I don’t typically enjoy reviewing things I don’t like because I prefer to tell you about what I love. However, sometimes negative reviews are a necessity. To be honest, when I’m reading reviews I always read the negative ones to see what problems other people had with a book, movie, etc. The Doctor and the Diva by Adrienne McDonnell just didn’t do it for me. As always, remember this is just my opinion and you’re entitled to yours.

Slight Spoilers

Synopsis

Dr. Ravell is a Harvard educated obstetrician living in Boston, Massachusetts in 1903. His reputation for helping infertile couples conceive has made him a rising star. Erika and Peter von Kessler are almost ready to give up on conceiving a child when they go to see Dr. Ravell. Erika, though she hasn’t told her husband, really doesn’t even care to be a mother and wants to focus on her singing career. As the couple is under the care of Dr. Ravell a bond forms between the doctor and Erika. Soon the two are infatuated with each other but are they willing to throw everything away to be together?

My Thoughts

I thought this book would be perfect for me. Not only is historical fiction my favorite genre but I have struggled with infertility. This book might be the most boring one I have read in 2017. To be a story about an illicit affair you would think it would be more exciting. My main issue with this book, besides the overall boring storyline, was the characters. Erika is one of the most selfish characters I’ve ever read about. Typically that would be fine because characters need to have depth and not always be perfect but Erika has no depth. She’s just shallow, selfish and boring. She has a son and it’s portrayed as if she loves him so much but she ends up leaving him for years to go pursue her career and doesn’t even act like she really misses him. Dr. Ravell was also completely boring. Ravell and Erika are supposed to have this passionate love but they don’t fight to be together or really agonize over being apart. Erika’s husband Peter was just a side character with hardly any personality. I hate feeling like I wasted my time on a book but this one was definitely time wasted.

If it wasn’t obvious, I would not recommend this book. Opinions are always welcome and I’m interested to know if you’ve read this book, did you like it? Thank you for reading and have a great day!