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Love and Other Side Effects: A Novel
Two best friends start a collision course toward something more in this emotional romance for fans of Ali Hazelwood, Abby Jimenez and Gray's Anatomy.
Asher Foley is an imposter. Or rather, he feels that way sometimes. The "MD" after his name should mean he's got his life together, that people take him seriously, but as a lover of practical jokes, he can't shake the feeling he'll never lose his reputation as a jokester.
Jocelyn Maddox is a paradox - a confident, affectionate woman who refuses to love. After losing almost everyone she loves to tragedy, she's unwilling to open her heart and risk being hurt again. An anesthesiologist with zero pain tolerance. Who'd have thought? But that's why Asher's the perfect best friend. He's far too lighthearted to be a threat to her walls.
When a surgical complication compels Asher to confide his insecurities to Joss, she uncovers a whole new side to him. A deeper, more fascinating side. In soothing him through his self-doubt, Joss realizes Asher has struck a crack in her walls. With a storm brewing in the Caribbean and their friendship evolving into something else, she must face her demons head on, but the fortress around her heart may be too sturdy for even a hurricane to break.
Asher Foley is an imposter. Or rather, he feels that way sometimes. The "MD" after his name should mean he's got his life together, that people take him seriously, but as a lover of practical jokes, he can't shake the feeling he'll never lose his reputation as a jokester.
Jocelyn Maddox is a paradox - a confident, affectionate woman who refuses to love. After losing almost everyone she loves to tragedy, she's unwilling to open her heart and risk being hurt again. An anesthesiologist with zero pain tolerance. Who'd have thought? But that's why Asher's the perfect best friend. He's far too lighthearted to be a threat to her walls.
When a surgical complication compels Asher to confide his insecurities to Joss, she uncovers a whole new side to him. A deeper, more fascinating side. In soothing him through his self-doubt, Joss realizes Asher has struck a crack in her walls. With a storm brewing in the Caribbean and their friendship evolving into something else, she must face her demons head on, but the fortress around her heart may be too sturdy for even a hurricane to break.
395 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 14, 2026
About the author
Deidra Duncan
5 books311 followersDeidra Duncan spends her days (and some nights) living the dream as a board-certified OB/GYN, where every minute is either routine monotony or sheer terror. She lives in Florida with two human tornadoes and the wonderful man who helped make them. She’s usually dressed in either scrubs or glitter, and would love for someone to magically combine them. She devotes every rare moment of free time to writing or reading.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 385 reviews
April 14, 2026
🎉Happy Pub Day!🎉
I really vibe with this author’s writing. It’s witty and engaging and just a lot of fun to read. So even if I don’t love everything about the story, I still enjoy the book.
Asher and Joss are best friends. Or, as Joss’s sister charmingly—and very accurately—puts it, they’re “dating without screwing,” and she doesn’t understand that. Well, me neither.
Asher is looking for something serious, Joss only deals in one-night stands. So they’re stuck in the friend zone. Or, as some might say, in denial.
I love cinnamon roll men. I could read about them forever. Asher was one of those perfect book boyfriends you instantly fall for. He was funny and so, so lovable!
He also deserved better 😭
Joss was funny and smart, and there were things about her I liked, but I hated the way she treated Asher. I always hate third-act breakups, especially the “it’s for your own good” variety, and this one was as annoying as they come.
Girl, you don’t yell at a woman hitting on him that he’s not single, only to reject him right afterwards! So you don’t want him, but he’s also not allowed to be with anyone else? 😤
Joss annoyed me so much that when Asher finally asked an OW out, I was rooting for them. You should’ve picked Gabriela, Asher! 😭
I understand that Joss had severe trauma and mental health issues, but I still hated it, what can I say.
I remember a similar situation with the first book in this series: the fmc being her own worst enemy and hurting the innocent mmc in the process. Must be true love if they’re forgiven in the end 🤷♀️
That said, I enjoyed this book, if you even believe me after reading my rant 🤡. If you like books about doctors written by doctors, and lovable heroes, go for it!
Thanks to Edelweiss and HarperCollins for the arc, all opinions are my own.
———-
Four stars because I couldn’t put it down, but there will be ranting.
RTC
I really vibe with this author’s writing. It’s witty and engaging and just a lot of fun to read. So even if I don’t love everything about the story, I still enjoy the book.
Asher and Joss are best friends. Or, as Joss’s sister charmingly—and very accurately—puts it, they’re “dating without screwing,” and she doesn’t understand that. Well, me neither.
Asher is looking for something serious, Joss only deals in one-night stands. So they’re stuck in the friend zone. Or, as some might say, in denial.
I love cinnamon roll men. I could read about them forever. Asher was one of those perfect book boyfriends you instantly fall for. He was funny and so, so lovable!
He also deserved better 😭
Joss was funny and smart, and there were things about her I liked, but I hated the way she treated Asher. I always hate third-act breakups, especially the “it’s for your own good” variety, and this one was as annoying as they come.
Girl, you don’t yell at a woman hitting on him that he’s not single, only to reject him right afterwards! So you don’t want him, but he’s also not allowed to be with anyone else? 😤
Joss annoyed me so much that when Asher finally asked an OW out, I was rooting for them. You should’ve picked Gabriela, Asher! 😭
I understand that Joss had severe trauma and mental health issues, but I still hated it, what can I say.
I remember a similar situation with the first book in this series: the fmc being her own worst enemy and hurting the innocent mmc in the process. Must be true love if they’re forgiven in the end 🤷♀️
That said, I enjoyed this book, if you even believe me after reading my rant 🤡. If you like books about doctors written by doctors, and lovable heroes, go for it!
Thanks to Edelweiss and HarperCollins for the arc, all opinions are my own.
———-
Four stars because I couldn’t put it down, but there will be ranting.
RTC
April 8, 2026
જ⁀➴ 2.5 stars
Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing | Mira Books, Deidra Duncan, and Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review. Love and Other Side Effects will be officially published on April 14th, 2026!
⋆｡‧˚ʚ 🍍 ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ˚ʚ 🍍 ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ˚ʚ 🍍 ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ˚ʚ 🍍 ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ˚ʚ 🍍 ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ˚ʚ 🍍 ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ˚ʚ 🍍 ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ˚ʚ 🍍 ɞ˚‧｡⋆
(I promise the pineapples in my little divider make sense when you read the story lol)
As some of you may know from Instagram, I got into Harlequin's The Hive influencer program back in November! That comes with an auto-approval on NetGalley for their entire catalogue, so having read the author's first book, Love Sick, last year, I knew that when I saw this book on NetGalley I HAD to get the book. I was originally going to read this later on when it was closer to the publishing date, but as soon as I realized this was about Asher, one of my favorite side characters from Love Sick, I had to read it right away! So...I started and finished this ARC in one day over the weekend back in December.
Unfortunately, as much as I love Asher as an MMC—although I will say he wasn't without his flaws either—, I was not a big fan of Jocelyn, our FMC. I felt like Asher honestly deserved better than her, and I had an extremely hard time trying to believe they were supposed to have chemistry.
Dr. Asher Foley, MD feels like he has major imposter syndrome. As much as he gets praise from his patients and his colleagues for a job well done, he feels like he could be doing so much more. On top of that, he's also chronically single, because the one girl he likes—Dr. Jocelyn Maddox, his best friend—"doesn't do relationships." As they get to know each other more, will Jocelyn finally let down her walls?
As a medical professional myself, I always hold my breath whenever anything medical gets brought up in books, mainly because it's not entirely accurate and then I spend a decent chunk of my book review talking about what was wrong about X or Y in the book medically. The author is an actual doctor—a board-certified OB-GYN, to be specific— so I actually loved the medical bits of the story. I'm a pharmacist, and I'm no stranger to rounding, medical teams, charting, updating patient notes, etc., but it's always nice to see it from a different perspective on the healthcare team. Everyone has their own role to play to make a well-rounded healthcare team that provides the best care to their patients, and if you're looking for a medical romance that touches upon the real realities of the healthcare world in a hospital setting, I'd say this is pretty accurate. Especially now with TV shows like The Pitt gaining a lot of traction, I'm glad that more books and TV shows are trying to showcase the real side of healthcare and not a romanticized version of it that downplays the kinds of cases healthcare professionals see day-to-day.
I related a lot to Asher and his struggle with imposter syndrome. I feel like many people, but especially healthcare workers, struggle with this a lot in particular, especially when your decision-making can literally change the course of a patient's progress and treatment while they're in the hospital. I don't think it's truly anything we 100% grow out of, since each patient case is so unique, but I could definitely relate to his feelings about not feeling like he's good enough, despite everyone around him telling him he's doing fine. However, I felt like his thoughts and his feelings got a bit too repetitive when it came to his feelings about love and relationships. It's emphasized throughout the book that he's a conventionally attractive person, and a lot of girls have just wanted to hook up with him rather than have an actual relationship, which is where a lot of his struggles stem from, but to reiterate that same point over and over again made it almost redundant. Also, his nicknames for Jocelyn bordered on creepy. Like, if any of my guy best friends called me "babe," I think I'd kick them all in the nuts. Granted, they all have girlfriends, but I would legitimately think that they were in some kinda of serious trouble if they did anything like that.
As for Jocelyn, I feel like she ruined the entire story. I get that she's more confident in her sexuality, and there's nothing wrong with that. If anyone is looking for a character comparison to another book, I'd say she reminds me a lot of Lexi Armstrong from Chelsea Curto's D.C. Stars series. Her being confident in her sexuality isn't an issue, but it's also her biggest weakness when it comes to her relationship with Asher. I felt that she was just stringing him along the entirety of the story and playing with his feelings when she knows pretty darn well that he has a crush on her and disclosed all of his relationship struggles to her as his best friend.
She also needs a serious case of therapy. Her background story is extremely sad and explains why she is the way that she is when it comes to love and relationships, but I'm pretty sure there's literally a part in the story where she says that she stopped going because she thinks therapy isn't going to help her. I guess more power to her when it comes to being self-aware and knowing how she is as a person, but it's so blatantly obvious to me that those issues bleed into her relationships with Asher and results in this push-and-pull vibe that ultimately ends up as an EXTREMELY slow burn. To me, it didn't even feel like a slow-burn where I was just itching to have the MCs get together, it just felt like I wanted to get the book over with at some points because of how wishy-washy Jocelyn was with her feelings towards Asher. She'd have this push-and-pull with him that didn't feel super angsty or packed with yearning and tension; it was just annoying, and it wasn't fair to Asher at all.
Overall, if you're looking for a medically accurate medical romance, this is the book for you! I personally felt that the romance was something to be desired in this story, but I know there's people who will absolutely love this book way more than I did.
⋆｡‧˚ʚ 🍍 ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ˚ʚ 🍍 ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ˚ʚ 🍍 ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ˚ʚ 🍍 ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ˚ʚ 🍍 ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ˚ʚ 🍍 ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ˚ʚ 🍍 ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ˚ʚ 🍍 ɞ˚‧｡⋆
Trigger/content warnings (may contain spoilers): natural disaster, recounted deaths of loved ones, sexual content (1.25/5 on my personal scale, but I know this may vary from person to person)
"The man saved my life. Shattered my glass walls...I'm in awe. And so immutably in love with him."
Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing | Mira Books, Deidra Duncan, and Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review. Love and Other Side Effects will be officially published on April 14th, 2026!
⋆｡‧˚ʚ 🍍 ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ˚ʚ 🍍 ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ˚ʚ 🍍 ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ˚ʚ 🍍 ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ˚ʚ 🍍 ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ˚ʚ 🍍 ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ˚ʚ 🍍 ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ˚ʚ 🍍 ɞ˚‧｡⋆
(I promise the pineapples in my little divider make sense when you read the story lol)
As some of you may know from Instagram, I got into Harlequin's The Hive influencer program back in November! That comes with an auto-approval on NetGalley for their entire catalogue, so having read the author's first book, Love Sick, last year, I knew that when I saw this book on NetGalley I HAD to get the book. I was originally going to read this later on when it was closer to the publishing date, but as soon as I realized this was about Asher, one of my favorite side characters from Love Sick, I had to read it right away! So...I started and finished this ARC in one day over the weekend back in December.
Unfortunately, as much as I love Asher as an MMC—although I will say he wasn't without his flaws either—, I was not a big fan of Jocelyn, our FMC. I felt like Asher honestly deserved better than her, and I had an extremely hard time trying to believe they were supposed to have chemistry.
Dr. Asher Foley, MD feels like he has major imposter syndrome. As much as he gets praise from his patients and his colleagues for a job well done, he feels like he could be doing so much more. On top of that, he's also chronically single, because the one girl he likes—Dr. Jocelyn Maddox, his best friend—"doesn't do relationships." As they get to know each other more, will Jocelyn finally let down her walls?
As a medical professional myself, I always hold my breath whenever anything medical gets brought up in books, mainly because it's not entirely accurate and then I spend a decent chunk of my book review talking about what was wrong about X or Y in the book medically. The author is an actual doctor—a board-certified OB-GYN, to be specific— so I actually loved the medical bits of the story. I'm a pharmacist, and I'm no stranger to rounding, medical teams, charting, updating patient notes, etc., but it's always nice to see it from a different perspective on the healthcare team. Everyone has their own role to play to make a well-rounded healthcare team that provides the best care to their patients, and if you're looking for a medical romance that touches upon the real realities of the healthcare world in a hospital setting, I'd say this is pretty accurate. Especially now with TV shows like The Pitt gaining a lot of traction, I'm glad that more books and TV shows are trying to showcase the real side of healthcare and not a romanticized version of it that downplays the kinds of cases healthcare professionals see day-to-day.
I related a lot to Asher and his struggle with imposter syndrome. I feel like many people, but especially healthcare workers, struggle with this a lot in particular, especially when your decision-making can literally change the course of a patient's progress and treatment while they're in the hospital. I don't think it's truly anything we 100% grow out of, since each patient case is so unique, but I could definitely relate to his feelings about not feeling like he's good enough, despite everyone around him telling him he's doing fine. However, I felt like his thoughts and his feelings got a bit too repetitive when it came to his feelings about love and relationships. It's emphasized throughout the book that he's a conventionally attractive person, and a lot of girls have just wanted to hook up with him rather than have an actual relationship, which is where a lot of his struggles stem from, but to reiterate that same point over and over again made it almost redundant. Also, his nicknames for Jocelyn bordered on creepy. Like, if any of my guy best friends called me "babe," I think I'd kick them all in the nuts. Granted, they all have girlfriends, but I would legitimately think that they were in some kinda of serious trouble if they did anything like that.
As for Jocelyn, I feel like she ruined the entire story. I get that she's more confident in her sexuality, and there's nothing wrong with that. If anyone is looking for a character comparison to another book, I'd say she reminds me a lot of Lexi Armstrong from Chelsea Curto's D.C. Stars series. Her being confident in her sexuality isn't an issue, but it's also her biggest weakness when it comes to her relationship with Asher. I felt that she was just stringing him along the entirety of the story and playing with his feelings when she knows pretty darn well that he has a crush on her and disclosed all of his relationship struggles to her as his best friend.
She also needs a serious case of therapy. Her background story is extremely sad and explains why she is the way that she is when it comes to love and relationships, but I'm pretty sure there's literally a part in the story where she says that she stopped going because she thinks therapy isn't going to help her. I guess more power to her when it comes to being self-aware and knowing how she is as a person, but it's so blatantly obvious to me that those issues bleed into her relationships with Asher and results in this push-and-pull vibe that ultimately ends up as an EXTREMELY slow burn. To me, it didn't even feel like a slow-burn where I was just itching to have the MCs get together, it just felt like I wanted to get the book over with at some points because of how wishy-washy Jocelyn was with her feelings towards Asher. She'd have this push-and-pull with him that didn't feel super angsty or packed with yearning and tension; it was just annoying, and it wasn't fair to Asher at all.
Overall, if you're looking for a medically accurate medical romance, this is the book for you! I personally felt that the romance was something to be desired in this story, but I know there's people who will absolutely love this book way more than I did.
⋆｡‧˚ʚ 🍍 ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ˚ʚ 🍍 ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ˚ʚ 🍍 ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ˚ʚ 🍍 ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ˚ʚ 🍍 ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ˚ʚ 🍍 ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ˚ʚ 🍍 ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ˚ʚ 🍍 ɞ˚‧｡⋆
Trigger/content warnings (may contain spoilers): natural disaster, recounted deaths of loved ones, sexual content (1.25/5 on my personal scale, but I know this may vary from person to person)
May 3, 2026
Scratched the itch I’ve been missing from no more Mel and Langdon on Thursdays :(
May 31, 2026
*Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an E-Arc in exchange for an honest review!*
4.5 Stars!
This book completely stole my heart. I already really enjoyed Deidra Duncan’s previous book, Love Sick, but I think I loved this one even more. The friends-to-lovers romance, the emotional depth, the banter, and the character growth all came together so beautifully.
Asher and Jocelyn had such a special connection, and I loved following their journey from friendship to something deeper. This story made me laugh, swoon, and feel so much for the characters. Definitely one of those romances that stays with you after the final page, and I can already see myself rereading it in the future.
____________________
I read Love Sick by this author last year and remember loving it. I really hope I'll enjoy this one, too!
4.5 Stars!
This book completely stole my heart. I already really enjoyed Deidra Duncan’s previous book, Love Sick, but I think I loved this one even more. The friends-to-lovers romance, the emotional depth, the banter, and the character growth all came together so beautifully.
Asher and Jocelyn had such a special connection, and I loved following their journey from friendship to something deeper. This story made me laugh, swoon, and feel so much for the characters. Definitely one of those romances that stays with you after the final page, and I can already see myself rereading it in the future.
____________________
I read Love Sick by this author last year and remember loving it. I really hope I'll enjoy this one, too!
March 22, 2026
This is medical workplace drama done correctly. Asher,an obgyn, and anesthesiologist jocelyn are best friends. They are also both doctors at the same hospital and spend most of their free time together. After years of friendship, they must confront their relationship and truly see if love is in the cards for them. I really enjoyed the complexity of the characters. Asher is a big ol golden retriever while dealing with crippling insecurities. Jocelyn uses meaningless hookups to avoid relationships after losing many friends and family members hoping that not having anyone close to her will prevent heartbreak when they eventually leave.
Asher and Jocelyn were great characters with amazing chemistry. It was a frustrating read at times because you just wanted to shake them and try to get them to acknowledge what was right in front of them. And of course, with the author being an obgyn herself, the medical accuracy was refreshing!
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for the advanced copy!
Asher and Jocelyn were great characters with amazing chemistry. It was a frustrating read at times because you just wanted to shake them and try to get them to acknowledge what was right in front of them. And of course, with the author being an obgyn herself, the medical accuracy was refreshing!
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for the advanced copy!
March 6, 2026
But ... What exactly are you looking for?"
For a moment, I pause to consider, sipping my beer. What am I looking for? My attention strays to Jocelyn's face. The pool-frizzed blond wisps at her temples. The tawny brown in her eyes. The arch of her eyebrows, a few shades darker than her hair.
My heart thumps once, twice, before I shrug. "I'll know it when I find it."
This friends-to-lovers story definitely kept me turning the pages. (More emotional than I expected 😭) The tension between Joss and Asher had me hooked, even when things got messy. 👏🏼
I loved watching their friendship slowly shift into something more, how little moments, private conversations, and unexpected confessions revealed deeper sides of both of them. The hospital scenes were a standout for me, they made the story feel so real, with high-stakes moments and glimpses into their professional lives that grounded the romance in a believable way.
Now I have to admit, Jocelyn drove me absolutely crazy. I get that she’s been through a lot, but she was so self-focused at times 😭. All the “I can’t” moments and stringing him along were frustrating because… SHE LITERALLY COULD. And the way she kept worrying that others might judge her for her feelings or her choices? (Girl, that was all in your head 🙄🤚🏼) It made some parts harder to fully enjoy.
Asher, on the other hand, is basically perfect. He’s emotionally intelligent, caring to everyone, and knows what he wants without being pushy. I loved how he respected Joss’s walls while quietly hoping for more. I just wanted to hug him through the whole book.🥺😭
Also the writing style threw me off a little at times, especially in Asher’s POV, where there are these really blunt, pronoun-free sentences that felt abrupt. I’m assuming it was purposeful but I really don’t know. 😭
Overall, I’m giving this 4 stars. It was so close to 5, but Joss’s behavior kept it from being perfect. That said, the ending was satisfying, the growth she showed was meaningful (finally). The story itself was really compelling. The slow burn, emotional stakes, and evolving relationship all came together nicely, and I am so intrigued about what’s next… Ashton’s story better be coming soon because I need more of him!
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-favorite quotes-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
“Her scent is overpowering. Drugging. Have I ever been this close to it? Hints never picked up before sing across my senses. Indescribable. Sweet.”
“Time speeds and lulls. Lights smear. Everything
blurs together.
Everything but her.
The luster of her dress. The silvery-white of her hair. The mysterious smile on her lips. She's like a comet among the flashing lights and glittering casinos, leaving a sparkling silver trail everywhere she goes.
I follow blindly. The world around us is filled with people. Dopamine-inducing bells. Distracting electric displays. But she's the most distracting of them all.”
“Why did the universe have to make her so beautiful? It's a little annoying at this point. She's like the dessert tray at a restaurant, all look but don't touch, smell but don't taste.”
“I'm charming," I mutter, annoyed that Joss noticed anything about Julian at all. Bro steals too much attention for himself. It's like he's the groom of this wedding or something.”
(spoiler… Julian WAS the groom 😂 he’s so jealous i was giggling so much)
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
things to know about the book ↓
🩺 friends → lovers
🩺 workplace romance
🩺 slowburn
🩺 dual POV
A huge thank you to Netgalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Deidra Duncan for allowing me to read this arc. These are all my honest opinions in this review.
spice rating:【 🌶️🌶️ 】
swearing: yes
For a moment, I pause to consider, sipping my beer. What am I looking for? My attention strays to Jocelyn's face. The pool-frizzed blond wisps at her temples. The tawny brown in her eyes. The arch of her eyebrows, a few shades darker than her hair.
My heart thumps once, twice, before I shrug. "I'll know it when I find it."
This friends-to-lovers story definitely kept me turning the pages. (More emotional than I expected 😭) The tension between Joss and Asher had me hooked, even when things got messy. 👏🏼
I loved watching their friendship slowly shift into something more, how little moments, private conversations, and unexpected confessions revealed deeper sides of both of them. The hospital scenes were a standout for me, they made the story feel so real, with high-stakes moments and glimpses into their professional lives that grounded the romance in a believable way.
Now I have to admit, Jocelyn drove me absolutely crazy. I get that she’s been through a lot, but she was so self-focused at times 😭. All the “I can’t” moments and stringing him along were frustrating because… SHE LITERALLY COULD. And the way she kept worrying that others might judge her for her feelings or her choices? (Girl, that was all in your head 🙄🤚🏼) It made some parts harder to fully enjoy.
Asher, on the other hand, is basically perfect. He’s emotionally intelligent, caring to everyone, and knows what he wants without being pushy. I loved how he respected Joss’s walls while quietly hoping for more. I just wanted to hug him through the whole book.🥺😭
Also the writing style threw me off a little at times, especially in Asher’s POV, where there are these really blunt, pronoun-free sentences that felt abrupt. I’m assuming it was purposeful but I really don’t know. 😭
Overall, I’m giving this 4 stars. It was so close to 5, but Joss’s behavior kept it from being perfect. That said, the ending was satisfying, the growth she showed was meaningful (finally). The story itself was really compelling. The slow burn, emotional stakes, and evolving relationship all came together nicely, and I am so intrigued about what’s next… Ashton’s story better be coming soon because I need more of him!
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-favorite quotes-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
“Her scent is overpowering. Drugging. Have I ever been this close to it? Hints never picked up before sing across my senses. Indescribable. Sweet.”
“Time speeds and lulls. Lights smear. Everything
blurs together.
Everything but her.
The luster of her dress. The silvery-white of her hair. The mysterious smile on her lips. She's like a comet among the flashing lights and glittering casinos, leaving a sparkling silver trail everywhere she goes.
I follow blindly. The world around us is filled with people. Dopamine-inducing bells. Distracting electric displays. But she's the most distracting of them all.”
“Why did the universe have to make her so beautiful? It's a little annoying at this point. She's like the dessert tray at a restaurant, all look but don't touch, smell but don't taste.”
“I'm charming," I mutter, annoyed that Joss noticed anything about Julian at all. Bro steals too much attention for himself. It's like he's the groom of this wedding or something.”
(spoiler… Julian WAS the groom 😂 he’s so jealous i was giggling so much)
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
things to know about the book ↓
🩺 friends → lovers
🩺 workplace romance
🩺 slowburn
🩺 dual POV
A huge thank you to Netgalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Deidra Duncan for allowing me to read this arc. These are all my honest opinions in this review.
spice rating:【 🌶️🌶️ 】
swearing: yes
Read
May 5, 2026DNF
This book didn’t just give me the ick, it launched it at my face like a dodgeball in the first 30 seconds and then stood there expecting applause. I didn’t even get the chance to settle in, sip my drink, pretend I’m about to have a nice reading experience—no. We open the book and immediately I’m trapped inside the MMC’s brain, which, unfortunately, is less “charming flawed man” and more “why is this man employed, licensed, and allowed near other humans.”
Because tell me WHY—why, I beg—our introduction to this grown man, this allegedly competent, early-30s OB/GYN, is him internally mocking a woman for pooping during childbirth. I’m sorry??? That’s the joke??? That’s the personality??? That’s the opening pitch???
Sir. You deliver babies for a living.
This is not new. This is not shocking. This is not comedic gold. This is literally day-one, basic, extremely well-known reality of childbirth. This is like a lifeguard being like “haha wow people get wet in pools???” WHAT ARE WE DOING.
And it’s not even like a quick passing thought you can maybe side-eye and move on from. No. We’re marinating in it. We are sitting there, steeping in his inner monologue like it’s some kind of personality tea, except the flavor is immaturity and I want to spit it out immediately. You’re telling me this man went through years of medical school, residency, sleepless nights, actual responsibility, and THIS is where his brain is at? This is the internal dialogue of a man trusted with literal human life?
I don’t buy it. I reject it. I would like a refund on the concept.
And here’s the thing that really sent me over the edge into feral territory: it’s not just gross (because yes, why am I reading this), it’s also wildly unprofessional in a way that makes me question every single life choice that led to this man becoming a doctor. Like, I don’t need him to be a saint, I don’t need him to be perfect, but I do need him to at least not sound like a 13-year-old boy who just discovered that bodies do body things.
You’re in your THIRTIES. THIRTIES. With a whole career. And this is the level of maturity we’re working with? Be serious.
And I tried, okay? I really did. I sat there like, “maybe this is just a bad first impression, maybe we’re setting up growth, maybe this is going somewhere.” I was negotiating with myself like I was trying to sign a peace treaty. But the vibes? Immaculately awful. Instantaneous rejection. My soul left my body and went, “no ❤️”.
Also, can we talk about how aggressively unnecessary that whole moment was? Like what purpose did it serve? Character development? Because if the goal was to make me instantly dislike him, congratulations, you nailed it with terrifying efficiency. Humor? Because I regret to inform you that I did not laugh. Not even a polite exhale. I just sat there like 😐 questioning my life choices.
Now every time he exists on the page, I’m like “ah yes, the doctor who thinks basic human biology is a punchline.” I cannot take you seriously. I don’t want to root for you. I don’t want to watch you fall in love. I want to escort you out of the narrative and into a mandatory professionalism seminar.
Like romance requires me to at least tolerate the MMC. I don’t need to love him immediately, but I do need to not feel the overwhelming urge to close the book and cleanse my brain. And this man? I couldn’t even get past chapter one without feeling like I needed to spiritually reboot.
Also, the tone?? It just felt…juvenile. Like the book expected me to be in on the joke, but the joke was “haha bodily function,” and I’m sitting here like…this is beneath all of us, including you, sir, fictional doctor with a medical degree you clearly found in a cereal box.
And maybe—MAYBE—if I had any faith that this would be addressed, that he would grow, that the narrative was aware of how off-putting this is, I could’ve powered through. But the first impression was so aggressively bad that I didn’t even want to stick around to find out. The ick was immediate, it was powerful, it was unstoppable. It grabbed me by the shoulders and said “we’re leaving,” and honestly? I listened.
Because life is too short. My TBR is too long. And I refuse to spend my time inside the head of a man who reacts to childbirth like it’s his first day on planet Earth.
So yeah. I DNF’d. Quickly. Decisively. With zero remorse and a lingering sense of “what did I just witness.”
If this works for you—if this brand of humor and this level of MMC maturity is your thing—then genuinely, I hope you have a better time than I did. As for me? I was gone before the book even had the chance to pretend it was going to redeem itself. And honestly? I stand by that decision. No regrets. Only vibes. Bad ones.
This book didn’t just give me the ick, it launched it at my face like a dodgeball in the first 30 seconds and then stood there expecting applause. I didn’t even get the chance to settle in, sip my drink, pretend I’m about to have a nice reading experience—no. We open the book and immediately I’m trapped inside the MMC’s brain, which, unfortunately, is less “charming flawed man” and more “why is this man employed, licensed, and allowed near other humans.”
Because tell me WHY—why, I beg—our introduction to this grown man, this allegedly competent, early-30s OB/GYN, is him internally mocking a woman for pooping during childbirth. I’m sorry??? That’s the joke??? That’s the personality??? That’s the opening pitch???
Sir. You deliver babies for a living.
This is not new. This is not shocking. This is not comedic gold. This is literally day-one, basic, extremely well-known reality of childbirth. This is like a lifeguard being like “haha wow people get wet in pools???” WHAT ARE WE DOING.
And it’s not even like a quick passing thought you can maybe side-eye and move on from. No. We’re marinating in it. We are sitting there, steeping in his inner monologue like it’s some kind of personality tea, except the flavor is immaturity and I want to spit it out immediately. You’re telling me this man went through years of medical school, residency, sleepless nights, actual responsibility, and THIS is where his brain is at? This is the internal dialogue of a man trusted with literal human life?
I don’t buy it. I reject it. I would like a refund on the concept.
And here’s the thing that really sent me over the edge into feral territory: it’s not just gross (because yes, why am I reading this), it’s also wildly unprofessional in a way that makes me question every single life choice that led to this man becoming a doctor. Like, I don’t need him to be a saint, I don’t need him to be perfect, but I do need him to at least not sound like a 13-year-old boy who just discovered that bodies do body things.
You’re in your THIRTIES. THIRTIES. With a whole career. And this is the level of maturity we’re working with? Be serious.
And I tried, okay? I really did. I sat there like, “maybe this is just a bad first impression, maybe we’re setting up growth, maybe this is going somewhere.” I was negotiating with myself like I was trying to sign a peace treaty. But the vibes? Immaculately awful. Instantaneous rejection. My soul left my body and went, “no ❤️”.
Also, can we talk about how aggressively unnecessary that whole moment was? Like what purpose did it serve? Character development? Because if the goal was to make me instantly dislike him, congratulations, you nailed it with terrifying efficiency. Humor? Because I regret to inform you that I did not laugh. Not even a polite exhale. I just sat there like 😐 questioning my life choices.
Now every time he exists on the page, I’m like “ah yes, the doctor who thinks basic human biology is a punchline.” I cannot take you seriously. I don’t want to root for you. I don’t want to watch you fall in love. I want to escort you out of the narrative and into a mandatory professionalism seminar.
Like romance requires me to at least tolerate the MMC. I don’t need to love him immediately, but I do need to not feel the overwhelming urge to close the book and cleanse my brain. And this man? I couldn’t even get past chapter one without feeling like I needed to spiritually reboot.
Also, the tone?? It just felt…juvenile. Like the book expected me to be in on the joke, but the joke was “haha bodily function,” and I’m sitting here like…this is beneath all of us, including you, sir, fictional doctor with a medical degree you clearly found in a cereal box.
And maybe—MAYBE—if I had any faith that this would be addressed, that he would grow, that the narrative was aware of how off-putting this is, I could’ve powered through. But the first impression was so aggressively bad that I didn’t even want to stick around to find out. The ick was immediate, it was powerful, it was unstoppable. It grabbed me by the shoulders and said “we’re leaving,” and honestly? I listened.
Because life is too short. My TBR is too long. And I refuse to spend my time inside the head of a man who reacts to childbirth like it’s his first day on planet Earth.
So yeah. I DNF’d. Quickly. Decisively. With zero remorse and a lingering sense of “what did I just witness.”
If this works for you—if this brand of humor and this level of MMC maturity is your thing—then genuinely, I hope you have a better time than I did. As for me? I was gone before the book even had the chance to pretend it was going to redeem itself. And honestly? I stand by that decision. No regrets. Only vibes. Bad ones.
August 19, 2025
I read an Arc of this and adored it! Asher was a lovable side character in Love Sick, and now we get to see the real him in this dual-pov romance! And boy does he pine deliciously for Joss!
This book is a snarky, angsty, slow-burn, friends-to-lovers joy-ride and you're going to love every minute of it! Just wait until you get to that epic, swoony ending!
This book is a snarky, angsty, slow-burn, friends-to-lovers joy-ride and you're going to love every minute of it! Just wait until you get to that epic, swoony ending!
April 3, 2026
Between 3.5 and 4 stars for me. This had a lot more character development than I was expecting: a deep dive into fear and trauma. I think it was very well done.
I liked that Duncan “swapped” the roles, for lack of a better term: Asher is truly a romantic heroine in his own right, just wanting to find love and acceptance. We see his insecurities and how he works to change his perspective.
Jocelyn though - she’s the reason I’m a bit ambivalent on the rating. She has a lot of trauma to work through but… she doesn’t. And is called on it by nearly everyone. It takes literally an act of god to make her realize it. And I get it - recovering from trauma and death and guilt takes time and is different for everyone. But in fiction, it gets frustrating to read about someone self-sabotaging over and over again. And Asher kinda deserves better - this woman hurts him multiple times and barely says she’s sorry.
Overall though I did enjoy the story. Top tier banter.
Thank you to NetGalley, Deirdra Duncan, and MIRA for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
I liked that Duncan “swapped” the roles, for lack of a better term: Asher is truly a romantic heroine in his own right, just wanting to find love and acceptance. We see his insecurities and how he works to change his perspective.
Jocelyn though - she’s the reason I’m a bit ambivalent on the rating. She has a lot of trauma to work through but… she doesn’t. And is called on it by nearly everyone. It takes literally an act of god to make her realize it. And I get it - recovering from trauma and death and guilt takes time and is different for everyone. But in fiction, it gets frustrating to read about someone self-sabotaging over and over again. And Asher kinda deserves better - this woman hurts him multiple times and barely says she’s sorry.
Overall though I did enjoy the story. Top tier banter.
Thank you to NetGalley, Deirdra Duncan, and MIRA for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I wanted to love this one, but I struggled to connect with the characters and story.
⭐⭐⭐
This medical romance with a best-friends-to-lovers trope had a lot of elements that usually work for me, but unfortunately it ended up being a bit of a mixed experience.
The biggest issue for me was that I never fully connected with the characters, which made the story feel somewhat disjointed at times. Because of that, I found myself checking out more often than I would have liked. I did push through and finish it, and to its credit the latter portion of the book improved, which ultimately left me somewhere in the middle when it came to my overall rating.
That said, I can absolutely see the audience for this one. If you enjoy medical romances that dive into the finer points of the characters’ careers and day-to-day work, this may be right up your alley.
One aspect I did enjoy was the best-friends-to-lovers trope, which felt authentic and endearing. I experienced this one through the audiobook, which was dual narrated by Christine Lakin and Eric Yang. Both narrators did a solid job bringing the story to life.
The sound quality felt slightly off from the smoothness I’m used to with audiobooks. I’ll admit I’m a bit hyper-sensitive to audio quality, so this is probably more of a “me” thing than a major issue. It was still an enjoyable listening experience overall. The narration also felt a bit slower paced, but that was easily fixed by speeding it up, and once I did that there were no issues.
While this one didn’t fully land for me, readers who enjoy a detailed medical romance with a friends-to-lovers dynamic may find more to love here.
I am thankful to have received a complimentary ALC from Harlequin Audio via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
⭐⭐⭐
This medical romance with a best-friends-to-lovers trope had a lot of elements that usually work for me, but unfortunately it ended up being a bit of a mixed experience.
The biggest issue for me was that I never fully connected with the characters, which made the story feel somewhat disjointed at times. Because of that, I found myself checking out more often than I would have liked. I did push through and finish it, and to its credit the latter portion of the book improved, which ultimately left me somewhere in the middle when it came to my overall rating.
That said, I can absolutely see the audience for this one. If you enjoy medical romances that dive into the finer points of the characters’ careers and day-to-day work, this may be right up your alley.
One aspect I did enjoy was the best-friends-to-lovers trope, which felt authentic and endearing. I experienced this one through the audiobook, which was dual narrated by Christine Lakin and Eric Yang. Both narrators did a solid job bringing the story to life.
The sound quality felt slightly off from the smoothness I’m used to with audiobooks. I’ll admit I’m a bit hyper-sensitive to audio quality, so this is probably more of a “me” thing than a major issue. It was still an enjoyable listening experience overall. The narration also felt a bit slower paced, but that was easily fixed by speeding it up, and once I did that there were no issues.
While this one didn’t fully land for me, readers who enjoy a detailed medical romance with a friends-to-lovers dynamic may find more to love here.
I am thankful to have received a complimentary ALC from Harlequin Audio via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
May 27, 2026
absolutely perfect
i wish i would erase it from my memory and read it again. every day
i wish i would erase it from my memory and read it again. every day
April 25, 2026
Love and Other Side Effects is a friends to lovers romance. Asher is the most golden retriever MMC I have come across in a long time and I'm here for it. Our FMC Jocelyn acts a lot like what we have come to expect from male leads that everyone loves (some people just don't understand that.) They are friends who slowly realize they are in love. There is great banter between them and I was rooting for them to find their way. I love the writing from Deidra Duncan, the other novel I read from her was an ARC and a completely different style but I highly recommend giving her a shot.
May 12, 2026
When a romance novel opens with the male lead as an OBGYN laughing at a pregnant woman during childbirth, conspiratorially with her husband no less, that's a hard sell for me. There's a lot of ways you can make the "shitting during childbirth" situation humorous, but it doesn't need to be at the expense of the pregnant person - especially when the main chucklefucks are men. The author herself is an OBGYN!
It didn't get any better from there. Pass by page 100.
It didn't get any better from there. Pass by page 100.
March 10, 2026
It’s so hard to enjoy a book when you don’t really like either main character. Jocelyn was so self absorbed. Yes I know she had some things happen to her in the past, but that didn’t give her the right to treat others the way she did. Asher and his imposter syndrome just wants to be taken serious both in his work and love life. I didn’t really believe the chemistry. The whole time we got to hear about how Asher didn’t just want a lay, he wanted something REAL. Yet most of his inner monologue was all about how Jocelyn looked. It started to get very repetitive. I felt like Jocelyn was just dragging things along. Asher deserved better. All the random nicknames, I know were meant to be cute but I just felt were so cringey. Like him thinking/saying “hehe”. I did enjoy the OB/GYN aspects of the setting. As an L&D nurse, some of the scenes had me cracking up. The spanish pushing labor scene especially. I didn’t like the little trick Jocelyn pulled on Asher though. That is a very serious thing and I just couldn’t get past it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 26, 2026
I’m conflicted on this book. I liked how the author built the relationship from the beginning with Asher and Jocelyn but I did sometimes find myself cringing at the language. The excessive use of nicknames in particular were a lot for me to get past. I also found Jocelyn to be so infuriating, I was rooting for her but I was also wondering how much more she could put Asher (and therefore me) through before she realized she was the problem. I did really like the comic relief in Geoff, Yayoi and Ali. And no spoilers but the ending was actually really solid. How Deidra Duncan tied everything together and wrapped up the story was one of the better romance endings I’ve read in a while.
3.5/5 ⭐️
**Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC**
3.5/5 ⭐️
**Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC**
April 13, 2026
In this friends to lovers book, Asher Foley and Jocelyn Maddox are both doctors. He is an OB-GYN, and she is an anesthesiologist. They are BEST friends. They spend tons of time together, have inside jokes, are very comfortable together, but have never cross the line. Joss is anti-relationship due to her past, and Asher wants a woman who wants a serious relationship. This is why their friendship works. Until it doesn’t. Until Asher opens up to her, and Joss begins to open up to him. But she keeps pushing him away, “rejecting” him. With a hurricane coming, Joss decides to stay at her house this time instead of going to Asher’s house, which is built to weather the hurricane. Will Joss’ walls ever fully come down for Asher?
The premise of this book sounded really good, which is why I wanted to read it. The book, however, is almost 400 pages long and I don’t feel like it needed it be. There was a lot of repetitive thoughts of the two main characters. I wish I counted how many times that Joss said or thought she didn’t want a relationship and how many times Asher mentioned he wanted a relationship and talked about the same feelings. I think if we cut some of it out, the book would be shorter and the pacing would be better. It also took a really long time for anything to really happen in the book.
That being said, when things actually started happening between Joss and Asher, it was really good. Their chemistry was well written, and their banter was written even better. There were also some laugh out loud moments of the book. I remember at least three! Mostly, they had to do with funny stories form their job. The book even starts off with one of them!
The book is good, I just think it could be edited a bit and it would make it great! I do recommend this book to those that like romances, especially workplace romances or medical romances.
The premise of this book sounded really good, which is why I wanted to read it. The book, however, is almost 400 pages long and I don’t feel like it needed it be. There was a lot of repetitive thoughts of the two main characters. I wish I counted how many times that Joss said or thought she didn’t want a relationship and how many times Asher mentioned he wanted a relationship and talked about the same feelings. I think if we cut some of it out, the book would be shorter and the pacing would be better. It also took a really long time for anything to really happen in the book.
That being said, when things actually started happening between Joss and Asher, it was really good. Their chemistry was well written, and their banter was written even better. There were also some laugh out loud moments of the book. I remember at least three! Mostly, they had to do with funny stories form their job. The book even starts off with one of them!
The book is good, I just think it could be edited a bit and it would make it great! I do recommend this book to those that like romances, especially workplace romances or medical romances.
April 26, 2026
I love Dr. Asher Foley. He just wants to be loved and he can’t see that the love of his life could be his best friend until he does and it’s hell. Jocelyn is the anesthesiologist who supports him and their banter is cute. However, she hates love and doesn’t want relationships. She has a lot of trauma and it’s just constantly pounded into us that she has trauma and can’t love. But girl, you can’t also be a jerk. I just couldn’t side with her or find her likeable. I think what pushed me over the edge was her derisive tone towards a woman who was trying to have a natural birth and was refusing pitocin and a c-section. It lacked empathy and was just disappointing to read. I am pro-medicine and science but birth is a natural and terrifying process and a woman going through that needs grace and a medical team who supports her. I get the burnout of seeing this all the time but let’s hear the patient. In contrast, there are a lot of scenes where Asher listens to his patient’s wishes and cares for them. Such a contrast in how they work and that frankly divides them further apart for me.
I really enjoyed Deidra’s writing and loved her past books. I think she wrote a good “friends to lovers” story but this was not for me. I am hater of that trope but a lover of this duck loving mmc.
I received this books as a galley from the publisher. Thanks!
I really enjoyed Deidra’s writing and loved her past books. I think she wrote a good “friends to lovers” story but this was not for me. I am hater of that trope but a lover of this duck loving mmc.
I received this books as a galley from the publisher. Thanks!
April 2, 2026
If you are a fan of Abby Jimenez and Ali Hazelwood, and of medical/workplace romances, chances are you will really enjoy this!
I feel like I read it at a perfect time for my mood, so I ended up really enjoying it! Our MMC is a sweet, tender man, and I loved that we got so much of his POV throughout the entire story. Our FMC made me mad at times (okay, most of the time…), but I still felt connected to her as a character and really wanted to see growth from her. And we did! In the end, I felt that she redeemed herself, which was great.
Despite the spicier language in the book, there really wasn’t much actually spice, which is very much my preference, so I loved that.
I enjoyed the pacing of the book and the flashbacks were precisely what I want every flashback to be - something that gives context for the couples past without feeling like a random scene that was written.
Overall, I really did enjoy this book and I would recommend to anyone who is a fan of more adult romances that feature flawed characters but still have a HEA!!
Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing/MIRA and the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I feel like I read it at a perfect time for my mood, so I ended up really enjoying it! Our MMC is a sweet, tender man, and I loved that we got so much of his POV throughout the entire story. Our FMC made me mad at times (okay, most of the time…), but I still felt connected to her as a character and really wanted to see growth from her. And we did! In the end, I felt that she redeemed herself, which was great.
Despite the spicier language in the book, there really wasn’t much actually spice, which is very much my preference, so I loved that.
I enjoyed the pacing of the book and the flashbacks were precisely what I want every flashback to be - something that gives context for the couples past without feeling like a random scene that was written.
Overall, I really did enjoy this book and I would recommend to anyone who is a fan of more adult romances that feature flawed characters but still have a HEA!!
Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing/MIRA and the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
April 15, 2026
Thank you to the author, publisher, and netgalley for a gifted alc of Love and Other Side Effects. This is my personal review.
This was my first book ever by Deidra Duncan, but the Grey's Anatomy-esque vibes drew me in. This is the second standalone in a series and tells the story of two best friends who work together in a hospital and are kinda, sorta into each other. However, they have their own stuff to work out first.
I went back and forth on my feelings with this book. Sometimes I was sucked in by the fun writing and witty banter. I liked the characters and were rooting for them. However, I felt like the plot of this book was somewhat vague. It's one of those books where the vibes were all right but I really couldn't tell you what the book was actually about. There's forced proximity, fake dating, and workplace romance thrown in there, but it's almost a story that's a mash up of quotes rather than a cohesive plot in it's own right.
I also was turned off by the use of ableist language at one part in the book. A side character asks if the fmc is "deaf, dumb, and blind" when she's not throwing herself at the mmc. That phrase is ableist and should be something that we remove from our vocabulary. For me as someone whose partner is deaf and blind and teacher blind students, this left a bad taste in my mouth. Thankfully it was about 70% into the book, so I just kept pushing through.
The book also deals with trauma and death of loved ones, so keep that in mind. But otherwise, this was a cute little romance with some characters and dialogue. I think that it will absolutely appeal to fans of medical dramas and romances.
This was my first book ever by Deidra Duncan, but the Grey's Anatomy-esque vibes drew me in. This is the second standalone in a series and tells the story of two best friends who work together in a hospital and are kinda, sorta into each other. However, they have their own stuff to work out first.
I went back and forth on my feelings with this book. Sometimes I was sucked in by the fun writing and witty banter. I liked the characters and were rooting for them. However, I felt like the plot of this book was somewhat vague. It's one of those books where the vibes were all right but I really couldn't tell you what the book was actually about. There's forced proximity, fake dating, and workplace romance thrown in there, but it's almost a story that's a mash up of quotes rather than a cohesive plot in it's own right.
I also was turned off by the use of ableist language at one part in the book. A side character asks if the fmc is "deaf, dumb, and blind" when she's not throwing herself at the mmc. That phrase is ableist and should be something that we remove from our vocabulary. For me as someone whose partner is deaf and blind and teacher blind students, this left a bad taste in my mouth. Thankfully it was about 70% into the book, so I just kept pushing through.
The book also deals with trauma and death of loved ones, so keep that in mind. But otherwise, this was a cute little romance with some characters and dialogue. I think that it will absolutely appeal to fans of medical dramas and romances.
April 14, 2026
I loved the first book in this series and I couldn’t wait to read this book and it was even better than I had hoped. I love a good best friends to lovers romance and Asher and Joss have an amazing friendship but of course it was always destined to be more. I loved how Asher is misunderstood by most people and sometimes even by Joss but he sticks to knowing that he wants a relationship. I felt for Joss and all the loss and trauma she had experienced and could understand her need to keep others at a distance. I also loved how and when Joss admits to her true feelings for Asher. Thank you to author Deidra Duncan, Mira Books, Harlequin Trade Publishing and Harper Collins for the opportunity to read this book early!
June 4, 2026
Liiitle long and could’ve used one less FMC panic, but this was cute. A little more explicit than Love Sick, yay. Doctors! Friends to lovers! One hotel room! He saves her! I normally like really confident MMCs, and even though Asher was not confident, he was very enjoyable and their banter was great. 1.5 🌶️
Did Not Finish
May 2, 2026DNF at 15%
April 16, 2026
This was a cute and easy-to-listen-to audiobook. Perfect for when you want something fun without requiring too much mental energy.
3.5 🌟
3.5 🌟
December 10, 2025
This book made no sense. It was very choppy and not cohesive.
Asher was such a creep in my opinion and his constant nicknames for Jocelyn made me cringe. Overall this was a cringy read.
Both of the main characters annoyed me beyond belief. They were not relatable or realistic. Unfortunately skip for me and wouldn’t recommend this to anyone.
I received this as an ARC from Netgalley.
Asher was such a creep in my opinion and his constant nicknames for Jocelyn made me cringe. Overall this was a cringy read.
Both of the main characters annoyed me beyond belief. They were not relatable or realistic. Unfortunately skip for me and wouldn’t recommend this to anyone.
I received this as an ARC from Netgalley.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 25, 2026
DNF 4%.
EWWWW a male gyno but DOUBLE EW is the fact that he sounds like a girl. Don’t write from a male POV if you can’t capture male POV. Also there’s an awful lot of touching of a coworker and already two mentions of how tiny and petite his teeny, tiny little friend is.
EWWWW a male gyno but DOUBLE EW is the fact that he sounds like a girl. Don’t write from a male POV if you can’t capture male POV. Also there’s an awful lot of touching of a coworker and already two mentions of how tiny and petite his teeny, tiny little friend is.
June 23, 2026
The Vibe: Grey’s Anatomy meets The Love Hypothesis. A high-heat, high-stakes medical rom-com that proves the best medicine for a guarded heart is a best friend who knows all your secrets.
The Plot: Asher Foley is the hospital’s favorite "class clown" MD, but inside, he’s battling major imposter syndrome. Jocelyn Maddox is the fearless anesthesiologist who has spent her life building walls to avoid more loss. They are "work husband and wife" and the best of friends—until a surgical complication forces the masks to slip. Suddenly, the jokes aren't enough to hide the chemistry, and Jocelyn has to decide if Asher is worth the risk of feeling everything again.
Why it’s a 4-Star Read:
Authentic Medical Stakes: You can tell Deidra Duncan is a real doctor. The OB-GYN residency setting feels lived-in, frantic, and incredibly realistic. It’s like Scrubs but with way more yearning.
The "Work Besties to Lovers" Trope: The transition from "safe" friendship to "dangerous" attraction is handled with so much care. The banter is top-tier, but the emotional vulnerability is what really shines.
Asher Foley: He is the ultimate "cinnamon roll" hero with a hidden depth. His struggle to feel "grown-up" despite his professional success is so relatable.
The Critical Take:
This is a fantastic 4-star experience! The chemistry is "compulsively readable," as Julie Soto says. My only minor critique is that Jocelyn’s emotional "walls" can be quite frustrating—she is very closed off for a long stretch of the book, which makes the pacing of the romance feel a bit like a slow-burn marathon. However, once those walls finally crack, the payoff is absolutely electric.
Final Verdict: Heartfelt, smart, and a little bit messy. Love and Other Side Effects is a must-read for anyone who loves their romance with a side of professional competence and deep emotional growth. 💊❤️
The Plot: Asher Foley is the hospital’s favorite "class clown" MD, but inside, he’s battling major imposter syndrome. Jocelyn Maddox is the fearless anesthesiologist who has spent her life building walls to avoid more loss. They are "work husband and wife" and the best of friends—until a surgical complication forces the masks to slip. Suddenly, the jokes aren't enough to hide the chemistry, and Jocelyn has to decide if Asher is worth the risk of feeling everything again.
Why it’s a 4-Star Read:
Authentic Medical Stakes: You can tell Deidra Duncan is a real doctor. The OB-GYN residency setting feels lived-in, frantic, and incredibly realistic. It’s like Scrubs but with way more yearning.
The "Work Besties to Lovers" Trope: The transition from "safe" friendship to "dangerous" attraction is handled with so much care. The banter is top-tier, but the emotional vulnerability is what really shines.
Asher Foley: He is the ultimate "cinnamon roll" hero with a hidden depth. His struggle to feel "grown-up" despite his professional success is so relatable.
The Critical Take:
This is a fantastic 4-star experience! The chemistry is "compulsively readable," as Julie Soto says. My only minor critique is that Jocelyn’s emotional "walls" can be quite frustrating—she is very closed off for a long stretch of the book, which makes the pacing of the romance feel a bit like a slow-burn marathon. However, once those walls finally crack, the payoff is absolutely electric.
Final Verdict: Heartfelt, smart, and a little bit messy. Love and Other Side Effects is a must-read for anyone who loves their romance with a side of professional competence and deep emotional growth. 💊❤️
March 23, 2026
Rating: 3.75 ⭐️ out of 5!
A great redemption story for our favorite Doctor— Asher!!! I’m so glad we get more of him and his golden retriever energy!!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.
————
⚠️Trigger Warnings: Grief and loss, mentions of death, medical emergencies, trauma with natural disasters.
✍🏼Writing & Pacing: 3.75/5
The writing is easy to read with a very casual tone. I wasn’t a fan of the acronyms… call me old, but I didn’t know what “NBD” nor “DTR” was. I had to google it in the meaning of reading… Yikes! The pacing wasnt terrible— there were parts that seemed to drag, but overall, I enjoyed reading the book!
📝Characters & Plot: 3.75/ 5
This book is more character-driven than plot-driven. Asher is totally the greenest flag out there— even since book one. In my opinion, he’s too good for Josselyn. She is the one FMC I could baaaaaarely stand— not for her personality, but only because she kept hurting our poor Asher and lying to herself. 🥺 HOWEVER, I loved the character arc— I just wished the ending wasn’t so rushed! I wanted moreeee of them! I loved the little pranks they pulled on each other and the addition of medical scenes thrown into the story!
Overall, I do recommend this book for those who love a quick romantic read, love friends-to-lovers trope, and some medical drama!
——
Rating Criteria:
1/5: 🌟 Horrible - “Why did I even waste my time?”
2/5: 🌟🌟 Unimpressed - It could have been better.
3/5: 🌟🌟🌟 Good/Average- I would recommend this, but nothing was too out of the ordinary; it’s what’s expected.
4/5: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Great! - There were some good surprises, but not enough to blow my mind.
5/5: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Outstanding - Above & Beyond, It left me wanting more and thinking more about it.
A great redemption story for our favorite Doctor— Asher!!! I’m so glad we get more of him and his golden retriever energy!!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.
————
⚠️Trigger Warnings: Grief and loss, mentions of death, medical emergencies, trauma with natural disasters.
✍🏼Writing & Pacing: 3.75/5
The writing is easy to read with a very casual tone. I wasn’t a fan of the acronyms… call me old, but I didn’t know what “NBD” nor “DTR” was. I had to google it in the meaning of reading… Yikes! The pacing wasnt terrible— there were parts that seemed to drag, but overall, I enjoyed reading the book!
📝Characters & Plot: 3.75/ 5
This book is more character-driven than plot-driven. Asher is totally the greenest flag out there— even since book one. In my opinion, he’s too good for Josselyn. She is the one FMC I could baaaaaarely stand— not for her personality, but only because she kept hurting our poor Asher and lying to herself. 🥺 HOWEVER, I loved the character arc— I just wished the ending wasn’t so rushed! I wanted moreeee of them! I loved the little pranks they pulled on each other and the addition of medical scenes thrown into the story!
Overall, I do recommend this book for those who love a quick romantic read, love friends-to-lovers trope, and some medical drama!
——
Rating Criteria:
1/5: 🌟 Horrible - “Why did I even waste my time?”
2/5: 🌟🌟 Unimpressed - It could have been better.
3/5: 🌟🌟🌟 Good/Average- I would recommend this, but nothing was too out of the ordinary; it’s what’s expected.
4/5: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Great! - There were some good surprises, but not enough to blow my mind.
5/5: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Outstanding - Above & Beyond, It left me wanting more and thinking more about it.
February 5, 2026
So… I’m addicted to this. I enjoyed every single minute and honestly didn’t expect it to hit me as hard as it did.
Asher is an OB/GYN who quietly does an incredible job caring for his patients while doubting himself at every turn. From a medical perspective, watching him handle a particularly messy case had me cringing, not because of him, but because a coworker who absolutely should have stepped up… didn’t. Still, as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Asher is not only a talented doctor, but a thoughtful teacher and deeply personable physician, and watching him finally start to believe that about himself was so satisfying.
Jocelyn, his best friend and an anesthesiologist, is confident in her career but deeply guarded in love. Her past is devastating: losing her parents young, then her brother, then a boyfriend, each loss traumatic in its own way. She’s convinced that loving someone means eventually losing them, so why risk it?
Through flashback snippets, we get to see how their bond formed early on, making it impossible not to root for them. These two have been more than friends for a long time, even if Jocelyn’s walls are thick and stubborn.
Enter a hurricane (thanks… unfortunately thanks?), and suddenly the timing is right. Seeing them finally come together was everything. Tender, emotional, and deeply earned.
This book was an undeniable joy, cute, heartfelt, and full of care for both the romance and the medical world it’s set in. I’m absolutely looking forward to reading more from this author.
Asher is an OB/GYN who quietly does an incredible job caring for his patients while doubting himself at every turn. From a medical perspective, watching him handle a particularly messy case had me cringing, not because of him, but because a coworker who absolutely should have stepped up… didn’t. Still, as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Asher is not only a talented doctor, but a thoughtful teacher and deeply personable physician, and watching him finally start to believe that about himself was so satisfying.
Jocelyn, his best friend and an anesthesiologist, is confident in her career but deeply guarded in love. Her past is devastating: losing her parents young, then her brother, then a boyfriend, each loss traumatic in its own way. She’s convinced that loving someone means eventually losing them, so why risk it?
Through flashback snippets, we get to see how their bond formed early on, making it impossible not to root for them. These two have been more than friends for a long time, even if Jocelyn’s walls are thick and stubborn.
Enter a hurricane (thanks… unfortunately thanks?), and suddenly the timing is right. Seeing them finally come together was everything. Tender, emotional, and deeply earned.
This book was an undeniable joy, cute, heartfelt, and full of care for both the romance and the medical world it’s set in. I’m absolutely looking forward to reading more from this author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2026
4.5/5 ⭐️
2/5 🌶️
Well this was absolutely freakin’ adorable. Hospital coworkers. Witty banter. Friends to lovers. *chefs kiss*
Each character pulled at my heart strings. I could relate to each one. Jocelyn has lost so much - it’s no wonder she has so many walls up and struggles to let anyone in. As someone who has experienced grief in that way, it’s really tough and it can have lasting effects. As for Asher, the poor guy over analyzes every conversation he has (and as an introvert I do the exact same so I could totally relate). Once your mind goes down the rabbit hole, it just doesn’t stop. Once they get out of their own way and see the potential between them - ughh my heart.
I loved the dual POV in this one and I really enjoyed that towards the end that there was a “high stakes” moment that really kind of put everything into perspective for the characters. I wish there was more of a epilogue but maybe we’ll get another book that has interconnecting characters?! 👀🤞🏻
Overall, super cute. This was actually my first read from the author and it definitely won’t be my last!
Thank you so so much Harlequin & Netgalley for the eARC!
What to Expect:
🩺Dual POV
🩺Workplace Romance
🩺Banter
🩺Friends to Lovers
2/5 🌶️
Well this was absolutely freakin’ adorable. Hospital coworkers. Witty banter. Friends to lovers. *chefs kiss*
Each character pulled at my heart strings. I could relate to each one. Jocelyn has lost so much - it’s no wonder she has so many walls up and struggles to let anyone in. As someone who has experienced grief in that way, it’s really tough and it can have lasting effects. As for Asher, the poor guy over analyzes every conversation he has (and as an introvert I do the exact same so I could totally relate). Once your mind goes down the rabbit hole, it just doesn’t stop. Once they get out of their own way and see the potential between them - ughh my heart.
I loved the dual POV in this one and I really enjoyed that towards the end that there was a “high stakes” moment that really kind of put everything into perspective for the characters. I wish there was more of a epilogue but maybe we’ll get another book that has interconnecting characters?! 👀🤞🏻
Overall, super cute. This was actually my first read from the author and it definitely won’t be my last!
Thank you so so much Harlequin & Netgalley for the eARC!
What to Expect:
🩺Dual POV
🩺Workplace Romance
🩺Banter
🩺Friends to Lovers
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