Thank you to Harlequin Audio for a chance to read an arc this book! 🖤

3⭐️ interesting and sweet | tropes: childhood friends to lovers, slow burn, closed door | audio

Overall Thoughts 💭:
Jerusha is the daughter of a vicar who was sent to live with (rather, work for) her widowed aunt after her mother spent her dowry to aid her brother's career. James is a surgeon who struggles with loving her while not being in her social sphere. I love the childhood savior trope. The two of them were sweet and understanding towards each other and I loved their yearning. This book was interesting, and seeing Jerusha struggle thinking about what she wanted her life to be and the options (or lack of options) she has. She exists in society but is the lowest rung and has to live in this purgatory state. I liked the hospital aspect and hearing the stories of different patients. Jerusha helping patients in the hospital was a real highlight. Now for the negatives... I didn't love how much time they spent apart in the middle and I also didn't realize how much naval activity would be front and center in this book. That was my fault entirely. Those parts of the book dragged a lot and couldn't keep my attention at all.