The Sudden Appearance of Hope by Claire North

The Sudden Appearance of Hope

by Claire North

***WINNER OF THE WORLD FANTASY AWARD 2017***

***CLAIRE NORTH IS SHORTLISTED FOR THE SUNDAY TIMES / PFD YOUNG WRITER OF THE YEAR AWARD***

My name is Hope Arden. I am the girl the world forgets.

It started when I was sixteen years old.

A father forgetting to drive me to school. A mother setting the table for three, not four. A friend who looks at me and sees a stranger.

No matter what I do, the words I say, the crimes I commit - you will never remember who I am.

That makes my life tricky. It also makes me dangerous . . .

The Sudden Appearance of Hope is the tale of a girl no one remembers, yet her story will stay with you for ever.

Praise for Claire North:

'North's talent shines out' Sunday Times

'Little short of a masterpiece' Independent

'Poignant and intensely gripping' Guardian

'Well-paced, brilliant and balanced' New York Times

'Extraordinary . . . wildly impressive' Lucy Hughes-Hallett, BBC Radio 4

'Utterly readable, utterly believable and compelling . . . one of the fiction highlights of the decade' Judy Finnigan, Richard and Judy Book Club

Reviewed by Bianca on

3.5 of 5 stars

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You fear it, no? The dangers of being alone. Of having no one to help you find your path. No friend to say ‘you went a bit too far’, no lover to say ‘you could be tender with your words’, no? No boss to say ‘work harder’ and no shrink to say ‘work less’, no… no society, to tell you how to choose, or what to wear, no… no judgement, to help guide your own? You fear it?


— About perceptions and how we should not let society fully define us, having freedom to be ourselves and to have our own choices. I liked the ideas presented, but the book was really boring/wasn't as thrilling as the author's previous works, and it was unnecessarily long.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 2 February, 2017: Finished reading
  • 2 February, 2017: Reviewed