Penang, 1971. When Suyin Lim is offered the opportunity of a lifetime - a place as a trainee nurse in London's Bethnal Green Hospital - she jumps at the chance to leave her job as a seamstress and unite with her sister, who left for the same path a year before.

However, without warning her sister returns to Penang, a shadow of her former self and Suyin is forced to leave without any answers. Suyin soon finds herself starting a new life in London, falling in love with the vibrant city and its people and as she immerses herself in the gruelling but rewarding work of caring for her patients, she begins to understand what she really wants out of life...

Bethnal Green explores the themes of sacrifice and heartbreak, the power of using your voice and the will to build a life of one's own against the odds. It is also a powerful love letter to dedicated NHS workers from around the world, whose work touches countless lives every day.

About the Author: 

Amélie Skoda was born in London to French and Malaysian parents and grew up in Kent. She studied English at University College London and has an MA in Creative Writing from Royal Holloway, University of London. Her debut novel Bethnal Green was shortlisted for the 2021 Mo Siewcharran prize and published by Manilla Press in 2025.

What Our Reviewers Said:

"There was a quiet confidence in the storytelling and the interpersonal relationships that immediately drew you in. A simplicity that let the story unfold naturally. I would recommend this book to anyone, it gives an insight into the experience of immigration and the complexities involved with that in terms of finding a place and a sense of family. It reflects on how two different lives and two different people become one."

"I loved how it captures the experience of immigrant health workers in a 1970's London on the precipice of social/political reforms. The protagonist Suyin, is a wonderful central characters, who is relatable, likeable and possesses a quiet strength about her."

Buy the Book: