"This is Going to Hurt" by Adam Kay is an extraordinary and utterly compelling memoir that delves into the life of a junior doctor in the UK's National Health Service (NHS). Part poignant reflection, part riotous comedy, Kay takes readers on an emotional rollercoaster through the highs and lows of his medical career, painting an unfiltered and brutally honest portrait of life on the frontlines of healthcare.

The book opens with uproarious humor as Kay recounts his initial experiences as a bright-eyed, idealistic medical student. His anecdotes about awkward medical examinations and the inevitable mishaps are laugh-out-loud funny, providing a delightful contrast to the more somber moments that follow. Yet, beneath the humor, the author subtly plants the seeds of the challenges he will face, hinting at the harsh realities doctors endure behind the scenes.

As the pages turn, "This is Going to Hurt" turns into a deeply affecting account of the emotional toll that comes with working in medicine. Kay navigates the heartbreaking aspects of his job with raw honesty, sharing the anguish, exhaustion, and sacrifices that doctors must make daily. The book sheds light on the emotional resilience required of medical professionals, who often carry the weight of life and death decisions on their shoulders.

While the narrative deals with poignant subjects, it remains remarkably engaging and accessible. Kay's conversational writing style effortlessly draws readers in, ensuring they feel every triumph and tragedy alongside him. He possesses an uncanny ability to blend humor with pathos, crafting a compelling narrative that evokes laughter and tears in equal measure.

Thank you to netgalley for providing an e-galley for review. This Is Going to Hurt is a very apt title. This definitely hurt. As patients, we see medical staff as more than human, when really, they are human as the rest of us, with families they miss and illnesses that they suffer from as well. This book shows one doctor's journey through the ranks of med school and how much pressure they are under to perform heroic tasks. To get another perspective from the other side of the hospital bed, read this book.

Adam Kay pulls back the hospital curtain in this candid nonfiction about his time as a doctor in the "across the pond". Being a doctor isn't all it's cracked up to be, and Kay has the stories to prove it. People think it's glamorous and that saving lives is an endorphine high that never ends, but Kay bluntly relays the good and mostly bad about life as a new doctor. His brutal honesty is funny, refreshing, eye-opening, and at times just so sad. Perfect for fans of E.R. and Grey's Anatomy, Adam Kay proves real life is more dramatic than even the best TV dramas.

This is the second book in two days where authors share their personal battle in the medical field. There are funny stories presented by Dr. Kay, but also the heartbreak realities of the profession.

Like any profession, there are daily ups and downs. After reading this book, I am making comparisons to my own careers as an educator. According to Dr. Kay, doctors do not go into the field of medicine for money. Doctors, like teachers, go into their desired careers in order to help people. Their day does not end when the schedule says they have completed their shift.

THIS IS GOING TO HURT tells the true story behind the white coat. Again, some of the diary entries will make you laugh out loud (for me it was the "healthy" natural items), but others are so devastating it shows why Dr. Kay left the field of medicine.

There is humor to any profession, and medicine is one of them. From personal observations and professional discoveries, Adam Kay’s book it’s a heartfelt collection of work-related anecdotes written in a witty and smart way.

P.S.— I’m definitely watching an upcoming TV show based on this book!

Wow, I hated this.

I wanted to give this a read to see if it's something I wanted to stock with the upcoming television adaptation coming up. I adore Ben Whishaw and had high hopes.

Many times, I get that books are subjective and try not to yuck other people's yums. But I truly do not understand what anyone could find redeeming in this book.

Based on his own experience as an OBGYN in England, Adam Kay shares excerpts from a journal he kept while going through the medical training process, along with a bit of exposition at the beginning of each chapter before sharing the (presumably unedited) journal entries. This was happening in like 2005-2010, and you can VERY tell. The stories are crude, vulgar, and cynical. I'm all for dark humour, and this is not that. At all. Rather than feeling like an expose of the insanity and unsustainability of doctor life—which is undeniably a worthwhile conceit—this book felt like it was focused on humiliating patients. He focuses entirely on his own feelings without much introspection, concern for ethics, or perhaps most importantly for a medical doctor, empathy. His commentary, especially for a gynecologist, is completely inappropriate and emblematic of the reason so many women choose to see non-male gynecologists. He comments on patient's genitals at least 15 times. I don't find that funny. He also makes "jokes" about eating disorders, fat people, and the sexual assault of a patient. He exemplifies the exact kind of doctor that people write viral Twitter threads about for dismissing their concerns as a patient and then finding out later they have cancer.

I might still try watching the show, but I definitely don't think this book is right for my little shop. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early tie-in access in exchange for an honest review.

CW: gore, fatphobia, misogyny, sexual assault, miscarriage, child death

This book has been hyped for a fair while now, especially on both Booktube and Bookstagram. It made me a little reluctant to pick it up as there was that classic readers fear of "what if I don't like it!?". Rest assured, I bloody (pun intended) loved this book.

At times it was incredibly funny and Adam's personality really leaped off the page. Whenever you read a memoir or, especially, a diary of someone, you have to care for the writer. You're reading their thoughts and are obligated as a reader to care about their life. That was incredibly easy to do. I wasn't expecting to grow so fond of the author, but here we are.

The more emotional parts of this book were handled very well. I teared up a fair few times. Thinking about it now, I suppose that's the main thing this book excelled at - it made me feel, a lot. It brought out various emotional reactions from me. Sadness, joy, anger, frustration. Heck, even exhaustion when reading of the hours NHS staff work.

If you've been putting this book off for any reason, this is your sign to pick it up. Give into the hype. And I'm looking forward to watching the show!

I’ve read this before, but I had no idea it was adapted for TV, so I was interested to see how this new edition would be edited.

Overall, it’s pretty much the same. This is still an entertaining read and one that has a massive societal importance. It often goes unrecognised just how difficult it is for a doctor during their residency. As someone who worked in a hospital for years, I saw just how hard doctors (and all medical staff) work. But it’s such a rewarding field of work and I wish this book showed more of that - the positives.

I also understand that everyone handles grief in different ways, and AK obviously uses humour, but I would have liked a little more seriousness in tone when talking about certain things. I think it would have made the reflections feel more genuine to me personally.

Also, side note - AK specialised in OBGYN, so the majority of the commentary is about childbirth and vaginas, which often leads to crude humour. Which still got old, very quickly, for me.

But again, I think AK does a great job at spotlighting the demanding nature of the medical profession, which I appreciate. I also think it will be interesting for readers outside the UK to see how the NHS operates.

3.5 Stars. ARC? in exchange for a NetGalley review. Not sure it’s really an ARC because I’ve had this on my TR list for years, but it’s probably re-edited because it’s about to become a TV Show.
Adam Kay goes through his years of residency to become a full fledged doctor in OBGYN. It was funny, it was raw, and it was honest. I know he/many reviewers knocked on the frustration end of NHS, but be grateful you do not live in the US with our costs and endless jumping through hoops. It was actually really neat to learn how the NHS runs. It also put into perspective how much doctors do before they become “doctors.” I just assumed BMWs and golf vacations, but Kay really showed the tiresome journey that it takes to get there. This book/short memoir is a compilation of Kay’s journal, one I assume started off as a personal one, so there were some parts written down where I was just like, “Okay?”. But for the most part it was quick paced and enjoyable.

A timely topic, as the last few years have drawn attention to the medical field. After my own medical issue a few years ago, I became fascinated with the other side of the experience. With a humorous tone, this book takes a look at that side- and it was a great read.