Hope on the Inside by Marie Bostwick

☆☆☆☆
Kindle Edition, 352 pages
Expected publication: March 26th 2019 by Kensington
About the Book:
“Whatever comes your way, find the happiness in it.” Hope Carpenter received that advice from her mother decades ago. Now, with their four children grown, Hope and her husband, Rick, are suddenly facing an uncertain future, after a forced retirement strains both their savings and their marriage. Seeking inspiration and a financial boost, Hope gets a job teaching crafts to inmates at a local women’s prison. At first, Hope feels foolish and irrelevant, struggling to relate to women whose choices seem so different from her own. But with time, and the encouragement of the prison chaplain, she begins to discover common ground with the inmates, in their worries about their children and families, their fear of having failed those who need them. Just like her, they want to make something of themselves, but believe it might be impossible. Embarking on an ambitious quilting project, Hope and her students begin to bond. Together, piece by piece, they learn to defy expectations—their own and others’—and to see that it’s never too late to stitch together a life that, even in its imperfections, is both surprising and beautiful.

Overall the story was captivating, intricate writing, surprises and heartwarming (I found myself smiling as I was reading) characters are what make this so special. The author did a great job with the story-line. I fell in love with the characters, and could feel the love the family felt for each other. The author did a great job in telling the story in a subtle way. Although there is some religious aspects (a prison chaplain and Christmas services) to the book it was not at all preachy.

You know the feeling when you’re reading a book and are so in love with the characters you’re sad it’s ending? This was that book for me. I fell in love with Hope, Rick, Hazel and Mackenzie. I also loved the side characters, even some of the prisoners. The story was well written and the characters were well developed and believable; they were definitely the driving force of this story.

Marie Bostwick has a different but realistic way of looking at life. The story is compassionate and sometimes heartbreaking and that brings each character to life and draws you in from the first page to the end. I couldn't stop reading, it pulled me in and made me feel as if I was experiencing what each character was feeling. It's a must read if you believe in community and family. An emotional story, an amazing book. Ms. Bostwick, you have a new fan.

Thank you NetGalley, Kensington and Marie Bostwick for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an impartial review; all opinions are my own.

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