A family saga told in four parts, which I ate up in one sitting. I would be interested to see how this plays as an audiobook because with the jumping perspective from each family member I imagine it would translate well. It reminded me so much of The Bee Sting, Family Family, At the Table and The Hole We're In all of which I loved.

Thank you to Duckworth Books, Farrago and NetGalley for the opportunity to read HOPE before it’s released on 30th January 2025!

The year is 2013, and everything is about to change for the Greenspan family.

Scott, the patriarch, is in need of money. With the pressure of supporting his narcissistic mother, he begins committing fraud at his medical practice. This plotline is a catalyst for much of HOPE’s narrative, but it ultimately bears little weight on Scott’s actual career. Instead, the emotional repercussions that stem from his deception lead to the Greenspans’ trouble.

His wife, Deb, has fallen in love with a woman, 5 years after asking for an open marriage. Her decision to commit to her partner Joan, has strong impacts on her children. Deb, who seems riddled with guilt, is deeply dedicated to bettering the world around her. Yet, she seems oblivious to much of the trouble brewing within her own household.

Their daughter Maya is struggling to find her bearings in the publishing industry. As she deals with the pressures of her job, relationship with her college boyfriend and family strife, Maya runs into an English teacher she fell in love with as a student. I found Maya’s plot line, of dealing with grooming and her loss of childhood naivety very compelling.

Finally, the youngest Greenspan, Gideon, is losing his identity. After basing much of his life around his parents’ expectations, his world begins to crumble after the revelation that Deb and Scott are not who he thought they were. Gideon’s story felt like one of self-discovery, and it was clear that he seemed the most impacted by the familial drama. That being said, Gideon’s storyline took a TURN that I was not prepared for. The last part of the novel was very different to where we started, but nevertheless, I really enjoyed it. I found it very powerful how Gideon, despite his desire to rebel against his parents still embodies aspects of their character: Deb, by committing himself to helping other (albeit in a more direct way), and Scott, by jumping to provide medical care.

This book felt reminiscent of Franzen’s works. It’s a very well-crafted story, and it sheds a lot of light on each member of the family. Each character had such a distinct voice, and all of their storylines felt very compelling. A fantastic work by Andrew Rider.

Thank you to NetGalley and Farrago for the ARC!

Hope tells the story of an all-American nuclear family: an ambitious doctor, a successful father, a naive daughter, and a mother deeply involved in the community. The family becomes embroiled in scandal, forcing each member to confront questions of morality, self-discovery, and betrayal. This dysfunctional family saga instantly reminded me of The Bee Sting by Paul Murray, with its multiple POVs and interwoven character arcs. However, where The Bee Sting built to a dramatic climax, Hope lacked the same impact, ending on an equally ambiguous note but without a definitive sense of closure.

Although I wasn’t rooting for any of the characters, this is what makes Ridker’s novel so compelling. While I wished karma would catch up with the Greenspans for their morally questionable choices, it was frustrating to see them let off too easily. However, Ridker’s ability to weave these complex arcs places this book high on my list.

On the face of it this novel is an ordinary story about an ordinary family. It could be any of us. Nothing really exciting happens, there's no murders or car chases. However as Gideon says "It didn't feel like a novel, but it did feel like life."

The Greenspans are on the cusp of change at the start of Hope. Father Scott is balancing his mother's increasing demands on his money along with supporting his family and maintaining an open marriage. Wife Deb is juggling her new found interest in the same sex with her inability to find something to really engage her interest. Daughter Maya is struggling to find her way in the publishing world and her personal life; and son Gideon is desperate to make his father proud until he realises that sometimes parents are fallible too.

This novel really does feel like life. I felt really engaged with a family who I've nothing in common with. The writing is excellent and you're swept along with the difficulties they encounter, often of their own making - including some absolutely insane decisions.

If I have a criticism it's that there really wasn't enough of Scott's mother, Marjorie, who flits in and out of the book causing mayhem wherever she goes. Everyone should have a relative like Marjorie - I expect quite a lot of us do.

Definitely recommended.

Thanks to Netgalley and Duckworth Books for the advance review copy.

The book I thought I was reading at the start is not the same book it became at the end. This was a moving, introspective book that I enjoyed reading a lot. Each character within the core family had their own insight into the central storyline, I think I enjoyed Maya’s storyline the most. A great read.

I like the new cover and font for the title of Ridker's book. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. I tried to gather more information about my previous review but it wasn't online. The book does a deep dive into relationships among a family of a certain class.