Review by Booklist Review
Jo Boateng has been in love with her best friend, Ezra, since college, but when he takes his girlfriend-of-the-month's side at a party, she decides it's time to let any romantic fantasies about him go. Novelist Malcolm Waters follows @DrJojobee online, so when he meets Jo in person, he knows that she's a health educator, an influencer, and a virgin. Their chemistry is instant, but Mal has a habit of falling hard and fast, which Jo doesn't trust. Plus, Jo's depression manifests in feelings of unworthiness that lead her to lock herself away, and when the social media that found Jo and Mal so adorable turns on them, she falls into another depressive episode. Obuobi's latest is a bit of a love-triangle (though readers will root for Jo and Mal), but it's more the story of a woman who is barely treating her mental health, and the man who wants to help her if she'll let him. As in On Rotation (2022), Obuobi tackles the reality of being a medical professional, racial microaggressions, and the meaning of family. Between Friends & Lovers is at times heart-wrenching, but, in the end, it is absolutely charming.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Love and mental health intertwine in this heartfelt romance from Obuobi (On Rotation). Dr. Josephine Boateng captivates her Instagram followers with approachable medical advice. Offline, she grapples with career uncertainty, exhausted by the medical industry's bureaucracy and the absence of mental health support. Josephine's life is complicated further when she confesses her feelings for her celebrity best friend, actor Ezra Adelman, at his 30th birthday party, and he doesn't reciprocate. Seeking a quiet corner of the party to collect herself, Josephine stumbles upon awkward writer Malcolm Waters, who was invited by Ezra's mother to discuss Ezra adapting his bestselling debut novel into a movie. Attraction sparks, and Josephine hopes for an easy one-night stand to get her crush on Ezra out of her system. But Malcolm doesn't do casual and convinces Josephine to try dating. Their chemistry is undeniable, but the growing intimacy between them comes to a screeching halt when Josephine disappears after getting a distressing call from her estranged mother. Obuobi tactfully addresses Josephine's mental health struggles and conjures the ideal supportive partner in swoony Malcolm. The narrative's depth enhances rather than overshadows the protagonists' believable bond. This layered romance is sure to win fans. Agent: Jessica Regel, Helm Literary. (July)
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
In hopes of getting over her decade-long crush, a doctor-turned-influencer takes a chance on a shy writer. Dr. Josephine Boateng, aka @drjojobee, is the "Virgin Sex Doc" to her hundreds of thousands of followers. Despite the well-known fact that she's still a virgin at 29, Jo turned her mental health leave into an empire, creating a safe space on social media for her followers to receive sexual health care and advice without judgment. Not that Jo wants to be a virgin; in fact, she's been holding out for almost a decade in hopes that her best friend may soon return her romantic feelings. It doesn't make things any easier that her best friend is Ezra Adelman, celebrity heir to a tech fortune and "America's Bachelor Prince." But when Jo confesses her love to Ezra at his mother's star-studded birthday bash, he doesn't say he loves her back. Heartbroken, Jo runs to her room in the Adelman's mansion--only to find that she's not alone. Malcolm Waters, a newly published author and "dynamic new voice" in literature, was avoiding the crowds when he stumbled into Jo's empty room. Almost instantly, Jo realizes this down-to-earth writer is everything Ezra's not: shy, humble, and even a little bit awkward. Jo asks Mal out, and though he's slow to jump into bed with her, she realizes a gentleman might be just what she needs. Is Jo ready to commit to Mal, especially since her heartbreak is still so raw? Or will the pressure of the limelight and Ezra's friendship destroy Jo's first real love? Obuobi's second novel is a powerful exploration of finding yourself, especially when you're outwardly confident and have a carefully curated social media presence. Jo is a strong yet flawed character, and her openness about depression, especially as a Black woman and a doctor, provides a refreshing perspective on an overlooked issue in health care. Jo and Mal are communicative and forgiving with one another, and Obuobi weaves a vulnerable, page-turning tale about trust, mental health, and second chances. Read this book--doctor's orders. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
