I had high expectations for this book due to the hype. I think the writing and dialogue was good. It also really shined in creating the Edinburgh atmosphere. It felt like she did the work in describing how destitute the poor areas were and the diseases that were ravaging the city.
My real issue is how slow the plot was and then how unresolved. Let’s also not even get into the romance that starts more than halfway through the book. I guess you can see the real love story was between hazel and her thirst for knowledge. The characters were written well they just didn’t always blend well together. It was an interesting look at womens position in a male dominated career path while also highlighting several atrocities that actually did occur

it was such a specific and innovative story in fantasy and YA, I never read something like that and I hope people will like it has much as I did because it is a great story!!!

Hazel is a young lady living in Edinburgh in 1817. She starts off the book engaged to her cousin, but she is not satisfied with society's expectations for her. Hazel wants to be a surgeon and is constantly reading and performing her own little experiments. Her fiancé does not share her enthusiasm and wants her to give up her passion. Being quite strong-willed and stubborn, Hazel dresses up as a boy to attend lectures from the great Dr. Beecham in preparation for the Physician's exam. As you can imagine this does not go all that well and Hazel finds herself needing to study on her own. Luckily, she has befriended resurrection man, Jack Currer, and together they are able to procure their own bodies from the graveyard for Hazel to study. However, along with the bodies they soon uncover a dark secret more deadly than the fever currently plaguing Edinburgh.

Full of dark and gothic vibes, I found the story to be incredibly engaging. Often I was staying up late to continue reading and couldn't put it down. It was easy to imagine being right there in the graveyard with Hazel and the mystery element really sucked me in.

One downside is that the love story, despite being part of the title, feels like a subplot and comes second to Hazel's love of anatomy. Hazel and Jack really don't start interacting until over the halfway point of the book so if you're looking for a love story this may not be the book for you. That said, there were a lot of really cute scenes and interactions between Hazel and Jack, but I felt like it could have been flushed out more.

The ending was also slightly disappointing. It's very open ended and I don't feel like anything got resolved. The main driving force for me throughout the book was wanting to see how they were going to stop whoever was causing the mysterious deaths. I was pretty sure I knew who was behind it, but I wanted to see how they were going to handle it. Except they never did; there were no real consequences for the villain. I'm not sure if there is going to be a sequel, but I would 100% read it. Most of my dislikes about this book were how things were not really concluded.

Overall though, I still enjoyed the book quite a bit and would recommend it for fans of YA stories in Victorian Scotland.

Thank you @netgalley and @wednesdaybooks for this review copy!

Overall this story was okay. It went by quickly and I did want to see how it ended but there were a couple random plots that I felt didn’t add anything to the story or were very underdeveloped. I wanted more from Hazel & Jack (but did love the ending!🤯)

I loved the little history bits - this takes place in the 19th century so it was fascinating learning about medicine in that time. (Did you know surgeons were considered of “lower social status” back then?) I really enjoyed reading about grave diggers and medicine during that turn! I also loved that the MC, Hazel, wanted to defy what the norm was then and become a surgeon during a time most women did… well.. nothing.

TLDR: cool story that ended up a little underdeveloped. Fans of The Lost Apothecary and female empowerment in a man’s world will enjoy this one!

I absolutely adored this book! The original premise was what drew me in, its the gothic tone, the city, the love story, absolutely everything that set the foundation for this book is appealing. The only thing I didn't enjoy was how rushed the resolution felt at the end of the book. It felt as though the entire build up came short because of the rushed ending. The execution however was near flawless.

Dana Schwartz’s Anatomy: A Love Story by Dana Schwartz.

With her father off being a soldier and her mother wrapped up in her grief for her oldest son Hazel is left to her own devices - spending time with her father's books and a longing to become a surgeon. She, along with Jack stumble upon more than they bargained for when seeking out bodies for Hazel to learn anatomy.

This book would be well paired with Alan Bradley's Flavia de Luce books or Mindy McGinnis' Madness So Discreet. All are historical fiction featuring intelligent young women that use their curiosity and scientific knowledge to help others while dealing with being a woman in a man-centered world.

Highly recommend.

A thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

This book had a fairly unique premise, and a cover that matched. In some ways it reminded me of the Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy, with the female lead whose passion in life is anatomy, surgery, being a doctor, etc. Where that book leaned toward humor and madcap adventure, this one leaned hard into the gothic and macabre.

There's a lot of blood, a lot of cutting up bodies complete with odors and squelching of organs and... well. You can probably imagine. There's also many, many decaying corpses -- and an ill-advised kiss *inside a grave, complete with maggots.* *shudders*

while the cover is clever and very appropriate for the title, the subtitle "A Love Story" felt misleading. The romance is actually minimal here - at 40% Hazel and Jack had hardly met and were still separated by plot.

This book was also a bit uneven overall. There were definitely passages that were quite beautifully written, and chapters that had me glued to the page. While Hazel's ambition was relatable, it felt like that was all there was to her character. Jack felt unfinished, and their love story went from 0 to 60 in seconds. But in addition to the minimal and uneven romance, the sinister villains never faced any consequences. The focus of Hazel's life for most of the book is forgotten toward the end. And the end itself is rather abrupt. While in some ways I like what Dana Schwartz is trying to do with that ending, I definitely felt unsatisfied overall.

I would probably recommend it to fans of Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy, especially those who don't mind a little -- ok a lot -- of blood and gore. Not to those with weak stomachs, though.

I thought the audiobook narrator did a decent job, though it was sometimes difficult to tell which character was speaking. Her voice was pleasant to listen to and overall it was an enjoyable listen, though I did end up switching back to the e-book to read a fair bit of it.

*Thanks to NetGalley, Wednesday Books, and Macmillan Audio for providing an e-arc and audiobook for review.

This was a really good story! After a somewhat slow start, it really picks up the pace. What I loved the most was the stalking jack the ripper vibes the entire book gave off. While, this one does the girl power part a bit less cliche than Maniscalco's book I do feel it was even less historically accurate in the way that the main character constantly was able to run off without any sort of escort or expectation. Overall, I really enjoyed the story and it had some good anatomical parts.

This is an entertaining and slightly creepy story about a girl named Hazel who wants to become a doctor, but unfortunately, it's the early 1800s and she's from a wealthy family, so she is expected to get married instead. Of course, she doesn't accept that as her only path, so she figures out ways to study medicine and the human body (most of them involve sneaking around dark streets at night, hiding her identity, some casual grave robbing, etc.). She does a lot of this with the help of supportive side characters, most notably a guy named Jack who knows how and where to steal bodies.

Hazel is a fantastic main character and very easy to cheer for. I really appreciated that she kept pursuing her dream of practicing medicine even when the romance plot started- her love interest didn't overtake her original goals. In fact, the romance aspect of this book was less of a focus than I expected it to be. That made me care less about whether or not the characters would get a happily ever after, but on the other hand, it allowed more time for the more interesting grave-robbing-feminist-doctor parts.

I loved how dark and eerie the setting of this book was, and the writing was light and easy to read. Anatomy is definitely a young adult book, but I still enjoyed it and would recommend it to those who want a short historical read with a little bit of a romance and a lot of graveyards.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC to read and review.

First off, thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Anatomy is the story of death, life, love, and transformation, set in early 19th-century Edinburgh. Edinburgh is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and Schwartz transports the reader so easily into the city. Beyond the setting and incredible worldbuilding, the story itself has creative twists and turns that keep the reader guessing, with just enough foreshadowing to feel earned.

My only complaint with this book is that I wish there was more since the book weighs in at a comparatively short 352 pages. Schwartz's characters and style are so compelling that I ended up finishing the book in one day, and it's a great read for any historical fiction, ya, or romance fan.

I really enjoyed the concept of this book! Hazel, a young female, is trying to become a surgeon despite all the societal barriers against her in 1817 Scotland. Not only is her family against the idea of her being interested in medicine as anything more than a very strange hobby, but as a woman, it is almost impossible to study surgery. She is a super strong character that is quite capable of overcoming the odds.

The resurrection men (because it's not grave robbing if you're only stealing the body!) were an interesting part of history. Some parts are a bit dark and squeamish, especially if you are disturbed by corpses or too much medical detail. The book definitely focuses more on Hazel than it does on Jack, the main resurrection man who procures bodies for Hazel to study. I did enjoy their interactions together, and although their relationship felt a bit rushed, I was rooting for him much more than her obnoxious fiancée since birth. I also found it a little hard to believe a 16 year old was left to her own devices to such an extreme, especially an upper class girl in a time of chaperones for all outings.

Overall it was a book that kept my attention and was a fast-paced read! I enjoyed the ending, and although it was abrupt, I assume it is setting up for another book. I received this book as an ARC through NetGalley for my opinions.

The first time I read Frankenstein, it felt like a spooky, macabre tale that one would tell around a campfire. After finishing Anatomy: A Love Story, I had the same feeling: the unsettling dread, the shock at some of the plot reveals. This novel is definitely one that I won’t soon forget.

Anatomy is focused on Hazel, a young woman of the nobility who wants to be a doctor, and Jack, a young resurrection man with romantic dreams. The unlikely duo join forces after Hazel’s gender bars her from participating in body examinations. But as Jack helps Hazel solve her problem by supplying bodies for her to study, he’s faced with one of his own: the disappearance of his friends and acquaintances. With many blaming the return of Roman Fever, Jack and Hazel begin to suspect that something darker is afoot.

I really enjoyed this! I’m honestly kind of surprised at how Anatomy’s vibe is very similar to classic gothic tells (such as Frankenstein). The atmosphere of this novel was definitely curl-up-in-bed-spooky with a dash of hope. The main characters were fantastic! I loved how Hazel and Jack balanced each other out! It was also pretty neat seeing a male lead have some romantic whimsy.

The plot of Anatomy is fascinating and I love how all the elements come together. There’s a seemingly unrelated prologue that ties in wonderfully and there’s news articles & medical passages littered throughout the novel that really add to the story. It’s really incredible how this book is constructed.

All in all, this was a wonderfully dark & macabre read that is perfect for anyone who wants a new gothic tale.

Special thanks to NetGalley & Wednesday Books for the eARC! I really appreciate it!

Who doesn't love when a badass woman bucks the system? I sure love it! And a woman choosing to pursue medicine in the early nineteenth century, at any cost, seems extra awesome to me. Hazel has always been quite fascinated by medicine and the human body and such, and she's far less enamored by the life that her parents have planned for her, which is to marry her cousin (yeah my reaction too) and basically just be arm candy and a baby factory. Sounds awful to me, too.

But society in those days was even more trash than it is today, so of course women's weak constitutions could not possibly handle doctoring (insert a million eyerolls here). So Hazel grabs some boys' clothes and goes to class. (Yes, I am oversimplifying, shh.) Turns out, there is far more going on behind closed doors in the Scottish medical community than Hazel could have imagined.

And look- Hazel is definitely quite privileged to be able to run around doctoring, even if what she is doing is noble. I love that this is addressed, too! Because honestly, a lot of women would have neither the means nor the opportunities to do so, and Hazel has them in abundance- as well as not having too worry too much about what will happen to her if she is caught.

The story gets rather exciting as we start to delve into the messiness of some of the "doctors" Hazel comes into contact with. Add to it that people have resorted to literally stealing bodies to study on, and throw in a plague, and things are certainly dicey! Makes the stakes high, and the book very readable! The vibe and tone of the story are also very on point, as you can feel the gothic undertones and the sinister nature of the situation.

As for the "love story" part? I mean, if we're talking Hazel's love story with medicine, then absolutely! Because while there is some romance, it hardly takes center stage, so be aware of that going in. (Also, luckily, it isn't with the creepy cousin.)

Bottom Line: Atmospheric with a great heroine, I found this a very readable and exciting historical fiction.

Hazel, a teen in 1817 Edinburgh, wants to be a doctor, and she’ll do whatever it takes to make her dream a reality. As her younger brother is the heir to the family estate, she is expected to marry, safe cousin Bernard. Unfortunately, Bernard isn’t as exciting a match as penniless grave robbing resurrection man Jack.

While I was intrigued with the premise, the writing style with use of passive voice, affinity for exclamation points, slow pacing, fluid point of view/head hopping, and backstory-heavy dialogue made the book a struggle for me to finish. One of the main twists of the story seemed to come out of nowhere. Hazel came across to me as a rather unlikeable and pompous character, but I admired her tenacity and single mindedness of her desire to become a doctor. Antisocial personality is prevalent in those who thrive as surgeons and CEOs, so perhaps someone like Hazel would need to be a bit cold hearted to forge a path to practice medicine in the 1800s. At one point, the option of becoming a midwife is mentioned, and I found it odd that she never explored that path, at least initially.

I enjoyed Jack’s perspective, and I can see how the gothic feel and historical settling of the novel could appeal to a number of readers. Jack was a sympathetic character. I can understand Jack’s attraction to Hazel due to their common interests and desire to help the downtrodden, but felt stumped as to why Bernard continued to pursue her when he had other options.

The book describes resurrection men as vampires feeding medical students dead bodies for study, which I think nicely can be used to show my overall feeling for the book. While vampires, resurrection men, and dead bodies all work well with the themes of the book, the metaphor itself doesn’t stand up to close scrutiny, even with the additional descriptor of the resurrection men disappearing in sunlight.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks to Wednesday Books, an imprint of St. Martin’s Publishing Group, for providing an Advance Reader Copy via NetGalley.

i fell in love with this cover before anything else, but the story exceeded my expectations. there was everything in here from a bit of a thriller to illicit romance and everything in between. well written and a great female lead. i'd be interested ion reading a sequel for sure!

Title: Anatomy: A Love Story
Author: Dana Schwartz
Genre: Fantasy, YA
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Edinburgh, 1817.

Hazel Sinnett is a lady who wants to be a surgeon more than she wants to marry.

Jack Currer is a resurrection man who’s just trying to survive in a city where it’s too easy to die.

When the two of them have a chance encounter outside the Edinburgh Anatomist’s Society, Hazel thinks nothing of it at first. But after she gets kicked out of renowned surgeon Dr. Beecham’s lectures for being the wrong gender, she realizes that her new acquaintance might be more helpful than she first thought. Because Hazel has made a deal with Dr. Beecham: if she can pass the medical examination on her own, the university will allow her to enroll. Without official lessons, though, Hazel will need more than just her books – she’ll need bodies to study, corpses to dissect.

Lucky that she’s made the acquaintance of someone who digs them up for a living, then.

But Jack has his own problems: strange men have been seen skulking around cemeteries, his friends are disappearing off the streets. Hazel and Jack work together to uncover the secrets buried not just in unmarked graves, but in the very heart of Edinburgh society.

I was a little bit disappointed in the last section of this (not just the ending). For the entire novel, Hazel is determined to do the right thing for people and in the end she just sort of slowly caves? Eh. That was disappointing. For most of the book, I really enjoyed her determination, but then she just kind of chickened out, which was disappointing.

Dana Schwartz lives in L.A. Anatomy: A Love Story is her new novel.


(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.)

I am absolutely in love with the cover design for this book! It is going to easily draw readers to it. Historical fiction with a slow start, you're pushed into the world right away and intrigued but then it slows way down. We have our main character, Hazel, who wants to become a surgeon but because of misogyny wouldn't be allowed. She gets around it by dressing up as a boy in order to attend classes. While trying to sneak in she meets Jack who is going to change her life in more ways than one. Great for gothic horror lovers with a bit of romance (not the main focus) and paranormal happenings.

Anatomy: A Love Story
By Dana Schwartz
4 out of 5 Stars

Frankenstein meets Stalking Jack the Ripper. This book pulled me into the grimy world of Victorian Edinburgh and kept me reeling in the horrific delights it offered. Hazel Sinnett, our main character, wants to be a surgeon in a time before that was a viable option for a woman, let alone a gently breed one. However, she is not one to be denied her dream. She collects books, and dead animals before finally sneaking into the Anatomist’s Society to learn how to cut open cadavers. She even goes as far as dressing as a man and signing up for classes. After she gets kicked out of school for being a woman, she strikes up a deal that could allow her to be a surgeon and open the door for women behind her. She just has to pass a test on her own. For that she will need access to bodies.

Luckily, she has already met a local resurrection man named Jack Currer. Their plans for their future and survival are hindered when resurrection men start going missing and poor people end up with body parts removed. Hazel and Jack must work together to help the people of Edinburgh and try to make a future for themselves.

Overall, I enjoyed this book, it was just gross enough to make it interesting, but it was not so bad that I struggled to read through it. Hazel is an interesting female lead. She is strong and smart, but she also struggles with the limitations set on her. She feels like a real person and despite everything you want her to succeed.

The romance in this book takes a back seat to the mystery portion of the book. Most of the romance occurs off page so they go from acquaintances to being in love quickly and without a lot of on page time.

There was also something off with the pacing of the book that made me feel like we either needed more to happen or one of the subplots needed to be removed or condensed. There was a portion of the book that started to get very long and that pulled me out of the story. It definitely stuck the landing with the ending though. I was not expecting the twist and it made some things that happened in the book seem more worth it.

The Story: Set in Edinburgh 1817 during a time where women are not allowed to be surgeons, seventeen year old, Hazel Sinnett is determined to pursue her dream as a surgeon and she needs corpses to study. Jack Currer is a resurrection man who is just trying to survive. They soon cross path, and while working together, they both discover something sinister is going on when bodies begin to pile up and resurrection men go missing.

My thoughts: I loved historical fiction with medicine/science theme especially one that is about grave robbing/body snatchers. I find it fascinating and disturbing at the same time. So I really liked that this story centers around that!

Hazel is an endearing character and I loved her passion in becoming a surgeon, and how she wants to find a cure for the disease that is slowly killing a lot of people. Heads up - there were some gory details on the disease and surgeries.

This story has a bit of everything - mystery, romance and magical realism. So, there are so many parts I liked, and there are parts I wish for more depth. Honestly, I do not think this is a love story since the romance element was not a lot in the story. It was more about Hazel's life, passion and how both her and Jack are trying to solve the mystery.

Overall, I still think this was a pretty good story and I liked the engaging writing.


Pub. Date: Jan 18th, 2022

***Thank you St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for this gifted review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.***

There are some really interesting elements to this story about a young woman pursuing a medical career in a time and place when that really wasn't an option for women -- but the tone skews younger than I'd expected, and the focus on romance and a thriller aspect take away some of the impact.