I picked up TAKE IT BACK by Kia Abdullah because it sounded interesting and it turns out that was a mild word to describe this novel. There is so much in this book, so many moving parts, and Abdullah orchestrates them with an ease and finesse that kept me turning pages.
Zara Kaleel, a Muslim woman struggling with her place in the world, left a lucrative position as an attorney/barrister in London and took a position as a counselor for a group that aids victims of sexual assault. When Jodie, a 16-year-old with facial deformities comes in and accuses four Muslim boys of assault, Kaleel is determined to help her, despite what she knows will be blowback from her family and community. The boys maintain that they are innocent of the accusations, and the reader is thrust into the story, alternating points of view between Zara, Jodie, and the different boys. So who is telling the truth? Abdullah keeps us wondering as the case heads to court and, the summary isn’t kidding, the explosive conclusion.
Abdullah shines a light on so many different issues in this one: women and sexual assault, racial tensions, and a woman’s place, particularly a Muslim woman. Zara has a contentious relationship with her family, her faith, and her community, and her involvement in the case thrusts all of this to the forefront of her life in a terrifying way. My stomach churned and my knuckles were white as frantically turned the pages. The ending had more than one unexpected twist and didn’t disappoint.
I was excited to learn that there will be another novel starring Zara Kaleel from Abdullah, and it will be at the top of my TBR pile.
Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy of this novel. All opinions are my own and freely given.
#takeitback #kiaabdullah #zarakaleel #stmartinspress

Take it Back by Kia Abdullah is a twisted courtroom thriller that will leave you guessing until the very end.

Zara left her job as a high profile lawyer to help sexual assault victims at a sexual assault center. Jodie, a sixteen year old with physical deformities comes to Zara to tell her she was gang raped by four classmates. The boys are Muslims from well-respected family. They are attractive while Jodie is not. Zara believes Jodie from the first time she talks to her. Then Jodie starts changing her story. Zara keeps fighting for Jodie and justice. Zara is Muslim which leads to backlash in the Muslim community for her not supporting the boys. Nobody will leave the trial unscathed.

Take it Back grabbed my attention from the first page. I was trying to figure out what actually happened to Jodie. Jodie and Amir kept changing their stories. Neither of them is telling the whole truth, but what actually happened? I loved how Zara would do anything to get justice for Jodie. Even after Jodie starts changing her story, Zara is confident in Jodie’s original story. When Zara’s family and the Muslim community tries to get her to step down from the case she refuses. Jodie and Amir both sound believable and are very adamant that the other is lying. The ending was crazy. I loved how Abdullah made me question everything throughout the book.

I highly recommend Take It Back for fans of courtroom thrillers and anyone looking for a thriller that will make you think.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press/Macmillan Publishers for Take it Back.

As if being a teenager isn't hard enough, Jodie has to face her teen years having physical flaws that make normal teen insecurities look trivial. She is often made fun of, sometimes pitied and never able to live a normal teen life. One day she attends a party and finds herself alone with four teenage boys who she claims raped her. She waits several days before coming forward, but sets in motion a series of events that will forever change her life, the life of the four accused and her sexual assault advocate, Zara.

I am a huge fan of legal thrillers and I was expecting to love this book. Although this book is about so much more than rape by touching on racial divides, cultural expectations and social status, I just didn't feel enough given the subject.

Take It Back is a riveting courtroom thriller which explores race, disabilities, entitlement and rape. Although not your average psychological suspense novel, the story will haunt you for days after you have finished it and your heart will perhaps hurt with sadness.

Jodie is a disabled young girl in high school with a misshapen face. She is lonely and quiet. Her mother is an alcoholic who can barely tolerate her. She abuses her emotionally by making her feel less than human. They barely make ends meet. When her best friend invites her to attend a party she is hesitant, but her friend offers to dress her with her clothes and put her hair up and they are off. At some point they become separated and a boy, who she has had a crush on for years, offers to take her to her friend. And from that point on there are two sides of the story. Jodie says she was raped. Four boys says nothing happened.

Zara Kaleel is a Muslim social worker, former attorney now working to help assist children in need. When Jodie comes to her a few days after the rape and tells they story of how four Muslim boys took turns raping her, she does not know what to believe. Jodie’s story at times seems inconsistent, but when her shirt with DNA on it from one of the boys comes back that sends the case to trial.

The boys who do not seem very concerned, repeatedly deny any knowledge of what Jodie is accusing them. Why would they rape an ugly girl when they could have anyone they want? All from Muslim families, there neighborhood supports them and condemns the victim. As the case goes to trial it becomes a media circus. Zara is shunned for taking the side of the victim and not supporting her community.

Her own family is close to disowning her for taking the case. Zara, who tried for years to live by the stringent laws and rules of her religion was banished by her father when she decided she could not continue to believe in the religious views of her family.

As the hatred between sides spills into the streets, a picture of Zara kissing a white man surfaces which puts her own life in jeopardy. But she will not give up. Jodie has no one to support her. As the case winds down explosive information against Jodie and the rape surfaces. It will take all of Zara’s strength to both physically and mentally survive as well as hold on to her belief that Jodie is innocent.

The book as a whole gives a radical inside look at racism, mob mentality and social injustice which can sometimes worsen when a person does not fit the norm. Are they not to be believed just because they don’t fit everybody’s perception of what is ordinary?

But the ending will surely haunt you for quite a while.

Thank you #NetGalley #St.Martin’sPublishingGroup #TakeItBack #KiaAbdulla for the advanced copy.

A shocking and sad tale of rape and the cultural problems that relate to it. Jodi and her alleged attackers are all victims of society just like Zara. This story weaves around and picks apart the lies and prejudices of all the characters. It is like a train wreck and you can't stop reading it. I do recommend it.

A shocking, twisting courtroom thriller.
The Victim: Jodie Wolfe, a physically flawed 16-year-old girl accuses four boys in her class of something unthinkable. Jodie Wolfe is a white girl with horrific facial deformities. Her mother is an alcoholic who is mentally abusive to Jodie.
Four handsome immigrant and Muslim boys are coming from good, hard-working families, having a bright future ahead them.
Zara Kaleel, a former lawyer, one of London's brightest legal minds, takes on this case.
Together, they enter the most explosive criminal trial of the year, where the only thing that matters is justice for Jodie.
Zara is Muslim and her family is not a family I would want to be a part of. They treat her horribly and because she is a lawyer defending a white girl against Muslims then they feel she is betraying the community, along with the Muslim community.
There are a couple of twists and turns that I didn't see coming and the ending will leave you shaking your head in confusion.
Thank you to St. Martin's and NetGalley for the book to review.

Wow, this was such a fantastic courtroom thriller, well-plotted, smart, and VERY clever! Set in London, we meet Zara, a Muslim lawyer turned sexual assault victim advocate, and Jodie, a 16-year-old white British girl who's accused four Muslim boys of rape. This story is nuanced and page-turning, weaving together and challenging the reader to think about so many aspects - race, religion, class, the criminal justice system, the media- and doing it brilliantly. The author weaved in backstory in such a way that I understood these characters were flawed people but they jumped off the page as realistic (my favorite kind). Needless to say, there was baggage galore with Zara and Jodie, but also with the boys and their families. The story alternates perspectives with short chapters that kept the pace and suspense high. I love that this story challenged me to examine my own thoughts about so much. By the end, I thought I understood what had happened but the author had twists and turns I. did. not. see. coming! Love this one!

I’m having a hard time getting into this book and I can’t connect with the characters. Thank you for the advanced copy and for being open to my feedback.

Wow, this was a tough one. On the surface, it is a courtroom drama as we try to unravel what actually happened when four Muslim boys allegedly attacked a disfigured white girl. Into this mix is a Muslim lawyer who has essentially turned her back on the Muslim traditions of what a woman should be and she is in charge of investigating in order to help defend the girl. I found Zara to be a very interesting, multi-layered woman who seems to be outside of both the Muslim community and the white community. As she investigates, she finds herself as the target of vitriol from both communities, even from her own family. If sexual assault is a trigger for you, you may want to proceed with caution. I found the story to be maddening at times because I could see many of the things Zara and Jodie struggled with to occur way too often in this country. The author did a great job showing Zara's flaws but still making her a sympathetic character. In the end, I really liked Zara and I am glad to see she is going to be part of an ongoing series. I look forward to seeing more of her in future books!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Jodie Wolfe is a 16 year old girl born with disfiguring facial deformities. Zara Kaleel is a beautiful former lawyer who left her high powered position to become an advocate for victims of sexual assault. When Jodie reports her rape by four Muslim young men from her school to Zara, Zara is the only one in her corner. Jodie's best friend and mother don't believe her and all four of the accused boys have matching stories about how they never touched her.

As the evidence slowly leaks out, the case twists and turns. Who is lying? Who is telling the truth? Can you tell? How can you expect a jury to decide? Lives are sure to be destroyed no matter the jury's verdict - the cloud of rape accusation hangs over the accused forever and the questioning and analysis of the victim, the doubt placed on her story is soul crushing for someone who has already been through a horrific trauma.

Take It Back is an unflinching look at the intersections of privilege, class, race, disability, gender politics, the criminal justice system and the media. Kia Abdullah has seamlessly and deftly crafted a brilliant and compelling story that will take you through the gamut of emotions. Take It Back is a compelling and timely courtroom drama that I have not been able to stop thinking about since I finished it. I highly recommend it, it was easily one of the best books of 2020.

TAKE IT BACK

TAKE IT BACK is an explosive story and one so gripping, you cannot keep your fingers from turning those pages until the truth is revealed.

This story follows Jodie Wolfe, a 16 year old young girl who has had facial deformities, living a very hard life full of bullying, taunting, and most of all from her alcoholic mother of all people. Jodie Wolfe’s life even becomes more hardened when she accuses four teenage boys from immigrant families of rape. As we read the book, the story reveals itself in just impeccable pace and timing, and a very intense courtroom drama.

Zara Kaleel is a Muslim assigned to assist Jodie Wolfe – but so are the accused. A media circus soon forms about this case and so does the trolling and the criticisms for both Jodie and Zara. Zara believes Jodie with all her heart even though everyone had turned her back on her – her best friend and even her own mother. Zara’s moral compass is really empowering and inspirational as she finds the truth to bring the person responsible to justice.

This is an exceptionally well written book – so gripping and immersive, one that will have you fighting on the side of Zara and Jodie when the world has turned against them.

Read this!

What a phenomenal and outstanding legal thriller I highly recommend.

Wow!! What a book! Hard topics all discussed with humanization and a very compelling story. Just when you think it’s over....bam. Heavy topics and not an easy read, but a very important one. Highly recommend.

Take it Back by Kia Abdullah pulled me in from the beginning. Thank you Net Galley and St.Martin's Press for the review copy book. I found the storyline to be both thought provoking and disturbing. I was really bothered by the lack of justice, the lies, and the racial bias that was portrayed in this book. I didn't find it to be a "Psychological Thriller", but a story that stuck with me. The book is well written and I could envision many details.

I'm a bit way past the date that I should be posting my review because I didn't read this in one sitting. Not because I can't but because I just don't want to. See, when I first started reading this book, I was mainly in it to satisfy my curiosity. WHO IS TELLING THE TRUTH? I was so totally unprepared for the squirmy rollercoaster ride of emotions that comes when controversial issues are laid out in the open. I felt like an idealistic youth who entered the Take It Back realm and emerged with scars from wounds that aren't even mine. That unexpected twist made my heart heavy with grief

It is very well written. The author did an amazing job at being fair towards all the characters, giving each a voice, letting you understand where they're coming from, making you realize until the very end that life really isn't just black or white, there are a lot of different shades in between. And how something simple could have such power to change the way we perceive something.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing this free ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
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Take It Back is an excellent court room drama that also explores Muslim life in London. Learning the back story of everyone involved in the case made it hard to dislike most of them. But deciding who was telling the truth and who was lying was even harder. I was becoming disappointed in the story near the end but the conclusion was very satisfying.

I was so excited to get the chance to read Take it Back since courtroom thrillers are at the top of my favorites. Soon it became apparent that this was more than a quick-read-mystery. Deeper thoughts ran all the way through this unique story.

The story begins quickly with Jodie Wolfe, a 16-year-old girl, who approaches a lawyer who works at a sexual assault center. Artemis House, located in East London has individuals who work for and believe in their clients.

Jodie claims to have been raped by several boys. She begins by telling Zara that she suffers from neurofibromatosis which has left her face severely disfigured. Should that fact be relevant? Of course not. But does it have the ability to cast slight doubt? Sure. And from all indications, the boys seem to have a fairly spotless past. So with that, the story is off and running.

However, there’s much more that works its way through the story. Zara, the lawyer who is to represent Jodie is a Muslim. The boys accused of rape are Muslim. Should that matter? Of course not. But it does enter into the story in a large way.

As I mentioned this is more than a whodunit legal thriller. There is much food for thought woven throughout.

What Concerned Me
I did find it a little slow toward the middle.


What I Liked
As I’ve stated, it’s much more than a whodunit. It’s a story that promotes much deeper thought. Take it Back not only covers rape, but religion, family expectations, drug dependency, assault, and more. So don’t go into this thinking it’s a light read.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Kia Abdullah, and NetGalley for the ability to read and post my opinion of this story.

(4.5/5) This was an incredible courtroom thriller! Riveting and heartbreaking. Take It Back does deal with graphic rape so reader be warned. Any book that deals with this subject is a difficult read but I found the writing here extremely well done. Many complex characters involved, some likable, others not. The story will draw you in from the very beginning and you will not want to put it down. The surprise at the end blew my mind and made me feel both angry and sad. Was justice served? You'll have to read it to find out. This is one not to be missed.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the review copy.

This is a fast-paced, thrilling courtroom drama. Zara is a strong protagonist, and I enjoyed learning more about her culture. This book takes a difficult subject matter and handles it with care, examining all the different angles and common misconceptions about sexual assault. Highly recommend.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for a review! While this book is a bit outside of my normal reading range, the story sparked my interest. There are so many important discussions that happen in this book, especially in relation to sexual assault and the way victims are treated and how race can factor into it. Honestly, this would be a great book to read in a book club because there is so much to discuss.

Changing perspectives throughout the book really gives the reader a full picture of the situation. All of the main characters are also well-rounded, not reduced to any single aspect of their character. The plot of the book reads a lot like a thriller, even though much of it takes place in a court room. Even though it seems like a straightforward story, Abdullah keeps the reader guessing right up until the very end. Who's really telling the truth? This is the core question running throughout the book.

Abdullah also exposes the hatred a lot of people feel, especially in high tension cases like this. There are so many layers to the case, and none of them are left out. An emotional read, but one that's difficult to put down just because of how powerful it is. This is definitely a book that will leave you thinking long after you finish it.

This is one of those books that faces both a cultural and a sexual dilemma right on, and its not always pretty. Zara is an exceptional lawyer who has been struggling with her place in life as a British-Bangladeshi Muslim ..... of where she wants to be and where her Muslin heritage tugs her to be. She leaves her prestigious law firm along with all the bells and whistles that has allowed her to have, to become an independent sexual violence advisor. Her struggle with her own identity plays an important part when a teenaged girl presents to her with a claim of rape by four Muslim boys. Adding to the difficulty of the case is that the girl was born with a condition that alters her facial appearance drastically, and they both know this will be used against her when pursuing the allegation of rape against four nice-looking, popular Muslim boys. But this is also a time of racial unrest in England against the influx of Muslims, and the case will be a tinder-box for public discontent. Following the case along with Zara's personal struggles takes the reader on a quick-paced journey through descriptive hardships, personal unease, teenage loyalty, and confusion. I found that there were similarities in the struggles to belong in the characters of both Zara and Jodie, and they both had living lessons to learn. I enjoyed the book very much. Liked that there was a surprise at the end...but not sure how much I personally liked it!! I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. #NetGalley #TakeItBack