Kira is an off the wall, brash,outspoken, non-conformist medical doctor who has difficulty censoring her thoughts, thoughts which becomes words regardless of who her audience is. She meets Barclay, a politician and a perfect target for Kira and her cause, namely herpes.She is tolerated because of her unconventional method of getting Barclay's brother to be compliant and rethink his outlook on the future.Their lives become intertwined,they become a couple, then the very quality that attracted Barclay to her becomes a sore point, unkind things are said, feelings are crushed.I loved the dynamics between the friends and the hilarity of the interactions.I found myself laughing out loud several times while quietly cursing at anyone that would hurt Kira and dampen her spirit. The story gets tidied up neatly and happily ever after, although I thought Barclay should have grovelled more.I have always liked Ms.Tate's stories and while one or two have been less than stellar, this one has redeemed her in my eyes.Definitely would recommend this one.

I wen into this expecting something different but really enjoyed it. Kira is a great character. I have read a lot of books lately that use two narrators the way this did and it doesn't always work. Here it did. I found it a little annoying that it was obvious that there are character in this book that have their own books. Two much back story was given so that if you have read the other books it was too much but if you haven't the plot is pretty much given away here. Still enjoyed it and will now look for this author's other books.

3.5 Stars. If you've enjoyed Susie Tate's books in the past then this book is for you. A buttoned up hero meets his match with beat to her own drum heroine. I really enjoyed watching these two find each other and fall for each other. It's a satisfying read and does have HEA.

This book met my expectations (and craving) for a romance novel while exceeding all expectations I had in regards to plot. Kira and Barclay are full of life, passionate, both with great careers - and yet both are flawed too. Something I personally truly appreciate in contemporary pieces. There are so many different types of Rep within this novel, that my heart sung each time I found something different (I don't want to spoil anything, but there is a lot to be thankful for in the rep department).

I will admit that I wanted to knock their heads together on more than one occasion, especially for their lack of communication - but that can be real life unfortunately. Relationships take work and sometimes work can get in the way and give you a really foggy view.

PS. I will forever love the term "badger" now.

3.5 Stars

What I liked
Except for a few times (where I thought she lacked some plain common sense and self-preservation), Kira was so freaking odd and hilarious, I loved it. She might come off as too much for some but I didn’t mind. I don’t think I’ve ever read about such a wacky character before.

"Life is ten per cent what happens to you and ninety percent how you react to it. Don't waste yours looking back for what you've lost. Move on. Life isn't meant to be lived backwards.”
I really liked how the book dealt with life after having contracted HIV (Barclay’s brother Henry). It was super interesting to read and see what someone might go through. This is something I’ve never read before and I always like it if an author is able to work in something new. After a decade of reading romance, I sometimes get the feeling that I’ve read it all already.

What I didn’t like
Even though the eye-catching cover made me take a second look, the blurb is what sealed the deal for me. It sounded like there’d be some epic grovel in here so of course, I signed myself up for this. Unfortunately, the blurb didn’t deliver what it promised. The groveling does not play a major role in the book. The part the blurb referred to, was only realized near the end of the book, and him using "all his hard-earned political negotiating and maneuvering skills to get her back" were pretty underwhelming and not at all what you’d think it would be. BUT! I did love how the heroine was no pushover, i.e. she knew how to say no to the hero and didn’t immediately accept him back.

For some reason, I lost interest in the couple halfway through, basically when they got together. At this point, I was basically only waiting for the other shoe to drop and for it to create some conflict between them. This might be a me-thing though because the most interesting part for me is always how they become a couple and not the after.


ARC generously provided in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

Anything but Easy is a British rom-com by Susie Tate, starring Kira, a "sex doctor", and Barclay, a politician. Does that seem like an unlikely match? It is. Trust me, it is. But that was good about this book - it was as fun and unpredictable as Kira herself.

I normally write notes for my NetGalley books in order to write a proper review, but with this, I didn't - I was so hooked it took me less than 24 hours to finish. It was light and fun and quick and I loved it - maybe not every second, because Kira really did get to me sometimes, but I enjoyed it immensely nevertheless and recommend it to fans of chick-lit and rom-coms, especially if you're blue and in a need for something to cheer you up!

This book made me laugh with the verbal sparing and over the top eccentricities of our heroine. It also tackles serious subject matter, in particular, HIV, destigmatizing it and providing accurate information and showing you can live a normal life. We see our hero’s brother coming to terms with his diagnoses and reestablishing a happy life for himself. From the accurate medical portrayal and health information, its clear the author is in the medical field (she’s a GP). 

Minor issues I had were with the odd nicknames Kira uses and her turn of phrase was annoying at times. She was also a little too out there in her eccentricities, but I can’t say I haven’t met similar. Some doctors and nurses do dress and act similar to her and no one bats an eye really.

The sexual harassment that Kira deals with and her fears for repercussions are accurate. It is too common for the victim to be blamed if they are in a subordinate position. It is an unfortunate reality that people cannot speak up against wrongdoing in health care as the providers will punish the whistleblower. I applaud the author for highlighting this issue. I only wish it were a tool used to create drama and not reality. 

This was a highly entertaining read, and I read it in one sitting. If your a fan of opposites attract romance with plenty of humour and touching drama, then this book is for you. 

I received an arc of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is a definite must read! I absolutely loved everything about Kira and though it took the man awhile I also fell for Barclay!

There was some lingo I wasn’t up to par with (I’m in the US and this takes place in the UK) but for the most part everything that transpired and took place I understood perfectly and I loved getting a look into the life of this quirky amazing British woman!

Kira is definitely a free spirit but she is a woman who loves with her full heart and care deeply for those around her! She’s a kick butt doctor and the most amazing friend anyone could hope for but she’s eccentric and isn’t the norm for a man who has political aspirations!

Barclay was a stiff one that’s for sure but underneath is strong exterior is a man who just needs to see that sometimes a little “crazy” is all you need! The more time Barclay spent with Kira the more he fell! He just needed to see that she is everything he needs!

I love a story that has strong leads but also amazing secondary characters and I can say Tate hit it out of the park with this one! I loved all the crazy quirky characters as well as those Kira met along the way!

This book was so fun! I loved the lead character and her spunky, feisty attitude. I laughed out loud reading this and then I cried with pangs running through my chest. I'm looking forward to reading Susie Tate's other books.

Anything but Easy is about how a doctor, Kira, and a politician, Barclay met and fell in love with each other. Aside from romance, the story also showed some aspects of medicine and politics and how people should not be judged by how they look.

The charm of this book was that it was very entertaining because of Kira’s personality and her jokes. With how she looks and acts, one won’t believe she’s a doctor but as the story progresses, it showed how Kira was kind and competent in handling patients. Barclay was also a good character, even if he seems very uptight at the start. It was enjoyable to read about how they fell for each other. It was also nice how the story was told in alternating viewpoints so that the reader can learn more about how both of them think. I also liked Kira’s advocacy since there are still a lot of misconceptions about HIV. The book had also shown some problems in medicine such as being understaffed, overworked and working in the presence of mysogynistic guys.

Overall, this had been a very enjoyable read because it had me laughing most of the time. This book is perfect for readers who are looking for a hilarious rom-com with a good story.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC..

This is an 'opposites attract' story. We have Kira, who is very energetic, quirky, flamboyant, and a complete extrovert. Then we have Barclay, who is a politician, a cabinet minister to be precise. He is a serious, straight-laced, rule follower. Their personalities are extremely different; where Kira is spontaneous, Barclay is cautious. Kira is all vibrant color, whereas Barclay is all monotone. Their paths cross when Barclay's brother ends up being one of Kira's patients. What comes next, is a whirlwind romance. There are many funny moments here, sweet moments and steamy moments. The story was actually very predictable for me, but fun to follow. There's lots of attraction between our two main leads, then there are misunderstandings and fights and disappointments, but there are also some sweet intimate moments.

I liked the storyline, but I had a problem with the two main characters.

I disliked Kira in the first half of the book. I liked that she was shown to be so quirky and weird, and she does whatever she wants, wears loud, striking clothes, she speaks whatever is there in her mind and does not conform to society's norms. All this was great. What I did not like was her behavior. She behaves in such an immature manner. She is constantly encroaching personal boundaries. To me, she also seemed very judgemental. If someone does not agree with her views or opinions or suggestions, she immediately brands them as stuck-up and prude. She prefers staying in a dangerous environment rather than approaching her friends (who are extremely supportive and understanding) for help because she does not want to appear weak! Why?! I can understand the need to be self-reliant and independent, but asking for help is never ever a sign of weakness. So many times in the story, she advises others to be open about their issues and get help, and if they are resistant to her suggestion, she thinks they are stubborn. But she herself is not taking her own advice. All this made me feel very annoyed with Kira and I struggled to read her parts in the first half. Later in the book, I did start liking Kira, because she was helping Henry a lot and I liked how passionate she was about her work.

I had issues with Barclay as well. He is very judgemental and becomes very self-centered towards the end. Also, he thinks everyone should behave the way he wants them to behave. He seems to blame his mother for having mental health issues, which to me, felt very insensitive. Both Barclay and Kira's tone often felt too complaining and whiny, and their behavior was just plain stupid in some places. There were also one or two places in the book where the characters make impolite references to the people living in ghettos. So all through this book, I was having a problem with one of the two main leads.

I liked the supporting characters in this book, like Henry, Millie, Mark, Barclay's parents. But my overall enjoyment was hampered because I was having issues connecting with the main characters. Also, the ending was too cheesy for me.

I would recommend this book to people who are looking for a light, cheesy romance.

ARC provided by NetGalley

I normally find Susie Tate's books to be emotional stories with complex characters, and that is true in this case also. However, her heroines, although some can be a little brash or extroverted, Kira takes it to a whole new level. I honestly felt that she was an absolute tornado.....a smart, compassionate, well meaning tornado. It was a little overwhelming and made it difficult for me to connect with her even though there were glimpses and scenes that showed her vulnerability. Honestly, I understood Barclay's hesitance and attitude. I would LOVE to think that a Prime Minister could have a spouse like Kira and not have there be a negative impact on his career.

The secondary characters were wonderful and truly helped to add dimension to both Kira and Barclay. Despite having some difficulty connecting with the heroine and a couple of questionable decisions made by both main characters, I did enjoy the story.

ARC provided by NetGalley. Thanks!

When Kira Murphy unknowingly meets -- and saves the life of -- her celebrity crush Barclay Lucas's brother, Henry, she is drawn into their world. The tension between them is undeniable -- but can they really make it work, what with Barclay's career in politics and the problems going on at Kira's workplace?

I just glanced at the reviews for this book and it seems that everyone has a polarizing opinion on it. I however am somewhere in the middle -- I enjoyed this book immensely but there were also some instances which I could see were problematic (and some pet peeves of my own).

There were parts where Kira would seemingly use 'btw' in speech and I was unsure whether I was supposed to read it as 'by the way' or Kira had literally said 'btw'. At other times there would also be a mention of what year this book is taking place or a reference to a non-fictional person which jarred me out of the book. Oh, and if I ever read the word 'badger' again I will scream. I am not kidding, it was used far too much for me to find tolerable. The sheer amount of British slang made it slightly difficult to read and I felt like I was guessing at what was being said most of the time.

The characters were very well and believably written. Barclay ... has his problems. Quite a lot of them and I feel like they weren't properly dealt with through out the story. He is very controlling and jealous. At one point, he basically has some people follow Kira when she has told him she doesn't want that, which didn't sit right with me. Kira herself was a great character but my first impression of her (on the first page) was of her punching someone. And through out the story she continues to be violent. I understand that it was all supposed to be in play, but you aren't supposed to do actual harm. Henry was great, but even he was at times borderline creepy. Sam (a bodyguard) and Mark (Kira's friend) were the best, I adore them.

The main romance was okay, I felt like they both really needed to work on themselves (especially in Barclay' case) before they got together. While together, they both made some really ... questionable decisions. For example, <spoiler>when Barclay made Kira move in with him, the evening after they established their relationship. What were they thinking? Kira should definitely stayed with one of her friends. Also, when he disturbed her work at the prison, a heavily guarded prison, I nearly screamed. Not cool.</spoiler>

All in all, a 2.5, because it made me laugh multiple times and I enjoyed most of the time it but not higher because of all the reasons listed above.

I enjoyed the first half.I hoped that it would have a bit more of substance bur by midway they lost me,

*𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘷𝘪𝘢 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸.

This book was ok.

This was my first Susie Tate book. I really enjoyed the subject matter and the relationship between Kira and Barclay. However, I struggled with the slang in this book and all of Kira's made up phrases.

Four and a half stars.

Fair warning, I love Susie Tate's novels so this is a bit of a fan-girl review and I get that she might be a bit like Marmite to some readers but I loved this book.

Kira Murphy is a sexual health Registrar (doctor) with pizazz - in my mind I see her like the character of Scarlett in the film Four Weddings and a Funeral, diminutive with pink and red hair and a wacky dress sense. She is great with her patients and passionate about immunisation against genital warts (I am just wondering how I am ever going to get this review past the puritanical censor on the B&N website). She also has a secret crush on the latest Tory wunderkind MP Barclay Lucas (think British Justin Trudeau), the current Minister of State for Business, Energy and Clean Growth, who is trying to get a revolutionary new scheme through parliament.

Kira and Lucas' paths cross when she gives a verbal tongue-lashing to one of her boss' HIV patients who isn't taking his meds, the patient turns out to be Lucas' younger brother.

Kira's crazy antics, such as making tea for all the press lurking outside Lucas' palatial London home, belie a dedicated healthcare professional who is devoted to the National Health Service. Lucas just can't understand why Kira won't accept private work treating his brother away from the local NHS hospital, but when the press see her leaving his house his approval ratings soar and so he suggests they play along. What I loved most about this was that Kira went off into a romantic comedy monologue where she old Lucas she would be his fake fiancé but they would fall in love for real etc, etc (all very tongue-in-cheek) and Lucas was horrified.

This is contemporary British romantic comedy at its finest IMHO, great characters, great plot, impressive use of cockwomble as a pejorative, and truly laugh out loud at times.

A minor niggle, which might be deliberate, towards the end, on what felt like consecutive pages, there was a line which felt like a direct quote from Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, followed by a visual reference to something that Natalie (Martine McCutcheon) does in Love Actually. Could be allusive, could be unintentional but they pulled me away from the plot a little.

Anyway, channelling Cherish Finden, one of the judges in the under-rated TV show Bake Off: The Professionals loved it, loved it, loved it! Now I am sad because I am going to have to wait months and months for another book - maybe I will re-read all the other books ...

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Kira Murphy might only be five foot tall but she has a lot of personality. She's quirky, unpredictable, a loose cannon. During her role as a 'sex doctor' GU registrar at St Thomas' hospital she speaks her mine to a HIV patient who is non-compliant with his medication. He is shocked to hear a doctor talk to him in that way but somehow it seems to work better than all the other doctors he's had to deal with since his diagnosis.

Barclay Lucas is a politician, a tory, attempting to save the world. One environmental cause at a time. After hearing what an affect Dr Murphy had on his brother he goes in search to Hire them. Only he wasn't expecting Kira. She refuses to take on Henry as a patient and as a private patient. She doesn't take on any paid work on top of her NHS contract. But she agrees to go and see Henry as a friend. Barclay is confused, irritated and unsure what he's got himself into.

A fake relationship is spun by Barclay's press Secretary after the press see Kira leaving the house. She agrees to help for Henry's sake, but like all good fake relationships it's not quite fake on both sides but they are polar opposites in almost every area of their lives. Although their is more going on in Kira's life than Barclay's knows about - will he be there for her when she needs him?

A story of opposites attract, acceptance, dealing with depression and gaslighting. A feeling of Notting Hill and Love Actually runs through the storyline and characters.

Anything but Easy is another uplifting, humorous romance from this wonderful author, Kira a character from the fabulous Beg Borrow or Steal and Limits now has her own spot in the lime light and what a rollercoaster of a journey it is.
Progressing in her medical career, Kira stands in for one of the consultants at the sexual health clinic, here she sees Henry who is HIV positive and not being compliant with his treatment and having given up on life. After discussing his future in uncompromising terms and taking no nonsense from him Henry appears to take on board what she tells him.
Having a big crush on conservative cabinet minister Barclay Lucas she is shocked when he comes to the hospital telling her he is Henry’s brother and requesting she treat him privately, devastated at Henry’s condition he realised Kira was the first person to get through to him. Kira refuses point blank to work privately and tells him so in her own forthright way, she says though she will be Henry’s friend and help him.
Barclay is stiff and straight laced and has never met anyone like Kira, he is bewitched, she is in lust, this is a beautiful relationship but it becomes very rocky due to Barclays inability to relax and just be taken along on what will be a wonderful ride, with some heartbreaking moments, as with all these books the great journey we are taken on is totally worth it, and the epilogue an absolute blast. Thank you for another brilliant read.
My grateful thanks to net galley and publisher for the opportunity to review this book honestly.

This book wasn't for me.
Kira was so annoying, unprofessional, quite offensive at times and all together too much.
And the nicknames were horrid.

Kira is an over-the-top, funny, quirky doctor. Barclay is a reserved, serious, stoic politician. How will they ever have a relationship? Read this laugh out loud, cry real tears story to see what happens.