After years of seemingly living a picture perfect life in LA, Glory packs it all up when she hears that her beloved father has suddenly passed away. When she arrives back in Peckham, South London, she is forced to deal with the family issues she has been hiding from.
As soon as I started reading HOPE & GLORY I instantly felt at home with the very distinct British and Nigerian vibes. I really appreciated how realistic London living in a Black home was depicted but also how the parents and aunties were still steeped in Nigerian culture, language, tradition and faith. It was a perfect blend of both, a nice representation of a second generation immigrant family.
This story is incredibly character driven, if you are looking for heavy plot points this perhaps is not for you. I however love books filled with messy, emotionally fuelled, intense characters and in a family full of buried secrets, there are so many different dynamics at play. Glory has a lot of questions and she is demanding answers and at times she is frustratingly rude and her relationship with Julian was immature but, her determination to seek the truth and her growth over the course of the story was heart-warming.
As the family mysteries unravel we are witness to lies, regrets, poor communication, betrayals, injustice, human insecurities and anxieties, forgiveness, understanding, romance and through it all a families unconditional love for one another. A wonderful debut from Benson!