518 Hope Ave by Megan Wade

Ezra is a proud man. After giving up his dreams of college to take care of his siblings, he knows what Struggle Street looks like. But as a resident of Hope Avenue, Cherry Falls, he does his best to cling to the thought that things will get better…one day. If he can manage to hold down two jobs, run a house, replace the washing machine and keep his siblings alive long enough to see that happen…
That’s when Quinn steps in.
As the receptionist at Cherry Hills elementary school, Quinn knows firsthand how hard Ezra’s life is. Not only can she see it in his face, but she lived a similar past herself and empathizes more than he knows. So when the end of year school events cause Ezra and his siblings to struggle, it’s a generous tip from Quinn that is the difference between financial ruin and the ability to survive another week.
Accepting the help is hard for a man like Ezra. He’s always gone it alone and struggles letting other people in. But if he can just take a chance, maybe he’ll find that the curvy school receptionist with the infectious smile is exactly the kind of help he needs.