Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to listen to this audiobook ARC for my honest opinion.

I liked this book, but not as much as I thought and I felt like it dragged.

I will pick this up though as a physical copy once it comes out or at least in e-book form.

Tucia has a medical degree but never actually went into practicing medicine because she was traumatized by an incident in the operating theatre. Working in a factory and flat broke, she’s ringing up more and more debt. Tucia is doing her best to support herself and her son who has special needs. Along comes Huey, and he makes her an offer she can’t refuse. Go on the road with him in a traveling medicine (snake oil) show. He will pay her well. Huey’s not much of an honest man. Actually he’s very uncaring, dishonest and a master of manipulation. Tucia learns a lot of things about herself as well as the others in the show. The people all owe a debt to the boss, Huey. Tucia gets to know the others and how they came to work at the show. Discovering her inner strength, she wants her rightful place in society. Don’t judge her because she’s a woman.

This is why i gave it 3 stars;
Lots of filler with lengthy character backstories. 97% of the story wanders along from town to town, eventually making it to Galveston. I longed for it to move a bit faster. It’s a long, 12 hour audiobook.

The narrator did a nice job bringing the characters’ nuances to light. She spoke very well and very clearly. I wouldn’t hesitate to listen to another story narrated by her.

Thank you NetGalley & Kensington

Thank you, RB Media and Net Galley, for the opportunity to listen to this book.
I think I have just read too many historical fiction books based on this topic or equivalent such as circuses, that most of it is predictable and not interesting to me.
I requested this book because women embarking on professions way before it was acceptable is most interesting to me.
Because of conflicting interest in the different topics, I do feel this is an average book. The writing is compelling and the narrator very acceptable. The characters were interesting but did not evoke emotion the same as something like Water for Elephants, where I sobbed. Maybe I have become too cynical.
But I can recommend this book those that enjoy historical fiction, women, and the cruelty to different abilities that was so commonplace

"The Medicine Woman of Galveston" by Amanda Skenandore is a historical fiction book set in 1900. It reads like a memoir.

Tucia Halversey is a single mother with a medically fragile son. I think he might have Down's syndrome, but that wasn't stated. She ends up joining a traveling medicine show. The unusual group of performers are like a family, and over time, they welcome her in. Huey, who runs the medicine show, is not a very nice person.

If you've curious about these traveling medicine shows or what life was like in 1900, check out this book. It was clearly well researched.

Characters - 5/5
Writing - 4/5
Plot - 3/5
Pacing - 4/5
Unputdownability - 3/5
Enjoyment - 3/5
Narration - 4/5 by Amanda Stribling
Cover - 4/5
Overall - 30/8 = 3 6/8 rounded up to 4 stars

Thank you to Netgalley, High Bridge Audio, and Amanda Skenandore for providing this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

"The Medicine Woman of Galveston" delves into the life of a 1900s woman doctor who, after a surgery mishap, finds herself working in a corset factory to support her handicapped child. When a snake oil salesman offers to settle her debts in exchange for joining his circuit as a psychic, she reluctantly agrees. The story follows her journey as she balances her role as a single mother with her newfound career, offering both medical advice and psychic readings. As the narrative unfolds, the protagonist finds herself in Galveston during a historic hurricane, where she must confront her past and prove her worth as a doctor once more. While the title may mislead with its emphasis on Galveston, the story's depth and richness make it a compelling read. NetGalley provided early access to the audiobook, and the narrator's skill in bringing each character to life adds an extra layer of immersion to the tale.

This was decent. A little slow for the story to develop and a lot of characters to keep track of as the book went along.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for access to this arc.

Tucia Hatherly never imagined back in medical school that she'd end up with no choice but to join a traveling medicine show in order to pay off her debts and support herself and her son, but that's exactly what happens. Along the way she faces a number of challenges including an abusive boss, ethical dilemmas (obviously), and a devastating hurricane. But she also finds friends and a potential romance, as well as unique ways to use her medical training.

This is like no historical fiction novel I've read before! Maybe a bit reminiscent of Where the Light Enters, if I had to draw a comparison. I love that the author included soooo many marginalized groups and differently abled people in this book. Tucia struggles with trichotillomania, something I dealt with as a child. I was so surprised by this. Her son Toby has Down syndrome, and he melts my heart. Obviously she meets many people who were labeled as "freaks" at the turn of the century because of their disabilities and backgrounds, and they are all portrayed here in such a compassionate light. The story itself is fast paced and riveting, especially near the end when the hurricane hits.

My hat is off to the audiobook narrator for voicing such a variety of characters so proficiently. I really enjoyed listening to her.

The synopsis of this novel implies that the medicine woman helps after a devastating storm. However, the storm doesn't happen until 80% through this storm so it's very misleading. It's a very slow book until that point and I disliked the main character

There was a lot to like! I enjoyed the backstory of each member of the troupe. I enjoyed the Trichotillomania rep (her hair pulling). The narration was engaging! The pacing was off which caused me to lose interest at some parts.

I enjoyed listening to this story narrated by Amanda Stribling. The narrator drew you into the story and brought you on the journey of Tucia and her son, Toby. Set in the late 1800s, this book tells the story of what women were up against when they wanted to be more than just a wife and mother. Tucia Hatherley went to school and became a doctor, but the men around her made that an almost impossible task. She had to find other work to take care of her son, Toby, but finding care for him was a challenge as he had Down's Syndrome. Then along comes Huey, a traveling medicine showman, who offers to take care of her debt but she must join his show and use her medical degree to give the show a doctor. Tucia became Huey's assistant and had to perform other parts of the traveling show much to her dismay. The other performers became her friends and helped to take care of Toby and give him some sense of family. When the show took a break in Galveston, 1900, it was hit by a devastating hurricane that took out most of the city. In the final fourth of the book, Tucia finally got the opportunity to use all of her training and medical knowledge to help the people of the city and her show family.
This book felt like two stories-Tucia and the traveling medicine show and Tucia and the hurricane. I find stories of women finding their passion, such as being a doctor, when the norms say otherwise empowering. I also liked that Toby was treated as just another boy by the traveling show family and another character, Fanny, with her gigantism, had her own story to tell in a positive way. The author has detailed notes at the end that describe the research and information that went into writing the book.
If you are looking for a good female-centered book told through a good narrator, I would recommend this one.

#NetGalley #TheMedicineWomanofGalveston
Thank you RB Media and Net Galley for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

Much slower than I am used to from Amanda Skenandore; this book is my least favorite of hers. That’s not to say it wasn’t good – there’s a lot of world building and character development = but it was difficult to get invested in the story when it moved as slowly as it did. It didn’t pick up until the very end and by that point I had given up liking anything about this story.

She is ahead of her times. A single mother who goes to medical school but cannot get through an internship. She continues to hit roadblocks while trying hard to take care of her special needs son. When things get very desperate a traveling medicine man gets her to come along with him to be able to use her license to add validity to the work he tries to seem to do. He is not a good person and has background information on every person who travels with him and he lords that information over their heads whenever someone wants to go elsewhere. As they travel to new towns it becomes very apparent that he will do anything to make the money he wants. When the travel to Galveston Texas to sit out the Winter, he tries to get her to do things that are not good for her. What happens next is a hurricane that tears up the city and gets her away from her past. A story of struggles for sure, but a story of resilience that made the story come to life. Thanks to #NetGalley for the ARC. Great narrator.

A beautifully written historical fiction account detailing the trials and joys of some of the first women doctors. We follow our freshly minted doctor through the south as she was forced to become part of a traveling “medicine” show which is really a traveling side show because she is unable to pay her debts. People just didn’t trust a woman doctor. The intricacies of this story are on point with rich character development. And the story comes to a head when they winter in Galveston, and that decision meets up with a horrible hurricane. This is where the decisions - both in medicine and life - culminate in a terrific storm. Thanks to NetGalley for the read. The narrator was an easy listen and really brought out the story.

I love the history and I didn’t even knew any of this happen. This author had this story well thought out and a must for historical fiction lovers!

Around 1900, a young woman doctor who had been mistreated by her teacher, has left the profession and struggles to provide for her special needs child at a menial job. The world was harsh for this unwed mother as she tried to survive. This reflects the treatment of women through the years, and gradually shows her personal struggles through the previous years. The story culminates with the infamous hurricane of Galveston.

Historical Fiction at it's best!
And, what a powerful book...
One minute you are laughing, the next you are crying, and the next you want to hit some people in the head!!
Tucia Hatherly is one of the first female doctors in the country.
We are in the late 1800's.
She graduated at the top of her class!
But, times were different back then. The male docs did not ACCEPT that women could in fact be doctors, and in fact, abused them...on many levels.
After one grueling experience in the OR and another at the hands of her mentor, she decides that she will never practice medicine again.
BUT...she has a young son...and he is disabled...and she needs to keep a roof over their heads and food in the home...
So she takes a job at a factory...but because her son is not well, she's been late a few times...

When all other options run out, she is approached by a man who says he can use her in his traveling medicine act. She's really unsure about this to say the least, but as she's running out of time and options, she goes with him...only to find out that he is NOT actually what she believed him to be.

As time goes on she does make friends and a life for herself...but it is not what she wants, and she does not see a way to escape.

Their travels bring them to Galveston Texas, just in time for the horrific hurricane of 1900. Tucie is presented with multiple impossible situations..and finally realizes that she CAN do whatever she puts her mind to!

Beautifully written, heart-wrenching story filled with love, life, family, friends that become family...and so much more!

4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 💫 for me!

Thanks to #NetGalley and #HighBridgeAudio for an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

#TheMedicineWomanOfGalveston by #AmandaSkenandore and narrated nicely by #AmandaStribling.

This was just released on 5/21/24. OH...and I LOVE the cover!!

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The Medicine Woman of Galveston by Amanda Skenadore follows Dr. Tucia Hatherley as she struggles to make her way after leaving medicine. It depicts the struggles a female physician would have faced in that time, and provides accurate descriptions of PTSD and Trichotillomania. Through the characters in the medicine show, the author also explores the impact of race, criminal status, and disability.

I really enjoyed the progression of Tucia's story, her growing self-confidence, and the reemergence of her love of medicine. It took me a little bit to get into the book, I don't think I was expecting so much of the book to be focused on her time in the medicine show, but once I adjusted my expectations I really enjoyed that portion of the story.

I was lucky enough to review this book in audio format and enjoyed Amanda Skenanore's depiction of the characters.

Thank you to Amanda Skenandore and HighBridge Audio for the ARC in exchange for an honest review of this book.

I really enjoyed this audiobook! This is historical fiction about a female doctor who can’t quite find her place. She decides to join a traveling sales trip that consisted of a snake oil salesman, “freaks” and others who are just getting by. She makes new friendships and finds her path in life. Just as things are going her way multiple things happen to put her to the test. A great read!

I am not normally a huge historical fiction fan but seeing Galveston in the title really got me interested. Unfortunately, only about the last 25% is actually in Galveston. The book is extremely slow paced for the majority and doesn't really pick up until the end. I kept waiting for something to wow me but it never really got there. I loved the relationship between all the performers and especially the love between Tucia and Darl. It was an interesting story but not really for me.

Thanks to Netgalley I was able to listen to and review the audiobook. I loved the bond that the "misfits" formed. The friendship that developed among the caravan, minus Huey, and how they found ways to support each other. It was interesting to hear how the people who worked these shows and the choices that lead them to that life. The story does touch on cruelty, abuse, sex, and hurtful words.