Review: City of Hope by Kate Kerrigan

City of Hope
Author: Kate Kerrigan
Genre: Historical Fiction/Women's Fiction
Release Date: June 25, 2013
Publisher: William Morrow

Description:

An uplifting, inspiring and heartwarming story of a woman truly ahead of her time, City of Hope is the heart-rending but inspiring follow-up to Ellis Island.

It is the 1930s and when her beloved husband, John, suddenly dies, young Ellie Hogan decides to leave Ireland and return to New York. She hopes that the city's vibrancy will distract her from her grief. But the Depression has rendered the city unrecognizable-gone is the energy and atmosphere of fun that Ellie fell in love with ten years before.

Plunging headfirst into a new life, Ellie pours all her passion and energy into running a home and refuge for the homeless. In return they give her the kind of love, support and friendship she needs to try and overcome her grief. Until, one day, someone she thought she'd never see again steps through her door. It seems that even the Atlantic isn't big enough to prevent the tragedies of the past from catching up with her.  

City of Hope is a moving novel of hope, grief, friendship, and finding yourself. The plot was unique and I loved the historical aspect of it - learning about life in the 1930s and what New York City was like back then was really fascinating. The author did a wonderful job bringing the story and the past to life with vivid details and descriptions that had me easily immersing myself into the story beside Ellie. There's a lot of hard topics dealt with in the novel - grief, death, and tragedy, but yet it also encompasses several other important topics that help to alleviate the darkness. It speaks of love, friendship, courage, finding yourself, and forgiveness. Ellie, the main character, is a wonderful main character. She's full of life and seeks out adventure and a fresh start in New York after the death of her husband. She's courageous, intelligent, and kind. Although she's not a badass in the normal sense of the word, she does take her life and world into her hands and makes the best of it. She's very passionate and energetic, and along with her kind nature she makes one awesome leading lady. I loved reading all about Ellie as a person - her past, her personality, strengths and weaknesses, and her life. Although this is a book full of emotion and heavy topics, it ultimately is an inspiring and uplifting novel full of hope and new beginnings. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction and women's fiction.