Maybe I was expecting too much from this book. I have read this author previously, but this book did not do it for me. The concept seemed interesting but it just had too much going on. Some of the book was not well defined which took away from the story for me. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC of this book. Although I received the book in this manner, it did not effect my opinion of this book nor my review.

This novel is clever in its offbeat manner. An interesting story of Kango, whose name we don't learn until the third chapter. More like an opportunist who is always ready to make a dollar, consequences be damned. A gangster figure who dabbles in crime. In addition to the criminal dabbling, Kango is also a writer. You see, this book is craftily written in 2nd person and author Kenji Jasper offers the reason why to readers through Kango,'s character.

" As a note to the reader , you are writing this in the second person because it’s the only voice where you can bear to be honest with yourself. You can tell yourself the story as if you are removed, as if the words coming out of her mouth don’t automatically tell you that this is someone that you need to pay attention to, either because she might be perfectly tuned into your frequency, or she is someone you need to get away from at the speed of light."

Much of the book is set in Brooklyn, NYC and as you can guess from the title Nostrand Ave. is the center of action. Kango is the point of some shady criminality emanating from his home base of Nostrand Ave. So shady are these activities that the details are mostly hinted at and are not given much clarity but that is keeping with the theme of the novel, offbeatness{is that a word?}. Kango runs into some trouble and must leave Brooklyn and his somewhat lucrative criminal enterprise behind. There seems to be a sea change in the energy which forced him to retreat to Washington DC, his original home.

When he gets a call from a former NYC cohort for one more score he heads back to Brooklyn leaving his growing soul food restaurant in DC in the hands of a capable friend. Can Kango survive his trip back to NYC? What has changed in the years he has been absent? It will take a careful read of this novel for you to discover the truth. When Jasper writes on Kango's return, “So much is unclear, and all you know is the terrain. Then you look across the intersection of Myrtle and you see three men standing there on the corner, sharing a pint of something brown with fresh plastic cups to boot. It’s Wes, Raheem, and Michele. And they are wearing camouflage ponchos.”

That first sentence could really be a summation of the novel. Writing with a witty prose and energetic aplomb, Kenji explores themes of love, loyalty and friendship in a mysterious fashion that is sometimes downright hilarious. If you enjoy eccentric material, then this is a book you'll love. It suffers a bit I think from the dark shadows but not nearly enough for me to not recommend. I say read it, embrace it and have fun, the journey will produce laughs and frowns! ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5. Thanks to Netgalley and Dafina Books for an advanced DRC. Book will be available everywhere 8/28/18.