Together Again at the Cornish Country Hospital

by Jo Bartlett

328 pages, Paperback

Published April 3, 2025

Reviews

[Jaffareadstoo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amy loves her challenging role as an A&E nurse working at St Piran’s hospital, her natural affinity for people, and her need to care and nurture makes her ideal for this area of nursing. However, Amy always feels like there is someone missing from her life. Lijah Byrne is a global musician who returns to his home town of Port Kara to recharge and find the space to make some difficult decisions. Amy and Lijah, once childhood sweethearts, have some unfinished business together and it is this relationship which forms the basis of another cosy story which takes us back into the heart of this lovely, fictional Cornish town.

Beautifully written, this little corner of Cornwall comes alive as we follow the fates and fortunes of those characters who call this place home. It’s very much a story of light and shade with characters having their share of worry and some facing difficult choices but through it all a strong sense of both community and friendship comes across. Being in Port Kara is always such a joy, this little bit of Cornwall now feels so familiar that it is like returning to a much loved home and I thoroughly enjoy catching up with all the characters who make these cosy stories such a joy to read.

Whilst this now the fifth book in the Cornish Country Hospital series it is possible to read as a standalone story, however, it does make sense to read this lovely series from the beginning so that you can get to know and love the characters who make this such a successful series.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I received a free ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review*

I feel absolutely terrible saying this because I am a big Jo Bartlett fan, but I thought this book was just so-so. There is nothing wrong with it, the characters are those we have met in previous books (with the exception of Lijah) and there were lots of the heartful moments you come to expect from this series. I just did not find myself especially invested in Amy and Lijah's story/romance. It was kind of a been-there-done-that kind of plot and there was nothing really all that new here. I may have been more on-board with it had at least part of the story been about her getting counseling/therapy to deal with her insecurities (most likely brought on by her jackass brother). I also thought her brother's disappearance was a little too much and his personality change at the end way to quick considering how long he had been that awful. I'm glad that Amy got her happy ending, but I did not totally believe how it all came to pass. As for Gwen's storyline here I am still not sure how I feel about it. I love Gwen and obviously am glad that she was not demonstrating early signs of dementia, but part of me thinks that her eventual diagnosis was a bit of a cop out to avoid having a beloved character suffer while still getting readers emotionally invested. As I said, I usually love Jo Bartlett's books but even the best authors have to put out the occasional underwhelming book.

[Pam Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a real 'will they, won't they? plot with Amy's attitude towards herself and Lijah at odds throughout the story. Amy is a very competent and caring nurse with the great qualities of empathy, loyalty and kindness toward others. However, her view of herself is on the floor, partly due to how others, including her brother, have treated her. Consequently, her instinct is to hide away and just try to please everyone. Lijah has always seen her differently and despite his fame and fortune, finds himself longing for the stability of his former friends and his family back in Cornwall.
Running alongside Amy and Lijah's story, we follow Gwen's agonies as she struggles to face up to some potentially serious health symptoms. She has appeared in both the Cornish Country Hospital and the Cornish Midwife series and always shown her bright, bubbly side. Despite being the oldest, she has shown the others how to grasp hold of life and have fun. As she is faced with potentially losing that side of life, Gwen realises just what her life means to her. This is a great addition to the series, with familiar faces appearing and going through some seismic life changes themselves. Full of warmth and heart, this is a lovely series to settle into.
In short: Can love find a way?
Thanks to the publisher

[Jocelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this ARC in Netgalley after I had borrowed the first book in the series from the library, and I had to finish all 4 books before this.

This series is like a mini Grey's Anatomy (with less of the bad drama interludes) but with a lot more heartwarming situations, being in a small Cornish village/town. The tight knit community makes remembering the characters a breeze and some of the quirky characters feel like my friends after 4 books.

In this book, one of the anchor characters faces a health scare, and it was a roller coaster read wondering if she was going to be ok. Another character had a fairy tale come back into her life but she could not get past her insecurities. I don't want to have spoilers, so I'll just say I had to read to the end and hope for the best!

[Book Escapes Babs · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many of the characters at the hospital at Port Kara have become particularly cherished, and A & E Nurse Amy Spencer is definitely one of the good ones. We haven't learned much about Amy from previous books, but that didn’t create any issues for me, and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know her. It soon became clear that she had a history with the one who got away, and her heart has been protected ever since. She wasn’t living like a nun, but she kept that part of her heart protected from further pain.
The source of her heartache, musician Lijah, was a terrific character, and I immediately took to him. He sounded like a typical boy next door who had enjoyed a mercurial path to success with world tours and sold-out concerts worldwide. It was particularly touching to learn that his best friend had remained at his side throughout and wanted nothing but the best for him.
The format of this story is one of my favourites. I always enjoy a storyline that sees a couple overcoming challenges, finding a way to share happiness, and discovering whether they have a future together.
There’s something rather special about the way Jo writes her books and brings out the very best in her characters. A genuine concern for their welfare runs through the heart of each of her books, and I love discovering each part of her characters’ simple yet somewhat complex storylines.
Like all her books, this was touching and beautifully written, with a gentle touch that guides the reader safely through the challenging elements.
Of course, there are other storylines running through the book, but as they aren’t mentioned in the synopsis, I shall leave them for you to discover for yourself.

[Crystalrainbow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I have now read most if not all of the books written by Jo Bartlett and this novel was like sinking into a comfortable armchair with friends.

My only complaint is that I read it too fast as I was enjoying it so much. Loved catching up with characters from the previous books in this series and thoroughly enjoyed the story centred around musician Lijah and nurse Amy.

Jo Bartlett had a way of making her characters realistic and thoroughly human with their insecurities and problems whilst trying to achieve their dreams.

I can’t wait for the next instalment in this series.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for an advance copy of the book in exchange for a review.

Back to St Piran's to meet up with old and new friends. A nice cosy, enjoyable read.