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Doctors and Friends
Hannah, Compton, and Kira have been close friends since medical school, reuniting once a year for a much-needed vacation. Just as they gather to travel in Spain, an outbreak of a fast-spreading virus throws the world into chaos.
When Compton Winfield returns to her job as an ER doctor in New York City, she finds a city changed beyond recognition—and a personal loss so gutting it reshapes every aspect of her life.
Hannah Geier’s career as an ob-gyn in San Diego is fulfilling but she’s always longed for a child of her own. After years of trying, Hannah discovers she's expecting a baby just as the disease engulfs her city.
Kira Marchand, an infectious disease doctor at the CDC in Atlanta, finds herself at the center of the American response to the terrifying new illness. Her professional battle turns personal when she must decide whether her children will receive an experimental but potentially life-saving treatment.
Written prior to Covid-19 by a former emergency medicine physician, Doctors and Friends incorporates unexpected wit, razor-edged poignancy, and a deeply relatable cast of characters who provoke both laughter and tears. Martin provides a unique insider’s perspective into the world of medical professionals working to save lives during the most difficult situations of their careers.
When Compton Winfield returns to her job as an ER doctor in New York City, she finds a city changed beyond recognition—and a personal loss so gutting it reshapes every aspect of her life.
Hannah Geier’s career as an ob-gyn in San Diego is fulfilling but she’s always longed for a child of her own. After years of trying, Hannah discovers she's expecting a baby just as the disease engulfs her city.
Kira Marchand, an infectious disease doctor at the CDC in Atlanta, finds herself at the center of the American response to the terrifying new illness. Her professional battle turns personal when she must decide whether her children will receive an experimental but potentially life-saving treatment.
Written prior to Covid-19 by a former emergency medicine physician, Doctors and Friends incorporates unexpected wit, razor-edged poignancy, and a deeply relatable cast of characters who provoke both laughter and tears. Martin provides a unique insider’s perspective into the world of medical professionals working to save lives during the most difficult situations of their careers.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published November 9, 2021
281 people are currently reading
12192 people want to read
About the author
Kimmery Martin
4 books1,116 followersKimmery Martin is an emergency medicine doctor-turned novelist whose works of medical fiction have been praised by The Harvard Crimson, Southern Living, The Charlotte Observer and The New York Times, among others.
A lifelong literary nerd, she promotes reading, interviews authors, and teaches writing seminars, speaking frequently at libraries, conferences, and bookstores around the United States. Kimmery completed her medical training at the University of Louisville School of Medicine and the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. She lives with her husband and three children in Charlotte, North Carolina. For the last two years, she’s been working on a novel about a group of female doctors on the frontlines during an emerging viral pandemic; it will be released from Penguin Random House in Fall 2021. Her latest novel, The Antidote for Everything, is available now.
A lifelong literary nerd, she promotes reading, interviews authors, and teaches writing seminars, speaking frequently at libraries, conferences, and bookstores around the United States. Kimmery completed her medical training at the University of Louisville School of Medicine and the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. She lives with her husband and three children in Charlotte, North Carolina. For the last two years, she’s been working on a novel about a group of female doctors on the frontlines during an emerging viral pandemic; it will be released from Penguin Random House in Fall 2021. Her latest novel, The Antidote for Everything, is available now.
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November 10, 2021
Doctors and Friends by Kimmery Martin
Kimmery Martin wrote this story before Covid-19 became a part of all our lives. As a former emergency medicine physician, her understanding of the strain on the health care workers during a pandemic is shown here in horrifying detail. Before Covid-19, I think it would have been easy for me to dismiss the happenings in this story as something that happens somewhere else, to someone else, but after the last eighteen or so months, this story felt way too real.
The story covers seven women doctors, close friends since their medical school days. Each of them is successful in their medical specialty. Five of the women are present when one of the first known victims of a fast spreading virus fells a young woman. One of them, Kira Marchand, an infectious disease doctor at the CDC in Atlanta, is center stage in the effort to learn just what is killing hundreds of thousands of people and what can be done to save lives and stop the spread of this virus and one that comes after it.
Another of the friends is Compton Winfield, is an emergency room doctor in New York City, where the city is brought to a stand still by the number of victims of the pandemic. It's an unwinnable war for some and even for those who may survive the initial onslaught to their body, many will be hit later with something different but just as horrible. We also follow Hannah Geier, an ob-gyn in San Diego, whose hopes of finally having a baby may be shattered by this devastating virus.
As doctors, each of these women must keep working to save those they can, despite the futility of their efforts. Friends and family are lost, the emotional and mental toll is enormous, and they and other health workers struggle with exhaustion, grief, guilt, and the feeling of helplessness. Before now I've avoided reading a story like this because the "realness" was more than I wanted to face but I'm glad I read the story and I enjoyed the closeness, love, and unconditional support these women gave to each other. There are choices that must be made, life and death choices that may even decide the fate of the closest of family members, choices made under the worst of circumstances. I appreciate that despite the horribleness of the situation, that the author gave us some happy times and happy outcomes. Happy outcomes that can't erase all the heartache and loss but that allow for hope to exist, all the same.
Publication: November 9, 2021
Thank you to Elisha at Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for this ARC.
Kimmery Martin wrote this story before Covid-19 became a part of all our lives. As a former emergency medicine physician, her understanding of the strain on the health care workers during a pandemic is shown here in horrifying detail. Before Covid-19, I think it would have been easy for me to dismiss the happenings in this story as something that happens somewhere else, to someone else, but after the last eighteen or so months, this story felt way too real.
The story covers seven women doctors, close friends since their medical school days. Each of them is successful in their medical specialty. Five of the women are present when one of the first known victims of a fast spreading virus fells a young woman. One of them, Kira Marchand, an infectious disease doctor at the CDC in Atlanta, is center stage in the effort to learn just what is killing hundreds of thousands of people and what can be done to save lives and stop the spread of this virus and one that comes after it.
Another of the friends is Compton Winfield, is an emergency room doctor in New York City, where the city is brought to a stand still by the number of victims of the pandemic. It's an unwinnable war for some and even for those who may survive the initial onslaught to their body, many will be hit later with something different but just as horrible. We also follow Hannah Geier, an ob-gyn in San Diego, whose hopes of finally having a baby may be shattered by this devastating virus.
As doctors, each of these women must keep working to save those they can, despite the futility of their efforts. Friends and family are lost, the emotional and mental toll is enormous, and they and other health workers struggle with exhaustion, grief, guilt, and the feeling of helplessness. Before now I've avoided reading a story like this because the "realness" was more than I wanted to face but I'm glad I read the story and I enjoyed the closeness, love, and unconditional support these women gave to each other. There are choices that must be made, life and death choices that may even decide the fate of the closest of family members, choices made under the worst of circumstances. I appreciate that despite the horribleness of the situation, that the author gave us some happy times and happy outcomes. Happy outcomes that can't erase all the heartache and loss but that allow for hope to exist, all the same.
Publication: November 9, 2021
Thank you to Elisha at Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for this ARC.
November 9, 2021
Which one is more terrifying : observing the contagious virus’ spreading around the world and seeing how the lives have completely changed or reading a book which is written before outbreak seems like an exact premonition of what we have been getting through for nearly one and half years long!
I believe in the theory: we live what we imagine.
During the pandemic, I rejected to watch or read anything about contagious diseases, sci-fi movies or any content making me more agitated and exhaust my overthinking mind but here we go: this book will be the first attempt for me to wear my big girl pants, confronting my inner fears and when I started reading the first chapter, I was still having second thoughts but I ripped the band aid so fast and a little screaming and cursing later, I moved on. I think we all literally do the same thing.
This book seems like a standalone but if you read the previous books of the author, you will see there are characters including the eight doctors team. Georgia ( urologist), Jonah (specialized on family medicine) are from “Antidote for everything” , Zadie ( pediatric cardiologist) and Emma (trauma surgeon) are from Queen of Hearts.
There are three time lines: Before- During- After artiovirus.
The story starts with Hannah, Kira, Compton’s planing their trip to Seville. They have been close friends since medicine school and it became tradition for them to reunite once in a year to take a much deserved vacation. But their gathering ends quickly as they realize an outbreak of fast spreading virus throws the world into chaos, threatening lives.
Kira lives in Atlanta, raising two brilliant kids named Beau, Roarie, a successful infectious disease specialist who is the main character of the story. She’s calm, smart, protective mother. But now she has to give a life changing decision between becoming mother and proceeding the requirements of her job. An experimental new treatment opportunity can save lives but she gotta try that treatment on her own children. Could she do that?
Hannah works as ob- gyn in San Diego, spiraling slowly, psychologically exhausted for not fulfilling her own wish to give birth to her own child.
And Compton who returns back to her job as ER doctor in NYC, witnessing the changing face of the city after the outbreak and she already gets startled by her own personal loss now she tries her best to help people and live in the new normal chaotic world.
This book reminds us as we concentrate our own physical and mental well beings during the pandemic, the doctors out there put their patients first, saving lives, working long hours without seeing their own families. They are the soldiers on the front line, selfless, brave, true heroes!
This meaningful, impressively realistic work made us remember those facts! Just because of that as soon as you got rid of PTSD effects of COVID-19, I highly recommend you to this book!
Especially the last few twists and conclusion of the story was satisfying. I loved the characters. It still disturbed me to read a book about contagious virus but I tried to concentrate on the characters’ stories and their own dilemmas to ease my mind.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
I believe in the theory: we live what we imagine.
During the pandemic, I rejected to watch or read anything about contagious diseases, sci-fi movies or any content making me more agitated and exhaust my overthinking mind but here we go: this book will be the first attempt for me to wear my big girl pants, confronting my inner fears and when I started reading the first chapter, I was still having second thoughts but I ripped the band aid so fast and a little screaming and cursing later, I moved on. I think we all literally do the same thing.
This book seems like a standalone but if you read the previous books of the author, you will see there are characters including the eight doctors team. Georgia ( urologist), Jonah (specialized on family medicine) are from “Antidote for everything” , Zadie ( pediatric cardiologist) and Emma (trauma surgeon) are from Queen of Hearts.
There are three time lines: Before- During- After artiovirus.
The story starts with Hannah, Kira, Compton’s planing their trip to Seville. They have been close friends since medicine school and it became tradition for them to reunite once in a year to take a much deserved vacation. But their gathering ends quickly as they realize an outbreak of fast spreading virus throws the world into chaos, threatening lives.
Kira lives in Atlanta, raising two brilliant kids named Beau, Roarie, a successful infectious disease specialist who is the main character of the story. She’s calm, smart, protective mother. But now she has to give a life changing decision between becoming mother and proceeding the requirements of her job. An experimental new treatment opportunity can save lives but she gotta try that treatment on her own children. Could she do that?
Hannah works as ob- gyn in San Diego, spiraling slowly, psychologically exhausted for not fulfilling her own wish to give birth to her own child.
And Compton who returns back to her job as ER doctor in NYC, witnessing the changing face of the city after the outbreak and she already gets startled by her own personal loss now she tries her best to help people and live in the new normal chaotic world.
This book reminds us as we concentrate our own physical and mental well beings during the pandemic, the doctors out there put their patients first, saving lives, working long hours without seeing their own families. They are the soldiers on the front line, selfless, brave, true heroes!
This meaningful, impressively realistic work made us remember those facts! Just because of that as soon as you got rid of PTSD effects of COVID-19, I highly recommend you to this book!
Especially the last few twists and conclusion of the story was satisfying. I loved the characters. It still disturbed me to read a book about contagious virus but I tried to concentrate on the characters’ stories and their own dilemmas to ease my mind.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
December 4, 2021
I’ve been enjoying Kimmery Martin’s books since her debut. Doctors and Friends stands out because she began writing this book featuring a viral pandemic prior to Covid-19.
Kira, Hannah, and Compton are the best of friends since medical school. They agree to reunite each year for a trip, and this particular year finds them in Spain, while an aggressive virus is traveling its way around the world.
When they return home to the US, it’s a different world. Compton is an ER doctor in NYC, and it’s been hit hard. Hannah works as an ob-gyn in San Diego. Newly pregnant herself, the virus is now in California. Kira works at the CDC, and she’s responsible for assisting with the response to the pandemic.
This is a unique voice from a former healthcare provider because it highlights the sacrifice and labor that was and continues to be made by first responders during a pandemic. Kimmery Martin has vividly depicted the last two years.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
Kira, Hannah, and Compton are the best of friends since medical school. They agree to reunite each year for a trip, and this particular year finds them in Spain, while an aggressive virus is traveling its way around the world.
When they return home to the US, it’s a different world. Compton is an ER doctor in NYC, and it’s been hit hard. Hannah works as an ob-gyn in San Diego. Newly pregnant herself, the virus is now in California. Kira works at the CDC, and she’s responsible for assisting with the response to the pandemic.
This is a unique voice from a former healthcare provider because it highlights the sacrifice and labor that was and continues to be made by first responders during a pandemic. Kimmery Martin has vividly depicted the last two years.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
September 26, 2022
DOCTORS AND FRIENDS was reportedly written pre-covid, however the novel’s pandemic outbreak is eerily similar to the covid epidemic. A group of friends who all happen to work in medicine are in Spain on a vacation when a pandemic breaks out. We see things unfold through their eyes over the course of the next year.
Kimmery Martin works in medicine and that vast depth of knowledge shines through in all her books. At times the book was a bit graphic, but I really appreciated the fact that scenes felt so real, just like you were watching an episode of Grey’s Anatomy flash across the pages. Each of the characters had a unique perspective and a bit of personal stuff going on in their own lives. The pacing for me was a bit off. The start of the book is slow—the virus doesn’t hit until 33% of the way in—and the ending felt a bit rushed. At times it felt like there were too many characters. Still, overall it was an enjoyable read. 4/5 stars.
Kimmery Martin works in medicine and that vast depth of knowledge shines through in all her books. At times the book was a bit graphic, but I really appreciated the fact that scenes felt so real, just like you were watching an episode of Grey’s Anatomy flash across the pages. Each of the characters had a unique perspective and a bit of personal stuff going on in their own lives. The pacing for me was a bit off. The start of the book is slow—the virus doesn’t hit until 33% of the way in—and the ending felt a bit rushed. At times it felt like there were too many characters. Still, overall it was an enjoyable read. 4/5 stars.
November 23, 2021
Doctors and Friends by Kimmery Martin is a contemporary story that follows a group of female doctors as they navigate life during a pandemic. Now the pandemic inside of this story is a fictional one that the author created prior to the Covid outbreak in real life but this one may be a tough read now that Covid has become real around the world.
Hannah, Compton, and Kira met while they were all in medical school together and have stayed friends since. Each of the women have gone onto different careers in the medical field but made a pact to always stay in touch and spend time together once a year on a vacation.
Compton is a ER doctor in New York while Hannah became an ob-gyn in San Diego and Kira took a job as an infectious disease doctor at the CDC in Atlanta. The three are scheduled for their annual trip and heading to Spain when they get word that a fast spreading disease has been discovered.
I’ve read a lot of apocalyptic type of books with pandemics the being the cause but Doctors and Friends by Kimmery Martin is definitely a contemporary fiction title. While details of the disease in here vary from what we have in real life with Covid the feel of the characters dealing with it felt all too real and parallel to the times of Covid. I couldn’t help but to get caught up in their world and feel the tension as the story developed. My only thought was perhaps at times it went a little too much into the medical terminology but the author does admit to that herself. Overall though this one was certainly an emotional ride.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Hannah, Compton, and Kira met while they were all in medical school together and have stayed friends since. Each of the women have gone onto different careers in the medical field but made a pact to always stay in touch and spend time together once a year on a vacation.
Compton is a ER doctor in New York while Hannah became an ob-gyn in San Diego and Kira took a job as an infectious disease doctor at the CDC in Atlanta. The three are scheduled for their annual trip and heading to Spain when they get word that a fast spreading disease has been discovered.
I’ve read a lot of apocalyptic type of books with pandemics the being the cause but Doctors and Friends by Kimmery Martin is definitely a contemporary fiction title. While details of the disease in here vary from what we have in real life with Covid the feel of the characters dealing with it felt all too real and parallel to the times of Covid. I couldn’t help but to get caught up in their world and feel the tension as the story developed. My only thought was perhaps at times it went a little too much into the medical terminology but the author does admit to that herself. Overall though this one was certainly an emotional ride.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
July 5, 2021
A group of doctors, all longtime friends, are on vacation in Spain when one, who works for the CDC gets word that a bunch of chatter is happening about a new virus spreading in the location they're visiting, a virus that soon ends up spreading nationwide, resembling the 2020 Pandemic we just lived.
However, this novel, written by Dr. Martin, a former practicing emergency medicine physician, conceived, beautifully researched, and wrote this novel before the world knew about Covid-19 and it's important for people to know that going in, though there will of course be comparisons. So, while it will be tough for some people to read, this book will find its audience who will appreciate learning about the ends and outs of a pandemic after just living through one; I thought it was completely fascinating, not just the uniqueness of it, but the twists and turns she went with the story.
While it's a novel about the fake pandemic she has created, at its heart it is a novel about these women and the bonds of friendship they share, through flashbacks and present time, and how the virus affects there own lives. Dr. Martin uses characters from both of her first two novels The Queen of Hearts and The Antidote for Everything and I enjoyed seeing where they are now and what happened to them after the first novels ended.
Very well-written, heart wrenching, and just all around unique, Doctors and Friends is a novel about friendship quite unlike any other you've read, and it left me uncontrollably sobbing.....so....imo, it's a winner!
Thank you to the author and Berkley for providing a review copy!
However, this novel, written by Dr. Martin, a former practicing emergency medicine physician, conceived, beautifully researched, and wrote this novel before the world knew about Covid-19 and it's important for people to know that going in, though there will of course be comparisons. So, while it will be tough for some people to read, this book will find its audience who will appreciate learning about the ends and outs of a pandemic after just living through one; I thought it was completely fascinating, not just the uniqueness of it, but the twists and turns she went with the story.
While it's a novel about the fake pandemic she has created, at its heart it is a novel about these women and the bonds of friendship they share, through flashbacks and present time, and how the virus affects there own lives. Dr. Martin uses characters from both of her first two novels The Queen of Hearts and The Antidote for Everything and I enjoyed seeing where they are now and what happened to them after the first novels ended.
Very well-written, heart wrenching, and just all around unique, Doctors and Friends is a novel about friendship quite unlike any other you've read, and it left me uncontrollably sobbing.....so....imo, it's a winner!
Thank you to the author and Berkley for providing a review copy!
November 23, 2021
I can’t express in words how intensely I loved this book. The pandemic depicted in this novel is different enough from Covid that it doesn’t feel like a rehashing of what we’ve been through, but so many of the themes and feelings resonated. I loved each of these women and their generous, loving hearts. The author has a knack for expertly blends science and medicine with such stunning character work that they all felt like old friends. The writing is clever and smart but also intensely emotional in parts (I read the entire second half in one giant gulp, unable to put it down until I knew how the story ended). I’ve loved all of Kimmery Martin’s books but this is definitely her best yet. Don’t miss this one. It’s special.
December 2, 2021
I just finished reading Doctors and Friends, which is a novel Kimmery Martin wrote before the COVID-19 pandemic. The timeliness of the story in this fictional world Martin has created and eerily forecasted what has been my life for over a year and a half.
Though foreboding this read was hopeful and focused on the healthcare heroes that were not much more different than the healthcare providers I work with side by side - the true heroes who are also mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, friends and colleagues, and each with their own stories and lives beyond their capes of scrubs and gowns saving people’s lives.
I loved this book! Reading this novel was heartwarming, cathartic, truly immersive, and one that brought tears to my eyes. Fantastic read I highly recommend!!
Though foreboding this read was hopeful and focused on the healthcare heroes that were not much more different than the healthcare providers I work with side by side - the true heroes who are also mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, friends and colleagues, and each with their own stories and lives beyond their capes of scrubs and gowns saving people’s lives.
I loved this book! Reading this novel was heartwarming, cathartic, truly immersive, and one that brought tears to my eyes. Fantastic read I highly recommend!!
April 27, 2021
Martin's latest, DOCTORS AND FRIENDS, is nothing shy of stunning. While delivering the depth, wit, and soul that continues to garner both readers' love and critics' acclaim, she deftly reminds us that no crisis will ever shrink our capacity for love -- and when threatened -- our will to fight back. Martin may have written this book before the pandemic, but holy smokes was it cathartic to attach myself to these characters as they navigate a world not unlike our own. I read fiction to escape, and that often means escaping into a story that helps me make sense of a current crisis in that millennia-old way narratives do so damn well! Absolutely brilliant.
November 18, 2021
Who writes a book about a pandemic BEFORE a pandemic? Kimmery Martin does. She’s a real life dr in the ER of a Charlotte, NC hospital who decided to write a book about a pandemic and being on a trip with other doctors over in Spain when this virus hits the world. Even though this book does talk about a pandemic and does use a lot of medical terminology throughout, it’s more about the friendships of the 7 doctors. For me, it was just ok.
November 8, 2021
This one just isn’t for me. While I like the way it is written, it is about a Covid-19 world (although it’s called something else) and I am just not ready for that yet. If you’re a fan of Contagion, you will prob enjoy this. I liked the characters, it just hit too close to home right now for me.
Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this Arc in exchange for my review.
Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this Arc in exchange for my review.
January 29, 2022
Fascinating, eerily close to COVID but most definitely not COVID. Martin’s work is always deep into the actual medical side of her stories and I so appreciate that.
September 23, 2021
Kira is an infectious disease doctor at the CDC. On her big girls trip with her best friends from med school, a mysterious illness pops up. Suddenly the friends are seeing the beginnings of the Artiovirus, and it’s not a pretty sight. This book was written before covid and while the story may feel familiar, it is not based off the current pandemic.
I hate writing this review. I hate it so damn much. I hate it because this book was 10000000% the wrong book at the wrong time. While Kimberly makes it clear in her authors note that this book was written before covid (I remember her talking about what she was writing right before covid so I know it’s true) but the idea of reading about a pandemic that isn’t covid, but through reading living through the early days through the sickness was like PTSD for me. It was reliving the early days at the grocery store when I had a panic attack over people not wearing masks and getting way too close to me, it was reliving the release of a vaccine, of an end in sight only for it to be pulled right back by people not getting the vaccine. It’s funny because I just finished and loved Jodi Picoults new book recently that is set during covid. I think with this one it was the medical side being shared which I always love in Kimmery Martins books, and if we weren’t still fighting this damn virus everyday I think I would have loved this book.
I hate writing this review. I hate it so damn much. I hate it because this book was 10000000% the wrong book at the wrong time. While Kimberly makes it clear in her authors note that this book was written before covid (I remember her talking about what she was writing right before covid so I know it’s true) but the idea of reading about a pandemic that isn’t covid, but through reading living through the early days through the sickness was like PTSD for me. It was reliving the early days at the grocery store when I had a panic attack over people not wearing masks and getting way too close to me, it was reliving the release of a vaccine, of an end in sight only for it to be pulled right back by people not getting the vaccine. It’s funny because I just finished and loved Jodi Picoults new book recently that is set during covid. I think with this one it was the medical side being shared which I always love in Kimmery Martins books, and if we weren’t still fighting this damn virus everyday I think I would have loved this book.
November 9, 2021
I received a gifted galley of DOCTORS AND FRIENDS by Kimmery Martin for an honest review. Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and Let’s Talk Books Promo for the opportunity to read and review!
DOCTORS AND FRIENDS begins with a group of women, close knit friends taking an annual trip overseas together. What they don’t know in the planning is that the world is about to be hit with a terrible and terrifying new disease that will hit close to home for all of them. They met in medical school, so have a bit more understanding of what is beginning to happen than the average citizen, but even they are shocked when they witness one of the early cases first hand.
Soon the world is being hit hard, hospitals are overwhelmed and the population lives in fear. The story follows three of the friends in alternating points of view. Kira is a mother and an infectious diseases doctor with a specialty in this type of disease. Compton works in the ER in New York, one of the cities hit hardest first in the U.S. Hannah is an ob-gyn desperate to have a child of her own. Each of these women will have impossible decisions and terrible hurdles in their path as they balance work, family and friendships.
So this sounds a lot like Covid, right? Well, the eerie part is that this was written before Covid. The disease is not the same and things progress differently in some ways, but the way her predictions mirrored what actually wound up happening are pretty astounding. I loved this book, but I do urge caution if you’re not quite ready for a Covid-ish story just yet.
I loved the women at the center of this story. Their friendships reminded me of some of the people in my own life – travels with friends in the past and the Zoom happy hours in more recent days. The author did a great job of giving each woman her own personality and also fitting them all together as a cohesive group. I loved seeing that support network in play as the women faced difficult circumstances.
This is a book that will need tissues at hand, but it kept me hooked throughout! Kimmery Martin has been on my want to read list for a while and this absolutely solidifies my need to get into her backlist!
DOCTORS AND FRIENDS is available now!
DOCTORS AND FRIENDS begins with a group of women, close knit friends taking an annual trip overseas together. What they don’t know in the planning is that the world is about to be hit with a terrible and terrifying new disease that will hit close to home for all of them. They met in medical school, so have a bit more understanding of what is beginning to happen than the average citizen, but even they are shocked when they witness one of the early cases first hand.
Soon the world is being hit hard, hospitals are overwhelmed and the population lives in fear. The story follows three of the friends in alternating points of view. Kira is a mother and an infectious diseases doctor with a specialty in this type of disease. Compton works in the ER in New York, one of the cities hit hardest first in the U.S. Hannah is an ob-gyn desperate to have a child of her own. Each of these women will have impossible decisions and terrible hurdles in their path as they balance work, family and friendships.
So this sounds a lot like Covid, right? Well, the eerie part is that this was written before Covid. The disease is not the same and things progress differently in some ways, but the way her predictions mirrored what actually wound up happening are pretty astounding. I loved this book, but I do urge caution if you’re not quite ready for a Covid-ish story just yet.
I loved the women at the center of this story. Their friendships reminded me of some of the people in my own life – travels with friends in the past and the Zoom happy hours in more recent days. The author did a great job of giving each woman her own personality and also fitting them all together as a cohesive group. I loved seeing that support network in play as the women faced difficult circumstances.
This is a book that will need tissues at hand, but it kept me hooked throughout! Kimmery Martin has been on my want to read list for a while and this absolutely solidifies my need to get into her backlist!
DOCTORS AND FRIENDS is available now!
June 15, 2022
My feelings on this one are super complicated. It was objectively an awesome book but also super traumatic to read. I can’t believe that she wrote this book before Covid, so much of it is prescient in an alarming way. I love how she writes, though, and I want to go back and read her other books. She fleshes out her characters absolutely beautifully. I wish I could be friends with the circle of strong and brave women.
April 7, 2023
Wow wow wow. I read many of these sections out loud to my husband and other family members as I was enamored with the storyline. This book, this pandemic storyline, is relevant and emotional; written and submitted to her publisher before Covid-19 changed our own realities. The varying perspectives is a wonderful way to tell this story and it will stick with me for a very, very long time.
November 24, 2022
I thought I was ready to read this. I bought it soon as it published, but put it off. Due to the Covid pandemic. This book explores an imaginary pandemic and is written just before the actual pandemic hit us. It is both alike and different. But... it captures the horror of it all. Kimberly Martin writes a good book, and... I hope she sufficiently recovers from long Covid to continue writing. Would love to hear about Vani and all the doctor friends.
December 14, 2021
This was a story about a pandemic (not COVID-19), and it followed three doctors: Kira, Compton, and Hannah. It's a pretty enjoyable read, aside from the fact that Kira (who has more chapters dedicated to her than the others) is somewhat unlikeable. It's interesting to read about the science behind a virus in a fictional story.
August 26, 2023
This book was giving me pandemic PTSD.... UNTIL I read the authors note and she wrote it all p much before 2020???? So basically she's a genius. So sweet to read about long term med school friendships as I'm currently forming my own :,)
December 31, 2021
Thank you to @berkleypub and @letstalkbookspromo for providing an ARC of one of my most anticipated reads! I love how Kimmery Martin writes women's fiction in a medical setting, so I knew I had to read this one. Paired with a flower pic taken a few weeks ago because daisies always make me smile.
Pub date: Nov 9
In one sentence: A group of friends from med school gather in Spain for vacation - just in time for a new virus to throw the world into chaos.
Martin wrote this book before COVID hit - the virus in question is distinct from COVID in the symptoms it causes and how it impacts society. But there are similarities in the themes of isolation, loss, overwork in the healthcare sector, and most of all, uncertainty. I've read a few COVID books already, and I work in biotech, so I was fine reading about this topic, but some readers might want a little more distance before picking this one up.
The response to the virus in the book was much more logical and far-reaching than what we saw in the beginning of the pandemic in the US - it made me sad to see again how many opportunities we missed to stop the spread of the disease and protect affected families. I loved getting the perspective of MCs Kira and Compton, a CDC doctor and ER doctor, respectively, and seeing how they dealt with the overwhelming workload associated with a pandemic.
Beyond the medical content, Doctors and Friends leans heavily into the friendship among these women and how they show up for each other even in the hardest of times. Reading about these relationships was a highlight, as I love books about friends.
If you're looking for an emotional ride that will pull at your heartstrings (and also teach you more about human health), I'd recommend this one! 4.5 stars.
Pub date: Nov 9
In one sentence: A group of friends from med school gather in Spain for vacation - just in time for a new virus to throw the world into chaos.
Martin wrote this book before COVID hit - the virus in question is distinct from COVID in the symptoms it causes and how it impacts society. But there are similarities in the themes of isolation, loss, overwork in the healthcare sector, and most of all, uncertainty. I've read a few COVID books already, and I work in biotech, so I was fine reading about this topic, but some readers might want a little more distance before picking this one up.
The response to the virus in the book was much more logical and far-reaching than what we saw in the beginning of the pandemic in the US - it made me sad to see again how many opportunities we missed to stop the spread of the disease and protect affected families. I loved getting the perspective of MCs Kira and Compton, a CDC doctor and ER doctor, respectively, and seeing how they dealt with the overwhelming workload associated with a pandemic.
Beyond the medical content, Doctors and Friends leans heavily into the friendship among these women and how they show up for each other even in the hardest of times. Reading about these relationships was a highlight, as I love books about friends.
If you're looking for an emotional ride that will pull at your heartstrings (and also teach you more about human health), I'd recommend this one! 4.5 stars.
May 16, 2022
Doctors and Friends was written a few years before Covid-19 hit our world, but the similarities and parallels are so close. Kimmery Martin does an excellent job at portraying life in the midst of a pandemic from the perspectives of a group of friends who met while in Medical school. These friends meet up on a trip to Spain so that they release stress and enjoy each other. While they are traveling, the first patients who come down with the virus happen to be in the area that they are in. Their lives change in the blink of an eye and continue to change as the book progresses.
The themes of friendship and love are intertwined within each chapter as we get to know the doctors before, during and after the pandemic. I really love this book, though I admit it was a lot harder to read than I thought it would be. There will be plenty of triggers for people right now. What I think is important is the way that Martin wrote Doctors and Friends. She writes with blunt honesty and allows the reader into a look at a close group of friends that go through hell. These friends represent the medical staff during a pandemic, which helps the reader see with compassion what our doctors and nurses face everyday. I love the friendships, that defy all the odds from these doctors who all get to share their own stories. Very well done!
#doctorsandfriends #letstalkbookspromo #bookstagram
The themes of friendship and love are intertwined within each chapter as we get to know the doctors before, during and after the pandemic. I really love this book, though I admit it was a lot harder to read than I thought it would be. There will be plenty of triggers for people right now. What I think is important is the way that Martin wrote Doctors and Friends. She writes with blunt honesty and allows the reader into a look at a close group of friends that go through hell. These friends represent the medical staff during a pandemic, which helps the reader see with compassion what our doctors and nurses face everyday. I love the friendships, that defy all the odds from these doctors who all get to share their own stories. Very well done!
#doctorsandfriends #letstalkbookspromo #bookstagram
March 23, 2022
Some heartbreaking, beautifully written moments, but they get lost in all the extra characters and chaos.
October 21, 2021
Full review to come—but I think this might be Kimmery Martin's best book yet!
April 16, 2022
I would have approached a book about a pandemic with trepidation before COVID, but even more so afterwards. I consider my bravery richly rewarded. As a doctor, I also appreciate the research and authenticity demonstrated within these pages.
”We burn with the desire to exist.”
Doctors and Friends is beautifully, thoughtful, intelligently written. It shines light on the lives of seven women doctors who went to medical school together and now have established careers across the country. It also elegantly and faithfully captures their bond of friendship through the most trying times of their lives. This book is NOT about COVID. Kimmery Martin centred the drama around a fictional Artiovirus when she started this manuscript in 2018, well before coronavirus made a name for itself. Because her story is well researched and borrows from her own medical background, there will be startling similarities between the fictional pandemic and our real world experiences. There are also major differences.
”I’ll worry about my girls until my dying breathe.”
Friendships are forged from our shared experiences and those forged out of hardship, tribulation, and trauma can be the strongest of all. For most doctors, that means our med school pals are our best friends for life. I enjoyed the love and camaraderie between Kira, Compton, Hannah, Georgia, Vonnie, Zadie, and Emma. Their joys and sorrows were so genuine. Artiovirus tore into their lives and put many of them into untenable positions. I cried when they cried. Truthfully, I cried in parts when they were too overwhelmed to cry for themselves. But I was also able to feel their happiness, and healing, and triumphs. I’m grateful for the balance and wisdom of this writer.
”Losing a loved one was not the ultimate grief. The ultimate grief was realizing the pain of someone you love and not being able to do anything about it.”
I listened to the Audiobook version narrated by Shannon McManus, Dorothy Dillingham Blue, and Cassandra Campbell. My praise for the author’s ingenuity extends to the fabulous performances by these amazing narrators.
”We burn with the desire to exist.”
Doctors and Friends is beautifully, thoughtful, intelligently written. It shines light on the lives of seven women doctors who went to medical school together and now have established careers across the country. It also elegantly and faithfully captures their bond of friendship through the most trying times of their lives. This book is NOT about COVID. Kimmery Martin centred the drama around a fictional Artiovirus when she started this manuscript in 2018, well before coronavirus made a name for itself. Because her story is well researched and borrows from her own medical background, there will be startling similarities between the fictional pandemic and our real world experiences. There are also major differences.
”I’ll worry about my girls until my dying breathe.”
Friendships are forged from our shared experiences and those forged out of hardship, tribulation, and trauma can be the strongest of all. For most doctors, that means our med school pals are our best friends for life. I enjoyed the love and camaraderie between Kira, Compton, Hannah, Georgia, Vonnie, Zadie, and Emma. Their joys and sorrows were so genuine. Artiovirus tore into their lives and put many of them into untenable positions. I cried when they cried. Truthfully, I cried in parts when they were too overwhelmed to cry for themselves. But I was also able to feel their happiness, and healing, and triumphs. I’m grateful for the balance and wisdom of this writer.
”Losing a loved one was not the ultimate grief. The ultimate grief was realizing the pain of someone you love and not being able to do anything about it.”
I listened to the Audiobook version narrated by Shannon McManus, Dorothy Dillingham Blue, and Cassandra Campbell. My praise for the author’s ingenuity extends to the fabulous performances by these amazing narrators.
November 11, 2021
Doctors and Friends by Kimmery Martin. Thanks to @berkleypub for the free book #berkleyIG #berkleypartner ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
When CARS-ART, an artiovirus, hits the world, we watch it’s effect through a group of female doctors who are also best friends.
Eerily, this book was written before the Covid pandemic. Knowing that while reading it gave me serious chills. There were so many overlaps that it felt like it was telling a contemporary story. I think Covid really will affect the readers perception of this book and make it more emotionally meaningful. We got different perspectives with the friends, but they were all doctors so their stories were similar and they all merged together. I liked how the book was separated by before, during, and after. You really get to know the main characters and some surprises at the end hit hard. Oh but damn… why’d they author have to kill one of our fav celebs!
“Losing a loved one was not the uptime grief; she knew this now. The ultimate grief was realizing the suffering of one you loved and being helpless to do anything about it.”
When CARS-ART, an artiovirus, hits the world, we watch it’s effect through a group of female doctors who are also best friends.
Eerily, this book was written before the Covid pandemic. Knowing that while reading it gave me serious chills. There were so many overlaps that it felt like it was telling a contemporary story. I think Covid really will affect the readers perception of this book and make it more emotionally meaningful. We got different perspectives with the friends, but they were all doctors so their stories were similar and they all merged together. I liked how the book was separated by before, during, and after. You really get to know the main characters and some surprises at the end hit hard. Oh but damn… why’d they author have to kill one of our fav celebs!
“Losing a loved one was not the uptime grief; she knew this now. The ultimate grief was realizing the suffering of one you loved and being helpless to do anything about it.”
December 30, 2021
Friends and Doctors was researched and written pre-pandemic according to the author - but published in Fall 2021… It’s a story about med school friends (one of whom is an epidemiologist working for the CDC) on an annual girls’ trip in Spain when the world first starts hearing about a deadly virus that starts with a cough and causes it’s victims to, in many cases, suffocate. It follows them through the next year as their hospitals become overcrowded, their social life moves to Zoom, and they experience tragedy and triumph together… Much of the plot is eerily similar to Covid (👆🏻), but there were also enough differences to make it interesting and not super triggering (although I’d imagine it could be). I liked the scientific (but accessible) talk about viruses, and I was fascinated by the idea of Kimmery Martin creating this world for her characters *before* our current world existed. Also, like in her other books, I really enjoyed the female friendships!
November 11, 2021
This book was written about a made up virus before Covid existed. The book was about so much more than the virus and I applaud the author for her brilliant writing!!! This book made me both laugh and cry and I consider that to be a great book!!!
The three main characters are Compton, Kira and Hannah. They all met in medical school and take a yearly trip to relax and catch up. They arrive in Seville and they begin to start hearing about the virus. Is it going to be a bad one and how can it be stopped
There are 3 timelines in this book…before, during and after the virus. I focused on the relationships between these women, their work and their family relationships.
Really enjoyed this book written by a former emergency room doctor.
The three main characters are Compton, Kira and Hannah. They all met in medical school and take a yearly trip to relax and catch up. They arrive in Seville and they begin to start hearing about the virus. Is it going to be a bad one and how can it be stopped
There are 3 timelines in this book…before, during and after the virus. I focused on the relationships between these women, their work and their family relationships.
Really enjoyed this book written by a former emergency room doctor.
January 1, 2022
A novel respiratory virus becomes pandemic - a look at the impact it has on the lives and work lives of group of physician friends. Fictional and written prior to the current pandemic on all of our minds. Hard to read this physician author's fictional thoughts on how a modern pandemic would progress in contrast to our current situation.
The nerd in me loves that her obsession with viruses and imagining prior to COVID. My college honors thesis was on 1918 flu and the quantity of pandemic and plague literature (both fiction and non fiction) I devoured in those days was massive. I wish I didn't have the real life physician a pandemic with a dose of weird politics instead of my nerdy imaginings of what a modern 1918 would look like.
The nerd in me loves that her obsession with viruses and imagining prior to COVID. My college honors thesis was on 1918 flu and the quantity of pandemic and plague literature (both fiction and non fiction) I devoured in those days was massive. I wish I didn't have the real life physician a pandemic with a dose of weird politics instead of my nerdy imaginings of what a modern 1918 would look like.
January 26, 2022
What an amazing book!! I have read all of Kimmery Martin’s books and I think this is her best yet. This was written before the pandemic started and this is a story about a pandemic that eerily has so much in common with the current pandemic. The story revolves around three doctors that have been friends since medical school. We follow along with the story from before, during, and after the pandemic. This story is so vivid and raw and is definitely heartbreaking at times. The author herself is a doctor so we know the medical details in the book are reliable. I loved the friendship between the women and how different they all are. I found this book to be so well written and impactful. I absolutely loved this one. Can’t wait to see what this author writes next.
November 23, 2021
Loved loved loved this book! A real life Emergency Department physician tells the fictional story of a group of close knit medical school friends, years after graduation, who travel together and support each other through thick and thin. The biggest thing they have to deal with is a pandemic. While you will totally equate the story to COVID, the author is really clear that this was written prior to COVID. A few edits may have been made before it was published, but it was not based on what our nation and the world have just endured. This book is fabulous. It’s a well constructed story and the characters are believable! READ THIS!
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