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Practice Perfect #1
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The man with allergies never gets the girl, at least according to the movies—and Portland restaurateur Ian Zamora wants to be the guy who gets the girl. So to rid himself of the sensitivities brought on by his sometimes-girlfriend’s cat, he makes an appointment with allergist Petra Lale. But he suddenly finds himself acutely attracted to the very woman who is supposed to be helping him take care of his problem.
Petra’s intrigued by Ian’s quiet strength and sexy body, but her solo practice is new and struggling. She can’t afford to compromise her ethics—or risk her medical license—by dating a patient. Falling in love certainly wasn’t this doctor’s order. She tries to stay away from Ian, but fate, and her weak willpower, keep bringing them back together.
Do two career-driven people with inexperienced hearts stand a chance of finding the right prescription for love?
Petra’s intrigued by Ian’s quiet strength and sexy body, but her solo practice is new and struggling. She can’t afford to compromise her ethics—or risk her medical license—by dating a patient. Falling in love certainly wasn’t this doctor’s order. She tries to stay away from Ian, but fate, and her weak willpower, keep bringing them back together.
Do two career-driven people with inexperienced hearts stand a chance of finding the right prescription for love?
302 pages, ebook
First published March 23, 2015
62 people are currently reading
1146 people want to read
About the author
Ruby Lang
32 books216 followersRuby Lang is pint-sized, prim, and bespectacled. Her alter ego, essayist Mindy Hung, has written for The New York Times, The Toast, and Salon, among others. She enjoys running (slowly), reading (quickly), and ice cream (at any speed). She lives in New York with a small child and a medium-sized husband.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
life-is-too-short
May 6, 2019I don’t know what I was thinking. I can’t do doctor/ patient. The list of what I can’t do is very short, but that’s one of three categories. However, I can do it, at times, depending, so I’m a bit of a liar. This is the type I can’t do. I thought ok, great. She stops treating him, bunch of time passes, he’s the one pursuing...this just might work.
But. She thinks it’s unethical. (She’s the MD, my bad) she’s early in her career. She listed a lot of good reasons, and he dismisses them instead of hearing her. He was a sweet, charming hero. But this kind of “I know better than you how this will affect your career or I just don’t care,” is a real turnoff. There’s ways to execute this, but I’ll save my time and move on.
I really enjoyed this book and the writing. I’ll read the author again for sure.
But. She thinks it’s unethical. (She’s the MD, my bad) she’s early in her career. She listed a lot of good reasons, and he dismisses them instead of hearing her. He was a sweet, charming hero. But this kind of “I know better than you how this will affect your career or I just don’t care,” is a real turnoff. There’s ways to execute this, but I’ll save my time and move on.
I really enjoyed this book and the writing. I’ll read the author again for sure.
December 23, 2018
A newly-minted 'allergist' heroine, a geeky restauranteur, an interesting secondary cast, and lots of cat dander make for an original romance. Enjoyed this fresh read from an author new to me.
November 28, 2023
I wanted to like this book more but I couldn't. Ian was a sweet man who did everything he could to be with her, he tried so hard and was so understanding. But the effort was more one sided than anything else. You could see she liked him but she didn't do anything about it, she just used excuses to push him away more. I felt like he loved Petra more than she loved him. I wanted a bit more effort from her part but that didn't happen. Ian deserved that much
April 27, 2015
When I received this review request, the blurb charmed me so I thought I'd give it a try.
The man with allergies never gets the girl, at least according to the movies—and Portland restaurateur Ian Zamora wants to be the guy who gets the girl. So to rid himself of the sensitivities brought on by his sometimes-girlfriend’s cat, he makes an appointment with allergist Petra Lale. But he suddenly finds himself acutely attracted to the very woman who is supposed to be helping him take care of his problem.
Petra’s intrigued by Ian’s quiet strength and sexy body, but her solo practice is new and struggling. She can’t afford to compromise her ethics—or risk her medical license—by dating a patient. Falling in love certainly wasn’t this doctor’s order. She tries to stay away from Ian, but fate, and her weak willpower, keep bringing them back together.
Do two career-driven people with inexperienced hearts stand a chance of finding the right prescription for love?
What a cute book. Smart, funny, and good banter. Some of my favorite things.
Ian is a restaurant owner trying to balance his heavy workload with his personal life, but isn't doing too well. Working ridiculous hours, he decides the least he can do is address his extreme allergies to his girlfriend's beloved cat, even if he rarely gets to spend with her. Finding himself in the lobby of a very sparse, yet clean allergist office, he is bit nervous about getting jabbed with lots of needles.
Using money left to her by her father, Petra decided to open her own practice straight out of medical school, but she isn't so sure that was the right decision. A lot of her colleagues joined larger practices or those 24-hour clinics, and are getting steady paychecks. Petra is a great doctor, but not good with the marketing skills. Her website is weak, her networking is non-existent which means, there are not a lot of patients walking through the door. She has a cute inner-monologue:
Six years of medical school, hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt. Now, Petra was standing in front of a combination fax/copier/printer that she barely understood. She stabbed at a button with her finger. It worked! You are awesome! she told herself.
It was the little things.
She is desperate to have patients, and is delighted when Ian walks through the door. He is also super sexy.
Since Petra is an allergist, she starts to have a love affair with his arm. It's so cute. It's the one body part she gets to touch and rub and think naughty things about. One of the big themes in this book is the doctor/patient relationship. Petra is just starting out in the medical world and she falls for her patient. That is a huge no-no. This weighs on her mind heavily and it's addressed well in this book. Petra has two good friends she met in medical school who also weigh in on this topic - and they are blunt and a little harsh. But realistic. Their friendship really felt real - it wasn't rainbows and sunshine. They get mad at each other and speak their minds. They are there for one another but hold grudges and get upset. It's a portrayal of a girlfriend relationship that you don't always see in romance books. Yes they get together and eat ice cream and talk about boys, but they also fight and say harsh words to one another - and maybe judge one another *gasp* I liked it.
There are cute moments like this:
The phone rang. Luckily, it was on her night table and she only had to move her arm to find it. "Tell me. Tell me why I'm already a failure at age thirty-one," Petra said, without bothering to see who it was. It could only be one of her best friends: Sarah or Helen.
"You need a good fuck is all," Sarah said.
"Why do gynecologists always think that everything begins and ends in the vagina?
"Well, it does, in most manners of speaking."
Anyway! I've neglected Ian! Ian puts in long hours at work, but that's par for course when you own a restaurant. When he meets Petra, he is smitten. Just smitten! Now yes, he does have a girlfriend but it's nothing that serious and he does end things with her before truly pursuing Petra. He definitely is the chaser in this relationship, as Petra is so worried about crossing ethical boundaries. Ian is kind and funny and wears glasses. His business partner Gerry has some good scenes in this book and I really got a good feel of Ian at work at his restaurant. I could picture him well.
A few things that I didn't love - there is a twelve-year-old named Kevin that has a few amusing scenes in the beginning but I didn't love how much he was included throughout the story. And I thought Petra acted pretty immature with her mother sometimes. That annoyed me a little.
But overall, a fun sexy book. I hope we get more from this author - I really like her voice.
Rating: B
The man with allergies never gets the girl, at least according to the movies—and Portland restaurateur Ian Zamora wants to be the guy who gets the girl. So to rid himself of the sensitivities brought on by his sometimes-girlfriend’s cat, he makes an appointment with allergist Petra Lale. But he suddenly finds himself acutely attracted to the very woman who is supposed to be helping him take care of his problem.
Petra’s intrigued by Ian’s quiet strength and sexy body, but her solo practice is new and struggling. She can’t afford to compromise her ethics—or risk her medical license—by dating a patient. Falling in love certainly wasn’t this doctor’s order. She tries to stay away from Ian, but fate, and her weak willpower, keep bringing them back together.
Do two career-driven people with inexperienced hearts stand a chance of finding the right prescription for love?
What a cute book. Smart, funny, and good banter. Some of my favorite things.
Ian is a restaurant owner trying to balance his heavy workload with his personal life, but isn't doing too well. Working ridiculous hours, he decides the least he can do is address his extreme allergies to his girlfriend's beloved cat, even if he rarely gets to spend with her. Finding himself in the lobby of a very sparse, yet clean allergist office, he is bit nervous about getting jabbed with lots of needles.
Using money left to her by her father, Petra decided to open her own practice straight out of medical school, but she isn't so sure that was the right decision. A lot of her colleagues joined larger practices or those 24-hour clinics, and are getting steady paychecks. Petra is a great doctor, but not good with the marketing skills. Her website is weak, her networking is non-existent which means, there are not a lot of patients walking through the door. She has a cute inner-monologue:
Six years of medical school, hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt. Now, Petra was standing in front of a combination fax/copier/printer that she barely understood. She stabbed at a button with her finger. It worked! You are awesome! she told herself.
It was the little things.
She is desperate to have patients, and is delighted when Ian walks through the door. He is also super sexy.
Since Petra is an allergist, she starts to have a love affair with his arm. It's so cute. It's the one body part she gets to touch and rub and think naughty things about. One of the big themes in this book is the doctor/patient relationship. Petra is just starting out in the medical world and she falls for her patient. That is a huge no-no. This weighs on her mind heavily and it's addressed well in this book. Petra has two good friends she met in medical school who also weigh in on this topic - and they are blunt and a little harsh. But realistic. Their friendship really felt real - it wasn't rainbows and sunshine. They get mad at each other and speak their minds. They are there for one another but hold grudges and get upset. It's a portrayal of a girlfriend relationship that you don't always see in romance books. Yes they get together and eat ice cream and talk about boys, but they also fight and say harsh words to one another - and maybe judge one another *gasp* I liked it.
There are cute moments like this:
The phone rang. Luckily, it was on her night table and she only had to move her arm to find it. "Tell me. Tell me why I'm already a failure at age thirty-one," Petra said, without bothering to see who it was. It could only be one of her best friends: Sarah or Helen.
"You need a good fuck is all," Sarah said.
"Why do gynecologists always think that everything begins and ends in the vagina?
"Well, it does, in most manners of speaking."
Anyway! I've neglected Ian! Ian puts in long hours at work, but that's par for course when you own a restaurant. When he meets Petra, he is smitten. Just smitten! Now yes, he does have a girlfriend but it's nothing that serious and he does end things with her before truly pursuing Petra. He definitely is the chaser in this relationship, as Petra is so worried about crossing ethical boundaries. Ian is kind and funny and wears glasses. His business partner Gerry has some good scenes in this book and I really got a good feel of Ian at work at his restaurant. I could picture him well.
A few things that I didn't love - there is a twelve-year-old named Kevin that has a few amusing scenes in the beginning but I didn't love how much he was included throughout the story. And I thought Petra acted pretty immature with her mother sometimes. That annoyed me a little.
But overall, a fun sexy book. I hope we get more from this author - I really like her voice.
Rating: B
January 14, 2018
2.5 stars
The beginning was promising. I enjoyed the exploration of medical ethics, and the interactions between the hero and heroine. But the things went down hill in the back half of the book. I'm not a huge fan of drama rama and even less of a fan when that drama is caused by an evil ex-girlfriend. I don't feel that added level of conflict did anything for the story and it completely turned me off. I finished it, but with way less enthusiasm than when I began.
The beginning was promising. I enjoyed the exploration of medical ethics, and the interactions between the hero and heroine. But the things went down hill in the back half of the book. I'm not a huge fan of drama rama and even less of a fan when that drama is caused by an evil ex-girlfriend. I don't feel that added level of conflict did anything for the story and it completely turned me off. I finished it, but with way less enthusiasm than when I began.
April 6, 2019
This wasn't very romantic. h had too many neurotic hang-ups and I didn't like her friends and how she made every little thing into a mountain. I had to force myself to finish. The hero deserved better.
January 29, 2019
3.5 stars. Had a hard time connecting with Petra, the lead, but liked it overall. A very realistic romance.
August 23, 2020
I’m generally iffy with doctors as main characters because I used to be a medical social worker and am therefore keenly aware of what authors get wrong. And I avoid doctor-patient romances because that’s Ethical Violations 101. But I am interested in stories that actually grapple with ethics (although I’m not sure romance is the best place for this) and Ruby Lang is a favorite author so I thought it was worth giving this one a try. Plus, I loved the third book in this series.
So how this one do according to medical ethics? So-so but definitely better than others I’ve tried. Petra is an allergist who has just opened up her own practice when Ian comes to her for help with his allergy to his girlfriend’s cat. They’re both immediately drawn to one another but he’s her patient and he has a girlfriend so nothing’s going to come of it. But Petra grapples with her feelings as his visits continue and as they unintentionally interact outside of work. She also talks with her two best friends who are also doctors. Sarah is vehemently against Petra even thinking about Ian as a possibility, whereas Helen is more pragmatic because this is how her parents met and they’re still happily married.
For various reasons, Petra terminates Ian as a patient by letter and they don’t see each other until 5 months later, when she attends the opening of his new restaurant, not knowing that it’s his. And since he’s no longer with his girlfriend, the dilemma begins anew. Former patients are a gray area for the AMA. The guidelines are to generally wait at least six months after a patient ceases to be a patient but it also needs to be pretty clear that the doctor isn’t going to be their healthcare provider in the future either.
While they do discuss why doctors should not get involved with their patients and the risks with dating a former patient, Ian doesn’t take Petra’s concerns as seriously as I’d like, nor do they lay out the parameters for how dating could be possible. They only have one month standing between this being less of an awful idea and it really bothered me that this conversation didn’t happen and they didn’t make more of an effort not to blur the lines.
And because they fall into a relationship, Petra continues to have a ton of anxiety and doubt, not only about the relationship but about her abilities as a doctor. Not to mention the resentment that creeps in or the insecurity about what to do if and when people ask how they met.
That said, I did like them together. They were really good for one another. But they have to navigate a lot of bumps in the road. And I wish there hadn’t been an Evil Ex subplot and that Petra’s 12 year old patient Kevin hadn’t gotten so much time on page. The story focuses on Petra’s codependency and Ian’s need for control and this could be interesting but also felt drawn out in places.
Overall, I’m glad I gave it a go, even if it didn’t quite live up to my hopes. It’s a great one to try if you enjoy chef heroes or if you want more behind the scenes of a medical practice. I also loved the friendship subplot with Sarah and Helen, especially since I already know Sarah’s story and have Helen’s ahead of me.
Character notes: Ian is 32 and appears to be biracial (white mother, dad appeared to be Latino but I did not see his race or ethnicity specifically listed.) Petra is 31 and biracial (white mother and Indian father.)
CW: anxiety, anxious parent, codependency, anaphylactic shock due to food allergy for minor character treated with Epipen, Evil Ex, hero’s father died of melanoma and mother died of pulmonary embolism, heroine’s friend cheated on her last boyfriend
So how this one do according to medical ethics? So-so but definitely better than others I’ve tried. Petra is an allergist who has just opened up her own practice when Ian comes to her for help with his allergy to his girlfriend’s cat. They’re both immediately drawn to one another but he’s her patient and he has a girlfriend so nothing’s going to come of it. But Petra grapples with her feelings as his visits continue and as they unintentionally interact outside of work. She also talks with her two best friends who are also doctors. Sarah is vehemently against Petra even thinking about Ian as a possibility, whereas Helen is more pragmatic because this is how her parents met and they’re still happily married.
For various reasons, Petra terminates Ian as a patient by letter and they don’t see each other until 5 months later, when she attends the opening of his new restaurant, not knowing that it’s his. And since he’s no longer with his girlfriend, the dilemma begins anew. Former patients are a gray area for the AMA. The guidelines are to generally wait at least six months after a patient ceases to be a patient but it also needs to be pretty clear that the doctor isn’t going to be their healthcare provider in the future either.
While they do discuss why doctors should not get involved with their patients and the risks with dating a former patient, Ian doesn’t take Petra’s concerns as seriously as I’d like, nor do they lay out the parameters for how dating could be possible. They only have one month standing between this being less of an awful idea and it really bothered me that this conversation didn’t happen and they didn’t make more of an effort not to blur the lines.
And because they fall into a relationship, Petra continues to have a ton of anxiety and doubt, not only about the relationship but about her abilities as a doctor. Not to mention the resentment that creeps in or the insecurity about what to do if and when people ask how they met.
That said, I did like them together. They were really good for one another. But they have to navigate a lot of bumps in the road. And I wish there hadn’t been an Evil Ex subplot and that Petra’s 12 year old patient Kevin hadn’t gotten so much time on page. The story focuses on Petra’s codependency and Ian’s need for control and this could be interesting but also felt drawn out in places.
Overall, I’m glad I gave it a go, even if it didn’t quite live up to my hopes. It’s a great one to try if you enjoy chef heroes or if you want more behind the scenes of a medical practice. I also loved the friendship subplot with Sarah and Helen, especially since I already know Sarah’s story and have Helen’s ahead of me.
Character notes: Ian is 32 and appears to be biracial (white mother, dad appeared to be Latino but I did not see his race or ethnicity specifically listed.) Petra is 31 and biracial (white mother and Indian father.)
CW: anxiety, anxious parent, codependency, anaphylactic shock due to food allergy for minor character treated with Epipen, Evil Ex, hero’s father died of melanoma and mother died of pulmonary embolism, heroine’s friend cheated on her last boyfriend
November 19, 2017
While the story does lean a little too much on Petra's insecurities, I still really liked the couple's dynamic and this was a fun debut novel. I'll be looking forward to more from this author.
July 31, 2017
3.5 stars
Ruby Lang is an author I've seen recommended on Twitter several times, and I finally decided to take a look at this series.
I'll start off by saying that I really like Lang's voice. She reminds me a bit of Jennifer Crusie (a compliment!). This book was funny and irreverent with a bit of angst thrown in (which is where it sort of lost me).
When Petra and Ian first meet, Ian is getting allergy shots so he can live with his then-girlfriend and her cat. Petra is his allergist. You can tell they are pretty smitten with each other from the beginning, and it doesn't take long for Ian to break up with his girlfriend. However, he and Petra don't get together right away, either.
They are a couple for a good portion of this book, so it's less about them dancing around each other and more about their actual relationship. Ian is basically all in from the get go. I admit that I enjoy romances where the hero is basically committed and invested in the relationship, even when the heroine isn't. It's not rare, necessarily, but somehow it always feels a bit refreshing (unless he's being a creepy stalker, and Ian isn't!) Petra is definitely the hold-out in this relationship, and that's where I had some issues with the book.
The scenes where they are first getting to know each other and first get together are delightful. I also appreciated the complex friendships between Petra and her two best friends, Helen and Sarah. I like strong female friendships in romance, but often those friendships are...sort of perfect? These three argue but clearly care about each other.
Now, the central conflict in the book is that Petra feels it's unethical to date Ian, who was once her patient. Sarah kind of hammers this idea into her head (she was a pretty unlikable character for me, so interesting to see how she fares in her own book). Ian stopped being her patient months before they ever got together. I didn't see the big deal. Not to downplay ethics here, but it just felt so blown out of proportion. And the fact that it was the Big Issue in their relationship frustrated me.
Petra, though I pretty much adored her, was too wishy washy with Ian at some points. Not to say he's perfect, but again, she's the one who is really holding out on the relationship, even when it seems to be going well. And when everything is going to shit, instead of turning to Ian for support--as you may expect in a relationship where two people love each other--she just completely pushes him away.
I got to a point reading this where I was like, "Okay...I'm only halfway through this book and they're together...so shit will obviously hit the fan." And I was right.
But having said all that, I'll reiterate that I very much enjoy Lang's voice, and I did like this book! A few people have told me the other ones in the series are stronger, so I look forward to moving on to those. Helen's book is next.
Ruby Lang is an author I've seen recommended on Twitter several times, and I finally decided to take a look at this series.
I'll start off by saying that I really like Lang's voice. She reminds me a bit of Jennifer Crusie (a compliment!). This book was funny and irreverent with a bit of angst thrown in (which is where it sort of lost me).
When Petra and Ian first meet, Ian is getting allergy shots so he can live with his then-girlfriend and her cat. Petra is his allergist. You can tell they are pretty smitten with each other from the beginning, and it doesn't take long for Ian to break up with his girlfriend. However, he and Petra don't get together right away, either.
They are a couple for a good portion of this book, so it's less about them dancing around each other and more about their actual relationship. Ian is basically all in from the get go. I admit that I enjoy romances where the hero is basically committed and invested in the relationship, even when the heroine isn't. It's not rare, necessarily, but somehow it always feels a bit refreshing (unless he's being a creepy stalker, and Ian isn't!) Petra is definitely the hold-out in this relationship, and that's where I had some issues with the book.
The scenes where they are first getting to know each other and first get together are delightful. I also appreciated the complex friendships between Petra and her two best friends, Helen and Sarah. I like strong female friendships in romance, but often those friendships are...sort of perfect? These three argue but clearly care about each other.
Now, the central conflict in the book is that Petra feels it's unethical to date Ian, who was once her patient. Sarah kind of hammers this idea into her head (she was a pretty unlikable character for me, so interesting to see how she fares in her own book). Ian stopped being her patient months before they ever got together. I didn't see the big deal. Not to downplay ethics here, but it just felt so blown out of proportion. And the fact that it was the Big Issue in their relationship frustrated me.
Petra, though I pretty much adored her, was too wishy washy with Ian at some points. Not to say he's perfect, but again, she's the one who is really holding out on the relationship, even when it seems to be going well. And when everything is going to shit, instead of turning to Ian for support--as you may expect in a relationship where two people love each other--she just completely pushes him away.
I got to a point reading this where I was like, "Okay...I'm only halfway through this book and they're together...so shit will obviously hit the fan." And I was right.
But having said all that, I'll reiterate that I very much enjoy Lang's voice, and I did like this book! A few people have told me the other ones in the series are stronger, so I look forward to moving on to those. Helen's book is next.
February 7, 2023
I am allergic to the writing in this book. So long, so ridiculous, so dodgy and, worst of all, so boring! I have 42 annotations throughout his book, all of which are examples of terrible, cringeworthy and frankly bizarre prose to which I was either incredulous or laughing at. To give a few notable examples (I am loath to use the term highlights for obvious reasons):
“Petra admitted to herself, assessing his strong wrists and solid forearms as he swirled a glass of something golden and expensive-looking. His flexors flexed, as they should. ”
“She lacked moral fiber. She was the ethical equivalent of a Twinkie.”
“Let me tell you, gluten is the shit. All that chewy, springy stuff in your mouth?”
“Helen, of course, looked graceful and delicate, as usual, with her soulful brown eyes, arched brows, and a swan-like neck. She would have made a lovely victim for the guillotine. A surprising number of men liked that sort of thing.”
Please be serious, what is going on here??
This isn’t even bringing into question the absolutely horrendous premise of this book. Doctor-patient romance is one you have to do in a tactful way for it not to be ethically disastrous and unfortunately this not only did it badly, but made it uncomfortable to read. Petra got jealous when he rightfully went to another allergist for treatment as if he cheated on her. She ‘endearingly’ said she liked how she knew everything about him because she knew his medical history:
But Ian was endlessly fascinating, despite the fact that she knew so much about him. She knew how old he was. She knew that he’d had his appendix out, and that his father had died of melanoma, and that his eyes widened and he sucked his cheeks in lightly when he felt pain. She knew that his touch set her skin fizzing.
This was made worse somehow by the fact they then used Ian asking Petra her medical history as some kind of foreplay?
Add on to this that quite literally none of the characters were likeable. Petra was self-effacing constantly in a way that was less endearing, more pathetic. Ian was pretentious and annoying. Jim was mildly misogynistic while Gerry was viciously so. Helen and Sarah need to get a grip. Genuinely who was I rooting for here? Also the fact that all the major conflicts were resolved mysteriously or by them just not even caring… awful. Insipid. Vile.
This grew on me like a rash, give me a shot of adrenaline so I can possibly read ever again.
“Petra admitted to herself, assessing his strong wrists and solid forearms as he swirled a glass of something golden and expensive-looking. His flexors flexed, as they should. ”
“She lacked moral fiber. She was the ethical equivalent of a Twinkie.”
“Let me tell you, gluten is the shit. All that chewy, springy stuff in your mouth?”
“Helen, of course, looked graceful and delicate, as usual, with her soulful brown eyes, arched brows, and a swan-like neck. She would have made a lovely victim for the guillotine. A surprising number of men liked that sort of thing.”
Please be serious, what is going on here??
This isn’t even bringing into question the absolutely horrendous premise of this book. Doctor-patient romance is one you have to do in a tactful way for it not to be ethically disastrous and unfortunately this not only did it badly, but made it uncomfortable to read. Petra got jealous when he rightfully went to another allergist for treatment as if he cheated on her. She ‘endearingly’ said she liked how she knew everything about him because she knew his medical history:
But Ian was endlessly fascinating, despite the fact that she knew so much about him. She knew how old he was. She knew that he’d had his appendix out, and that his father had died of melanoma, and that his eyes widened and he sucked his cheeks in lightly when he felt pain. She knew that his touch set her skin fizzing.
This was made worse somehow by the fact they then used Ian asking Petra her medical history as some kind of foreplay?
Add on to this that quite literally none of the characters were likeable. Petra was self-effacing constantly in a way that was less endearing, more pathetic. Ian was pretentious and annoying. Jim was mildly misogynistic while Gerry was viciously so. Helen and Sarah need to get a grip. Genuinely who was I rooting for here? Also the fact that all the major conflicts were resolved mysteriously or by them just not even caring… awful. Insipid. Vile.
This grew on me like a rash, give me a shot of adrenaline so I can possibly read ever again.
February 18, 2017
This feels like a weird thing to say about a romance novel, but I really liked the exploration of medical ethics? It's certainly a unique conflict for one anyway, even if it perhaps shouldn't be given the number of doctor/patient romances that exist.
But mostly I just liked both Ian and Petra who were just trying to do the best they could. I need decent human being romances right now, you guys. I need them badly.
But mostly I just liked both Ian and Petra who were just trying to do the best they could. I need decent human being romances right now, you guys. I need them badly.
January 5, 2021
man it’s a good thing i didn’t spend money on this
March 12, 2020
This was an agreeable listen. I liked the main protagonists and enjoyed the different relationship dynamics with friends and family, the personal growth they both went through and some very cute scenes. The conflict felt a bit drawn out to me, maybe I would have preferred it as a novella. Also there were some of the things in it that make it harder for me to “believe” in a contemporary romance: like the kid giving advice to adults, the talking to by the best friend, the mean ex-gf, and yes, the ethical conflict seemed a bit contrived to me. Very diverse cast, and fitting narration.
June 2, 2021
3.5/5
This was cute and I liked how the ethical issues of a doctor dating their patient were explored. Cat drama was a bit much though.
RTC
August 15, 2015
Fresh out of medical school Dr. Petra Lale is trying to figure out how to keep her solo practice afloat, learning how to market herself to patients, network with peers, and establish professional boundaries with the few patients she does have.
Ian Zamora is a workaholic restaurateur, disillusioned with himself, and trying to salvage the most serious relationship in years by undergoing immunotherapy to overcome his allergy to cats. But when Ian walks into Petra's office he has a hard time remembering why he is putting in the effort since he quickly feels a stronger connection & attraction to Petra than he has ever felt for his girlfriend Danielle. Petra is dismayed and conflicted for feeling attracted to Ian and enjoying his company. When Ian dumps his girlfriend and starts to tentatively pursue Petra, she is startled, confused and scared. Her interest and feelings for Ian make her question her professional judgement and her already shaky confidence. She firmly cuts all connection with Ian in an effort to protect her practice and her heart.
The novel then picks up five months later when Ian and Petra run into each other again and try to figure out if the attraction can ever turn into a relationship given the way they met. Will any relationship be forever tainted by the way they met, can they build something together that will withstand scrutiny.
Both Petra and Ian have complicated feelings about their parents, the way they were raised & the insecurities they developed as children while very different has had a significant impact into the way they behave and interact with the world and is part of why connect so strongly. They both often second guess their feelings and instincts out of fear of repeating their parents' mistakes. Their hesitations, confrontations and misunderstandings felt realistic and believable. They are both ambivalent about their racial and ethnic identities, acutely ware of their otherness within their families and the culture at large, despite becoming outwardly successful adults.
I thought Lang did a great job developing the secondary relationships in the books. Petra's loving but mutually frustrating & maddening conversations with her mother and the restoration and healing of Petra's fraught relationship with her best-friends Sarah and Helen were as significant to the HEA as Ian and Petra choosing to trust each other enough to risk loving each other.
There were a few things that didn't work for me or downright annoyed me. The character of Kevin, one of Petra's few initial patients, never worked for me. Even with a neglectful and distracted father, I had a hard time believing that even Petra would routinely allow a child under-13 to routinely come to her office unsupervised. At 12 he was supposed to be a somewhat annoying, somewhat endearing figure who is able infiltrated both Petra's and Ian's lives, but I just found him all around annoying even before his boundary flouting came back to bite Petra.
I also didn't like Petra struggle with her "Inner Hippocrates" and was happy when that device disappeared for the most part in the second half of the book. I was less than enamored with the way Danielle, Ian's ex was used in the second half of the book. I appreciate how Ian came to regret the way he has underestimated and treated her during their relationship but instead of becoming a more rounded fuller character, she became less sympathetic and more of mustache-twirling villain in the second half, making her undeserving of Ian's regret.
Overall I was happy to have read this book, despite the small annoyances. I give credit to Ms. Lang for being able to take treacherous premise and succeed in building a funny and sweet story. Her protagonists are flawed, their relationships messy but their story was engaging.
I received a review copy of this book from the author, Ruby Lang.
Ian Zamora is a workaholic restaurateur, disillusioned with himself, and trying to salvage the most serious relationship in years by undergoing immunotherapy to overcome his allergy to cats. But when Ian walks into Petra's office he has a hard time remembering why he is putting in the effort since he quickly feels a stronger connection & attraction to Petra than he has ever felt for his girlfriend Danielle. Petra is dismayed and conflicted for feeling attracted to Ian and enjoying his company. When Ian dumps his girlfriend and starts to tentatively pursue Petra, she is startled, confused and scared. Her interest and feelings for Ian make her question her professional judgement and her already shaky confidence. She firmly cuts all connection with Ian in an effort to protect her practice and her heart.
The novel then picks up five months later when Ian and Petra run into each other again and try to figure out if the attraction can ever turn into a relationship given the way they met. Will any relationship be forever tainted by the way they met, can they build something together that will withstand scrutiny.
Both Petra and Ian have complicated feelings about their parents, the way they were raised & the insecurities they developed as children while very different has had a significant impact into the way they behave and interact with the world and is part of why connect so strongly. They both often second guess their feelings and instincts out of fear of repeating their parents' mistakes. Their hesitations, confrontations and misunderstandings felt realistic and believable. They are both ambivalent about their racial and ethnic identities, acutely ware of their otherness within their families and the culture at large, despite becoming outwardly successful adults.
I thought Lang did a great job developing the secondary relationships in the books. Petra's loving but mutually frustrating & maddening conversations with her mother and the restoration and healing of Petra's fraught relationship with her best-friends Sarah and Helen were as significant to the HEA as Ian and Petra choosing to trust each other enough to risk loving each other.
There were a few things that didn't work for me or downright annoyed me. The character of Kevin, one of Petra's few initial patients, never worked for me. Even with a neglectful and distracted father, I had a hard time believing that even Petra would routinely allow a child under-13 to routinely come to her office unsupervised. At 12 he was supposed to be a somewhat annoying, somewhat endearing figure who is able infiltrated both Petra's and Ian's lives, but I just found him all around annoying even before his boundary flouting came back to bite Petra.
I also didn't like Petra struggle with her "Inner Hippocrates" and was happy when that device disappeared for the most part in the second half of the book. I was less than enamored with the way Danielle, Ian's ex was used in the second half of the book. I appreciate how Ian came to regret the way he has underestimated and treated her during their relationship but instead of becoming a more rounded fuller character, she became less sympathetic and more of mustache-twirling villain in the second half, making her undeserving of Ian's regret.
Overall I was happy to have read this book, despite the small annoyances. I give credit to Ms. Lang for being able to take treacherous premise and succeed in building a funny and sweet story. Her protagonists are flawed, their relationships messy but their story was engaging.
I received a review copy of this book from the author, Ruby Lang.
April 16, 2015
For this month’s Literary Stylings challenge, I’ve got a love story. (Aw.)
Well, not just. It’s also a story about medical care, ethics, friendship, and really bad cookies: Acute Reactions, by Ruby Lang. [Disclosure: I’m internet friends with the author, but I was not asked to review this book and I did not receive any compensation for talking about it. I just know a lot of amazing writers.]
I really enjoyed this romance novel–-allergist Petra’s professional and personal self-doubt felt very familiar, and her chemistry with former patient Ian was great. I did, however, have to get creative coming up with an outfit for it, seeing as how my one obvious idea (a blue-green dress along the lines of what Petra wears to a wedding later on in the book) was in the laundry basket.
It will probably come as a surprise to precisely nobody that I spent a lot of time in the allergist’s office as a kid. Me and my brother both, actually. We spent years, I can’t say how many, getting weekly shots for our various sensitivities; we’re both beyond needing injections now, but I remember those long minutes in the waiting room very clearly. Even though in Acute Reactions Ian’s allergy is to cats, I first-off went with a floral skirt in honor of the really gross plant reproductive matter that makes my mucus membranes swell even today.
My voluminous button-front shirt isn’t particularly conservative-looking, but as a second piece it was the closest thing I had to Petra’s professional, doctor-y workwear. I can’t imagine her wearing something with puffy sleeves under her lab coat, but what can you do?
Finally, I haven’t worn the heavy black belt seen up above in a while. When I pulled it out of the dresser, it reminded me of Petra’s attempts at rigid self-control and the difficult standards she holds herself up to. Her desire to push away her feelings and be a perfectly ethical doctor, and to prove herself in other parts of her life as well, causes a fair amount of tension between her and the potential love interest, Ian, so why not hold things together outfit-wise with a little restriction?
There are a lot of things to like about Acute Reactions: for one thing, it’s a romance novel where most of the main characters are people of color, which is dismally rare. Admittedly, I’m still a relative newcomer to romance novels, but I can’t think of too many other examples where the heroine is half-Indian, or where the hero is partly Latino–much less both in the same book.
I also really appreciated the amount of story dedicated to Petra’s relationships with her two closest friends Helen and Sarah (also both women of color); between their dynamic and Petra’s professional life, her world had a lot of depth to it. So did Ian’s, for that matter. They both had rounded inner lives that gave the story a lot of realism. Plus, you know, the smooching was pretty great.
So there you have it: Acute Reactions is a dang fine contemporary romance! It certainly inspired me to dig through my closet and put something together.
Originally posted on Reading in Skirts with outfit photos at https://readinginskirts.wordpress.com...
Well, not just. It’s also a story about medical care, ethics, friendship, and really bad cookies: Acute Reactions, by Ruby Lang. [Disclosure: I’m internet friends with the author, but I was not asked to review this book and I did not receive any compensation for talking about it. I just know a lot of amazing writers.]
I really enjoyed this romance novel–-allergist Petra’s professional and personal self-doubt felt very familiar, and her chemistry with former patient Ian was great. I did, however, have to get creative coming up with an outfit for it, seeing as how my one obvious idea (a blue-green dress along the lines of what Petra wears to a wedding later on in the book) was in the laundry basket.
It will probably come as a surprise to precisely nobody that I spent a lot of time in the allergist’s office as a kid. Me and my brother both, actually. We spent years, I can’t say how many, getting weekly shots for our various sensitivities; we’re both beyond needing injections now, but I remember those long minutes in the waiting room very clearly. Even though in Acute Reactions Ian’s allergy is to cats, I first-off went with a floral skirt in honor of the really gross plant reproductive matter that makes my mucus membranes swell even today.
My voluminous button-front shirt isn’t particularly conservative-looking, but as a second piece it was the closest thing I had to Petra’s professional, doctor-y workwear. I can’t imagine her wearing something with puffy sleeves under her lab coat, but what can you do?
Finally, I haven’t worn the heavy black belt seen up above in a while. When I pulled it out of the dresser, it reminded me of Petra’s attempts at rigid self-control and the difficult standards she holds herself up to. Her desire to push away her feelings and be a perfectly ethical doctor, and to prove herself in other parts of her life as well, causes a fair amount of tension between her and the potential love interest, Ian, so why not hold things together outfit-wise with a little restriction?
There are a lot of things to like about Acute Reactions: for one thing, it’s a romance novel where most of the main characters are people of color, which is dismally rare. Admittedly, I’m still a relative newcomer to romance novels, but I can’t think of too many other examples where the heroine is half-Indian, or where the hero is partly Latino–much less both in the same book.
I also really appreciated the amount of story dedicated to Petra’s relationships with her two closest friends Helen and Sarah (also both women of color); between their dynamic and Petra’s professional life, her world had a lot of depth to it. So did Ian’s, for that matter. They both had rounded inner lives that gave the story a lot of realism. Plus, you know, the smooching was pretty great.
So there you have it: Acute Reactions is a dang fine contemporary romance! It certainly inspired me to dig through my closet and put something together.
Originally posted on Reading in Skirts with outfit photos at https://readinginskirts.wordpress.com...
April 17, 2015
Ian! Petra! I so enjoyed getting to know them both.
Ian's smart and sweet and competent and maybe a bit of a pushover when he should stand up for himself, a holdover from a childhood that left him in the wake of his parents' lives.
Petra's bright and driven and nervous that the big gamble she's taken with her professional life will fail, and after being the one all her life to take care of her family and friends, she doesn't know how to take care of herself (or trust her care to others) if disaster strikes.
They both take personal and professional journeys that are influenced by the other, though not dependent on the other for their outcomes - I love that, to see the characters as discrete individuals who learn to think differently because of each other but who achieve stuff on their own. And then, of course, there is the romance, where they are very much tied up in each other. Their initial attraction can't move forward from either side - she is his doctor, and he is in a relationship - but once those hurdles are (mostly) cleared their journeys of discovery towards each other are rapid, sometimes painful, and always deeply felt.
Lang writes smoothly and engagingly and with a ton of wit - the pages really turn! (Or, they would if I'd read a paper copy. But 'the screens really swipe!' doesn't sound right.) I'm excited to read much more by her.
Ian's smart and sweet and competent and maybe a bit of a pushover when he should stand up for himself, a holdover from a childhood that left him in the wake of his parents' lives.
Petra's bright and driven and nervous that the big gamble she's taken with her professional life will fail, and after being the one all her life to take care of her family and friends, she doesn't know how to take care of herself (or trust her care to others) if disaster strikes.
They both take personal and professional journeys that are influenced by the other, though not dependent on the other for their outcomes - I love that, to see the characters as discrete individuals who learn to think differently because of each other but who achieve stuff on their own. And then, of course, there is the romance, where they are very much tied up in each other. Their initial attraction can't move forward from either side - she is his doctor, and he is in a relationship - but once those hurdles are (mostly) cleared their journeys of discovery towards each other are rapid, sometimes painful, and always deeply felt.
Lang writes smoothly and engagingly and with a ton of wit - the pages really turn! (Or, they would if I'd read a paper copy. But 'the screens really swipe!' doesn't sound right.) I'm excited to read much more by her.
January 9, 2025
I rarely give out 1 ⭐️ reviews, but I hated this book 💀
Petra was immature and acted like a spoilt child throughout the whole story. She got overly too involved in her mother’s love life, constantly blew hot & cold with Ian and pretty much forced everybody to cater to her opinions.
Ian was marginally better, but what I haven’t seen mentioned in other reviews is that he was a bit of a sleazy character. He was quite pushy when it came to sex and failed to rein Gerry in whenever he made misogynistic comments.
The relationship between Petra & Ian was disjointed and they never seemed truly happy to be together. After all of the internal aggravation I had to read about when it came to ethical dilemmas, they both remained unprofessional the entire time, especially when it came to Kevin - what kind of 31/32-year olds cultivate a friendship with a 12-year old boy who they only know from Petra’s place of work? 🥴
An incredibly bland read and I won’t be reading the rest of the series.
Petra was immature and acted like a spoilt child throughout the whole story. She got overly too involved in her mother’s love life, constantly blew hot & cold with Ian and pretty much forced everybody to cater to her opinions.
Ian was marginally better, but what I haven’t seen mentioned in other reviews is that he was a bit of a sleazy character. He was quite pushy when it came to sex and failed to rein Gerry in whenever he made misogynistic comments.
The relationship between Petra & Ian was disjointed and they never seemed truly happy to be together. After all of the internal aggravation I had to read about when it came to ethical dilemmas, they both remained unprofessional the entire time, especially when it came to Kevin - what kind of 31/32-year olds cultivate a friendship with a 12-year old boy who they only know from Petra’s place of work? 🥴
An incredibly bland read and I won’t be reading the rest of the series.
May 1, 2018
This was a charming romance novel. I loved the Portland setting (disclosure, I used to live in the Willamette Valley, so I'm a sucker for the City of Roses), but more importantly, I loved the characters.
Ian Zamora is a career-focused restaurateur, and Dr. Petra Lale has just struck out on her own right out of medical school as an allergist. He comes to her practice for immunotherapy so he can deal with his girlfriend's cat, and then sparks begin to fly.
Ian and Petra's relationship felt natural: great chemistry and a reasonable plot, without insane manufactured obstacles or problems that sane humans would resolve in a five minute conversation. Plus, I loved the racial diversity of the characters, because romance can be such a monochrome genre. And the sex was great too. I can't wait for sequels!
Ian Zamora is a career-focused restaurateur, and Dr. Petra Lale has just struck out on her own right out of medical school as an allergist. He comes to her practice for immunotherapy so he can deal with his girlfriend's cat, and then sparks begin to fly.
Ian and Petra's relationship felt natural: great chemistry and a reasonable plot, without insane manufactured obstacles or problems that sane humans would resolve in a five minute conversation. Plus, I loved the racial diversity of the characters, because romance can be such a monochrome genre. And the sex was great too. I can't wait for sequels!
January 22, 2025
Maybe doctor/patient romances just aren’t my thing
Right from the start I found it very difficult to connect with the main characters, Petra and Ian. The romance seems to be very surface-level; within the first few pages they were already ogling each other, regardless of the fact that Ian has a girlfriend (THE WHOLE REASON HE WAS AT THE APPOINTMENT) and Petra is his doctor.
Despite Petra repeatedly listing multiple good reasons why a relationship with Ian would be bad for her and her fledgling practice, he constantly dismisses them and relentlessly pursues her anyway. Petra is on the fence pretty much throughout the whole book, and it’s only in the last couple chapters that she has a complete change of mindset.
I had hoped that the side characters might help me get through this book … I was wrong. Ian’s friend Gerry was pretty misogynistic, and Petra’s friends Helen and Sarah seemed more like work acquaintances than actual friends (this book is seriously making me question the definition of ‘friend’). And why is 12 year old Kevin constantly getting involved in the mix?
This book was 326 pages of incredibly drawn out drama, but I’m too stubborn to DNF. Also, what’s with the girlfriend using blackmail to get rid of her cat?
Right from the start I found it very difficult to connect with the main characters, Petra and Ian. The romance seems to be very surface-level; within the first few pages they were already ogling each other, regardless of the fact that Ian has a girlfriend (THE WHOLE REASON HE WAS AT THE APPOINTMENT) and Petra is his doctor.
Despite Petra repeatedly listing multiple good reasons why a relationship with Ian would be bad for her and her fledgling practice, he constantly dismisses them and relentlessly pursues her anyway. Petra is on the fence pretty much throughout the whole book, and it’s only in the last couple chapters that she has a complete change of mindset.
I had hoped that the side characters might help me get through this book … I was wrong. Ian’s friend Gerry was pretty misogynistic, and Petra’s friends Helen and Sarah seemed more like work acquaintances than actual friends (this book is seriously making me question the definition of ‘friend’). And why is 12 year old Kevin constantly getting involved in the mix?
This book was 326 pages of incredibly drawn out drama, but I’m too stubborn to DNF. Also, what’s with the girlfriend using blackmail to get rid of her cat?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 20, 2023
👩🔬
You know when a character reminds you of your friends yeah I know a Petra. Anxious baby, who's always focused on worst case scenario, feels a bit negative but you know she means well bc she will get you through an emergency. I felt for her bc either you get it or you don't. What reads like indecisiveness is really fear and boy was there a lot of back sand forth with Ian. Who btw is another anxious baby but he smooths everything over so they balance each other out. The last 5 chapters of this book is where it really comes together for me. Bc the pacing in the beginning and a little in the middle was a bit sluggish but by the end all came together. Big themes on fear of failure, abandonment, friendship, conflict resolutions, ethics, and really the messiness of life. I can't wait to read about Helen and Sarah bc these 2 are a mess. And I hope Kevin makes cameos in their books too what a fun gut check side character he was. Oh and Danielle I hope Juan breaks up with you 🙄
CN: cheating, emotional cheating, parental death, dissociation, anxiety, allergic reaction, panic attacks, absentee parent,
You know when a character reminds you of your friends yeah I know a Petra. Anxious baby, who's always focused on worst case scenario, feels a bit negative but you know she means well bc she will get you through an emergency. I felt for her bc either you get it or you don't. What reads like indecisiveness is really fear and boy was there a lot of back sand forth with Ian. Who btw is another anxious baby but he smooths everything over so they balance each other out. The last 5 chapters of this book is where it really comes together for me. Bc the pacing in the beginning and a little in the middle was a bit sluggish but by the end all came together. Big themes on fear of failure, abandonment, friendship, conflict resolutions, ethics, and really the messiness of life. I can't wait to read about Helen and Sarah bc these 2 are a mess. And I hope Kevin makes cameos in their books too what a fun gut check side character he was. Oh and Danielle I hope Juan breaks up with you 🙄
CN: cheating, emotional cheating, parental death, dissociation, anxiety, allergic reaction, panic attacks, absentee parent,
April 28, 2018
First book completed for the Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon!
This book is so much fun but also complicated in ways I completely relate to. I particularly love how most of this book isn't the story about how Ian and Petra get together but actually about their relationship - and their lives outside that relationship.
I tend to mostly read historical romance but contemporary books like this remind me why I should branch out more - and I very much look forward to reading the next two in the series.
Also, Simon & Shuster, if you're reading this, BRING BACK CRIMSON ROMANCE.
This book is so much fun but also complicated in ways I completely relate to. I particularly love how most of this book isn't the story about how Ian and Petra get together but actually about their relationship - and their lives outside that relationship.
I tend to mostly read historical romance but contemporary books like this remind me why I should branch out more - and I very much look forward to reading the next two in the series.
Also, Simon & Shuster, if you're reading this, BRING BACK CRIMSON ROMANCE.
November 28, 2024
So after finishing this book, I have read a few other reviews and I definitely agree with what has been said about there being so much potential at the start of this. Like many, I found the background of medical ethics very interesting but I do feel like it sort of went on longer than it needed to which threw me off a little. Alongside this, I don't really feel there was much major character development. Both Petra and Ian just didn't grab me as much as I would have hoped.
March 27, 2019
Sometimes I was really rolling my eyes at how pedantic these people were ... I mean, do you read a romance novel for pedantry? ... but then I ended up liking their humanity and their quirks and how they had to work at love. So, 3.5 stars.
April 26, 2018
Really great story with well-developed, interesting characters and a great supporting cast. The ex girlfriend thing was a little... ? But I liked everything else, especially the family dynamic.
June 29, 2018
Really cute, with excellent banter/dialogue. It dragged a bit for me at the end, but enjoyable.
July 8, 2021
Oh. My. God. This was a slog. I'm amazed I actually finished it. The heroine was SO ANNOYING. I don't get what the hero even saw in her. It got two stars because something compelled me to finish it.
June 5, 2024
Jesus Christ this was awful
February 1, 2018
I liked this a lot, until about the 75 percent mark, when something happened that was patently ridiculous, to rush on the black moment.
The heroine is quite high-maintenance, but I still enjoyed her, and I loved the complicated friendships she has with her best friends. The hero was adorable, but far less interesting than she was. And there was a plot moppet who really needed to be in school more often than he was, but who did, for all that, feel like a genuine teenage boy.
I've already got the second one TBR.
The heroine is quite high-maintenance, but I still enjoyed her, and I loved the complicated friendships she has with her best friends. The hero was adorable, but far less interesting than she was. And there was a plot moppet who really needed to be in school more often than he was, but who did, for all that, feel like a genuine teenage boy.
I've already got the second one TBR.
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