Book Review - The Tea Ladies of St Jude's Hospital by Joanna Nell - #HolidayReading Fuerteventura

 The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Amazon UK

Title: The Tea Ladies of St Jude's Hospital

Author: Joanna Nell

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Publication Date: 3rd March 2022

Rating: 4 Stars

Three unlikely friends. One chance to save the community. It might just be the perfect blend....

The Marjorie Marshall Memorial Cafeteria is at the heart of St Jude's Hospital. Staffed by successive generations of dedicated volunteers, for over fifty years the beloved cafeteria has been serving up a kind word and sympathetic ear along with tea and scones.

Hilary, the stalwart Manageress, has worked her way up through the ranks; Joy, the latest recruit, is driving Hilary mad by arriving late every day; and seventeen-year-old Chloe, the daughter of two successful surgeons, is volunteering in the holidays and bemused by the older women.

But when they discover the cafeteria is under threat of closure, the unlikely trio must put aside their differences. As they realise the secrets and sorrows they have in common, the women grow closer - but can they bring the community together and save the day?

Full of wisdom and warmth, The Tea Ladies of St Jude's Hospital is a gorgeously poignant, hilarious story about unlikely friendships, growing old disgracefully, and coming together to save the things we love...

This is a book that grew on me as the story progressed.  I loved getting to know Hilary, Joy and Chloe, as they form a stronger bond than just work colleagues when the hospital cafeteria that they work in comes under threat. 

All three ladies are hiding things in their personal lives, Hilary's as readers we know about up front, Chloe's is fairly simple to guess, and Joy I had an inkling before it was revealed to the others and to the reader. 

Seeing Hilary's personality mellow a bit, while suddenly being up for a fight and for a change in her ways was wonderful and I loved the community effort in the hope that the cafeteria wont' go under. 

We got to know some of the regulars and some of the doctors too at St Jude's hospital, and it was just a really lovely story that left me feeling happy that I had read it. 

Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.