| Title | : | Hope Wharf |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781955086622 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | ebook |
| Number of Pages | : | - |
| Publication | : | Published April 1, 2022 |
Hope Wharf Reviews
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So Mark Towse’s writing was solid as can be here. I felt like I was reading a Dean Koontz book, but I enjoy Towse much, much more. Now just like Nana, which was an amazing book, this set up an interesting premise, but kept you guessing until the very end. Ryan and Zac were boatloads (I had to put at least one ocean reference here.) of fun and you really enjoyed watching their friendship. They were mischievous and adventurous, with a slight twinge of troublemaker mixed in. A great combination to keep a reader hooked. I was prepared for a gorefest, sex, nudity, with lots of naughty language and such, again comparing this to Nana, but it was nothing like that. This is a spooky tale that will leave you really admiring Mark Towse and his talents as both a writer and storyteller.
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“There’s a quiet sleepy town near you–a great community; idyllic, inviting, and peaceful. Why not make it your next holiday destination? A nice beach, a bit of sightseeing–just be sure not to upset the locals.”
Ryan and Zac have lived in the small beach town of Hope Wharf their whole lives. They are adventurous and curious and sometimes cause trouble. Typical young boys having fun every chance they get. They know the mysterious legend that surrounds the town, but they are curious to see if it is true. They plan to uncover the truth, but quickly learn that there is something sinister and evil lurking beneath the waters, waiting and always watching.
Ominous secrets, small town horror, an evil entity waiting for its fulfillment of a dark promise made by the town that relies on its survival. A coming-of-age novella filled with angst filled moments of dread and doom. Slowly creeping through the shrouding mists of isolation.
Elements of the supernatural and mysterious. A demonic presence. Family ties and the lengths they are willing to go to preserve their home.
Sweet surprises inside this novella with a twisty, unexpected ending!
An atmospheric, spooky, creepy tale, Towse style! -
Hope Wharf is a coming-of-age horror novella where the devil himself makes an appearance. Innocence doesn’t last long in this small town, where the fog rolls in and swallows up everyone in its path. In less than 200 pages, Mark Towse fully develops this setting and its inhabitants, while building up a foreboding mystery and still managing to leave room for the climactic evil lurking beneath the water. It’s dark and twisted, pure terror. Grab your candy stash, it’s going to be a wild ride!
Thank you to the author for complimentary access to the ebook in exchange for review. -
I didn’t know what to expect going into this. I saw horror, coming-of-age, end of summer, 188 pages - cool, I’m in! And let me tell you, I was pleasantly surprised by all the hidden dark secrets lurking in every corner. The mystery to get to the truth of the town is what completely drew me in. I was so intrigued by the weird mist at the end of the road and why locals couldn’t leave Hope Wharf while tourists were free to come and go as they please? And what was up with the fully stocked candy shop that just mysteriously popped up overnight? The secrets this town has are chilling and Towse does a good job of immersing you into the darkness and feeling what the main characters feel. Ryan in particular has a sixth sense of knowing about things, but it activates as a loud ringing in his ears and the descriptions in these scenes were so well written, I thought my ears were also ringing at some point!
I want to say so much more but I don’t want to spoil anything. The fun in reading this is to just go in blindly and watch as the layers peel back to reveal the frightening core of the mystery.
If you’re looking for an end of summer, beachy, coming-of-age horror dripping in evil and smelling of sweet candy, then Hope Wharf is the book for you!
This was my first book by this author and I’m so excited to read more by him! -
Hope Wharf is a town with no theft, no murder, no crime, and no escape for the residents. Everyone knows what happened to the only person who ever tried to leave, and nobody has attempted it since. Best friends Ryan and Zac aren't so sure this is true and set out to test what would happen if they try to get out. After all, tourists are welcome and they flock to this seaside town in droves. They are free to go home when their vacation ends but there may be a nefarious reason for that.
All of the residents are in on an ominous secret and as Ryan and Zac begin to uncover it things take a very unexpected path. This escalated quickly from a story about a boy who just wanted to know what life is like outside of his small town to something much darker. If you like small town horror as I do, then this is the book for you. You'll definitely think twice about your next summer vacation plan!
I received a complimentary copy for review. -
I went into this book blind and whoa. I can't even find the words to say how much I loved this. It's like I was there in Hope Wharf right along side of Ryan and Zac. Fantastic, amazing, riveting story.
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Soooo I just finished Hope Wharf and this tiny but mighty novella really took me on a bit of an emotional roller coaster ride and it went something like this:
Receives ARC of novella with two precious preteen boys on the cover.
Begins as a coming of age story in a sleepy seaside town. The boys know something is fishy and go all “Hardy Boys” trying to figure out the mystery of their town and why they can never leave.
Me, five pages into the book: “Ohhhh a little mystery. I like it, aww these kids are cute.”
Me two chapters from the end: “Screams at kindle, stops reading. Picks kindle back up. Has a coming to Jesus moment with where this plot is heading. Can’t believe what I’m reading. Finishes book. Reads ending again just to be sure. Cancels beachside vacations for the rest of my life. Chuckles at cleverness but will probably never sleep again.”
Y’ALL. Read this.
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Hope Wharf
Mark Towse
This book! Whoa! Ryan and Zac live in the picture perfect vacation town of Hope Wharf. The residents of Hope Wharf never leave, only the vacationers. Ryan and Zac know something is amidst and they investigate until they get down to the truth. First, I loved these teenage boys, they are full of life that jumps off the pages. I loved going along for the ride while they uncovered the secrets of Hope Wharf. But OMG, I didn’t see the ending coming. Do yourself a favor and pick up Hope Wharf, you will not be disappointed.
This is my first book by Mark Towse, and I plan on checking out Nana. Thank you Mark for the opportunity to read this amazing novella. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ -
Mark Towse is becoming one of my favorite authors and I can't get enough of his books.
Just like his previous book Nana, Hope Wharf may be short, but it carries a punch that'll stay with you for a long time.
Everyone has a favorite destination, and tourists can't get enough of the small beachy town of Hope Wharf. The town is literally infested by people looking for an escape to their busy and hectic lives, but for our protagonists it couldn't be farther than that. Imagine being trapped and nowhere to go, that is what Ryan and Zach feel. Best friends who couldn't be any more different.
To their surprise they may have encountered a secret that will put their friendship to the test, and it can even affect the fate of the world as they know it. This book was just so dark and unsettling, a coming of age that is far from peaches and cream. If you read this book make sure you sleep with one eye open. -
4.5🌟
A coming of age horror about a small seaside town that tourists visit during the summer. Once summer is over the tourists leave, but the locals can’t, and the small seaside town becomes dark and misty.
Two best friends, Ryan and Zac want to know if the rumors are true about not being able to leave Hope Wharf.
A well written, fast paced and creepy Novella that will take you on a wild ride.
Thank you Mark for the ARC.
I would Highly recommend Hope Wharf by Mark Towse. -
This was sort of a fabulously horrific slow burn. Or as slow burn as a novella can get. It wasn't rich with literary jump scares and gory moments like some of Towse's other works and although that was what I liked the most in his previous works, with Hope Wharf you just can't help but appreciate the slow building tension and dread. I guess it could be described as coming of age horror with a twist. And, lemme tell you, the twist is as effed up as it gets...All in all, another terrific story from Towse. 😁
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A huge thanks to Mark Towse for sending me a copy of Hope Wharf in exchange for a review. I'm officially hooked on his work and will automatically be buying anything he puts out. And if I'm being completely honest, novellas never appealed to me until I picked up Nana, another work of his.
With that being said, lets get to the real reason for this post, the review:
Welcome to Hope Wharf, a quiet and idyllic little vacation town where the residents never want to leave, even if they could. Ryan and his friend, Zac, however, begin to wonder why no one ever leaves. The friends begin their journey to see what it would be like to set foot outside of Hope Wharf, but Ryan has a feeling that something is very wrong.
So, Towse does it again and manages to make a perfect vacation town and a candy shop unnerving and just downright creepy. Even as a novella with just under 70 pages, Hope Wharf displays some impressive character development and a huge punch. -
"In Hope Wharf, coming of age means getting a part-time job with the Devil." Intrigued? I present to you "Hope Wharf" by Mark Towse. Ryan and Zac are best friends, exploring their beachy hometown in the wake of tourist season. There's only one road leading in and out of Hope Wharf, and no resident has ever been known to leave. With a crime rate of zero, who could imagine anything comparable? Zac could, and that's where their adventure from Hell begins. In a mission to step foot over the town's border, Ryan and Zac uncover multiple secrets regarding the town's history, their parents, and a strange little candy shop that just happened to appear, drawing every kid in like some kind of hypnosis. Mark Towse uses "Hope "Wharf to really drive home the fact that evil really does lurk everywhere, just waiting for it's prey to bite. Think you have what it takes to vacation here? I challenge you to take a trip to "Hope Wharf". Just be warned, DON'T EAT THE CANDY!
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T'was a hoot.
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I received this novella from the author to read and review and my what can I say, I was pleasantly surprised at how gripped I was by this read.
The story is of a seaside town of Hope Wharf where tourists flock every summer to enjoy the local food and beaches and sun, once their vacation is over they're go on their merry way , as for the locals? They are never allowed to leave , one local who did try met his untimely death.
The story follows two teenage boys Ryan and Zac who question why they can not leave the town resulting in them coming face to face with evil itself.
It's a coming of age novella with small town claustrophobia and a great disturbing twist at the end.
I recommend giving it a read, its fast paced and a fantastic read. -
I was listening to my husband play guitar as I read and during the final pages, he started playing Iron Maiden’s The Number of the Beast so that was a real treat. I don’t want to give too much away and spoil anything, but if you know you know.
This fast-paced tale follows Zac and Ryan who live in the isolated town of Hope Wharf, a popular tourist destination and a place where the locals never leave. Zac and Ryan spend the last weekend of summer vacation attempting to uncover the truth behind the town’s history - and get more than they bargained for. Like, by a lot.
This is a sweet, funny, coming-of-age story with lots of end-of-summer nostalgia, some paranormal mystery, and even some slasher elements thrown in. It sounds like a lot but it works. Huge, huge thank you to the author, Mark Towse, for sending this my way. -
Another fantastic horror novella from Mark Towse! Combine coming of age with a quirky little tourist town, a creepy candy shop and the Devil, and you are in for a wild ride. I love how Towse took some of these familiar horror elements and made them completely original again. Ryan and Zac are a great pair of characters, and the supporting characters are equally entertaining and unnerving.
This novella firmly plants Towse as a must read horror author for me.
Thank you to the author for a complimentary digital copy in exchange for review. (P.S. I may never look at candy the same way again!!). -
If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times; Mark Towse is an absolute master storyteller. I’ve read every single release of his I could get my hands on, after reading “Nana,” earlier this year. Every time I finish reading one of his works, I feel like a giddy kid who got exactly what they were hoping for and “Hope Wharf,” is no exception. The scenery, the friendship, the mystery, the journey and THAT ENDING! I loved it! I have a newborn baby at home, so any free time I have is sacred and must be methodically used, mostly for catching up on sleep or showering, but I dedicated all of that precious time today to sitting down and reading this wonderful story. I’m so glad I did! I just can’t wait for whatever Towse has coming our way, next!
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This is a coming of age story combined with an uncanny mystery happening in a small town. I didn't know anything about the story and that worked in it's favor.
Towse is a new author to me and I really enjoyed his attention to details. He is strong with his pen. The story is well-written, there are vivid descriptions and he manages to pack a punch in a few pages.
Enjoyable and fast paced read that kept my attention. I'm looking forward to read more from Mark Towse. -
Towse continues to stay ahead of the reader and end with a jaw dropper. A distorted coming-of-age tale that everyone should read during the summer months.
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4,5*
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An absolute must read! Unlike any coming of age story I've read
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I really enjoyed the story and the vibe of Hope Wharf, it was intruguing and parts of it were reminiscent of Something Wicked This Way Comes - the friendship, the coming-of-age element, and the evil that settles in the heart of a small town. I would have loved to read more about the backstory, that part felt a bit rushed for me, but the ending was great! Very dark and surprising, I really loved it.
If you're looking for a quick read, perfect for the spooky season, give Hope Wharf a try. -
"'I keep expecting to see a red balloon or hear whispering from the sewers.'"
I really, really enjoyed this book! It reminded me a lot of a Stephen King, coming-of-age story. The two main protagonists are teen boys who are well-written. They act and talk like kids their age should and I wanted to hug them and help smuggle them out of Hope Wharf. This was a really quick read and I can't wait to read more from Mark Towse. -
Hope Wharf is a small town with around 200 locals. Tourists flock there every summer, enjoying local food, beautiful beaches, and basking in the sun. Once summer is over they’re on their way. Sounds perfect right? Well, locals are never allowed to leave. The one local, Tommy who tried to leave, met with his untimely demise.
Ryan and Zac are the best of pals. Ryan is quiet, anxious and shy, the complete opposite of Zac. But Ryan has a special talent, one that can sense when something isn’t right. Together, Ryan and Zac question why they cant leave this island, ultimately coming face to face with evil itself.
Let’s start by saying this book caught me off-guard. I literally had no idea where it was going to go and I’m not disappointed. That ending 👏👏 I won’t spoil it 😈
Hope Wharf is a coming of age story with a disturbing twist. The setting, the history of the island, mysterious fog, creepy candy stores and tar black eyes all add to the overall ambience.
The author writes eloquently with a lot of descriptors and detail that brings the story together. I could feel the anxiety, the fear, the dread.
One of the key fears played on in this novella is claustrophobia and Towse executed it with finesse. I’m not even claustrophobic and I wanted to get off of that island haha
Towse drops a moral issue on the reader too. Would you do something you know is horrible if it means a cozy life for you, your family and friends? What if you’re life depended on it? Something to ponder as you read the story. I love a good book that makes me think. 💡
Ryan and Zac are both like-able characters and it’s easy for the reader to root for them, as well as sympathize for them.
Dialogue between the boys is natural and entertaining.
Oh and as a fan girl of Pennywise,I appreciated this line in the book;
“I keep expecting to see a red balloon or hear whispering from the sewers.” 🤡🎈I always love a good King reference.
This novella is a quick, fast paced read and definitely a hidden gem 💎 -
I was contacted by Mark Towse in regards for exchanging a copy for an honest review, which was instantly a yes from me, after loving his previous novel, Nana.
Hope Wharf is a peaceful small town filled with beautiful sceneries of water, home of two hundred residents & is a summer time attraction for tourists. Sounds pleasant right? No. No it’s not.
The novella follows Ryan and Zac, two best friends who are trying to uncover the mystery that surrounds their idyllic town. The rumour of the locals, a myth that the residents aren’t allowed to leave, and that one of the residents who tried was found dead, stirs both Ryan and Zac on a gateway of figuring out what’s wrong with Hope Wharf.
After reading the blurb, I thought I knew what I was in for, but this novella took twists and turns I was not expecting or at all prepared for. This really holds up as a great paranormal mystery, that leaves you eagerly wanting to know the truth behind little old Hope Wharf. The characters were written so well, Towse really knows how to make you relate back to when you were a kid. The humour, bonding and relationships both friends had felt so genuine, and took me back to when I was a bairn, trying to uncover my own little mysteries with my friends.
I may also state that this novella has great descriptions of candy, which left me feeling rather hungry. I mean it, the sweets in this story were stuff I would dream of when I was a child.
Overall, this book has a great mix of humour & scares, and a whole lot of “what the f*ck is going on?”
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HOPE WHARF is a fast-paced and mysterious story of two teens trying to figure out why their town is so peculiar. The premise of this one is super unique and reminds me of two of my favorite YA books that share the same kind of idea — residents of the town are perpetually stuck within its borders, unable to leave. Tourists can come and go as they wish, but never the locals.
The story is one big mystery wrapped up in smaller mysteries, and I loved the oddness of the tale. It’s a fairy quick read, under 200 pages, and the pacing was perfectly timed to leave you in suspense when needed. The characters were delightful, and I loved their tenacity and their wonderful friendship. The fictional town of Hope Wharf was so realistically portrayed and so well-imagined that it was easy to lose yourself in this strange town, right alongside the characters. It was almost a character in itself, and I think the town was probably my favorite part of this little story.
Bottom line — mysterious, strange, and fun all at once, HOPE WHARF is a tale that will keep you entertained from start to finish. 4 stars, and I’ll certainly be checking out more from this author.
*Many thanks to author for providing a copy for review. -
I absolutely love it when I go into a book not knowing what to expect and it turns out to be so good that I'm actually a bit giddy with happiness. This was one of those books.
It's a short little novella but it packs a punch. A seaside town that comes alive in the summer and is shrouded in mist the rest of the year. Tourists can come and go but the residents of town must stay within the boundaries or horrible things happen. Two teenage boys, Ryan and Zac, are determined to find out if the rumors are true or not and find themselves deep in some seriously messed up stuff. Sinister mists from the sea, shop owners with tar black eyes, and a candy store straight from hell mix together with secrets and ancient evils to make a compelling story that you won't want to put down.
With strong King-esque coming-of-age vibes and small-town-claustrophobia, this was a great read. -
Having read quite a few of Mark’s short stories, I was excited to try his longer form work and wasn’t disappointed with this one.
There are so many ideas in this novella. There’s a sinister small seaside town the local’s cannot escape from, there’s a strange mist in the air from the sea, a creepy sweet shop owner and the looming shadow of the town mental asylum which was torn down years ago.
All of it is told from the perspective of two teenagers enjoying the last days of summer. It’s got nostalgia, foreboding and a mythology that is ripe for a prequel prison break tale.
You won’t find Hope Wharf on Tripadvisor. It’s a devil of a place to find!
Think The League of Gentlemen meets IT.
