The House of Hope

by Joanne Clague

In the dead of night, a young woman is found on the doorstep of the House of Help for Friendless Girls… Winter 1885. Matron Hetty Barlow suspects Hope is lying when she claims to be suffering from amnesia. The girl is taken in, but it isn’t long before her pregnancy is discovered, which could put the future of the house – a new experiment in dealing with destitute women – in jeopardy. Hetty’s future depends on keeping her position as matron.

They named her Hope, but Emma Hyde knows she can’t keep up her deception forever. She’s hundreds of miles away from home, but her well-to-do parents will be searching for her.

Amelia yearns to break away from her overbearing sister, Hetty. She meets a man who offers an escape, but her ticket to freedom means revealing Emma’s secrets. Will she betray a friend for a chance at a new life?

Gripping, emotional and inspiring, this Victorian saga is perfect for fans of Kitty Neale, Emma Hornby and Dilly Court.

Praise for The House of Hope 'A moving and passionate story of three women; two who are keeping their secrets close to their hearts and one who is willing to give her heart away in exchange for love. They all arrive at this house that promises safety and free from harm, but are they brave enough, honest enough, to tell their compelling stories and reveal the truth or forever live a lie?' Val Wood

'I thoroughly enjoyed The House of Hope, it is well written and gives a vivid insight into the life of working class girls. Joanne brings her characters to life and I was hooked from the first page.' Lyn Andrews

'A beautiful intertwined story of three very different women, all hiding dark secrets from the past, and the healing and hope they find in one of Britain’s first women’s refuge. The House of Hope is an emotional and uplifting tribute to the power of female friendship' Judy Summers

316 pages, Paperback

Published August 15, 2024

Reviews

[Amanda Taft · Rating 4 out of 5]

“In the dead of night, a young woman is found on the doorstep of the House of Help for Friendless Girls…
Winter 1887. Matron Hetty Barlow suspects Hope is lying when she claims to be suffering from amnesia. The girl is taken in, but it isn’t long before her pregnancy is discovered, which could put the future of the house – a new experiment in dealing with destitute women – in jeopardy. Hetty’s future depends on keeping her position as matron.

They named her Hope, but Emma Hyde knows she can’t keep up her deception forever. She’s hundreds of miles away from home, but her well-to-do parents will be searching for her.

Amelia yearns to break away from her overbearing sister, Hetty. She meets a man who offers an escape, but her ticket to freedom means revealing Emma’s secrets. Will she betray a friend for a chance at a new life?”

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book about three women and their secrets set in Victorian times. I was gripped from the start and it was an interesting reminder of how times have changed! It is a nice, easy read and I will look forward to reading more books by this author.

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The House of Hope for Friendless Girls. Book 1

Winter 1885. Matron Hetty Barlow suspects Hope is lying when she claims to be suffering from amnesia. The girl is taken in, but it isn't long before her pregnancy is discovered, which could put the future of the house - a new experiment in dealing with destitute women - in jeopardy. Hetty's future depends on keeping her position as matron.

They named her Hope, but Emma Hyde knows she can't keep up her deception forever. She's hundreds of miles away from home, but her well-to-do parents will be searching for her.

Amelia yearns to break away from her overbearing sister, Hetty. She meets a man who offers her an escape, but her ticket to freedom means revealing Emma's secrets. Will she betray her friend for a chance at a new life?

In 1885, women who needed help, turn to The House of Help and the women who run it. Hetty Barlow is the Matron, and her sister Amelia is the Housekeeper. Secrets are being kept. A woman found on the doorstep claims to have amnesia, The home is a new experiment in dealing with destitute women. But will the experiment work? Or will Hetty and the women end up on the streets?

I have only read one other book by the author, a mistake I hope to rectify soon. The characters are well-developed, the pace is steady, and I can't wait to read the second book in this series.

Published 15th August 2024

I would like to thank #NetGalley #Canelo and the author #JoannClaque for my ARC of #TheHouseofHope in exchange for an honest review.

[Veronika Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this with my book club, The Pigeonhole, but expected something a bit more raw and gritty. Even though Hope’s assault that caused her to arrive at the House of Help was horrific, it was – together with the experiences of the other girls – a bit sanitised, as if this were a BBC2 drama shown before the watershed.

Having said that, I still loved it, though it didn’t make me cry or feel the dirt under my fingernails, or relive the pain of childbirth. And they didn’t have the luxury of the pain relief that we have today.

Emma Hyde, now known as Hope, is obviously a well-brought up, educated, refined young woman, claiming to have amnesia. But Matron Hetty, who is carrying secrets of her own, is certain she’s lying, as does her younger sister Amelia. There’s too much that doesn’t fit, and Hope isn’t that good at keeping up the charade.

Over time, Hope’s education and experience become invaluable to the women of the house. She can read letters, organise outings, and even run evening classes to help those who want to learn to read and write. In fact she’s happier than she’s ever been. Her life has meaning.

It’s not long into the story before we discover why she’s ended up here – she’s pregnant – but by whom, and why did she arrive in such a state? The reader knows far more than the women of the house, but Hope can’t tell anyone in her real family, because they wouldn’t believe her.

An overall enjoyable read, and certainly a good one to read with fellow Pigeons, or with friends at your book club. And Hope, Amelia and Hetty will leave you wanting more.

Many thanks to The Pigeonhole, the author, and my fellow Pigeons for making this such an enjoyable read.

[Fay Flude · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5-3.75 real star rating.
A very pleasant read of a genteel Victorian saga based in Sheffield at the House of Help.
The female leads, Hetty the warden at the house, her sister Amelia, and girl-in-need-of-help Hope, are all likeable, determined and as keen to assert themselves as much as society will allow them to.
It is not plain sailing for any of these women, for different reasons. Yes, the storyline could possibly have been grittier and more dramatic to accurately reflect the way women lived under the control of men during Victorian times, but as it was, this more polished version of life was charming as it was. It was just about the right amount of mystery with a plot that has the reader rooting for happier times.
This type of book is not my usual genre but I liked it enough to pick up the next book following these characters, if there are plans to have a second book.
Thanks to the author, publisher and Pigeonhole for allowing access to read The House of Hope over the last 10 days.

[Lisa S · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you enjoy a historical saga type story, I think this will be right up your street!

We follow the stories of some of the residents of The House of Help for Friendless Girls in Sheffield in the late 1800s.

A new arrival appears on the doorstep in the middle of the night claiming to be suffering from amnesia, but the matron Hetty Barlow suspects this is not the case. She has her own secrets though which she works hard to keep covered.

The new girl is christened Hope as she claims to have no memory of her own and its not long before it becomes clear there is more going on than just memory loss.

Hetty's sister Amelia also works in the house and is desperate to get away and forge her own life herself. She can be outspoken and reckless which sets her at loggerheads quite often with Hetty.

As this is the first book of a series I think it sets up the basis for going forward - however it does work well as a standalone by itself. For me some of the tropes were a bit predictable and well-worn, but for lovers of this genre this is a great read

[Vanessa Wild · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in the Victorian era, a young woman has arrived at the House of Help for Friendless Girls, seemingly with no memory of how she got there. This story basically revolves around the lives of three women, Hetty, Amelia and Hope, all connected to the House of Help and all with their own secrets and agendas. I enjoyed it. It’s a gentle, well plotted and absorbing saga about life in a bygone era. All three women were strong personalities and I liked how they connected with each other. It gives a good insight into how life was for certain women within this particular time period. I read this book via the Pigeonhole app and looked forward every day to each stave. An easy and undemanding read which is bound to appeal to family saga fans. I understand that this is the first book in a new series so I shall be on the look out for book two, as I am eager to find out how they’re all getting on!

[Sue Sykes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book which is the first of a new series by this author, I have read all her other books so I knew it would be good. Its the story of the House of Help and its occupants who need help and are welcomed into the care of the ladies who run the house. This story is about Hetty who is the warden and Amelia who is her sister and the housekeeper, Hetty is keeping a secret from Amelia and dreads what will happen when she tells.. Then the arrival of a lady one evening is a poor state and needs help and who is given the name Hope who also has a secret.

Read it and enjoy it, I did and I wait for the next instalment
My thanks as always goes to Netgalley and to the Publishers Canelo for the early read

[Kim Russell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not usually a fan of Victorian melodrama, but I have just read the final stave of House of Hope by Joanne Clague with The Pigeonhole. It starts with a mystery that takes a while to be resolved, turns into a friendship, a love story and a betrayal, and has us rooting for more than one character. I fell in love with the trio of protagonists: Hetty for her strength, Amelia for her caring and kindness, and Hope for her budding independence. I also love that it is set in a real charitable house that was considered ahead of its time in the 1880s, and am interested to see that it’s the first book in a saga series. If I hadn’t been reading this book with The Pigeonhole, I think I might have read it in one sitting.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

During the Winter of 1887 a young woman is found huddled outside The House of Help for Friendless Girls in Sheffield. She says she's suffering from amnesia and can't remember who she is or how she came to be outside the Home. Matron Hetty Barlow suspects she's not telling the truth especially when it becomes clear that she's pregnant. However Hope, as they name her, proves to be an asset to the Home. Amelia is the sister of the Matron but longs to leave and soon falls in love with Linus who she hopes to marry. All the women, including Matron Hetty have secrets but will any of them have a happy ending.
I read this book courtesy of the Pigeonhole and, though not my usual genre, I did enjoy it.

[Moona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in Winter 1885, "The House of Hope" tells the gripping tale of three women at the House of Help for Friendless Girls. Matron Hetty Barlow suspects Hope, a young woman claiming amnesia, of deceit. When Hope's pregnancy is discovered, it threatens the house's future. Hope, whose real name is Emma Hyde, is far from home and fearful of her well-to-do parents' search. Amelia, Hetty's sister, seeks freedom from her domineering sibling and contemplates betraying Emma for a chance at a new life. This Victorian saga, perfect for fans of Kitty Neale and Dilly Court, is a poignant tribute to female friendship and resilience.

[Di Paterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a gentle book. It's enjoyable, with likeable characters and is well-written. But the intrigue at the beginning slowly dies rather than building a sense of suspense and brewing into a more dramatic climax. I think the author rushed the ending and missed multiple opportunities to maintain the suspense and drama that would have made the plot more gripping. The historical aspect gives good insight into the times, and I was pleased to find out the House of Help truly existed. My thanks to Joanne Clague and the Pigeonhole for the opportunity to read it.

[Pheadra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this through my online bookclub Pigeonhole.This is described as a gripping saga but for me it is a drawn out Victorian story about Emma who lands on the doorstep of a house of help for women, is pregnant, and pretends to have amnesia. She is given the name of Hope until she recalls her own identity and her memory back. Her story is intertwined with two other women from the house, each harboring secrets from theirs past.
3 and a half stars

[Laura J · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I did enjoy this book but I found it quite slow. I read it over ten days in staves as part of my pigeonhole group and they were short so if I was reading it on my own I'd have read it quicker and probably enjoyed it more.
It was interesting to learn that the house of help was a real place for women's refuge.
I enjoyed the characters and look forward to the next book in the series to see what happens to Hope, Hettie and Amelia in the next stage of their lives

[Mags Schofield · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the strong female characters in this book. The plot was a little slow and drawn out and there were several missed opportunities to add a little more drama and tension. There seemed to be some characters that weren't developed and I'd like to think they will reappear and play a part in the next book in the series
This was an interesting snapshot into the role of women in Victorian times.
Thanks to Pigeonhole and the author. I will keep my eyes open for the next book in the series.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pleasant and easy read ! Based on a real institution, the storyline was interesting as to how it was organised. The plot was good but a little too predictable for me. I also enjoyed the characters with their own secrets and how they dealt with them. A heart warming novel.
I received a digital copy of this novel from Pigeonhole, my online book club, in exchange for an honest review. Thank you very much!

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't put this book down to find out about Miss Emma Hyde, who was found at the doorstep of the " House of hope", she is given the name Hope and everything about her past remains a secret until she tell a girl who she befriends at the home and tells her everything. Her parents eventually find her, by then she has had a baby who she is told it would be best to adopt .

[helen ferris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book

Just loved this book, loved all the characters and their various storylines. Can't wait to read the

following books and maybe catching up with the books ongoing stories

[Jaime-Lee Rodriguez-Seijas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe this isn’t my era, although I appreciate the story being based on a real place, it started out good and then I struggled a bit getting through it at times. It lacked emotion for me especially during the moment where her son is given up.

[Gail Vesely · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story.

[Gail Danks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not something I would usually read but I actually enjoyed it. I would love to read a second book as a follow on

[MRS J MACPHERSON · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book

This book is so real and heartwarming could not put it down
Well written will buy another by this author