Firstly, thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the ARC of this! Secondly, I was absolutely stunned. This was incredible. One of my favorite romance books so far this year. Not only was this a romance, it was a story of friendship and family relationships.

Angie was such a fantastic main character. She knew what she wanted and wasn’t going to let anyone change her mind. Her character showed so much insight into her Ghanaian culture, pre med culture, and the expectations that both loaded on her. Her relationships with her family and her best friend through all of the good and bad times were beautifully written. Overall, she was just such a fun perspective to read from and I love her energy so much.

RICKY!!! Are you kidding me? He might be one of the most charming love interests I’ve read in so long. CHAPTER 22 and 28 blew my mind. He blew my mind. Absolutely insane fictional man. His dedication to his family and passion for Angie made me fall in love with him almost as much as she did.

5 stars!!! Absolute perfection.

I was very hopefully for this book about an educated black woman aspiring to be a doctor and looking for love. I read the first 8 chapters before giving up. Between the asterisks all over the place to take you to footnotes and the writing style, I could not get into this book. It was not for me.

*Thank you to Avon/Harper Voyager via NetGalley for the ARC*

There’s a lot to cover so I’ll jump right in. The premise of this book centers on medical student, Angie and the colorful cast of characters she surrounds herself with during the grind that is her third year of residency (CW includes explicit ER trauma/medical scenes, gunshot wound, death).

Angie wears her heart on her sleeve as frustrating as it may be, but she’s true to herself and definitely stands out from other FMCs who prefer to stay quiet and keep things civil for the sake of others. Still, her reactions can be childish (spoiler-ish: getting upset when someone she thought was hitting on her was saying he was only trying to be nice and refusing to believe him, knowing a phone call from her parents would trigger her on a precious day off at the spa yet answering and getting triggered anyway). We’ve all been in those types of stressful situations and honestly, it just made me feel blah but only because could relate all too well.

I guess that’s what I like about Angie as a main character, she’s just relatable (or you know, as relatable as a future doctor can be!) Her reactions aren’t perfect on paper and sometimes her thoughts are side-eyeingly questionable, but it only made me feel a certain way because I knew deep down, I’d have the same insecurities and lash out that way too. What I mean to say amongst all this babbling is, Angie has depth. Her story gets deep. There’s a good mix of light hearted fun and lots of anguish and straight up dark moments as well. It kept me guessing even though (as a self proclaimed romance book connoisseur) I thought I had everything figured out. My bad!!!

Overall, I gave On Rotation 4.5/5 stars. My biggest gripe were the footnotes. They were useful for further insights into cultural references and medical school terminology but it started to get cumbersome at times (especially reading an ebook, it would take me out of place and send me back in a completely different area so I’d have to refamiliarize myself each time —nothing to do with the author, everything to do with my kindle app).

To say this book was refreshing is woefully inadequate. It was more than just a couple and their HEA. It’s just as much a story about conflicting expectations between parents and their children, a fledging friendship and ensuing heartbreak, and even a relationship on learning how to love oneself.

There’s a scene where Angie pulls out all the stops getting dolled up for a night out and states “I was not, as one might say, fucking around”. The same can be said for Obuobi with this book! I hope On Rotation takes off when it’s published in June ‘22 so she cranks out more novels. With the list of likable, well-rounded side characters, it’d be a crime if there wasn’t at least a sequel or a couple spin offs.



Also can I just say, I LOVED the setting (especially as a suburbanite of Chicago). Not enough books based in IL go further out than downtown areas so I loved reading about differing neighborhoods in the city and even suburban dwellings. Bonus: shopping at Jewel and the scrub from King Spa!

A cute and enjoyable romcom is centered around Angie, a third year med student from an immigrant Ghanaian family who struggles to be the perfect daughter while balancing her work life and all the expectations on her shoulders. I really enjoyed the blend of medical work life and romance, and loved Angie and Ricky together! I especially loved how rich in culture the story is, and loved learning more about the Ghanaian culture! Will recommend!

On Rotation is the book I needed. Angie is far too relatable for comfort as her "perect" life comes crumbling apart. She is one of the best written characters I have recently read because of her flaws. I cannot thank the publisher enough for letting me read an ARC. This book is amazing considering it is a debut. I picked up this book because I love Grey's Anatomy so I will say if you want a strictly medical drama, this is more of a romance.

I requested this book because I met mg husband while he was in medical school so that aspect peaked my interest. I was not prepared for the emotional depth of this book though! I thought it would be similar to many light-hearted romance novels we’ve all come to know and love but this was different. I greatly appreciated the depth of the characters and addresses if such raw human emotions. It makes a book stand out from the rest without a doubt.

I knew i was going to love this book from the moment I read the dedication. This book gets so many things right. Self doubt. Self sabotage. The complexity of family relationships. How hard it can be to stand up for yourself. The complexity of adult friendship. This is an extremely well written novel with so many well-written multi-dimensional characters. Perhaps best of all, I truly wasn't sure how it was going to end until it was over. Do yourself a favor and get yourself a copy when this comes out (on June 21st)

"On Rotation" is a fast-paced romance between Angie, a medical student struggling to find her path, and Ricky, an elusive graphic designer. I really enjoyed Angie's character and her career path - the author clearly brings a lot of personal experience to the medical setting and takes the time to educate the reader with tongue in cheek footnotes. Ricky's character really troubled me though, and I never could bring myself to finding him trustworthy. He radiated red flags and I found myself actively wishing the coupling that was bound to happen would fizzle out. So, 5 stars for setting and character development, 2 stars for romance and chemistry.

i loved getting a glimpse into angie’s life, which explores how she balances her stressful year as a medical student, the pressures and expectations her parents place on her, and her friendships ALL while searching for “the one.” with the being said, i felt like the storyline jumped around and i found it difficult to focus on one aspect. in one chapter angie might be figuring out how to navigate patient rounds in the hospital… and the next she’ll be having an argument over the phone with her sister. i felt like some of these details could’ve been left out and the plot would’ve still been strong.

i also couldn’t find myself invested in angie and ricky’s romance (although they are both sweethearts!) because it didn’t seem like they spent as much time just the two of them. however, i found myself gushing over the moments they were able to share alone. if ricky were a puppy, he’d be a golden retriever… he just wants to please everybody, especially angie! the heart eyes he has for her is made clear by the way he trusts and looks out for her. i wish there hadn’t been as many obstacles in the way of allowing their relationship to bloom sooner because i felt that their romance took too long to develop and i was left wanting more

This romance between medical student Angie and Ricky, a man she met when she was feeling blue is lovely and wholesome. Angie is from a Ghanaian immigrant family who demand a lot from her. Ricky is from a close Latine family that isn't without its challenges. Angie gets her warmth from her roommate and long-time best friend Nia and their friend group. The story is as much about Angie finding her way as a doctor-to-be, standing up to her parents, and negotiating what happens in friendships with people's relationships begin to take precedence as it is about whether or not she gets the man.

I was surprised by the emotional depth that this book had! Angie was a hard working, messy, beautiful character and I enjoyed watching her navigate her changing relationships with her family, friends, and boys. I loved that I also learned so much about Ghanian culture!

This book felt really similar to Honey Girl to me in that a lot of the book didn't feel like it was about finding love, but rather finding yourself. Angie is stressed about med school, she's trying to figure out how to stay on top of her relationships with her friends, and how to stand up for herself to her family. She's funny and spunky but also begins the book very insecure which is something I think we can all relate to.

The romance was actually my least favorite part of the book, mostly because I didn't feel like I got to know Ricky very well. He felt very vanilla to me, except for his love for his family. I would have loved to see more of his personality shine through, which I think would have also helped me to see why Angie was fighting so hard for him.

Overall, I picked this one up on a whim but was really glad that I did!

On Rotation by Shirlene Obuobi was a fantastic read! Perfect for Grey’s Anatomy fans or for those who loved a Brush With Love! This book follows Angie Appiah through her last two years of medical school. Her younger sisters engagement sets off a few reactions in her own life. I loved how much detail the author was able to put into the story from her own medical school experiences. I laughed and cried with Angie and know you will to!

This book is funny and interesting and romantic and I loved all of the vibrant characters. As a chronic overachiever myself, every time Angela gets something fantastic but slightly under expectations, I’m also absolutely gutted. Honestly, I don’t really read straight romances, but this is a great exception. Five stars.

On Rotation is such an enjoyable story. It’s billed as a rom com, but I found it more of a journey through self-discovery with a love story interwoven throughout. At the beginning of the book Angie seems to have it all - a successful lawyer boyfriend, a solid group of friends, a loving family and has a promising future in the medical field. One by one the pieces of Angie’s life start to fall apart and the future she was so certain of begins to look nothing like she expected it to.

The author did a wonderful job of blending family, romance and work/the medical field so we really did get to know Angie. I loved meeting her friends and family and I really enjoyed learning a bit about Ghanaian culture. That’s one of the elements I wish we could have seen more of. Angie’s romance with Ricky was a little frustrating at times - so much back and forth drama that could have been prevented with communication. It was easy to root for them, though.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Avon for an advance copy. Definitely check out On Rotation this summer!

I needed this book. Truly, honestly, and desperately. It is really a novel for those who have a plan that gets derailed and where to go from there. I love the story of exploration that Obuobi weaves. This book is dedicated to the eldest immigrant daughters. With so much voice and passion, you genuinely cannot get enough of Angie. There are some books that come to you at a certain time in your life and you need to read them then and there because they are meant for you NOW, not a second later. This book is one of them. I cannot recommend this book enough.

The story opens with a beautiful Black women with a booty getting dumped just before her boyfriend is supposed to meet her parents at a Ghanaian ceremony where her sister's boyfriend will be asking for her hand in marriage. Angie is a doctor and liked the idea of scoring a lawyer, but isn't that heartbroken over the split. A bunch of terms with Capital Letters and asterisks hinted at cleve asides to augment the story... but the ebook version didn't hyperlink or endnote the asterisks, detracting from my understanding of the characters and cultures. I read through the first two chapters before giving up.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me an ARC.

What a lovely rom-com written by Dr. Obuobi! As a fellow Chicagoan, I loved all of the wonderful descriptions of the city and got completely swept away in the story (which explains how I read it in 2 days, while being on my pediatric rotation…)

As a resident, I was hesitant to read this because I read to get away from medicine. But this story was so compelling I didn’t mind. For anyone outside of medicine, the references have footnotes to fully explain the medical school vernacular. This is definitely not Greys anatomy though, so if you’re expecting it to be extra light on reality of medicine and extra steamy on the romance, this isn’t the book for you.

Finally, I loved the inclusivity of the characters as well as getting the opportunity to learn more about Ghanaian culture. What a treat of a book!

ON ROTATION
BY: SHIRLENE OBUOBI

I thought that this was going to be more about doing a Medical Residency but it had more of the romance vibe than anything. Angie had just gotten dumped by her boyfriend Frederick and she has not scored well on her exams. She is home visiting her parents who expect more from her since she is the oldest child. She meets Ricky who she feels cheered up from only for him to tell her that he has a girlfriend. She gets an early birthday present from her best friend and roommate to see a Beyonce concert and there is Ricky with his girlfriend. His girlfriend breaks up with Ricky. He keeps running into Angie at the hospital.

Ricky and Angie start studying and meeting for coffee and he gives her rides home. They are just supposed to be friends but it turns out to be growing into something more. Angie's sister Tabatha gets engaged. Ricky and Angela get their Happily Ever After.

This was mostly a romance which worked okay. What little medical scenes that took place were my favorite, but they were not nearly enough for my interests. The romance was not what I was expecting, but it was an entertaining reading experience.

Publication Date: June 21, 2022

Thank you to Net Galley, Shirlene Obuobi and Avon and Harper Voyage for providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#OnRotation #ShirleneObuobi #AvonHarperVoyager #NetGalley

This was a wonderful read. It’s clear from very early on that Shirlene writes from experience as a med student from an immigrant family. Read the footnotes! They are not just there to explain medical stuff! They are delightful moments of Angie breaking the fourth wall with commentary in addition to some that are actual footnotes to explain medical or cultural info.
Angie and Ricky go on a real rollercoaster throughout the book. I got frustrated with both of them at times but never lost interest in their stories together and apart. I really loved Angie’s journey through her rotations and her drive to get a good match. As a female in a male dominated profession I related, to an extent as I know it is much harder for bipoc than myself, at how unfairly the system can treat you and how much harder you have to work to even hope for the same treatment.
I truly enjoyed going on this journey with Angie, bc it really is her story more than just a romance.
Thanks NetGalley and Harper Collin’s publishing for this arc!

I had very mixed feelings about this book. Angie is a third year medical student with so many problems arising. Her parents from Ghana have certain expectations from her that she can't seem to meet. Her partner, Frederick, just called the quits. Determined to make herself feel better, Angie goes to a fair but finds herself extremely upset and runs off to a garden to cry in peace...at least she thinks. Next thing she knows, a Mexican man named Ricky is consoling her and they are sharing details about their lives that they've never expressed to others. Their banter is fun and their attraction is clearly magnetic but when Angie decides to make a move, Ricky lets her know he is taken. Angie runs away and swears off men. Fortunately, for her birthday, her roommate (Nia) gifts her Beyonce tickets and she is able to have a fun night out with her closest friends. She even makes a new friend in the bathroom who asks if her and her boyfriend can join them. Riding on this wave of "the more the merrier', they meet up with her boyfriend only to find out it's the one and only Ricky. Angie is extremely uncomfortable as she is continuously put into social situations with his presence. However, when she finds out that Ricky is not single after three years, could fate bring them back together?

The biggest strength of this book was the discussion of family expectations and navigating the medical field as a Black doctor. I really enjoyed hearing about traditions from Ghana, specifically how a man proposes to a wife. It was also interesting to hear the expectations that one's parents have. In addition, Obuobi initiated crucial conversation about how Black patients are typically disregard. When Angie's Step test score isn't ideal, her mentor encourages her to pursue research to add a publication to her resume. Angie decides to harness her mission as a doctor and research how Black patients are disregarded. Even though her mentor discourages this project, I really enjoyed Angie's persistence to raise awareness for this issue.

I also enjoyed that there was a non-binary character, Shae, in this book. Obuobi did a fantastic job including them as a supporting character and I really enjoyed their relationship with Angie's best friend, Nia. Honestly, I was more interested in this couple than Angie and Ricky. Shae was introduced very casually, which I appreciated because often times non-binary characters have a big coming out story. I really enjoyed her organic introduction.

I had so much trouble with Angie as a protagonist and Ricky as a love interest. Their chemistry was not believable to me. I found Angie very immature as she got upset with Ricky over things that were often out of his control. For instance, when he stated that he wasn't ready for a relationship, Angie got extremely upset. I can understand that there was a level of "leading her on" but at the same time, one is entitled to explore their feelings with someone and enjoy their time together without having to commit to a relationship. One should be able to take their time, especially since Ricky had just gotten out of a relationship of three years. In addition, I found Ricky's introduction very annoying as well. The fact that he had VERY CLEARLY led her on in this instance was ridiculous. No one buys someone they just met a necklace without wanting to pursue them.

Even though I have mixed feelings about this book, I still think it has great conversation about Black patients and Black doctors as well as family expectations. I would recommend this book for those reasons. Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an eARC to complete this review.