For some reason, the process of medical school matching is showing up in so many places for me, lately! I loved the look inside what it's like to be a medical student, how it's so much more than Grey's Anatomy would lead us to believe (I knew there was more to it, just never bothered to find out what it was!)

Families are tricky, and here we see so many different types of families, from those whose expectations we're afraid we won't meet, to those whose trauma we're not sure we can take on, to the struggles of found family and the evolution of friendship. While I was often frustrated with the characters in this book, I can identify with the feeling of needing to just walk away rather than take on the emotional investment to see something through to the other side.

I definitely recommend this book for summer reading lists this year!

Angela “Angie” Appiah is in medical school and trying to be the perfect immigrant daughter to her Ghanian parents. When her boyfriend dumps her, everything falls apart. Angie bombs the most important exam to decide what she wants to do in her medical career. Then her best friend pulls away, and despite everything she does to meet her parent’s standards; she always falls short.

Angie questions every decision she’s ever made, especially one’s concerning her love life. Then Ricky Gutierrez pops up and makes everything more complicated. He is far from the man her parents would want her to be with, but there’s just something about him.

The cover initially drew me to this book, but I admit the synopsis sucked me in as well. I really enjoyed getting to understand a little about Ghanaian culture. Angie is a character that I could really see myself in. She’s relatable even when she’s incredibly frustrating, but I think her heart is always in the right place. It's hard to stick up for yourself to your parents, but I’m glad she could grow in that relationship, particularly with her Mom. It was impactful to see Angie strive to be successful in medical school and pursue a study that she felt would make a difference.

The relationship with Ricky frustrated me because there was a lack of communication that could have fixed a lot of issues. Despite Ricky being nothing like what her parents would want for Angie, I like that she still pursued the relationship, anyway.

This book is real. It explores a woman of color as she’s trying to find herself, love, and represent well for minorities. The representation of a woman in STEM was refreshing and lovely to see. I really loved this book! The pacing was perfect, and it sucked me in from start to finish.

Thank you to Net Galley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC!

As a soon-to-be medical school graduate, I thought the med school representation in this book was great. Balancing relationships, school, friendships, family, sleep, etc is exhausting and hard. Trying not to measure your worth by your academic accomplishments is a never-ending struggle. And I think watching Angie struggle with these things was relatable and realistic.

I cannot pretend to relate to the cultural and generational dynamics in the book, but I loved learning about them. It is a different kind of pressure to know that your parents/grandparents immigrated to a new place to give you better opportunities and that they have expectations when it comes to that. I enjoyed seeing both Ricky and Angie work through this and bond with each other over these differences. Ricky's familial struggles are also a very relatable and common struggle for teens and young adults. How do we balance our love for people with our anger at their shortcomings? How do we protect ourselves while the people we love continue to cause us harm, emotionally?

The characters are human. Angie did have me wanting to pull my hair out sometimes, but she wouldn't be a complex, realistic character if she didn't.

This book is just...wow. I know it's suppose to be a romance novel but by god, I felt like everything that this book tackled was so amazing and actually overshadowed the romance (in a good way). I was hooked from the first page and the writing is so engaging that I just kept turning through the pages (even though I should have gone to bed). It tackled overbearing immigrant parents who want the best for their child but don't realize how detrimental they're being, the guilt that comes with wanting space from your parents who gave up everything to give you a better life, the pressure there is to make that sacrifice worth it. The inclusion of Ghanian culture was also fun to read and learn about. Also, I am currently getting a doctorate in a healthcare field, so while I may not relate exactly to the medical student experience, it nice to feel represented, especially with the imposter syndrome. If anything, the only aspect about this book that I actually didn't particularly like was actual romance. I was really hoping that the MC wasn't going to end up with the guy that she met - it almost seemed cliche, and I wouldn't have even particularly minded that if their relationship wasn't so...turbulent. Be warned for minor spoilers: everytime something positive happened, there was always, always something negative that followed which got old real fast. Also the way that problems that came between them weren't really addresses or forgotten: the MC was late once and he was being snippy about it and it was never addressed again in a healthy manner. This may just be my view on the romance though. The only other minor complaint I have, which may be because I had an electronic ARC of this book, is that it was not clear nor did I realize that the asterisk were extra bits of information at the back of the book until I finished the book. Whoops. Overall though, this book was great and I think it is more of a women's coming of age story rather than romance, which made me like it all the more.

Thank you Netgalley, Harper Voyager & Avon for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is a really solid debut - it manages to balance a lot of things (romance! medicine! being an immigrant!) really well without leaning too far into any one, particularly the parts of being a medical student that might come off as tedious or gross.

This book took a bit to grab me, and I admit to not being sold on the love interest. But it was, in the end, a very compelling read, and felt super realistic. I'm looking forward to seeing what else this author writes!

I love a medical school drama and was excited to read this book after hearing all of the buzz. However, this was a DNF for me. The relationship drama was boring and the character interactions rang false.

This book follows a young medical student on rotation as she goes through the other, “normal” aspects of life that her friends are going through as well. She has to tackle the stresses of medical school and living her normal mid-20s life with her friends, relationships, etc.

The first chapter had me hooked, and the descriptions of The Ass cracked me up. I thought the writing was great and enjoyed the storyline, especially with the friendship struggles Angie faces. Honestly this book touched on it all - relationships, friendships, family struggles, and struggles with medical school. I loved the complicated scenarios that arose in medical school and how the story played out.

Shout out to a non-binary side character! I love the representation in the book and how it didn’t feel forced. The integration of Ghanaian culture and traditions was so fun and I loved how the author included footnotes to further explain or just comment on what was just said.

I really enjoyed this book and will definitely keep my eye on this author!!

A wonderful story about a woman in color pursuing medicine. One thing that stood out to me while reading this was the eldest daughter syndrome. From the start of the book, Angie tells of the difference oh how she and her younger sister were raised. With her mom being less strict when it came to her sister, I couldn't have felt more seen. of course, I got so much more from the story. It tackles so many things from complicated relationships to problems that a woman of color like Angie had to deal with as a minority in a profession like medicine. This book felt so real! I enjoyed every second reading this.

I originally was drawn to this book because I saw it was a story about a doctor who was a woman of color. And let me tell you, I got that and so much more.

On Rotation is about Angie, a Nigerian woman who is working her way through residency in Chicago. I may be a little biased because I am from Illinois but I automatically love books that are set in areas I am familiar with. I loved reading this book knowing that Angie was walking around the streets of Chicago. She’s from a popular suburb of Chicago and like myself, Angie is a UIUC Alumni!

I also love reading anything women in STEM, so I had very high hopes with this book. On Rotation explores many complex relationships and it is done in such a beautiful way. This book is DEEP.

There are the emotions that come with not only being a woman of color, but a minority in gender and race in a STEM profession. We see Angie go through the very common yet heartbreakingly complex relationships with her family, her friends, and finding love.

Y’all this book felt REAL! Everything was so on point, relatable, and genuine. I think everyone can find something to relate to in this book, but also can find experiences that are not shared and will be able to walk away learning something new about the struggles that someone different from you experiences.

Thank you Net Galley for this arc! There was so much to love about this story. Angie is a medical student balancing changing friendships, family pressure, romantic woes, and of course her heavy workload. All of the elements and diversity made this such a well-rounded story.
This one comes out June 21! A great summer read. ☀️

On Rotation by Shirlene Obuobi must be one of my favorite novels that I’ve read this year. From the first sentence, I was hooked! It’s so incredibly well written that I instantly got a good sense of who Angie was by the first chapter. And I’ve got to say, my heart went out for the girl. It was all too relatable reading about how she practically falls in love with every dude who treats her nicely, only to be friend-zoned time and time again. I can’t remember the last time I was this personally invested in a character’s development like I was with Angie.
There’s just so much to love about this book, from our main character to the explorations of family, friends and love. I found myself in a state of déjà vu when I was reading Angie’s interactions with her parents. All that pressure. Such is the life of the eldest daughter born from two immigrant parents, right? As the eldest daughter myself, I understood all too well how frustrated Angie was. But Angie’s story taught me the importance of setting boundaries and even cutting off communication for a bit to really drive the point home. It’s a necessary evil! And it proved that point in the end. While the relationship between Angie and her parents isn’t perfect, it was stronger because Angie demanded respect.
I will say that Ricky was not my favorite love interest. He was way too hot and cold with Angie in the beginning and to be honest, I never really forgave him for that. However, he mostly redeemed himself throughout the book. Where his words failed him, his actions said everything he couldn’t express verbally. I appreciated the lengths he and Angie went too to show each other how deep the love truly is. Ultimately, I did root for them to get that happily ever after! All the trials and tribulations they went through proved to be worthwhile- phew!
The dynamics in Angie’s friend group, AKA the Sanity Circle, was also interesting to delve into. I think it’s a such an important sub plot to discuss, how do you react when the closest friend you’ve had pulls away? Is it ever possible to rekindle what once was when you’ve potentially outgrown each other? I think there’s no definite answer, but if any book came close to providing one, On Rotation does a great job of exploring the harsh realities of it. I mean, I was just heartbroken when Nia was moving out and Angie gave herself the “it’s ok, you’re an adult” pep talk. I just…cannot imagine losing my best friend like that. I was so relieved they eventually found their way back to each other!
I can’t express my love for this book enough. I would recommend to all! I can’t wait to secure my copy when this finally publishes so I can re-read and highlight all my favorite parts. Thank you so much to Netgalley and Harper Voyager for the opportunity to read this ARC!

I read ON ROTATION by Shirlene Obuobi and really enjoyed it! Thank you to @avonbooks and @netgalley for advance access to this novel. I rated it 4/5 stars! Available everywhere, June 21.

Angie Appiah is a medical student and does not have time for nonsense. She has a handle on med school, wonderful friends, and a lawyer boyfriend... until she doesn't. In the span of a few weeks, Angie bombs a major test, is cut off from her ride or die, and is dumped. As she tries to put the pieces back together, she meets Ricky: a kind and heartfelt (not to mention hot) graphic designer. In this story of trusting yourself and those who love you, Angie is able to become who she wants to be.

Trigger warning for drug abuse, death, medical scenes, pregnancy, anxiety, and related topics. I thought Angie was a fabulous main character. She's hard working and lives underneath the high expectations of her Ghanaian immigrant parents. I liked the friendships in this novel, they're nuanced and going through growing pains that a lot of teen and new adult readers may emphasize with. And the romance! This too was really well done. It was fun to read, it wasn't a traditional rom-com love. I would recommend this novel to anyone!

Absolutely adored this book! The romance was spot on, the commentary on women of color in medicine was thoughtful and authentic, and the humor had me laughing out loud. Angie felt so real and relatable. A perfect pace and flow that kept me wanting more. Highly recommend, I only have amazing things to say about 'On Rotation'.

[Thank you Netgalley, Harper Voyager & Avon for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.]

I enjoyed On Rotation very much. This is a contemporary romance novel but it is also a novel where the protagonist -

- belongs to hard-working immigrant parents with high expectations;

- deals with solid, long-term friendships that are evolving as the characters themselves change in their pursuit of their dreams, hopes & needs;

- the stress of medical school (and what it takes to become a doctor) and “finding your path” (I really enjoyed being able to get an insider’s perspective on the medical school aspect. It was fascinating!)

- and…romance!

But while this story essentially is a romance, I wouldn’t call it a fluffy, frothy romance. The book delivered a lot of feels and gave us essentially flawed characters who are trying to become their best selves.

I adored having a window into the customs and cultural traditions of a Ghanaian household. The knocking, the delicious food, the close community ties, how Angie’s parents came to America and how they got to where they are today… I wish we had seen more of this in the book. I could deeply relate to Angie’s parents’ emphasis on education and getting the best placements/the best jobs, seeking security and comfort over one’s dreams that don’t align with those needs.. the sacrifices they made so their kids could fulfill those dreams. All of that felt deeply personal and relatable.

I loved Ricky: he was a nicely realized character who was truly a good man but also not boringly “perfect” - he was actually far from it and his lack of communication and some of the ways he behaved in the book truly frustrated me. But he was a good guy and even when he disappointed me as a reader, I was willing to forgive and move past it.

Angie was a hard one to like, to be honest. I shaved off a point purely because I found her to be a judgmental, self-righteous, self-involved character (a lot of the times) that was hard to pity or like, even when a situation called for it. She assumed things, made decisions without considering the consequences, could only see the negative side to a situation, hurt folks because she felt hurt…but at the 83% percent mark, she redeemed herself and it was ok. But this did mean that the romance part of the book felt the weakest for me. Their mutual attraction, their banter, their friendship… I loved all of that.

But because of how often they seemed to bring out the crappy parts of themselves to the table whenever they got together, because of misunderstandings, I couldn’t get as invested (vs. irritated). I would have been more invested in the romance if we’d glimpsed more “good” romantic moments. As such I got whiplash when it was a good but short lived moment and then a not good moment right after… Those times, I couldn’t help wondering if they were the right fit for each other. Ricky just deserved better sometimes.

But all in all, this was a very enjoyable read. I would definitely read future books by this author. :)

A great #ownvoices novel about a young Ghanaian American woman working through Med school while also trying to navigate family, friendships and romantic relationships. I really enjoyed this story, especially on audio narrated by Mela Lee (who also voiced Seven days in June). I loved Angie and Ricky's rocky relationship and the way they finally got to their HEA, which was really a beginning to what comes next. Perfect for fans of Grey's Anatomy. Much thanks to NetGalley and Harper Audio for my advanced listening copy!!

This was a fun novel to read. This showcased relationship and friendship development that I felt was accurate and real, but the scenarios in the book were still sometimes unrealistic but in a fun way. It reminded me of the early seasons of the show Grey's Anatomy which I thoroughly enjoyed - the drama, the romances and friendships in and outside the workplace. I am not used to reading about men as vulnerable and "wear their heart on their sleeve" like Ricky, which was refreshing.

On Rotation by Shirlene Obuobi is an easy to love book. The characters are relatable and you want to cheer them on. I will never truly understand the struggles other races encounter but I love reading these type of novels to see how they achieve great things as every single person should have that opportunity regardless of race, nationality, religion, etc. This novel is big hearted and helps to tell the story of community, friendship, medicine, love, and family. Beautifully written and highly recommend.

Rate 3.5

As I read this book, my first impression was that the main character was relatable. The book was pleasant to read, humorous at times, and empathetic. I enjoyed most of this contemporary fiction. But as I'm reading more of the book, I notice that the book isn't my favorite. The plot of the story wasn't my cup of tea. Even though the book covered a lot of themes like dysfunctional relationships, family expectations, medical hierarch, mental health, lack of diversity, self-awareness, and friendship. It just didn't fit for me.

I definitely related to most part of it since she works in the medical field, and I do too. How the workplace can be stressful at times. The under pressure of overcoming and trying to give the best in your job but things happen, and it can get dark at times. Yeah, I can relate to that!
The strong friendship that Angie has with her friends is amazing. I even wish I had friends like them.

But overall, it is a good story, so I recommend it of course give it a shot. It can be worth your time. Thank you NetGallery for giving me a chance to review this novel it was definitely a pleasure, and this is my honest review, thank you!

Instagram @wildpages_1992
Goodreads Mirian Camacho www.goodreads.com/darkangel1192

****Thank you to both the publisher and the author for so kindly giving me an arc through netgalley.


I'm going to be honest, I was skeptical going into this book, it seems almost too good to be true. I myself am the daughter of two immigrant parents and I am finishing up my residency in the coming months, so I had some high expectations from this book.

And wow did Shirlene Obuobi deliver. This is a novel that everyone in the world needs to read, with a strong black female lead and a plot that is actual real life, it hits every mark.

Pacing and length of the story was pretty spot on for me, I didn't feel like anything was being rushed nor did I feel like any parts were going too slow.

If you are a woman in stem, or just a person in general, I would recommend you pick this one up!!

5/5 stars.

I loved this book. I didn’t know what to expect going in, but I do have a medial background so the cover was appealing to me.
This was a contemporary romance, with so much heart and love.
Our main character Angie was so likable and as a reader I felt like I knew her so well by the end. I loved the ties to medicine, and how the author wove in very important and heavy topics without it being too much weight to the story, but instead furthering it.
I enjoyed learning about other cultures in this novel as well.