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Hope House: The stunning new coming of age novel for fans of Demon Copperhead
Demon Copperhead meets Les Choristes in this tender coming-of-age story, told through the intersecting lives of a group of troubled boys in a home for ‘delinquent’ young men in the American south in the 1980s.
'A stunningly beautiful debut; a novel of life on the margins, written with style and grace, and populated with characters that stay with you long after the final page' Tom Newlands, author of Only Here, Only Now
LONGLISTED FOR THE CENTER FOR FICTION 2026 FIRST NOVEL PRIZE
***
“I don’t know about that, sir. We’re delinquents,” said Damico. “If you give us an inch, we’ll take the whole mile.”
Watts laughed us off.
“All I’m saying is there’s things we can do different. I’m talking about you fellas helping me get this right. What do you think?”
They came from the streets, the sticks, and every place in between. They've stolen cars, dealt dope and hurt people. They've been hurt themselves. They’ve been labelled ‘delinquents’ and cast out from their families – if they ever had a family at all. Their futures promise prison - or worse - but for now, they've been brought together to live in an old house on a hill, and see about getting themselves - and each other - right.
Spirited, angry, confused, and misled, these are the boys of Hope House, an institution for ‘delinquent’ young men in 1980s Kentucky. There is Smoove, named for his distinctive walk after he was shot in both feet back home in Louisville. There’s Damico, reported for shoplifting and assault, even though that was only part of the story. There’s Bobby, who tells brave tales of adventures of coyotes but goes quiet at the thought of his father. And there’s Awol, who can’t stop running away, only to return to the place he knows best.
Deeply honest and soulful, Hope House is a novel about searching for belonging and lifting each other up; about coming of age into a society that’s already closed its doors; about lost boys who grapple with their pasts, dare to imagine different futures, and nurture the almost outrageous hope that they might just turn everything around.
***
'A rare, brilliant, generous, bighearted book that mines hope from the darkest and most difficult human experiences' Gabriel Tallent, author of My Absolute Darling
'This beautifully told novel, heartbreaking and heart-healing, illuminates what it means to call a place home' Kim Edwards, author of The Memory Keeper's Daughter
'A beautiful novel of such tender frankness, building the lives of this group of kids with bottomless care and a fiercely keen eye for detail and movement' Aimee Bender, author of The Butterfly Lampshade
'A stunningly beautiful debut; a novel of life on the margins, written with style and grace, and populated with characters that stay with you long after the final page' Tom Newlands, author of Only Here, Only Now
LONGLISTED FOR THE CENTER FOR FICTION 2026 FIRST NOVEL PRIZE
***
“I don’t know about that, sir. We’re delinquents,” said Damico. “If you give us an inch, we’ll take the whole mile.”
Watts laughed us off.
“All I’m saying is there’s things we can do different. I’m talking about you fellas helping me get this right. What do you think?”
They came from the streets, the sticks, and every place in between. They've stolen cars, dealt dope and hurt people. They've been hurt themselves. They’ve been labelled ‘delinquents’ and cast out from their families – if they ever had a family at all. Their futures promise prison - or worse - but for now, they've been brought together to live in an old house on a hill, and see about getting themselves - and each other - right.
Spirited, angry, confused, and misled, these are the boys of Hope House, an institution for ‘delinquent’ young men in 1980s Kentucky. There is Smoove, named for his distinctive walk after he was shot in both feet back home in Louisville. There’s Damico, reported for shoplifting and assault, even though that was only part of the story. There’s Bobby, who tells brave tales of adventures of coyotes but goes quiet at the thought of his father. And there’s Awol, who can’t stop running away, only to return to the place he knows best.
Deeply honest and soulful, Hope House is a novel about searching for belonging and lifting each other up; about coming of age into a society that’s already closed its doors; about lost boys who grapple with their pasts, dare to imagine different futures, and nurture the almost outrageous hope that they might just turn everything around.
***
'A rare, brilliant, generous, bighearted book that mines hope from the darkest and most difficult human experiences' Gabriel Tallent, author of My Absolute Darling
'This beautifully told novel, heartbreaking and heart-healing, illuminates what it means to call a place home' Kim Edwards, author of The Memory Keeper's Daughter
'A beautiful novel of such tender frankness, building the lives of this group of kids with bottomless care and a fiercely keen eye for detail and movement' Aimee Bender, author of The Butterfly Lampshade
287 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 18, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
August 25, 2026
Hope House is a funny, moving and lifelike story about a home for teenage tearaways. All of them are under the care of Mr Watts who tries hard to get them through a five stage programme so they can rejoin society. However Watts not only has to deal with unruly boys but also the system that doesn't seem minded to help either him or them. It is so much easier to write troublemakers off than to dig a little to find out why they do the things they do. Watts refuses to give up.
There are some very strong voices in this novel - AWOL who narrates but always shies away from sharing his story with his peers, Smoove who believes in the power of prayer, Damico who longs to get through so he can see his child again, Peanut who struggles with anything and everything but is unfailingly cheerful and Karvel the obvious leader who the boys all long to be like.
Joe Bond has written a truly lovely book that delicately explains a way of life in a home where noone expects much from the inmates but whose manager will never give up trying to find the best life for.
Great writing, great story and very sympathetic and likeable characters. Made me cry and smile.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Penguin General UK for the digital review copy.
There are some very strong voices in this novel - AWOL who narrates but always shies away from sharing his story with his peers, Smoove who believes in the power of prayer, Damico who longs to get through so he can see his child again, Peanut who struggles with anything and everything but is unfailingly cheerful and Karvel the obvious leader who the boys all long to be like.
Joe Bond has written a truly lovely book that delicately explains a way of life in a home where noone expects much from the inmates but whose manager will never give up trying to find the best life for.
Great writing, great story and very sympathetic and likeable characters. Made me cry and smile.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Penguin General UK for the digital review copy.
October 26, 2026
Hope House by Joe Bond is a deeply moving, compassionate and beautifully written novel about troubled young lives, second chances and the importance of having someone believe in you.
Set in 1980s Kentucky, the story centres on Hope House, a residential institution for teenage boys who have fallen foul of the law. Labelled delinquents, many have experienced violence, neglect and rejection, and their prospects appear bleak. Yet under the guidance of Mr Watts, who refuses to give up on them, there is hope for something better.
The author creates a wonderfully convincing cast of characters, each with their own distinctive voice, difficult history and dreams for the future. These boys are far more than the labels society has attached to them, and their relationships, disagreements and moments of unexpected kindness make compelling reading.
I was so impressed by the author's sensitivity and refusal to offer easy answers. There is humour alongside heartbreak, and an underlying belief in the possibility of change. The writing feels authentic, and the emotional impact is tough without becoming sentimental.
This is a novel that raises important questions about rehabilitation, responsibility and society's treatment of vulnerable young people.
I found Hope House really moving, sometimes heartbreaking but ultimately uplifting. A thoughtful, memorable and rewarding read that deserves a wide audience. Highly recommended.
Set in 1980s Kentucky, the story centres on Hope House, a residential institution for teenage boys who have fallen foul of the law. Labelled delinquents, many have experienced violence, neglect and rejection, and their prospects appear bleak. Yet under the guidance of Mr Watts, who refuses to give up on them, there is hope for something better.
The author creates a wonderfully convincing cast of characters, each with their own distinctive voice, difficult history and dreams for the future. These boys are far more than the labels society has attached to them, and their relationships, disagreements and moments of unexpected kindness make compelling reading.
I was so impressed by the author's sensitivity and refusal to offer easy answers. There is humour alongside heartbreak, and an underlying belief in the possibility of change. The writing feels authentic, and the emotional impact is tough without becoming sentimental.
This is a novel that raises important questions about rehabilitation, responsibility and society's treatment of vulnerable young people.
I found Hope House really moving, sometimes heartbreaking but ultimately uplifting. A thoughtful, memorable and rewarding read that deserves a wide audience. Highly recommended.
July 20, 2026
I absolutely loved this debut.
The subject matter is close to my heart as I work in a similar situation but in the UK. I think this was presented in a very real way and I loved diving into stories and emotions from the characters as well as what’s going on behind their actions.
I really like the way this book is written, it jumped around in time to tell the stories of these kids in a way that flowed smoothly and worked well for me as a reader.
My heart broke for the boys in several places along the way and I will rush to read anything else this author puts out.
The subject matter is close to my heart as I work in a similar situation but in the UK. I think this was presented in a very real way and I loved diving into stories and emotions from the characters as well as what’s going on behind their actions.
I really like the way this book is written, it jumped around in time to tell the stories of these kids in a way that flowed smoothly and worked well for me as a reader.
My heart broke for the boys in several places along the way and I will rush to read anything else this author puts out.
September 8, 2026
The blurb for Hope House caught my eye and I was eager to read. It was slow to start and I wasn’t sure where it was going but as I got to know the characters I really started to feel for each of these troubled kids.
I enjoyed learning about their lives & what had happened to them to make them the way they were. There were times when they behaved badly & had very adult faults but at the end of the day they were still children.
I found myself really caring about what happened to them & wanting to understand them more. It took me a while to get into but once I did I wanted to read more & more.
I enjoyed learning about their lives & what had happened to them to make them the way they were. There were times when they behaved badly & had very adult faults but at the end of the day they were still children.
I found myself really caring about what happened to them & wanting to understand them more. It took me a while to get into but once I did I wanted to read more & more.
July 2, 2026
Reminiscent of the Catcher in the Rye. Fell into some coming of age “troubled” tropes at times, but a nice easy read.
August 23, 2026
Hope House is a deeply human debut about damaged young people searching for something that has been missing from their lives: belonging. Set in 1980s Kentucky and told through the intersecting perspectives of teenage boys living in a treatment home, the novel creates a compelling portrait of youth shaped by abandonment, violence, difficult choices, and the possibility of change.
One of the book's strongest qualities is its ensemble approach. Rather than reducing these boys to their mistakes or troubled histories, Joe Bond gives them individual voices, vulnerabilities, and reasons to hope. The treatment home's five-phase program provides a framework for their difficult journey, while the relationships they develop with one another reveal how care, friendship, and accountability can gradually challenge the identities they have inherited.
Readers who enjoy literary coming-of-age fiction, character-driven stories, contemporary historical fiction, and emotionally honest novels about belonging should find much to appreciate here. Hope House also has strong potential for book-club discussion because it raises questions about rehabilitation, family, abandonment, second chances, and what it truly means to give someone a home. As a May 2026 debut, it feels like a book with considerable room to find the wider readership its themes deserve.
One of the book's strongest qualities is its ensemble approach. Rather than reducing these boys to their mistakes or troubled histories, Joe Bond gives them individual voices, vulnerabilities, and reasons to hope. The treatment home's five-phase program provides a framework for their difficult journey, while the relationships they develop with one another reveal how care, friendship, and accountability can gradually challenge the identities they have inherited.
Readers who enjoy literary coming-of-age fiction, character-driven stories, contemporary historical fiction, and emotionally honest novels about belonging should find much to appreciate here. Hope House also has strong potential for book-club discussion because it raises questions about rehabilitation, family, abandonment, second chances, and what it truly means to give someone a home. As a May 2026 debut, it feels like a book with considerable room to find the wider readership its themes deserve.
June 18, 2026
This is the story of a group children’s home in America set up by an enthusiastic young man who feels that lives of boys mostly those sentenced by the court for relatively minor misdemeanours or crimes that don’t get the boys sent to prison camps , could be improved by group living in a supportive children’s home .The book is set in the 1980 s but is strangely timeless and could just as well be set earlier in the 20th century
My initial impressions reading the opening few pages where was this adult Holes the middle school novel British kids read at school
I like the way sections of the book is told in third person we telling the story of the group of the boys rather than focusing on individuals to narrate.Other sections are told from the point of view of one of the boys in the home
I love the character of Watson the lead carer who is such a thoughtful caring character I think everybody needs a Watson in their life and these young boys really benefited from having him run the home
My main criticism is novel is that it’s all very lovely sweet and honest, but it lacks something in threat or jeopardy in the story.The individual story lines are quite detailed but somehow I didn’t end up caring much for any of the boys.
The author has a flowing easily read writing style
This book could be described as Holes by Louise Sacher meets Demon Copperhead Barbara Kingsolver .If you liked either of these novels you would enjoy this one
I read an early copy of the novel on NetGalley UK. In return for an honest review The book is published in the UK on the
This review will appear on 11th November 2026 Penguin General uk Fig tree /Viking /Penguin life NetGalley UK, Goodreads, StoryGraph, and my book blog bionicSarahsbooks.wordpress.com. After publication it will also appear on Amazon and Waterstones online
My initial impressions reading the opening few pages where was this adult Holes the middle school novel British kids read at school
I like the way sections of the book is told in third person we telling the story of the group of the boys rather than focusing on individuals to narrate.Other sections are told from the point of view of one of the boys in the home
I love the character of Watson the lead carer who is such a thoughtful caring character I think everybody needs a Watson in their life and these young boys really benefited from having him run the home
My main criticism is novel is that it’s all very lovely sweet and honest, but it lacks something in threat or jeopardy in the story.The individual story lines are quite detailed but somehow I didn’t end up caring much for any of the boys.
The author has a flowing easily read writing style
This book could be described as Holes by Louise Sacher meets Demon Copperhead Barbara Kingsolver .If you liked either of these novels you would enjoy this one
I read an early copy of the novel on NetGalley UK. In return for an honest review The book is published in the UK on the
This review will appear on 11th November 2026 Penguin General uk Fig tree /Viking /Penguin life NetGalley UK, Goodreads, StoryGraph, and my book blog bionicSarahsbooks.wordpress.com. After publication it will also appear on Amazon and Waterstones online
August 31, 2026
There’s something deeply affecting about Hope House—the way it looks at boys who have already been written off by the world and asks what might happen if someone gave them the chance to become more than their past.
Joe Bond brings together a memorable group of young characters, each carrying anger, pain, mistakes, and an aching need for connection. The treatment home becomes more than just a setting; it becomes a place where these boys begin to discover responsibility, friendship, and the possibility of family. I especially appreciated how the story balances the harshness of their circumstances with an underlying sense of hope.
Set in 1980s Kentucky and told through intersecting lives, Hope House feels raw, soulful, and ultimately compassionate. It’s a moving read for anyone who enjoys coming-of-age stories that explore belonging, redemption, resilience, and the complicated process of finding a way forward.
Joe Bond brings together a memorable group of young characters, each carrying anger, pain, mistakes, and an aching need for connection. The treatment home becomes more than just a setting; it becomes a place where these boys begin to discover responsibility, friendship, and the possibility of family. I especially appreciated how the story balances the harshness of their circumstances with an underlying sense of hope.
Set in 1980s Kentucky and told through intersecting lives, Hope House feels raw, soulful, and ultimately compassionate. It’s a moving read for anyone who enjoys coming-of-age stories that explore belonging, redemption, resilience, and the complicated process of finding a way forward.
September 5, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
The premise piqued my interest, and while the first few pages had me worried that the story would skip around too much for me, it kept me hooked throughout. The writing was somehow barebones and illustrative at the same time. The story felt balanced in the same way--between wins and losses, hope and defeat, belonging and drifting. Even without much of a backstory, I felt connected to and compassionate for the narrator. The other boys and the carers too felt three dimensional. Every character had such soul, noticeable even when their lives or stories were not described in detail or unknown by the narrator. In a word, this book felt honest.
What I appreciated most was that, in the story and in the writing itself, the writer certainly knows when to withhold and when to divulge information, backstories, feelings. Tenderness is within the writing and the story, but it's not given for free.
What a debut. I'm eager to read more by this author.
The premise piqued my interest, and while the first few pages had me worried that the story would skip around too much for me, it kept me hooked throughout. The writing was somehow barebones and illustrative at the same time. The story felt balanced in the same way--between wins and losses, hope and defeat, belonging and drifting. Even without much of a backstory, I felt connected to and compassionate for the narrator. The other boys and the carers too felt three dimensional. Every character had such soul, noticeable even when their lives or stories were not described in detail or unknown by the narrator. In a word, this book felt honest.
What I appreciated most was that, in the story and in the writing itself, the writer certainly knows when to withhold and when to divulge information, backstories, feelings. Tenderness is within the writing and the story, but it's not given for free.
What a debut. I'm eager to read more by this author.
August 21, 2026
Foster kids can be neglected as much in contemporary fiction as they can be by society. So I was ecstatic to see a novel published this past year by one of my favorite small presses (Hub City!) about a group of male teenagers (wards of the state) living together in a Kentucky group home in 1980s. Like the author, I also grew up with parents who worked with troubled and abandoned youth. Every word rings true here, and some of Bond’s beautifully crafted sentences honestly took my breath away (“Street and Appalachian were two sides of the same sorry coin”). My favorite debut novel of 2026. In a time when toxic masculinity and the role of men is debated more than ever, the warmth and care demonstrated on these pages between these teenagers feels more relevant than ever.
September 3, 2026
-Thank you Netgalley for the ARC-
Hope House is a beautiful story about finding community and purpose when society fails you.
We follow an unnamed male character (he calls himself AWOL) while he recounts the time he spent on the boys house, Hope House, and the relationships formed within.
It's a very honest narrative, it doesn't shy away from the messy and the hard topics. Because of that, you can't help but empathize with the boys and their situation.
It highlights the problems in the juvenile detention system and the importance of having good adult influences.
I had some problems with the formatting of it (kinda confusing in the beginning as there are no chapters just different titles, but after awhile it wasn't a huge problem).
All in all, Hope House is a very strong debut novel!
Hope House is a beautiful story about finding community and purpose when society fails you.
We follow an unnamed male character (he calls himself AWOL) while he recounts the time he spent on the boys house, Hope House, and the relationships formed within.
It's a very honest narrative, it doesn't shy away from the messy and the hard topics. Because of that, you can't help but empathize with the boys and their situation.
It highlights the problems in the juvenile detention system and the importance of having good adult influences.
I had some problems with the formatting of it (kinda confusing in the beginning as there are no chapters just different titles, but after awhile it wasn't a huge problem).
All in all, Hope House is a very strong debut novel!
August 25, 2026
there will be an eloquent review in the morning, i promise you. for now? my favourite book of the year. thank you joe bond for showing the humanity in these places. thank you for sharing these stories. thank you for making home feel like, and proving that it is, a tangible thing. thank you for making me proud of my roots.
if i could give this more than 5 stars, i would.
if i could give this more than 5 stars, i would.
August 28, 2026
It took a bit to get into the story but once I did, It was compelling. I loved the relationships between Mr. Watts and the boys. And the frank way it developed the story. It was not all "happy endings" but there were enough successes.
October 12, 2026
read this in one sitting because my sister left the book on our sofa. highly recommend for fans of demon copperhead (or people who have been wanting to read demon copperhead but were intimidated by its length).
October 23, 2026
This book is easily one of the most earnest, heartfelt, and honest books I ever read. Growing up, I was from a rough background too. I felt understood by what was written here. This is an author to watch for sure.
July 22, 2026
The best book I've read this year! It had me laughing in many places, I cried in some, and I definitely couldn't put it down! I fell in love with the characters, for sure!
August 18, 2026
I've read quite a few books with similar themes, but none quite like this one. Brutally honest while still making me feel such compassion for the characters. It's about a boys' group home.
August 31, 2026
So tender and impactful ! Would read again.
Read
September 16, 2026Boys detention home
Main character AWOL keeps running off to stay there
Main character AWOL keeps running off to stay there
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 28, 2026
A beautiful and thought provoking read, intriguing characters , full talking review as Mrsbookburnee on instagram/tiktok
October 24, 2026
i have no words
June 15, 2026
Three and a half stars. This could have easily been written today. I thought about it for days.
August 3, 2026
Joe Bond has written a debut novel that explores a group home for boys and healing power of the found family. Set in 1980's rural Kentucky, the boys who end up at Hope House come from the streets, with no one on their side for support, encouragement, or anything except perhaps apathy or hurt. Through the telling of their stories at Hope House, both we and they come to understand what it is they're missing and what it is they need. This is an incredibly powerful and frank exploration of what it means to be a family, even when no one is related.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews