This was a hard one to read because of the way the Women in the story are treated. It was so well done and wonderfully written. I had no idea how things would end.. there were little drops of things that made you question what I knew.
Zara and Jodi are such strong female characters, fighting for justice and whats right. I loved seeing Zara's family, the traditions they upheld and how they made Zara who she was. Jodi's upbringing and fight to find justice for herself and not allowing these men to get away with anything was inspiring.

16-year-old Jodie has come forward with claims of rape from 4 Muslim teenagers. Zara, a former barrister who is now a rape counselor, is tasked with listening to her story and supporting her every step of the way. Zara is also Muslim, and it creates rising tensions in her community. When the information gets leaked, they feel she’s a traitor and that she shouldn’t be siding with Jodie. It’s causing even more issues with her already strained family relationship. Take it Back is intense, and it leaves you swapping sides throughout the entire book.

Here Zara is doing what is right, and her community is telling her it’s wrong. She’s also making some mistakes along the way. Mistakes that could make her lose the career she’s fought so hard for. Because Zara is flawed and has made some stumbles, it makes her that much more relatable. The characters were fantastic in this one. Even Nina, who is just the worse friend imaginable, is very well-written. My heart hurt for Jodie, who just wanted to be heard as she faced a world of people who couldn’t get past her appearance.

The storyline is absolutely fantastic. I can’t tell you how many times I flipped and flopped between guilty and not guilty. There are multiple layers at play in this storyline, between the incident, racial tensions, and the issues Zara is facing standing by Jodie. Each layer is richly explored and told from multiple angles. Abdullah plants this unsettling feeling in your gut and builds upon it from beginning to end. A superb read. Thank you, St. Martin’s, for sending this along.

This was a rough read – gang rape, facial disfigurement, abuse at home and school. My heart went out to Jodie.

Zara Kaleel, a former lawyer, takes on Jodie’s case. While it seems that no one else believes Jodie, Zara does. Zara is also Muslim, as are the guys accused of raping Jodie. This creates a powerful subplot to the story – a Muslim prosecutor, a non-Muslim victim, and Muslim defendants. This leads to Zara being ostracized in her community.

Surprisingly, I had a hard time getting into the book. I think it just tried to cover too much. Rape, abuse, religion, islamophobia, race. Perhaps fewer issues dealt with more thoroughly would have made it better. Just my opinion.

I love a good plot twist, but not when it comes out of the blue and at the last minute of the story. This twist made no sense at all.

I received this book from the publisher with no expectation of a positive review.

I received an ARC of Take It Back in exchange for an honest review. This is the story of Jodie, a white girl, who accuses four Muslim boys of rape. The story deals with the rape but also racism. Who do you believe. Both sides have been caught in lies. Jodie has a face deformity and so she is not considered desirable by the four boys, who are all popular, well-liked boys and from good immigrant families. Jodie is represented by Zara, who is also Muslim. Zara has problems of her own, the least of which is the criticism and hatred she has to deal with from her community for representing Jodie. The story has a surprising ending and will keep you guessing until the end as to who is lying.

This book hits you like a bombshell. The tribalism, deceit, dysfunction, and despair are palpable. Zara is a flawed, but lovable character. Her decision to work in the nonprofit sector sets up expectations that are shot down again and again. . . Yet, she persists. The trial is a hot mess and full of surprises. Early in the book I was reminded of the movie "The Accused" with Jodi Foster and Kelly McGillis. Most certainly this book is a reminder of the inherent difficulties in delivering justice while balancing the rights of the accuser and the accused. A book ripe for discussion if there is a book group brave enough to take it on.

Thank you to St. Martin and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

This book wasn't on my radar but I was approached by the publisher to read an advanced copy.

The book centers around a disabled white girl with a facial deformity who is accusing four high school boys of gang raping her. The boys are Muslim immigrants from good backgrounds and are the popular kids.
Did she make this up or did they really rape her?

This book broke my heart- at times too hard to read. I hated the treatment of the girl and couldn't stand reading what they called her face.

Overall, I think this book is an important read and tackles important issues. It is well written and had me guessing to the last page. I am looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.

Thanks to Netgalley and St.Martins Press for my advanced ebook copy.

This was a bit darker read than I expected, but it was engaging. I've never read anything by this author, but I'm likely to check out other books in the future. The ending wasn't what I was expecting, which is always a good thing.

Tl:dr: Riveting and gutting, Take It Back is a short novel that packs an enormous emotional punch about power, privilege, and the justice system, with no candy coating about the all too familiar failures of humanity.

Take It Back is set in London is about a rape case. The accuser is a teenage girl who suffers from facial deformities, the accused are four teenage boys who are Muslim. The attorney assigned to the teen girl's case is Zara, a Muslim woman who left her family because she doesn't want the life her family asked/ordered her to be part of, to the point where she left her arranged marriage just days after the ceremony.

There's a lot to unpack in this book, but most of it is about how and why we decide who we are, what the truth (to us) is, and the lengths we'll go to get it. In short, we're all capable of kindness or cruelty, and we are--all of us-- fallible.

Highly recommended, especially for those willing to dive into the darker corners of being human, and the devastating impact it can have.

Wow. An emotional roller coaster. Characters are so well written, I felt like I knew some of them. I didn't expect this to hit me so hard emotionally. Great read.

Prepare to have your emotions tugged on … vacillate between anger, frustration and empathy. Who can you believe? This compelling story is more than a gut wrenching court room thriller. Rarely does a novelist attempt to tackle such a heady mix of societal issues in one tale. Explored and exposed are the illogical perceptions behind race, religion, nationality, misogyny and rape. Even the ill effects of media and the internet are highlighted.
Jodie Wolfe is a 16 year-old white girl who has been the subject of taunting and bullying all her life. She was born with a severe facial deformity that even her alcoholic mother considers “ugly” and almost daily reinforces her disdain. Jodie has accused four of her classmates of luring her into an abandoned warehouse and taking turns raping her. The boys are all Muslims and the progeny of hard-working respectable families residing in East London. Neither Jodie’s best friend, Nina, or her mother are supportive. It appears that most everyone wants her to “take it back” …. the accusation! After all, who would rape an “ugly” girl. Unfortunately, many ignorant individuals fail to realize men do not rape women because they’re sexy …. but, rather to humiliate and exert their power over the victims.
It takes five days before Jodie is ready to relate her ordeal with graphic details at the SARC … the sexual assault referral center …. to advisor Zara Kaleel. Zara is an independent sexual advisor at SARC. Her job is to act as an advocate, listen and compile all the facts and establish the likelihood or necessity for legal action. Zara, a Muslim herself, had finished law school at the top of her class and was firmly entrenched in a prestigious law firm on Bedford Row in London, and earning a six figure salary. She was disenchanted with not only her professional life, but her family dynamics. She refused to act the part of a traditional Muslim woman. She was estranged from her father over her failed arranged marriage. She coped with her situation by quitting her high paying legal career to become the more noble sexual violence advisor, while intermittently popping a Valium. Zara’s family and community cannot understand why she would take part in such a case. Many considered her a “traitor” …. as evidenced in the newspaper and by internet trolls. Should she be more loyal to Islam than a girl who was victimized?
The last half of the book is a riveting exhibition of the testimony of all five teenagers. All of their testimony comes across with varying degrees of veracity and effectiveness. Who is to believed? There is no shortage of opinion and outrage in the newspaper and on the Internet.
The community is embroiled in hate, bigotry and misogyny as the trial progresses.
Kia Abdullah weaves a compelling and convoluted narrative with elegant prose that triggers vacillating emotions that culminates in multiple unexpected reveals. All five of the teenagers will be scarred by the imperfect justice system. This riveting and thought provoking book will resonate in your memory long after the last page is turned.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing an Uncorrected Proof of this masterful novel in exchange for an honest review.

This book deals with gang rape, racism, prejudice, religious prejudices, violence against women, and societal disregard for what is right or wrong. It is riveting and heartbreaking. How this still continues so widely in the world just takes me to a very sad place.

Based on my background, I really had a tough time with this book. So many women face the social injustice of the topics in this book. It is enlightening but, I would never read it a second time.

Gritty and heart-wrenching. Religious bias, sexism, racism, bigotry, xenophobia. So many reasons to wake up and notice this book. All of these cruel realities being played out in a courtroom. Zara Kaleel - wiz attorney, now victim advocate. All sides screaming for justice stirred up into a frenzy by the media and the public. Four Muslim teenagers from hard working immigrant families are the accused. A brave disabled victim that comes forward.

So many parts made me uncomfortable in its disturbing, shocking nature (insert warning here). Keep in mind this is a Courtroom - Special Victim Unit setting. With this said I realize this story could easily be someone's story, someone's reality. The setting followed every single major character home to build a separate picture from the jury, the judge, the lawyers or the media.

This is a thriller that must be read to the very end to see if you the reader chose the right side.

Who is telling the truth? Who can you trust and believe? This was an emotional and very thought provoking book. You will be on pins and needles waiting to find out the truth.
Many thanks to St Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Zara seems like she has it all, but of course, not. Leaving a high legal career to defend women , she struggles with expectations from her parents, colleagues and herself. When she defends a disfigured woman who has been raped by 4 Muslim boys, she confronts racism, sexism, and class based discrimination.
Well, written, sadly predictable in some ways, this is an excellent and timely book.

When a 16 year old Jodie with facial deformities and an alcoholic abusive mother accuses 4 Muslim boys of rape the nation is divided. Rape counsellor Zara who is also a Muslim takes on Jodie’s case but faces the wrath of her family and community. In a case of he said/she said is Zara really on the truth’s side?

Take it back by Kia Abdullah is a powerful courtroom drama dealing with racial and social injustice. Hard to put down this is one emotional , compelling read that makes you think and kept me guessing till the very end

I would like to thank St. Martin’s Press & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.

This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/

Take it Back by Kia Abdullah is an amazing courtroom drama spelled out in book form. This book definitely needs to be made into a movie/ series.
Zara, working in a sexual assault center, protects the ones that need the most protecting. In walks Jodie and every ones' life is changed. Jodie proclaims she was raped by a group of boys from school after a party one Friday night. The four boys deny all accounts. Jodie's own mother and best friend are leery to believe the attack happened; who attacks a girl who has facial deformities? As the book uncovers more and more of the truth, you can't possible turn the pages quick enough. Abdullah writes an suspenseful drama that keeps everyone guessing until the final chapter.
I will definitely recommend Take It Back by Kia Abdullah to others and will continue to look for other works by Abdullah as well. Abdullah's writing is easy to read and follow along. The chapters flowed well. Special thanks to NetGalley, Kia Abdullah, and St. Martin' Press for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion. #NetGalley

This was a hard story to read as I was angry throughout the entire story. This is story comes during the time of the #metoo movement which makes it that much worse.

A diverse story that is well told and keeps you reading. It lets you into a world of Muslims living in London and makes you realize that every culture has its own problems and monsters lurk in unsuspecting, polite, seemingly upstanding citizens.

This story makes you stop and think, it also brings forth how patriarchal our society is an how easily most people turn a blind eye as if a boys will be boys mentality is any way to raise young men. I’m a boy mom and this mentality scares me. It also scares me to think that he can be accused of something he didn’t do as he gets older. BUT, I’m also raising him to know only he has control over his body and it is to never be used inappropriately.

This book is the story of a white teenage girl named Jodi who accuses four muslim boys from her school of raping her. The main character is actually Zara, a muslim woman of 30 who is an ex-barrister working for a victim's advocacy group. She takes Jodi's case and the story goes from there.

I liked the steady plot, the characters, and the intrigue. It is part thriller, part drama, part story of immigrants and their children in England, and much more. A solid book!

Take It Back is an intense and sizzling action packed courtroom drama full of raw emotion and the realities and injustices all over the world. Kia Abdullah did a phenomenal job with characterization and plot were remarkable! I could not put it down! I was hooked from the very beginning and the plight of Zara and Jodie really touched my heart! Take It Back is definitely a heart pounding book that packs a powerful punch! Perfect courtroom drama for fans of John Grisham!

The main character, Zara Kaleel is a strong willed young woman. She planned what she thought was the perfect legal career, but realized her true calling was to help others in need differently than what she had planned. She joins Artemis House to work as a sexual violence advisor.

As prepared as she was for such a difficult and heartbreaking job, she never realized how much it would clutch at her heart. A sixteen-year-old girl named Jodie Wolfe comes to see Zara. She tells her that she was raped by four Muslim boys. Since she goes to the same school as the boys, the gossip about the assault from that night at the party starts spreading.

Jodie was born with facial deformities caused by neurofibromatosis so the issue of not fitting in, as far as looks are concerned, is a vital element of the story. This book crosses all cultural, ethical, and social boundaries in a shockingly beautiful way! She believes Jodie's story and wants to help her. Of course it draws a huge public outcry due to it’s surrounding issues of race and women’s rights too. Zara is a Muslim but when people of her faith find out that she’s taken the case, she’s ostracized and considered a traitor.

Tensions rise, and there is no way to guess the outcome or what will happen leading up to the final judgement. The ending will blow you away!

This is a hard book to read because it tigs at your heartstrings so much, but I highly recommend it! It reminded me somewhat of Little Fires Everywhere in the sense that it covered so many diverse important aspects of life.

Thank you Kai Abdullah, St. Martins Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read .Take It Back My feedback is voluntary and expresses my honest review.

Great writing and character development. A 16-year-old white girl claims to be raped by four teen Muslim boys. The rape counselor is a Muslim woman who believes her and supports her. The stories of the girl and the boys skillfully conflict in the narrative and the reader is never sure who is telling the truth and who is not...what really happened? Conflicts of culture, blaming the victim, dynamics of power on several levels kept me reading.