Jo Bartlett's “Finding Friends at the Cornish Country Hospital” is a nice clean read that explores friendship, love, and life's challenges in a heartwarming way. It has two narratives: Esther Hamilton is an A&E nurse navigating life after a breakup, and her mother Caroline is searching for purpose in retirement and a suddenly distant marriage.
The growing friendship between Esther and Joe Carter, her best friend's brother, adds a tender touch of rediscovered love to the story. While there is a bit of a romance, this may leave more heavy romance readers wanting more depth in the primary romantic subplot. Also, starting with the first book in this series may enhance enjoyment for new readers as recurring characters are reintroduced, but they don't overshadow in any way.
Bartlett's storytelling is simple and moving. The book handles heavy topics with sensitivity, including ageing, mental health, physical health, infidelity, death, and grief, providing readers with a touching and insightful experience. The first half of the book is especially loaded, so please check for trigger warnings - but know that there are more bright spots later on as well.
With engaging storytelling and thoughtful exploration of ageing, friendship, and romance, Finding Friends at the Cornish Country Hospital earns a solid four-star rating.
A big thank you to Boldwood and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
