A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing and Canary Street Press for the ARC! I started this book like a fool at 10 p.m. I found myself looking at my phone and realizing it was 1 a.m. Then I forced myself to sleep, woke up, and read while brushing my teeth. I couldn’t stop. I had to finish. This book was just that good. I lost sleep and ignored my family to finish it.

If you ever liked ER, Grey’s Anatomy, or The Pitt then you will love this book. (Sapphire) Grace is starting her residency in a Texas hospital only to find that a rumor has already begun about her sleeping her way to the spot. So begins a rage-inducing story of a woman in a man’s field trying to prove herself over and over again while fighting some seriously disgusting accusations and gossip. Julian is also starting his residency but his only stigma is that he’s a DO and frankly, the tiniest violin in the world plays the smallest song for him and his drama. I’m team Grace and her anxiety and frustrations. I get why she is who she is. She makes some dumb mistakes but this girl has had some damage done to her and I loved how the author had me ready to fight for her. I wish there was an epilogue where her ex showed up at the hospital and they messed with him. I would be that petty.

I did love Julian though by the end as it started as fun rivals in the workplace to him being OBSESSED with her. I loved his stares. I really enjoyed this book. It flowed so well and I was constantly just hooked. The book is a dual POV and then breaks up into the years of their residency and the months. You had medical situations and their lives with their fellow residents who I also enjoyed. I hated so much about the toxic culture of the hospital and I realize after reading the acknowledgments that the author lived it herself. These are her stories. It was more impactful now.

There is spice but it wasn’t super descriptive. The heat was there however and it had me giggling. There are triggers with child loss, SA, abuse, and more. Not sure if it’s told beforehand but realize it’s a hospital drama with romance. It’s messy. Loved this book. Highly recommend

Thank you for Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC! All opinions are my own.

“Love Sick” tells the story of Grace and Julian, two OBGYN residents who meet under less than ideal circumstances. Grace is dealing with rumors about how she got into the program, and with Julian initially believing the rumors, they don’t get off in the right foot. But as time goes on and truth comes out, can their relationship blossom into something more?

Overall this was an enjoyable read! I’ve always loved a good medical drama on TV, and this really lived up to that aspect! Being a woman in medicine unfortunately still brings on so many hardships, and I loved how the author showcased these struggles and how complicated it can be. The camaraderie between the interns in the first part of the book was really reminiscent of the early seasons of Grey’s Anatomy!

While I did love the medical side of the story, I’m still not sure how I feel about the romance. Julian and Grace definitely had chemistry on a physical level, but the progress from rivals/enemies to lovers felt like it needed to be fleshed out more or paced better. It felt like one second they despised each other and then the next they were ready to say I love you!

If you love medical dramas and found family, I’d definitely give this debut a try!

If you enjoy Greys Anatomy (earlier season especially) then this is 100% for you.

Heavy on themes of abuse and gossip and how women are treated in professional setting compared to men, but it’s written so well and so beautifully. Julian and Grace are so cute together, and honestly, I love a feminist king. Julian was so down bad for Grace, it was amazing. From enemies to friends to lovers, the banter was 100%.

Alesha was a fake friend for sure, and I personally think she shouldn’t have been forgiven. She allowed slanderous rumors about her friends to spread and just shrugged it off, knowing they were actually about her. I think we’ve all had a friend or coworker like that, right?

My only critique is that Julian continued to call her Sapphire even though she kept saying her preferred name was Grace. I get why, but it bugged me in the back of my head a bit.

4.5 ⭐️ rounded to 5!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This was cute, but not amazing. I didn't really feel the chemistry between any of the characters, especially the main characters. It was kinda predictable, too.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers and the author for the e-ARC in exchange for honest review.

4.5 stars rounded up!

This book was so adorable and I loved it! Written by a physician based loosely off her residency experiences with a love story added in! As a physician myself, the flashbacks to residency made me so glad not to have to live through that again!

Our 2 leads both start as OB-GYN interns at a Texas hospital. Grace, whose real first name is Sapphire, has a history of a bad break-up and being gas-lit by her ex. Julian, is a DO with history of untreated ADHD who has a complex of feeling like he's not good enough since he went to DO school. (Spoiler to any DOs reading this, this MD thinks DOs are brilliant and my mentor from my Peds residency was a DO! Please never look down upon yourself!)

They meet at an intern welcome event where a rumor is going around that one of the interns slept their way to a spot in the program. The rumor mill spreads and everyone assumes it's Grace. Julian and Grace absolutely despise each other initially and were both kind of jerks to each other. But, they eventually calm on their dislike for one another and become friends and eventually fall in love.

Of course, the rumors continue to fly and get more outlandish everytime. Grace eventually feels that Julian will never want to be with her because she'll drag his reputation down. Thankfully, they overcome this and get their happily ever after but not without working through some issues!

Absolutely loved the accurate portrayal of residency, the flirty banter between the FMC and MMC, their cute texts, the medical examples used, the ending!

The only reason I knocked off half a star was that they were ridiculously rude to one another in the beginning, which I don't think would fly in residency. They'd have been pulled in and had to at least be civil to one another.

Overall, an amazing medical love story and I look forward to reading more from this author!!

Love Sick is a romance that follows Grace and Julian, as well as their fellow residents, throughout their residency. The setting of this really worked for me. I don't typically gravitate toward medical dramas, but it was the perfect choice for this author. She wrote what she knew, and it made the story feel much more real. The writing style is simple, which actually worked for the story. The melodramatic metaphors were what felt out of place. Julian is an especially dramatic character, and he did bother me at times (king of "i have a mom and sisters" feminism.) His dialect also seemed strange and almost stan twitter esque at times. Still, his love for Grace was pretty redeeming and these were just minor offenses overall. Grace's character really carried this story for me. She was a complex but understandable character and I really enjoyed reading from her point of view. The chemistry between Grace and Julian was great, and I was rooting for them by the end even if their initial rivalry felt juvenile at times (again, especially on Julian's end.) I also really enjoyed the dynamic between the main characters and the other residents, especially their "Group Therapy" scenes. This book kind of felt like watching a Hulu original (complimentary) and was an overall binge worthy read and impressive debut. 3.5 ⭐️

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review***

Vibes:
➤ Hospital Romance
➤ Comedy
➤ OBGYN MCs
➤ Dual POV

Recommended For:
Anyone who loves a hospital setting with sitcom type humor, a slow burning romance and a super brainy FMC.

Thoughts:
What I enjoyed most about this debut novel was the knowledge that this was written by a practicing OBGYN. Although I know the people and situations were all made up; it made me feel like I was getting a peek into the lives of those working in L&D.

Duncan also had such great one-liners. There are a few that made me laugh out loud. Again, her being a practicing physician makes me feel like these are lines she’s used in real life.

However, there were a lot of things that I really thought should have been addressed as potential trigger warnings, and maybe the final copy will include these. I also feel like maybe some of them may have been mishandled? I'm not sure. This entire book left me with complicated thoughts. I enjoyed it at face value and some of the humor was great, as was the peek into the world of L&D. However tackling topics such as women's health, misogyny, SA/coerced consent, among many other things may not have been appropriate in a lighthearted romcom.

Trigger Warnings: This book deals with the highs and lows of women’s health. While some of these topics are discussed in a casual manner that might be normal to medical professionals, some of the topics could be upsetting to some, protect your mental health!

This was really cute!! Definitely a classically good rom com with lovable characters and a good pace.

I've just had a few cringe moments and I'm 50 pages in. The male main character seems very insecure but also not kind somehow? Maybe I'm not the target audience, but thank you for the opportunity to read this early!

You should read this book if...you love Grey’s Anatomy, witty banter, and a delicious slow burn!

Genre: Contemporary Romance

POV: First Person, Dual POV

Tropes: Forced Proximity, Third Act Breakup, Enemies to Lovers

Favorite Quote: Before you, everything was just…quiet. Then you came along and suddenly there was music.”

Synopsis: First year of residency is hard, and Grace Rose, a brilliant new OB-GYN resident, starts off in the worst possible way. Her anxiety is on high alert after she discovers a rumor that she slept her way into the program (spoiler alert: she absolutely did not).

She sets the record straight by putting her rude (and insanely hot) co-resident, Julian Santini, in his place. But, as per usual, rumours take on a life of their own, nothing she can do can course-correct her reputation. To make the rumors even more absurd, Grace hasn't been physical with anyone since her ex broke her heart years before.

Julian is determined to prove he deserves the residency position he narrowly landed. He just needs to concentrate. Of course, this feels almost impossible since he's preoccupied with the judgy girl grappling with an absurd rumour. And of course he offended her the first time they met.

Yeah, he put his foot in his mouth and made an initial judgment he shouldn't have. But he has no interest in participating in the hospital's frat house culture that continues to slut-shame and alienate Grace.

Forced to tolerate each other as residents, Grace and Julian begrudgingly set aside their mutual hatred to focus on training and studying, and as their attraction grows, the line between love and hate becomes even more blurred.

My Review: The very second I learned of this book’s existence, I knew I had to read it. I adore Grey’s anatomy, women in STEM, and an enemies to lovers romance. The premise of this book is right up my alley, and I am so happy to report that not only did it meet my expectations and hopes, it surpassed them!

I seriously cannot get over the banter in this book. I love smart women, especially when they can put men in their place, and I love a man that can match her energy. So, naturally, I was obsessed with Julian and Grace from the very beginning. Their romance developed in a very natural and believable way, which was nice to see. I love that they didn’t go from hating each other to being in love immediately. The push and pull of the slow burn was very enjoyable!

The way intimacy was discussed and portrayed in this book was refreshing. So many people struggle with intimacy after negative experiences with past partners, and seeing not only that representation, but also showing the couple working through that in this story was so important.

Aside from the romance component, I enjoyed the other parts of the plot as well. Getting to see what residency is like (and I believe every second of it considering the author is a literal doctor) was really interesting. I also like that this story really shows how misogynistic the world (and certain professions) can really be. Highlighting how much women are shamed and put down is so important. I love that Julian (and Asher aka my favorite secondary character) not only acknowledged that but also actively fought against it.

I don’t think I can say enough wonderful things about this book. I can’t wait to see what else Deidra Duncan writes!

I loved how real this book was. Love Sick covers the main characters obgyn first and second residency years. Because the author is a board certified obgyn, it is very detailed and FEELS like a greys anatomy season. It addresses the rampant sexism and rumors that take flight in a hospital ruining careers left and right. On top of the residency journey plot, the two main characters come together through unlikely channels after absolutely ‘hating’ each other because of a lofty meet-cute misunderstanding. Being misfits in their fields (sort of), Grace and Julien work together to improve their weaknesses. Over time, they grow to realize how much they adore each other, but that rumor mill and Grace’s past loom over her, causing her to be very untrusting. That is alllll I can say without being spoiler-y, but you NEED to read it!!

I had an ALC & ARC and boy did the narrators deliver! They conveyed the emotions SO well. The little sniffles, crying, anger, joy, ALL of the emotions were spot on for both characters. Exactly what I look for in an audiobook production!

Thank you NetGalley, Canary Street Press, & Harlequin Audio for the gifted copies!

4.5 ⭐️
I loooved this book. I am such a sucker for he falls first and hardest.
When I tell you their banter is top tier 😮‍💨
I will forever be looking for my “saw this and thought of you” relationship that they have.
I wanted to think that the rumor aspect of this book was over the top and unrealistic but honestly… it’s spot on. And as someone with extreme sensitivity to what people think of her, I was able to understand Grace’s self protecting decisions even when they weren’t the right ones.
Julian was so patient and reassuring. A patient man and a healing woman are such a good combo. Absolutely cannot recommend this book enough once it releases!

Thank you to NetGalley, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts are my own and are in no way influenced by early access to this title.

It reads like an episode of Grey's Anatomy. I'm not sure if you'll take that as a positive or negative. Cause in my mind I saw Izzy and Alex.

This debut book by Deidra Duncan was a win for me. She's an OB-GYN and wrote a book about OB-GYN residents.

Grace and Julian were both very likable characters. Grace enters residency with false rumors circulating that never really let up. I felt all the emotions watching her battle her way through judgments and preconceived notions.

As a nurse most medical dramas are a turn off but I appreciated the realistic perspective offered by the author. This was a fun enemies to lovers with all the ups and downs (and ups).

Thank you to NetGalley and Canary Street Press for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Really enjoyed Love Sick!
Cute story about Julian and Grace, who despise each other upon first meet. Grace's real first name is Sapphire, and she walks into Residency finding out that there are rumors that she slept her way into the program. She has a very painful past which comes to light as her and Julian move from enemies to friends to something more.
Can their relationship survive Grace's past hurts?
Very cute, and lots of medical situations and terms, so if you work in the medical field, it's a great book to pick up. A little on the long side, at times I felt like the resolution was a little drug out, but overall kept my interest.

This was not on my radar until some friends raved about it. They were right! This gave such Grey’s Anatomy vibes. It was FUNNY and heartwarming. I loved this so much. Both narrators on audio were very engaging and told the story well.

Grace & Julian are both first year surgical interns at a hospital trying to navigate the ins and outs of their new environment. After a rude rumor about Grace spreads and she thinks Julian is behind it, the two start to hate each other with a burning passion. But there's a fine line between love & hate...

this was SO much fun! i loved every second. Julian & Grace's banter was delightful & so funny, the medical school aspect was so enjoyable and real, and the spice was SPICING. i felt so bad for Grace that everyone was judging her, but i was so impressed with her tenacity. Julian was so sweet & down badddd for this girl.

the audiobook was incredible & i felt so immersed in the story. the narrators crushed it!

"You are a prison I don't want to escape. You are drowning in paradise."

🌶️🌶️

thank you so much to Harlequin Trade Publishing, Harlequin Audio, NetGalley, & Deidra Duncan for an ARC & ALC of this book 🫶🏼🫶🏼

I rarely read medical based romance books and was really intrigued by this one. Overall it was a cute, quick read but I felt like the chemistry and the writing was not completely there. The medical aspects felt very real and I loved that the Author was an OBGYN. The banter between the main characters was cute but felt a bit rushed and clunky as it progressed. I would definitely consider reading another book by this author.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the chance to read Love Sick!

Love Sick was a fun and heartwarming read for me. It follows Grace Rose, a first-year OB-GYN resident who's trying to survive the grueling hours, the toxic culture, and rumors about her reputation. I loved the chemistry between Grace and Julian. Their banter made me laugh out loud more than once, and their emotional connection developed in a really sweet, natural way. If anything pulled me out of the story at times, it was some of the side characters; the drama occasionally felt a bit childish. A few scenes also dragged a little in pacing, but overall, the strong core relationship between Grace and Julian kept me invested.

What really stuck with me was how Love Sick balanced humor and heart. Even after closing the book, I was still smiling, feeling like I'd just spent time with characters I genuinely liked (even when they made messy, very human mistakes). It’s the kind of story that reminds you love can sneak up on you when you least expect it, even in the most stressful, sleep-deprived moments of life.

I’d definitely recommend this to anyone who loves workplace romances, enemies-to-lovers tension, and stories with just the right blend of drama, humor, and heart. It's a quick and easy read.