The House at the End of Hope Street: A Novel
*Starred Review* The house at the end of Hope Street has served women in their time of need for many generations. Its magical walls have protected them and given them what they needed to heal emotionally and physically, and when Alba finds herself on its doorstep, her future crushed and with nowhere else to go, she receives a warm welcome and the usual 99 days to stay there and get back on her feet. Surrounded by the house’s comforting presence, and with help from such famous past residents as Virginia Woolf and Florence Nightingale, who speak to her from their wall portraits, Alba slowly begins to recover. Her journey of self-discovery is intertwined with those of other women staying at the house, and together their stories weave a beautiful narrative of redemption and hope. Even through the sometimes dark landscape of loss and abuse, van Praag’s writing is bright and hopeful, while rich characters combined with an enchanting blend of the real and the mystical make this tribute to individuality a delightful and engaging read. Fans of Jasper Fforde, Gloria Naylor, or Sarah Addison Allen will especially appreciate this story as a celebration of feminine strength and accomplished women through the ages. --Cortney Ophoff--This text refers to theHardcoveredition.