The Queen of Hearts

The Queen of Hearts by Kimmery Martin is a 2018 Berkley publication.

A suspenseful and emotional medical drama

Zadie and Emma have been best friends since their medical school days. They come from completely different backgrounds, but the friendship has endured countless trials, marriages, children, and demanding careers. Their lives are hectic, and filled with family and career related challenges, triumphs, and tragedies. They share all of it with one another, asking and giving advice, sympathizing with, and supporting one another. But, the one thing they never, ever, never talk about is their third year in Med school…

Imagine all the angst, medical intensity, the emotion, heartbreak, tragedy and high drama of Grey’s Anatomy, but show more with a darker, edgier, suspenseful tone running beneath the surface.

Queen of Hearts has this bipolar thing going on. On one hand, it’s a chick-lit novel about besties who stick with each other through all of life’s various valleys and peaks, but there’s a ‘dark side’, a sinister feeling of foreboding, of impending doom. It’s not just the emotional gut-punches, the graphic medical situations, or the appearance of Dr. X, who will most assuredly bring down all the carefully constructed walls built by Zadie and Emma when it comes to the past, and who also holds the power in the palm of his gifted hands, to once again, leave devastation in his wake.

It’s like watching a train wreck. You know it’s coming, but you are helpless to stop it, and you can’t tear your eyes away from the impending impact, or the carnage left behind.

I finished reading this book over two weeks ago. It has taken me this long to formulate my feelings. When I turned that last page I experienced a fuzzy feeling of disorientation. I really had to take some time to process it.

Finally, I think I can attempt to explain my thoughts. I admit I had quite a few conflicting feelings about how everything played out. Wow. I mean- wow. Once I had begun to form an opinion that would stick, I realized I couldn’t really explain how I had come to that point without giving too much away.

This review is long, and contains a lot of introspection and retrospection on my part, but it’s the mark of a good story when it prompts the reader to dig deeper and reflect on what they might do in a similar situation. It’s a gritty medical drama, but it’s also an ode to life, family, and above all friendship. So bear with me.

What a tangled web we weave….

Lies, betrayals, manipulations, and secrets- this book has them packed in so tight it can hardly contain them all. I still can’t wrap my head around some of it, and my feelings are still unsettled, even now. This story is part cautionary tale, partly a tale of borderline obsession, with a river of deception, envy, insecurities and competition. But, rest assured- your sins will always find you out. You can bury them, ignore them, hide them, and run from them, but eventually the truth bubbles to the surface. There are always consequences for our actions, some that take no prisoners, who hurt the very people we love and respect. Everyone has a secret, everyone has made questionable decisions, let our morals sick below our own standards. Atonement is a must, redemption hoped for. But, it is forgiveness that is the hardest thing to accomplish, but it is also the most powerful, effective ability humans are capable of.

Now, I can’t sit here and tell you my feelings are completely settled about this story, as I continue to struggle with ongoing conflicts. But, I think the story speaks to the powerful, but mysterious bonds of friendship. Friendship is a relationship like no other. It can be fraught with insecurities and jealousies, and is fragile in a way many other relationships are not, being devoid of familial bonds or the power of romantic love. Yet, it can create an unshakable bond, a special kind of love, a fierce loyalty and devotion, it brings out a certain kind of protectiveness and can often endure hardships that other relationships would never survive.

While there is a lot of emotional turmoil in this story, many heart rending situations and high drama, there is also the ‘light’ side of the story. The side where people rise to the occasion and do the right thing, where something good comes from something bad, and where the good side wins out in the end!

This story turned out to be much more than I had anticipated. I was on pins and needles from start to finish, swallowed a painful lump or two, cursed, fretted, and fumed. But, when all was said and done, I think this was a very well -constructed novel, filled with human foibles, realistic family challenges, and amazing depictions of human beings at their very worst, but also at their finest. Not only that, I love medical dramas- oh- and southern fiction- so there's that, too! 😊 show less

I thought this book started out slow, and at one point I contemplated not finishing it. I'm glad I kept at it, because in due time it turned fairly intense. I enjoyed the medical aspect of the story, and I thought the emotional interplay between Dr. X and Zadie was pretty realistic. I wish that the author had ended the book right before the last half-page that she wrote. That ending would have been perfect, in my opinion, but then she had to take it further, and it just didn't ring true to me. It was a good effort for a debut novel.

You know what I hate worse is getting your hopes up about a book only to find it missed the target in my case. This book did hold potential for a first novel from new author, Kimmery Martin. I just felt like this book didn't really know what it wanted to be...a medical drama, thriller, etc. Therefore, the characters and plot seemed a bit weak. If there had been more focus on one kind of genre, I may be saying praises for this book.

I could not stand Dr. X. The guy between friends, Zadie and Emma. Speaking of the two women, it was Zadie that I got closer to. She seemed more personable. The drama surrounding the secret involving Dr. X was fine but I wanted more intensity. Yet, I will say that the alternating flash backs from the past to show more the present was smooth. I am curious to see what Ms. Martin comes out with next. show less

What I really loved about this book was the way the author brought her medical background into play and made scenes with the two main characters (both doctors) so vivid and realistic. The best part of the book! Emma and Zady were best friends in medical school in rural Kentucky, and now, a decade later, are still friends in North Carolina, having married men they love and started families. This is primarily a story of friendship.

I liked the medical scenes, and found them fascinating. Dr. X (Nick) was a real creeper to me. The whole deal of sleeping with his students he was grading was real seedy, then he was sleeping with both best friends at the same time, trying to make one girl feel guilty even a decade later about the suicide of show more her boyfriend… there was just nothing likeable about him for me.

Trigger Warnings: suicide, death of a child, power differential in relationship with potential for abuse, infidelity

Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader. show less

Weaving seamlessly back and forth in time, The Queen of Hearts by Kimmery Martin is an engaging and heartfelt novel of friendship.

Zadie Anson and Emma Colley's friendship has endured the rigors of medical school, marriage and the births of their children. However, the reappearance of Dr. Nick Xenokostas, their former chief resident, rocks both their worlds since he was part of their lives when a shocking tragedy occurred during their third year of residency. Neither Zadie nor Emma are eager to renew their acquaintance with him especially at time when a professional calamity could prove to be disastrous for one of the their careers. With so much upheaval, Zadie and Emma try to avoid seeing Nick or discussing the traumatic incident that show more left an indelible mark on both women. However, Zadie, Emma and Nick are on collision course that seems unstoppable and in the aftermath of a stunning revelation, can Emma and Zadie salvage their friendship?

Zadie is a warm and well-liked pediatric cardiologist. She juggles her career with a hectic family life since her husband, Drew, works long hours with frequent travel. The one constant in her life is her rock solid, close-knit friendship with Emma. Although neither woman has much free time, they both make their friendship a priority and they squeeze in time together whenever possible.

Emma has traveled far from her humble beginnings but her social awkwardness makes her feel like she does not belong in the life she carved out for herself. A well-respected and talented trauma surgeon, she is a workaholic whose husband Wyatt is gregarious and outgoing. They have a young son whom they both adore but Emma initially felt a little out of step with motherhood since young Henry was not exactly an easy baby.

Emma panics when she discovers that Nick has joined her practice. Neither women have ever discussed the tragedy that occurred when he was their chief resident and Emma is determined to keep Nick out of Zadie's life. Through a series of flashbacks, the details of that fateful third year in residency emerge.

The Queen of Hearts is an interesting and well-written debut that is quite riveting. The characters are richly developed with relatable strengths and flaws. There is plenty of tension as the chapters weave back and forth between the present and the pivotal year of Emma and Zadie's residency. The truth is revealed in a rather dramatic fashion and Kimmery Martin keeps readers on the edge of their seats as the novel wends its way to a very unexpected but uplifting conclusion. show less

A special thank you to the author for a copy of the book.

Zadie Anson, a pediatric cardiologies, and Emma Colley, a trauma surgeon, have been best friends for almost twenty. Having met in medical school, they have maintained their relationship through all life has thrown at them—their demanding careers, marriages, and children.

When a buried secret (related to a torrid affair with a chief resident) threatens their relationship, both women examine the difficult choices they made at the beginning of their careers. When it becomes evident that Emma knew more that she ever let on about the circumstances that nearly derailed both of their lives, Zadie starts to question if she really knows her friend at all.

I was thrilled to have won a show more signed copy from Kimmery. She was so lovely and included a hand-written note with the book.

Martin's debut is a medical drama that is a study in the complexities of relationships. The novel is narrated by both women, however, we also hear from Zadie in the past. Because of this, it becomes apparent that Emma is the one with something to hide. Someone died, and it is she who suffers immeasurable guilt. The basis of the novel is the unraveling of not only the secret, but the effect that it will have on their bond.

Zadie's story seems to centre more around her chaotic home life—she's the mother of four young children—whereas by contrast, Emma's chapters are consumed with the guilt she is harboring and the fear that she will be exposed. It is her story that gives the novel its contemporary feel.

There was enough medical jargon to make it authentic. Martin doesn't dumb anything down, instead she elevates her reader, but not enough so that readers are left confused, or worse, disinterested. There are some pretty vivid and graphic descriptions, but if you can stomach medical dramas on TV, you won't be phased.

Martin explores the sometimes delicate and obligatory aspect of a long-term relationship, especially those that are forged by women. Sometimes these relationships are tolerated, not unlike marriages, not only because of the time put in, but because of the shared secrets.

A solid debut. If you are a fan of Grey's Anatomy, I highly encourage you to pick up this book. show less

i enjoyed this novel - loved the medical aspects of the story, and the pacing; it was a very quick-reading book. i also appreciated a novel about female friendship featuring two strong, accomplished women. (though i again smack my head over storylines focus on a man being the trigger/cause of the turmoil. le sigh.) i felt the development of the plot and characters could have used some strengthening - moments and characters felt underdeveloped, or unnecessary. i also felt the dialogue was a bit weak. but, overall i appreciated this debut novel quite a bit. there could be a whole novel based on delaney, zadie's 3yo daughter. she was a freaking delight whenever she was on the page. and given i believe that i could perform an emergency show more tracheotomy with a steak knife and a bic pen... there is a scene in this novel that was totally fun for me. (yes... i am weird. no... i am not a doctor.)

a note: if you are a reader who prefers a linear timeline, be aware that this novel is nonlinear, told in alternating chapters - between the present and the past, and between zadie's and emma's POVs during those times too. show less