The Antidote for Everything

By: Jamie Steinberg

Georgia Brown is a successful urologist in Charleston. While her career may thriving, her love life is flailing. Thankfully, she has her best friend and fellow doctor (family medicine) Jonah Tsukada to lean on since both work at the same hospital. Their lives get shaken up, though, when Jonah’s job is threatened and he is accused of medical misconduct. Can Georgia balance her work while also fighting her employer on behalf of her BFF? Find out when you turn the pages of Kimmery Martin’s second novel The Antidote for Everything.

We first meet Georgia while she’s mid-procedure. Georgia receives a text message and asks a nurse to read it to her. Thinking it is from the vet where her dog is being treated, the nurse actually relays that Georgia’s current beau is dumping her. As a distraction from the bad news she has received, Georgia is actually looking forward to attending a upcoming medical conference in Amsterdam. Jonah isn’t able to attend (much to his annoyance), so this is a solo adventure for his pal. While on the plane overseas Georgia meets a man that changes her whole trip…and outlook on love.

Meanwhile, Jonah is facing the toughest fight of his life. He has been providing medical care for a number of transgender patients – something that their privately run hospital frowns on. The hospital has even been sending letters to his clients telling them to seek care elsewhere. This would put Jonah out of a job. Sadly, Jonah has suffered from depression for most of his life, so the possibility of losing his livelihood sends him into a spin. With Georgia overseas having the time of her life, Jonah is slowly falling into the abyss.

Jonah takes matters into his own hands by heading to Amsterdam in order to seek out his bestie for a boost and some much-needed stress relief. However, things go from bad to worse when the hospital begins accusing him of stealing medicine. Georgia must put matters of the heart on hold in order to devote herself to helping her best mate make sense of what has been happening to him and even assist in making things right.

Author Kimmery Martin does a good job of intertwining a touching tale of friendship with and a message that patient care (for any and everyone) should be the priority. It’s lovely to see that Jonah and Georgia have such a strong bond that it the book also sweetly reminds us that sometimes family isn’t defined by blood.

If I had one bit of criticism, it would be that the book abruptly goes from rom-com to drama. Personally, I feel that there could have been an alternative way to blend Georgia’s budding romance with her need to look after and help save her bestie’s job and reputation.

The Antidote for Everything is an interesting tale of friendship and standing up for what you believe in – whether it be patient care, LGBTQ rights or the ties that bind. Pick up a copy of Martin’s latest book as a reminder that love is love, created by blood or bond.