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Hope and Glory
One of the year’s most anticipated by Marie Claire, Essence , Debutiful, & Goodreads A brilliant debut by a British-Nigerian author—a heartfelt family drama that will delight book club readers and fans of books like The Girl with the Louding Voice and Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows. “Jendella Benson has drawn such a compelling world. The book and the characters stayed with me long after I'd turned the final pages!” —Candice Carty-Williams, bestselling author of Queenie Glory Akindele returns to London from her seemingly glamorous life in LA to mourn the sudden death of her father, only to find her previously close family has fallen apart in her absence. Her brother, Victor, is in jail and won’t speak to her because she didn’t come home for his trial. Her older sister, Faith, once a busy career woman, appears to have lost her independence and ambition, and is instead channeling her energies into holding together a perfect suburban family. Worst of all, their mother, Celeste, is headed toward a breakdown after the death of her husband and the shame of her son’s incarceration. Rather than returning to America, Glory decides to stay and try to bring them all together again. It’s a tall order given that Glory’s life isn’t exactly working out according to plan either, and she’s acutely aware that she’s not so sure who she is and what she wants. A chance reunion with a man she’d known in her teens—the perceptive but elusive Julian—gives her the courage to start questioning why her respectable but obsessively private Nigerian immigrant family is the way it is. But then Glory’s questioning unearths a massive secret that shatters the family’s fragile peace—and she risks losing everyone she deeply cares about in her pursuit of the truth and a reunited family. "Filled with unexpected, but earned, twists, Hope and Glory balances moments of rich humor and devastating profundity...deeply authentic." —Kirkus Reviews " A sumptuous and satisfying meditation on family and the meaning of home.” —Publishers Weekly
400 pages, Paperback
First published April 7, 2022
80 people are currently reading
9308 people want to read
About the author
Jendella Benson
8 books126 followersJendella Benson is a British-Nigerian writer and editor from Birmingham, now based in London. She is Head of Editorial at Black Ballad – the award-winning digital media platform and online community for black women in the UK and beyond. In her role, she has commissioned and edited hundreds of black women and non-binary journalists and writers from across the globe and worked with brands such as Dove, Comic Relief and Google.
Jendella started her writing career as a columnist for Media Diversified, MTV UK, and Christian Today and has since written for The Guardian, The Sunday Times STYLE Magazine, The Telegraph and The Independent. She is the author of two novels – HOPE AND GLORY and ALL THAT WE’VE GOT – and her short story, Kindling, was published in THE BOOK OF BIRMINGHAM. She was a judge for the 2023 AKO Caine Prize for African Writing and is a member of the advisory board for the award-winning, Brixton-based bookshop, Round Table Books.
Jendella has a background in photography and filmmaking and her visual work has featured in the Guardian, on BuzzFeed and been exhibited internationally, most notably at the House of Commons, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, and at the International Center of Photography in New York as part of ICP Projected in May 2018. In 2016, she gave a TEDx on reclaiming the stories that define us, and has also appeared on BBC Radio 4’sWomen’s Hour, as well as speaking at various universities and conferences.
Jendella started her writing career as a columnist for Media Diversified, MTV UK, and Christian Today and has since written for The Guardian, The Sunday Times STYLE Magazine, The Telegraph and The Independent. She is the author of two novels – HOPE AND GLORY and ALL THAT WE’VE GOT – and her short story, Kindling, was published in THE BOOK OF BIRMINGHAM. She was a judge for the 2023 AKO Caine Prize for African Writing and is a member of the advisory board for the award-winning, Brixton-based bookshop, Round Table Books.
Jendella has a background in photography and filmmaking and her visual work has featured in the Guardian, on BuzzFeed and been exhibited internationally, most notably at the House of Commons, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, and at the International Center of Photography in New York as part of ICP Projected in May 2018. In 2016, she gave a TEDx on reclaiming the stories that define us, and has also appeared on BBC Radio 4’sWomen’s Hour, as well as speaking at various universities and conferences.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 205 reviews
July 22, 2022
Wow! Not Benson showing us how family drama is done! Non-communication in the family is super detrimental and we see this play out in Glory’s family.
I was genuinely interested in what was going on. This family is first presented as a family with bad luck, and then it sort of becomes a mystery since there are quite many questions we really need to be answered. I really liked Glory. In fact, she's the only one I liked in this story. Everyone in this story got on my nerves so much, so much that it did ruin the story for me. Yes, maybe the author did it on purpose, but I just couldn’t vibe with it at all. Especially, since it kinda felt like a lot of them got away with basically gaslighting Glory for most of the story. There really shouldn’t be pressure on anyone to be a “family” person, and that personal opinion of mine is probably why this book fell short for me.
I still enjoyed reading this one because I do love some drama once in a while.
I was genuinely interested in what was going on. This family is first presented as a family with bad luck, and then it sort of becomes a mystery since there are quite many questions we really need to be answered. I really liked Glory. In fact, she's the only one I liked in this story. Everyone in this story got on my nerves so much, so much that it did ruin the story for me. Yes, maybe the author did it on purpose, but I just couldn’t vibe with it at all. Especially, since it kinda felt like a lot of them got away with basically gaslighting Glory for most of the story. There really shouldn’t be pressure on anyone to be a “family” person, and that personal opinion of mine is probably why this book fell short for me.
I still enjoyed reading this one because I do love some drama once in a while.
April 20, 2022
I wanted to like this book more than I did. The premise is very interesting; young Nigerian-English woman returns home from abroad after her father dies and discovers a big family secret. However, the execution left me wanting more. The plot moved very slowly until then end, which felt rushed. I also greatly disliked the main character, so much so that I really couldn’t care less what happened to her. I guess it’s the mark of good writing that made me dislike a fictional person so much. I found Glory to be immature and self centered. I think I would have enjoyed the book more if it had been told from the point of view of one of the other minor characters, like Faith or even Celeste. I think the best part of this novel is the glimpses of Nigerian culture it gives to the reader, as well as its portrayal of the reality of life in London for Black people.
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April 30, 2022An elegantly-written, heartwarming story filled with hope. Each character, family secret, and vulnerability is treated with such grace and care due to Jendella’s fresh and tender writing. Can’t wait to read what she shares with the world next
August 28, 2023
An engrossing family drama that discusses family dynamics, discovering truths, and coming together after falling apart. Following protagonist Glory in the wake of her father’s death and move back to London from LA, we see the complications of navigating new relationships and rekindling ones that have nearly burnt out. It is a character study in reconciling the image our family with the true one, in finding our identity amongst the one we have crafted to cater to the expectations of others. Though tense and somber at times, it is ultimately a heartwarming and affirming journey of reunification and new beginnings.
April 23, 2022
ARC received courtesy of Goodreads.com First Reads Giveaways
Glory returns to London after the death of her father. She has no intention of returning to LA and wants to settle in and "fix" the problems that her family has. Her sister, Faith, is a stay-at-home mom to twins whose husband seems to be gone all the time. Her brother, Victor, is in prison. And her mother, Celeste, sends money to "churches" so that her prayers will be answered and she's close to breaking down.
As Glory tries to navigate her family, she stumbles across pictures that may prove that her sister, Hope, isn't dead like they'd been told since they were children. Glory is tenacious as she tries to find answers about her twin sister. She finds that her family has kept secrets that couldn't be told until her father was gone.
Glory returns to London after the death of her father. She has no intention of returning to LA and wants to settle in and "fix" the problems that her family has. Her sister, Faith, is a stay-at-home mom to twins whose husband seems to be gone all the time. Her brother, Victor, is in prison. And her mother, Celeste, sends money to "churches" so that her prayers will be answered and she's close to breaking down.
As Glory tries to navigate her family, she stumbles across pictures that may prove that her sister, Hope, isn't dead like they'd been told since they were children. Glory is tenacious as she tries to find answers about her twin sister. She finds that her family has kept secrets that couldn't be told until her father was gone.
May 27, 2022
The story was good! 3.5
The main character Glory got on my nerves often. Nonetheless the book was an okay read more good than bad
The main character Glory got on my nerves often. Nonetheless the book was an okay read more good than bad
September 8, 2021
***Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review***
Hope and Glory held my attention as it introduced a variety of paths for the story to take. Glory, a British-Nigerian young woman, returns to London upon her father's death. She had been living abroad in LA, but is ready to be back home despite all the uncertainty that it brings. The story includes a lot of family drama, such as an incarcerated younger brother and a discovery about Glory's twin sister that turns everything on its head, and also contains a budding romance and the ennui of a twenty-something coming home to the unknown.
Jendella Benson explores each narrative path she introduces, but in the end it felt a little overambitious in that there were too many to address. It was impossible to resolve each and every one, and some of them were very abrupt. In a way, it seemed like there could be more coming. Perhaps Benson will give us a sequel? If so, I would definitely pick it up!
Hope and Glory held my attention as it introduced a variety of paths for the story to take. Glory, a British-Nigerian young woman, returns to London upon her father's death. She had been living abroad in LA, but is ready to be back home despite all the uncertainty that it brings. The story includes a lot of family drama, such as an incarcerated younger brother and a discovery about Glory's twin sister that turns everything on its head, and also contains a budding romance and the ennui of a twenty-something coming home to the unknown.
Jendella Benson explores each narrative path she introduces, but in the end it felt a little overambitious in that there were too many to address. It was impossible to resolve each and every one, and some of them were very abrupt. In a way, it seemed like there could be more coming. Perhaps Benson will give us a sequel? If so, I would definitely pick it up!
August 4, 2022
Main character Glory returns home to London when her father dies. She had been in LA trying to be successful, but never really felt like things were happening for her there.
Upon reuniting with her family, she finds her mother deeply distraught, her older sister’s marriage in some trouble, her brother in prison, and her father not quite the man she knew and idolized. Glory discovers some unpleasant family secrets, while trying to establish a new life back in London. Old, unresolved angers and problems resurface, but much is also resolved by the end of the book as Glory works hard to get to the truth.
The family dynamics are wonderfully messy, and Glory is also a mess while trying to find her way once back in her old haunts, and trying to repair her connections with her family. And discovering some pretty shocking things, like the sister she thought was dead is pretty alive. I really liked how Glory refused to give up her search for this sister, and how she also gains a much more realistic picture of herself, her parents, her older sister and her brother.
Upon reuniting with her family, she finds her mother deeply distraught, her older sister’s marriage in some trouble, her brother in prison, and her father not quite the man she knew and idolized. Glory discovers some unpleasant family secrets, while trying to establish a new life back in London. Old, unresolved angers and problems resurface, but much is also resolved by the end of the book as Glory works hard to get to the truth.
The family dynamics are wonderfully messy, and Glory is also a mess while trying to find her way once back in her old haunts, and trying to repair her connections with her family. And discovering some pretty shocking things, like the sister she thought was dead is pretty alive. I really liked how Glory refused to give up her search for this sister, and how she also gains a much more realistic picture of herself, her parents, her older sister and her brother.
March 2, 2022
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced readers copy!
I did find this one a little slow to get into and it didn't really pick up for me until about 30% of the way in. I didn't really connect with any of the characters at first but they all grew on me in time.
Hope & Glory centers around a Nigerian family and a long kept secret. Once it's made known what the secret is I was very pulled in hoping that Glory would find peace with what she found out. And she did! While a bit messy and maybe a bit rushed, the ending gives the satisfaction that a family secret uncovered can have a positive outcome.
I did struggle with the relationship with the relationship with Glory and Julian. I almost felt there was no point to it- there could have been more time spent around the family relationships which is what this novel is truly about.
I did find this one a little slow to get into and it didn't really pick up for me until about 30% of the way in. I didn't really connect with any of the characters at first but they all grew on me in time.
Hope & Glory centers around a Nigerian family and a long kept secret. Once it's made known what the secret is I was very pulled in hoping that Glory would find peace with what she found out. And she did! While a bit messy and maybe a bit rushed, the ending gives the satisfaction that a family secret uncovered can have a positive outcome.
I did struggle with the relationship with the relationship with Glory and Julian. I almost felt there was no point to it- there could have been more time spent around the family relationships which is what this novel is truly about.
May 24, 2022
This book was was just okay for me. It was hard to not compare it to Black Cake. Similar death of a parent, long lost sibling. I thought Black Cake did a better job of keeping the reader intrigued with the back story. Hope and Glory didn't leave that much of an impression on me. I found it very hard to find sympathy for the main character. She at times was very childish and unlikeable. You wanted to root for her, but she made it hard to do so. I like how the book wrapped up though.
April 7, 2022
Hope and Glory is an impressive debut novel about Glory, a young woman who returns from the US to London after her father’s sudden death. Glory comes from a Nigerian immigrant family, a family so private that even though Glory used to have a twin, her name - Hope - hasn’t been spoken in years. Now, as Glory returns to her childhood home, she has to face not only her own life falling apart, not only everything that happened while she was away, but also the secrets her family has kept for decades.
This novel is a fascinating and character-driven story about starting over, loss, family, and making difficult choices. Despite the fact that I come from a very different background than Glory, a lot of her struggles felt very relatable to me, especially those connected with work and wanting to please your parents. Glory is a very flawed character - she’s impulsive and a bit selfish - but that is what made me care and root for her. I loved the subplot with Glory’s brother, Victor, who was sentenced to prison and whose trial Glory refused to follow. It was a great commentary on the prison system and racism, and I appreciated how Glory and Victor’s relationship grew. I do wish that the book was longer or that it was a series because by the end I didn’t feel satisfied with the conclusion - I wanted to learn more about some characters and there were some questions that went unanswered.
TLDR: Hope and Glory is an emotional story about the importance of family, understanding our parents and their choices, and figuring out how to become our own, independent person.
This novel is a fascinating and character-driven story about starting over, loss, family, and making difficult choices. Despite the fact that I come from a very different background than Glory, a lot of her struggles felt very relatable to me, especially those connected with work and wanting to please your parents. Glory is a very flawed character - she’s impulsive and a bit selfish - but that is what made me care and root for her. I loved the subplot with Glory’s brother, Victor, who was sentenced to prison and whose trial Glory refused to follow. It was a great commentary on the prison system and racism, and I appreciated how Glory and Victor’s relationship grew. I do wish that the book was longer or that it was a series because by the end I didn’t feel satisfied with the conclusion - I wanted to learn more about some characters and there were some questions that went unanswered.
TLDR: Hope and Glory is an emotional story about the importance of family, understanding our parents and their choices, and figuring out how to become our own, independent person.
May 1, 2022
3.5 stars
August 1, 2024
I liked how atmospheric this novel was in the sense that it really made me feel part of the jamaican community in Brixton (London) for a while. It also had an interesting start but then quite quickly it fell a little flat for me, both in pace and in character development. However, my main reason for giving 'only' 3 stars is just how very irritating I found the main character. Way too many eye roll moments for a higher rating.
October 16, 2025
This book is about life and the messy parts especially in love and family. There is healing and growth also. It was a slower read than what I prefer but I did grow to care about Glory so that's what made me finish it.
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September 26, 2023I had to put the book down a million times because Glory was so insufferable.
April 8, 2022
After years of seemingly living a picture perfect life in LA, Glory packs it all up when she hears that her beloved father has suddenly passed away. When she arrives back in Peckham, South London, she is forced to deal with the family issues she has been hiding from.
As soon as I started reading HOPE & GLORY I instantly felt at home with the very distinct British and Nigerian vibes. I really appreciated how realistic London living in a Black home was depicted but also how the parents and aunties were still steeped in Nigerian culture, language, tradition and faith. It was a perfect blend of both, a nice representation of a second generation immigrant family.
This story is incredibly character driven, if you are looking for heavy plot points this perhaps is not for you. I however love books filled with messy, emotionally fuelled, intense characters and in a family full of buried secrets, there are so many different dynamics at play. Glory has a lot of questions and she is demanding answers and at times she is frustratingly rude and her relationship with Julian showed their immaturity but her determination to seek the truth and her growth over the course of the story was heart-warming.
As the family mysteries unravel we are witness to lies, regrets, poor communication, betrayals, injustice, human insecurities and anxieties, forgiveness, understanding, romance and through it all a families unconditional love for one another.
Most importantly this book showcases a fascinating and disturbing aspect of British society! So shocking but ultimately and disappointingly not surprising in this colonial world.
A wonderful debut from Benson!
4.25 🌟
IG: @musingsonliving
As soon as I started reading HOPE & GLORY I instantly felt at home with the very distinct British and Nigerian vibes. I really appreciated how realistic London living in a Black home was depicted but also how the parents and aunties were still steeped in Nigerian culture, language, tradition and faith. It was a perfect blend of both, a nice representation of a second generation immigrant family.
This story is incredibly character driven, if you are looking for heavy plot points this perhaps is not for you. I however love books filled with messy, emotionally fuelled, intense characters and in a family full of buried secrets, there are so many different dynamics at play. Glory has a lot of questions and she is demanding answers and at times she is frustratingly rude and her relationship with Julian showed their immaturity but her determination to seek the truth and her growth over the course of the story was heart-warming.
As the family mysteries unravel we are witness to lies, regrets, poor communication, betrayals, injustice, human insecurities and anxieties, forgiveness, understanding, romance and through it all a families unconditional love for one another.
Most importantly this book showcases a fascinating and disturbing aspect of British society! So shocking but ultimately and disappointingly not surprising in this colonial world.
A wonderful debut from Benson!
4.25 🌟
IG: @musingsonliving
November 18, 2021
Love, Secrets, Redemption. This is a story of discovering yourself and finding your true home and the importance of family.
Mixed emotions abound as the prodigal daughter, Glory, returns home to England for the funeral of her father and learns there are secrets from her childhood that only her family has the key. They are a Nigerian-British family, bound by traditions conflicting with new. Her brother Victor is incarcerated, her mother is suffering and unbalanced, her older sister Faith is struggling in her marriage and they all are resentful for the many years of absence and neglect by Glory. But Glory wonders about Hope. Her twin. Thought to have died when she was a child, Glory wrestles with the guilt of never mourning her and having no memories. No one will tell her anything. Meeting a childhood friend, it gives her the courage to start asking questions that create turmoil in the family.
Hope is aptly named as that is what she represents to this family. A new beginning that will bring this family home again, together. The characters are believable and relatable, showing that there is more to a person than what is portrayed on their social media platform. Their names speak of their destinies and place in the family. Their struggles and joys can be embraced by the reader as you experience the ups and downs in this story. Easily drawn in, this story moves flawlessly throughout their lives to the very end. I loved this book.
Many thanks to #netgalley #hopeandglory #jendellabenson #harpercollins for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Mixed emotions abound as the prodigal daughter, Glory, returns home to England for the funeral of her father and learns there are secrets from her childhood that only her family has the key. They are a Nigerian-British family, bound by traditions conflicting with new. Her brother Victor is incarcerated, her mother is suffering and unbalanced, her older sister Faith is struggling in her marriage and they all are resentful for the many years of absence and neglect by Glory. But Glory wonders about Hope. Her twin. Thought to have died when she was a child, Glory wrestles with the guilt of never mourning her and having no memories. No one will tell her anything. Meeting a childhood friend, it gives her the courage to start asking questions that create turmoil in the family.
Hope is aptly named as that is what she represents to this family. A new beginning that will bring this family home again, together. The characters are believable and relatable, showing that there is more to a person than what is portrayed on their social media platform. Their names speak of their destinies and place in the family. Their struggles and joys can be embraced by the reader as you experience the ups and downs in this story. Easily drawn in, this story moves flawlessly throughout their lives to the very end. I loved this book.
Many thanks to #netgalley #hopeandglory #jendellabenson #harpercollins for the opportunity to read and review this book.
May 28, 2022
The book revolves around Glory, a British -Nigerian young woman, who returned to London from LA after her father's death. She gets to find a family secret, which she questions why it was a secret.
I wanted the sub plot of Hope to be explored more - her private fostering and how pivtol it is to this community - and it fell short to be honest, because I felt it would've enriched the narrative, to give understanding and context to this peculiar practice that the UK Nigerian communities participate in.
I speak this from personal experience, as I was privately fostered in the mid 70s as a young child. I'm also from the same community as Glory, so I was familiar with the many nuances of the family: the close knit of the family, religion, family relations, social gatherings etc.
All in all, it was ok, but I felt that the different characters within the story should've been fleshed out a bit more, and with this lacking, the story dragged on; the ending seemed unfinished to me.
I wanted the sub plot of Hope to be explored more - her private fostering and how pivtol it is to this community - and it fell short to be honest, because I felt it would've enriched the narrative, to give understanding and context to this peculiar practice that the UK Nigerian communities participate in.
I speak this from personal experience, as I was privately fostered in the mid 70s as a young child. I'm also from the same community as Glory, so I was familiar with the many nuances of the family: the close knit of the family, religion, family relations, social gatherings etc.
All in all, it was ok, but I felt that the different characters within the story should've been fleshed out a bit more, and with this lacking, the story dragged on; the ending seemed unfinished to me.
October 24, 2021
This is the story of a Nigerian immigrant family, reunited by the death of the father. Glory returns home for the funeral of her father, but she returns to multiple issues. Her mother is involved with a shady religious group, her sister has many problems.
Returning to Los Angeles creates more issues.
This is a very interesting book, presenting a portrait of a family and culture that is quite fascinating.
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.
Returning to Los Angeles creates more issues.
This is a very interesting book, presenting a portrait of a family and culture that is quite fascinating.
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.
September 18, 2023
Glory is back home in London after a stint pursuing her American dream in L.A. Her father has died, and as an avowed Daddy's girl, it's an especially difficult trip. But once she arrives home, she sees that her father's death is the least of what ails her family. According to Glory's assessment, her sister, Faith, has turned into a "Stepford Wife"; not to mention, her baby brother Victor is in prison for "joint enterprise" on a manslaughter charge, and her mother seems to be quite literally losing her mind. After a brief period of contemplation, Glory decides she isn't returning to L.A. If she's honest with herself, she has to admit that the American dream was not all it was cracked up to be, and having to stare her family's problems in the face forces her to realize she hasn't been there for them in the way she could and should have been.
Having run into a childhood friend, Julian at her father's funeral, Glory also realizes that she is much more in her element romantically home in London than she was in the States, so the decision to stay is a relatively easy one. As Glory's flirtation with Julian begins to blossom into something real, she also begins to discover some hard truths about her family, including the hardest truth of all, having to do with her long-dead twin sister, Hope. As Glory re-establishes her role in her family, she also begins, reluctantly, to face some home truths about herself, including her immaturity and selective blindness about her friends, her family and her life choices.
In some ways, this was a coming-of-age story that could have been about any young woman grappling with what she always believed was true about her family, and eventually maturing to realize a different truth. I loved that Glory was not perfect and in lots of ways, relatable imperfect, even exasperating at times. But it didn't make me love her less.
I especially loved this book for its treatment of very serious subjects in a way that made them digestible, without trivializing them. The struggle of the African immigrant in the UK—the depression, the discrimination, the religiosity, the alienation from the society around them and the desperation to hold on to all that's familiar, including the food, culture, language and customs from "back home." Almost all the books from African and Caribbean diasporic authors have managed this delicate balance of lightheartedness and solemnity that I really appreciate. Hope and Glory was no different.
I enjoyed it so much, especially seeing the sad similarities between what Black people in Britain experience and that which those in the United States have lived with for centuries. It was educational, even while wrapped in an entertaining and engrossing package. Will read more from this author.
Having run into a childhood friend, Julian at her father's funeral, Glory also realizes that she is much more in her element romantically home in London than she was in the States, so the decision to stay is a relatively easy one. As Glory's flirtation with Julian begins to blossom into something real, she also begins to discover some hard truths about her family, including the hardest truth of all, having to do with her long-dead twin sister, Hope. As Glory re-establishes her role in her family, she also begins, reluctantly, to face some home truths about herself, including her immaturity and selective blindness about her friends, her family and her life choices.
In some ways, this was a coming-of-age story that could have been about any young woman grappling with what she always believed was true about her family, and eventually maturing to realize a different truth. I loved that Glory was not perfect and in lots of ways, relatable imperfect, even exasperating at times. But it didn't make me love her less.
I especially loved this book for its treatment of very serious subjects in a way that made them digestible, without trivializing them. The struggle of the African immigrant in the UK—the depression, the discrimination, the religiosity, the alienation from the society around them and the desperation to hold on to all that's familiar, including the food, culture, language and customs from "back home." Almost all the books from African and Caribbean diasporic authors have managed this delicate balance of lightheartedness and solemnity that I really appreciate. Hope and Glory was no different.
I enjoyed it so much, especially seeing the sad similarities between what Black people in Britain experience and that which those in the United States have lived with for centuries. It was educational, even while wrapped in an entertaining and engrossing package. Will read more from this author.
March 3, 2024
3.5
British-Nigerian, 20 something year old Glory returns home to Peckham from her glamorous life style in LA to mourn the death of her father, but she unearths a family secret.
Firstly, I will say that the title may seem very plain and simple, however upon reading, it all made sense and it is actually a genius title; caught me off guard. 👏🏾
I didn’t relate to Glory’s character. She was immature and naive and seemed much younger than stated. There wasn’t any clear growth and unfortunately I found her character flat and uninteresting.
The storyline is solid and explores a system that is rarely spoken of and one that I had little knowledge of. I can’t mention this system as it will be a spoiler. 😉
The story has many themes and explores sisterhood, motherhood and family dynamics. The Mental health of Glory’s mother was an interesting angle and this is probably one of the first books I have read where a daughter stood up for and protected her Nigerian mother’s mental health. I thought this was written very well.
I will definitely read more from this author. Even though I wasn’t a fan of the main character, the storyline was great, it was an easy read in between my trauma heavy books.
British-Nigerian, 20 something year old Glory returns home to Peckham from her glamorous life style in LA to mourn the death of her father, but she unearths a family secret.
Firstly, I will say that the title may seem very plain and simple, however upon reading, it all made sense and it is actually a genius title; caught me off guard. 👏🏾
I didn’t relate to Glory’s character. She was immature and naive and seemed much younger than stated. There wasn’t any clear growth and unfortunately I found her character flat and uninteresting.
The storyline is solid and explores a system that is rarely spoken of and one that I had little knowledge of. I can’t mention this system as it will be a spoiler. 😉
The story has many themes and explores sisterhood, motherhood and family dynamics. The Mental health of Glory’s mother was an interesting angle and this is probably one of the first books I have read where a daughter stood up for and protected her Nigerian mother’s mental health. I thought this was written very well.
I will definitely read more from this author. Even though I wasn’t a fan of the main character, the storyline was great, it was an easy read in between my trauma heavy books.
March 8, 2025
Aaargh! Didn’t want this story of love against the odds and familial obligation to end!!! I definitely want more and a part two! Beautifully written and I could resonate heavily with the central character torn between family and community duty, trauma, dysfunction, expectations and the yearning for self actualisation and a love and life of her own. I loved how the dynamics between sisters, sisters and brothers, mother and daughter, and the two lovers were crafted and unfolded. Beautifully written and expertly narrated by Kelechi Okafor! I switched in between the written text and audio, My only criticism is that the book could have been better edited as there were quite a few spelling mistakes in my edition. Apart from that, no notes, I could picture and feel the characters vividly!
August 28, 2022
A book of family secrets revealed.
Communication was not done well by the Akindele family.
I like Glory and her drive to find out the truth. …and who would’ve thought that the truth was that Hope was still alive? After all the backlash that Faith gave her, she already knew the secret. I don’t know how I feel about Hope and wouldn’t even like to have known what she had been told about her biological family. She seemed to resent Glory when they met.
I really hope that Glory and Julian get back together.
Maybe reuniting with Hope will help with Celeste’s mental state.
Overall a good read.
Communication was not done well by the Akindele family.
I like Glory and her drive to find out the truth. …and who would’ve thought that the truth was that Hope was still alive? After all the backlash that Faith gave her, she already knew the secret. I don’t know how I feel about Hope and wouldn’t even like to have known what she had been told about her biological family. She seemed to resent Glory when they met.
I really hope that Glory and Julian get back together.
Maybe reuniting with Hope will help with Celeste’s mental state.
Overall a good read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 9, 2024
Thank you to the publishers for the arc!
This book was deep and raw. It was very much giving queenie vibes so it was fitting that Candice Carty-Williams blurbed the book. One thing about the women in this book is they were way way way too forgiving to the men. They ended the book being like aww he’s just emotionally unintelligent…yeah and he should fix that🤨
This book was deep and raw. It was very much giving queenie vibes so it was fitting that Candice Carty-Williams blurbed the book. One thing about the women in this book is they were way way way too forgiving to the men. They ended the book being like aww he’s just emotionally unintelligent…yeah and he should fix that🤨
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 8, 2022
Thanks to the Book Club Girl Early Read program for access to this wonderful debut novel by Jendella Benson. I was hooked from the beginning and quickly devoured this novel!
Glory returns home to London from LA for her father's funeral to deal with her mother's hysteria, her brother, Julian's unjust incarceration, her older sister, Faith's family life and the mystery of her dead twin sister, Hope. Family dynamics keep the story moving and interesting.
It was a very enjoyable read and I look forward to more from Jendella Benson.
Glory returns home to London from LA for her father's funeral to deal with her mother's hysteria, her brother, Julian's unjust incarceration, her older sister, Faith's family life and the mystery of her dead twin sister, Hope. Family dynamics keep the story moving and interesting.
It was a very enjoyable read and I look forward to more from Jendella Benson.
April 30, 2022
really enjoyed this audiobook!!
I think this would have felt slow and maybe a slog (it’s quite long) if I was reading a physical copy but the audio narration was fantastic and even if I didn’t listen for a few days it was easy to dive back in & enjoy all the family drama.
I think this would have felt slow and maybe a slog (it’s quite long) if I was reading a physical copy but the audio narration was fantastic and even if I didn’t listen for a few days it was easy to dive back in & enjoy all the family drama.
May 14, 2025
ummmm was that it????????????
March 12, 2023
Hope and Glory is the debut novel from Jendella Benson.
Being set in Peckham, with a cast primarily from Nigeria I found the book highly relatable. It covered a variety of themes including joint enterprise, religion and a family secret.
One thing I really appreciated was how Benson delved into the different ways in which blackness (particularly West Africaness) is experienced in Britain. It really made me reflect on my own experiences and how they relate to the wider societal context.
Due to the plot being very much character driven, I can definitely see this book being turned into a mini series, and I am looking forward to seeing what Benson does next.
***Thank you Netgalley and Orion Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.***
Being set in Peckham, with a cast primarily from Nigeria I found the book highly relatable. It covered a variety of themes including joint enterprise, religion and a family secret.
One thing I really appreciated was how Benson delved into the different ways in which blackness (particularly West Africaness) is experienced in Britain. It really made me reflect on my own experiences and how they relate to the wider societal context.
Due to the plot being very much character driven, I can definitely see this book being turned into a mini series, and I am looking forward to seeing what Benson does next.
***Thank you Netgalley and Orion Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.***
August 2, 2023
Couldn’t put it down LOVED!
June 3, 2022
A heartwarming, character-driven debut novel about a young British-Nigerian woman (Glory) who returns to London from Los Angeles after the sudden death of her father. Glory's family is in turmoil - her brother is in prison, her older sister is struggling with twin toddlers and a workaholic husband and their mother is on the verge of a breakdown. Glory would like to help her family heal, however, her discovery of a long-held family secret threatens to make things worse. Hope and Glory is an enjoyable story of love, loss, family drama and the immigrant experience in England. I wasn't ready to say goodbye to Glory and her family when I finished reading and I found myself hoping that Jendella Benson revisits the characters in another novel.
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