City of Hope by Kate Kerrigan

City of Hope by Kate Kerrigan is a historical fiction novel set in the early 1900s. It is about Irish immigrants, New York City, and the Great Depression.

Book Description

“The heartrending and inspiring sequel to Ellis Island, Kate Kerrigan's City of Hope is an uplifting story of a woman truly ahead of her time

When her beloved husband suddenly dies, young Ellie Hogan decides to leave Ireland and return to New York, where she worked in the 1920s. She hopes that the city will distract her from her anguish. But the Great Depression has rendered the city unrecognizable. Gone are the magic and ambiance that once captured Ellie's imagination.

Plunging headfirst into a new life, Ellie pours her passion and energy into running a refuge for the homeless. Her calling provides the love, support, and friendship she needs in order to overcome her grief—until, one day, someone Ellie never thought she'd see again steps through her door. It seems that even the vast Atlantic Ocean isn't enough to keep the tragedies of the past from catching up with her.” – City of Hope

My Thoughts

City of Hope is the sequel to Ellis Island. However, I don’t feel that you have to have read the first to enjoy this book. The author does a good job catching up the story for the readers, but as with all books in a series, it never hurts to go back and read the previous ones, too.

I really like how this was a historical novel about Ireland and the United States during a period of time that was in turmoil for many of the characters. The author shows her passion about the Irish immigrants during the 1900s beautifully in this book. It isn’t all cheery, there are many sad parts, but it is very real.

As someone who enjoys history and historical fiction, I enjoyed reading this novel. I appreciate the author’s research and passion for both Ireland and the United States during this time. I definitely recommend it.

* Thank you to the publisher of City of Hope, William Morrow, for providing me with a copy of this book for review. All opinions expressed are my own.