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Hopelessly Devoted

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When you've got nothing
You don't need nothing
It's when you've got something
You want more.


Chess is in prison. Facing a lengthy sentence, her cell mate, Serena, becomes her soul mate. But when Serena is given parole, Chess faces total isolation. Hope comes in the form of a music producer looking for a reason to love music again. She finds a powerful voice in Chess. But to harness her talent, Chess must first face her past.

Following her smash-hit debut Wasted, Kate Tempest returns to the stage with an incendiary play that combines lyrical fireworks with exhilarating live music. Hopelessy Devoted received its world premiere in a co-production between Paines Plough and Birmingham Rep in September 2013 proir to a highly successful national tour and London run.

86 pages, Paperback

First published November 22, 2014

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About the author

Kae Tempest

32 books1,143 followers

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5 stars
40 (29%)
4 stars
52 (37%)
3 stars
35 (25%)
2 stars
10 (7%)
1 star
0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
682 reviews4 followers
March 29, 2025
Hopelessly Devoted is a most interesting high-paced play with lots of moving songs and three complex female characters, of whom two are in prison at the start of the play, and two are out of prison at the end of the play, whose interactions and words are heartfelt; in short, a play I'd love to see on stage
Profile Image for krolane.
11 reviews
January 13, 2026
omg. i loved this book, when i finished it i was like nooooo please give me more!!!
Profile Image for Agathe 🧚🏻‍♀️🍧.
347 reviews43 followers
October 15, 2024
Je suis trop triste de mettre 2⭐️ parce que 1) j’avais ADORÉ Fracassés 2) la prison/les femmes sont des thématiques qui m’importent et me touchent particulièrement, notamment la détresse émotionnelle qui peut venir de l’isolement, on sait que les femmes sont plus facilement abandonnées que les hommes en prison

Mais le fait est que… je me suis fait chier :(
Les moments de poésie/chanson m’ont pas du tout émue, j’ai trouvé ça bateau/cliché au possible

Les dialogues étaient sans âme, plus small talk c’est difficile à faire je crois

Donc pour résumé : sur un sujet qui pourrait me faire pleurer hyper facilement je n’ai ressenti que de l’ennui :(

Maybe c’est juste la traduction le problème ? Je sais pas
Profile Image for Irene Graham.
31 reviews
January 13, 2020
Absolutely loved this book. Was so well written. And the story line was amazing.
Profile Image for Armelle Fontaine.
40 reviews
April 4, 2023
A really good theater scene with lesbian love and jail. orange is the new black vibe but i'm living for it
Profile Image for Manon Dedieu.
29 reviews
May 30, 2023
Bien écris avec une jolie histoire mais c’est pas un truc de fou non plus
Profile Image for Dogan.
3 reviews1 follower
December 22, 2023
Franchement non. Livre fini en 35 minutes. Beaucoup trop facile, trop rapide. Je n’ai pas réellement ressenti d’émotions, on ne s’attache pas aux personnages.

Profile Image for Mathilde.
88 reviews4 followers
January 26, 2024
J'ai beaucoup aimé l'écriture, le rapport à la musique, le fait qu'il n'y ait que des personnages féminins, la relation entre Chess et Serena, vraiment un très bon moment !
218 reviews5 followers
January 9, 2015
"Chess: If you lose, it's your fault. It's not about the winner's skill, it's about the loser's mistakes. If you take your eye off the board, you'r opening yourself up to lose. It's like life. You fuck up, you have to deal with it."

Very simple in it's production and wording but Tempest captures the strong undercurrents of hope and a sense of freedom.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews