Benson expertly portrays the anguish, friction, and love of a family under immense strain while providing insights on the difficulties faced by immigrants. The result is a sumptuous and satisfying meditation on family and the meaning of home.” — Publishers Weekly
"Filled with unexpected, but earned, twists, Benson’s novel balances moments of rich humor and devastating profundity....Benson’s greatest success is her ability to write characters and family dynamics that feel deeply authentic." — Kirkus Reviews
"A sweeping, rich tale that explores family, secrets, loss, love and redemption." — Bolu Babalola, author of Love in Color
"Hope and Glory is a wonderful book. The novel explores grief, love, friendship, dreams lost, life interrupted. All the characters are flawed, loveable, maddening and so honest you feel like you know them; the plot is compelling and touching at the same time. Jendella Benson has created a story that is intricate, beautiful and so very real. I held my breath, gasped out loud and devoured every gorgeous page. Just brilliant." — Dorothy Koomson author of All My Lies Are True
"A compelling and compassionate book that's at once heartbreaking and hopeful. Jendella Benson paints a family portrait that's tender and messy and true." — Chloe Ashby, author of Wet Paint
"Jendella Benson has drawn such a compelling world that Hope and Glory. The book and the characters stayed with me long after I'd turned the final pages!" — Candice Carty-Williams, bestselling author of QUEENIE
“I loved Hope and Glory so much. Family drama, family saga, crime, romance, humour, secrets, revelations and a story to keep you up late into the night. Reading this book was like eating a delicious bowl of soup with plenty assorted meat. Buy it, read it, pass it on..” — Chibundo Onuzo, author of Sankofa
"Once I started reading, I couldn't stop! Jendella's writing is spellbinding, so beautiful. I felt every emotion on the page." — Lizzie Damilola Blackburn, author of Yinka, Where is your Huzband?
Narrator Kelechi Okafor’s melodious voice brings the British-Nigerian characters in this beautiful debut novel to life. She gives Glory, the daughter who comes home to London for her father’s funeral, a voice that can be defensive, confused, angry, or compassionate as she becomes aware of long-buried family secrets that are slowly revealing themselves and upending everything she thought she knew about her parents and siblings. Big sister Faith is evasive as she tries to dissuade Glory from questioning her mother. Mother Celeste’s voice is sometimes judgmental, sometimes needy as she evades Glory’s questions about the past. Julian, a friend from her school days, offers a supportive sounding board that gives Glory the courage to insist on the truth of her family’s story. N.E.M. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine
Narrator Kelechi Okafor’s melodious voice brings the British-Nigerian characters in this beautiful debut novel to life. She gives Glory, the daughter who comes home to London for her father’s funeral, a voice that can be defensive, confused, angry, or compassionate as she becomes aware of long-buried family secrets that are slowly revealing themselves and upending everything she thought she knew about her parents and siblings. Big sister Faith is evasive as she tries to dissuade Glory from questioning her mother. Mother Celeste’s voice is sometimes judgmental, sometimes needy as she evades Glory’s questions about the past. Julian, a friend from her school days, offers a supportive sounding board that gives Glory the courage to insist on the truth of her family’s story. N.E.M. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine