A Nurse’s Tale

How do I explain it except to say READ IT! It’s phenomenal. I feel like the more I say the more I could reveal and I don’t want to do that but the writing is OUTSTANDING, the story is really AMAZING, and those characters are just MAGNIFICENT. I just didn’t want to leave this world and I think it’s worth a re read right now.

If you enjoy well-researched historical fiction and being transported to a different era, you'll love this book. If you like a bit of romance and the struggle of modern women too, read this one. Enjoy learning about different cultures from your own? Read this one! This dual timeline story has it all.

I read a lot of World War II historical fiction but this book gave me a very different viewpoint, that of the many men & women that joined the war effort from the British colonies. It was astonishing, considering these colonies wanted their independence from the UK. These men & women could have stayed in their home countries with their families, safe from the war but chose great sacrifice instead. I love character-driven novels and the women in this one are treasures. Watching Violet stand up to racial attacks on her two closest friends was heartwarming. Ade was so impressive as she bit back retorts to the countless insults against her and her culture, not because she was weak or afraid but because she was better than that.

As an American, I was so impressed with the midwife program of the NHS in the UK which is lightyears ahead of what we have. Reading about the racism the American GIs brought with them to Britain during the war was gutwrenching, and something I've not read about before. And although women continue to struggle against the gender divide, this book reinforces that we are stronger together and a force to be reckoned with, no matter where we live.

I'm grateful to NetGalley and the publisher, One More Chapter for the opportunity to read this ARC. It was a privilege and I am happy to leave a review.

I was so sad this book ended. I want to know what happens next! I really got into this story.
The book involves 2 stories at the same time. The one is the story of Adenrele, a Nigerian Princess training to be a nurse so she can help her country. She arrives in 1935 and stays through the war. We learn the hardships she endures from rationing to racism. She tells the good and the bad of being a Black woman in wartime England. The other story is that of her great niece, Yemi, is goes to England for work and has Ade’s diaries. Through association with other families of wartime nurses, she meets Mike, whose great grandmother was a friend of Ade’s and together they unravel the mystery of what happened to her and the baby that grew up to be Mike’s grandfather.
I love historical fiction, especially when it’s well written, and this was. I felt like I was there. I read a lot of the WWII era and the descriptions sounded accurate. It brings to light a side we don’t hear much about, the attitude of American white soldiers to the black soldiers. Unfortunately, I could picture it happening the way it was described. I read an autobiography of a black man who was in the Army near the same time and he spoke of the racism he endured. I’m hoping the author is planning more historical fiction. I would definitely be interested in reading more from her.
I received a free copy of this ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book via NetGalley and HaperCollins UK, One More Chapter. All thoughts and opinions are solely my own.

Rating: 5/5 Stars
Publishing: July 7, 2023
Series: N/A
Pages: 325

This is a first time read by Ola Awonubi, new author to this reader. There are some One More Chapter stories that have been very enjoyable and some that have not captured by attention; however I can say that One More Chapter does provide some very wonderful reads and “A Nurse’s Tale” is one such story.

This historical inspired true story of Princess Adenrele Ademola, a Nigerian princess who trained as a nurse during WWII and became a nurse aide treating patients in London is a testament. We see the heroine serving the war-torn survivors all the while facing the racial prejudices of those she was trying to help and assist. This story is well-written and truly amazing. It presents a clear picture of Ade’s strength and determination, along with her friends to stand up to racial bitterness against their culture and to people who could not understand the sacrifices made by the men and women at that time.

There are times that I get confused when reading dual timelines but used in this amazing piece of fiction worked for this novel and made the story more that enjoyable and heartwarming. There is clearly a division of gender in this story and especially inequality of women in various roles…one where women continue to struggle not only then but today to be recognized. I can say that I have learned quite a bit with reading this story and thank you One More Chapter and Ola Awonubi for this opportunity. Wholeheartedly recommend this novel.

This is a very enjoyable and thought provoking story about an African Princess who works as a nurse during WW2 and also her great neice Yemi who in present time has her diaries and travels to England to unravel what happened to her .It was sad to read of the extreme racial prejudice which Adenrele had to suffer during those time but how brave she was .Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC .

This was such a great historical novel, it had everything that I was hoping for. I enjoyed getting to know Princess Adenrele and thought the true story elements worked. I was engaged with the time-period and overall thought it worked well.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Yemi is going to London. While their she wants to talk to her aunt regarding notebooks she found. She is reading about her life that us very hectic during a war. This gives her new insight into the struggles her aunt went through. This was a very detailed story about life during a war. A must read.

This is a true story of a Nigerian Princess who goes to Britain to train as a nurse and a midwife during WWII. It's also the story of her great niece, during 2019, who researches her great aunt's history. It is a very interesting historical fiction novel and the dual timelines work wonderfully together. It's saddening to read how our American GI's treated their black brothers in arms as less than. The UK was far above us not only in the way they treated black soldiers but also in their NHS programs. I loved Ade's principals (she is the Princess) and her bravery and she never rested on her royalty status. Ade's story is truly inspiring - even today! Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an e-arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

A fantastic fiction story inspired by the project 100 Women of Nigeria. Princess Adrenrele Ademola (Ade) Ade moved from Nigeria to train as a nurse and along with many others served the people of London during WW2. In 2019 however Yemi whose Great Aunt was that Nurse met Mike whose Great Grandmother was a close friend of Ade’s. As they try and discover more about their relatives they also fall in love. This book is amazing as even with all the racism that was in London during WW2 you fall for the characters and become blown away by all that was achieved. Thanks to Ola and her publisher. Thanks also to NetGalley.

A Nurses Tale

This is the story of Princess Adenrele Ademola, a Nigerian princess who trained as a nurse during WWII. She was sent to London by her father The King to learn and train so she could return to her homeland and help set up health facilities.
During her nursing training England becomes involved in WWII and Ade could not safely return home so she nursed the wounded, helped deliver babies all the while facing the racial prejudice of that time.
It is a dual time line story with her great niece Yemi discovering Ade ‘s diary while working on a project about 100 Women of Nigeria. Yemi travels to London from Nigeria to research women for her project and to also accept an award presented to her Great Aunt in recognising her contribution for the work undertaken by African and Caribbean medical personnel to the NHS over the past 80 years. Yemi meets Mike at the awards ceremony and they discover there is close connection to a dear friend who nursed with Ade’s.

This is a really captivating read; there are themes of inequality in gender and race and the strength and determination that women (in particular) have to overcome to prove their worth in society. Once started this is a hard to put down book as you become invested in not only Ade’s life but also Yemi’s.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

this is about all the people that came over to england during and before the war to help establish the nhs, they worked tirelessly and put up with a lot to help us with the goal in mind that once they had finished their education they could go home and help their own countries establish their own rule and their own nhs

Princess Born Nigerian royalty, Princess Adenrele Ademola was one of those nurses, the abuse she suffered on a daily basis makes you want to weep, even from fellow work colleagues but her aim was to see her country come out from under colonial rule and establish an nhs was her goal and luckily her father was a man of foresight

this is a powerful novel and it makes you wonder if we have ever learnt anything, the duel timeline is interesting

A Nurse's Tale by Ola Awonubi is a poignant and touching dual timeline story inspired by real people and events. WWII was a horrendous time and the Blitz in London extremely brutal. Nigerian Princess Adenrele (Ade) Ademola trained to become a nurse and midwife so she could help her people during the war. Though technically royalty, she faced many obstacles, especially as she was a working black woman in a foreign country. People shunned, ridiculed and looked right through her and even refused medical treatment in life-death situations.

In 2019, Ade's great great niece Yemi is doing research in London, armed with Ade's diaries. She meets Mike who has connections to Ade. They both become involved in learning more about this unusual woman and their research causes deeper digging into the Woman of Nigeria project. Secrets, sorrows and hope are only part of what they discover.

A particular interest of mine is medicine so the midwifery and nursing side of it fascinated me to no end. It was also incredible to learn more about Nigeria and the repercussions of the war on the country. The writing itself is magic, the perspective unique and the characters beautifully written. This is a special novel, one to cling to and savour.

My sincere thank you to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this extraordinary novel.

Princess Adenrele Ademola trained at Guy's hospital before and during the war. She made some close friends and kept diaries of both her experiences and the prejudice she encountered.
Eighty years later her great niece, Yemi, arrives in London with the diaries hoping to retrace some of her great aunts stories and frienships.

Wow, what a book. A very intriguing historical reminiscence of then and now. Entwined love with sorrow and enchantment. So much research has gone into writing this book and it must be applauded for how well it’s been documented.
It’s an eye opening book portraying what still happens today, fortunately not as common.
A must read.

This novel is based on a true story of an African nurse working in the UK. Omo-Oba Adenrele Ademola is a Nigerian princess who moves to Camden Town in the 1930's to be a nurse at Guy's Hospital. It is set during the Second World War and follows Ademola as she is aiding the survivors. It is a dual timeline novel that also follow's Ademola's great neice Yemi who begins to read her diaries.

I loved reading about nurse Ademola's stregnth and the effect that she had on the people of West Africa to follow her lead. It was especially inspiring to read the effect it had on her great neice Yemi. I liked going back and forth reading the 1930's time period and 2018, between Ademola and Yemi. It was interesting to read the differences in time period and how each character responded to the time period they lived in.

Nurse Ademola was a strong character who helped aide the survivors of World War II while also dealing with racism from those she worked with. I enjoyed reading Ademola's perspctive as well as Yemi's. Yemi begins reading Ademola's diaries and realized the adversities her great aunt went through. I thought this was done really well and kept the book interesting.

This was a great historical read and different from other historical books I've read. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical fiction!

Thank you Netgalley and Harper Muse UK for this ARC for me to review it!

Nigerian Princess Ademola comes to the UK, with the blessing of her father, for education. And trains to be a midwife, so she can take these skills back to her country. Her timing finds her in the midst of blitz bombed London, surrounded by the horror of WW2.
The more personal fight she has on her hands, is with the racism and general treatment of coloured people from Africa and the Caribbean especially, who are ultimately trying to help the British survive the war.
80 years later, Yemi, who is also from Nigeria, comes to London to research 100 such inspirational women, for her work. The search becomes personal,as her love interest grows.
Really I could have enjoyed this book only with the story of Ade! But in this dual timeline book, Yemi is the catalyst for the retelling of Ades diaries. And I guess some people like to follow a more modern day romance as well as a historical one.
Ades friends and their life stories and struggles compliment and enhance her own and I was sad to finish the book.....what else happened in her life? As times changed for her and Nigeria, how did she fair? Did these things make her happy?
Thanks to NetGalley, one More Chapter and Ola Awonubi for my copy.

'When [will] this war ever end? Not the war with Germany...but the other war. The one between races'.

In 1935, Adenrele Ademola, a Nigerian Princess, was sent to Britain to train as a nurse in order to bring her knowledge back home and help her community. As her training draws to a close, WW2 breaks out; not only delaying her return but keeping her in a country where being a different colour is often regarded with hate or some type of savage novelty, 'Sometimes it is just so tiring. The constant feeling that I have to prove that I am just as good, just as competent, just as civilised.'

80 years later, Adenrele's great, great grand-niece, Yemi, is given Adenrele's wartime diaries. Yemi discovers not only the barriers of race and gender her ancestor had to negotiate daily but also the stories of other men and women from the West Indies and African colonies, who are called to the Motherland to help but not often given any welcome or thanks, 'her love of the Motherland is a colonial disease she was cured of the minute she stepped foot in this country'. War unites and war divides, but all we are really fighting for is our personal freedom and independence.

For me, this was a complete case of erroneously judging a book by its cover. I expected a somewhat stereotypical WW2 story that talked of friendship, hardship, and a smatter of romance. This book does that, but (and here's the big negate that follows a but) it is a social commentary of the time; the war is simply a backdrop. I had read before about the continued segregation issues and attitudes in relation to US troops but I had not read about those in Britain, nor those experiences from certain colonies. Sadly, I was not even aware of the Windrush generation brought in to help labour shortages and rebuild England's economy.

I really enjoyed learning about this facet of England's war. As a dual-time read, I did, however, favour one story above the other. I recommend this to historical fiction lovers, particularly WW2 aficionados, as well as readers who enjoy social history.

This is one of the best historical books I have read in a long time.
Based on a real person it did not retract from the true facts of this woman's life born of noble decent who came to England to train as a nurse in order to improve the lives of her fellow countrymen.
The one thing that runs through this book is the racial discrimination that women of colour experienced in the war years of the 20th century and the sadness that it seems that in some societies nothing has changed.
Can’t recommend it enough

Princess Adenrele Ademola is from Nigeria, she’s the daughter of King Papado Ademola the Alake of Abeokuta and she trains to be a nurse in the 1930’s at Guy’s Hospital in London. Here she makes friends with fellow students Violet Dobbs and Elvina Thompson and Violet encourages Ade and Elvina to go to dances and have fun while they can.

When the Blitz starts, Ade doesn’t return home, she passes her nursing exams and starts training to be a midwife. Despite being from a royal Nigerian family, in England Ade is judged by the colour of her skin, she faces terrible racism, people say rude things to her and including patients she's helping.

The story has a dual timeline, it’s told from the two main characters points of view, Adenrele and her great-niece Olayemi and eighty years apart.

Yemi Akindele is a graphic artist in Lagos, she’s given the opportunity to travel to England and their compiling a list of Nigerian women who have been trailblazers in the past hundred years and she takes with her great-aunt’s diaries. At a Gala night, Yemi meets Dr. Michael Benjamin and he's trying to find out information about his grandfather Cyril, he was born at St Timothy’s a home for unwed mothers and a mixed race baby. Yemi and Mike discover the connection between their families, they know whose Cyril’s parents are, a coloured Flight Sergeant, one of Ade’s nursing friends and why did he end up in an orphanage in near Derby?

In their quest to solve the mystery Mike feels very attracted and drawn to Yemi, she not ready to being a romantic relationship, she’s returning to her job and family in Lagos at the end of the year.

I received a copy of A Nurse’s Tale by Ola Awonubi from NetGalley and HarperCollins UK in exchange for an honest review. The novel is full of fascinating information and is inspired by a true story, Adenrele being a princess, her training to be a nurse in London, like everyone during the Second World War she endured the bombings and blackouts, food and clothes being rationed.

I must admit I knew very little about Nigeria, its history, culture, heritage and traditions and now I do. A narrative based on two strong women, both were ambitious, loyal to their friends and loved ones and overcame life’s challenges. Four stars from me, a great debut novel and perfect for readers who enjoy historical fiction full of long buried secrets, and learning about different cultures and I want to make Jollof rice.

This wasn't a typical British story during WW2. The main character, Ade, is a princess from Nigeria who comes to England in the late 1930's to train to be a nurse so she can help in her country's development. Her two best friends are Violet and Elvina. For the first time Ade had to deal with racism. Even though she wasn't a spoiled princess she was privileged and in between her nursing assignments she would do state things with her father, i.e., the King's Coronation. The author did a great job of portraying the racism and the mood of London during the Blitz. In 2019 her great niece, Yemi, is writing about prominent Nigerian women. Yemi is interesting but not as well developed a character as Ade. Although I liked Ade's story more Yemi's her story revolves around her budding romance with Mike. He is related to Violet and is searching for his family's roots. Elvina was an interesting woman, having traveled from Jamaica to train. What I found off putting was the author trying to write in Elvina's dialect which I had a hard time understanding.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Harper Collins UK for providing me a digital copy.