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The Sisters of Hope Square
Not yet published
Expected 4 Jun 26From the bestselling author of The Bookshop Ladies, Faith Hogan, comes a wonderfully gripping and poignant story of two sisters and their family hotel on peaceful Pin Hill Island, once a thriving family business now struggling to survive.
All Blythe Carney ever wanted was to become a hotelier and run her family's business, the Hope Square Hotel. But fate, and her grandfather, intervened and it fell into her younger sister Rae's lap, taking her dreams with it. Now Blythe owns Still Water House, the most exclusive guest house on Pin Hill Island, but she can't help but feel she's still not living the life she was meant to.
Rae Johnson had no interest in taking over the hotel, her dreams lay elsewhere, but when she ended up with the family business her sister had set her heart on, her sense of duty to continue their family legacy with her husband was too strong to ignore.
Now, fifteen years later, newly widowed Rae is struggling to keep the hotel afloat and she knows that selling it could be the final straw in her already fragile relationship with her sister.
What do you do when your sister lives the life that you'd set your heart on? And when the perfect storm is brewing, surely, it's time to put aside the jealousy and disappointment that can tear a family apart, and fight for the future you have always dreamed of?
PRAISE FOR FAITH
'A captivating read, written with warmth and elegance... the perfect escape!' - Evie Woods
'This is an absolute beauty... a book that will stay with me for a very long time' - Sally Page
'Prepare to get lost in this beautiful story, masterfully told' - Amanda Prowse
'So wonderfully life affirming... I always wish I could live in Faith's books' - Dinah Jefferies
All Blythe Carney ever wanted was to become a hotelier and run her family's business, the Hope Square Hotel. But fate, and her grandfather, intervened and it fell into her younger sister Rae's lap, taking her dreams with it. Now Blythe owns Still Water House, the most exclusive guest house on Pin Hill Island, but she can't help but feel she's still not living the life she was meant to.
Rae Johnson had no interest in taking over the hotel, her dreams lay elsewhere, but when she ended up with the family business her sister had set her heart on, her sense of duty to continue their family legacy with her husband was too strong to ignore.
Now, fifteen years later, newly widowed Rae is struggling to keep the hotel afloat and she knows that selling it could be the final straw in her already fragile relationship with her sister.
What do you do when your sister lives the life that you'd set your heart on? And when the perfect storm is brewing, surely, it's time to put aside the jealousy and disappointment that can tear a family apart, and fight for the future you have always dreamed of?
PRAISE FOR FAITH
'A captivating read, written with warmth and elegance... the perfect escape!' - Evie Woods
'This is an absolute beauty... a book that will stay with me for a very long time' - Sally Page
'Prepare to get lost in this beautiful story, masterfully told' - Amanda Prowse
'So wonderfully life affirming... I always wish I could live in Faith's books' - Dinah Jefferies
416 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication June 4, 2026
About the author
Faith Hogan
13 books736 followersFaith Hogan is a bestselling author of nine novels. Her books have featured as Book Club Favorites, Net Galley Hot Reads and Summer Must Reads. She writes grown up women's fiction which is unashamedly uplifting, feel good and inspiring.
She gained an Honours Degree in English Literature and Psychology from Dublin City University and a Postgraduate Degree from University College, Galway.
Her latest novel is The Guest House By The Sea - set in the west of Ireland - it has been described as a book to fall in love with.
She also writes crime fiction as Geraldine Hogan. Her Corbally series is out now.
You can find out more about Faith on her website www.faithhogan.com
www.Facebook/FaithHogan.com
@gerhogan
She gained an Honours Degree in English Literature and Psychology from Dublin City University and a Postgraduate Degree from University College, Galway.
Her latest novel is The Guest House By The Sea - set in the west of Ireland - it has been described as a book to fall in love with.
She also writes crime fiction as Geraldine Hogan. Her Corbally series is out now.
You can find out more about Faith on her website www.faithhogan.com
www.Facebook/FaithHogan.com
@gerhogan
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
February 27, 2026
A return to Pin Hill where estranged sisters Rae and Blythe have set up in rival establishments . Their wished for lives were upstaged by their grandfather .There are undercurrents of coercive behaviour, jealousy, mother suffocation, distrust and a remaining element of faithfulness . The story unfold in different timelines and by different characters to slowly build the background to the current situation.
A slow start that gradually build to a fiery crescendo leading to eventual realisation
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy
A slow start that gradually build to a fiery crescendo leading to eventual realisation
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
3.5 stars
Thank you to Shannon from Head of Zeus for reaching out to me to offer a finished copy of The Sisters of Hope Square by Faith Hogan, which comes out on 4th June.
Summary:
All Blythe Carney ever wanted was to become a hotelier and run her family's business, the Hope Square Hotel. But fate, and her grandfather, intervened and it fell into her younger sister Rae's lap, taking her dreams with it. Now Blythe owns Still Water House, the most exclusive guest house on Pin Hill Island, but she can't help but feel she's still not living the life she was meant to.
Rae Johnson had no interest in taking over the hotel, her dreams lay elsewhere, but when she ended up with the family business her sister had set her heart on, her sense of duty to continue their family legacy with her husband was too strong to ignore.
Now, fifteen years later, newly widowed Rae is struggling to keep the hotel afloat and she knows that selling it could be the final straw in her already fragile relationship with her sister.
What do you do when your sister lives the life that you'd set your heart on? And when the perfect storm is brewing, surely, it's time to put aside the jealousy and disappointment that can tear a family apart, and fight for the future you have always dreamed of....?
The Sisters of Hope Square is a quietly gripping tale about two sisters, set on the island of Pin Hill, and is based around Still Water House, older sister Blythe's exclusive guest house, and the younger sister, Rae's hotel, which was once a thriving family business, but is now struggling to survive.
It's a compelling family story which goes backwards and forwards in time over different decades, and as it does so it reveals to the reader not only the many events which have shaped the characters' current situations, but also offers valuable insights to the behaviour and attitudes we see playing out.
The characters are complex and multilayered, but in the case of Blythe, even though I understood the reasons why she behaved as she did, I found her very hard to like, and could not condone her attitudes and actions.
The island setting is really appealing, and the author has created a strong sense of place - it really feels a lovely place to visit! It's her second novel to be set on Pin Hill Island - The Women At Ocean's End was the first - and it is actually a fictionalised rendering of Achill Island, located off County Mayo.
Faith Hogan is known for her uplifting, feel-good, contemporary women's fiction, and this latest is no exception. The storyline makes you ponder what it must be like to be living a life you didn't choose; having to leave behind the dreams you had because someone else has dictated the path your life will take. This happens to several of the characters in this novel, and it's in danger of being repeated down the generations.
This story of thwarted dreams and ambitions, has some very meaty issues woven into it, including coercive, controlling relationships; physical abuse; sexism; and racism, but this is all skilfully and sensitively handled, making it highly readable and a great novel to escape into. Perfect summer reading!
Thank you to Shannon from Head of Zeus for reaching out to me to offer a finished copy of The Sisters of Hope Square by Faith Hogan, which comes out on 4th June.
Summary:
All Blythe Carney ever wanted was to become a hotelier and run her family's business, the Hope Square Hotel. But fate, and her grandfather, intervened and it fell into her younger sister Rae's lap, taking her dreams with it. Now Blythe owns Still Water House, the most exclusive guest house on Pin Hill Island, but she can't help but feel she's still not living the life she was meant to.
Rae Johnson had no interest in taking over the hotel, her dreams lay elsewhere, but when she ended up with the family business her sister had set her heart on, her sense of duty to continue their family legacy with her husband was too strong to ignore.
Now, fifteen years later, newly widowed Rae is struggling to keep the hotel afloat and she knows that selling it could be the final straw in her already fragile relationship with her sister.
What do you do when your sister lives the life that you'd set your heart on? And when the perfect storm is brewing, surely, it's time to put aside the jealousy and disappointment that can tear a family apart, and fight for the future you have always dreamed of....?
The Sisters of Hope Square is a quietly gripping tale about two sisters, set on the island of Pin Hill, and is based around Still Water House, older sister Blythe's exclusive guest house, and the younger sister, Rae's hotel, which was once a thriving family business, but is now struggling to survive.
It's a compelling family story which goes backwards and forwards in time over different decades, and as it does so it reveals to the reader not only the many events which have shaped the characters' current situations, but also offers valuable insights to the behaviour and attitudes we see playing out.
The characters are complex and multilayered, but in the case of Blythe, even though I understood the reasons why she behaved as she did, I found her very hard to like, and could not condone her attitudes and actions.
The island setting is really appealing, and the author has created a strong sense of place - it really feels a lovely place to visit! It's her second novel to be set on Pin Hill Island - The Women At Ocean's End was the first - and it is actually a fictionalised rendering of Achill Island, located off County Mayo.
Faith Hogan is known for her uplifting, feel-good, contemporary women's fiction, and this latest is no exception. The storyline makes you ponder what it must be like to be living a life you didn't choose; having to leave behind the dreams you had because someone else has dictated the path your life will take. This happens to several of the characters in this novel, and it's in danger of being repeated down the generations.
This story of thwarted dreams and ambitions, has some very meaty issues woven into it, including coercive, controlling relationships; physical abuse; sexism; and racism, but this is all skilfully and sensitively handled, making it highly readable and a great novel to escape into. Perfect summer reading!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Sisters of Hope Square is a tender, quietly gripping story about family, legacy, and the dreams we carry long after life has pushed us in another direction. Faith Hogan captures the ache and beauty of sisterhood with such a gentle touch, weaving Blythe and Rae’s lives together in a way that feels both intimate and deeply relatable.
Blythe, with her polished guest house and carefully curated success, is a woman who has built a life she’s proud of, yet can’t quite shake the feeling that she’s living in the shadow of the future she once imagined. Rae, newly widowed and exhausted from holding the Hope Square Hotel together with fraying hands, is a woman who never wanted the legacy she inherited — but took it anyway, out of duty, love, and a desire to honour the family name. Their tension is beautifully drawn: not dramatic or cruel, but rooted in years of unspoken disappointment, misunderstood choices, and the quiet grief of watching someone else live the life you thought was meant for you.
Pin Hill Island is rendered with a lovely sense of place — peaceful, weathered, full of memories — and the hotel itself becomes a symbol of everything the sisters have lost and everything they still might save. As Rae faces the possibility of letting it go, and Blythe wrestles with the life she built versus the one she wanted, the story deepens into something warm and poignant. It’s about forgiveness, second chances, and the courage it takes to admit that the people we love can hurt us without ever meaning to.
This is a heartfelt, emotionally rich novel that explores the complicated ties of family with honesty and hope. Perfect for readers who enjoy character‑driven stories full of warmth, gentle drama, and the promise that it’s never too late to fight for the future you once dreamed of.
With thanks to Faith Hogan, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Blythe, with her polished guest house and carefully curated success, is a woman who has built a life she’s proud of, yet can’t quite shake the feeling that she’s living in the shadow of the future she once imagined. Rae, newly widowed and exhausted from holding the Hope Square Hotel together with fraying hands, is a woman who never wanted the legacy she inherited — but took it anyway, out of duty, love, and a desire to honour the family name. Their tension is beautifully drawn: not dramatic or cruel, but rooted in years of unspoken disappointment, misunderstood choices, and the quiet grief of watching someone else live the life you thought was meant for you.
Pin Hill Island is rendered with a lovely sense of place — peaceful, weathered, full of memories — and the hotel itself becomes a symbol of everything the sisters have lost and everything they still might save. As Rae faces the possibility of letting it go, and Blythe wrestles with the life she built versus the one she wanted, the story deepens into something warm and poignant. It’s about forgiveness, second chances, and the courage it takes to admit that the people we love can hurt us without ever meaning to.
This is a heartfelt, emotionally rich novel that explores the complicated ties of family with honesty and hope. Perfect for readers who enjoy character‑driven stories full of warmth, gentle drama, and the promise that it’s never too late to fight for the future you once dreamed of.
With thanks to Faith Hogan, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Just off the coast of Ireland, sisters Blythe and Rae Scott, live on Pin Hill Island, their grandfather Jack owns Hope Square Hotel and their parents and the girls live in Still Water House.
Blythe marries Kip Carney, an ex-rugby player and they have a daughter Siggy. Blythe is furious when she returns from having her baby and Marcus Johnson her sister’s boyfriend has taken her place in the hotel and Jack believes she should stay home and take care of her child. Blythe has always expected to run the family business, she met Marcus when she was attending college in Dublin (he was odd) and once he marries a gullible Rae and he takes what's rightfully hers. Blythe also blames Rae, who couldn't see her husband was conniving and by the time she does it’s too late, she’s lost her sister and stuck in a bad marriage.
Fifteen years later, Marcus dies, the hotel finances are a mess, Rae and Siggy try to come up with a solution to her problems and maybe she could sell part of the property and is worried how Blythe will react? Meanwhile Blythe is having issues of her own, her husband Kip is distant, he doesn’t agree with how she’s parenting Siggy, Blythe can’t see shes pushing them both away by her behaviour and she dislikes outsiders and teenager Danial Val.
I received a copy of The Sister of Hope Square by Faith Hogan from Aria & Aries and NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. The author has sold millions of novels including The Women at Ocean’s End which I read and loved. A narrative about family dynamics, duty, jealousy, resentment, being a snob, racism, coercive control, going too far and forgiveness.
Five stars from me, what's between the pages of this book is as stunning as the cover and I highly recommend.
Blythe marries Kip Carney, an ex-rugby player and they have a daughter Siggy. Blythe is furious when she returns from having her baby and Marcus Johnson her sister’s boyfriend has taken her place in the hotel and Jack believes she should stay home and take care of her child. Blythe has always expected to run the family business, she met Marcus when she was attending college in Dublin (he was odd) and once he marries a gullible Rae and he takes what's rightfully hers. Blythe also blames Rae, who couldn't see her husband was conniving and by the time she does it’s too late, she’s lost her sister and stuck in a bad marriage.
Fifteen years later, Marcus dies, the hotel finances are a mess, Rae and Siggy try to come up with a solution to her problems and maybe she could sell part of the property and is worried how Blythe will react? Meanwhile Blythe is having issues of her own, her husband Kip is distant, he doesn’t agree with how she’s parenting Siggy, Blythe can’t see shes pushing them both away by her behaviour and she dislikes outsiders and teenager Danial Val.
I received a copy of The Sister of Hope Square by Faith Hogan from Aria & Aries and NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. The author has sold millions of novels including The Women at Ocean’s End which I read and loved. A narrative about family dynamics, duty, jealousy, resentment, being a snob, racism, coercive control, going too far and forgiveness.
Five stars from me, what's between the pages of this book is as stunning as the cover and I highly recommend.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is a story of the past, the present and the future for The Sister of Hope Square. Set on an island off Ireland, two sisters, Blythe and Rae, had lived knowing who the Hotel was going to be passed on to. Blythe was part of the furniture of the hotel, whereas Rae wanted to work with animals. A meeting changed all that, and the once close sisters have drifted apart over the years. They still live close by, but the trust they once had has gone.
The author tells the fate of the sisters and their relationship over the years, the pressure placed on them by their grandfather, and what they put on themselves. Of how they have been manipulated and how they see themselves. Both are a presence in this small community, but how they deal with the present will dictate how the future could pan out. Things come to a head at the end of the book, and what follows feels appropriate in the outcome. Sometimes something extreme is needed to make people realise what they have and what they stand to lose.
This is a story of love, life, regrets, moving on and admitting how things through the years have changed. The author tells the story from the perspective of various characters, and it is a great chance to see different sides of a story and some of the smaller wrangling and the author keeps everything in check.
If you are looking for something that has family secrets and expectations set in the past and the present, then this is a book that I would be very happy to recommend.
The author tells the fate of the sisters and their relationship over the years, the pressure placed on them by their grandfather, and what they put on themselves. Of how they have been manipulated and how they see themselves. Both are a presence in this small community, but how they deal with the present will dictate how the future could pan out. Things come to a head at the end of the book, and what follows feels appropriate in the outcome. Sometimes something extreme is needed to make people realise what they have and what they stand to lose.
This is a story of love, life, regrets, moving on and admitting how things through the years have changed. The author tells the story from the perspective of various characters, and it is a great chance to see different sides of a story and some of the smaller wrangling and the author keeps everything in check.
If you are looking for something that has family secrets and expectations set in the past and the present, then this is a book that I would be very happy to recommend.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Lovely to return to Pin Hill, this time with Blythe and Rae who are sisters and both own a guest house/hotel on the island.
There's lot of family issues in this book. Blythe as the older sister expected to run The Hope Square Hotel, eventually taking over from her grandfather, but due to circumstances it went to her younger sister Rae. Blythe ended up with another family house that she turned into a guest house but she always felt as if she missed out on her dream of running the hotel.
Both get married and Blythe has a daughter, but neither are particularly happy with their lot. Blythe because she isn't running the hotel and because of an incident that happened to her when she was younger and moved off the island for a period of time, and Rae because her marriage wasn't as happy as everyone thinks because of her bullying husband, who has passed away.
When Blythe's daughter gets friendly with an 'outsider' who has moved to the island and then wants to move off the island to continue her studies, things come to a head and lives start unravelling as Blythe can't control everything anymore.
I really couldn't take to Blythe, even though I sort of understood her reasons, she was hard work, and her family were very patient with her controlling nature. Thankfully the rest of the characters were interesting. As usual a good read, with an explosive ending!
There's lot of family issues in this book. Blythe as the older sister expected to run The Hope Square Hotel, eventually taking over from her grandfather, but due to circumstances it went to her younger sister Rae. Blythe ended up with another family house that she turned into a guest house but she always felt as if she missed out on her dream of running the hotel.
Both get married and Blythe has a daughter, but neither are particularly happy with their lot. Blythe because she isn't running the hotel and because of an incident that happened to her when she was younger and moved off the island for a period of time, and Rae because her marriage wasn't as happy as everyone thinks because of her bullying husband, who has passed away.
When Blythe's daughter gets friendly with an 'outsider' who has moved to the island and then wants to move off the island to continue her studies, things come to a head and lives start unravelling as Blythe can't control everything anymore.
I really couldn't take to Blythe, even though I sort of understood her reasons, she was hard work, and her family were very patient with her controlling nature. Thankfully the rest of the characters were interesting. As usual a good read, with an explosive ending!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A lovely and sometimes sad story. It is about two sisters, Blythe and Rae, who have become estranged mainly due to them setting up two different hotel/guest house in the same place. Blythe always thought that her grandfather would gift her the hotel and she worked tirelessly to prove her worth. Blythe met Marcus and she thought he was the love of her life but that was not meant to be. On returning to Pin Hill to take over the business things changed. Rae met Marcus and as he knew about the hotel he made inroads to the grandfather to let Rae take it over with his supervision and marrying Rae to make sure things went accordingly to his plan. Rae did not realise at the time that this was his plan all along having met Blythe and she did not know until it was too late that he was a bully. Blythe took over the family home and made it into guest house and made it a success but the two sisters became separated by jealousy and loathing of Marcus on Blythe’s side. Things eventually improved when Rae was widowed but it took near bankruptcy of the hotel, a fire and an almost tragedy before the two of them reconciled. The book delves into many issues mainly of jealousy, hurt feelings and feelings of being let down. I enjoyed this book. The parts where Blythe’s husband and daughter are in the book were lovely and made the book more down to earth.
Review of advance copy
🩵 Blurb-
All Blythe Carney ever wanted was to become a hotelier and run her family's business, the Hope Square Hotel. But fate, and her grandfather, intervened and it fell into her younger sister Rae's lap, taking her dreams with it. Now Blythe owns Still Water House, the most exclusive guest house on Pin Hill Island, but she can't help but feel she's still not living the life she was meant to.
Rae Johnson had no interest in taking over the hotel, her dreams lay elsewhere, but when she ended up with the family business her sister had set her heart on, her sense of duty to continue their family legacy with her husband was too strong to ignore.
Now, fifteen years later, newly widowed Rae is struggling to keep the hotel afloat and she knows that selling it could be the final straw in her already fragile relationship with her sister.
💛 Review -
This was the first book that I have read by the author and I will definitely be reading more by them. As soon as I started reading I knew that I would love it and I got swept away with the characters. The author's writing is so good that sometimes I felt like I was in the story with the characters, it was the perfect escape. I highly recommend it and I look forward to reading more by the author.
💝 Thank you to Random Things Tours, the author Faith Hogan and the publisher Head Of Zeus for my copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
All Blythe Carney ever wanted was to become a hotelier and run her family's business, the Hope Square Hotel. But fate, and her grandfather, intervened and it fell into her younger sister Rae's lap, taking her dreams with it. Now Blythe owns Still Water House, the most exclusive guest house on Pin Hill Island, but she can't help but feel she's still not living the life she was meant to.
Rae Johnson had no interest in taking over the hotel, her dreams lay elsewhere, but when she ended up with the family business her sister had set her heart on, her sense of duty to continue their family legacy with her husband was too strong to ignore.
Now, fifteen years later, newly widowed Rae is struggling to keep the hotel afloat and she knows that selling it could be the final straw in her already fragile relationship with her sister.
💛 Review -
This was the first book that I have read by the author and I will definitely be reading more by them. As soon as I started reading I knew that I would love it and I got swept away with the characters. The author's writing is so good that sometimes I felt like I was in the story with the characters, it was the perfect escape. I highly recommend it and I look forward to reading more by the author.
💝 Thank you to Random Things Tours, the author Faith Hogan and the publisher Head Of Zeus for my copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I have really enjoyed reading all Faith Hogan’s novels. This again was another 5 star read from me although it take me longer to both be invested in the story and characters.
The novel focuses on the sisters - Blythe and Rae and Blythe’s daughter, Sissy.
Blythe always expected to inherit management of the family hotel but after her marriage to Kit and the birth of Sissy, she is forced out. Instead her sister, Rae takes over after her marriage to Marcus - a former friend of Blythe’s from her college days.
Instead Blythe focuses on the development of Still Water House as a guesthouse. These events form a permanent rift in their relationship.
Rae - whose marriage was coercive and abusive - is forced to evaluate her future after the death of Marcus and the financial plight of the hotel becomes clear. She decides to sell up part of the hotel to allow redevelopment of the remainder.
As she is considering this - Blythe is facing a series of what feels like insurmountable issues - her relationship with her husband is fraying because of her overprotective nature towards their daughter; she is pushing her daughter away particularly over her relationship with an outsider; she cannot countenance the hotel being sold on to someone outside the family and her fear of outsiders is losing her friends.
Can the sisters find a way back to supporting each other and a new future?
A heartwarming story.
The novel focuses on the sisters - Blythe and Rae and Blythe’s daughter, Sissy.
Blythe always expected to inherit management of the family hotel but after her marriage to Kit and the birth of Sissy, she is forced out. Instead her sister, Rae takes over after her marriage to Marcus - a former friend of Blythe’s from her college days.
Instead Blythe focuses on the development of Still Water House as a guesthouse. These events form a permanent rift in their relationship.
Rae - whose marriage was coercive and abusive - is forced to evaluate her future after the death of Marcus and the financial plight of the hotel becomes clear. She decides to sell up part of the hotel to allow redevelopment of the remainder.
As she is considering this - Blythe is facing a series of what feels like insurmountable issues - her relationship with her husband is fraying because of her overprotective nature towards their daughter; she is pushing her daughter away particularly over her relationship with an outsider; she cannot countenance the hotel being sold on to someone outside the family and her fear of outsiders is losing her friends.
Can the sisters find a way back to supporting each other and a new future?
A heartwarming story.
May 26, 2026
I’ve read some of Faith Hogan’s previous books and they did not disappoint, so I knew I would really enjoy this one.
The book centres around sisters Rae and Blythe who ran The Hope Square Hotel. As the sisters get older, circumstances and life separates the sisters into running their own hotels. Rae’s husband passes and Blythe is fining it hard to let her daughter Siggy live her own life. When a family loves to the island, and burglaries begin to happen, can the community come together and accept everyone for who they are.
I really enjoyed this book, it dealt with some serious and relevant issues of immigration, prejudice and control and family ties, without losing the plot of the book. I really liked Rae as a character, she goes through a lot over the course of the story. Blythe is less likeable, is a bit of a loose cannon, speaks her mind and isn’t easily swayed. That said she has a few quips that made me shake my head while laughing.
For me it was a deeper read than I had expected, but very powerful, poignant and thoughtful. I really enjoyed The Sisters of Hope Square, it kept me engaged and gripped until the end. I would highly recommend this book.
Thank you to Aria and Aries and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
The book centres around sisters Rae and Blythe who ran The Hope Square Hotel. As the sisters get older, circumstances and life separates the sisters into running their own hotels. Rae’s husband passes and Blythe is fining it hard to let her daughter Siggy live her own life. When a family loves to the island, and burglaries begin to happen, can the community come together and accept everyone for who they are.
I really enjoyed this book, it dealt with some serious and relevant issues of immigration, prejudice and control and family ties, without losing the plot of the book. I really liked Rae as a character, she goes through a lot over the course of the story. Blythe is less likeable, is a bit of a loose cannon, speaks her mind and isn’t easily swayed. That said she has a few quips that made me shake my head while laughing.
For me it was a deeper read than I had expected, but very powerful, poignant and thoughtful. I really enjoyed The Sisters of Hope Square, it kept me engaged and gripped until the end. I would highly recommend this book.
Thank you to Aria and Aries and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is my 4th book by Faith Hogan, and the 2nd one set on Pin Hill Island, so it felt like coming home, just meeting new people. I was so excited when I saw that Faith had a new book due out soon.
What a wonderful cast of main and supporting characters Faith has created. Sisters Blythe and Rae, Blythe's husband Kip, their daughter Siggy are the main focus, with wonderful friends who support them.
Blythe always thought she would take over the Hope Square hotel from her grandfather and all Rae wanted was to become a vet nurse, but life had other plans in store for both of them.
What a wonderful, kind, patient and caring man Kip is, supporting Blythe the way he does, even when he doesn't agree with her or understand her reasoning.
Not wanting to give away any spoilers here, but there are some very strong topics dealt with here, about women not being seen as strong enough to run a business as well as look after a family, domestic violence, criminal activity and racism. All have been handled delicately.
Thank you to Shannon from Head of Zeus, NetGalley and Faith Hogan for the digital ARC. All opinions are my own.
What a wonderful cast of main and supporting characters Faith has created. Sisters Blythe and Rae, Blythe's husband Kip, their daughter Siggy are the main focus, with wonderful friends who support them.
Blythe always thought she would take over the Hope Square hotel from her grandfather and all Rae wanted was to become a vet nurse, but life had other plans in store for both of them.
What a wonderful, kind, patient and caring man Kip is, supporting Blythe the way he does, even when he doesn't agree with her or understand her reasoning.
Not wanting to give away any spoilers here, but there are some very strong topics dealt with here, about women not being seen as strong enough to run a business as well as look after a family, domestic violence, criminal activity and racism. All have been handled delicately.
Thank you to Shannon from Head of Zeus, NetGalley and Faith Hogan for the digital ARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Faith Hogan is becoming somewhat of a must read author for me. With the greatest respect you almost know what you’re going to get, it’s a comfort knowing you’re safe on an authors hands for a while, she’ll take you back to a beautiful place and into the lives of some new friends, there’s angst and turmoil but you know it’s all going to turn out ok.
This time we are back in Pin Hill and dropped into the story of sisters Blythe and Rae, whose relationship and legacy is in turmoil. We unpick the past and present alike in a bid to mend their bridges.
Warm, full of hope but not without sadness. Beautifully narrated by Flora Montgomery and there are some visits from other characters that you’ll recognise from other titles, I always love it when a familiar face appears.
A day well spent.
My thanks to NetGalley and Head of Zeus Audiobooks for the opportunity to review this ALC that will be released in June.
This time we are back in Pin Hill and dropped into the story of sisters Blythe and Rae, whose relationship and legacy is in turmoil. We unpick the past and present alike in a bid to mend their bridges.
Warm, full of hope but not without sadness. Beautifully narrated by Flora Montgomery and there are some visits from other characters that you’ll recognise from other titles, I always love it when a familiar face appears.
A day well spent.
My thanks to NetGalley and Head of Zeus Audiobooks for the opportunity to review this ALC that will be released in June.
May 24, 2026
As children Blythe and Rae were inseparable. They grew up in the shadow of the family hotel on Hope Square on a small island of Ireland.
Blythe goes off to Dublin to learn hotel management and meets Marcus, she’s very taken with him. But one evening as she’s getting ready to go out, burglars enter the flat and she is threatened and scared. Marcus picks her up and afterwards leaves her at the door, she feels he should have at least her safely in, check that the thieves had gone. She suffers as a result of the incident, and goes home, doesn’t even take her finals.
She finds herself pregnant and marries Kip, who is Siggy’s father. Everything changes when Marcus turns up and make passes at Rae. Suddenly nothing is the same.
The book bounces around in time, then and now, with each different perspectives from the different characters, which was fine and easy to follow.
Easy to read. Nice, cosy summer holiday story. I really enjoyed it.
Blythe goes off to Dublin to learn hotel management and meets Marcus, she’s very taken with him. But one evening as she’s getting ready to go out, burglars enter the flat and she is threatened and scared. Marcus picks her up and afterwards leaves her at the door, she feels he should have at least her safely in, check that the thieves had gone. She suffers as a result of the incident, and goes home, doesn’t even take her finals.
She finds herself pregnant and marries Kip, who is Siggy’s father. Everything changes when Marcus turns up and make passes at Rae. Suddenly nothing is the same.
The book bounces around in time, then and now, with each different perspectives from the different characters, which was fine and easy to follow.
Easy to read. Nice, cosy summer holiday story. I really enjoyed it.
April 27, 2026
Blythe Carney has spent years building a life she never really wanted, after her dream of running the family hotel slipped into her younger sister Rae’s hands. Rae, meanwhile, never asked for the responsibility but took it on out of duty—and now, newly widowed and struggling to keep the hotel afloat, she faces the possibility of losing everything.
The story follows both sisters as they navigate old resentments, unspoken disappointments and the complicated ways family expectations shape a life. The setting is a real strength—Hope Square and Pin Hill Island feel warm, lived‑in and easy to picture—and the characters are likeable, even when they’re at odds.
You can more or less see the direction the story is heading, but that doesn’t take away from its charm. It’s a gentle, enjoyable read about family, forgiveness and finding your way back to the life you wanted.
A lovely 3.5/5.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Although Blythe was the one in her family who wanted to carry on their legacy by taking over the family-run hotel on Pin Hill Island, circumstances conspired to ensure that it was her younger sister Rae who was given the opportunity to do so, inevitably causing a rift between the two.
While Blythe has the distinction of owning the most upmarket guest house in the area, those wounds have never healed. And that rift may be about to be widened, since the death of Rae's husband means that she might not be able to continue running the hotel without him...
This is a charming, emotional and relatable tale about family, the dynamics of sisterhood, and the durability of the love, in its many forms. The narrator of the audio book makes the story an enjoyable experience, so this gets 3.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
While Blythe has the distinction of owning the most upmarket guest house in the area, those wounds have never healed. And that rift may be about to be widened, since the death of Rae's husband means that she might not be able to continue running the hotel without him...
This is a charming, emotional and relatable tale about family, the dynamics of sisterhood, and the durability of the love, in its many forms. The narrator of the audio book makes the story an enjoyable experience, so this gets 3.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Having previously read The Bookshop Ladies and really enjoying it I was really happy to see the release of The Sisters of Hope Square and I listened to it on audiobook.
The story was set on Pill Hill Island focussing on the Carney sisters who were brought up in their family hotel and the lives that they were set to lead as future hoteliers themselves. Death within the family and choice of life partners were key to the paths that Blythe and Rae both took but unfortunately the closeness between the sisters as youngsters did not last.
Bitterness, financial troubles and relationships were always problematic to the two sisters and came at a cost.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading/listening to more from Faith Hogan in the future.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this audiobook.
The story was set on Pill Hill Island focussing on the Carney sisters who were brought up in their family hotel and the lives that they were set to lead as future hoteliers themselves. Death within the family and choice of life partners were key to the paths that Blythe and Rae both took but unfortunately the closeness between the sisters as youngsters did not last.
Bitterness, financial troubles and relationships were always problematic to the two sisters and came at a cost.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading/listening to more from Faith Hogan in the future.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this audiobook.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A really enjoyable and absorbing read. The Sisters of Hope Square delivers exactly what I love in Faith Hogan’s books: great characters, emotional depth, and a story that quietly builds until you realise just how much is going on beneath the surface.
The dual‑timeline structure works brilliantly, revealing the layers of sibling rivalry, complicated family dynamics, and the more unsettling themes of manipulation and coercive control. The author handles these issues with great sensitivity.
The narration is excellent throughout — it brings the characters to life and adds warmth and nuance to both timelines.
A thoughtful, engaging novel with plenty to unpack.
I am grateful to the publishers and NetGalley for an advanced listener copy of this audiobook.
The dual‑timeline structure works brilliantly, revealing the layers of sibling rivalry, complicated family dynamics, and the more unsettling themes of manipulation and coercive control. The author handles these issues with great sensitivity.
The narration is excellent throughout — it brings the characters to life and adds warmth and nuance to both timelines.
A thoughtful, engaging novel with plenty to unpack.
I am grateful to the publishers and NetGalley for an advanced listener copy of this audiobook.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Two sisters help run a family-owned hotel. Blythe dreams of inheriting her grandfather’s estate and continuing the family business while Rae has no interest.
In a picturesque rural Irish community, grief, love and family dynamics intertwine to create a plot with elements of sadness and betrayal. Family controlling what happens in others lives so they can’t follow their dreams.
A captivating emotional journey, demonstrating how everyone’s emotions and actions can influence other people’s dreams.
This emotionally powerful read keeps you turning the pages with a few twists and turns.
Highly recommended.
In a picturesque rural Irish community, grief, love and family dynamics intertwine to create a plot with elements of sadness and betrayal. Family controlling what happens in others lives so they can’t follow their dreams.
A captivating emotional journey, demonstrating how everyone’s emotions and actions can influence other people’s dreams.
This emotionally powerful read keeps you turning the pages with a few twists and turns.
Highly recommended.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was asked by NetGalley to review this really emotional story recommend a box of tissues when you read this.
Blythe with her sister Rae are helping to run a family owned hotel. Blythe would love to inherit her grandfathe's estate and run thefamily business wheras her sister is not interested in this. Set in rual Ireland, there is family issues, controlling what happens so there is no dreams to follow. This story is emotionally charged with such sadness, betrayal and love thrown into the mix, with twists along the way ensuring the reader reads to the end.
Recomended read from Faith Hogan and due fdor publication June 4th 2026.
Blythe with her sister Rae are helping to run a family owned hotel. Blythe would love to inherit her grandfathe's estate and run thefamily business wheras her sister is not interested in this. Set in rual Ireland, there is family issues, controlling what happens so there is no dreams to follow. This story is emotionally charged with such sadness, betrayal and love thrown into the mix, with twists along the way ensuring the reader reads to the end.
Recomended read from Faith Hogan and due fdor publication June 4th 2026.
March 23, 2026
The Sisters of Hope Square
This was such a lovely, comforting read that pulled me in straight away.
From the very beginning, it felt like slipping into a warm blanket easy, soothing and impossible not to enjoy.
The characters were so likeable and I found myself completely drawn into their world. It’s one of those stories that feels gentle but still keeps you turning the pages.
This would be the perfect book to take on holiday, relaxing, uplifting and just a really enjoyable escape.
A beautiful read and one I’d definitely recommend.
I feel very lucky to have read this early through NetGalley, with the book due out in June.
This was such a lovely, comforting read that pulled me in straight away.
From the very beginning, it felt like slipping into a warm blanket easy, soothing and impossible not to enjoy.
The characters were so likeable and I found myself completely drawn into their world. It’s one of those stories that feels gentle but still keeps you turning the pages.
This would be the perfect book to take on holiday, relaxing, uplifting and just a really enjoyable escape.
A beautiful read and one I’d definitely recommend.
I feel very lucky to have read this early through NetGalley, with the book due out in June.
May 25, 2026
Blythe grew up dreaming of running the family hotel, but life brought several twists and turns. Which ultimately, led to her grandfather passing down the hotel to her younger sister, Rae, despite her lack of interest in the business. Heartbroken, Blythe made the decision to turn her home into an exclusive guest house on the same island.
Faith’s writing captivated me from the outset. I was completely drawn into the sister’s lives. A wonderfully warm and captivating read which I couldn’t put it down!
Thank you to Anne from Random Things Tours for providing me with an advanced reading copy in return of an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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Faith’s writing captivated me from the outset. I was completely drawn into the sister’s lives. A wonderfully warm and captivating read which I couldn’t put it down!
Thank you to Anne from Random Things Tours for providing me with an advanced reading copy in return of an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A story of two sisters, Blythe and Rae, close when growing up together but not so much as adults. Blythe always expected to inherit the family hotel and was dealt a blow when her beloved Pappy left it to Rae the sister who didn't want it. The whole family manipulated by Marcus.
Blythe was difficult to like at times, overbearing and over protective especially of daughter Siggy. And when a new family move to the island, the protection she has created feels as though its slipping from her grasp, leading to drastic circumstances
A satisfying conclusion
Blythe was difficult to like at times, overbearing and over protective especially of daughter Siggy. And when a new family move to the island, the protection she has created feels as though its slipping from her grasp, leading to drastic circumstances
A satisfying conclusion
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Another amazing book from Faith Hogan set in an idyllic village in Ireland described in such detail that you really get to picture the beautiful place. This is about two sisters and their lives throughout the years it keeps going from the present to when the girls were younger. All of the characters have so much depth and you are just hooked from the beginning. I have read all of Faith Hogan’s books and loved them all. Such heartwarming stories.
May 7, 2026
I have to say that I was disappointed with this book. I usually love Faith Hogan and look forward to reading her latest novel, but this one, I felt, was a bit doom and gloom.
Two sisters who are devoted to each other, have to deal with the tragedy of losing both their parents, but at least they have Pappy and the hotel to anchor them. That is until a certain man comes into their lives.
How can one man possibly ruin dreams, expectation's and relationships?
Two sisters who are devoted to each other, have to deal with the tragedy of losing both their parents, but at least they have Pappy and the hotel to anchor them. That is until a certain man comes into their lives.
How can one man possibly ruin dreams, expectation's and relationships?
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I usually enjoy Faith Hogan's books but despite having her trademark strong female lead characters The Sisters of Hope Square didn't hit the mark for me. It was a good story with strong female characters but was a bit more doom and gloom than her usual stories. So worth reading but not her usual 5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Hope Square sisters are estranged after Blythe and Rae's pappy leaves the hotel to Rae.
I found Blythe to be quite a bitter character. She feels everyone owes her. Not inheriting the hotel, she sets up a rival business, running a guest house from her home. Blythe is very controlling even down to telling her seventeen year old daughter what she can and can't do. I found her to be annoying. Towards the end, she does something unforgivable.
Rae never wanted the hotel. She had dreams of working with animals. Unfortunately, she met Marcus, who had other ideas. She married him and now had to suffer the consequences.
I didn't think this was Hogan's best.
This is a story of family ties and sister bonding. Told from the points of view from both sisters and Kip, who is Blythe's husband, we go back and forth from their childhood to the present day.
It's an enjoyable read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Aria and Aries for the invitation to read in return for an honest review.
I found Blythe to be quite a bitter character. She feels everyone owes her. Not inheriting the hotel, she sets up a rival business, running a guest house from her home. Blythe is very controlling even down to telling her seventeen year old daughter what she can and can't do. I found her to be annoying. Towards the end, she does something unforgivable.
Rae never wanted the hotel. She had dreams of working with animals. Unfortunately, she met Marcus, who had other ideas. She married him and now had to suffer the consequences.
I didn't think this was Hogan's best.
This is a story of family ties and sister bonding. Told from the points of view from both sisters and Kip, who is Blythe's husband, we go back and forth from their childhood to the present day.
It's an enjoyable read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Aria and Aries for the invitation to read in return for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Aria & Aries | Aria and Netgalley for this ARC.
It was an interesting story, However I found myself very frustrated with Blythe and not fully understanding her motives and behaviour.
The time jumps did not bother me but it took a while to get in the book.
It was an interesting story, However I found myself very frustrated with Blythe and not fully understanding her motives and behaviour.
The time jumps did not bother me but it took a while to get in the book.
April 9, 2026
The Sisters of Hope Square by Faith Hogan is the enchanting story of two sisters and their family hotel in peaceful Pin Hill Island,which has been in the family for generations but is now losing money and needs refurbished.
The two sisters married very different men and it is only after the death of Rae’s husband that the truth of the marriage, and how the two sisters ended up running two separate guest houses becomes known.
Highly recommended family saga.
The two sisters married very different men and it is only after the death of Rae’s husband that the truth of the marriage, and how the two sisters ended up running two separate guest houses becomes known.
Highly recommended family saga.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I just didn't find Blythe a very likeable character, otherwise the book was ok.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Free courtesy of Netgalley
I really enjoyed this book from Faith Hogan. Even though there was a divide with the sisters I felt for both sides, both manipulated by one man who gaslit both of them.
The sisters were really close when they were younger and Blythe always had her heart on taking over the family hotel in Hope Square. When she goes off to university study hotel management she meets the focused Marcus who tells her he will run his own hotel one day, Blythe tells him all about taking over her grandfather's hotel and her plans. When Blythe's flat gets broken into, whilst she is there she abandons her course and moves back to the island.
She finally ends up in a relationship with her Grandfather's enemy's son and this makes her grandfather reevaluate who will take over the hotel. Suddenly Marcus appears and makes a play for Blythe's little sister Rae and manipulates their grandfather to leave the hotel to Rae.
With the explosion and deterioration of the sisters relationship, the story moves forward to Rae being a widower and needs money to keep the hotel going, whereas Blythe has transferred her parents old home into a successful BnB, but will she be pushed over the edge when she learns that Rae is planning to sell
The story is told from both the sisters point of view, and although Blythe is somewhat over protective and forceful, you do feel for them both. It was a great story and I really enjoyed the book
I really enjoyed this book from Faith Hogan. Even though there was a divide with the sisters I felt for both sides, both manipulated by one man who gaslit both of them.
The sisters were really close when they were younger and Blythe always had her heart on taking over the family hotel in Hope Square. When she goes off to university study hotel management she meets the focused Marcus who tells her he will run his own hotel one day, Blythe tells him all about taking over her grandfather's hotel and her plans. When Blythe's flat gets broken into, whilst she is there she abandons her course and moves back to the island.
She finally ends up in a relationship with her Grandfather's enemy's son and this makes her grandfather reevaluate who will take over the hotel. Suddenly Marcus appears and makes a play for Blythe's little sister Rae and manipulates their grandfather to leave the hotel to Rae.
With the explosion and deterioration of the sisters relationship, the story moves forward to Rae being a widower and needs money to keep the hotel going, whereas Blythe has transferred her parents old home into a successful BnB, but will she be pushed over the edge when she learns that Rae is planning to sell
The story is told from both the sisters point of view, and although Blythe is somewhat over protective and forceful, you do feel for them both. It was a great story and I really enjoyed the book
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