Summary from Goodreads:
In the high-intensity world of hospital residency programs, there’s no room for romance. So it’s a good thing for first-year surgical resident Neil Carmona that his crush on the gorgeous cardiologist Eli Newcombe is sheer fantasy. Not only is the sexy doctor Neil’s superior, he’s also recently divorced.
As Neil’s skill as a surgeon grows, so does his friendship with Eli, and his silent, hopeless longing for more. It isn’t until Neil’s final year that Eli at last admits his own deepest desires. But Neil’s joy is short-lived: Eli has no intention of pursuing a relationship. Their positions in the hospital would make it unethical, even if he was emotionally ready for someone new.
Wounded and furious, Neil is determined to forget about Eli once and for all. But when a near-tragedy strikes, a new question arises: Is a life without love—without Neil—a greater risk than laying his heart on the line?
Branching out into the newly-discovered genre of m/m romance, I was recommended MK York’s new contemporary Necessary Medicine. This book is a very slow-burn m/m romance (if you prefer more…fizz…this might not be for you). The story takes place largely over the five years of Neil’s surgical residency as he fights an attraction to Eli, an older (apparently straight at the beginning, but comes out as bi later) faculty member. York unpacks a lot in this book – stress in medical education, the stakes present in life-saving medical intervention, active diversity initiatives in academics (there are some committee meeting scenes that are pretty true-to-life), and why there are rules about faculty/trainee relationships. The eventual resolution of the romance is very sweet and the supporting characters are excellent (especially Pete, Neil’s faculty mentor). I would have liked more than just Neil’s perspective throughout the book; we only get Eli’s “voice” in the Epilogue. #ughEpiloguesagain
Dear FTC: I bought my ebook.
