A sweeping, rich tale that explores family, secrets, loss, love and redemption within the context of a tessellation of cultures – written with a beautiful texture, Benson pulls you in to a deftly-woven story with tautly-written sentences, and before you know it you find yourself in too deep to get out, too deep to want to get out, wanting to know more.

Jendella Benson has drawn such a compelling world that Hope and Glory, the book and the characters themselves, stayed with me long after I’d turned the final pages.

Hope & 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.

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.

Once I started reading, I couldn’t stop! Jendella’s writing is spellbinding, so beautiful. I felt every emotion on the page.

Authentic and as heart warming as it is heart wrenching, Hope & Glory is a glorious ode to family life, love and loss. Jendella’s writing is effortless, the characters leap off of the page and my favourite thing amongst so many? It’s so deliciously South London.

Engrossing, emotional and super relatable, especially to those from a West African background.

Stirring, startling, life-affirming. A wonderful read.

A dazzling debut. Jendella Benson is one to watch.

An elegantly-written, heartwarming story filled with hope. Each character, family secret, and vulnerability is treated with such grace and care due to Jendella’s fresh and tender writing. Can’t wait to read what she shares with the world next.