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The Last Midwife: England has a One-Child Policy. London living a nightmare worse than Gilead - a dystopian thriller you won't be able to put down.

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‘I’m going to snuff out the old witches – every last one of them!’

Childbirth in England is a state-controlled procedure. Midwives have been outlawed for decades. Only a handful remain, risking everything to help mothers give birth in secret, but now their very existence is under threat.

When young nurse Chiara arrives from Sicily, her dreams are quickly shattered by the horrifying truth behind the pristine walls of the Genesis Centre. Meanwhile Rava, the privileged wife of a government official, finds her perfect life unravelling when her pregnancy fails to meet her husband’s requirements.
Their worlds collide in a desperate fight for life, choice, and humanity against a system determined to control the future, one baby at a time.

472 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 25, 2025

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Karen Lawrence

4 books7 followers

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5 stars
385 (48%)
4 stars
280 (35%)
3 stars
112 (14%)
2 stars
14 (1%)
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2 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
Profile Image for Sadie.
11 reviews1 follower
January 14, 2026
There were a lottt of typos in this book (kindle edition) which were hard to look past at times but I loved the story SO much (as twisted as it is)
Profile Image for Janita Cresswell.
2 reviews2 followers
November 6, 2025
Storyline: In this story, babies, referred to as Neonates, are only allowed to be born via a C-section. Midwifery is banned. Despite the ban, there are some who continue to practise the "dark art" of midwifery in this highly medicalised world. The storyline is compelling, with some unexpected twists to keep it interesting. The narrative arc builds up well, with a well-written rising action for the main characters. I found myself reading faster and faster as it progressed towards the climax. I could not put it down at the end- just as gripping as a Robert Harris novel!

World: A dystopian world with chilling parallels in current events. When is a baby a baby, and can it be disposed off before its status changes? In this world, the babies are only called babies when they are healthy and allowed to be taken home from the Genesis Centre. The sanitised, ultra-efficient city of London stands in stark contrast to the higgledy-piggledy unregistered slums on the outskirts of the city and the lush, natural surroundings of the last midwife's boat. I loved the descriptions of food in the book - Persian food, Italian food, herbs, cake recipes, tea. These details add richness and depth to what remains of humanity. I also love the description of women giving birth. The author writes these events from a deep, lived-through knowledge being a midwife herself!

Characters: A book is a great book with likeable protagonists! The novel features strong, likeable female leads with excellent character developmental arcs in Chiara and Rava. Chiara evolves from am innocent migrant nurse-in-training to someone who finds her true purpose in life. I also liked Rava; she transforms from a compliant wife to a fighter when she gets pregnant with a baby girl that her husband does not wish to keep. Both characters embody resilience, moral conviction, and the enduring strength of women in the face of systemic oppression.


Overall a very enjoyable, thought-provoking novel.
Profile Image for Adele Sizer.
79 reviews1 follower
June 12, 2026
interesting premise, very handmaids tale vibes
21 reviews
January 27, 2026
From a healthcare professional view point, the physiological birth stories were sympathetic and heart warming and the characters themselves completely loveable, admirable, and women I see myself in. Whilst I have inside knowledge of the way in which the world is going in terms of the changing attitudes to, and the medicalisation of, childbirth, I just feel some of the content went too far and I feel it would be very upsetting for some vulnerable readers. With that said, I would recommend this book, especially to my colleagues who face a daily barrage of criticism from the media all whilst trying to do their absolute best to accommodate families needs and wishes, but with a little caution for the more vulnerable readers.
Profile Image for Jemma Ward-Slack.
60 reviews
January 25, 2026
Fantastic read. Best book I've read so far this year.
Thought provoking and scarey because it's horribly believable!
Well written and fast paced.
Love the main characters and the growth throughout the book.
5 reviews
June 20, 2026
This book is a cautionary tale about autonomy, freedom, women’s rights, greed and corrupt power. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it, even if only to encourage you to get involved in the fight for women’s rights and safe maternity care. For a debut non-fiction novel, I am impressed with the steady and engaging pace, which made it difficult to put down.

Set in a future dystopian London, the book follows Chiara, a nurse who has come to the UK from Sicily who wants to make her Nonna proud and care for others. Chiara begins work at the Genesis Centre, a high-end hospital where pregnant women are referred to as “incubators”, babies are referred to as “neonates” until they have both passed assessments to be released, only then are they called mother and baby. At the Genesis centre all babies are delivered via c-section and if the baby is assessed as healthy, the mother is immediately sterilised due to the one child government policy for a “fair world”. Giving birth vaginally, breast feeding and initial bonding are considered very dangerous and midwife’s are outlaws often scapegoated as witches. In a small amount of time, Chiara realises the truth about the “care” the Genesis Centre provides, which goes against everything she believes in and knows as a nurse. We are then introduced to Rava, a Muslim woman from a challenging low income background, who has married a soon-to-be powerful politician who just so happens to be the one overseeing the one child policy. The husband is very keen to have a boy only, he believes women are an expensive drain on society, so when Rava finds out she is pregnant, her world begins to fall apart and collapse. Chiara’s and Rava’s lives intertwine as they navigate the hellish maternity system, fighting for their own survival and the meaning of womanhood in a world dominated by corrupt men.

Population control is a central theme throughout the book. A one-child policy is in effect, with sterilisation pre-pregnancy being strongly encouraged and forced sterilisation occurring immediately after the birth of a healthy child. Furthermore, a euthanasia system is advertised as “peaceful rest” for those who feel their life is over and want to make room for the next generation. These measures are presented as personal choices by the government but corruption, social class, money and power ultimately change the rules.

If you enjoy dystopian future societies that feel scarily close to reality, books by Christina Dalcher, Margaret Atwood and John Marrs then this book is for you. I am really looking forward to the sequel which explores the euthanasia theme more.
Profile Image for Lisa Butler.
351 reviews7 followers
May 25, 2026
Oh my goodness. This book 😮
If it's not on your tbr then run to add it.

This is a dystopian thriller written by a midwife and I think that's why I loved it so much, as a midwife I can resonate with her thinking around this story.

This book is set in London and the new law means there is a one child only policy and midwifery is outlawed and If caught practicing midwifery they will promptly be arrested.

Women are not pregnant they are the "incubator", the babies are "neonates" and not officially the woman's until registered.

All babies are born by caesarean and if a healthy child is born the woman is sterilised. Women have no choice and have to wear wrist bands that show their reproductive cycle.

To give birth vaginally is classed as dangerous and midwives are witches. Women who do it this way are usually poor and shouldn't be having unregistered children.

The book follows new nurse Chiara’s journey to becoming “a good nurse” at the Genesis Centre, where women legally go to hand their babies. The author explores the hiarachy of the system and the coersion of how women are treated. It resonates so much as I feel personally as a midwife we are loosing slowly the practice of being a midwife.

 The Last Midwife is a reminder of what is at stake if we lose sight of midwifery, autonomy, and our individual integrity. Although this is a made up fictional story it actually is scary to think this could happen in real life in the future. God help us if we step into a governed world like this where women's rights and their choices are ruled by man.

This book is beautifully but scarily written. I did shed a tear because of this story.
Profile Image for Carly Morgan.
151 reviews2 followers
March 3, 2026
A harrowingly conceivable story that as a midwife was frightenly close to current maternity affairs.

The role of a midwife is illegal and in this dystopian story follows nurse Chiara and wife Reva in their journey.

I scored the book 4 stars as there are a few typos that distracted my flow when reading but overall this was a gripping enjoyable read that could infact be the future of maternity services in the UK

The midwife’s skills and advice were on point and not exaggerated to make for dramatic reading, the experiences of Chiara were at some point harrowing and would encourage the reader to check the triggers as #baby death/ loss does feature in the earlier chapters and was for myself difficult to read. Push through the dark times and the ending of the story is actually kind of bitter sweet but there is hope that the midwives will once again rise
890 reviews15 followers
February 21, 2026
I love dystopian fiction and the premise for this one appealed to me when I saw an advert on instagram .i bought a copy and it went straight to the top of my reading list
The novel is setting in a dystopian England where the population has been confined to cities and and certain people are allowed to have children. This story follows a young girl who moves to England to work in a Birthing Centre. It quickly becomes clear that things are not right all babies are born by Caesarean section their mothers have no choice and babies showing any signs of Disability are euthanised at birth and women can only take their children home as a father signs for them. Our new nurse becomes quickly disillusioned and discovers an underground midwifery system with women who want to give birth naturally having to contact these black market midwives in order to do so.
The novel sets up well you’re quickly aware of what the dystopian world consists of. I quickly enthralled in the novel and didn’t want to put it down.
The author has a clear flowing writing style. This is an easy. Enjoyable Read.
The characterisation is detailed and the characters including some of the minor ones seemed really real
I’ve read a lot of dystopian novels and this is amongst the best if you like The Handmaid’s Tale you’ll love this novel or the the books of Christina Dalcher Viox and Q then I’m sure you’re going to really enjoy this book
I haven’t seen anyone writing about this on social media however I did see an advert which is the main reason I bought the book
It would make a great TV series
This review will appear on Goodreads, StoryGraph, and my book blog bionicSarahS books.wordpress.com. I will also publish it on Amazon UK.
1 review
December 29, 2025
Brilliant! I couldn’t put it down, reading late in to the night.
A clever story of love & survival with plenty of twists, turns & heart in the mouth moments.
30 reviews1 follower
January 10, 2026
Very interesting

Very well written. Flows and good character development. Makes you think of what is happening in the world today. Thank you for a good read.
Profile Image for Jennifer Thomson.
177 reviews1 follower
June 16, 2026
Wow what a ride! Call the Midwife meets Handmaids Tale. Very dystopian yet something that very well "could happen" Emotional and gripping from start to finish!
Profile Image for Lorraine Heath-.
96 reviews16 followers
February 5, 2026
Very much enjoyed this book. Great originality. Scary peek into the future if men are allowed to rule women’s healthcare again
Profile Image for Susannah Smith.
28 reviews1 follower
June 23, 2026
But the gateway to the world
Was still outside the reach of him
Would never belong to angels
Had never belonged to men
Profile Image for Sarah.
28 reviews1 follower
February 2, 2026
wow what a book!!!
this booked had me hooked
Profile Image for Anne.
42 reviews5 followers
February 8, 2026
Karen Lawrence’s The Last Midwife is one of those dystopian thrillers that feels less like speculative fiction and more like a warning flare. Set in an England where childbirth has been fully absorbed into state control, the novel imagines a world in which midwives have been outlawed and reproductive autonomy has been reduced to a bureaucratic process. It’s chilling precisely because it feels so plausible.

The story follows two women whose lives sit on opposite sides of the regime. Chiara, a young nurse newly arrived from Sicily, enters the Genesis Centre with idealism and ambition, only to discover the violence and coercion hidden beneath its immaculate surfaces. Rava, the privileged wife of a government official, believes she is protected by her status—until her pregnancy fails to meet the state’s strict requirements. Their narratives converge in a way that exposes the system’s totalising reach and the fragility of any illusion of safety.

Lawrence’s world‑building is sharp and economical. She doesn’t rely on grand dystopian spectacle; instead, she shows how oppression embeds itself in paperwork, medical protocols, and the quiet erasure of traditional knowledge. The tension builds steadily, driven by the knowledge that every choice these women make carries enormous risk.

What makes the novel so compelling is its focus on humanity: the whispered solidarities, the courage required simply to help someone give birth, the stubborn persistence of care in a world determined to control it. The Last Midwife is both a gripping thriller and a thoughtful exploration of power, autonomy, and resistance.

A timely, unsettling, and deeply resonant read.
Profile Image for Denise Pate.
58 reviews
February 14, 2026
great read!

This book was pretty good! It’s something so dystopian but sadly something you could see happening possibly in years from now. It’s a story of grit, perseverance, and courage!
Profile Image for Emily Wheeler.
88 reviews
May 25, 2026
as a midwife, this made me terribly sad for the women & families, but it was still so full of some lovely & precious moments. god bless liz & the rosie lee. god bless chiara.
5 reviews
February 2, 2026
Beautifully written Story

The Last Midwife is a beautifully written, emotional, and gripping story that I truly enjoyed from start to finish.

Karen Lawrence does an amazing job bringing the world to life and creating characters you quickly become invested in. I found myself genuinely caring about what happened to them, and that connection made the story even more powerful. The main character’s strength, vulnerability, and determination felt real and deeply human.

The pacing kept me turning pages, and the mix of tension, heart, and hope made this more than just a compelling story—it was an experience. I especially loved how the relationships between the characters developed naturally and added depth to every challenge they faced.

This was an engaging, heartfelt read with memorable characters, and I would absolutely recommend it to anyone who enjoys character-driven stories with emotional impact.
5 reviews
January 11, 2026
A really great read.

Excellent thought provoking read about a dystopian future in the U.K. Great believable characters I struggled to put it down.
Profile Image for Bex Keogh.
1 review
January 10, 2026
Honestly just read it. It’s a brilliant book although it’s a tad uncomfortable at times due to the nature of it. Thank you to our NHS midwife’s and Nurses
Profile Image for Honey Peach.
31 reviews
December 10, 2025
As someone who is very passionate about birth this book ticked so many boxes for me. Set in a dystopian London where physiological birth and midwifery is now illegal and all mothers “incubators” are subjected to c-sections and all of these other regulations on women’s bodies. Following Chiara and her journey as a nurse turned traditional midwife leads to unexpected turns and a fight to the end for what is right.

It gives hand maids tale vibes and some of the storylines are truly harrowing. I think the concept of neonatal 2 will always make me shudder. But also the joy of all the births on the Rosie Lee, it makes me tear up and brings me back to my own birth experience. Liz is such a character and I genuinely feel like we all know a “Liz” in midwifery!

But honestly, it’s not that far fetched to imagine some of this ideas could be our reality with the current maternity system being what it is and with increasing c-section rates!

Loved it and will recommend to all my other birth enthusiasts.
53 reviews
January 18, 2026
Surprisingly excellent

Wasn't to sure if I'd get into this book as not usually my thing , dystopian futures, but totally enjoyed it and read it in no time...a different take on wot may lie ahead for us as a population but not an impossible reality, if u enjoy books on midwives fighting not to become a thing of the past from being hunted out of existence I'll enjoy this book
1 review
January 18, 2026
A must read

So clever on many levels. Really got me thinking about so many real world issues.

But that's not to say it's a boring or dull book, far from it. I read it in 2 days.

If you're even in the slightest bit interested in this book then I recommend you buy it, just make sure you've got enough time to binge read it!
Profile Image for Jodee Humpage.
18 reviews
February 23, 2026
Not quite unputdownable — but definitely memorable.

I enjoyed this book and didn't guess the twists regarding Liz until just before it was revealed - it's scary to think of a future like this but I suppose anything is possible.

A mix between Call the Midwife and The Handmaids Tale
12 reviews
Read
December 31, 2025
It was an interesting story, and a good book. However, I will not be reading any more books with cats in them unless I know for a fact that nothing happens to said cats. So I'm leaving this content warning here for everyone else: very gruesome description of the body of a tortured and murdered cat.
All other potentially triggering content (child death and abuse, eugenics, abuse, racism, misogyny, etc.) is as one would expected in a dystopian book, which is why I don't feel the need to go into detail.

The book was very moving and thoughtful, as well as interesting.
5 reviews
December 3, 2025
A chilling book that could come a brutal reality in this scary world we are living in.

Plenty of twists to keep the reader hooked.

Only problem is in the kindle edition there is a fair few typos, but this doesn’t take away from the authors brilliant style of writing.
50 reviews1 follower
December 30, 2025
Fantastic read

WoW....what a wonderful story and it makes you think this is the way the world is actually heading. I hope not and if it does, it won't be in my lifetime...........or will it. Read this brilliant book and decide what you think.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews