In fulfilling a dream she will enhance her life

Venetia Hamilton loved her husband and spent five decades creating a life built around him. With his recent passing she finds herself a very wealthy woman, but one who is living a solitary and lonely life without much purpose. She takes steps to jumpstart her life but they aren't enough to fill the void. Once upon a time she loved to dance, was in fact a dance instructor at the local Phoenix Ballroom and had hoped to open her own ballroom school one day. Back then she chose a more sensible path, leaving behind another person she loved as well as her dream in exchange for a stable future. The Phoenix Ballroom still stands (albeit in dreadful condition) and Venetia decides to step in and bring it back to its glory. She has the money to do it, after all, and hopes that its not too late to fulfill that long ago dream. What she doesn't anticipate is how her act will bring joy not only to herself but to a new community of people...she is not, in turns out, the only person who has a void in their life to fill.
The Phoenix Ballroom is full of characters including but not limited to Venetia who have stories to tell. The overall message is one of hope, of second chances and the importance of community, and it is an enjoyable and uplifting read. There are no major surprises in store; the plot unfolds in a relatively predictable manner, so those looking for angst and complexity will not find it inside the covers of this novel. It is, however, a comforting and heartwarming tale that might appeal to readers of authors like Helen Simonson, Elizabeth Berg and Faith Hogan, a solid 3.5 ⭐️ read (rounded up to a 4). My thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow Paperbacks for allowing me access to author Ruth Hogan's latest in exchange for my honest review.

A comfortable, nostalgic read about living the life once dreamed of. . .a second round that takes, using the resources of the first. Second chances with all the perks = having cake and eating it, too.

And there's ballroom dancing, a dog known as Colin Firth, while family members are named after birds. A refreshing read all around.

*A sincere thank you to Ruth Hogan, William Morrow and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.*

The Phoenix Ballroom by Ruth Hogan. The Phoenix Ballroom by Ruth Hogan is a interesting story about a lady who used to dance and her husband Hawk.

The Phoenix Ballroom is a heartwarming story about Venetia Hargreaves, a 74-year-old widow who decides to take control of her life and reclaim her dreams. After buying the old Phoenix Ballroom, once a place she cherished, Venetia revives it and forms a new, unlikely family with a group of colorful characters. The novel beautifully explores themes of second chances, personal growth, and the power of community.

While the characters are engaging and the message about never being too old to pursue your dreams is inspiring, some plot points feel a bit rushed and underdeveloped. Overall, it’s an uplifting and charming read about finding joy and purpose at any age.

The Phoenix Ballroom by Ruth Hogan is a book about second chances at any age. Venetia Hargreaves is in her 70s when she suddenly becomes a widow. She's had a good life - safe and financially comfortable. She's always felt like she's been missing out on something though. Her husband's death sparks her to reinvent herself into the person she always hoped to be.

I enjoyed the fact that the main characters were mostly in their 70s but still full of life and seeking excitement. There is also a great chosen-family component that I liked.

Thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for a review copy of The Phoenix Ballroom.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

This novel is a delightful exploration of relationships, memorable individuals, and a few surprising turns along the way, all while tracing the passage of time and the eventual achievement of a cherished goal.

At its core, this book is driven by its characters. While the plot itself is engaging, it’s the personalities that take center stage. The story revolves around a mix of family and non-family members, exploring how their lives intertwine and the profound effects they have on one another. If you’re familiar with Ruth Hogan’s writing, you’ll recognize that her focus is on the lives and connections of her characters, their journeys, and the way they shape each other’s paths.

This novel delves deeply into the relationships we form, whether with allies or adversaries, and the way our perspectives evolve over time. It’s about the gradual opening of hearts and the transformative power of human connections.
thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc which I enjoyed in exchange for my honest review.

The Phoenix Ballroom is a lovely heartwarming tale. A story about found family and moving on from loss, it’s perfect for anyone in the mood for a light, cozy, but also poignant read.

Thank you Ruth Hogan, William Morrow, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is only my second Ruth Hogan book but I absolutely plan on reading more because these books are such feel good stories even when there are hidden secrets and some painful occurrences such as in this story. Venetia has just lost her husband of nearly 50 years. Some might think that she needs taking care of since she is older and hadn't worked outside the marriage. Despite her misgivings, she gives in to having a granny-nanny and what happens next is so much more than she ever could have expected. Secrets are uncovered. Desires are uncovered. Fate comes a-calling. Liberty is an enigma who is dealing with her own disappointments in life. Little would these two women know that their lives were meant to intersect. Several small stories converge to make this a great, feel-good story.

The Phoenix Ballroom by Ruth Hogan is a lovely story about an older, recently widowed woman who buys a local landmark, and she helps many people in the process. When she first met her husband many, many years prior, she was a ballroom dance instructor. And now that he's gone, she decides to help reopen the ballroom and makes a lot of friends. This is such a heartwarming story, just like Ruth Hogan's other books. Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital review copy. All opinions are my own.

4.5 dancing stars, rounded up

Sometimes, amid chaos, you need a feel-good story with lovely characters, a lively plot, and some gentle life lessons. I also relished the subtle British humor and fun colloquialisms.

An experienced writer, Ruth Hogan brings in the sights and feelings, tastes, and sounds that enliven a story. “He found the candles, the organ music, the light diffused through colored glass and the cavernous echoes when anyone spoke or sang soothing…(His mother) had very definite views about most things, coupled with an unshakable belief that she was right. He also couldn’t help but feel that dismissing God altogether might be a bit unwise.”

From the publisher: "For fifty years, Venetia Hargreaves’s world revolved around her husband. She built their life around his big career, with dinner on the table at six, a lovely home, and a dutiful son... Now Venetia’s a wealthy widow left with a beautiful but empty home, an enviable bank balance, and a distinct feeling that she missed the boat. Once upon a time, she was a dance instructor who dreamed of opening her own ballroom school with a fellow teacher who won her heart. Instead, Venetia chose the safer path.

Eager to revive at least one meaningful thing from her past, Venetia buys the Phoenix Ballroom, and finds a supportive and loving community of lost souls who become a delightful multigenerational family-by-choice.”

Even though this is a feel-good book, i ist not ‘fluffy’ book. Hogan delves into some deep aspects of identity and family, resilience and forgiveness.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The ballroom seems to be it's own character and I loved that about this book. I enjoy a good love story and this book intrigued me because my own paternal grandparents were active in the ballroom dance community throughout their lives and this story made me remember many fond memories of life with them. The combination of sharing food and sharing memories and learning new skills (or re-learning) in a community such as the one that is depicted here is so moving and beautiful. This books serves as a reminder that music, dancing, and fellowship can help repair broken relationships and bring people to a place of middle-ground conversations.

Decent read.
I liked Venetia’s willingness to start something new and begin life afresh after her husband’s death.
She is also harboring a deal secret that eventually comes to light.
I struggled with some of the prose in part because it was somewhat dry but the end turned out good.

This was a really sweet book with some tough moments. I really enjoyed it and kept me engaged the whole time. A wealthy widow wants to find a new purpose in life after her husband dies and she finds in retiring an old ballroom which she used to love dancing. She has also acquired a “granny nanny”, her grandson and her sister in law all living with her which she realizes she needs.
3.5-4 stars

3.8 rounded up to four stars. Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this as an ARC.
The positives about this book are: charming characters, an easy fun storyline that is easy to follow, growth amongst the diverse group of characters in the story, and a setting in the English countryside. I really enjoyed seeing each character change and blossom in their own way. Venetia, Kite, Liberty, Heron all change in major ways in the story. Swan, another member of the house, didn’t have as much of a drastic change. But let’s be honest, she didn’t need it. She is a riot. I really enjoyed how Swan and Venetia became close confidants over the course of the story.
This is a sweet, fast, feel good read.

Overall, I enjoyed this book but I had to take a star away for slight predictability and too neatly tied up loose ends, I don't want to say more for fear of spoilers. I found the writing easy and approachable without being too cheesy, and the characters interesting and realistic. It felt like a modern enough, almost cozy read with a slight touch when recalling the past, My only criticism as mentioned above, is really the loose ends, there is not enough realism for me and things are just too neat!

The Phoenix Ballroom follows Venitia, a recently widowed woman in her seventies who is determined to build herself a new life after the death of her husband. Venitia, a former ballroom dancer, felt like she molded herself into the "perfect" wife and mother. Now, with her son grown up and a child of his own and her husband gone, Venitia realizes that she can reinvent herself into who she really is. Worried about his "elderly" mother living on her own, her son encourages her to hire a live-in assistant to keep her company and help take care of the house. Slowly, other people start showing up in Venitia's life and taking residence in her supposedly lonely house. Then, the ballroom where she used to teach classes and where she met her husband comes up for sale, and Venitia decides to restore it to its former glory, and dust off the parts of herself that she has put aside for so long.

What a delightful book! I truly enjoyed Venitia and the eccentric cast of characters that join her in the book. I loved seeing an older main character and the secondary main character a woman in her forties. I feel like books with older characters often also focus on a twenty-something person, so I liked seeing a wider age range representation. The book has some flashbacks to 1970s England where Venitia taught ballroom dance and met her now late husband, which I think added to the story. I felt like characters experienced true growth over the course of the novel, which was so nice to see.

Overall, I had a lovely time reading this book and recommend it if you're looking for a nice read! 4.5 stars from me. Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the eARC of this book, my thoughts are my own!

CW: Sexual assault in a flashback, physical violence

The Phoenix Ballroom is the kind of book that warms your heart. I love a good contemporary story about women accomplishing their goals, especially when they are older!

Venetia just lost her husband Hawk. Her son, Heron, believes she needs a keeper, or a granny nanny as her grandson Kite puts it. But Venetia knows she just needs to get back out into the world.

Liberty just lost her job, mostly because she had been having an affair with her boss and he decided it was time to recommit to his wife. She also just lost someone, her mother, who didn't leave her the house or her money, but instead left her a newspaper, a photo album, and the charge to accomplish an unnamed goal. Then she'll get her inheritance. When she sees the ad to be a companion for an older woman, she applies, having no idea what she's getting into with Venetia!

I loved getting to know Venetia, Liberty, Kite, and the many other souls who inhabit this book. The story has enough sadness and surprises to counter its sweetness. The ending is so satisfactory! Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy of this book.

When Venetia is widowed, she suddenly finds herself without purpose and direction. All her life, she's supported her husband's dreams and raised their family. Her son believes she's incapable of being on her own, and hires her a "granny nanny" named Liberty. With Venetia's grandson down the street at school and an unexpected aunt dropping in, her huge empty house is suddenly full of life. Throw in the fact that she's decided to buy a dilapidated ballroom, and her life is teeming with adventure. A quirky cast of characters makes this an enjoyable read, full of heart, love, and inspiring stories of community.

This was such a cozy, heartwarming read! The story was absolutely lovely, and the characters were all delightful. I love reading books featuring older characters. It's very much a niche genre that I greatly enjoy. These books always make me feel like you're never too old to do the things you've always wanted to do. The Phoenix Ballroom is an uplifting feel-good story. I'm so very glad to have read it!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.