Wow, wow, wow and WOW!! This was an incredible book. It is so timely and yet timeless. It tackles such deep subjects like prejudices, race, class, disabilities, religion, politics, physics appearances, sexual assault, gender bias, the justice system, addiction the media and more. It’s a courtroom drama that will draw you in from the start. Very smart with twists and turns that truly leave you thinking you know the truth in one moment and questioning yourself the next. We get to read the perspectives of the accuser, the accused and many family members at the same time that each and every one of them is being scrutinized but the legal system and more scarily, the public and the media. I do not want to give away a single thing that could take away from your time reading this tale, but will say that it is a rare event that I reach the end of the book without knowing the answers. This one kept me riveted to the very last page.

Abdullah created a book with so many moral issues and the dilemma she set up worked well. Jodie, a 16-year old with a horribly disfigured face and an alcoholic mother who blames Jodie for ruining her marriage and life, accused four upstanding young Muslim boys of raping her. She turns to a rape counselor for help. The counselor, Zara Kaleel, has been a high-powered lawyer. Zara is struggling with personal issues. After an arranged marriage and divorce, her father disowned her. She’s also become dependent on prescribed drugs to keep her going. As Zara works with a private investigator and the police, Zara’s story starts to have holes while the young men’s stories are collaborated. It turns into a huge racial issue with Zara being accused for being an “Uncle Tom” in taking on the defense of Jody. As I read this, my emotions struggled with what was right. I felt pity for Jody and the unloved life she’d had. I hurt for Zara who didn’t see this as a racial issue and I felt badly for the young men whose lives had been shredded. I thought I knew the ending, but the ending threw all the issues back at me. Days after I read it, the problems of race, sexuality and religion presented in the book give me a lot to think about.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for gifting me a digital ARC of this book by Kia Abdullah - 5 stars!

Zara was a high-powered attorney, working for a top firm, when she walked away to do something more meaningful with her life. She now works at Artemis House representing rape victims. Her new client, Jodie, is a teenage girl with a disfiguring condition similar to the Elephant Man. She is accusing 4 boys from her school for raping her after a party. No one except for Zara believes her - her mom and best friend ridicule her for the allegations - you would want to rape her? The four boys, all Muslim, maintain their innocence although their stories change a bit as evidence is brought forward. Zara finds herself in an uncomfortable and unsafe position - while she has always fought against the cultural notion of an arranged marriage and the man having total control, she wasn't prepared for an entire community to rally against her, calling her a traitor for representing the white girl against the good Muslim boys.

This is a gripping courtroom thriller that will definitely keep you guessing until the last page and you'll continue to think about it after that! I kept flip=flopping on who was telling the truth and feeling for both sides. This book feels ripped out of the headlines of racial inequality and crowd vigilantes. I see that there is another book coming featuring Zara - please sign me up for that one - can't wait to read more about her!

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for an opportunity to read Take It Back

Wow 😱 what did I just read.

This book kept me up - I stayed up to finish it because I couldn’t put it down, and then I couldn’t get to sleep because my mind was going a mile a minute.

A teenager accuses four of her classmates of gang rape. She has a disability, and they happen to be Muslim. It’s a classic story of she said / he said, with the addition of racial tensions, conscious and unconscious biases. Who is telling the truth ? Who do you believe ? Be prepared to learn a bit about yourself as you read this book.

4.5 ⭐️

Zara Kaleel has had to forge her own way, after being born into a Muslim family that upholds old customs. To appease her father, she got married, but after a confrontation involving all her husband's family, Zara returned home. Hoping to find a safe place to regroup, her father out of anger stated something to Zara, that deeply wounded her. So much, that she fled from her parents' home.

Shortly after she fled, her father died, leaving Zara unable to patch things up with her father. Zara sees herself as a strong woman, who stands up for what she believes in, but in her heart struggles with her choices. She is known as Zara the Brave. One of which is Luka, who values the relationship far more than Zara does, or thinks she does.

Once a prominent upscale attorney, Zara, quit to go work with the underprivileged at Artemis House. It is here, that Zara meets Jodie Wolfe.

Jodie, has neurofibromatosis a genetic disorder that leaves her face deformed and as a result a poor family life with little support. Jodie tells Zara of an incident that took place when she went with a friend, that involved four boys. Zara brings in the police.

These four boys; are Muslim and as the case proceeds, Zara finds herself being shunned where mobs believe that she is going against her own community. Her mother pleading with Zara to leave it alone. Many know the boys and their families, who are hard working, good people.

This case is huge; the story covers Islamophobia, cultural differences, and abuse with other sensitive issues. What's more is that the boys' stories seem solid, but so does Jodie's story. Someone is lying, but who?

Oh my goodness, my heart broke for Jodie, since I have family members that have a form of neurofibromatosis. As the story went on, I had to wonder if Jodie was making things up for attention. I found myself questioning both sides and unsure of who was being honest. There is a twist at the end, where I liked Zara's decision!

I requested and received an ARC from NetGalley via St. Martin's Press and I have voluntarily reviewed this book.

A day later and I am still thinking about this book. It contains some very strong messages like A Vey Long Expanse of the Sea by Tahereh Mafi. I loved how it gave insights into the muslim culture and that the characters were very much flawed just like real life. The revelations towards the end put you through the roller coaster and make you really think what would you do.

Very well written and perfect for true crime junkies like myself! I love law books and this was the perfect fit.

DNF.

While I commend the author for tackling a very controversial topic and bringing both class and race front and center in this argument, this book ultimately is not for me. I think this book will be enjoyed by a specific target audience, which unfortunately is not me.

This one just wasn't for me, I did not get into it and didn't end up finishing it. I was sent the NetGalley widget for it and just wasn't interested. Thank you for reaching out with the widget.

This was the first book I’ve read from this author, and I’ll certainly check out her prior releases. I love good courtroom drama, and this gave me that and more.
This is the tragic story of Jodie Wolf, a severely disfigured teen, living in the slums of London, who is accusing four muslim boys of raping her. Because of the racial overtones, it becomes national headlines, and the opposition groups supporting Jodie, create even more attention.
Jodie has sought support from a group that represents sexual assault victims and is assigned Zara Kaleel, a brilliant former lawyer, who believes her story and suffers the rath of her Muslim family and community, for defending this girl.
This is a story of victim blame, racial diversity, and the mistreatment of those that don’t look like us. It was a testimony to those talented people, that work for very little, to defend the less fortunate.
This is a binge worthy read, because the anticipation of the ending, keeps you turning the pages. A worthy five stars!

Jodie, a white 16-year-old, accuses four of her male classmates of rape. But it’s not so simple. Take It Back raises issues of race, religion, gender, disabilities, and anti-immigrant animus as the case goes to trial. Jodie is assisted by rape counselor Zara Kaleel, a Muslim woman. The four young men are also Muslim. The trial attracts publicity which yields unanticipated repercussions within the Muslim community and brings out a significant anti-Muslim backlash. Just when you think that the case has been resolved, there is a startling, unforeseen development. Compelling characters and engrossing courtroom drama make this a fast and forceful read.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

This is a courtroom drama that involves a young white girl who accuses four Muslim boys of rape. Jodie, who has serious facial deformities, is at the center of the case. It seems like a classic "he said - she said" crime. But, which side should the jurors believe?

Her crisis counselor, Zara, is, ironically, Muslim. She has given up a lucrative career as a barrister to "do good" and help sexually-abused victims. As the situation outside the courtroom heats up, Zara finds herself the target of violence and attacks against her character. The mystery covers issues of racial tensions, class, gender, and immigrant discrimination.

I don't read a lot of courtroom dramas because they are usually not my jam, but I thoroughly enjoyed Take Me Back by Kia Abdullah. I couldn't put it down. It's an incredibly well-written, multi-layered story that will stay with me for a long time. It touches on issues of sex, racial tensions, familial relationships, and so much more. I would caution readers to check for trigger warnings, such as rape, assault, racism, and xenophobia. For those who are OK with these triggers, I cannot recommend this book enough!

There is something about this book that makes you hope that no one is lying, but that's impossible. And sometimes you hope that all of them will get what is coming. The author really draws you into the characters. Otherwise, you might not care about the outcome.

A disabled girl accuses 4 Muslim boys of rape. They claim that nothing happened that wasn't consensual. Zara is assigned to the case as a victim advocate. She is also Muslim. Obviously, this is not going to turn out well no matter what happens.

I heard the other day that this is the first book in a series and the second book is coming out in the UK soon (or may already be out). I would most definitely read another book with Zara as the lead character and I'm looking forward to it.

Kia Abdullah has written a bold and compelling novel that deals head-on with difficult and divisive issues. This page-turning novel explores the conflict between justice and pursuit of the truth versus family and cultural loyalty; rape and the sexualization of women; women's rights versus cultural misogyny. If that's not enough, then there are also thematic threads related to substance abuse and bullying.
The main story centres around Jodie, a genetically disfigured 16-year-old who reports that she's been raped by four young Muslim boys from her school. Main character, Zara, ex-hotshot barrister, now a sexual violence legal advocate, takes the case and is immediately thrown into an explosive and highly publicized courtroom drama where the focus immediately switches to race rather than rape. Pitted against her estranged Muslim family and her community, Zara is branded a traitor to her race and nothing more than an "Uncle Tom", when she tries to protect Jodie, a quiet, tragic girl with a neglectful, alcoholic mother, and support her in her fight for justice. Tensions soon escalate and Zara becomes a target in the centre of a violent fight between white supremacist, anti-immigrant groups and disgruntled Muslim extremists.
Abdullah creates a strong, conflicted and vulnerable character in Zara, a woman who rejects the female role prescribed by her family and community, yet still struggles to find love, acceptance and confidence in her own identity. The novel explores the case from multiple perspectives which allows the reader to understand even the alleged perpetrators' feelings and realize that the entire situation is a tragedy for all involved. This powerful, riveting and provocative novel is sure to resonate with many readers. Thanks to St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a hard one to read. It was timely and enthralling, and I didn't put it down even once after starting it, but it was still hard to read. I'm not going into details other than to say a rape trial and race issues are the focus of this book. Please give it a read.

In Take It Back author Kia Abdullah gives the reader two main female characters with some of their back stories to show how they arrived at this point in time together. Some British courtroom scenes in this "she said" they said story. Looking forward to reading more by this author. I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an early copy to read.

HOT DIGGITY DANG!!! I am speechless with that OMG ending!!! If you haven't read this, I highly recommend making this one your next one!

Take It Back is a gripping, intense, explosive courtroom drama that explores racial and gender conflicts, family, and duty. Zara, a formal barrister now rape counselor, is divided between her family, her heart, and her job when 16-year-old Jodie accuses four boys of rape. Jodie is white and disabled with a facial disformity, and the boys are from hardworking immigrant families.

I loved Zara, and she makes for a strong female character here, with conflicts and flaws of her own while she deals with her expected role as a woman that her family expects and backlash from members of the Muslim community. The tension rises as she rejects traditions and those expected subservient roles and behavior.

"Oppression doesn't spread through men with guns or bombs on trains. Oppression spreads when women like you tell their daughters to marry a certain man, or wear a certain dress, or work a certain job.~Zara

"Women aren't born warriors, we learn to fight because we have to" ~Zara

The story is a tough, emotionally charge one with many themes explored, and Kia Abdullah holds back no punches. It is brilliantly and skillfully written in layers on top of layers and peeled back throughout the story. It's bold and brave and messy and gives us so much to think about and talk about.

"That's your problem, Zar. You want life in neat and predictable boxes when it's actually a river of shit "~ Safran.

The ending is brilliant with unexpected turns to the story, and every detail is wrapped up skillfully. Kia Abdullah has written a gem of a story here, and she is another author that is moving forward and away from those expected plots and characters. I look forward to more from her and Zara.

"I want forgiveness, for others and for myself. I want to accept that the journey is all there is. That when you get there, there's no there there and so you keep going, keep trying, keep looking for ways to fill that hole but it will never be filled because we are just human and life has holes-it just does. That's what I want." ~Zara

And that is what I want!

This one ticks all the boxes for me for what makes a better read!

Diverse read that addresses expected roles of gender and race but stays away from expected behaviours and stereotyped characters.
Explores some tough themes without manipulating or playing on our emotions
Delivers a story that made me think and feel with the characters
Characters that had me questioning their actions and behavior while horrifying me and breaking my heart.
A brave, bold, heartstopping, heartbreaking, thoughtful, and intense page-turner.

I am so grateful to my reading sister Lindsay who reads with me for reading and discussing this one while I analyzed every detail. lol

This book was very well written. The Author goes into much detail about the characters, their lives and their surroundings, but not as a detriment. The main focus, a rape incites many emotions such as anger, hate, pity, racism, shame and guilt. And while not written in a gory fashion it was still graphic enough to convey all these emotions and more. This book is a suspenseful must read.
Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martins press and the Author Kia Abdullah for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book...OMG! I loved it and hated it all at the same time. It's thought-provoking and heart-wrenching. None of the topics tackled in this book are easy or straightforward. Nobody in this book is good or bad; everybody seems to live in a grey area. It is a page turner until the very end and just when you think you know what's going, you don't. The topics of this book will stick with you and make you think.