In the saturated world of medical romance, Love Sick by Deidra Duncan emerges as a standout debut that manages to be both authentically gripping and swoon-worthy. This enemies-to-lovers romance doesn’t just play doctor—it genuinely understands the brutal reality of medical residency while delivering the emotional payoff readers crave.
The Premise: More Than Just Another Hospital Romance
Grace Rose enters her OB-GYN residency with dreams of healing and helping, only to find herself drowning in rumors that she slept her way into the program. When she meets Julian Santini, a fellow resident who initially seems to embody everything wrong with hospital culture, their mutual antagonism quickly becomes the least of their problems. What follows is a slow-burn romance set against the backdrop of one of medicine’s most demanding training programs.
Duncan’s premise immediately sets itself apart from typical medical romances by addressing the very real issue of workplace harassment and reputation destruction in male-dominated medical fields. The rumor mill that haunts Grace isn’t just plot convenience—it’s a harsh reality many women in medicine face daily.
Character Development: Flawed Protagonists Worth Rooting For
Grace Rose: The Anxious Perfectionist
Grace emerges as a beautifully complex protagonist whose social anxiety and perfectionist tendencies feel authentic rather than performative. Duncan doesn’t shy away from showing Grace’s vulnerabilities—her devil-red lipstick becomes armor, her studiousness a shield against a world determined to tear her down. The way Grace internalizes the rumors about her creates a character arc that resonates with anyone who’s ever felt their reputation unfairly maligned.
Her relationship with trust forms the emotional core of the novel. Grace’s difficulty believing in Julian’s love stems not from manufactured drama but from genuine trauma inflicted by both her ex-boyfriend Matt and the toxic hospital environment. This makes her eventual vulnerability feel earned rather than convenient.
Julian Santini: Beyond the Brooding Doctor Trope
Julian could have easily fallen into the typical “misunderstood bad boy” category, but Duncan gives him depth that surprises. His initial foot-in-mouth moment with Grace isn’t malicious—it’s the product of exhaustion and poor communication skills, making his character growth feel organic. His devotion to his family, particularly his mother, adds layers that prevent him from becoming a stereotype.
The way Julian handles Grace’s reputation crisis—never questioning her integrity while still wanting to protect her—demonstrates emotional maturity rare in romance heroes. His willingness to weather any storm for love feels authentic because Duncan has shown us his character through actions, not just declarations.
The Medical Accuracy: A Doctor’s Touch
Duncan’s background as a practicing OB-GYN shines through every page. The medical terminology flows naturally, the hospital hierarchy feels lived-in, and the exhaustion of residency permeates the narrative without overwhelming it. The author’s acknowledgment that this book served as “rage therapy” for her own residency experiences adds weight to every brutal detail.
The portrayal of medical training’s psychological toll—the sleep deprivation, the constant fear of making fatal mistakes, the dehumanizing treatment by attendings—creates an atmosphere that elevates this beyond typical workplace romance. When Grace delivers a baby alone or Julian performs an emergency C-section, the tension feels real because Duncan understands the stakes.
Romance Development: Enemies to Lovers Done Right
The enemies-to-lovers arc avoids many common pitfalls by grounding the initial conflict in realistic circumstances rather than contrived misunderstandings. Grace and Julian’s initial antagonism stems from stress, miscommunication, and external pressures—factors that make their eventual connection feel inevitable rather than forced.
Their relationship progression feels authentic:
- Initial Conflict: Believable workplace tension
- Grudging Respect: Professional competence breeds attraction
- Friendship: Shared struggles create understanding
- Romance: Physical and emotional intimacy develops naturally
- Crisis: External forces (rumors, career pressures) create obstacles
- Resolution: Characters choose love while maintaining their individual growth
The sexual tension builds effectively throughout, with Duncan using their professional interactions to highlight personal chemistry. The way they support each other during medical crises while fighting their attraction creates compelling dual tension.
Supporting Characters: A Found Family Worth Investing In
The resident cohort—particularly Alesha and Raven—provides crucial emotional support while avoiding the “quirky best friend” trap. Each character feels fully realized with their own struggles and growth arcs. Alesha’s role in the rumor situation adds complexity to the friendship dynamics without demonizing her character.
The attending physicians and hospital staff create a believable ecosystem that enhances rather than distracts from the central romance. Duncan avoids making any character purely villainous, instead showing how systemic problems create individual conflicts.
Writing Style: Clinical Precision Meets Emotional Depth
Duncan’s prose strikes an effective balance between medical precision and romantic warmth. Her use of dual POV allows readers to understand both Grace’s anxiety-driven internal monologue and Julian’s more straightforward emotional processing. The author’s medical background provides authenticity without overwhelming non-medical readers with jargon.
The pacing occasionally suffers under the weight of medical detail, but Duncan generally maintains momentum through character-driven scenes. Her dialogue crackles with tension and humor, particularly in the banter between Grace and Julian.
Areas for Improvement
While Love Sick by Deidra Duncan succeeds in most areas, some elements prevent it from reaching perfection. The resolution of the rumor plotline feels slightly rushed after building tension for most of the novel. Some secondary character arcs could use more development, particularly around the hospital’s toxic culture and how it might realistically change.
The book occasionally relies too heavily on medical drama to drive plot points, sometimes at the expense of character development. While the medical accuracy is impressive, it sometimes overshadows the emotional beats that make romance compelling.
Themes: Beyond Romance
Duncan explores several important themes that elevate Love Sick by Deidra Duncan beyond simple escapist romance:
- Workplace harassment and toxic masculinity in medicine
- The psychological toll of medical training
- Trust and vulnerability in relationships
- Professional women navigating male-dominated fields
- The importance of found family and support systems
These themes are woven naturally into the narrative rather than feeling preachy or forced, making the book both entertaining and meaningful.
The Verdict: A Prescription Worth Filling
Love Sick by Deidra Duncan delivers on its promise to blend authentic medical drama with satisfying romance. Duncan’s insider knowledge of medical training creates a foundation that supports rather than overwhelms the love story. While not perfect, this debut shows tremendous promise and offers exactly what fans of medical romance have been craving—a story that respects both the profession and the genre.
The book succeeds because it never asks readers to choose between medical accuracy and romantic satisfaction. Instead, Duncan shows how the high-stakes, high-pressure world of medical residency can intensify rather than diminish romantic connection.
For readers seeking enemies-to-lovers romance with authentic workplace dynamics, complex characters, and emotional depth, Love Sick by Deidra Duncan provides exactly the right treatment.
Similar Reads You’ll Love
If Love Sick by Deidra Duncan captured your heart, consider these similar books that blend professional settings with compelling romance:
- Beach Read by Emily Henry – Enemies-to-lovers with professional competition
- The Hating Game by Sally Thorne – Workplace enemies-to-lovers with sexual tension
- The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas – Academic setting with fake relationship elements
- The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid – Not medical but features complex female characters
- People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry – Friends-to-lovers with emotional depth
For readers specifically interested in medical romance:
- Flatline by Jamie Canosa – Medical drama with romance elements
- Code Blue by KD Robichaux – Hospital setting with alpha male lead
- Prescription for Love series by various authors – Multiple medical romance novellas
Final Thoughts
Love Sick announces Deidra Duncan as a romance author to watch. Her unique combination of medical expertise and romantic sensibility creates a reading experience that feels both familiar and fresh. While this debut has room for growth, it establishes Duncan as someone who understands both the mechanics of good romance and the authentic details that make contemporary fiction compelling.
For readers tired of medical romances that treat hospitals like generic office buildings, Love Sick offers the authenticity and emotional depth the genre has been missing. Duncan proves that the best romance comes not from perfect people in perfect situations, but from flawed humans finding love despite—and because of—the challenges life throws their way.
