A shocking, twisting courtroom thriller that keeps you guessing until the last page is turned.

The above statement was enough for me to be fully intrigued by the book.

I haven't read anything by Kia Abdullah and after this book, I cant wait to read more from her.

The story goes down a long and twisty road, and one can never know who is telling the truth. I love when that happens because just to keep guessing because the plot is so well woven is a big plus. I read a lot of thrillers and I thought I knew where the story was going but even I changed my mind on numerous occasions. I loved the reveal - it had my jaw dropping in shock.

This is so much more than a courtroom drama. It talks about issues like religion, misogyny, race and these issues have been addressed well by the author.
This is an amazing book. It is a complex, moving, an emotional and thought-provoking read. It's an intelligent and gripping thriller which you need to read. So well written.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Loved this book so much! I love a food courtroom drama! I was instantly captivated by Jody’s story. I think the author did a beautiful job developing her character. Can’t wait to read more of this author’s!

Zara Kaleel, the protagonist of Take It Back, does not take the easy route. Not only did she leave the marriage arranged for her by her traditional Muslim family; a talented lawyer, she also abandoned a job at a top-flight London law firm to become a counselor at a rape crisis center.

Little does she imagine, however, the path that will open up before her when she meets with teenage Jodie Wolfe. Jodie, who has a medical condition that causes severe facial deformities, tells Zara that she was lured to an abandoned warehouse and sexually assaulted by four of her classmates, all Muslim boys from hardworking immigrant families. Taking the case will result in attacks on her, both in the form of protests and eventually physical assault, as a traitor to her “people,” and on the other hand, the risk of inflaming anti-Muslim feeling. Still, she feels strongly that she must continue to support Jodie through the charging and trial of her attackers.

Tackling the delicate subjects of sexual assault, disability, and religion, Take It Back walks a fine line, and largely does it successfully. I worried that this book would end up validating one of two stereotypes, either that of girls who lie about rape or Muslim teenagers fulfilling racist nightmares, but with a clever twist at the end, Ms. Abdullah managed to avoid doing either. The characters are complex, although the accused assailants themselves have less time devoted to them than Zara, Jodie, and her family and associates. Zara can be headstrong and stubborn, with a penchant for reckless behavior which causes near disaster to the case on at least two separate occasions, but hopefully, these issues will be dealt with in later books (this appears to be the first in a series) and will give her a chance to grow as a character.

Despite the painful subject matter, I enjoyed this book very much and will keep my eye out for the next book in the series.

I received a copy of Take It Back for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is was a tough book but incredibly well-written. The premise was incredibly smart, a woman trades her high profile career for a job helping women in a sexual assault center, and she ends up defending a white woman with deformities who has accused four Muslim boys of a horrific crime. I was definitely on the edge of my seat, this was a great thriller, even with the difficult content. The ending was rough, but again, incredibly well done. I was surprised that this was Kia Abdullah's debut novel...wow!! I can't wait to see what she comes out with next. She is incredibly fantastic with legal thrillers!

4 out of 5 stars for Take it Back by Kia Abdullah. A huge thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this fantastic book.

This compelling fictional legal thriller is as if it were ripped right out of current day headlines. There's racial bias, challenges of faith in secular Britain, physical and mental abuse - all in a time where social justice is on fire and tempers are thin. Author Kia Abdullah in her raw emotional telling of this story has done a spectacular job of laying bare the challenges faced with immigrant assimilation into the British way of life - the clashes of culture and the desires of those wishing to break free from long-held old-world practices.

Triggers: foul language, sexual assault, racism, misogyny, bullying, drugs, alcohol, graphic violence, and parental neglect.

Make no mistake. This was a difficult book for me to digest. I often found myself stepping away from the story in order to ponder what I had just read. The scenes were graphic in their horror. Yet, there were also times of utmost tenderness. Abdullah deftly navigates a broad spectrum of emotions throughout the story. Her writing is poetic at times and always clear. The story is well crafted, beautifully executed, and the tension was evenly maintained throughout.

This first book in what appears to be a series featuring Zara Kaleel, a plucky female Muslim attorney/sexual assault victim advocate, was published March 19. 2020. The second book in series, "Truth Be Told" was published September 3, 2020. Personally, the grittiness may be a bit too much for this reader's sensibilities to continue on with this series.

I am grateful to author Kia Abdullah and St. Martin's Press for having provided a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.

WOW what a debut! She pulls no punches in this story and the ending knocked me over. Very taut- well written and fast paced.

If you are not comfortable with shows and books about rape then i would stay away from this.If it does not bother you and you enjoyed the show Unbelievable on Netflix, then you have to read this book.
Storyline: Jodie, A white London HS girl who has a facial deformity accuses four Muslim boys of rape. The story follows how the girl, the boys, and Jodie's main counsel Zara are affected by the trial.

I really enjoyed Zara. Zara the brave really did fit her. I have to say that even though i understood Jodie, her lying kept me spinning. Her life was not easy but i mean if you are able to get back at someone with the truth TELL THE TRUTH. As for the boys, i wanted to slap all of them. The sad thing is, there are many real stories that are like this. A bit dark but i do like thrillers like this. I was not able to put this one down. I have to say i was shocked that Farid died but things end like that in these case.

I have to say that i the ending bothered be because Jodie kept lying so i was seriously frustrated to find out that YES infact that she was raped. BUT it was a good cliff hanger and realistic. There isn't always a happy ending. If there is a second to this book i'd love to read it and see how Zara approached the situation.

Very enjoyable. Not sure if it was because of the ebook, how each scene ended was a bit confusing. It was a difficult to follow.


....
Thank you, Kia Abdullah, St. Martin's Press, and Netgalley for the ARC.

Take It Back is not my usual read, I'm not one for courtroom thrillers, but I loved the blurb of this book and I needed to shake up my reading habits. Kia Abdullah completely gripped my attention from page one, with this realistic, timely novel about a former lawyer and her fight for the truth, even against her fellow Muslims. Zara was a hotshot London lawyer, now she's a meagerly paid victim's advocate for victims of sexual assault. When physically deformed Jodie comes to her with allegations against four young Muslim boys, Zara knows she must take this case on, at any cost. What follows is a heartbreaking story about culture, values, bullying, misogyny, race, and rape.

Zara is such a multi-faceted character, with a family history of cultural misogyny due to her breaking the Muslim traditional role for women. She's a force to be reckoned with and it was incredible to see her fight to help Jodie and get to the bottom of things, despite everything working against her. Her own family and other immigrants in London take to calling her Uncle Tom, as she sides with white Jodie against the four young men and their families. Jodie's physical deformities are such an important part of the story, her painful truths are hidden so deeply inside her due to the fear and lack of worth that's been instilled in her from a young age. It was impossible to know the truth, but Kia Abdullah uses that to show readers how compassion can be used against someone when the absence of love has ruled their life. I never could've guessed the ending, not with all the twists, and this made it a really enjoyable read for me.

Take It Back isn't the traditional courtroom thriller, at least not those that I know of. We see the entire case play out, through chapter jumps and different character perspectives. We see the research, the public narrative, and get backgrounds into every character, allowing us to understand what's taken them to the point they are at in the novel. I highly recommend this novel, especially to those who love a good crime mystery and courtroom thriller.

This is one of those books that grabs you in the first chapter and just does. not. let. go.
I inhaled this book in under 48 hours and spent the next week thinking about how I felt about it. It's so complex with a story like this because obviously I didn't LIKE it. It's a legal drama about a disfigured young girl who claims she was raped by four classmates. Nobody LIKES this story. However, this was an extremely well done book and it will stick with me for a long time. It ended up being one of my favorite books of the year.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martins Press for a chance to read a copy of Take it back by Kia Abdullah. Jodie Wolfe, a physically flawed white 16-year-old girl accuses four Muslim boys in her class of rape. The boys are handsome teenagers from hard-working immigrant families, all with corroborating stories .
Zara Kaleel, a former lawyer, one of London's brightest legal minds, takes on this case. She believes her client, even though those closest to her do not.....but Zara is from a traditional Muslim family and soon this becomes racially charged. Can she get justice for Jodie? But justice comes at a devastating cost.
I first must apologize to the author and publisher. Normally this courtroom thriller is right up my alley and I really looked forward to reading this advanced copy. But at a certain point in 2020 I just hit a wall, and could not move forward with some genres. This book did not deserve to be left behind. At any other time I would not have been able to put it down. I enjoyed the story, and the characters, especially Zara. This book did not pull any punches on themes of rape, race, substance abuse, cultural beliefs, and bullying. If this becomes a series. I will definitely read it, and will definitely add Kia Abdullah to my list of authors to read!

This book sucked me in from the first chapter! I was constantly changing my opinion on what the outcome would be.

This is a wild ride that brings up a lot of issues regrading rape culture, community, and family. I liked the way that the author explored all of these. The pacing of this was impeccable and I was hooked throughout the whole book. Also, the courtroom scenes were very realistic.

In Kia Abdullah's novel Take It Back, sexual violence advisor Zara Kaleel becomes involved in a case where 16-year-old Jodie Wolfe is accusing four classmates of rape. Jodie has long been ostracized for having severe facial deformities resulting from a genetic condition, and she fears her claim will not be believed because, in her opinion, most people think no one would want to be intimate with someone so "ugly." Complicating the situation is the fact that the accused are socially popular and, at least superficially, well-behaved young men who are trusted by their community; they also happen to be Muslim. Zara, who is herself from a traditional Muslim family, agrees to help Jodie, which leads to a fascinating courtroom drama that forces Zara to re-evaluate the trajectory of her life and to acknowledge how her own background has influenced her decisions.

The book checks all the thematic boxes one would expect to encounter in a novel with the above setup. Abdullah illustrates how much a perceived difference in a person's appearance can impact others' perception of them, whether that difference is the color of their skin or a disfigurement. She also highlights the hostility held by some citizens of Western countries toward those from a Muslim background, and the distrust of white individuals that some Muslims develop as a result. Beyond that, the author uses Zara to illustrate the challenges modern Muslim women may face when trying to balance the demands of a career with the traditional expectations of their families.

The trial at the center of the novel is exceptionally well-written, quite captivating and the book's highlight. Abdullah skillfully shifts perspective on who is the guilty party; one minute we believe Jodie, the next, her supposed attackers. We aren't sure of the truth until the last page, and the tension the author creates keeps the narrative moving quickly.

Less convincing are the sections that concern Zara's personal struggles. She's portrayed as trying to distract herself with men and drugs, but it's never really clear how or why she developed these habits. Over the course of the novel, she shows growth, but while she commits minor errors that help her realize she may have a problem, there's no real crisis that forces change. She exhibits a great deal of rancor toward her family members, but there's not enough information about how tensions rose so high, and the conversations between her and her brother, the head of the family, border on cartoonish.

I also felt some of the scenes focusing on the boys were contrived. There are discussions between them from which it's clear something happened, but the manner in which these scenes are written makes them lack believability; in many cases they come across not so much as realistic dialogues between teenage boys as they do inelegantly inserted teasers.

Given the serious subject matter, I wouldn't necessarily call Take It Back a light read, but it's definitely an engrossing one in spite of its flaws. It holds up as a courtroom drama and will keep most readers engaged from start to finish. It's recommended for those looking for a bit of escapism, and particularly those who enjoy fast-paced books involving jury trials.

Kia Abdullah's Take It Back is a legal thriller that pits neighbors against neighbors in a case that could be ripped from the headlines of the #metoo era. Abdullah takes on tough topics of rape, ableism, and Islamophobia in this intriguing tale with multiple perspectives.

When Jodie Wolfe accuses her four classmates of sexual assault, Zara Kaleel is forced to choose between her community and the accuser as tensions rise. Who is to believe - the four boys or the physically flawed girl? It's a book that will leave readers guessing about who is lying and who is telling the truth.

Many thanks to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

Should the victim of a crime be automatically believed? How much do our own personal demons affect who we trust and how we interpret ambiguity? Kia Abdullah tackles these issues in Take It Back, a courtroom drama that also explores race and religious division and ableist discrimination. It is a lot to take on, and Abdullah does an admirable job making it all gel together in a convincing way. Zara Kaleel is a second-generation Muslim whose rebellious ways has put her in conflict with her family. A former lawyer who left the profession to become an advocate for victims of sexual violence, Zara has several chips on her shoulder and some serious commitment issues. She is assigned a case that involves a physically disfigured lower-class white girl who is accusing four popular Muslim boys of rape. Jodie is a sympathetic character that sometimes veers more into the pathetic, but a rich backstory justifies the extreme neediness and insecurity she embodies. The four boys could fit neatly into formulaic boxes: Amir is the handsome leader possessing improbable power; Hassan is the loyal henchman with a cruel streak; Farid is the brainy voice of reason; and Mo is the sensitive conscience of the group. To Abdullah’s credit, these classifications serve to make them relatable and fully-formed, instead of stereotypical and flat. As Zara guides Jodie through the grueling process that victims often face, the influences from her own past and biases become apparent. Jodie’s case receives national attention and sparks resentment and conflict, division and violence. Zara is labelled a traitor to her community for defending Jodie. She struggles to decipher her own motivations for relentlessly pursuing justice on the girl’s behalf. The author reveals different versions of the precipitating event, constantly evolving as details and revisions are uncovered. The repeated descriptions of the assault are wincingly realistic and may make some readers uncomfortable. Take It Back would be great for Book Groups looking for some timely subjects to debate, and for young adults seeking a sensitive treatment of weighty topics.

Thanks to the author, Harper Collins and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an impartial review.

Wow! This Book you guys! So Good!!

I listened to this on audio back in December shortly after the US Pub Day.
I was granted an advanced e-ARC but sadly I missed the deadline.
Thank you so much St Martins Press & NetGalley for my gifted copy.

I don't have much experience with legal thrillers and Take It Back completely exceeded all of my expectations. I was fully invested in all of the characters and was at the edge of my seat the entire time. I just had to know how this book ended and when it did I was completely floored.

If you're looking for a quick, page turning read that keeps you guessing until the end- Take It Back is definitely for you.

Overall- Highly Recommend. I can't wait to get my hands on book 2.

Take It Back by Kia Abdullah is a legal mystery which is very relevant in these days of intolerance and strife. Zara Kaleel, a successful attorney in London, becomes unhappy and disappointed with her law career and resigns. She becomes employed as a sexual violence counsellor and finds value and fulfillment in her new post. Jodie Wolfe, a sixteen-year-old teenager, comes to Zara for help after allegedly being raped by four boys from her school. Jodie has facial deformities which have made her life miserable in a world where female beauty is everything. Her family life is deplorable and she is on her own most of the time. The four young men are well-respected sons of immigrants who have established themselves in their new country. Zara, from a Muslim family, finds herself on the side of a white young woman accusing Muslim youth of rape. The consequences, needless to say, are dire. The news story quickly becomes a media storm. What really did happen to Jodie? Could she possibly have invented the crime? Are the boys as respectable as their lawyers make them out to be? What really happened in an abandoned warehouse on a summer night? Will all their lives be ruined by this? There will be a trial and this legal thriller will leave you surprised and shocked. Highly recommended. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley and the author for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book broke my heart! It's so compelling and to think it's a debut is amazing as well! It's so relevant and poignant as the plot reveals a young disabled/disfigured Jodie who accuses four Muslim boys of raping her after a party she attended with her best friend. But of course they deny it and say it was all consensual. Once a lawyer but now an advocate for young women who've been sexually abused, Zara is Muslim as well and is criticized for defending a young white girl when the accused are "her" people. This is an "ugly cry" book for sure as my emotions were all over the place (especially in light of all the recent protests). Have we as a country learned nothing over the years? Can we not separate religion and politics from humanity? What will it take for us to recognize that we can have different points of view and still co-exist? I'm literally dumbfounded and awestruck by this poignant novel and I look forward to more of Abdulah's books. This is a must-read for sure!

Really enjoyed this book. Easy to read, but kept your interest. Was afraid the ending was going to be too wrapped up, but there was a twist that made it worth reading the book. Thank you Netgalley for opportunity to read for honest review.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for the free review copy. All opinions are my own.
This was a fast-paced legal thriller that kept me interested right from the beginning. This book covers a rape accusation of four Muslim boys from a girl with physical deformities and the resulting case is huge. There's also a Muslim woman, Zara, on the side of the victim, which causes lots of tension. I liked how this book was constantly tense. I didn't know how it was going to go because of the back and forth accusations. There's also just enough dishonesty to make you question every single character. And that ending, wow, I didn't think it would go that way. I do want to add that the chapters in this book are long, which aren't my favorite, but the pacing is good and I never felt them drag on.
I hope the second book is published on this side of the pond soon because I can't wait to read more of Zara's story.