While I normally love Jo Bartlett’s novels, The Midwife by the Sea was hard to read. This is because one of the primary themes was dealing with infertility. This is something that I personally can’t relate to and think could be very triggering for some readers. One of the main characters goes through a lot of self-reflection and uncertainty about what makes a family. One of the things I like about all of Jo’s novels is how the characters and story lines are intertwined. But, it could be read as a stand-alone novel as well. I enjoyed getting a deeper glimpse into the lives of characters mentioned in her other series The Cornish Country Hospital. Her novels also always make me want to pack my bags and travel to Cornwall and experience the quant seaside villages she describes. Overall, I think this is another solid addition to her collection of works – even though I personally couldn’t relate to many of the emotions and experiences the main characters undergo.