Anthea Allen's "Life, Death and Biscuits" is more than just another pandemic memoir. It is a raw, honest, and deeply moving account of life as a critical care nurse during the COVID-19 crisis. Allen's diary entries, initially shared via emails to friends and family, provide a unique and intimate perspective on the frontlines of the battle against the virus.

Allen does not shy away from the harsh realities of her job. She expresses the fear, exhaustion, and emotional toll of witnessing profound suffering and loss. However, she also emphasizes the moments of hope, resilience, and camaraderie that kept her and her colleagues motivated.

The book is filled with stories of individual patients, each facing their own unique struggles and triumphs. Allen treats them all with compassion and dignity, reminding us that behind the statistics are real people with families and loved ones.

Despite the darkness of the subject matter, Allen finds moments of humor and levity. This not only makes her narrative more engaging but also underscores the significance of finding joy amid adversity.

While "Life, Death and Biscuits" powerfully reflects the COVID-19 pandemic, it is also a testament to the strength and resilience of the human spirit. Allen's story showcases courage, compassion, and unwavering dedication to her patients. It serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by healthcare workers during this crisis and pays tribute to their steadfast commitment to saving lives.

This book is a must-read for anyone wishing to understand the true impact of the pandemic on healthcare workers and their patients. It is a powerful and moving story that will linger in your mind long after you finish reading it. Readers should be aware that the book addresses difficult and emotionally charged topics, which may not be suitable for everyone.

In summary, "Life, Death and Biscuits" is an essential read that highlights the resilience of the human spirit and emphasizes the importance of compassion and empathy in the face of adversity.

My thanks to Harper Collins UK and NetGalley for a copy of “ Life ,Death,And Biscuits “ for an honest review .

I’m reading this years after the COVID pandemic . It’s shocking to be reminded how awful things were for those working in the NHS .This was a heartbreaking book to read and very powerful. I remember thinking at the time that things would never go back to normal, so I’m relieved how relatively quickly they did, but we should never forget those we lost and how much debt we owe to those who worked to try and save those suffering.
A heart wrenching, but necessary read

An outstanding insight into the real front line of our wonderful NHS nurses working during Covid. Thank you to Anthea Allen for sharing her story and reminding us all just how wonderful our NHS is.

Interesting true account of a nurses role on the wards during covid..
Often harrowing and heartbreaking it chronicles what medical staff went through during these difficult times.

This book wasn’t for me. I have worked in a similar place during covid and I felt this book just wasn’t representative of what it was like

Powerful epistolary memoir based on the diaries of Anthea Allen, an intensive care nurse who was amongst those at the front line of the covid pandemic.

Anthea felt compelled to email her contacts in her local community to ask for donations of biscuits to boost staff morale during their relentless battle against the unknown, complicated and deadly virus, Covid-19.

Donations far exceeded her expectations, and people loved to read her email, so she continued to send regular updates. These form the basis of this memoir and provide fly-on-the-wall insights into the struggles these brave men and women continue to face.

Really interesting to see the covid pandemic told from the other side. Shocking the conditions the nurses had to work through.

This memoir is urgently needed. It shows the very best of public service and also shows why the NHS is needed as a service.

When Covid arrived no one knew what it was or what to expect. The nhs was already on its knees and this horrid virus pushed the nhs to breaking point. However the dedicated nurses, dr, and hospital staff went above and beyond to try and save as many people as they could from this virus.

This book is a very Rae, very real , very honest account of what it was life on the ‘factory floor’ so to speak at a hospital were our dedicated nurses where putting their own lives at risk for the sake of other.

I urge you to read this. It ain’t pretty , it real, it’s life during covid,

I am a community hospital matron and I think everyone should read this book as it truly reflects what it is to be a nurse,they are there no matter what. This book is sad, funny and inspirational., thank you for showing what all nurses have gone through during this pandemic regardless of where they work as I agree it has taken its toll especially on staffs mental health, but between the stress there has been laughter, friendship and the burning desire to help people.

A nurses way of making it through the pandemic, an honest raw account for someone who had to face more than others. Seems relevant at the moment with the possible NHS nurses strike about to happen. I work for the NHS through the pandemic but nothing opens your eyes more than reading the words this nurse wrote. Literally her heart on the pages.

Heartbreaking, fascinating, and important. The sacrifice and commitment shown by NHS nursing staff is always humbling and immense, but hearing about the pandemic from a frontline voice was on another level. Anthea Allen's memoir is shocking, touching, illuminating and raw.

I was touched by this intimate account of what it has been like working on Covid wards during the height of the pandemic. However, I found this too raw and emotional to finish. The book did highlight the critical role that nurses and even non-medical staff played during a time of heightened need for NHS services nationally. I genuinely believe more should be done for NHS staff, rather than just a 'clap for carers' initiative.

Really interesting insight into life on a Critical Care ward during the start of the Covid pandemic.

I found this book an incredibly powerful and insightful read in to what it was like to be on the front line during the pandemic. It is not easy reading but it is definitely a book that we should all read. I would absolutely recommend it.

The story of a front-line ICU nurse during the Covid pandemic should have been gripping. However, whilst the boots on ground stories were fascinating and the impact on staff was impactive, I found the book repetitive, especially in relation to the ‘email’ chapters. Whilst the emails that she composed during the pandemic to keep people updated were probably helpful and interesting at the time, when they are set out in a book, it just highlighted that the same areas were being covered again and again (probably didn’t matter when there were long periods of time between the emails).

I usually like a work based memoir, but this one just missed the mark for me.

I was really looking forward to reading Life, Death and Biscuits by Anthea Allen, a nurses perspective on working in covid. Being a nurse myself I thought it would be a great book however I did not enjoy it. I found it very repetitive, I wasn’t interested in how many biscuits she was eating. I gave up on it after a few chapters, sorry not for me.

Unfortunately this book was not for me, it was a bit slower than I would like and it just didn't hold my attention. I am sure other people will love it!

An excellent memoir of working on the frontline during the Covid 19 pandemic. This was an emotional read and at times very personal to me.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in return for an honest and unbiased opinion.

Thank you NetGalley for letting me review this book, It was an interesting insight into the very hardworking staff of the NHS during the time when they were most under pressure - the COVID-19 lockdowns. I'm astounded that the government thought you could spend "claps" at the supermarket, to pay your bills etc. They certainly did not show their appreciation with a pay rise.