Single Sundays: Third Degree by Julie Cross

Single Sundays: While this blog may be focused on reviewing book series as a whole, we can’t forget about the good ole’ standalone novel! On Sundays, I will review a novel that is considered to be a standalone novel. Here is this week’s offering:

Synopsis for Third Degree (from Goodreads):
I used to be “Isabel Jenkins, child prodigy.” As lame as that sounds, at least it was an identity. But now I’m not sure what I am. I just failed the most important exam of my life—the emotional readiness test required to get into a medical residency program—and it turns out my parents can’t stand each other. Now I’m trying to figure out how to pick up the pieces of my life, and that means re-enrolling as a college freshman, but this time I’m shutting the books and majoring in being eighteen.

But so far, my roommate hates me and I’m not into the party scene. The only good thing about school has been getting to know my insanely hot RA. Marshall Collins makes me wonder about everything I missed while I was growing up too fast. Pretty soon we’re hanging out constantly, but for the first time, I find myself wanting more than a no-strings-attached physical relationship. And the lesson I really need is one Marsh definitely can’t teach me: love. Because I’m going to be alone forever if I don’t learn fast.

Review:

I really wanted to read this book–I’m not sure why because I’ve never read anything by Julie Cross (though Tempest has been sitting on my eReader for quite a while now…). When I give it a good thought I think it’s because the heroine is actually an intelligent girl with an interest in science–not a liberal arts degree. I want to be clear that I have no issue with people pursuing liberal arts degrees (I myself have a minor in English Literature) but my first love is Science (specifically health care) and as a reader, it’s a rare opportunity for me to read about a heroine who is interested in the same subject I am within the New Adult genre 🙂

However, I was a little disappointed when I met Izzy; though I think that is the point. The best way I can describe her is as the female Sheldon from the Big Bang Theory: extremely book smart but socially awkward. And that is the whole reason why we get the plot we do–because she can’t relate to people (and therefore has an awful bedside manner) she can’t continue with her medical practice.

So it took me a while to get used to her character but she really did grow on me as I read. I loved seeing her grow as a person throughout the whole novel. This story was just as much a romance as it was a coming of age novel but the balance between the two is perfect.

I also loved the tone this book took regarding mental illness. There is so much stigma about it when there really shouldn’t be. (FYI: World Mental Health Day is this coming Friday, October 10th! Make sure you wear purple to support mental health!). I loved the respectful way Julie Cross handled it in her writing as well as the physical medical conditions discussed in this book.

Conclusion:

This book has a more serious tone to it, but it was a lot of fun to read. Very well done. If you enjoy coming of age stories with a dash of romance, this is a good one for you to get!

Rating: 4/5
Would I Recommend this Book to a Friend: Probably

Shorthand Stats:
Genre: New Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Coming of Age, Medical Conditions
Recommended for: 18+
Heat Rating: really warm
Point of View: First Person
Similar Reads: One & Only by Viv Daniels (Canton Series #1); Ruin by Rachel Van Dyken (Ruin Trilogy #1) and Just One Day by Gayle Forman (Just One Day Series #1)