Ride share nightmare!

This is a fun sorta-satire that makes some really important points while still keeping the tone relatively light. I had mixed feelings about it overall, but there is a lot to recommend.

On the positive side, the bones of the story centered around the horrors and indignities of being a ride share driver were excellent, and provided a great axis around which the rest of the story orbits.

And then there’s Damani, one of the most interesting and likable protagonists I’ve come across recently. She is a really intricate and nuanced example of character building that feels especially exceptional when you consider that this is a relatively short book. Most of the secondary characters are also well-drawn and captivating.

What’s frustrating about this book is how fixated on a central romance it is, which I guess is fine except that the description doesn’t indicate this at all, and it’s kind of annoying for those of us who don’t care for Romance and didn’t know what we were getting into.

It’s also frustrating to see Damani get involved with Jolene, because, well…why? Obviously much of the story doesn’t exist without it, but it’s tough when it’s clear from the start that Jolene is 1) a terrible person and 2)dumb as rocks. I know we all make bad choices in who we date when we’re young and all, but I have to wonder what the lovely, smart, and complex Damani ever saw in this dolt. Damani’s friends are wonderful too, so it’s odd she so completely hitched her wagon to such a dud of a human.

Damani does at least get (a little) revenge in the end, and certainly finds herself thankful to be well shot of Jolene who I can only describe as…a performative liberal who gives well-meaning activism a bad name. And unfortunately, as much as you hate Jolene’s character, this is definitely a creature who exists in real life.

I’m also not sure I’ll ever use a ride share again. It’s never been my favorite (yellow cab gal here), and what’s demonstrated here is just how ethically gross the industry is. Unless, of course, Damani is driving. For that, I’d make an exception.

Keeping Your Head Above Water as a RideShare Driver

Damani is a Sri Lankan RideShare driver. Life has gotten more difficult now that her father is dead and she’s become the caretaker of her grieving mother who refuses to leave their basement apartment. Her friends are trying to organize and protest in the hope of getting a better life, but Damani has little time for protests, she’s barely eking out a living as it is.

Then she meets beautiful, rich Jolene. She seems perfect. There’s chemistry between her and Damani, and Jolene becomes an ally in the protests for livable wages and justice for the under-served like Damani. However, things are not always as perfect as they seem and in the end it turns out they’re definitely not.

Damani is an interesting character. She talks tough. She’s into working out so that she’s able to deal with any dangerous situations with her riders. She has weapons hidden all over the car. I found her breezy style interesting but it began to drag in the first half of the book. The second half is much livelier. It’s hard to put down.

The book is very readable social commentary. I’m not sure the romantic aspect adds a great deal, but it does enliven the ending.

I received this book from Knopf Doubleday for this review.

This bold 21st century literary update of the movie Taxi Driver features a queer brown heroine who drives for a ride share service, worrying over making ends meet even as her fears, justified or otherwise, seem to bear down on her suffocatingly.

Damani lives in a major city with her ailing Amma, who worries when she’s not at home. This is in large part due to Damani's refusal to be anything other than vague about her whereabouts, and not just to her own mother:

QUOTE
I never tell people where exactly I am and I won’t tell you which city I live in either. In our current times, a city is a place, is a space, is the same everywhere minus the design of buildings, the demographics and the weather. Cities have all been structured the same. Right now, a few people have a lot, some are just fine, most are struggling. As long as I’m alive, does it really matter where I am? Besides, if the wrong people know my location, they’d find me, fine me, put me in prison for something that wasn’t my fault. Am I just paranoid?
END QUOTE

This lack of urban specificity does double duty, linking Damani to Travis Bickle, her fictional forebear, while very much grounding the proceedings in both the everywhere and the now. Damani has to cope with corporate exploitation, making less money even as she drives more and more hours in increasingly unsafe situations. Complicating matters is the fact that her city is currently being rocked by protests against all manner of social injustices, so many that they all begin to blur together to her.

It’s near one of these protests that she literally runs into Jolene, the beautiful white activist whom she’s immediately smitten with. Damani, for all her bluster and obsession with working out, is a big old softie at heart. She can barely believe it when Jolene returns her interest, as the two embark on a torrid affair that seems like everything she ever wanted.

This changes when she makes the mistake of bringing Jolene to a minority-dominated environment to meet her friends. A strange transferral happens: Damani becomes more relaxed, while the usually soignee Jolene starts flinching at shadows. Things come to a head when the man Damani considers a brother attempts to explain to Jolene his ideas for ride-share drivers to fight back against exploitation. Jolene’s response is sub-optimal:

QUOTE
Shereef’s dark, majestic eyes looked at his lover’s and then at mine and I knew it in my heart, but I couldn’t accept it. Jolene and I had connected and clearly she was imperfect but I could teach her, I could change her! It wasn’t over, though. Shereef was a careful man, a chess player with his actions and words. But I was worried about what he was going to say. One wrong inflection could crush Jolene into pieces that I wouldn’t know how to put back together.
END QUOTE

After everything goes wrong, a distraught Damani throws herself into her work. Fatigue and emotional unrest soon have her embarking on a series of poorly thought-out excursions, culminating in an act of violence that will finally shock her out of her fog. Will the city rise up to protect her in response, or will it destroy her and her Amma for good?

So I freely admit that while I still haven’t watched Taxi Driver, I did catch up with its main themes, arcs and beats via the Internet. With this limited knowledge, I was wholly impressed with the way Priya Guns reimagines the tale for our current global circumstances. Some of the scenes that made it from the movie to this book continue to resonate, even as the subtle tribute to the film’s main character made this feel like even more of a love letter than it already was.

Even more importantly, Your Driver Is Waiting is a well-considered indictment of modern capitalism, of a system that consistently fails the people who work the longest and hardest to survive. Its scathing attitude towards the privileged who talk a good game but would rather “raise awareness” instead of putting concrete plans into motion will likely alienate some, but will hopefully motivate others to reconsider whether they’re being allies in order to make themselves feel better or in order to truly create a more just world. Like the movie that came before it, it champions the underdog in a way that's far more realistic than any feel-good story, in circumstances of continuing relevance for contemporary readers.

This is a story about struggle.  Damani is trying to make ends meet in a world that seems determined to make everything as challenging as possible for her and those in her orbit.  Her father recently died after essentially working himself to death at his fast-food job.  She and her mother were forced to sell their house and now rent the basement from the new owners.  To support herself and her demanding and ailing mother, Damani works as a driver for a ride share service that is regularly increasing its cut of what she earns on her rides.  Damani tries to distract herself by regularly lifting and watching the videos of an online therapist.

Among the difficult and rude riders, Damani gives a ride to Jolene.  Something about Jolene sparks Damani's attention -- although Jolene, clearly from wealth, lives a life diametrically opposite to Damani, she is powerfully drawn to Jolene who demonstrably views herself as an ally.  So, in fits and starts, Damani forges ahead with a romance with Jolene.  But just as Damani lets Jolene more fully into her life, Jolene takes an action so utterly unforgiveable it almost seems inevitable, with dramatic and life-changing consequences. 

This was an interesting and thought-provoking novel.  In this modern take on Taxi Driver, the author offers insightful examinations of several timely issues.  Through the experiences of Damani, her friends, and her parents, the author vividly captures the challenges for many of trying to eke out a living in the modern economy.  This exploration is heightened by the juxtaposition with Joelene who, despite her self perception, experiences the world quite differently than Damani and her friends in ways that she refuses to meaningfully acknowledge no matter how others react or the results of her actions.  Alternatively unsparing and funny about the absurdities and indignities Damani experiences, this is a story you won't soon forget.

Highly recommended!

Priya Guns' debut novel, Your Driver is Waiting, is a dark comedy / social satire about Damani, a female ride share driver in an unnamed city. There is a feeling of omnipresent threat in Damani's life, both physical - she's a woman of color giving people rides at night, and ideological in nature as protests are the backdrop to this novel. This is a book that explores the concept of danger and when Damani falls for a white women of privilege, we watch her struggle with her own ideologies. This book is written in vignettes, some as small as a page-long, that work together to create a tapestry of what it means to be a woman of color working in a gig economy. I so look forward to Guns' next book!

This book is kind of hard for me to review, because I feel mostly lukewarm about it. It was enjoyable but never "knocked my socks off" at any point in time. I always love following a sort of 'not in her right mind all the time' and 'down on her luck' main character, so Damani was exactly my kind of main character. However, the actual plot of the book fell a little flat for me. It reminded me too much of a couple of other books I have read recently, and this one just didn't give me the same feeling at the end of it that those books did.

To describe this book in one sentence: It was good in the moment, although easily forgettable once finished.

I’m not 100% how I feel about this. I flew through it in one night and it was definitely interesting, but I didn’t love it and I’m not sure I can put my finger on why.

On one hand, I loved the tone. It was sharp and sarcastic and biting. I loved the stream of consciousness narration. There were a lot of small details that really shone through this structure. I also loved the social commentary achieved through the satirical portrayal of this city and its inhabitants, which could be anywhere but feels like everywhere (I swear, this makes sense in my head).

On the other, while I liked most of the characters, I couldn’t stand the MC or her love interest. I think maybe that was the point, but being in her head was a lot at some points. For that reason, while I enjoyed the story, I’m not sure she was the best conduit to tell it. Also, while the end is fast-paced and exciting, the beginning really dragged so I almost DNFed it (I’m glad I didn’t but it was a close call).

So yeah, as I said, I’m conflicted. This might be a book I need to sit with for awhile to let it sink in before I make up my mind. At the end of the day, though, it was a fun and unique read, so if you’re looking for something different, check it out!

I'm abstaining from a star rating because I can recognize that while on a lot of levels this one just wasn't for me, I can see that it might work really well for other readers. Maybe if I'd ever seen Taxi Driver, it would have been a good start for understanding the reference :D

This was one of my most anticipated books of 2023 and I was not disappointed! Damani is someone who's about to break: her father just passed away, her mother's expectations are weighing her down, and all she's seeking is love, dignity and financial security. This story was equal parts hilarity and satire, with a social commentary on issues impacting marginalized groups every day. I loved the writing and descriptions of true friendship, love, and relatable frustrations that could make anyone question how much longer they can hold it all together. I enjoyed being in Damani's world and am excited to read more from Priya Guns in the future.

Thank you to Doubleday Books for the arc!

DNF. I just couldn't get into this one in ebook or audiobook format. I may try again later.

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for providing this ARC.

YOUR DRIVER IS WAITING by Priya Guns is a satirical novel about a jaded bisexual Tamil RideShare app driver, Damani. Her father died six months ago, her mother has become completely helpless, and Damani is chronically behind on her bills. Though she has a supportive community of like-minded friends who gather at a clandestine space called the Doo Wop, she feels like she’s hanging on by a thread in her unnamed city where there are always protests going on and where her RideShare payments keep decreasing.

The main thrust of the novel involves Damani falling into love-at-first-sight with a wealthy white woman, Jolene. They’re somehow madly in love after 1.5 dates in which they barely talk to each other. When Damani introduces to Jolene to her friends, things quickly head towards a cliff: Will Jolene listen or judge? Will she be a true ally? Or will Jolene turn into a Letty (IYKYK)?

There’s no way to write about this book without bringing up ALL THIS COULD BE DIFFERENT by Sarah Thankam Mathews. They cover similar themes: the precarity of working-class young adult life in an urban environment, being a queer South Asian woman embarking on a new relationship with a white woman, and building a visionary community despite the exigencies of economic survival.

In the end, I preferred ATCBD for its beautiful prose, layered narrative, and well-developed characters. In comparison, YOUR DRIVER IS WAITING is more one-dimensional and blunt. However, fans of satire (in the vein of Elaine Hsieh Choi’s DISORIENTATION) and a cynical narrative voice may enjoy this one. Damani really doesn’t give a damn, and the reader better buckle up before getting into her car.

A female retelling of Taxi Driver, this is taken from the point of view of Damani, an interesting and mostly likeable narrator, showing the world through her point of view of the multiple people she picks up, plus the world she drives through, really focusing on the multiple protests she frequently sees. The story did take a downturn for me, when the love interest of Jolene was introduced, as she was a little too obvious with all her red flags and how Jolene and her whole friend group was showcasing performative allyship. It was harder to believe that Damani would fall for her, even to the point of calling her loveable in the book as Jolene never felt good enough for her to me.. It is a hard comparison to Taxi Driver, as I didn’t feel the book got as dark as Taxi Driver but I could still see the influence. Despite the character and love story with Jolene, I enjoyed the writing style and the humor presented.

This book was just ok for me. Going in I thought it was going to be something totally different than what it actually was which was more of a romance. It dragged a lot in the beginning but picked up towards the end. It was funny at times but there wasn’t anything that stood out to me.

Damani is a Rideshare driver trying to make enough money to support her mother after the passing of her father. She works long hours with little to show for it. Her customers are cheap and rude and Damani is at her breaking point. Everything changes when she picks up Jolene. Jolene is beautiful, rich, and the two instantly have a connection. What could go wrong?

You’re Driver is Waiting is available February 28, 2023

Thank you netgalley and double day books for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

I didn’t connect with this book at all. Not sure if it was the character or the writing style but I struggled to even finish it. Sorry, not for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday for an advanced reader copy.

3.5, rounded up. This is a short book that I enjoyed, but I had to get used to the pacing. I was drawn to the biting, sarcastic, dry satirical take on the gig economy, urban life, and white allyship that Priya Guns employs in this book--I can see the connection to Taxi Driver, though this protagonist is slightly less unhinged, more sincere, and participates in a romance that didn't lend as much to the story as I thought it would. (Also, I started skimming the parts when Damani talked about her body and her YouTube therapist.) The buildup of social commentary leads to an explosive climax, though, and the ending is somehow both cynical and hopeful at the same time.

I absolutely loved this tour de force look at the gig economy and societal activism from a Tamil woman, Damani. She drives for RideShare as much as she can, only stopping to lift weights and take care of her mom, who is paralyzed after the sudden death of her father six months prior. When Damani falls for a white rider named Jo, we are forced to confront the limits of white allyship, and watch Damani slowly start to spiral.

This was such a clever book, as keeping the city nameless enables us to project whatever we want onto it (I saw reviewers claim it was Portland, NYC, and I thought it was somewhere in the UK!). The background of continuing protests was also very interesting, because Damani is just trying to survive each day, while these protests just keep growing and are about so many different causes. It definitely got me thinking about the difference between activism and direct action, not to mention white saviorism and the power dynamics between Damani and Jo.

This book is definitely satire, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The final section of the book moves so quickly and you can't look away from Damani's often questionable choices, but you also understand her and why she's doing it.

Overall, this is the messy queer woman on the verge book of your dreams, and you should read it.

Unfortunately this novel was NOT for me, and I couldn't make the connection with Taxi Driver. While this novel is a reality check on relevant topics, but the whole story was a downer. The story was also highly repetitive - Damani's workouts, her fit body and her therapist, Dr. Thelma Hermin Hesse.

I'm sure this novel will find an audience who can appreciate on the writing style.

Thank you DoubleDay Books for the complimentary copy.

- YOUR DRIVER IS WAITING is a gender-flipped retelling of TAXI DRIVER, updated to the current day. Making Damani a driver for a rideshare company and making Jolene a white ally is brilliant.
- At times the points Guns is making are a bit on the nose, but the oppressive, hopeful yet hopeless atmosphere of the story is perfect.
- This book is pretty short and I wish there could have been more depth to some of the characters and story elements. I would love to see what Guns can do with a longer, more immersive story. That said, I could not put this book down, and read it within about 48 hours.

This is the story of a Sri-Lankan woman who drives for a company called RideShare. The stories that Damani tells readers are, at times, hilarious, but there's also very deep social commentary topics discussed, specifically immigration, race, and American culture. The story is a very unique read, but an accurate depiction on societal attitudes toward groups of people struggling to survive in America. The city is never named as it could be any city, I think it the story lost me when Damani hooks up with Jolene, a supposed Ally, who in one fell swoop, brings down Damani and her whole world.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for this e-arc.*

Love the concept of a gender-bent TAXI DRIVER retelling focused on a Sri Lankan rideshare driver -- ultimately, I wish the book were a bit tighter and faster-paced. (Frankly, I could give Scorsese the same feedback, ha!) I really liked the social satire and Damani's barely-contained rage. Loved the takedown of Jolene and her ilk--the raid scene is particularly harrowing and effective.