Haslemere mother launches book club to support mental health

Nancy Underwood, a 35-year-old mother from Haslemere, Surrey, has launched a book club called ‘Candle and Page’ to support her mental health and rediscover her identity after years of intensive caregiving.

Following a series of family health challenges, including her eldest daughter’s diagnosis of drug-resistant absence epilepsy, Underwood described the experience of managing frequent seizures as a constant state of ‘fight, flight or freeze.’ To combat the isolation and stress of caregiving, she turned to her lifelong passion for reading.

The club has since evolved into a community resource, providing a space for local residents to meet and share literature. It operates with a low-pressure format, allowing members to participate regardless of whether they have completed the monthly selection.