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In A Hopeful Heart by Amy Clipston, we meet Hannah who is at a crossroads in her life. She is a widow who lost her husband suddenly a few years back. She feels incomplete since his passing and can't find anyone to fill the void within the Amish community she has known and loved her whole life. Until one day while at the hotel she works in, she meets Trey, an Englisher. The attraction between the two is instant and Hannah hasn't felt like this since being with her husband. Hannah feels that Trey is the only one who can understand her loss since he lost his wife and daughter unexpectedly. A friendship is started and put to the test when others in the Amish community think this is unacceptable behavior from Hannah. Hannah must make the choice, follow her heart and go with Trey and leave the only community she's ever known. Or, marry Josh, her brother in law and stay Amish. Josh is the brother of Hannah's late husband and has always loved Hannah, though she can't return the same feelings.

I didn't find any surprising twists with this book at all. What I did find were a lot of characters who I couldn't stand. Starting with Lillian, one of Hannah's twin daughters. Her behavior was appalling. Especially towards the end when she was nasty to her mother, not understanding that her mother needed to finally move on with her life. Lillian wanted to force her mother to marry Josh, not caring that Hannah didn't love her. She called Hannah selfish, when in reality she was the selfish one wanting her mother to marry someone she didn't love just so they wouldn't have to leave the community. Barbie, Hannah's mother-in-law was a busybody who luckily didn't have a big role in the book. But the parts she was involved in, I couldn't wait to get through. She forbid Hannah from seeing Trey, as if it was her business. Clipston did point out from the moment we met Barbie that she never liked Hannah. Josh was the other character I couldn't stand. Like Barbie and Lillian, he didn't like Hannah seeing Trey, because he wanted Hannah to himself. All three characters called Hannah selfish, but what it comes down to was that it was them that were selfish for not wanting Hannah to move on and be happy.

The plot felt a bit rushed to me. Hannah and Trey met and almost immediately they feel that they are in love with each other? I would've enjoyed the book more if we saw the love blossom, not rushed. And it would've been better to see more people pulling for Hannah instead of pushing her feelings aside and only caring about what others in the community would think.

I rated this book 3 out of 4 stars because I was glad that Hannah was a strong character. She had her weak moments but in the end she realized no one's opinions matters and the only person who cares for your happiness is yourself. You have to do what makes you happy.

I like your reviews on the book, it's very detailed and honest..

Sweetmhe wrote:I like your reviews on the book, it's very detailed and honest..

Thank you! I tried so hard to like all the characters, but it was really hard with those three that I mentioned. And it was from the very beginning you couldn't like them. Not once was there a redeeming character trait about them.

Thanks for the review. I will be sure and check out the book.