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Symptoms of a Heartbreak
The youngest doctor in America, an Indian-American teen makes her rounds―and falls head over heels―in the contemporary romantic comedy Symptoms of a Heartbreak.
Fresh from med school, sixteen-year-old medical prodigy Saira arrives for her first day at her new job: treating children with cancer. She’s always had to balance family and friendships with her celebrity as the Girl Genius―but she’s never had to prove herself to skeptical adult co-workers while adjusting to real life-and-death stakes. And working in the same hospital as her mother certainly isn’t making things any easier.
But life gets complicated when Saira finds herself falling in love with a patient: a cute teen boy who’s been diagnosed with cancer. And when she risks her brand new career to try to improve his chances, it could cost her everything.
It turns out “heartbreak” is the one thing she still doesn’t know how to treat.
In her solo debut, Sona Charaipotra brings us a compelling #ownvoices protagonist who’s not afraid to chase what she wants. Symptoms of a Heartbreak goes from romantic comedy highs to tearjerker lows and is the ultimate cure-all for young adult readers needing an infusion of something heartfelt.
Fresh from med school, sixteen-year-old medical prodigy Saira arrives for her first day at her new job: treating children with cancer. She’s always had to balance family and friendships with her celebrity as the Girl Genius―but she’s never had to prove herself to skeptical adult co-workers while adjusting to real life-and-death stakes. And working in the same hospital as her mother certainly isn’t making things any easier.
But life gets complicated when Saira finds herself falling in love with a patient: a cute teen boy who’s been diagnosed with cancer. And when she risks her brand new career to try to improve his chances, it could cost her everything.
It turns out “heartbreak” is the one thing she still doesn’t know how to treat.
In her solo debut, Sona Charaipotra brings us a compelling #ownvoices protagonist who’s not afraid to chase what she wants. Symptoms of a Heartbreak goes from romantic comedy highs to tearjerker lows and is the ultimate cure-all for young adult readers needing an infusion of something heartfelt.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published July 2, 2019
104 people are currently reading
7713 people want to read
About the author
Sona Charaipotra
13 books692 followersThe author of the YA doc dramedy Symptoms of a Heartbreak, SONA CHARAIPOTRA is not a doctor — much to her pediatrician parents’ chagrin. They were really hoping she’d grow up to take over their practice one day.
Instead, she became a writer, working first as a celebrity reporter at People and (the dearly departed) TeenPeople magazines, and more recently contributing to publications from the New York Times to TeenVogue. She was also the editor of the Barnes & Noble Teen blog. These days, she uses her Masters in screenwriting from NYU and her MFA in creative writing from the New School to poke plot holes in her favorite teen TV shows — for work of course. She’s the co-founder of CAKE Literary, a boutique book packaging company with a decidedly diverse bent, and the co-author of the YA dance dramas Tiny Pretty Things and Shiny Broken Pieces (now a Netflix original series!), as well as the upcoming psychological thriller Rumor Game. Her follow-up to Symptoms will be the YA contemporary romp How Maya Got Fierce, which draws on her magazine world experience and is pitched as the Bold Type meets Younger. She’s a former We Need Diverse Books board member. Find her sharing pictures of her kids and her chai on Instagram @sonesone2, talking writing and books on Twitter @sona_c, or pinning gorgeous lenghas and her favorite Indian food on Pinterest.
Instead, she became a writer, working first as a celebrity reporter at People and (the dearly departed) TeenPeople magazines, and more recently contributing to publications from the New York Times to TeenVogue. She was also the editor of the Barnes & Noble Teen blog. These days, she uses her Masters in screenwriting from NYU and her MFA in creative writing from the New School to poke plot holes in her favorite teen TV shows — for work of course. She’s the co-founder of CAKE Literary, a boutique book packaging company with a decidedly diverse bent, and the co-author of the YA dance dramas Tiny Pretty Things and Shiny Broken Pieces (now a Netflix original series!), as well as the upcoming psychological thriller Rumor Game. Her follow-up to Symptoms will be the YA contemporary romp How Maya Got Fierce, which draws on her magazine world experience and is pitched as the Bold Type meets Younger. She’s a former We Need Diverse Books board member. Find her sharing pictures of her kids and her chai on Instagram @sonesone2, talking writing and books on Twitter @sona_c, or pinning gorgeous lenghas and her favorite Indian food on Pinterest.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 305 reviews
August 2, 2019
I expected a cutesy-wutesy contemporary but you won't find that here. Real world drama lies in these pages, and one character I wanted to smack silly. I was a little lost on some of the language and cultural references that weren't explained well if at all. It felt unnecessarily long with some lulls in pacing. Overall, 3 out of 5 stars. Not terrible but not memorable either.
August 24, 2018
Hey guys! This is the author! Just a heads up that the title of this book has changed to Symptoms of a Heartbreak, and it has a new goodreads page here:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...
Thank you for all of your support!
Sona
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...
Thank you for all of your support!
Sona
January 21, 2020
I think this book could be an inspiration for young women, and young men also, who have career aspirations at early ages. The author does a good job of portraying the importance of strong family bonds. The consequences of an “all work, no play” lifestyle are also stressed.
I would recommend this to Y.A. readers, but with adult guidance. There is quite a bit of underage drinking that takes place.
Memorable Quotes:
(Pg.173)-“ Now stop thinking about work. Eat. Lounge. Watch movies. You need the day off.”
(Pg. 309)-“ This will be one of the hardest things I’ll ever have to do. My first solo ride will not be bright one, but that’s what being a grown-up is all about, isn’t it?”
I would recommend this to Y.A. readers, but with adult guidance. There is quite a bit of underage drinking that takes place.
Memorable Quotes:
(Pg.173)-“ Now stop thinking about work. Eat. Lounge. Watch movies. You need the day off.”
(Pg. 309)-“ This will be one of the hardest things I’ll ever have to do. My first solo ride will not be bright one, but that’s what being a grown-up is all about, isn’t it?”
![Profile Image for laurel [the suspected bibliophile].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1645808644i%2F7494844._UX200_CR0%2C6%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
June 30, 2019
TW: childhood cancer
At sixteen, Saira Sehgal is the youngest doctor in America. Dubbed "Girl Genius" by the media, she's been selected to be one of three interns at a prestigious new program in the pediatrics oncology ward. But despite her intellect and her accomplishments, Saira has a lot to learn—and realize that she might be a doctor, but she's still a teen.
June has been a month of reading books that are conflicting to rate.
At times, I loved this book. At others, I just wanted to smack Saira and shout, "WTF PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER!"
However, Saira was very much a teenager and a doctor. Her emotions and inability to set aside emotion for logic were frustrating, but made sense because she's a teen, and as intelligent as she is, she still has teenage hormones. While much of her interactions with Link made me roll my eyes (particularly in the beginning where she continues with her lie of omission—like, girl, this is not going to end well), and her continued relationship with him made me physically pained, particularly since doctor-patient relations is such a huge taboo—her interactions with the other patients, her passion for healing and her desire to make things less awful were wonderful to read. I also painfully related to her reluctance to drive—because getting your license is scary and can be a step into adulthood that's really hard to take, particularly when you were forced (or chose) to grow up way too fast.
I also loved pretty much the entire supporting cast, and how the subject of childhood cancer and the realities of having a child with a slowly murderous disease were depicted with compassion, empathy and also a healthy dose of reality at the failures of the healthcare system (it can be better!) and the sacrifices that families make to save their children. This book goes for it without becoming tragedy porn, and I was really grateful for that. There is hope, there is failure, there is healing, and there is also reality that sometimes dying is a release from pain for both the patient and the family.
To the supporting cast. There is a lot of diversity in the casting (woot woot desi rep!), which was awesome to see, particularly since medicine is diverse. Plus there was a lot of LGB rep! Everyone felt so fucking real , even if sometimes they could be a little one dimensional. Saira's huge extended family was very well done, and the patients and their families and conflicting motives and fears and hopes.
I also liked the hospital staff, especially José, who was Saira's one-man hype team (and sayer of truths). And Howard and Cho, who I wish had more page time to really develop their bond with Saira a bit more instead of the constant Link focus. And Dr. Arora, too, to see his mentorship abilities in greater practice. I did not like Dr. Davis at all, but I understood her reactions towards Saira, because damn was that kid rude AF. Like, I get that you're a genius and are tired of constantly proving yourself to the adults in your life but figure out the fucking chain of command? Overall, I wanted more of the hospital staff interactions, and wanted to see Saira's relationship and skills develop and grow more—and see how Howard and Cho reconciled their longer hours with Saira's shorter time.
Instead, much of the book was about Saira and Link and their we-can't-but-we-are relationship. It was a lot of YA insta romance, and I didn't feel their connection? Despite everyone in the book talking about how obvious it was that they liked each other. I just felt that the romance was thrust in there as reason for Saira to go above and beyond for this one patient, as she constantly thrust herself into his life and tried to save him despite his repeated iterations that he wanted nothing to do with her after learning that she had lied to him. I wish that there had been a bit more realization on Saira's part after Link told her how her deception made him feel, and that she really did realize that she couldn't understand Link and the other cancer patients because she wasn't one of them. Sitting with your dying friend and becoming a doctor doesn't put you in the same world as the kids who actually have cancer and are experiencing the treatments and the fracturing of their families.
Additionally, there was some talk about childhood vs growing up, and the real conflict of what being a Girl Genius actually means for kids who skip ahead in their lives. Just like the cancer patients, Saira's friends don't understand what it means to have to watch her steps at every moment and not take risks—and Saira doesn't understand what it means to be a teen and a child, because neither her nor her friends share the same experience. I did like that Lizzie and Saira realize their differences and how selfish they were towards each other, and that Saira finally realized that she had been taking Lizzie for granted, and that relationships were a give and take instead of just assuming someone would be there to help you. I kinda wish that Vish had had the same realization, even if his situation was completely different and his hiding more necessary.
Anywho.
To wrap up this incredibly long review.
Why you might want to read this one:
1. Great depiction of what it means to be a Girl Genius (constantly proving yourself, teenage hormones/development, being kinda alienated from kids your age, learning to emotionally detach, etc)
2. Amazing diverse cast with a desi MC
3. Working in a pediatric oncology department and the emotional toll it takes, without being tragedy porn
4. The complexities of the healthcare system
5. Engaging family dynamics
Why you might want to skip:
1. Lots of revolving subplots and characters, which can be kinda underdeveloped
2. MC you want to smack at times
3. Instalove
4. Childhood cancer (because this book WILL make you cry)
Overall, I really enjoyed this one, despite the things that frustrated the hell out of me.
I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.
At sixteen, Saira Sehgal is the youngest doctor in America. Dubbed "Girl Genius" by the media, she's been selected to be one of three interns at a prestigious new program in the pediatrics oncology ward. But despite her intellect and her accomplishments, Saira has a lot to learn—and realize that she might be a doctor, but she's still a teen.
June has been a month of reading books that are conflicting to rate.
At times, I loved this book. At others, I just wanted to smack Saira and shout, "WTF PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER!"
However, Saira was very much a teenager and a doctor. Her emotions and inability to set aside emotion for logic were frustrating, but made sense because she's a teen, and as intelligent as she is, she still has teenage hormones. While much of her interactions with Link made me roll my eyes (particularly in the beginning where she continues with her lie of omission—like, girl, this is not going to end well), and her continued relationship with him made me physically pained, particularly since doctor-patient relations is such a huge taboo—her interactions with the other patients, her passion for healing and her desire to make things less awful were wonderful to read. I also painfully related to her reluctance to drive—because getting your license is scary and can be a step into adulthood that's really hard to take, particularly when you were forced (or chose) to grow up way too fast.
I also loved pretty much the entire supporting cast, and how the subject of childhood cancer and the realities of having a child with a slowly murderous disease were depicted with compassion, empathy and also a healthy dose of reality at the failures of the healthcare system (it can be better!) and the sacrifices that families make to save their children. This book goes for it without becoming tragedy porn, and I was really grateful for that. There is hope, there is failure, there is healing, and there is also reality that sometimes dying is a release from pain for both the patient and the family.
To the supporting cast. There is a lot of diversity in the casting (woot woot desi rep!), which was awesome to see, particularly since medicine is diverse. Plus there was a lot of LGB rep! Everyone felt so fucking real , even if sometimes they could be a little one dimensional. Saira's huge extended family was very well done, and the patients and their families and conflicting motives and fears and hopes.
I also liked the hospital staff, especially José, who was Saira's one-man hype team (and sayer of truths). And Howard and Cho, who I wish had more page time to really develop their bond with Saira a bit more instead of the constant Link focus. And Dr. Arora, too, to see his mentorship abilities in greater practice. I did not like Dr. Davis at all, but I understood her reactions towards Saira, because damn was that kid rude AF. Like, I get that you're a genius and are tired of constantly proving yourself to the adults in your life but figure out the fucking chain of command? Overall, I wanted more of the hospital staff interactions, and wanted to see Saira's relationship and skills develop and grow more—and see how Howard and Cho reconciled their longer hours with Saira's shorter time.
Instead, much of the book was about Saira and Link and their we-can't-but-we-are relationship. It was a lot of YA insta romance, and I didn't feel their connection? Despite everyone in the book talking about how obvious it was that they liked each other. I just felt that the romance was thrust in there as reason for Saira to go above and beyond for this one patient, as she constantly thrust herself into his life and tried to save him despite his repeated iterations that he wanted nothing to do with her after learning that she had lied to him. I wish that there had been a bit more realization on Saira's part after Link told her how her deception made him feel, and that she really did realize that she couldn't understand Link and the other cancer patients because she wasn't one of them. Sitting with your dying friend and becoming a doctor doesn't put you in the same world as the kids who actually have cancer and are experiencing the treatments and the fracturing of their families.
Additionally, there was some talk about childhood vs growing up, and the real conflict of what being a Girl Genius actually means for kids who skip ahead in their lives. Just like the cancer patients, Saira's friends don't understand what it means to have to watch her steps at every moment and not take risks—and Saira doesn't understand what it means to be a teen and a child, because neither her nor her friends share the same experience. I did like that Lizzie and Saira realize their differences and how selfish they were towards each other, and that Saira finally realized that she had been taking Lizzie for granted, and that relationships were a give and take instead of just assuming someone would be there to help you. I kinda wish that Vish had had the same realization, even if his situation was completely different and his hiding more necessary.
Anywho.
To wrap up this incredibly long review.
Why you might want to read this one:
1. Great depiction of what it means to be a Girl Genius (constantly proving yourself, teenage hormones/development, being kinda alienated from kids your age, learning to emotionally detach, etc)
2. Amazing diverse cast with a desi MC
3. Working in a pediatric oncology department and the emotional toll it takes, without being tragedy porn
4. The complexities of the healthcare system
5. Engaging family dynamics
Why you might want to skip:
1. Lots of revolving subplots and characters, which can be kinda underdeveloped
2. MC you want to smack at times
3. Instalove
4. Childhood cancer (because this book WILL make you cry)
Overall, I really enjoyed this one, despite the things that frustrated the hell out of me.
I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.
May 12, 2019
(4.4*)
This is one of the best debut YA books I’ve ever read. I’m just gonna start there. I know that I just read the galley, and that it is not out yet, BUUUUT I can wholeheartedly say that it is definitely one of my FAVORITES. I love how cultured, nerdy, and “romance-y” it is. Great book to read during this Asian Heritage Month, really. I feel like if a book is able to at least get me to feel mixed emotions all throughout (happiness, sadness, anger, loss, love, etc.), I can formally dub it a “favorite of all time”. And it did. It was cute and memorable. GREAT JOB, SONA CHARAIPOTRA, now one of my favorite new authors :]
This is one of the best debut YA books I’ve ever read. I’m just gonna start there. I know that I just read the galley, and that it is not out yet, BUUUUT I can wholeheartedly say that it is definitely one of my FAVORITES. I love how cultured, nerdy, and “romance-y” it is. Great book to read during this Asian Heritage Month, really. I feel like if a book is able to at least get me to feel mixed emotions all throughout (happiness, sadness, anger, loss, love, etc.), I can formally dub it a “favorite of all time”. And it did. It was cute and memorable. GREAT JOB, SONA CHARAIPOTRA, now one of my favorite new authors :]
July 20, 2020
"You are much stronger than we give you credit for. And maybe we underestimate you...You're a strong girl, you can handle it. Maybe it's why God introduced you to Harper, and to Alina, and even to Link...Because you were meant to do this work."
Symptoms of a Heartbreak by Sona Charaipotra is her solo debut that follows the story of Saira Seghal, aka Girl Genius, a 16-year-old doctor who starts an internship at her mom's hospital and just happens to fall for a patient.
This was certainly a very cute and entertaining debut - I laughed out loud multiple times while reading this, but it was one I had a couple of issues with.
But let's start with the good things:
I honestly want to emphasize how entertaining of a read this was. While it wasn't brilliant and marvelous and moving in every which way, it was fun and sweet and I loved that it integrated humor and was truly just enjoyable to read.
I also really, really loved how seamlessly Indian culture was incorporated into this novel. Saira's family bleeds Indian culture - from the overly involved extended family to the constant emphasis, I could really relate to her Indiannness, and I think that just increased how enjoyable it was to read because there were so many things I found humorous that might not apply to non-Indian readers, but it was super fun nonetheless.
And then, there was the romance. I'm actually conflicted on the romance because I thought it was exceptionally adorable and the connection between the two was so incredible, but I also think this was an occasion where I would have preferred no romance. The romance really wasn't the forefront of the story, and I realized that I would rather it not be there at all. I loved Link's character and would have been so happy with him being a friend and this narrative really just focusing on Saira and her journey.
Then, my biggest issues with the novel came in the second half. I actually felt this was a solid 4 star, but the last 50-100 pages lessened that quite a bit.
I was quite disappointed with the queer representation in the novel. There are two queer characters in this novel, and I was initially really excited for that, but I was quite disappointed with how their narratives played out.
Firstly, one of the characters was gay and closeted. However, his closeted sexuality was used as a plotline to further Saira's journey. His need to be quiet about his sexuality was treated as a "secret" and Saira would occasionally discuss how it was hard for her and there was even a point where she became the "bad guy" which almost pressured him to come out. A character even got upset with Saira and was essentially upset with her for not outing the gay character???
The other queer character was basically the villain of this novel whose grief was used to excuse her inappropriate workplace behavior which just...really upset me.
This was a very cute and fun novel and I do want to celebrate that, but I feel that it could even better with a few improvements.
actual rating: 3.5 stars
disclaimer: i received an arc of this novel in exchange for a honest review, this in no way impacted my opinions
July 4, 2019
FACT: I watched Doogie Howser, when the episodes originally aired, and I was totally fascinated with his trials and tribulations as he attempted to navigate the adult world as a teen.
My love of Dr. Doogie drove my desire to read Symptoms of a Heartbreak, and I throughly enjoyed the new life Charaipotra breathed into this concept.
Being a girl genius seemed kind of like a blessing and curse for Saira. Here she was, 16 years old, and a medical professional. She was responsible for making life or death decisions for her patients, but she could not get the other doctors to take her seriously, AND she still had to abide by her parent's rules. This was something Saira struggled with in the book, and I felt like Charaipotra did an admirable job capturing Saira's emotions and reactions to many of the situations that arose because of this. In the beginning, she showed her age, but slowly, I saw Saira growing and maturing and becoming more professional, and learning that certain things need to be earned.
This book was on the lighter side, and there are many, many fun, sweet, tender, and amusing moments, but Saira was an intern in the pediatric oncology ward, so there were some heartbreaking and painful moments as well. Be prepared. I know I shed some tears.
But never fear, because I was also treated to an adorable romance. Saira's reaction to Link was so sweet, and gosh darn it! These two were precious together. Their union was filled with many complications, but I was still all in on this pairing.
Here's a quick list of other things I adored:
• Siblings - Saira and her sister shared some really special moments.
• Dadi - You know I love grandmas, and Dadi not only was a hoot, she was wise.
• Food! - There was a LOT of amazing cooking and eating in the book.
• Central NJ - It's so rare to see books set where I live, and I will always get excited about this.
• The Ending - I don't want to give anything away, but I was happy with it.
• Family - Saira's family was fantastic, and I loved what a prominent role they played in this story.
Overall, this was a wonderful, touching, and heartfelt read, which made me laugh, and also bought me to tears, but mostly, it made me cheer for this fierce and fabulous girl genius.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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My love of Dr. Doogie drove my desire to read Symptoms of a Heartbreak, and I throughly enjoyed the new life Charaipotra breathed into this concept.
Being a girl genius seemed kind of like a blessing and curse for Saira. Here she was, 16 years old, and a medical professional. She was responsible for making life or death decisions for her patients, but she could not get the other doctors to take her seriously, AND she still had to abide by her parent's rules. This was something Saira struggled with in the book, and I felt like Charaipotra did an admirable job capturing Saira's emotions and reactions to many of the situations that arose because of this. In the beginning, she showed her age, but slowly, I saw Saira growing and maturing and becoming more professional, and learning that certain things need to be earned.
This book was on the lighter side, and there are many, many fun, sweet, tender, and amusing moments, but Saira was an intern in the pediatric oncology ward, so there were some heartbreaking and painful moments as well. Be prepared. I know I shed some tears.
But never fear, because I was also treated to an adorable romance. Saira's reaction to Link was so sweet, and gosh darn it! These two were precious together. Their union was filled with many complications, but I was still all in on this pairing.
Here's a quick list of other things I adored:
• Siblings - Saira and her sister shared some really special moments.
• Dadi - You know I love grandmas, and Dadi not only was a hoot, she was wise.
• Food! - There was a LOT of amazing cooking and eating in the book.
• Central NJ - It's so rare to see books set where I live, and I will always get excited about this.
• The Ending - I don't want to give anything away, but I was happy with it.
• Family - Saira's family was fantastic, and I loved what a prominent role they played in this story.
Overall, this was a wonderful, touching, and heartfelt read, which made me laugh, and also bought me to tears, but mostly, it made me cheer for this fierce and fabulous girl genius.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
December 16, 2021
It was a slow start, but the rest was pretty good!
July 15, 2022
This was a really entertaining #ownvoices YA romance featuring Saira Sehgal, a sixteen year old Indian American doctor dubbed the "Girl Genius." Part Doogie Houser, part Grey's Anatomy, this was full of high emotions and amazing Desi culture and food descriptions! Saira falls for one of the Leukaemia patients at the hospital where she's interning and has to fight her feelings in order to maintain her objectivity. Great on audio narrated by Soneela Nankali, this was my first book by this author and definitely won't be my last! Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance listening copy in exchange for my honest review!
June 15, 2019
"You are much stronger than we give you credit for. And maybe we underestimate you...You're a strong girl, you can handle it. Maybe it's why God introduced you to Harper, and to Alina, and even to Link...Because you were meant to do this work."
3.5 Stars. Symptoms of a Heartbreak met my expectations exactly, which is both a good or bad thing. When I got this ARC at Bookcon 2019, I was excited but knew deep in my heart that it wasn't going to be the best book I'd read this year: this was definitely a great light, not fluffy but light YA contemporary to read in the midst of a busy Senior June. The best part of this book is definitely the book's main protagonist, the exploration of Indian culture, and the themes of this book.
Saira, this book's main protagonist, is the best part of this book. While I think that she isn't the most memorable protagonist I've read about this year, she definitely stands out from the sea of generic YA contemporary protagonists. As a sixteen year old prodigy who is the youngest doctor in the United States, she faces issues that are at once incredibly foreign but simultaneously incredibly relatable. As someone who is both a teen as well as a professional in a hospital environment, Saira occupies the weird in-between the spheres of being a young teenager growing up as well as a doctor in a hospital.
This book takes the time to explores with great care and nuance: Saira constantly feels herself weighed down by the iron weight of expectation. She's had to constantly deal with people treating her like she's incapable due to her age but also has to deal with feeling out of place with her own peers. It's the best part of the book in all honesty. Of course, second to it is the way this entire book is just infused with Indian culture. This is an ownvoices novel, and it shows. Everything from the large extended Indian family, to the subtle ways Indian culture influences how Saira views the world, to the food, and ideology, this book naturally weaves all of this into its pages and in between its paragraphs. This book was also effortlessly diverse, with a QPOC side character and other POC included.
As for the rest of the books, it is honestly incredibly awkward as I really don't have much to say. The plot, the rest of the characters, and even the romance: their wasn't anything necessarily wrong with them, nor were they particularly well done, and they were sort of forgettable but were serviceable enough. This book's pacing was also relatively fast, seeing as it is about 300 pages and the characters were dimensional if not memorable. Everything was just very distinctly okay.
In conclusion, read this if you're looking for a light summer read. I would also like to add a note that although this is a book about hospitals and sickness and cancer, I feel like this book did not fall into the common pitfalls that similar YA novels talking about sickness (specifically, agency of the sick character) fall into. I felt that Sona Charaipotra did this extremely well. While this book is about sickness, it is ultimately a story about striving to be your best and do your best even when circumstances aren't the greatest. Overall, I would recommend this book.
3.5 Stars. Symptoms of a Heartbreak met my expectations exactly, which is both a good or bad thing. When I got this ARC at Bookcon 2019, I was excited but knew deep in my heart that it wasn't going to be the best book I'd read this year: this was definitely a great light, not fluffy but light YA contemporary to read in the midst of a busy Senior June. The best part of this book is definitely the book's main protagonist, the exploration of Indian culture, and the themes of this book.
Saira, this book's main protagonist, is the best part of this book. While I think that she isn't the most memorable protagonist I've read about this year, she definitely stands out from the sea of generic YA contemporary protagonists. As a sixteen year old prodigy who is the youngest doctor in the United States, she faces issues that are at once incredibly foreign but simultaneously incredibly relatable. As someone who is both a teen as well as a professional in a hospital environment, Saira occupies the weird in-between the spheres of being a young teenager growing up as well as a doctor in a hospital.
This book takes the time to explores with great care and nuance: Saira constantly feels herself weighed down by the iron weight of expectation. She's had to constantly deal with people treating her like she's incapable due to her age but also has to deal with feeling out of place with her own peers. It's the best part of the book in all honesty. Of course, second to it is the way this entire book is just infused with Indian culture. This is an ownvoices novel, and it shows. Everything from the large extended Indian family, to the subtle ways Indian culture influences how Saira views the world, to the food, and ideology, this book naturally weaves all of this into its pages and in between its paragraphs. This book was also effortlessly diverse, with a QPOC side character and other POC included.
As for the rest of the books, it is honestly incredibly awkward as I really don't have much to say. The plot, the rest of the characters, and even the romance: their wasn't anything necessarily wrong with them, nor were they particularly well done, and they were sort of forgettable but were serviceable enough. This book's pacing was also relatively fast, seeing as it is about 300 pages and the characters were dimensional if not memorable. Everything was just very distinctly okay.
In conclusion, read this if you're looking for a light summer read. I would also like to add a note that although this is a book about hospitals and sickness and cancer, I feel like this book did not fall into the common pitfalls that similar YA novels talking about sickness (specifically, agency of the sick character) fall into. I felt that Sona Charaipotra did this extremely well. While this book is about sickness, it is ultimately a story about striving to be your best and do your best even when circumstances aren't the greatest. Overall, I would recommend this book.
April 13, 2021
Oh my freaking gosh.
This was AMAZING!!!
wow. HIGHLY recommend.
this book had SO many emotions.
It was SO sad but also funny
HAHA one of the funniest parts is when one of the doctors says that they became a doctor because of grey's anatomy but was disappointed when their weren't nearly as may hot nurses and doctors >-<
the characters though. Saira wasn't some annoying doctor who bragged about 16, and link, AHH no comment
but all of the other doctors had such a cool "place" in the story and had their own backgrounds.
I just can't describe how good this was
full rtc
This was AMAZING!!!
wow. HIGHLY recommend.
this book had SO many emotions.
It was SO sad but also funny
HAHA one of the funniest parts is when one of the doctors says that they became a doctor because of grey's anatomy but was disappointed when their weren't nearly as may hot nurses and doctors >-<
the characters though. Saira wasn't some annoying doctor who bragged about 16, and link, AHH no comment
but all of the other doctors had such a cool "place" in the story and had their own backgrounds.
I just can't describe how good this was
full rtc
August 9, 2019
Every now and then I need to press a little reset button. When I start getting lost in a world of thriller/crime novels, I like to throw in something a little lighter to pull me out of the darkness
Symptoms of a heartbreak was a lovely read about growing up fast and growing up early. While a lot of Saira’s life is not something realistic or normal (being a teenaged doctor) there are a lot of challenges she faces that remind us it’s not always easy to be a teenager and sometimes we do need to grow up a little faster than normal
While reading this story, I was preparing myself for heartbreak, I mean it’s in the title. While there were some parts that hit you in the feels, they were not the parts that I was excepting. While there are some fluffy happy endings in this book, thats not all you get. There are moments that are raw and emotional which gives the story unexpected depth
The main character, Saira, is often a little frustrating and makes a lot of dumb mistakes but that balances out the realism of this story and brings you back down to earth
See more reviews on instagram @unshelvededition
Symptoms of a heartbreak was a lovely read about growing up fast and growing up early. While a lot of Saira’s life is not something realistic or normal (being a teenaged doctor) there are a lot of challenges she faces that remind us it’s not always easy to be a teenager and sometimes we do need to grow up a little faster than normal
While reading this story, I was preparing myself for heartbreak, I mean it’s in the title. While there were some parts that hit you in the feels, they were not the parts that I was excepting. While there are some fluffy happy endings in this book, thats not all you get. There are moments that are raw and emotional which gives the story unexpected depth
The main character, Saira, is often a little frustrating and makes a lot of dumb mistakes but that balances out the realism of this story and brings you back down to earth
See more reviews on instagram @unshelvededition
December 18, 2021
OH MY GOD. WHY THE HELL ISN'T ANYONE TALKING ABOUT THIS BOOK???? WHERE ARE THE BOOKSTAGRAMMERS LOOKING FOR DIVERSITY??? WHERE ARE THE BLOGGERS LOOKING FOR SWEET CONTEMPORARY RECS???? WHERE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO WERE DISAPPOINTED BY THE FAULT IN OUR STARS?????
What a crime honestly. This book deserves all the love and admiration and I wish I could meet the author and thank her for writing this.
Now, if you've seem on my Instagram, you'll know I'm not a great fan of books with Indian-American MCs. Frankly, because the authors are too detached from their culture (I mean... you could just ask your relatives living in India if your casual Hindi phrases are right or not. It's not that hard). Their books are rife with cultural and language inaccuracies which could honestly be corrected if they just bothered to get a sensitivity reader. It feels more hurtful that our voices matter to white people more when we're living in a "First world" country (I use the term with caution because again... the level of condescension America-based people have to classify country on the basis of theirparameters...yikes). So it makes the veins in my head hurt when people hype up thosemisinformation-spreading, quite performativeahem diverse books.
So this book came as a surprising breath of fresh air in a world logged with books of performative rep!!! It was everything I could have asked for: a loud, chaotic Indian family with fierce love for each other, a badass brown girl in STEM who happens to be a genius, a sweet, adorable love interest who has my heart, a fake-dating platonic relationship where the guy and girl are chaotic best friends who always have each other's back.
So, this book is about Saira, the youngest doctor in America at sixteen years old, the girl who every Indian parent will want their kid to be 100% lol. She's started her residency as Princeton Presbyterian (I hope I got the name right), a whole new adventure where she has to contend with people who underestimate her, learning to deal with the hardships of being a doctor and their round-the-clock schedule, how they deal with grief of losing their patients. Because y'know docs are humans too.
I loved the Sehgal family so much!!! Saira's mom is a doctor, but also fiercely protective of her two daughters and very practical. Their dad is the cool one, always dramatic, always joking, the fun balance to their mom's practicality. Their grandma, Dadi, was another great character, your usual mentor. No, she was a spitfire always cracking jokes, feeding every kid who came into the house, fussy and huffing but with the biggest heart for her family. Taara, Saira's older sister, is the one who I related to a lot because while she is the older sister, her sibling is a genius, and she . They remind me so much of my own, and all the mentions of food and chai now have me craving aloo ke paranthe and pakore help ;-;
Vish, Saira's best friend, was another bonus, the lighthearted one in contrast to Saira's seriousness. An aspiring film major and hardcore vegetarian, he is the extended member of the Sehgal family in all ways that count, and actually reminds me a lot of Saira's dad. They love each other platonically, share snacks and he is a critical part of driving the plot for Saira and Link's romance,
Coming to our two leads, we'll start with Link. Like I said before, one word: ADORABLE. I mean, the guy is sweet, cracks great jokes, loves Indian food, told Saira bless you in at least three different languages when they first met, writes his own songs and sings them too, what's not to love? I can see why Saira was smitten. *insert GUY. exe song* And the best part? There's an HEA. This won't be like Fault in our Stars, I promise.
And now, we come to our female lead. Saira. Jesus, I love her. She's smart and witty and tries her best to improve and do her best for everyone. I love her drive, her spirit to do well, her big heart for her patient. The author details how it is for doctors to deal with grief and their attachment to patients. Most of us might miss it, but I guess I can see why experienced doctors are sort of... cold I guess? They've been through their own hardships and losing people they had cared for once. I also liked how the author took time to carefully set up a fading friendship between Saira and her best friend, Lizzie. It's important to show that in YA, because it happens often. Friends sometimes drift apart and teens need to see that represented to know it's okay to be as cut up over a broken friendship as they would be for romance.
My review barely skims the surface of this book, so, I guess read this if you want:
a) a happily ever after
b) inside perspective on how doctors work and manage this mentally taxing cycle of life and death c) chaotic Indian family at work again
d) a sweet strangers-to-lovers story
e) sisterly bonds with great banter
f) amazing female MC in STEM with character development
What a crime honestly. This book deserves all the love and admiration and I wish I could meet the author and thank her for writing this.
Now, if you've seem on my Instagram, you'll know I'm not a great fan of books with Indian-American MCs. Frankly, because the authors are too detached from their culture (I mean... you could just ask your relatives living in India if your casual Hindi phrases are right or not. It's not that hard). Their books are rife with cultural and language inaccuracies which could honestly be corrected if they just bothered to get a sensitivity reader. It feels more hurtful that our voices matter to white people more when we're living in a "First world" country (I use the term with caution because again... the level of condescension America-based people have to classify country on the basis of theirparameters...yikes). So it makes the veins in my head hurt when people hype up those
So this book came as a surprising breath of fresh air in a world logged with books of performative rep!!! It was everything I could have asked for: a loud, chaotic Indian family with fierce love for each other, a badass brown girl in STEM who happens to be a genius, a sweet, adorable love interest who has my heart, a fake-dating platonic relationship where the guy and girl are chaotic best friends who always have each other's back.
So, this book is about Saira, the youngest doctor in America at sixteen years old, the girl who every Indian parent will want their kid to be 100% lol. She's started her residency as Princeton Presbyterian (I hope I got the name right), a whole new adventure where she has to contend with people who underestimate her, learning to deal with the hardships of being a doctor and their round-the-clock schedule, how they deal with grief of losing their patients. Because y'know docs are humans too.
I loved the Sehgal family so much!!! Saira's mom is a doctor, but also fiercely protective of her two daughters and very practical. Their dad is the cool one, always dramatic, always joking, the fun balance to their mom's practicality. Their grandma, Dadi, was another great character, your usual mentor. No, she was a spitfire always cracking jokes, feeding every kid who came into the house, fussy and huffing but with the biggest heart for her family. Taara, Saira's older sister, is the one who I related to a lot because while she is the older sister, her sibling is a genius, and she . They remind me so much of my own, and all the mentions of food and chai now have me craving aloo ke paranthe and pakore help ;-;
Vish, Saira's best friend, was another bonus, the lighthearted one in contrast to Saira's seriousness. An aspiring film major and hardcore vegetarian, he is the extended member of the Sehgal family in all ways that count, and actually reminds me a lot of Saira's dad. They love each other platonically, share snacks and he is a critical part of driving the plot for Saira and Link's romance,
Coming to our two leads, we'll start with Link. Like I said before, one word: ADORABLE. I mean, the guy is sweet, cracks great jokes, loves Indian food, told Saira bless you in at least three different languages when they first met, writes his own songs and sings them too, what's not to love? I can see why Saira was smitten. *insert GUY. exe song* And the best part? There's an HEA. This won't be like Fault in our Stars, I promise.
And now, we come to our female lead. Saira. Jesus, I love her. She's smart and witty and tries her best to improve and do her best for everyone. I love her drive, her spirit to do well, her big heart for her patient. The author details how it is for doctors to deal with grief and their attachment to patients. Most of us might miss it, but I guess I can see why experienced doctors are sort of... cold I guess? They've been through their own hardships and losing people they had cared for once. I also liked how the author took time to carefully set up a fading friendship between Saira and her best friend, Lizzie. It's important to show that in YA, because it happens often. Friends sometimes drift apart and teens need to see that represented to know it's okay to be as cut up over a broken friendship as they would be for romance.
My review barely skims the surface of this book, so, I guess read this if you want:
a) a happily ever after
b) inside perspective on how doctors work and manage this mentally taxing cycle of life and death c) chaotic Indian family at work again
d) a sweet strangers-to-lovers story
e) sisterly bonds with great banter
f) amazing female MC in STEM with character development
July 17, 2019
This book was wonderful! I didn’t want to put it to down. I loved the cultural elements woven into the Saira’s story because it’s such a key part to who she is. I was nervous to read this when I found out the main character works for an oncology unit, which I try to stay away from cancer related books. This book takes you on an emotional rollercoaster from so many different angles, but it’s done with love, determination, passion and kindness. I’m happy I read this book for BOTM.
I enjoyed the writing style, but did find some of the dialogue and references from Saira’s family tough to understand. This is the author’s debut novel, and I would certainly look out for her other books in the future!
Saira is 16 and also happens to be the world’s youngest doctor. She works for an oncology unit where she meets Link, a 16 year old with a recurrence of leukemia who thinks she’s a patient. Not to mention Saira has to balance her family, friends, boyfriend and being a doctor!
I enjoyed the writing style, but did find some of the dialogue and references from Saira’s family tough to understand. This is the author’s debut novel, and I would certainly look out for her other books in the future!
Saira is 16 and also happens to be the world’s youngest doctor. She works for an oncology unit where she meets Link, a 16 year old with a recurrence of leukemia who thinks she’s a patient. Not to mention Saira has to balance her family, friends, boyfriend and being a doctor!
March 30, 2020
Symptoms of a heartbreak ⭐️
Saira Is a genius. So much so that she graduated med school at the age of 16 and is now working as a first year med student/intern at the hospital.
But being a genius at 16 still makes you a child and a child that even though you have all this information is still weakened by handsome boys that play guitar and just so happen to be in the hospital all the time. Link. A crush. Will her feelings get in the way of her work?
This was really cute. I love books set in hospitals and this was definitely a different one. A good one.
Saira Is a genius. So much so that she graduated med school at the age of 16 and is now working as a first year med student/intern at the hospital.
But being a genius at 16 still makes you a child and a child that even though you have all this information is still weakened by handsome boys that play guitar and just so happen to be in the hospital all the time. Link. A crush. Will her feelings get in the way of her work?
This was really cute. I love books set in hospitals and this was definitely a different one. A good one.
June 25, 2020
I enjoyed this book a lot! I liked how even though Saira was a doctor, she still was very much a teenager in her emotions and reactions. Also, all the food descriptions had me so so hungry! 😩
The only thing I wanted more of was the romance.
March 1, 2021
I had high hopes for this book, and then it just fell so flat. Let’s start with what I did like:
The good:
Diverse cast
Quick read
Interesting premise
Loved all the Indian references
Loved her family and how quirky they were and that they had good/normal relationships with each other.
The bad:
-Main character was obnoxious and unlikeable. Honestly she should’ve been fired day 1 and her direct supervisor should not have kept covering for her like that. She was constantly skipping/working/taking breaks, etc. As a medical professional who has gone through clinical rotations and a fellowship I cannot even imagine saying some of the things she said to her supervisors/directors. I get that she’s 16, but the amount of unprofessional behavior she exhibited especially as a year 1 intern just felt so unrealistic to me. Granted, I did pharmacy and not medicine, but still. Also. NO CHARACTER GROWTH. not really. She’s still a brat at the end. Has learned no lessons because she never really got in trouble beyond her suspension and even then. Right back to her bratty/annoying ways the second she was back in the hospital. Good grief girl, TAKE YOUR PHONE OFF VIBRATE. it’s not that hard. Did she learn nothing in college and med school? And also has no emotional scars from those experiences, apparently except the need to spout off her credentials in excessive detail every other second.
-Insta romance that was UNETHICAL and honestly not that exciting.
-The “villain” was very one dimensional and had a very unrealistic change of attitude at the end.
-She and her best friend had the most annoying drama. Like, let it be okay that teenagers say no to drinking (which is not the message communicated in the book).
-You would never go directly into a pediatric oncology residency. They don’t exist. She would’ve had to do 3 years of a regular pediatric residency, and then a pediatric oncology fellowship. Just. Do some basic research? Especially since the authors parents are both pediatricians and she had a doctor as a beta reader. I do not understand how this happened. At least she was called an intern instead of a resident. The amount of stuff and crap she got away with/did in the hospital was just bonkers to me.
- there were several subplots that honestly were sometimes more interesting than the main plot that never really got resolved or not even developed at all. Like her arch nemesis?? Mentioned once at the beginning and then shows up at the end randomly like there’s gonna be a sequel. 👀
This was an interesting premise and could’ve been so much better if they had focused on the challenges of being a 16 year old doctor in a residency and the cultural issues and friendship issues she was dealing with instead of adding on the instaromance that was UNETHICAL. you don’t date your patients. But clearly no one has any sense of ethics/accurate medical practice in this whole book 🙄 also could’ve really talked about quality of life/hospice etc so much more in terminal cancer patients which is actually a really interesting topic and we do not talk about meaningfully in this country except as “giving up” but nope. Gotta go for the annoying romance.
The good:
Diverse cast
Quick read
Interesting premise
Loved all the Indian references
Loved her family and how quirky they were and that they had good/normal relationships with each other.
The bad:
-Main character was obnoxious and unlikeable. Honestly she should’ve been fired day 1 and her direct supervisor should not have kept covering for her like that. She was constantly skipping/working/taking breaks, etc. As a medical professional who has gone through clinical rotations and a fellowship I cannot even imagine saying some of the things she said to her supervisors/directors. I get that she’s 16, but the amount of unprofessional behavior she exhibited especially as a year 1 intern just felt so unrealistic to me. Granted, I did pharmacy and not medicine, but still. Also. NO CHARACTER GROWTH. not really. She’s still a brat at the end. Has learned no lessons because she never really got in trouble beyond her suspension and even then. Right back to her bratty/annoying ways the second she was back in the hospital. Good grief girl, TAKE YOUR PHONE OFF VIBRATE. it’s not that hard. Did she learn nothing in college and med school? And also has no emotional scars from those experiences, apparently except the need to spout off her credentials in excessive detail every other second.
-Insta romance that was UNETHICAL and honestly not that exciting.
-The “villain” was very one dimensional and had a very unrealistic change of attitude at the end.
-She and her best friend had the most annoying drama. Like, let it be okay that teenagers say no to drinking (which is not the message communicated in the book).
-You would never go directly into a pediatric oncology residency. They don’t exist. She would’ve had to do 3 years of a regular pediatric residency, and then a pediatric oncology fellowship. Just. Do some basic research? Especially since the authors parents are both pediatricians and she had a doctor as a beta reader. I do not understand how this happened. At least she was called an intern instead of a resident. The amount of stuff and crap she got away with/did in the hospital was just bonkers to me.
- there were several subplots that honestly were sometimes more interesting than the main plot that never really got resolved or not even developed at all. Like her arch nemesis?? Mentioned once at the beginning and then shows up at the end randomly like there’s gonna be a sequel. 👀
This was an interesting premise and could’ve been so much better if they had focused on the challenges of being a 16 year old doctor in a residency and the cultural issues and friendship issues she was dealing with instead of adding on the instaromance that was UNETHICAL. you don’t date your patients. But clearly no one has any sense of ethics/accurate medical practice in this whole book 🙄 also could’ve really talked about quality of life/hospice etc so much more in terminal cancer patients which is actually a really interesting topic and we do not talk about meaningfully in this country except as “giving up” but nope. Gotta go for the annoying romance.
September 26, 2019
Remember how back in 2012 the only book anyone ever talked about was The Fault in Our Stars? I wish Symptoms of a Heartbreak was around back then because it is infinitely better and hits a lot of the same emotional notes that TFIOS hit for many people. While this book is pitched as a medical romcom, I’d actually describe it as less of a romcom and more of a family comedy with a smidgen of romance and a lot of growth and development.
Saira is Girl Genius and the youngest doctor ever. But all that geniuses cannot prepare for her first year as an intern at the place where it all started – when she diagnosed her best friend with cancer at the age of 6. It also cannot prepare her on how she should balance her very adult responsibilities with the fact she is still a teen who has never had any real teen experiences.
Saira truly reads like the perfect balance between teen and adult. A YOUNG ADULT if you will. She is prone to irritability, occasionally forgetting to think about people other than herself; but, she is also capable of being mature and making important decisions. Her voice just hit all the right notes for me. Her relationship with her fam was the best and all the food descriptions made me immensely hungry.
Given that this book is a comedy, it could have been pretty easy for it to brush off all the big bad things that happen in the world, but it didn’t. The health care system in the US is severely broken and Charaipotra didn’t dance around that. Saira had patients who dealt with shitty insurance companies. Not all of Saira’s patients are always okay given that they have cancer… and sometimes people die.
Charaipotra truly hit the mark with this book and I loved that we could both be immersed within Saira’s family and also within her work place without feeling like one or the other was neglected. I also loved how much character development there was. I love Saira coming to terms with the times she has dropped the ball on her friendships and familial relationships.
I have yet to say a word about the romance and part of that is because it really isn’t the focus of this book but also part of it is because it’s so soft and I wanted to save the softest thing for last. Link and Saira hit it off as soon as they meet but Link assumes that Saira is also a patient and she doesn’t bother to correct him. Even with this miscommunication, their romance is so sweet and so full of understanding.
If you enjoy experiencing a rollercoaster of emotions, this book will truly be your thing. You will laugh, cry and swoon. If you were at one point, obsessed with Scrubs, this book will also be your thing (I started rewatching after finishing this book, LOL.) If you are a fan of realistic teens and good character development, this book will be your thing. If you love Punjabi grandmas (+ crazy Punjabi fams) and lots of good Punjabi food-porn, this book will BE YOUR THING. There is something for everyone here and Symptoms of a Heartbreak is absolutely worth the read.
Saira is Girl Genius and the youngest doctor ever. But all that geniuses cannot prepare for her first year as an intern at the place where it all started – when she diagnosed her best friend with cancer at the age of 6. It also cannot prepare her on how she should balance her very adult responsibilities with the fact she is still a teen who has never had any real teen experiences.
Saira truly reads like the perfect balance between teen and adult. A YOUNG ADULT if you will. She is prone to irritability, occasionally forgetting to think about people other than herself; but, she is also capable of being mature and making important decisions. Her voice just hit all the right notes for me. Her relationship with her fam was the best and all the food descriptions made me immensely hungry.
Given that this book is a comedy, it could have been pretty easy for it to brush off all the big bad things that happen in the world, but it didn’t. The health care system in the US is severely broken and Charaipotra didn’t dance around that. Saira had patients who dealt with shitty insurance companies. Not all of Saira’s patients are always okay given that they have cancer… and sometimes people die.
Charaipotra truly hit the mark with this book and I loved that we could both be immersed within Saira’s family and also within her work place without feeling like one or the other was neglected. I also loved how much character development there was. I love Saira coming to terms with the times she has dropped the ball on her friendships and familial relationships.
I have yet to say a word about the romance and part of that is because it really isn’t the focus of this book but also part of it is because it’s so soft and I wanted to save the softest thing for last. Link and Saira hit it off as soon as they meet but Link assumes that Saira is also a patient and she doesn’t bother to correct him. Even with this miscommunication, their romance is so sweet and so full of understanding.
If you enjoy experiencing a rollercoaster of emotions, this book will truly be your thing. You will laugh, cry and swoon. If you were at one point, obsessed with Scrubs, this book will also be your thing (I started rewatching after finishing this book, LOL.) If you are a fan of realistic teens and good character development, this book will be your thing. If you love Punjabi grandmas (+ crazy Punjabi fams) and lots of good Punjabi food-porn, this book will BE YOUR THING. There is something for everyone here and Symptoms of a Heartbreak is absolutely worth the read.
June 21, 2019
As a fan of the t.v. show “Doogie Hoswer”, I was excited to read this book. Saira is an Oncologist working with children that have cancer. Not going to lie, this was a tough subject for me to read at times. I had a good friend that passed away from cancer and reading about kids with this disease wasn’t easy. At one point during the book, I had to stop reading and compose myself. This book definitely showcased the highs and lows of the disease and the struggles the families faces during the whole process.
In this story Saira is trying to find a balance between being a doctor and being a teen. Reading this story I got to see Saira excel in certain areas but stumble in others. I’m happy that she even though she was billed as a ‘girl genius” she still had flaws and dealt with typical teenage angst and drama.
This was my first time reading this author and I really enjoyed this story. I loved the diversity of the characters, and the meddling family members. The story was good, the plot is refreshing and the writing was solid. This book made me laugh, smile and get emotional. I look forward to reading more books by this author in the future.
*ARC Review*
In this story Saira is trying to find a balance between being a doctor and being a teen. Reading this story I got to see Saira excel in certain areas but stumble in others. I’m happy that she even though she was billed as a ‘girl genius” she still had flaws and dealt with typical teenage angst and drama.
This was my first time reading this author and I really enjoyed this story. I loved the diversity of the characters, and the meddling family members. The story was good, the plot is refreshing and the writing was solid. This book made me laugh, smile and get emotional. I look forward to reading more books by this author in the future.
*ARC Review*
September 3, 2019
I just wanted a fun, somewhat cheesy, innocent romance and happily, I got more than that! Symptoms of a Heart Break is somewhere between My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Doogie Howser, and The Fault in our Stars. I know they are all VERY different but somewhere in their is where this book lands! At 16 years old Dr. Saira Sehgal is the youngest MD in the US and has just received an incredibly prestigious pediatric oncology fellowship at the hospital where her mother is the head of the pediatrics department.
I really enjoyed Saira’s character as she tried to navigate being a teenager with adult responsibilities and family (and everything that comes with it) on top of that! It was light hearted but still real and even though the plot wasn’t very relatable it was still enjoyable. Despite me not understanding many of the cultural references or language that was used, I loved all the Indian culture in the book and I felt like I got to learn more about that people group as a whole which was super cool! All in all a fun read I would recommend!
I really enjoyed Saira’s character as she tried to navigate being a teenager with adult responsibilities and family (and everything that comes with it) on top of that! It was light hearted but still real and even though the plot wasn’t very relatable it was still enjoyable. Despite me not understanding many of the cultural references or language that was used, I loved all the Indian culture in the book and I felt like I got to learn more about that people group as a whole which was super cool! All in all a fun read I would recommend!
May 2, 2019
Sweet and light while also covering tough topics. I’m the girl in the bookstore who sees the word “cancer” on a book cover and drops it like the book itself has the plague. SYMPTOMS, however isn’t out to break hearts and make readers cry — instead it’s allowing us a glimpse into the heartache or life in a hospital while still buoying us with hope and laughter and true joy. I enjoyed this story immensely and can’t wait for others to fall for it soon!
Read
August 23, 2019I like the beginning premise, the young teenaged doctor and how that might play out on a young adult scale. But being in the medical profession myself, the background is completely unrealistic, and basically was a sheer backdrop to the romance between doctor and patient, which by the way, is totally unethical. I couldn't get on top of this poorly researched book.
August 5, 2019
Did not enjoy
May 3, 2020
I started this the same day I finished watching Netflix’s Never Have I Ever so I definitely unconsciously put some of Devi’s personality into Saira, despite their differences. Saira though the same age as Devi, is on another plane socially and intellectually. Though I didn’t love this book as much as I loved that tv show, I think this was pretty solid read with all of the drama of parts of Izzy’s storyline on Grey’s Anatomy but packed into a YA novel. 🙌🏻
Saira is branded as Dr. Girl Genius, America’s youngest doctor. She watched her best friend die of leukemia at age 8 after she was the one who pushed her doctors to consider cancer as the root of her health problems. Shortly thereafter she catapulted forward in school, skipping grades, attending a genius program and then completing her medical degree before even getting her driver’s license. Where her brain falls short is how she’s letting down her closest friend Lizzie who is by all standards an average teenager about to enter her senior year of high school and is without many adult responsibilities that Saira is already dealing with. When she commits a major faux-pas at a sleepover (rejecting booze despite being off the clock), Lizzie ghosts her and Saira has to rely fully on her “boyfriend” Vish for all socializing. But even there, despite their love being real, it’s also real friendly because Vish is gay but not yet ready to share that fact with his conservative family. Saira has always been okay letting her own family and even Lizzie assume what they will about her relationship with Vish, until she meets the cutest musician-in-the-making at the hospital. He’s not her patient but he’s about to be admitted onto the pediatric oncology floor she works in and she’s going to have to confront the heart-fluttering that ensues in his presence— on top of the judgment she receives daily from the parents of her patients, and some colleagues, for being so young. The thing about youth though is that it sometimes means that you have to be reckless in order to live, and her new not-patient/maybe-friend Link might want just that.
Saira is branded as Dr. Girl Genius, America’s youngest doctor. She watched her best friend die of leukemia at age 8 after she was the one who pushed her doctors to consider cancer as the root of her health problems. Shortly thereafter she catapulted forward in school, skipping grades, attending a genius program and then completing her medical degree before even getting her driver’s license. Where her brain falls short is how she’s letting down her closest friend Lizzie who is by all standards an average teenager about to enter her senior year of high school and is without many adult responsibilities that Saira is already dealing with. When she commits a major faux-pas at a sleepover (rejecting booze despite being off the clock), Lizzie ghosts her and Saira has to rely fully on her “boyfriend” Vish for all socializing. But even there, despite their love being real, it’s also real friendly because Vish is gay but not yet ready to share that fact with his conservative family. Saira has always been okay letting her own family and even Lizzie assume what they will about her relationship with Vish, until she meets the cutest musician-in-the-making at the hospital. He’s not her patient but he’s about to be admitted onto the pediatric oncology floor she works in and she’s going to have to confront the heart-fluttering that ensues in his presence— on top of the judgment she receives daily from the parents of her patients, and some colleagues, for being so young. The thing about youth though is that it sometimes means that you have to be reckless in order to live, and her new not-patient/maybe-friend Link might want just that.
January 30, 2025
There should be a trigger warning for this book as it does deal with cancer especially in children/teenagers.
I thought this book would be light and easy to get through but boy was I wrong. Dr. Saira Seghal is a 16 year old doctor in training. She fast reacted her way through school and lands an internships at the local hospital’s oncology ward. Saira is what is known as a girl genius which was thrown around a lot in the book. For her age, she can be grown up and then at other times not so much and that’s played out throughout the book. I won’t lie I did cry near the end of this book it’s just so sad at times. Cancer honestly is such a hard subject to read about.
I thought this book would be light and easy to get through but boy was I wrong. Dr. Saira Seghal is a 16 year old doctor in training. She fast reacted her way through school and lands an internships at the local hospital’s oncology ward. Saira is what is known as a girl genius which was thrown around a lot in the book. For her age, she can be grown up and then at other times not so much and that’s played out throughout the book. I won’t lie I did cry near the end of this book it’s just so sad at times. Cancer honestly is such a hard subject to read about.
November 13, 2019
This is one of those books that the more I think of it now that I've finished it, the less I think I liked it.
The author did a great job of sucking me in initially, and it was a quick read. The pacing was off though, and the end wrapped up pretty quickly. It was also painfully obvious who was going to make it and who wasn't as soon as the oncology kids were introduced.
I didn't particularly like Saira, nor did I think she acted much like a genius. I know that common sense isn't necessarily that common, and she is still a teenager, but it was the little things that just didn't work. For example, Saira sees a picture on a desk that has a woman she knows, standing with another woman and two kids that have the same skin color (which is different than the woman she knows). She asks the woman she knows if they're her kids, and she says yes. But then Saira is surprised when she says the other woman is her wife? Really?? I got that the second the picture was described. Finish medical school by the time you're 16, have a gay best friend so the concept isn't foreign to you, and you couldn't draw that conclusion on your own? I sure hope she wouldn't be diagnosing my not-perfect-textbook case, since she seems to not be able to draw simple conclusions.
There was also major conflict between her and pretty much everyone. I would expect a child genius to be socially awkward, but really she didn't read like a genius at all and the conflicts were a mix of her and other people just being dumb.
Also, the romance relationship. Pure infatuation on one part, which I get because 16 and romance. Really though, they don't seem to ever get to know anything about each other. Also, I'm sure this wasn't the author's intent, but it's kind of another bad, you should give into peer pressure because things all go to shit if you don't kind of message.
Ugh, see what I mean? The more I think about it, the more flaws, and this review is already getting long. I just have to mention one more though:
Whoever edited this book needs to be fired.
Seriously, did you stop reading halfway through? I always find errors in books, but this got so blatant I started highlighting them. Some examples (my page numbers might be off because mine's an ebook, but to give you an idea of distance within the pages):
Pg 175: "Turn right here," Taara says, her left hand firmly on the gear shift, her arm taut and stretched with worry. "And then make a left three blocks down."
Pg. 176: "Exit right here," Taara says, her left hand firmly on the gearshift, her arm taut and stretched with worry. "Quick, or you'll miss it. And then make a left three blocks down."
Pg. 213: It's hot for September, but the AC is still blasting...
Pg. 216: It's bright and early on a sweltering August Tuesday...
Pg. 221: He grins at my confusion. "Come one [sic]. There's someplace I want to go."
Then in the last third of the book or so there were quotation mark issues. Quotation marks not starting up again after the dialog tag, random quotation marks in the middle of a spoken sentence making me picture characters doing entire paragraphs in air quotes. It really felt like the editing just stopped or was done half-ass partway through the book; it was an impressive amount of mistakes for something not self-published.
Anyway, I'll leave it there. The writing and story had potential. I would give the author another try, I just think she needs to work on character development and the story a bit more. I got hooked and I kept going, so maybe next one will be better.
May 12, 2025
Sometimes you just need to read a YA book. I enjoyed it.
April 21, 2021
Review to come!
March 4, 2021
The title doesn't make any sense with the book. I kept waiting for her to ¨get her heart broken¨ but I literally have no idea why the title doesn't coincide with the book itself.
April 21, 2020
This is all about a 16 yr old genius who is training to be a Doctor, and has some romantic 'chemistry' with a patient.
There is one instance in 100 pages that makes me think this girl is competent for the job. I'm not saying she isn't. I'm just saying it isn't shown well. There is no point where it shows her studying or anything.
This girl is not emotionally ready. She's 16!! She's 'falling in love' for the first time. She isn't ready to have already completed med school.
Look. I only made it 92 pages. But there is a weird power dynamic between the girl and the love interest. She's manipulating him, making him think she is a patient at the hospital. It feels gross. I didn't get to the point where he finds out she's actually a Doctor cause I didn't care, but it wasn't... good.
I didn't like this book. I didn't want to keep reading. So I DNF'd it.Also, in the current climate, I didn't particularly want to do with hospitals
Trigger and Content Warnings: loss of loved one to leukemia, racism, underage alcohol consumption, use of the word w*tch, grief depiction (up to page 92)
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This has some problems, so DNF @ page 92. Rtc!
There is one instance in 100 pages that makes me think this girl is competent for the job. I'm not saying she isn't. I'm just saying it isn't shown well. There is no point where it shows her studying or anything.
This girl is not emotionally ready. She's 16!! She's 'falling in love' for the first time. She isn't ready to have already completed med school.
Look. I only made it 92 pages. But there is a weird power dynamic between the girl and the love interest. She's manipulating him, making him think she is a patient at the hospital. It feels gross. I didn't get to the point where he finds out she's actually a Doctor cause I didn't care, but it wasn't... good.
I didn't like this book. I didn't want to keep reading. So I DNF'd it.
Trigger and Content Warnings: loss of loved one to leukemia, racism, underage alcohol consumption, use of the word w*tch, grief depiction (up to page 92)
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This has some problems, so DNF @ page 92. Rtc!
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