4.8 stars

Wow this was REALLY GOOD! This was so dark, compelling, and highly entertaining! Couldn't put it down!

CW(*): Body snatching, organ trafficking, kidnapping, human experimentation, maiming, and murdering.

This book had science, the occult, romance. murder mystery... everything!

You'd like this book if you like Dark Academia Historical Fiction with strong female characters, feminist and dark themes (pseudo-science and alchemy), paranormal/SFF elements and a sprinkle of romance like The Alienist. Frankenstein, Ninth House, The Diviners, and Hidden Figures,

FIRSTLY - I TOTALLY ADORED HAZEL. She's into... books! So beautifully nerdy and passionate about medicine and science! There is something irresistible about a character so passionate about a dream that totally ignores social conventions, like Hazel. She's determined to pursue her dream of becoming a physician even though she is expected to get married and "behave like a lady".

More than expected she is bullied into getting married

"'Do you know what happens to unmarried women?” Hazel knit her eyebrows together. “I suppose . . . I mean—” Lady Sinnett cut her off with a sad, rueful chuckle. “Nowhere to live. At the mercy of your relatives. At the mercy of your little brother and whomever he deems to marry. Begging your sister-in-law for scraps of human decency, praying that she’s kind'.”

"force women to live at the mercy of whichever man wants them but shame them for anything they might do to get a man to want them. Passivity was the ultimate virtue. Be patient, be silent, be beautiful and untouched as an orchid, and then and only then will your reward come: a bell jar to keep you safe."

"I wouldn’t object to teaching the rare woman who had a mind capable for natural philosophy and the study of the body. Yes, on the whole, the female brain is smaller, more susceptible to hysterics and emotion, less inclined to reason. But there’s no reason to believe that a specimen might emerge from the female sex able enough to be taught.”


SECONDLY - Alchemy and the occult! I loved that the antagonist's purpose was the quest for eternal life through alchemy and occult science.

THIRDLY- Dark academia! Loved all the themes around body snatching, anatomy studies with cadavers, surgical procedures and 18th century science!

“They’re trying to get the body to sell it to the doctors. The students up at the uni. They needs bodies to study on and stuff. A body goes for two guineas and a crown. If it’s pregnant, it goes for three guineas, but that’s harder, seeing as they rarely hang a woman with child.”

"The difference between the eighteenth-century surgeon and the physician is stark and distinct. A physician may be a gentleman of social standing and considerable means, with access to medical college and a proper education in Latin and the fine arts. It is his role to consult and advise on a matter of all ailments, internal and external, and provide whatever poultices or medicines may provide relief. A surgeon, by contrast, is more often a man of lower social status who understands that a genius in the study of anatomy may provide him a pathway to elevated rank. He must be prepared to work with the poor and deformed, the monsters unloved and made gruesome by either war or circumstance. The physician works with his mind. The surgeon works with his hands, and his brute strength."


Then was the unorthodox romance, just the way I like them!

And, last but not least, I loved the depiction of the times and all social commentary about classism, sexism and other social inequalities

"Body snatchers were a vital organ of the living city itself. It was filthy, and the fancy folks liked to look away, but they were essential nonetheless. Everyone knew they were doing it; police hardly cared, so long as you didn’t take clothes or jewels from the graves. Wealthier families had iron cage mortsafes, or solid stone slabs, above the graves to protect them from people like Jack. Poorer families sometimes had someone sitting and watching, a sentinel who would stay beside the grave for three or four days, until the body decomposed enough to no longer be valuable to doctors for study. Mostly, though, it was the unloved who made Jack’s living, the bodies buried shallow and forgotten. They would be invaluable to Jack, and to the doctors he sold them to. Whatever little those poor souls did in life, they did plenty in death."


And how Hazel used it to her advantage!.


"Being a woman had closed many doors to Hazel Sinnett, but it had also revealed to her a valuable tool in her arsenal: women were almost entirely overlooked as people, which gave her the power of invisibility. People saw women, they saw the dresses women wore on public walks through the park, and the gloved hands they rested on their dates’ elbows at the theater, but women were never threats. They were never challenges worthy of meaningful consideration. The footman might have refused entry to a beggarwoman or even a strange or foreign man, but Hazel—dressed like wealth—would be free to walk past him if she did so swiftly and feigning confidence. And so she did. Dr. Beecham was sitting"

This was my first book by this author and now looking forward to MANY more!

A dark and interesting story of a girl learning to be a doctor. An interesting take on women looking to break from their societal rules and help those around them. A great debut for 2022.

I was provided an ARC via Netgalley, all opinions are my own. This is set to be published on January 18, 2022. Thank you to SMP and Wednesday books for the early copy, I really enjoyed this.

Initially I was expecting this to be more on the horror side based on the cover, but it is more on of a historical fiction and sci-fi story. It is set in 1817 Edinburgh, Scotland where the thought of a female doctor, let alone a surgeon is unheard of, so when Lady Hazel Sinnett has her heart and mind set on taking the Physician's Examination everyone thinks she it is a joke. Hazel is brilliant, but her father is a distinguished Navy man away on an important assignment and her mother is the sister of a Viscount. Her station insists she follow the rules of propriety and get married, but no one really pays Hazel much attention. Her mother is drowning her her grief over the loss of Hazel's older brother George from the fever that has been plaguing the town for months, so she puts her efforts into protecting her other son and ignores Hazel most of the time.

Jack is a resurrection man, his main source of income comes from what he earns from the physicians at the local Anatomists society who pay good money for the recently deceased. Jack delivers the corpses so the doctors can learn from them, but technically it is against the law so he's good at not getting caught. When a chance encounter brings Hazen and Jack together, she enlists his services to help her learn anatomy from a real specimen as she has been dismissed from the courses she was taking the the Society. Despite her aptitude in the courses, she is not permitted to continue, however she makes a bet with the head that if she passes the examination on her own they will allow women to enroll in the future. Hazel is determined to become a doctor despite her station as a Lady and what it might mean for her future inheritance. She also wants to find a cure for the fever that is making everyone sick. Unfortunately Jack isn't able to bring her more bodies to study because local resurrection men keep disappearing, and if they do turn up they are missing vital parts of themselves.

This has a bit of everything. The historical aspect speaks to the very real and still true fact that the poor are seen as less than and those with status and money get what they want. It also speaks to the fact that women were and sometimes still are seen as fragile and unequal to men. They were supposed to be seen and not heard. The sci-fi element ties nicely into the mystery element. The title indicates that this is a love story, and there is a romance, but I felt that Hazel's love of medicine was the main plot and the actual romance was a smaller part of the story. This is definitely a little on the darker side, but if you like something with a more gothic feel this is for you.

I really enjoyed this. If you liked Stalking Jack the Ripper, I think you'd like this. This has similar vibes to that, so if you enjoyed that you might like this. They aren't the same by any means, but I was reminded of that series while reading this.

Halfway through this book…I knew. I just knew it would be a favorite. There’s a horse named Beetleguese, they make out in a grave, and the main character is a bad ass, inspiring young lady. I’ll be honest. The cover and a blurb by Neil Gaiman drew me in. And I am so thankful it did. This book is witty, sharp, compassionate, thrilling, and magical. I loved every minute of it.

I’m going to gush now. First five star read of the year. I loved this book. Holy crap Hazel and Jack are now ranked among my all time favorite characters. I just love both of them so much.

Thank you NetGalley, Wednesday Books, and Dana Schwartz for an arc of this in exchange for an honest review! This book has HIGH praise and I was really nervous going into it that it wouldn’t live up to my expectations. However, I really enjoyed it, and read it very quickly! I’m giving it 4.5 stars.

Anatomy follows Hazel, a smart young woman dreaming of becoming a surgeon in 1817 Edinburgh. After an unexpected encounter with Jack, a “resurrection man” who can help her with her studies, she’s one step closer to achieving her dream. This is a mysterious gothic story with a love story underneath that discusses societal norms and independence. All of the characters have their own distinct personality and I loved learning more about each of them!

I found Hazel and Jack to be entertaining and charismatic main characters and really enjoyed seeing their relationship play out. I also loved Hazel’s journey and was never bored, despite the fact that I sometimes struggle with that with historical fiction. You can tell that the author put a lot of research into the time period and it shows. The writing was also fast-paced and beautiful and I’m looking forward to future releases by Schwartz.

I’m really happy I was able to read this early and highly recommend for you guys to pick it up on January 18th when it’s released. Also, how gorgeous is this cover?? I adore it and it fits the story so well.

Excellent historical fiction with a bit of a fantasy twist, a strong and determined female lead with ideas and aspirations ahead of her time, and a cover design that is absolutely stunning. Seriously, go back and look at that cover and tell me it's not simultaneously beautiful and unsettling, and I mean that in the best way.

Hazel and Jack were wonderful. It's been a while since I've loved a book pairing as much as I loved Hazel and Jack. They were both strong characters and had more going on than just the romance between them, which is always a big plus for me. I could have read a whole book just of Hazel's self-taught medical adventures, but Jack's experiences as a resurrection man made it even better. The fantasy element, as well as the mystery... eh, they were okay, but neither one were my favorite aspects of the book. I felt it was a strong enough story on its own to not need the fantasy or the mystery, and it almost got a little too over the top for me towards the end.

Overall, I enjoyed this one quite a bit. I will always read about girls defying societal norms and doing their own thing, with a supportive guy by their side.

This is the most beautiful cover that could possibly have been created for this novel. It is lovely. 

I am a massive Dana Schwartz fan girl, so of course I got my hands on this book as soon as possible. She did not let me down. This book is spectacular. The story leaps off the page. It is so vivid. The characters are so lovely. They are fully developed, 3D people. None of the characters feel flat. 

This story is perfect for any lover of young adult fantastical romance. The setting is lovely. The characters a re divine. It only took about an hour and a half for me to read. My first thought when I finishes was "I cannot wait for my little girl to read this book." She would love it! 

The ending made me shriek! That is not an easy feat.

Who could resist picking up a book with a cover as beautiful as this one?! I was immediately swept up in the story of Hazel's fierce determination to become a surgeon in Regency-era Scotland, even if it means masquerading as her dead brother and employing the help of a street-smart 'Resurrection man' (aka a grave robber who supplies aspiring doctors with study corpses). The SFF hook takes a bit to come into focus, and I would've rather seen it develop a bit more. I found the ending of the novel to feel rather rushed -- the book wanted me to believe fully in a love story that didn't have an overwhelming amount of build-up, and the villain reveal was a bit clunky. A few stumbling points aren't enough to make me ding the novel too harshly, though, and I look forward to Schwartz's next book, as I think she's a very promising author! (4 stars rounded up from 3.5)

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review. The cover design for this book is amazing.

This book follows Hazel, a young woman in 19th century Edinburgh. Hazel is a high society woman with big dreams of becoming a surgeon. At the time, the profession mostly consistents of low born men, but she is determined.

Although listed as a sci-fi fantasy, I was at 50% thinking this is an historical coming of age book. Don't worry y'all the sci-fi is there you just have to wait for it. There is an ongoing plauge in the book, which was a little on-the-nose as we live through one IRL. The end was tough for me, being a little too rushed, and I really needed a longer epilogue, or book 2?

The writing is highly engaging, with sharp feminist and class conscious observations. Hazel's character is written with care and consideration and her growing resolve and empathy is lovely to witness.

#NetGalley #Reviews

I'm conflicted and disappointed about this book. It has many enjoyable elements and it started out pretty strong, but unfortunately around halfway it started slipping for me. Hazel is a strong, stubborn character who you root for, even with her tunnel vision, and her goals are fascinating in this time period. The atmosphere - the Edinburgh setting, an old castle, the eerie graveyards and surgery theaters - was distinct, though would likely be creepier and more intense if it hadn't been YA.

Ultimately, it's the ending that takes away a lot of it for me - it's quite rushed and a bit out of left field. I think the fantasy/supernatural and romance elements were not fleshed out enough to feel earned. Instead, the resolution felt random and out of place in the rest of the book, and while I liked Jack and his introduction, his relationship with Hazel was sudden and surface-level. The final moments, of Dr. Beecham's reveal and Jack's fate, take place over just a few pages, when they're both huge plot points that needed more time and development to fully land.

3.5 stars!

Thank you netgalley and Wednesday books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Anatomy: a love story is a gothic historical fiction set in 1800s Scotland, focusing on a teenage girl who wants to practice medicine and a teenage boy who works in the business of death (specifically dead bodies). With both of them holding roles that are shunned by society it makes perfect sense that they would find each other. This book is a definite read for fans of Frankenstein, and would appeal to a lot of Stalking Jack the Ripper fans!

What I liked:
- fighting societal norms
- characters themselves
- beautiful descriptions and settings
- spooky and haunting vibes

For my personal reading taste I would have preferred more of the love story and less anatomy, but if you’re someone who’s looking for a great gothic read this is definitely it!

“Passivity was the ultimate virtue.”

Anatomy brings us Hazel, a young woman in 1817 Edinburgh who craves an independent life as a trained surgeon, helping patients and her city. Facing societal pressure to marry her cousin (ew) and remain in a gilded cage of privilege and virtue, Hazel feels increasingly trapped by the future she’s supposed to want.

“It was an impossible situation, a trick of society as a whole: force women to live at the mercy of whichever man wants them but shame for anything they might do to get a man to want them.”

Determined to pass the physical examination after being locked out by men, Hazel decides to go it alone. When bodies begin mysteriously piling up and resurrection men (body snatchers) go missing, Hazel teams up with Jack, a resurrection man himself, to help solve the mystery while trying to access cadavers of her own to study anatomy. The search brings Hazel and Jack into a hornet’s nest of power, intrigue, and greed.

This read as understated gothic mystery with minimal magical “elements” that are used as bookends. The focus is on Hazel and her journey to education. While at parts I found this journey poignant, it was often quite stilted. Maybe because Hazel herself didn’t feel all that compelling or fleshed out from a personality perspective. Aside from her educational goals, the future she wants didn’t feel all that thought out.

Jack has a few chapters from his perspective which provided some break in the story in terms of pacing but also didn’t give us a ton of depth, either for him as a character, or for the time period and society.

The plot felt quite predictable which coupled with the slow pacing, meant this lacked a punch and staying power. I wish this had leaned in more fully into the gothic genre and even used the magical elements more to amp up the action and suspense.

The cover is certainly 5 star worthy, sadly the story itself was very middling. Thank you Wednesday Books for my ARC!

This is a story about the heart of the matter.

I don’t know what I expected going into this book, but it’s a dark but beautiful story with just enough of the fantastical. Historical fiction is hit or miss for me, but this hit the perfect notes by exploring interesting topics with a compelling narrator.

Thank you so much Netgalley & St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books

I really enjoyed the characters in this book. They helped bring the time period to life and I was so drawn in by the main characters. Hazel and Jack's relationship as they became partners to further her studies and then more kept me glued to the page. The setting was also well done especially for the creepier elements of the story. My only complaint was that the ending felt a little rushed and I would really like to see a second book that continues they story. It doesn't feel completely finished.

Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! Reading this plague set book in the middle of our own plague felt like it would be painful, but the character building really made this book shine.

Smart, fun gothic romance. Suitable for younger/YA readers, as well. Schwartz does a good job blending history and fantasy. Recommended!

What’s it about (in a nutshell):
Anatomy, A Love Story by Dana Schwartz transports you to Victorian Scotland, where you join Hazel Sinnett and her quest to become a doctor in a world where women are not considered intelligent enough or strong enough for such endeavors. She finds it to be a dangerous goal full of mysteries and even finds love in the least likely places, especially since she has been promised to the son of a viscount since birth.

What I Enjoyed:
I enjoyed this so much about this story, but I will start with its extraordinary ability to immerse me in the world, beginning with the first page. I was instantly transported, and I loved every second of it even when I didn’t like the old-fashioned misogynistic views of Victorian-era men. The story envelopes you and compels you to keep reading long after your eyes have grown tired and everyone else in your house is asleep.

Medicine in this period is absolutely fascinating with its crazy notions. Following the details of what Hazel is learning held my attention thoroughly before the mystery picked up steam. I realized at one point that this story could easily have my attention without the puzzle. However, I did find the deaths and oddities behind them totally compelling and the solving of it jaw-dropping with its dark supernatural twist.

The romance is so innocent and sweet, and I fell in love with the romance itself rather than the romantic hero, even though I’m sure many readers will consider him swoon worthy. I’ll admit, it totally gave me Jack and Rose vibes (though much more innocent), but that’s because of the period and the similarities in the Jacks. Their respect for a woman’s intelligence and independence is refreshing in this very oppressive world.

Lastly, the story is technically young adult, but it is timeless and would appeal easily to adults - even and especially to adults who do not usually read YA. I don’t know if it is because of the period or because Hazel is so mature, or maybe a combination of the two. I loved the timelessness of this story.

And just a brief mention before I close out my thoughts in this section – the cover is stunning! If you look closely, you will see it’s not just a heart – so go look closely and fall in love with it yourself.


Characters:
The characters jump right off the page and into your heart quickly and easily. They are all incredibly complex and enticingly developed. I loved so many of them, from the personal maid Iona to the main character, Hazel, and many in between.

Hazel is a modern woman in an archaic world. She has always been fascinated with the human body and curing ills, even going so far as to stitch up the help at her estate if they should happen to cut themselves. Hazel’s life passion is to become a doctor and help the poor, whose only option is the horrible hospital for the poor. You can’t help but champion this young woman who has many admirable qualities, such as bravery, compassion, and a total lack of entitlement.

What I Wish:
I can’t imagine wishing any element of the story was different. How can I when it was utterly captivating as is?

To Read or Not to Read:
If you are looking for an original story that you will not be able to put down no matter how late it gets, Anatomy, A Love Story by Dana Schwartz is just the read you need to pick up.

This gave me very light Stalking Jack the Ripper vibes. I adored it - highly recommend for anyone who enjoys romance mixed with a bit of a macabre.

**Thank you Netgalley and publisher for giving me an electronic ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.**

When I found out that Dana Schwartz, the host of one of my favorite podcasts Noble Blood, wrote a book I immediately jumped on the chance to read it.

I loved the storyline and the history, the way she switched point of views with the characters was smooth and I could follow the story easily. If you're a fan of Noble Blood or history I highly recommend this book.

This is a gothic story set in Victorian era Edinburg. it centers around a young lady, Hazel, who longs to become a surgeon, despite what society thinks. She finds a way to start her studies, but circumstances hinder her. In order to continue she must find a way to study on her own to prepare for the physician’s examination. But this requires cadavers, luckily she meets a resurrection man who can deliver just that. The story is full of romance and mystery, a little horror and suspense, and some supernatural elements.
While this book took me a while to get through, it was not because I didn’t like it. The first half was a little slow for me and did not hook my attention as fiercely as others tend to. But I really, really enjoyed it, it is a fantastic book! However, be warned, the details on the medical practices are explicit, not overly gory but realistic to the practices of the time and place. It reminds me of Jack the Ripper stories and series like The Alienist. Which I really find interesting myself. So to anyone who enjoys those kinds of stories, I definitely recommend this book!

I got this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley.