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Resident, Interrupted
Not yet published
Expected 20 Jan 26Resident, Interrupted is my story of what it really means to become a doctor—and what it costs along the way.
On Match Day 2024, I opened an email that changed everything: You did not match any position. Psychiatry, the specialty I had dreamed of, was suddenly out of reach. Instead, I entered a transitional year that tested every part of me—my endurance, my marriage, and my mental health. What followed were sixty-hour weeks, the deepest depression I had ever known, and the shame of pretending I was fine while quietly unraveling.
But I also found resilience in unexpected places. In patients fighting for their lives in the ICU. In children navigating trauma in foster care. In transplant candidates waiting for hope. And in myself—when Lexapro, therapy, and the support of loved ones helped me climb out of the darkness.
This memoir is both a personal reckoning and a look behind the curtain of medical training. I write about the quietly cruel culture of residency, the stigma around physician mental health, and the small rebellions that helped me survive. Alongside patient stories, I share my own—of breakdowns in hospital stairwells, nights when I almost gave up, and mornings when I finally felt the fog lift.
Now, as a psychiatry resident, I can say that survival was never the end goal. Becoming whole again was.
For readers of Atul Gawande’s Being Mortal and Kay Redfield Jamison’s An Unquiet Mind, this book is my truth: unpolished, unfiltered, and human.
On Match Day 2024, I opened an email that changed everything: You did not match any position. Psychiatry, the specialty I had dreamed of, was suddenly out of reach. Instead, I entered a transitional year that tested every part of me—my endurance, my marriage, and my mental health. What followed were sixty-hour weeks, the deepest depression I had ever known, and the shame of pretending I was fine while quietly unraveling.
But I also found resilience in unexpected places. In patients fighting for their lives in the ICU. In children navigating trauma in foster care. In transplant candidates waiting for hope. And in myself—when Lexapro, therapy, and the support of loved ones helped me climb out of the darkness.
This memoir is both a personal reckoning and a look behind the curtain of medical training. I write about the quietly cruel culture of residency, the stigma around physician mental health, and the small rebellions that helped me survive. Alongside patient stories, I share my own—of breakdowns in hospital stairwells, nights when I almost gave up, and mornings when I finally felt the fog lift.
Now, as a psychiatry resident, I can say that survival was never the end goal. Becoming whole again was.
For readers of Atul Gawande’s Being Mortal and Kay Redfield Jamison’s An Unquiet Mind, this book is my truth: unpolished, unfiltered, and human.
148 pages, Paperback
Expected publication January 20, 2026
154 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
November 22, 2025
wow! this book sucked me in from the beginning. As someone who works with doctors frequently and used to watch Grey’s Anatomy ages ago, I felt like I had a pretty good idea of what being a doctor is like. I was very wrong and have a greater understanding and appreciation for the profession. Dr. Bourne’s memoir is gripping, honest, and written from the heart. I found her words moving and brave. I also am inspired by her call to action that the residency system could use some improvements. It’s shocking the amount of hours that they are asked to put in.
I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone with an interest in what it’s like to become a doctor. I am hopeful for this generation of doctors as they continue to challenge the status quo.
Mental health matters 💙
Thank you so much @paging_dr.bookworm for sending me this arc I am grateful to know you and thank you for writing such an important book!
I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone with an interest in what it’s like to become a doctor. I am hopeful for this generation of doctors as they continue to challenge the status quo.
Mental health matters 💙
Thank you so much @paging_dr.bookworm for sending me this arc I am grateful to know you and thank you for writing such an important book!
December 29, 2025
I’m absolutely rating this book 5 stars ⭐️
There is a lot to say about this memoir. Ashley obviously talks a lot about her mental health as she stepped into her intern year and residency program, but honestly, as someone who isn’t doing anything in the medical field, I found this novel to be so relatable and refreshing. Man, I’ve had a really rough year, a year that has completely taken me away from reading (the thing I love to do most) and also connecting with others on my book review page. And, I could relate to Ashley in so many ways.
This memoir also reminds me of my PCP who talked to me about her experience with Zoloft when she recommended it to me and I was hesitant. I love this perspective of medicine that we don’t get to see as patients and Im saddened by what our Doctors have to go through to fulfill a dream or something they worked extremely hard for. This was raw, humbling, and lovely. I really enjoyed this memoir.
There is a lot to say about this memoir. Ashley obviously talks a lot about her mental health as she stepped into her intern year and residency program, but honestly, as someone who isn’t doing anything in the medical field, I found this novel to be so relatable and refreshing. Man, I’ve had a really rough year, a year that has completely taken me away from reading (the thing I love to do most) and also connecting with others on my book review page. And, I could relate to Ashley in so many ways.
This memoir also reminds me of my PCP who talked to me about her experience with Zoloft when she recommended it to me and I was hesitant. I love this perspective of medicine that we don’t get to see as patients and Im saddened by what our Doctors have to go through to fulfill a dream or something they worked extremely hard for. This was raw, humbling, and lovely. I really enjoyed this memoir.
January 15, 2026
disclosure: I don’t normally rate memoirs but giving this one 5 stars for visibility! a raw and real story that’s all to familiar in the medical world and one that needs to be shared.
this was like chicken soup for the soul in the best way. full review to come!
this was like chicken soup for the soul in the best way. full review to come!
November 25, 2025
Thank you so much to my friend in the bookstagram community for trusting me with this ARC of your first book 💕
Resident, Interrupted by Dr. Ashley Kate Bourne
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5
This was the most honest and raw self-reflection on overcoming failure and depression in a medical setting. Dr. Bourne is very self-aware and genuine when it comes to releasing the stigma of admitting mental health challenges and owning them as part of your truth
Likes:
-There are so many parallels in my own personal depression in nursing school and feeling like you need to jump through the hoops in the system vs. attending to your own wants and needs. Making the decision to take an SSRI during this time saved me as well 🥺
-When she said “Some people in this field are so intelligent, so razor-sharp, that their competence turns into a weapon. It’s not the kind of weapon you can see—there’s no scalpel or syringe in their hand—but a subtler, sharper one: words, tone, and the quiet implication that you are less” …oooooof if that isn’t working in medicine, I don’t know what is! This is how I feel working in the operating room every single day 😩
-Identifying the shock value of what health professionals go through and carry internally
-Acknowledging the failures of the medical education system
-The way she refuses to become hardened and wants to remember how she was treated in order to be a better leader and breaking the cycle of toxic leadership
-The importance of intentionally seeking joy in small things!!! Yes yes yes!!
-Excellent book and song recommendations
Honestly, I devoured this and it was unlike anything I’ve ever read. I think this should be required reading for those in the healthcare field, especially high achieving individuals. I agree that it is pertinent to “recognize yourself in other people’s vulnerabilities” and accept failures as opportunities to “deepen your empathy”
I saw so much of myself in this book of yours, and it truly resonated with me. Thank you for sharing your story!
Resident, Interrupted by Dr. Ashley Kate Bourne
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5
This was the most honest and raw self-reflection on overcoming failure and depression in a medical setting. Dr. Bourne is very self-aware and genuine when it comes to releasing the stigma of admitting mental health challenges and owning them as part of your truth
Likes:
-There are so many parallels in my own personal depression in nursing school and feeling like you need to jump through the hoops in the system vs. attending to your own wants and needs. Making the decision to take an SSRI during this time saved me as well 🥺
-When she said “Some people in this field are so intelligent, so razor-sharp, that their competence turns into a weapon. It’s not the kind of weapon you can see—there’s no scalpel or syringe in their hand—but a subtler, sharper one: words, tone, and the quiet implication that you are less” …oooooof if that isn’t working in medicine, I don’t know what is! This is how I feel working in the operating room every single day 😩
-Identifying the shock value of what health professionals go through and carry internally
-Acknowledging the failures of the medical education system
-The way she refuses to become hardened and wants to remember how she was treated in order to be a better leader and breaking the cycle of toxic leadership
-The importance of intentionally seeking joy in small things!!! Yes yes yes!!
-Excellent book and song recommendations
Honestly, I devoured this and it was unlike anything I’ve ever read. I think this should be required reading for those in the healthcare field, especially high achieving individuals. I agree that it is pertinent to “recognize yourself in other people’s vulnerabilities” and accept failures as opportunities to “deepen your empathy”
I saw so much of myself in this book of yours, and it truly resonated with me. Thank you for sharing your story!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 5, 2025
Raw, visceral and real life. It took me a little bit to read this short memoir due because of how it felt so relevant to my experiences with depression and working in the hospital (though i'm a nurse and definitely not a doctor). But that just shows how much this could relate not just to me but to others as well even if you're not a doctor.
This memoir puts you in the mind of a struggling resident experiencing depression and struggling through her work and how it bleeds into her everyday life / relationships. She takes you through the mud with her but you come out of it so incredibly hopeful.
The relevant cases throughout the book was great to tie in to her story despite it being about their own personal health struggles. It shows how much one life can really impact another in the health care profession.
My favorite part that felt really heart felt was the section "Letters Never Sent". These personal letters to her loved ones and friends made me feel the love she has for them that leaps off the page.
Would highly recommend this book for someone struggling with depression regardless if you're in the medical profession. It's relatable in every sense of struggling with mental health and depression. It'll give you hope to wake up to another day and be glad you're alive.
This memoir puts you in the mind of a struggling resident experiencing depression and struggling through her work and how it bleeds into her everyday life / relationships. She takes you through the mud with her but you come out of it so incredibly hopeful.
The relevant cases throughout the book was great to tie in to her story despite it being about their own personal health struggles. It shows how much one life can really impact another in the health care profession.
My favorite part that felt really heart felt was the section "Letters Never Sent". These personal letters to her loved ones and friends made me feel the love she has for them that leaps off the page.
Would highly recommend this book for someone struggling with depression regardless if you're in the medical profession. It's relatable in every sense of struggling with mental health and depression. It'll give you hope to wake up to another day and be glad you're alive.
November 30, 2025
Currently writing this review with tears in my eyes because WOW. I love humans. I love their brains, I love their hearts, I love their passions and failures. And wow, do I love Ashley’s story.
This is an incredibly authentic display of the human experience. Going through life battered while holding on to a sliver of hope. Losing yourself while pursuing something you love. Wondering if you’re enough, if it’s possible, or if it’s worth it. Ashley has given us the biggest gift, which is the truth. Her storytelling feels like grabbing dinner with a friend. It’s so raw. It’s so real. It’s so HUMAN. And I was captivated by every word.
This is a heavy read. It’s an emotional read. It’s also a very revealing read, especially because we have similar mental health experiences. I’ve been at my lowest more times than I want to admit. I’ve struggled with medication switches, poor diagnoses, and the stigma that what I’m feeling is wrong. Ashley uses her own story to shine a light on the wicked ways of mental health as well as the medical field, while also providing us with a sense of hope for the future. The balance between light and dark as she peels back each layer of her heart made this the kind of book you just want to hug after finishing. I actually feel honored to have experienced this much vulnerability.
Ashley, you have such a gift. Your story deserves to be told, and I am so excited to read what ever you create next!
TW: depression, suicidal thoughts, mental health episodes, medical incidents and descriptions
This is an incredibly authentic display of the human experience. Going through life battered while holding on to a sliver of hope. Losing yourself while pursuing something you love. Wondering if you’re enough, if it’s possible, or if it’s worth it. Ashley has given us the biggest gift, which is the truth. Her storytelling feels like grabbing dinner with a friend. It’s so raw. It’s so real. It’s so HUMAN. And I was captivated by every word.
This is a heavy read. It’s an emotional read. It’s also a very revealing read, especially because we have similar mental health experiences. I’ve been at my lowest more times than I want to admit. I’ve struggled with medication switches, poor diagnoses, and the stigma that what I’m feeling is wrong. Ashley uses her own story to shine a light on the wicked ways of mental health as well as the medical field, while also providing us with a sense of hope for the future. The balance between light and dark as she peels back each layer of her heart made this the kind of book you just want to hug after finishing. I actually feel honored to have experienced this much vulnerability.
Ashley, you have such a gift. Your story deserves to be told, and I am so excited to read what ever you create next!
TW: depression, suicidal thoughts, mental health episodes, medical incidents and descriptions
November 30, 2025
Wow!! I read this in one day because I truly could not put it down! This is an incredibly vulnerable and honest account of one doctor’s journey into residency, and she does not hold back.
Dr. Bourne immediately builds trust with the reader by opening up and acknowledging her own misconceptions. She gives enough explanation of medical jargon (so a non-doctor like me does not feel lost) without talking down to the reader. The chapters almost read more like a collection of essays, each discussing its own theme around medicine, mental health, and life in general, while taking us through her journey. The storytelling kept my attention (which says a lot considering how rarely I read nonfiction), and I loved seeing her growth from beginning to end.
As someone who has struggled with depression and continues to live with anxiety and OCD, I related to so much of this. Even though I knew very little about the medical world, I still saw myself in these pages.
It’s emotional, thought provoking, and real. I highly recommend to everyone but especially if you or a loved one struggle with mental illness.
Note: Thank you to Praxis House Press for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review!
Dr. Bourne immediately builds trust with the reader by opening up and acknowledging her own misconceptions. She gives enough explanation of medical jargon (so a non-doctor like me does not feel lost) without talking down to the reader. The chapters almost read more like a collection of essays, each discussing its own theme around medicine, mental health, and life in general, while taking us through her journey. The storytelling kept my attention (which says a lot considering how rarely I read nonfiction), and I loved seeing her growth from beginning to end.
As someone who has struggled with depression and continues to live with anxiety and OCD, I related to so much of this. Even though I knew very little about the medical world, I still saw myself in these pages.
It’s emotional, thought provoking, and real. I highly recommend to everyone but especially if you or a loved one struggle with mental illness.
Note: Thank you to Praxis House Press for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review!
December 8, 2025
“…progress doesn’t arrive all at once. It comes in the tiny, steady choices you make when no one is watching. And when you string those choices together…you start to see the shape of a life…the life of a human being who is trying, every single day, to become fully alive.”
i just finished resident, interrupted, and writing this without getting emotional feels impossible. this book is my friend ashley’s true labor of love — every page carries her resilience, her vulnerability, and the kind of honesty that can only come from someone willing to turn their pain into purpose. i’m so proud of her, and honestly proud doesn’t even begin to cover it. she’s an inspiration, and i’m endlessly grateful that bookstagram brought us together.
i loved this book deeply. as someone who struggles with mental health, i found myself emotional throughout…not in a heavy way, but in that rare, tender way where you feel genuinely seen. ashley’s words held up a mirror i didn’t know i needed, and somehow, in the middle of the heartbreak, they instilled a quiet hope i didn’t realize i’d been missing.
this is a story born from courage, crafted with heart, and shared with the kind of bravery that changes people. everyone should read it.
infinite starts for my girl! 🌟
i just finished resident, interrupted, and writing this without getting emotional feels impossible. this book is my friend ashley’s true labor of love — every page carries her resilience, her vulnerability, and the kind of honesty that can only come from someone willing to turn their pain into purpose. i’m so proud of her, and honestly proud doesn’t even begin to cover it. she’s an inspiration, and i’m endlessly grateful that bookstagram brought us together.
i loved this book deeply. as someone who struggles with mental health, i found myself emotional throughout…not in a heavy way, but in that rare, tender way where you feel genuinely seen. ashley’s words held up a mirror i didn’t know i needed, and somehow, in the middle of the heartbreak, they instilled a quiet hope i didn’t realize i’d been missing.
this is a story born from courage, crafted with heart, and shared with the kind of bravery that changes people. everyone should read it.
infinite starts for my girl! 🌟
December 8, 2025
Wow, oh wow! I typically don’t rate non-fiction, but I had to give Ashley all the stars. I was honored to read some of her early drafts, and watching this book come together has been such a joy.
This memoir is incredibly raw, deep, and vulnerable. Ashley shares her journey through medical residency with honesty and courage, showing every high and low along the way. I especially appreciated her openness about mental health, her willingness to discuss her own struggles makes the story feel that much more authentic and impactful.
One theme that really stuck with me is the reminder: “Don’t save all your joy for the weekend.” So many of us wait for those two fleeting days of “freedom,” but packing all our fun and errands into them just creates more pressure. Ashley’s story is a beautiful reminder that we can (and should) weave small joys into our weekday routines so life feels fuller, softer, and more sustainable.
I wholeheartedly recommend this memoir to anyone who loves honest, human stories, or simply wants to feel less alone in their own struggles.
Mark your calendars: 1/20/26!
This memoir is incredibly raw, deep, and vulnerable. Ashley shares her journey through medical residency with honesty and courage, showing every high and low along the way. I especially appreciated her openness about mental health, her willingness to discuss her own struggles makes the story feel that much more authentic and impactful.
One theme that really stuck with me is the reminder: “Don’t save all your joy for the weekend.” So many of us wait for those two fleeting days of “freedom,” but packing all our fun and errands into them just creates more pressure. Ashley’s story is a beautiful reminder that we can (and should) weave small joys into our weekday routines so life feels fuller, softer, and more sustainable.
I wholeheartedly recommend this memoir to anyone who loves honest, human stories, or simply wants to feel less alone in their own struggles.
Mark your calendars: 1/20/26!
November 16, 2025
Resident, Interrupted🩺🥼
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pub Date: Jan 20th
First of all, I want to thank Ashley for sending me an E-ARC of her memoir! I love memoirs and have been following Ashley for a while so I was excited to hear her journey through med school and residency.
This book was such a raw & real, behind the scenes look of the pressures of becoming a doctor. I like how she didn’t hold anything back. She included the good, the bad, and the ugly. This was such an eye opener for me because my extent of knowledge about the process of becoming a Dr comes from Greys Anatomy😅 I love that she wasn’t afraid to talk about mental health, specially her own mental health. I think having personal experiences like that makes for better doctors. Ashley has so much empathy and you can tell through her writing that she is an amazing, caring doctor.
If you’re interested in mental health, residency, psychology, or just want a good memoir to read, pick this up!🖤
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pub Date: Jan 20th
First of all, I want to thank Ashley for sending me an E-ARC of her memoir! I love memoirs and have been following Ashley for a while so I was excited to hear her journey through med school and residency.
This book was such a raw & real, behind the scenes look of the pressures of becoming a doctor. I like how she didn’t hold anything back. She included the good, the bad, and the ugly. This was such an eye opener for me because my extent of knowledge about the process of becoming a Dr comes from Greys Anatomy😅 I love that she wasn’t afraid to talk about mental health, specially her own mental health. I think having personal experiences like that makes for better doctors. Ashley has so much empathy and you can tell through her writing that she is an amazing, caring doctor.
If you’re interested in mental health, residency, psychology, or just want a good memoir to read, pick this up!🖤
November 25, 2025
This book was so hooking! Definitely a tearjerker; it felt so real, and some parts relatable. I felt all the emotions like they were mine as I was reading. It had great storytelling, it was insightful, it had so many great, colorful metaphors- I really enjoyed those.
I really enjoyed how the author wrote everything out, and executed her life into this novel.
Now, I’m not- nor will ever be be, most likely- a doctor, or any type of medical personnel, but I really felt like I could relate to some of the struggles mentioned and that made me feel closer to the book and the writing.
I really liked how she explained all the medical stuff (my only knowledge is from medical shows lol)- I didn’t feel lost at all.
I also really loved the part 7- it added so much more depth and perspective into how that part of the authors life played out, and I really enjoyed it.
Overall a really good read! I definitely recommend!!
I really enjoyed how the author wrote everything out, and executed her life into this novel.
Now, I’m not- nor will ever be be, most likely- a doctor, or any type of medical personnel, but I really felt like I could relate to some of the struggles mentioned and that made me feel closer to the book and the writing.
I really liked how she explained all the medical stuff (my only knowledge is from medical shows lol)- I didn’t feel lost at all.
I also really loved the part 7- it added so much more depth and perspective into how that part of the authors life played out, and I really enjoyed it.
Overall a really good read! I definitely recommend!!
Read
December 20, 2025A one-sitting read! This was heartbreaking, funny, real, raw, and everything else you could ask for in a memoir! As someone who works alongside residents in the healthcare field, I always knew their residency was grueling, but didn’t know much about the process of getting TO residency itself. This book shed a lot of light on the (sometimes just-as-grueling) process, and gives me a newfound appreciation for our “baby doctors” as they’re just getting started in the second phase of their education. I absolutely loved the playlist that accompanied this book - the songs were so specific to each part and definitely added to the emotional impact of the read. There were so many highlight-able passages here and so much wisdom shared about the healthcare field and just life in general! I think this would resonate for those in and out of the healthcare realm alike.
A huge congrats to Ashley Kate for an excellent read, so thankful to be a part of this ARC team!! This is my voluntary and honest review.
A huge congrats to Ashley Kate for an excellent read, so thankful to be a part of this ARC team!! This is my voluntary and honest review.
December 26, 2025
ARC review! A raw, vulnerable look into the struggles of medical residency. Ashley writes with courage, emotion, and insight that anyone can learn from - resident or not. It’s very rare to see this kind of perspective published and as a med student, I really appreciate someone being brave enough to put the emotions that so many of us experience into writing.
December 8, 2025
~ ARC Review ~
As someone who just finished binge watching The Pit on HBOMax and whose fave tv show is Grey’s Anatomy, I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book.
But let me tell you, being able to read this book as an ARC was a privilege not only as a fellow booksta girly whose followed @paging_drbookworm for awhile, but also a girl who struggles with anxiety herself.
Resident, Interrupted was filled with such a rawness and realness that makes the reader feel seen and gives them hope not matter what they’ve gone through.
You can tell that what Dr. Bourne went through not only changed her but changed the lives of all her future patients because she is better able to advocate for herself and them.
One of my favorite lines/takes away from the book was sentence where she says “Don’t save all your joy for the weekend.” I think this is such a powerful statement in today’s culture, where we are praised for hustle, but the true living and joy comes from slowing down and being in relationships with others.
As someone who just finished binge watching The Pit on HBOMax and whose fave tv show is Grey’s Anatomy, I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book.
But let me tell you, being able to read this book as an ARC was a privilege not only as a fellow booksta girly whose followed @paging_drbookworm for awhile, but also a girl who struggles with anxiety herself.
Resident, Interrupted was filled with such a rawness and realness that makes the reader feel seen and gives them hope not matter what they’ve gone through.
You can tell that what Dr. Bourne went through not only changed her but changed the lives of all her future patients because she is better able to advocate for herself and them.
One of my favorite lines/takes away from the book was sentence where she says “Don’t save all your joy for the weekend.” I think this is such a powerful statement in today’s culture, where we are praised for hustle, but the true living and joy comes from slowing down and being in relationships with others.
November 30, 2025
Wow, what a beautiful memoir and an amazing debut. I was hooked from the beginning and was unable to put it down until I finished it.
Ashley Kate does an amazing job at describing just how grueling and challenging medical school and training is, but also gives a glimpse of just how rewarding and fulfilling it can be as well. I saw myself in so many of the words written on the pages, and she highlights just how important mental health in medicine is. Her honestly helps this memoir stand out and helps make us in medicine not feel as alone.
I highly recommend this memoir to anyone in medicine, mental health, or psychiatry. Thank you for letting me read this book early!
Ashley Kate does an amazing job at describing just how grueling and challenging medical school and training is, but also gives a glimpse of just how rewarding and fulfilling it can be as well. I saw myself in so many of the words written on the pages, and she highlights just how important mental health in medicine is. Her honestly helps this memoir stand out and helps make us in medicine not feel as alone.
I highly recommend this memoir to anyone in medicine, mental health, or psychiatry. Thank you for letting me read this book early!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I don't normally rate memoirs, but felt moved to do so for this one so that I could give it five stars. This is the type of memoir that you remember long after you've read it and it deals with an important topic -- mental health awareness.
I was fortunate to receive an eARC of this book from the author and I'm happily leaving my honest review. (Thank you!)
Resident, Interrupted is an honest, raw look at Dr. Bourne's year in a transitional residency program after she did not match a position on Match Day, putting her dreams of becoming a psychiatrist on hold. It's also more than that. It's the story of how she came out of the depression she fell into and a call to action for more consideration toward the well being of doctors in the residency system.
By sharing her struggles and how they affected her entire life, including her confidence as a resident, Ashley directly combats the stigma against mental health matters, including that of asking for help (especially as a medical professional). The descriptions of living with depression are vivid and resonated so much with me as someone who has suffered with it as well. She describes not only the heavy weight and the loss of joy of depression, but illustrates how it affects every aspect of a person's wellbeing -- mental, physical, professional, social, and relational. Especially valuable is Ashley's account of how she was able to come out of the fog. Yes, she is a strong, intelligent, determined person, but her narrative clearly outlines that it was a combination of medication, therapy, and support from others that helped her emerge from the darkness. Her recovery was not instantaneous once she got help, but rather a gradual emergence back to herself. One morning that felt lighter was followed by more that did not. A glimpse of joy one day didn't repeat itself right away. Eventually the light consistently, with these early glimpses providing hope along the way. Likewise, reading about this journey can provide hope to others living under the cloud of depression.
The inside look at medical training and the brutal residency system is compelling as well. It was inspiring to read about how Ashley continued to form the type of doctor she wanted to be through her experiences and so fulfilling to see where the process took her after her transitional year.
Near the end of the book, Ashley writes letters to her past and future selves along with mentors from her residency, family, and friends. These moving letters were one of my favorite parts. They reflect her gratitude for support received, wisdom and advice gained from her journey, and much more.
All together Resident, Interrupted is a powerful, emotional read with great value to anyone who has dealth with depression, anyone considering a medical career, and, really, anyone who has any interest in learning more about mental health. Highly recommend!
I was fortunate to receive an eARC of this book from the author and I'm happily leaving my honest review. (Thank you!)
Resident, Interrupted is an honest, raw look at Dr. Bourne's year in a transitional residency program after she did not match a position on Match Day, putting her dreams of becoming a psychiatrist on hold. It's also more than that. It's the story of how she came out of the depression she fell into and a call to action for more consideration toward the well being of doctors in the residency system.
By sharing her struggles and how they affected her entire life, including her confidence as a resident, Ashley directly combats the stigma against mental health matters, including that of asking for help (especially as a medical professional). The descriptions of living with depression are vivid and resonated so much with me as someone who has suffered with it as well. She describes not only the heavy weight and the loss of joy of depression, but illustrates how it affects every aspect of a person's wellbeing -- mental, physical, professional, social, and relational. Especially valuable is Ashley's account of how she was able to come out of the fog. Yes, she is a strong, intelligent, determined person, but her narrative clearly outlines that it was a combination of medication, therapy, and support from others that helped her emerge from the darkness. Her recovery was not instantaneous once she got help, but rather a gradual emergence back to herself. One morning that felt lighter was followed by more that did not. A glimpse of joy one day didn't repeat itself right away. Eventually the light consistently, with these early glimpses providing hope along the way. Likewise, reading about this journey can provide hope to others living under the cloud of depression.
The inside look at medical training and the brutal residency system is compelling as well. It was inspiring to read about how Ashley continued to form the type of doctor she wanted to be through her experiences and so fulfilling to see where the process took her after her transitional year.
Near the end of the book, Ashley writes letters to her past and future selves along with mentors from her residency, family, and friends. These moving letters were one of my favorite parts. They reflect her gratitude for support received, wisdom and advice gained from her journey, and much more.
All together Resident, Interrupted is a powerful, emotional read with great value to anyone who has dealth with depression, anyone considering a medical career, and, really, anyone who has any interest in learning more about mental health. Highly recommend!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This memoir was incredibly vulnerable, as Ashley Kate writes in detail about her battle with depression while trying to navigate the early years of her medical career. At times it was hard to read, Ashley Kate does not hold back, but I found every chapter still lined with hope.
I enjoyed the structure of this memoir, told in parts with a playlist provided at the start of each section. I went ahead and set up the playlists for each section on my phone so I could listen along and it added so much to the reading experience (plus we have similar taste in music!).
The memoir starts off with Ashley Kate’s professional personal statement, essentially her admissions essay. I think this was a curious way to introduce herself - we see the polished version of her background with a light touch on personal connection. I thought back on my college admission essay and, sure, it was about me, but it doesn’t give the reader the full picture. The pages that follow her professional statement truly could not be more different. We get the real Ashley Kate, full or raw emotion, and in those pages I found a real person.
Reading this memoir was seeing a woman heal, she found the help she needed from others but also from herself. It’s clear that the writing of this memoir was part of the healing journey as well. I felt this so fully in the section where she writes letters to herself, her loved ones, her mentors (good and bad), her patients, and the medical field as a whole.
Lately I’ve struggled to find non-fiction that resonates with me, but this memoir convinced me that I need to read more like this one, not the celebrity kinds that get all the buzz, but the kinds that feel truly human and relatable - ones that draw out compassion and a new understanding of different experiences. This memoir did all that and more for me! Ashley Kate is clearly a compassionate person and doctor, and I hope she continues to find joy (and continues to write!!). I highly recommend this memoir, and I think it could help a lot of people.
I enjoyed the structure of this memoir, told in parts with a playlist provided at the start of each section. I went ahead and set up the playlists for each section on my phone so I could listen along and it added so much to the reading experience (plus we have similar taste in music!).
The memoir starts off with Ashley Kate’s professional personal statement, essentially her admissions essay. I think this was a curious way to introduce herself - we see the polished version of her background with a light touch on personal connection. I thought back on my college admission essay and, sure, it was about me, but it doesn’t give the reader the full picture. The pages that follow her professional statement truly could not be more different. We get the real Ashley Kate, full or raw emotion, and in those pages I found a real person.
Reading this memoir was seeing a woman heal, she found the help she needed from others but also from herself. It’s clear that the writing of this memoir was part of the healing journey as well. I felt this so fully in the section where she writes letters to herself, her loved ones, her mentors (good and bad), her patients, and the medical field as a whole.
Lately I’ve struggled to find non-fiction that resonates with me, but this memoir convinced me that I need to read more like this one, not the celebrity kinds that get all the buzz, but the kinds that feel truly human and relatable - ones that draw out compassion and a new understanding of different experiences. This memoir did all that and more for me! Ashley Kate is clearly a compassionate person and doctor, and I hope she continues to find joy (and continues to write!!). I highly recommend this memoir, and I think it could help a lot of people.
December 1, 2025
*ARC REVIEW*
wow. this is a truly raw and honest look into what it’s like to struggle with mental illness while trying to show up in your life and relationships, and chase your dreams- in this case becoming a doctor. as someone who is NOT a doctor, but who works in inpatient mental health AND struggles with mental illness herself, the relatability of this book was truly on a different level. working in psychiatry in any capacity changes you, sometimes for better and sometimes not so much. it is not at all an easy feat, so reading this and drawing from my personal experience, i was really able to imagine just how much that struggle is amplified from the providers’ perspective.
ashley kate leaves nothing off these pages. she spills her heart and her truth, even in the ugly moments. and that show of vulnerability in such public way is seriously admirable. i think this book is an incredible look at how we do have the power to break the stigmas around mental illness through being more open, how we are truly never alone in our struggles, and just how much better life can get. i also absolutely loved the afterword from a different POV. i’m truly grateful to have had the opportunity to read an early copy of this book, and i think it would be a powerful read for anyone- whether you are in the medical field, have interest in the medical field, or are just someone living with or who knows someone living with depression or other mental illness(es).
thank you so, SO much to the sweetest, bookstagram’s very own, @paging_dr.bookworm for sending this ARC my way to read and review! connecting with you in this space has been amazing and i’m so excited for your journey as an author. 💕✨
and remember: MENTAL HEALTH IS HEALTH.
GOING TO THERAPY IS COOL.
YOU MATTER.
IT’S OKAY TO NOT BE OKAY.
TOMORROW NEEDS YOU. 🧠🌻💛
wow. this is a truly raw and honest look into what it’s like to struggle with mental illness while trying to show up in your life and relationships, and chase your dreams- in this case becoming a doctor. as someone who is NOT a doctor, but who works in inpatient mental health AND struggles with mental illness herself, the relatability of this book was truly on a different level. working in psychiatry in any capacity changes you, sometimes for better and sometimes not so much. it is not at all an easy feat, so reading this and drawing from my personal experience, i was really able to imagine just how much that struggle is amplified from the providers’ perspective.
ashley kate leaves nothing off these pages. she spills her heart and her truth, even in the ugly moments. and that show of vulnerability in such public way is seriously admirable. i think this book is an incredible look at how we do have the power to break the stigmas around mental illness through being more open, how we are truly never alone in our struggles, and just how much better life can get. i also absolutely loved the afterword from a different POV. i’m truly grateful to have had the opportunity to read an early copy of this book, and i think it would be a powerful read for anyone- whether you are in the medical field, have interest in the medical field, or are just someone living with or who knows someone living with depression or other mental illness(es).
thank you so, SO much to the sweetest, bookstagram’s very own, @paging_dr.bookworm for sending this ARC my way to read and review! connecting with you in this space has been amazing and i’m so excited for your journey as an author. 💕✨
and remember: MENTAL HEALTH IS HEALTH.
GOING TO THERAPY IS COOL.
YOU MATTER.
IT’S OKAY TO NOT BE OKAY.
TOMORROW NEEDS YOU. 🧠🌻💛
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book was a powerful story of a physician who dealt with the reality of the SOAP, rose above it while still encountering a number of obstacles, and found her way to her chosen specialty. Dr. Bourne is truly put on this earth to share her gifts as a psychiatrist, but also be a friend, wife, mother, and so much more. As a current fourth year medical student, it was impactful reading about her experience. I hope that one day the system is less broken and the SOAP is not tied to so much shame. It is still so hard to get to being a fourth year, apply for residency, then basically go through another round because the first round did not achieve the desired result. Dr. Bourne hit on so much within medicine, and how it is not just one thing that is hard. Yes, we sign up for medicine knowing it is hard, but there is so much more that is hard but does not have to be (that we are not necessarily signing up for). She exposes flaws within the system that many readers without first-hand experience of the residency process may not know. I am excited to read future books by Dr. Bourne and cannot wait for more people to read her story. I think anyone who has been on a journey with their mental health or who has watched a loved one go on that journey will find something to relate to in her story. Thank you for sharing your story Dr. Bourne and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to be one of your ARC readers!
Read
December 2, 2025📖 Resident Interrupted by Dr. Ashley Kate Bourne
⭐️ ARC
🎁 — thank you for this advanced copy!
REVIEW 📝 —
Wow. I have always wanted to work somewhere in the medicine field, and now being a first year in my undergraduate journey and getting the chance to read this? Fate timed it perfectly.
I absolutely adore how raw this memoir was. I think the idea of a doctor has always been masked by dramas like Grey’s Anatomy and it makes people forget the absolute grueling path it takes to become a doctor. Dr. Ashley was able to truly share her experience and remind us that doctors are humans, who go through just as much struggle, grief, and pain as we do.
The memoir itself was fast-paced, divided in a way that simply made so much sense. I loved how descriptive she was, the little details of patients— It gives me, as a student, hope that I will be able to touch lives the same way she does.
Most importantly, the mental health representation, the tolls of the medicine field… Wow. It was everything you didn’t know you needed to hear. Such a moving, captivating read, absolutely loved.
⭐️ ARC
🎁 — thank you for this advanced copy!
REVIEW 📝 —
Wow. I have always wanted to work somewhere in the medicine field, and now being a first year in my undergraduate journey and getting the chance to read this? Fate timed it perfectly.
I absolutely adore how raw this memoir was. I think the idea of a doctor has always been masked by dramas like Grey’s Anatomy and it makes people forget the absolute grueling path it takes to become a doctor. Dr. Ashley was able to truly share her experience and remind us that doctors are humans, who go through just as much struggle, grief, and pain as we do.
The memoir itself was fast-paced, divided in a way that simply made so much sense. I loved how descriptive she was, the little details of patients— It gives me, as a student, hope that I will be able to touch lives the same way she does.
Most importantly, the mental health representation, the tolls of the medicine field… Wow. It was everything you didn’t know you needed to hear. Such a moving, captivating read, absolutely loved.
Read
January 18, 2026“And if you’re struggling, that struggle deserves to be taken seriously—no matter what anyone else is going through.”
A very personal, reflective and interesting memoir from the author around mental health in residency. As someone who knew little of the medical residency process, it was eye opening to see the amount of work and different routes doctors take to achieve their careers.
Of course the base of this story is how important recognition and then treatment of mental health conditions are. I think it was very brave to put such a personal story out there, but the importance of showing how crucial that vulnerability can be is glaring.
Seek help. Take meds. Talk to someone. No matter how capable you think you are or what field you are in - that’s the main takeaway.
Thank you Ashley for letting me read your e-ARC. I am always rooting for you my Booksta friend!
A very personal, reflective and interesting memoir from the author around mental health in residency. As someone who knew little of the medical residency process, it was eye opening to see the amount of work and different routes doctors take to achieve their careers.
Of course the base of this story is how important recognition and then treatment of mental health conditions are. I think it was very brave to put such a personal story out there, but the importance of showing how crucial that vulnerability can be is glaring.
Seek help. Take meds. Talk to someone. No matter how capable you think you are or what field you are in - that’s the main takeaway.
Thank you Ashley for letting me read your e-ARC. I am always rooting for you my Booksta friend!
November 28, 2025
Wow!
Resident, Interrupted is a book of vulnerability and reclaiming not only your happiness, but your life. I was immediately drawn into her story from page one and I so deeply resonated with it because of my own story. This book proves that not only can you live with a mental health disorder, you can thrive! The realness, the rawness captured my heart and moved me to tears many times throughout. If a book can make me cry, it’s an automatic ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️! But it deserves that rating for so much more.
If you’re interested in life in healthcare, mental health and depression, or the fight for your life back, Resident, Interrupted is for you!
Mental health is a huge part of my life and has shaped me into the woman I am today. Knowing I’m not alone in this battle brings me so much comfort. MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS!
Thank you so much @paging_dr.bookworm for allowing me to read and immerse myself in your story. I cannot recommend your book enough. Your patients are so incredibly lucky to have you as theirs 🩷
Resident, Interrupted is a book of vulnerability and reclaiming not only your happiness, but your life. I was immediately drawn into her story from page one and I so deeply resonated with it because of my own story. This book proves that not only can you live with a mental health disorder, you can thrive! The realness, the rawness captured my heart and moved me to tears many times throughout. If a book can make me cry, it’s an automatic ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️! But it deserves that rating for so much more.
If you’re interested in life in healthcare, mental health and depression, or the fight for your life back, Resident, Interrupted is for you!
Mental health is a huge part of my life and has shaped me into the woman I am today. Knowing I’m not alone in this battle brings me so much comfort. MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS!
Thank you so much @paging_dr.bookworm for allowing me to read and immerse myself in your story. I cannot recommend your book enough. Your patients are so incredibly lucky to have you as theirs 🩷
November 30, 2025
I am truly so happy I was given the opportunity to read this as an eARC. I binged this in a day, something I haven’t done in I don’t know how long.
This was a glimpse behind the curtain of the medical world. I loved that. I highlighted so much, something I RARELY do. I also cried real tears while reading this.
Read this if:
- You are a doctor, want to be a doctor, or know someone who is a doctor.
- have had depression, or know someone who has depression.
So, pretty much, just read it!
4.5 rounded up
This was a glimpse behind the curtain of the medical world. I loved that. I highlighted so much, something I RARELY do. I also cried real tears while reading this.
Read this if:
- You are a doctor, want to be a doctor, or know someone who is a doctor.
- have had depression, or know someone who has depression.
So, pretty much, just read it!
4.5 rounded up
Read
November 30, 2025Very engaging read, raising awareness about heavy topics that should be discussed more. I loved the insight into the medical doctor journey in America. I did feel the main points were a bit repetitive but I understand why and the author always gave a twist or new perspective on how she talked about them. Overall an insightful and inspiring read, definitely recommend.
No rating as it would feel putting a star rating on the author's life and hardships which is definitely not what I am here for!
No rating as it would feel putting a star rating on the author's life and hardships which is definitely not what I am here for!
December 12, 2025
So thankful to Ashley Kate for sending me a copy of this eARC!
First and foremost, I have to preface this by saying that being connected to Ashley Kate on Instagram for the past year or so has been wonderful. She is open, forthcoming, and non-judgmental when it comes to discussing mental health in general and suggesting books related to mental health, something that makes it clear she is a wonderful doctor as well!
Now when it comes to this memoir, I think she hit the nail on the head regarding how to be completely vulnerable without falling in to pity. She details everything that occurred during her post medical school journey including her achievements, perceived failures, impacts on those around her, and the changes she was able to make with the help of multiple psychiatric/therapeutic measures. There is not a moment here where she is asking you to feel sorry for her, she wants you to connect with her and hopefully come out on the other side for the better, which was certainly how I felt after finishing. She also gives an eye opening account on what becoming a doctor is really like, no Grey's Anatomy romance stories, just pure, honest hard work, depression, and burnout. She also works so hard to erase stigmas surrounding medication and hospitalization due to mental health, something I find so important as a user of SSRIs myself.
Overall, this was an important read. I am so proud of Ashley Kate's successes and cannot wait to see more from her!
First and foremost, I have to preface this by saying that being connected to Ashley Kate on Instagram for the past year or so has been wonderful. She is open, forthcoming, and non-judgmental when it comes to discussing mental health in general and suggesting books related to mental health, something that makes it clear she is a wonderful doctor as well!
Now when it comes to this memoir, I think she hit the nail on the head regarding how to be completely vulnerable without falling in to pity. She details everything that occurred during her post medical school journey including her achievements, perceived failures, impacts on those around her, and the changes she was able to make with the help of multiple psychiatric/therapeutic measures. There is not a moment here where she is asking you to feel sorry for her, she wants you to connect with her and hopefully come out on the other side for the better, which was certainly how I felt after finishing. She also gives an eye opening account on what becoming a doctor is really like, no Grey's Anatomy romance stories, just pure, honest hard work, depression, and burnout. She also works so hard to erase stigmas surrounding medication and hospitalization due to mental health, something I find so important as a user of SSRIs myself.
Overall, this was an important read. I am so proud of Ashley Kate's successes and cannot wait to see more from her!
January 1, 2026
4.5⭐️
"I think what scares people most is that if a doctor admits to struggling mentally, it calls everything into question… But the truth is, struggling doesn’t make you less of a doctor. If anything, it makes you more human. And medicine could use a little more of that.”
Mark my words this will become a book that anyone who wants to become a physician should read. In this beautifully candid memoir, Dr. Bourne shines a light on her struggle with depression in the midst of residency training. Within these pages we glean insight into the flaws present in medical training, the unspoken "rule" to maintain a facade of togetherness, and how a person can get crushed underneath the weight of it all. She perfectly captures the different facets of what her struggle with depression was like as she felt herself turn into a person she and her loved ones didn’t even recognize. Beyond this being a story about losing your way, it’s a story of resillience, bravery, rediscovering yourself, and making it out of the other side. Ashley is a shining example of the exact kind of person that needs to become a doctor.
Thank you for your honesty in sharing your story and your commitment to continue showing up for the people around you. This is a book that is going to stick with me forever.
"I think what scares people most is that if a doctor admits to struggling mentally, it calls everything into question… But the truth is, struggling doesn’t make you less of a doctor. If anything, it makes you more human. And medicine could use a little more of that.”
Mark my words this will become a book that anyone who wants to become a physician should read. In this beautifully candid memoir, Dr. Bourne shines a light on her struggle with depression in the midst of residency training. Within these pages we glean insight into the flaws present in medical training, the unspoken "rule" to maintain a facade of togetherness, and how a person can get crushed underneath the weight of it all. She perfectly captures the different facets of what her struggle with depression was like as she felt herself turn into a person she and her loved ones didn’t even recognize. Beyond this being a story about losing your way, it’s a story of resillience, bravery, rediscovering yourself, and making it out of the other side. Ashley is a shining example of the exact kind of person that needs to become a doctor.
Thank you for your honesty in sharing your story and your commitment to continue showing up for the people around you. This is a book that is going to stick with me forever.
January 13, 2026
Rating a memoir is so difficult because so often the author is sharing vulnerability and their truth with the reader. But you also have to consider whether the book is worth spending your time and attention to consume.
I do think this memoir is worth reading. Especially if you’re someone who has mental illnesses themselves or knows someone who does, is considering working in healthcare, or have struggled with expectations not meeting reality.
This isn’t a perfect book. The story is quite disjointed at times and there’s a bit of repetition. I found that it is more of a collection of vignettes than a cohesive story arc. Perhaps it could benefit from a bit more editing but the heart of story still comes through effectively.
This is a self published memoir after all. It is a story of resilience. A peak into how mental health can impact anyone, even a doctor. This memoir is boldly honest and incredibly refreshing.
I applaud Doctor Bourne for sharing her story. It takes someone special to be able to reflect on their hardships and share it with the world.
I’m thankful to the author, my friend, for providing me with an ARC to review.
I do think this memoir is worth reading. Especially if you’re someone who has mental illnesses themselves or knows someone who does, is considering working in healthcare, or have struggled with expectations not meeting reality.
This isn’t a perfect book. The story is quite disjointed at times and there’s a bit of repetition. I found that it is more of a collection of vignettes than a cohesive story arc. Perhaps it could benefit from a bit more editing but the heart of story still comes through effectively.
This is a self published memoir after all. It is a story of resilience. A peak into how mental health can impact anyone, even a doctor. This memoir is boldly honest and incredibly refreshing.
I applaud Doctor Bourne for sharing her story. It takes someone special to be able to reflect on their hardships and share it with the world.
I’m thankful to the author, my friend, for providing me with an ARC to review.
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