On Rotation

On Rotation

Shirlene Obuobi

Enjoyment: Quality: Characters: Plot:

For fans of Grey’s Anatomy and Seven Days in June, this dazzling debut novel by Shirlene Obuobi explores that time in your life when you must decide what you want, how to get it, & who you are, all while navigating love, friendship, and the realization that the path you’re traveling is going to be a bumpy ride. Ghanaian-American Angela Appiah has checked off all the boxes for the “Perfect Immigrant Daughter.” - Enroll in an elite medical school - Snag a suitable lawyer/doctor/engineer boyfriend - Surround self with a gaggle of successful and/or loyal friends But then it quickly all falls apart: her boyfriend dumps her, she bombs the most important exam of her medical career, and her best friend pulls away. And her parents, whose approval seems to hinge on how closely she follows the path they chose, are a lot less proud of their daughter. It’s a quarter life crisis of epic proportions. Angie, who has always faced her problems by working “twice as hard to get half as far,” is at a loss. 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 complicated, enter Ricky Gutierrez— brilliant, thoughtful, sexy, and most importantly, seems to see Angie for who she is instead of what she can represent. Unfortunately, he’s also got “wasteman” practically tattooed across his forehead, and Angie’s done chasing mirages of men. Or so she thinks. For someone who’s always been in control, Angie realizes that there’s one thing she can’t plan on: matters of her heart.


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  • brittanyp
    Feb 12, 2025
    Enjoyment: Quality: Characters: Plot:

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  • teregrinpook
    Mar 14, 2025
    Enjoyment: Quality: Characters: Plot:

    I liked this book. I read it in one night and enjoyed myself. There were some things overall that bugged me but I had a good time and in no way regret my time spent with it.

    The MC was a bit of a chore. I wish she had some more layers because she would have bugged the hell out of me if she were my friend. The ML was a little irksome, too. And oy the communication. 

    The side characters were interesting but I don't think I agree that I wanted more of them or her family.  I think the book was honestly just a bit too chunky and cutting down the romance alone would have been enough. I don't mind drama, I don't mind the ups and downs, but this one was just a bit like "come on already we get it - you can't talk to each other." 
    Also why did he say he didn't see her "like that" if he definitely did? Just because of his current gf? It was odd.

    My final peeve about this book is the footnotes. I kind of get that it's supposed to be like a medical textbook but it was too much and it was distracting. I get that there were terms to teach but there are ways to make it more approachable without them. I also couldn't tell if they were written in the POV of the author or the MC for far too long.

    I'm looking forward to more from this author - I think for a first this was a strong start.

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  • Litlover48
    Mar 26, 2025
    Enjoyment: Quality: Characters: Plot:

    Reflective, funny, all the feels. Writes about friendship and relationships in a very real way. Are notes in books more popular than I thought?

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