This story is set in Oakland, California, and while there are a few neighbourhoods in Oakland that are what some might consider relatively well-off, Kiara Johnson doesn’t live in one of those neighbourhoods. Kiara lives in a run-down Apartment building which is inappropriately named Regal-Hi Apartments, where the only thing high about it are some of the tenants. There is a pool, which is accessorized with used bags filled with dog poop floating on the surface. For Kiara, this is home, there is nowhere else to go.
This is just a little background of the book. There is so much more that I can write but I don't want to reveal more. You need to read and experience it.

Nightcrawling is a heart-wrenching debut. And I will highly highly recommend it to everybody.

I can't wait to see what the author writes next.

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

A great debut novel from Leila Mottley. Set in the seedy side of East Oakland the nightmare for Kiara and her brother begins after their father dies. Mother is sent to prison and the siblings are on their own trying to hold on to the apartment they were raised in. Marcus (the brother) is just coasting along and Kiara is feeling it is all up to her to lose everything. This was a emotional story that helped me to acknowledge that sometimes there is no happy ever after.

Wow. I’m not sure there are adequate words to describe the hurt and raw emotion brought on by reading Nightcrawling. Like the rest of the world, I am totally flabbergasted that this story was written by a teenager, but as someone who works with college students, and can see how the younger generations are fighting to create everlasting change in our society, I can’t say I’m actually surprised that a book such as this was written by someone so young. She is one of the fighters who is speaking up for those who’s voices have been taken from them, and I’m honestly just so impressed by Leila Mottley’s incredible talent. Somehow, reading this story has simultaneously given me hope for the future while also leading me to feel things will never be okay in our world.

This book is absolutely gut-wrenching and heart-breaking while also full of optimism in the worst situations. I recently read of how resiliency isn’t a compliment, though often meant to be, because having to be resilient stems from being marginalized and disadvantaged, generally because of how policies and laws are created to keep people in tough situations. This book rings true to that. Kiara, and those in her community, are incredibly resilient, though no matter how hard they try, their situations and the people around them continue to push back, unallowing progress.

Nightcrawling is beautiful in the worst way. An incredibly written book, with such an upsetting story it’s hard to believe it’s based on situations occurring day in and day out, situations no one works towards resolving because the system itself is built to keep certain groups of people in horrid situations. I can’t imagine the drain and trauma it took to write a book like this, but I think it’s so important to be read to bring light to horrid experiences people are facing. I am so sad for the characters in this book, and even sadder for the real-life folks who have experienced what this story describes. The book is fiction, but the situations are real. It took guts to write this book and share it. I condone Mottley for her bravery, and encourage those who can stomach it to read this book.

First, thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to review this book for free in exchange for my honest review.

This was a heavy read that I didn’t enjoy as much as I thought. Everything seemed to happen so quickly and at times, it felt over the top. I did finish it though so that’s a plus. While the author was a teenager when she wrote this, I do not feel this book should be ready by anyone younger that 16 or anyone who would be easily triggered by certain topics and situations in the story,

DNF at 20%

I just could not get into this book. I tried reading it and on audio. I tried setting it aside and coming back later but it still didn’t work and I’m not quite sure why. I really wanted to like it.

There is a really great book somewhere in this novel but I am afraid the overly poetic writing got in the way for me. Still, this is a very impressive book from such a young author.

NIGHTCRAWLING IS SO GOOD. Okay, sorry for yelling. It is a scathing statement on our “justice” system, with a captivating narrative and really effective prose, absolute powerhouse character development, and a plot that is dynamic and enraging and brutally honest and is so very important that we are all exposed to. It’s a thought-provoking, immersive text that has stayed with me. Highly recommend this to…basically everyone. Thank you immensely to the publisher and NetGalley for this e-arc!

WARNING: This is a doozie and left me emotionally exhausted. How did Mottley begin writing this when she was only SEVENTEEN?! This perspective is important, and I will be recommending this to many of my patrons.

Kiara is just trying get by. Her family has been torn apart by death and prison, the rent in her building has doubled and her brother is intent on pursuing a music career despite his lack of talent. Seventeen years old and dropped out of college, Kiara has few choices but to turn waking the streets at night. But when her name is brought forward as a key witness in a scandal concerning corruption in the Oakland police department, the world she had hanging together by a thread is decimated.

***ALL THE TRIGGER WARNINGs***

I have a problem with Shakespearean tragedies because the bad things all seem to happen to the characters because of their own actions and choices. For me, true tragedies are when it’s a mix of circumstances and choices or when circumstances determine your choices. Leila Mottley does a great job at expressing this conflict in Nightcrawling and demonstrating how someone else’s choice may leave you with no choices.

The most telling part of Kiara’s character is how she interacts with her nine-year-old. In their relationship you see what she wants and needs from the adults in her life but they either refuse or unable to give it to her.

Nightcrawling is a devastating book and to go so hard so quickly with a debut is commendable. I’m excited for what Mottley has next for us.

There's been a lot of buzz about this book, especially when it was first published, and it's all well-deserved. I first picked it up about a year ago and had to pause for a while as the subject matter was tough. The writing is compelling and powerful, but I knew I needed to have some dedicated time to really appreciate the many layers of the story. I also knew that I needed to be in the right mindset to read this.

After finishing the book, I am in awe of Mottley's voice as a writer and the fact that she wrote this book while still a teenager. Amid the poverty and desperation that she describes in a raw and poignant fashion, Mottley brings in beautiful moments of connection - family connections, close friends, lovers, people you look out for and people who look out for you. The story feels real on so many levels - people trying, people making mistakes, people treating each other horrifically, people caring for one another, people celebrating.

This is a book that will stay with you for a while.

This book was a masterpiece on trauma, growing up to soon, and how children without parents have to navigate the world was to early. Which gets them into situations that are hard to come back from. I can't give enough to the author for writing this but some MAJOR Trigger WARNINGS are needed. It's hard to not feel for this character and her love for the people around her. As well as heartbreaking. Watching her fall into the deep end.

This is the story of a young black woman who resorts to sex work to take care of her family when all other options fall through. It’s the story of a family with generational trauma. It shines the light on black girls caught up in sex trafficking, a group often ignored when this topic is discussed. Though the characters face many struggles through it all there is always love and a commitment to be there for each other no matter what. Highly recommend this book.

An absolutely beautiful and gut wrenching story of family life in Oakland. This was not an easy read, but I found the story to be worthwhile and important.

Writing a review for Leila Mottley's "Nightcrawling" is going to be a real challenge. I have to acknowledge this novel would be a triumph for any artist, let alone one who is so young. You can tell it was written by a poet by the careful crafting of each sentence, the beautiful turns of phrase, the vivid imagery and tenderness toward our protagonist Kiara. Mottley has an ear for language and I think she's going to make even more profound and award-winning work in the future.

That said, this was an absolutely brutal read. I was drawn in by the gorgeous book cover and mysterious one-word title, neither of which clued me in to how heartrending Kiara's story would be. There were times I had to set down the book and close my eyes for a moment's peace. While I understood Mottley's message and knew there could be no happy ending when one teenaged Black girl goes up against the Oakland Police Department, it was still punishing. I do not mean to be flip when I say I'll need to read several upbeat books to cleanse my mind after "Nightcrawling."

I wish this author the best and look forward to seeing what's next for her.

This is a tough read, but even though it is hard to get through it is no less important or admirable. I recommend reading it with a book club, where the focus on discussion will make the most of it.

This incredible debut novel, Inspired by the true story of a 2015 sexual exploitation and corruption scandal involving several members of the Oakland Police Department, is an absolute gut-punch, heartbreaking and raw in the most visceral way.

The story centers on Kiara, a 17-year-old girl living in Oakland with her increasingly-absent older brother, Marcus. Due to the death of their father and incarceration of their mother, Kiara and Marcus are left to fend for themselves. As Marcus becomes more distant from his little sister, chasing his dream of becoming a famous hip-hop artist, Kiara becomes the “parental” figure in their strained relationship, spending her days looking for work in order to make enough money to stave off the ever-present threat of eviction, while also becoming the de facto caregiver for 9-year-old Trevor, their next door neighbor, often left alone for days on end by his drug-addicted mother. It is this very real need to keep a roof over their heads that propels Kiara to pursue every job she can think of, including asking Marcus’ ex to hire her at the strip club where she tends bar. Unable to hire Kiara due to her being underage, this moment leads to a drunken “hookup” with a bar patron who mistakes underaged Kiara, who is still a virgin up to this point, for a sex worker. This is the inciting incident that leads Kiara to the revelation that she can make money through sex work, telling herself that “it’s just a body.” From here the story leads into a series of events that thrust Kiara into the dark underbelly of Oakland and her abuse at the hands of those that are sworn to protect the city and its residents.

While this is the basic plotline, this book is not a truly plot-driven story. Leila Mottley presents a story that is an examination of the human instinct to survive and the events that shape our experiences and propel our decisions. This book has a lot to say about family, loss, violence, sexual assault, poverty, and survival, and the often forgotten marginalized communities that struggle to meet humanity’s basic needs. It took me about 50 pages to really get into it, but after that, I could not put this down. I had to keep going; had to know exactly what was going to happen to Kiara and Trevor and Marcus. This is not a “fun” story to read, but it is a necessary one that everyone SHOULD read. Five stars from me!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC digital copy. I was not compensated for this review and all opinions are my own.

Interesting plot, but the writing style was a little too over-the-top for me. As a high school librarian, the language didn't match the teenage character... although I understand the book was written while the author was a teen herself.

3 out of 5 stars and my respect to the author. Looking forward to reading her future books!

Nightcrawling is not a book I would typically read, and after starting it, i almost stopped, However, I am glad that I read the entire book. It is a book where Kiara and her brother are living in East Oakland, and trying to make ends meet. Both are high school dropouts, and they have no adult supervision. When Marcus is arrested for drugs, after begging Kiara to let him pursue his dream of being a rapper, Kiara turns to nightcrawling to help with money. Nightcrawling is prostitution.
Next Kiara is pulled into a corrupt police group who trade sex for her protection. She is only 17 and is being used by the cops. This part is based on actual events in Oakland, CA.
Meanwhile, Kiara is caring for Trevor, a young boy abandoned by his mother.
This is a stark look at the choices desperate people make. It is a look at the struggles faced by young black teens who have no trustworthy adult guidance. Truly a sad, bleak picture.

One of the best books I have read all year. This is a must read. This book chronicles the life of a black woman on the streets of Oakland and tells the story of what she must do to literally survive, I read the first quarter of the book without knowing that she was a seventeen year old girl. It was eye opening when I made the realization that she was just a child. I don’t know if this was intentional or not, but it had a powerful impact and made me pay even closer attention. I highly recommend this book and hope that it sparks empathy, understanding, and inspiration that leads to change in any one that reads it. Thank you NetGalley for an ARC, but I would have gladly paid money to read this book.

I had heard excellent reviews about this book, but I struggled to get into it. I think it was well-written and I found Kiara to be a compelling and strong character, but the story didn't grab me. I would still recommend it (and attempt a reread when I'm in a different headspace) because I know a lot of audiences will devour this work.