This book was fantastic. While it took me a couple chapters to get into it, I really appreciated the pacing after that point. Hazel is a strong female protagonist in a world that doesn’t want to see women as strong. The plot was overall well written and I truly enjoyed to twists and turns.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC to review.

Great book! Love the cover so much! Can't wait for a sequel I think the story has so much potential!

I really enjoyed the book. I loved the main character and definitely related to her a bit, with the wanting to become a physician. I admire her determination and also she just seemed to be good. If I had one critique for the book, it would be that it almost feels unfinished, or just shallow. I wish there was a bit more world building, and that we got to know the characters better. I felt like we weren't really eased into anything. Even the romance felt a little instalove. Every interaction with other characters felt very surface level, and even the "villain" I saw coming from a mile away and there was never good resolution or even confrontation with them. I also feel like the MC kinda becomes stagnant about halfway through the book and nothing interesting ever really changes for her after that. She never really has to deal with society or her conveniently absent parents or conveniently supportive house staff or conveniently absent cousin (even once they're engaged. And no that's not really a spoiler). Despite all these, I still really enjoyed the book. There is a little magic thrown in, but its barely really explored or mentioned and almost seems more like an afterthought or easy way to get around a problem so the author could have the ending she wanted. Again, I think it would have benefitted from more worldbuilding. Overall a 3.5 star read!

I was drawn to check this book out because it reminded me of the Stalking Jack the Ripper books, which I love. In Anatomy we meet Hazel, who has a passion for medicine and wishes to become a surgeon. The problem? It's Edinburgh in 1817 and women, especially noble-born women, are supposed to be meek, pretty, and have no life or opinions outside of marrying well and producing children.

Then there's Jack, a resurrection man (a person who robs graves and sells bodies to the medical college). He's just trying to survive but his friends are disappearing and a strange illness is spreading through Edinburgh.

When Hazel is discovered to be a female by the professor whose surgical classes she's been sneaking into and is thrown out, she's more determined than ever to continue her studies. All she needs is access to dead bodies. Luckily, a chance encounter introduces her to Jack and they form a tentative agreement. What starts out as a business exchange soon turns into something much more.

I really loved this book. It was definitely one of my favorite reads at the end of 2021, early 2022. While it is similar when compared to other books (Stalking Jack the Ripper, The Corpse Queen, etc.) it was those similarities that originally drew me to the book. It is unique from at lease SJTR in the difference in social class between Hazel and Jack.

My only drawback was the ambiguity of Hazel and Jack's relationship at the end of the book. Will they ever get to be together? For a "love story" as the title specifically states, I wanted more of a tied up ending.

I hate that I took so long to pick this one up! You don't get a lot of options to read about a woman trying to break in to the medical field in the times of body snatchers (or "resurrection men") and medical breakthroughs.

I really liked Hazel. She had a full uphill battle with the need to marry rich and her absentee mother and father. All but betrothed to her cousin since birth, she wasn't allowed a lot of options. But Hazel isn't even thinking about that. She's focused on medical work and understanding how the body works. Luckily there is a plague traveling through with no cure and it's an opportunity for Hazel to learn her skill and make a name for herself.

But women in these times aren't doctors, they aren't surgeons and they aren't hired to work in medical fields. She is determined to be the first. I liked Hazel's stubborn fight, the interesting facts about grave robbers vs snatchers and just a peak in to the time. The plot had me hooked, the love story was cute, and I found myself completely wrapped up in the story. SO glad I finally got to this one, I loved it!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

I predicted some of the plot points but I never saw that ending coming. I need a novella. Hazel was a great protagonist and I loved her relationship with Jack. I felt like this book went by a little fast, both in terms of the plot and the romance. But I still enjoyed it.

Thank you to Wednesday Books for the e-ARC of Anatomy: A Love Story!

Secrets out: I vibe with women in historical fiction that like graverobbing & going against the ~Man~ to learn medicine/surgery/etc.

I do feel like the start was a bit slow but I really did enjoy the cast of characters, the romance, the ending & just the whole conflict, in general. A perfect read for those who love books with a strong & interesting female lead!

This book was amazing. I coudn't put it down. It was magical. Higly recommended! The characters, the plots, the writting: wonderful and perfect.

I love the premise of this book. It makes for such an interesting read and the author did such a good job. The story was so well-written and I loved the dimensions to the different characters. A little thriller, a little romance, a little different than you are used to storyline!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

This book was seriously good.
Starting with the cover- can we talk about it?! From a distance it’s all dreamy and elegant, but then looking closer it’s somehow still elegant but looks like a beating, bloody heart. Perfect mix of pretty and creepy.

The setting and characterization were very well done. You can feel yourself following along with Hazel throughout the story, learning and growing with her. The same with Jack as he learns to trust Hazel and falls in love with her.

One thing I didn’t like was that the POV would switch to Jack, and then in the next paragraph we’d be back to Hazel. They’re both great characters that are well developed with fantastic stories all on their own, I just would’ve appreciated a little more clarity on who was speaking when.

All in all- great book. Very reminiscent of Stalking Jack the Ripper. I would definitely read it again and I can’t wait for the sequel!

The never tells the story of Hazel who wants to learn anatomy. She has to fight for her dreams in a profession that is dominated by men. The writing is very beautiful and meticulously researched. The story was very slow moving. There is very little mystery, but the focus is on the romance. The romance was very interesting and develops over time. I love both Hazel and Jack and believe they complement each other. I recommend this fans of Stalking Jack the Ripper!

This is one of those books where you can't quite a book quite like it (at least for me) in terms of the layers with the medical terms and descriptions of procedures that create a morbid fascination that you don't expect in YA. That being said, I was immersed in after about 20% in. It did take a bit of time for me to truly find interest in the characters and the more I grew to either adore or find them repulsive (not in a negative but positive way the author writes them well) the more invested I became. I will say, towards the end, I was a bit shocked. It definitely gives you a gothic like vibe with a flash of Penny Dreadful vibes though nothing too far out there. But just enough.

I will say I wish I saw more for the romance. I did find it endearing but it was very short and felt almost cheated (again, it could be the point) at certain points though I'm not going to say what to keep spoilers out of this.

Overall, it was a fun and easy read. The characters were flawed nicely and while I feel some things were left unaddressed, it was well rounded story.

My Rating: 4 Stars

The convenient absence of her mother and father leaves Hazel with an unbelievable amount of time unsupervised. Months spent alone in her family’s large castle, with nothing but servants for company, all so Hazel can pursue her dream of becoming a physician. Somehow, no one notices the large number of people frequenting her home and Hazel is able to treat dozens of people for various ailments without being caught or questioned. Even though high society is incredibly observant and critical, even though Hazel is all but engaged to a viscount to be.

I love how competent Hazel is and how determined she is to be a physician. Jack is…fine. He’s barely developed as a character, despite several chapters being from his point of view.

Several months pass without contact between Hazel and the outside world, it seems. Few letters from her mother, little to no contact with Bernard, even though he lives nearby and is practically engaged to Hazel. This time could have been spent developing Hazel and Jack’s relationship but the extended timeline was just there so Hazel could study and practice on her patients in preparation for the physician’s exam. The plot is very much driven by this point when it could have spent more time on the romance between Hazel and Jack, to make it more developed. For all that this book is literally called a love story in the title, the love story aspect was entirely unsatisfying.

The plot and romance didn’t reach the depths I expected based on the summary and I found myself wanting more. The book was an easy read and will likely resonate with younger readers, barring the somewhat gruesome descriptions of dead bodies. It would be a fine addition to a school library.

This was a very fun historical fiction with a tinge of the horror thrown. I like having a female protagonist who had a thirst for scientific knowledge who turned into bit a sleuth. Not too heavy on the love story though.

"She would breach the world between life and death, using electricity to reanimate flesh. What were miracles, but science that man didn't yet understand."

Set in Edinburgh, 1817.

This is a book that follows two character's POV. Hazel Sinnet is a lady of means who wants to be a surgeon, which most respectable lady of this time did not do. Then we have Jack Currer who is a resurrectionist (aka a grave robber), who illegally exhumes bodies in grave yards for the local medical schools. Jack and Hazel are from completely different worlds, but both with common interests.

This is a romance that circulates around science and the coming together of two people from completely different backgrounds. This book also has an element of mystery to it as Jack and Hazel exhume bodies that were said to have died of the fever, but were missing body parts.

This book was very well paced and at times had me rushing through the text to find out what happens next. It was well written and completely immersive. It felt like a normal historical crime book, with a smart independent, ahead of her time protagonist. I did appreciate the small fantastical details we got towards the end which really helped the book stand out.

I also loved the dual perspective of Jack and Hazel, which added depth to the story.

I really loved Jack. He was a sweet and kind love interest. I loved the chemistry between Hazel and Jack and how it was slow burn. In spite of the book's length, the author put alot into slowly developing their chemistry.

This book spared no details on the corpses that were operated on, or on the procedures. Each procedure and each corpse was well discribed.

Overall I loved this. It was a smooth read with fun characters and a wonderful plot line. I gave this a 4/5 stars because while it was fun with some unique details, it also felt fairly average.

"Even the most basic so-called truths of our anatomy can be manipulated to suit new purposes. The only truth is power, and the only power is knowing how to survive."

This book was so much more than I thought it was going to be. With romance, mystery, murder, death, and gothic elements weaved into a story that captives the readers. The characters in Anatomy: A Love Story have a lot more to them than it seems. The characters are struggling with decisions and choices that can change their lives.

Our story follows our main character, Hazel, on a journey to become a doctor/surgeon. With the Roman Fever on the rise around her and people mysteriously disappearing, Hazel is determined to continue her studies. With the help of Jack, who is a 'resurrection man', they set out to find bodies to study. With both characters from different social classes, the book presents different reactions to that.

"When Jack looked at Hazel, the flame was alive and licking at the air around it. He felt the heat and power, heard its crackle. It was seeing fire in person for the first time."

I loved the romance aspect of this book, and there were definitely times I wanted something different to happen. I did not care for Hazel's fiancé because he seemed very generic, and they were engaged because it was what they were supposed to do. I did love Jack, and how he tried to make the most out of each situation. Hazel is an admirable character, because she refuses to give up when things are presented as only having one choice or one outcome.

Jack and Hazel seemed to have a connection as soon as they met each other, and I am grateful we got to see them grow closer. I loved the banter they had and how they worked well together.

"Somebody should tell you that you're beautiful every time the sun comes up. Someone should tell you you're beautiful on Wednesdays. And at teatime. Someone should tell you you're beautiful on Christmas Day and Christmas Eve and the evening before Christmas Eve, and on Easter. He should tell you on Guy Fawkes Night and on New Year's, and on the eighth of August, just because."

I am secretly hoping for a sequel, but I also kind of liked how the story ended!

Thank you to Wednesday Books (St. Martins Press) and NetGalley for providing me with an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review.

Pre-review: This book sounds so good!

Anatomy is a really unique and fun YA book about science, a woman's place in 19th Century Scotland, and, of course, love..

Hazel is a 17-year-old privileged girl on the cusp of becoming engaged to the son of a viscount. She should be thrilled at her prospects, but she is no ordinary aristocrat. Hazel is determined to become a surgeon, absolutely unheard of for a woman to do. As she plots to enter anatomy classes and sit for the physicians exam, she finds herself drawn into a seedy world of resurrectionists (those who steal bodies from graves to sell to physicians), the anatomist society, and all kinds of shenanigans unfit for a woman of her class.

This is a surprising and original story with lots of gory medical details and a romance. This is a great addition to the growing list of STEM romances.

This was a really appropriate, clever reimagining of Frankenstein with a feminist twist—long overdue, with rich romantic tension, wit, and atmosphere! A fun read.

Anatomy: A Love Story was a delightful gothic murder mystery set amongst the cemeteries and city alleys of Edinburgh, Scotland, in the early nineteenth century. Hazel is a headstrong girl who wants more than anything to be a surgeon, but though her breeding and status open a lot of doors for her, they are still a golden handcuff tying her to the traditional roles of a Lady in British society. She is to marry her cousin Bernard. Though her cousin and her have long been friends in addition to their betrothed status, Bernard seems less and less keen to allow his future wife to do such scandalous things as surgery, despite knowing it is her driving passion. Note: Bernard seems like such a great guy until she actually starts pursuing that passion, then he admits he thinks it was just a flight of fancy for her which left me so bothered. In my opinion, he’s a bit of a wanker who deserves some syphilis. Anyways…

When she does get the opportunity to see a lecture and demonstration by Dr. Beecham, the grandson of the scientist who wrote the veritable anatomist’s bible, she jumps at the chance. But women aren’t allowed through the main doors of the establishment. That’s when she runs into Jack Currer, who is able to sneak her in under the bleachers. Of course Jack knows of this little hidey-hole. He’s a resurrection man. A body snatcher—but not a grave robber. He makes that quite clear. He steals nothing but the bodies (semantics if you ask me—and you kind of did).

When Beecham announces that he will be teaching the newest surgery courses, Hazel feels compelled to find a way to attend and get her license in the surgical arts. By dressing as her deceased brother, George, she is able to disguise herself as a lad long enough to attend these lectures (This is somewhat ironic. Here’s some background: George and Hazel both had the Roman Fever, a highly contagious decease that seems to have reemerged in Edinburgh. George, the heir to their family, died. Hazel did not. This caused obvious distress for her family and her mother and her relationship has been strained ever since. Not only that, but the death triggered two more things. Her younger brother, now being the heir, is basically a helipad to her mother’s helicopter parenting, while Hazel--who has become largely ignored by her mother--is hell bent on finding a cure. The reason I say ironic (maybe ‘poetic’ is a better term?) is that she is ‘resurrecting’ the very person who died and created this passion for surgery in her. Good job on that one, Schwartz.)

However, when Hazel is caught posing as a lad, she is told she can no longer attend the lectures put on by Beecham or Straine—a practicing surgeon in Edinburgh who knows Hazel from his associations with her uncle and future father in law. (Do you think that will stop Hazel? Of course not. She’s a girl of means, independence and fortitude.) Instead of giving up, Hazel tracks down Dr. Beecham and strikes a deal with him. She will study and he will allow her to sit for the surgeon’s exam. If she passes, the school will open its doors to other women. If she does not, she will turn away from surgery and into the arms of her betrothed to do as all the other Ladies of means do for the rest of her life. What’s a girl to do? (Are you kidding? She has all of woman kind to think about now—she is the potential harbinger of change. Of course she takes the deal!)

But there’s one problem. She will need to study human corpses. Fortunately, she has a connection: handsome and charming Jack Currer, who lives and works in a recently closed theatre, only closed due to the new spread of Roman Fever. The downside is his partner has recently gone missing as well. Hazel must team up with Jack to not only keep her secrets, but also to help him procure bodies. During her ‘adventures’ with Jack, she finds out that there are people suddenly showing up without body parts in the poor hospitals of London, and some of the bodies they are pulling out of the ground that are marked as deaths due to Roman Fever are decidedly not.

Not only does Hazel need to study for the most important exam of her life, but she and Jack are now embroiled in what appears to be a murder investigation that no one else knows about. And the conclusion that they come to is something that neither they—nor the reader—will ever expect.

Thoughts:

I really loved the setting. I’ve always wanted to go to Edinburgh and if it’s even half as atmospheric as the author describes, it would be worth every penny. I also adored Hazel. She had a goal and she did everything to pursue that goal while trying so hard not to fall in love with Jack over dead bodies. I’m sure there’s a joke in there, I just can’t sus it out right this second. The villain at the end was truly diabolical and I never expected it. Them, yes. But the why? Never. There were so many suspects and possibilities and the conclusion…just…(insert mind blown emoji here).

If you’re looking for a gothic fiction book, this is the one that you need to pick up. There’s honestly no better description than that. It’s a gothic love story. Classically done. I’m surprised that fog doesn’t roll out of the pages when you open in, almost equally surprising is that ending.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s press for the advance copy in exchange for this honest review.

Not for me personally but I have a group of students who love this type of vibe. Also since the school is a CTE school this fits well with the health department and would interest those students as well as build a possible project between the library and health lessons. The cover both interest me and makes me uncomfortable.