Review of Making the Rounds

[Stephanie Elizabeth]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Making the Rounds" by Patricia Grayhall.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Being a young, closeted lesbian of the 1970s, living in Arizona did little to give Patricia the confidence to embrace her identity. But a trip to San Francisco and a string of lusty dalliances invigorated her to follow her heart. After working several dead-end jobs which wasted Patricia’s intelligence, she returned to Arizona and later to Salt Lake City to receive her medical degree. Despite her strong work ethic and countless ways she proved her competency to her male peers, Patricia was often challenged by rigid views and combative personalities that perpetuated patriarchal thinking.

Worse, it seemed like the few lesbians she met were either not her type, emotionally unavailable, or the philandering kind. Patricia desperately yearned for monogamous love.

Could her dreams of becoming a doctor and capturing the heart of a fine woman be out of the question?

Making the Rounds by Patricia Grayhall is a story of strife and perseverance. Told in the first-person perspective, the author invites readers to share her journey that spans decades. Traversing between Arizona, San Francisco, Utah, and Boston, Patricia encounters varying levels of tolerance (and intolerance) regarding her unconventional lifestyle, often having to conceal her deepest desires. Readers are privy to the hard work and unrelenting obstacles Patricia faced as a gay woman studying to become a doctor when the societal expectation would be for her to marry a man and raise children.

There were so many things to love about the book, but my favorite was the coming-of-age element. Patricia didn’t leave out any details when relaying matters of the heart. I loved her transparency regarding the complexity of her relationships from teen to adulthood. Without the freedom to openly explore same-sex romances like those in heteronormative relationships, Patricia was vulnerable, often clinging to anyone who showed the slightest interest. For instance, when she continued her relationship with Maryann, who she didn’t love, and when she lusted after a straight woman who played mind games, it showed how reckless Patricia was with her heart which I found both poignant and relatable given her age and lack of experience.

Further, I found Patricia’s tenacity inspirational. Studying to become a medical doctor is an arduous task at the best of times. Still, enduring sexist, oppressive comments from affronting males in the seventies on top of being a lesbian would be downright soul-sucking. Still, Patricia was steadfast in her goals and had no problem putting unpalatable personalities in their place.

Making the Rounds was exceptionally edited. I didn't find any errors, and there was nothing to dislike about the book. That said, I have chosen to give the immersive story a rating of five out of five stars because of its inspirational main character and portrayal of the challenges she faced being a lesbian before coming out was accepted. In addition, I found the details of her medical career intriguing, and I think it would resonate with many.

I recommend the book to women who love women or an ally of the LGBTQ+ community. Readers who are drawn to stories that explore self-discovery won’t want to miss out on this one! However, due to some profanity and scenes of lovemaking, I would recommend the writing to a mature audience.

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Making the Rounds
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[Hazel Mae Bagarinao]

I think Maryann and Patricia's relationship is a toxic one. It's not good to have a relationship with the one you didn't love. It just ends up with a lot of heartbreaks. I think I will love the character of Patricia in this book when I read this. Nice review!

[Grace Elkana]

Though the major theme of this book could be disturbing for some people, the transparency will sway the minds of readers. This is a book to read with great caution.

[CrossK]

Making the Rounds by Patricia Grayhall is a story of strife and perseverance. Told in the first-person perspective, the author invites readers to share her journey that spans decades. Great review.

[Annas Felix]

I see myself being sympathetic towards Patricia. I hope her dream of becoming a doctor and finding true love comes to pass.