This might be one of my favorite books of the year! It was wholesome and adorable, while still discussing deep topics like the added difficulties that women in the workplace face. I love reading Grace and Julian’s story and loved how much of a slow burn this book was. I couldn’t recommend this book enough.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the e-ARC.

When I saw that this was a romance novel about OB-GYN residents I had no choice but to pick it up. I was even more excited when I learned that the author is an OB-GYN herself.

Overall, I enjoyed "Love Sick". While this book is definitely a romance, and the romance is the primary arc of the overall plot, I do think this book was almost equally about the experience of being a new resident. I had a lot of sympathy for residents before, I have even more now. I loved the story of two rivals falling in love in that high stakes setting and also reading about them overcoming other struggles that came with the territory of residency.

I was so thrilled to see the inclusion of a vulvovaginal pain patient in the book, even if it's an anecdote told to a POV character rather than a patient we meet on page. People with vulvovaginal pain are underrepresented in both the romance genre and OB-GYN residency curricula. I adored the inclusion of how Asher was determined to help his patient, even if he didn't immediately have all of the tools or knowledge to do so. Just like in the book, many vulvovaginal pain patients do find relief from off-label botox injections.

However, while I am so glad and grateful for the inclusion of this anecdote in the book, there was one minor detail that bothered me a little. Asher shared that his patient's pain resolved after childbirth. I unfortunately do not think that this is a realistic patient experience and it somewhat perpetuates myths that vulvovaginal pain can be "cured" by pregnancy and childbirth. I've heard many stories of people who are told to "just have a baby." I know this wasn't the intent here, but I would be doing a disservice to not mention it.

4 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Canary Street Press for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

This book drew me in because medicine and rom-coms are two of my favorite things! This was an enjoyable, quick summer read and definitely was unique in the sense that it was written by someone actually in the medical field. I thought the chemistry between the two characters was great, and it definitely felt more realistic due to the unique perspective of the author. I've had exposure to the medical field but thought that this was a great representation for those who may not have as much knowledge and a look behind the curtain as to what goes on. Looking forward to what Deidra Duncan puts out next!

I got to read this as an Arc. For someone that doesn't really like a slow burn, I enjoyed this book. I liked following Grace and Julian through their residency. I loved watching their relationship develop. If you enjoy hospital shows or enjoy books around doctors/medicine you will enjoy this. Watching these characters grow and develop was well thought out and written well. I enjoyed their banter and his siblings were always cracking me up. Overall I enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend.
Tropes:
-Enemies to lovers
-Mental health (Anxiety/ADHD)
-Slow burn

I throughly enjoyed this book! It took me a little bit to get into. Once I was one third in that's when I couldn't put it down! I enjoyed the character development of Grace and Julian as they go through the tough residency of med school. I also really enjoyed the supporting characters and the comedy the brought! I found myself laughing so hard at times! I wanted to hang out with them all! I think the spice was a perfect tone without being too much and definitely added to the plot in a beautiful way!

On the night before they’re set to begin their first year residency, Julian and Grace have pretty much the opposite of a meet cute. Still, they can’t deny there is something between them. What begins as hate flirting soon leads to hate texting and then “saw this, made me think of you” texts. As Julian and Grace let down their guards, they realize maybe they don’t hate each other after all.

I really loved that this novel was dual POV as both of these characters deal with a lot and it really helped me feel connected to them. From the first day she begins work, Grace is looked down upon because of horrible rumors she slept her way to the top. Despite being one of the most studious of her group, she can’t shake these rumors. Julian also struggles, but for him it’s dealing with feelings of inadequacy related to his education. He’s the only D.O. in his year and that brings about its own set of preconceived notions.

The romance between Julian and Grace was the perfect blend of sweet and steamy. It’s obvious they want to rip each others clothes off as soon as they meet, but the more time they spend getting to know each other the deeper the connection becomes. Grace still bears the emotional scars from a previous relationship, and Julian is incredibly patient with her. It was easy to root for them.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy.

I really wish I loved this one, but I really could not get into it. I see a lot of people compare it to Greys but it didn't feel that way to me.

I am so obsessed with this
I loved the rivals to lovers trope between Grace and Julian. <3 <3
4 Stars

I very much enjoyed the enemies to lovers workplace romance. This was my first romance set in the medical field and I enjoyed the high stress coworkers who turn into family aspect that really created strength in the relationships quickly.

The banter was very entertaining and the characters were relatable. I was sad to tell them bye at the end.

Right from the get-go, this book pulls you into a world brimming with longing, peril, and tangled emotions. The spark between the two main characters is off the charts—a slow-burn attraction that simmers below the surface and eventually boils over. But what truly sets this story apart isn’t just the crackling tension — it’s the emotional depth woven into every chapter that really hits home.

I loved Love Sick! The hospital romance was everything—Julian and Grace had such great chemistry, and their connection felt so real. I also thought the mental health representation was really well done. It added a lot of depth to the story without feeling forced or overly dramatic.

The dual POV made it even better. It was nice getting to see both of their sides, especially with everything they were going through. Honestly, this book made me want to rewatch Grey’s Anatomy—it totally brought me back in time in the best way.

Such a good read if you're into emotional romances with a little bit of drama and healing.

Loved this one! 4.5 stars! For all the millennial girlies who grew up on Greys, this is a fun, quick, flirty gem. It was medically detailed enough to be believable but didn’t bog down the love story. The angst and tension was so good, though the main conflict was a (albeit, realistic) bummer.

An Enemies-to-Lovers, Slow Burn, Workplace Romance That Gets Stronger and Stronger as You Read It

Grace Rose starts out her residency with a false rumor hanging over her head, and as time passes by, the rumor spirals farther and farther out of control.

Julian Santini, already on edge as the only D.O. first-year resident and influenced by the recently-heard rumor, has a less than stellar first meeting with Grace.

Everyone at the hospital seems to love Julian—everyone except Grace, that is, and no matter how good she is at her job, pretty much only her small circle of co-residents, with the exception of Julian, of course, likes Grace.

As Grace and Julian begin to spend more time together on and off the clock, they grow even closer and realize there’s a fine line between love and hate.

Read it for
- The banter
- The “Found this. Made me think of you.” texts
- The tension between Grace and Julian
- How accepting they are of each other (once they open up to each other)
- How they support each other
- The heat
- The ADHD and social anxiety rep
- Asher (I would love to see him get his own HEA.)

Eric Yang and Meg Sylvan do a great job with the audiobook narration for Love Sick. Sylvan is quickly becoming one of my go-to favorite narrators. I enjoy her voices for both the male and female characters, and I’ll have to check out more books by Eric Yang. His narration made Julian even more lovable for me.

Warnings: abusive relationship (past), pregnancy and obstetrics care and cases, Harry Potter references

4.5⭐️

I received advance copies from HTP, HTP Hive, Harlequin Audio, the author, and The Future Of Agency. All review opinions are my own.

Sapphire "Grace" Rose is starting her internship at a new hospital despite her crippling social anxiety. Unfortunately her real name given by her hippie parents makes her the victim of vicious rumors that could affect her career. A misunderstanding with Julian, a fellow intern, causes resentment and a hate flirting vibe that over time becomes friendship and attraction.
I love the dynamic of the friend group in this book and their "group therapy" sessions. I had a hard time with Grace's character but Julian was wonderful. The banter between these two was fun and hilarious. I flew through this book and really enjoyed it.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book is great for fans of Yours Truly by Abby Jiminez and On Rotation by Shirlene Oboubi. Love Sick was so much more complex than I thought. More than just a slow burn romance, this novel exposed a lot of gender inequities in medicine, but in an organic, and not at all preachy, way. Grace was the victim of rumors throughout the story. I appreciated her backstory and the expectations people put on her based on her birth name, Sapphire, and her body type. This is such a relatable experience. Julian’s experience with ADHD was also authentic. I appreciated his awareness of gender politics and his willingness to stand for what he thought was right.

I sometimes have trouble with enemies to lovers plots, but this one does it right! Probably, because Grace and Julian were never really enemies to begin with. Both were such complex, well developed characters. They were both just allowing their past experiences to keep them guarded and wary of the connection they felt for each other. I was pulling for them the whole time! I was surprised by some of the supporting characters, especially Asher (who was so much more than a Bro-B-Gyn) and Tori. This would make a great limited series! 4.5 stars. Thanks to Net Galley and Canary Street Press for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I signed up for the ARC because I'm a sucker for healthcare provider romance. The beginning of this book gave me the ick at first. BrOB-GYN? The apparent misogyny made me angry. This was the entire reason why I did not want a male PCP let a lone a male OB-GYN. Don't get me started on the whole health desparity among females. Well, maybe the hidden lesson of the book is that we shouldn't be too quick to judge. I am glad to find that the frat boy attitude was all a facade. Underneath it all, there was a camaraderie among the residents in this program that warmed my heart.

The evolving relationship between Grace and Julian was the main reason behind my 4 stars rating. They started out as enemies like Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet. Throw in some geeky references in their banter for extra bonus. The longing and the buildup was so good that when they finally kissed you just went yes!!!

Most importantly, the emotions expressed by Grace felt very real. You felt the pain caused by all the injustices she experienced. I wanted to cry with her. Even though I knew they would get back together in the end, I couldn't help but feel for both Grace and Julian in the third act breakup.

It's not the smut that makes this book good. It's all the emotions you experience as our FMC and MMC hit their high and low points in the story.

Review posted on Goodreads and Amazon

This was such a great book! From the onset.. when you say rumor that is unfounded and it circulates like hot cakes.. the way Sapphire - or Grace - rises from it with a majority of her peers being men (attending and residents - that's difficult!) let me tell ya, this was such a great story. I love the way Grace and Julian's story unfolds - I was laughing so loud at a lot of different parts of this - their banter is unparalleled.

Definitely 4.5 stars for me. I really enjoyed this one. Thanks Netgalley & Deidra Duncan for such an amazing story you shared with me. LOVE IT!

4/5 stars
2.5/5 peppers
1/5 buzz buzz

I'm always on the look for medical romances as well. Especially if there are accuracy. Love sick is not only hidden with accuracy of how residency programs are and how tough it is on those in it. This book took me for a ride.

I felt like I was on the ride with Sapphire "Grace" and Julian as they entered their journey and as they banter their way into each other's lives and to make their residency a better time, they help each other. But sometimes being around people more and more result in them falling for each other, one's ready to tell the world, and the other wants to keep away from gossip filled halls.

Again, I am never one for slow burns but this one took me on a ride of growth that it was a really good slow burn.

If you are one for shows like The Pitt and Greys will devour this book.

Thank you Netgalley and Canary Street for the opportunity!

Deidra Duncan’s debut rom-com, Love Sick, is the perfect mix of heartache, humor, and sizzling slow-burn romance—all with a side of professional chaos. And when I found out the author is a real-life doctor I knew we were in for something authentic and special.

Spoiler alert: it did not disappoint.
If you love messy, relatable characters, medical drama, and enemies-to-lovers tension with a slow burn that pays off, this one’s for you! Grace and Julian are a couple you’ll root for from page one. Bonus: the author’s real-world experience brings authenticity that elevates every scene!

What Makes This Book Shine:

✨ Authentic medical drama that doesn’t feel overwhelming. It his the perfect level of tension.
✨ Incredible mental health representation—Grace’s social anxiety and Julian’s ADHD are portrayed with empathy and realism.
✨ A four-year timeline that allows real character growth, deep friendship, and the most satisfying slow-burn romance.
✨ Sharp, witty banter and chemistry that leaps off the page.
✨ A powerful commentary on double standards, and what it takes for women to thrive in male-dominated spaces!

If you’re looking for a romance that goes beyond the surface—one that’s messy, honest, empowering, and will have you staying up way past your bedtime—you need to grab Love Sick immediately. Grace and Julian’s story is the perfect reminder that even when life is overwhelming, love can show up exactly when you need it most.

One of my favorite things is reading books that are written about a profession BY someone who is in that profession. Especially when it's a fiction novel.

This book was such a fun and heartfelt "friends to enemies to lovers" trope read and I found myself smiling while reading quite a few times. I come from a family where multiple people hold medical degrees and it was pretty funny to read about the medical components of this book and be reminded of things that my family members have experienced as well.

The chemistry between our main characters was FUEGO and I loved getting to know them over the course of this novel. I also really appreciated the social anxiety representation that the FMC brought to the table as someone who also struggles with it.

Highly recommend this fun romance romp!