The Tea Ladies of St Jude's Hospital - by Joanna Nell (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

The heartwarming and hilarious new novel by the author of cherished bestsellers, The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village and The Great Escape from Woodlands Nursing Home

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.

'Engaging. Takes readers on a sweet journey' The Australian
'The Tea Ladies is a delight. Warm characters and observations and great pace' AMANDA HAMPSON
'Another funny, warm-hearted read' Herald Sun

Praise for the novels of Joanna Nell:
'Tender and funny'Woman's Weekly
'Whip-smart dialogue, humour and sarcasm ... highly addictive' Sun Herald
'Lively and whimsical' Sydney Morning Herald

Review Quotes

---[ONLINE] Book'd Out, Blogger

---[ONLINE] Bookishtk, Blogger

---[ONLINE] Great Reads and Tea Leaves, Blogger

---[ONLINE] Hit the Road Jacq, Blogger

---[ONLINE] I Have No Shelf Control, Blogger

---[ONLINE] Just So Stories, Blogger

---[ONLINE] Maya Linnell Writes, Blogger

---[ONLINE] Read By Vanessa, Blogger

---[ONLINE] Stacey and Emmett, Review

---NATIONAL [PRINT] Good Reading

heartwarming and hilarious--VIC [PRINT] Surf Coast Times, Bellarine Times, Armstrong Creek Times [AUDIENCE: 62,683, ASR: 790]

Brightly written with smart snappy dialogue and some nice servings of humour, this is an enjoyable 'feel good' read.--Jeff Popple, ACT [PRINT] Canberra Weekly [AUDIENCE: 43,073, ASR: 222]

For all the over-50s, this is your book. Your bible, even.--Daneka Hill, VIC [PRINT] Country News Insert [AUDIENCE: 29,565; ASR: 1,346]

Review--[ONLINE] Seniors Today

Sydney GP Joanna Nell is fast becoming the queen of over 50s literature.--QLD [PRINT] CQ Today

The bestselling author of The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village and The Great Escape from Woodlands Nursing Home returns with this whimsical tale--WA [PRINT] The West Australian [AUDIENCE: 205,782, ASR: 2,312]

This book is a warm-hearted read from Nell, who tells engaging stories with older protagonists.--Cheryl Akle, NATIONAL [PRINT] Weekend Australian [AUDIENCE: 219,242, ASR: 13954]

This is another funny, warm-hearted read from Nell, who continues to lead the way in telling engaging stories with older protagonists.--NSW, VIC, SA [PRINT] Daily Telegraph, Herald Sun, Adelaide Advertiser [AUDIENCE: 636,878 ASR: 5,622]

About the Author

Joanna Nell is a British-Australian writer, GP and advocate for positive ageing. Her essays and short fiction have won multiple awards and been widely published in magazines, journals and literary anthologies. Her first five novels, The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village, The Last Voyage of Mrs Henry Parker, The Great Escape from Woodlands Nursing Home, The Tea Ladies of St Jude's Hospital and Mrs Winterbottom Takes a Gap Year, were national bestsellers. Joanna lives on Sydney's Northern Beaches.