bhavya_s_book_reads's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
ericawrites's review against another edition
4.0
A gentle m/m historical romance that doesn't gloss over racism, slavery, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, and the horrors of medicine. That said, Ottoman balances all this with making sure his queer characters get love, some hot sex, and happy endings. Sometimes, we deserve nice things.
garbutch's review against another edition
3.0
Combination heist story and romance. I think the non romance parts of the plot could be better done. That part was as a little too slow paced in the start and then sped up in a way that didn't bring in that much intrigue - the end explained it in a more interesting way though and it feels like there was more potential there. But I still liked it! So far this is the second E.E. Ottoman book I've read and I am loving this pattern of trans characters in romance.
(For context there are 2 trans characters in this, one of them is August and the other is a secondary character.)
(For context there are 2 trans characters in this, one of them is August and the other is a secondary character.)
petite_bumblebeebooks's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Doctor's Discretion by E.E. Ottoman
Doctor William Blackwood, who prefers books to patients and Doctor Augustus Hill an ex-navy now surgeon are tasked with classifying a late's doctors work, but their meeting has nothing dusty about it; they find in each other more than nights of pleasures. Until the arrival of a patient at the local hospital. The young man has been accused of being born a woman, but living life as man, an act that will have him not only committed to an asylum, but also examined for the whole scientific world to see. The two doctors will try to kidnap the young man and give him a chance in a world that won't accept him, but desperate plans call for desperate measures. Will their budding relationship survive their tumultuous missions?
This book is directly going onto my list of all time's favourite. William and Augustus had incredible chemistry, but not only sexual they had something much more valuable, they had a connection, through all the trials life has thrown their way they were able to support and comfort each other. I loved seeing them geeking out about science and medicine shoulder to shoulder in a busy eatery. I loved how they communicated, but also how they wanted the other to be comfortable and happy. I loved how this book didn't hide or pretend these men had it easy, it didn't hide how hard it was for a black man, for a trans man, for gay men to make their way into the world and just be and love and thrive. This book felt incredibly researched, but also inspired by more than history. The characters felt so real they could have reached for me. And there was this small little part in the beginning of the book that I always crave and love about between the two main characters: "I felt rather than saw Hill's smile". You know that delicious moment when they're kissing and they' can't contain their happiness so they smile while being kissed. My heart bursts every single time.
Doctor William Blackwood, who prefers books to patients and Doctor Augustus Hill an ex-navy now surgeon are tasked with classifying a late's doctors work, but their meeting has nothing dusty about it; they find in each other more than nights of pleasures. Until the arrival of a patient at the local hospital. The young man has been accused of being born a woman, but living life as man, an act that will have him not only committed to an asylum, but also examined for the whole scientific world to see. The two doctors will try to kidnap the young man and give him a chance in a world that won't accept him, but desperate plans call for desperate measures. Will their budding relationship survive their tumultuous missions?
This book is directly going onto my list of all time's favourite. William and Augustus had incredible chemistry, but not only sexual they had something much more valuable, they had a connection, through all the trials life has thrown their way they were able to support and comfort each other. I loved seeing them geeking out about science and medicine shoulder to shoulder in a busy eatery. I loved how they communicated, but also how they wanted the other to be comfortable and happy. I loved how this book didn't hide or pretend these men had it easy, it didn't hide how hard it was for a black man, for a trans man, for gay men to make their way into the world and just be and love and thrive. This book felt incredibly researched, but also inspired by more than history. The characters felt so real they could have reached for me. And there was this small little part in the beginning of the book that I always crave and love about between the two main characters: "I felt rather than saw Hill's smile". You know that delicious moment when they're kissing and they' can't contain their happiness so they smile while being kissed. My heart bursts every single time.
rachelini's review against another edition
3.0
Loved that this was set in a different time and place than so many historical romances.
herothebard's review
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
hartd's review against another edition
5.0
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
This is a great romance with a gripping plot, and I loved reading it! It's set in 1830s New York City, and it is about the issues faced by people whose identities are marginalized in that time and place (and in the modern world also), but the focus is on who these characters are as individuals and on how they come together to succeed in a situation that seems impossible. Overall, there's a good balance between the serious subject matter, the romance, and the exciting rescue plot.
From very early on, I was invested in William and Augustus finding their happy ending, and I also quickly grew attached to Moss, the man they rescue. Augustus and Moss are both trans men; Moss has been captured and is facing the threat of doctors studying his body, as well as criminal charges and confinement in prison or a mental institution. Augustus decides he must rescue Moss, and he involves William, his new lover, in the plan.
I've read most of E.E. Ottoman's books, and this book may be the first of his I've read with alternating points of view. It works really well for the story, and the characterizations are excellent; the characters are not excessively introspective, however, and we mostly see who they are through how they react to situations. For example, we see the same edgy neighborhood through both William's and Augustus's eyes, and they have completely different opinions on it.
Many queer historicals gloss over the terrible risks of living one's life as other than cishet, but those risks are central to this plot. Moss is facing some of the highest stakes imaginable for a trans person in this era; Augustus and William (who is cis and gay) can both easily see themselves in Moss's place. William is empathetic in general, also, while Augustus is very driven, so they're both well suited to helping Moss. The actual rescue scene had me on the edge of my seat.
I really enjoyed the romance plot. William and Augustus are strongly attracted to each other, and that doesn't fade, although William doesn't react well to learning that Augustus is trans. He sees Augustus as the man that he is at every point, but he's angry at first that Augustus wasn't honest with him. But they work everything out eventually. E.E. Ottoman's sex scenes are always excellent, and the erotic scenes in this book are intense and emotional. I really felt their visceral need for each other.
I definitely believe in the happy ending that Augustus and William find together, but I think that Moss's story could continue. I hope there will be more books about these characters!
This is a great romance with a gripping plot, and I loved reading it! It's set in 1830s New York City, and it is about the issues faced by people whose identities are marginalized in that time and place (and in the modern world also), but the focus is on who these characters are as individuals and on how they come together to succeed in a situation that seems impossible. Overall, there's a good balance between the serious subject matter, the romance, and the exciting rescue plot.
From very early on, I was invested in William and Augustus finding their happy ending, and I also quickly grew attached to Moss, the man they rescue. Augustus and Moss are both trans men; Moss has been captured and is facing the threat of doctors studying his body, as well as criminal charges and confinement in prison or a mental institution. Augustus decides he must rescue Moss, and he involves William, his new lover, in the plan.
I've read most of E.E. Ottoman's books, and this book may be the first of his I've read with alternating points of view. It works really well for the story, and the characterizations are excellent; the characters are not excessively introspective, however, and we mostly see who they are through how they react to situations. For example, we see the same edgy neighborhood through both William's and Augustus's eyes, and they have completely different opinions on it.
Many queer historicals gloss over the terrible risks of living one's life as other than cishet, but those risks are central to this plot. Moss is facing some of the highest stakes imaginable for a trans person in this era; Augustus and William (who is cis and gay) can both easily see themselves in Moss's place. William is empathetic in general, also, while Augustus is very driven, so they're both well suited to helping Moss. The actual rescue scene had me on the edge of my seat.
I really enjoyed the romance plot. William and Augustus are strongly attracted to each other, and that doesn't fade, although William doesn't react well to learning that Augustus is trans. He sees Augustus as the man that he is at every point, but he's angry at first that Augustus wasn't honest with him. But they work everything out eventually. E.E. Ottoman's sex scenes are always excellent, and the erotic scenes in this book are intense and emotional. I really felt their visceral need for each other.
I definitely believe in the happy ending that Augustus and William find together, but I think that Moss's story could continue. I hope there will be more books about these characters!
cleo_reads's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted to like this more than I did, but I'd still recommend it to fans of non-typical historicals. The writing style is not to my taste and the plot was a little thin. But I enjoyed the characters' relationship and wanted more romance and less plot.
petite_bumblebeebooks's review against another edition
5.0
Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Doctor's Discretion by E.E. Ottoman
Doctor William Blackwood and Doctor Augustus Hill find in each other more than nights of pleasures. Until the arrival of a patient at the local hospital. The young man has been accused of being born a woman, but living life as man, an act that will have him not only committed to an asylum, but also examined for the whole scientific world to see. The two doctors will try to kidnap the young man and give him a chance in a world that won't accept him, but desperate plans call for desperate measures.
Doctor William Blackwood and Doctor Augustus Hill find in each other more than nights of pleasures. Until the arrival of a patient at the local hospital. The young man has been accused of being born a woman, but living life as man, an act that will have him not only committed to an asylum, but also examined for the whole scientific world to see. The two doctors will try to kidnap the young man and give him a chance in a world that won't accept him, but desperate plans call for desperate measures.
katts_bookworld's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
mysterious
relaxing
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25