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Vital Signs #3
Change of Heart
Every summer, superstar surgeon Whitney Aldritch crashes weddings with her best friend. The first one was an accident though after a decade of dropping in uninvited, they’re masters of their craft. They keep the rules simple and they never go to bed alone.
Then there’s Henry Hazlette, best man and the best one-night stand of Whit’s summer. She never imagined she’d see him again but now he’s one of her new surgical residents—and completely off-limits.
Whitney has staked her reputation on leading the hospital’s new ethics initiative. While Henry is under her supervision, they have to keep it professional. But it doesn’t help that she can’t turn around without running face-first into his offensively broad chest or rubbing up against him in crammed elevators. Also not the way he smiles at her like he can hear her every not-safe-for-work thought.
All they have to do is survive this residency—and the accidental tarot card readings that hit too close to home, a few uninvited houseguests, and the hospital’s hyperactive rumor mill—but only if they’re prepared to bend some rules as the feelings go from just for tonight to get it out of our systems to mine.
Then there’s Henry Hazlette, best man and the best one-night stand of Whit’s summer. She never imagined she’d see him again but now he’s one of her new surgical residents—and completely off-limits.
Whitney has staked her reputation on leading the hospital’s new ethics initiative. While Henry is under her supervision, they have to keep it professional. But it doesn’t help that she can’t turn around without running face-first into his offensively broad chest or rubbing up against him in crammed elevators. Also not the way he smiles at her like he can hear her every not-safe-for-work thought.
All they have to do is survive this residency—and the accidental tarot card readings that hit too close to home, a few uninvited houseguests, and the hospital’s hyperactive rumor mill—but only if they’re prepared to bend some rules as the feelings go from just for tonight to get it out of our systems to mine.
440 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 25, 2024
883 people are currently reading
14952 people want to read
About the author
Kate Canterbary
48 books5,563 followersUSA Today Bestseller Kate Canterbary writes smart, steamy contemporary romances loaded with heat, heart, and happy ever afters. Kate lives on the New England coast with her husband and daughter.
To get in touch with Kate, please email kate@katecanterbary.com
To get in touch with Kate, please email kate@katecanterbary.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 796 reviews
July 20, 2024
4.25⭐️ I stand correct, you can cover up insta love with "they didn't see each other for 3 months after a one night stand" turned lovers and make it work
making notes to help his surgical studies ❌️
making notes on how to impress his attendant ✅️
the nod to Grey's anatomy with total eclipse of the heart 🥺🎶
making notes to help his surgical studies ❌️
making notes on how to impress his attendant ✅️
the nod to Grey's anatomy with total eclipse of the heart 🥺🎶
February 9, 2025
Currently $0.99 on Amazon!
🧁🧁🧁🧁🧁
Meet my new book boyfriend Henry.
Whitney and Henry have an insanely hot one-night stand, after which she disappears on him, because the early bird gets out before it’s awkward. Fast forward a few weeks and, tadaaam, she's his supervisor during his Transplant Surgery Rotation. How delightfully forbidden 😈.
This was light and spicy, and I absolutely loved it. I know that you all love slowburns and other tortures Mariana Zapata serves you, but, as it turns out, I love books that start with a one-night stand. There's nothing better than an instant connection and then the first surprise meeting AFTER, usually in a public setting, when they don't know what to do with their eyes and hands.
The chemistry was off the charts; all the stolen touches in the elevator, leaning into each other when listening to a lecture, gimme more 😋.
Henry was a perfect cinnamon roll; he was crazy about Whitney, and I was crazy about him. He brought her cupcakes and ice cream, and even pens when he noticed that she liked pens. He was so sweet and caring and perfect 🥹
My absolute favorite from this author!
🧁🧁🧁🧁🧁
Meet my new book boyfriend Henry.
Whitney and Henry have an insanely hot one-night stand, after which she disappears on him, because the early bird gets out before it’s awkward. Fast forward a few weeks and, tadaaam, she's his supervisor during his Transplant Surgery Rotation. How delightfully forbidden 😈.
This was light and spicy, and I absolutely loved it. I know that you all love slowburns and other tortures Mariana Zapata serves you, but, as it turns out, I love books that start with a one-night stand. There's nothing better than an instant connection and then the first surprise meeting AFTER, usually in a public setting, when they don't know what to do with their eyes and hands.
The chemistry was off the charts; all the stolen touches in the elevator, leaning into each other when listening to a lecture, gimme more 😋.
Henry was a perfect cinnamon roll; he was crazy about Whitney, and I was crazy about him. He brought her cupcakes and ice cream, and even pens when he noticed that she liked pens. He was so sweet and caring and perfect 🥹
My absolute favorite from this author!
August 20, 2024
DNG at 46%
This is a sad day guys, but this was the most boring book ever and I was really struggling with it! So back to KU it goes!
Don't get me wrong the premise and the meet cute were fun but then it just lost it for me. The characters were so dull, particularly Henry with his constant pining for 'Whit' like get a life man, you spent one night with her then spend your whole existence obsessing over her!
Next!
--------------------------------------
I just got two months of KU, so of course I'm going to read the new Kate Canterbary🙌
This is a sad day guys, but this was the most boring book ever and I was really struggling with it! So back to KU it goes!
Don't get me wrong the premise and the meet cute were fun but then it just lost it for me. The characters were so dull, particularly Henry with his constant pining for 'Whit' like get a life man, you spent one night with her then spend your whole existence obsessing over her!
Next!
--------------------------------------
I just got two months of KU, so of course I'm going to read the new Kate Canterbary🙌
November 5, 2024
I knew, based on several friends’ reviews, that Henry (H) was going to be a top tier book boyfriend. Even knowing didn’t completely prepare me for how wonderful he was though. He’s sweet, considerate, can be bossy, and he was obsessed. Whit (h) felt more complex and therefore had me feeling a slew of emotions. She’s a badass, competent surgeon, yet highly messy in her personal life. I also felt like others drove the bus more regarding her hang-ups and reactions, rather than a growth arc, if that makes any sense. Still, both main characters were excellent imo and kept me fully engaged. The story of these two having a hot ONS when Whit crashes Henry’s best friend’s wedding and then unexpectedly seeing each other again on the other side of the country months later while not being able to BE together at first made for a tension-filled and chemistry-laden ride.
Whit’s a transplant surgeon and Henry’s a first year resident who’s doing rotations, with one of those being in the transplant program. Whit’s also the face of a huge ethics re-framing for the hospital, so an inappropriate relationship with a resident in her rotation would be a career dumpster fire. Thus, the two of them spend little, fraught moments with each other walking a thin line as the number of days til Henry moves to the next rotation counts down and Whit questions whether what’s between them will quickly be gotten out of their systems. The elevator moments, tiny touches, cupcakes, and chicken incisions were all fantastic. The story is relationship-driven and character focused.
Written in first person, dual POV. No ow drama, tiny blip of om jealousy from H when another doctor expresses interest in h, and both are experienced (H shares that he hadn’t been with anyone else that year, unknown when the last time was for h).
Henry had a past of not being relationship-focused and Whit is herself bad at relationships so has embraced a single hood pact with her best friend. Both characters have been in therapy (yay) but I honestly felt like Whit needed to go back. She catastrophizes, believes that the majority of people will leave, is terrible with boundary setting, and generally has a well of insecurity that’s at supreme odds with her professional side. On a personal note, some of these are issues I personally felt challenged by when I was younger and that may have colored my reading experience because it's hard sometimes to read characters with the same challenges and not compare how things played out on your end vs. what they're working on or not. Henry’s insistence that he wasn’t going anywhere was just what was needed, the continuous showing up.
The steam is great and I actually really love when a book starts with a ONS and then has to slam on the brakes and we have to wait for more hitting the sheets til later. Also, Henry’s not afraid to take control given that Whit has to be the one in control everywhere else and he’s not afraid use all the tools at his disposal either. Because there’s proximity and non-line crossing togetherness prior to being officially together, the emotional intimacy was built very well prior to the physical intimacy getting the green light again. Whit and Henry know each other very well and are able to be vulnerable, even in hard moments.
Because this story takes place mostly in a hospital setting, side characters abound, some from prior books (the author shares which side characters are in which books at the end in case anyone wants to track those down). I loved that Henry has a found family set-up with his cohort and that even though his best friend is mostly an ass in this story, the love between them is also clear. Whit’s best friend and fellow doctor gave me more mixed feelings. I loved her feistiness and her willingness to throw down on Whit’s behalf or offer much needed wake-up calls. I couldn’t understand why she had secrets when Whit and her were each other’s person and we never find out the details! I was also just rubbed the wrong way sometimes over their pact. Whit's sister is a whole other kettle of fish and this relationship was probably the most frustrating for me to read about. There is some progress/closure by the end, I'll give them that. Loved the little scenes with other doctors and some of the set-downs that Whit also gives on behalf of ethics.
Hang-ups are still hang-ups though and the third act drama was not my favorite. I had a hard time with what was being asked and how the response took shape. I wish this had gone a little differently personally. But Henry and Whit were so good together and they do come out of it with a stronger base I felt and then able to peel off those final layers to get their deeper feelings out. The ending is super sweet and a few months jumped ahead at another wedding. It’s a HFN ending with that HEA feel that you know they’re making it long-term, even without the years into the future peek. This author often does bonus scenes for characters and I don’t know if there’s already one for these two or not, but hopefully if not, one might be in the future.
I do recommend this and if like me, you've waited on it for a while, go ahead and give it a go. If the wedding crashing element puts you off, it's a very small part of the overall story. It also didn't give me Wedding Crashers (the movie) vibes at all, which is sort of what I had wondered about myself. The activity comes about sort of related to the pact between Whit and her BFF and they very much keep their heads down and try not to be noticeable vs. being front in center at those events.
Whit’s a transplant surgeon and Henry’s a first year resident who’s doing rotations, with one of those being in the transplant program. Whit’s also the face of a huge ethics re-framing for the hospital, so an inappropriate relationship with a resident in her rotation would be a career dumpster fire. Thus, the two of them spend little, fraught moments with each other walking a thin line as the number of days til Henry moves to the next rotation counts down and Whit questions whether what’s between them will quickly be gotten out of their systems. The elevator moments, tiny touches, cupcakes, and chicken incisions were all fantastic. The story is relationship-driven and character focused.
Written in first person, dual POV. No ow drama, tiny blip of om jealousy from H when another doctor expresses interest in h, and both are experienced (H shares that he hadn’t been with anyone else that year, unknown when the last time was for h).
Henry had a past of not being relationship-focused and Whit is herself bad at relationships so has embraced a single hood pact with her best friend. Both characters have been in therapy (yay) but I honestly felt like Whit needed to go back. She catastrophizes, believes that the majority of people will leave, is terrible with boundary setting, and generally has a well of insecurity that’s at supreme odds with her professional side. On a personal note, some of these are issues I personally felt challenged by when I was younger and that may have colored my reading experience because it's hard sometimes to read characters with the same challenges and not compare how things played out on your end vs. what they're working on or not. Henry’s insistence that he wasn’t going anywhere was just what was needed, the continuous showing up.
The steam is great and I actually really love when a book starts with a ONS and then has to slam on the brakes and we have to wait for more hitting the sheets til later. Also, Henry’s not afraid to take control given that Whit has to be the one in control everywhere else and he’s not afraid use all the tools at his disposal either. Because there’s proximity and non-line crossing togetherness prior to being officially together, the emotional intimacy was built very well prior to the physical intimacy getting the green light again. Whit and Henry know each other very well and are able to be vulnerable, even in hard moments.
Because this story takes place mostly in a hospital setting, side characters abound, some from prior books (the author shares which side characters are in which books at the end in case anyone wants to track those down). I loved that Henry has a found family set-up with his cohort and that even though his best friend is mostly an ass in this story, the love between them is also clear. Whit’s best friend and fellow doctor gave me more mixed feelings. I loved her feistiness and her willingness to throw down on Whit’s behalf or offer much needed wake-up calls. I couldn’t understand why she had secrets when Whit and her were each other’s person and we never find out the details! I was also just rubbed the wrong way sometimes over their pact. Whit's sister is a whole other kettle of fish and this relationship was probably the most frustrating for me to read about. There is some progress/closure by the end, I'll give them that. Loved the little scenes with other doctors and some of the set-downs that Whit also gives on behalf of ethics.
Hang-ups are still hang-ups though and the third act drama was not my favorite. I had a hard time with what was being asked and how the response took shape. I wish this had gone a little differently personally. But Henry and Whit were so good together and they do come out of it with a stronger base I felt and then able to peel off those final layers to get their deeper feelings out. The ending is super sweet and a few months jumped ahead at another wedding. It’s a HFN ending with that HEA feel that you know they’re making it long-term, even without the years into the future peek. This author often does bonus scenes for characters and I don’t know if there’s already one for these two or not, but hopefully if not, one might be in the future.
I do recommend this and if like me, you've waited on it for a while, go ahead and give it a go. If the wedding crashing element puts you off, it's a very small part of the overall story. It also didn't give me Wedding Crashers (the movie) vibes at all, which is sort of what I had wondered about myself. The activity comes about sort of related to the pact between Whit and her BFF and they very much keep their heads down and try not to be noticeable vs. being front in center at those events.
October 12, 2024
This was a bit long, and I glossed over some stuff. But overall I really liked it!
The fmc and her best friend have this thing where they crash weddings, there are rules but she just can't help breaking them on this particular event. She shares a night with someone, both knowing it's a one-time thing. Only for them to meet again 3 months later (and no she is not pregnant in case you were wondering).
I loved that the mmc was a simp for our fmc. He was determined, took care of her, patient, and in complete awe of her. I loved that the woman was the one calling the shots in this one, it was a nice change. I laughed at the whole astrology thing too. Basically, I had a good time.
Things I didn't love:
* There was a little jealousy I could have gone without.
* There was a little 3rd act conflict which makes sense given the background but could have also been cut IMO.
* There were some choice words I didn't love (for example: her 'sweet berry' or something, just like WHY).
* There was a little scene in the woods that I found questionable but whatever.
The fmc and her best friend have this thing where they crash weddings, there are rules but she just can't help breaking them on this particular event. She shares a night with someone, both knowing it's a one-time thing. Only for them to meet again 3 months later (and no she is not pregnant in case you were wondering).
I loved that the mmc was a simp for our fmc. He was determined, took care of her, patient, and in complete awe of her. I loved that the woman was the one calling the shots in this one, it was a nice change. I laughed at the whole astrology thing too. Basically, I had a good time.
Things I didn't love:
* There was a little jealousy I could have gone without.
* There was a little 3rd act conflict which makes sense given the background but could have also been cut IMO.
* There were some choice words I didn't love (for example: her 'sweet berry' or something, just like WHY).
* There was a little scene in the woods that I found questionable but whatever.
July 13, 2024
i hope whitney knows how to fight because i’m here to steal her man
~~~
it’s my finals week so this loser should at least treats herself with a good book in between studying🤭 my hopes for this are so high, i’m expecting something In a Jam level so hopefully it won’t disappoint🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
~~~
it’s my finals week so this loser should at least treats herself with a good book in between studying🤭 my hopes for this are so high, i’m expecting something In a Jam level so hopefully it won’t disappoint🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
August 15, 2024
4.25 stars - kate can really do no wrong for me and i loved this one.
gave me big grey’s anatomy vibes if one single man (besides george) on grey’s wasn’t partly or hadn’t been a piece of shit at some point. henry and whitney have one perfect night together after she crashed his best friend’s wedding and he searched the guest list high and low to try and reconnect but never found her… until he starts another round of his residency and what do you know? whitney’s the attending.
henry was P E R F E C T start to finish. the man was filthy but also ridiculously sweet and understanding and just wanted to hold the pumpkins she bought at the farmer’s market ok!!! and together, they were so funny and perfect.
this did drag a little bit during certain parts and i felt like the conflict kinda came out of nowhere but i still highly recommend for a great story and a GREAAAAT book man.
gave me big grey’s anatomy vibes if one single man (besides george) on grey’s wasn’t partly or hadn’t been a piece of shit at some point. henry and whitney have one perfect night together after she crashed his best friend’s wedding and he searched the guest list high and low to try and reconnect but never found her… until he starts another round of his residency and what do you know? whitney’s the attending.
henry was P E R F E C T start to finish. the man was filthy but also ridiculously sweet and understanding and just wanted to hold the pumpkins she bought at the farmer’s market ok!!! and together, they were so funny and perfect.
this did drag a little bit during certain parts and i felt like the conflict kinda came out of nowhere but i still highly recommend for a great story and a GREAAAAT book man.
December 6, 2024
4.5/5
Okay so The Worst Guy was my first Kate Canterbary book and I’ve been absolutely ecstatic when I heard about this one. It takes us back to the Vital Signs “world” and I loved it just as much as TWG. I can’t stop thinking about it. Henry and Whitney were an absolute delight together – I ADORED their banter and chemistry as they progressed from the whole ONS situation to falling in love. I’m usually not a fan of the trope but it was done so well in this book! Henry Hazlette, the man that you are!!😤👌🏼❤️
I really enjoyed the pacing of their romance and how it played out through the reversed power dynamic where she’s his boss and he’s her resident. The buildup and the TENSION, my goodness! Whitney was such a wonderful character and a badass transplant surgeon. I found myself relating to her eldest daughter syndrome and her realistic stance on relationships. I also loved how her friendship with Meri was written - it was hilarious, supportive and just so wholesome. It was so entertaining seeing all the new supporting characters too because Henry’s resident cohort had me cackling (especially after that dinner *incident*, iykyk👀).
And I absoloutely LOVED the appearances of the doctors from the other books, especially Sara, Sebastian (my loveee), Alex, Nick, Cal, and O’Rourke! It certainly elevated the reading experience and I could not stop grinning at all their banter 😭 Whitney’s friendships with Cal and Alex in this book were wonderful and impactful to the story.
I’m so excited for when O’Rourke finally gets his own book because I FELL IN LOVE him in TWG and I just know that I’m going to inhale that story❤️
(Thank you to the author and publisher for this ARC!)
Okay so The Worst Guy was my first Kate Canterbary book and I’ve been absolutely ecstatic when I heard about this one. It takes us back to the Vital Signs “world” and I loved it just as much as TWG. I can’t stop thinking about it. Henry and Whitney were an absolute delight together – I ADORED their banter and chemistry as they progressed from the whole ONS situation to falling in love. I’m usually not a fan of the trope but it was done so well in this book! Henry Hazlette, the man that you are!!😤👌🏼❤️
I really enjoyed the pacing of their romance and how it played out through the reversed power dynamic where she’s his boss and he’s her resident. The buildup and the TENSION, my goodness! Whitney was such a wonderful character and a badass transplant surgeon. I found myself relating to her eldest daughter syndrome and her realistic stance on relationships. I also loved how her friendship with Meri was written - it was hilarious, supportive and just so wholesome. It was so entertaining seeing all the new supporting characters too because Henry’s resident cohort had me cackling (especially after that dinner *incident*, iykyk👀).
And I absoloutely LOVED the appearances of the doctors from the other books, especially Sara, Sebastian (my loveee), Alex, Nick, Cal, and O’Rourke! It certainly elevated the reading experience and I could not stop grinning at all their banter 😭 Whitney’s friendships with Cal and Alex in this book were wonderful and impactful to the story.
I’m so excited for when O’Rourke finally gets his own book because I FELL IN LOVE him in TWG and I just know that I’m going to inhale that story❤️
(Thank you to the author and publisher for this ARC!)
July 29, 2024
If you're a fan of the OG Grey's Anatomy vibes - you'll love this!! Fun and I loved the plot - beyond the fact that the plot was PRESENT - I felt like I actually wanted to know more of it!
July 9, 2024
i guess i'm gonna die alone now that the bar is in heaven thanks to henry hazlette 😔
April 1, 2025
maybe more like 2.5 stars but this was BORING
June 30, 2024
*thanks to Kate Canterbary for the eARC; all thoughts are my own*
Unfortunately this one did not work for me. I found the beginning to be so engaging and interesting. I loved the Wedding Crashers part of this, but once we were back in Boston and they had to work together it was so slow. I don't love a forbidden romance and these two did everything right, which also made it boring. And then they could be together and it still was boring.
Henry said some cute things, but I found him so boring. I don't even know what would've made him more interesting. At least I needed him to be a bit more flawed bc he was too perfect which made him such a boring person to read about.
Whitney was cool and I loved seeing her be a badass doctor and being top of her field, but I didn't feel like she went on much of a journey.
This would've been a great novella since there was not enough character development / tension / conflict. I would've DNF'd this, but since I was sent an ARC I wanted to power through which possibly was a mistake since I was so bored and I skimmed the last 20%.
ALSO I CANNOT TAKE THIS TITLE SERIOUSLY WHEN SHE IS A TRANSPLANT SURGEON.
Unfortunately this one did not work for me. I found the beginning to be so engaging and interesting. I loved the Wedding Crashers part of this, but once we were back in Boston and they had to work together it was so slow. I don't love a forbidden romance and these two did everything right, which also made it boring. And then they could be together and it still was boring.
Henry said some cute things, but I found him so boring. I don't even know what would've made him more interesting. At least I needed him to be a bit more flawed bc he was too perfect which made him such a boring person to read about.
Whitney was cool and I loved seeing her be a badass doctor and being top of her field, but I didn't feel like she went on much of a journey.
This would've been a great novella since there was not enough character development / tension / conflict. I would've DNF'd this, but since I was sent an ARC I wanted to power through which possibly was a mistake since I was so bored and I skimmed the last 20%.
ALSO I CANNOT TAKE THIS TITLE SERIOUSLY WHEN SHE IS A TRANSPLANT SURGEON.
July 13, 2024
actual rating 3.5
so, any kate canterbary book is ALWAYS a great time for me, this was no exception. that said, the romance pairing here was one of the more, okay fine? ones for me. Henry Hazlette, oldest in his surgical cohert after starting out med school later in life, felt unexplored beyond his adoration for the woman he has a one night stand with at his best friend's ill-fated wedding. when his best friend dumps a whole lot of drama on Whitney later in the story about Henry, I was like WHERE is some of these issues manifesting? Just a bit too self-actualized I suppose. =
the friendship circles in this story felt like the true stars to me, I loved meeting the newbies and seeing my favs (STREMMEL) so all in all this read like a comfortable hug and return to a world I like to be in. I just wanted Whitney and Henry to stand out a little bit more as individuals and as a couple, together, beyond these other characters.
whitney being the lead of an ethics committee as the reason why they could not immediately begin dating is fun for fiction, but i did have to turn my thinking brain off a bit for it. honestly, could have used more drama from that because i like that angst!
the male narrator also wasn't my fav, his voice read a bit smooshy? i can't describe it, he just had a lispy squishy sounding voice (oscar reyes). I'd listen to narrator Stella Hunter again though!
so, any kate canterbary book is ALWAYS a great time for me, this was no exception. that said, the romance pairing here was one of the more, okay fine? ones for me. Henry Hazlette, oldest in his surgical cohert after starting out med school later in life, felt unexplored beyond his adoration for the woman he has a one night stand with at his best friend's ill-fated wedding. when his best friend dumps a whole lot of drama on Whitney later in the story about Henry, I was like WHERE is some of these issues manifesting? Just a bit too self-actualized I suppose. =
the friendship circles in this story felt like the true stars to me, I loved meeting the newbies and seeing my favs (STREMMEL) so all in all this read like a comfortable hug and return to a world I like to be in. I just wanted Whitney and Henry to stand out a little bit more as individuals and as a couple, together, beyond these other characters.
whitney being the lead of an ethics committee as the reason why they could not immediately begin dating is fun for fiction, but i did have to turn my thinking brain off a bit for it. honestly, could have used more drama from that because i like that angst!
the male narrator also wasn't my fav, his voice read a bit smooshy? i can't describe it, he just had a lispy squishy sounding voice (oscar reyes). I'd listen to narrator Stella Hunter again though!
dnf
August 24, 2025the concept of derek shepherd singing cruel summer
November 14, 2024
4 stars - What can I say? I’m a sucker for a doctor romance. This story was mostly light and the hero was basically obsessed with the heroine from the start. I love the “he falls first” trope - it just really works for me. This book definitely didn’t blow me away, but it hit the right spot for me right now.
Safety
-Hero not a manwhore and was celibate after meeting the heroine and mentions being celibate prior to her iirc
-Heroine was celibate after meeting the hero but it’s unclear how long it had been before that for her - since she and her bff went to weddings to hook up and although she had not been with anyone the previous night, the rest remained unconfirmed.
-No OM/OW drama
-No cheating
-No scenes with OM/OW
Safety
-Hero not a manwhore and was celibate after meeting the heroine and mentions being celibate prior to her iirc
-Heroine was celibate after meeting the hero but it’s unclear how long it had been before that for her - since she and her bff went to weddings to hook up and although she had not been with anyone the previous night, the rest remained unconfirmed.
-No OM/OW drama
-No cheating
-No scenes with OM/OW
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
dnf
June 30, 2024dnf at 40%. I really really wanted to like Change of Heart. The synopsis sounded like something I'd love. The first part of the book was so good. I loved Henry and Whitney's meet-cute. They were ADORABLE. But once Henry and Whitney met up again in Boston...I lost interest. There wasn't enough angst for me and I know that Kate can deliver on the angst (like in my favorites The Worst Guy and Preservation). Still looking forward to the next book by Kate - hopefully it's Dr. O'Rourk's book!
June 25, 2024
The tension between the main characters in the first 50% of this book was a master class in how it should be done. 🤩 I mean. Holy moly. As though that isn't enough to convince you to pick up this particular book, Canterbary has a way of telling a story that feels like a lived experience. Between laughing out loud, snorting and giggling like a loon, and tearing up at the absolute tenderness she shows the protagonists, this was a tale that felt like it was written FOR me. I've adored everything I've read from her, but this one was special. 💖
July 3, 2024
“Whitney, I’d like to spend the next nine hours doing unspeakably rude things to you.”
There’s something downright breathtaking about a Kate Canterbary novel and the way her characters pull you in straightaway with the sheer freshness and candour of their quirks and wit. But it’s the way she then breaks them wide open, tenderly, carefully, that has you hooked on her every word. Two perfect strangers meet at a wedding—he’s the best man, she’s not even supposed to be there—thinking one unforgettable night of passion would be all they’d ever have. But when their paths cross again, their new working relationship throws a wrench in any desire they might have of pursuing a romantic connection. Canterbary takes the familiar workplace romance trope and turns it on its head in this heartwarming, fun, thoughtful story about finding the courage to believe in love, and it just so happens to be one of my favourite reads of the year.
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I received a free ebook from the author/publisher with no obligation whatsoever to read and/or review it. My reviews are always honest and fair.
June 12, 2025
3.5 stars
June 27, 2024
5 STARS
5 STARS
5 STARS
THE PINING
THE YEARNING
THE DIRTY TALK
I AM *OBSESSED*
INCREDIBLE
NO NOTES
SPEECHLESS
5 STARS
5 STARS
THE PINING
THE YEARNING
THE DIRTY TALK
I AM *OBSESSED*
INCREDIBLE
NO NOTES
SPEECHLESS
June 2, 2024
(ARC Review) 5 stars
I loved this so much!
Change of Heart brings us back to the Vital Signs world but with a new cast of main characters so you can absolutely read it as a standalone - that being said, if you’ve read certain Walsh and Vital Signs books, you’ll surely enjoy their coworkers!
Whitney is a talented surgeon who crashes weddings with her bestie as a stress reliever. She has a steamy one night stand with the best man at a wedding in California, only for him to show up as a resident in her program at the hospital she works at in Boston. Henry hasn’t gotten over their night together so this is excellent news to him but she is technically supervising him so she has to be appropriate. He quietly woos her as they wait for his time in her program to be over and man it was a delight to watch the tension build between them.
There’s not much I love more than when he falls first and Henry is all in. I just loved him. I love how Kate Canterbary writes a pining man and Henry gives Cal and Noah a run for their money. He’s such a good guy, so easy going in life but determined to win his lady over.
Whitney was also a great character, she’s talented in her field but that hasn’t left a lot of room for a personal life outside her best friend so it was great to watch her try to find more balance.
I love their relationship, I love this world, I love Kate Canterbary’s words, I just loved it all. A top read of 2024!
I loved this so much!
Change of Heart brings us back to the Vital Signs world but with a new cast of main characters so you can absolutely read it as a standalone - that being said, if you’ve read certain Walsh and Vital Signs books, you’ll surely enjoy their coworkers!
Whitney is a talented surgeon who crashes weddings with her bestie as a stress reliever. She has a steamy one night stand with the best man at a wedding in California, only for him to show up as a resident in her program at the hospital she works at in Boston. Henry hasn’t gotten over their night together so this is excellent news to him but she is technically supervising him so she has to be appropriate. He quietly woos her as they wait for his time in her program to be over and man it was a delight to watch the tension build between them.
There’s not much I love more than when he falls first and Henry is all in. I just loved him. I love how Kate Canterbary writes a pining man and Henry gives Cal and Noah a run for their money. He’s such a good guy, so easy going in life but determined to win his lady over.
Whitney was also a great character, she’s talented in her field but that hasn’t left a lot of room for a personal life outside her best friend so it was great to watch her try to find more balance.
I love their relationship, I love this world, I love Kate Canterbary’s words, I just loved it all. A top read of 2024!
June 29, 2024
So so good! Henry and Whitney had my heart from page one and never gave it back.
This is a really character-focused romance and not only relating to Henry and Whitney's relationship but to friendships especially. While I didn't get the DeLuca/Meredith story I thought this was going to be (the age gap is a whole 7 months), I definitely got my Meredith/Christina content.
Whitney and her best friend Meri are the real ride-or-die here. Whitney says outright that she'll always choose Meri over any potential boyfriends and *that's* the kind of girl friendship I love. And Henry totally accepts it, which just makes it sweeter.
Henry Hazlette. The man you are. Stunning. Breathtaking. Never been done before. He's all in with Whitney from the moment he lays his eyes on her and even through conflicts and fights, he never loses sight of that. As a fellow anxious relationship girlie, the way he was just Whitney's rock, come hell and high water, had me sobbing.
I love this universe! I've only read the Vital Signs books so far but I think it's definitely time for me to dive into the Walshes. While this isn't a Vital Signs continuation, there are so many cameos, it might as well be – you'll definitely get your fill.
The hospital politics are all out and at first I was really scared about the repercussions for Whitney especially (because of course the man would come off scot-free) but it was handled in a proper adult way and honestly felt more realistic than the way I've seen superior/subordinant relationships handled before.
There were some slow moments for me in the middle and just like Henry, I, too, didn't really understand what made Whitney want to have a third-act-breakup (it wasn't a proper breakup, Henry didn't allow that). I wish we would've gotten a proper ending for some storylines (is Henry gonna stay a proper Trauma Bro? Did Whitney's whole ethics board even accomplish something in the end?) and while I hope they'll be answered in the sequel, I still think they could've been resolved here. So, this is probably a 4.75 and not a proper 5 stars but I still loved it and by the 60% mark I read it every free moment I had. So excited for Meri's book!
–
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This is a really character-focused romance and not only relating to Henry and Whitney's relationship but to friendships especially. While I didn't get the DeLuca/Meredith story I thought this was going to be (the age gap is a whole 7 months), I definitely got my Meredith/Christina content.
Whitney and her best friend Meri are the real ride-or-die here. Whitney says outright that she'll always choose Meri over any potential boyfriends and *that's* the kind of girl friendship I love. And Henry totally accepts it, which just makes it sweeter.
Henry Hazlette. The man you are. Stunning. Breathtaking. Never been done before. He's all in with Whitney from the moment he lays his eyes on her and even through conflicts and fights, he never loses sight of that. As a fellow anxious relationship girlie, the way he was just Whitney's rock, come hell and high water, had me sobbing.
I love this universe! I've only read the Vital Signs books so far but I think it's definitely time for me to dive into the Walshes. While this isn't a Vital Signs continuation, there are so many cameos, it might as well be – you'll definitely get your fill.
The hospital politics are all out and at first I was really scared about the repercussions for Whitney especially (because of course the man would come off scot-free) but it was handled in a proper adult way and honestly felt more realistic than the way I've seen superior/subordinant relationships handled before.
There were some slow moments for me in the middle and just like Henry, I, too, didn't really understand what made Whitney want to have a third-act-breakup (it wasn't a proper breakup, Henry didn't allow that). I wish we would've gotten a proper ending for some storylines (is Henry gonna stay a proper Trauma Bro? Did Whitney's whole ethics board even accomplish something in the end?) and while I hope they'll be answered in the sequel, I still think they could've been resolved here. So, this is probably a 4.75 and not a proper 5 stars but I still loved it and by the 60% mark I read it every free moment I had. So excited for Meri's book!
–
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
August 3, 2024
Rating - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐♾️
Spice - 🌶🌶
Trope - one-night stand, crashing a wedding, resident × attending, she's his boss, workplace romance, golden retriever × black cat, reverse grumpy × sunshine, small banter, forced proximity, he falls first, hurt & comfort, "no one can know", mutual pining, found family
Bonus chapter - 1
OMFG I WASNT PREPARED FOR SUCH AN AMAZING BOOK. It came at the right time for me, I knew this one would be different the moment I picked it. Because, meeting a stranger at a crashed-in wedding, matching their vibe, having an ONS with them, and then ending up being his attending all these tropes intrigued me and Istg it was��so worth every second.
Whitney and Henry were so damn charming and dreamy. From the first chapter, it felt like I was watching a movie. Their characters were so real - I could see them right in front of me enacting all the words and this was one of the perks of this book, it was beautiful and believable. I loved their first meeting after the — you know what, where she was his boss and he was the one who was trying to calm himself down & hide. CUTEEE!!!
Whitney was such a strong character. She was headstrong, qualified, and beautiful. I loved seeing this new dynamic where the FMC was the one who had a stronger affirmative hand. She was so hot for being all the things she was. I just loved her character.
Henry, on the other hand, was so gone for her from the beginning. This guy searched her heavens and earth for her, and once he found her - he made notes of all her liking, hand-delivered her favorite cupcakes and coffee, respected her boundaries, gave her space and most of all never left her alone in a world full of chaos. HENRY IS NOW MY NEWLY ACQUIRED BOOK BOYFRIEND. All the words he spoke in appreciation of her were pure and heartfelt. Damn my heart, it wasn't prepared for his sweetness. I loved how he paid attention to each of her actions and learned everything about her. Those silent gestures and moments they shared in hiding added a lot to their bond.
The push and pull, and awkwardness between them was worth every minute. When Whitney had her doubts, Henry was always by her side to reassure her — he never left hope and was persistent in making her his. She kept challenging him, and he kept hitting those obstacles far away from them.
I loved how they maintained a professional relationship (which is really rare in books) and also carried all their emotions on their sleeve - that has to be tough. It was so much fun to watch them bicker in those small moments of affection. What stood out was those tiny moments of vulnerability that Whitney showed, and Henry recognizing them without her voicing them out. They had this soulmate vibe and swear to god, that really made me feel jealous, like give me that 😭. I never wanted their moments to end, like ever. THESE TWO- so perfect together🤌🏻💋.
There was barely any spice in the first half of the book, but when it began again - there was no stopping and limits. Iykyk, I didn't think I would see so much in so few chapters.
I loved how these two discussed their issues. The amount of relief I got after seeing Henry's reaction to the "truth" was infinite, I couldn't have handled a miscommunication between them. So glad the author took the high road and left the topic on a positive end.
About the final shove - I can understand why some might not have liked their argument, but it made so much sense to me. They both had their insecurities and issues and sometimes fights are necessary to provide couples with a clear understanding of their relationship and finally resolve their issues.
________________
Meri and Whitney's friendship was so relatable, that they understood each other without many words. Yes, they both had their moments of sadness and happiness but it all came back to them being friends over anything and everything in the world. I just adored their bond.
The side characters were really good —some might've been crooked but most of them were amazing. I loved how most of the surgeons had a mutual understanding and supported each other when required.
________________
This book wrecked me in the most amazing way, and I never want to overcome it. The epilogue had me in tears, it was so beautiful. Everything fell right in its place, and everyone was happy but most of all my HENRY and WHITNEY got the happiness and love they always craved - and OMG all I wanted to do was cry for them. They came a full circle like AHHHH so lovely.
Don't even get me started on the extended epilogue- it was so Henry-Whitney coded with all their wit and spice.
DEVOURED IT, one of my best reads this year.
5/5♾️
Spice - 🌶🌶
Trope - one-night stand, crashing a wedding, resident × attending, she's his boss, workplace romance, golden retriever × black cat, reverse grumpy × sunshine, small banter, forced proximity, he falls first, hurt & comfort, "no one can know", mutual pining, found family
Bonus chapter - 1
OMFG I WASNT PREPARED FOR SUCH AN AMAZING BOOK. It came at the right time for me, I knew this one would be different the moment I picked it. Because, meeting a stranger at a crashed-in wedding, matching their vibe, having an ONS with them, and then ending up being his attending all these tropes intrigued me and Istg it was��so worth every second.
Whitney and Henry were so damn charming and dreamy. From the first chapter, it felt like I was watching a movie. Their characters were so real - I could see them right in front of me enacting all the words and this was one of the perks of this book, it was beautiful and believable. I loved their first meeting after the — you know what, where she was his boss and he was the one who was trying to calm himself down & hide. CUTEEE!!!
Whitney was such a strong character. She was headstrong, qualified, and beautiful. I loved seeing this new dynamic where the FMC was the one who had a stronger affirmative hand. She was so hot for being all the things she was. I just loved her character.
Henry, on the other hand, was so gone for her from the beginning. This guy searched her heavens and earth for her, and once he found her - he made notes of all her liking, hand-delivered her favorite cupcakes and coffee, respected her boundaries, gave her space and most of all never left her alone in a world full of chaos. HENRY IS NOW MY NEWLY ACQUIRED BOOK BOYFRIEND. All the words he spoke in appreciation of her were pure and heartfelt. Damn my heart, it wasn't prepared for his sweetness. I loved how he paid attention to each of her actions and learned everything about her. Those silent gestures and moments they shared in hiding added a lot to their bond.
The push and pull, and awkwardness between them was worth every minute. When Whitney had her doubts, Henry was always by her side to reassure her — he never left hope and was persistent in making her his. She kept challenging him, and he kept hitting those obstacles far away from them.
I loved how they maintained a professional relationship (which is really rare in books) and also carried all their emotions on their sleeve - that has to be tough. It was so much fun to watch them bicker in those small moments of affection. What stood out was those tiny moments of vulnerability that Whitney showed, and Henry recognizing them without her voicing them out. They had this soulmate vibe and swear to god, that really made me feel jealous, like give me that 😭. I never wanted their moments to end, like ever. THESE TWO- so perfect together🤌🏻💋.
There was barely any spice in the first half of the book, but when it began again - there was no stopping and limits. Iykyk, I didn't think I would see so much in so few chapters.
I loved how these two discussed their issues. The amount of relief I got after seeing Henry's reaction to the "truth" was infinite, I couldn't have handled a miscommunication between them. So glad the author took the high road and left the topic on a positive end.
About the final shove - I can understand why some might not have liked their argument, but it made so much sense to me. They both had their insecurities and issues and sometimes fights are necessary to provide couples with a clear understanding of their relationship and finally resolve their issues.
________________
Meri and Whitney's friendship was so relatable, that they understood each other without many words. Yes, they both had their moments of sadness and happiness but it all came back to them being friends over anything and everything in the world. I just adored their bond.
The side characters were really good —some might've been crooked but most of them were amazing. I loved how most of the surgeons had a mutual understanding and supported each other when required.
________________
This book wrecked me in the most amazing way, and I never want to overcome it. The epilogue had me in tears, it was so beautiful. Everything fell right in its place, and everyone was happy but most of all my HENRY and WHITNEY got the happiness and love they always craved - and OMG all I wanted to do was cry for them. They came a full circle like AHHHH so lovely.
Don't even get me started on the extended epilogue- it was so Henry-Whitney coded with all their wit and spice.
DEVOURED IT, one of my best reads this year.
5/5♾️
June 3, 2024
This was honestly my favorite Kate Canterbary book so far. I’m still working my way through all of her books, but got an ARC of this and could not put it down.
The banter is on point, and Henry is freaking adorable and precious. I also loved the gender swapped power differential in their relationship with Whitney being his attending. It was refreshing to not read another male boss and female subordinate type of plot line.
100% would recommend reading!
The banter is on point, and Henry is freaking adorable and precious. I also loved the gender swapped power differential in their relationship with Whitney being his attending. It was refreshing to not read another male boss and female subordinate type of plot line.
100% would recommend reading!
September 7, 2024
3.5 stars. An appealing couple, although the book did drag a little in the middle for some reason, and I took a break before coming back to finish it. But it did pick up again, and overall I enjoyed the read. Not my fav couple from this writer though.
I wasn't really on board with the whole wedding crashers thing, but I otherwise I did like Whitney, the talented and very busy transplant surgeon. After her one-night-fling with Henry, they were both shocked when he turned up a few months later as a surgical resident at her hospital. I thought the writer dealt fairly well with the taboos and issues surrounding workplace romances, especially when one of the couple (in this case, Whitney) is in a position of power over the other. A potentially difficult situation, but handled sensitively in this book.
It was nice to have brief revisits with some of the characters from previous books set in this world. Ms Canterbary states at the end of this book that she is planning at least two more books set in this community. I look forward to that :)
I wasn't really on board with the whole wedding crashers thing, but I otherwise I did like Whitney, the talented and very busy transplant surgeon. After her one-night-fling with Henry, they were both shocked when he turned up a few months later as a surgical resident at her hospital. I thought the writer dealt fairly well with the taboos and issues surrounding workplace romances, especially when one of the couple (in this case, Whitney) is in a position of power over the other. A potentially difficult situation, but handled sensitively in this book.
It was nice to have brief revisits with some of the characters from previous books set in this world. Ms Canterbary states at the end of this book that she is planning at least two more books set in this community. I look forward to that :)
June 2, 2024
I was lucky enough to receive an eARC of this book from Kate Canterbary which was BAR NONE the coolest thing ever.
With that said, this book was amazing. I loved In a Jam which was more small town vibes whereas this one was set in Boston, a place I’m familiar with, and had references to places I could picture in my head. The In a Jam book was also set outside of Boston, I believe there’s a section where they go to Seaport for a farmers market (could be wrong - don’t quote me).
Whitney was such a cool character - not to say she didn’t have flaws, because she did. But I think the way Kate handles the flaws makes them seem less calculated - more real? I cannot stand the romance book that follows the exact arc of the prior ones - love, angst, breakup, large gesture, love again. And this book delivered on that for me - a mixup of how the plot went that was complex and surprising but delivered on a happy romance book.
Frankly, Henry was a star and I love him and now I am going to get lost in the woods for him to find me 🤤
Overall, this one was a solid 4.5 ⭐️ read.
With that said, this book was amazing. I loved In a Jam which was more small town vibes whereas this one was set in Boston, a place I’m familiar with, and had references to places I could picture in my head. The In a Jam book was also set outside of Boston, I believe there’s a section where they go to Seaport for a farmers market (could be wrong - don’t quote me).
Whitney was such a cool character - not to say she didn’t have flaws, because she did. But I think the way Kate handles the flaws makes them seem less calculated - more real? I cannot stand the romance book that follows the exact arc of the prior ones - love, angst, breakup, large gesture, love again. And this book delivered on that for me - a mixup of how the plot went that was complex and surprising but delivered on a happy romance book.
Frankly, Henry was a star and I love him and now I am going to get lost in the woods for him to find me 🤤
Overall, this one was a solid 4.5 ⭐️ read.
June 26, 2024
All I want in a romance is for it to be sassy and feminist and spicy. I want the heroine to be messy and take no sh*t. I want the hero to be down bad and the definition of "if he wanted to he would."
I'm a bit annoyed that I missed my chance in life to go on vacation and crash weddings with my best friend and hook up with a hottie I met at the cupcake table but such is life. I loved everything about this book. A one night stand before they know they're going to work together and she's the boss. Characters that are both super competent. MMC Henry is swoony and filthy, a McDreamy and McSteamy in one. Great banter and chemistry and so fucking romantic. One of my best reads so far this year.
I'm a bit annoyed that I missed my chance in life to go on vacation and crash weddings with my best friend and hook up with a hottie I met at the cupcake table but such is life. I loved everything about this book. A one night stand before they know they're going to work together and she's the boss. Characters that are both super competent. MMC Henry is swoony and filthy, a McDreamy and McSteamy in one. Great banter and chemistry and so fucking romantic. One of my best reads so far this year.
June 30, 2024
this cover 😻😻😻 i’m so obsessed
a note to any authors, if you market your book using greys anatomy there is a very high chance that i will read it. that is what drew me to this story, i am forever searching for the feeling i get when i watch early seasons of greys and this low key gave me some. the elevator is a main character in this book and that show so it’s only fair.
i should look for more doctor romances because i loved everything about that element of this book. henry and whitney were such a good couple. henry has made it to the hall of fame for boy obsessed. they way he loves her the whole time… no i love him so much. whitney is just such a good character, they both were. this book had an amazing romance at its core and that’s what made it good. there were some personal relations and backstory things that were underdeveloped but overall i loved this story.
seeing that most of the doctors mentioned in this book have stories makes me so excited. i have like 6 hospital romances to turn to when i need them now!! can’t wait to read about meri and see hints of whitney and henry in the future!!!
a note to any authors, if you market your book using greys anatomy there is a very high chance that i will read it. that is what drew me to this story, i am forever searching for the feeling i get when i watch early seasons of greys and this low key gave me some. the elevator is a main character in this book and that show so it’s only fair.
i should look for more doctor romances because i loved everything about that element of this book. henry and whitney were such a good couple. henry has made it to the hall of fame for boy obsessed. they way he loves her the whole time… no i love him so much. whitney is just such a good character, they both were. this book had an amazing romance at its core and that’s what made it good. there were some personal relations and backstory things that were underdeveloped but overall i loved this story.
seeing that most of the doctors mentioned in this book have stories makes me so excited. i have like 6 hospital romances to turn to when i need them now!! can’t wait to read about meri and see hints of whitney and henry in the future!!!
January 18, 2025
Kate Canterbary is in her flop era I fear 😭
I read 1/3 then skimmed the rest. I didn’t feel any chemistry between the two leads after their one-night-stand, which is why I usually avoid that trope. A major conflict was on the ethics of their forbidden relationship, but it was more boring than sexy.
Also, this book needed 60% more commas.
TW: discussions of suicide, side character with life-threatening illness, toxic parent, divorce, vomiting, descriptions of injury/hospital scenes
Thank you to the author for an early copy in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.
I read 1/3 then skimmed the rest. I didn’t feel any chemistry between the two leads after their one-night-stand, which is why I usually avoid that trope. A major conflict was on the ethics of their forbidden relationship, but it was more boring than sexy.
Also, this book needed 60% more commas.
TW: discussions of suicide, side character with life-threatening illness, toxic parent, divorce, vomiting, descriptions of injury/hospital scenes
Thank you to the author for an early copy in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.
June 28, 2024
Too much? Not enough?
There were way too many characters (new and old) and it just took away from Henry and Whitney. Too many side stories that took away from Henry and Whitney. There wasn’t enough backstory to Henry or Whitney to understand them. The stakes seemed so low on all their obstacles I just didn’t care. Whitney seemed to make a big deal out of everything when it really wasn’t. Why did Henry even like her so much? Like, I didn’t get his obsession. I normally love Kate Canterbary and the smart, mature characters she writes but this one wasn’t it.
There were way too many characters (new and old) and it just took away from Henry and Whitney. Too many side stories that took away from Henry and Whitney. There wasn’t enough backstory to Henry or Whitney to understand them. The stakes seemed so low on all their obstacles I just didn’t care. Whitney seemed to make a big deal out of everything when it really wasn’t. Why did Henry even like her so much? Like, I didn’t get his obsession. I normally love Kate Canterbary and the smart, mature characters she writes but this one wasn’t it.
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