I didn't love the plot line of this one. Probably just me but it wasn't as enjoyable as I wanted it to be.

I really enjoyed this book, though it was not at all what I expected. Such a hard and unique look at a difficult time, especially for a woman physician. Tucia's journey was emotional and interesting though I wish we'd gotten more time IN Galveston dealing with the hurricane and its aftermath.

I love Amanda Skenedore’s stories and happy for a chance to review this.
I think what I was expecting was a bit of Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, if the truth be told. The story the author told is far and above a woman doctor on the frontier. Excellent historical fiction, very detailed and researched.
Tucia is one of the few women doctors in 1900 yet the misogyny of her peers at the medical school eventually leads her from tragedy to endless debt and no one she can rely on. When a chance to escape the spiral of despair arrives, she feels she has no choice but to take it, and the debt is paid. She joins a traveling medicine show, despite her misgivings, where she finds family and support. But there’s a dark side to this life, too, one that culminates when they are caught in the Great Galveston Hurricane.
Highly recommended historical fiction.

A great engaging historical fiction narrative about a a wonderful mother who offers medical assistance where she can in Galveston in the early 1900's. The story is good, following a female doctor and her son as she makes difficult choices in order to survive. Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for a chance to read and review this book in exchange for an honest review.

4⭐️
This wasn’t at all what I was expecting but I really enjoyed it. Tucia and her son are in a difficult situation and get swept into a traveling show that is full of interesting people with complicated pasts. The boss of the show is a terrible human who takes advantage of everyone just for monetary gain. The relationships within the story are lovely and moving. I enjoyed the atmospheric writing very much. Felt like I was there.

A Step Back In Time

I loved reading The Medicine Woman of Galveston. The author has made the story of a woman who bucked social acceptance in order to become one of the first woman doctors feel so authentic, right down to her trouble finding a job as a doctor. Concerned about childcare for her handicapped son and losing her job, Tucia was desperate. Meeting a man who offered to actually employ her as a doctor instead of the factory was a much-needed escape.

The way she tries to settle into her new role in the traveling medicine show is heartbreaking, shocking, and inspirational. It’s easy to root for her as she gets around her restrictions and resists giving in to the shady demands her “savior" puts on her. There's lovely moments as she makes friends with the others in the show, and a sweet romance is a bonus.

And that's only the beginning! There’s a lot of action and the suspense builds throughout. The Galveston hurricane of 1900 was a terrifying event even in non-fiction. The storm adds yet another dimension to the novel and makes it unforgettable!

As a little girl, I was taken to a traveling carnival with a “freak show." What I saw there was very similar to what Amanda Skenandore has described. Though the show I saw took place decades after the setting in Medicine Woman, the acts were still very like those in the book.

Thank you to author Amanda Skenandore, Kensington Books, and NetGalley for the free advance reader's copy of the book. I'm not under any obligation to them to give a favorable review but I will anyway: it’s a terrific read!

A gem and rich in historical detail. I was fascinated to read of the hurricane that hit Galveston. Tucia was resilient and proved herself.
Many thanks to Kensington and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Not enough medicine, not enough Galveston. As someone who had family who helped rebuild Galveston post hurricane, I was looking for a different kind of book. IMO, The title was misleading and so was the cover.

THE MEDICINE WOMAN OF GALVESTON
BY: AMANDA SKENANDORE

Amanda Skenandore has really outdone herself with this latest work of medical historical fiction with it's lush and richly narrative. The character development was outstanding with a plot that is imagined in part with its skeleton drawn from the annals of factual history. I had my expectations neutral and was happy that I didn't read the synopsis here on Good Reads or on Net Galley. I went into this story totally blind and am so happy I did so. This allowed me my own discovery of the plot which if I had read those blurbs, I'm certain they would have detracted from my own reading pleasure. It would have lessened the impact of unearthing the trajectory of not only my entertainment of this powerful tale, but how it's building crescendo of a very suspenseful ending which was so satisfying.

My reason for reading this was because I had already read, The Second Life of Mirielle West and The Nurse's Secret in that order. While I do have had another of this author's novels sitting unread on my Kindle called, The Undertaker's Assistant I can say with absolute certainty that this one called, The Medicine Woman of Galveston is my favorite of the two that I read. That is not to undermine the others this author has written because with time passed I more or less remember how I felt while I was reading them. I know it's not fair of me to pick a favorite book, just like it would make a hideous mother of me if I picked a favorite child. This one was so mind blowing and wonderful, perhaps going into it totally blind enhanced my reading experience. I'm not certain if in this case I should say this novel in my estimation of it has its reasons for being my favorite--I just feel it is for now.

I actually would have liked to know what part of the Nineteenth Century this took place before I got to the very end and read the great Author's Note. I had my guesses of approximation due to the main female protagonist Tucia's problems with discrimination she suffered at being a female physician by her male mentors. I knew that Elizabeth Blackwell was the first female physician in America in 1849. From the protagonist's trauma which in the very beginning takes place while she is called on to perform a hysterectomy on a woman in the operating theater with other newly graduates from Medical school observing. She had a cruel doctor who called on her to use her scalpel only to discover that the patient had a diseased inner anatomy which she nicks an artery and the patient dies. Her established male doctor overseeing this procedure causes her to keep hearing his insults and disparaging put downs continue to play an inner monologue in Tucia's head in stressful times throughout most of the novel. She goes on to have an unsettling and negative experience working in a Corset factory which gets her fired.

Tucia has borrowed a large sum of money which I would have liked to know the specific reason for her doing so. She is a single mother whose devotion and love to her son named Toby, with a disability he was born with to feed and keep a roof over his head keeps her determined to overcome the most dire situations. His future care taking gives her an extremely responsible goal to persevere even though her circumstances are dire. Toby is either seven or eight years old, with Tucia having no job prospects to be found and debt collectors leaning on her she makes a decision as a last resort. She reluctantly accepts a position with a traveling medicine show whose leader is a manipulative conman named Huey. Huey has more like a rag tag outfit of other marginalized people whose task it is to not only perform in a circus like environment, but to sell his bogus rattlesnake oil and another fake remedy to the counties they set up camp in to the small town inhabitants.

My biggest love of this novel was not only Tucia, but also the other performers whose character development is impeccable who were all kind and lovable. At first Tucia is promised free living quarters and three square meals per day by the charismatic Huey, with no other options it sounds like an answer to Tucia's prayers. Huey pays off Tucia's debt with the understanding that she'll earn $30.00 per week which will be deducted from Huey's newly aquired. Not wanting to end up jailed for her insurmountable debt of approximately between $600.00 and $700.00. Her real worry is that if she ends up being jailed or in the poorhouse that what it appeared to me to be her main reason for persevering, which is to keep Toby from ending up in an asylum. As much as I admire this novel at times its authenticity with the era was difficult to read about. If someone has a physical anomaly during that time period the physiological anomaly would cause them to be treated as less than. Just like racism still exists it was worse during the year 1900, when this novel takes place. It's not a unique sentiment, but learning about these medical shows was new to me. It reminded me of the circus.

Once Tucia who sees that her new living condition is in a broken down trailer with a boarded up window she has her first hint that Huey isn't trustworthy. In fact, at first Tucia and her son Toby feel as if her fellow performers are gossiping about them. She was once a top graduate of her Women's only Medical College and a success albeit male discrimination from her doctor who she was training under. She pulls out her hair so much that she has bald spots every time she feels stressed and seems to suffer from anxiety due to feeling total responsibility for her patient dying. She learns that her medical license is being used improperly and unethically to sell those nostrums which is a fancy word for ineffective medicine prepared by the unqualified leader Huey. He really did sell rattlesnake potions and one other equally fake remedy.

Tucia learns from the other performers that Huey has leverage over all of them making it impossible for them to leave. As time goes on the secondary characters become kind and helpful to one another. I don't want to say too much more other than Tucia learns that Huey is holding something over her head preventing her from leaving. Additionally, she always takes her oath seriously as a doctor and her medical training is used secretly while she is supposed to be reading palms. There is so much to love about this medical historical novel. It is a compulsively interesting reading experience which I was totally invested in keeping wanting to turn the pages because the chapters are short and with each one I learned something new along the way. Tucia is such a loving mother and her son Toby is her whole world being her only family. There is an extensive bibliography and also questions at the very end. Amanda Skenadore is an RN and she was inspired by learning more about this subject. I really highly recommend this which I'm behind and it's available now as this has already been published. I've never been this behind. I have a couple more to read that I'm behind on and I'll be thrilled if they're as well written and captivating as this one is. I don't think my review does this novel justice. Keep in mind that I have left out most of the content and try to go into reading this without reading the synopsis.

Publication Date: May 21, 2024! Available Now To Purchase and Enjoy!

Thank you to Net Galley, Amanda Skenandore and Kensington Books Publishing for graciously granting me my fantastic ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#TheMedicineWomanofGalveston #AmandaSkenandore #KensingtonBooks #NetGalley

Mounting debt forces Dr. Tutia Hatherly and her son, Toby to join a traveling medicine show led by Hugh Horn, “The Amazing Adolphus.” Skenandore’s startling, graphic descriptions of medical practices in the late 1800’s, the struggles and discrimination of women in medicine, and the dangerous working conditions in factories set the desperate mood of Tutia (Tu-sha) as she valiantly attempts to support her son.
The tenuous relationships with the performers, snake oil sales, palm reading, and shady, vagabond adventures consume Tutia as she travels with the medicine show for several months. Stressful situations and an anxiety disorder caused by Tutia’s guilt and deception are alternated with the life story of four of the performers, the Giant, the Indian, the Tinker, and the Musician. These backstories add emotional connections for readers as Huey announces that the medicine show is headed to Galveston, Texas, to “overwinter.”
The Great Storm of 1900 becomes a pivotal time for Tutia, the performers and the medicine show. Skenandore explores themes of unrealized dreams and new beginnings as Tutia and Huey are pitted against the hurricane’s raging storm surge. Discover some of Galveston’s well-known landmarks, Post Office Street, The Strand, and Murdoch’s Bath House in The Medicine Woman of Galveston, as the “worst natural disaster in U. S. History” washes ashore.

I enjoyed this historical fiction about women doctor in Texas who doesn't want to practice anymore after a mistake she's made. It didn't take the turn I was expecting but I still enjoyed it.

This was such a good historical fiction story about a down on her luck unwed mother and rare female doctor working in a corset factory to survive and support her disabled son only to find herself without a job and deep in debt.

Forced to make a deal with a devilish conman and owner of a travelling medicine show, Tucia finds herself befriending the other misfits, falling in love and learning to like medicine again all while trying to reconcile the deception she has to peddle against her will.

Moving, compelling and good on audio narrated by Amanda Stibling, this was a great read and perfect for fans of authors like Audrey Blake and Alice Hoffman's Museum of extraordinary things. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio and digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

CW: rape, gun violence

Disability rep: child with Down syndrome ; trichoctillomania (hair pulling compulsion)

I originally DNF’d and wrote I would not get feedback but I couldn’t stop thinking about this book.

The goods: you can just hear/read how much research Amanda put into this book. She did an exceptional job describing the era. One thing that stood out that I loved was that she combined the perfect amount of history with fiction.

The bads: I never connected with the main character and while I was reading I found myself bored. One second I would be reading the next I was scrolling Facebook. It just didn’t have my attention originally but I am glad I went back and pushed through,

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4

The beginning of the book seemed a bit more ‘historical fiction formula’ than Skenandore’s other books, with most males being ‘bad guys.’ The author gives loads of pertinent information on Tucia, a female physician who was not longer practicing in 1900 due to men traumatizing her. It took half the book for the traveling show to get to Galveston, and a bit more time for Tucia to return to her profession.

I really enjoyed the ‘side’ background stories of members of the Traveling Medicine Show. They added to my understanding of the book and the times.

Make sure to read the Author’s Notes at the end. Skenandore gives interesting information on the role of native Americans in traveling medicine shows. The Bureau of Indian Affairs sometimes contracted with these shows to provide Native American performers who were ‘conscripted.’ In the 1890s less than 1 % of American doctors were women, growing to 6 % in thirty years. In 1970 women accounted for just 7% of American physicians, whereas today they make up 38% of doctors. The author also lists resources she used. Discussion questions are included for book groups for further ponderings.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Amanda Skenandore has become an “auto read” for me. I enjoy how she takes strong female protagonists and inserts them into a historical account of an often lesser known (to me) historical event. The Medicine Woman of Galveston centers on Tucia Hatherley, a woman physician with such promise, who left medicine after a devastatingly tragic error during an operation. She was barely getting by, taking care of her disabled son Toby, in a corset factory when she was approached by “Hughie” of the Amazing Adolphus traveling medicine show. Crippled by debt, Tucia agrees to join his gang of misfits, travelling the countryside—performing a variety show and peddling “snakeskin oil” to gullible, uneducated country folk. Tucia becomes indebted to the crooked, dishonest Hughie as a result. Ultimately the traveling show sets up roots in Galveston, where they find themselves caught in the middle of a devastating hurricane. It is here that Tucia is able to allay the fear of her earlier tragic medical error, and rediscover her passion for medicine.
I enjoyed the array of characters—the gang of misfits that society had labelled “freaks”. There were genuine connections between the troupe, and I fell in love with each one of them. I enjoyed how the story would break to gives a brief history of each character scattered throughout the story, so we understood the backstory of how they all ended up under Hughie’s thumb on the travelling show. My only complaint with the story was, given the synopsis and title of the story, that I expected the story to center more on the Galveston Hurricane. In fact, the troupe didn’t even arrive in Galveston until near the end of the story, and the hurricane only played a small portion at the very end of the novel.

The Medicine Woman of Galveston
by Amanda Skenandore

Another spectacular novel by Amanda Skenandore! If you’ve loved her other books, you will not be disappointed. I highly recommend.

Historical Fiction ~ Medicine Shows ~ Texas ~ A Mother’s Love ~ Dreams ~ Friendship ~ Strong Women ~ Courage ~ Snake Oil Salesmen ~ Galveston Hurricane of 1900 ~ Miraculous Elixirs ~ Hope ~ Fascinating Characters - a band of misfits ~ Women’s Fiction ~ Well-researched ~ Must Read

I was gifted this copy by Kensington Books and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review. Book released on May 21, 2024.

I was disappointed in this one. I never connected with the main character of Tucia. I found her to be an inconsistent character that had a lot going on. She suffered from trichotillomania, or hair pulling disorder, and when her anxiety sky-rocketed, the itch to pull her hair out would get worse leading her to feel ashamed, paranoid that everyone was looking at her. That in and of itself was a lot to deal with. It was made worse by her obvious PTSD from something that happened when she was training to be a doctor, which apparently caused her to abandon her career aspirations of being a doctor despite other responsibilities that I felt should have taken precedence.

Tucia defied the position of women in society at that time and trained to be a doctor prior to the beginning of this story. She attended a women’s medical school, admitting to finding her place comfortably among the females there that she had not found with the other female relationships in her life. She cared not for what her stepmother or the rest of society thought of her aspirations, and yet I’m supposed to believe that she does now, to the point of crippling anxiety and worry about what the members of a snake oil salesman’s show say about her when she leaves the room.

In addition, she has the responsibility of feeding and housing a child, not just any child, but a child with special needs that has more requirements than just food and a roof over his head. Yet, she’s more worried about the morality of selling snake oil and the shame she feels at tearing her hair out. Don’t even get me started on her signing an ambiguous contract with said snake oil salesman. Who is this woman? An intelligent doctor and caring mother or a naïve, anxiety ridden girl with an exacting morality. I had a problem reconciling all of this into one character. The anxiety disorders and their manifestations combined with the lack of a support system just doesn’t account for all of this.

Other reviews have made the comments that the actual advertised plot of the Galveston hurricane of 1900 takes up little space in this novel, so I will add only that if you’re looking for a historical fiction novel set around the hurricane of 1900, I’d recommend The Promise by Ann Weisgarber.

This one just didn’t work for me due to the protagonist. The writing was good, and I would be open to reading another book by this author in hopes of it working better for me. I listened to portions of this novel via audiobook that was expertly narrated by Amanda Stribling and switched the egalley when convenient.

Thank you to Netgalley, Kensington Books and HighBridge Audio for a copy provided for an honest review.

Another great historical fiction story from this author! Dr. Tucia was a rarity in 1900... a female doctor, a single parent, and, deeply in debt. When she is offered a too-good-to-be-true job with a traveling show she takes it, seeing no other way out to support her young son and herself.
I enjoyed learning more about traveling medicine shows from that era, the challenges (so many!) of female doctors to break into the medical field back then, and the insight into the Galveston hurricane of 1900 was so interesting!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an early copy of this informative and entertaining story.

I read, The Medicine Woman of Galveston by Amanda Skenandore. I enjoyed the book, the characters, and the plot. The main characters were well developed and I could visualize them in my head. As all good book do, The Medicine Woman of Galveston has unexpected twists and turns throughout the book. Ms Skenandore did a great job of keeping my interest. At times the more minor stories within the story were a bit long. I enjoyed the book and will look at other book options by Amanda Skenandore. I rated the book 4 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Loved it!!! I was excited to read this because I LOVED The Second Life of Mirielle West. This book definitely didn't disappoint. The story wasn't what I expected. I thought it was going to be all about the 1900 Galveston hurricane and it wasn't. The book surprised me in a good way and was about so much more. Was Huey's offer too good to be true? Yes and no. Tucia could no longer work as a doctor due to her horrible anxiety. The sight of blood took her back to a horrible moment she couldn't forget. She struggled to take care of her son. Working for Huey in his Traveling Medicine show wiped away her debt, Toby had a better life, there was always food on the table and a roof over their heads. Plus the other people in the show became their family. Now, Tucia is indebted to Huey and he wanted full control of her. There was no way Huey would allow Tucia to leave the show. He knew how much she loved Toby and always threatened to have her son taken away. The way Tucia and her fellow female classmates were treated was horrible. The men saw no reason for the women to be in medical school. Tucia's stepmom was just as bad. Tucia's greatest strength was the love she had for Toby. She loved her little boy. Without her he would have been put in a state asylum, simply because of Down Syndrome.

I enjoyed reading about The Amazing Adolphus and his Traveling Medicine Show while they go from one small town to the next throughout Texas. But my favorite part was when they arrived in Galveston and the hurricane hit. Galveston did not seem like the right fit for the Medicine Show. What Huey and Mr. Darby wanted Tucia to do in the room at the museum was awful. It would lead to bad stuff happening to her. I knew about the devastation the hurricane caused but to read about it (even if it's a fictional recreation) was scary. I was hoping that Huey might drown or get trapped somewhere, then Tucia's problems would be solved. The hurricane helped Tucia realized her potential as a doctor. She overcame all her fears and she was able to help people (blood and all).

I absolutely loved reading about Fanny, Lawrence, Cal and Darl and getting to know their story. They were the perfect family for Toby and Tucia. They accepted Toby right away and never made him feel different. Then there was Kit. I am not a monkey lover, with their sharp teeth and possibility of attacking you (I've seen too many crazy shows!!) Kit immediately found his person Toby. The little monkey made me smile with his antics, plus he hated Huey. He even saved Tucia and Darl after the carriage wheel broke.

Definitely recommend the book. Loved the characters, story and writing style. I felt like I was right there, traveling around Texas with Tucia and the rest of the Traveling Medicine Show. (Thankfully I didn't have to live or sleep in their over heated carriage with the window that would not open.) Look forward to reading more books by the author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Lake Union Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.