A psychological/courtroom thriller that is a must read. Edge of your seat, emotional, gripping, a good you can put down.
Will recommend to readers who enjoy this genre

Brilliant and moving story of a Muslim woman who represents a young girl with severe facial deformities who claims she was raped by 5 Muslim classmates. The story was sometimes hard to read because of the content, but almost impossible to put down. Jodie who has had a rough life growing up with an alcoholic mother, no father, and sometimes cruel classmates goes to Zara for help after she claims she was assaulted by 5 young men who are the sons of upstanding immigrants in the community. While Zara is seen as a traitor for going after these young men, she does her best to help the young woman, even though it may have terrible consequences for herself. This book will have you guessing until the very climatic end. Definitely one of the best books I have read all year.

This was a really interesting, poignant story about a disfigured teen girl that accuses four of her classmates of rape. Much of the story takes place outside of the courtroom, and throughout the book there are many seeds of doubt planted as to which side to believe. Even with all those seeds of doubt, I did not guess what had actually taken place. Amongst all the legal drama is a thread of a hot-button issue: racism. It was hard to read those sections and draw parallels to everyday life, but I feel that conversation is an important one. We cannot believe that someone is guilty or innocent based on their skin color or background. Highly recommend this book!

In her quest to make a difference, Zara Kaleel, a former highly paid barrister, is now an individual sexual assault advisor at Artemis House. When teen Jodie Wolfe is assigned to Zara, a Muslim, Zara finds herself supporting a white girl deformed by "elephant disease"' against four upstanding immigrant Muslim boys. Racial tensions flair as the case goes to trial. Who is telling the truth?

Very high tennis suspense novel where 'he said, she said' makes the case difficult t prove the allegations of rape. Racial differences create community rage in the streets.

The subject matter is not pleasant to read but very thought provoking from both sides and has Zara in the middle being judged by both cultures. I struggled with some of the characters being 'flat' while others were well-rounded.

This thriller had a VERY though provoking theme that was so relevant to our world today. Actually quite scary for me as a parent of a teenager. I also live in a area with a a high population of Muslims and I learned a lot that I didn't know which makes me understand a so much more. Loved the court room drama.

This would make a great book club pick. Lots of topics to discuss.

Thank you St. Martin's Press, Kia Abdullah and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I am not sure how to review Take It Back, the authors character development is fantastic but the story itself was not a must read for me. I forced myself to keep reading to find out how it all ended and the ending did not satisfy. There are a few twists but quite a few plot holes in my opinion. I think the author writes passionately and for that reason i would recommend.

Thank you to Net Galley and publisher for the chance to read and review.

You need to read this book!!!

*****5 stars *****
Take It Back is an exploration of religious values clashing with a small community in London.

Zara had been at the top of her game. She was once a prominent barrister but unable to find her footing in the legal system Zara finds solace at Artemis House. She counsels women against sexual and predatory violence. It is also here she is free to express herself defending on principle rather than convention. But Zara finds her self in between two worlds colliding. Her Islamic family and her desire to be more than an adornment on a man. But her guard is so high she may not be able to know where she stands.

Jodie is a young woman who suffers from facial deformities and a world of cruelty. Jodie accuses four Muslim boys of an indiscretion. But it's her word against theirs. When Zara takes on Jodie's case, she would not have known the distress it would cause the community and the social media monster that ensued.

Take it back is a great read that stays with you. The author creates an atmospheric drama with masterful character development. In particular, the families of the main characters have a depth and dimension to them that you feel like you gain entrance to something intimate. The courtroom drama was not overplayed or over narrated. And the twisty "she said/he said" plotline intertwines with Zara's own personal trials. My only criticism of the narrative was that some parts were predictable. But that did not take away from my experience.

I compulsively read this story attracted to the courtroom drama and the desire to understand our protagonist Zara. I highly recommend this novel and look forwards Kia Abdullah's next masterpiece.

Take it back is a delicious, breathtaking read that feels particularly relevant today. I honestly couldn't put it down, and had a hard time between savoring every page and racing through them to find out what happened. Wow. What a phenomenal book!!!!

Wow, I started this book and really did not care for it. I think it was Zara. I see the good reviews and I thought maybe if I hang in there....but life is short. Moving on.

Kia Abdullah’s latest novel is a literary masterpiece as she investigates social issues that plague every community in our world. Zara Kaleel was once at the top of her profession as a lawyer until one day she decided that she needed more than an arranged marriage and the constant drain of the politics within the legal system. Zara finds herself as an advocate for rape victims giving them a voice and guidance during a most stressful times. Zara is visited by a young girl with physical issues who tells her about a rape that recently accrued involving several of her classmates. Ms. Abdullah explores not only the “she said/he said” argument, but the issues of race, classism, and vanity. She does an excellent job of creating a believable narrative that allows the reader to understand the issues from different perspectives. This is a riveting novel that needs to be read by many. I was given an advanced copy of this book, and all of the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

A lawyer prosecutes the case of four boys accused of gang rape by a disabled teen. The case is further complicated by racial tensions and the emotional damage inflicted on the victim.

Most legal thrillers are formulaic. There’s a crime. Someone is accused. Evidence is presented. A jury or judge deliberates based on that evidence. Judgement is passed.

But in today’s climate, it’s far from that easy. Judgements are made in nanoseconds. They are made by strangers on the street, our co-workers, our family members, and let’s not for forget the most important - by ourselves.

Although Kia Abdullah’s “Take it Back” focuses on a court case, that’s really a trick. Because this isn’t the average legal thriller. It’s an examination of today’s culture - the court of public opinion, family expectations, and above all - guilt.

Sixteen year old Jodie Wolfe goes to Artemis House to discuss an alleged sexual assault. There she meets Zara Kaleel, an ex-barrister who now works with sexual assault victims. After some thought, she decides to pursue a case against four young boys.

But Jodie is a Caucasian disfigured girl, with only one real friend - Nina. People have mocked her as long as she can remember. Her mother prefers a bottle to her daughter. On the other hand, the boys are Muslim, popular, from good families. Zara is also Muslim, and wracked with guilt over her father’s recent death.

It seems messy. But here these details only serve to make the novel more interesting. It is hard to put down. You form attachments to these characters. The collateral damage will shake you. And although I saw one twist about halfway through the book, I must admit that I didn’t see the final one coming.

Take it Back may be a legal thriller, but it’s one of the most complicated ones I’ve ever read. It is topical, complicated, and engrossing. I highly recommend it, and look forward to more from this author.

Brilliant. Exceptional.

One of the few books that I’ve absolutely loved this year!!!

My emotions were all over the place reading this.

It’s powerful and moving. Something EVERYONE should read.

WOW! Rating this a solid 4.5 and will round up for the review. Kia Abdullah takes on race, culture, family expectations, religion, economic status, disability, and sexual relationships and aggressions in one explosive book.

Jodie is a visibly disabled teenager that reports her gang rape at the hands of four young Muslim boys to a rape advisor and the police. Zara, her rape advisor, is a Muslim herself - though distanced from her family and renouncing her cultural roots. Her family is aghast that she is on the prosecution team against four of their own "brothers" in Muslim; boys of hardworking parents. The book plays out the accusations, trial, and some of the aftermath. Did the boys do what Jodie has accused them of or were they tragically, wrongfully charged by a young woman desperate for attention? I will say that I was shocked at the finale of the book, and I almost wish it could've gone on longer or have a sequel!

If there is one concern - there is just a lot of big themes packed into this. The author does it well, but sometimes when something was revealed about Jodie's life - I thought "what, another hardship?!" But the big themes are handled well and effectively. I genuinely learned a lot about the Muslim culture, which was very interesting. I empathized with many of the characters as they struggled to meet ancient, historic, reverent culture with modern-day life and expectations. This is my second book reviewed by this author, and I genuinely look forward to more!

𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗜𝘁 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸 by Kia Abdullah is a courtroom thriller, but it's also so much more. Jodie is a white teenage girl with some significant facial deformities. Amir, Mo, Farid, and Hassan are four Muslim boys Jodie has accused of rape. This book takes place in London so most of the courtroom proceedings were kind of foreign to me, but I didn't feel like that took away from my understanding or appreciation. I was uncomfortable, deciding whether I believed Jodie or the boys. Instinct is to believe women, right? We get the story not from Jodie, but Zara - a Muslim woman, former attorney turned victim advocate of sorts. The tension between the Muslim community and Jodie's white supporters, as well as Zara - seen as turning her back on her people - was disturbing and heartbreaking.

No spoilers here, but this was a wonderful book and it gets 🌴🌴🌴🌴 4.5 from me.

I found this book to be an enjoyable read. The author was able to directly explore several complicated social issues at the same time. No words held back. A not happy ending but a good ending to the book.

This is one of the most exciting and riveting books I have read this year. I was captivated from the first page. The twists were all thought provoking. The protagonist, Zara, is a totally fascinating woman who could certainly continue into other novels.

It deals with so many issues that surround us today. Racism and prejudice certainly is dealt with. The story revolves around the gang rape of a young, facially deformed teenager. What is true? Who is lying? Why is Zara so involved in this case?

Without a doubt, I will recommend it to both women’s studies seminars and book clubs. I promise the readers they will be enraptured as I was.

Thank you Netgalley for this absolutely fascinating novel.

A psychological thriller/courtroom drama that is a must read. Take it Back will keep you on the edge of your seat. A great great.

This was an interesting book. The main character is a British Muslim woman tasked with prosecuting four Muslim boys for the rape of an English white girl who is physically deformed. The reader is never quite sure if Jodie (the rape victim) is telling the truth or the four boys are. The court case becomes more than a rape trial, it becomes very political and deals with racial tensions in the country. Outside the court room, the public forms its own opinion with devastating results. Sometimes a little slow, but all in all a good read.

Four young Muslim men are accused of sexual crimes against a classmate, 16 year old Jodie, who suffers from a horrific facial deformity. Zara, a former successful lawyer, is the assigned counselor who promises to support her through the upcoming trial.

I didn’t exactly expect the ending but it definitely kept me pulled in till the end. This books is very relevant right now since it focused on the he said she said and the stigmas associated with reporting rape as well as the racial divides. The book was interesting but some parts were a little tough to read due to the content.