Dr. Easton is part man, part myth. He’s a formidable surgeon. Highly respected in his field. He also happens to be an ex-collegiate quarterback with a classically handsome face. Are you catching on yet? He’s horrible. Beautiful. A walking Ralph Lauren ad. He’s also so off limits he should come with a warning label: This way lies heartache.
Not only is he an attending at the hospital where I’m training, he’s also my brother’s best friend. If you’ve lost count, that’s two reasons why I plan on putting this ridiculous crush behind me. Besides, it’s definitely not mutual.
Dr. Easton has never once paid me special attention. No tempting smirks. Not even one subtle innuendo. To him, I’m just another resident—all but invisible.
Connor
For the last five years, I’ve mentored Natalie in the OR, stayed in line, and kept my hands to myself, but it’s been agonizing.
Natalie is trouble in scrubs. A walking temptation I’ve been forced to ignore.
For so long, I’ve wanted her in silence. By the time fate finally throws me a bone, my patience has run out.
Natalie’s brother is leaving town, and he wants me to watch over her while he’s gone.
He has no idea how I feel about her. Neither does she. But she will.
Haven’t you heard good things come to those who wait, Natalie? Well…I’ve done my waiting.
R.S. Grey is the USA Today bestselling author of over twenty-five romantic comedies. She loves books, chocolate, reality TV, and cold weather. She lives in Texas with her husband, two daughters, and dog. Visit her at rsgrey.com.
Can’t believe I’m rating this 2 stars, but this was such a lukewarm story, with hardly any depth, or character development, chemistry or the humour I’ve come to love in the author’s novels.
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Happy release day to R.S. Grey, rom-com queen. 🥳
Buddy-reading with my fellow R.S. Grey fanatic, Türkan! 💃🏽
*****FOUR STARS***** {ARC Generously Providded by Author}
A small part of me will always think of him as unattainable. A man I’ve had a crush on for years. A man I’ve watched and wanted from afar. A man who’s friends with my older brother and therefore, inherently off-limits.
Natalie and Connor are doctors at the same hospital. Connor has also been Natalie’s supervisor in the past, but now she’s finished her fifth year of residency and she is starting as an attending in the BICU. This is not their only tie to each other. Connor is her brother’s best friend and has been the secret object of her affections for many years. Little does she know that Connor has been crushing on her as well. Now the two are going to be roommates for the next few months, while her brother is away for work and Connor’s townhome is under renovations. Connor is no longer able to bury his feelings for Nathalie and he’s making it known that he’s in pursuit of her. Usually, with this trope, the couple deals with hiding their relationship from the older sibling, and while that was one of the minor obstacles in their way, the biggest issue was Natalie’s inability to read the situation. Connor all but spelled out what his intentions were towards her but Natalie blindly stuck to her insecurities that seemed to have no basis. She's spent most of her life focusing on her career and closing herself off to personal relationships that it has become somewhat of a handicap for her. She's unable to pick up on very blatant social queues.
I’d have liked it if the angst had stemmed from different circumstances but overall, I thought the book was entertaining.
This was a quick fun read, which was what my tired, hormonal soul needed! Nothing groundbreaking but fun and it reminded me of Grey's Anatomy! A bit predictable, and the heroine was immature, but it was exactly what I thought it would be, so can't really complain!
Such a great story , I loved Connor and Natalie! They have a great banter which was entertain most of the times!They have a great chemistry and they make me swoon and laugh a lot!
I had a hard time connecting with Natalie at the beginning and this was my only problem!Connor was something else! I couldn’t get enough of him!! However, while I continue reading I find myself liking Natalie more and enjoying the story !
Every time I pick up an R.S. Grey novel, it never fails to have me fully captivated and hoping the story will never end. I should not be surprised that this was the case with this book.
From the scorching romance, to the humour and chemistry between the two main characters, I loved everything about this novel all the way up to the medical background.
I have said before and I'll say it again: I'm a TOUGH critic when it comes to fiction that is based in the medical field. I rarely watch medical dramas and I also rarely read books that include main characters working in the medical profession. Why? The depictions of different professions within the medical field in contemporary fiction are often VERY inaccurate and it's extremely frustrating to read as a member of that profession. HOWEVER, let me just say, R.S. Grey is the ONE author that I have found that I know will not frustrate me when it comes to this. I know before I even pick the book up that I'm guaranteed to like it. Each of her novels that are set in the medical field are extremely accurate and relatable in relation to the job but also well-researched when it comes to the medical aspect on certain cases (e.g. burn injuries in this novel).
Even though I suspected that I would love this novel prior to reading, I'm surprised with how much I loved it considering it features my least favourite trope. I'm not going to spoil anything but I will say, often, when this trope is included in a story my level of enjoyment takes an immediate decline but that was not the case for this novel. It was sweet, it was sexy, and it was funny.
As mentioned when I started this review, I'm sad this story had to come to an end because it was just so good. I didn't want to say goodbye to the characters or their story. Hopefully, there may be a book in the future featuring a certain brother and obstetrician? Either way, I will be eagerly awaiting R.S. Grey's next novel with maximum anticipation.
***Thank you to the author R.S. Grey for sending me an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review***
I am not sure about Doctor Dearest. I do not hate it or like it either. Mostly the POV is from Natalie. Natalie and Connor have a romantic feeling toward each other but hide it. Due to their work relation and brother's best friend forbidden aspect.
As the story progresed I got confuse. Especially Natalie. What is her real issue/dilema of not accepting Connor? After all Connor makes it clear he wanted her.
Like I said, I am confuse with Doctor Dearest. I am also not a big fan of Miss Grey books so far.
I won’t bother with a full review, as I feel i wasted enough time already. I get that they were attracted to each other, but their relationship seems to start out of nowhere. I hated the predictable parts, like the wrestling match between Noah (h’s brother) and Connor or the fact that she gets mad over him having a one night stand with someone years ago. 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄 The heroine was likeable only when she talked to herself. The hero is ok, a little alpha, loved how he treated his residents. I didn’t get the drama surrounding their first time together. Huge misunderstanding and totally unnecessary. Again, i truly feel like it was a waste of my time. 😔
It would be an absolute honor to have you as my guest on my blog too. Stop by anytime you want :)
Okay, so this was not my favourite R.S. Grey book by far. It was way more sweet love story, than the fun, flirty rom-com I have come to love from R.S. In saying that I still enjoyed the story just not as much as I'd hoped.
2.5 Stars - I am a pretty big RS Grey fan but I haven't been able to connect with her last two novels. Connor and Natalie were so childish in this book that it scared me that they were doctors. I have loved RS Grey's medical novels in the past and was really looking forward to this one. Connor and Natalie were into each other from the start of the book so there wasn't really a build up of emotions and we were basically left with stupid high school style games from the moment they admitted their attraction. I did enjoy Natalie's relationship with her friend Lindsey. I will definitely read more from RS Grey but this one just missed the mark for me.
This woman cannot write a bad story, even if her life depended on it.
Hello release day, I can finally post my review (that I wrote sometime in the middle of the night, moments after I finished reading it).
RS Grey can basically do no wrong when it comes to storytelling. I am so grateful she exists, writes these stories and shares her words with the world. Every story she writes is better than the last, genuinely. This one however has shot straight to the top 5 and I already know this will be a go-to when I’m in a slump.
I’m not the biggest fan of brother’s-bff trope, because it usually ends up being immaturely executed. I shouldn’t have worried though, because this is Rachel Grey, and she knows her shit. I still can’t say I’m a fan of this trope - burnt too many times before - but I am the biggest fan of this story. Everything was handled with such grace and poise, even the difficult parts and nothing in the story was superfluous.
I don’t want to say anything about the characters besides 1) they’re strong contenders for my favourite (of this author); 2) they’re mature adults who don’t go around acting like the teenagers they’re not; and 3) (this is more of a general praise for the author) they’re 110% believable doctors. Some authors write stories without doing research, or applying it correctly but that’s absolutely not the case here. She creates a believable world you can fully immerse yourself in, and I so appreciate the length she’s gone to with the attention to detail.
I know I just finished it, but I already can’t wait to read it again. Aaaaand I’m verrrry excited for any spinoffs that may potentially come out of this story, but I guess we’ll have to wait and watch for that.
Doctor Dearest is a sexy contemporary romance steeped in R.S. Grey’s signature witty humor that will leave you smiling.
Following her mother’s mantra of never depending on a man, Dr. Natalie Martin has dedicated her life to her career. At twenty eight years old, she’s a successful, independent woman who doesn’t need a man, but definitely wants one. For years she’s had her eye on the gorgeous ex-collegiate quarterback, revered surgeon Dr. Connor Easton. There are only two minor details: he’s her older brother’s best friend and he’s never paid her any attention. She should just move on. Shouldn’t she?
Connor suffered in silence during the five years he supervised Natalie. He followed the rules and loved her from afar, keeping his hands to himself. But right after her graduation her brother leaves town and asks Connor to look out for her. Taking advantage that his house is being renovated, Connor moves in with Natalie and has every intention of letting her know how he feels. But will the self-sufficient and stubborn woman give them a chance even though their attraction is palpable?
Grey produces captivating chemistry between Natalie and Connor who are both caring and dedicated physicians. I very much enjoyed all the time they spent at the hospital. The very well researched and detailed descriptions gave the story an added layer of accuracy.
Connor and Natalie’s banter was clever and entertaining, their inner monologues are very amusing. Even though they encountered several obstacles on their way to their happy ending, particularly not being able to voice their feelings and having to deal with Natalie’s reticence towards a relationship with Connor, they eventually figured it out. The two are delightful!
Doctor Dearest is standalone contemporary romance by R.S. Grey. It’s told from both points of view with a happy ending. Other sub-genres: My BFF's little sister, office romance
There are a couple of reasons why. I was thoroughly enjoying it before but read on if you care to know. . . . . . . . . . . 1. These are both descriptions of the female leads eyes Her hazel eyes are a galaxy, swirled with color.. & Her blue eyes are wide and vulnerable. 2. I actually went to the source (author) and asked if it was slow-burn got this in reply 😈😈 and then they get it on at 35%.
Not my favorite from R.S. Grey – I didn’t find it quite as funny or upbeat as others. But still solid, great writing and kept me entertained with smart and interesting characters, both of which are doctors.
Connor and Natalie’s brother are best friends. She’s had a heavy duty crush on Dr. Connor Easton forever and apparently, unbeknownst to her, he’s been crushing on her, as well. And big bro has no idea of either’s feelings for the other. It gets a bit rocky before things smooth out, but that’s when all the best of the book really shines.
Both main characters are highly intelligent with stress-filled lives, as are the secondary cast which includes Natalie's brother and best friend, all of whom add plenty of support as well as comedy relief. At times, Natalie came across as a little immature for her age (28) and life experiences. She had a short-fuse when challenged. The mention of her “stressed” relationship with her mom, who always pushed the “you don’t need a man” theory at her, was never fully explored and it left some things a little questionable. Connor (36) is at the top of his game in all areas except where Natalie is concerned. Things have always come easy for him – until he decides it’s time to make his feelings known for sassy, smart, and stubborn Natalie.
There’s a well-balanced blend of witty banter, angst and romance, and I enjoyed this book for the most part. As always, from this author you get a well-constructed, entertaining as well as interesting reading experience.
I love the fact that RS Grey’s book are also a light and fun read. This was a brother’s best friend, doctor romance. Natalie has offically graduated from residency. She is practically married to her job and she wouldn’t have it any other way. She is caring, hard working, friendly and since she’s known him, she has found her brother’s best friend Connor to be very handsome. Connor is irresistible, he is an attending and he has his eyes set on Natalie. This RS story is a workplace romance, has little angst, fun characters and was fast and easy to read. I did enjoy this book but there was something added that I felt I couldn’t make it a 5⭐️ rating, something was added that I felt like was misplaced and the story really didn’t need it to happen to make a good read. I do recommend this book to anyone who is looking for workplace romance that is light and easy to read.
Natalie Martin was an independent woman who worked hard to be a doctor alongside her brother Noah and under the guidance of her mentor Dr. Connor Easton who was also her brother's best friend. She had developed feelings for Connor over the years but she felt like Connor didn't pay her any attention and just saw her as his best friend's little sister. Not wanting to complicate their relationship, Natalie stayed away and loved him from afar, little did she know that her feelings may not be unrequited and Connor was attracted to her as much as she was to him.
"But for years, I’ve lived in silence about my feelings. For years I’ve had to watch Natalie from afar, knowing she was untouchable. I’m still getting used to the idea of loving her out loud."
Both of them were afraid to act upon their feelings but when a sudden opportunity presents itself, Noah has to go away from town for a while and Connor's townhouse is undergoing some renovations, so he asks Connor to stay with Natalie and look after her for the time he's gone. Unable to hide his feelings anymore, Connor makes it clear to Natalie that he wants to have a chance at a real relationship with her.
"Love isn’t simple. That’s a lie. Love is a fight. Love is a plight of the human condition. You either choose to suffer it, to feel it like a cancer inside you, or you give up and you walk away unscathed.”
I loved Connor & Natalie together and their chemistry was fire but Natalie came off as a bit immature to me. She was the one who was afraid to take a chance and everytime she engaged in the push and pull game, I just wanted her to make up her damn mind. Connor was an asshole at first but then I grew to like him a lot. He was really caring, mature, protective and overall a nice guy. Natalie on the other hand, annoyed me a bit but other than that she was funny and that lifted up my mood. (especially the hilarious epilogue) Whenever I read a brother's best friend romance, I generally tend to dislike the brother but Noah really won me over. He wasn't the typical controlling and angry big brother instead he was such a funny and easy going guy, I seriously loved his friendship with Connor. (their fights were so funny and entertaining!) Overall, it was a good book with some great tropes like workplace romance, brother's best friend and I liked the book and now I'm going to search whether Noah & Lindsey have a book because they have totally left me intrigued to know what exactly is cooking between them.
If you’re ever having a bad day or you’re in a dreaded reading slump, take my advice and just pick up a book by RS Grey. I guarantee you’ll have a smile on your face in no time. She just knows how to write heartwarming stories with loads of witty banter, quirky characters, and swoony sweetness. Doctor Dearest has the added benefit of well-researched hospital scenes, a brother’s best friend trope, and a bit of unrequited/star-crossed lovers thrown in the mix.
Natalie was raised by the “you don’t need a man” mantra, so she has never had a real long-term relationship. She’s been married to medicine for most of her adult life and she’s darn good at it, but that doesn’t mean she hasn’t had her eye on someone.
Connor is an attending at the hospital in the burn unit with Natalie and because of that and the fact that he is her brother’s best friend, they have been tiptoeing around one another for years and neither wants to let the other know their true feelings. Connor seems like too much of a good thing and completely unattainable for Natalie. For all of her smarts, though, she sure has a stubborn streak and has some deep-seated trust issues.
When Natalie and Connor finally get together, that’s where the magic happens. Connor’s inner monologue and dialogue with Natalie is funny, yes, but it is also wise, insightful, and downright swoon-worthy. There is plenty of drama, back and forth feelings, and heartwarming scenes to keep you satisfied and turning the pages until the end.
Doctor Dearest isn’t quite as ‘light and fluffy’ as Grey’s previous works, like, say, her last release, His Royal Highness (I mean, these are burn unit doctors, after all). There is a bit of somberness and a heavier feeling to this one, so don’t expect to laugh through every chapter.
Fans of Grey’s Anatomy will like the hospital patients, the doctor drama, and the McDreamy feeling to Connor, the doctor who is good at everything he does. I’m really curious to see what Grey comes up with next, but I know I’ll be right here waiting for when it arrives!
▸ ARC generously provided in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this one, it was a bit insta love but it was written well with loads of tension still.
I loved Connor but I didn't quite warm to Natalie. For someone who was so in love with her brother's best friend for years she did some really dumb things to make it difficult and I wanted to strangle her.
R.S. Grey has a formula nailed down for her books and I AM HERE FOR IT. With each book, I'm nervous it will be the one that might not work for me and that, thankfully, just doesn't happen. There's something about her writing that immediately captures me from the first page and keeps me coming back for more. I'm continually amazed by her ability to tell these seemingly simple romances that feel like the well-worn ROM-COM DVDs we can't help but adore.
I especially loved being able to see the research R.S. Grey did on burn doctors for Doctor Dearest. I was able to learn numerous things I didn't know, all while enjoying a swoon-worthy Romance. Normally workplace romances are quite surface level, without much information woven into the story about the characters' careers, but this book allowed me to sink into it as if I had knowledge about their professions, too. I enjoyed the atmosphere the research crafted!
I can't help but love a brother's-best-friend romance as well. These stories create the angsty, forbidden dynamic that makes for fun reading. I couldn't wait to see how things might unfold between Natalie and Conner, and who might let their feelings be known first. The push and pull between these two was absolutely delicious.
This was very nearly a five-star read for me. My only complaints revolved around Natalie getting a little nutty at the end of the story and the characters' inability to declare their love for one another. I struggle with characters keeping their feelings under lock and key because it makes the relationship feel like a glorified friendship. I want to feel the love too!
As always, this was the perfect in-between read, with plenty of sweet moments and good feelings. I'm excited to see what R.S. Grey has next for us - I guarantee I'll be ready to read whatever it might be!
RS Grey's Doctor Dearest is a sweet and sexy smart romance that's got a little bit of everything. It's a forced proximity brother's best friend love story sprinkled with the humor and drama and medical jargon of Grey's Anatomy. It's a rom com but it's layered with push and pull and sexual tension and just the right amount of low level angst. It's the PERFECT package, an absolutely unputdownable romance and quite possibly the SWEETEST RS Grey novel yet.
With every new book, I fall a little bit more in love with RS Grey's writing and storytelling. Doctor Dearest completely melted my heart with its wholly authentic characters and it's supremely smart storyline. I haven't watched Grey's Anatomy in years but this book took me right back to the giddy excitement I felt watching that series, not only by immersing me in the romantic drama evolving on each page but inviting me into the operating room as these burn surgeons treat their patients and teach their new residents. The medical aspect of this story added such unique depth to an already well layered story and I enjoyed every bit of it.
I don't even have words to describe my love of Connor. Could he be more delicious? Could he be any sweeter, any more earnest, any more loyal? He's the embodiment of a swoon worthy hero and I fell head over heels in love with his character straight out of the gate. Natalie too is such a fantastic character. She's a fiercely independent surgeon and I loved the dynamic created between her and Connor. But more, I love that despite her success and her strong willed personality, she's still relatably self conscious, awkward, and amusingly authentic. I never wanted this book to end; I could've stayed with these characters forever.
This book is quintessential RS Grey, delivering exactly what I'm desperate to find when I pick up this author's books. But while Grey's style might be comfortably familiar, Doctor Dearest is refreshingly original, wildly entertaining and surprisingly unpredictable. This story finds two doctors who've secretly crushed on each other forever suddenly circling each other under the same roof, in the same workplace, amidst the same circle of friends. As you'd expect, the attraction is further complicated by the fact that Connor is the longtime best friend of Natalie's brother. This story is pebbled with unexpected twists that make for the sweetest yet somewhat tumultuous course of events. It's just so good, so deliciously romantic. And that epilogue... just when I thought it couldn't get any sweeter, that epilogue left me a puddle on the floor. I can't recommend Doctor Dearest enough. I adored every single bit of it!
Doctor Dearest was a fun book to read. After meeting Natalie and Connor, I instantly fell in love with them. It was also super obvious that they both had feelings towards one another. So, when things started to heat up between them - well, I was all for it. Besides them, you meet Noah and Lindsey. Noah is her older brother and Lindsey is her best friend. Now those two also have chemistry and feelings towards one another but we don't really see anything until towards the end of this book.
If they have a book, or if they ever get one, I would so read it!
Back to Nat and Con, their romance gave me all the feels. They also had some funny moments, like when she met his parents, the grocery store scene, or heck even some hospital scenes. I guess you could say they had some drama in this book at all but nothing that tore them apart from one another.
Overall, it was a fun book to read and I'm so glad that I enjoyed it!
3 to 3.5 stars. It was kinda sweet and light but not very memorable. I did get annoyed at the start when both MCs were just too, too, perfect. Both at the absolute top of their fields, super high achievers, both hot, fit, good-looking and nice as well. Whew. It was all a bit too much. I would have preferred them to be a little more human. Hey, you can be a hot, capable surgeon, You don't have to be the super mostest bestest evah.
The book did move away from emphasising that, though, and the story became a little interesting. I did read the whole thing with minimal skimming. Not sure I'll ever read it again, though.
Natalie and Connor are doctors at the same hospital and now that Natalie’s finished her fifth year of residency, they’ll be working side by side in the BICU. Connor also happens to be Natalie’s brother, Noah’s best friend. Natalie and Noah have been roommates their whole medical careers and the arrangement works for them. So when Noah takes a temporary traveling position, Connor moves into their guest room while his condo is being renovated.
Should be fine, right? Wrong. Natalie’s had a crush on Noah for as long as she can remember and she knows that Connor is way out of her league, only seeing Natalie as Noah’s little sister. But what she doesn’t know is Noah’s had his eye on Natalie and things are about to get a lot steamier in the operating room...
Doctor Dearest by RS Grey is a stand-alone hospital rom-com. If you love the show Grey’s Anatomy, this one’s for you! I really like the brother’s best friend trope and that was played out well here. I wish the romantic development between Connor and Natalie was built up more before some of the main events happened, but I still enjoyed my time reading this one. I think Hotshot Doc by RS Grey will still be my favorite hospital romance, so Doctor Dearest had big shoes to fill! 4/5 stars.
Thank you to the author for providing me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
[i'm actually in between a 2.5 and 3] i should've heeded the reviews. don't know why, but r.s grey's newest releases have not been doing it for me. they don't feel as well developed as her previous books. hopefully the next one will be more fleshed out cause i know she can do much better than this.
Natalie and Connor have had a crush on each other for years. They never did anything about it because Connor's best friend is Natalie's brother, also, she was a resident studying under him in the BICU. Both Natalie and Connor are burn surgeons. I loved all of the time they spent at the hospital with their patients. Many times we see doctors in books, but there were actually detailed descriptions of surgeries that took place and I appreciated this. It made this seem completely real and it made me feel like I was right there with them. These two stumbled their way through a relationship for sure. They both knew they wanted each other, but getting the right words out was a huge struggle. There were so many times I wanted to shake both of them because they wouldn't just communicate how they felt! We knew how much they loved each other because of their inner monologue, but they couldn't voice it out loud! In the end, it came together beautifully and these two were just adorable. I can always trust Rachel to make me smile so big my face hurts when I read her books.
This was just ok for me. Both the characters had trouble with communicating and that frustrated me. This book also utilized one of my least favorite tropes. Had a couple of cute moments, but overall a pretty average Romance.