TAKE IT BACK by Kia Abdullah is a gripping and thought-provoking legal drama that kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. Sixteen-year-old Jodie Wolfe has severe facial deformities and has been ridiculed and bullied all her life. The story begins when Jodie who is white enters a sexual assault center and accuses four Muslim boys from her school of raping her after a party. She makes her accusation to Zara Kaleel, a former lawyer who has given up her high profile law career to work at the center to advocate for victims of sexual assault. Jodie’s accusation sets off a public outcry that pits families and neighbors against one another. The boys say they didn’t do it and Jodie’s own mother and her best friend, don’t even believe her. Who is lying? Zara, who is Muslim, risks everything to fight for Jodie and learn the truth of what happened that fateful night. The criminal trial sparks outrage on every side. Issues of sex, race, religion and politics all collide as the story races on to its shocking conclusion. This well-written story is multi-layered and provocative. It was a timely and disturbing read, but felt completely authentic. I found myself totally engrossed in this powerful book and highly recommend it. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read an early copy.

I received this advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review and I could NOT get into this book. I made myself read until the 20% mark and couldn't go any further than that. I did not feel connected to the characters or the story and was not invested enough to want to know what happened next.

A disabled white girl accuses four Muslim boys of raping her and a Muslim woman takes on her case, much to the outrage of her family and community.

This was an original premise as the main character had a rare condition causing facial deformities. The author brought out the Muslim view of how women and men should behave and what happens if they don't conform. I had a bit of a struggle staying with the book as the chapters were awkward with abrupt changes in perspective, and the writing full of cliches and underdeveloped characters.

Zara Kaleel was a successful London barrister and a rising star but was unhappy. She decides to walk away from her profession to become an advisor at a center which helps victims of sexual assault. Sixteen-year-old Jodie Wolfe, who suffers from neurofibromatosis, which has left her face disfigured, seeks help at the center. She claims that she has been raped by a group of boys from her school. One of them, Amir, is someone she has had a deep crush on for many years.

Zara is a fascinating character. She is a smart, independent woman whose rejection of many of her Muslim values has enabled her to be successful but also fractured her relationship with her family. It has also created an inability for Zara to enter into healthy relationships.

Jodie, in addition to her physical challenges, has an alcoholic mother and a best friend who doesn’t believe her story. And Jodie’s story is not without some question. We get to know more about the accused and wonder whether they could have done the horrible things Jodie says they did.

An important element is that Jodie is white and the boys she has accused of rape are Muslim. By taking on the case and supporting Jodie during the trial, Zara is seen as betraying her community. The trial is intense and upsetting. The racial upheaval that the case generates through the news and social media is tragic.

Author Kia Abdullah has provided much more than a good legal drama. It is a story that unveils deep rooted prejudices. We are kept guessing until the end as to who is telling the truth. This is a thought-provoking, emotional book that will stay with you.

Rated 4.25 stars.

Sixteen-year-old Jodie Wolfe who was born with severe facial deformities faces a courtroom drama because on a rare night out with a friend Jodie becomes a victim of rape. She accuses four boys who are all from Muslim immigrant families and who are classmates from her school of committing the crime. Jodie seeks help with her case from a rape counseling service where Zara Kaleel is assigned to take Jodie on as a client.

Zara has experience as a skillful litigator because she was a successful barrister before she left her job to work for the counseling service. However, Zara is also a Muslim and by taking on this case against the Muslim boys she is soon accused of being a traitor against her own people.

Both Jodie and Zara are transported into the public spotlight by the case and things become ugly for both of them. In addition to the turmoil caused by the trial, their personal lives are not previously without trauma. Jodie has no home life. Her alcoholic mother is usually passed out from drinking too much and Jodie is mostly left on her own. Zara is constantly trying to free herself from the expectations that she should follow the stereotypical life expected of a Muslim woman Therefore, the pressure of the court case brings additional stress to both of them in their already troubled lives.

The book, set in London, discloses the ugliness that results when a rape case is brought to court. The emotional distress of a trial takes its toll on the victim and on the accusers. The author successfully presents the affect it has on the individuals on both sides of the table. It is a very emotional and disturbing story that flows around the courtroom drama itself.
It becomes a case of deciding who is telling the truth and who is lying.

In addition to the topic of rape, the author explores religion, race, culture, family, immigrants, physical deformity, alcoholism, misogyny, and journalistic reporting. The storyline conveys the regret and also the finality that comes with making a statement or accusation that one would like to but can’t take back.

Kia Abdullah has structured the book so that the reader becomes like a member of the jury vacillating from one side to the other in an effort to determine the truth that lies at the root of the rape accusation. Be sure to add this novel to your to be read pile for it is a timely read that comes with a twisted and thought provoking plot.

This review has been written from the egalley of the book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley.

Imagine yourself at a ping pong tournament or tennis match. Picture your head going back and forth, side to side, as you follow the ball. That’s what reading Take it Back felt like. I believed Jodie. No wait! I believe the boys! Oh hell, I don’t know who to believe!

Compelling and engaging from the beginning, Abdullah wrote a book that found this reader eager to know all the answers. Take it Back is a solid mystery that never let this reader really settle on solving the mystery, which for this reader one mark of an excellent story.

Goodreads indicates this is the first book in a series about Zara. Zara is flawed and I enjoyed getting to know her character in Take it Back. I’m eager to continue exploring her life in forthcoming books. And if her cases are as hard to figure out as this one was, I’ll have a new favorite series to follow.

I’m still shaking my head at the ending! A good twist that finally stopped the back and forth of my head seeking answers. You’ll have your answers and I hope you’ll enjoy the road to them as much as I did.

Take It Back is a character-driven courtroom drama that follows the story of a rape accusation and how we handle grief.

If you read and thoroughly enjoyed The Night Swim, I can't recommend this enough because they're very similar in concept and writing. While on paper this book sounds like my thing, I did find myself struggling to get through the entire book at times.

This is one of those books where you almost need to schedule when you read it because it's definitely a more deep reading experience where you should be taking your time through the pages while I almost found myself rushing through it to see what happens, which didn't mix too well for me.

An interesting story, Kia Abdullah is definitely an author who knows how to put together a well written and thoughtful book that is supposed to be thought about even after reading.

This is a story that could be in the news today. Jodie Wolfe, who has facial deformities, is the Victim and accuses 4 boys in her class of sexually assaulting her. These four boys are from hard working immigrant families and of course the public outrage is great. Jodie's lawyer, Zara is a muslim--and to make it worse so are the accused. This story takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions seeing what Jodie goes through as well as Zara. It's about much more thanjust the courtroom drama and is very powerful, emotional and thought provoking. It’s a case of who’s telling the truth, who’s lying, who did what, and who didn’t! I highly recommend it. Thank you netGalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I waivered when I went to download this book. Sometimes I have a feeling that I will either love or not love a book based on the synopsis. This was one of those that gave me pause. It sounded intriguing. But on the flip side, books that are meant to take your breath away don't always follow through. Sadly, this one didn't follow through.

Many are already raving about this book. I can see why. This book hits the hot topic of racism at its core. It's real and raw in many parts. The story itself speaks to one on a level most books really don't. The author doesn't hold back when it comes to the characters and their actions. She doesn't give any of them a break. They are who they are... or at least who they want you to think they are.

For me, this moved slow. While I admit, most of the book is at a high point due to the story itself, I felt bored with it. Maybe it's the writing. Maybe it isn't. I can't really say. As much as I wanted to know the truth, I was also just wanting to be done with the book.

I have seen many say they didn't see the ending coming. Truth: I saw it just as it played out. The ending, then the final ending. (If you read this, you will know what I mean.) It's actually what I expected. And that was disappointing on a certain level. I mean, it's the perfect ending. But at the same time, I had hoped it wouldn't end the way I thought it would.

I can’t quite put my finger on what didn’t work for me. There were aspects I liked but I felt like they came secondary to the main story. I thought the dynamic between Zara and her family, as well as with her community, was the book’s strongest point. I recognize that the conflict came from the court case but the case itself didn’t make as strong as impression as I think it meant to. The story would have been stronger, I think, if just told from Zara’s perspective. I found I couldn’t connect to her most of the time and I think more focus on her, with more subtly, could have made everything work better.

This book is a definite page turner, hits many major sore areas, and has finally gotten me out of my book slump!

Jodie, a young high school caucasian girl with terrible facial deformities has accused 4 muslim boys that go to school with her of rape at a party she went to with her best friend one night. Jodie’s had a hard life growing up with an alcoholic mom and being bullied by classmates.

Jodie ends up heading to Artemis House where she meets Zara, an independent sexual violence advisor. Zara is also muslim, which creates problems with her family, the accused, and the public as she is representing Jodie over the 4 boys.

You go through this book learning as much about Zara- Jodie’s legal advocate. Jodie- the accuser. And the 4 boys who were accused.

It will keep you guessing until the end, which the end will have a huge twist that will leave you angry but thankful for the truth in the end.

This crime novel is as much about race as it is about rape. I highly recommend.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. This storyline was intriguing. I enjoyed the cultural aspects that were weaved into the story. The premise is that a disabled white girl reports that she was sexually assaulted by four Muslim boys. I was guessing about who was telling the truth all the way to the end. I enjoyed this book and will look to read more from this author.

A twisted and intense story that takes a look at race relations between Muslins and Whites in England. Zara is a Muslim lawyer who struggles with her faith and her family traditions. A disabled white girl accuses four Muslim boys of rape and it causes a deep chasm in the society. The story looks at the family issues each of the characters struggles with and how it affects the decisions they make. The issues of mental health and drug use is dealt with in an way that focuses on the hidden pains. It is an emotional roller coaster as the story swings from one end to the next. The ending is unexpected and will surprise you.

This is a courtroom thriller full of intense situations that may make you feel angry or uncomfortable, but I think that heavy emotioms are the sign of a story that resonates. The book was not as fast paced as I prefer my thrillers to be andit also started incredibly slow. I had a difficult time getting into it.

This book by Kia Abdullah, published by St. Martin's Press is book one and a stand-alone in a new series by this author.
Meet Zara. She's a successful lawyer, driven, but left her old life behind and works now as an advisor.
TiB is a story that deals with sensitive subjects, a suspenseful read, well written.

This is a tense, sometimes brutal, courtroom thriller that doesn’t let up until the very last page.

Zara Kaleel is a Muslim woman who left her job as barrister to work as a legal representative at a sexual assault center. Her current case involves Jodie Wolfe, a disfigured 16-year old who claims four male classmates raped her. Jodie is white, and the classmates are Muslim. While Jodie’s mom and best friend don’t believe her, Zara quickly finds that she does.

What follows is an emotional, powerful, taut legal thriller that focuses a strong lens on rape and race (and racial tensions). Zara’s own family tells her to withdraw from the case, as she shouldn’t be working against Muslims...especially this group of teenagers who are seen as respectable.

Zara asks at one point, “Am I supposed to put my religion ahead of the fact that I’m a woman? Do I owe more loyalty to Islam than a girl who has been victimized?”

The case sparks rage and cultural divides, leading to protests and danger. Who is lying? Who is telling the truth? Who wishes they could take it back?

Author Kia Abdullah does not mince words. Her writing is fantastic, and you’ll feel the heated tension as if you are in the courtroom. Zara is an intriguing character with many facets, and I’m glad to see she returns for the follow up. This is a powerful, thought provoking read that could have been ripped from the headlines.

TW: Detailed descriptions of sexual assault and derogatory language.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Kia Abdullah, and NetGalley for a widget of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A real old fashioned courtroom thriller meets 2020. A lot of thought provoking points about rape, religion, being a teenager and even disability in this one. It's much deeper than the usual "thriller" and a little dark.

This psychological thriller gives the reader a lot to ponder after the last page. It's a courtroom drama of a high school sexual assault case, where the victim is a 16 year old white girl with facial deformities and the accused high school boys are all Muslim, with histories of immigrant parents doing everything in their power to give them a better life. Adding to the complexities of the case and trial, bringing more insights and challenges into the racial conflict is the lawyer/advocate, Zara who is also Muslim, facing her own demons with her upbringing, culture and how she chooses to live as an independent adult woman. Zara's story and her personal conflicts are what really draw the reader in, so it's not surprising that this seems to be the first in a series of crime thrillers where "Zara the Great" is the advocate and sleuth. She is definitely a character that we want to see more of after this twisty story takes the reader on the journey of the trial and unexpected ending. Zara's ethical dilemmas leave us thinking about her choices - on this case and in life. The more I I think about this story, the more I think about this story - it's that kind of novel. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book shines a light on all those different topics that we have a hard time talking about, the ones that we need to be talking about. Topics like Race, religion, Rape culture, rape itself, gender, class, and how the media affects things. I went into this book knowing that it was going to be a courtroom drama that would go over the case and kind of put me into the seat of those in the actual stor. What I didn't expect was to feel the range of emotions I did. There was anger, shame, outrage, suspicions. Honestly this is one of the best books I have read this year. Kia Abdullah is a master of her craft and I can't wait to read more from her.

This book is great! Would definitely recommend. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.