The Top 10 Bestseller for fans of Call The Midwife!A fresh start…Midwife Ella Mehenick left the small Cornish town of Port Agnes for London and never looked back. But when her seemingly perfect life crashes down around her, there’s only one place she can heal her battered heart - the place she once called home.A new arrival…Ella is quickly welcomed into the small community midwife team and loves her new job caring for mums and their precious babies – it’s what she does best! But being back also means facing ex-flame Dan Ferguson…the first man to break her heart.A second chance at love?Dan is still as gorgeous as ever, but he’s never forgiven Ella for leaving. And now she’s back it’s clear that there is unfinished business between them. As Ella settles into her new/old life, she can’t stop the memories of how she once loved Dan so completely – and maybe never stopped.Maybe coming home to Cornwall is Ella's chance to love again…Meet The Cornish Midwives of Port Agnes- where community, friendship and love are always delivered.An uplifting and escapist read, perfect for fans of Christie Barlow, Jessica Redland and Holly Martin!Praise for Jo Bartlett:'I love second chance stories. I love returning home stories. So a book combining both is an absolute winner for me. The Cornish Midwife is simply gorgeous. Stunning setting, wonderful characters, and oozing with warmth. A triumph from Jo Bartlett and a cracking start to what promises to be a fabulous series' Jessica Redland'Perfectly written and set in the beating heart of a community, this story is a wonderful slice of Cornish escapism' Helen J Rolfe'Jo Bartlett is a lovely writer, and I always know I'm guaranteed a good read when I pick up one of her books' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Reader Review'I would describe this book as a cross between Call the Midwife and Doc Martin, it contained for me all the warmth, storyline and cosiness of a really well Cornish home spun yarn' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Reader Review'I thoroughly enjoyed the heartwarming story and am excited to read the second installment' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Reader ReviewThis book was previously published as Return to Port Agnes. Read more

It all started with a Hob Nob. As Dr Matt Morgan, an intensive care consultant, examined a patient who had suffered a cardiac arrest after inhaling some biscuit crumbs, he saw a flock of birds fly past the window. They must inhale objects all the time when flying, how do they survive? he thought to himself. This began an investigation that spanned continents, species and millennia.   For animal science has so much to teach us about human medicine. While some of the overlaps and parallels are obvious – we know how much DNA we share with primates, the first pig heart has been transplanted into a human – there is so much more that we have learnt from the animal world. For example, studying kangaroos, in particular the female’s three vaginas, has improved in-vitro fertilisation success rates. Watching how a giraffe breathes can help save the life of someone struggling with asthma. Investigating why birds that live in the frozen Arctic circle don’t freeze to death led to advances with treating hypothermia. Getting a ECG on the 150kg heart of a humpback whale was instrumental to keeping patients with cardiac failure living longer.   We owe animals so much, it’s time to focus on examining how they live and what we still have to learn from them. Better shared understanding of how our species coexists with millions of others can lead to untold medical advances, help both humans and animals and improve the world for all creatures from single-celled bacteria to a 30,000 kg whale. Who knows, maybe a kiss from a frog will save your life? Read more

One of Lit Hub's Most Anticipated Books of 2025'Girl, Interrupted for the age of the prescription pill... compelling, important, haunting.'THE NEW YORK TIMESA really moving and heart-rending story. Unshrunk will help and empower so many people.JOHANN HARI, author of Stolen Focus and Lost ConnectionsUnshrunk is the story of a young woman who dared to be herself, and a potent reminder of why human suffering can never be reduced to a diagnostic manual. A must read for anyone probing the dark side of mental health treatment. ANNA LEMBKE, author of Dopamine Nation'A wonderful, incisive and deeply moving book... provides a rare glimpse behind the curtain of a profession in peril.'DR JAMES DAVIES, AUTHOR OF CRACKED AND SEDATES'Inspiring... A wake-up call about a deeply flawed system'PROFESSOR JOANNA MONCRIEFFIn this gripping, essential memoir, Laura Delano takes readers through the labyrinth of the American mental health system, where 'the best available care' left her sicker, more desperate, and more lost than ever before. This beautiful, rageful, joyful book is a beacon for all seeking a life beyond labels, beyond medication, beyond disorder.JESSICA NORDELL, AUTHOR OF THE END OF BIAS: A BEGINNING***I began to think about the forces at play, not just within me, but beyond me. What if my life hadn't fallen apart in the way that it had because of 'treatment-resistant mental illness', as I'd been led to believe, but because of the treatment itself?At age fourteen, Laura Delano's parents took her to her first psychiatrist. At school, she was the model student, but at home Laura felt an uncontrollable rage that she unleashed on family, friends and herself. She was promptly diagnosed with bipolar disorder and started on a course of mood stabilizers and antidepressants. It was to mark the beginning of a painful and relentless journey. For the next thirteen years, Laura sought help from the best psychiatrists and hospitals, accumulating an ever-expanding list of diagnoses and prescriptions for nineteen different drugs. She accepted her diagnoses and embraced the pharmaceutical regime she'd been told was necessary to manage her incurable, lifelong disease. But as her symptoms only got more severe and eventually she was deemed 'treatment resistant', Laura began to wonder if the drugs and diagnoses were the cure - or had they become the problem?Weaving together Laura's medical records and doctors' notes with illuminating research on the drugs she was prescribed, Unshrunk is the powerful memoir of one woman's battle against the commercial psychiatric industry and the role it plays in shaping what it means to be human. Read more

Discouraged by visit after visit with your doctor about your gut issues, you feel like there is nowhere else to turn. But you haven’t lost hope and you know that there has to be something out there that is safe and worth trying to help you feel better. That’s where the Gut Fix book comes in. You are meant to feel better because the body heals when you give it what it needs. You want to use a natural approach to being free of heartburn and other gut conditions too but don’t know where to start. Sadly, there are lots of self-help books about fixing your diet for gut health, but it hasn’t been enough to help you completely.Gut Fix is a refreshing and unique guide that specifically walks you through safe dietary supplements and diet strategies to try when you’ve been cleared to do so by your healthcare provider. This book helps you learn about the proper use of these supplements and how they may help many of the symptoms you may be having. Read more

From the people who brought you the bestselling Confessions of a GP.After sixteen years of high-pressure nursing, Michael Alexander has traded in his hospital uniform for the fresh air, comfort and routine of an International private school in the French Alps. Bliss! But it’s not long before he discovers that school nursing is not all permission slips, sniffles and gift baskets. Disastrous school trips; after hours dorm sleepovers; awkward sex education classes; culture clashes; swine flu panic; and kids with six-figure bank balances and a taste for bribery. This is nursing as you’ve never seen it before.What goes on behind the gates of one of the world’s most elite boarding schools? What happens when kids from all over the world – Russia, Africa, America, Saudi Arabia – live, learn and grow under one roof? What happens when it’s left to school staff to teach children the facts of life, and lust?Following on from the hugely successful Confessions of a Male Nurse, Michael Alexander is back with more touching, shocking and often laugh-out-loud funny tales of nursing. In Confessions of a School Nurse, Alexander tells all on boarding school life – as a nurse, parent, and Average Joe, he offers a unique perspective on this strange world. Read more

From the people who brought you the bestselling Confessions of a GP.From stampeding nudes to inebriated teenagers, young nurse Michael Alexander never really knew what he was getting himself into. But now, sixteen years since he was first launched into his nursing career – as the only man in a gynaecology ward – he’s pretty much dealt with everything: Body parts that come off in his hands; Teenagers with phantom pregnancies; Doctors unable to tell the difference between their left and right; Violent drunks; Singing relatives; Sexism; . . . and a whole lot of nudity.Confessions of a Male Nurse is a touching, shocking and frequently hilarious account of one man’s life in nursing. Read more

'Ultimately, my experiences as a mental health nurse have taught me that we should judge less and open our hearts more.'Belinda Black was just seventeen when she began working as a nursing assistant at the large and foreboding 'madhouse', as it was then known in her hometown in the north of England.She spent a decade caring for patients with widely varying mental health problems, all locked up together and out of view of society. Amongst this, Belinda found moments of joy and even friendship with her patients until the hospital, along with many others, had its doors closed in 1991 - the biggest change to mental healthcare in NHS history.A moving, shocking but ultimately life-affirming account from the frontlines of a unique and noble profession.'A moving memoir' DAILY EXPRESS'Stories that range from heart-wrenching to shocking' - YORKSHIRE POST Read more

4 BONUS BOOKS INCLUDED WITH KINDLE! OVER 600 PAGES OF INTENSE MEDICAL STORIES!-Extraordinary encounters. Unexpected humor. Endless challenges. Life-threatening diseases. Unthinkable trauma.-From peculiar conditions and mysterious ailments to remarkable recoveries and perplexing medical mysteries, Stat: Crazy Medical Stories, draws from real-life accounts. Each chapter unveils crazy medical cases as narrated by the healthcare professionals themselves.The stories take you on a captivating journey across various disciplines, including general medicine, surgery, psychiatry, and more. Prepare for a rollercoaster of emotions; you’ll laugh, cry, and be shocked as you delve into the bizarre and unconventional experiences encountered by our extraordinary healthcare professionals. Read more

Choosing the wrong man will leave her heartbroken…Intelligent, ambitious Elinor Rae, maid at an exclusive ladies’ club in the idyllic Primrose Square, dreams of a better future. Encouraged by her kindly manager, Elinor enrols in an evening course, where she soon falls for her handsome tutor, Stephen Muirhead. However it is her attraction to charismatic Barry Howat that turns her life upside down. Breaking Stephen’s heart is bad enough, but then Barry signs up to the war effort and Elinor is left behind, devastated. When the club becomes a military hospital and Elinor takes up her new role as a nurses’ aide, she bitterly regrets her mistake and wishes she had chosen Stephen. But can she find happiness again in her beloved Primrose Square?An emotional historical saga set in Edinburgh, perfect for fans of Margaret Dickinson and Karen Dickson. Read more

'Wise and perceptive. [It] teaches self-compassion and the consolations of kindness. I recommend it.' SALLY BRAMPTON, author of Shoot the Damn DogDEVELOP YOUR FEELINGS OF COMPASSION AND INCREASE YOUR SENSE OF WELL-BEING In societies that encourage us to compete with each other, compassion is often seen as a weakness. Striving to get ahead, self-criticism, fear, and hostility towards others seem to come more naturally to us.The Compassionate Mind explains the evolutionary and social reasons why our brains react so readily to threats - and reveals how our brains are also hardwired to respond to kindness and compassion.Research has found that developing kindness and compassion for ourselves and others builds our confidence, helps us create meaningful, caring relationships and promotes physical and mental health. Far from fostering emotional weakness, practical exercises focusing on developing compassion have been found to subdue our anger and increase our courage and resilience to depression and anxiety. 'As one of Britain's most insightful psychologists, Gilbert illuminates the power of compassion in our lives.' OLIVER JAMES, AUTHOR OF AFFLUENZA Read more

An extraordinary account of life behind the locked doors of a secure psychiatric ward from a nurse who worked there for seven years. Dennis O'Donnell started work as an orderly in the Intensive Psychiatric Care Unit of a large hospital in Scotland in 2000. In his daily life he encountered fear, violence and despair but also a considerable amount of care and compassion. Recounting the stories of the patients he worked with, and those of his colleagues on the ward, here he examines major mental health conditions, methods of treatment - medication, how religion, sex, wealth, health and drugs can bear influence on mental health, the prevailing attitudes to psychiatric illness, the authorities, the professionals & society. What emerges is a document of humanity and humour, a remarkable memoir that sheds light on a world that still remains largely unknown. 'This is a superb study of people whose minds have gone wrong, and the art of caring for them' Evening Standard Read more

From the Sunday Times Bestselling author.In a time of war, what's holding them together could tear them all apart...London, 1940. Winnie Berry is at the heart of the community in her pub, The Battersea Tavern. Her door is always open to those in need of a cup of tea and sympathy.Winnie's abusive husband has left and she finds herself foolishly falling in love with black-market trader, Have-it Harry Hampton. But Harry is married and Winnie soon finds herself tied up in his web of secrets.Meanwhile Winnie's son is back in London - not to visit his own child, but to charm the latest barmaid at the Battersea Tavern, which will lead to devastating consequences for the family.With bombs dropping all around them, is it too late for Winnie to uncover the secrets of those closest to her in order to protect her true family? Read more

_______________A RICHARD AND JUDY BOOK CLUB PICKTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERA BBC RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEKSELECTED AS A BOOK OF THE YEAR BY THE TIMESSELECTED AS A SUMMER READ BY THE SUNDAY TIMES, FINANCIAL TIMES, DAILY TELEGRAPH, THE TIMES AND THE MAIL ON SUNDAY_______________'Anyone who knows a person living with dementia should read this book' - The Times'Revelatory' - Guardian'A miracle' - Telegraph'Remarkable' - Daily Mail'A landmark book' - Financial Times_______________How do you build a life when all that you know is changing?How do you conceive of love when you can no longer recognise those who mean the most to you?A phenomenal memoir, Somebody I Used to Know is both a heart-rending tribute to the woman Wendy Mitchell once was, and a brave affirmation of the woman dementia has seen her become. Read more

Heart-warming tales of nursing and midwifery from the Sisters who worked with Jennifer Worth.‘A second’s silence and then an almighty scream. It was the most moving thing I had ever seen … A baby, a real live baby, another human life had entered the world. It didn’t seem possible and yet I had witnessed it with my very own eyes.’Born into a happy working-class North London family in the mid-twentieth century, Katie is determined to ‘do something’ with her life. Working in the impoverished East End in the 1950s, she meets the Sisters of St John the Divine – a community of nuns dedicated to nursing and midwifery. The Sisters have been present at births, cared for the sick and laid out the dead of the East Enders for a hundred years, and Katie soon joins them to start her journey to becoming Sister Catherine Mary. As a nurse and midwife, Katie learns to deal with everything from strokes to breech births. Tragedy is never far away, but there are also moments of pure joy as lives are saved and the Poplar residents rally round. As a young novice Katie rallies against the vow of obedience, yet over the years learns much about the nature of dedication and love.Full of desperate hardship, humour and compassion, Katie’s story brings to life the unique world of these nursing Sisters in London’s East End. Sister Catherine Mary’s story was written by Helen Batten after in-depth interviews with today’s Sisters of the Community of St John the Divine.The Community of St John the Divine was founded in 1848 in a bid to make nursing a respectable profession. Early Sisters worked in the Crimea with Florence Nightingale and were instrumental in developing recognised training and qualifications for nurses and midwives. In the early 20th century they were working in areas such as Poplar and Deptford becoming a treasured part of the community. Today the Sisterhood is based in Birmingham and their website is www.csjd.org.uk.Helen Batten studied history at Cambridge and then journalism at Cardiff University. She went on to become a producer and director at the BBC and now works as a writer and a psychotherapist. She lives in West London with her three daughters. Read more

“This Wasn’t in the Textbooks: Life as a Student Nurse”By Demie RisbyThink you know what it takes to be a student nurse? Think again.From gruelling night shifts to caffeine-fuelled study marathons, “This Wasn’t in the Textbooks” offers an unfiltered, heartfelt, and often hilarious look at the rollercoaster journey of becoming a nurse.Demie Risby takes you beyond the clinical skills and textbooks into the raw, real world of student nursing—where life lessons come as fast as the 12-hour shifts, and personal growth often happens between ward rounds and bathroom breakdowns.With stories filled with humour, heartbreak, and hope, Demie shares what it’s like to go from being a childhood cancer survivor to standing on the other side of the hospital bed as a paediatric nurse. From the chaos of clinical placements to the emotional toll of patient care, she dives deep into the messy, beautiful reality of nursing school—and the moments that make it all worth it.Whether you’re a fellow nurse, a healthcare professional, or someone who loves inspiring true stories, this memoir will make you laugh, cry, and cheer for every student nurse who’s ever wondered if they’re cut out for the job.Because the truth is, nursing isn’t just about saving lives—it’s about finding yourself in the process.Perfect for fans of “This is Going to Hurt” and anyone who’s ever survived (or is surviving) nursing school. Read more

'What is your name?' she asks, staring at me.'Jennifer Ross.''Jennifer Ross, Sister. Well, Nurse Ross, you are dressed in the uniform of a nurse from the Leeds General Infirmary. Such a uniform is not worn with a cardigan. Take it off at once.''Yes Sister.' I can feel my face turn red.A trainee nurse in the 1950s had a lot to bear. In Jennifer Craig's enchanting memoir, we meet these warm-hearted yet naïve young girls as they get to grips with strict discipline, long hours and bodily fluids. But we also see the camaraderie that develops in evening study sessions, sneaked trips to the cinema and mischievous escapades with the young trainee doctors. The harsh conditions prove too much for some girls, but the opportunity to help her patients in their time of need is too much of a pull for Jenny. As she commits to her vocation and knuckles down to her exams, she is determined that when she reaches the heights of Ward Sister herself she will not become the frightening matron that struck fear into her student heart ...Rich in period detail, and told with a good dose of Yorkshire humour, Yes Sister, No Sister is a life-affirming true story of a life long past. Read more

'Hill's advice is straightforward and no-nonsense' - The Guardian 'A life-transforming book… fascinating - Daily Mail'Maisie Hill has written a bloody brilliant book (pun intended). Everything you need to know about periods and how they affect you and your life is here. It's revolutionary' - Miranda Sawyer'Thank GOODNESS for Maisie Hill! Flipping open the lid on a vital conversation. It's about time we claimed the power of our periods!' - Gemma Cairney, broadcaster & co-founder of Boom Shakalaka Productions'This is such an important book. Maisie's insights and cycle strategy have changed my life and my cycle. Period Power is written with such intelligence, humour and a deep understanding of women's health. If you have a period you need to read this book.' - Anna Jones, author of The Modern Cook's Year----A profound and practical blueprint for aligning daily life with your menstrual cycle.Period Power is the handbook to periods and hormones that will leave you wondering why the hell nobody told you this sooner.The hormones of the menstrual cycle profoundly influence our energy, mood and behaviour, but all too often we're taught that our hormones make us unreliable, moody bitches, or that it's our lot in life to put up with 'women's problems'. Maisie Hill, a women's health practitioner, knows the power of working with the menstrual cycle and refuses to accept this theory. Instead, Maisie believes that our hormones are there to serve us and, if utilized correctly, can be used to help you get what you want out of life. Yes, we are hormonal, and that's a very good thing. This revolutionary book reveals everything you need to know about taking control of your menstrual cycle and outlines The Cycle Strategy to help us perform at our best, throughout our cycle. In Period Power you will discover how to:- Maximise your natural superpowers each month while making adjustments for the darker days, and use Maisie's favourite tips to improve them- Identify your personal patterns, powers and pitfalls for each phase of the menstrual cycle - Plan your month to perform at your best in all aspects of your life - Figure out if you have a hormonal imbalance and what to do about it Period Power is a no-nonsense guide with all the tools you need to improve your menstrual health. Read more

Transitioning into a nursing leadership role has never been more challenging. The health care environment is characterized by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity. The recent crisis with COVID-19 has heightened awareness of the vital need for nurse leaders who can balance the organization's needs with advocacy for staff. Yet, nurses are often promoted into leadership without the tools they need to be successful. Moving from a clinical role to leadership requires a different mindset and new knowledge, skills, and abilities. Both nursing staff and leaders in healthcare organizations have high-performance expectations of nurses who step up to become leaders. Knowing what to do and what not to do in leadership today can be challenging, especially for novices. The author, a nationally known leadership expert, breaks down the nuts and bolts of nursing leadership today. The essential knowledge, skills, and leadership behaviors are discussed using leadership examples. The book includes actionable strategies that can immediately be applied and help you move from feeling overwhelmed to feeling confident. The Nuts and Bolts of Nursing Leadership gives you tools and ideas to become an effective nurse leader, whether you are just beginning the journey or have years of experience. Let it be your toolkit and practical guide to a successful leadership career regardless of your clinical setting. Read more

Terrible events are very hard to deal with and those who go through a trauma often feel permanently changed by it. Grief, numbness, anger, anxiety and shame are all very common emotional reactions to traumatic incidents such as an accident or death of a loved one, and ongoing traumatic events such as domestic abuse. How we deal with the aftermath of trauma and our own emotional response can determine how quickly we are able to 'move on' and get back to 'normality' once more. An integral part of the recovery process is not only recognising and accepting how our lives may have been changed but also learning to deal with feelings of shame - an extremely common reaction to trauma.'Recovering from Trauma' uses the groundbreaking Compassion Focused Therapy to help the reader to not only develop a fuller understanding of how we react to trauma, but also to deal with any feelings of shame and start to overcome any trauma-related difficulties. Read more

The East-End stories that inspired the BBC TV series, CALL THE MIDWIFE, in a gorgeous gift box.London's East End in the 1950s was a tough place: the struggles of post-war life - bombsites, overcrowded tenements, crime, brothels - bred a culture of tight-knit family communities, larger-than-life characters and a lively social scene. It was into this world that Jennifer Worth entered as a trainee midwife. But docklands life was tough, and babies were often born in slum conditions.In funny, disturbing and heartbreaking stories, Jennifer Worth recounts her time among nuns, prostitutes, abortionists, bigamists, gangsters and expectant mothers, portraying East Enders' amazing resilience - and their warmth and humour in the face of hardship. Written with affection and nostalgia, her midwife stories chronicle the lives, traditions and tales of a bygone era. Read more