A historically accurate fantasy book set in 1800's Scotland, and its a romance?? This book's blurb had me sold almost immediately. I am happy to report that after finishing this book, it seems it did live up to its expectations (for the most part). Dana told this story with so much attention to detail. The gothic vibes were immaculate. I do have to say that the romance definitely took a backseat. The story was wonderful and mysterious with lots of twists and turns but the romance didn't really kick in till around the middle of the book. It didn't make the book any less enjoyable, but the title implies that the driving force of the plot would be romantic when that's not really the case. Nevertheless, I really liked this story. Hazel was such a likeable heroine; smart, headstrong and passionate. The ambiance was interesting and the writing style struck a nice balance between descriptive and poetic.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for giving me this ARC!

There is nothing interesting about this book. I don't know why it's called a "love story". The romance doesn't even start to happen until half way through the book. Maybe the title is in reference to something else. It is well-written, the story just wasn't for me. If you like Stalking Jack the Ripper, you might like this.

I adored this feminist, gothic story! It's historical and set in Scotland, which makes it even more enjoyable! I love Hazel and how she is determined to be a surgeon, no matter what anyone else thinks. She's smart and strong willed and definitely someone you can root for. It's a love story, but not too much. It's a sweet and gentle love which leaves you wanting more. There's also mystery and murder. It's just an all around wonderful book!

3.5 stars. Gothic and romantic. A strong female lead. This book was really good. I definitely think that the ending was rushed and the plot could of moved faster in the beginning. Overall it was really good.

I completely enjoyed this gothic historical fiction.

What I loved:
*The way we looked at Hazel. She's not one of those girls that flaunts herself as pretty, and worries about getting married, or looses her head over boys. She's headstrong, smart, determined, and doesn't see the way her society works (you either marry, or you're nothing) as an obstacle. She worries herself on how to get what she wants. And she wants to become a physician.
*I loved the romance part of this story. It is not in the forefront. Hazel doesn't pine over a guy, and "swoons" or "holds her breath" every time a guy looks at her. The romance part happens slowly, and naturally, and doesn't over bear the rest of Hazel's story.
*I enjoyed the mystery. Who are those dark men that are kidnapping the resurrection men, and why are the body parts are disappearing? It was quite interesting to see where this arc was going.

That said, I do think too much of the book focused on Hazel studying, and it slowed the pace of the story quite a bit for me. It is not a bad thing, but felt a bit dragged out, and could have used some extra gothicness and scares or action.

Thank you to Wednesday Books for a review copy. The finished copy is gorgeous! Psst: The naked cover is to die for!

I adore Dana Schwartz's podcase, Noble Blood. She's very good at taking historical facts and weaving them into a highly listenable narrative. However, I found aspects of this book lacking. A lot of the romance side plot I felt I had read before specifically in YA. I like the resurrection men aspect and the main character studying anatomy. However, the setting was not fleshed out at all. I couldn't "see" where these characters lived. The ending was a bit odd as well. I'm not sure the big revelation was earned. Maybe I just read too quickly to pick up on any clues. Overall it's not a bad book, but I found it to be pretty average.

Thank you kind peeps at NetGalley and the publishers for the chance to read this one :)

Did I say yes to the dress when wanting to read this one....ABSOLOUTELY. (Have you seen the stunning heart shaped, crushed velvet, magical red creation on the cover???) It is beyond stunning and was the reason I clicked on this book. To my delight the blurb confirmed that this is the exact type of story I want to have in my TBR pile.

I have been on a bit of a horror kick of late and having just finished Dracula I thought a "light" novel about body snatching and and anatomy would help me get my latest fix. I am already won over when you set a story in Victorian times when the period itself oozed macabre and creepiness. Killers like Jack the Ripper haunted the streets of London, stories like Frankenstein and Dracula fed the publics imaginations. There was also a strong obsession amongst the elite and commoners with magic, ghosts and the supernatural. Plagues threatened to wipe out large portions of the populations as medicine was developing slower than these rampant diseases that were assisted by poor sanitation and hygiene.

Women were still seen as possessions or pawns to secure social status. The days of women's rights and sufragettes were still in the future. That is why I was drawn to a book that had a strong and intelligent female protagonist who was a prisoner in her own time despite coming from a "good" family. For Hazel the one thing she wants is one of the many things she may never have simply based on her sex. Despite the fact she is smart, industrious and passionate about medicine her male counterparts without these qualities will always have access to the opportunities she does not.

I thought that this novel would be one of the rare ones where the main character does not have to have a romance. (Yes, I know it is in the title but again I was too busy fawning over that dress) Yet the character of Jack was so sweet and supportive of Hazel and her dreams that even I was forced to admit her was swoon worthy. The most important part was that this relationship did not detract from the story or make Hazel lose sight of her goals.

I don't want to say much about the story but there is magic and creepy graveyard adventures a plenty. All the characters are beholden to their respective social statuses. There are some parts or reactions that happen which are a bit of a stretch of the imagination but once I decided to just focus on the story I got over them. Think of Hazel as a one of Meredith Gray's past lives with her own mother issues to deal with.

4.5 ⭐️
This YA historical gothic tale carried me into a dark mysterious thriller.
Hazel was brave and determined with everything and everyone going against her as she tries to break free for the normal society restraints. It felt uniquely like a Mary Shelly retelling.
I read about resurrectionsist and a Medical school with questionable practices.
The book read well and I love a strong, brave protagonist that believes in honorable acts. I loved Hazel and Jack.
I also want to say that I loved this beautiful cover! I highly recommend this novel if you like a gothic mystery.

Thank NetGalley.

So I will tell you that I got about 40% into this book and almost put it down. However, I decided to continue and I'm glad I did. While, the beginning is a little slow once you get to the last quarter of the book things really pick up. Then when you get down to the final pages you'll want to scream, because HOW COULD IT END LIKE THAT? I don't know if a sequel is planned, but if there is, thank god, because I need more. And if there isn't, then I guess I'm ok, but dang I really want more. Overall, this starts slow, but keep going. Don't put it down. The ending more than makes up for the beginning.

I also really liked the setting and time of the book, that era of gas lamps and early medicine and grave robbing for anatomy specimens. Such an intriguing time in our history. Also if you liked the "Stalking Jack the Ripper" series you'll definitely like this, as you have a heroine determined to be a doctor in a time where women should only be interested in social engagements, very similar to the main character in SJTR.

So pick up this book if you want an early 19th century adventure into the world of medicine and the lengths people went to in order to study the human body.

This book was such an unexpected delight. I must admit that I was initially drawn in by the cover - seriously, look at how beautiful it is! But the story was immediately engaging and full of excitement from start to finish.

Hazel Sinnett lives a perfectly lovely life in her family’s castle. Basically engaged since birth, there has never been any question about what the future holds for her. But Hazel wants more than to be the wife of a viscount - she fully intends to be the first female surgeon in Edinburgh. Disguised in her dead brother’s clothing, Hazel enrolls in physicians school and quickly becomes one of the top performing students. However once her true identity is discover, Hazel is swiftly removed from her classes simply because she is a woman. If she’s going to earn her degree she’s definitely going to need some bodies to study. She’s going to need the help of a resurrection man.

Jack Currer is one of those kind of men. Immediately struck by Hazel’s beauty and tenacity, he helps her find just the bodies she needs. But work for the resurrection men is becoming even more dangerous ever. Suddenly, his friends are disappearing. People who go to the poor hospital for treatment are turning up dead. Bodies are being mutilated. Is the Roman plague back in Edinburgh? Or is something more sinister at hand?

I loved how atmospheric this book was. The first half does a great job of introducing the characters and setting up for the rest of the plot. Slowly, more and more parts of the mystery is revealed and though we can make our guesses as to what is happening, we still aren’t exactly sure why. It’s not until the very end that the truth is revealed and what a reveal that was. Though the story is wrapped up quite nicely, I’ll still hold out hope for a continuation because I desperately want more of Hazel and Jack.

Thank you so much to NetGalley & Wednesday Books for an advanced copy.

Thank you to a Wednesday books for an arc of this book! The cover alone drew me in.

This was so cinematic. When I first picked this up, I got to a half way point but was distracted a s forgot to finish it. I picked it back up last week and remembered clearly where I was. This (standalone?) would make a great show.

If I had to pick a genre to tuck this into it would be historical fiction first and horror second. I loved the dual POV, the humour, and the setting best.

It’s a book that is very much up my ally and hits on all the smart Shelley vibes I didn’t know I needed in a YA.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57917042-anatomy?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=k5TDJHKF7r&rank=1

4 1/2 stars...

I was initially drawn to this book by the phenomenal cover. Then, the blurb pulled me in...."a gothic tale full of mystery and romance..." It sounded like my book catnip for sure. For the most part, I feel as if it lived up to my expectations.

Hazel, our main character, is a young woman from a good family. She's been raised with the understanding that she will one day marry her cousin, the future viscount of Almont. The problem is that Hazel is passionate about becoming a doctor and surgeon. It's all she can think about. The rest of her life keeps getting in the way of what she really wants. Unfortunately for Hazel, proper young ladies aren't allowed to do anything but marry and produce heirs. Becoming a physician is not even an option for her. Good society will never accept it.

Regardless, Hazel can't stop pursuing her life's dream. After another doctor agrees to train her as a surgeon if she passes the physician's exam, she throws herself into studying on her own. She even goes as far as to secure cadavers to study so that she can learn more about human anatomy with the goal of helping people. It's through this endeavor that she meets Jack, a resurrection man. Times are hard, but stealing bodies from their graves for medical study seems to pay well. Hazel and Jack come to an agreement. Along the way, they also find themselves falling in love with each other. Jack tries to resist his pull to Hazel as he knows she's practically engaged and is from an entirely different social class. It's different for Hazel, she can't help but notice that being around Jack makes her feel special in ways that her fiance never does. Eventually, they can't deny their attraction any longer.

Combined with Hazel's struggles to become a surgeon and avoid marriage to the wrong man, there are people disappearing in their city as well as other strange occurrences taking place. However, no one seems to be concerned since they aren't happening to the wealthy, only the working class and poor. Eventually it all comes full circle and ties together. I can honestly say that the way it all wrapped up proved a bit surprising to me. It's always a good thing when. book can keep me guessing in that way. The only thing I would have liked would have been to see a bit more of the romance develop. It seemed to be a very subtle storyline that rarely took center stage. That said, it was a creatively written book that kept me intrigued until the end. I'm hoping for a sequel as I believe there's so much more to this story and the author definitely left an opening for it.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to read and review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

*3.75 stars*

Anatomy: A Love Story is a slow-burn gothic, atmospheric mystery with a side of romance and fantasy. This book takes place in Scotland and follows 17-year-old Hazel Sinnett. Hazel comes from a well-off family and has been unofficially engaged to her cousin Bernard since she was a young girl. However, Hazel couldn't care less about landing a rich husband to secure her future. Instead, Hazel dreams of becoming a surgeon–which is not an appropriate dream for a young lady at that time. Soon, Hazel crosses paths with Jack Currer, a resurrection man, and both of their lives are forever changed.


What I Liked:
–Dana Schwartz’s descriptions of Edinburgh were nothing short of beautiful. I could easily picture everything in my mind. Not only is the prose beautiful and incredibly descriptive, but it’s also easy to read. I devoured this book in a few hours.
–Our two main characters: Hazel and Jack. Hazel and Jack are such lovable, nuanced characters. Hazel’s passion for science and anatomy was interesting to read about. This story is a love story between Hazel and anatomy. And Jack, my sweet Jack, has lived such a hard life. I just want him to be happy.

What I Didn’t Like:
-My biggest complaint is how predictable the twist is at the end. I knew who the villain was as soon as they were introduced. I wish the author wouldn’t have made things so obvious. I would have loved to have been surprised.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book! The author did an incredible job setting the scene and drawing the reader into this world. I loved learning about anatomy and the grave robbers. If you’re a fan of gothic mysteries, then you’ll definitely enjoy this book!

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review.*

This is a very original and well-done twist on historical fiction that kept me turning pages long past the time I was supposed to be doing something else.
Readers get to share in the life of two very different people from two very different walks of life that find themselves drawn to each other despite everything in society telling them they shouldn't even associate. Hazel is a lady who got left behind in her mother's grief and desire to protect the only heir and her dad's prestigious but far-away posting on the island of Elba. She fills her time by reading her dad's books on anatomy and science and dreams of becoming a surgeon despite women not being allowed to even study. Jack digs up bodies for those who study anatomy in order to make ends meet in between his job at the theater he works at. They meet by chance and end up pulled together first by Hazel's desire to study and prove that she can become a surgeon and the need for bodies that creates, then by accepting the unexplainable bond that was there from the first moment they glimpsed each other across a gate.
It's a love story that touches on elements of the class divide, misogyny, and the great injustices of the world without ever truly falling into the mire of darkness and negativity such topics can bring into a story. I love how Schwartz managed to always keep a sense of hope in the story.
Even with the big reveal towards the end being obvious from the very beginning, this is a story that is sure to entertain and make you think long after you turn the last page.

Very happy thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the exciting read!

I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was a really cool concept and I wanted to read a dark academia book, and at first I was hesitant because it was slow paced and kind of ‘meh’ for me, but then the third quarter of the book was really good. I really enjoyed the ending and the overall atmospheric writing.

3.5⭐
Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Anatomy: A Love Story is a young adult historical fiction novel with one of the most unique premises I’ve read in a while. Hazel’s journey to becoming a surgeon against the backdrop of 1800’s Edinburgh during a viral outbreak made for a compelling and feminist coming-of-age story. But what made this story especially compelling was the mystery that began to unravel halfway through, and the darker side of medical procedures shown in this book. Anatomy: A Love Story certainly gave me more than what I was expecting in terms of plots which was a welcome addition.

This story has romance hinted at in this title, I should note that you shouldn’t expect a typical love story from this book. And while I thought the direction this book took in terms of the romance made for an interesting change of pace, I thought the characters themselves lacked chemistry aside from a few brief moments of tension. Hazel’s character fell flat for me, and that impacted my view of her relationships.

The ending for Anatomy: A Love Story was one I really had to think about whether I liked it or not, but in the end, I was. Ultimately, I think this will depend on what readers are looking for in this book, but if you’re more invested in Hazel’s journey in this era rather than seeking a romance out of it, then I think you’ll come to enjoy Anatomy: A Love Story.

The cover for this book is stunning, and was what drew me to this book initially. What kept me reading was the atmosphere throughout this book: I could feel the darkness of the 1817 Edinburgh graveyards, the iciness of Hazel Sinnett's mother's statements, and the thuds of limbs into clean straw...

Yeah, there are some scenes that were definitely somewhat stomach-churning in this dark mystery/romance set in Edinburgh with a determined and smart main character, and great scenes of people crowded into theatres to see a famed physician display his surgical skills on bodies, both dead and live.

Hazel Sinnett is a sixteen-year old lady who desperately wants to be a surgeon. She's also more or less engaged to her cousin who appears to support her dream. The other character is Jack Currer, a young man working backstage at a theatre, but also spending some of his nights in graveyards, digging up corpses for budding doctors and surgeons to study. His work as a resurrection man is getting increasingly dangerous and difficult as it's getting harder to find bodies because of guards, and, more scary, there is someone disappearing other poor, young men digging up graves.

Of course Hazel and Jack meet, and are drawn together, which is great as far as Hazel's surgical dreams are concerned, less so regarding her mother's desire for Hazel to marry well.

I liked this book. Hazel is pretty single-minded and works incredibly hard to achieve her mastery of medicine. I also liked the romance as it wasn't overly melodramatic, and I could totally see whatHazel and Jack saw in each other. I also really liked the historical details in this book, from the furtive work of the resurrection men to seeing how rudimentary surgery was in 1817.

And I loved the epilogue.

Thank you to Netgalley and to St Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for my review.

Thank you fo the opportunity for allowing me to read this! I am actually a medical student now, surgery is where I hope to end up. I think this book may have been a bit too close to home for me to judge because many of the primitive surgical techniques/mentions of healthcare struck a nerve with me. I did like the writing and plot line however and I a sure this book will work better for many!

Thank you to Netgalley, Dana, and Wednesday Books for an advance copy of Anatomy: A Love Story.

First of all, holy cover love. It’s amazing, right?

Anatomy: A Love Story is a historical fiction horror-romance set in Edinburgh in the early 19th Century. Hazel is from an esteemed family and is on-track to becoming a lady in society when all she wants to do is study to become a surgeon. Jack is a resurrection man (he removes the recently buried corpses to sell to anatomists, while leaving the person effects behind. He is NOT a grave robber). The two bump into each other outside of the Anatomists Society and a mutually beneficial relationship blossoms – Jack was able to get Hazel into one of the Dr’s lectures where she hears about a class that leads to Physician’s Exams. Hazel is thrilled and excels in the class dressed as a man…until one of the teachers discovers that she is female and forbids her from returning. Hazel turns to Jack and begins buying corpses from him to continue independent study. However, Edinburgh is growing more and more unstable for the rich and poor alike. Bodies are being dug up under the pretense that they are deceased due to an epidemic, however Hazel is discovering parts missing. Meanwhile, Jack’s friends are going missing. Together the two work to figure out what exactly is causing the deaths and disappearances. Oh, and romance each other a bit as well.

Okay, this book was fantastic. I love to watch shows & movies, and listen to podcasts about history, but I’m not so great at reading historical fiction so I was a little worried I’d end up bored or distracted. I didn’t. This book is a great blend of historical fiction, horror, mystery, and romance. It doesn’t hurt that it is set in one of my absolute favorite cities in the world – Edinburgh, Scotland. The book is definitely a slow to medium burn, the story isn’t really action-driven, but there is enough action that kept me wanting to read more.

Hazel and Jack were great characters. The side characters were as well. I am completely blanking on the Hazels in-house help, but I absolutely adored the two of them and their little side story. The villains were appropriately easy to hate. One of my favorite things about this book is that we had a parent on the peripherals. So often in YA the parents are MIA with no real explanation, but Dana built a nice storyline around Hazel’s mom and her semi-presence.

I have not read anything else of Dana’s, but I do listen to her podcast Noble Blood. When I originally received this book I was unaware that it was written by her, and when I found out I was very excited to see what she came up with. It’s obvious that she is passionate and knowledgeable about world history. I’m eager to check out her past works and look forward to her upcoming releases.

Having developed a love of anatomy after reading a well-known treatise, Hazel longs to be a surgeon, but she is betrothed to a viscount. Hazel is determined to go to medical school anyway, which is unheard of in 1817 Scotland, but she gets kicked out of a renowned surgeon’s lectures for being a female. Refusing to give up, Hazel makes a deal that she can enroll in university if she passes the medical exam on her own. Now she just needs bodies to practice on. Luckily, Hazel meets Jack, who makes a living selling dead bodies he exhumes from graves. Jack has his own problems though - his friends and other poor people keep mysteriously disappearing.

I was immediately drawn to Anatomy: A Love Story for the stunning and creative cover, and then I was sold after reading the description. This was such a bizarre story, but in a good way! I would describe it as YA historical fiction with a side of mystery and a bit of romance. Hazel was a strong-willed and highly intelligent heroine, breaking down the proverbial door to become a surgeon during a time when women were not even allowed to attend medical school. She dressed up like a boy, snuck into a famous surgeon’s lectures, and dug up dead bodies to practice on, all in the name of her love of anatomy! The medical aspects were pretty fascinating despite the gory, disturbing, and cringeworthy parts. I also loved the gothic vibes, Hazel’s grave robbing love interest, and the 19th century Edinburgh setting. The ending added another quirky layer to the story, but it frustrated me and I was left with several unanswered questions. I’m not sure if this is going to be a series, but I would definitely read a sequel because this was a very unique and entertaining book!