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Beg, Borrow or Steal #2
Limits
For as long as she can remember Millie has had her limits. Staying within them keeps her isolated, safe; helps her to cope. Why then have they started to feel so stifling? Why is her loneliness starting to rival her fears?
When she watches him she wishes she could be normal; she wishes she could be like the people he interacts with so seamlessly. Pavlos Martakis is her complete and total opposite: physically intimidating, likable, naturally attractive, extremely confident, sexually promiscuous: the most uninhibited, charming, outgoing and free person she has ever encountered in her life. He fascinates Millie; thrills and intimidates her in equal measure.
But, as the culprit behind the invention of her nickname Nuclear Winter, Millie knows that if Pav feels anything for her it is more than likely contempt. Cold, boring, robotic: that is how the rest of the hospital sees her. So she can safely watch him from afar. He would never notice her … would he?
This book is a full-length contemporary romance of approximately 90,000 words with no cliffhanger and its own HEA.
When she watches him she wishes she could be normal; she wishes she could be like the people he interacts with so seamlessly. Pavlos Martakis is her complete and total opposite: physically intimidating, likable, naturally attractive, extremely confident, sexually promiscuous: the most uninhibited, charming, outgoing and free person she has ever encountered in her life. He fascinates Millie; thrills and intimidates her in equal measure.
But, as the culprit behind the invention of her nickname Nuclear Winter, Millie knows that if Pav feels anything for her it is more than likely contempt. Cold, boring, robotic: that is how the rest of the hospital sees her. So she can safely watch him from afar. He would never notice her … would he?
This book is a full-length contemporary romance of approximately 90,000 words with no cliffhanger and its own HEA.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 5, 2018
3601 people are currently reading
7216 people want to read
About the author
Susie Tate
26 books2,015 followersSusie is a top 2 Amazon bestselling author who writes addictive, feel-good contemporary romance with heroes who may make you a little ragey, but who always redeem themselves in the end! She’s been a doctor in the NHS for over twenty years and lives in beautiful Dorset with her wonderful husband, three gorgeous boys and an even more wonderful dog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 960 reviews
February 28, 2021
This is the story of a girl who has severe social anxiety disorder.
Millie was a very shy and introvert child. She had a very high IQ but her social anxiety made her parents feel embarrassed and their emotional abuse and lack of love and compassion made her condition even worse.
Although she is a very successful person in the medicine world now, she can’t even speak to a colleague or make eye contact. She is perceived as an uptight b*tch by most people at the hospital.
*********************************************
Pavlos, the urologist in the same hospital, needs her to speak in a world famous conference and if he can persuade her to introduce her new invention there, they will also give him a chance to speak in that conference. Therefore, he tries to get close to her but he uses wrong ways. He thinks his charm and some push will do the trick. It won't!
*********************************************
Pavlos was too dumb to be a doctor; he couldn't understand that Millie had social anxiety to an extreme level. He tried to talk to her many times, saw how she flinched when he touched her, saw how she couldn't even make eye contact and he didn't understand!
He should have seen the signs and interpreted them. He just thought she was being stubborn or something. He assumed that she was cold, snooty and uptight so he pushed her too hard and caused her to collapse in a meeting.
After that event, he saw with his own eyes that it wasn’t because she didn’t want to do the job but it was because she couldn’t if it involved a lot of people and her speaking in front of them.
From then on, he and his friends tried to help her and he fell in love with Millie during the process. Still, he was a total as* sometimes! He disappointed me more than a few times. And he used her for his own ambition and benefit till the day of the conference. I still cannot forgive the things he said behind her back. I certainly needed more groveling but he was easily forgiven.
Also, I didn’t feel his love. He stayed as a cartoon character for me till the end of the book. Just a hot doctor who had a big ego. Because of his selfish and deceitful character, I never wanted Millie to love him but she did, unfortunately...
Millie, on the other hand, was portrayed very well. All her quirks, fears, worries, the way she feels trapped in her own mind, how she freezes in certain situations… They are all depicted very successfully. I cared about Millie, felt sorry for her and I craved for her happy end.
*********************************************
Maybe because the writer is a general practitioner, the book is successful as far as the definition, portrayal and treatment of social anxiety and obsessions are concerned but it fails in the romance department. There is no passion, no chemistry between the couple. He finds her beautiful, she finds him attractive but I didn’t feel the love or the passion because somehow, those parts were not written well. There are a few kissing scenes and one love-making scene. She was a virgin, by the way. Maybe the scarcity of intimate scenes is the reason I didn’t feel their love. Maybe, the heavy focus on her condition, the social anxiety and how the love and acceptance of friends help her steal from the romance.
The friends were awesome, by the way, especially Kira and the little girl Rosie. Their characters were even more developed than that of Pavlos's. Ohhh, I hated this man! The way he used her while supposedly he was falling in love with her - that was unforgivable in my book!
I know a character like Millie could be frustrating for the people who try to interact with her but she is the way she is not by choice; she was born like that and her parents deteriorated her condition with their emotional abuse. So, you can only stop and try to understand such a character and help if you feel like you can.
It took a long tome for Pavlos to really see her. And when he did, he was sometimes patient enough but sometimes too pushy. He did some sweet things, I agree, but he also did some horrible things.
Well, whatever, shortly, he is not my hero, obviously...
*********************************************
I would never categorize this book as romance.
This is the story of a girl who has a high IQ and social anxiety disorder and the book tells us how she struggles with it all her life and how much she improves when she finally finds people who accept and love her.
Therefore, if you are looking for a good romance book, skip this one, but if you are interested in human psychology, then you may find this book interesting.
*********************************************
Safety:
- She was a virgin. He was a very experienced man.
- No cheating, no OW/OM drama.
*********************************************
Writing:
- 3rd person point of view.
- Decent writing, few spelling mistakes
- Writer needs to improve her skills of writing the romantic and intimate scenes.
*********************************************
You can follow my instagram page from here
Millie was a very shy and introvert child. She had a very high IQ but her social anxiety made her parents feel embarrassed and their emotional abuse and lack of love and compassion made her condition even worse.
Although she is a very successful person in the medicine world now, she can’t even speak to a colleague or make eye contact. She is perceived as an uptight b*tch by most people at the hospital.
*********************************************
Pavlos, the urologist in the same hospital, needs her to speak in a world famous conference and if he can persuade her to introduce her new invention there, they will also give him a chance to speak in that conference. Therefore, he tries to get close to her but he uses wrong ways. He thinks his charm and some push will do the trick. It won't!
*********************************************
Pavlos was too dumb to be a doctor; he couldn't understand that Millie had social anxiety to an extreme level. He tried to talk to her many times, saw how she flinched when he touched her, saw how she couldn't even make eye contact and he didn't understand!
He should have seen the signs and interpreted them. He just thought she was being stubborn or something. He assumed that she was cold, snooty and uptight so he pushed her too hard and caused her to collapse in a meeting.
After that event, he saw with his own eyes that it wasn’t because she didn’t want to do the job but it was because she couldn’t if it involved a lot of people and her speaking in front of them.
From then on, he and his friends tried to help her and he fell in love with Millie during the process. Still, he was a total as* sometimes! He disappointed me more than a few times. And he used her for his own ambition and benefit till the day of the conference. I still cannot forgive the things he said behind her back. I certainly needed more groveling but he was easily forgiven.
Also, I didn’t feel his love. He stayed as a cartoon character for me till the end of the book. Just a hot doctor who had a big ego. Because of his selfish and deceitful character, I never wanted Millie to love him but she did, unfortunately...
Millie, on the other hand, was portrayed very well. All her quirks, fears, worries, the way she feels trapped in her own mind, how she freezes in certain situations… They are all depicted very successfully. I cared about Millie, felt sorry for her and I craved for her happy end.
*********************************************
Maybe because the writer is a general practitioner, the book is successful as far as the definition, portrayal and treatment of social anxiety and obsessions are concerned but it fails in the romance department. There is no passion, no chemistry between the couple. He finds her beautiful, she finds him attractive but I didn’t feel the love or the passion because somehow, those parts were not written well. There are a few kissing scenes and one love-making scene. She was a virgin, by the way. Maybe the scarcity of intimate scenes is the reason I didn’t feel their love. Maybe, the heavy focus on her condition, the social anxiety and how the love and acceptance of friends help her steal from the romance.
The friends were awesome, by the way, especially Kira and the little girl Rosie. Their characters were even more developed than that of Pavlos's. Ohhh, I hated this man! The way he used her while supposedly he was falling in love with her - that was unforgivable in my book!
I know a character like Millie could be frustrating for the people who try to interact with her but she is the way she is not by choice; she was born like that and her parents deteriorated her condition with their emotional abuse. So, you can only stop and try to understand such a character and help if you feel like you can.
It took a long tome for Pavlos to really see her. And when he did, he was sometimes patient enough but sometimes too pushy. He did some sweet things, I agree, but he also did some horrible things.
Well, whatever, shortly, he is not my hero, obviously...
*********************************************
I would never categorize this book as romance.
This is the story of a girl who has a high IQ and social anxiety disorder and the book tells us how she struggles with it all her life and how much she improves when she finally finds people who accept and love her.
Therefore, if you are looking for a good romance book, skip this one, but if you are interested in human psychology, then you may find this book interesting.
*********************************************
Safety:
- She was a virgin. He was a very experienced man.
- No cheating, no OW/OM drama.
*********************************************
Writing:
- 3rd person point of view.
- Decent writing, few spelling mistakes
- Writer needs to improve her skills of writing the romantic and intimate scenes.
*********************************************
You can follow my instagram page from here
dnf
December 10, 2019DNF at 23%
I am officially done with this book and this hero.
— I HATED him. He was SELFISH, SELF-CENTERED, IGNORANT and INSENSITIVE.
— He's a doctor for God's sake how did he not see the signs? I gave him the benefit of the doubt at first because sure, sometimes people don't look closer than what's on the surface, but I couldn't accept that after he BLACKMAILED the heroine into doing a speech in front of hundreds of people where she FAINTED and basically had a panic attack, he calls her Dr. CRAY-CRAY AFTER he got told that she has SEVERE ANXIETY, needs limits and boundaries for herself AND is in therapy for it. Fuck you, Pav. Fuck you...
I am officially done with this book and this hero.
— I HATED him. He was SELFISH, SELF-CENTERED, IGNORANT and INSENSITIVE.
— He's a doctor for God's sake how did he not see the signs? I gave him the benefit of the doubt at first because sure, sometimes people don't look closer than what's on the surface, but I couldn't accept that after he BLACKMAILED the heroine into doing a speech in front of hundreds of people where she FAINTED and basically had a panic attack, he calls her Dr. CRAY-CRAY AFTER he got told that she has SEVERE ANXIETY, needs limits and boundaries for herself AND is in therapy for it. Fuck you, Pav. Fuck you...
April 5, 2018
This book, this heart-felt story made me pensive, sad, then utterly hopeful...
This book is not your everyday cheesy, sweet romance, it's not its opposite either, it's just real, it's vulnerable, it's palpable, it's overwhelming, it's complex and unexplicably enchanting and it deals with much graver human complexity in personality and functionality...
it's all around us and sometimes we just don't see it...
it's hidden in the appearances that we are not interested or willing to look beyond, and find the true person behind the facade...
It's something to think about, over and over again...
Dr. Camilla "Millie" Morrison is a shy recluse and a hard working radiologist that has recently made a breakthrough in her research that would benefit a patient's post-operative care and when Dr. Pavlos Martakis, a consultant surgeon and urologist asks her to present her study case at the up coming conference, he gets a flat out NO.
He's stunned and Millie is withdrawn. And they are at status quo of pure avoidance and push then draw back mode, it's uncomfortable for one and annoying for other...Pavlos can't understand why would any prosperous researcher refuse to present his breaking through discovery and gain acknowledge and praise...BUT Millie is not your "ordinary" person.
She wears a nickname "Nuclear Winter" given to her by the hospital stuff, cause of her unapproachable, even brass and rude posture and personality.
BUT Millie is hiding behind that "perfect cold" feature, and no one had ever made the effort to see the real her - the shy, lonely and introverted yet incredibly smart/gifted person with a high IQ that had survived an emotionally abusive childhood with her soulless, politically ambitious and power greedy parents, but NOW was molded into a recluse and a socially awkward shadow suffering from anxiety and panic attacks if stressed, if approached or touched by the people she doesn't know.
Which is why, she constructed her life within her personal limits that controlled her environment and contact...
BUT Pavlos, ascending from being at first, stunned, pissed than utterly intrigued by this intelligent and mysteriously awkward woman...slowly sets the steps to peel layers after layers only to reveal the most sensual, beautiful, warm and genuine soul behind the cold detached outfit...
He gives her comfortable environment, brings in the close circle of friends that slowly open her closed of gates, so she could shine...
He slowly gains her trust, he secures her, cares for her, supports her and pushes her beyond her limits by giving her the only thing she never had in her lonely, restricted life - LOVE and genuine affection and a future outside the limits
Firt of all, i have to say how much i loved Pavlos/Pav, and his loud and wild Greek family, but most of all, i loved his persistance, patience and affection. He was as perfect as the fictional character can be before he becomes absolutely unrelatable...there was enough imperfections to him, so he could maintain such a balance of perfection...
And Millie, what a wonderful heroine, and such a fantastic portrayal of a socially awkward outcast that is confined in her own controlled little bubble of lonely security until she's revealed in Pav's love and support...that was absolutely amazing to witness, the process of growing from a secluded, unapproachable cocoon only to be risen high into an extraordinary unique butterfly.
I was completely entranced with Millie and Pav and the rest of their small circle of friends, their own quirkiness and chirpy moods, I hardly noticed the slower pacing and the third person storytelling that usually don't quite work for me, BUT here, it absolutely worked in my favor.
Don't miss out on this remarkably insightful and warm story of personal victory.
***ARC kindely provided by the author in exchange for an honest review***
Release date: April 5, 2018.
This book is not your everyday cheesy, sweet romance, it's not its opposite either, it's just real, it's vulnerable, it's palpable, it's overwhelming, it's complex and unexplicably enchanting and it deals with much graver human complexity in personality and functionality...
it's all around us and sometimes we just don't see it...
it's hidden in the appearances that we are not interested or willing to look beyond, and find the true person behind the facade...
It's something to think about, over and over again...
Dr. Camilla "Millie" Morrison is a shy recluse and a hard working radiologist that has recently made a breakthrough in her research that would benefit a patient's post-operative care and when Dr. Pavlos Martakis, a consultant surgeon and urologist asks her to present her study case at the up coming conference, he gets a flat out NO.
He's stunned and Millie is withdrawn. And they are at status quo of pure avoidance and push then draw back mode, it's uncomfortable for one and annoying for other...Pavlos can't understand why would any prosperous researcher refuse to present his breaking through discovery and gain acknowledge and praise...BUT Millie is not your "ordinary" person.
...she had years of experience blending into the background, making herself invisible, or at least unpleasant enough to be avoided.
She wanted to try and live her life within her limits.
She wears a nickname "Nuclear Winter" given to her by the hospital stuff, cause of her unapproachable, even brass and rude posture and personality.
BUT Millie is hiding behind that "perfect cold" feature, and no one had ever made the effort to see the real her - the shy, lonely and introverted yet incredibly smart/gifted person with a high IQ that had survived an emotionally abusive childhood with her soulless, politically ambitious and power greedy parents, but NOW was molded into a recluse and a socially awkward shadow suffering from anxiety and panic attacks if stressed, if approached or touched by the people she doesn't know.
Which is why, she constructed her life within her personal limits that controlled her environment and contact...
BUT Pavlos, ascending from being at first, stunned, pissed than utterly intrigued by this intelligent and mysteriously awkward woman...slowly sets the steps to peel layers after layers only to reveal the most sensual, beautiful, warm and genuine soul behind the cold detached outfit...
He gives her comfortable environment, brings in the close circle of friends that slowly open her closed of gates, so she could shine...
He slowly gains her trust, he secures her, cares for her, supports her and pushes her beyond her limits by giving her the only thing she never had in her lonely, restricted life - LOVE and genuine affection and a future outside the limits
Firt of all, i have to say how much i loved Pavlos/Pav, and his loud and wild Greek family, but most of all, i loved his persistance, patience and affection. He was as perfect as the fictional character can be before he becomes absolutely unrelatable...there was enough imperfections to him, so he could maintain such a balance of perfection...
And Millie, what a wonderful heroine, and such a fantastic portrayal of a socially awkward outcast that is confined in her own controlled little bubble of lonely security until she's revealed in Pav's love and support...that was absolutely amazing to witness, the process of growing from a secluded, unapproachable cocoon only to be risen high into an extraordinary unique butterfly.
I was completely entranced with Millie and Pav and the rest of their small circle of friends, their own quirkiness and chirpy moods, I hardly noticed the slower pacing and the third person storytelling that usually don't quite work for me, BUT here, it absolutely worked in my favor.
Don't miss out on this remarkably insightful and warm story of personal victory.
***ARC kindely provided by the author in exchange for an honest review***
Release date: April 5, 2018.
November 15, 2022
This was a dark horse. I was ready to DNF at the beginning but was glad I stuck with it. I enjoyed it quite a bit. I liked the vulnerable h and the bulldozery protective H. Yes, he had some idiot moments and times I wish he’d been a little more in control and perceptive, but I really liked him anyway.
March 8, 2018
After reading and loving Beg Borrow or Steal by a new to me author I couldn’t wait to get Millie’s story. From the glimpses we got of her in BBS I knew she had huge issues yet was so totally sweet with little Rosie.
The author paced Millie’s journey to perfection, nothing rushed or unrealistic. She was so closed off as a result of her crippling anxiety, and after the childhood she had, who wouldn’t be. I love how she interacted with Rosie, and how she gradually let other in.
If I’m honest I was a tad concerned about Pav being the hero. Loud, confident and hot – everything that should have had Millie running for the hills, yet they were so good together and for each other. I love that the author didn’t give Millie Mr Perfection; she really does know how to keep her characters real.
I requested this ARC from Netgalley as soon as it went on there, I just had to know more about Millie and Pav. So, as for the arc received for an honest review” lark – welp, I’m nothing but honest in my reviews and if I don’t like it I say so. And I really liked Limits!
The author paced Millie’s journey to perfection, nothing rushed or unrealistic. She was so closed off as a result of her crippling anxiety, and after the childhood she had, who wouldn’t be. I love how she interacted with Rosie, and how she gradually let other in.
If I’m honest I was a tad concerned about Pav being the hero. Loud, confident and hot – everything that should have had Millie running for the hills, yet they were so good together and for each other. I love that the author didn’t give Millie Mr Perfection; she really does know how to keep her characters real.
I requested this ARC from Netgalley as soon as it went on there, I just had to know more about Millie and Pav. So, as for the arc received for an honest review” lark – welp, I’m nothing but honest in my reviews and if I don’t like it I say so. And I really liked Limits!
March 29, 2018
Let me start by saying I enjoyed reading this book. The grammar and formatting were flawless (issues that comes up way too much). It’s engaging, and well written. There was a lot going on in this book and at no point was I tempted to stop reading it.
In this book, we meet Millie and Pav who are both doctors at a hospital in London. Millie is cold, not literally cold, emotionless and robotic. Her peers refer to her as nuclear winter. She has crippling emotional issues which she hides from the world behind flawless make-up and designer clothes.
Through the book, we get to watch as Pav and his friends help Millie come out of her shell. We see her develop confidence and learn to trust herself. It’s a remarkable transformation to witness and I couldn’t be happier for Millie.
This brings me to my criticism of this book. The reason I have to give it 3 stars instead of 5. The characters weren’t developed as well as I would have hoped.
I couldn’t relate to Millie, I couldn’t even fall in love with her. That’s unusual for me, I fall in love with the characters in most books I read. Usually, there’s one, maybe two things that make the character unique. Millie simply has too much going on. She had debilitating anxiety, which granted is important to the story and I totally could have loved that about her. She had a childhood devoid of affection, again I could have totally gotten behind that. Who doesn’t love reading about people overcoming adversity and obviously the anxiety issues have to come from somewhere. I wish the author would have left it at that.
She didn’t. Millie is a radiologist, but not only that she’s the best radiologist EVER. She’s doing work way above the level she should be. She is incredibly smart finishing a degree in chemistry and graduating from med school by the time she was 21. If that’s not enough, she’s very wealthy (and obscenely generous – without expecting praise). On top of that all she’s also incredibly attractive. A couple I could have embraced. But in the end, there was too much that made her different from me. The worst part is, I don’t think those things served any purpose in furthering the story, it simply alienated her.
Pav seemed nice enough. We got to meet his friends and family throughout the story. But when I think about it, I know nothing about him. He obviously cares about Millie and he handles her issues very well. He’s attractive, confident, successful, he has a lot of friends and unrivaled charisma. He’s unrelatable as well. We don’t learn anything about his past, or current struggles. In some ways, he’s just the guy who loves the girl I can’t relate to.
Now, I know it must sound like I’m shitting all over the book. That’s not the case, at all. I thought the concept was amazing, and the ideas were well developed. I just couldn’t find it in me to relate to or even really care about Millie.
In this book, we meet Millie and Pav who are both doctors at a hospital in London. Millie is cold, not literally cold, emotionless and robotic. Her peers refer to her as nuclear winter. She has crippling emotional issues which she hides from the world behind flawless make-up and designer clothes.
Through the book, we get to watch as Pav and his friends help Millie come out of her shell. We see her develop confidence and learn to trust herself. It’s a remarkable transformation to witness and I couldn’t be happier for Millie.
This brings me to my criticism of this book. The reason I have to give it 3 stars instead of 5. The characters weren’t developed as well as I would have hoped.
I couldn’t relate to Millie, I couldn’t even fall in love with her. That’s unusual for me, I fall in love with the characters in most books I read. Usually, there’s one, maybe two things that make the character unique. Millie simply has too much going on. She had debilitating anxiety, which granted is important to the story and I totally could have loved that about her. She had a childhood devoid of affection, again I could have totally gotten behind that. Who doesn’t love reading about people overcoming adversity and obviously the anxiety issues have to come from somewhere. I wish the author would have left it at that.
She didn’t. Millie is a radiologist, but not only that she’s the best radiologist EVER. She’s doing work way above the level she should be. She is incredibly smart finishing a degree in chemistry and graduating from med school by the time she was 21. If that’s not enough, she’s very wealthy (and obscenely generous – without expecting praise). On top of that all she’s also incredibly attractive. A couple I could have embraced. But in the end, there was too much that made her different from me. The worst part is, I don’t think those things served any purpose in furthering the story, it simply alienated her.
Pav seemed nice enough. We got to meet his friends and family throughout the story. But when I think about it, I know nothing about him. He obviously cares about Millie and he handles her issues very well. He’s attractive, confident, successful, he has a lot of friends and unrivaled charisma. He’s unrelatable as well. We don’t learn anything about his past, or current struggles. In some ways, he’s just the guy who loves the girl I can’t relate to.
Now, I know it must sound like I’m shitting all over the book. That’s not the case, at all. I thought the concept was amazing, and the ideas were well developed. I just couldn’t find it in me to relate to or even really care about Millie.
July 24, 2023
A bump for my re-read.
I'm just going to include this excerpt between Millie and Rosie, the 5 year old daughter of the previous book's heroine (Beg, Borrow or Steal). It's incredibly funny and I sincerely hope Rosie gets her own book someday.
“Wanna see the flesh-eating one,” Rosie demanded, and Millie filled the screen with streptococcus.
“It’s not always flesh-eating, Rosie,” Millie told her, wishing fervently that she had never gone through all the possible medical outcomes of a streptococcus infection.
“I know, I know. Impy-tiger.”
“Impetigo.”
“Hurty wee-wees.”
“Urinary tract infection.”
“Foo-foo stuff.”
“Vaginal colonization with group b streptococcus.”
Millie heard a muffled snort from across the room. When she glanced over she noticed that Kira’s shoulders were shaking, her lips were pressed together and her eyes were dancing.
First review:
I read this a long time ago so minimal review.
Another really solid read from Susie Tate. What a darn overachiever. She's a doctor and manages to write entertaining novels with characters that aren't stupid. She had a tough job with this one as she has to humanize and soften the anxiety ridden and possible Asperger-heroine.
She does a good job even if her heroes are a little lacking. They tend to build up steam and at least make an attempt to redeem themselves and grovel.
Her characters are refreshing, and I love the fact that she doesn't try and Americanize the British slang and jargon but forces me to look up terms and words I'm not familiar with. Hurray for not dumbing down!!!!
I'm just going to include this excerpt between Millie and Rosie, the 5 year old daughter of the previous book's heroine (Beg, Borrow or Steal). It's incredibly funny and I sincerely hope Rosie gets her own book someday.
“Wanna see the flesh-eating one,” Rosie demanded, and Millie filled the screen with streptococcus.
“It’s not always flesh-eating, Rosie,” Millie told her, wishing fervently that she had never gone through all the possible medical outcomes of a streptococcus infection.
“I know, I know. Impy-tiger.”
“Impetigo.”
“Hurty wee-wees.”
“Urinary tract infection.”
“Foo-foo stuff.”
“Vaginal colonization with group b streptococcus.”
Millie heard a muffled snort from across the room. When she glanced over she noticed that Kira’s shoulders were shaking, her lips were pressed together and her eyes were dancing.
First review:
I read this a long time ago so minimal review.
Another really solid read from Susie Tate. What a darn overachiever. She's a doctor and manages to write entertaining novels with characters that aren't stupid. She had a tough job with this one as she has to humanize and soften the anxiety ridden and possible Asperger-heroine.
She does a good job even if her heroes are a little lacking. They tend to build up steam and at least make an attempt to redeem themselves and grovel.
Her characters are refreshing, and I love the fact that she doesn't try and Americanize the British slang and jargon but forces me to look up terms and words I'm not familiar with. Hurray for not dumbing down!!!!
November 27, 2019
Hero - Pav
Heroine - Millie
Millie is a doctor that works in the hospital where Pav is also a doctor. Millie is considered a b***h because she appears to be standoff-ish and cold, but Millie is anything but that. Millie suffers severe anxiety. She can not handle crowds. She is about routine. She is very bright, but people just assume the worst about her because she has a hard time being around people. Pav is supposed to be her love interest, but his "caring" behavior was a joke.
I loved "Beyond Repair" by this author, but "Limits" was awful. There was nothing likable or redeemable about the hero. Pav was a bully. Pav was the one that laughed behind Millie's back. Pav was the one that came up with that awful nick-name for the heroine without nothing anything about her circumstances. Pav was the one that did nothing when people called her a "freak". Even in the end when he defended her against her family, it was not enough. His affection and compassion for Millie came too late. Pav was the worst type of hero. I love my heroes to be a bit jerky, but Pavings's behavior was beyond anything acceptable or forgivable. Pav "picked" on a woman who he knew had issues. BULLY. ASS***E. Pav was not a good person. He was not protective or caring. Pav "gossiped" about Millie to his co-workers. There were so many issues with Pav and his behavior. He should have been fired for the way he bullied Millie to present at one of the conferences.
This story could have been so good, but it was ruined by Pav. Millie would beg him and tell him that she could not do something and he would just bribe/bully her into doing things.
The secondary characters were good. Jaime was a bit of a jerk, by calling Millie names behind her back, but what should I have expect when Jamie and Pav were best friends.
That epilogue was a joke. It was not believable.
This is my opinion. Reading is subjective. Good Luck
Heroine - Millie
Millie is a doctor that works in the hospital where Pav is also a doctor. Millie is considered a b***h because she appears to be standoff-ish and cold, but Millie is anything but that. Millie suffers severe anxiety. She can not handle crowds. She is about routine. She is very bright, but people just assume the worst about her because she has a hard time being around people. Pav is supposed to be her love interest, but his "caring" behavior was a joke.
I loved "Beyond Repair" by this author, but "Limits" was awful. There was nothing likable or redeemable about the hero. Pav was a bully. Pav was the one that laughed behind Millie's back. Pav was the one that came up with that awful nick-name for the heroine without nothing anything about her circumstances. Pav was the one that did nothing when people called her a "freak". Even in the end when he defended her against her family, it was not enough. His affection and compassion for Millie came too late. Pav was the worst type of hero. I love my heroes to be a bit jerky, but Pavings's behavior was beyond anything acceptable or forgivable. Pav "picked" on a woman who he knew had issues. BULLY. ASS***E. Pav was not a good person. He was not protective or caring. Pav "gossiped" about Millie to his co-workers. There were so many issues with Pav and his behavior. He should have been fired for the way he bullied Millie to present at one of the conferences.
This story could have been so good, but it was ruined by Pav. Millie would beg him and tell him that she could not do something and he would just bribe/bully her into doing things.
The secondary characters were good. Jaime was a bit of a jerk, by calling Millie names behind her back, but what should I have expect when Jamie and Pav were best friends.
That epilogue was a joke. It was not believable.
This is my opinion. Reading is subjective. Good Luck
February 19, 2018
I've been waiting for Millie and Pav's story and very happily agreed to reading an advanced copy from Susie Tate. She is too kind to me considering I begged her for a copy of another book over a year ago.
I knew there were depths to Millie when were first introduced to her in Beg, Borrow or Steal. I was intrigued by Millie and by her interactions with a co-worker, Pav (a doctor in the same hospital) and Rosie (Libby's daughter in BBS). As Millie's history/background unfolded, I felt so bad for her. She is very misunderstood. She has a good heart and good intentions, however, her formative years as a child prodigy with horrible parents left her with no social skills and emotionally scarred. She has self-imposed limits and adheres strictly to them.
Pav is a good-looking and good-humored doctor who takes a personal interest in Millie even though he judged her outward coldness incorrectly in the beginning. As he takes the time to know her, the story had an almost Cinderella quality (IMHO).
Susie writes great secondary characters and they play pivotal roles in the evolution of the story. Millie's co-workers are intrinsic to Millie's growth. Pav's family, Millie's grandmother, Libby and Rosie are heartwarming.
This book will be released on April 5, 2018 and is available for pre-order.
My favorite series by Susie Tate is the Broken Heart series - specifically Broken Heart Syndrome.
Thanks again Susie for offering me an early chance to read this one.
I knew there were depths to Millie when were first introduced to her in Beg, Borrow or Steal. I was intrigued by Millie and by her interactions with a co-worker, Pav (a doctor in the same hospital) and Rosie (Libby's daughter in BBS). As Millie's history/background unfolded, I felt so bad for her. She is very misunderstood. She has a good heart and good intentions, however, her formative years as a child prodigy with horrible parents left her with no social skills and emotionally scarred. She has self-imposed limits and adheres strictly to them.
Pav is a good-looking and good-humored doctor who takes a personal interest in Millie even though he judged her outward coldness incorrectly in the beginning. As he takes the time to know her, the story had an almost Cinderella quality (IMHO).
Susie writes great secondary characters and they play pivotal roles in the evolution of the story. Millie's co-workers are intrinsic to Millie's growth. Pav's family, Millie's grandmother, Libby and Rosie are heartwarming.
This book will be released on April 5, 2018 and is available for pre-order.
My favorite series by Susie Tate is the Broken Heart series - specifically Broken Heart Syndrome.
Thanks again Susie for offering me an early chance to read this one.
September 23, 2018
3.5 stars
I’ve never read a book with a heroine who struggled in the same manner as Millie. She’s a genius, raised by parents who didn’t take the time to nurture her special needs. Along the way she regressed further and further into herself until she’s simply incapable of having a simple conversation with an acquaintance.
Pav was a bit harder for me to understand. He’s attracted to Millie but then some of his thoughts and actions were not those of one who is enamored. I put this off as being what would normally happen in the situation of dealing with Millie rather than wanting the perfect hero that in thought and action will always protect and remain strong for their woman. Of course, Millie wasn’t really his through most of these conflicting moments, but even in the end he had an a-hole moment that I guess could be looked at as being a natural human reaction. I just wanted him to not be that a-hole at that particular moment and time.
Despite some of his inner thoughts or reactions, I really did love Pav. He was so patient and kind and caring where Millie was concerned. Yes, there were times he became frustrated, but he always pulled himself back and started over again. Once he saw the shadow of her brokenness, he was all in. He wanted to be the one to make her smile, hear her giggle, and share her kisses.
I had a bit of a rough time catching on to the rhythm and voice of this author which slowed the beginning down considerably for me. However, once I adjusted to it, the book took off and I truly enjoyed getting to know Millie in all her broken ways, Pav and his confidence, as well as the rest of the gang and their methods of supporting Millie to help in her therapy.
Written with humor sprinkled throughout as well as moments that wrenched my heart, I fell in love with Pav and Millie and was cheering them on as a couple as well as Millie as an individual. This story did not disappoint in those regards. I did wonder how, what, where, and when Millie would find her strength and I applauded her when it happened even as I shed a tear that it was necessary.
The epilogue here was simply amazing! It was the perfect ending for a story that dealt with some of the heavier topics as this one did and again I cheered and then I cried from happiness.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided by NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Dual POV – sometimes hard to discern
Safe – no ow/om drama
Possible Triggers -
I’ve never read a book with a heroine who struggled in the same manner as Millie. She’s a genius, raised by parents who didn’t take the time to nurture her special needs. Along the way she regressed further and further into herself until she’s simply incapable of having a simple conversation with an acquaintance.
Pav was a bit harder for me to understand. He’s attracted to Millie but then some of his thoughts and actions were not those of one who is enamored. I put this off as being what would normally happen in the situation of dealing with Millie rather than wanting the perfect hero that in thought and action will always protect and remain strong for their woman. Of course, Millie wasn’t really his through most of these conflicting moments, but even in the end he had an a-hole moment that I guess could be looked at as being a natural human reaction. I just wanted him to not be that a-hole at that particular moment and time.
Despite some of his inner thoughts or reactions, I really did love Pav. He was so patient and kind and caring where Millie was concerned. Yes, there were times he became frustrated, but he always pulled himself back and started over again. Once he saw the shadow of her brokenness, he was all in. He wanted to be the one to make her smile, hear her giggle, and share her kisses.
I had a bit of a rough time catching on to the rhythm and voice of this author which slowed the beginning down considerably for me. However, once I adjusted to it, the book took off and I truly enjoyed getting to know Millie in all her broken ways, Pav and his confidence, as well as the rest of the gang and their methods of supporting Millie to help in her therapy.
Written with humor sprinkled throughout as well as moments that wrenched my heart, I fell in love with Pav and Millie and was cheering them on as a couple as well as Millie as an individual. This story did not disappoint in those regards. I did wonder how, what, where, and when Millie would find her strength and I applauded her when it happened even as I shed a tear that it was necessary.
The epilogue here was simply amazing! It was the perfect ending for a story that dealt with some of the heavier topics as this one did and again I cheered and then I cried from happiness.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided by NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Dual POV – sometimes hard to discern
Safe – no ow/om drama
Possible Triggers -
April 8, 2018
This my 2nd book by this author. I read Beg Borrow or Steal about 5 months ago & I loved it. I have other books by this author (I need to read those pronto!). At first, I made the mistake of thinking that Susie Tate's books are Chick Lit-not that there's anything wrong with that! I think that it's the covers. I like the covers, but no real people on most of them. Again, that's OK too. I'm (almost) getting immune to the shirtless guy on the covers anyway.
On to this book! Again, set in the UK, set in the Medical Center for most of the story.
Limits is about the heroine Millie and her struggles in with dealing with people. She's more than painfully shy. She has a social anxiety disorder. She also has OCD, which Millie admits is less serious than the social/people issues.
In Beg Borrow or Steal, Millie had met and even started taking care of Libby's 5 y/o daughter Rosie. Millie is a Radiologist and is uber intelligent. She often takes care of Rosie in the morning so that Libby -a medical student can be on time for 7:30am hospital rounds. That took place in book 1. A little time has passed and Rosie is now in school. Millie often still babysits for adorable Rosie. I love their interaction. Rosie is a bouncy little girl and shows Millie some rare affection. Millie lets Rosie touch her and even receives her hugs.
As the story progresses, the reasons(s)/ causes for the Millie's anxiety is gradually revealed.
The Hero in this story is Pavlos. "Pav" is long time best friend to Jamie (the H in B,B or S).
Pav is a complete 180 to Millie. He's friendly, outgoing and totally at ease with everyone. He's also attracted to Millie. He's intrigued. At first he's curious, then a little put off by her aloof manner. He soon realizes what is going on with Millie. Millie breezes through work- reviewing, analyzing and diagnosing patient's Xray /exams.
Jamie, LIbby, Millie and Pav all work at the same medical center. The staff has nicknamed Millie "Nuclear Winter". Millie is dressed impeccably (she has Eleanor, her stylist do all her shopping and selecting what to wear). Millie's Radiology colleague, Don shares an office with her. Don is elderly and extremely patient with Millie. He's really close to and possibly beyond retiring age, but he helps cover for Millie's lack of people skills. Millie covers for Don by (happily) carrying the workload for the Radiology Dept. Other doctors don't take too kindly to Mille correcting them on the tests to be performed. She's also always right. She doesn't make eye contact, so they think that she's stuck up.
I had a glimpse of Millie in the previous book. I wrote in my reivew that I appreciate a shy person. Especially one like Millie. that was "just doing it" with out fan- fare and no credit.
The romance between Pav and Millie is a slow burn. I wouldn't believe it otherwise. Millie's social ease builds up while Millie and Pav's romance grows.
I liked Pav's family. Pav's mom had difficulty understanding Millie.
Pav is very protective of Millie. He's human, he does lose patience from time to time. Millie does have a lot to deal with -her parents are beyond cold fish. MIllie's dad is a prominent politician & Millie's mom constantly belittles her. Millie does have a great relationship to her Gammy (her dad's mom). I loved Gammy. She ends up playing a key role in Millie's life and near the end of the book
I do love a kick ass heroine quite often, but I do like a character that is good and kind and needs some understanding. My favorite little character, Rosie made some cute appearances. She did have her woodlouse pet ("rolly polly" or sow bugs as I called them as a kid in the U.S.)
The ending was a little rushed but I loved it all and the epilogue was great.
I wanted to mention Kira, Libby's (extremely) feisty best friend. I hope that she gets her story too.
I took my time reading this. I felt like Millie is a friend. I really got to know her. What a great heroine.
Pav, is a great hero He started off really great. Pav ending up learning what he didn't know that he didn't know- thanks to Millie.
Thanks to the author for the ARC. my own opinion & honest review
On to this book! Again, set in the UK, set in the Medical Center for most of the story.
Limits is about the heroine Millie and her struggles in with dealing with people. She's more than painfully shy. She has a social anxiety disorder. She also has OCD, which Millie admits is less serious than the social/people issues.
In Beg Borrow or Steal, Millie had met and even started taking care of Libby's 5 y/o daughter Rosie. Millie is a Radiologist and is uber intelligent. She often takes care of Rosie in the morning so that Libby -a medical student can be on time for 7:30am hospital rounds. That took place in book 1. A little time has passed and Rosie is now in school. Millie often still babysits for adorable Rosie. I love their interaction. Rosie is a bouncy little girl and shows Millie some rare affection. Millie lets Rosie touch her and even receives her hugs.
As the story progresses, the reasons(s)/ causes for the Millie's anxiety is gradually revealed.
The Hero in this story is Pavlos. "Pav" is long time best friend to Jamie (the H in B,B or S).
Pav is a complete 180 to Millie. He's friendly, outgoing and totally at ease with everyone. He's also attracted to Millie. He's intrigued. At first he's curious, then a little put off by her aloof manner. He soon realizes what is going on with Millie. Millie breezes through work- reviewing, analyzing and diagnosing patient's Xray /exams.
Jamie, LIbby, Millie and Pav all work at the same medical center. The staff has nicknamed Millie "Nuclear Winter". Millie is dressed impeccably (she has Eleanor, her stylist do all her shopping and selecting what to wear). Millie's Radiology colleague, Don shares an office with her. Don is elderly and extremely patient with Millie. He's really close to and possibly beyond retiring age, but he helps cover for Millie's lack of people skills. Millie covers for Don by (happily) carrying the workload for the Radiology Dept. Other doctors don't take too kindly to Mille correcting them on the tests to be performed. She's also always right. She doesn't make eye contact, so they think that she's stuck up.
I had a glimpse of Millie in the previous book. I wrote in my reivew that I appreciate a shy person. Especially one like Millie. that was "just doing it" with out fan- fare and no credit.
The romance between Pav and Millie is a slow burn. I wouldn't believe it otherwise. Millie's social ease builds up while Millie and Pav's romance grows.
I liked Pav's family. Pav's mom had difficulty understanding Millie.
Pav is very protective of Millie. He's human, he does lose patience from time to time. Millie does have a lot to deal with -her parents are beyond cold fish. MIllie's dad is a prominent politician & Millie's mom constantly belittles her. Millie does have a great relationship to her Gammy (her dad's mom). I loved Gammy. She ends up playing a key role in Millie's life and near the end of the book
I do love a kick ass heroine quite often, but I do like a character that is good and kind and needs some understanding. My favorite little character, Rosie made some cute appearances. She did have her woodlouse pet ("rolly polly" or sow bugs as I called them as a kid in the U.S.)
The ending was a little rushed but I loved it all and the epilogue was great.
I wanted to mention Kira, Libby's (extremely) feisty best friend. I hope that she gets her story too.
I took my time reading this. I felt like Millie is a friend. I really got to know her. What a great heroine.
Pav, is a great hero He started off really great. Pav ending up learning what he didn't know that he didn't know- thanks to Millie.
Thanks to the author for the ARC. my own opinion & honest review
December 23, 2021
3.5 stars. **Contains Spoilers**
I ended up finding this book because I was searching for a good, slow-burn, opposites-attract kind of book. The first half of 'Limits' is good--truthfully, the entire book is good right up until the climax. Someone on here said the book needed more groveling, and I could not agree any more with that statement.
I think what Susie Tate did here was commendable--because in retrospect, a character like Millie isn't particularly easy to like; while she isn't outright bitchy or terrible, she is not one of those heroines who can easily stand up for herself. Extremely anxiety-ridden and filled with insecurities, she could have easily come across as weak, but given the insight into her thoughts and the way the story progressed and was written, I found myself completely charmed by Millie. She's a great character, and I loved reading about her progress as she learns to appreciate what an awesome human being she is. It, of course, helps that one of my personal favorite tropes is an icy character with a warm interior, and Millie is an amazingly-written example of that.
The buildup between Millie and Pav was great in the beginning. I particularly enjoyed reading about his screwups in his interactions with her as he starts to realize that not only is she "not like other girls", but that his entire misunderstanding of who she is as a person meant that he'd have to change his method of interacting with her. It was lovely to see not only Millie coming out of her shell, but Pav and her friends learning to understand her boundaries and work with them, especially after she faints due to social anxiety and they realize they royally fucked up.
So where did this book screw up, do you ask? The climax and everything after. Don't get me wrong--I was always waiting for the other shoe to drop, because pretty early on, we become aware that Pav's initial intentions for pursuing Millie are....eh....kind of selfish. Obviously, this is assuaged by the fact that we as readers get to see him fall in love with her, but we're also aware that Millie DOESN'T know this, and that she's insecure throughout the entire relationship. So when she finds out that he started pursuing her to further his ambitions, she rightfully shuts down. Especially when she finds out that her friends--literally an entire group of coworkers at the hospital that used to condemn her--were also in on it.
That's all good and well, but then she just...forgives them? Her friends basically pretend as if everything is good because "they really do care for her, and they're, like, friends now" and that mess "resolves" itself in a group hug. Meanwhile, Pav doesn't even properly apologize? I was waiting for the big, grand gesture--or hell, even tiny gesture at this point--to prove to her that he truly loved her, but we really got nothing. He just shows up at her parent's conference, kind of intervenes (actually scratch that, he doesn't even do that! She saves HERSELF with Grandma's help and then he just kisses her), and says he loves her? No. Just no. It makes it seem as though what he did was a minor infraction, when it wasn't. He literally took a woman with no self-confidence, all the insecurity in the world, anxiety, and OCD, combined with a history of abuse, builds up her self-confidence and trust, and then BREAKS IT, and all he can say is, "Forgive me?"
Needless to say, this turn of events was a major betrayal for me, especially because I liked the book so much leading up to this point. After that pathetic excuse for an apology, these two make up, and we get to see the cute, cliche, happy ending I'm sure Millie deserves, but at this point I was beyond disappointed that that was where the story lead to. Especially for a book that's so slow-burn, we could have easily been spared at least one more chapter, or even a few more pages, just SOMETHING where we get to see Pav and everyone else make it up to our heroine. The flashforwards to the future were completely unnecessary; we know that Millie is probably going to have a happy life once she got back together with Pav. I'd have preferred to read about a good, sincere apology.
If you don't mind the lack of payoff, go forth with reading this book; the first half of it is wonderful enough that you probably won't feel like you completely wasted your time.
I ended up finding this book because I was searching for a good, slow-burn, opposites-attract kind of book. The first half of 'Limits' is good--truthfully, the entire book is good right up until the climax. Someone on here said the book needed more groveling, and I could not agree any more with that statement.
I think what Susie Tate did here was commendable--because in retrospect, a character like Millie isn't particularly easy to like; while she isn't outright bitchy or terrible, she is not one of those heroines who can easily stand up for herself. Extremely anxiety-ridden and filled with insecurities, she could have easily come across as weak, but given the insight into her thoughts and the way the story progressed and was written, I found myself completely charmed by Millie. She's a great character, and I loved reading about her progress as she learns to appreciate what an awesome human being she is. It, of course, helps that one of my personal favorite tropes is an icy character with a warm interior, and Millie is an amazingly-written example of that.
The buildup between Millie and Pav was great in the beginning. I particularly enjoyed reading about his screwups in his interactions with her as he starts to realize that not only is she "not like other girls", but that his entire misunderstanding of who she is as a person meant that he'd have to change his method of interacting with her. It was lovely to see not only Millie coming out of her shell, but Pav and her friends learning to understand her boundaries and work with them, especially after she faints due to social anxiety and they realize they royally fucked up.
So where did this book screw up, do you ask? The climax and everything after. Don't get me wrong--I was always waiting for the other shoe to drop, because pretty early on, we become aware that Pav's initial intentions for pursuing Millie are....eh....kind of selfish. Obviously, this is assuaged by the fact that we as readers get to see him fall in love with her, but we're also aware that Millie DOESN'T know this, and that she's insecure throughout the entire relationship. So when she finds out that he started pursuing her to further his ambitions, she rightfully shuts down. Especially when she finds out that her friends--literally an entire group of coworkers at the hospital that used to condemn her--were also in on it.
That's all good and well, but then she just...forgives them? Her friends basically pretend as if everything is good because "they really do care for her, and they're, like, friends now" and that mess "resolves" itself in a group hug. Meanwhile, Pav doesn't even properly apologize? I was waiting for the big, grand gesture--or hell, even tiny gesture at this point--to prove to her that he truly loved her, but we really got nothing. He just shows up at her parent's conference, kind of intervenes (actually scratch that, he doesn't even do that! She saves HERSELF with Grandma's help and then he just kisses her), and says he loves her? No. Just no. It makes it seem as though what he did was a minor infraction, when it wasn't. He literally took a woman with no self-confidence, all the insecurity in the world, anxiety, and OCD, combined with a history of abuse, builds up her self-confidence and trust, and then BREAKS IT, and all he can say is, "Forgive me?"
Needless to say, this turn of events was a major betrayal for me, especially because I liked the book so much leading up to this point. After that pathetic excuse for an apology, these two make up, and we get to see the cute, cliche, happy ending I'm sure Millie deserves, but at this point I was beyond disappointed that that was where the story lead to. Especially for a book that's so slow-burn, we could have easily been spared at least one more chapter, or even a few more pages, just SOMETHING where we get to see Pav and everyone else make it up to our heroine. The flashforwards to the future were completely unnecessary; we know that Millie is probably going to have a happy life once she got back together with Pav. I'd have preferred to read about a good, sincere apology.
If you don't mind the lack of payoff, go forth with reading this book; the first half of it is wonderful enough that you probably won't feel like you completely wasted your time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 28, 2022
3.5 stars. This is a solid read with medium-level angst, about a woman with severe social anxiety who gets into a relationship with a man who's basically her opposite. Millie is 26 and everyone at the hospital she works at thinks she’s a bitch, since her anxiety makes her come across as cold. She’s never even been kissed, since she doesn’t do much social interaction. Pav is another doctor at the hospital she works at (I don’t think it’s ever said how old he is, so maybe 30s) and he’s a social butterfly, confident, and everything that Millie isn’t.
This reminded me a little bit of The Not-Outcast. I liked how even once they started dating, it wasn’t smooth sailing, it was often one step forward, two steps back. For example, when he took her to meet his family, her anxiety made her seem cold and aloof, and he got frustrated with her for not being able to express that she WASN’T stuck-up. This continuous back and forth in her progress felt realistic. Although, sometimes he was a bit dense – he’s supposed to be a doctor, how does he continue to not understand the parameters of her anxiety?
It’s not a bad book at all, the only reason I gave it under 4 stars is that I didn’t feel especially attached or connected to these characters. But, the writing is fine.
It also has a decent grovel, because even though Pav genuinely fell for Millie, when he first started getting close to her, it was because he had ulterior motives
Overall I wouldn’t say this is amazing, but it’s a solid read if you want a story with some angst (not a ton, but some) where the heroine has severe anxiety.
This reminded me a little bit of The Not-Outcast. I liked how even once they started dating, it wasn’t smooth sailing, it was often one step forward, two steps back. For example, when he took her to meet his family, her anxiety made her seem cold and aloof, and he got frustrated with her for not being able to express that she WASN’T stuck-up. This continuous back and forth in her progress felt realistic. Although, sometimes he was a bit dense – he’s supposed to be a doctor, how does he continue to not understand the parameters of her anxiety?
It’s not a bad book at all, the only reason I gave it under 4 stars is that I didn’t feel especially attached or connected to these characters. But, the writing is fine.
It also has a decent grovel, because even though Pav genuinely fell for Millie, when he first started getting close to her, it was because he had ulterior motives
Overall I wouldn’t say this is amazing, but it’s a solid read if you want a story with some angst (not a ton, but some) where the heroine has severe anxiety.
June 26, 2020
The heroine is a brilliant, introverted radiologist with social anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders aggravated by her awful parents. Her self-defense mechanisms (perfect grooming, limited social interaction, low emotional affect) lead her colleagues to nickname her "nuclear winter" and generally regard her as a stuck-up killjoy.
The hero is a gorgeous, extroverted, slightly less brilliant consultant surgeon of Greek descent who (of course) gave her that nickname. He's motivated to interact with the heroine because she's beautiful but -- more importantly -- he can get a lecture spot at an important international conference if he can just persuade her to attend and present her brilliant research on some area of medicine she has recently revolutionized.
Without her being aware of his motivation, the hero organizes his friends at the hospital to socialize the heroine, bring her out of her shell and give her the confidence necessary to attend the conference. As her friendship circle grows, a romance quickly develops between the protagonists. (I'm writing this in the driest tone, but it's sweet and believable.)
I enjoyed (though that's not quite the right word) the heroine's emotionally defensive coping, which echoes many of my own self-imposed limitations to deal with social anxiety. And I read breathlessly, waiting for the shoe to drop re: the hero's initial self-interested motivations for interacting with her.
Unfortunately, after the truth came out, I thought the author did a better job repairing the broken trust with the various colleagues who had become her friends than she did with the hero's grovel. The book also could have done a better job explaining why the conference slot mattered so much to the hero that he would -- at the crisis moment -- come across as harsh and unfeeling about the woman he loved. (I think it may be self-explanatory to the author, who is also a physician, but I am not. Why wouldn't publishing a paper accomplish his goals?)
I picked this up free today (6/26/2020) on Amazon, and strongly recommend anyone with a US Amazon account nab it for themselves. I've already added the forthcoming sequel (Anything but Easy) to my wishlist...so, excellent marketing, Ms Tate!
The hero is a gorgeous, extroverted, slightly less brilliant consultant surgeon of Greek descent who (of course) gave her that nickname. He's motivated to interact with the heroine because she's beautiful but -- more importantly -- he can get a lecture spot at an important international conference if he can just persuade her to attend and present her brilliant research on some area of medicine she has recently revolutionized.
Without her being aware of his motivation, the hero organizes his friends at the hospital to socialize the heroine, bring her out of her shell and give her the confidence necessary to attend the conference. As her friendship circle grows, a romance quickly develops between the protagonists. (I'm writing this in the driest tone, but it's sweet and believable.)
I enjoyed (though that's not quite the right word) the heroine's emotionally defensive coping, which echoes many of my own self-imposed limitations to deal with social anxiety. And I read breathlessly, waiting for the shoe to drop re: the hero's initial self-interested motivations for interacting with her.
Unfortunately, after the truth came out, I thought the author did a better job repairing the broken trust with the various colleagues who had become her friends than she did with the hero's grovel. The book also could have done a better job explaining why the conference slot mattered so much to the hero that he would -- at the crisis moment -- come across as harsh and unfeeling about the woman he loved. (I think it may be self-explanatory to the author, who is also a physician, but I am not. Why wouldn't publishing a paper accomplish his goals?)
I picked this up free today (6/26/2020) on Amazon, and strongly recommend anyone with a US Amazon account nab it for themselves. I've already added the forthcoming sequel (Anything but Easy) to my wishlist...so, excellent marketing, Ms Tate!
February 15, 2022
This is a heartfelt and beautiful story about a woman that has severe anxiety and how the world perceives her. She’s a successful and intelligent doctor at a hospital, and everyone thinks that she’s snooty and rude, but in fact she has difficulty dealing with others. Pav, her love interest, thinks the worst of her until he starts to get to know her and realizes that appearances aren’t everything. There’s a lot more to her story.
I’ve only read one other book by this author - “Unperfect” - and the plot felt very similar, even the way that the romance went down from the hero misunderstanding the heroine and hating her at first, then growing protective of her, then loving her. It looks like her other stories don’t necessarily fit this mold that I love, but I’m excited to check them out, nevertheless!
This book is the second in a series, but I hadn’t read the first, and this one stands alone quite nicely. It did make me want to read the first, and it’s bumped up high on my TBR!
I’ve only read one other book by this author - “Unperfect” - and the plot felt very similar, even the way that the romance went down from the hero misunderstanding the heroine and hating her at first, then growing protective of her, then loving her. It looks like her other stories don’t necessarily fit this mold that I love, but I’m excited to check them out, nevertheless!
This book is the second in a series, but I hadn’t read the first, and this one stands alone quite nicely. It did make me want to read the first, and it’s bumped up high on my TBR!
September 6, 2023
THE BAR IS ON THE FLOOR
i thought the social anxiety was well executed and i really enjoyed the first half but it started to drag towards the end AND THEN
PAVLOS IS SUCH A GREEDY INSECURE ASSHOLE
the fact that she forgave him because he "actually likes her" IS CRAZYYYYY
millie deserves so much better smh
i thought the social anxiety was well executed and i really enjoyed the first half but it started to drag towards the end AND THEN
PAVLOS IS SUCH A GREEDY INSECURE ASSHOLE
the fact that she forgave him because he "actually likes her" IS CRAZYYYYY
millie deserves so much better smh
April 6, 2018
Wanted more groveling
February 21, 2018
I read Beg, Borrow or Steal and really enjoyed it. Loved the characters and that fact it was set in the UK! So after that one I went hunting for Millie and Pav's book and was lucky enough to find it available on NetGalley.
I really enjoyed this one as well, the characters from Beg, Borrow or Steal were there too, making the enjoyable journey. I liked that Millie came out of her shell slowly - it seemed realistic. Pav made mistakes with dealing with Millie, but I think anyone would in his situation, but it was good to see him learn from that.
A great story and a great set of characters - would love to see more of this lot!!
I really enjoyed this one as well, the characters from Beg, Borrow or Steal were there too, making the enjoyable journey. I liked that Millie came out of her shell slowly - it seemed realistic. Pav made mistakes with dealing with Millie, but I think anyone would in his situation, but it was good to see him learn from that.
A great story and a great set of characters - would love to see more of this lot!!
February 17, 2018
An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review of this book:
Susie Tate sets many of her books in a medical setting, and she does a great job of describing the routines of the hospital and how the protagonists fit in. This skill is never more important than in Limits, where an explanation of how Millie has managed to fit into her workplace is crucial to our understanding of her world.
Millie has a very big problem, and one that is actually fairly common: She has debilitating anxiety. As a result, navigating the everyday world is an ordeal for her, and she has managed to create mechanisms that allow her to hold a job, and interact with her colleagues. However, everyone around her only sees the hard shell and robotic affect, not the maelstrom of emotions that even the simplest everyday interactions provoke in her. She is, with no exaggeration, imprisoned in a world where she is always afraid, always tightly contained, and always worried that she will do something awful as a result of her anxiety.
Millie's colleagues dislike her and have given her a nickname that reflects her coldness and occasionally harsh responses to her peers' innocuous requests. For the most part, she's fine with it because it protects them from probing further; however, she also desperately yearns to belong to the world, even though she is sure that it can never happen.
Pav is, like everyone else, judging Millie for the flinty facade she presents, but he's fascinated and intrigued by her nonetheless. He wants to understand her, and he wants her to engage more with the world, but he wants her to do it on his terms, and that just isn't on. He's a wonderful character -- charming, warm and good-hearted, but he's more than a little superficial and he can't even fathom what Millie is going through. As he learns more about this surprisingly vulnerable woman, he gains some humility and increases his ability to be compassionate.
They are a really sweet couple, and it's nice to see them become better people with expanded horizons because of their interactions with each other. They fit together, and it's clear that even from the outset, they felt a pull to each other -- there is definitely a sense of destiny with these two.
On another note, I have to give kudos to Susie Tate for her portrayal of the condition Millie suffers from. She really captures how simultaneously terrifying and exhausting Millie's life must be -- she's constantly on guard, always watchful, always waiting for the worst to happen. I also appreciate that few of the doctors that worked with Millie figured out what was wrong with her -- their medical degrees didn't make them omniscient, and they made the same snap judgments that society as a whole often does with people with mental health disorders.
Susie Tate sets many of her books in a medical setting, and she does a great job of describing the routines of the hospital and how the protagonists fit in. This skill is never more important than in Limits, where an explanation of how Millie has managed to fit into her workplace is crucial to our understanding of her world.
Millie has a very big problem, and one that is actually fairly common: She has debilitating anxiety. As a result, navigating the everyday world is an ordeal for her, and she has managed to create mechanisms that allow her to hold a job, and interact with her colleagues. However, everyone around her only sees the hard shell and robotic affect, not the maelstrom of emotions that even the simplest everyday interactions provoke in her. She is, with no exaggeration, imprisoned in a world where she is always afraid, always tightly contained, and always worried that she will do something awful as a result of her anxiety.
Millie's colleagues dislike her and have given her a nickname that reflects her coldness and occasionally harsh responses to her peers' innocuous requests. For the most part, she's fine with it because it protects them from probing further; however, she also desperately yearns to belong to the world, even though she is sure that it can never happen.
Pav is, like everyone else, judging Millie for the flinty facade she presents, but he's fascinated and intrigued by her nonetheless. He wants to understand her, and he wants her to engage more with the world, but he wants her to do it on his terms, and that just isn't on. He's a wonderful character -- charming, warm and good-hearted, but he's more than a little superficial and he can't even fathom what Millie is going through. As he learns more about this surprisingly vulnerable woman, he gains some humility and increases his ability to be compassionate.
They are a really sweet couple, and it's nice to see them become better people with expanded horizons because of their interactions with each other. They fit together, and it's clear that even from the outset, they felt a pull to each other -- there is definitely a sense of destiny with these two.
On another note, I have to give kudos to Susie Tate for her portrayal of the condition Millie suffers from. She really captures how simultaneously terrifying and exhausting Millie's life must be -- she's constantly on guard, always watchful, always waiting for the worst to happen. I also appreciate that few of the doctors that worked with Millie figured out what was wrong with her -- their medical degrees didn't make them omniscient, and they made the same snap judgments that society as a whole often does with people with mental health disorders.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 5, 2018
Another winner from Susie Tate.
From the outside Camilla 'Millie' Morrison looks like she has it all. Beautiful, immaculate clothing, always perfectly made-up, not a hair out of place, amazingly intelligent, ridiculously wealthy. On the inside its a different matter. Crippled by low self-esteem and debilitating shyness she has no friends and her colleagues call her 'Nuclear Winter'. The only people who seem to tolerate her at all are a five year old call Rosie and a 70-something year old senior radiologist called Don who acts as her supervisor.
Pavlos Martakis is a gregarious, popular, loud, confident, uninhibited consultant surgeon. Millie's complete opposite and yet she is drawn to him like the proverbial moth to a flame. As the wit who coined the nickname, he feels a little bit guilty but her cold manner and the way she refuses to even look at people when she dismisses their requests for a scan on one of their patients really annoy him.
Millie has done some ground-breaking research and Pav is desperate for her to present her findings to the Hospital in the Grand Round and more widely at medical conferences but so far Millie has refused all requests for a presentation. Pav isn't used to being rejected, especially by women, and he really can't see why the stuck-up Dr Morrison gets away with her rudeness and refusing to present.
As always Susie Tate has written a sweet, funny romance with endearing characters with some fascinating medical insights thrown in for good measure. I challenge anyone not to love Rosie, or Grammy, or Pav's mad Greek family, or dear Don. Even Pav, although a bit self-centred at first, is totally sweet and so protective of Millie.
I just loved this book and had to start reading it as soon as I got the ARC. The only disappointment is that now I have to wait ages until the next book - fingers crossed it's Kira and the mysterious B.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Bumped for release.
From the outside Camilla 'Millie' Morrison looks like she has it all. Beautiful, immaculate clothing, always perfectly made-up, not a hair out of place, amazingly intelligent, ridiculously wealthy. On the inside its a different matter. Crippled by low self-esteem and debilitating shyness she has no friends and her colleagues call her 'Nuclear Winter'. The only people who seem to tolerate her at all are a five year old call Rosie and a 70-something year old senior radiologist called Don who acts as her supervisor.
Pavlos Martakis is a gregarious, popular, loud, confident, uninhibited consultant surgeon. Millie's complete opposite and yet she is drawn to him like the proverbial moth to a flame. As the wit who coined the nickname, he feels a little bit guilty but her cold manner and the way she refuses to even look at people when she dismisses their requests for a scan on one of their patients really annoy him.
Millie has done some ground-breaking research and Pav is desperate for her to present her findings to the Hospital in the Grand Round and more widely at medical conferences but so far Millie has refused all requests for a presentation. Pav isn't used to being rejected, especially by women, and he really can't see why the stuck-up Dr Morrison gets away with her rudeness and refusing to present.
As always Susie Tate has written a sweet, funny romance with endearing characters with some fascinating medical insights thrown in for good measure. I challenge anyone not to love Rosie, or Grammy, or Pav's mad Greek family, or dear Don. Even Pav, although a bit self-centred at first, is totally sweet and so protective of Millie.
I just loved this book and had to start reading it as soon as I got the ARC. The only disappointment is that now I have to wait ages until the next book - fingers crossed it's Kira and the mysterious B.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Bumped for release.
August 27, 2021
Millie suffers from severe social anxiety. Her world is very limited, those limits set by her boundaries. Millie truly is the hidden gem at her place of employment. She’s smarter than most of her colleagues but they all dislike her, dubbing her Nuclear Winter for how cold she comes off. They don’t know about Millies struggles with her mental illness, or the kind deeds she does behind some their backs. Or that she is totally enamored with Pavlos Martakas.
Pavlos works with Millie, but in a different department. He’s been offered some time to speak at a conference if he can convince Millie to speak on her own successes. Millie’s not having it, and Pavlos’ stubborn ass isn’t giving up.
I enjoyed the friendships that Millie built, and witnessing Millie slowly overcome some of her obstacles. She really is a character that you’d want to win in life, and after her childhood Millie deserved any possible good life she could make for herself.
The secondary characters were fun in this story. It was too easy to see the group eating lunch together, all their personalities in on the conversation. I even cared about Don and El, who didn’t have many lines.
Pavlos... Pavlos deserves a kick in his nuts for his words, and Millie deserved a more legit apology. But I do believe that Pavlos can give Millie the love she deserves. Definitely the family she does.
This was a good one, 4 stars from me. This was my first Susie Tate read and I’d be down to read another.
Pavlos works with Millie, but in a different department. He’s been offered some time to speak at a conference if he can convince Millie to speak on her own successes. Millie’s not having it, and Pavlos’ stubborn ass isn’t giving up.
I enjoyed the friendships that Millie built, and witnessing Millie slowly overcome some of her obstacles. She really is a character that you’d want to win in life, and after her childhood Millie deserved any possible good life she could make for herself.
The secondary characters were fun in this story. It was too easy to see the group eating lunch together, all their personalities in on the conversation. I even cared about Don and El, who didn’t have many lines.
Pavlos... Pavlos deserves a kick in his nuts for his words, and Millie deserved a more legit apology. But I do believe that Pavlos can give Millie the love she deserves. Definitely the family she does.
This was a good one, 4 stars from me. This was my first Susie Tate read and I’d be down to read another.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 1, 2019
I mostly liked this one. I've read so many romances that I always enjoy something different and this heroine with severe social anxiety was different. I really liked her but I wasn't so fond of the hero who, although he did some sweet things for her, never really rose to the level of a real hero for me. We didn't seem to really get to know him and I always suspected that he was using her. Which turned out to be true. The final climatic conflict was appalling and she forgave him like he'd only accidentally brushed up against her instead of having said what he did about her. He grovelled not at all. And it really should have taken another 100 pages for her to forgive him after severe grovelling and character growth.
June 18, 2020
H is a d**k
What a horrible, selfish male character Pav is. I kept hoping that he would redeem himself but when the story reached around 80% and he AGAIN became irritated with the emotionally damaged h, I gave up.
He was inconsiderate, unempathetic and pushy and that continued after he met her parents and had more insight into the abuse the h suffered throughout her childhood and most of adulthood. God, I wanted to smack his face.
This author has created an absolute douche canoe with no redeemable features.
What a horrible, selfish male character Pav is. I kept hoping that he would redeem himself but when the story reached around 80% and he AGAIN became irritated with the emotionally damaged h, I gave up.
He was inconsiderate, unempathetic and pushy and that continued after he met her parents and had more insight into the abuse the h suffered throughout her childhood and most of adulthood. God, I wanted to smack his face.
This author has created an absolute douche canoe with no redeemable features.
April 6, 2018
I didn't like the H at all.
April 23, 2024
Loved it!
May 12, 2025
In the book Millie says she has mild OCD and social anxiety, and while there might a couple of sentences here and there that could seem like OCD, for the most part she actually came across as having PTSD and being heavily (and a bit stereotypically) autistic coded (signed, someone who's both autistic and PTSD). The autistic coding was pretty obvious to me and it surprised me that it was never even considered as a possibility... I mean, we literally have her with her resting bitch face, she sounds cold and monotone, she's grounded by routines and order, she's a "genius" for her age and "so much smarter than everyone else", she literally gets compared to a robot multiple times, she info-dumps MANY times, she's not able to hold eye contact, gets labeled "unique" and "freak", and much more...
Everyone in this story is a doctor yet no one can even figure Millie out. I don't mean that they have to be able to tell exactly that she's autistic/PTSD/etc, but they should have been able to pick up on the very obvious anxiety or even just the discomfort, AT THE VERY LEAST. They feel all very oblivious and incompetent, to be honest, and when they figure out something is "wrong" with her, they literally straight up say they want to fix her. They even have one part where (if I remember correctly) Libby says as a joke to Kira calling her mentally ill, like that's fun and not at all ableist or insensitive, especially when they have Millie right there in front of them as well, who they all have clearly been treating like a nut case. And the joke is not even acknowledged by anyone, not even Millie, so we're just supposed to assume it meant nothing.
I do believe that there's stories that work well even when the partners are not fully healthy, but if the main character is autistic coded and their partner is toxic, there is no freaking way my brain lets me accept it (blame my own trauma, I guess). Even by the end of the story Pav was still being an asshole and ableist towards her. She let him off the hook pretty easily, but I don't even believe he sees her as an actual person.
Also, they go to a club, it's full of stereotypical gay guys, and guess what? The male main character gets groped and harassed there.... yeah, no, thanks.
This book gets two stars instead of one solely for the fact that reading an autistic coded character still felt nice and relatable (despite the wild amount of ableism included in the book).
Everyone in this story is a doctor yet no one can even figure Millie out. I don't mean that they have to be able to tell exactly that she's autistic/PTSD/etc, but they should have been able to pick up on the very obvious anxiety or even just the discomfort, AT THE VERY LEAST. They feel all very oblivious and incompetent, to be honest, and when they figure out something is "wrong" with her, they literally straight up say they want to fix her. They even have one part where (if I remember correctly) Libby says as a joke to Kira calling her mentally ill, like that's fun and not at all ableist or insensitive, especially when they have Millie right there in front of them as well, who they all have clearly been treating like a nut case. And the joke is not even acknowledged by anyone, not even Millie, so we're just supposed to assume it meant nothing.
I do believe that there's stories that work well even when the partners are not fully healthy, but if the main character is autistic coded and their partner is toxic, there is no freaking way my brain lets me accept it (blame my own trauma, I guess). Even by the end of the story Pav was still being an asshole and ableist towards her. She let him off the hook pretty easily, but I don't even believe he sees her as an actual person.
Also, they go to a club, it's full of stereotypical gay guys, and guess what? The male main character gets groped and harassed there.... yeah, no, thanks.
This book gets two stars instead of one solely for the fact that reading an autistic coded character still felt nice and relatable (despite the wild amount of ableism included in the book).
Read
June 21, 2020I don't know maybe it's me but this one didn't work for me.
It seemed overly dramatic, esp Kira.
The heroine suffers from extreme anxiety and that was interesting but her parents were awful, there was no half way mark with them they were thoroughly bad.
No intimate scenes other than the Hero and heroine.
Hero is charming and painted out to be a bit of a playboy but no details of his past.
Virgin heroine.
HEA.
It seemed overly dramatic, esp Kira.
The heroine suffers from extreme anxiety and that was interesting but her parents were awful, there was no half way mark with them they were thoroughly bad.
No intimate scenes other than the Hero and heroine.
Hero is charming and painted out to be a bit of a playboy but no details of his past.
Virgin heroine.
HEA.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2023
I wish I could’ve liked this one better, but something was missing for me. The romance between Millie and Pav got drowned out by too many other characters and I never felt any connection between them. They just kinda end up together and it felt flat—instead taking center stage was Millie’s fears and insecurities and her issues and the relationship between her and pav was almost secondary — and THAT came across weak and tepid. And gawwwwdddd, the sex scene!! I’ve read steamier sex scenes in an HP romance. This book was WAY. TOO. DAMN. LONG. for such a pathetic, boring love scene.
The premise was awesome, and I loved the IDEA of this book, but ultimately the execution was a fail for me. Between unnecessarily long filler chapters with obnoxious secondary characters, dull as a doorknob romance between the MCs, and 1 boring sex scene, this book wasn’t worth the time I spent on it. (Also, I found the entire angle of her abusive parents to be laughably, cartoonishly villainous, and unoriginal. Likewise, the depiction of a secondary character, Kira, was like watching a bad clown show on meth. She was obnoxious to the point of caricature.)
Safe-ish. Hero’s past is mentioned that he’s promiscuous and has ran thru a bunch of females in the hospital—as if this is something to admire. However it’s not stated if he’s been with anyone since he meets heroine. Heroine is a virgin and gives her hero the gift of claiming all her firsts. No others, no cheating or sharing. HEA with epilogue
The premise was awesome, and I loved the IDEA of this book, but ultimately the execution was a fail for me. Between unnecessarily long filler chapters with obnoxious secondary characters, dull as a doorknob romance between the MCs, and 1 boring sex scene, this book wasn’t worth the time I spent on it. (Also, I found the entire angle of her abusive parents to be laughably, cartoonishly villainous, and unoriginal. Likewise, the depiction of a secondary character, Kira, was like watching a bad clown show on meth. She was obnoxious to the point of caricature.)
Safe-ish. Hero’s past is mentioned that he’s promiscuous and has ran thru a bunch of females in the hospital—as if this is something to admire. However it’s not stated if he’s been with anyone since he meets heroine. Heroine is a virgin and gives her hero the gift of claiming all her firsts. No others, no cheating or sharing. HEA with epilogue
February 7, 2023
The FMC isn’t just “anxious”, she clearly has autism. Anxiety is something that can be managed and isn’t always a chronic condition, autism on the other hand is a neurological condition. You can’t “fix” an autistic person, you can only help them find ways to help them with their boundaries and how to go about daily life. Changes can be made but not without emotional and mental distress for the person, purely for the comfort of others? Forcing eye contact for instance, I just can’t fathom how they want to “fix” her autism instead of helping her gain a bit of confidence by… I don’t know- BEING KIND TO HER?
The MMC is one of the worst love interests I’ve ever had the displeasure to read about. He insults her, taunts her and lacks basic human empathy (and surprisingly medical knowledge to recognise clear signs of someone that is neurologically different- but I guess that’s accurate unfortunately as autism usually goes unrecognised in AFAB people, instead they are diagnosed with a variety of anxiety and social disorders, BPD, OCD, etc.). He is so very unlikeable.
Honestly if you want to read other (arguably better handled) books with main characters with potential autism here’s a book I recommend:
The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie (autistic MMC, but due to the era they are in there is no adequate label for his condition)
The MMC is one of the worst love interests I’ve ever had the displeasure to read about. He insults her, taunts her and lacks basic human empathy (and surprisingly medical knowledge to recognise clear signs of someone that is neurologically different- but I guess that’s accurate unfortunately as autism usually goes unrecognised in AFAB people, instead they are diagnosed with a variety of anxiety and social disorders, BPD, OCD, etc.). He is so very unlikeable.
Honestly if you want to read other (arguably better handled) books with main characters with potential autism here’s a book I recommend:
The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie (autistic MMC, but due to the era they are in there is no adequate label for his condition)
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