Book Synopsis:
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…
My Review:
I’m a huge fan of this author and have loved all her previous books. So you can imagine my excitement when I heard that she had a new book coming out. The Tea Ladies Of St Jude’s Hospital is a heartwarming, uplifting reading that I really enjoyed.
Firstly I absolutely loved the three main characters that made up the Tea Ladies. They seemed so different to each other and so fractured at the beginning that it was wonderful to see them coming slowly together throughout the book. I enjoyed getting to know them all a little better, gradually learning more about their past and their secrets as the story went on.
The story goes along at a good pace and there always seemed to be something happening to keep my interest. I loved following the girls as they battled to try and save their beloved cafe and not let the big corporations win. The descriptions of some of their actions and some of the food served at the new restaurant was hilarious. I often found myself laughing out loud as I read much to the amusement of my kids.
I have to admit I had guessed the ending fairly early on but that was half the fun of the book for me that I could relax and just enjoy the story. I liked the way the book ended and I closed the book happy but missing my Tea Lady friends.
Huge thanks to Hodder for my copy of this book.
About The Author:
Joanna Nell was born in the Midlands and graduated from Oxford University with a medical degree in 1991.
In 2003 she moved to Australia where she now works as a GP with a passion for women’s health and care of the elderly.
Joanna writes character-driven stories of self-discovery for women of a certain age, creating young-at-heart characters who break the rules and defy society’s expectations.
She lives on Sydney’s Northern Beaches with her husband and two children. THE SINGLE LADIES OF JACARANDA VILLAGE is her first novel.
Over The Rainbow Blog 
This sounds lovely, just my kind of read. I haven’t read anything by this author before.
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Aw… sounds sweet. I could use some sweet fun these days.
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