The Queen Of Hearts by Kimmery Martin | Audiobook Review

I received this book for free from Library, Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Named a Most Anticipated Book of 2018 by Southern Living, Elite Daily, and Writer's Digest

A debut novel set against a background of hospital rounds and life-or-death decisions that pulses with humor and empathy and explores the heart's capacity for forgiveness...

Zadie Anson and Emma Colley have been best friends since their early twenties, when they first began navigating serious romantic relationships amid the intensity of medical school. Now they're happily married wives and mothers with successful careers--Zadie as a pediatric cardiologist and Emma as a trauma surgeon. Their lives in Charlotte, North Carolina are chaotic but fulfilling, until the return of a former colleague unearths a secret one of them has been harboring for years.

As chief resident, Nick Xenokostas was the center of Zadie's life--both professionally and personally--throughout a tragic chain of events in her third year of medical school that she has long since put behind her. Nick's unexpected reappearance during a time of new professional crisis shocks both women into a deeper look at the difficult choices they made at the beginning of their careers. As it becomes evident that Emma must have known more than she revealed about circumstances that nearly derailed both their lives, Zadie starts to question everything she thought she knew about her closest friend.

Why Did I Listen To The Queen Of Hearts by Kimmery Martin?

The Queen Of Hearts by Kimmery Martin was one of several holds I put in at once. And it so happens that apparently my library audiobook taste twin must have returned all of the books I had on hold at the same time. So, I began to marathon listen to this book. Friends, I was so EXCITED to get into this book. I love it when there is drama. I also love it when there are big secrets. Plus, that cover 100% is an April kind of cover. Also? I never read medical dramas and I LOVE LOVE LOVE experiencing new to me genres via audiobook.

What’s The Story Here?

Kimmery Martin’s debut book follows two main point of view characters – Zadie and Emma. Both women are doctors – one is a trauma surgeon and the other is a pediatric cardiologist. Both women became friends basically at this medical camp while in school. They then go on to do their residency together. Now they both live in Charlotte. The Queen Of Hearts goes back and forth between 1999 and present day.

Slowly, the story reveals a dramatic past between the two women and regarding this man called Nick or Dr. X. Nick basically caused some awful stuff to go down. Anyways, Nick is now in Charlotte, and this history is about to come back up. Both women must reckon with the past while also dealing with tragedy in the present. We get to see their home lives, their current careers, and get this well rounded picture of both women.

How Did I Like It?

The Queen Of Hearts by Kimmery Martin is just a fantastic read — it is engaging and had me definitely on edge. I will admit there was one scene where I was kind of angry I was driving while listening. Mainly because I was overcome with all these emotions. Friends, I am so glad I stepped outside my normal genres to try something new. Granted, there’s some themes that are familiar. After all, this is story of friendship, forgiveness, life, death. The medical bits don’t comprise the entire story. Now I find myself ready to listen to whatever Martin comes out with next.

How’s The Narration?

The audiobook has two narrators — Catherine Taber and Shannon McManus. One narrates the Zadie chapters. The other narrates the Emma chapters. I could not tell you which was which though. Honestly, they did such a good job with the narration. I found myself going back to the eARC to attempt to flip ahead to prepare myself for the more emotional parts (FYI that did not work out too well in the end). So, I did confuse Emma and Zadie a little bit when my attention wandered. However, that was a thing that was few and far between while listening. For real, this audiobook is one you should put on your MUST LISTEN list.

Other reviews of The Queen Of Hearts by Kimmery Martin:

• The Loud Library Lady – “You won’t be able to put it down“
• Where The Reader Grows – “will suck you right in“
• Worn Pages And Ink – “This novel had it all“

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April (Books&Wine)

April is in her 30s and created Good Books And Good Wine. She works for a non-profit. April always has a book on hand. In her free time she can be found binge watching The Office with her husband and toddler, spending way too much time on Pinterest or exploring her neighborhood.

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