I enjoyed the book in terms of the pacing, clarity, and subject matter. I thought it touched on a lot of current events and verbalized the feelings that some minority groups hold about not being victims of systematic oppression in spite of that being the pervasive narrative in the media (often portrayed by white people). I think it have a balanced perspective on why too much on either side can be harmful by contrasting Javi and Anais. It was a quick read and didn’t have a lot of fluff which I appreciated. I could also hear the authors voice very strongly and enjoyed that he was clearly writing about the Bronx from first hand experience with that area.

The main issue I had with the book were that the main character reflected and apologized for lying effectively but the trauma of seeing your father killed in front of you and how that impacted his life growing up is never really addressed in a satisfying way, everything felt very surface level throughout the book. The second issue is that everything is very focused on a “current” state in time. I’m reading this when it came out but it’s definitely not a timeless book for all it’s focus on materials and the current state of social media. I would’ve enjoyed a deeper, more substantive approach. The resolution also felt a bit soft and non-consequential.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book!!

An amazing read about diversity and the struggles of growing up in the ghetto. A truly eye opening book!

Every now and again I have the pleasure of reading something that absolutely blows my mind. Victim by Andrew Boryga is one of those books.

Boryga crafts characters with so much depth. Watching Javi and Gio grow into themselves throughout the story was a delight. It was fascinating to see how their personalities and decisions were impacted by the guidance of others in the book. The use of place in this novel was also incredible! The different settings used, combined with Boryga’s writing style, made it nearly impossible to put down.

Victim examines the true meaning of diversity and how society places value on marginalized communities. In a world seemingly focused on diversity, this book introduces a unique perspective to the topic and asks, “Are we really doing enough?” If you like witty, thought-provoking reads, may I please introduce you to your new favorite book. Victim is an easy 5/5 stars for me. What a truly incredible piece of literature! I highly highly highly recommend y’all check it out when it releases on March 12, 2024.

Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for this ARC!

I really enjoyed this book! I thought that the plot was fascinating and I am really looking forward to reading more by this author!