Love and Other Side Effects

Okay, let’s be real: I’ve listened to *a lot* of romantic comedies, and most blur together after a while. *Love and Other Side Effects* stood out because it *hurts*—in the best way. Asher isn’t your typical romance hero; he’s a hot mess with a stethoscope, and Duncan doesn’t let him off easy. His internal monologue during a botched procedure had me gripping my steering wheel, and when he finally admits his feelings? Yang’s narration makes it sound like he’s choking on the words. That’s the kind of vulnerability you don’t get in glossier rom-coms. Now, the critiques: The side characters sometimes feel like they’re *trying* too hard to be quirky (looking at you, Asher’s over-the-top med-school buddy), and there’s a subplot about a hospital rivalry that fizzles out without much payoff. But the core relationship? *Chef’s kiss.* Lakin and Yang’s back-and-forth during their first real fight—where she’s seething and he’s deflecting with bad jokes—is so electric I rewound it twice. The production is clean, though I’d love a touch more ambient noise in the ER scenes to heighten the chaos. Bottom line? If you want a romance that’s equal parts heart-eyed and heartburn-inducing (the good kind), this audiobook delivers. Just maybe don’t listen while eating—Asher’s anxiety about his cooking skills is *contagious*.