Thank you to Harlequin audio and Deidra Duncan for advanced listening copy of this audiobook. All thoughts in this review are my true and honest opinion.

Overall, I found this to be an enjoyable listen. While Grace is more extreme about it than me, I completely relate to her trouble with being able to open up and be vulnerable to another person and essentially having trust issues that the person won’t hurt or take advantage of her.

Even when she isn’t capable of seeing or understanding it (and maybe before he knows it), Julian will do absolutely anything for Grace, and I love how many times he proves that throughout the book!

While I have never worked in a hospital, I did volunteer in one for years and currently work in another aspect of public health. While some things did feel a little exaggerated, I was impressed with how well dynamics between the residents, attendings, nurses, etc. were presented! I also being able to see in our characters how OBGYN residency requires being good both at the more physical aspects/anatomy-heavy parts of the job like surgery and delivery and also the more memorized knowledge things like figuring out medication dosages, what medications are best for a particular illness, etc. I also loved Julian’s backstory for why he chose OBGYN; as a patient, I find myself questioning why a man went into OBGYN than I would for a woman in that specialty.

The narration was fine- not the best I’ve listened to, but definitely not a dealbreaker level for me. I think I’ve just gotten a little spoiled with other books that have duet narration so going back to dual narration and each of them doing both characters took a bit of time for my brain to adjust back to.

First off, thank you @NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the ALC🎧

4.5 ⭐️ - I am a love sick fool for Love Sick. Grey’s Anatomy meets Mindy Project, what more could you need?

The hook:
Grace is a first year OB-GYN resident. Before her first day at the hospital, she discovers there’s a rumor going around that one of the residents secured their spot in the program by sleeping with one of the higher-ups. Off to a rocky start, Grace goes through the trials and tribulations of her residency. Julian is another first year resident in her cohort, and they get off to a very rough start. Their endless bickering and fighting leads to endless tension, a cautious friendship, then the most gut wrenching but beautiful love story to make you feel SICK to your stomach.

❤️❤️❤️

My general thoughts:
Please grab a box of tissues! I was not expecting how beautiful and gut wrenching this story would be! If you are a fan of medical dramas, this is right up your alley. There was endless humor, banter, bickering, fighting, flirting, and also stress! For someone like myself who knows little to nothing about the world of medicine, I loved how detailed and specific the author is with the doctor knowledge. The author herself is a doctor so it’s like reading someone’s first hand experience going through residency. I commend you doctors.. you are truly heroes. I could never work the long endless shifts.

I loved the pacing of this book so much. It felt long because it spans over ~2 years of their residency. It allows you to grow with the characters, build thicker skin like they do, and also fall in love with all the characters. I want to be invited to group therapy and I want to try the unicorn blood cocktail!

The rumors that go around the hospital are crazy and at times I had a bit of trouble going, really? These grown adults gossip like high schoolers? But then I recall the stories my sister tells me who works in a hospital herself, and yeah - there is actually a lot of this drama. It made my heart hurt for Grace, she did not deserve a second of the harassment she received. Without spoiling it, I must say I eventually caught on to the big plot reveal and let’s just say I am STILL fuming. This is the only reason I was torn between 4 and 5 stars.

I know this was a perfect read for me when I stayed up until 2am with a box of tissues on a Sunday night. Yes, my eyes are puffy. Because I am sadistic, this is my favorite reaction to a romance novel. Give me the HEA but make me WORK for it.

❤️❤️❤️

Some special quotes:

“I want your days to be good.”

“I’ll let her destroy me and I’ll do it with a smile. I’m hers now”.

“I’m magnetized to her. If the lights disappeared and plunged us into blackness, I’d still find her. She’d glow. A glittering star illuminating the dark”.


🎧🎧🎧
Audiobook specific notes:
-This is dual POV and dual narration
-Meg Sylvan put on the performance of her lifetime here!! The voices she has for each of the characters are SO unique it makes it so easy to tell apart who is speaking. She even has a certain inflection for like ~inner thoughts~ so you know she’s saying that in her head. That is so special!! She also goes the extra mile - like when the FMC is giggling, she’s actually giggling through the dialogue. Or when the line reads “she yawned through her sentence…” Meg actually yawns through it! It’s these little touches that elevate the narration for me. There’s a part where the FMC is running on no sleep, going delirious - the way Meg brings that to life, it made ME feel like I was delirious. Perfect, no notes.
-I am new to Eric Yang as a narrator but I did enjoy his voice. His character’s voices were clear, his flow was excellent. He has a very soothing voice and somehow he had a “doctor” voice to me, so it was a great fit.
-Production was great, everything sounded smooth and cohesive. Overall a fantastic audio.

This was a strong debut from Deidra Duncan! In this enemies-to-lovers story, Grace and Julian are trying to navigate their ways through medical residency and find that they need each other's help. The story's set over several years, and when I realized this, I thought I'd be annoyed with book stretching out over so much time, but it works. It's not instalove; it feels much more genuine because we see their love develop over time.

I didn't want to put the story down. In addition to compelling writing, the narrators are both phenomenal! I hope this will be the start of a series; Grace and Julian have lots of friends whose stories I want to read!

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the audio ARC.

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The audio was so good! I love dual narration so having both MC have their own voice so nice. Both narrators did a great job embodying each character and the audio flowed so nicely.

Bravo Diedra on your debut novel! This book made me want to go rewatch greys anatomy for like the 20th time 😜I loved the the medical talk the inside scoop on what goes on in the L&D floor. I loved Sapphire “Grace” and Julian’s love story. The slow burn was very good!!! Highly recommend it!

Loved everything about this audiobook. ADHD representation for our MMC and this story is about doctors written by a doctor how better can it get? 🥹🥰 makes me want to watch a new medical show.

This book had an interesting premise and was very compelling — once I picked it up, I really couldn’t put it down. I found myself really drawn into the love story and rooting for a happy ending. That said, it was much heavier than I anticipated. The role of slut shaming and gossip was almost hard to read, and the FMC’s past trauma was a blanket of sadness on the otherwise sweet love story. I very much enjoyed the book, but I’d definitely pay attention to trigger warnings of abusive relationships and toxic workplaces are triggers for you.

4 stars

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley 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.

The audio production was great. The voices were clear and felt true to character for both male and female. Pacing was also great and consistent between the two narrators.

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!

Thank you so much NetGalley and for this ALC! I heard only good things about this book so I was delighted to receive a copy of this audiobook!
Love Sick by Deirdra Duncan is a a debut novel coming your way in May! Think the first seasons of Grey's Anatomy in a romance book! Grace Rose, a new OB-GYN resident, struggles with social anxiety and a false rumour that she slept her way into the program. Forced to work alongside Julian Santini, her rude but handsome co-resident, their mutual dislike slowly turns into unexpected attraction. As they battle hospital gossip and the pressures of residency, the line between love and hate begins to blur.
I really loved this one! At first, I wasn’t fully sold on the enemies-to-lovers dynamic because the origin of their dislike felt a bit unclear, but as the story went on, I totally vibed with both characters. One small thing though—around 30% into the book, there’s a mention of a Kanye West song, and honestly, I would have left that out given how controversial he is now. I definitely did a double take when his name popped up!
As for the narration, I was sold from the very first lines! Both Meg Sylvan and Eric Yang did an amazing job. I don’t think I’ve listened to any audiobooks by them before, and it was such a great surprise — it’s often the same voices in contemporary romance, so it was really refreshing to hear something new!

I really enjoyed Love Sick, especially the first three-quarters of the story. It had the feel of a season of Grey’s Anatomy, full of emotional twists, medical drama, and evolving relationships. I liked that the story followed different stages of residency, giving a layered view of both the professional and personal sides of the characters’ lives.

One of the highlights for me was the use of dual narrators. They did a great job bringing the characters to life and really helped me get immersed in the story. Toward the end, the book did start to drag a bit and lost some of the earlier momentum, but overall, I still found it a very enjoyable listen and would recommend it to fans of character-driven medical dramas.

Thank you to Harlequin Audio for the advance listener copy of Love Sick by Deidra Duncan.

Grace is entering her first year of residency. Grace and her ex broke up in med school and as she starts her residency she learns there is a rumor that she slept with someone to get into her program. This rumor is heard by fellow resident, Julian, and the two residents do not get off to a good start.

I was drawn to this story due to its premise. I was so excited to read a romance taking place between two people who were going through residency. Unfortunately, I didn’t end up connecting with the romance. My interest remained mostly with the medical aspects of the story. I did enjoy the narrators, particularly Meg Sylvan, who I’ve heard narrate other books.

Love Sick had so many of the things I love about a good romance: enemies to lovers, workplace tension, and a hero who is nothing but green flags. Julian is absolutely swoon-worthy - a true gentleman who respects women and makes it easy to root for him. Grace, too, was a strong character, with enough depth to make her struggles and pain feel real and believable. Deidra Duncan did a great job giving both leads a layered backstory that made their relationship feel earned.

Unfortunately, I think my experience was impacted by the format I chose. I listened to the audiobook, and the two narrators just did not work for me. Some of their tone and inflection choices made the story feel overly melodramatic, which pulled me out of the emotions more than once. I kept wondering if I had read it myself, would I have connected with the characters and pacing more naturally.

There’s nothing wrong with the story itself, and I definitely plan to recommend it to friends who prefer physical or Kindle editions. But if you’re thinking about grabbing the audiobook, I might suggest reading it instead.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was advertised as being Greys Anatomy meets The Hating Game and I think it really lived up to that description! I really enjoyed this one - the cast of characters was great and you can tell that the author really knows her stuff on the medical side. So impressive that this is her debut novel! I listened to this as an audiobook and I thought the dual narrators both did a fantastic job at bringing this to life. Thank you to the Hive and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ALC of this book!

I really loved the first 3/4 of this, but I thought the last part fell flat. The ending helped to redeem it a little, but I thought the last section needed to be either cut or really fleshed out. Instead it felt sort of rushed and unnecessary to me. Overall still a solid story and one I would definitely recommend, especially to Greys fans!

Read this one if you like:
- medical drama
- hate to love
- workplace romance
- found family

Grace Rose and Julian Santini are both OB-GYN residents who get off on the wrong foot after a miss-understanding concerning Grace's reputation. They begin as rivals with plenty of great banter, become reluctant friends with alllll the pining, and eventually lovers with some spice 🌶 .
I loved this one! Their chemistry was great and I couldn't put it down! I was invested in their relationship and loved the slow build up over the years. I can't believe this was just a debut, and am looking forward to reading more from Deridra Duncan in the future!
Thank you to Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for the free audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

I love medical dramas, if you don't like shows like Grey's Anatomy or Chicago Med, this book probably isn't for you. Deidra Duncan did a great job with this book, and I love that she's an OBGYN.

This book made me hate most people in those hospitals, outside of the immediate resident intern group. Poor Grace, she sure is a trooper, I would've said gotten myself kicked out of that program so many times. The bickering between Grace and Julian was really entertaining and I loved the bond that they formed and how they found support in each other. Grace definitely had a lot of baggage and things she had to work through, I wish she had a better support system outside of this friend group. The unfair treatment of Grace in this book made me so angry and made me wonder if the rumor mill in hospitals are actually this horrific. Really enjoyed this book and the relationship between Grace and Julian.

Format: audiobook

Thank you NetGalley, Deidra Duncan, and Harlequin Audio for the advance audiobook.

Wow! I listened to the audiobook, and Meg Sylvan and Eric Yang were perfection. I could not stop listening. This is a definite must-read. The medical accuracy and insights were amazing. The story is so realistic, and the characters are well-rounded and feel like real people.
This is the story of Sapphire Grace Rose, who is beginning her OBGYN residency and is excited for a fresh start to show what a great doctor she will become. What happens instead is that a rumor is spread by an attending at the meet and greet mixer that one of the female OB residents slept their way into the program. There are three female OB residents. One is happily married with a child, one had test scores that were astounding, and the third is named Sapphire Rose.
At that mixer is another OB resident, Julian Santini. He hears this and tries to keep a level head having four older sisters and knowing how misogyny works. When the implications of this person not having to earn their spot like he did (he is a D.O. and not an M.D.), he fights these feelings to wait and meet them. Then, in walks, a gorgeous woman in a red dress. They begin to talk and have instant chemistry, and she says her name is Grace. When her full name comes out, he leaves. She then overhears a group of men that includes Julian, talking about her and spreading this rumor. She stands up for herself and storms off, where Julian follows and offers an apology she does not accept.
What ensues is amazing banter, chemistry, self-acceptance, and love. I cannot recommend this book enough. Get it now!

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.

I enjoyed the medical accuracy throughout the story and thought the supporting cast added a lot of charm. Grace and Julian had some entertaining moments, but their relationship felt a little rushed, and I would have liked to see more development between them on the page. The narrators were just okay for me — one felt a little stiff and the other a bit too scattered — which made it harder to connect with the characters. Overall, it had a lot of potential and some fun elements, but it didn’t completely pull me in the way I had hoped.

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. The narrator was just okay.

When I saw this lovely little cover on NetGalley, I knew I needed to read it asap!

Mr. Bee and I are both in the medical field and started our love story working together so I have a special place in my heart.

Love Sick begins with Grace's first year of residency is hell. She's brilliant, anxious and extremely relatable. Her introduction to the first years doesn't go as planned. In fact, she over hears them discussing how she "must have slept her way into the program.

FALSE.

And so this sets her and against Julian, a fellow first year, who fought his way into the program.
These two have great enemy energy and the story sucked me right in.
Great for fans of Grey's Anatomy, you will love the enemies to lovers, found family tropes here.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for an advanced listener copy of this, I sped through it and can't wait to see it hit shelves May 13th.