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The Sudden Appearance of Hope

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The Sudden Appearance of Hope

By: Claire North
Narrated by: Gillian Burke
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£5.99/mo after 3 months. Offer ends on 5 July 2026 at 11:59 BST. Cancel monthly.

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Winner of the 2017 World Fantasy Award

Claire North has been shortlisted for The Sunday Times/PFD Young Writer of the Year Award

My name is Hope Arden. I am the girl the world forgets.

It started when I was 16 years old.

A father forgetting to drive me to school. A mother setting the table for three, not four. A friend who looks at me and sees a stranger.

No matter what I do, the words I say, the crimes I commit - you will never remember who I am.

That makes my life tricky. It also makes me dangerous....

The Sudden Appearance of Hope is the tale of a girl no one remembers, yet her story will stay with you for ever.

©2016 Claire North (P)2016 Hachette Audio Fantasy Fiction Science Fiction Thriller & Suspense Heartfelt Exciting Suspense
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Critic reviews

"A mesmerising writer." (Alex Marwood, author of The Wicked Girls)

"North's talent shines out." (The Sunday Times)

"Little short of a masterpiece." (The Independent)
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What did you like best about this story?

A great story with reflection on human values and the unusual condition of the main character highlights our view of the world.

Any additional comments?

I have listened to 3 of Claire North's books and I love them.

I loved the concept

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Would you consider the audio edition of The Sudden Appearance of Hope to be better than the print version?

I am not sure. I feel that maybe with a print version it would be better to go back and see a paragraph that your mind skipped ..but in the same time I'm not sure you'd want too.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

I felt like the character lived to much in her head her obsession with perfection was inexplicable.

What does Gillian Burke bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

You are more aware of how the character is, it's like you're in her mind and her thoughts are speaking to you.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The story of a childhood/ child forgotten was heartbreaking. Also Hope's sister appearance was beautiful. In the end there was some hope for her too..

Slow and confusing

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I really enjoyed the book, thought twice about listening to it on audible, but I loved it and think Gillian Burkes performance really enjoyable, the narrators voice makes an audible book come alive and she did that for this novel. It’s on my repeat list I took so much from it

Really thought provoking

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I like to read Claire north books and have read a few so far. this story is possibly the worst I've read. it is in no way a selection of her writing but more an opinion that the story lasted too long and in that time it was easy to lose what was going on. the ending was disappointing too and lacked to flair I ha e come to know from Claire's books. not for me but others may find its meandering appealing

Disappointing

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The book was fantastic from start to finish. It was engaging and intriguing. The idea of the book was fab and the story that unfolded was sad and beautiful and heart breaking at times. Great book. Well read.

Engaging and intriguing

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