A heart-warming and wittily observed tale about life in a nursing home

Hattie Bloom is an 89-year-old retired nature writer who prefers birds and her own company to other people and who had planned to live out the rest of her days observing the feathered species that nest around the garden of her cottage home. Unfortunately, a mishap with a ladder lands her with a broken hip and an enforced recuperation period in Woodlands Nursing Home. Here she meets a colourful cast of characters, including the larger-than-life 90-year-old Walter Bloom, who himself is dreaming of a great escape on his mobility scooter – once he passes the test to drive it, that is. The pair become unlikely allies when Sister Bronwyn (the organiser of the home's late-night secret club 'The Night Owls') is dismissed after her activities are deemed to go against the feared 'health and safety' rules. Teaming up, Hattie and Walter must come up with a plan to help get Sister Bronwyn back and hopefully escape from Woodlands once and for all.

This was a delightful, warm, and funny story packed with clever humour and some emotional moments. Anyone who has worked in health or social care will certainly recognise some of the author's tongue-in-cheek observations on its idiosyncrasies through her writing. I found myself often smiling in recognition of a certain personality or moment that seemed familiar. All the characters are brilliantly crafted, and Hattie and Walter, in particular, feel real enough to walk off the page and talk to you – they are both flawed, engaging and likeable in their own ways. The nursing home setting was an unusual choice for a humorous story and certainly a challenging one to tackle without the plot becoming too bleak and depressing. However, the author does an excellent job of keeping her story light-hearted, even during the sadder moments, by maintaining a feeling of hopefulness throughout. Personally, as someone who has some experience working with elderly people, I have met several patients who, after a stay in hospital, have been sent (or should that be condemned?) to a home. It was fascinating to consider the other side of their stories. I think it's a sad truth that most people don't wish to end up in a care home when we're older, but unfortunately, a lot of us will. This story asks the reader to consider what we really want from our twilight years and how we would potentially react if our independence and privacy was stolen from us as it is from Hattie and Walter.

Despite being a touching story overall, I must admit that I did find some aspects of the plot slightly predictable, and therefore, they lost their emotional impact a little. I also wasn't sure if the clearly mentally capable Hattie and Walter could legally be forced to go into a nursing home if they can decide not to, which bothered me slightly. Regardless of the above, this was still a light-hearted, fun tale with some colourful characters and some quite poignant moments mixed into the humour. It was an enjoyable read by a talented author.

Daenerys

Elite Reviewing Group received a copy of this book to review.

Miss Hattie Bloom, 89, has a bad fall that sees her spending time in Woodlands Nursing Home. Struggling to cope with the loss of her independence, she gazes out of her bedroom window each day, with its view of the carpark, as she yearns for escape, instead of watching the birdlife she so loves. Then, Hattie, an ornithological expert meets fellow resident, Walter Clements...

Joanna Nell's novel contains a poignant mix of warmth, humour and sadness, and this offering, The Great Escape from the Woodlands Nursing Home is a beautiful story. I loved spending time with Hattie Bloom and Walter Clements, two rich, amusing characters who touched my heart time and again. The assemblage of supporting colourful characters was equally delightful from Sister Bronwyn, and her elderly black Labrador, Queenie, the other Woodland Nursing Home ‘inmates’ to the staff and visitors. With its super plot-line, it was easy to cheer for the residents and their plight and the ending was quality! In short, a remarkable, emotional and immersive tale that had me both laughing and crying.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Hodder & Stoughton via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

Set in Australia, elderly residents of the Woodlands nursing home are dissatisfied and some are plotting to leave.
A night time hobby club is set up for insomniacs and the home becomes a lot more bearable.
Plots and plans are drawn up for escapes with some hilarious consequences.
A heart warming story with a few sad and a few comical moments.
.For lovers of a man called Ove this wont disappoint.

This book is one of those books that you just have to read when you need a break from the real world.

It is light-hearted and humorous, but also filled with touching and heart-warming emotion.

Meeting these mischievous pensioners and laughing along with their antics brought welcome joy, and I was so captivated by the characters that I could almost feel their moments of sadness, right along with them.

Such an enjoyable read!

The World of Woodlands Nursing Home does not appear to be great at first sight.
This is a book about changing attitudes and how people are always people whatever their age.
I laughed, I cried and I loved the fact that a story about people towards the end of their life allowed them to be real, react and change to circumstance

This is a book about not writing people off.

This book started innocuously enough, and I knew I would like it. By the time I set the book aside, I also found myself wanting to give it a full five stars. It creeps up on you with all the 'feels'. 
The story is based in a retirement home, the main protagonists being reluctant residents of the Woodlands Nursing home. The characters are of sound mind but not of the body, which has brought them all under one roof. First, we have Hattie who loves and understands birds but knows next to nothing about people. This is going to be her first lesson. Then, we have the man who is Walter, who is sure of his charm, but it is not helping him with anything. Until the very end, I could not be sure about the state of his marriage with his late wife, which I think felt very realistic in the time of frequent happily-ever-after books. 
Hattie and Walter bond over a lot of smaller things as well as another resident's declining health, even if their first meeting happens disastrously. There are a lot of other issues bound into the narrative, along with showing how the lack of independence hinders their agendas regularly. It has its moments, but the realizations and how they change the course of action during the story endeared the book to me. It is ultimately a happy book with its own hidden nooks with jolts of reality which triggered the tears. 
 I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

I received a copy of this book to review from Netgalley. Thank you for the opportunity.
A sweet yet hilarious read with funny and extremely relatable characters.
A good read.

I love an old person in a book, the grumpier the better and so I was eagerly awaiting this one from Joanna Nell after reading and loving The Last Voyage of Mrs Henry Parker.
This one was a dual narrative between Walter and Hattie, both staying for a short period in a nursing home to recover from ailments, both dream of getting out asap.
I found the start of this one slightly slower in pace and took a while for me to get used to the character quirks, but once we learn of the Night Owls, the late night club, I really started to enjoy my reading experience. I really loved the way that the author explored how the characters were not institutionalised to the way of the nursing home, how certain people understood their need to not have set times for day to day life. I enjoyed the snippets into the secondary characters life's and I would love some off shoot novellas for Sister Bronwyn and for Fanny Olsen.
The second half of the book was fabulous and I cannot wait to see what the next book will be.

Before lockdown I used to visit my mother at her care home, not just to see her but also to catch up with the other residents. In this past year I have missed seeing them immensely. 
So how wonderful to find this book! It took me straight to my mother’s care home. Although set in Australia it seems all care homes are very similar, and there is probably a Walter and Hattie in every one: the friendships, the politics, the desire for freedom, for although Woodlands is not a prison, you can’t leave easily either. It’s therefore apt that Woodlands is compared to a monopoly board, the rooms are given names such as Kentish Town and Bond Street. Enjoy making your way around the board, but will you join Hattie and Walter in ‘jail’ or are you ‘just visiting?’
Loved it, highly recommend!

A heartwarming story of Hattie and Walter who forge an unlikely friendship when they are both recovering in Woodlands Nursing Home.  They soon realise that they can still have a little fun with the Night Owls -a "club" run by Sister Bronwyn during the night for those residents who are unable to sleep.   When Sister Bronwyn is sacked, Hattie and Walter hatch a plan to get her reinstated.

This is a lovely story that proves you are never too old to break a few rules and have fun doing it.

This lovely novel  tells us about the older generation the end up in care. The things that they would love to be able to do and do it. Yes it deals with death but in a natural way so as not to spoil the reading of this. I would like to think that I could get away with living as these older people have managed so as to enjoy life as much as possible.   Very well written, I am sure everyone will enjoy this and it will bring some laughter into your world.  5 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this ARC

This book was so cosy and exciting. I absolutely loved it. I liked that the story was told from two people’s perspectives. It really helped us to get a rounded view of events. Hattie is fun and mischievous and Walter knows his own mind. They both want to escape Woodlands for different reasons but find themselves working together to achieve their goal. They make friends along the way and show us the real perks and drawbacks of care. I loved Sister Bronwyn’s character. All care homes need a woman like her. Not afraid to end the rules for the sake of her patient’s livelihoods. We want our older ones to enjoy life not just to count down the days until they die and this is exactly what she did. I really enjoyed the character development that we see from the two main characters. I loved Murray’s character too. He was soft and gentle but he was such a good friend to Walter. I would recommend this book to everyone. It made me laugh so many times.

Hattie has lived alone quite happily. She prefers the company of birds to people, so it comes as a great shock when she is sent to Woodlands Nursing Home after a fall. The idea of Carpet Bowls, Bingo & sing-alongs fill her with horror! Walter Clements is also not particularly happy. Ex driving instructor, would be comic, he is determined to go home once he is allowed to use his mobility scooter! Woodlands seems to be hidebound by Health & Safety rules but night nurse Sr Bronwyn has other ideas. Hattie finds that The Night Owls activities organised by Sr Bronwyn & Queenie, her dog make things a bit more bearable.

This was a lovely book. It was very funny in places & very sad in others. The characters were great! It reminds us that you are never to old to try new things or to get up to mischief. Even though you have passed the 'three score years & ten' milestone there's still a lot of living to do. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

I loved this book so much! I loved the characters and Hatties journey in finding true friendship for the first time in her life, the crazy adventures they get up to in the nursing home and it really got me in the feels! 

I love stories like this where each character has their own life story with the elderly being unashamedly honest. This book was a little slow to begin with but I fully expect it to be with this kind of story, I got some Thursday Murder Club vibes with the sleuthing and detective work that Hattie and Walter got up to. I would definitely recommend this book to everyone as I found it such an adorable and heartwarming read!

I am so glad I had the opportunity to read this warm and light hearted read. This story put a smile on my face and I even had a few chuckles too. Hattie and Walter are in their late 80's and live in the Nursing home, they meet at 'Night Owls' where they get up to all sorts of things in the middle of the night when they cannot sleep. I have not read any books that are set in a care home and I found it sad but uplifting to read about their lives. Some of what they get up to is very amusing though and reminded me of my grandparents. We see a friendship emerge between Hattie and Walter which was lovely to see and they plan to escape from the Nursing home. There are some right characters that bring this book to life. I would love to read more about them.

I was given a copy of The Great Escape From Woodlands Nursing home by Joanna Neil by the publisher in exchange for a honest review. 
The book is set in a nursing home the story is told in alternate chapters by 2 of its residents Walter and Hattie. Walter has to stay at the nursing home after losing his wife then being involved in a car accident. Walter wants to pass his test to drive his mobility scooter then escape from the home. Hattie lives alone, after breaking her hip she is placed at the home while she recovers then wants to return home. This is a very entertaining book, funny and a well told story. It also looks at how the elderly are cared for and how they feel in their later years. A really enjoyable read.

Old age, infirmity and death are explored in the most humorous and sympathetic fashion in this wonderful story. 

Escape may be the premise, but the overriding message is one of hope, making the best of things, and friendship. There are so many layers to this story, but the one I loved the most was how uplifting it was. 

Can't praise it enough.

The Great Escape from Woodlands Nursing Home by Joanna Nell

I am always pleased to see Joanna Nell's name appear on my list of new novels. Ever since her debut novel,  The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village, I have been a huge fan. Joanna Nell writes beautiful,  amusing novels about wonderful characters who are completely true to life. Just because people reach their later years does not mean that they should be cut off from independence and freedom of choice.  This novel opens with retired nature writer Hattie Bloom, currently resident at  Woodlands Nursing Home following a fall, making a sadly, unsuccessful bid for freedom when the taxi she has bravely summoned gets caught in traffic. Hattie just wants to get home to make sure that her beloved birds are all fine, particularly the owls nesting in the tree on the border of her property. Her new neighbours are not bird, or tree friendly and are aiming to cause trouble for Hattie and her beloved birds.
We then meet Walter, the would be comedian, bullied by his daughter who resents his freedom to drive his mobility scooter, to wear the clothes he likes, to be as he wants to be. As the novel opens these two are unaware of each other’s existence,  they get to know one another at Sister Bronwyn’s undercover  club, The Night Owls aided by her dog Queenie. At first Walter and Hattie do not seem likely to hit it off but, when Sister Bronwyn is dismissed over her unconventional attitude to care for the elderly, Walter and Hattie must join forces to help themselves and a wonderful friendship slowly blossoms. 

Joanna Nell breathes life into her characters,  they are endearing and definitely three dimensional.  The reader becomes totally involved with the characters and we laugh and cry with them from the start to the finish of their stories. Those stories are always poignant. I think this is what makes a new Joanna Nell novel such a treat, she has a heart and really cares for her characters, her empathy for them comes across  directly to the reader who in turn wants them to win through. More please Ms Nell, you never disappoint.

I don’t know if such fiction books have a collective name, but I’ve had a lot of fun reading books featuring older people that live in aged care homes. Such as The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman and The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared. It doesn’t take much scratching below the surface to realise these places are not an ideal place to live, but what appeals to me is the often plucky and remarkable characters you meet in the story. The Great Escape from Woodlands Nursing Home by Joanna Nell introduces us to several such characters, focusing on Hattie Bloom and Walter Clements. They’re both 90-odd, are steadfast in their desire to go to their real homes, but are at the mercy of people who supposedly know best.

I think Nell has done a good job in illustrating the disingenuousness of the aged care system. Nell’s words are never aggressive, but certainly provocative, as she weaves into the story multiple examples of how aged care is managed to run efficiently, and with little money. The independence and desires of residents is, at best to be ignored, and at worst, to be threatened with guardianship by those in authority.

Enjoying all this, I did still feel there was something indefinable missing in the story. The blurb mentions residents banding together to help Sister Bronwyn, but this plot seemed weak, given it wasn’t properly addressed until late in the book. Much of the book has the characters making a fuss – if you will – before immediately backing down. It’s not until the final stages of the book, when the great escape happens, that the story is elevated into something that had me loudly cheering for the residents instead of just feeling melancholy.    

I would also like to mention the set up of the Woodlands Nursing Home itself. It’s based on the game Monopoly. Resident rooms are labelled with one of the game streets, from ‘Go’ and collecting your $200, onto Whitechapel Road and around all the corners to Mayfair. So clever! Hattie Bloom, makes the observation that ‘depending on how you landed on this particular Monopoly square, the foyer and reception area represented either IN JAIL or JUST VISITING.’ Such insight really says it all. 

This was my first Joanna Nell novel. I am glad I chose to read this book and I will be looking to add her other books onto my to-be-read pile.

This is the first book that I have read by this Author, and I really enjoyed it. I will definitely look out for more books by her.
Set in a private and expensive Nursing home, and features Hattie and Walter who unexpectedly became friends.
This book is poignant and heartwarming, but it also has plenty of amusing moments. It reminds you of how elderly people are often dismissed and not taken any notice of, but they are still very much a part of society.
I found this book a little slow to start with, but then I was drawn into it, and wanted to find out if Hattie and Walter's plan worked.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for my ARC.