Take it Back is not only an engrossing story, but it provides a glimpse into the difficulties of someone who has tried to break free of the restrictions and customs of an immigrant community. Many immigrants, especially in the first generation, place a high premium on maintaining their culture and way of life. It gives a sense of belonging.
In this book, one of the main characters, Zara (Muslim by heritage), is trying to break free. She already is in trouble with her family when she takes on sexual abuse charges against four Muslim boys. The Muslim community bands together behind the boys, and Zara's life becomes complicated.

Sometimes it is hard to write a book review and this is one of those times. It is not because the story line and subsequent narrative are not well done. No, both are excellent and well written. The problem arises in trying to describe how I felt without giving away the plot and ending. The main character is a strong individual, who has succeeded in her chosen profession, and has given it up to work in an victim assistance organization. When the physically handicapped victim comes forward, with a shocking allegation, it rocks the close knit minority community and our main character's family. The conclusion will leave you, the reader, rethinking your moral values but encouraging the main character to stand her moral ground and do what's right.

I have rated this book 4.5 d stars. I would purchase this book for myself and friends. I look forward to seeing more offerings by this talented author.

I received an ARC from Netgalley for my unbiased review. The above opinions are mine and mine alone.

OH MY!! This book will not be forever one but this is my book of 2020. This was so well written that it played out like a movie for me. My heart was pounding, my anger was raging and I felt I had a front center seat to this entire story. Bravo to the author, I haven’t ever read a book this well written and this story is so sick and twisted and heartbreaking but at the same time you can not stop reading. This book does have some triggers and sensitive subjects and materials so I would caution some readers.

I knew early on that this book would keep me guessing to the very end, but the ending sure caught me by surprise. I can see this book used in a classroom setting. It would make a great discussion book, sparking conversations about peer pressure, the need to fit in, sexuality, right versus wrong, and race.

Not sure I have the words for this book. Poignant, thought provoking, and just amazing! Totally loved this book, could be hard to read at times as rape is a sensitive issue. Will be telling all my friends to put this on their "to be read" list. Thank you @netgalley for this ARC, looking forward to more books by this author!

4.5 stars !

Take it Back has so much depth to the story!

It is a very thought provoking read.

It's not only about rape that Jodie accuses 4 boys who happen to be Muslim , its partly the boomerang effect that this trial will have on their families, the community, the lawyers, the counselors.

This book captivated me from the first page to the final one.

I laughed, I cried, I cheered and I felt badly at times.

It is a story that is so timely, that will resonate with many people and will certainly stay with me for a long time.

I say put Take it Back to the top of your TBR pile.

I look forward to reading more by Kia Abdullah.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for a fantastic read that I will continue to talk about .

I really enjoyed Take It Back by Kia Abdullah, even though parts of it made me very uncomfortable. This is a really good book that tackles several difficult issues: rape, racism, religion and disabilities, to name a few, and it doesn't shy away from the these hot-button topics at all.

The plot centers on Zara, a lawyer turned sexual assault advocate, who counsels teenager Jodie, who asserts that four male classmates, who happen to be Muslim, raped her. There are details that will turn some readers away, but they are necessary to make the story's impact. As the case progresses to trial, we see the toll it is taking on Zara, who was raised Muslim, but is not active in her faith. We also see the toll it is taking on Jodie, who has a physical disability including a facial disfigurement. Jodie's troubled mother only adds to the stress in her life.

I found the story very compelling and I appreciated the several plot twists. The story was a bit choppy, as I had to read carefully to see how much time had passed from one chapter to the next. On the positive side, I liked how the book really made me think carefully about my own biases.

Readers who appreciate some controversy and can tolerate graphic details of the rape will benefit from reading this important book.

I extend thanks to the publisher, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing advanced access to a digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was an intense book. It keeps you turning the pages.
I felt sad for Jodie and at times was annoyed with Zara.
It was a bit twisted and I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised with the ending.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the early copy

This book was absolutely astounding. I loved the relevant subject and the timeliness. I think that this is the perfect story in this time of differences and duality. The story was well crafted and thought-provoking. It made me really stop and think about my beliefs and opinions. This author has great promise and I love her intelligent writing style. Highly recommended!

How Do You Take It Back After Rape?
This is the central question that haunts the protagonist and antagonists in the rape trial of the decade, pitting four Muslim boys who are the sons of immigrants against one horribly disfigured white girl, on the east side of London. The boys wish they could take back the events following a party that lead them into the spotlight as the defendants in the trial, and the girl comes to wish she could take back the accusation itself as the legal process further rips her apart. Legal Gavel Scales And Law Book 3D Model #AD ,#Scales#Gavel#Legal#ModelAnd all along, underneath it all, is the haunting question: who is telling the truth? For Zara Kaleel, former barrister turned rape survivor advocate the answer seems simple: Jodie must be telling the truth with her graphic depiction of the humiliating circumstances surrounding her assault, and her very real emotional responses. Yet the boys all tell the exact same story, and deny the allegations of rape, saying everything that happened was consensual, albeit regrettable. And it is this disconnect between the stories of the victim and the accused that turns an already ugly trial into an issue of race: how does the law treat minorities who are the children of immigrants, compared to a physically disabled white girl whose family has lived in Britain for generations?

Dexter swiped at his brow. “I’m a man–a normal one– so I don’t understand why someone would want to sleep with a woman unless he was attracted to her.”

“And that’s what scares me,” said Zara, “There will be men on that jury–‘normal men’ as you say– and maybe Jodie doesn’t have a hope in hell.” She was annoyed with Dexter, baffled how a police officer could take such a narrow view– but also aware he was just telling the truth.

Take It Back is one of the best books I have read in a long time, as it takes a close look at victimization, the legal process, and racism. The story is truly an emotional roller coaster, with quite a few bait and This.switch moments, that keep you guessing until the very last page. Sometimes it seems the boys are telling the truth, which made my stomach bottom out with disgust, thinking of how a false accusation of rape would rip lives apart in the real world, and make actual victims less credible. And then at times it seemed as if Jodie was surely telling the truth about her assault, which made me incredibly angry to think about how the media and the legal system further victimize rape survivors, calling into question everything about them, from their appearance, to their social media habits, to what they were wearing at the time of the assault. And then of course, is Kia Abdullah’s masterful treatment of how race relations, racial stereotypes, and nativism play into how the legal system deals with questions of crime and punishment. This truly is one pressure cooker of a roller coaster ride, from start to finish.

“Something was taken from me that night and I tried hard to tell myself that I was ok, that I was fine, that everything was okay. I looked in the mirror and smiled and said “look at you, you’re still the same person, you look strange, but you’re smart and you work hard, and you can still be an architect and you can still build things.” Jodie’s voice cracked. “But I didn’t believe it.”

Take It Back is gut wrenching at times, as the book grapples with Jodie’s physical appearance as a rape victim, and how that affects her credibility (even though any person educated on the nuances of sexual assault knows that it shouldn’t), and with how callously the issue of race makes people act on both sides of the line. Many white British people assume the boys are guilty, and use the alleged crime as an excuse to cry foul on allowing Muslim immigrants into the country, and as an excuse to brutally attack one of them, despite the fact that he is still a child. Meanwhile, Zara is called a traitor to the Muslim community, she is ostracized by her family, and she becomes a target for verbal and physical abuse every time she leaves her house. And the saddest part of the whole thing is, that although this is a work of fiction, in our current cultural and political climate, it is not hard to imagine this happening in real life.

I could honestly go on and on about the merits of this book, but in order to avoid accidentally giving anything away, I’ll end it here by saying: check this book out, and be prepared to ponder the best and the worst impulses of humanity. It’ll be a wild ride.

#takeitback a contemporary novel about truth, lies, justice, generational divides and race relations is a gripping read seemingly ripped from the headlines. It is fairly graphic and uncensored. I found it to be interesting and it opened up a part of society I was unfamiliar with. I thought it was well written and interestingly made my care for both sides of the issues. This is not my usual type of book but I really enjoyed it. Thanks to #netgalley and the publisher for this ebook to read and give an honest review ahead of publication.

This book sounds like it would be great, and I have heard a lot of people like it. As an educator, my heart just could not take this story. I wanted to review it just to get that thought out there for people who may be bothered by this type of storyline. I feel like I relate too much to my own experiences in education and the things I have seen and I could not wrap my mind around the characters in the story to give it a fair shot.

I devoured this book in about three days!
It started a little slow for me and some of the initial dialogue was painful, but it got its groove and MAN OH MAN was it SO good.
It’s expected to be a best-seller when it releases in December, and I can honestly say I see why.
Weirdly enough, I’m listening to Know My Name by Chanel Miller AND I was watching appletv's adaptation of Defending Jacob and these three all tied together in this crazy, interesting way. The universe has a weird way of doing things like that. This book has a little bit of something for everyone, especially if you’re fascinated by how the media portrays rape cases (think: Brock Turner) AND how race and gender play an underlying role in our fascination with “media trials”.
Overall, a solid 4.25 stars on this one that I HIGHLY recommend you add to your to-read pile ASAP!

If you told me that this was a completely true account I'd believe it in a heartbeat. Abdullah captures so many aspects of our society in a painfully accurate way. Although it's far too dark and painful to be called a fun read, it is absolutely engaging and very well written. I'll be recommending this to others and looking for more from Abdullah in the future.

Oh wow! Fabulous ending. The whole book was just such a page turner I stayed up reading. I just has to know the ending. The subject is such a current topic. The book really shows why cases like this don't get reported or pursued. Is it a hate crime, rape or kids being mean or lying? The story was well done making it interesting and worth the time to read. Thanks for the opportunity to read the book.

Well written book about current issues we face as a society. How fair is our legal system when people of different races are on opposite sides of the courtroom? Are women always believable in sexual assault cases? Are men always believable in sexual assault cases? Are we willing to stand for truth and justice no matter what the cost? Told through several perspectives, the story keeps twisting and turning, keeping the reader fully engaged and second guessing everything all the way to the last word.

I just KNEW this was going to be excellent, and I’m so glad it surpassed my expectations. A huge thanks to @kiaabdullah and @stmartinspress for this ARC - set to release December 8th. In the ultimate he said/she said – there is one victim (Jodie, a white girl with facial deformities) and four accused – teenage defendants from hardworking immigrant families who say they didn’t do it. The real onion layer in this book is religion. Zara, the lawyer on Jodie’s side, is the same religion as the defendants – and this alone sparks outrage at her “betrayal” of her people. It’s a stunning book that tackles religion, race, gender, and privilege head on without flinching – and it’s truly a brilliant courtroom thriller that I highly recommend.

This is a great courtroom who-dun-it that holds on to you until the very end. Zara Kaleel has given up her lucrative law career to work at a rape counseling clinic. Sixteen-year-old Jodie has had a tough life. She was born with a horrid face deformity, has been bullied taunted, and shunned her whole life, and has a mother who is an alcoholic. When she walks into the clinic with her story of being raped by four local immigrant boys from good families, who claim Jodie is just seeking attention, and all tell the same story. Zara is assigned as her counsel for the upcoming trial and her whole life is now in turmoil. The townspeople are all in an uproar, with outspoken antagonists on both sides. So, who is telling the truth?? You’ll hold your breath until the very end. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for my copy of this amazing novel.

A question of who is telling the truth when a teenage girls accuses 4 male classmates of rape. With so many layers and complexities, both about the case itself and the people involved, it’s hard to know what the truth really is. The author i layered on a couple twists that made me queasy, but it only added to the emotional punch of the book. This is a book I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a thought provoking read.


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

This book blew me away! I was unable to but it down. Perfect, dazzlingly, very well written. The details the author described throughout the book was so amazing. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.