Bethnal Green

by Amélie Skoda

Captures with grace and profundity the experience of immigrants and health workers - TASH AW

A beautifully immersive coming-of-age tale set amongst the brilliance and bleakness of 1970s London - LOUISE HARE

Penang, 1971. When Suyin Lim is offered the opportunity of a lifetime - a place as a trainee nurse in London's Bethnal Green Hospital - she jumps at the chance to leave her job as a seamstress and unite with her sister, who left for the same path a year before.

However, without warning her sister returns to Penang, a shadow of her former self and Suyin is forced to leave without any answers. Suyin soon finds herself starting a new life in London, falling in love with the vibrant city and its people and as she immerses herself in the gruelling but rewarding work of caring for her patients, she begins to understand what she really wants out of life . . .

BETHNAL GREEN explores the themes of sacrifice and heartbreak, the power of using your voice and the will to build a life of one's own against the odds. It is also a powerful love letter to dedicated NHS workers from around the world, whose work touches countless lives every day.

Heartstring-pulling and hopeful - SARAH TURNER

A captivating immigrant story about a young nurse... I was hooked from the first page - LAUREN HO

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, British Literature, Audiobook

368 pages, Hardcover

Published January 30, 2025

Reviews

[Bree · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really lovely story set between 1970’s London and Malaysia where we meet trainee nurse Suyin. I thought the story was well paced which lead to a nice calming quiet vibe of a book. I enjoyed the hospital setting and learning about the issues faced just 50 years ago around working in the NHS, racial issues and staunch family values.
I thought more could have been made of the storyline involving Hua. I felt that plot promised more and then was forgotten about til the very last pages.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The narrator's ability to move flawlessly between the Malaysian, English, Irish, and Jamaican accents really added to the development of these characters for me. This is a really lovely story and an easy, effortless read.

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

A captivating love letter to East London and Malaysia.

[Natalia Fantetti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple, easy to read, and just what I needed in a busy period

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is a bit plain, but it’s still a light and enjoyable reading with a nice touch of recognizable geography for locals.

[Izzy S · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cried when the ending aligned with my wish for Suyin — it felt like a personal reward. So many lines in this novel felt like the things I said or thought myself. As someone navigating cultures, I recognized the same questions and longing in both of us.

The story starts with her sister’s return, and from there Suyin steps into unknown. Her sister’s voice lingers like a warning: the same journey Suyin is about to take once promised to freedom— but it nearly destroyed her sister.

“It’s grooms, and damp, and dark. But it’s exciting too. You feel like you are in the centre of something like anything can happen. You can be who ever you want to be.” Suyin said, answering her sister’s question about whether life abroad is better or not in the end of the book.

While Suyin’s father quietly urges her to build a future of her own, her Malaysian friend Wei dismisses her nursing career as useless — echoing the double bind many Asian daughters face: pushed to succeed, yet constantly questions how they choose to do it. It reminds me those moment of others people questioning my choices, as if creative work wasn’t a “real” career. That tension, the push between tradition and ambition, is something that Suyin and I both know too well.

We are not trying to prove anything, but we prove everything. Sometimes build a life abroad is not about escape— it’s about becoming.

[Felicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a beautifully written love letter about Malaysia, the NHS and London. Although it definitely spoke to me on a personal level as a Malaysian immigrant myself to the UK. It had many moments where it simply tugged at my heartstrings (from her experience as a nurse, her relationship with her father, the longing of home whilst yearning of freedom). Loved it. No notes, took my heart and ate it up.

[Natasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really engaging book about life in the 1970s as Suyin embarks on her journey from Penang to England to work as a nurse for the NHS.

I didn't really know what to expect, but there were plenty of twists and interesting turns that kept me interested throughout the book, and didn't solely focus on nursing (though I found these parts really engaging as well). Really enjoyable read!

[Jayne Hood · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a wonderful book. It's very engaging and shows the struggles in 1970s London for people coming to work in the NHS from other countries and how much much their hard work was needed. Highly recommended

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5
I enjoyed reading the book very much. It is relatable especially for women who born in Asia family. There were/ are still too many misogynist men that made life become so challenging.

[Hatty · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tender and lovely story.

[izzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

a beautiful debut novel seamlessly intertwining the experience of a ‘third parent’ daughter moving overseas and the love and heartbreak she experiences. compelling writing style that grabs you from the first page

[Eloise · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ A moving and heartfelt read. I really felt for Suyin, torn between her nursing career/ independence in London and her family duty in Penang, I admired her devotion as a nurse. Emotional and well written, though the ending felt a little rushed.

[Sarah H · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book started really well, giving me high expectations, but it turned into a love story, with little reference to Bethnal Green or any surrounding places.

[Shonaigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thought provoking and immersive read, this novel provides an insight into life in 1970’s London and nurse training. It follows Suyin who moves from Malaysia, with her father’s blessing fleeing before arranged marriage, to have an education, career and experience a new land. Brought up alongside her three sisters Hua and the youngest Mei, Suyin’s family is close but troubled. Her father works long shifts as a taxi driver in a turbulent and dangerous country. Suyin’s mother suffers a great pain and is disturbed by severe mental illness, affecting her rationality- Suyin’s plays a great part in caring for her mother. She works as an embroider at the books opening but quickly prepares to leave her family and homeland. Extra nerve is provided by her eldest sister arriving back from England, also training and laterally working as a nurse. Something has happened to Hua during her time in England, she is a shadow of her former self. This further prompts Suyin’s to venture to England, in order to solve what happened to her sister, for Hua cannot speak of it.

Suyin arrives in England and is thrust right into her new life and work, she lives in a dorm with girls from all over the world. They must pledge themselves to nursing, relationships are forbidden. Suyin’s has a tough start, it is difficult to settle- the London she lives is not the prosperous city she imagined. The weather is cold and murky and the work and training are physically and emotionally demanding. Not too long into her shifts on a ward, a patient dies which rattles her.

We follow her as she makes friends and settles into life. But the mystery of her sister still preys heavily on her mind and she makes efforts to explore her sisters London life and unearth secrets. Naturally, thoughts of her sister bring forward thoughts of family. She begins writing home to her mother. Family complexities and importance come to the fore and this communication means so much to Suyin’s mum.


The book progresses and all questions are answered. It kept me going throughout. I very much enjoyed the authors writing style. I will be sure to seek more by her. I would say this is an effortless read but by this I do not mean it as a disservice. It simply just got me utterly absorbed in the life of Suyin and 60’s London and Britain. I have read a number of books in succession that have celebrated sisters and sisterly bonds and connections. I am reading just now Coco Mellors, Blue Sisters and Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano was my read of the year in 2024. Anyone that has read either of those titles will very much enjoy this wonderful book by Amelie Skoda. I was lucky to be able to read this before publication via NetGalley UK- thank you very much to them for the opportunity.

A little further reading (author article)- https://mixedmessages.substack.com/p/...

[Athena|CaffeinexChapters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set mostly in London in 1971, "Bethnal Green" tells the story of Suyin Lim, who travels from Penang to England to follow her goal of becoming a nurse, like her sister before her. Before she can leave, her sister comes home unexpectedly and without explanation. Suyin still chooses to go and adjust to her new life in London while trying to find out what caused her sister to leave.

Things I loved
- It paints a vivid picture of London in the 1970s from an immigrant’s perspective.
- Suyin is a well-rounded character with struggles that many can relate to.
- It strikes a good balance between personal growth and cultural/familial challenges.
- The book pays a touching tribute to healthcare workers without being overly sentimental.

Things I Didn't Love
- Some plot points, like the mystery involving the London A-Z map could have been more developed.

I wanted to read this book because my mother was a nurse in England in the 1970s, and this book delivered the details I wanted. 'Bethnal Green' will be a hit with readers who enjoy historical fiction, especially those interested in stories about immigration, the experiences of healthcare workers, or life in 1970s London.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for facilitating me with a review copy of this book at no cost and with no obligation. I reviewed this book voluntarily, and all opinions are my own.

[Amy Dora · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who is a nurse I wholeheartedly can resonate with this 'love letter' to the NHS as it touched upon a lot of very serious and heartbreaking realities nurses have to face and also discusses difficulties Sujin faced as an immigrant nurse whilst also having to deal with her own familiar issues. Having made a lot of friends with nurses who have left their native country to come to the UK to work, I can understand (to a degree) the difficulties faced as I have heard so many stories from friends. I also loved the familiarity being based at Bethnal Green Hospital as I myself have worked at multiple hospitals (NHS and private) in London including completing my degree at King's college uni so that added an extra element to me.

[Diane Dunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story from an immigrant’s point of view working in the NHS during the 1970s . Suyin takes a huge risk and travels to the UK to take up a position training to be a nurse at Bethnal Green hospital in London. She follows the example of her sister who has recently returned to Malaysia in shady circumstances. The reader feels her angst when arriving in an alien country, a different climate, strange customs and new friendships waiting to be built. A discovery find takes her on a quest to find out what happened to her sister during the time in the capital.

Thanks to Netgalley the author and publishers for an ARC in return for an honest review.

[Hizreen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a soft spot for Suyin’s character

easily relatable to her as someone who also migrate from Malaysia to UK for a better life and as healthcare worker. but sadly the story picks up rather slow for me and only had me turning pages from the last 50 pages or so (if you know you know). Thus why it’s a ⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me.

am also not a fan with her love-conflicts but cant elaborate more without giving any spoilers 🙂

[Hannah Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favourite kind of book - an immersive historic novel which draws you into a hidden corner of the past. Beautifully written, absorbing and gripping, Bethnal Green is as much a love letter to the NHS as it is a celebration of friendship, romance and bittersweet endings.

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice gentle romance / hospital drama set in 1970’s focusing young girl who came to England to train to be a nurse and her struggles with being and immigrant, working for the NHS and coping with the different duties and stresses her life presents both in England and back home.

[Anabelle P · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5/5) This book is for the first-gens who’ve moved away from home

The pace was a bit too slow for me, although maybe could have been better if I’d read it vs listening to audiobook? But I did like the general themes of independence and making your own way (and all the London mentions)

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this sweet story. I was moved by the tension between honoring tradition and family, and carving out a new life for yourself. Reminded me of my parents’ journey, and I was again touched by their courage and strength.

[Lynda Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Linh · Rating 1 out of 5]

This read like someone's assignment in school to document their life not as a fantastical diary. It was easy to read but oh so hollow.

[Sonia · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was mostly really disappointing, though the last third of the book had some good moments

[marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice easy read/ listen, the narrator was excellent at accents!

[Reema]

this might be the most boring book I’ve read

[jacqui mee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great insight into the lives of women who came from overseas in the 1970's at the behest of the NHS to train as nurses.

[Muqryzafran · Rating 4 out of 5]

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