It took a while to get into this book, didn't enjoy it as much as previous books by this authot but glad i persevered to the end

Joanna Nell never disappoints, I love her stories, her characters and the way the weaves them all together. Another brilliant tale enjoy.

Another cosy, easy to read tale that’s perfect for those looking to escape for a while.

It’s a delightful tale of volunteers at a hospital cafe, each with their own issues and hang ups and daily dramas. This author has a fabulous skill of making the mundane interesting and amusing in all her books and this is no exception. A special mention must also be made for the chapter titles - wonderful!

Definitely recommend and thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to preview. Wishing you all every success.

Thank you to Netgalley for a pre publication copy. In return for an honest review #thetealadiesofstjudeshospital #netgalley

Hilary is recently separated after her husband was declared bankrupt and kept it from her. She's gone to live with her eccentric sister Nancy. In the house they inherited from their parents. The only thing keeping Hilary together is her volunteer role as manageress of the cafe at St Jude's hospital. Volunteering alongside her is the beautifully dressed to the hilt Joy. Who looks after her sick Husband. As well as Chloe who is volunteering for her Duke of Edinburgh award in order to study medicine. Although this isn't her passion in life. Will they be able to work together? Whilst keeping their own skeletons in the closet.

The title drew me to this book. I enjoy reading medical related books which not only deal with the hospital staff but also patients of the hospital and their carers.

Although this book is a light hearted read. Their are some emotional subjects included such as bankruptcy, cancer, lies, illness and death amongst more. However the author doesn't go into that much detail of each subject but uses it to just give some dimension to each individual characters strengths and weaknesses.

The concept of the story is great and particularly in the second half it provides many tears, laughs and thoughts particularly about your own life journey. It opens up passageways for the most unlikely friendships to occur through mutual understanding. As well as showing that sometimes being around like minded people and helping others, in whatever capacity, gives you some meaning to what could be a very lonely existence otherwise.

However I found the book to have a slow and confusing start. Each character was giving their own point of view but in a way which hid a lot from the reader. I can see that the author was trying to keep the reader wanting more, allowing for twists and turns to show each character unfold. However it made you feel like you had half of each individual scene and left you needing to make the other half up. To reduce the confusion, move the scene forward and prevent you feeling like you had to re read the same sentence multiple times. I do think that rather than naming each title it may have helped to give them the character name because each character did tend to have their own chapter in the beginning anyway.

Furthermore some parts of the story you were waiting for more. Particularly the back stories to each character. Which were only hinted at throughout the book, these could have done with being expanded to give a more holistic approach and understanding to each character. I felt there was not enough detail which did prevent you forming bonds with the characters early on. Even at the end when you knew more you felt that you'd only got one side of the information. Which could have delved into some very difficult but important topics further.

I found this book very hard to rate. What was given to the reader was solid and the book built a beautiful story. With great and unexpected turns after about half way through right until the last page. As well as providing some emotional storylines which show the variation of characters at St Jude's. However there remained parts, in the first half particularly, where the reader is left wanting more of a backstop and were left very confused about each character. Therefore I feel this book is a 3.5 Stars out of 5. As opposed to a solid amount stars.

The Margery Marshall Memorial cafeteria at Saint Jude's Hospital has been there for years. Under the management of Hilary they provide a quiet have & raise money for things for the hospital. Hilary once had a rather up-market lifestyle but after her husband went bankrupt she has ended up living with her sister. She & volunteer Joy are in their later years but whereas Hilary is somewhat staid & super organised Joy is a somewhat clumsy, brightly dressed woman who was definitely aptly named. The story starts when teenage Chloe arrives to volunteer as part of her Duke of Edinburgh award. She is the daughter of important doctors, sister of two student doctors- who would much rather take photos! When the hospital board decide that the entrance needs updating with an all singing all dancing café & a reflection hub where their cafeteria is now the unlikely trio band together to keep the Margery Marshall Memorial cafeteria going- after all Saint Jude is the patron saint of hopeless causes isn't he?

This was a lovely heart-warming story. At times really funny but with moments that have you reaching for the tissues this was a lovely cosy read. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

This is a really heart warming about woman's friendship, how it can be found in the unlikely of places,; and how much it can help you see things differently.

This Tea Ladies really stuck with me after finishing. So much so I actually baked scones in their honour.

I thoroughly enjoyed the tea ladies and their approach to life. The author created such an entertaining book; it’s funny, witty and full of emotion. I couldn’t get through it fast enough.

Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton for the arc.

I blitzed through this book over the weekend as I just could not get enough. Light and witty I enjoyed every second. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Take three disparate tea ladies: Hilary, Joy and Chloe. They each have a secret, a troubling personal problem they daren’t share with others. They are in diverse circumstances and from different generational divides, but become united in their desire to save the Marjory Marshall Cafeteria which is under threat of being phased out in favour of a more sophisticated well known coffee chain.

The cafeteria is decidedly shabby and stuck in the past, but the volunteer tea ladies perform a valuable service for relatives, patients and staff as they serve out sympathy, kindness, compassion and support, as well as food and drink, and raise funds for various charitable causes.

Hilary is a strict manageress who rules with an iron fist. Her reduced circumstances force her to live with her sister Nancy who she struggles to get on with. Though Nancy’s behaviour provides much of the humorous highlights in the story, it also provokes and irritates Hilary enormously.

She’s prone to taking her frustrated feelings out on Joy as she remonstrates over her daily tardiness, and privately tuts at her vibrantly dyed hair, the flamboyant wardrobe she wears and the jangly bracelets hanging off her wrists. Chloe, the Duke of Edinburgh volunteer, learns how to escape Hilary’s wrath and warms to the motherly Joy while they are working together.

The threat of closure initially makes the tea ladies feel resigned to their fate, until they decide to fight back. Hilary’s protective side comes to the forefront as she lashes management with her acerbic tongue, and succeeds in roping in extra resources and help. Joy and Chloe join her in thinking of imaginative ways to spruce up the place and plead for its continuance.

This is an enjoyable, heartwarming read which draws the reader in with a blend of great storytelling, fascinating, relatable characters, tenderness and wit. There are laugh out loud moments and instances where you might want to cry as it plays on your emotions. Another winner from Joanna Nell.

Another sweet, feel-good read from Joanna Nell.

This is a story of friendship and community - set in an somewhat out of date hospital cafe. The three tea ladies are all completely different and fun characters, all bringing their own issues to share and solve.

A gentle and cosy book to relax with.

I loved this book since the first pages. I laughed, rooted for the ladies, was moved and had a lot of fun.
The Tea Ladies are great trio of seniors: fleshed out, well written and relatable.
The plot is gripping and compelling, perfect if you want a life affirming and entertaining story.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I thoroughly enjoyed Joanna Nell's previous books so had great hopes for this book. I was not disappointed as The Tea Ladies is another character driven, feel-good story about three very different woman, supporting one another as they fight for the survival of the hospital cafe where they volunteer.

I love the way Joanna Nell writes about older people, showing that they are still of value to society and able to forge meaningful relationships and friendships with those from very different generations, beliefs and backgrounds.

A heart-warming book that is easy to read but keeps you wanting to turn those pages.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy in return for an honest review.

EXCERPT: This wasn't how she'd pictured her life ending. With the red light looming ahead and the car showing no signs of slowing, she prayed it would be a swift and painless exit. Hilary had contemplated death as often as any woman of her age, she imagined, but she'd always envisaged slipping away peacefully in her sleep. In the event of an accident she would have preferred something more glamorous and befitting a woman of her worldliness, say negotiating a hairpin bend in the mountains above Monaco, being eaten by a lion on a private safari or mauled by a polar bear on an arctic cruise. Not in the passenger seat of a thirty-year-old Ford at the hands of her own sister.

ABOUT 'THE TEA LADIES OF ST. JUDE'S HOSPITAL': The Marjorie Marshall Memorial Cafeteria has been serving refreshments and raising money at the hospital for over fifty years, long after anybody can remember who Marjorie Marshall actually was. Staffed by successive generations of dedicated volunteers, the beloved cafeteria is known as much for offering a kind word and sympathetic ear (and often unsolicited life advice) as for its tea and buns.

Stalwart Hilary has worked her way up through the ranks to Manageress; Joy has been late every day since she started as the cafeteria's newest recruit. She doesn't take her role as 'the intern' quite as seriously as Hilary would like but there's no doubt she brings a welcome pop of personality. Seventeen-year-old Chloe, the daughter of two successful surgeons, is volunteering during the school holidays because her mother thinks it will look good on her CV.

Chloe is at first bewildered by the two older women but soon realises they have a lot in common, not least that each bears a secret pain. When they discover the cafeteria is under threat of closure, this unlikely trio must band together to save it.

MY THOUGHTS: What wonderful characters! But then that's Joanna Nell's forte - engaging, endearing, relatable characters enmeshed in everyday situations which are dealt with with empathy and humour.

Hilary is Manageress of the hospital cafeteria, staffed by volunteers, which raises money for various projects around the hospital. Once 'a lady who lunches', she has fallen on harder times but is determined not to let standards slip. She micromanages, certain that no one knows better than her. But she may just have met her match in Joy, who lives up to her name and who knows that there's more than one way to skin a cat or, in this case, make changes for the better in a cafeteria that's stuck in a time warp. They're assisted by student Chloe, volunteering as part of the Duke of Edinburgh scheme, a girl with little self confidence but a range of talents that will come to the fore in the battle to save their workplace.

These three very different women, who all have their own problems, unite to preserve a piece of the hospital's history when firstly it's threatened by the opening of a cafè chain against whom they must complete, and then by total closure. While the fate of the cafeteria may seem inevitable, it is not something that these three are willing to accept so they muster their meagre resources to take on the hospital hierarchy, making startling discoveries about themselves and their loved ones in the process.

The Tea Ladies of St. Jude's is a heartwarming story about human resilience and determination served with lashings of humour and plenty of Joy's light fluffy scones. I loved it. In between bouts of laughter, my heart bled for each of these women, I cheered on each of these women, and when I finished this book I did so with a tear in my eye, a smile on my face, and wondering if we will get to read about Joy's adventures in the future.

Highly recommended.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.3

#TheTeaLadiesofStJudesHospital #NetGalley

I: @joanna_nell_writer @hodderbooks

T: @jo_nell_writer @HodderBooks

#australianfiction #contemporaryfiction #sliceoflife

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. (Amazon)

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Tea Ladies of St. Jude's Hospital by Joanna Nell for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage

I loved this book. It has an interesting plot with some unexpected turns, and well-drawn, three dimensional characters. I especially loved the tea ladies, each with their own problems, but there were loveable people among the other characters as well. I was sorry when I finished the book and had to leave St. Jude's cafeteria. I highly recommend it.

As usual from this author, three new characters that bring warmth to the story.
Three coming from completely different backgrounds volunteer in the hospital cafe.
All is well until the powers that be, decide to close it and replace it with one from chain branch.
Putting their heads together, can they save this memorial cafe?
A great relaxing read.

A wonderful tale of the volunteers in the café of St Jude's hospital. Looking into their lives away from the escape of the café.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. This book made me smile and laugh and I absolutely loved it, would recommend this to other readers especially now with what is happening in the world

Hilary, Joy and Chloe are the characters we meet in this enjoyable new book from Joanna Neal. They are all troubled in their own way - Hilary has left her husband, Joy can’t let go of hers, and Chloe has her parents expectations resting heavily on her shoulders. Based in the Marjorie Marshall Memorial Cafeteria in St Judes Hospital, this story weaves nicely through their lives both at home and in the cafe. When they find that they are being closed down to make way for renovations, they are determined not to be sidelined.

This is a really enjoyable, cosy read, with relatable characters, a heart warming narrative and it just made me happy to read it. We all need time to sit and take stock - of ourselves, of others and just generally to ’chill’. A lovely way spend a few hours.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This is an enjoyable read. It features three women, Hilary, Joy and Chloe who are from different generations but work together in an old fashioned Hospital Cafeteria. When the Cafeteria is threatened with closure, the three Women unite and form an unlikely friendship. All of the Women have problems but they put them aside to help each other.
This is emotional in places, and heartwarming but also has humour and happiness. It is a good book, well written with great characters.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for my ARC.

This is the fourth book in this series that I have been lucky enough to review, and Joanna Nell knows about the older generation, in a very good way. She understands how we feel, either being ignored or being taken advantage of, how we become overwhelmed by modern technology, yet know countless Nursery rhymes off by heart, and how true and loyal we are to friends in their hour of need.
I have had a difficult year, and really appreciate my two best friends. One gives me tea and uplifting chatter, the other, large measures of Gin and Lemonade, by which time , we only have the ability to fall about in fits of giggles!!
This story is set in the Marjorie Marshall Cafeteria, attached to St. Jude’s hospital. It is past its prime,, but run by Hilary the formidable, fault seeking manageress. Recently divorced, she hides a secret, that would affect her reputation, and lives with her sister Nancy, a chain smoking, atrocious driver, who provides some genuinely laugh out loud moments!! Joy is her second in command, chaotic, colourfully attired in dress and hair dye, clumsy, but she has a heart of gold. I would love some cuddles from her!! She also has a secret, that does bring a tear to the eye, and a rather substantial lump to the throat. Chloe, is a student, she has volunteered to work in the cafeteria in order to gain credits towards a University degree course in Medicine. Both her parents are surgeons, likewise her brothers, but Chloe would rather do photography, mainly due to the fact, that the sight of blood makes her pass out, not good for dealing with operations!!
When the cafeteria is threatened with closure, all three work colleagues find hidden talents and , respect for their different life stories as they fight to keep it open.
Joanna Nell really tells us that older people should be respected, they have an enormous capacity for friendships, a sense of the absurd, maybe a sense of freedom to become older disgracefully, dress how they want to, and to enjoy life. We may knit for charity, bake cakes as fundraisers, raise funds for dog rescue centres, but, we also campaign for mental health issues, collect donations for disasters, and work in charity shops as volunteers, for friendship and to alleviate loneliness. We are also more confident in meeting people, and would rather enjoy a long natter than stare at a phone screen all day. We please ourselves and it can be liberating, but we also know how quickly time passes by.
A lovely warm hearted story to uplift the spirit. It is a cosy story of friendships, support and loyalty. A book to curl up with. A five star read indeed.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers Hodder and Stoughton for my digital copy in exchange for my honest, unbiased review. I will leave a review to Goodreads and Amazon.