Third degree both a coming of age tale for a young genius turned doctor and a really sweet romance of two people finding each other. Find the other person that truly gets them. Isabel and Marshall are both hiding so many parts of themselves. Isabel had multiple degrees, including her MD by the time she turned 18. She was all set to start her residency before her 19th birthday, when she found out that she failed her emotional readiness portion of her exam, and no residency program would take her. So what does an 18 year old doctor do when she has half a year of free time before she can re-take her exam? She goes back to college for a "normal" college experience. 
 Here she meets her RA Marshall, who seems to know about her situation. He kind of takes her under his wing to kind of socialize her. Isabel is so smart, but she sees everything as very matter of fact. She doesn't seem to connect emotions with her actions. Which I personally felt would be an asset to a doctor, but I do see where a more appropriate bedside manner would be beneficial as well. Marshall seems to be able to bring out her more emotional side, but it wasn't overnight and it wasn't easy. I loved loved loved that it was finally triggered when Marshall was sick. That was when I knew how good the two of them would be together. 
 Marshall and Isabel are both very stubborn though, so the road before them is not easy. There are so many moments when I thought, this is it. They have run their course. And there were a bunch of times where I wasn't sure if this was going to be your typical happily ever after book, and I was ok with that. I'm not going to tell you whether it is or isn't, but I will say that I was going to be ok with either outcome. This story seems to be so much about the individual journeys of the two main characters and it was done so well that it is enough of a story ending on its own. Third Degree is a great new adult book with substance and depth. The story felt realistic, very fleshed out and three dimensional. This is my first book by Julie Cross and I was very happy with it. I can't wait to check out her other books.