DNF at 21%

Romance series are an interesting beast. You can have multiple books for one couple to be read sequentially, but you can also have a series consisting of books for different couples, often designed so you can read them as standalones. And a lot of times, this works well enough. It’s achievable if the plot is self-contained, and future couples or past couples are shown but no major developments in their respective plots/characters are included.

The Doctor’s Orders is not one of these books. Right from the start, I felt like I was missing key information. There was a scandal that Nick had had to deal with previously, and there were a lot of characters being thrown at me who had extensive backstories and relationships. I felt like a new person trying to enter an established friend group, missing out on in-jokes and making faux pas that the others tittered at. For example, I was confused for a little while when Owen’s partner was named Erin, and I assumed this was a woman (I’ve only come across women with that name; men usually have names like Aaron). Erin is not a woman, dear reader. I felt very dumb.

So I felt like an outsider, I felt stupid, and I felt lost. These are not good things to feel when starting a romance novel, when I should instead be connecting with the couple and their love story. I honestly wanted to enjoy the book! Mixed race gay couple? Diverse supporting cast? Stuck in an elevator shenanigans? This could have been beautiful.

Instead, I found myself reading a few pages at a time before getting distracted, as I just couldn’t get into it. Maybe if I’d read the previous books, I would have felt more invested in the ongoing hospital saga and the various characters coming together and finding love.

Alas, I made it to 21% before I finally gave up and turned to another book. Maybe I’ll come back and try to finish this later, but for now, it’s a DNF for me.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.