It's hard to rate and review this book as I would any other contemporary fiction novel because I think it touched me in a way that no other novel ever has and maybe ever will. Even without extensive knowledge of or ties to the field of medicine, I think this would be a very enjoyable read for anyone looking for a well-written contemporary romance novel. But from the perspective of a daughter of immigrant parents and incoming medical student myself, I thought this book was truly exceptional. It was entertaining, funny, suspenseful, emotional, and inspirational all in one. The best part is how relatable our main character's insecurities and struggles feel. It makes it all the more special to experience all of her lows and highs with her.

There are so many complex, yet delicate topics that this book handles so well: family expectations and traditions, diversity in medicine, implicit bias, racial and ethnic health care disparities, mental health, medical hierarchy, physician burnout, end of life care, and so much more. And all of this was interwoven into our main character's personal journey to finding confidence in herself and her love story! I feel so privileged to have read this at this exact moment in my own journey to medicine and to have learned so much from it. I can't wait to reread this in a few years when I'm a third-year student like Angie (although as her experience may suggest, I probably won't have the time).

5/5 stars. Dr. Obuobi, I think this is a masterpiece. :)

I fell hard for Ricky but Angie is truly the star of this story. Angie is struggling to be perfect at just about everything in her life; her job, her friends, her relationship, her family...you name it and Angie needs to be the best. When all this pressure catches up to her, she ends up crying in a semi-secret garden only to be interrupted by a gorgeous man that seems to make Angie questions things in her life and to just live in the moment.....something that she hasn't done before.
Obuobi is now an author on my radar and I can't wait to see what else they put out.

I've purchased this book already as an avid follower of Dr. Obuobi's Instagram and was so pleased to be able to read it early. For myself (a new doctor, a cis woman, Chicagoan, long time nerd, and an work in progress antiracist), this book is the richest layer cake of an experience. It's set in Chicago, my dear home, and I loved seeing its places from her main character's eyes. Dr. Obuobi makes it as beautiful as it is in real life. I so appreciated her descriptions of med school life, how pursuing a career in medicine puts strain on our relationships from day one due to money, time and expectations from loved ones AND superiors. I was particularly struck by her depiction of a black woman facing unreasonable barriers to rising high in academic medicine and achieving her goals. I fell head over heels in love with the book's romance but don't be fooled: close female friendships are this book's true emotional core, not the romance. There's a moment near the end where two friends reconcile, and it genuinely brought tears. Every reference to nerd culture is gold and highlighted in my digital copy. For those of you who might not appreciate this layer of the cake, Dr. Obuobi very helpfully provides footnotes, which I hope inspire you to go seek out Avatar: The Last Airbender as everyone should. Dr. Obuobi's footnotes are also crucial to understanding the references she makes to her main character's particular cultural background, which I had no knowledge of prior to reading this book. I'm shoving this book into the hands of all my friends who just don't get medical school culture AND would benefit from hearing the perspectives of a black woman embedded in it, because that's a particular perspective I cannot offer. Actually I think that sums up my thoughts on this book--this is not a perspective you're heard before. You should read it. It's educational in the best way--in the way a good story can be.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC for an exchange for an honest review.

Really good book. Worth a read.

I was looking forward to this book a lot. But was majorly disappointed that the author focused on descriptions exclusively. It felt a little to much. DNF

A fun and cute romance. I liked the medical student background, and the cultural representation of the characters. The relationship conflict at the end was a bit back-and-forth and probably unnecessary. The footnotes would be more fun if they're at the bottom of the printed page; on kindle they're endnotes and going back and forth with the links is kind of a pain. My biggest problem was that there were a number of incorrect word usages, e.g. "enclave" in a hallway instead of "alcove", which should have been caught by an editor.

I loved Angie! She is having such a hard time with everything going on in her life, her family's high expectations, falling for the wrong guys, school woes. But she fights for what she wants and who she wants to be.
I loved the look at some strong African American women throughout this book!
This book has a little bit of everything, humor, love, friendships, family. It will be one I intend to recommend to everyone in 2022!

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC!

thank you to the publisher, and the author for letting me read an ARC of this amazing
story through NetGalley.
As some one who is an immigrant child and is a dental student this story felt really relatable to me. Angie’s struggles with studies family and relations was familiar to me and I could totally picture myself in her shoe I totally understand her insecurities and love that author think about them and put them in the story. She was so strong and honestly I learned sth or two from her.the romance and chemistry was also phenomenal and I enjoy that they build up their relation ship.
This was totally a 5 star book for me and I would 100% recommend it to friends and family

I absolutely loved this book. I love any contemporary fiction with a strong female lead, but On Rotation was so much more than that. It tells the story of a Black female third year med student with humor, a little sarcasm, grace—all on top of the underlying theme that tells what an amazing human the main character, Angie, really is (and turns into throughout the story).

The oldest daughter of hard working immigrants, Angie works to meet her parents’ expectations for her whole life. She excels in school, in extracurriculars, and gets into med school. This story, covering her third year and the intensity it involves, requires Angie to find her own way and figure out what her priorities are as a woman, as a student, as a daughter, and as a friend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC!

4.5
I loved Angie and Ricky. Angie is a relatable character even if you are not interested in the medical field. I loved getting to see her family together and how Angie navigated the dynamic. The definition or meanings for the slang was very useful.

This reminded me of early season of Greys Anatomy in all the best ways. Some medical drama, romance, friendship, chaotic family dynamics and real conversations. It also was great to see diversity and inclusion not written as a trope but as just part of the story just as they're a normal part of life.

Angie Appiah is the epitome of the Perfect Immigrant Daughter. She's got it all: medical school credentials, a handsome lawyer boyfriend, and ride or die friends. But what happens when everything falls apart? Her boyfriend dumps her, she bombs the most important exam of her medical career, and her closest confidante and roommate pulls away, telling Angie she's more wrapped up in herself than in her friends.

Angie is crushed. She's always faced her problems by working "twice as hard to get half as far and until now, that's done well for her. When did life get so complicated? Suddenly, she begins to question everything: her career choice, her friendships, even why she's attracted to men who don't love her as much as she loves them. And just when things couldn't get more confusing, enter Ricky, brilliant, thoughtful, sexy, but who has wasteman practically tattooed across his forehead. For someone who's always been in control, Angie realizes that there's one thing she can't plan on: matters of her heart.- Goodreads

This book started off rough for me but then I couldn't put it down. The medical aspects of this book worked really well and the author was able to weave it into Angie's personal story seamlessly. It feel as if Angie being in the medical field was forced upon her and the way it was written makes sense since the author is a physician.

However, the summary of the book is misleading. Yes, Angie is wrapped up in herself and completely ignoring her friend's stories but to be fair, she gets dumped, failed her first big test, and fights with her parents. I can understand why she is focused on herself; nothing in the book gives the impression that she has always been this way.

And also Ricky doesn't exactly disrupt her life and the whole I can't control my heart thing. . . Angie is a control freak she lives for it. But she overthinks things and that makes it frustrating for the reader because she overthinks her overthinks and then puts that negative energy out there. Do not get me wrong, Ricky isn't perfect but as we only read Angie's pov, let me say it gets frustrating.

The writing style is inviting. You want to know more about Angie, Ricky, their families, and their history. The author made them both likable but also with depth. Their personalities are really defined and I loved that. It would have been great to read Ricky's perspective but overall despite my initial blah feelings I was sucked into the story.

The romance was good. The chemistry was instant but not love at first sight instant. There was a build-up, with complications (of course) but by the end of the book, it felt real.

What I struggle with writing this review is how to say that the book was a perfect read but it wasn't perfect. Like what frustrated me was the character, not how the book was written, not the setting, not the pace. The character was just that frustrating friend that takes forever to get it right and I needed Angie to get it right.

Overall, this book took me out of my reading slump and I recommend it.

4 Pickles

Such a captivating, awesome novel!
I was so engrossed in this story I literally had to pry myself away from it to take care of other things I had to do when all I wanted was to read more.
The characters are well formed and greatly developed!
I read this book in a day because I was so immersed in the story and the lives of these characters.
Angie is an Immigrants Daughter.
And she has it all a medical credential, her boyfriend is a wonderful handsome lawyer, and her friends are her ride or die till the end!
So what happens when things start falling apart?
This book exceeded my already high expectations.
The story is unique and filled with family, friendship and trying to find your way in this crazy thing we call life.
I couldn't have loved this more if it tried!
This is an extraordinary story and I believe most will fall in love with it just like I did!

Avon Books and NetGalley,
Thank you for this wonderful eARC!
I will post to my platforms closer to pub date!

I LOVED THIS BOOK. I could not put it down.

We get to follow Angie as she navigates her life as a black woman, a third year medical student, and the eldest daughter to a Ghanaian family. She deals with the hardships of expectations, balance of friendship, and following her heart. I loved learning more about the Ghanaian family traditions, and getting to look more inside the life of love interest, Ricky. The story flows really well through out and the interactions between characters felt so realistic. I just love Angie and her story so much. After reading this, I will be sure to purchase anything Shirlene Obuobi writes in the future!

Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.