Together Again at the Cornish Country Hospital by Jo Bartlett

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

A&E Nurse Amy Spencer lives a very ordinary life in Port Kara. She loves her job at the hospital and has a great group of friends, but there is something or someone missing from her life. Amy’s tried dating but no one ever compares with the one boy that got away – Lijah Byrne.

A surprise arrival…

Lijah’s life since he left Port Kara has been what dreams are made of. But lately Lijah has started to feel hollow – the fame and celebrity he once craved now makes him feel trapped. The only place he’s ever felt safe is Port Kara… so maybe it’s time to go back home?

A reunion written in the stars.

When Amy bumps into Lijah again, she only sees the boy she once loved with all her heart. But their lives are so different now. Amy knows a rekindling of their past love will end in heartbreak, but she can’t give up her second chance to be with the man she loves.

My Opinion

This is a series that I am definitely not reading in order but I have had no issues following the plot. Together Again at the Cornish Country Hospital was a sweet and enjoyable read. I have read a few books by Jo Bartlett and I really like the writing style so I will definitely be returning.

Rating 4/5

This is Book 5 in The Cornish Country Hospital Series and is also the first book I've read by Jo.

Oh my goodness, I loved it... it seriously reminded me of Casulty!

We have medical procedures, we have love, we have nasty accidents, drama, various medical conditions, hatred plus cute dogs!... it's like a roller coaster ride!

The story mainly follows Amy and Lijah - two childhood sweethearts who only broke up so Lijah could pursue his singing career... there's a back story, but I won't go into it...

Lijah returns home after losing his mum, and Amy is still there, now working as an A&E nurse.

Amongst the love drama of these two (who I absolutely adore!), Jo has also woven lots of mini dramas in with different characters from the hospital (like any good medical drama does!)

We see Gwen, we meet Gary, Ellen, CamI, Albie... all having various conditions and complaints which break up the 'will they/won't they' Amy and Lijah storyline nicely.

It's a beautifully written book, and I want to go back and read the other 4 now as this was just fantastic!

I love this series. Imagine Grey’s Anatomy, Casualty or Chicago Med in a book and you have this series.

This book follows the story of Amy, an emergency nurse, Gwen who manages the hospital’s shop and a host of other characters with enough drama to keep readers entertained.

As always, there is the celebration of love and community. This also delves deeper into what comes with growing old, loneliness and family dynamics.

There were reappearances from previous characters and it was good to catch up with them.
I enjoyed reading and I had my heart racing about Gwen and hoping everything will be all right. I love how sensitive the author was in dealing with this.

I loved the climax and how everything came together for Amy and Lijah and Nathan.

Amy and Lijah’s story was a bit slow and Amy’s attitude and indecisiveness were frustrating for me but the stories of all the other characters more than made up for it.

I can’t wait to see what the author comes up with this in her latest book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me a copy of this book to review.

This was a fun chick lit novel, and I enjoyed it a lot. I am looking forward to reading more by this author.

I always look forward to a Jo Bartlett book and this, the next instalment in the Cornish Country Hospital series is another brilliant read from her.
Emotional, heartwarming and inspiring, this has been a welcome back to the community of Port Kara, and I’ve loved it.
Amy and Lijah have such a deep connection but their lives have grown so far apart, can they rekindle that love and friendship from before?
Gwen has always been a favourite character of mine and to have her story in this instalment has been brilliant. Emotions run high as Gwen and Barry’s marriage and love is tested, and I must admit Gwen’s story had me in tears many times as we follow her through the most testing of times.

In this fifth installment, A&E nurse Amy Spencer, a compassionate and likable heroine, finds her life upended when Lijah Byrne—the one who got away—returns to Port Kara. Once a promising musician whose star once shone brightly, Lijah now grapples with the hollowness of fame and a longing to reconnect with his roots. Their rekindled connection is layered with bittersweet nostalgia, as both characters struggle to reconcile past love with their very different present lives.

Set against the evocative backdrop of a charming Cornish town and its bustling hospital, the narrative seamlessly blends the drama of everyday medical emergencies with the personal challenges of love, loss, and self-discovery. I appreciate the warmth and authenticity of the characters, whose relationships—whether among friends or within family—feel genuine and deeply human. While some may find the romance storyline familiar, I love its uplifting humor, emotional depth, and a sense of community that makes Port Kara feel like home.

This book delivers both comfort and catharsis, making it a delightful read whether you’re returning to the series or joining it for the first time.

Together Again at the Cornish Country Hospital is the fifth Cornish Country Hospital novel. I haven't read the previous four books in the series but I will definitely going back to the beginning.

Childhood sweethearts Amy and Lijah, now a nurse and a musician respectively, are reunited when Lijah comes back home to take a break and reevaluate his life. Lijah has always been Amy's one who got away but they are so different now. As they come back together, Lijah and Amy realize there is still that spark between then.

Together Again at the Cornish Country Hospital is a great second chance romance. I love the characters and the setting. I'm sure many of the characters I met along the way were featured in previous books, and it would be nice to get to know them in the proper order. The author wrote this story with realism, and it's very emotional in places.

Should you ever need to visit the A&E Department at St Piran’s Hospital, Amy’s just the nurse you’d hope to find at your bedside, caring and capable – but, at a personal level, she’s far more lacking in confidence, unlucky in her romantic relationships, particularly undermined by her brother’s constant jibes. The love of her younger life was Lijah – always a talented musician, but who reluctantly left her behind when he became a global star. And now he’s back at Port Kara – the only place that ever felt like home – struggling with his song-writing, still feeling the impact of his much-loved mother’s death, needing to make difficult decisions about his future. And he’s never forgotten Amy – when their paths cross again, and despite the fact that the world’s media are watching his every move, they both begin to wonder whether they might be allowed a second chance at happiness.

That’s the primary storyline – and both individuals are so beautifully drawn and developed, and exceptionally likeable, the challenges they face very real as are the many obstacles they need to overcome. I also particularly liked Lijah’s friend and roadie, Nick, who’d been at his side since the start of his career, making timely interventions and most definitely one of life’s good guys. Unlike Amy’s brother Nathan – who finds himself in the middle of one of the book’s several dramatic heart-in-mouth situations, all as wonderfully written as ever.

As always, there are the day-to-day crises encountered in every busy A&E Department – difficult moments in people’s lives when the hard-pressed staff, a team of close friends, are able to make a real difference. And the progress of Amy and Elijah’s relationship certainly isn’t the only emotionally compelling storyline – there was one in particular, the health concerns of a long-standing member of the team, that might have touched me even more deeply. A further long running storyline, affecting individuals I’d taken to my heart when their stories were told in earlier books, also became particularly challenging – and with a potentially heartbreaking outcome.

Something I really love about these books is the way the author makes you feel entirely involved in her characters’ lives – she never shies away from the difficult issues, but handles them with particular sensitivity and compassion and the perfect emotional touch. And this really was an excellent addition to this lovely series – a love story that I really believed in for Amy and Lijah, littered with obstacles, but layered with a number of other equally strong and well developed storylines. Perhaps, and only because of the other storylines, this one might just be best read as part of the continuing series – but, as always, this was a book I thoroughly enjoyed and that I’d very much recommend to others.

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.

Another fabulous instalment with book 5 of this beautiful series. This time sees us getting more of an insight into the character of Gwen. This story really resonates with me as I have been going through the same health diagnosis and was also good to see this condition talked about in a book as it is something that isn’t widely discussed. As with all this authors books all issues are discussed sensitively and with comparison. I don’t want to say more here for fear of spoilers.

The other aspect of this story features amy connecting with an old flame who has returned to port Kara

This was a heartwarming. And uplifting story which was heartbreaking in places and contained engaging characters and a relatable storyline.

Although this could be read as a standalone I would recommend reading the series in order for full enjoyment and can’t wait to read what happens next.

I enjoyed this welcome return to the Cornish Country Hospital. With both new and familiar characters, the story focuses on Amy and her first love and rock star, Lijah. Gwen also features. There are second-chance romance and health dramas that quickly immerse you in the lives of this Cornish community. It's an emotional read because, as always with this author, you invest in the characters, but the balance of ups and downs is satisfying. It's another lovely book in this series, full of heartwarming moments and challenges.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

This is a delightful, warm and cosy read. Jo always writes such heart warming books and never fails to disappoint.

This is book five in the Cornish Country Hospital series.
It’s also Amy and Lijah’s story. Lijah returns to Port Kara and almost immediately runs into his old flame Amy.
This is an easy to read book. It’s also a bit predictable.
At times it felt a little too wordy and I felt like nothing was happening. If you enjoy second chance romance books, definitely add this one to your list.

Another delightful book taking us back again to the Cornish Country Hospital. This time we follow The story of Amy and Lijah. Childhood sweethearts who were separated when lijah left to follow his dream of being a singer.
When he returns can he convince Amy of his feelings towards her.
As always filled with lots of love and strong friendship, returning her feels almost like putting on a pair of comfy slippers.
Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for sending me an ARC of Jo’s latest book.

I enjoyed this next trip to the Cornish hospital. It was good to meet both new and old characters, who it feels like putting on a warm blanket whilst reading. A gentle read but also with a positive message to all who have a worry about their health, this is a comforting read.

Jo Bartlett has done it again with the latest instalment of the Cornish Country Hospital series. We have previously met main character Amy who is an A&E nurse at St Piran’s and in this story she is the main focus alongside her first love Lijah. I really like how the others characters lives are threaded through the story leading you to get a real sense of the community and how everyone is connected. Lijah left Port Kara to peruse his dream of becoming a successful singer songwriter but when he starts to feel trapped and needs some space he returns to the one place that has always been home. Amy has never been able to fully move on after they split up so that he could follow his dream and is taken by surprise when he returns. It is obvious when they reconnect that they still have feelings for each other but with their very different worlds can a rekindled relationship survive? Just wonderful and like a warm hug I can’t recommend this enough. Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the ARC

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.

Loving the next instalment in the Cornish Country Hospital series! Wow!!!!… Amazing… Absolutely fantastic, unputdownable… Keep them coming…….

I do so love this series every book is different and the characters are all so likeable. It's a perfect book to lose yourself in and read about the goings on at a hospital without all the waiting times and everyone has time for everybody. Perfect escapism. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

some writer are made for writing. some writers i want to bow down and say thankyou to. im not serious...but i am. because i cannot thank authors of this level of talent enough. those that write these stories with such brilliance are just incredible. and im in awe of them i truly am. i dont know how they do it!
the books of these authors are full of such warmth. they are full of such powerful character descriptions that you feel you know them. and when these authors do series. well, wow. thankyou very much im in. although every time a book ends i fear im getting closer to a series, and set of character i love, having to one day come to an end. dont Jo, dont finish this series yet please!

this could easily be a stand alone but i dont know why youd not want to follow them all.
this book centres around Amy. shes got it all. shes happy. but slowly something is feel like its not there. and thats someone to love and love her. but one person she doesnt want to enter that role is her first and only true love Lijah. hes now a famous singer. hes not and wont be part of her life. until....
Lijah needs space, he needs some healing time. he needs some down time. and know the only place he will get this is at his home town. so he takes some times out and does just that. goes home.
trouble is upon meeting its clear there is something between these two.
Amy let him go once. she doesnt want to be hurt all over again.
we also have of course stories from our other characters. they arent easy happening for all character involved. but once again its all told with such tender and knowledge words that it doesnt feel like it bring you down.
this is one of my favorite authors. and a favorite book. in favorite series.