Anatomy: A Love Story

I bought this as a recommendation from Reece’s book club and I always love an interesting love story, but this book is sooooo much more.I brought it on holiday with me with the intention of leaving for another holiday goer in the resort so I had room for souvenirs to take home - but I can’t bare to part with it. It’s a wonderful book that I can’t stop thinking about.

Yes, hello, writing to report that I AM OBSESSED. I was so excited to read Anatomy: A Love Story because everything that Dana Schwartz writes feels targeted to me, and I was not disappointed with this new YA novel. Spooky Scottish romance with dead bodies and a plague and kissing IN A GRAVE? Yes, 5 stars.Hazel Sinnett wants to be a doctor, a surgeon, but of course, it is Scotland in 1817, so her womanhood makes that impossible…or does it? When the opportunity arises, she dons her dead brother’s clothes and attends the coursework as a man, George. A potential plague is threatening Edinburgh, and resurrection men–body snatchers–are working hard to find bodies for use by the surgeons and anatomists and their classes, but avoid getting the fever. Jack Currer is one of those resurrection men. When his and Hazel’s paths cross, everything changes. And both will be pivotal in each other’s stories as Hazel finds her footing as a doctor, even with the patriarchy, criminal elements, and an overbearing almost-fiancé at the gates. There’s the dark academia of surgeon school in the early 19th century, threats of virus and disease, open grave make out sessions, and more!This is definitely older YA–and I think readers of adult fiction will enjoy it too. Hazel may be 16, but her youth makes the story even more enjoyable, rather than making it feel “YA” like a book set in high school would. The romantic elements are great, and THE ENDING. HOLY HELL THE ENDING.Also, as a long time Dana fangirl, I loved the Easter Eggs to her cat and the Brontes, through Jack’s last name!This book is not for the squeamish because…plague, anatomy lectures, dissection of human remains, etc, etc, but I’m going to force everyone around me to read it so…get ready.

I'm always looking for books set in my home town, and I particularly enjoy historical novels, so I had high hopes for this one. The plot had an interesting premise, and the characters were well-developed, but I was uneasy with the author's lack of Edinburgh knowledge. From the place names, to calling a kirkyard minister "Father", to crinolines in Regency times, I felt a lack of a real sense of time and place. Sitting under an elm tree and promenading in gardens that weren't opened until 3 years after the book's events take place was another detail that distracted me. Perhaps if I hadn't been looking for Edinburgh to be a starring character in the novel I'd have enjoyed it more--the writing was good, and the romance pitched right for a YA audience.

I love everything Dana does, she's incredibly talented. I pre-ordered the book, and could not wait to get my hands on it and get thru it. The setting and side characters were well done, I loved the heroine and her strong will... But that's about all it has to offer. The story line is very simplistic and lacks depth, the love story almost non existent and forgettable. It was a pleasant read, with the twist you saw coming chapters away. It's a nice read, just was hoping for more.

This book was absolutely incredible. It ticked every box for me really: dark gothic energy, historical setting, resurrection men, and a completely fantastic paying to have bodies delivered to her dungeon so that she can defy the world and become a surgeon even though she is, *gasp* a woman? It's all there. Add to that a pretty dark mystery where both resurrection men and the city's poor are disappearing, and you've just about got a summary of Anatomy. Schwartz truly crosses several of my favorite genres, historical fiction, gothic, mystery, romance, and just a dash of magical realism thrown in. The result is captivating, and I really struggled to put it down.I binged this whole novel over a couple of days because I had to know what happened next. My only difficulty with this book was the ending--it leaves some room for interpretation--which is not my favorite style (a personal preference and not an issue with the book itself). I will say that the author has hinted in a couple of places that there is to be a second installment in this story, and I really need that to be true. Anatomy is fantastic, and I really need to know what happens next!All in all, this book was incredible, and I adored it. Read Anatomy: A Love Story, if you like swoony resurrection men, strong women following their dreams, Stalking Jack the Ripper vibes, midnight kisses in (recently) empty graves, historical mysteries/magic.