Book Review - The Village Midwife by Tilly Tennant

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Title: The Village Midwife

Author: Tilly Tennant

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Bookouture

Publication Date: 20th June 2025

Rating: 4 Stars

Welcome to Thimblebury, the charming stone village nestled in the rolling hills of the Lake District, where midwife Zoe is hoping for a bright new beginning…

When midwife Zoe Padbury moves into Kestrel Cottage, high on a misty hill above the village of Thimblebury, everyone rallies round to make sure she doesn’t feel lonely. And as she begins her job at the doctor’s surgery, dealing with expectant mums and helping to bring newborns into the world, warmth begins to flood back into her battered and broken heart.

But the evenings are long and as Zoe sits on her cornflower-blue sofa, looking at the golden peaks crowned by clouds, she can’t help but wish she had someone to share her new life with. Her ex-husband treated her badly, but it’s still hard to resist his warm and loving messages begging for a second chance.

Distraction arrives when she meets Alex out walking his shaggy grey dog, and discovers that he will be moving in next door. As she chats to Alex, Zoe finds it hard to ignore his thick dark hair and eyes the colour of chocolate, and her heart clenches at the worried frown that creases his brow.

She soon learns why Alex is anxious when she pays his pregnant daughter a home visit and learns of the tragedy that has brought them to Thimblebury. Zoe is no stranger to sadness, and as she and Alex lean on each other, a tentative spark begins to flicker.

But when Alex gets the wrong idea and thinks Zoe has betrayed his trust, followed by Zoe’s ex appearing on her doorstep, swearing he’s a changed man, will that spark be snuffed out? Coming to the Lake District was meant to be a fresh start for Zoe. But what if the pull of her old life is too overwhelming to resist?

A completely beautiful and life-affirming read that will sweep you up, steal your heart and remind you that new love and hope could be just around the corner. Fans of Jessica Redland and Shari Low will fall head over heels for The Village Midwife.

It's been a while since I last sat down with a Tilly Tennant novel and having just finished The Village Midwife I'm struggling to figure out why it is I've not read her for a while. 

As I thoroughly enjoyed every second of The Village Midwife, with perhaps the exception of Ritchie! But then you really aren't meant to like Ritchie who is Zoe's soon to be divorced ex-husband. 

Although this is a first book in a series, and thus in theory it should standalone, in reality its a companion series to The Village Nurse which is a trilogy focusing on Zoe's best from Ottilie and presumably gives us a better idea of the dynamics of the others at the doctor's surgery, and perhaps more about some of the people in the village. 

I hadn't read the other series and thus although I didn't feel at all lost in this one, I did at times just wish I knew a bit more about these characters and I regret not having read the other books (I'm not one that can ever go backwards though). 

Like me, Zoe and Alex are new to Thimblebury, and as new neighbours it is only natural they seem to see a fair a bit of each other. Especially since Alex's daughter Billie is pregnant and Zoe is her midwife! 

It was a pleasure getting to know Thimblebury and its residents, the mothers that Zoe is looking after, and her other neighbours Connie and Victor who are fabulous.  

There is a very gentle romance plot, which I hope to see more of in the next book, which I will be starting reading shortly after finishing this review! This is a lovely opening to a series, that was a joy to read. 

Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.