Anatomy: A Love Story by Dana Schwartz on January 18, 2022
Genres: Young Adult Fiction / Alternative History, Young Adult Fiction / Fantasy / Historical, Young Adult Fiction / Historical / Europe, Young Adult Fiction / Romance / Historical
Pages: 320
Format: Paperback
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
Dana Schwartz delivers a darkly gothic and captivating tale in Anatomy: A Love Story, blending historical fiction, mystery, and slow-burn romance in 1817 Edinburgh. This one may start slow, but it definitely pays off. This atmospheric novel follows Hazel Sinnett, a young woman of privilege who dreams of becoming a surgeon—an ambition unheard of for a lady of her standing. While society expects her to marry and embrace a life of domesticity, Hazel is more interested in dissecting bodies than planning a wedding. When she’s expelled from Dr. Beecham’s prestigious medical lectures for being the wrong gender, she strikes a risky deal: if she can pass the medical examination on her own, she’ll be allowed to officially enroll. The problem? She needs corpses to study, and that’s where Jack Currer comes in.
Jack is a resurrection man—he makes his living by digging up the dead and selling their bodies to anatomists. It’s dangerous, grisly work, but after losing his job at the local theater, he has no other choice. When Jack and Hazel cross paths, they form an unlikely partnership: he provides the bodies, and she hones her craft. But as they delve deeper into Edinburgh’s underbelly, they uncover something more sinister than grave-robbing. Strange men are lurking in cemeteries, people are vanishing off the streets, and the secrets buried in unmarked graves may be tied to something far darker than either of them expected.
The novel strikes the perfect balance between romance and intrigue. Hazel is a fiercely determined heroine who refuses to conform, and Jack—despite his macabre profession—is a rogue with a heart of gold. Their slow-burning connection is both tender and compelling, with each of them offering the other a kind of support they’ve never known before. Watching their relationship unfold is as gripping as the eerie mystery that surrounds them.
With its gothic atmosphere, sharp social commentary, and a romance that blossoms against the odds, Anatomy: A Love Story is an immersive and haunting read that will appeal to fans of historical thrillers and unconventional love stories. After reading this, I immediately ordered the second book. I MUST know what happens next!