I am not going to rate this book or review it. It was sent to me by mistake when I was trying to get another title. However, I was going to try and read it and review it, but after reading about 25% of it, I realized that it's really for older teenagers and maybe young adults. I wasn't interested in finishing it, and it's not fair to write it based on that.

Up in Smoke by Nick Brooks is about social injustice. A black teen was killed by cop and a protest is planned. During the protest, teenager Cooper King joins his friend Kevin and two others to loot a high end store. He’s agreed to be only the lookout. However, things go horribly wrong. When shots are heard, they all run in different directions. Now, a young woman is dead and Kevin has been arrested. Is Kevin innocent? Were one of the others responsible? Cooper and his best friend Mo (Kevin’s sister) are determined to find the truth. Up in Smoke is a good YA suspense novel. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC

Ａｕｄｉｏｂｏｏｋ & Ｅｂｏｏｋ Ｒｅｖｉｅｗ
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Devoured this book! The topic is what young Black men, and honestly, people in general, are dealing with. This is my first book by this author, and it will not be my last. I'm keeping this review short and sweet. Highly recommend. Because, honestly, I could go on and on about how amazing this book is.

The audiobook is good; its dual narration and, honestly, the sound effects the male narrator added depth to the story and had me vibing with it more. I listened at 2x speed.

Pick this up if you love:
● high stakes, dual POV thrillers
● page-turning mysteries
● will-they-won't-they romance
● twists and turns you never see coming

Thank you, NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the audiobook and ebook in exchange for my honest review.

🎧📖This was my first book by Nick Brooks.

Cooper and Jason go on a looting spree. Gunshots are heard and someone is murdered. Jason is arrested for the murder. Monique, Jason’s sister, is determined to prove her brother’s innocence. Cooper joins her and they uncover things they never bargained for.

I was pleasantly surprised by the twists and suspense. A gripping YA thriller with dual POV.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillian for the advanced audiobook and ebook.

Cooper and Jason are looting during a protest when shots are fired, and a person is found dead. Cooper fled the scene to later learn that Jason was arrested for the murder. Coop knows Jason is innocent, but he can’t come forward without discussing what they were doing. Jason’s sister, Monique, is willing to do anything to prove her brother’s innocence. Cooper and Monique team up to investigate what happened, but when they start uncovering deeper secrets, they learn that this is way over their heads.

Up in Smoke is a stand-alone mystery that covers many timely topics while also entertaining the reader. Brooks weaves together police corruption and inner-city youth trouble and includes a mysterious spin. Although the overall storyline is plausible, I don’t consider what the teens got away with believable, but most of us don’t read to experience the believable. Up in Smoke is a good read for most mystery fans.

3.5 rounded up to 4

Thank you to Net-Galley + Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the ARC!

A solid and easy to read YA novel about growing up Black in a post-2020 world. Very much a contemporary of The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas.

I would recommend this book to new or young readers in my life as I feel it encompasses a lot of the nuances of being young and feeling alone in a world that can only be described as a dumpster fire. Where it could fall into a depressing spiral, it uplifts the reader, reminding them that there is always a better choice to be made and always someone to talk to.

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.