Javier Perez is a good student with dreams of becoming a writer. When he meets with a school counselor to discuss college plans, he realizes that he has the kind of life that is exactly what elite schools are looking for. He is a Puerto Rican from the Bronx, his dad was a drug dealer who was murdered, his mom is a single mother living paycheck to paycheck, and his best friend is locked up for gang activity. His dreams become reality at Donlon, a prestigious, primarily white school where Javi joins the LTC, a group for minority students to discuss the racism and injustices they face on campus. Javi quickly realizes that he can weaponize the information he learns in these meetings to play up his victim hood and garner sympathy from white audiences. He writes almost entirely fabricated stories about his life for the school paper and continues to do so as a freelance writer after college. A viral essay earns Javi a job with a major magazine, but the spotlight leads to people fact checking his stories, and ultimately his downfall.

I loved this story because even though Javi is not a great person in so many ways, I was rooting for him for most of the novel. This is satire that plays on prevalent topics in today’s society such as “wokeness” and “cancel culture.” There are times it goes overboard, almost moving from satire to a caricature, but Boryga does a great job of demonstrating how quick society is to build someone up only to relish in tearing them down even faster. I thought framing the book as Javi’s memoir was a nice touch, and it leaves the reader wondering how much is true. Thanks to NetGalley, Doubleday, and Andrew Boryga for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Published by Doubleday on March 12, 2024

Victim is a novel that takes the form of a memoir. Javier Perez admits that he was a slacker who learned to game the system by portraying himself as a victim until his dishonesty was discovered. By telling his story in Victim, Javier is attempting to atone by being honest with himself and with the world. The novel is a nuanced look at the risks people take when they abandon intellectual honesty under the pretense of telling a larger truth.

Javier has had a tough life, but he is used to his life so he doesn’t regard it as particularly difficult. He grew up in the Bronx with a mother who worked hard and made sure he had enough to eat. He lived in a sketchy neighborhood but he learned to read the warning signs and knew when crossing the street (or running) would keep him safe. His dad was a drug dealer who was gunned down in front of Javier on one of Javier’s visits to Puerto Rico, but Javier wasn’t surprised by his father’s fate. To Javier, his life is just the way life is. He has nothing to complain about.

Unlike his friend Gio Meija, Javier is a reasonably good student. Gio clowns around in classes, insults teachers, hangs with drug dealers, drops out, and ends up in prison. Javier has a nerdish reputation because he enjoys reading. He does enough in classes to stand out in comparison to students who don’t try at all. He wants to become a famous writer and “make bank” although he hasn’t tried to write anything.

Javier attracts the attention of a roving guidance counselor who tells him how to exploit his background in an a college admissions essay. On the strength of an essay that exaggerates the hardships he has endured, Javier is given a free ride to a prestigious university in upstate New York.

Javier takes advantage of his ethnicity in college. He scores points with professors for having an authentic underprivileged experience. He milks the fact that his best friend is in prison. He meets a Latina student who is a year ahead of him. She introduces him to a campus organization for students of Latin heritage. Javier relies on his “street” experience to make it seem that he has overcome more barriers than his peers. His Latina friend begins to supplement his college education with information about systemic racism, white privilege, and America’s oppressive power structure. Javier doesn’t know many white people and those he knows have been good to him, but he parrots her teachings because he wants to get in her pants. After he also accepts her lessons about feminism, she sleeps with him and they become a couple.

Javier begins to write a column for the student newspaper. His classes have taught him about the importance of research and discipline, but that seems like too much work to Javier. His columns are superficial but are published in the interest of allowing diverse voices to be heard. To publish more, Javier begins to embellish his personal experiences. He claims that instructors have confronted him with racist attitudes. He describes a benign encounter with the police as if it were threatening.

Javier’s columns play well with his white liberal audience. He justifies his lies by telling himself he’s exposing injustices that actually exist, even if they aren’t part of his own experience. Javier thinks of himself as taking shortcuts rather than telling lies. He thinks he is exercising an artistic license to tell greater truths.

After graduation, Javier gets a job writing for a magazine. He again faces criticism for producing superficial work until he again embellishes his experiences. After Gio is released from prison, Gio calls out Javier for the lies he tells. Gio knows that Javier didn’t grow up eating unhealthy fast food that capitalists sell to exploit the poor — an article Javier’s editor assigned after a story broke that portrayed the Bronx as a third-world community where healthy food was unavailable. Gio knows that Javier’s mother served rice and beans with fresh food — her meals were “the bomb.”

Javier ultimately alienates both Gio and his college girlfriend by portraying them in articles with half-truths. Gio knows that Javier was never recruited to join a gang — Javier is too soft. Gio knows that he did not have an epiphany about being a victim because of his post-prison talks with Javier. Gio has never seen himself as a victim. He knows that people who define themselves as victims make their whole life about victimization. Gio doesn’t want any part of such a confining identity. He regards it as “just another trap,” no better than prison.

Yet Javier doesn’t want to embrace Gio’s demand for honesty. Unsurprisingly, Javier eventually learns a lesson when his dishonesty blows up his life.

There have been well-publicized incidents of journalists falsifying sources or fabricating facts to make a larger point. While the point may have merit, supporting it with lies only undermines the truth the journalist is trying to prove. The social justice issues that Javier writes about have merit, but his lack of intellectual rigor and his reliance on fabrications only harms his cause. Victim makes that point effectively.

An equally important point is that people gain attention and sympathy by portraying themselves as victims or by exaggerating their victimization. This is true across the spectrum of race and political beliefs. That the media crave stories about victims only encourages people to self-identify as victims rather than working to overcome any harm they experienced. People too often use the label “victim” as an excuse for their failure to do their best — at work, in school, in relationships. Javier’s life might have been difficult compared to more affluent students at his university, but he never thinks of himself as a victim until he realizes that playing the victim card attracts attention, sympathy, and opportunities he hasn’t earned.

Even if Victim is viewed as satire, Javier’s story might be a bit simplistic or heavy-handed. Still, fiction can use exaggeration to expose truth even if journalism can’t. The novel is not written in an elegant style, although that might be a function of Javier's voice. Javier doesn't come across as a writer who would take the time to polish his prose. Victim is engaging and it addresses issues surrounding the exploitation of victimization that are too rarely explored. Those are good reasons to read the novel.

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What an amazing debut by an author! Andrew Boryga has written a novel that captures so much about what it means to be a victim in our society and how it can be used to tell a specific narrative. Javier is pushed to use his trauma to get ahead by the very same people who tend to create the very circumstances that cause our trauma. But he isn't innocent either. Javier, seeing what he can achieve, becomes like the very same people who pushed him. How far does he go to get what he wants? Well, you'll have to read the book to find out.

This is an amazing debut and I enjoyed every bit of it. Andrew Boryga definitely has a voice that brings both humor and levity. At times, the writing was a little on the nose, but not to the point where I felt like I was being preached to. What I enjoyed about this book is how it reveals what can happen when trauma is wielded to obtain a better life by the same people who suffer that trauma. It is both a moral dilemma and a question of advantage. I'm already seeing discourse about this book both good and bad, and I love that. This book deserves to be read and discussed thoroughly.

A hilarious, poignant, sharp romp that gets at something very topical and real. I loved this book, it's characters. Andrew Boryga is the real deal. Thanks to the publisher for the e-galley.

Victim was a great exploration of what diversity means and how it can be manipulated to make someone more "worthy". I liked the writing overall and it kept me engaged

Fans of Yellowface, this 5 star debut novel is your next read! Our main character, Javi, grew up in the Bronx in a single mother household (his Dad was a drug dealer who was murdered) with a best friend who fell in with the wrong crowd. Javi discovers at a young age that he can take advantage of his disadvantaged background to get ahead…both in his education and in his writing career after college. So, he does just that by exaggerating and outright lying in his work to disastrous results. It’s juicy, discussable, and Boryga's writing pulls you right in. Boryga, himself from the Bronx, says this is a story about the commoditization of people from marginalized backgrounds, but it’s also about tokenism and the giant chasm between online life and real life. I loved the combination of satirical humor, biting social commentary, and heart, which softened the somewhat dislikable protagonist.

A funny and propulsive satire about the commodification of identity; in conversation with *Yellowface* and *American Fiction/Erasure*.

I like that Victim and American Fiction portray a POC main character recognizing the weird system of weaponized identity politics and playing it because it implicitly asks the white lib audiences who eat up trauma porn why they love it so much. This is a different conflict than the one *Yellowface* deals with—a white person co-opting another identity.

It’s a nuanced issue which Boryga shines light on and it’s nice that it’s acknowledged that there isn’t an easy answer. So much of this book and so many of its characters had me going, “Well… yes, but also *no,*” the whole time I was reading which was sometimes hilarious and sometimes painful (in a good way).

It also feels very modern in how much Javi’s grift had to do with the attention economy—clicks, tweets, shares, etc—and this pervasive (inaccurate) idea that the conversations happening on twitter are necessarily representative of the real world and its issues.

The ending was such a fun note to leave us with. Javi revealing the purpose of this book calls into question how truthful he’s really was, especially since he just spent a whole novel detailing his willingness to lie.

Very fun, very thoughtful, recommend.

Went into this one not knowing what to expect and enjoyed it so much more than I could have known. I loved the Yellowface-like vibes and the very now therms and concept. Really well done.

Pacing and voice are two things I often think authors struggle with and Andrew Boryga, a debut author, hits it out of the park on both fronts. I immediately believed Javi's story (which is ironic considering the choices the character makes later) and I never once felt bored. The character development was very well-done. I love when you don't understand a cover picture going in and half way through the story it makes complete sense. Thank you to Net Galley and Doubleday Books for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I will be on the lookout for other work by Boryga in the future.

From the very first page, 'Victim' by Andrew Boryga pulls you into the tumultuous world of Javier Perez—a young man navigating the complexities of his upbringing that is both captivating and inspiring.

Boryga's masterful storytelling unveils Javier's journey with such raw authenticity and depth that you can't help but be drawn in by his struggles and triumphs. Javier's background, filled with adversity and hardship, serves as a compelling backdrop against which his quest for success unfolds.

As Javier maneuvers through the intricacies of college life and beyond, Boryga skillfully explores themes of privilege, friendship, and the consequences of deception. The evolution of Javier's character is both fascinating and thought-provoking, as he grapples with the moral implications of his actions and the true meaning of integrity.

What truly sets 'Victim' apart is Boryga's ability to keep readers on the edge of their seats, eagerly turning pages to uncover the next twist in Javier's journey. The tension builds steadily throughout the novel, culminating in a climax that is both shocking and satisfying.

This was a GREAT debut and I'm looking forward to what Boryga releases in the future.

At first this book was too predictable. I ended up getting hooked. You would like this if you enjoyed yellowface by r f kuang

I liked this book generally but had some issues specifically with arguments that were made and who in fact this satire was calling in/out. It is an easy and quick read but there are some sticky questions in it for sure. A solid debut.

Javi is preparing an essay for a college entrance application, when his a g00d-intentioned professor encourages him to lean into his hardships and make sure it is known that he has made it through many trials and tribulations. Raised by a single mother, dead dad, growing up in a lower income neighborhood, being a minority. All things Javi didn't interpret as hardships...just the life that had been handed to him. But he does as he is told and many avenues open up to him in turn. So, he embellishes a bit and twists the truth to play to his narrative. It's no big deal. Until he does it again. And again. And yet again. When will this domino effect of lies and opportunities finally come to an end?

This was such a fascinating read. I thought it was interesting how my feelings about the main character evolve throughout the story. First feeling sorry for them for all the crappy things that had happened, then proud that he learns how to use his life events for his own benefit, and then to annoyance when he is basically spiraling out of control. This book is defined as being satirical in nature (similar to Yellowface) but it really does leave you contemplating things well after you finish the last page. Fantastic debut novel!!

Thank you to Doubleday Books and NetGalley for the copies of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

Innovative, fun, and a promising voice new on the lit fic scene. Satire is not my cup of tea but I appreciate the author really going for it here. This is a memoir told by one of the main characters. Funny and compelling—I just couldn’t get into it though.

WHEW. This was so immensely powerful. The duality of Javier's experiences and what the world thrust upon him / demanded of him, DAMN. Equal parts satire and also gently-removed reality, Boryga captures the reality of the lack of depth surrounding conversations on oppression today. “I wasn’t trying to be a victim until the world taught me how powerful victims are” will stick with me forever. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free advance copy.

Victim is a book about a young Puerto Rican male who decides to capitalize on his disadvantages by embellishing them to get ahead.

Victim is written as a memoir where the main character is reflecting on his choices and where they ultimately landed him.

This is the second satirical novel I have read recently where other people thought they were brilliant, creative, and funny and I disagreed. It may be that satire is no longer a genre I can enjoy but for me this book was very flat. I read it quickly enough, but I definitely didn't find much humor, though I did roll my eyes a time or two.

The main character is very unlikeable. As a matter of fact, none of the characters are likeable. There are a few parts, especially earlier in the book where the characters speak Spanish with no translation. Sometimes I was able to use context clues to translate but other times not. I'm curious why the author chose to use that strategy.

I completely understand what the author was trying to do. To get us to examine the way as a society we capitalize on victimhood and sob stories, as well as to delve into issues like tokenism and surface diversity. Also, the author wants us to introspect on the current societal needs for validation and social media recognition. The premise is interesting and the author's goals noble. However, for me, this satirical novel did not fully deliver.

IF you are someone who usually likes satire I would encourage you to check this one out despite my luke-warm reaction because I can understand why others might love this story.

Thanks for Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Victim will push some buttons. Yes. He's a liar. Yes. He uses what he doesn't want to own as his own trauma to get ahead in his life. But what is very apparent is not that "victims" are using the system or banking on their victimhood. No. It is that there are a lot of ways to deal with truama. If some fall into the life around them and others blunt the pain by pretending it is all a game to them, it's still trauma. That's what this is about.

Victim the debut novel by Andrew Boryga is astonishing. From the very first page you know that you are going to be pushed to look your view of the world in a differnt way. It is about two friends Javier and Gio. Thet both grow up in The Bronx. Javier is a witness to his father's death and Gio has a tough life too and ends up in prison. The book revolves around what it's like to be a victim and do certain people expect you to be a victim for their own worth. It's very timely for the world we live in today. What I loved about this book was that the way the author tuened the table on things. He made the "victim" do things that he criticized others of doing. The cover of dominoes falling is perfect because it is literally what happens. Just when yout think you can get away with things it all starts to fall and your a left with the destruction of your deeds. But at the end of the day you ar left with yourself and your missteps and have to reevaluate what is important and what isn't. This would be a fantastic book club pick because there is so much to discuss about race, politcal correction, our own prejudices as well as others. Truly a book for our times. Thank you to #doubleday and #netgalley for the read.

The book cover art of this new release so accurately depicts what happens when one little white lie or bent truth kick the domino effect of one man's rise and subsequent fall into motion. In this book, Javier, a promising young writer, learns early enough to play the "diversity" card to achieve success, losing his true self in the process.

This was both a quick read and a very thought-provoking novel. It brings up many questions. Is Javier a victim of his underprivileged upbringing or is he a victim of his own making? The MC's coming of age story, when "diversity" suddenly becomes a buzz word, and the temptation is there to hop on that train, it was interesting to observe how Javi sets himself on a path of inevitable self peril. He choses to ignore the red flags and being called out on stretching the truth or "taking artistic liberties" with his reporting of social injustices. I really felt sorry for the guy, because this was a tough life lesson he received.

Great conclusion... Be real, don't pretend. But also: victims are powerful. Real friends and family are the ones to be there when you fall. What a great debut novel! The audiobook was very well narrated and gave the book a great cultural feel. Highly recommend.

(Thanks to @doubledaybooks #gifted.) 𝗩𝗜𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗠 by debut author Andrew Boryga joins Percival Everett’s 𝘌𝘳𝘢𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 and R.F. Kuong’s 𝘠𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦 in taking on the publishing industry head on. Specifically, all three books have their main character authors using racial stereotypes to gain (or maintain) access to a world they might otherwise be denied.⁣
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In 𝘝𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘮, Javier Perez is first encouraged to stretch the truth about his “life challenges” in order to gain access to an elite college. It works and Javi has learned this lesson well. A little on the lazy side when it comes to research and supporting evidence, Javi moves through college (and beyond) manipulating the system in any way that moves him further along in the world of journalism, not to mention life in general. ⁣
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I loved the way Boryga used wit and sarcasm to create an unforgettable, unlikeable character who was eager to give readers what they wanted, whether or not it was true. I also really liked that the story was told by Javi in first person, almost like a memoir. He was speaking directly to the readers, including some wonderful snarky asides. Though 𝘝𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘮 shares commonalities with the books mentioned above, it felt very fresh and original. This really was a smart, fun read, so a book I highly recommend! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫