4.5 stars rounded up

I feel like this could turn into a YA mystery series! Set in Washington D.C., Up in Smoke follows a Black teen boy who has gotten in over his head when agreeing to help friends loot during a protest for money results in his friend Jason is arrested for murder. Cooper doesn't think Jason would have killed anyone, and Jason's sister (Coopers crush) agrees. Together they embark on a dangerous quest to clear Jason's name and uncover what really happened. But Cooper has secrets that could damage this burgeoning relationship...

The start of this is a bit heavy and feels realistic - it's tackling very real and complicated issues involving systemic injustice and how people respond to that. But it's also a great YA mystery with characters finding clues and uncovering the truth, even if they have to put themselves in danger to do it. (As a parent this sometimes stressed me out, but that's kind of the deal with this genre!) Nick Brooks is doing great work and I would love to see his mysteries take off. The audio narration for both character POV's is excellent. I received an audio review copy via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

3.5 stars.

What a thrilling ride!

I love how Nick Brooks keeps it real in his books and doesn't shy away from the issues that Black working class teens face in their lives, particularly with systemic oppression and police brutality. While I didn't like this one as much as Promise Boys, I still had a great time.

While the whodunnit mystery provided a riveting element to the story (and definitely kept me on my toes), I actually liked the parts of the book that explored Cooper and Monique's relationship. The huge secret that Cooper kept from Monique made me nervous for them. It was like knowing that your friend or younger sibling was doing something wrong to mess up a good thing they had with their crush. Come on, Coop!

I wish this had been a 4 star read for me. Without giving away the end, let's just say that the vibes were very Scooby Doo and the gang and that kinda ruined it for me. But don't let that deter you from picking up this book.

Anyway, I'll be sure to follow Nick Brooks' writing career. He's definitely a rising star in the YA world.

Thank you to Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) and NetGalley for this arc.

This was a fast-paced story that hooks you right from the start!

One thing I loved about this story was the dual POV with Cooper and Monique. I thought there will-they-won’t-they dynamic was fun to read about, and added another layer to the story.

I thought the plot of this YA thriller was unique and unpredictable, keeping me guessing and reading the whole way through.

I also loved that it had such a focus on Black youth, particularly those living in DC. It took a raw and honest look at the struggles that many POC communities face in that city, while also being an intriguing read. The heavier themes explored and discussed are important, and they were well written.

I would absolutely recommend this book for anyone looking for a dynamic YA thriller/mystery.


Thank you to Fierce Reads for the ebook ARC!

*Thank you to Henry Holt and Co. Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

Nick Brooks delivers a compelling thriller centered around the Black Lives Matter movement littered with elements of social media and conspiracy theories. I wish it was longer though because I felt like some of the twists were too jarring! But overall, a solid YA mystery/thriller.

Thank you netgalley for the ARC - this was a YA thriller set in DC about a murder committed at a protest. Page turning and interesting premise but I failed to form a connection with the characters, which makes sense since I’m not a young person lol. I think this would be great for younger readers!

Thank you, Macmillan, for this ARC.

This story is so much more than just a murder mystery; it's a statement.

Hits:
This story was super-fast-paced, and wasted no time getting right into the madness. It drops readers right in the middle of the action, giving them no time to catch their breath. It kept me on the edge of my seat, biting my nails and holding my breath from one chapter to the next. With mysteries, my theories usually start forming immediately; however, I honestly didn't know what to think for most of this. It definitely kept me on my toes and guessing.

Although I'm from Maryland and not DC, the inclusion of DC lingo and landmarks made this story much more organic. I love and appreciate that Brooks always incorporates these things in his stories, as it makes them feel like home being a DMV native.

I loved the inclusion of poetry throughout the story, which was used as an outlet to cope. As a fellow poet, this warmed my heart tremendously.

This story highlighted many important societal issues, including police brutality, corruption, and the dark side of the revolution. Moreover, what can happen when the want for revenge begins to trump the desire for change.

Misses:
As a personal preference, I don't enjoy romance in my mysteries, so although cute, the love story was a distraction for me.

With the book solely focusing on the investigation, it did drag a bit.

I felt like I didn't get enough closure. Though the conclusion brought some satisfaction, I think it was cut too short. I wish we would've gotten the full aftermath of it as well.

Overall:
This was a solid read, and I enjoyed it. It also served as a great buffer between genres. I recommend it to those looking for a fast-paced, whodunnit, young adult murder mystery highlighting the state of our world today.

Up in Smoke by Nick Brooks is a powerful and fast-paced novel that was bold, emotional, and unforgettable story that deserves to be read and talked about.

This YA thriller has two different POVs, following two different characters (Cooper and Monique) as they try to help clear Monique's brother's name by solving a murder he was wrongly accused of.

I feel like this book is super relevant to today and what's going on politically for people of color as well as socially. This book may be short, but it definitely goes pretty deep into that important discussion.

This was definitely fast-paced and attention-grabbing, but since it is YA, it does have that sort of feel to it when it comes to the little bit of romantic tension we see between our two main characters that I don't always vibe with.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

eARC Review: Up in Smoke by Nick Brooks
DNF at 55% – 2/5 stars

This book had all the ingredients to be a hit – a cool concept, solid writing, and interesting themes. I was honestly really excited going in.

But… it just didn’t click for me. I can't even point to one specific thing that didn’t work – the writing style was totally fine, but I just couldn’t get into the story. I kept hoping it would grab me at some point, but I found myself forcing through the pages instead of actually enjoying them.

At 55%, I decided to call it. Not every book is for everyone, and that’s okay. I’m sure others might enjoy this one more than I did, but it just wasn’t for me.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!

What a heartbreaking glimpse into the BLM movement through the eyes of Cooper and Monique. These teenagers are trying to solve a murder of a black woman that happened at a protest for the wrongful killing of tragically another young black teen, Samir. Monique and Cooper are fighting to free Jason (Monique's brother and Cooper's friend) who was picked up and changed with the woman's murder at the protest. This book is filled with love, heartbreak and a fight to do what's right. I adored Monique and Cooper!

I am saddened that this book had to be written, but so glad it was. The wrongful killing and accusations against black people is grossly commonplace still and it needs to stop. To see that written from the eyes of frightened black teens is just heartbreaking. Change needs to happen! This book was really well written. I enjoyed the style of writing!

I've previously read other books by this author, so I was excited to read this one. It did not disappoint. The book kept me guessing and kept me on my toes. I really liked how it pulled me in with the very first chapter. Cooper is hesitant to follow along with Jason and his crew, but doesn't believe Jason would lead him astray. Then he gets pulled into a robbery instead of just standing outside waiting. While escaping the riot, shots are fired and Jason is arrested for murder. Jason's sister, Monique, and Cooper are left trying to figure out what happened, but Cooper doesn't want Monique to know where he was at the time in fear of losing his relationship with her. I loved the dual point of view as they tried to find the real murderer and free Jason. The characters were easy to connect too and I liked the dynamic between Cooper and Monique. The social themes in the book were completely relatable to events that have happened in the real world.

I think that this book really resonates with the times and gives readers an insight of what it is like being wrongly accused of a crime and trying to figure out who the real culprit is. While navigating in a world that wants to point fingers based on your skin color. Both characters are strong and dynamic and have powerful voices.
Thank you to Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group and Negalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

This book is a gripping, emotional ride from start to finish. The writing is sharp and engaging, and the characters feel incredibly real—flawed, complex, and deeply human. It tackles tough, timely subjects with honesty and heart, and just when you think you know where it’s going, a twist flips everything on its head. A powerful and unforgettable read.

Wow! I could not put this book down. I read it in less than a day. It was a wild ride for sure. This was the first book I’ve read from this author Nick brooks and I can’t wait to read anything and everything else he’s written. 5 stars. I loved reading the two point of views. It had a lot of twists. I thought I had it figured out but boy was I wrong.

Solid 3.75 stars! The beginning of this book had some slang that felt unnatural like "huzz", which didn't have me convinced I would be able to take the book seriously. Then the murder mystery was fleshed out and I was hanging on every piece of evidence. A nice beginning chunk of this book kind of just lists out how the dynamics are instead of showing the reader the history organically. Like instead of saying Monique and Cooper have known each other since they were kids, we could have seen pictures of them together up in their homes to show that relationship. So, for that relationship the book does a bad job of "show don't tell", but the rest of the book and dialogue rectified that for me. It's a good book and shows natural consequences for actions and gives a digestible rundown on the complexities of policing and media. There was a sentence that sounded like it wasn't intended to have an extra "though." On page 121 "I breathed through it and though and there was a moment of reprieve as the call was patched through." The word though reads as extraneous or accidentally placed. Even when I reread it assuming it was meant to be "through" again it didn't read right. It was a good book and it was cool seeing Policing's optics and relationship with the public, and the importance of dealing with issues properly and being honest. I'm happy Cooper came clean and it all worked out.

eARC Review: Up in smoke by Nick Brooks

⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Pub date: May 6 2025

This book was easy to follow along with & I especially liked the short chapters in it. I thought that the dialogue/relationship of Cooper & Monique could be seen as relatable. I enjoyed how they worked as a team to have Jason set free, instead of wrongly convicted for the murder that happened during the riot. The epilogue tied this YA thriller together in a ‘short & sweet’ way as well. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 Thank you Net Galley for the ARC. I thought the most powerful part of the story was the reasonings behind Rah’s story. I love a duel POV book. I do think some of the investigating up to the discovery was drawn out. I would have liked to see a story that was more focused on the justice of Black kids and accountability for the police. It would have been interesting to have the storyline of Rah in the middle and see the outcome. Overall, this was a solid suspenseful book. However, it left me wanting more closure for some storylines.

This was an ARC from NetGalley. I had previously read "The Promise Boys" by this author and enjoyed it. This was a fast paced who-dun-it to tie in social commentary regarding, race, class, police corruption, protest and riots, etc. All very appropriate for the times. Do I think the teenagers being able to quickly solve the case before the police was a stretch and a bit too easy, yes. I appreciated this for its quick delivery and message. #netgalley #upinsmoke

mysterious tense medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25 Stars

Nick Brooks has done it again!

This story (like all of Nick Brooks’s previous works) had such vivid, relatable characters. They are authentic and have to navigate some very delicate/complex/(unfortunately very real) issues and scenarios.

Overall, this book was super enjoyable, kept you hooked as you try to read faster to find out how it ends, and provides lots of opportunity for the reader to connect these situations back to the real world.

This dual, POV YA thriller follows Cooper and Monique as they work together to solve a murder in hopes of clearing Monique’s brother, who has been wrongfully charged. Cooper struggles internally as they follow the clues, especially since he was with Jason just before the murder.

Nick Brooks weaves real-life issues affecting the POC community into the story, adding depth and awareness. The fast-paced plot is packed with unpredictable twists, keeping readers engaged. Alongside the mystery, there’s an intriguing “will-they-won’t-they” dynamic between Cooper and Monique that adds another layer to the story.

I don’t typically read YA, as I’m not the target audience, but that didn’t take away from my enjoyment. The story and its execution kept me hooked until the end!