Member Reviews
I'm waiting for the appropriate time to read this book, because I just KNOW it's going to make me sob and give me all the feels. I am currently unprepared for the emotions!
Amzing book, my first by this author and it wont be my last and i love anything to do with christmas., to be introduced to Emma Heatherington how well she writes. I really do recommend A Miracle On Hope Street. Ruth Ryans is an agony aunt for a newspaper helping others with their problems. Her kindness creates miracles for everyone, But with a celebrity life style has heartache of her own with her fathers death.. Reading about Ruth losing her father is a little sad especially at christmas time. but there's lots to look forward to without giving too much away, Just like it says on the front cover This Christmas she'll bring them all together.
An utterly fabulous Christmas read that I loved . A heartwarming book that is perfect for Christmas. My first read by this author but will certainly be reading more.
This book was hard to connect with, characters and the usual chick lit plot. I finally finished it and I would rate it a 2.1.
Lovely feel good read. It was well written and flowed well. I enjoyed it very much. The plot was good and interesting. Hard to put down
A special book that captured me from the start.
I had heard great excitement about this book and new it was on I had to read and I am very glad that I did.
Written brilliantly with an amazing plot.
A must read for all book lovers.
Enjoyed this book very much. Looking forward to reading more from this author. It held my attention from page one. I recommend it to others you are going to enjoy it like I did.
A beautiful Christmas romance that asks the question "Can a single act of kindness change a life forever?"
I thoroughly enjoyed this wonderful book, and will be looking for more books by the author to enjoy in the future.
If you're looking for a heartwarming, poignant festive story, ' A Miracle on Hope Street' is the perfect book.
Ruth Ryans is a national treasure, an agony aunt who spends her life solving other people's problems. She ignores her own issues, which eight days before Christmas take a tragic turn, sending her in a downward spiral. Her random act of kindness on that night is forgotten, in her sea of grief, but a year later it may be her only salvation.
This is a story of despair and hopelessness countered with courage and kindness. The characters are complex and believable, and you empathise with their situations. The story charts Ruth rebuilding her life by helping others and is a charming often tearful read, but the ending is positive and uplifting and underscores the true meaning of this time of year.
I received a copy of this book from Harper Impulse via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
One year after losing her father, Ruth has sunk into depression and struggles to keep her spirits up and keep her family home running. Then she meets Michael, who she gave some money to a year ago and that act helped him turn his life around. Ruth decides to try and help more people by hosting a Christmas dinner at her house and inviting the people who sent in letters to her agony aunt column. She enlists Michael to help and along the way they fall in love.
It was a good depiction of a lot of the messy things that go on in people's lives; the depictions of depression and other emotional turmoil was well done and the catharsis for all of it was heartwarming. But I found the plot a little tedious. There were just SO MANY characters and each of them got a whole chapter of backstory when they were introduced, to the point that we were almost halfway through the thing before we stopped meeting new people. It took forever for the promised plot to gain any traction, and even then it was more of a character study than a love story. It did have a lot of "meaning of Christmas" kind of spirit, though, and tied in really well to the holiday season instead of just being coincidentally set at the same time.
(Also, probably just me, but I'd be freaked out if I sent in an anonymous agony aunt letter and got a real face-space invite instead. Those things are signed with pseudonyms on purpose!)
4.5/5 stars!
I hoped that this book would tug at the heartstrings and I am happy to say that it certainly did. It brought tears of sadness, happiness, smiles and laughter. It’s a story full of Christmas spirit and one that I enjoyed a lot.
The characters, for the most part, are very rich and wonderfully developed, particularly our protagonist, Ruth. Ruth is warm and giving. Ever heard the saying that doctors are the worst patients? Well Ruth would fit that bill, as an advice columnist who won’t follow good advice! She spirals into depression while trying to keep up the façade of the happy, busy bee persona. It doesn’t take much to see through it though, and she’s lucky enough to have a few people in her life that can see what’s really happening and call her on it. The emotions the reader can feel through Ruth are intense at times and wholly wonderful. Ruth’s despair, her confusion over how to deal with her mother and her desire to overcome it all is beautifully shown to the reader. A couple of times, her reactions to situations seemed a bit much but were actually very realistic given her circumstances.
Michael acts as Ruth’s guardian angel in her hour of need, which is fitting as she was his in his time of need. Although the worst is behind him, he still has obstacles to overcome in his journey to recover from past mistakes. How he and Ruth help each other while building a warm friendship, which turns into something more, is a delight to read.
The Spirit of Christmas shines through in this story. It’s the story of how several people from very different walks and stages of life, all suffer from a profound loneliness at this time of year. Each character we meet shares their struggles with Ruth, and Ruth tries to find some small way to make the pain a little lighter. The true meaning of giving is explored and makes A Miracle on Hope Street an ideal Christmas read.
The author writes from multiple perspectives and does it well. As the main character, Ruth’s chapters are written in the first person. When the POV changes to one of the secondary characters, the author uses the third person and this is marked by a chapter change. It’s very clear and easy to follow and added a lovely touch to the narrative.
Overall, I’m very happy to have added this story to my Christmas reads and I think many of you will enjoy it too.
Disclaimer: Thank you to NetGalley and publisher Harper Impulse for the chance to read this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for gifting me with an arc of this book. Tge following review is my opinion. This is a lovely and heartwarming story. It set the mood for the holidays for me. The book will make you feel good about taking the time to be kind. I am so glad I read this story.
This is a very uplifting and heartwarming book and is ideal to read at Christmas time and would make a good gift for a reader who enjoys romance. When Ruth Ryans does a good turn without thinking she doesn't realise how it will repay her in the future. It is a true tale about Karma.
The themes of loneliness and love are great things to think about around Christmas and Ruth makes a real difference to the characters in the book that she meets.I would recommend this book as one that you snuggle down with over the holidays.
A real heartwarming and feel good read. I think the world would be a much nicer place if we all tried to be kinder to each other.
This isn't a typical Christmas romance. It's not all jolly and shiny. Instead, it deals with the very real difficulties faced by someone who is grieving and displaced from her family at what should be a happy time. It's a tough read, but a good one.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author. All opinions are my own.
A lovely Christmas story. A book that brings home the true spirit of Christmas.
I had not read Emma Heatherington before but I was drawn to the cover image and blurb of this book. I am jumping in with both feet for Christmas stories this year so grabbing anything I can get my hands on.
It was marvellous. It was compelling. It was heartwarming. It causes you to think of those around you. None of us know what is really going on in someone else's life. I found it a very emotional but uplifting journey.
It is an easy read with excellent characters and plot that gets you thinking as you read. There is a strong sense of friendship and of hope. I would recommend this book - take a chance on something different, you won't be disappointed.
When she learns that one act of kindness has transformed a man’s life, Ruth decides to put her own loneliness aside and create a Christmas to remember for people in need. A heart-warming tale that’s perfect for fans of JoJo Moyes and Marian Keyes.
Everyone loves a Christmas miracle, and though agony-aunt columnist Ruth Ryans has advised many a citizen on how best to obtain theirs, she has no hope for her own. It all started when Ruth’s dad died, and her zest for life, her job and her friends kind of just went kaput.
But a couple of pals unexpectedly lift her up, and Ruth muddles through the letters for her column, realizing that the loneliness of her readers jibes with her own. She tries reaching out to others – and it works, nudging her out of her own head. There’s one big hurdle — finding her mom — and that thread carries throughout most of the book, providing a backbone for the subplots.
This is a feel-good book that gives hope to people missing their loved ones — without being contrived or syrupy sweet. I pegged the ending way back in the mid to early chapters, but that’s okay, because a happily ever after is a happily ever after… and that’s what I’m looking for 6 weeks before Christmas!
By the way, you’ll meet the most beautiful people in this book. My favorites are Gloria – what an angel – and Nicholas, the pianist. They spread joy far and wide, and Emma Heatherington is wonderful for writing them.
https://randombookmuses.com/2018/11/11/review-a-miracle-on-hope-street-by-emma-heatherington/
Amazing book. Loved it from beginning to end.
Well written which kept me captivated throughout.
I will definitely be reading other books by this author
I thoroughly recommend this book. It's got a lot of tragedy in it which makes for pretty sad reading in places but it's the most beautiful read I've come across in a long time. The author clearly understands people and the wonderful acts of kindness in this book make for a perfect Christmas read. I will be reviewing further on my blog shortly.