On Rotation follows Angie, a Ghanian American in medical school. She deals with difficulties in relationships with her friends and her boyfriends, reaching the standards that her parents expect of her, and overcoming getting a bad score on an exam important to her matching to a top residency program. This was a complex, thoughtful, and funny read. I loved the realistic look at medical school. Angie’s struggles as a young adult figuring out her career and her life felt relatable. Overall, I thought this was a great first book! Thank you to NetGalley for the digital ARC and the opportunity to share my opinions on the book!

Sadly could not get through this one. I just did not gel with the writing structure and I didn’t like how the book opened

3.85 - 4 stars! Many thanks to Avon Books for approving me to read this remarkable debut early! On Rotation is a story that featured a Ghanaian-American and the struggles of being a minority in the medical field.

I am kind of stunned that On Rotation is a debut - given how perfectly the author captured my attention from the very first page. She balanced the tough and humorous elements in the storyline in such a flawless manner. The plot explored a complicated love story, the expectations that come with being an elder immigrant child, along with the power of friendship and family. I really appreciated how Shirlene executed these aspects of the story!

Angie was such a fascinating character to read about, Her personality had a lot of layers. She was insecure in the most relatable ways. I loved how I could empathize with her regarding the pressure of being the eldest kid in the family, and the expectations that came with it. I especially loved how I connected with Angie about the pressure of being academically successful. AND SHE IS A WOMAN IN STEM. (like me, hehe) Her passion for medicine and research was honestly, so inspirational.

I loved almost everything about her, except the relationship dynamic she shared with Ricky. Don't get me wrong - I loved how adorable and perfect they were for each other, but gosh - the mistakes they made me really annoyed at times. Every time they had a beautiful moment or a thoughtful conversation, I was always waiting for the shoe to drop. And unfortunately, I was always right. And you know what? I get it. They were very young, so mistakes were bound to happen. But the repetitive nature of the issues became exhausting for me, really. Thankfully, the last few chapters changed the picture I had drawn about Ricky and Angie's relationship in my mind. The way they found their way towards each other again made my heart swoon! I wish the author had included a POV (some chapters) from Ricky's side. That would have given the romance a better foundation, and I think I would have loved his character more that way too. The romance was the only complaint I had about the book though (and I really feel like it's a me thing) but the other aspects were perfect!!

The friendships in this book absolutely won my heart. Nia and Angie's relationship was so wholesome. I loved how the author showed that friendships deserve to be prioritized just like romantic relationships. Angie's relationship with her family was complicated, so I really appreciated how we got to see how realistically that particular issue was explored. One of my favorite parts of On Rotation was reading about the immigrant experiences from both Ricky and Angie's sides. It was truly eye-opening. I enjoyed knowing about the culture and customs of a Ghanaian family as well!

Overall, On Rotation is a debut that everyone needs to look out for! I cannot wait to read more from Shirlene! <3

I didn’t really know what to fully expect from On Rotation, but wow, it was great, and this is a debut novel too! If you read the author’s note on Goodreads you’ll see she say’s, “it's more Women's Fiction than Romance, more Coming of Age than a medical drama.” and I would definitely agree with that statement. It is indeed more fiction with a heavy romantic element, like that of The Heart Principle which came out last year (and I liked Obuobi’s version of it more). I think this worked in favor of the story. I would recommend reading this in print form. There are a lot of footnotes, which I REALLY loved – they’re funny, informative, and add a lot of contexts for everything from Ghanaian traditions and food to medical school and terms. At times, clicking on the * for the footnote was a struggle, so trust me, just read this from a physical book.

Angela Appiah is Ghanaian-American and in her 3rd year of medical school. She’s the eldest daughter in a Ghanian family, and a lot of expectations come along with that – an elite medical school, find a lawyer/doctor/engineer (preferably Ghanian) husband, and follow the path your parents laid out for you without question. Now all these things are not explicitly Ghanian, they are relatable to many immigrant and non-immigrant children, but Obiubi weave’s in details so effortlessly that the reader can actually get a glimpse into the culture, and distinguish that yes, our main character is from here and it plays a role into who she is. Our other main character is Ricky Gutierrez. He’s a funny, thoughtful, and sexy Mexican American graphic designer/artist. He’s not the type of man Angie is looking to settle down with, but maybe he’s exactly who she needs.

It’s a breath of fresh air as at times authors may be trying to add diversity to their novels, but part way through you can’t remember what ethnicity they were supposed to be, or on the flip side it is clunky and doesn’t feel genuine. This was just so well done – I wish I could articulate it better than that, but alas, I am not a writer.

I also really liked our side characters and in this story we saw the relationships with Angie’s parents, sister, and friends change over time too. There was conflict, it could get messy, and it felt relatable. When you think about it, the Angie and Ricky love story is a bit messy too! But they’re in their 20s, and shit is messy. I ate it all up. There were a few times in the middle of the book where things started to slow down a bit, but when I was starting to feel it more, something happened to speed it back up. There’s a lot of moving parts in this novel and I’m not sure everyone will like it, but I think most people will. To reiterate, this is a debut novel, and I’m so impressed by it. I think I’m going to like this novel the longer I sit with it, and I already really like it.

Another quick thing I loved was all the fun anime additions to the novel. While I’m not super into anime, I knew the references and it’s things like that that add depth to the characters. It was very charming, and I think a lot of readers will love these tidbits.

You can tell Shirlene Obuobi put a lot of herself into the novel. She is a doctor (how amazing) and Ghanaian-American and you can feel how much love and care went into this story. There’s so much vibrance in every aspect of this novel. The characters are so flushed out, I can picture all the settings, and the chemistry between Angie and Ricky was palpable. It all just oozes from the page.

I hope a lot of people read and love this novel as much as I did, and that Shirlene Obuobi writes more novels.

Thank you to Net Galley and Avon for the advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars

I can't believe this is a debut!! This was so much more than I bargained for! Not only was this a super sweet romance, but we had a FMC dealing with med school and being a first gen immigrant. I was hooked from the first page - the fast paced nature of being in medicine just sucks you in right away! I can't wait to read more by Shirlene Obuobi in the future, she absolutely killed it with this one!

3.5, rounded up. This is a strong own voices debut, and it's refreshing to read something set in the medical field written by someone who has practical experience and knows what they're talking about. I appreciated the footnotes as Angie explains what she's going through in her medical school process, and I found her own journey of self-acceptance more compelling than the romance between her and Ricky. The two of them have great chemistry, but their relationship timeline is fraught with angst--if, like me, petty communication issues are your pet peeve, this may not be the book for you.

This is a five star read!! I loved Angie- she was real and fully fleshed out and I totally adore them together. I thought this had a great balance between fun and serious. Definitely think med students would feel seen in this one! Loved the chicago rep.

Angela is a medical student and in this book she goes through a lot. Angela faces a break up, pressure from helicopter parents, a riff with her best friend, a will they/won’t they situation-ship, and more while, again, in medical school and also growing into her adult self.

I really loved this book and reading all about Angela’s up hill battles while finding herself and doing things her own way. Despite some of the extra challenges that gives her.

This is a coming of age story with romance that also sheds light on discrimination in medicine. It is a great read, I can’t recommend it enough!!

🩺 On Rotation 🩺

“Love isn’t a test. There aren’t right answers. You can’t get into anyone’s head and puzzle together whether or not they can love you, or you can love them. You just have to jump in blind and accept the chance that you might get hurt.”

Angie, a Ghanaian-American, works her way through her third year of medical school rotations in this amazing debut novel. Angie learns to listen to her patients, their experiences, and their needs as she begins to ask herself the same - what does she want? And is it based on what she’s been told she wants by others? Charting her way through the rotations and her heart, Angie finds out more about herself that she expected. She also finds love in unexpected places.

On Rotation reads like a personal growth journey, with the beauty of how being true to yourself can also open you up to love. It was also so FUN to read - the footnotes that Shirlene Obuobi adds to translate some of the medical speak and cultural references were delightful tidbits that added to the voice of the novel.

I also really loved reading this with the memories of my husband’s journey through medical school, match day and residency. Big shoutout to Obuobi for having Angie acknowledge the burden that a medical journey has on partners. That felt like a warm hug 💙

Check this one out if you’re looking for:
🩺 New adult romance and coming of age story
🩺 Insight into the pressures of a medical education journey, especially as a Black woman
🩺 Strong female character
🩺 Learning more about Ghanaian foods and traditions

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon for this ARC!

After a really shitty day, Angie has a chance encounter that goes awry... and impacts her in unexpected ways. She deals with the pressure of medical school, parents' expectations and changing friendship dynamics - all while trying to understand who she wants to be, and what makes her happy.

I liked how real this book made me feel - you feel frustrated for Angie, empathizing with her, then cringing or happy. I also enjoyed the way Shirlene Obuobi conveyed situations where different characters were in the same dialogue and misinterpreted each other - just like in real life, we all have our own lens in our minds, and it's easy to focus on that.

Thank you to Avon and HarperVoyager, Book Club Girls, and Netgalley for the ARC.

#OnRotation #NetGalley

Thoroughly enjoyed this coming of age love story. Ghanaian med student main character and a complex love story and tale of growing into yourself.

On Rotation is a coming-of-age story and romance rolled into one. There were *so many* reasons that I loved this book, but the top reasons were how accurately it depicted medical school and how real the relationships felt throughout the story.

If you’re wondering what it’s like to be in medical school, or to love someone in medical school, give this book a read. Obuobi creates a vivid and nuanced depiction of life as a third year medical student on the wards, slogging through the day, trying to cram as much information into your brain as possible, and make a good impression on attendings/residents and patients. There were parts of the story that were so real that they took me right back to my third year and and how it felt like there was always something looming over your head, whether it is Step 1 or The Match. I think one of the best things the book captures, however, is the numbness, dissociation, and dark humor we feel in the face of tragedy - the pediatric emergency department scene is something I’ve lived over and over and Obuobi nailed it.

As for the relationships in the book, there is a main romantic plot line, along with an incredible cast of friends that I hesitate to label as “side characters” because the relationship between Angie and her friends (especially Nia) is just as important as her relationship arc with Ricky. Obuobi gives us incredibly deep, tender, and flawed characters who endure hardships together. She gives an accurate depiction of how self-absorbed medical students can become during their training because it’s so all-consuming. I’ve heard there are complaints about the romance arc in the book, but viewed as a coming-of-age story and one with flawed, but beautiful characters makes everything fall into place for me. But you’ll have to read it and decide for yourself.

I could write an entire novel about how much I loved this book and how it made me feel. I hope you pick it up after tomorrow and love it too!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyage for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this story and the main characters. This was such a fun read and I loved how it felt more like a coming of age and finding yourself story than it did a rom-com but still managed to make the romance aspect work really well. The way the relationship between Angie and Ricky developed felt so real and relatable and it made me root even harder for them. Loved reading this.

There were things I loved about this book and other things I disliked.

First of all, I appreciate that this isn't a typical romance novel. Yes, a romantic relationship is a pivotal part of the plot but it's really about Andie's personal journey. Dating is a part of that but an almost bigger part is her medical school career. I loved the scenes when she's working with patients. It told me a lot about this character and also I learned some things about life as a medical student.

I was not a fan of her love interest Ricky, he's a flake. BUT he's a realistic guy. He's not a perfect romance hero and I do appreciate that about him. Their on again off again was frustrating as a reader but felt representative of real relationships.

Overall this was an interesting, engaging read and I recommend it for romance readers.

On Rotation is a great Own Voicescoming-of-age women’s fiction book. There is a lot of personal growth that happened here, in a really rough and realistic way. Angie is likeable, but I also found myself surprised and disappointed with her choices at times - but that made her all the more real. Ricky was also quite the same, in that sometimes his reactions and decisions felt immature or impulsive. The medical school side of the book was well done, interesting and dynamic. The footnotes I don’t think work particularly well in an ebook format(took me out of the story) though I’ve listened to audiobooks in a similar style and it can be quite fun. There is lots of great representation in this book, with heavy topics touched on without feeling forced or preachy. I really enjoyed this debut! Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager for an eARC of On Rotation in exchange for an honest review.

Rating 4.5 Rounded Up

One of the primary reasons I really enjoyed On Rotation is because of how many types of love were explored. Romantic, platonic, familial and self love are all highlighted through Angie’s relationships.

Angie and Ricky’s relationship was quite the roller coaster ride. It had its highs and it’s lows but it felt very authentic. There were times when I wished we could have Ricky’s POV because just like Angie I was confused about whether I should like him or not. In the end. Ricky completely won me over. I was rooting for them to work it out. I loved how adorably nerdy they were together and that they were there for one another during some of the toughest times of each other’s lives.

Another element that was a wonderful addition were the footnotes throughout the book. They were informative, funny and super relatable! There was medical jargon/concepts and cultural elements included that I would have had to look up on my own without the footnotes. I wasn’t taken away from the story to understand something which was nice!

On Rotation included an excellent and diverse cast of side characters that really added value to the story. Angie’s friendship breakup with her bestie was gut wrenching and a plot point I think many women can relate to. The breakup/breakdown of a life long friendship can be more painful than a romantic one. The focus on platonic love is not something I’ve encountered much in adult contemporary romance novels.

The Angie Appiah we meet at the beginning of the story is unlucky in love, unable to stand up for herself with her parents and doubting her ability to reach her professional goals. Angie’s transformation into a self assured woman was beautiful to read. She discovers her worth and learns to love herself. The biggest lesson she learns though is that it’s nice to have friends or a partner but she can survive and thrive on her own too.

Finally, I have to point out that Shirlene Obuobi is a real life superhero for writing and getting this book published while doing a cardiology fellowship!

Shirlene Obuobi has blown me away with her debut novel. I've been following her comics for years so I jumped on the chance to read this eARC when I saw it available. Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity!

Angie Appiah is a 3rd year medical student doing her best to navigate rotations, family, friendships and love. Just like our author, Angie is a Ghanaian-American, and proud of it, but she recognizes that this causes many challenges in her life.

I really enjoyed reading On Rotation. I especially liked the insight into Ghanaian family traditions and the inclusivity of LGBTQ+ individuals. This one does have a lot of footnotes, and I mean A LOT, which could pull you out of the reading experience but I found most of them funny and helpful for those who aren't familiar with medical school. My copy was an e-book and I would expect the footnotes to be easier to manage if read as a physical copy.

While I can't relate to Angie in many ways, her story did bring me back to my rotation experiences. (PA school is not as intense as med school but I could relate nonetheless).

The medical school setup felt freshly done and the cast of characters was well thought out. The pieces of Ghanaian culture were so interesting and really gave the story a different light, I loved it!

3.5 stars. Angie is a lot. I loved her; I hated her, my feelings ran the gamut. In the end though, love prevailed, as it should with this great contemporary romance. It’s a coming of age in adulthood when life gets real and nothing stays the same.

This book was incredibly interesting straight out the gate, teaching me words and terminology from a Ghanaian cultural perspective that made the characters feel real. This wasn’t an after-thought add-on, I felt that right to the root of who Angie was, was a cultural hurdle to overcome, and I loved that about this book.

This book is fantastic and a five-star read. On Rotation is thought-provoking, entertaining, and relatable.
Angie is a Ghanaian-American woman navigating love and medicine in her 20s. This book is incredibly relatable and everyone will see a piece of themself in Angie. When we meet Angie at the beginning of the book she's just been dumped and nearly fails an important exam. She's dealing with insecurities we all face while trying to navigate the high-stress, high-pressure environment that is medical school.
I myself am a medical student and I loved the commentary on the medical system. Dr. Obuobi tackles many topics including family expectations, racism, bias in the healthcare setting, mental health, and burnout while also developing Angie and Ricky's love story.
I highly recommend this book and I will be eagerly awaiting Dr. Obuobi's next novel. Run, don't walk, to the store to buy this book when it releases on June 21st. You won't be disappointed.

Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.