By Shirlene Obuobi

Surviving as a Black girl in high society is pretty easy, as long as you know the rules.

One: arrive with your pedigree at the ready—your degree from a prestigious university, the smattering of letters behind your name, your association with friends powerful enough to confer you relevance. Announce these clearly enough and often enough that no one asks why you’re here, but with enough humility that you’re not seen as a threat. (Anecdotes that begin with when I was in medical school or my dormitory in Cambridge often do the trick.)

Two: be intentional with your hair. Keep it straight on the days you want to blend in—dealer’s choice on whether you rock a lace front, U-part, or a silk press, because let’s be real, hardly anyone in attendance will know the difference—and only bust out the Afro when you want to stand out. Be aware that standing out might not always be in your best interest, and relish the irony that existing in your unaltered self is considered a statement.

Three: adopt a standard Midwestern accent. Strip your voice of AAVE and go for more Channel 7 News, though you can throw out the occasional biiiitttchhhh for laughs in select social situations.

And, most importantly, number four: never, ever make a white woman cry. Because white women’s tears are salt sowed into fertile land, the fertile land being your friendships, your peace, your livelihood, and whatever else you may hold dear. The cuter and younger the white woman, the more potent the tears. The more witnesses, especially of the straight male variety, the more devastating the impact.

All this to say: I was screwed.

Excerpt from “Between Friends and Lovers” copyright © 2024 by Shirlene Obuobi. Published by Quercus Books.

About the book: To her countless Instagram followers Josephine Boateng is the dazzling Dr. Jojo—and her opinions on health, growth, and self-love matter. Her message: be smart (she has a medical degree after all), be significant, and do not put up with foolish men.

But behind the camera, Jo’s story is more complicated—she finds her influencer career underwhelming; her potential career in medicine overwhelming, and she’s hung up on her best friend, nepo-baby and romcom heartthrob Ezra Adelman. When Ezra shows up to his thirtieth birthday party with her childhood bully on his arm, however, Josephine realizes that it’s time to take her own advice and prioritize herself for once.

No one is more shocked than Malcolm Waters when his debut novel turns him into a critic’s darling. When he’s invited to a swanky penthouse party to discuss turning his book into a film, he knows rubbing elbows with the elites of entertainment will be great for his career. The only problem: he’s not good with people, and even worse at networking.

Just when he’s about to throw in the towel, he’s rescued by none other than Dr. Jojo. He’s been following her on social media for years, and she’s even more impressive in real life. And to his bewilderment, the feeling is mutual.

But in a world where the lines between private and public are as blurred as those between friendship and love, can they risk it all for something real?

***

Shirlene Obuobi is a Ghanaian American cardiologist, cartoonist, and author who grew up in Chicago, Illinois; Hot Springs, Arkansas; and the Woodlands, Texas. She appeared on Good Morning America to promote her debut novel, On Rotation and is a regular contributor to the Washington Post. When she isn’t in the hospital, she can be found drawing comics, writing on her phone, and talking to everyone who will listen about women’s heart health.