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Bedside Manners
As Joyce Novak’s daughter, Marnie, completes medical school and looks ahead to a surgical internship, her wedding, and a future filled with promise, a breast cancer diagnosis throws Joyce’s own future into doubt. Always the caregiver, Joyce feels uncomfortable in the patient role, especially with her husband and daughter. As she progresses through a daunting treatment regimen including a biopsy, lumpectomy, and radiation, she distracts herself by planning Marnie’s wedding.
When the sudden death of a young heroin addict in Marnie’s care forces Marnie to come face-to-face with mortality and her professional inadequacies, she also realizes she must strike a new balance between her identity as a doctor and her role as a supportive daughter. At the same time, she struggles with the stark differences between her fiancé’s family background and her own and comes to understand the importance of being with someone who shares her values and experiences.
Amid this profound soul-searching, both Joyce and Marnie’s futures change in ways they never would have expected.
When the sudden death of a young heroin addict in Marnie’s care forces Marnie to come face-to-face with mortality and her professional inadequacies, she also realizes she must strike a new balance between her identity as a doctor and her role as a supportive daughter. At the same time, she struggles with the stark differences between her fiancé’s family background and her own and comes to understand the importance of being with someone who shares her values and experiences.
Amid this profound soul-searching, both Joyce and Marnie’s futures change in ways they never would have expected.
329 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 16, 2018
About the author
Heather Frimmer
3 books113 followersHeather Frimmer is a radiologist specializing in breast and emergency room imaging. Her first novel, Bedside Manners, was published in 2018 and has received several awards including National Indie Excellence, Readers' Favorite and Independent Press awards. She completed her medical training at Weill-Cornell Medical College, New York Presbyterian-Cornell and Yale New Haven Hospital. She lives with her husband and two children in suburban Connecticut.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
October 30, 2019
Heather Frimmer thoughtfully navigates the mother daughter relationship in this emotional debut. The story is told from the alternating perspectives of mother Joyce and daughter Marnie. Joyce has recently taken some time away from working as a receptionist at her husband‘s dental office to help plan Marnie‘s upcoming wedding. Marnie is in her final year of medical school and about to be married. When Joyce discovers a lump in her breast that turns out to be cancer she struggles with the best way to tell her daughter. Marnie is not only struggling to finish medical school but also trying to figure out how to balance being a doctor and being human. What follows is a real and emotional story about these strong yet vulnerable women.
Miss Frimmer is a physician and I think she did a wonderful job of weaving her medical knowledge into this story. I found Joyce’s character extremely relatable. Just like her I am the mother of adult children, and I can totally see myself confiding in the clerk at the HomeGoods store. Also like her I found a lump in my breast( that thankfully was not cancer), but it was a scary wake up call. I also have to say she must have better medical insurance then me because they just zipped her in to every appointment she needed, it seem to take me forever to get all the necessary tests. Marni’s experiences in the hospital as a med student just reaffirmed the fact that I would never want to work in the medical profession. But I do appreciate the fact that so many people have the passion and desire to be a doctor or nurse. While a large portion of this book’s focus was medical the overall message was one that is relatable to all of us. This is a book about following your heart and enjoying every day to its fullest. A story full of hope, heart, and family!
This book in emojis: 👩🏻⚕️ 👩🏻🎨 👩👧 🦷 🎀
Miss Frimmer is a physician and I think she did a wonderful job of weaving her medical knowledge into this story. I found Joyce’s character extremely relatable. Just like her I am the mother of adult children, and I can totally see myself confiding in the clerk at the HomeGoods store. Also like her I found a lump in my breast( that thankfully was not cancer), but it was a scary wake up call. I also have to say she must have better medical insurance then me because they just zipped her in to every appointment she needed, it seem to take me forever to get all the necessary tests. Marni’s experiences in the hospital as a med student just reaffirmed the fact that I would never want to work in the medical profession. But I do appreciate the fact that so many people have the passion and desire to be a doctor or nurse. While a large portion of this book’s focus was medical the overall message was one that is relatable to all of us. This is a book about following your heart and enjoying every day to its fullest. A story full of hope, heart, and family!
This book in emojis: 👩🏻⚕️ 👩🏻🎨 👩👧 🦷 🎀
November 13, 2019
Joyce’s daughter is completing medical school with several important milestones ahead just as Joyce is diagnosed with breast cancer. While she undergoes treatment, she helps plan Marnie’s wedding.
Marnie has battles of her own in her fledgling career, along with navigating her mother’s cancer diagnosis.
Overall, Bedside Manners is a thoughtful book about family, love, and instilling hope. The characters feel authentic and their challenges are all relatable. I felt like the whole story was written with love.
I received a complimentary copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
Marnie has battles of her own in her fledgling career, along with navigating her mother’s cancer diagnosis.
Overall, Bedside Manners is a thoughtful book about family, love, and instilling hope. The characters feel authentic and their challenges are all relatable. I felt like the whole story was written with love.
I received a complimentary copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
November 5, 2018
Marnie Novak is a medical school student in New York City and is in her last rotation before graduation. She is looking forward to her impending nuptials this summer to her fiance, Carson. At the same time, her mother, Joyce, is concerned with her recent breast cancer diagnosis and the implications that it will have on her family and the upcoming wedding.
Joyce struggles with finding the ”right” time to tell her daughter about her health and seems intent on handling her therapy alone. She doesn't want her husband’s dental practice to suffer and she also wants her daughter unburdened on her special day. At the same time, Marnie is struggling to earn her future in-law's acceptance which starts to drive a wedge into her relationship with Carson.
Bedside Manners takes the reader on a journey of complications that often arise in relationships during a period of stress. Heather Frimmer’s debut novel draws on her insights from the medical field and weaves together a story showcasing the unique bond between mother and daughter.
Joyce struggles with finding the ”right” time to tell her daughter about her health and seems intent on handling her therapy alone. She doesn't want her husband’s dental practice to suffer and she also wants her daughter unburdened on her special day. At the same time, Marnie is struggling to earn her future in-law's acceptance which starts to drive a wedge into her relationship with Carson.
Bedside Manners takes the reader on a journey of complications that often arise in relationships during a period of stress. Heather Frimmer’s debut novel draws on her insights from the medical field and weaves together a story showcasing the unique bond between mother and daughter.
October 15, 2018
Facing issues wasn't something Joyce was used to, but since she was diagnosed with breast cancer, she needed to realize it needed to be something to address.
The major issue for Joyce besides the breast cancer was how would this affect her daughter's wedding.
BEDSIDE MANNERS has the reader following Joyce as she goes through the wedding preparations and her breast cancer treatments.
The characters were genuine and heartfelt. I enjoyed Marnie and Joyce. They were both strong women.
Reliving my breast cancer journey had me being thankful that it has been 18 years, and I celebrated along with the survivors in the book.
The subject matter is very appropriate for October's Breast Cancer month, and Ms. Frimmer's writing flows well.
If you enjoy family situations and learning some medical information, you will enjoy BEDSIDE MANNERS. 4/5
This book was given to me as ARC by the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
October 7, 2018
I had my eye on Bedside Manners: A Novel earlier this year, when I first heard about it on the author's Facebook page. So I was excited for a chance to read it recently. I was instantly drawn into the story and breezed through it pretty quickly.
Heather Frimmer makes her characters so believable and genuine that I could relate to a woman almost 20 years older than me as much as I could to a woman 16 years younger than me. I loved all the Jewish references and Nana Ida reminded me of my late maternal grandmother in some ways. The relationship between the main characters felt realistic and I also enjoyed their connections and dialogue with secondary characters. I especially love the friendships Joyce made, such as with Jada and Amanda.
I could have probably done without some of the medical descriptions. I'm the type of person who gets grossed out by even the smallest medical procedure being described (ask my son how I looked when his ophthalmologist was describing a minor surgical procedure). I'm also the type of person who can't watch medical dramas on TV. My other concern was that it seemed like Joyce had it too easy with getting appointments with the best doctors right away.
Overall, Bedside Manners is honest and refreshing, as well as hard to put down. I have been recommending it to people ever since I finished it a few weeks ago.
Movie casting suggestions:
Marnie: Rachel DiPillo (she even has experience with being on Chicago Med)
Joyce: Marcia Gay Harden
Carson: Grant Gustin
Pam: Christa B. Allen
Alan: Paul Reiser
Peter: Matthew Lewis
Nana Ida: Frances Sternhagen
Heather Frimmer makes her characters so believable and genuine that I could relate to a woman almost 20 years older than me as much as I could to a woman 16 years younger than me. I loved all the Jewish references and Nana Ida reminded me of my late maternal grandmother in some ways. The relationship between the main characters felt realistic and I also enjoyed their connections and dialogue with secondary characters. I especially love the friendships Joyce made, such as with Jada and Amanda.
I could have probably done without some of the medical descriptions. I'm the type of person who gets grossed out by even the smallest medical procedure being described (ask my son how I looked when his ophthalmologist was describing a minor surgical procedure). I'm also the type of person who can't watch medical dramas on TV. My other concern was that it seemed like Joyce had it too easy with getting appointments with the best doctors right away.
Overall, Bedside Manners is honest and refreshing, as well as hard to put down. I have been recommending it to people ever since I finished it a few weeks ago.
Movie casting suggestions:
Marnie: Rachel DiPillo (she even has experience with being on Chicago Med)
Joyce: Marcia Gay Harden
Carson: Grant Gustin
Pam: Christa B. Allen
Alan: Paul Reiser
Peter: Matthew Lewis
Nana Ida: Frances Sternhagen
September 14, 2018
Kudos to Heather Frimmer for her engaging, entertaining, emotional and riveting, debut novel, "Bedside Manners" The Genres for this novel are Fiction and Women's Fiction. The timeline for this story takes place in the present, and only goes to the past when it pertains to the characters or events in this novel. The author describes her characters as regular people who could live next door to you or me. They each have their problems and challenges.
The Novak Family resides in Westport Connecticut, and the author describes the community vividly. I can see the dresses in the dress shop and view Dr. Novak's office. Dr. Novak, is a Dentist and immersed in his successful practice.Joyce, his wife, has been running the practice and taking care of everything. The Novaks are so proud that their daughter Marnie is in Medical school, and they are hoping for a surgical residency. Marnie feels that she has met her once in a lifetime love, that is almost perfect, just not the same religion. Joyce now finds herself taking time off from the office to plan a wedding. What Joyce does not plan for is finding a lump in her breast. The author discusses these issues with a professional understanding and dignity.
I appreciate the significant issues that Heather Frimmer discusses in her novel; Mother-Daughter Relationships, Breast Cancer, and researching one's options, and discovering the goals that one wants to pursue. The author also mentions the importance of family, friends, emotional support, communication, love, and hope. I would highly recommend this novel for those readers that enjoy a family drama. I look forward to reading other books by Heather Frimmer. This was heartwarming, and I found this comforting and enjoyable.
The Novak Family resides in Westport Connecticut, and the author describes the community vividly. I can see the dresses in the dress shop and view Dr. Novak's office. Dr. Novak, is a Dentist and immersed in his successful practice.Joyce, his wife, has been running the practice and taking care of everything. The Novaks are so proud that their daughter Marnie is in Medical school, and they are hoping for a surgical residency. Marnie feels that she has met her once in a lifetime love, that is almost perfect, just not the same religion. Joyce now finds herself taking time off from the office to plan a wedding. What Joyce does not plan for is finding a lump in her breast. The author discusses these issues with a professional understanding and dignity.
I appreciate the significant issues that Heather Frimmer discusses in her novel; Mother-Daughter Relationships, Breast Cancer, and researching one's options, and discovering the goals that one wants to pursue. The author also mentions the importance of family, friends, emotional support, communication, love, and hope. I would highly recommend this novel for those readers that enjoy a family drama. I look forward to reading other books by Heather Frimmer. This was heartwarming, and I found this comforting and enjoyable.
October 8, 2018
Bedside Manners is a riveting, emotional story about a mother and daughter who are each on a journey, discovering who they are deep down. Marnie is in medical school, learning to be the best surgeon she can be, not forgetting to be compassionate and making connections with patients. Joyce, her mother, has taken time off work to plan Marnie’s upcoming wedding when the discovery of a lump in her breast throws her life off track. I read Joyce’s story with familiar eyes and emotions, since I am a breast cancer survivor, and I felt like the author could see inside my head. I’ve never read a book about a woman with breast cancer that got all the details right, along with the psychological impact on Joyce and her family. This debut novel explores relationships....mother/daughter, husband/wife, engaged couple, doctor/patient, with empathy and understanding in a way that kept me turning pages until I knew how it all turned out.
July 1, 2018
This is a debut novel from Heather Frimmer and as good as this book is, I predict that she'll have some fantastic books in the future. Her descriptions of the Novak family were spot on - we saw not only the love between the family members but also those little things that drive people crazy about the members of their family.
This novel is told from the perspective of the mom, Joyce, and the daughter, Marnie. There is also a husband and a son but they take the back seat to the two women in the family. Joyce has just quit her job in her husband's dental practice to plan her daughter's upcoming wedding when she finds a lump in her breast. She has spent her whole life taking care of the rest of her family and she's ignored having yearly mammograms. She doesn't want to burden them so she goes to her first appointments alone and it isn't until she finds out that she has breast cancer that she involves the rest of her family. Marnie is in her last year of medical school with plans to become a surgeon. She is so stressed over her work at the hospital and her upcoming wedding that she doesn't talk to her mom as much as she should and feels guilty when she finds out about her moms diagnosis. As Joyce struggles with her need to be more than a wife and mother and Marnie struggles with her identity as a doctor and a daughter, they realize that they need the support of each other to be a better person.
This is a wonderful story about a mother and daughter. Even though it's about breast cancer and all of the treatments associated with it, I found this novel to be full of love not only within a family but also to others who need our support.
Thanks to the author for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
This novel is told from the perspective of the mom, Joyce, and the daughter, Marnie. There is also a husband and a son but they take the back seat to the two women in the family. Joyce has just quit her job in her husband's dental practice to plan her daughter's upcoming wedding when she finds a lump in her breast. She has spent her whole life taking care of the rest of her family and she's ignored having yearly mammograms. She doesn't want to burden them so she goes to her first appointments alone and it isn't until she finds out that she has breast cancer that she involves the rest of her family. Marnie is in her last year of medical school with plans to become a surgeon. She is so stressed over her work at the hospital and her upcoming wedding that she doesn't talk to her mom as much as she should and feels guilty when she finds out about her moms diagnosis. As Joyce struggles with her need to be more than a wife and mother and Marnie struggles with her identity as a doctor and a daughter, they realize that they need the support of each other to be a better person.
This is a wonderful story about a mother and daughter. Even though it's about breast cancer and all of the treatments associated with it, I found this novel to be full of love not only within a family but also to others who need our support.
Thanks to the author for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
October 4, 2018
Enjoyable debut novel from author & Doctor, Heather Frimmer! I appreciated that Frimmer was able to write a story set in the medical world that those of us who are not in that field would be able to understand and enjoy! At the heart of Bedside Manners are Joyce and Marnie, a Jewish Mother and Daughter. Being Jewish myself, I enjoyed watching the relationship play out between the two and the changing perspectives at play. The book is focused on Joyce’s breast cancer diagnosis and struggle but does not get bogged down in heavy material, another positive for me. This was a great debut and can’t wait to see what comes next from Frimmer.
I received an advance copy. All opinions are my own.
I received an advance copy. All opinions are my own.
June 28, 2019
There is something particularly satisfying to me about novels written by physicians, and Heather Frimmer’s, Bedside Manners, is no exception. The story unfolds through the viewpoints of mother, Joyce and her daughter, Marnie. Marnie is training to be a surgeon and along with medical skills, she must learn to navigate the contrasting emotions of deep concern for her patients while remaining stoic enough to effectively provide treatment. Unbeknown to Marnie, Joyce receives a diagnosis of breast cancer which she does not immediately reveal out of concern for her daughter’s busy schedule which includes her imminent wedding.
Award-winning Bedside Manners is perfect for the reader who craves the nuance and intimacy of mother-daughter as well as patient-physician relationships. It is a story about the struggles of finding pathways through new life circumstances both joyful and frightening. Frimmer has a delicate touch and her characters are handled with the finesse and care of a polished surgeon. Bravo to her on her debut, I look forward to reading her future books!
Award-winning Bedside Manners is perfect for the reader who craves the nuance and intimacy of mother-daughter as well as patient-physician relationships. It is a story about the struggles of finding pathways through new life circumstances both joyful and frightening. Frimmer has a delicate touch and her characters are handled with the finesse and care of a polished surgeon. Bravo to her on her debut, I look forward to reading her future books!
November 23, 2019
Bedside Manner is a beautiful and emotional mother daughter story about life and its delicate moments. Just when things are moving along well, the unexpected happens in the most unlikely time and situation.
Marnie is completing her medical school and have a bright future to look forward to - a surgical internship, a wonderful fiancée, and her mother Joyce takes time off work to help with the wedding plans. Just when you think everything is going as planned on the surface, underneath are the realities of the human struggles we all have to contend with. Marnie soon realizes her inadequacies and her role as a doctor when her young patient dies. She is faced with the reality that as a doctor, she cannot save every patient and sometimes her patients do not want to be saved. As the wedding plans are finalized, she sees that her relationship with her fiancée and his family may not be as perfect as she once thought. Then her mother discovering a lump in her breast throws everything off balance.
The best parts of the book for me was seeing how Joyce navigates the healthcare system as she goes through what happens when you discover a lump in your breast. There is just the right amount of medical and funny moments. Joyce's point of view as a non-medical person is brilliantly written by Frimmer. She got it right! From the emotions to the support groups and the doctors. It had me turning the pages and enjoying this heartfelt and emotional read.
Bedside Manner is from a debut author and physician, Heather Frimmer. This book's release is timely in that October is Breast Cancer awareness month and this story will truly touch your heart, especially if you or someone you know has gone through breast cancer or any cancer diagnosis.
This is a brilliant read for me and one that I highly recommend.
I voluntarily received a copy of this book from the author. All opinions expressed are mine.
Marnie is completing her medical school and have a bright future to look forward to - a surgical internship, a wonderful fiancée, and her mother Joyce takes time off work to help with the wedding plans. Just when you think everything is going as planned on the surface, underneath are the realities of the human struggles we all have to contend with. Marnie soon realizes her inadequacies and her role as a doctor when her young patient dies. She is faced with the reality that as a doctor, she cannot save every patient and sometimes her patients do not want to be saved. As the wedding plans are finalized, she sees that her relationship with her fiancée and his family may not be as perfect as she once thought. Then her mother discovering a lump in her breast throws everything off balance.
The best parts of the book for me was seeing how Joyce navigates the healthcare system as she goes through what happens when you discover a lump in your breast. There is just the right amount of medical and funny moments. Joyce's point of view as a non-medical person is brilliantly written by Frimmer. She got it right! From the emotions to the support groups and the doctors. It had me turning the pages and enjoying this heartfelt and emotional read.
Bedside Manner is from a debut author and physician, Heather Frimmer. This book's release is timely in that October is Breast Cancer awareness month and this story will truly touch your heart, especially if you or someone you know has gone through breast cancer or any cancer diagnosis.
This is a brilliant read for me and one that I highly recommend.
I voluntarily received a copy of this book from the author. All opinions expressed are mine.
October 13, 2018
In Heather Frimmer's novel, BEDSIDE MANNERS, Joyce Novak’s daughter, Marnie, completes medical school and looks ahead to a surgical internship, her wedding, and a future filled with promise, but a breast cancer diagnosis throws Joyce’s own future into doubt. Always the caregiver, Joyce feels uncomfortable in the patient role, especially with her husband and daughter. As she progresses through a daunting treatment regimen including a biopsy, lumpectomy, and radiation, she distracts herself by planning Marnie’s wedding.
When the sudden death of a young heroin addict in Marnie’s care forces Marnie to come face-to-face with mortality and her professional inadequacies, she also realizes she must strike a new balance between her identity as a doctor and her role as a supportive daughter. At the same time, she struggles with the stark differences between her fiancé’s family background and her own and comes to understand the importance of being with someone who shares her values and experiences.
Amid this profound soul-searching, both Joyce and Marnie’s futures change in ways they never would have expected.
This is an honest and refreshing true to life novel that takes readers into the medical field. It's the relationships between a new doctor, med student and patient. That being said, at time, it's not for the squeamish. It's also a lovely picture of a family comprised of the wonderful and the frankly, nutty. The Novaks are people I could easily imagine being neighbors with.
When the sudden death of a young heroin addict in Marnie’s care forces Marnie to come face-to-face with mortality and her professional inadequacies, she also realizes she must strike a new balance between her identity as a doctor and her role as a supportive daughter. At the same time, she struggles with the stark differences between her fiancé’s family background and her own and comes to understand the importance of being with someone who shares her values and experiences.
Amid this profound soul-searching, both Joyce and Marnie’s futures change in ways they never would have expected.
This is an honest and refreshing true to life novel that takes readers into the medical field. It's the relationships between a new doctor, med student and patient. That being said, at time, it's not for the squeamish. It's also a lovely picture of a family comprised of the wonderful and the frankly, nutty. The Novaks are people I could easily imagine being neighbors with.
July 9, 2018
I found Heather Frimmer's debut novel a real page turner. I loved how both the medical and non-medical story-lines were engaging and interwoven. The ending truly surprised me! I cannot wait to see what else Ms. Frimmer has in store for us. This is a must-read for all!
October 29, 2018
If you enjoy women's fiction and especially if you like medical stories, this book is wonderful. A novel dealing with a young female medical student and her relationship with her mother in light of the mother's struggle with cancer, Bedside Manners is an engaging read. While it has become trite to say, "I couldn't put it down," this lovely novel certainly kept me turning the pages!
In her clear and straightforward prose, author Heather Frimmer tells the story of Marnie, a young woman who is not only about to graduate from medical school, but who is also on the brink of marriage. Then, in alternating chapters, we come to know Marnie's mother, Joyce, happily planning her daughter's elaborate wedding, until a diagnosis of breast cancer nearly stops her in her tracks.
Frimmer, who is herself a radiologist specializing in breast imaging, shows tremendous empathy for women facing cancer. She almost provides the reader with a step-by-step account of the stages a woman inevitably goes through, from the first sign of an abnormal lump, through doctors appointments, treatment, support groups, and beyond. All this is done, very well, in the context of fiction. What the reader comes away with is the reality of how women struggle emotionally with a bad diagnosis and how much support they need--from all sides.
I would have liked more development of the male characters in this book--Marnie's father, her fiance, her colleagues, and especially her friend Peter. But other characters are well-drawn, my favorite being Ida, the quintessential Jewish grandmother. Loved her.
Despite the seriousness of the topic, there is humor in this story. You'll find a particularly good joke on page 252.
Even for a reader who only occasionally reads women's fiction, I recommend this book (Frimmer's debut novel) as a really good read.
In her clear and straightforward prose, author Heather Frimmer tells the story of Marnie, a young woman who is not only about to graduate from medical school, but who is also on the brink of marriage. Then, in alternating chapters, we come to know Marnie's mother, Joyce, happily planning her daughter's elaborate wedding, until a diagnosis of breast cancer nearly stops her in her tracks.
Frimmer, who is herself a radiologist specializing in breast imaging, shows tremendous empathy for women facing cancer. She almost provides the reader with a step-by-step account of the stages a woman inevitably goes through, from the first sign of an abnormal lump, through doctors appointments, treatment, support groups, and beyond. All this is done, very well, in the context of fiction. What the reader comes away with is the reality of how women struggle emotionally with a bad diagnosis and how much support they need--from all sides.
I would have liked more development of the male characters in this book--Marnie's father, her fiance, her colleagues, and especially her friend Peter. But other characters are well-drawn, my favorite being Ida, the quintessential Jewish grandmother. Loved her.
Despite the seriousness of the topic, there is humor in this story. You'll find a particularly good joke on page 252.
Even for a reader who only occasionally reads women's fiction, I recommend this book (Frimmer's debut novel) as a really good read.
November 4, 2019
What is your favorite type of relationship to read about?
For me – it’s definitely a good mother-daughter dynamic. It can be sweet, charming, and beautiful – but can also be strained, contentious and exhausting! It’s definitely one of the most complicated of all the relationships… and I know that first hand!
I’m not going to lie and pretend like I didn’t have a few reservations about starting this one. A book about breast cancer? I read for pleasure and I don’t like to cry! And most of you know I went through this with my own mother 2 years ago. Did I really want to go there?
But here’s where I landed on my decision to read this one:
It takes real bravery to tackle a subject like cancer. And Heather is a professional – she’s actually a physician who specializes in diagnostic radiology and breast imaging. I’ve also had the pleasure of meeting her several times and she is just as lovely as one could imagine and I commend her for not only tackling such a hard subject – but she did it SO WELL.
Marnie is in the midst of completing medical school and in a wedding planning whirlwind when her mother is diagnosed with cancer. She needs to find that balance of being doctor and being a daughter, and the challenges that come with young love, in-laws, and family dynamics.
Joyce is busy planning Marnie’s wedding when her entire life gets turned upside down. Cancer doesn’t care if you have huge life events going on and she struggles to ask for help and let her family in. She must learn that being supported by others – even complete strangers – is not such a bad thing.
I admit – at one point about 3/4 into the story I bawled my eyes out at a point that related really close to my mom’s own story and it was interesting for me to be inside of Joyce’s head. But this book is NOT SAD. You, in fact, will laugh at many points in the story. It’s written so beautifully and gracefully – you’ll definitely have a hard time putting it down.
This is a lovely story about relationships and leaning on others when time gets tough and that sometimes comfort comes in the most unexpected places.
It’s ultimately a book about life. And living it.
For me – it’s definitely a good mother-daughter dynamic. It can be sweet, charming, and beautiful – but can also be strained, contentious and exhausting! It’s definitely one of the most complicated of all the relationships… and I know that first hand!
I’m not going to lie and pretend like I didn’t have a few reservations about starting this one. A book about breast cancer? I read for pleasure and I don’t like to cry! And most of you know I went through this with my own mother 2 years ago. Did I really want to go there?
But here’s where I landed on my decision to read this one:
It takes real bravery to tackle a subject like cancer. And Heather is a professional – she’s actually a physician who specializes in diagnostic radiology and breast imaging. I’ve also had the pleasure of meeting her several times and she is just as lovely as one could imagine and I commend her for not only tackling such a hard subject – but she did it SO WELL.
Marnie is in the midst of completing medical school and in a wedding planning whirlwind when her mother is diagnosed with cancer. She needs to find that balance of being doctor and being a daughter, and the challenges that come with young love, in-laws, and family dynamics.
Joyce is busy planning Marnie’s wedding when her entire life gets turned upside down. Cancer doesn’t care if you have huge life events going on and she struggles to ask for help and let her family in. She must learn that being supported by others – even complete strangers – is not such a bad thing.
I admit – at one point about 3/4 into the story I bawled my eyes out at a point that related really close to my mom’s own story and it was interesting for me to be inside of Joyce’s head. But this book is NOT SAD. You, in fact, will laugh at many points in the story. It’s written so beautifully and gracefully – you’ll definitely have a hard time putting it down.
This is a lovely story about relationships and leaning on others when time gets tough and that sometimes comfort comes in the most unexpected places.
It’s ultimately a book about life. And living it.
November 9, 2019
This novel spoke to me in a way I can’t really explain. Everything about this story was genuine, real and heartfelt. I loved everything about the strong female characters to the stress that can overcome relationships and bonds that tie family together. With such phenomenal writing and realism I found myself thinking about this one days after I finished reading.
A soul searching story about a mother-daughter relationship, an upcoming wedding and a medical internship mixed with moms diagnosis of breast cancer that has you turning every page with hope and rooting for them along the way.
I truly enjoyed this one.
A soul searching story about a mother-daughter relationship, an upcoming wedding and a medical internship mixed with moms diagnosis of breast cancer that has you turning every page with hope and rooting for them along the way.
I truly enjoyed this one.
January 1, 2019
MY REVIEW : 📚📙📘📗📚
I loved reading Heather Frimmer's debut novel Bedside Manners. It was a entertaining , encouraging , and very emotional read. I was drawn into it from page one and could not put it down. This author takes you into the medical field world. This book not only gives a large amount of information about breast cancer but weaves in story of a family, a mother who fights breast cancer . This keeps you from getting bogged down with just facts . It gives you the human picture too. It is an easy to read book and the information is explained in such a way that individuals who don't have a medical background can understand. You will experence relationships between the doctor (Marnie) and patient (her mom Joyce).Being a doctor herself, Heather was able to tell her story in a very real way. I really enjoyed getting to know the Novak's and following their journey . I feel like i am part of their family now. They are others in this story but they take a back seat to this mother and daughter. I found myself crying more than once reading this book. The characters are so very real and likeable. The author describes her characters as regular people who could be any of us or our neighbors. She does such an amazing job with describing everything that i had no problem Picturing it. This book covers Mother-Daughter Relationships, Breast Cancer,treatment options, family , friends , support and so much more. This is a really great emotional family drama read and i look foward to reading more by this author. I highly recommend it .
** I reviewed this book freely and voluntarily, having made no commitment to provide a review and receiving no compensation of any kind from any source for this review.**
I loved reading Heather Frimmer's debut novel Bedside Manners. It was a entertaining , encouraging , and very emotional read. I was drawn into it from page one and could not put it down. This author takes you into the medical field world. This book not only gives a large amount of information about breast cancer but weaves in story of a family, a mother who fights breast cancer . This keeps you from getting bogged down with just facts . It gives you the human picture too. It is an easy to read book and the information is explained in such a way that individuals who don't have a medical background can understand. You will experence relationships between the doctor (Marnie) and patient (her mom Joyce).Being a doctor herself, Heather was able to tell her story in a very real way. I really enjoyed getting to know the Novak's and following their journey . I feel like i am part of their family now. They are others in this story but they take a back seat to this mother and daughter. I found myself crying more than once reading this book. The characters are so very real and likeable. The author describes her characters as regular people who could be any of us or our neighbors. She does such an amazing job with describing everything that i had no problem Picturing it. This book covers Mother-Daughter Relationships, Breast Cancer,treatment options, family , friends , support and so much more. This is a really great emotional family drama read and i look foward to reading more by this author. I highly recommend it .
** I reviewed this book freely and voluntarily, having made no commitment to provide a review and receiving no compensation of any kind from any source for this review.**
March 24, 2019
I very much enjoyed this debut novel by Heather Frimmer. It is essentially a coming of age story of two women, mother and daughter, at two very different times in their lives. We are brought into their relationship in a meaningful way as we learn about them, and they learn about themselves and each other. Although the male characters received less focus, this is a story that will appeal to anyone who cares about family dynamics and about living in a mindful and meaningful way at any stage of life. The author speaks with great knowledge about medical training and treatment, which adds to the depth of the story.
October 13, 2019
What a great read. When I first started the book I wasn’t sure if this book was really meant for me. But the further that I read into it the more I started enjoying it. Don’t get me wrong this book is interesting from the beginning. We have Marnie who is becoming a Dr. and then her mother Joyce who is planning her daughters wedding. Joyce also finds a lump in her breast. So along with planning the wedding she is also trying to deal with being a breast cancer survivor. Marnie Is doing her four year rotation in a hospital and trying to make sure she treats the patients as people and not just cases. So the story goes back-and-forth between the mother and the daughter. There is a lot going on in this book and it does keep you interested right up until the end. And it does hit a lot of feelings as well. This is a great debut novel by Heather Frimmer.
November 8, 2019
I love any book, movie or show about family relationships, especially mother/daughter relationships. I mean, the dynamic with Rory and Lorelei will always have a place in my heart. And then throw in a sick parent where I can shed some tears like One True Thing and I am a puddle. So when I was asked to read Bedside Manners I jumped at the chance. It is the story about a daughter finishing medical school who is newly engaged to a man who is not Jewish (and from a family who is not accepting of the interfaith relationship) and her mother is recently diagnosed with breast cancer while planning the wedding. The book alternates chapters between the mom and daughter, each living their separate lives and trying to keep their heads above water. The chapters tell the story of life as a medical student in the hospital and the extreme emotions of saving but also losing patients as well as the stress of staring down a future with an anti-Semitic mother-in-law. And this was interpreted with the guy wrenching story of the cancer diagnosis and the uncertainty that follows. Each woman hast o learn to find support with their own struggles, whether from a loved one or a stranger. The daughter has to be just a daughter for her mom and not a doctor (and accept that she is the one receiving the news instead of giving it) and the mow who has to learn to be the one taken care of for once. The most amazing part of this book is how it could have been depressing and hard to read but it wasn't at all. IT ha some very funny parts that made me giggle and such heartwarming moments that were so inspiring. Even though death is all around them in their lives, this book is really about love and life above all else. I could not have loved it more, all the feels!
October 24, 2018
Great book! I so enjoyed spending time with Dr. Marnie Novak and her mother Joyce. This book is such a nice combination of medical fiction meets family drama. I loved following the journey of the daughter, Marnie, as she is finishing up medical school and starting her surgery residency in NYC. And along side that story, I was engrossed in the plotline of Joyce, her mother, who is battling breast cancer. Being privy to their challenges, fears, successes, and joys made for a very enjoyable reading experience. I found myself cheering them on, crying at times, being frustrated at times, and also wanting to give them a big fat hug! If you are looking for a mother-daughter tale set against the backdrop of a satisfying medical story, this debut novel delivers. The author, Heather Frimmer, is a physician and it shows!
February 21, 2019
I'm very squeamish and get scared in medical situations, so I held off on reading this right away but thank goodness I smartened up! This book is heartfelt and hopeful. Heather's writing and storytelling is very impressive. She did a terrific job portraying a family going through difficult situations. I will definitely be reading Heather's next book!
January 1, 2019
Excellent Read!
Great book! The characters are relatable and the storyline engaging. The book was thoughtful, entertaining and a must read!! Enjoy....
Great book! The characters are relatable and the storyline engaging. The book was thoughtful, entertaining and a must read!! Enjoy....
November 3, 2019
Have you ever read an opening chapter that describes something so vividly that it invokes a gag reflex? When Marnie describes having to change a colostomy bag, my god, the memories from my time as a technician in the cardiac unit came flooding back. Marnie explains how the sight of bodily fluids and rotting flesh never bothers her. It's always the smells. I wholeheartedly agreed with all of it to the point that I definitely gagged while reading that scene. I think that situation perfectly describes the illustrative and beautiful writing that Heather Frimmer has poured into Bedside Manners .
Fimmer pens an incredibly emotional mother daughter tale where two women are battling different life struggles. Marnie is finishing up medical school as well as trying to plan a wedding. She's unsure if she can be a great doctor that also maintains her humanity. Additionally, Marnie keeps trying to impress her pretentious in-laws to the point that it begins to drive a wedge between her and her fiance. Joyce recently found a lump in breast, but she can't seem to find the right time to tell her daughter Marnie about her health situation since she doesn't want to spoil the upcoming graduation and wedding. Joyce refuses to let her therapy impede her husband's dental practice or her daughter's life, so she's determined to face it all alone.
is the perfect story of how life's complications arise during the most stressful and untimely moments and reminds us of the importance of not shouldering burdens alone and turning towards our loved ones.
Thank you to Suzy Approved Book Tours for having me on the tour. Thank you to She Writes Press and the author for providing a review copy. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.
Fimmer pens an incredibly emotional mother daughter tale where two women are battling different life struggles. Marnie is finishing up medical school as well as trying to plan a wedding. She's unsure if she can be a great doctor that also maintains her humanity. Additionally, Marnie keeps trying to impress her pretentious in-laws to the point that it begins to drive a wedge between her and her fiance. Joyce recently found a lump in breast, but she can't seem to find the right time to tell her daughter Marnie about her health situation since she doesn't want to spoil the upcoming graduation and wedding. Joyce refuses to let her therapy impede her husband's dental practice or her daughter's life, so she's determined to face it all alone.
is the perfect story of how life's complications arise during the most stressful and untimely moments and reminds us of the importance of not shouldering burdens alone and turning towards our loved ones.
Thank you to Suzy Approved Book Tours for having me on the tour. Thank you to She Writes Press and the author for providing a review copy. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.
January 1, 2019
Bedside manners was a great book. I loved the storyline and the characters. It’s a book I would recommend.
November 7, 2019
As the daughter of a mother who suffered, and eventually passed away from, cancer, this novel brought back a lot of memories as well as allowed me to understand thoughts and feelings my mother must have had during her diagnosis. Some parts were hard to read, but Frimmer told the story in such raw, direct narrative I couldn't help but continue to read. Joyce and Marnie have the same type of relationship my mother and I had, especially when I had to switch to 'caregiver mode'. 📚 I am beyond thankful I was given the opportunity to be absorbed into the Novak's tale, and gave this novel 4.5 ⭐.
February 26, 2019
I loved this. Frimmer writes with tremendous insight and warmth. This is a moving, intelligent and beautifully-crafted novel. Read it over a long snowy weekend & have already recommended it to friends. Enjoy!!
January 27, 2019
Heather Frimmer’s debut novel, BEDSIDE MANNERS, explores the family dynamic when a mother is faced with a breast cancer diagnosis and how each family member handles it. Joyce struggles to come to grips with her breast cancer and therapy treatment while remaining as her daughter's wedding planner. Marnie is getting married while going through medical school studying to become a surgeon. Needless to say, her life and schedule are extremely hectic, but she remains steadfast in her loving supportive role to her mother as she battles her disease. The mother-daughter interaction is one that is easily relatable, and I felt like I went through the same relationship with my own mother when she experienced the same diagnosis.
This novel is very well written and is an extremely inspirational story. Frimmer holds the reader’s interest as she takes you through Joyce’s surgery, treatment and recovery as well as up to the day Marnie gets married. It’s a very emotional story, yet very warm. I truly enjoyed the way this novel was written, I look forward to more work from this author, and I highly recommend this book.
This novel is very well written and is an extremely inspirational story. Frimmer holds the reader’s interest as she takes you through Joyce’s surgery, treatment and recovery as well as up to the day Marnie gets married. It’s a very emotional story, yet very warm. I truly enjoyed the way this novel was written, I look forward to more work from this author, and I highly recommend this book.
September 6, 2018
I loved getting to know the Novak family and was so sorry to get to the end of the book. While I’m always up for a good romance novel, I appreciated that there were different relationships being explored in the book. I also really enjoyed feeling like I was truly behind the scenes in a medical student’s/doctor’s life. The author’s background as a doctor definitely made the story that much richer. This was a great debut novel and I’m looking forward to the next one (hopefully sooner rather than later!!!).
September 16, 2018
This is a story of family and friends. It was an interesting look at how a woman deals with a cancer diagnosis and the time that follows. The family dynamics were interesting and I thought the author did a good job not to sugarcoat the emotions that I am sure a person experiences with this type of diagnosis. For a debut novel, this was a strong release.
3.5 stars
I received an ARC of this book. All thoughts & opinions are my own.
3.5 stars
I received an ARC of this book. All thoughts & opinions are my own.
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