A mum who “completely lost herself” after years caring for her children through serious medical difficulties has found a new lease of life by starting a book club.

Nancy Underwood, 35, of Haslemere spent years putting her children first as her family faced a succession of health challenges.

Her youngest son needed treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital, beginning a four-year battle which took a huge toll on the family.

“It cut me off at the knees,” she said. “It was a constant adrenaline rush of fight, flight or freeze and it was horrific.”

Then, after the family moved to Haslemere in 2024, Nancy’s eldest daughter was diagnosed with drug-resistant absence epilepsy and began suffering between 30 and 40 seizures a day.

The seizures required constant supervision, with her daughter once walking into the road during an episode and on another occasion falling down the stairs.

“I thought I was fine. I thought I was coping, but I completely lost myself,” she said.

A lifelong keen reader, Nancy decided she needed to do something for herself and launched Candle and Page to support her mental health, make friends and rediscover herself.

“Books have always been a coping mechanism for me,” she said. “When I was at my lowest, the way I pulled myself out was by reading.”

What began as a way for Nancy to help herself has since become a lifeline, while also helping others meet people and share their love of books.

The club is open to everyone, with no pressure to have read the monthly book.

Member Katy Callingham said: “Since joining, I’ve read books I’d never dreamt of picking up off the shelf. Nancy has created a really fun group.”

Frida Ström, who is new to Haslemere, said: “I joined the book club as a way of meeting new people in the area. It’s a lovely little community and I can’t recommend joining enough.”

Candle and Page meets on the first Thursday of every month at 7pm at The Georgian in Haslemere, with updates shared on Instagram at @candleandpagebookclub