live again and willingly confronts difficult circumstances in search of peace and closure. With Her personal assistant Liberty, a sweet German Shepherd called Colin Firth, and her mischievously brilliant grandson, Kite, Venetia navigates her new life and has some fun doing it! Yet something is still missing. 50 years ago, she gave up her dream to own a dance studio to marry her husband. She still longs to do so, but is 74 too old to make her dreams come true?
Liberty Bell has been living a safe, albeit boring life. He fear has kept her on a path of little risk and little joy. When her vivacious mother passes away, leaving her without a home or inheritance, she is devastated and confused. Her mother loved her. How could she leave her homeless? Upon meeting with her mother's solicitor, she is told that her mother did leave her something but that she can't have it until she meets her mother's requirements. What are those requirements, you ask? Her mother has given her solicitor strict guidelines not to say. So, with no guidance on how to earn her inheritance and no place to live, she seeks a job as a personal assistant to the newly widowed Venetia Hargreaves.
As their lives become more and more intertwined, they not only become chosen family and friends, but it seems their dreams will take them on parallel paths.
Thank you #NetGalley, #WilliamMorrow, and author Ruth Hogan for early access to read The Phoenix Ballroom in exchange for an honest review. I LOVED it!
Liberty Bell has been living a safe, albeit boring life. He fear has kept her on a path of little risk and little joy. When her vivacious mother passes away, leaving her without a home or inheritance, she is devastated and confused. Her mother loved her. How could she leave her homeless? Upon meeting with her mother's solicitor, she is told that her mother did leave her something but that she can't have it until she meets her mother's requirements. What are those requirements, you ask? Her mother has given her solicitor strict guidelines not to say. So, with no guidance on how to earn her inheritance and no place to live, she seeks a job as a personal assistant to the newly widowed Venetia Hargreaves.
As their lives become more and more intertwined, they not only become chosen family and friends, but it seems their dreams will take them on parallel paths.
Thank you #NetGalley, #WilliamMorrow, and author Ruth Hogan for early access to read The Phoenix Ballroom in exchange for an honest review. I LOVED it!
June 10, 2024
***Net Galley**
I was reading a different library book that I was just not connecting with when I started this book. I figured I would pick it up to read a chapter or two as a type of palate cleanser and to improve my mood. Yup, still haven't picked the library book back up. Ruth Hogan’s books are a much needed break from the dark, dystopian books I tend to read. I love to be reminded there are good and kind people in the world. This book left me with a smile on my face and a lot of days, that is really needed.
This book is not all smiles and rainbows. It starts with a couple funerals, a husband for one, mother for the other. The stories intertwine in a beautiful way, with each character having a well developed back story. I especially appreciated Venetia’s relationship with Kite. There is something about that generational gap that works. The side characters really rounded out the overall story. Swan was my favorite!
Side notes:
* They never explained what dead fly biscuits are, what are they? It didn’t seem like even Liberty knew.
* How does no one comment on Liberty Bell’s name? Not a single comment. Is that because it is England?, At one point,Heron even forgot her name!
* I didn’t realize that Kite was a bird, had to look it up.
I was reading a different library book that I was just not connecting with when I started this book. I figured I would pick it up to read a chapter or two as a type of palate cleanser and to improve my mood. Yup, still haven't picked the library book back up. Ruth Hogan’s books are a much needed break from the dark, dystopian books I tend to read. I love to be reminded there are good and kind people in the world. This book left me with a smile on my face and a lot of days, that is really needed.
This book is not all smiles and rainbows. It starts with a couple funerals, a husband for one, mother for the other. The stories intertwine in a beautiful way, with each character having a well developed back story. I especially appreciated Venetia’s relationship with Kite. There is something about that generational gap that works. The side characters really rounded out the overall story. Swan was my favorite!
Side notes:
* They never explained what dead fly biscuits are, what are they? It didn’t seem like even Liberty knew.
* How does no one comment on Liberty Bell’s name? Not a single comment. Is that because it is England?, At one point,Heron even forgot her name!
* I didn’t realize that Kite was a bird, had to look it up.
June 10, 2024
The Phoenix Ballroom is a delightful, cozy, inspiring, feel-good light read. We have two amazing women who are both saying goodbye to loved ones. One is 74 and has just lost her husband, and the other is a 45-year-old who just laid her mother to rest. Liberty Bell is thrown for a loop when, at the reading of her mother, she finds that she basically gets kicked out of her home and is left with some test she needs to pass to gain her inheritance. But unfortunately, she was not told what this test entails. Venita is a widower who is lost and adrift after her husband dies. Her son is taking the reigns of her life and assigning her what her grandson calls a granny nanny. The connection between these two women and the sweet outcome of this book tugged at my heartstrings, and I was thrilled to see myself in the character Liberty Bell and how she rides out life after her mother's passing—a great summer read.
July 4, 2024
Methley Book Club
Jacqueline Pawson
The Phoenix Ballroom
I liked the book because it was an easy read and didn’t take much brain power to get through it. It’s lighthearted and not too heavy.
I enjoyed the descriptions of the old ballroom
And liked the story line of it being returned back to its former glory.
I think the dog was my favourite character as the other characters were a bit twee and didn’t have enough depth for me.
I did enjoy reading the book as an easy night time read and it made me feel eager to return to it but overall it was bit too cheesy and convenient for me and therefore not a book I would recommend.
4/10
Jacqueline Pawson
The Phoenix Ballroom
I liked the book because it was an easy read and didn’t take much brain power to get through it. It’s lighthearted and not too heavy.
I enjoyed the descriptions of the old ballroom
And liked the story line of it being returned back to its former glory.
I think the dog was my favourite character as the other characters were a bit twee and didn’t have enough depth for me.
I did enjoy reading the book as an easy night time read and it made me feel eager to return to it but overall it was bit too cheesy and convenient for me and therefore not a book I would recommend.
4/10
November 19, 2024
The Phoenix Ballroom is a lovely heartwarming tale. A story about found family and moving on from loss, it’s perfect for anyone in the mood for a light, cozy, but also poignant read.
Thank you Ruth Hogan, William Morrow, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.
Thank you Ruth Hogan, William Morrow, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.
February 3, 2025
3 Stars
This is the story of a new elderly widow that is learning how to make her life her own for the first time. There are some great side characters in this book that are family and found family. It was a nice quick read that was heartwarming.
This is the story of a new elderly widow that is learning how to make her life her own for the first time. There are some great side characters in this book that are family and found family. It was a nice quick read that was heartwarming.
December 11, 2024
This is the heartwarming story of recently widowed, 74-year-old Venetia, who is given a second chance to follow her dreams and decides to go for it. The book’s themes of new friendships, second chances, living authentically and honestly, make this a happy read for troubled times.
June 11, 2024
THE PHOENIX BALLROOM tugged on my heart and had me crying many times. Ruth Hogan squeezed my heart and never let go until the very last page. She had my emotions all over the place and I had a hard time putting this wonderful story down. I tried to read THE PHOENIX BALLROOM slowly to make it last, but it was impossible. I had to know what was going to happen to Venetia and Kite. I kept thinking that this story should be made into a movie that comes with a tissue alert! This is a story that is going to stay with me for a long long time. I’m excited to read more by Ruth Hogan as she knows how to pull her readers in and make them fall in love with her heart-tugging characters.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Fresh Fiction. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
You can read my full review at:
https://freshfiction.com/review.php?i...
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Fresh Fiction. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
You can read my full review at:
https://freshfiction.com/review.php?i...
July 25, 2024
Right up front I’m going to say this kind of book is not my cup of tea and I only read it because it was for our group. Simply put, a recently widowed woman with money to spare buys a run-down old ballroom and collects people along the way. I can see that a lot of people will like it – it’s warm and easy to get through, a story of not quite wasted lives and second chances. Just not for me I’m afraid.
Thanks to @readingagency and @AtlanticBooks for supplying @methleybkgroup with the books to review in our own words #ThePhoenixBallroom
Thanks to @readingagency and @AtlanticBooks for supplying @methleybkgroup with the books to review in our own words #ThePhoenixBallroom
January 9, 2024
So, this book is quite sentimental, and I read it in one sitting on an unexpected snow day, and I cried several times, but I didn’t mind because it’s nice when people with hard things in their pasts can find ways to have happy futures. (That’s not a spoiler because the word phoenix is literally in the title.)
June 18, 2024
A lovely story surrounding a slightly quirky family with strange ideas and names. I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
October 19, 2024
4.5 Sweet and loving and exactly what I needed to be listening to today.
October 19, 2024
A light and delightful read. Easy and heartwarming and I thoroughly enjoyed it . Just what i felt like reading
February 21, 2025
Was in need of a dependable, heartwarming, cozy book, and this was it! I love that each character had their quirks and charms.
June 8, 2025
A lovely feel-good story. Perhaps everything turns out too perfectly, but sometimes that's just what you need.
4.5 stars.
4.5 stars.
June 21, 2024
Heartwarming story about living after losing a spouse and finding your place in the world. Venetia is smart, sassy, and fun. The supporting characters are just as lovable and their very different personalities mesh well to bring a well-rounded, interesting, and engrossing story. This was my first Ruth Hogan novel but not my last.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
May 11, 2025
A light and fun read written with sensitivity and warmth. The characters were endearing and I enjoyed following their individual growth during the course of a year. It was a satisfying reminder that we all have the potential to make lemonade out of lemons. A charming addition for Book Club shelves.
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