cocoon

A heart-wrenching chronicle of loss and resilience based on the true story of the Himeyuri corps of student nurses in WWII. San and her best friend Mayu attend a boarding school for girls on Japan’s Southern Island, but their studies are interrupted when they and the other students are recruited to help the war effort as assistant nurses. Sent to the front lines, the girls must deal with more than just the threat of enemy bombs overhead. Stuck working in the horrifying caves of a field hospital, San wishes she could wrap herself and her friends in a cocoon of protection. But invisible threads of affection are no match for the carnage that surrounds them, and more students perish day by day. Worn down by starvation and loss, what will San and her remaining friends do when they are told to find their way home through the fields of war?

A heart-wrenching chronicle of loss and resilience based on the true story of the Himeyuri corps of student nurses in WWII. San and her best friend Mayu attend a boarding school for girls on Japan’s Southern Island, but their studies are interrupted when they and the other students are recruited to help the war effort as assistant nurses. Sent to the front lines, the girls must deal with more than just the threat of enemy bombs overhead. Stuck working in the horrifying caves of a field hospital, San wishes she could wrap herself and her friends in a cocoon of protection. But invisible threads of affection are no match for the carnage that surrounds them, and more students perish day by day. Worn down by starvation and loss, what will San and her remaining friends do when they are told to find their way home through the fields of war?

PRAISE FOR COCOON 'Cocoon is an inspiring exploration of home as a sanctuary, celebrating the beauty of spaces that nurture and provide comfort. Ali has an intuitive understanding of the meaning of home, encouraging others to live with the things they love and to celebrate their individuality.' Chrissie Rucker - Founder @thewhitecompany 'A must-read if you want your home to feel storied and meaningful at every turn.' Livingetc 'Another stunning design book! Ali Heath's books never fail to inspire me.' Leanne Ford @leannefordinteriors 'Ali Heath understands that true sanctuary isn't about having the right things, but about surrounding ourselves with what genuinely nourishes us. Cocoon beautifully captures this essence of intentional living through spaces that prioritize comfort, connection, and personal meaning over perfection.' Shira Gill, author of Minimalista 'Ali Heath is not only a gifted writer, interior stylist, and mentor but also a warm-hearted woman and a cherished friend. Her sensitivity to moods, emotions, and creativity is something truly special. In her latest book, COCOON , she takes us into lived-in homes and spaces that feel deeply personal. Her style is romantic, tactile, and carefully curated, with each piece exuding a vintage charm. The blend of decor, antiques, books, art, and furniture creates a seamless narrative of a life well lived. There's not a single page where you wouldn't want to linger.' Malene Birger @malenebirgers_world 'Cosseting, cosy, sink-into spaces are on the rise and there is no better book to dive into and learn how to pull them off than Ali Heath's Cocoon: Creating Homes with Heart . It's an essential read that not only will put a smile on your face as you settle down and dig in it will awaken your senses exciting you to create visual, tactile, cosy havens that you never want to leave.' Abigail Ahern @abigailahern 'Ali's desire to help us all create a sanctuary at home focuses on the importance of human connections and an awareness of our senses. Making spaces that we can connect with intuitively goes way beyond just aesthetics as these case studies illustrate so perfectly.' Kate Watson Smyth, KateWatsonSmyth.Substack.com *** In her third book, Cocoon: Creating Homes with Heart , Ali Heath, invites the reader to create a home sanctuary that focuses on the human touch, as an antidote to our fast-paced, tech-driven modern world. This way of decorating is so much more than just a look or style - it's about taking a holistic approach that draws upon all our senses, not just the visual, and connects us more meaningfully to ourselves and our surroundings. In the past creating a sanctuary was about the decoration of a few key rooms, now it is about how the whole home makes us feel. Cocooning is not about isolation or shutting down and does not have to mean going off-grid - it is simply about tuning back into our emotions and creativity to satisfy our need for comfort and wonder. Divided into three informative chapters: Cocooning, Feeling and Living, the book explores the homes of 13 creatives from around the world, including architects, antique dealers, furniture makers and artists in the UK, France, Spain, Italy and Australia. With everything from small inner-city sanctuaries to spacious island retreats, Cocoon celebrates a design approach that speaks to the heart.

PRAISE FOR COCOON 'Cocoon is an inspiring exploration of home as a sanctuary, celebrating the beauty of spaces that nurture and provide comfort. Ali has an intuitive understanding of the meaning of home, encouraging others to live with the things they love and to celebrate their individuality.' Chrissie Rucker - Founder @thewhitecompany 'A must-read if you want your home to feel storied and meaningful at every turn.' Livingetc 'Another stunning design book! Ali Heath's books never fail to inspire me.' Leanne Ford @leannefordinteriors 'Ali Heath understands that true sanctuary isn't about having the right things, but about surrounding ourselves with what genuinely nourishes us. Cocoon beautifully captures this essence of intentional living through spaces that prioritize comfort, connection, and personal meaning over perfection.' Shira Gill, author of Minimalista 'Ali Heath is not only a gifted writer, interior stylist, and mentor but also a warm-hearted woman and a cherished friend. Her sensitivity to moods, emotions, and creativity is something truly special. In her latest book, COCOON , she takes us into lived-in homes and spaces that feel deeply personal. Her style is romantic, tactile, and carefully curated, with each piece exuding a vintage charm. The blend of decor, antiques, books, art, and furniture creates a seamless narrative of a life well lived. There's not a single page where you wouldn't want to linger.' Malene Birger @malenebirgers_world 'Cosseting, cosy, sink-into spaces are on the rise and there is no better book to dive into and learn how to pull them off than Ali Heath's Cocoon: Creating Homes with Heart . It's an essential read that not only will put a smile on your face as you settle down and dig in it will awaken your senses exciting you to create visual, tactile, cosy havens that you never want to leave.' Abigail Ahern @abigailahern 'Ali's desire to help us all create a sanctuary at home focuses on the importance of human connections and an awareness of our senses. Making spaces that we can connect with intuitively goes way beyond just aesthetics as these case studies illustrate so perfectly.' Kate Watson Smyth, KateWatsonSmyth.Substack.com *** In her third book, Cocoon: Creating Homes with Heart , Ali Heath, invites the reader to create a home sanctuary that focuses on the human touch, as an antidote to our fast-paced, tech-driven modern world. This way of decorating is so much more than just a look or style - it's about taking a holistic approach that draws upon all our senses, not just the visual, and connects us more meaningfully to ourselves and our surroundings. In the past creating a sanctuary was about the decoration of a few key rooms, now it is about how the whole home makes us feel. Cocooning is not about isolation or shutting down and does not have to mean going off-grid - it is simply about tuning back into our emotions and creativity to satisfy our need for comfort and wonder. Divided into three informative chapters: Cocooning, Feeling and Living, the book explores the homes of 13 creatives from around the world, including architects, antique dealers, furniture makers and artists in the UK, France, Spain, Italy and Australia. With everything from small inner-city sanctuaries to spacious island retreats, Cocoon celebrates a design approach that speaks to the heart.