𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 4⭐️
𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: Contemporary romance 📚

𝙼𝚢 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜:
A cute rom com that gave me all the Grey’s Anatomy vibes but ultimately fell flat

𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
Meet cutes
Medical workplace romances
Enemies to lovers
Slow burn romance
Closed door
Found family
Hallmark movie vibes

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚍:
The supporting characters

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛:
Not much chemistry
Didn’t love the main character
Wish it had been dual POV

Dr. Samantha Holbrook is the type of heroine I cherish; smart, ambitious and a handsome-doctor magnet. Come for the RomCom energy; stay for the hilarious—and complicated—Silicon Valley culture. If I were a heart doctor I’d write you a prescription to read this book.

I’m a fan of medical dramas so I was excited to come across this book. Sam and Grant’s story begins on a plane with a medical emergency. This was a fun, sometimes funny, and cute romcom.

I read this book because i have read the previous ones by the same author and was intrigued by the description.
I didn't connect with any of the characters but I liked the way the story evolves. Their interactions are hilarious at times and while it's not a five stars read for me, I think many readers will enjoy it.


Very grateful to the publisher for this Read Now title

A slice of a life mixed with the flutters of a light romance, Sam’s story had just the right amount of spunk, drive, and real life perception. She was defensive and combative, and fuelled by passion and a desire to please. I admired her passion in action and the need she saw, and sought to fill, for her community, and I commend Woolridge on crafting a leading character that is so real in her personality and her flaws that sometimes you don’t know whether to pull your hair out or give her an encouraging pep talk!

Made up of all the right parts, I believe, with a bit more time and space taken to string it all together, this story could have been a strong contender with the heart to boot that would have readers readily demanding a second dose. I enjoyed the will-they-won’t-they dynamics at play with Sam and Grant as unresolved tensions and all the banter stemmed from that perfect not-so-meet-cute you’d expect from a medical drama. I loved the quiet ways in which Grant expressed love, and the slow burn building between them was a tasteful tease, culminating in that key fade to black that’ll have romancers demanding more. But, this said, I felt that it didn’t quite hit the mark on the Romance portion of its delivery.

While marketed as more of a rom-com, I personally felt this read was suited better to a medical drama with just a pinch of romance. The plot was largely geared towards Sam’s growth as she navigated her overbearing mother and their strained relations, a friends imminent wedding, and the needs of a community calling for change. Sam’s inability to say ‘no’, made for a conflict laden, at times exhausting, environment and the perfect setting for Sam to learn the importance of establishing boundaries, and respecting those in place. While these elements were important, and I enjoyed observing Sam’s tumultuous journey, I missed getting to watch she and Grant fall in, and explore, that promised love together. The romance just needed a bit more space to be throughly examined and unpacked, but otherwise, it was a good read that delivered on the promise of bad timing, good friends, and fresh starts!

Great for fans of Grey’s Anatomy, Anatomy of a Meet Cute is available now from major book retailers.

🤍 medical drama
🤍 closed door Romance
🤍 diverse cast
🤍 found family
🤍 Grey’s Anatomy vibes

I received an advanced copy thanks to Netgalley and Montlake, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review. 3.5 stars.

I loved Sam from the beginning of Anatomy of a Meet Cute. Not only did I love that she's an OBGYN, but I loved their plane meet cute. Meet cutes get me every time and so their first meeting and their first impressions will always set the tone. Sam is stubborn, clever, and passionate. And even when I didn't agree with her decisions, I cared about her story and empathized with her. As someone who puts too much on their plate - maybe a tad over commitment - her struggles resonated with me.

Feeling like we have to say yes to those around us, that our friendships feel in some ways transactional, resonates with me. Because it's hard to say no to the ones we care about. We want to help them, but we should want to help and know that we can say no. To feel that we can also say no. That's the key difference. And it's a lesson Sam has to learn throughout the course of Anatomy of a Meet Cute. In addition, Sam's relationship to her mother was particularly emotional.

(ARC from NetGalley) DNF at 50% it got so repetitive. I believe this was an attempt at Grey's Anatomy style romcom but I forgot that I hate Grey's Anatomy so that's on me.
I thought I'd like Sam more as I am also a snarky and defensive brat, but at this point we both need therapy girlypop.

"Sparks fly when an ob-gyn butts heads with a doctor at her new hospital in this delightfully charming romance about bad timing, good friends, and fresh starts."

A romance book set in the medical field with diverse characters and a plot outside of the inevitable falling-in-love of the main MCs. The plot does revolve around Sam's (our MC) goal of building a community program while balancing being a new doctor. I can see how this may put people off as it is not the most interesting subject (to me at least lol), but I had a good time. Overall, it's light and cheesy with good banter and GREAT side characters.

I recommend it if you're looking for a light, romance read! :)

Thank you to Netgalley and Montlake for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review

Anatomy of a Meet Cute by Addie Woolridge is a delightful and charming romantic comedy that will leave you with a warm and fuzzy feeling in your heart. The book follows the story of Alexis Carlisle, a hopeless romantic who runs a podcast dedicated to dissecting and analyzing romantic comedy movies. When she meets the charming and charismatic Noah, she is convinced that he is the perfect meet-cute that she has been waiting for.

Woolridge's writing is witty, engaging, and full of heart, and she has a talent for creating relatable and lovable characters that you can't help but root for.

As an avid viewer of Grey’s Anatomy, this was the perfect read for me. I loved the humour, the start of the book really had me laughing to myself and I felt the connection growing between Sam and Grant. The only thing missing for me was a final chapter or an epilogue to really round up the story!

3,5 stars

After reading some books about serious topics, I decided I need to pick up a cute little romance. I settled on this one because I still had the e-arc of it and the title was cute. Again I didn‘t know anything before reading, which to me is then best way to start a book.
The writing was fine, didn‘t like the third person perspective, would‘ve liked it more in the first person of Sam but at the end it didn‘t bother me to much. The story was the perfect inbetween read when you need something light and easy between books with heavier topics. I actually liked Sam as the main character a lot. The romance as cute, nothing special but a cute read anyway. It wasn‘t the best romance novel out there since I actually like a little more depth to the characters but like I said before it‘s a book that might not need it that much. I enjoyed reading it and am glad that I picked it up.

Description:

The last thing I ever expected was to insult a colleague before I even started a new job.
But here I am, already on thin ice after I mistook a fellow doctor for a patient on a bad drug trip. Oops.
No matter how handsome or infuriatingly aloof he is, Grant Gao isn’t going to spoil my fresh start. Instead, I’m going to keep myself (maybe too) busy with my roommates, work, and passion: starting a new program to improve pregnancy care in the community.
But getting the hospital bigwigs on board with my idea is proving to be more difficult than I anticipated, and I may be forced to swallow my pride and ask Grant for help.
But will working with Grant bring us closer, or will I be crushed under my ever-growing list of responsibilities?

Anatomy of a Meet Cute by Addie Woolridge is not what I expected. I was thinking this would be a romantic comedy but the romance was reduced to a chapter. I would NOT market it at a romance which it was. I was disappointed and wanted to quit reading but after half way through it waiting for something to happen, it just didn't. I did finish the book and overall it was just ok. I always try to keep an open mind about a book as it might change and this is why I finished it. While this was not for me, it may be a good read for someone else.

A chanced Meet Cute between two doctors attending to a medical emergency on a flight

Sam is a new OB/GYN fellow just starting at a public SF hospital. On her first day she realizes the doctor she met on the plane, happens to also work in the same program as her and she is going to be seeing him more than she would like. Grant is a senior OB/GYN fellow who just wants to focus on his research and do his job well. When Sam gets the idea to start a community clinic in partnership with local dulas in order to better serve her patients, and needs an advisor she sees Grant as her only option. She gets Grant to agree, and begins taking on far more than she should onto her workload. Their professional partnership may turn into more are they spend time and open up to each other.

I loved the side characters so much. The friendships in this book was a strong point and something to aspire to. The way Grant pretty much was trying to woo Sam from the start while Sam was prickly for most of the book refusing to give into her feelings. Sams lack of self awareness and need to please got very frustrating. The complicated family relationships she had added a lot of depth to the story and was a nice balance to the healthy friendships.

Maybe this book caught me at the wrong time, maybe this book and I just weren't meant to be.

I did finish the book, but when it comes to my reviews and books in the romance sphere - I generally think "ok, if this gets an emotional reaction out of me" then it's a 5 star book. And this one just didn't; ok, it did, but the emotional response was mostly frustration? I think I'm somewhere in between the other reviewers. I understood aspects of Sam, but others left me frustrated and shaking my head. Much like you'd respond to a friend that you love, but don't understand why they're doing whatever it is they're doing.

All of that to say, I did love Sam's friends and liked how the book wrapped up.

It did take me a bit to get into it, but like I said, that could have just been what was going on in my life when I started it! Would still recommend this to anyone needing a dose of Grey's in their life.

Thanks to NetGalley/Montlake/the author for the ARC!

The title of the book is what intrigued me.

I am happy to say, I was not disappointed. I love a good romcom and the fact that it gave grey anatomy vibes was amazing.

I could not stop the swooning I was feeling between Sam and Grant. I loved the writing style. This is not my first book by this author and each time she really brings it all!

Thank you to the author, Montlake and NetGalley, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a quick, fun read, with a bit more depth than I was expecting and a bit less romance than I had hoped for. The female protagonist is a driven young woman who has learned thus far in life that she must absolutely be everything to/for everyone - a lesson that she has help unlearning in the course of this book. Until she finally gets there, her personality is not all that attractive, she comes across as very defensive and combative. I loved the emphasis on friendship and the way her roommates were woven into the story, and the medical aspect was well-done, showing the conflict between care needed and finances missing to provide that care. I wish the male protagonist had been given a bit more space - and the romance aspect was not so suppressed. According to the female protagonist, the problem is, he is too smart and handsome. WtH? I did love the way the story developed to show that it's okay to ask for help, or accept it when it's offered, and that setting boundaries is a positive thing.

Thank you, Montlake, for the advance reading copy.

I expected so much from the blurb I guess. It felt like I was going to read about an intense enemies to lovers kind of romance. However, it turned out to be a rather cool and calm read.

I wanted much more from the writing, the interaction between the main characters and some chemistry to keep me interested.

It was a slow read for me which I feel is what I prefer from such books if it is going to be a slow burn romance.

The story feels familiar and I really wanted a lot more from the characters. It’s a me problem for expecting too much!

All’s well that ends well is what I would say for this read.

**Thank you to NetGalley, Addie Woolridge, and Montlake publishing for allowing me to receive an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!!** This book was so fun! I will admit there were a few parts where I could see the foreshadowing and got worried. It ended up being a very enjoyable read. I also really loved how mature all of the characters were. They all had their own lives but at the same time they were cognizant of the impact that their actions had on others. I really enjoyed the open communication that occurred throughout the book. There were a few scenes where I was just grinning because the scenes were SO cute. I really enjoyed this book and I think others will really like it. I especially enjoyed that there was a focus on the ways that Sam was trying to help her patients. It really made the characters feel more real.

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
SPICE: 🔥🔥.5

I don't think I can recall a book that pulled me in only to make me want to pull my hair and then make me fall in love with the main characters again.

But let's backtrack to what's going on: Sam Holbrook just entered a medical research fellowship in San Francisco much to her mother's chagrin. On a flight to her job, she gets asked to help out with a medical emergency only to confuse Grant Gao being the patient.

Turns out the cocky handsome guy was more doctor than patient, and it also turns out that he is a senior fellow at the same facilities. They have a fun adversarial relationship filled with snarky banter and unresolved tension.

When Sam is inspired to start a birthing center program, she recruits Grant to help her. Will their close proximity inspire more banter or something more?

Sam and Grant's meet-cute was absolute gold. I love their instant chemistry, and the circumstances were hilarious. Their interactions from there on continue to build tension.

What had me pulling my hair was Sam's choices in the middle of the book surrounding the program, her family, and her friends. Not only were the decisions frustrating, but they also dominated the story and took away from the main characters' relationship. This threw off pacing a bit in the middle, too.

Thankfully, the author circles back and tries to tie up loose ends nicely in this standalone read.

** I am voluntarily reviewing an advance copy of this book. Thank you to Addie Woolridge, Montlake, and NetGalley for providing an ARC. **

This one was not what I was expecting. I went in blind to this one but was expecting a hospital themed romcom. 63% into the book, and not a single romance aspect had occurred. I realized too late that this was mostly a fiction story with a sprinkle of romance. The romance is also one chapter and closed door, so not much to write about. If you want a romance, this is not it.

The storyline is following Dr. Samantha Hollbroke on her first months as a resident where she establishes a complimentary birthing center alongside area doulas to help better educate the community and those most vulnerable in the community. It was a story that includes a diverse group of people (black, Asian, trans) and did a great job of using inclusive language and terms.

For me, I felt like the story dragged on with very little happening. A large chunk of the first half of the book was around Sam playing pick up basketball on a hospital league. Unless you’re familiar with basketball, it was kind of boring.

The romance aspect with Dr. Grant Gao started in the first chapter where they’re both on the same plane as a passenger experiencing a bad trip on mushrooms and Sam immediately thinks he’s sexy but rude. Cut to day one of orientations and Dr. Gao is her senior attending. From there, it’s chance meetings at the previously mentioned basketball game, to Sam playing Grant in a basketball game to her her advisor for her doula program. They seemed to have good banter but they lacked chemistry. I wasn’t even sure they had feelings for each other until after the 63% mark!!! It’s like 70% in they have their first kiss at a park!

So much of the story was really around Sam learning to navigate life as a doctor, her interactions with her roommates, and the conflict with Sam’s mother over a reunion party. Overall, the side characters stole the show, Duke and Jehan. Let’s see their story (let them fall in love and be a true romance book!)

Thank you Netgalley and Montlake for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.