Little Miss Diagnosed: A Surgeon’s Guide to Breaking Bones and Bending Rules

by Erin Nance MD

Little Miss Diagnosed has descriptive copy which is not yet available from the Publisher.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Medical, Health, Medicine, Autobiography, Audiobook

Audible Audio

Published June 3, 2025

Reviews

[TL *Humaning the Best She Can* · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd feel safe with her as my doctor.

[Emma Sommers · Rating 5 out of 5]

The worlds most powerful drug is hope 🥹🥹🥹

[Cindy Neighbors · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am listening on audiobook and will update again once finished, but so far, this book resonates deeply with a lot of my experiences in military surgical residency training - although we trained on opposite sides of the country (I did spend a couple of years on the East Coast in Bethesda and a couple of months in Virginia)... all this is to say that these widespread systemic issues are prevalent in ALL of the USA... impacting women of ALL colors. Until women speak more loudly and proudly about these issues the boy's club will continue to remain the boy's club. Bravo to Dr. Nance for speaking and writing so truthfully on her experiences and using her platform daily for the better because not all doctors and surgeons are doing this! May she continue to be a trailblazer not just in her field but for all of medicine! (sorry this is so poorly written but I wanted to at least get something up since I have bad ADHD at times).

[Hannah Dasinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Memoirs are not my typical genre but I enjoyed this! I felt like it was the perfect length for a memoir and kept me intrigued! Dr. Nance is very popular on TikTok, so if you are a fan, if you work in the medical field, or if have any interest in that area I think you would enjoy this! It follows Dr. Erin Nance on her journey to being a doctor. I know nothing about the medical field but this was still easy to follow and a quick read. Thank you Dr. Nance for reaching out and sending me an arc!

[Cari · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I saw this book, I practically yelped! I just started listening to The Medical Detectives podcast, a sister show to The Dating Detectives, which I've been following since it started. I love the new pod, and Dr. Nance is one of the hosts. I was enthralled by her story of becoming a doctor. Like in other memoirs I've read, Nance endured overnight shifts, call, and trauma, but she came out of it as a practicing hand surgeon. She relates stories of the patients she's worked with and both the triumphs and tragedies that resulted. She also shares the heartbreaking story of her brother, who hit his head on the edge of a pool and lost feeling in his body. Nance is clearly passionate about her work and what she does for patients. I could not stop reading and was sad when the book was done!

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paging fans of The Pitt, ER, Dr. House, and Grey’s Anatomy! Report to the OR, STAT!

Erin Nance, MD, (or @littlemissdiagnosed on TikTok) shares the story of what inspired her to become an orthopedic surgeon, her catastrophic first day of residency, and meaningful experiences that got her where she is today.

What would you do if on the first day of the rest of your life (in Erin’s case, a high stakes surgical residency), a life altering phone call came in? That day shaped Erin’s career, and the compassion in her practice, forever.

If you’re a medical nerd like me (I’m a nurse), or you are a fan of medical dramas (like Grey’s Anatomy or The Pitt), check out the real life story of Dr. Erin Nance, a badass orthopedic surgeon, who broke barriers while fixing broken bones!

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is exactly the kind of book I like to read! It's well- written and absorbing. The author details her journey to become an orthopedic hand surgeon, something she decided when she was in second grade. Well worth reading!

I won this book from Goodreads and Harper Collins Publishers.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining for all! You do not need to be in the medical field or a social media user to appreciate the stories Dr. Nance shares in this book. I had never heard of this orthopedic surgeon, but am so grateful to have received this copy for an honest review. Dr. Nance's experience in the male dominated world of orthopedics is eye-opening and relatable for any woman trying to make a name for themself in a male dominated field. I appreciate the stories of care, love, and courage. The strength of her brother after trauma and the various influences she encountered make this a must read.

[Lupita_333 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had first heard of Dr. Erin Nance on tik tok last year and I quickly learned realized how much of an impact she’s made on not only on her patients but also the way she brings awareness to illness that otherwise aren’t often heard of. She’s a huge advocate against medical gaslighting. When I had seen that the ARC for her memoir was available on NetGalley I immediately applied for it and am so happy I got to read it.

This memoir begins with her inspiration for becoming an orthopedic surgeon and the life altering call she received regarding her brother’s life changing injury. She goes on and describes all the difficulties she faced while trying to achieve her dream. She tells stories of her interactions with former patients and other health care professionals she’s worked with and the way they’ve all left a lasting impact on the way she works as a surgeon.

I really enjoyed getting to read this and get to know more about her perspective of being a surgeon and how truly difficult it is to become one. I also liked getting to see how much of an impact her patients made on her to become the great surgeon she is today.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this from a Goodreads giveaway. I really enjoyed this book and it definitely reminded me of Greys anatomy.

[Stefani Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I L🩺VED reading this book!!! BRAVO!! 👏🥰

I follow Dr. Nance 👩‍⚕️on Tik Tok and was excited to see that she was authoring a book! 📖 This is her experience through medical school ⚕️ as a woman. She is witty, compassionate, and gritty. Her words flow like butter. 🧈 She has humor yet has learned to stand for her place in the surgical world. The deep commitment to her patients shines.

She is an exceptional person and seeks to change the culture of medicine, not only for women doctors but, also, for patients who feel unheard. This was definitely a 5 🌟 read for me! I hope she writes another one!

Thank you, NetGalley, and Dey Street Books for the advanced reader's copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#NetGalley #LittleMissDiagnosed #DeyStreetBooks #BiographiesandMemoirs #HealthMindBody #NonFictionAdult

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was so excited to read this book. I follow Dr Nance on IG and TT and love her as she advocates for everyone esp those of us with chronic illness and pain and weird diagnoses. While I enjoy the stories, I was expecting a lot more about her journey to being such a huge advocate for those people. I expected more stories and even advice on how to be a provider who fights hard for others who are struggling to prove their ailments. I just wish there was more. I honestly was just bored. The writing was fine. Still love her and her page.

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened to the audiobook. Narration was ok. I love true medical stories. This one was good but not great. Some laughs. Some parts sounded like bragging to me. Some parts sounded embellished. The part about the people in this country having no insurance coverage was out of place. She tried (unsuccessfully) to go on a soap box about the uninsured in this country after retelling one story about one patient who had no coverage because he didn’t take cobra. Also the part about the undocumented worker was definitely odd. And finally the homeless person who had extensive surgery with numerous screws and expensive hardware seemed not 100% real.

[Karen Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came to this book from her Medical Mysteries podcast. I didn’t know what to expect but it wasn’t exactly what was in here… but that’s ok! It was still interesting.

[Denise Williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first heard the author on the Juicy Scoop podcast so I had to read her book. If ever in need of an orthopedic surgeon, one could pray they could get someone as caring,humble,and intelligent as Dr. Nance

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Little Miss Diagnosed is a medical memoir by orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Erin Nance. The book focuses on her experiences as an intern, resident, and fellow, as well as briefly touching on her experience opening her own practice. The book flows well and seems to really give you an idea of what a medical student/intern/resident goes through. In addition to the medical info, the author also gives you a feel for how a hospital administration works. Very readable and eye-opening. Would recommend.

@GoodreadsGiveaway @BerkleyRomance @littlemissdiagnosed

[Mara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I discovered Dr. Erin Nance on TikTok. I loved her short videos, which brought attention to lesser-known and misdiagnosed illnesses, and felt she was a doctor who truly listened to her patients. When she said her book was on NetGalley, I was so excited, I immediately requested to read it.

This book is a candid collection of essays that pull back the curtain on the inner workings of modern medicine with unflinching honesty. Dr. Nance brings her signature blend of honesty, humor, and heart to the page, giving us a deeply personal and illuminating journey through the challenges of being a young female orthopedic surgeon in a system that's predominantly male.

This isn’t your typical medical memoir. It’s real, and incredibly human. Dr. Nance tells stories about tough diagnoses, complicated cases, and the behind-the-scenes politics of hospitals—but she also opens up about grief, sexism, burnout, and the moments that nearly broke her. She's amazing because she always does what's best for her patients, fighting for them even when the system works against her. She writes like she talks—no fluff, no sugarcoating—just real talk from someone who clearly loves what she does and wants to make medicine better.

Reading what she went through to become an orthopedic surgeon, I love her even more! She's a wonderful example of compassion in medicine, which seems to be something hard to find these days. I received an ecopy from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions in this review are my own.

[Zibby Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a surgeon’s guide that offers a raw, unfiltered look into the complicated world of healthcare. The book discusses how much women’s symptoms are overlooked, downplayed, or dismissed by medical professionals. It weaves together real patient stories, medical research, and Dr. Nance’s personal experiences as both a doctor and a woman. The book also reveals how gender biases are ingrained in the foundation of modern medicine—and the toll this takes on women. Dr. Nance brings firsthand experience and expertise to this eye-opening exploration of the biases, missteps, and oversights that plague women’s medical care.

This isn’t just a medical book. Dr. Nance strikes a balance between personal narrative, hard facts, and practical advice. She calls for systemic change at every level—from medical training to patient-provider interactions. The book provides women with concrete steps to advocate for better care for themselves, their loved ones, and future generations.

To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://shows.acast.com/moms-dont-hav...

[Cybercrone · Rating 4 out of 5]

My version was e-pub, again not listed.

It's hard to review the book without reviewing the whole Dr Nance on-line phenomenon. The book is mostly a collection of the columns she has written for her on-line audience. I haven't read all her on-line columns I think, but I expect that in the book there is extra biographical detail and more information about her training and what that's like for a woman.
That audience is mainly female as her writing consists, in large part, of teaching women how to advocate for themselves in the medical world, where so, so many are misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, told things will clear up if they lose weight, or told it's just anxiety/all in their heads. And the on-line postings are a place where women who have been through this scary and frustrating ordeal - some for decades - can form a community too.
That said, it it well written, informative and has all the feels as well.

[Melissa (Semi Hiatus Until After the Holidays) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this memoir! Nance writes her story in a very personable, readable way that is extremely relatable, especially for women.

In this book, Dr. Nance talks about her experience from the beginning of her college career up until today, with the various roadblocks she has encountered along the way. She speaks of intriguing patients, fascinating (some good, some awful) colleagues, supervisors, and teachers, and the ins and outs of being a female in a predominantly male specialty.

If you're at all familiar with the author from her TikTok (@littlemissdiagnosed) or the podcasts she participates in, you will definitely love this look into her life. And if, like me, you had never encountered Dr. Nance before, you'll really enjoy getting to know more about her.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great read. Dr. Erin Nance details the road to becoming an orthopedic surgeon, starting with her first night of her intern year all the way through starting her own practice years later. Also alongside her journey are snippets of her brother’s journey of recovery from a neck injury that occurred the very same night Dr. Nance began her training. She discusses big picture topics like misogyny, gender parity, medical ethics and how patients are treated, the family cost of becoming a female surgeon and much more with anecdotes from her years in residency and fellowship. Perfect for fans of her Tiktok page, and Grey’s Anatomy. Thank you to Dey Street Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Lisa Konet · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am a an experienced licensed massage therapist but also have experience as a veterinary assistant. I appreciate Nance's perspective as a female surgeon in a field dominated by men. I appreciate her love and passion as an orthpedic surgeon, but I feel the actual medicine and science is dumbed-down in this book. The medicine and science aspect and more advanced concepts does not read smart, maybe this is what the publisher did to help people that do no understand medicine and science.

Liked Nance's perspective, hated the rest. It was painful to read.

Cannot recommend.

THanks to netgalley, Erin Nance and Day Street Books for an ARC in exchange for honest review.

Already available

[Alli · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books I’ve ever read. Sometimes it’s difficult to want to binge read a memoir, but this one kept me so entertained and intrigued. Dr. Erin Nance was honest and transparent about her life as a surgeon. Being able to take accountability for mistakes is a great virtue, and sharing them helps the audience not feel as alone. She wrote about uplifting hopeful moments and also the lamenting ones. I appreciate her sharing her many stories as a doctor, especially the personal one with her brother. If you love the medical field or watching medical shows, you should definitely give this book a try!

[Patricia Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable, compassionate story of Erin Nance's path towards becoming an Orthopedic surgeon, the people along that path and some of the stumbling blocks. Her brother's accident on the first day of her residency, the biases and micro/macro aggressions towards women in a man's field. Yes, the Old Boys' club still exists in the U.S, Note: in Poland, most doctors are women. It's a story of hope, compassion, justice, and a touch of distaste for our present health care system -- we are 'trapped' by our insurance companies as to who & how will be treated--- but mainly a story of Hope . My favourite part is page 208: An honorable person does the right thing, at the right time.when no one is watching....there is just as much art as there is science in medicine..we do these things because there is a way to preserve a person's dignity, even in ties when they feel stripped naked..The most powerful drug is Hope " p.s. Erin Nance, I'm one of those people that read the dedication, the epilogue, references , and acknowledgements... And I urge readers of this book to also read them!! Thanks Good Reads and Erin Nance, M.D. for this wonderful book.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an entertaining read. I love a good memoir, especially ones about careers I'm not familiar with. I enjoy having the curtain pulled back and seeing all the nitty gritty that goes on behind the scenes. I appreciated that the author was so candid about both the good and the bad. I have not seen any of the author's videos on TikTok, but I will follow her immediately next time I use the app. This was a quick read that I did not want to put down. I stayed up too late finishing the book.

[Amanda Hewitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is everything. I am a trauma survivor and chronic illness warrior.
Dr. Erin Nance hits everything important in this book! Trauma, family & work dynamics, education, medical hierarchy, nepotism, medical malpractice, medical bias, gender bias, and much more!

This book made me laughing, crying, cheering, and everything in between!

Also....I am hosting a FREE VIRTUAL (and global book club) and this is our current read through October 18th! Dr. Erin Nance will hang out with us and do a quick Q&A that day via Zoom. DM me on IG. @little.miss.undiagnosed

[Brittney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book came right on time. My daughter is majoring in Chemistry and is wanting to become a doctor but has found herself in tears at times because of the challenge. She doesn’t feel smart enough to, even though she is one of the brightest students in her class. I’m giving this book for her to read because Dr. Nance has a voice of encouragement that can be used as a tool for my daughter to continue on and to not give up.
Thank you so much for this giveaway. It was pretty awesome and is going to great use!

[Marika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Erin Nance is young female orthopedic surgeon in a male dominated profession and it's also said that she is the real-life Meredith Gray from Gray's Anatomy. She is also a very talented writer and this book of essays is a fascinating read of medical dilemmas, the navigating of personal relationships and the power plays between Drs., residents and interns.

*I read an advance copy and was not compensated.

[Christine Cazeneuve · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read many books on this subject and this book goes to the top of my list as one of my favorites. Told in a manner that is comprehensible for everyone and so empowering for women. You'll feel like you're just sitting down with a good cup of coffee and croissant and just having a great conversation with her about her life and experiences. A solid 4.5 stars! Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Sarah Bickings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly engaging and fascinating account of a surgeon's career to date. Nance has a strong voice, but it also feels as if she is telling her story to a group of friends, letting the reader into her life. Weaving her brother's story throughout the book and how it impacted her was such a powerful account of resilience as well as the stories of her patients. You can tell Nance is a caring, compassionate, ethical, driven and remarkable surgeon. Thanks to #NetGalley and #DeyStreetBooks for the ARC.