A late bloomer lesbian doctor. A stepdaughter’s best friend. A taboo passion that could destroy them both.
After a messy divorce, Dr. Rowan Colchester finally embraces her true self. A passionate encounter with a younger woman shakes her world. But when she discovers the complicated connection between them, she knows a future together is not in the cards.
Inspired by the loss of her father, Dr. Simone Doucette dreams of being a humanitarian. But when the pressure proves too much, she takes a job in the ER of a small Cape Cod hospital to put the pieces of her life back together. The last thing she expects is for her new boss to be the one-night stand she can’t forget.
As fate—and scandal—pull them together, Rowan and Simone must fight not just for love, but for the hospital’s survival and the soul of their tightknit community. With careers, reputations, and hearts on the line, will they risk everything for a second chance?
For high-stakes passion and a forbidden steamy romance, don’t miss this must-read collaboration from Miranda MacLeod and TB Markinson.
T. B. Markinson is an American writer, living in England. When she isn't writing, she’s traveling the world, watching sports on the telly, visiting pubs in England, or taking the dog for a walk. Not necessarily in that order.
'Arc generously given by The Authors in exchange for a honest review'
**'A story is like a dynamic: the writers has a beginning, a middle, the ending along with protagonists and an array of other characters, ideas and even the meaning for that said story..'
I really wanted to love this one. I've enjoyed previous books by this writing duo, so I had high hopes going in. Unfortunately, this just didn’t work for me.
I’m rounding up to 3 stars because I like the authors and the writing itself was clean—no noticeable errors, which I appreciate. But if I’m being honest, this felt like a 2-star read. It was just… boring. The pacing dragged, especially in the second half, and I found myself skimming by the time I hit the two-thirds mark just to get through it.
The story had potential—Simone and Rowan were a great match, and I really enjoyed the early stages of their relationship. But the book was at least 100 pages too long, and so much of it felt like filler. There were multiple chapters that didn’t move the plot forward in any meaningful way, which made it hard to stay invested.
I wish I could say the 433 pages were justified, but they just weren’t. I’m still a fan of the authors and will definitely read more from them, but this one missed the mark for me.
3.5 ⭐️. Solid summer romance for easy reading. I enjoyed how the different acts progressed and that the structure wasn’t the traditional one with a third act break up. The yearning romance was all in the beginning with more fade to black towards the end. The ending focuses more on the family and work dynamics rather than the romance. I would have given more stars if there had been more focus on the romance aspects towards the latter half of the book. It also got a little long there at the end with all of the mystery solving. Still a sweet, low angst romance.
3.5⭐️ I really liked the first part of the book, from the meeting to the reveal of the « forbidden » nature of their relationship, I was hooked from the start. Rowan and Nicole are both loveable, and have great chemistry. The reasons why they don’t dive in a relationship head first are solid and bring the perfect amount of tension. After chapter 20, there was a shift, where everyone pissed me at some point except Rowan. The fight was a bit fustrating, because Macleod and Markinson tend to prefer bight short fights over breakup, which I am all in, but Simone said some ugly things then act surprised when she hurt Rowan. I really didn’t like Erica that was just a whining brat to me, despite what she has been through, she sounded so immature and didn’t deserve Rowan. After that point, the focus is mainly on the mystery around the hospital management. The storyline kept my attention beause I love to see settled couples, but it can be frustrating for some people. An enjoyable audiobook. PS : How old is Marigold ??
4.5⭐️ Two years after a super-hot one-night stand, Rowan and Simone are thrown together again as they work at the same hospital in Cape Cod. The connection and attraction are still buzzing, both couldn't forget their shared passion. But Cupid, who knows who else was involved, has other ideas and throws one stone after another on their path to happiness.
The strong attraction between the two doesn't make it easy for them to keep their hands off each other. The chemistry is sizzling. But the hurdles are manifold and seem insurmountable at first. I liked how they worked hard to have a chance for their love, despite all the rocks thrown their way. They talked about their feelings and problems like adults should do. As these authors are known for, there is also a lot of humor, situation comedy, and drama. There are great side characters too, some really unique like Poppy with her own fashion style and the biggest heart for any living creature.
Both characters are well developed. Simone survived Hurricane Katrina but had to cope with the loss of her father. Since then, one of her greatest desires has been to be a humanitarian, to help people in great need. But she had to give up because the pressure and the memories became too much. Now, she feels like she has failed and has to find her feet again.
Rowan, on the other hand, has to deal with her messy divorce and estrangement from her stepdaughter, whom she truly loves. When you're labeled as the cause of the divorce, it's not easy to get the respect and love back. And a father who never saw her as an equal because she's a woman doesn't help her feel worthy and respected.
Many good issues are addressed, such as the lack of access to medication for underprivileged people, which some of it is remedied with a mobile clinic, mismanagement and greed in the hospital system, patriarchal family relationships, or power imbalance at work. But we also see the power that can come from friendship, solidarity, family, and love, and how many obstacles can be overcome.
We all know that some companies will walk over dead bodies to make more profit and that it takes brave people standing together and searching and fighting until they can do something about it. This is exactly what happens in this story, even if the outcome in this case was only halfway satisfactory, as is often the case in reality.
An entertaining romance with depth- try it. ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review
I recommend the audio book. It was nicely voiced. I was drawn to the characters from the very beginning, and thought about the book when I wasn't reading it. It was like love at first sight for me and this book. One of my favorite books this year.
TB Markinson and Miranda MacLeod are masterful storytellers who understand what readers crave in sapphic romance. Their characters are compelling, relatable, and emotionally resonant. While their romances follow a familiar formula—meeting, hooking up, catching feelings, and overcoming obstacles to reach a happily-ever-after—Markinson and MacLeod consistently infuse their stories with humor and insightful explorations of relationships. Their narratives are rich with witty dialogue and realistic scenarios that deeply resonate with readers. Each story strikes a perfect balance between tension and tenderness, inviting readers to invest wholeheartedly in the characters’ journeys.
In The Anatomy of Forever, their latest collaboration, readers are treated to a heartwarming romance that masterfully blends all the elements of a great love story: humor, passion, and emotional depth. Filled with playful tension and unexpected stakes, the novel offers a relatable exploration of self-discovery that keeps readers engaged from start to finish. Fans of Grey’s Anatomy are sure to love it.
The romance begins with a classic setup: two strangers lock eyes across a bar, leading to drinks, laughter, and, eventually, a passionate one-night stand. For Dr. Rowan Colchester, however, this seemingly casual encounter becomes the start of a transformative journey toward self-discovery and sexual freedom. Complications arise when Rowan discovers that her fling, Simone Doucette, is her best friend’s ex-stepmother—a revelation that adds layers of intrigue and tension to their budding relationship. Despite the high stakes, the story is peppered with moments of awkward humor, witty banter, and romantic tension, making it impossible to put down.
The forbidden nature of Rowan and Simone’s relationship adds complexity without veering into heavy drama. Markinson and MacLeod handle the “taboo” element delicately, focusing on social and familial dynamics rather than sensationalism. By emphasizing the contrasts in Rowan and Simone’s personalities and life experiences, the authors create opportunities for conflict, connection, and humor that enrich the storytelling. This thoughtful approach ensures the romance remains dynamic and deeply engaging.
As if navigating their unconventional relationship weren’t challenging enough, Rowan faces additional hurdles when her father asks her to serve as interim chief medical officer at Marbury Hospital—her hometown’s struggling medical center, which has been left in disarray due to her ex-husband’s poor leadership. Working alongside Simone in the hospital’s tight-knit environment proves equally daunting, as small-town gossip and nosy neighbors threaten to derail their romance. Yet, even amidst these challenges, Markinson and MacLeod maintain a lighthearted tone, ensuring the story remains uplifting while allowing for moments of vulnerability and growth. This balance makes Rowan and Simone’s eventual happy ending all the more satisfying.
Final Thoughts…
The Anatomy of Forever is a delightful romance that seamlessly weaves humor, passion, and emotional depth into an unforgettable narrative. With relatable characters, playful tension, and uplifting themes, this story embodies all the hallmarks of an exceptional romantic dramedy. It celebrates love, personal growth, and the courage to embrace happiness despite life’s complexities. Whether readers are drawn in by the sharp wit or the heartfelt romance, this book is sure to leave them smiling long after they’ve turned the final page.
Simone and Rowan meet in a bar, and have a brief hookup, but neither can forget the other. Neither knows that the other is a doctor; Simone is just about to go to Haiti on a humanitarian medical mission, and Rowan has just returned to her childhood home town on Cape Cod after her divorce, but is still currently working in Boston. Two years later, they still remember each other. Simone has returned from the mission, leaving early because of her mental health. Rowan is moving permanently back to the hospital on the Cape that her family has run for generations, where Simone is now working. Typically for the authors, this is a brilliantly written story, longer than I expected, and with many twists in the storyline. There are many fun paragraphs of banter between the women, and with Simone’s friend Marigold and others the witticisms are taken to the next level. A wonderful, fun story.
I LOVED the first half of this book. The second half seemed a bit too much like a Scooby Doo mystery, and I did not care for it. 3.5 stars rounded up, for what could have been a really REALLY good romance
This story grabbed my attention right from the beginning. Simone and Rowan meet in a bar and share a steamy night together. Once Rowan finds out Simone is her step daughter's best friend she has to back away. Only they can't seem to keep they libidos in check. They navigate family, friends and an ex all while also trying to save a hospital. There are some great supporting characters in the story as well as several pets. I loved the story and Rowan and Simone are great.
A nice enough love story. Includes the boss/employee trope, minor age gap and Simone and Rowan (love this name) call the same person ‘best friend’ and ‘step-daughter’ respectively for an added barrier during their journey. This was as easy read that just happened to hit me at a busy time, but I still didn’t find myself dying to get back into this piece of fiction. I wouldn’t read it if you’re looking for spice, there may have been a scene or two but nothing overly memorable in that department. I usually love a hospital environment for the chaos it can bring but in this story, the hospital is already based in a slower paced town/city and also facing a heap of financial problems, high staff turnover and woeful mis-management (by Rowan’s ex-husband); all of which left me with less of that “busy work days” element and more of a “will this hospital even survive?” But overall it wasn’t bad and far from a DNF for me. Wish the MCs were more SOMETHING… Angrier, funnier, impulsive… idk just something, felt a bit one-note from them both and they let things happen to them for too long until reaching breaking points in various point of their lives but yeah. Middle of the pack.
Really struggling to understand how this book is receiving so many 4 and 5 stars. The overall plot is ace and had amazing potential but it just felt as though next to nothing was happening for most of it. I couldn’t bring myself to abandon it but it took me far longer to read than I had anticipated it would as I just kept getting bored. Super disappointed as I’ve read another book from these authors and I absolutely LOVED it so it was such a shame that this book didn’t give me that same experience!
Well, looks like I have a thing for a medical setting in a romance book 🤣🤣 two doctors? Loved it. What a great workplace romance and forbidden romance? Even better. Highly recommend. I tandem read with audio and Lori Prince did a phenomenal job as always!
Written in third person with 2x POV’s. Age Gap (10 years), Starting Over, One Night to Forever, Workplace Romance. 4x spicy scenes.
Not bad but not great. A strong start that eventually turns perfunctory. The authors seem to have challenged themselves to not have any sex scenes (of which there are more than their typical fare) involving a bed, which was an interesting creative choice. There’s a kind of heavy handed discussion of the negative impact of private equity on healthcare access and quality, but it never takes an explicit enough stance to really make a point.
Simone meets Rowan in a bar the night before she leaves to follow her dreams of being a humanitarian, but she has no idea that Rowan just happens to be her new boss when she return to work as a Doctor at a small hospital. Fate has brought them back together, but with the hospital struggling to survive and other more personal complications affecting their relationship, they are taking risks by taking a second chance at happiness.
I loved every second of this. It was filled with scandal and drama from the very beginning with Simone right at the centre of it, whether they wanted to be or not. Simone was so full of hope, kind, and caring, so I instantly adored her and wished her every success. Rowan’s story was one of emotion and drama that made my heart break for her every time a little bit more about her situation and truth was revealed. She was a good person who had been somewhat misjudged for her actions because all the facts were not known. Simone was willing to give Rowan and chance and luckily didn’t just listen to the influences around her that could have had stopped them even getting started in the first place. She was hesitant because she didn’t want to hurt anyone by being with Rowan, but that only layered excitement and drama to the story.
Outside of the focus on their relationship, the situation they found themselves in at the hospital was even more heartbreaking. The hospital belonged to Rowan’s family, and her father who was in charge was struggling. When Rowan started digging into what was really going on, the revelations were actually really shocking and I just hoped her father would listen when she tried to bring it all to his attention. Rowan was always following her heart, which is what lead her to believe a future with Simone just wouldn’t be possible. Simone was so charming and sweet though, I knew she’d win Rowan around and make her understand that together they could be happy and achieve all they wanted to.
There was a colourful cast of characters joining Rowan and Simone in the story, who were actually responsible for the majority of the upsets, drama, and scandal, but some of them also brought the fun and freer moments that gave the story an uplift. It really was a great story to remind me that trust is important, as is taking risks and chances, and that although not everyone is kind, most people are and want to do good.
This book starts promisingly with a chance meeting between Rowan and Simone. Rowan takes Simone to her house, where they spend a steamy night. Coincidentally, they meet again very soon after, and they still seem incredibly attracted to each other. Due to valid reasons, they both try to keep their distance. This is difficult because they keep crossing paths. They keep fighting the attraction while all sorts of things happen in their lives, and they both also struggle with issues from the past. Somewhere halfway through the book, they give up on that struggle. I expected this to lead to a beautiful story about their growing love. Unfortunately, that's where the love story fizzles out. The drama continues, but now focuses mainly on problems surrounding the hospital and Rowan's ex-husband. Although I quite enjoyed the first half of the book, I really didn't like the second half as much. The amount of drama and complications were simply too much and the amount of love was lacking.
4.5⭐️ good read, love the first half of the book with all the sneaking out and some spice. the second half is more plot oriented, and despite not being extremely detailed and thorough, i was entertained. all the characters are enjoyable
4/5 - sapphic, contemporary, age gap, medical, mc has kid. Enjoyable medical romance with good chemistry and nice spice. Rowan’s family gets frustrating as hell at points and I wasn’t crazy about Marigold, but I liked both MCs at least. I would’ve liked some more cute couple moments towards the end and a little less family and work drama, but that’s me. Good messaging in bringing up some impactful topics like corporate greed in healthcare and access to healthcare, without feeling heavy handed.
Simone and Rowan have a delicious night together but when they realise they are connected via Rowan’s step-daughter they decide to forget it and never ever mention it. Two years later and they come back into each other’s orbit when they are working at the same hospital. They shouldn’t be together but tell that to their hearts One night to forever, age gap and hospital romance make up the story amongst other things.