Hopeful

By: Louise Bay

Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld

Length: 9 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's Summary

A long time ago, Joel Wentworth told me he'd love me for infinity...and I can't give up hope that it might have been true. 

How long does it take to get over your first love? 

Eight years should be long enough. My mind knows that, but there's no convincing my heart. 

Guys like Joel weren't supposed to fall for girls like me. He had his pick of women at University, but somehow the laws of nature were defied and we fell crazy in love. 

After graduation, Joel left to pursue his career in New York. He wanted me to go with him but my life was in London. 

We broke up and my heart split in two. 

I haven't seen or spoken to him since he left. 

If only I'd known that I'd love him this long, this painfully, this desperately. I might have said yes all those years ago. He might have been mine all this time in between. 

Now, he's moving back to London and I need to get over him before he gets over here. 

But how do I forget someone who gave me so much to remember? 

©2015, 2016, 2017 Louise Bay (P)2017 Louise Bay

Not my favorite

Ava's lack of confidence became rather annoying after a few chapters. How did Joel not move on from her? In Uni I could understand a little bit of her lack of confidence but after a bit it's like OMG! He wants you get out over it. Then in adulthood you can't tell your friends you were once in love and still are in love with him. Grow up. I normally like Louise Bay books but, this one did t hit the mark for me.

UNDERWHELMING.. AND SADLY NOT FOR ME

This British book is titled just right.. because I was HOPEFUL it would get better. HOPEFUL the heroine Ava would grow a pair and grow up. HOPEFUL the story would be more than her inner monologues of hero Joel’s many virtues compared to her long list of inadequacies. I was HOPEFUL the narrator’s talented voice could rescue the plot. I was HOPEFUL I hadn’t wasted a credit. And finally, I was HOPEFUL my growing frustration and dislike of this book would fade.. but sadly I was very disappointed on all counts.

It’s told in ever changing past and present chapters from Ava’s stained POV of herself with an eight year gap separating the times. Ava’s twenty yr old law student self watches cool, handsome and popular Joel mix well at the University that they, and their joint group of friends, attend. A study partnership slowly evolved into love but Ava was determined to keep it a secret from everyone - including their friends. Eventually difficult choices had to be made and that set the scene for them reuniting years later with the ‘present’ chapters with Ava’s doubts and dilemmas over Joel’s return, her unchanged love and longing for him, how she can prepare herself (and her boyfriendless situation) for his return and the mess that ensues after his return.

Worth a credit? I’ve enjoyed the other books written by Louise Bay (some more than others) and I certainly don’t have the patience, skills or talents to write a Novella let alone a whole book. But, IMO, the angle of this story was wrong because I longed to get out of Ava’s head filled with her constant low self-worth destructive thoughts about her many many failings compared to Joel’s many many virtues. And I blew out a huge sigh of relief at the end of this book.. but unfortunately it wasn’t a happy contented sigh after an enjoyable and entertaining story - so NO, sadly, I don’t think this is credit worthy.. in fact I’ll be asking for mine back.

Excessively drawn out story of young lovers who breakup and the 8 years later find there way back to each other

This was disappointing as Louise Bay is normally much better, but while the erotic scenes were well done, and the ending was sweet, the dialog dragged on and on for a very simple plot. The story bounced back and forth between the “uni” romance of the past and the 8 year later present day. Maturity and self help seemed elusive until the very end because very little actual communication about anything significant between the two main characters. 8 years seemed overly long for these two to put themselves back in each other’s paths for reconciliation. The sex scenes were well done but the constant reminders of Ava’s insecurities were annoying rather than successful in drawing sympathy. If Adam and Jules get there own story I hope it is a novella.
Saskia Maarleveld does a good job with the narration but the last 8 minutes we are inconsistently treated to a non credited Male voice for Joel. Wish he had been narrating along with Saskia. Plenty of supporting male roles for both to do in the book. The happy ending was a long time coming for the reader/listener as well as the characters. Sadly not worth a credit and only worth your time if you are a fan on the author and if it is in Escape Package.

Bla-bla-bla

One of the most boring , run on books I’ve ever bought. I do not recommend this book unless you need something to put you to sleep. I have never given a bad review before , but with this book I felt a warning should be given . Sorry to say it but it’s a big raspberry .

struggled to finish it but narrator was good too n

not one of your best books don' t know if I will recommend it to others

So so

Too much going back and forth very boring. Had the possibilities be a good story though.

Depressing

I struggled with this one. Ava spent too much time dwelling on how unworthy she was, despite Joel loving her from University.

Soul Mate

When do you know that you met the one. The one person you will love forever. For Ava she found him in University. This is a beautiful love story, with aches that make you cry, and joys that make you smile. I loved it.

Wonderfully written love story

This book had me hooked from the beginning! Such a well written story where you feel the intensity of emotions. I love the narrator - she is excellent! I didn’t want the book to end but was so satisfied with the ending at the same time. I can’t wait to read more Louise Bay stories!!

BORING AND ANNOYING!!!

This is my least favorite book from this author. Incredibly slow development of story and painfully annoying dialogue from leading lady (Ava)!!! I actually skipped forward from chapter eight to the last 2 chapters. I would not suggest using a credit for this book but if it’s free with membership then you have nothing to loose if your as bored as I was.
I usually save all the books I read in my library but I’ll be deleting this one.
Sorry Louise!! I LOVE Everything else I’ve read from Louise Bay.

Another enjoyable Louise Bay story

I really enjoyed this book. I loved how it explored First Love and the marks it can leave

A SECOND CHANCE ROMANCE

A SECOND CHANCE ROMANCE.

Set in London with British characters. Joel Wentworth is the hot sexy guy in college. Ava Elliot is a shy girl, lacks confidence and sees Joel as out of her league.
When Joel becomes interested in Ava and they become study partners Ava struggles with seeing herself as worthy of Joel and doesn't share their relationship with her friends.
Joel and Ava live in a bubble, they meet daily in the library, study, they have hot passionate sex, they share thoughts and words of love and forever but Ava lacks confidence and in the end that confidence ends their relationship.

Joel and Ava have chemistry and are destined to be together, Hopful is a story of regrets, mistakes and maturity.

Joel and Ava are part of a close knit group of friends so despite their growing love for one-another they keep it a secret. Joel would shout it from the rooftops but Ava wants to keep it between them, have their own little bubble with no-one making judgment.

"A long time ago, Joel Wentworth told me he’d love me for infinity . . . and I can’t give up hope that it might have been true".

Joel eventually left for New York and Ava stayed not able to stand up for what she feels or what she believes in.

8 years later Joel returns and Ava has never got over him and it's time to prove she belongs to him and has always belonged to him and time to come clean to her friends that the reason why she has never dated is because there has only ever been one guy for her.....Joel

The plot goes from past to present. The past shares how Joel and Ava meet, their journey to love, the encounters while studying, the secret meetings, the hot passionate sex, rotating from one chapter in the past then going to to the present.
The Present plot is Ava's apprehension of Joels return and her thoughts of would he hate me for not leaving with him, would he still love me?, is he married?

Ava still has the same friends from college and they all live in London so meeting Joel is inevitable or maybe destiny?.
I loved this group of friends with the British banter, I listened to this on audio and it had that Bridgette Jones feel. You could picture them all sat in a pub, laughing and joking taking the p*ss out of one another.

Hopeful is a hot steamy read with a story that does actually give you hope for the characters.

A great story told in Ava's pov, leads to hea with no cheating, angst or drama. A feel-good read with plenty hot scenes.