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christinabijou's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The characters were frustrating at times, but that was part of their charm. Although a bit naive, they felt honest and real.
Only critiques are that the story felt a bit dragged out and some of the character conflicts didn’t make much sense (re: Angie & Nia).
Only critiques are that the story felt a bit dragged out and some of the character conflicts didn’t make much sense (re: Angie & Nia).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Drug abuse
ukponge's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Child death, Death of parent, and Gun violence
rusereviews's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
On Rotation by Shirlene Obuobi is a strong contemporary own voices debut with romantic elements. I listened to the audiobook, which clocks in at eleven and a half hours and is narrated by Mela Lee.
Angie Appiah is a Ghanaian-American medical student juggling med school, the expectations of her parents, making enough time for her friends, love, and her need for self determination. She starts dropping things after her boyfriend dumps her, she bombs a test that determines her future, and her best friend and roommate distances herself. Among all that, Ricky walks into her life with his handsome thoughtful face and she's not sure what to do with him since he doesn't fit into her plans.
This book is a smidge more women's fiction than romance, and it's not fully a medical drama either. It does feature our main character Angie figuring out what she wants out of life after being told what to do for the vast majority so far.
There's a lot of the miscommunication trope in here, so if that bothers you this may not be the book for you. I did find it pretty frustrating at times, but overall the issues between characters are pretty realistic. I think the book could also have been tightened up a bit, there were a few places where it felt like it dragged a bit for me. The author also likes to infodump from time to time.
I really enjoyed the author's prose and how she painted the scenes with her words. In addition to being a doctor currently in a cardiology fellowship, she's also a comic artist, so it makes sense to me how she writes so visually.
I think folks in the medical field would really appreciate this book. Also, black nerds, rejoice, because you will love all the references in this book.
Tropes in this book include: friends to lovers, slow burn, miscommunication, queer side character, nonbinary side character
CW: strained relationship with parents, parent with addiction, absent parent, death of parent, hospital (including brief mention of shooting victim), illness
Angie Appiah is a Ghanaian-American medical student juggling med school, the expectations of her parents, making enough time for her friends, love, and her need for self determination. She starts dropping things after her boyfriend dumps her, she bombs a test that determines her future, and her best friend and roommate distances herself. Among all that, Ricky walks into her life with his handsome thoughtful face and she's not sure what to do with him since he doesn't fit into her plans.
This book is a smidge more women's fiction than romance, and it's not fully a medical drama either. It does feature our main character Angie figuring out what she wants out of life after being told what to do for the vast majority so far.
There's a lot of the miscommunication trope in here, so if that bothers you this may not be the book for you. I did find it pretty frustrating at times, but overall the issues between characters are pretty realistic. I think the book could also have been tightened up a bit, there were a few places where it felt like it dragged a bit for me. The author also likes to infodump from time to time.
I really enjoyed the author's prose and how she painted the scenes with her words. In addition to being a doctor currently in a cardiology fellowship, she's also a comic artist, so it makes sense to me how she writes so visually.
I think folks in the medical field would really appreciate this book. Also, black nerds, rejoice, because you will love all the references in this book.
Tropes in this book include: friends to lovers, slow burn, miscommunication, queer side character, nonbinary side character
CW: strained relationship with parents, parent with addiction, absent parent, death of parent, hospital (including brief mention of shooting victim), illness
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Addiction, and Terminal illness
d0505's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Drug abuse and Addiction
hazelgirl21's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Abandonment, and Medical content
Minor: Death of parent
antonique_reads's review
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Abandonment, and Death
Minor: Drug abuse and Gun violence
librarybookscene's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Death, Alcoholism, Grief, Addiction, and Racism
theatrealpaca's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death of parent, and Medical content
Moderate: Racism and Sexism
kfmcf's review
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Infidelity and Sexual content
Minor: Grief, Misogyny, Racism, Addiction, and Body shaming
ktdakotareads's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Medical content, Grief, and Medical trauma
Minor: Cancer, Death, Miscarriage, Addiction, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Racism, Child death, Chronic illness, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Blood, Drug use, and Grief