The Anatomy of Us: A Love Story

by Leah Hazard, Jessie Buckley (Narrator)

For fans of Emily Henry and Abby Jimenez, The Anatomy of Us is the debut novel by Sunday Times bestseller and renowned midwife Leah Hazard, performed by Academy Award nominee Jessie Buckley.

It’s New Year’s Eve in Edinburgh’s biggest hospital, and Dr. Becca Armitage is struggling. After a devastating shift in the emergency room leaves her questioning everything, she signs herself off work and spirals into depression. Enter Dr. Andrew Maitland – charming, wealthy and, according to Becca, the Most Beautiful Man in the World. As they begin an unexpected romance, Becca finds herself lying to maintain the image of the put-together doctor Andrew thinks she is. But Andrew has secrets of his own. As their relationship deepens, past wounds and current truths threaten to derail their budding connection. Can two imperfect people find a way to be honest with each other, and themselves?

The Anatomy of Us is a moving story about medicine, self-acceptance, and the messy reality of falling in love. By turns hilarious and heart-breaking, it is an intimate exploration of what it means to be human in all our glorious imperfections.

Genres: Romance, Audiobook, Contemporary, Mental Health, Medical, Friendship, Contemporary Romance

Audible Audio

Published May 8, 2025

About the author

Leah Hazard grew up in the United States and graduated from Harvard University before moving to the United Kingdom to pursue a career in journalism and the arts. The birth of her first child promoted her to change direction; she is now a midwife and continues to promote positive change in the maternity services.

Reviews

[Emmy Rosam · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very easy and entertaining listen but my goodness did I want to choke out our FMC

[Nina (ninjasbooks) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t like the main character unfortunately.

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brillant, funny, and sexy!

Sometimes in life, you make a plan to end things, and sometimes life shows you where to begin.

The Anatomy of Us tells the story of two polar opposite doctors who surprisingly find themselves drawn to one another. The problem lies in the fact that they both have personal baggage they cannot seem to shake. As they both try to show each other their best selves, their ugly past seems to continually get in the way of what may be a love story for the ages. Are their life choices going to seal their fate, or are they just two ships passing briefly in the night, destined for opposite paths?


Audible Original
Duration: 6 hours, 9 minutes
Performed by Academy Award nominee Jessie Buckley

*Loved, loved this! If you want a witty, feel-good story, this one is for you. 💞

[Nicole Tiernan · Rating 1 out of 5]

the only thing I liked about this book was the narrator. and sal.

becca is quite possibly the worst, most annoying mfc I’ve come across. we get it, the mmc is ‘the most beautiful man in the world.’ you told us only forty times. next.

[Lauren Lara · Rating 3 out of 5]

t’s like a hallmark movie, Bridget Jones & scrubs had a baby. It’s a vibe. Sometimes you need a good romance junk read. Doctors with hard jobs, navigating mental health, life & love.

[Ellie · Rating 2 out of 5]

*sigh* I literally hate the FMC. I know she's depressed but she's a terrible person. This is suppose to be a love story? She treats Andrew terribly. She gets mad cause he gets dumped by his ex? So tries to sleep with her ex? I hated the story. I hated the main character... She doesn't deserve Andrew. I only gave this a two star because Andrew was written well.

[Elle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I first have to say that I need to congratulate myself on finishing this Audible book. It was a struggle to say the least. I get that mental health issues can get in the way of healthy relationships and healthy positive thinking. There’s so much self-criticism and self-loathing along with lies upon lies upon lies. Then when j think we get some fun with closure, it seems the book just abruptly ends. I went through all of that for it to end so quickly? The reader deserves so much more.

Read this book knowing the main female character is down and negative throughout the entire book but the main male character is “hot.” It’s mentioned a lot. You’ve been warned.

[Kara Ayres · Rating 5 out of 5]

Made me laugh, made me cry, and even made my Amazon Alexa play tears of a clown by Smokey Robinson! Loved this book.

[Kylie Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ehhh, Becca was a hoe. And over thinker is an understatement, she would almost be relatable and then just murder you with boredom by the catastrophic overthinking
Calling her ex “daddy issues” annoyed me more than it should have

Love Andrew tho, sweet bb

[EmG ReadsDaily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short, sassy, sexy and sweet.

[TenshiMari · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wow. This book was outright awful. Listen, the narrator is AMAZING and I love the way they do different voices and accents. They carried the whole book on their back and that's the only reason I didn't DNF it. However, the protagonist Becca is the worst, most obnoxious protagonist I've ever come across. She is a hot fucking mess, constantly wallowing in self-pity and self-loathing. The book tries to excuse her behavior by saying she's burned out and depressed, and then Becca has the audacity to call people with depression "weak" when a doctor tries to prescribe her antidepressants. She's such a hypocrite. She also feels the need to remind us of how hot Andrew is and calling him "the most beautiful man in the world" about 10 times per chapter, like yes dear we get it, he's hot. But she never actually puts any effort into their relationship, while he's bending himself over backwards to treat her well, she constantly lies to his face and never puts any effort into getting to know him better or sharing about herself or her life. The only effort she puts is to try get into his pants.

[Maria · Rating 1 out of 5]

Great narrator for the audiobook, but FMC is tough to stomach because she’s so depressed through the whole book, showing little growth or self awareness. She doesn’t appear to grow in any tangible way so that’s frustrating. This would not have been a 1-star for me if the genre were different. A romance doesn’t have to be perfect but it feels unethical to be cheering her on to hook up with someone when she needs therapy and serious treatment.

[Sian · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice easy listen book with a blend of emotional journeys that show how different, yet how similar we all can be. The book is also well narrated.

[Ive180 · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 Short, bittersweet, sad, raw, and real though a bit rushed.

[Manon · Rating 4 out of 5]

LUSH

[Alannah Canavan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually quite enjoyed myself when listening to this! The discussion around the effects of being an Emergency Med doctor on the FMC's mental health was very insightful, and I loved how this was described!

[Oni Sahar · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is like a bad filler book in between my reads. Becca is the worst human being ever. Can’t stand her. Didn’t understand their chemistry. Happy to be done with it.

[Mindful Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a medical doctor in health care, who has experienced burnout and depression, this hit me hard. I can understand in some ways you can be mad at MMC, but as it says, depression is narcissistic, and some self-destructive behaviours can be expected. I was expecting a rom-com when I came across this title with Audible, but this is more like drama with comedy elements. That said I always thought medical romances are an area that needs to be explored (at least I'm looking for it) and the portrayal of the anxiety and depression was so in place. I cried - of course- and I smiled at the end. It is a love story but it may not be something you expect but I LOVED IT, sometimes the things you love can come from unexpected places.
In the end, I'm looking for more books from this author. Thank you for telling a story about the struggles of a healthcare professional. It resonated with me.

[Melanie Dorfling · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book did a really good job of depicting depression. 3.5 ⭐s

[Samantha Bunce · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. This character was annoying and obnoxious. I don’t know how accurate the experience of a medical professional it is but if I had to hear “The most beautiful man in the world” one more time I would’ve shattered my phone

[Amy Mastyla · Rating 2 out of 5]

sorry but this was not a slay x

[Ashley Halpern · Rating 1 out of 5]

Becca, girl. By far the worst fmc i have ever read to date, the frustration was incredible the entire book. It ended as predictably as it began.

[Bri · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5 stars)
Audiobook narrator: Jessie Buckley

The Anatomy of Us is Leah Hazard’s debut fiction novel, and from the outset it feels both confident and deeply emotionally attuned. Listening to this on audio, I was immediately drawn into Becca’s inner world - her voice, her spiralling thoughts, her humour, and her vulnerability - and I found myself relating to her far more than I expected.

Becca’s experiences of burnout, anxiety, and chronic overthinking rang painfully true. Hazard captures that constant mental loop - replaying conversations, second-guessing reactions, catastrophising small moments - with a sharpness that feels honest rather than exaggerated. I especially loved how deftly she writes the awkwardness of meeting your crush, those tentative first moments together, and the emotional gymnastics that happen internally while trying to appear calm and put-together on the outside.

What really elevates this story is the way Hazard balances weight and wit. The book tackles heavy themes - mental health, emotional exhaustion, self-worth - but it’s threaded through with genuine humour. I laughed out loud many times, often because Becca’s inner monologue felt so recognisable. The humour never undercuts the seriousness of what she’s experiencing; instead, it feels grounded and authentic, making the story deeply relatable.

The audiobook narration by Jessie Buckley is exceptional. She absolutely nails Becca’s emotional range - from anxious spirals to dry humour to moments of tenderness and longing. Her performance gives Becca so much texture and heart, and it enhances both the comedic beats and the quieter, more vulnerable moments. This is one of those audiobooks where the narration doesn’t just support the story - it elevates it.

Final thoughts: The Anatomy of Us is funny, raw, and emotionally intelligent - a debut that feels impressively assured. I connected deeply with Becca’s struggles, laughed often, and appreciated the care with which Hazard explores anxiety, burnout, and self-doubt without losing warmth or levity. Paired with Jessie Buckley’s brilliant narration, this is a standout audiobook experience that I found both comforting and cathartic.

[Ayaan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listen, is this Book literary gold?
Maybe not but I had a good time and that’s honestly all I need it to be.
I don’t know but there’s just something about stories where people are being horrible but the book has enough dimension for me to understand und empathize with them.

I liked Becca! She’s messy but not for the sake of being messy.
Maybe I just really sympathize with being overwhelmed and fighting the urge to burrow myself in a hole.

I’m honestly so glad that Andrew lied. He would have being so utterly boring otherwise.

Becca getting the ick but gaslighting herself was honestly one of my favorite parts of the book.

Other favorites include but aren’t limited to:
-Sal and the butches
-the wee bit of class consciousness
-(at least in my opinion) good representation of battling depression and anxiety

[Makayla Vandross · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love how this book focuses on the stress and importance of mental health as a healthcare worker. I agree that we can get into the “routine” of showing up and being a body at work while trying to ignore the weight of this assignment on shoulders; how heavy the weight can be. All while that same weight is baring on you so much that it’s sculpted a numb, drained, and emotionally exhausted version of you that you don’t recognize. This job is HARD. This job can be DRAINING. It is okay to get help navigating the ups and downs of this profession.

I loved the book for that reason! I do feel like it was a bit rushed, would have LOVED more character development. But for what it is and what we got, pretty good read for me!

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much. I could relate to the FMC existential crisis and the panic she went through. The author did a great job at explaining how some panic attacks feel and how they affect people. I particularly like how at the end the FMC and MMC worked things out. I appreciate how the MMC could understand that she still wasn’t ready to go back to work or that she needs to reevaluate her life and work.

[Ritu Bhathal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another audiobook down.
Well, it was one I got free, and though it was entertaining, it wasn't a taxing listen, and the story of two doctors who somehow become connected romantically was okay. There are lies, misunderstandings, and a theme of mental health, which I feel could have been explored more.
The narration was pretty good, though, and made the book, as the characters' Scottish, Irish, and English accents were brilliantly done!

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book should be compulsory reading for anyone whose mental health has been directly impacted by their job. Damn!

A really lovely story of 2 people who meet at the NHS hospital where they work and fall into dating. It had a good balance of light heartedness and seriousness. I knocked a star off because I didn’t like how stereotypical Becca and Sal were - they could have been written a bit more realistically/less 2 dimensional

[Eire McKenney · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.6 ⭐️
It was alright. Except that she just kept lying which really annoying me. And I think the point was that she was struggling with depression and anxiety and that’s why she was self sabotaging but it was hard to get onboard with the storyline. For a second I thought it was going to end without her telling him anything so I’m glad it ended better than that.

[Ella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I feel like I understand her, borderline made me cry