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Caught in the Undertow
329 pages, Paperback
Published March 9, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 12, 2026
If you love books that pull you completely into the character’s world and make you feel every moment, this one will absolutely stay with you long after the last page.
CE de Gzell has a rare gift for vivid, immersive storytelling. Her descriptions are so rich and detailed that you truly feel like you’re right there beside Poppy, experiencing every moment with her.
The hospital setting during the height of COVID-19 adds such a powerful layer to the story. The pressure, exhaustion, and emotional weight carried by the healthcare workers feels incredibly real, you feel the sweat dripping down your back, the memories of wearing a mask, and your body involuntarily clenches in every high stakes situtation. CE De Gzell captures the intensity of that time with honesty and sensitivity, making the stakes feel even higher and the moments of hope even more meaningful.
What stood out most was how deeply you feel connected to Poppy. Her experiences in the hospital, the difficult decisions, and the emotional toll of working through a global pandemic are written so authentically that you can’t help but feel like you’re walking through it all with her.
It’s a gripping, emotional read filled with heart, tension, and beautifully crafted storytelling.
CE de Gzell has a rare gift for vivid, immersive storytelling. Her descriptions are so rich and detailed that you truly feel like you’re right there beside Poppy, experiencing every moment with her.
The hospital setting during the height of COVID-19 adds such a powerful layer to the story. The pressure, exhaustion, and emotional weight carried by the healthcare workers feels incredibly real, you feel the sweat dripping down your back, the memories of wearing a mask, and your body involuntarily clenches in every high stakes situtation. CE De Gzell captures the intensity of that time with honesty and sensitivity, making the stakes feel even higher and the moments of hope even more meaningful.
What stood out most was how deeply you feel connected to Poppy. Her experiences in the hospital, the difficult decisions, and the emotional toll of working through a global pandemic are written so authentically that you can’t help but feel like you’re walking through it all with her.
It’s a gripping, emotional read filled with heart, tension, and beautifully crafted storytelling.
March 10, 2026
Caught in the Undertow is a love note to the frontline clinical staff who handled the emerging threat of Covid 19 and the worldwide pandemic with stoicism and compassion. Book 2 of the Dr Poppy Mason series sees the return of resident medical officer and heroine, Poppy, with her friends Gemma and Lucas, and boyfriend Will. Poppy is thrust into the unfolding emergency of Covi d-19 care on the respiratory ward of Bennelong Hospital. She is abandoned by many of her senior colleagues, and must turn to her antagonist, Joshua Hunter, for education, comradery, and emotional support.
Set against the backdrop of usual hospital politics, including separation for country rotation terms, peer and family isolation due to busy medical terms, and grandstanding by senior doctors, the Covid-19 epidemic adds further layers of complexity to the already fragile public health system. C E de Gzell , a doctor who worked during the pandemic, brings to life the stepwise challenges of dealing with Covid-19: rationalising medical resources, use of personal protective equipment, changing ward dynamics, distancing and lockdown restrictions and the integration of evolving communications systems. Caught in the Undertow is a must read for those wanting a honest portrayal of how clinical staff in Australian hospitals dealt with the Covid-19 pandemic.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A sequel is always a hard act to follow - but Caught in the Undertow does NOT disappoint! Within the first page, I was captivated by Poppy's life once again, and with help from the authors descriptive tone, took me right back to the end of last book. (If you missed book #1, the author does a recap shortly in the first chapter).
The merging of covid into this series was superbly written, admist the heirarchy and immense pressure associated in the medical field. The pandemic is something we can all relate to, however being able to share Poppy's perspective on this, and how the pandemic affects her and her colleagues was so absorbing.
The author writes with such an engaging and descriptive tone - bringing along humour and laughter, angst and empathy - and you really feel like you are there in the midst of it.
I couldn't put the book down!
The merging of covid into this series was superbly written, admist the heirarchy and immense pressure associated in the medical field. The pandemic is something we can all relate to, however being able to share Poppy's perspective on this, and how the pandemic affects her and her colleagues was so absorbing.
The author writes with such an engaging and descriptive tone - bringing along humour and laughter, angst and empathy - and you really feel like you are there in the midst of it.
I couldn't put the book down!
March 12, 2026
Fantastic 2nd Story in the Poppy Mason story series. It picks up with Poppy's second year of her Doctor journey by working in Respiratory Medicine but COVID 19 hits while she is in this area. Loved how C.E de Gzell keeps up her characters from both the books and we see books and we see Poppy grows as a person. Great job, C.E de Gzell.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Cecelia E. de Gzell has outdone herself with this second installment of the Poppy Mason series. While many stories have been told about the pandemic, few have captured the specific, grueling experience of junior doctors quite like this.
What makes this book a must-read:
The Authenticity: The medical scenes are vividly written and unapologetically realistic. You can feel the sweat in the PPE and the tension of the hospital floor.
The Characters: Poppy Mason is a standout lead—hardworking but beautifully human and relatable in her doubts.
The "Spice": The romance is electric! The pockets of spicy tension provide a perfect escape from the heavy clinical narrative.
The Pace: The writing is sharp and the story moves at a breakneck speed that mirrors the chaos of a busy hospital in the midst of a pandemic.
This is more than just a medical novel; it’s an important documentation of a historical moment that we shouldn't forget. A fast-paced, engaging, and deeply emotional read!
What makes this book a must-read:
The Authenticity: The medical scenes are vividly written and unapologetically realistic. You can feel the sweat in the PPE and the tension of the hospital floor.
The Characters: Poppy Mason is a standout lead—hardworking but beautifully human and relatable in her doubts.
The "Spice": The romance is electric! The pockets of spicy tension provide a perfect escape from the heavy clinical narrative.
The Pace: The writing is sharp and the story moves at a breakneck speed that mirrors the chaos of a busy hospital in the midst of a pandemic.
This is more than just a medical novel; it’s an important documentation of a historical moment that we shouldn't forget. A fast-paced, engaging, and deeply emotional read!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Another masterful blending of the professional lives of young doctors and the impact that has on their personal and romantic experiences.
Caught in the Undertow draws back the curtain and gives us a glimpse of how the Covid pandemic affected those on the front line. Poppy and her friends have to face personal fears, overwork, and the impact separation has on their fledgling relationships, and learn to navigate the different ways we all react to extreme stress.
This book is full of the unexpected, as characters we thought we knew surprise us in big and small ways.
A great addition to the Poppy Mason series. Bring on Book 3!
Caught in the Undertow draws back the curtain and gives us a glimpse of how the Covid pandemic affected those on the front line. Poppy and her friends have to face personal fears, overwork, and the impact separation has on their fledgling relationships, and learn to navigate the different ways we all react to extreme stress.
This book is full of the unexpected, as characters we thought we knew surprise us in big and small ways.
A great addition to the Poppy Mason series. Bring on Book 3!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is a really emotional adventure read. It engages your interest quickly as you get as you follow Poppy as a first-year resident during the Covid epidemic in Australia. It is quite informative as you follow on her journey, both professionally and personally, through the Covid battle. It gives you a glimpse at a journey that most of us would not have been brave enough to make. I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend this book.
March 22, 2026
A brilliant, fast-paced read. Following young Poppy through a new term in the respiratory unit during COVID makes for a gripping and emotional ride. With a love interest far away in Dubbo, an old flame suddenly working beside her, and plenty of unexpected twists, the story keeps you turning pages late into the night. Engaging, clever, and full of heart — I’m thoroughly enjoying every minute.
March 20, 2026
Poppy Mason is a resident at the fictitious Bennelong Hospital in Sydney doing her respiratory rotation. It’s early 2020, and soon everything changes personally and professionally with the start of the COVID pandemic.
If you love Grey’s Anatomy you will probably love this series, but probably skip over some of the medical scenes if you’re at all squeamish! I really enjoyed the focus on Poppy’s medical training and what this looked like during COVID lockdowns. It took me right back to when I was an intern in Sydney hospitals during 2020 and 2021 - although luckily none of our patients had COVID so I wasn’t on the front line as Poppy is in this book. I enjoyed reading about the city I live in (even if my neighbourhood was referred to as the North Snore!)
If you love Grey’s Anatomy you will probably love this series, but probably skip over some of the medical scenes if you’re at all squeamish! I really enjoyed the focus on Poppy’s medical training and what this looked like during COVID lockdowns. It took me right back to when I was an intern in Sydney hospitals during 2020 and 2021 - although luckily none of our patients had COVID so I wasn’t on the front line as Poppy is in this book. I enjoyed reading about the city I live in (even if my neighbourhood was referred to as the North Snore!)
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews