When Grace Rose arrives to begin her first year of residency as an OB-GYN resident, she discovers that a rumor that she slept her way into the program is circulating. Grace sets the record straight by putting on her devil-red lipstick and putting her rude - and frustratingly handsome - co-resident, Julian Santini, in his place. However, no amount of studiousness restores her reputation, which is ironic since she hasn’t had a relationship since her ex broke her heart in med school.
Julian is exhausted from years of studying, but he is determined to prove he deserves the residency position he narrowly landed. However, he finds himself preoccupied by Grace, whom he unintentionally offended on day one. Stuck together as residents, Grace and Julian begrudgingly set aside their mutual hatred to focus on training, and as their attraction grows, the cracks in the thin ice between love and hate start to appear.
I must admit that I struggled with the misogynistic atmosphere in this book. Grace does her best to overcome the innuendos and horrid comments about her, which I found commendable. Julian is definitely misunderstood by Grace at the start, but he redeems himself and is so sweet. There are plenty of witty exchanges between them as they endeavor to work together. Even though she had experienced terrible sexism, I did find Grace’s insecurities a bit of a challenge when it came to Julian and their relationship. A good read overall.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Saying that this is a crossover between Grey's Anatomy and The Hating Game is a disservice to Love Sick because I enjoyed this way more than the latter. I was obsessed with this book, so much so that I read it in a day. I'm not usually a fan of workplace romance, as I tend to find the reasons for the feud to be ridiculous but you could actually feel the tension between the main characters and couldn't help but root for them to be together. This was a solid debut and I'm looking forward to reading more by Deidra Duncan.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
ARC Review

This book was complex and slightly frustrating at times, but only due to the fact it was a SLOW BURN, and I mean SLOWWWWWW.
But it was well worth it in the end! We meet Grace and Julian, who start of as enemies to lovers but morph into something beautiful. This book covers their 4 years in residency and their journey together.

This was a bit nerdy (YES), very heavy on the medical references, which I personally didn't mind and romantic!

A big thank you to Netgalley and Quercus Books for the gifted copy!

This was a fun read! I did really enjoy reading about Grace and Julian's story and I loved their chemistry and banter! While the buildup to their Romance was slow It was very enjoyable to read about their day to day lives! It was lovely to see them help eachother and slowly start to open up to eachother. Im really glad they got their happy ending too❤️ all in all a really cute enemies to lovers romance! Thank you to Deidra and Netgalley for providing me with this ARC In exchange for my honest review.

Love Sick is the debut novel from Deidra Duncan. Set in two Texan teaching hospitals, it follows residents Grace and Julian from enemies to friends to lovers.

The first year of residency is hard, so when a rumour starts that intern Grace slept her way into the program, she’s determined to set the record straight. But after confronting fellow first year Julian, the situation goes from bad to worse. Julian worked hard to get onto this program, and he can’t afford to get distracted. Especially by his beautiful colleague; who seems to hate everything about him. With pressure mounting, they need to work together to survive the program. Can Grace and Julian put aside their rivalry to save their jobs? Or will the sizzling tension between them spell the end for them both?

This was a really enjoyable read, and yet was also difficult in its own way. This, however, isn’t a criticism of it. It was difficult because of the toxic culture within the departments that Grace found herself in and the ways that gossip and rumour were so incredibly poisonous and harmful. I won’t spoil the story but the unfair treatment of Grace was so hard to read, especially given just how much it affected her; and once we found out who could have put a stop to it earlier on, honestly I was devastated for her. It was hard to read about the impact of the nasty gossip so often, but I will say I appreciated how things began to turn around.

The enemies to friends to lovers between Grace and Julian worked so well and I loved that the development of their relationship was very gradual and organic. Their HEA is quite literally years in the making. Julian was such a good egg, despite their rocky first meeting and man did he have it bad for Grace. I enjoyed their banter, developing chemistry and especially their funny texts to show how they were thinking of one another. I didn’t love the third act break, it was too painful and unnecessary in how much hurt it caused them. That said I was glad when Grace finally felt she could be totally honest, but also sad for her for what she’d been through.

If you like enemies to lovers and a medical setting this is one you’ll not want to miss. Though if you’re sensitive to portrayals of misogynistic behaviour go careful with it too.

Genre: Contemporary Romance | Medical Drama

Rating: ★★★☆☆ (2.5, rounded up)

Grey’s Anatomy Vibes, But the Romance Flatlined a Bit for Me

Love Sick is the debut novel from Deirdre Duncan, and it takes readers into the high-pressure, emotionally charged world of a Texas hospital’s OB-GYN residency program—cue the scrubs, the stethoscopes, and the slow-burn chaos of lives lived on no sleep.

We follow Julian, a first-year intern who’s still slightly baffled by how he made it into such a competitive program. Youngest of five, only boy, and, we’re told, someone with a healthy respect for women.

Except… based on how the story unfolds, I didn’t entirely buy into that claim. When a rumour surfaces that one of the female interns might have slept her way into the program, Julian is miffed—not because it’s a woman, he insists, but because it undermines his hard-earned spot. The rumour turns out to be about Grace Rose (real name Sapphire Rose—yes, really), who most definitely did not sleep her way into anything and is understandably furious that anyone would think she did. Especially Julian.

Not the Cutest Meet-Cute

The dynamic between Julian and Grace is tense from the beginning despite their obvious attraction, and while they’re eventually forced to work together, their relationship unfolds more from proximity than chemistry. The banter didn’t quite land for me—it felt a bit forced, and I struggled to connect emotionally with either character.

What Did Work:

The medical setting felt authentic, and the story does a great job capturing the intensity and camaraderie of hospital life.

The friendships among the interns were a standout—those dynamics felt genuine, and I wish there had been even more focus on that side of things.


What Didn’t Quite Work:

The central romance didn’t fully convince me. Julian and Grace both felt a little underdeveloped, and their connection lacked the spark I was hoping for.

The third-act conflict felt more frustrating than poignant—a bit of a head-shaker rather than a heartbreaker.

I wanted more growth from both characters, especially given the years-long timeline.


Final Thoughts:

This had all the ingredients for a compelling, character-driven medical romance, but the emotional payoff just wasn’t there for me. That said, it’s a solid debut effort with promise, and fans of Grey’s Anatomy or Scrubs might find a lot to enjoy—especially the ensemble energy and hospital backdrop.


Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

This was such a fun read and one that I enjoyed. I never watched grey anatomy but I really got that vibe from these books.
I really appreciate the glossary at the start for the terms. This working environment feels toxic… I won’t lie
Anyway!!! The romance!!! The back and forth , the witry banter.
Men in this book… made me want to throw a chair but I’m glad the sexist comments were addressed!!!

Overall a great read

3.5 stars rounded up to 4!

I enjoyed this overall! I really liked the MCs and I was completely rooting for them throughout. The banter was super fun and I loved that it took place over a longer time period (I am not an instalove fan). It was also nice to see some adhd and anxiety rep (however I think we could’ve broadened out the adhd experiences beyond being distractible as it was a bit lazy).

I did find Grace frustrating at times and a bit of a contradiction which is one of the big reasons for this not rating higher for me.

Definitely worth picking up if it sounds appeal or if you have an interest in the medical field! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

This was a rollercoaster of emotions all packed into several hundred pages of book. This looks at misogyny, sexualisation of women notably in medicine and the power dynamics that come with that, Grace and Julian start off hating each other, judging each other coming to their medical training with their past bruises, baggage and pains. The book made me smile at the pure romance, but also cry at how people and situations can hurt others and how gossip really can ruin lives. Friendships are put under the microscope both in the positives as well as feeling let down.

Greys anatomy is one of my favourite shows so when I saw that this has Greys meets The Hating Game vibes I had to read it. Let me tell you, this romcom delivered! I could not get enough. Absolute perfection!

I love a slow burn, enemies to lovers romance. In this book you could practically feel the tension and chemistry between them, and the banter was hilarious!

I instantly fell in love with these characters. Told in dual POV, you get an insight in to their thoughts and I loved the inner voice shown for each, sometimes arguing in their head. Grace with her anxiety when her thoughts spiralled really hit home. It was great to have accurate representation of that. Especially seeing how she is perceived by others when she is struggling socially.

It delves in to the cruel truth of bullying within the workplace (especially the medical field), highlighting how rumours can destroy a woman's reputation and how people will treat you differently even without any shred of proof. This was heartbreaking to read and I wanted to climb in the book to defend her.

The side characters were well developed and I would definitely be snatching up a book if it was written about one of them, especially Asher 👀.

Thank you to Quercus Books for this NetGalley ARC

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Love Sick is a great debut. The author writes about this medical setting in an easy way to follow for people like me who are not in that world. I thought that the beginning was a bit slow, however it picked up and stayed solid all through the rest.
I loved both Grace and Julian, they both had their flaws. I think that Julian could have stood up more for Grace at times, and I think that Grace should have trusted Julian more. That being said, circumstances justified their behaviors, so it was not difficult for me to root for them. Their story was at times angsty too, which I absolutely love!
Love Sick deals with misogyny in the workplace, and how it affects women. This is always frustrating and not easy to read about, and absolutely awful that it happens in today's world.
If you love medical dramas, this will be a fun one to read about.
Although the Starbucks and Gal Gadot references made me want to barf (pls let's stop doing that), I quite enjoyed this story, and would love to see what the author writes about next.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Unfortunately dnfed at 5% because the mmc is a fun is a Gyno. As the recent things that have happened ( with male gynos being responsible for SA against women during their checkups . I cannot read this .

Also the very fact the guys in this book were being misogynistic towards the fmc at the start is not it.

Im sorry but this is not for me

When rumours have started before you even begin your medical residency, based on nothing but your name. It's hard to let barrier's down especially when you bring baggage from a previous relationship.
Grace goes by her middle name and hears the rumours at the first social gathering of her colleagues. Calling out the rumour and leaving she is stopped by Julian. Apologies don't cut it and they are antoginistic towards each other.
Can romance and love triumph in the four years of residency?
A story that will make you hopeful that the future can be better than the past.

I thoroughly enjoyed hanging out with Julian, Grace, and their "group therapy" friend group, see them master the challenges of their first years of residency and fall in love with each other despite misconceptions and past relationship traumas. With great insights into medical residency, a slow-burn rivals-to-lovers arc, plenty of banter between the protagonists and a good mix of spice, drama and humour, LOVE SICK is the perfect read for fans of Grey's Anatomy, The Hating Game and Ali Hazelwood's STEMinist romcoms.

Call me biased (I’m a medical student and a hopeless romantic) but a medical romance (especially one written by a medical doctor) will never not hit!



Sapphire Grace Rose, a first-year resident, starts off her first year as the victim of the hospital rumor mill. And it’s not just an insignificant rumor. No. People are saying she has slept her way into the program. This leads to some inappropriate but also frosty first encounters. Julian Santini , a first-year resident like Grace, falls into the latter category. Over the months of working in the hospital their banter grows but weirdly, so does their attraction…

I had such a fun time reading this book! The banter between Grace and Julian was very enjoyable to read, it was humorous and witty but the book had so much depth as well. We have two residents who start out in the hospital, a time where insecurities are at an all time high. The book really encompasses the stress, anxiety and sleepless nights that come with a medical career while also showing the heart and hard work that goes into it. It also highlights how women still have to deal with misogyny. My heart broke for Grace.



Between showing the issues and injustice that women in health care experience, the author manages to write a very cute and witty romance. Julian and Grace’s banter but also the silent love and attention they pay each other throughout the book was a delight to read. Their love develops slowly but steadily, I found the pacing just right.

 Truly a beautiful debut novel!

Thank you to Quercus and NetGalley for an earc in exchange for an honest review!

I’ve loved Grace and Julian so much!! It was a lovely story (although infuriating - all too realistic unfortunately, but very well written) and I enjoyed it a lot. I found Grace very easy to relate to and I very quickly wanted the best for her, and it was so good to see Julian being so protective of her. He respected her need to take things slow, letting her set the speed of their relationship and following her lead. He was gentle with her and give her all the time she needs to trust him.

After terrible terrible first impressions, Grace and Julian begin their medical internship at loggerheads, but as they spend more time together and their undeniable attraction grows, past and present traumas threaten to tear them apart. This was a slow-burn, enemies to lovers romance that was difficult to put down. The dual POV romance between Grace and Julian was sweet and often achingly romantic as they broke down their barriers and got to know each other outside of first impressions and public perception. Some heavy topics are explored and at times I felt a little frustrated with the dramatic arc or character choices, but on the whole their actions felt convincing within their narrative experiences. Overall, the intimate glimpses into understanding a person wholly, and the journey of healing to find self-love, as well as romantic love and trust, made this a heartwarming and worthwhile read.

I enjoyed most of this novel but was ever so slightly uncomfortable with 27 years olds behaving a bit like school children when it came to being mean to each other in dating, I am not sure this is a positive way to role model and thank goodness for the fact something seemed to be hinted at about work placed harassment/ bullying in the latter pages! That said, if you can switch off the niggles, the dual narrative worked well and I was engaged throughout. I’d give 4 starts but for my slightly uncomfortable feeling, and I know this was the point but I’m not sure it was all hitting the mark. Maybe I need to give it a second read because there were times the author really tried to show the male lead as feminist and those times did work.

I thoroughly enjoyed Deidra Duncan’s novel *Love Sick* and thought it had the perfect balance of tension, romance, humour, and seriousness. *Love Sick* tells the story of four newly appointed resident doctors, with the majority of the story focusing on characters Grace and Julian. The story follows the residents from the beginning of their first year all the way through to the end of their fourth year. As a reader, I really enjoyed following them on this journey and watching not only their personal growth but also the relationships that developed between them.

From the beginning of her residency, Grace faces incredibly harsh and untrue rumours that she got her place in the program by sleeping with her superiors. From the moment she steps foot in the hospital, her life becomes increasingly difficult as she is left trying to defend and save her reputation. The author writes about this issue incredibly well and, through her writing, portrays how unfairly women can be treated—not only in the medical field but in all areas of life.

The banter and communication between the resident doctors were wonderful. It was so wholesome to watch them form such a tight connection with each other and find their own sense of family within their group. Although Julian and Grace hit it off on the wrong foot, the playful banter between the two of them is entertaining to read about. It sets them up for the well-loved ‘enemies to lovers’ trope, and the novel becomes very exciting when they begin to develop feelings for each other. The tension, yet attraction, between them is very evident, and as the novel progresses, it is beautiful to watch them work through it.

Julian was a very likeable character. Raised with four sisters, he has been brought up with great morals and has his head screwed on straight. One thing I really liked about Julian was that he was a struggling resident doctor. He found studying hard, struggled to pay attention, and often felt like he wasn’t as smart as his fellow residents. I thought the author did a fantastic job creating Julian’s character, as it made the story feel more diverse and realistic. He didn’t follow the typical “I’m a doctor, so I must be a genius” trope, which I thought was brilliant. What he lacked in the classroom, Julian made up for with his natural surgical skills. The female main character, Grace, was also very likeable. She was quiet, studious, and desperate to keep her name out of the rumours that circulated the hospital.

As a lover of all things medical, I was beyond excited to read a novel set in the medical field. As mentioned above, this book follows the lives of four junior resident doctors working in the OB/GYN specialty. The author has done a fabulous job of writing a medical-themed novel and has described all aspects of hospital life in meticulous detail. Upon finishing the book, I learned that the author is actually a board-certified OB/GYN herself, which makes a lot of sense in explaining how she produced such a realistic novel. I would 100% recommend this book to fans of *Grey's Anatomy*, *Chicago Med*, *The Good Doctor*, and other similar medical dramas.

This is a book that I would 100% recommend to my followers. Readers who are fans of the following tropes will love this read: enemies to lovers, workplace romance, and "he falls first." Readers who also have a special interest in medical dramas will love this book, as it is written by a doctor about doctors working as OB/GYNs. It is very realistic and accurate and will be appreciated by many readers.

Thank you to NetGallery, the author Deidra Duncan and Quercus for gifting me a copy of this book. Check out @brydzandherbooks for more bookish content and reviews.

A great romance set around a medical background. Great characters which kept me turning the pages from start to finish.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review.