I really liked it! It's like two episodes of a British medical drama: the dark humor of the E&A, situational comedy (thanks, Maurice Minor ;) ), and love.

Okay, it's not the most romantic novel in the world.

In the first part of the book, Tilly (the main female character) has a strange, purely physical relationship with one of her hospital colleagues, Luke. She seems to be happy there until her sister plants a little seed in her mind: what if Luke wasn't as honest as he seems?

In the second part of the book, Tilly develops a friendship with someone we won't name here. This relationship gradually turns into love, naturally, just like in real life. I really liked their relationship, as well as the secondary characters in the book. Mike, Sarah, Jonathan, Will, Tash... I enjoyed their respective stories, which added interesting subplots but took the focus away from the romance. This didn't bother me, but a reader looking for pure romance won't find what they're looking for.

It's light and unpretentious, perfect for an afternoon on the beach.

Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Tilly is an emergency room nurse, and a new doctor joins the staff. He is caring for his elderly mother, but Tilly starts to question how he treats his mother.

Thank you Netgalley for the arc of Love Accidentally by Phoebe Macleod. This was my first time reading a book by this author, the cover looked cute and the summary sounded interesting. This book is about 2 doctors who fall in love. I loved the banter between the doctors, this was a quick read but not one of my favorites.

I wouldn’t exactly call this a romantic comedy—it tackles some pretty heavy themes like attempted suicide, dyslexia, infidelity, and gaslighting. The story had potential, and I did enjoy the romance between Tilly and Will, but it wasn’t quite what I was expecting based on the blurb. Still, it might resonate with readers looking for something deeper and more emotionally complex than a typical rom-com.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this free advance copy. I’m leaving this review voluntarily.

3.5/5

Thank you NetGalley & Boldwood Books for my review copy. These are my thoughts:

Tilly is an Accident and Emergency nurse. When a new junior doctor joins her hospital and department, they
quickly bond and start seeing each other. The only thing is, Luke has an elderly mother he’s looking after, so seeing each other isn’t always easy. In the meantime, widower Jonathan is brought into the A & E. When Tilly sees the way his son William is concerned and interacts with his father, she finds that the contrast with her boyfriend’s behaviour towards his mother feels off. But when Tilly decides she might want more from her relationship with Luke, things start to unravel and lies and truths begin to surface.
Nothing is quite what is seems. Will Tilly end up broken-hearted or will she find her happily ever after?

This was not what I was expecting. This book was somewhat entertaining but slightly cringy at times. There was a lot happening but I also felt it lacked depth.

Luke seemed perfect but was anything but that (I’m trying not to give spoilers). William was shy but a good man and was rather sweet. I felt bad for Tilly when things with Luke fell apart (what an understatement). She was hardworking and a good woman but she fell for the wrong guy. Her mother was insufferable and very inconvenient. Her sister, though she meant well, liked to meddle but at least she ended up helping Tilly in the end and they did have a loving and supportive relationship.

I did like that Tilly got a happy ending and the bizarre situations that came into the A & E were somewhat funny (and cringy).

[Spice: closed door. Sexual innuendo]

I only got about 20% through this book and I'm really confused as to what is going on.... Which is saying a lot since this is a romance book.

At 20% of the book we have seen the two main characters have two conversations. The author has told us about their date after the fact and didn't show us any of that - we haven't gotten any of their love story.

We have however gotten so many random tangents that are way too much detail compared to how little we get from the romance. Her relationship with her sister and family don't feel authentic, the room mate dynamic is weird. We got more details about the guy with the washer on his dick than we have of Lucas. Why are we not nurturing the romance in a romance book? I just got the point where Luke says he has feelings for Tilly and I can't seem to care because we haven't seen any of it???

Love, Accidentally follows Tilly, a warm-hearted and slightly chaotic A&E doctor whose world is turned upside down after a relationship at work takes an unexpected and painful turn. Between juggling demanding shifts, difficult family dynamics, and her own emotional fallout, Tilly stumbles into a journey of self-discovery, surprising connections, and the potential for something real – all wrapped up in the kind of whirlwind that only life in a hospital (and a romcom) can deliver.
Tilly is instantly likeable – warm, relatable, and someone you’d happily be mates with (ideally over a bottle of wine and some sisterly advice). She carries the heart of the book, and her kindness and self-awareness make her easy to root for. Mike, her flatmate, is another standout – refreshingly platonic, endlessly supportive, and frankly an icon in the “good men exist” department. On the other hand, I really struggled with Lena and Tilly’s mum. Both felt more like blood pressure-raising obstacles than helpful presences, but perhaps that’s the point. Natasha and Jonathan, meanwhile, offered some grounding kindness that helped balance things out.
Plot-wise, it moves at a good clip – short, snappy chapters that keep you engaged and make it all too easy to say “just one more” until it’s 2am and your tea’s gone cold. The storyline itself is fairly straightforward, and once certain red flags started waving, it wasn’t hard to guess the direction things were heading. That said, it’s the ride – not the destination – that makes it enjoyable. The A&E setting adds just the right amount of organised chaos, and there are some genuinely funny and heartfelt moments woven in with the drama.
MacLeod’s writing remains true to her usual style – warm, easy to read, and full of believable dialogue. If you’ve read her before, you’ll feel right at home here. That said, this one didn’t quite hit the emotional high notes I know she’s capable of. Topics like adultery and attempted suicide are touched on but not deeply explored, which makes them feel slightly brushed over. A more sensitive approach might have helped those plot points land better without derailing the book’s overall light tone.
Romance-wise, things unfold in stages – a few meet-cutes, some slow burns, and a second-chance vibe that keeps things interesting without being overly cliché. The variety actually works quite well, much like a ward full of mismatched patients all needing different things. I especially appreciated the presence of Green Flag men like Mike and Will, even if the speed at which certain relationships developed – particularly involving Isaac – felt a little unrealistic. As a parent, I’d probably have raised an eyebrow or two before fully embracing the situation.
Overall, Love, Accidentally is a charming, fast-paced read with some lovely character moments and enough emotional depth to keep things from feeling fluffy. It might not be MacLeod’s strongest, but it’s still a comforting, engaging story that blends heart, humour, and a bit of hospital drama – minus the scrubs

Absolutely brilliant! I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy, I will definitely be recommending it.

This book left a little more to be desired. While it was light and fun, reminiscent of your favorite greys anatomy episode it was lacking in the emotional punch needed to round it out. Characters and their storylines require more editing, and hopefully they delve deeper than the surface to make their stories and connections more believable.

cute, well written, romance with interesting vibes and some interesting themes. the romance doesn't come in for quite a bit. 3.75 stars. tysm for the arc.

Love, Accidentally is not my typical type of read, but I was drawn in by the healthcare setting and hopeful for a Grey's Anatomy-style romance. Tilly is an A&E nurse who falls for a new doctor. Things are not entirely what they seem at the start and there is soon a (predictable) plot twist. Overall, it was a quick, easy to read romance, with great promise. I did not love the book, but I did enjoy the fast pace and writing style. I found the main character frustrating at times. After heartbreak, she berates herself and seeks out A LOT of support, but very soon is getting upset that her new interest is not jumping into bed with her almost immediately. Like dang girl, give him a second. There was not a lot of build up or chemistry that usually would have one giggling and kicking their feet. It just seemed like they made each other uncomfortable a lot and then all of a sudden, they're a couple.

I was also a little turned off by the depiction of people with dyslexia being almost unable to read. I can understand that it's a spectrum, but it was painted in a way that because he was dyslexic he was practically illiterate. It just did not sit well with me. My son has dyslexia and along with a processing learning disability and while it has been an incredible challenge since early childhood, he has made amazing strides and while I appreciate representation in literature, I try to encourage him and promote his ability to adapt and overcome. If I asked him to Google something, would he need help with spelling and possible reading the results, yes (he's also only 13), but if he had a whole meltdown about it like the love interest did, I would feel as though I've failed to instill confidence and resilience in him.

thankyou netgalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for a honest review!!
this was such a fun read, i was not expecting to like this at all. but it did not disappiont.
THE PLOT TWIST had my jaw on the floor!!
i giggle so much, and could not put this down.
if you looking for a romance, with little to no spice this book is PERFECT!!
BUT the only bad thing was that will, the dude she ended up with was so unexpected.
(this is not a love triangle, but i cant explain without spoiling the book)

This was a cute read! A light, easy-breezy and fun and perfect for summer.
I didn't really connect too deeply with the characters, but I still really enjoyed this overall.

Another excellent book from this author. Had me laughing out loud from the first page. Follows a genuinely lovely woman through the ups and downs of finding the right person for her. This book is funny, heartwarming you won’t want to put it down. Perfect holiday read

This one was just pure feel-good fun. Love, Accidentally is light, charming, and the kind of rom-com that makes you smile without even realizing it. The characters are quirky in a lovable way, and while it’s not super deep, sometimes you just want a cozy, sweet escape—and this totally hits that spot. Great pick for when you’re in the mood for something uplifting.

Thank you Phoebe MacLeod and NetGalley for this eARC.

When A&E (Emergency Room) nurse, Tilly, meets the new junior doctor at her hospital, she thinks he may be her one. Without giving too much away, sometimes friends and sisters know best....

This book took me a while to get into. I enjoyed the dynamics between Tilly and many of the side characters, such as Matt and Johnothan. Can we talk about Tilly's mom?! There is a reason Tilly has been in toxic relationships and her mom may be that reason.
3/5 Stars

The premise of the book is great but the actual plot… it’s a flat line (medical pun intended)
I’m use to dry British humor from living in Scotland but it wasn’t even humor it was just people being snarky.
I kept waiting for rom-com, com never came and the rom… well, it was drier than the humor. (Another pun for you!)
I won’t spoil it but the book is kinda broken into two romances
The first- a ponce, it’s over quickly, it’s all red flags from the get go.
The second- barely even made sense for the characters.

In my opinion it would have worked better if the FMC, who herself wasn’t a bad character, just stopped dating for keeps, found happiness with her friends, working in her career, engaging with her family and burying the hatchet.
Then in the last few chapters she can get asked out and go on a date as a fully formed person. Ready to go all in.
Sometimes you need to love yourself and what you have before you can love others.
But the forced romance?

OK, I thought about it all night- 7am edit
I changed my review from two stars to three stars, I really really liked the characters of Jonathan and Will. I wish the book was more about them and from the point of view of their lives than Polly‘s..

It started out to be a promising medical romance, However, suddenly the story took a turn that I wasn’t expecting, and even thought plot twists are usually great, I didn’t enjoy this at all,
Characters lacked a bit of depth for me and the second romantic interest lacked chemistry and felt rushed. :/ It could have been an easy medical romance, but I feel like there were many things to cover and they all felt half-way developed.

I really wanted to love this book, the plot sounded so good and i was so excited.
Sadly it fell flat for me.
the romance felt like it just randomly started and then we were speeding towards the end of the book. i feel like there was no build up or chemistry between the two characters. we also didn't get any character development in the book which was sad because i was hoping we could get more emotional development. This probably could have been split as two short books rather than one big one because thats honestly how it read. But we barely get much of the characters that the romance is supposedly between, instead it focuses on side plots more than the main plot.

The characters were great & relatable - I particularly liked the main character Tilly & Dr Patel. The humour was great throughout. I liked the hospital setting as well. The chapters were pretty short, so I found it an easy read. Some of the characters had some challenges and I thought this was dealt with well.
My review is due on Instagram 5th June!