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St. Jude's Medical #1
Bedside Manner
Dr. Maxwell York has a protocol for everything. As the Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Max is a man of precision. He likes his coffee at exactly 180 degrees, his office silent, and his life sterile. He is the "Ice King," and he has no intention of melting.
Dr. Jax O’Connell is a disaster waiting to happen. The Head of Trauma is Max’s exact opposite. A former combat surgeon who drives a mud-splattered Jeep, listens to AC/DC in the OR, and treats rules as mild suggestions. To Jax, medicine is warfare, and he’s the "Trauma Cowboy" leading the charge.
Oil, meet water. When a hospital merger forces their departments together, Max and Jax are shoved into a shared office. A single strip of blue painter’s tape on the floor is the only thing separating Max’s pristine order from Jax’s chaos.
Max wants him gone ASAP. Jax wants to see just how far he can push him before he breaks.
But as the pressure of the hospital mounts, the friction between them sparks into something neither of them can control. Max is realizing that chaos might be the one thing his life is missing, and Jax is finding out that the Ice King burns hotter than anyone else.
Sometimes, the only cure is a little... Bedside Manner.
Dr. Jax O’Connell is a disaster waiting to happen. The Head of Trauma is Max’s exact opposite. A former combat surgeon who drives a mud-splattered Jeep, listens to AC/DC in the OR, and treats rules as mild suggestions. To Jax, medicine is warfare, and he’s the "Trauma Cowboy" leading the charge.
Oil, meet water. When a hospital merger forces their departments together, Max and Jax are shoved into a shared office. A single strip of blue painter’s tape on the floor is the only thing separating Max’s pristine order from Jax’s chaos.
Max wants him gone ASAP. Jax wants to see just how far he can push him before he breaks.
But as the pressure of the hospital mounts, the friction between them sparks into something neither of them can control. Max is realizing that chaos might be the one thing his life is missing, and Jax is finding out that the Ice King burns hotter than anyone else.
Sometimes, the only cure is a little... Bedside Manner.
214 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 19, 2026
173 people are currently reading
643 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 165 reviews
February 10, 2026
I am going to be completely up front and say that I am a little undecided on if this was actually a good book, I suspect it probably wasn’t… It was however a very entertaining and easy read and I flew through it in a single day while having quite a good time.
This is a pretty simple premise and doesn’t break any barriers or conventions. An ‘odd fellows’ story between the brash, rowdy and charming Dr. Jax O’Connell who is a veteran and esteemed trauma surgeon, being forced to share an office temporarily with the ‘Ice King’ Dr. Maxwell York, Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery. It doesn’t take long for an attraction to take place however, as although these two bicker like cats and dogs, they both get turned on by competence and confidence and given that they are both at the top of their respective fields, its really is just a matter of time till their tension bubbles over into something physical.
This story had a little bit of spice in it, but I will be honest that I didn’t find the spice to be especially thrilling and their sexual chemistry fell a bit flat for me. I found it a little odd that there was a bit of a public sex element to their hook ups, however there wasn’t really any sort of corresponding exhibitionism or voyeurism kink? Like the fact that these things happened in kind of semi public spaces was just kind of beside the point? Struck me as a bit strange.
I think that your mileage with this book will be directly related to what your expectations are of it. This books sits substantially further down on the silly medical drama end of the scale than the serious medical drama end; in my mind more aligned to 911 vibes. Although credit where its due, the medical language in this (from someone not in a medical field) sounded legit and well informed enough that I was curious to see if the author mentions his research process in his authors note (spoiler alert, he didn’t). The drama at the end of the book was a little OTT, some of it a little out of left field and was perhaps all resolved a little too easily…. but like…. it’s kind of what I expected so I cant complain when the contents match the label.
This was probably a 3.5 ✨ book realistically, but this was a nice quick read that managed to engage my brain during a period of time where my personal stress has been so high that I have struggled to concentrate on reading enough to drift into the world of the book properly, so I will round it up for providing me a pleasant reading experience during a tough time.
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This is a pretty simple premise and doesn’t break any barriers or conventions. An ‘odd fellows’ story between the brash, rowdy and charming Dr. Jax O’Connell who is a veteran and esteemed trauma surgeon, being forced to share an office temporarily with the ‘Ice King’ Dr. Maxwell York, Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery. It doesn’t take long for an attraction to take place however, as although these two bicker like cats and dogs, they both get turned on by competence and confidence and given that they are both at the top of their respective fields, its really is just a matter of time till their tension bubbles over into something physical.
This story had a little bit of spice in it, but I will be honest that I didn’t find the spice to be especially thrilling and their sexual chemistry fell a bit flat for me. I found it a little odd that there was a bit of a public sex element to their hook ups, however there wasn’t really any sort of corresponding exhibitionism or voyeurism kink? Like the fact that these things happened in kind of semi public spaces was just kind of beside the point? Struck me as a bit strange.
I think that your mileage with this book will be directly related to what your expectations are of it. This books sits substantially further down on the silly medical drama end of the scale than the serious medical drama end; in my mind more aligned to 911 vibes. Although credit where its due, the medical language in this (from someone not in a medical field) sounded legit and well informed enough that I was curious to see if the author mentions his research process in his authors note (spoiler alert, he didn’t). The drama at the end of the book was a little OTT, some of it a little out of left field and was perhaps all resolved a little too easily…. but like…. it’s kind of what I expected so I cant complain when the contents match the label.
This was probably a 3.5 ✨ book realistically, but this was a nice quick read that managed to engage my brain during a period of time where my personal stress has been so high that I have struggled to concentrate on reading enough to drift into the world of the book properly, so I will round it up for providing me a pleasant reading experience during a tough time.
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February 4, 2026
4 Stars
Bedside Manner takes us back into an intense, often medically graphic hospital setting, much like where I began my C.G. Macington reading journey a year ago with Emergency Contact. Although I enjoyed both, this story is substantially more polished and emotionally weighted, following an opposites-attract romance between a Dr. Maxwell York, a typical “type C” cardiothoracic surgeon, referred to by his fellow hospital staff as The Ice King, and a Dr. Jax O’Connell, a former combat surgeon who keeps his desk as messy as his hair and likes his ER music LOUD, known affectionately by his peers as The Trauma Cowboy.
The story only spans a couple of weeks (I *think*) and sees Max and Jax’s world’s collide when hospital renovations see them attempting to co-exist in shared office space. Although polar opposites in personality, upbringing, and both surgeon skills and emergency medical manoeuvres, their forced proximity leads to a lot of hands-on growth for both men, as they learn new skills from one another, surprising them both (and those around them) with the ease and efficiency of how they work together in the always high stress ER.
Their quickly evolving romance was easy to believe with how effortlessly they clicked professionally and how noticeably they balanced one another out on a personal and emotional level. I especially loved how Jax challenged Max to be more open-minded and less contained, while Max helped Jax face his mental health struggles as a trauma-ridden war vet with a serious case of survivors guilt.
This was probably the steamiest Macington story I’ve read to date, too, with a few really decent, well-placed sexual encounters, once even on hospital grounds, which reminded me a lot of Grey’s Anatomy and all the call-room friskiness those professionals got up to on a regular basis.
There was plenty of on-page (often graphic) medical drama and a fair bit of family and workplace conflict, with a raging bitch of a mother for Max and a Chief of Surgery out to destroy both their careers out of pettiness and spite, but I quite enjoyed this brand of melodrama, especially enjoying the kick I got out of Max’s eccentric and powerful father, who hugely entertained in all the scenes he was in, with his brash behaviour and often hilarious comments involving one-upping that horrible wife of his.
I’ve noticed this story seems to be reaching a wider audience than Macington’s earlier works (probably because of the cover art, not gonna lie), and it’s great to see because this author was easily my most-read (and consistently enjoyed) author of 2025, and I want nothing more than for his broadly themed, impressively researched, and always engrossing M/M stories to find a growing readership. Hopefully new readers who enjoy this opposites-attract hospital romance will be compelled to go back and try some of Macington’s earlier works, because I can promise you, there are juicy gems in that backlog not to be missed!
***A special thanks to the author and publishers (via Book Sirens) for providing an ARC of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Bedside Manner takes us back into an intense, often medically graphic hospital setting, much like where I began my C.G. Macington reading journey a year ago with Emergency Contact. Although I enjoyed both, this story is substantially more polished and emotionally weighted, following an opposites-attract romance between a Dr. Maxwell York, a typical “type C” cardiothoracic surgeon, referred to by his fellow hospital staff as The Ice King, and a Dr. Jax O’Connell, a former combat surgeon who keeps his desk as messy as his hair and likes his ER music LOUD, known affectionately by his peers as The Trauma Cowboy.
The story only spans a couple of weeks (I *think*) and sees Max and Jax’s world’s collide when hospital renovations see them attempting to co-exist in shared office space. Although polar opposites in personality, upbringing, and both surgeon skills and emergency medical manoeuvres, their forced proximity leads to a lot of hands-on growth for both men, as they learn new skills from one another, surprising them both (and those around them) with the ease and efficiency of how they work together in the always high stress ER.
Their quickly evolving romance was easy to believe with how effortlessly they clicked professionally and how noticeably they balanced one another out on a personal and emotional level. I especially loved how Jax challenged Max to be more open-minded and less contained, while Max helped Jax face his mental health struggles as a trauma-ridden war vet with a serious case of survivors guilt.
This was probably the steamiest Macington story I’ve read to date, too, with a few really decent, well-placed sexual encounters, once even on hospital grounds, which reminded me a lot of Grey’s Anatomy and all the call-room friskiness those professionals got up to on a regular basis.
There was plenty of on-page (often graphic) medical drama and a fair bit of family and workplace conflict, with a raging bitch of a mother for Max and a Chief of Surgery out to destroy both their careers out of pettiness and spite, but I quite enjoyed this brand of melodrama, especially enjoying the kick I got out of Max’s eccentric and powerful father, who hugely entertained in all the scenes he was in, with his brash behaviour and often hilarious comments involving one-upping that horrible wife of his.
I’ve noticed this story seems to be reaching a wider audience than Macington’s earlier works (probably because of the cover art, not gonna lie), and it’s great to see because this author was easily my most-read (and consistently enjoyed) author of 2025, and I want nothing more than for his broadly themed, impressively researched, and always engrossing M/M stories to find a growing readership. Hopefully new readers who enjoy this opposites-attract hospital romance will be compelled to go back and try some of Macington’s earlier works, because I can promise you, there are juicy gems in that backlog not to be missed!
***A special thanks to the author and publishers (via Book Sirens) for providing an ARC of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 22, 2026
4.5***** stars
The Ice King and The Trauma Cowboy. ♡
THIS BOOK WAS A DELIGHT from start to finish. I read this in one sitting and found it was way deeper than the cover suggests. Some things certainly could’ve been explored more but I’m not mad at the way this story was told at all. I had the best time with these two surgeons and total opposites.
Also: Max’s father, the great Alistair York, was a hoot. He had the best lines. He’s not really a good character, but very, very entertaining. I also hope little Preston gets his own book. His father is raising a rebel here.
This was my first time reading this author and I’m very glad there is more to discover in his backlist.
⇢ the enemies to lovers label is pretty much nonsense, tho
**********
St. Jude's Medical Series
Book 1 - Bedside Manner - 4.5 stars
Book 2 - Conflict of Interest - 4.5 stars
Book 3 - Wedding Manner - release 03/26
The Ice King and The Trauma Cowboy. ♡
THIS BOOK WAS A DELIGHT from start to finish. I read this in one sitting and found it was way deeper than the cover suggests. Some things certainly could’ve been explored more but I’m not mad at the way this story was told at all. I had the best time with these two surgeons and total opposites.
Standing in the doorway is a man who looks less like a doctor and more like someone who has been dishonourably discharged from a pirate ship."You really think we can?"
"I think," I say, "that between your brain and my ability to improvise, we can fake anything.”
"Okay," I say. "But we’re not done fighting about this. When I can stand up without passing out, I’m going to yell at you properly."
"I look forward to it,"
Also: Max’s father, the great Alistair York, was a hoot. He had the best lines. He’s not really a good character, but very, very entertaining. I also hope little Preston gets his own book. His father is raising a rebel here.
This was my first time reading this author and I’m very glad there is more to discover in his backlist.
⇢ the enemies to lovers label is pretty much nonsense, tho
**********
St. Jude's Medical Series
Book 1 - Bedside Manner - 4.5 stars
Book 2 - Conflict of Interest - 4.5 stars
Book 3 - Wedding Manner - release 03/26
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March 9, 2026
Bedside Manner is book one in the St. Jude’s Medical series by C.G. Macington. This is my very first book by this author and I...Am...In...Love!!! This is classified as an enemies to lovers romance but I would more call it an opposites attract, medical, romcom! I couldn’t put it down.
Let’s start with Maxwell York. He is thirty six years old and is the Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at St. Jude’s. Maxwell comes from a very wealthy family. His mom is intolerable and his dad is a hoot! Maxwell is known in the hospital as The Ice King for good reason. He shows no emotion. He likes it completely silent during surgery, his office is sterile, everything is lined up perfectly in it’s place. But when a hospital renovation kicks him out of his office, he is placed on the bottom floor in the trauma unit, sharing the office with a trauma doctor.
Jax O’Connell is about as opposite to Max as he could be, in every way. Jax is a war veteran. He was a combat surgeon. Now he is known as the Trauma Cowboy. He thrives in chaos. His office is a disaster area, as is most other areas he inhabits.
These two pretty much immediately go nose to nose with their differences. But it doesn’t take long before respect begins to grow as they work together. Not to mention the sizzling attraction. Max begins to realize that a little bit of chaos might not be such a bad thing, especially when it comes in the form of Jax!
Prepare to laugh, smile, sigh, and even swoon with these two. I got all the tummy swirls I could handle. I adored them so much. Now I’m off to the next book which is Max’s younger brother, Preston. I’m hoping for lots of updates on Max and Jax as well. Just what I needed, a new author to obsess over!
Let’s start with Maxwell York. He is thirty six years old and is the Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at St. Jude’s. Maxwell comes from a very wealthy family. His mom is intolerable and his dad is a hoot! Maxwell is known in the hospital as The Ice King for good reason. He shows no emotion. He likes it completely silent during surgery, his office is sterile, everything is lined up perfectly in it’s place. But when a hospital renovation kicks him out of his office, he is placed on the bottom floor in the trauma unit, sharing the office with a trauma doctor.
Jax O’Connell is about as opposite to Max as he could be, in every way. Jax is a war veteran. He was a combat surgeon. Now he is known as the Trauma Cowboy. He thrives in chaos. His office is a disaster area, as is most other areas he inhabits.
These two pretty much immediately go nose to nose with their differences. But it doesn’t take long before respect begins to grow as they work together. Not to mention the sizzling attraction. Max begins to realize that a little bit of chaos might not be such a bad thing, especially when it comes in the form of Jax!
Prepare to laugh, smile, sigh, and even swoon with these two. I got all the tummy swirls I could handle. I adored them so much. Now I’m off to the next book which is Max’s younger brother, Preston. I’m hoping for lots of updates on Max and Jax as well. Just what I needed, a new author to obsess over!
March 10, 2026
Please, if you work in a medical capacity, or have any knowledge of the inner workings of hospital life… you have to read this as if it is a ridiculous comedic satire.
This one is high drama. Totally OTT. Fun, if you’re after a no-thinking required read.
Picture of steely professionalism, Dr Maxwell York, Head of Cardiothoracic surgery and the chaotic war vet Dr Jax O’Connell, Head of trauma, need to share office space during renovations (but is it an office space or a nurses station? I can’t tell haha). Suddenly they are super aware of each other and get involved in each others work (this was all weird to me, but it sets up the story I guess haha)
Beware, there are no 5-moments of hand hygiene here. Blood, blood everywhere… nothing a quick wipe off on your scrubs won’t fix 🤣
Nurses, interns, residents, registrars … brace yourselves, the heads of surgical departments here do the jobs of the ENTIRE nursing and medical staff single handedly…. and they also review cases together, at the drop of the hat. Incredible. Hilarious.
The romance initially was kinda out of no where. I was like, oh wow, they’re kissing hahaha BUT they did grow on me. They were fun. I am CERTAIN this author was being deliberately ridiculous here and just ran with it. At least I hope so 🤭🤣
A few things smelt of regret in this book… 🙃 The repeated use of sensory similes did make me a bit twitchy at the end. Maybe because my friend and BRer Sarah 💗 … who also happens to be a colleague and fellow health worker *twitch*, has been recently assaulted by similes 🤭🤣🤣
This did get some genuine laughs out of me though! And when I tried to overlook the god-complexes of our two MMCs, I did enjoy some of their banter (when I wasn’t being offended by it) 🤣🤣
A totally ridiculous 3 ⭐️
2 🌶️
This one is high drama. Totally OTT. Fun, if you’re after a no-thinking required read.
Picture of steely professionalism, Dr Maxwell York, Head of Cardiothoracic surgery and the chaotic war vet Dr Jax O’Connell, Head of trauma, need to share office space during renovations (but is it an office space or a nurses station? I can’t tell haha). Suddenly they are super aware of each other and get involved in each others work (this was all weird to me, but it sets up the story I guess haha)
Beware, there are no 5-moments of hand hygiene here. Blood, blood everywhere… nothing a quick wipe off on your scrubs won’t fix 🤣
Nurses, interns, residents, registrars … brace yourselves, the heads of surgical departments here do the jobs of the ENTIRE nursing and medical staff single handedly…. and they also review cases together, at the drop of the hat. Incredible. Hilarious.
The romance initially was kinda out of no where. I was like, oh wow, they’re kissing hahaha BUT they did grow on me. They were fun. I am CERTAIN this author was being deliberately ridiculous here and just ran with it. At least I hope so 🤭🤣
A few things smelt of regret in this book… 🙃 The repeated use of sensory similes did make me a bit twitchy at the end. Maybe because my friend and BRer Sarah 💗 … who also happens to be a colleague and fellow health worker *twitch*, has been recently assaulted by similes 🤭🤣🤣
This did get some genuine laughs out of me though! And when I tried to overlook the god-complexes of our two MMCs, I did enjoy some of their banter (when I wasn’t being offended by it) 🤣🤣
A totally ridiculous 3 ⭐️
2 🌶️
February 10, 2026
Loved almost everything about it. Almost.
This is a new-to-me-author, and I adored the first half of the book. It’s like Emergency Room on steroids, with Jax O’Connell, the Afghanistan veteran/trauma surgeon, chaotic, messy, and brilliant, tattooed and scarred, listening to heavy metal and eating junk food. And Maxwell York, there cardio surgeon, nick name “Ice King”, prodigy of a well-off family, his father a former neuro surgeon and his mother a tightly strung socialite.
Jax and Max(well) are forced to share an office during some construction works at the hospital, and things start as well as you can imagine when 2 completely different personalities get too close - sparks fly, and the chemistry is palpable between the two.
I had a few minor issues with the plot - like…
…the scene when they were getting a suit for Jax at a high fashion tailor (Giovanni): Max tells him to get out of his boots, to pin the too long trousers. That’s not how it’s done - you need to wear the dress shoes to find the perfect length (sorry if I’m nitpicking). And immediately after that, Max tells Giovanni to wrap it up? And Giovanni the tailor hasn’t even seen Jax wearing the suit- he let Max do the fitting? There were a few small scenes like this one that didn’t make sense to me, something that some beta readers could have helped with.
As for the 70% drama, that (thankfully) didn’t last too long: it came out of nowhere, felt forced and didn’t really add anything to the story, but managed to kill the vibe for me 🤷♀️
That’s why I can’t really rate it with the 5 stars I would have loved to give it for the first half - still, it’s highly entertaining, even if it’s a bit OTT at times.
Can’t wait to read Preston’s book, Maxwell’s younger brother!
This is a new-to-me-author, and I adored the first half of the book. It’s like Emergency Room on steroids, with Jax O’Connell, the Afghanistan veteran/trauma surgeon, chaotic, messy, and brilliant, tattooed and scarred, listening to heavy metal and eating junk food. And Maxwell York, there cardio surgeon, nick name “Ice King”, prodigy of a well-off family, his father a former neuro surgeon and his mother a tightly strung socialite.
Jax and Max(well) are forced to share an office during some construction works at the hospital, and things start as well as you can imagine when 2 completely different personalities get too close - sparks fly, and the chemistry is palpable between the two.
I had a few minor issues with the plot - like…
…the scene when they were getting a suit for Jax at a high fashion tailor (Giovanni): Max tells him to get out of his boots, to pin the too long trousers. That’s not how it’s done - you need to wear the dress shoes to find the perfect length (sorry if I’m nitpicking). And immediately after that, Max tells Giovanni to wrap it up? And Giovanni the tailor hasn’t even seen Jax wearing the suit- he let Max do the fitting? There were a few small scenes like this one that didn’t make sense to me, something that some beta readers could have helped with.
As for the 70% drama, that (thankfully) didn’t last too long: it came out of nowhere, felt forced and didn’t really add anything to the story, but managed to kill the vibe for me 🤷♀️
That’s why I can’t really rate it with the 5 stars I would have loved to give it for the first half - still, it’s highly entertaining, even if it’s a bit OTT at times.
Can’t wait to read Preston’s book, Maxwell’s younger brother!
March 3, 2026
i guess this is the right time to come out as an aggressive greys anatomy stan. which means that i avoid other medical dramas because im afraid that they simply won’t compete and keep me hostage like greys does.
however, i caved in and what a wonderful fucking idea i had.
there is one thing i have to say immediately. the author is also a fan f greys, based on the dr dreamy and dr steamy thing, so starting the book with a cardiac tamponade was simply cruel. there was no reason to do that to me.
i loved it from the very start. it’s voicey, funny, the plot is fast paced and the characters made laugh and giggle and squeal.
i was so invested that the spirit of richard webber possessed me for a second and i started screaming “HES NOT DEAD UNTIL HES WARM AND DEAD.”
truly a wonderful moment.
also, i loved that while seeing little reminds to greys, the characters were completely new.
and thank fuck. i could never read a book about owen fucking hunt.
however, we have two issues that i simply can’t ignore:
-i don’t understand why the word fuck is censured once. the author doesn’t swear a lot in his books, and that’s his right. but i just don’t understand why he had to write “F**k.” once. what was the reason? i swear, i almost had an aneurysm.
-and then, the biggest crime in romance novels. the chapter from the side character. listen, i’m the first to admit that it was fun. but it was pointless, jarring and it had no business being there.
and these two things piss me off so much because it would’ve totally been a 5 star read without them.
however, i caved in and what a wonderful fucking idea i had.
there is one thing i have to say immediately. the author is also a fan f greys, based on the dr dreamy and dr steamy thing, so starting the book with a cardiac tamponade was simply cruel. there was no reason to do that to me.
i loved it from the very start. it’s voicey, funny, the plot is fast paced and the characters made laugh and giggle and squeal.
i was so invested that the spirit of richard webber possessed me for a second and i started screaming “HES NOT DEAD UNTIL HES WARM AND DEAD.”
truly a wonderful moment.
also, i loved that while seeing little reminds to greys, the characters were completely new.
and thank fuck. i could never read a book about owen fucking hunt.
however, we have two issues that i simply can’t ignore:
-i don’t understand why the word fuck is censured once. the author doesn’t swear a lot in his books, and that’s his right. but i just don’t understand why he had to write “F**k.” once. what was the reason? i swear, i almost had an aneurysm.
-and then, the biggest crime in romance novels. the chapter from the side character. listen, i’m the first to admit that it was fun. but it was pointless, jarring and it had no business being there.
and these two things piss me off so much because it would’ve totally been a 5 star read without them.
January 27, 2026
'I have four hours to invent a revolutionary surgical protocol that does not exist, for a robotic arm we do not have, to justify a surgery we have already performed.'
The crazy things we do for love.
Wait. No. Scratch that. He did this for a crush. Or, in his words, a man for whom he has a' physiological response'.
Lol. Wonder what he'd do for love, then.
Buying the guy a donut?
'It was a caloric supplement to prevent Dr. O'Connell from becoming hypoglycemic and making a surgical error. It was a safety protocol.'
Lowkey cuddling the guy because his combat insomnia won't let him sleep?
"I am anchoring the perimeter,"... "Nothing gets past me. Not even ghosts."
Related: awwwwwww.
JUST SAY YOU LIKE THE GUY.
This is not part of employer assisted professional development.
Taking the guy along to your family's Christmas Eve-Eve dinner?
He's coming as a 'tactical asset'.
"You want me to be your fake date."
Maxwell winces. "I prefer the term 'strategic companion.'"
Of course he does.
Max took poor Jax to a tailor and Jax was getting whacked left and right, OMG. Free this man.
"You have no neck. It is just shoulders all the way up."
"Stop lifting things immediately. It ruins the silhouette. You take up space aggressively."
"You are too... square. You are a cube made of meat."
Meanwhile Max is there thinking things like....
'The pants are tight. Very tight. They cling to his glutes and thighs in a way that is medically fascinating'
Rightrightright. Medically.
My favorite moment was the surgically precise takedown of a fine dining experience.
"Max," I whisper, leaning in close so only he can hear. "What is this? It looks like foam from a car wash."
Maxwell keeps his eyes forward, his posture rigid.
"It is a deconstructed scallop foam with truffle dust," he whispers back.
I squint at the plate. "Where’s the scallop?"
"The scallop is implied," Maxwell says.
"The scallop is implied?" I hiss. "Max, I haven't eaten since 6:00 AM. I can't eat an implication."
Also the weirdest family. Belonging to Max, that is.
I just love how Jax handles Max's snobby mom.
"Where do the O'Connells summer?"
"I grew up in state care, Mrs. York. So I mostly 'summered' wherever the foster placement was that year. But I did spend a lovely summer in Kandahar avoiding mortar fire. The dry heat does wonders for the pores."
😂I love whatever is wrong with this man.
I'm also lowkey a fan of Alistair. He's hilarious, even if he does lack political correctness.
"Honestly, Anthony, the boy asked for a subscription to the International Male catalog for his twelfth birthday. He told us he appreciated the 'mesh tank tops' for their 'ventilation properties.' We weren't exactly hiring a private investigator to crack the code."
"I was interested in fashion history."
"You were interested in the swimwear section, Maxwell."
In front of the board. At a disciplinary hearing 😂
"And I care that you annoyed my wife before she had finished her coffee."
Whole time, he's only mad that he didn't annoy Catherine himself. I swear Alistair and Catherine have a very strange marriage.
Alistair is.....sort of a good dad? Even though he does that mostly through trying to kill his wife.
"Go get dressed, Preston. Wear something rebellious. It annoys your mother, and I find that very entertaining lately. It keeps her blood pressure up, which is good for her circulation."
I do not yet understand the exact dynamic between him and Catherine but I like him. Coincidentally, also mostly BECAUSE he's always trying to kill Catherine.
And he's always saying something ridiculous.
"Twitter is calling him 'Daddy.' I don't know what that means, but my PR team tells me it is a term of endearment and not a paternity claim."
😂😂😂😂😂WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS MAN????
This book is probably the funniest thing Macington has written so far. And no heartbreaking suffering?! Love to see it.
Even though I'm sode eyeing the fact that the MCs are called Max and Jax. What in the twin golden retrievers is this?
But they seem to really enjoy each other and I love that.
Two complaints.
One. This is NOT enemies to lovers. Not even rivals to lovers. I'd be hard pressed to even call it mild irritation. It's one guy with a very straight stick up his very gay ass and another guy who's so amused by him that he slowly pulls that stick out of his ass(and puts another one up there; a better stick, if you will).
Two. Macington is clearly in the pocket of Big Shondaland because why on earth is this entire book lowkey Grey's Anatomy propaganda?
Now I want to watch medical mess again. I want to see what Luca and Simone are up to. I feel the urge to watch season 22 and it had taken me long enough to break this 20 year habit and I don't know if I'm happy that I'm going to fall off the wagon because of this book. I was finally free.
Now look.
The crazy things we do for love.
Wait. No. Scratch that. He did this for a crush. Or, in his words, a man for whom he has a' physiological response'.
Lol. Wonder what he'd do for love, then.
Buying the guy a donut?
'It was a caloric supplement to prevent Dr. O'Connell from becoming hypoglycemic and making a surgical error. It was a safety protocol.'
Lowkey cuddling the guy because his combat insomnia won't let him sleep?
"I am anchoring the perimeter,"... "Nothing gets past me. Not even ghosts."
Related: awwwwwww.
JUST SAY YOU LIKE THE GUY.
This is not part of employer assisted professional development.
Taking the guy along to your family's Christmas Eve-Eve dinner?
He's coming as a 'tactical asset'.
"You want me to be your fake date."
Maxwell winces. "I prefer the term 'strategic companion.'"
Of course he does.
Max took poor Jax to a tailor and Jax was getting whacked left and right, OMG. Free this man.
"You have no neck. It is just shoulders all the way up."
"Stop lifting things immediately. It ruins the silhouette. You take up space aggressively."
"You are too... square. You are a cube made of meat."
Meanwhile Max is there thinking things like....
'The pants are tight. Very tight. They cling to his glutes and thighs in a way that is medically fascinating'
Rightrightright. Medically.
My favorite moment was the surgically precise takedown of a fine dining experience.
"Max," I whisper, leaning in close so only he can hear. "What is this? It looks like foam from a car wash."
Maxwell keeps his eyes forward, his posture rigid.
"It is a deconstructed scallop foam with truffle dust," he whispers back.
I squint at the plate. "Where’s the scallop?"
"The scallop is implied," Maxwell says.
"The scallop is implied?" I hiss. "Max, I haven't eaten since 6:00 AM. I can't eat an implication."
Also the weirdest family. Belonging to Max, that is.
I just love how Jax handles Max's snobby mom.
"Where do the O'Connells summer?"
"I grew up in state care, Mrs. York. So I mostly 'summered' wherever the foster placement was that year. But I did spend a lovely summer in Kandahar avoiding mortar fire. The dry heat does wonders for the pores."
😂I love whatever is wrong with this man.
I'm also lowkey a fan of Alistair. He's hilarious, even if he does lack political correctness.
"Honestly, Anthony, the boy asked for a subscription to the International Male catalog for his twelfth birthday. He told us he appreciated the 'mesh tank tops' for their 'ventilation properties.' We weren't exactly hiring a private investigator to crack the code."
"I was interested in fashion history."
"You were interested in the swimwear section, Maxwell."
In front of the board. At a disciplinary hearing 😂
"And I care that you annoyed my wife before she had finished her coffee."
Whole time, he's only mad that he didn't annoy Catherine himself. I swear Alistair and Catherine have a very strange marriage.
Alistair is.....sort of a good dad? Even though he does that mostly through trying to kill his wife.
"Go get dressed, Preston. Wear something rebellious. It annoys your mother, and I find that very entertaining lately. It keeps her blood pressure up, which is good for her circulation."
I do not yet understand the exact dynamic between him and Catherine but I like him. Coincidentally, also mostly BECAUSE he's always trying to kill Catherine.
And he's always saying something ridiculous.
"Twitter is calling him 'Daddy.' I don't know what that means, but my PR team tells me it is a term of endearment and not a paternity claim."
😂😂😂😂😂WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS MAN????
This book is probably the funniest thing Macington has written so far. And no heartbreaking suffering?! Love to see it.
Even though I'm sode eyeing the fact that the MCs are called Max and Jax. What in the twin golden retrievers is this?
But they seem to really enjoy each other and I love that.
Two complaints.
One. This is NOT enemies to lovers. Not even rivals to lovers. I'd be hard pressed to even call it mild irritation. It's one guy with a very straight stick up his very gay ass and another guy who's so amused by him that he slowly pulls that stick out of his ass(and puts another one up there; a better stick, if you will).
Two. Macington is clearly in the pocket of Big Shondaland because why on earth is this entire book lowkey Grey's Anatomy propaganda?
Now I want to watch medical mess again. I want to see what Luca and Simone are up to. I feel the urge to watch season 22 and it had taken me long enough to break this 20 year habit and I don't know if I'm happy that I'm going to fall off the wagon because of this book. I was finally free.
Now look.
February 10, 2026
Yikes, this was not what I thought it was going to be.
100% of the reason I wanted to read this book was because I just finished watching The Pitt season 1, and to say I got obsessed is putting it mildly.
So of course, when I saw that this was about doctors in a hospital, and one of them being a trauma surgeon, I was sold.
So it’s very disappointing to realize that the only thing good about this book was the cover. The writing was trying to be funny and unique with all the endless medical references that at first were cute, but then got irritating. I really don’t believe anybody talks like that in real life, regardless of whether they are a medical professional or not.
In addition to the writing not being the best and the banter being obnoxious, the pacing was weird, and the timeline had so many inconsistencies that after a while, I stopped trying to make it make sense. The plot was also pretty rough; these dudes were not “enemies.” One was objectively the boss of the other, and the animosity was purely one-sided.
Maxwell’s whole family dynamic was all over the place, and instead of providing more understanding of the character, it was just cringey.
I could go on and on about everything I disliked, but my biggest complaint is that it gave me Poetry on Ice PTSD flashbacks.
100% of the reason I wanted to read this book was because I just finished watching The Pitt season 1, and to say I got obsessed is putting it mildly.
So of course, when I saw that this was about doctors in a hospital, and one of them being a trauma surgeon, I was sold.
So it’s very disappointing to realize that the only thing good about this book was the cover. The writing was trying to be funny and unique with all the endless medical references that at first were cute, but then got irritating. I really don’t believe anybody talks like that in real life, regardless of whether they are a medical professional or not.
In addition to the writing not being the best and the banter being obnoxious, the pacing was weird, and the timeline had so many inconsistencies that after a while, I stopped trying to make it make sense. The plot was also pretty rough; these dudes were not “enemies.” One was objectively the boss of the other, and the animosity was purely one-sided.
Maxwell’s whole family dynamic was all over the place, and instead of providing more understanding of the character, it was just cringey.
I could go on and on about everything I disliked, but my biggest complaint is that it gave me Poetry on Ice PTSD flashbacks.
January 31, 2026
I was hooked to this book immediately in chapter one! I loved all of it! I giggled so hard during some parts and the dialogue between Jax and Maxwell was just SO good! Such well written banter. Mm, absolute chefs kiss on that! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I enjoyed reading this immensely! This is how enemies to lovers is done!
February 2, 2026
3.75 stars
This was a cute story! I really liked the banter between Max & Jax. Together they shouldn’t have worked but they really were perfect for each other.
I really loved the first half of the book but the drama after with the chief of staff really messed with the vibe. I felt it was a bit forced. The book was so good and I didn’t see the need for this bit of drama.
I loved Max’s brother Preston. He was funny. He brought a lightheartedness to every part of the story he was in.
4 stars for the first half of the book but 2 stars for that unnecessary drama. The romance was really sweet and I would’ve loved to see more of them as a couple outside of the hospital. They made such a great team though!
ARC received for review
All thoughts and opinions are my own
This was a cute story! I really liked the banter between Max & Jax. Together they shouldn’t have worked but they really were perfect for each other.
I really loved the first half of the book but the drama after with the chief of staff really messed with the vibe. I felt it was a bit forced. The book was so good and I didn’t see the need for this bit of drama.
I loved Max’s brother Preston. He was funny. He brought a lightheartedness to every part of the story he was in.
4 stars for the first half of the book but 2 stars for that unnecessary drama. The romance was really sweet and I would’ve loved to see more of them as a couple outside of the hospital. They made such a great team though!
ARC received for review
All thoughts and opinions are my own
March 3, 2026
This was like a daytime soap opera that sucked me in and held my attention the entire time. There is no nuance, tons of plot holes, and unanswered questions. The book is not really all that good but it is very entertaining. Honestly it kind of steamrolls you into enjoying it.
February 11, 2026
Super cute and funny.
It would have been 5 stars if not for the angst in the second half. That really came out of nowhere for me.
It would have been 5 stars if not for the angst in the second half. That really came out of nowhere for me.
February 4, 2026
The last third of the book was a bit wild and the pacing was odd at points, but it made me giggle so many times I literally
do not care
. Seriously, the first half of this book was a comedic DELIGHT. It made me guffaw so loudly it echoed down my hallway. If I could read 100K of those vibes I’d be a very, very happy chappy.
February 8, 2026
3.25 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
A few niggles but overall a fun read. The first half was shaping up to be 4 ⭐️’s, but it sort of lost its shape in the latter half. This was a new author to me and I’m interested to read more.
The story largely takes place in the hospital where buttoned up head of cardio surgery, Max (re: Maxwell) York, and messy veteran and trauma surgeon Jax O’Connell work. They are forced to share an office due to construction in the hospital, and what starts as animosity turns to shared sexual tension. The story is very angst-lite. There are some trials and tribulations thrown in but by that point you pretty much know it’ll be fine lol. I enjoyed both Jax and Max as characters, as well as the progression of their relationship.
So what bugged me? The writing was a bit clunky at times, as well as the pacing. The plot had holes that were glazed over at best, dropped at worst. Your PTSD/Survivor’s Guilt went away because you got a boyfriend? Or you’re 36 and have never had a relationship, why? Or have you? I don’t know the answers because the book sort of hand waves around it. Another thing, which is petty, but naming the characters “Max and Jax” was certainly a choice 🥴 Also they censored the word ‘fuck’ which I can’t say I’ve seen in a book before lol. I also did not love the “Princess” endearment. Back to the plot, it was odd how there were serious declarations, but completely lacking in major ones outside of internal monologue. That was a bit of a head scratcher for me.
Like I said, it was still fun but a few things prevented me from rating higher 🤷🏻♀️🫶🏼
A few niggles but overall a fun read. The first half was shaping up to be 4 ⭐️’s, but it sort of lost its shape in the latter half. This was a new author to me and I’m interested to read more.
The story largely takes place in the hospital where buttoned up head of cardio surgery, Max (re: Maxwell) York, and messy veteran and trauma surgeon Jax O’Connell work. They are forced to share an office due to construction in the hospital, and what starts as animosity turns to shared sexual tension. The story is very angst-lite. There are some trials and tribulations thrown in but by that point you pretty much know it’ll be fine lol. I enjoyed both Jax and Max as characters, as well as the progression of their relationship.
So what bugged me? The writing was a bit clunky at times, as well as the pacing. The plot had holes that were glazed over at best, dropped at worst. Your PTSD/Survivor’s Guilt went away because you got a boyfriend? Or you’re 36 and have never had a relationship, why? Or have you? I don’t know the answers because the book sort of hand waves around it. Another thing, which is petty, but naming the characters “Max and Jax” was certainly a choice 🥴 Also they censored the word ‘fuck’ which I can’t say I’ve seen in a book before lol. I also did not love the “Princess” endearment. Back to the plot, it was odd how there were serious declarations, but completely lacking in major ones outside of internal monologue. That was a bit of a head scratcher for me.
Like I said, it was still fun but a few things prevented me from rating higher 🤷🏻♀️🫶🏼
February 12, 2026
3+
Daleko tej książce do arcydzieła, ma sporo dziur i medycznego słownictwa, jest insta - może nie 24-godzinna, ale jednak, obowiązkowe rozstanie wzięło się z powodu wyjętego z czterech liter...
Nie powinnam zaokrąglać w górę, ale jednak i tak to zrobię 😂
Ponieważ jak na nową książkę nawet szybko ją przeczytałam i szczerze mówiąc, to całkiem dobrze się bawiłam - widocznie wyjątkowo dobrze trafiła w czas 😉
Daleko tej książce do arcydzieła, ma sporo dziur i medycznego słownictwa, jest insta - może nie 24-godzinna, ale jednak, obowiązkowe rozstanie wzięło się z powodu wyjętego z czterech liter...
Nie powinnam zaokrąglać w górę, ale jednak i tak to zrobię 😂
Ponieważ jak na nową książkę nawet szybko ją przeczytałam i szczerze mówiąc, to całkiem dobrze się bawiłam - widocznie wyjątkowo dobrze trafiła w czas 😉
January 27, 2026
I was hooked from the first page and absolutely loved the MCs. Fab opposite attract (control/rigid rules vs chaos/instinct), nice early animosity with sizing chemistry and one of the best banters.
What I especially liked was that they were so competent in their respective fields and had very balanced dynamics (both equally strong, confident, dominant and vulnerable). I wasn’t sure how Dr York would be portrayed but luckily he was a fairly well rounded guy despite his upbringing.
So many of cliches that were smashed through and it was deeply satisfying how Dr York rebelled at every step when the typical formula dictated him to revert to his shell. Like Dr O’Connell said “it was the hottest thing” indeed.
The author did a decent job implementing medical and scientific jargon and terminology, I was impressed and highly entertained. The story had a slight romcom vibe, some scenes were hilarious and I had a good laugh. Sexual tension and spice was real good.
I’m upset how almost perfect this novel was (romance was absolutely amazing, my cup of tea!) but too many things totally ruined it for me and prevented from giving 5 star rating:
- York patriarchs were deeply dysfunctional and fucked up. Catherine was disgusting (on a shallow level) but it Alistair that I genuinely hated. He gave me creepy vibes all along and I detested his power trip, he was a manipulative psychopath in a fancy suit. I’m glad Maxwell was aware of that despite the “help” received but I was still left feeling disturbed with Alistair and I didn’t buy his “badass” characterisation.
- Catherine and Alistair had such toxic marriage, why they didn’t divorce instead of playing sick mind games with their sons made as collateral damage
- Alistair gay days reveal was weird af…
- I found it disturbing how Maxwell was viewed as “delicate” by his parents and how Caroline was exerting such pressure over a grown up man (he was 36 years old for fucks sake)
- Sterling was the bad guy (not the only one imo) and I’m not disagreeing with that but he wasn’t wrong to ensure rules were followed. I know it’s fiction but it bothered me how medical protocols were skipped even if it’s was for benefit of MCs. The photos drama was swept under the rug too easily, I actually agree with the liability and reputation damage (c’mon you can’t deny when there was promotion and sex was involved)
- I know medical insurance is a big topic in US and I sympathise with that but it pissed me off when they had the case of a known drug user who already got valve and destroyed it with narcotics. He was a vet but he was also a drug addict. I felt it was wrong to give him second valve knowing he will ruin it again…
"Dr. O'Connell, Go to hell."
"After you, Dr. York."
"I have spent my entire career perfecting the mechanics of saving lives. I think... somewhere along the way... I forgot why I was saving them."
"Are you fat-shaming my muscles?"
"I am aesthetic-shaming your geometry,"
"We’re leaving,"
"What about the tart?"
"Screw the tart."
"God, I love it when you talk dirty."
"You're real. Messy under that ice."
"Messy. I'm controlled. Precise."
"Not tonight. Tonight, you're mine."
"Tell Sterling you have... acute happiness. It’s fatal. You need bed rest."
What I especially liked was that they were so competent in their respective fields and had very balanced dynamics (both equally strong, confident, dominant and vulnerable). I wasn’t sure how Dr York would be portrayed but luckily he was a fairly well rounded guy despite his upbringing.
So many of cliches that were smashed through and it was deeply satisfying how Dr York rebelled at every step when the typical formula dictated him to revert to his shell. Like Dr O’Connell said “it was the hottest thing” indeed.
The author did a decent job implementing medical and scientific jargon and terminology, I was impressed and highly entertained. The story had a slight romcom vibe, some scenes were hilarious and I had a good laugh. Sexual tension and spice was real good.
I’m upset how almost perfect this novel was (romance was absolutely amazing, my cup of tea!) but too many things totally ruined it for me and prevented from giving 5 star rating:
- York patriarchs were deeply dysfunctional and fucked up. Catherine was disgusting (on a shallow level) but it Alistair that I genuinely hated. He gave me creepy vibes all along and I detested his power trip, he was a manipulative psychopath in a fancy suit. I’m glad Maxwell was aware of that despite the “help” received but I was still left feeling disturbed with Alistair and I didn’t buy his “badass” characterisation.
- Catherine and Alistair had such toxic marriage, why they didn’t divorce instead of playing sick mind games with their sons made as collateral damage
- Alistair gay days reveal was weird af…
- I found it disturbing how Maxwell was viewed as “delicate” by his parents and how Caroline was exerting such pressure over a grown up man (he was 36 years old for fucks sake)
- Sterling was the bad guy (not the only one imo) and I’m not disagreeing with that but he wasn’t wrong to ensure rules were followed. I know it’s fiction but it bothered me how medical protocols were skipped even if it’s was for benefit of MCs. The photos drama was swept under the rug too easily, I actually agree with the liability and reputation damage (c’mon you can’t deny when there was promotion and sex was involved)
- I know medical insurance is a big topic in US and I sympathise with that but it pissed me off when they had the case of a known drug user who already got valve and destroyed it with narcotics. He was a vet but he was also a drug addict. I felt it was wrong to give him second valve knowing he will ruin it again…
"Dr. O'Connell, Go to hell."
"After you, Dr. York."
"I have spent my entire career perfecting the mechanics of saving lives. I think... somewhere along the way... I forgot why I was saving them."
"Are you fat-shaming my muscles?"
"I am aesthetic-shaming your geometry,"
"We’re leaving,"
"What about the tart?"
"Screw the tart."
"God, I love it when you talk dirty."
"You're real. Messy under that ice."
"Messy. I'm controlled. Precise."
"Not tonight. Tonight, you're mine."
"Tell Sterling you have... acute happiness. It’s fatal. You need bed rest."
February 4, 2026
4.5⭐️
I really enjoyed this book.
I loved how stiff and proper Maxwell lost all of his composure around Jax. I loved how Jax pushed his boundaries and got him to enjoy himself.
Alistair was so funny. An absolute shit, but really funny. He had me cackling. He clearly loves his family but is bored by the rigidity of it all and enjoys creating chaos wherever he goes. It was great.
I didn’t mind the hospital setting despite having no idea what half of the terms meant. The drama was entertaining and it was just a delight from start to finish.
I really enjoyed this book.
I loved how stiff and proper Maxwell lost all of his composure around Jax. I loved how Jax pushed his boundaries and got him to enjoy himself.
Alistair was so funny. An absolute shit, but really funny. He had me cackling. He clearly loves his family but is bored by the rigidity of it all and enjoys creating chaos wherever he goes. It was great.
I didn’t mind the hospital setting despite having no idea what half of the terms meant. The drama was entertaining and it was just a delight from start to finish.
February 25, 2026
Up until the first ILYs were thrown around- I really really liked this.
It's smart (the medical part pretty realistic) and slow burn and the only-one-bed-trope turned to only-one-office is hilarious.
Then I was shocked about the love confessions turning up at random and I can't get over that.
Still going to give book #2 a chance.
It's smart (the medical part pretty realistic) and slow burn and the only-one-bed-trope turned to only-one-office is hilarious.
Then I was shocked about the love confessions turning up at random and I can't get over that.
Still going to give book #2 a chance.
Read
February 3, 2026Haven't read a ton of medical romances so I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this!
February 21, 2026
This one had me in stitches. 🤣🤣 The text threat between Max and Preston, his brother, was hilarious.
Tension ✔️
Banter ✔️
The ending seemed kind of rush but I didn't mind because the book was great.
Tension ✔️
Banter ✔️
The ending seemed kind of rush but I didn't mind because the book was great.
March 8, 2026
3.5/3.75 it was cute and I enjoyed it
March 11, 2026
DNF @ 34%
Wow uh, that first chapter really was an exercise in dichotomy. Starting off with the clinical (hah) cleanliness of Maxwell's operation to the chaos and visceral bloodiness of Jax's was something. I actually had to skim because the imagery got too nitty gritty for my tastes (am very squeamish when it comes to a person's insides).
Maxwell and Jax were too close names for the MCs imo (especially since Jax kept on shortening it to Max)
I liked that Maxwell wasn't too stuck up to completely ignore Jax AND had enough levity in him to personify his plant.
I'm not quite sure of hospital hierarchy/operating procedure, but it was a bit weird that Maxwell and Jax just started working together on trauma stuff. The more I read about it, the less I was able to suspend my disbelief around the premise of temporarily merging the cardio and trauma departments because that really just seemed implausible? Like they took a cardio doctor then really just shoved him into a completely separate department and expected him to work there despite it not being the job he'd been hired for.
That first kiss came way too early imo. We'd gotten like what? Maybe two scenes where Maxwell and Jax had even been together without working on a patient? I get stress and arousal, but I wanted them to at least form some kind of status quo that they needed to break before just immediately making out in a supply closet.
Arguing about pizza toppings to show differences should be illegal at this point. I don't even like pineapple on a pizza, but it's literally so cliché to use that as a point of light contention. Authors should do something unique and relevant to their characters instead of something as universally overused and basic as pizza toppings (which tell us nothing about the MCs other than they both eat pizza).
I think adding more time between story beats would've gone a long way in making things feel more natural. If we'd gotten more time with Maxwell and Jax working together and getting to know each other before their tryst in the supply closet, the sudden attraction would've been a great payoff for any tension built up. If we'd seen them interact more on a day-to-day basis, Maxwell suddenly standing up for Jax's desire to help out the veteran would've hit harder AND Maxwell's declaration that Jax was someone who saw "patients not budget cuts" would've been better justified (because we literally only saw it in that one instance).
I had to call it when we saw Maxwell's mother. The pizza topping thing was already cliché, but her just being explicitly rude towards Jax for his appearance and unkemptness was too on the nose. Where was the subtlety? Her relationship with her son being so clear and tropey just bored the hell out of me and when Maxwell defended Jax by saying that "he's the best trauma surgeon in the state" I officially had to move on.
There was a good skeleton here for an opposites-attract romance, but not nearly enough meat between the bones to make it truly enjoyable. There were also way too many standard clichés here and the story as a whole would've benefited if they'd been customized to be more unique.
Wow uh, that first chapter really was an exercise in dichotomy. Starting off with the clinical (hah) cleanliness of Maxwell's operation to the chaos and visceral bloodiness of Jax's was something. I actually had to skim because the imagery got too nitty gritty for my tastes (am very squeamish when it comes to a person's insides).
Maxwell and Jax were too close names for the MCs imo (especially since Jax kept on shortening it to Max)
I liked that Maxwell wasn't too stuck up to completely ignore Jax AND had enough levity in him to personify his plant.
I'm not quite sure of hospital hierarchy/operating procedure, but it was a bit weird that Maxwell and Jax just started working together on trauma stuff. The more I read about it, the less I was able to suspend my disbelief around the premise of temporarily merging the cardio and trauma departments because that really just seemed implausible? Like they took a cardio doctor then really just shoved him into a completely separate department and expected him to work there despite it not being the job he'd been hired for.
That first kiss came way too early imo. We'd gotten like what? Maybe two scenes where Maxwell and Jax had even been together without working on a patient? I get stress and arousal, but I wanted them to at least form some kind of status quo that they needed to break before just immediately making out in a supply closet.
Arguing about pizza toppings to show differences should be illegal at this point. I don't even like pineapple on a pizza, but it's literally so cliché to use that as a point of light contention. Authors should do something unique and relevant to their characters instead of something as universally overused and basic as pizza toppings (which tell us nothing about the MCs other than they both eat pizza).
I think adding more time between story beats would've gone a long way in making things feel more natural. If we'd gotten more time with Maxwell and Jax working together and getting to know each other before their tryst in the supply closet, the sudden attraction would've been a great payoff for any tension built up. If we'd seen them interact more on a day-to-day basis, Maxwell suddenly standing up for Jax's desire to help out the veteran would've hit harder AND Maxwell's declaration that Jax was someone who saw "patients not budget cuts" would've been better justified (because we literally only saw it in that one instance).
I had to call it when we saw Maxwell's mother. The pizza topping thing was already cliché, but her just being explicitly rude towards Jax for his appearance and unkemptness was too on the nose. Where was the subtlety? Her relationship with her son being so clear and tropey just bored the hell out of me and when Maxwell defended Jax by saying that "he's the best trauma surgeon in the state" I officially had to move on.
There was a good skeleton here for an opposites-attract romance, but not nearly enough meat between the bones to make it truly enjoyable. There were also way too many standard clichés here and the story as a whole would've benefited if they'd been customized to be more unique.
February 8, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
This is a new author for me, and I'm now considering reading everything he's written so far!
I really like his writing, and how he makes the characters interact.
The story is really adorable, and the MCs are so cute together.
This is a new author for me, and I'm now considering reading everything he's written so far!
I really like his writing, and how he makes the characters interact.
The story is really adorable, and the MCs are so cute together.
March 5, 2026
Maybe it's the timing, but this read like The Pitt fan fiction... Which is not necessarily a bad thing but the drama with the family and the hospital board was way OTT and made me lose interest in the couple.
February 28, 2026
this was absolutely a greys anatomy fanfiction originally
February 18, 2026
this took me forever to read
January 8, 2026
Cracking opening Macington’s newest book, I’m excited; eagerly devouring the words. Dying to get to know doctors York and O’Connell.
And from the first chapter, I was hooked on the uptight Dr. York … and anxious to see how Dr. O’Connell worms his way under Max’s skin.
I have cried, and laughed throughout Bedside Manner - appalled by Catherine and excited to see what’s in store for young Preston.
For a quick, easy, fun, passionate and heart-warming read … pick up Bedside Manner; you won’t be disappointed.
And from the first chapter, I was hooked on the uptight Dr. York … and anxious to see how Dr. O’Connell worms his way under Max’s skin.
I have cried, and laughed throughout Bedside Manner - appalled by Catherine and excited to see what’s in store for young Preston.
For a quick, easy, fun, passionate and heart-warming read … pick up Bedside Manner; you won’t be disappointed.
January 29, 2026
Was this a literary masterpiece? No. Did I still finish this book in like 2 hours? Yes, I sure did. I still hate insta love and there are holes in this book you could drive his jeep through but it was a cute waste of time that did not make me want to throw my kindle so positives all around.
February 9, 2026
At first glance, they are opposites in every way - a cardiac surgeon from a wealthy elite family and a trauma surgeon raised in the foster system. But…looks are deceiving. They are the “best medicine” for each other.
Jax is just what Maxwell needs to bring him to life, to add chaos, spice, and love. Jax needs Max to have his back and to bring a little order into his life. Also, Jax may just be the best thing to happen to rest of the prim and proper York family.
Jax is just what Maxwell needs to bring him to life, to add chaos, spice, and love. Jax needs Max to have his back and to bring a little order into his life. Also, Jax may just be the best thing to happen to rest of the prim and proper York family.
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