Shirlene Obuobi is a Ghanaian-American physician, cartoonist, and author who grew up in Chicago, Illinois; Hot Springs, Arkansas; and the Woodlands, Texas. When she's not in the hospital (and let's be honest, even when she is), she can be found drawing comics, writing on her phone, and obsessing over her three cats. She currently lives in Chicago, where she is completing her cardiology fellowship. You can learn more about Shirlene Obuobi at shirleneobuobi.com.
Ghanaian-American Angela Appiah has checked off all the boxed 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 choose, 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 went 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.
I feel like these days I've been starting off reviews a lot by saying: what's not to like? But it's absolutely true for On Rotation, which literally does absolutely everything right. I love how Obuobi is able to balance all facets of someone's life into an incredibly compelling and sympathetic story, without compromising on the brutal elements of living. Reading this book felt like stepping right into Angie's shoes and living her life alongside her. It had the addictive quality that medical dramas do, with twice the heart. I love what Angie would say—that she was being "Angie without edits"—and I think that's exactly what all women should strive for: to be their most unfiltered self.
That's not to say Angie's life didn't come with its challenges. As the daughter of two immigrants, she's struggling under the weight of their expectations. I love how Obuobi included footnotes within the text, to further elaborate on elements of Ghanaian culture that weren't directly in the prose of the text. The footnotes had it all: some sarcastic bite, some cultural notes, a handful of explanatory medical notes (which were incredibly helpful!), some media references, and really added another layer to the text itself.
I was absolutely obsessed with how Obuobi focused on friendship, as well as how one can find happiness in alone time. For friendship, Obuobi balanced portraying a healthy friendship dynamic with Nia and Angie and their friend group, while also showing the flip side of a friendship that is disintegrating. Friendships are important relationships that often take a "guaranteed" role in so many stories—meaning, there are hardly any conflicts between friends in contemporary romance. And while On Rotation isn't entirely contemporary romance, it does call into question how friendships can and should and do evolve over time. Angie's different friendships all change and grow over the course of her medical career, and it was so satisfying to see that an author took just as much care writing the growth of a friendship as the growth of a romantic relationship. As far as Angie's relationship with herself, it was gratifying to also see a woman living and learning how to take care of herself—the scene where she hangs out at the Art Institute at the afternoon was such a high point, both inspiring and empowering.
Finally, I just love how this book straddled the divide between women's fiction and contemporary romance. I think that's really what allowed Obuobi to explore the friendships as deeply as Angie's romantic connection with Ricky (which was so swoonworthy!). I think that's why Obuobi was able to include as much medical information as possible, without needing to compromise on any of those small, butterflies-in-stomach inducing moments with the romantic interest. Like I said before, this book felt like reading real life on the page, and it was such a joy and a pleasure to live with Angie, just for a little while.
I can't wait to read all of what Obuobi writes! Until then, you can find more more about Shirlene Obuobi at shirleneobuobi.com.
*This review can also be found on my Goodreads page*
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