✨️ARC Review✨️

⭐️⭐️⭐️.3
🌶 1/5 spicy: Tiny hints of spice.



I found this book interesting! I do think it was a little repetitive with some of the things like going to class and the same things happening on multiple days. The POV is from Bronx. I've never read a book with the male lead as the POV the entire time! Bronx has a lot of issues with his past, and that comes to light quite often. I don't like his passive aggressiveness, but I understand that comes with his past. Olivia is a smart/nerdy girl working towards her medical degree! her personality shines towards the end of the book!! this book has a couple of plot twists, and the first one definitely hits home with me! If you are looking for a slow burn romance or a book slump, this book is for you! I do have to say this book could be a little shorter or left out some parts! with that being said, it was an easy read and would recommend.

✨️Slow burn romance
✨️He falls first
✨️College romance
✨️Friends to lovers

Thank you to Netgalley and Wattpad WEBTOON book group for the ARC! I give my honest review, and all opinions are my own.

I HAVE THOUGHTS. Most of them good.

Did I love that this was told entirely from the MMC's POV? Absolutely. I’m a sucker for the male perspective. And with a reformed playboy like Bronx, we needed to be in his head. Without that insight, I probably would’ve hated him for the first half of the book. The author knew what she was doing, and I appreciated it.

Did I also think some of these senior college students (three of whom are laser-focused pre-med types) acted like hormonal high school freshmen? Also yes. The vibes gave teen drama more than upperclassman angst—but maybe I’m just old and can’t relate to the youths anymore. That’s on me. Sorry, guys.

Was the story predictable? For the most part, sure. That’s part of the tropey charm. But one twist near the end? DELICIOUSLY emotional and totally unexpected. Chef’s kiss.

I didn’t pick this up expecting my worldview to be changed—I came for a playboy jock and a nerdy girl with a spine. I wanted tension. I wanted banter. I wanted the classic opposites-attract chaos. And overall? I got it. Some immature choices pulled me out of the story at times, but this was still a fun, satisfying read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Wattpad WEBTOON Book Group | W by Wattpad Books, and Nicole Alfrine for this ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts!

This was the first romance book I have read where we were in the male leads POV the entire book and I have to say I did enjoy it!

This did read as a wattpad story in the sense that the plot was simple and for me personally the writing was simple, nothing incredible.

The middle of the book felt incredibly repetitive, they went to class, they studied, they talked ect.

I didn't really understand the need for the accident near the end of the book, it didn't feel needed almost like it was added just so the book was longer and made it more emotional. (And less repetitive)

Overall an easy 3 star read for me! I would be interested in how the author's writing improves!

Scars of Anatomy is a heartwarming college romance between Bronx, a charming football star, and Olivia, a focused pre-med student. As unlikely lab partners, their connection grows from playful banter to something deeper, filled with vulnerability, healing, and slow-burn love.

It’s a story about facing your past, letting someone in, and realizing that scars—both physical and emotional—don’t define who you are.

I really liked this book! The emotional depth, sweet romance, and character growth made it a very enjoyable read. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who loves:
💘 “Opposites attract”
💘 “He falls first”
💘 A tender, slow-burn romance

A lovely debut with heart, humor, and just enough angst to keep you hooked.

I was thoroughly surprised by this read! This is a romance book at its core and it changed something in my little rat brain! (maybe quinton and i are cousins lol)

This book follows Bronx Miller, the quarterback and well-known playboy and Olivia McCausland, a pre-med student that has never left home. Bronx is notorious for having 2 rules for life: never let a girl in his room, and never have a girlfriend. So why is it that when he meets Olivia in their anatomy lab that he wants to change up his rules?

This is a romance book written completely from the perspective of the male main character and it was a breath of fresh air. I think Alfrine did a really good job, her writing gave me all the warm fuzzy feelings while still remaining partial to the characters she was writing. The main characters were well rounded and the twist/connection to the title at the end made their story deeper. I've thought about this book every day since I've read it because of the title connection and the finch connection! It was such a cute reasoning, matched them perfectly, and gave them the connection that started their relationship. (And the epilogue had me giddy!!) Bronx and Olivia's relationship is a slow burn and a very low spice book. This is a book that focuses on healing and opening up to who truly matters to you. Their love started really slow and I like that it really felt like falling in love. You see him get excited to see her and he never has a name for that feeling. And when you're falling in love you generally don't have a name for it. You just want to be with that person and you look forward to seeing them. You do things to make them happy because it makes you happy and then one day BAM it hits you. You're in love! That is exactly how this book felt. Strangers to friends to lovers and more it was so so so beautiful. A side character shout out HAS to me Delilah! What a fantastic best friend! She just wants Olivia to be happy and stand up for herself. She's an educated baddie and she didn't like Quinton so I was along for the ride!

There were small things that I didn't expect but in the end I think they made sense and I wouldn't change them. For example, the other woman drama. Bronx, with his lack of relationship experience and family trauma, wouldn't know how to react to genuine feelings for another. So when they really are just friends, it makes sense that he would revert back to the comfort of hook ups. The other thing was that Quinton and Adrianna just simply drove me nuts. I felt like they were always around causing issues and I could have lived without them. Alas, it's important to the storyline to see their side (even if they're dumb) for the ending.

I have felt so honored to have read this as an ARC. Thank you so much to Nicole Alfrine and NetGalley for allowing me to read this! I hope to see more from this author!!

I liked that this book was completely from the POV of the MMC, Bronx. That was about the only thing I liked...

The writing *sigh* the writing was rough. It was mostly tell, not show. And there wasn't really a plot. There wasn't much happening. I was bored through a lot of it.

I love sports romance books, especially ones that take place in college, but this wasn't it.

2 stars and my thanks to Netgalley for the eARC.

I tried, y'all. I tried to give this a fair shot, especially knowing it was the author's first book.

Bronx Miller is the star footballer for his college team, no trouble getting a girl. Olivia McCausland is a shy pre-med just trying to make it through her final year and Med School Applications. When they're partnered up for their anatomy class, sparks fly and Bronx learns to slow down and Olivia learns to live a little.

"Splayed across my back in black ink, shoulder blade to shoulder blade, is the word UNKNOWN in big, bold letters. While Miller is the name stitched on the back of my jersey, I feel like it's not my real name. That it doesn't fit."
Ok, Edgelord. Lots of people don't know their dads and have a deadbeat mom. They don't go tattooing UNKNOWN on their backs.

"She continues writing on the board, making a list of questions. 'I want you first to get to know your partner, find out their name, where they're from, their major, and what they want to do in the future. When you're all finished, I'll have you stand up and introduce your partner to the class.'"
This is a college senior level anatomy class??? Not high school freshman???

I think my biggest issue with this book is that the author very clearly originally wrote high school students and did barely any editing to make them college seniors. 22-23 year old adults acting like 16 year olds. Especially the whole Adrianna issue. She's knocking trays of dead rats into Olivia like a jealous teenager in the lunch room. I'm so tired.

You know I’ve been trying my best with this book because I really wasn’t expecting it to only be his point of view (which I’m not the biggest fan of). But I held on without judgment until I had enough and dnf’ed at 48%. What really bugs me the most about this ML is the fact that I feel like he’s playing with Olivia. Minus the fact that he still has his past flings continuously hitting him up while he’s trying to pursue her PLUS him even having sex with other randoms, I think I’ve had enough. Also it got boring really fast and “Rat Boy” needs to relax and find a new person to obsess over. There’s someone out there who’ll totally eat this book up but I for one am not the target audience.

I want to be directly clear that I did not finish this book because in only four chapters I was on the receiving end of major ick. It going to be really hard to talk about this without feeling like I’m tearing into it, so I’ll start with the positives. The male POV romance book is unique, and the idea of it is compelling, it was the execution that was off.

Now for the negatives. This book reads like a high schooler’s essay assignment… and I don't mean a good one. The prose, if you could call it that, was juvenile with a lot of telling and not showing while relying on dialogue to do the heavy lifting. The MMC is yucky. Like… I am so painfully aware that he’s a man while I read. He acts and thinks a juvenilely as the writing.

And the nail in the proverbial coffin was one of my biggest icks with romance books. Authors writing intimate scenes with people other than the main characters. I’m not reading a romance book to hear about the MMCs past exploits and his yucky thoughts about them.

Overall, no thanks.

Scars of Anatomy is a classic playboy jock x shy nerdy girl trope with a twist. The twist being that the story is told from the POV of the jock MMC (you get a few select chapters in the FMC’s POV after the epilogue). I’ll admit to being very intrigued by the idea of a book told from the MMC’s POV and was excited when I received the ARC.

This was a debut novel from the author, and there were some parts about the book that really worked. The framework was there for something great, but it just felt like something was missing. I struggled to get into the book and honestly found myself skim reading some sections. Most of the conversations and dialogue feel very basic. Think: “Hello, how are you?” “I am fine, thank you for asking. How are you?” This does get better as the story progresses. Or maybe I just got used to it?

While the plot and characters do deal with some serious life issues (traumatic childhood, foster care, parental drug abuse, physical abuse) the overall tone is very surface level. Because of this, I didn’t feel truly connected to the characters.

The romance was….difficult for me. The MMC spends at least the first 1/3 of the book regularly hooking up with girls who are not the FMC. That’s a personal ick for me. I wouldn’t call the relationship a slow burn necessarily. Bronx is almost insta-love into Olivia the moment he meets her (but not insta-love enough to stop sleeping around) but they don’t get together as a couple until late in the book.

Olivia felt very closed off and flat. Her main character traits were being pretty, shy, and smart. Again, everything here is very surface level. By the end I was more interested in their relationship, but it was a struggle to get there.

Overall, there was a lot of potential here, but it just fell short.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

First, I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book. Unfortunately, this one was a DNF for me. There was a scene with a football injury during practice and the coach had the starting QB drive the injured wide receiver to the hospital to get checked out. No trainers or even just a coach that could have taken him. Other small things that piled up and took me out of the story. Also, there is a character that for some reason always forgets they have a test/exam, crams as much as possible in two minutes and then is bummed because they think they did terrible.
Could be a nice easy read for someone else though. Seems low angst and is told from the male POV which was a nice change of pace

What a refreshing romance read! Alfrine sets a great pace and we become emotionally invested in Bronx and Olivia. The fact that we only are exposed to Bronx's POV is awesome! I kept waiting to hear Olivia's POV but after a couple of chapters, it was nice to be able to lean into Bronx. Alfrine does a fantastic job of having the reader feeling satisfied; the novel ends with no loose ends and we dive into places that most romance novels tend to shy away from. I absolutely love how everything was tied up nicely (no wasted time or details).I really enjoyed this book and look forward to more work from Alfrine.

Thank you to Nicole Alfrine, NetGalley, and Wattpad Webtoon Book group for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is a story of two senior college students with a few classes in common that end up being anatomy lab partners. The story is told from our MMC Bronx’s POV. This is a very different choice, I don’t think I have read very many romance novels that are solely told from the male’s POV. Bronx is a college football player aspiring to be drafted to the NFL. His lab partner, Olivia, is a quiet and reserved pre-med student focused on her academics. Over the course of the semester they discover their similarities and grow close.

This is this author’s debut novel and such an accomplishment! I felt the story stalled between 30%-70% and was very repetitive. It seemed like it was trying to be a slow burn but it came off to the reader that nothing was on fire or heating up. I would’ve loved more of a glance of Olivia’s feelings throughout— she seemed very indifferent and not caring if her friendship with Bronx bloomed or fizzled. I loved the connections at the end of the story and felt it gave it even more of an emotional touch. Overall it was an enjoyable read once I was about 70% into the story. I really had to force myself to continue through the middle of the book. I think this is a great start for a debut novel and I’m excited to see what’s next from this author!

Sweet love story between the MCs but felt rushed but slow - if that makes sense? It started off with some semi romance scenes then went 60% into the book for the MMC to kiss the FMC

Thank you SO much to W by Wattpad Books for the advance copy!

Everyone. I ate this book up so badly! Whenever I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about it. And then when I was done, I was very sad.
And even then my brain kept coming back to what Bronx and Olivia are doing. More importantly was this the chapter that they were going to kiss!

I had browse some reviews before reading so I did know that the book was going to be told from the male point of view. It's not often that a romance is told purely from the MMC view but I have read one other before. And I think that is why I loved the book so much! I often am wondering what is going on in the male's mind but honestly there was only a few times where I wish we got Olivia's point of view.

Bronx. Oh my baby boy Bronx. The way the author wrote his character just made me fall over him. He was a little rough around the edges and did not have the best reputation when it comes to the ladies. One thing I will comment on different books is when they talk about a character being a playboy but we never see SO when we actually get to see it on page, it makes me happy. And in this we did got to see Bronx have those hook ups though I will say the one made me mad and I think I said to myself BRONX WHAT ARE YOU DOING.

This is a slow but I love how the relationship with Olivia grew throughout the book. Their first kiss was SWOOOOONYYY! Even though I had to wait for it to happen, the moment was perfect timing. I love their flirty banter (okay mostly on Bronx’s part) and how he just tried so hard to be a better person for her. I love how they both were able to open up to one another and how he felt like he could really trust her as he never really opened up to any one else before.

There are other things that happened in the book that I don’t want to spoil. But I was glad that Bronx was there for Olivia and was protective of her. There was a big moment in the last quarter where an incident occurred that just made me so upset for the couple.

I am so happy I read this and I really enjoyed!!!
I recommend this book if you are wanting to read a book from a male POV, like a playboy turn reform, football player x tutor in an college setting.
PS - I was fortunate enough to get the physical copy of the book and we are getting a Delilah book!!! As much as I love reading a book from the male point of view, I think Delilah's POV will be a lot of fun though!

PSS – Also in the book there was a QR code for an extra epilogue from Olivia’s point of view which was absolutely lovely!

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with a copy of this ebook for an honest review!

I am sorry to say that this book was a massive flop for me. I ended up DNFing it at 40%. This book could have used more story editing, mainly in the dialogue and character development. Bronx comes across as an extremely unrepentant jerk who has zero self-awareness, and Olivia should run as far away from him as possible. It feels like 90% of his interactions are the same conversations, repeating on a loop (that is when he isn't having sex with random girls).

Olivia is an extremely underdeveloped character who comes across as a perfect angel but with a traumatic past that clearly has something to do with her heart and future goals.

I felt like I was reading an entirely unedited Wattpad book, and it was frustrating and disappointing. I couldn't finish it. I am so sorry! With some more story editing, it could be better! But at 40%, with no real character growth, I couldn't force myself to finish it.

I usually don't post such low reviews anywhere else so I likely won't be sharing this anywhere.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ / 5 stars

Scars of Anatomy by Nicole Alfrine is a swoon-worthy, heartfelt debut that delivers the perfect blend of grit, growth, and chemistry. If you’re a fan of Icebreaker-style sports romance mixed with the intellectual sparks of an Ali Hazelwood heroine, this one is your next obsession.

Bronx Miller is the classic quarterback heartthrob with a reputation—but underneath the swagger is someone quietly searching for meaning beyond the field. Enter Olivia McCausland: pre-med, reserved, and refreshingly uninterested in his charm. Their pairing in anatomy lab is the beginning of a connection that’s genuine, slow-burning, and deeply satisfying to watch unfold.

From snarky academic bets to vulnerable late-night study sessions, the tension builds beautifully. What really makes this story stand out, though, is its emotional core—both characters are carrying invisible scars, and watching them peel back their layers for one another feels raw, real, and ultimately hopeful.

Highlights:

Smart banter and academic rivals-to-lovers energy

Meaningful character growth, especially Bronx’s emotional arc

Olivia’s strength and quiet resilience

Spicy scenes balanced with real vulnerability

A strong message that our pasts don’t define us—our choices do

Scars of Anatomy is equal parts sweet and spicy, fun and profound. Nicole Alfrine nails the balance between romance and realism in this compelling opposites-attract love story. Add this to your TBR immediately—you’ll be rooting for Bronx and Olivia long after the final page.

Thank you so much to Wattpad Books and NetGalley for this eARC!
I was very excited by the premise of this story & intrigued by it being solely through the male’s POV. However, I think after reading it I prefer a dual POV or even just the FMC. Olivia was so shy & timid that I could never fully figure out where she stood on things & I would’ve loved insight on her emotions. Especially after reading about her back story.
This book moved really slow for me. I love a slow burn, but it felt very repetitive. The last 20% held my interest, but it was like BAM BAM BAM & all these twists & connections all at once. I think if some of those trials or situations were placed throughout the story, it would’ve held my focus the whole time.
I also found a lot of the dialogue to be more high school/YA than college students. There were a lot of stereotypes being enforced & things that were said that made it feel a bit juvenile.
I think the premise was really cute, but it just wasn’t the right story for me!

i thought this was a really good read bronx was a little rough around the edges but softened for olivia 🥹

Thank you to NetGalley and Wattpad for the ARC! Rating: 3.5/5 stars

What I liked about this book: I have never read a romance book that only gives us the male POV. It was interesting! I enjoyed getting to hear from Bronx and his thoughts. I liked that the chapters all had names, but the second chapter is called Olivia, and I immediately assumed it was her POV. I was incorrect. I liked the blossoming relationship between Bronx and Olivia happened over a semester and that they started out as friends. I loved at the end of the book, you really understand the title of the book.

What fell flat for me: Quinton SUCKED SO HARD. I hated that Olivia just let him walk all over her because she was trying to be kind. No thanks! The Adrianna and Bronx relationship was super toxic, and I understand it's used as a way to show how Bronx changes throughout the book, but holy crap was I sick of that woman. I hated that we only learned Olivia's backstory 95% through the book. It feels like the author could've done more giving more snippets into her life. I understand why she waited so long with certain things about Olivia, but it felt like Bronx didn't really care to know her on a deeper level. It's also interesting the hard right he turned when meeting Olivia. Going from "no one will date me or come into my room," to "come to my room, I want to be your boyfriend," felt too easy. It didn't feel earned, if that makes sense?