This made me want to scream at every turn-in frustration, in excitement, and in heartbreak. I think we all have had that friend or family member that couldn’t get it together but we felt responsible for them, making Lawson a deeply relatable character. Benny had the whole world on his shoulders no matter which direction he went in and I couldn’t have been more frustrated for him.

When We Ride is a novel in verse that explores the depths of friendship and the different paths people take in life. It's a powerful story that should be required reading in schools. It would be great for sparking conversations.

I received a digital ARC of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

I will never be too old to read great YA, and Rex Ogle is one of the reasons why you should read YA too! When We Ride, a novel-in-verse, chronicles the friendship of two teens in their senior year on the verge of manhood.

Diego and Lawson are "ride or die" friends. They’ve known each other since the 3rd grade and have had each others backs through the toughest of times. When Lawson begins to sell drugs to help support his family, their lives begin to pull in different directions. Diego’s mother breaks her back working to provide him with a way out, all he has to do is focus on school and keep his measly job as a bus boy at a neighborhood diner. Worried about Lawson’s dealing, Diego agrees to give Lawson rides in his car in the hopes of reeling him back in.

In this short but emotionally impactful novel, reminiscent of Jason Reynold’s All the Way Down, Ogle illuminates the impossible situations and decisions teens face in our current world. It is a story about responsibility to family, the power of friendship and the price of loyalty. Many teen readers will be able to find themselves on these pages and relate to some of the challenges these boys face in their friendship and lives.

Fair warning, Ogle doesn’t shy away from tough topics ⚠️ multiple references to drinking, drugs, gang life, and violence.

Many thanks to the author @ThirdRex, @NortonYoungReaders, and @NetGalley for the pleasure of reading this digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

A heart-wrenching novel-in-verse 💔😢

“Show me who your friends are, and I’ll tell you who you are” is the perfect quote to sum up this story.

MY GOODNESS!!! 💔 I knew what was coming, but I couldn’t look away. 😢

His mom only wanted the best for him, to be better than her, to have the things she could never afford or even dream of. He had a good head on his shoulders, but he got mixed up with the wrong company.

Thinking back to my high school and college days… for the most part, I was shy and reserved. But there were definitely moments when I found myself in places and situations I had no business being in, only to realize later how reckless my choices were and where they could have landed me. BUT GOD! 🙏🏾

This is a MUST-READ! 🌟♾️

In this novel-in-verse, Ogle gives the reader a peek inside the mind of both a young person with the promise of a better future than he has lived in, and one who is unlikely to rise above his circumstances. Perfect for readers of Jason Reynolds' Long Way Down, and will likely become recommended reading for teens in the juvenile justice system as a "scared straight" tactic.

Thanks to NetGalley and Norton Young Readers for my ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be published March 25, 2025.

This book is powerful! It’s the story of high school seniors Benny and Lawson: neighbors who become friends who become brothers.

Benny lives with his alcoholic mom. He’s a good student who has his eyes set on college. Lawson sells drugs. First pot then cocaine then other drugs. Benny always gives him a ride to school but also to his drug drops.

Over the course of their senior year Benny tries to push back: he doesn’t want any part of Lawson’s drug deals. But they are brothers so it’s hard to say no.

This should be a must read for high school students as it offers a very realistic look into drugs, peer pressure and how far you will go for a friend. It’s written in verse which makes it more powerful.

HIGHLY RECOMMEND.
.

Rex Ogle has done it again with this compelling novel-in-verse. Benny and Lawson have grown up together and consider themselves brothers. As seniors in high school, their roads begin to diverge. Benny tries to protect his future from Lawson’s destructive choices all the while trying to still be there for his “brother.” Hand this one to reluctant high schoolers. It is a quick read with all the depth and complexity of a much longer novel.

This novel in verse will drive you to finish it in one sitting, as you follow Diego's struggle to make good grades and be a loyal friend to Lawson, who is becoming increasingly more involved with drugs. Amazingly beautiful, lyrical, and moving, I recommend this to reluctant and avid readers alike. Drug abuse, dealing, and violence make this story for older readers, but it's a must-have for your collection.

I didn’t know what to expect when I first started reading this, but I’m so glad that I did read it.
The use of free verse was so useful to the narrative and made me feel so connected to Benny because we’re essentially reading his internal monologue.
I very quickly got attached to Benny and the people he had in his life, especially his mom. The author covered tough topics with so much thought and intention and told the story in a way that didn’t paint anyone as the villain, regardless of what happens because everyone makes mistakes and gets caught up in bad lifestyles sometimes. Lawson’s story was so sad to me because he clearly felt like he had no other choice and had to make do with the cards he was dealt, when in reality there was so much more potential to his future if he’d listened to Benny. I would recommend this to anyone regardless of genre preferences because I think it sheds a lot of light onto the lifestyles that people get stuck in, especially in drug dealing and more impoverished places, and how your decisions can make or break your future, and the futures of the people you surround yourself with, no matter the promises you make to keep them safe. This one will stick with me for a while.

This is a great book for high school students. The format, novel in verse, is highly appealing to students. The story of the friendship of 2 boys growing up in less than ideal situations is also appealing and will give readers much to think about.

"dreaming of tomorrows better than today."

When We Ride is a powerful, quick story in verse of Benny and Lawson. The two became friends in grade school, when Lawson defended Benny from a bully. Across the street neighbors, the two became inseparable, considering each other brothers.

It's senior year of high school and Benny and Lawson have taken separate paths. Benny's mother has pushed him, relentlessly, to study and be the first person in their family to go to college. Benny studies hard, works at a restaurant after school (and hates it), and helps care for his mother who is a mostly sober (but not always) alcoholic. Lawson, on the other hand, has gotten into dealing drugs. As the drugs get harder, so do the people he hangs around with. Benny is terrified, wanting to be the support system he know Lawson desperately needs and simultaneously fearful of being dragged down with him.

The story is deep, but moves fast, as most books in verse do. It brought to mind my adolescent years, where myself and friends veered down different paths - some easier, some harder, and some of us trying to save each other. This book is a punch to the gut. Not easy. Overall, I have deep appreciation for it, but I can't say I enjoyed it.

Recommended. 3.5 stars rounded up. Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"my fortune says, 'Salt and sugar look the same'"

Rex Ogle never fails to deliver deeply emotional and powerful stories, and When We Ride is no exception. As his first novel-in-verse for teens, this book maintains the raw honesty and heartbreak that makes all of his work unforgettable. I knew going in that I would cry—because that’s just what happens with a Rex Ogle book—but I wasn’t prepared for how much this story would wreck me.

This is a gripping exploration of friendship, addiction, and the difficult choices that come with growing up in tough circumstances. Diego (Benny) is determined to stay clean, get good grades, and graduate at the top of his class. But his best friend, Lawson, is caught in a downward spiral of drug dealing and addiction, pulling Diego into the chaos with him. The push and pull of their friendship—the love, the loyalty, and the inevitable divide—felt so real and painful. Ogle’s use of classic literature, from Candide to A Clockwork Orange, as a mirror to Diego and Lawson’s story added another heartbreaking layer to the narrative.

The consequences of Lawson’s choices don’t just impact him; they spill over into Diego’s life, their families, and even Lawson’s girlfriend. The tension builds relentlessly, culminating in a tragedy that left me reeling. Ogle’s poetic, allegorical writing style makes this an unforgettable read, one that lingers long after the final page. When We Ride is an important, well-crafted novel that belongs in the hands of teenage readers—especially those navigating loyalty, loss, and the harsh realities of addiction.

Diego Benevides and Lawson have been best friends since childhood. Now high schoolers, they are still close, but their futures look very different. Diego (called “Benny” by Lawson) puts a lot of time and effort into his schoolwork, hoping to be the first to go to college; he’s thrilled and surprised to find out that he’s ranked 12th in his class. He goes to parties with Lawson but doesn’t drink, because he wants to support his mom, a recovering alcoholic. Lawson, on the other hand, does not care for school and has begun selling weed to help his mom pay their rent. He soon graduates to selling coke and harder drugs. He always bums rides from Diego, who has a car, when he needs to pick up from his supplier or sell. Diego constantly tells Lawson that he needs to stop selling, that he will ruin his future, and he often threatens to stop giving him rides, but soon they make a deal: If Lawson puts effort into passing his classes, Diego will keep giving him rides. Eventually, of course, Lawson gets mixed up with some dangerous people and ends up putting not only himself but Diego in danger as well.
This is a novel in verse that feels like sort of a hi/lo book that might appeal to reluctant readers. The verse is not remarkable but fine; as usual, prose would've allowed the author to flesh out the characters more. But he does a nice job showing the motives behind both Lawson's and Diego's behaviors, their differing situations in life, and the way they feel obligated to show up for one another.

Read this one courtesy of Net Galley. I enjoyed it quite a bit and will purchase for my school library. However, I couldn’t stop wondering why Lawson didn’t just use all that money to buy himself a car.

Alphas
Novel in verse format makes this a very accessible text
High-interest and content for young adult readers
Young readers may be impacted by the climax

Deltas
The climax was too obvious, leading to too quick of an ending
Started to get a bit repetitive with constantly needing a ride

Rex Ogle’s When We Ride is a heartfelt story of resilience, friendship, and self-discovery. Following a group of teens on a daring road trip, the novel blends fast-paced action with emotional depth. Ogle crafts realistic characters and engaging storytelling, making for a meaningful read with lasting impact.

While When We Ride is well-written and compelling, it wasn’t quite for me. Some parts felt repetitive, and certain sections in the beginning could have been trimmed to improve pacing. The book could be shorter which could help the momentum. Though the themes and character development were strong, the story didn’t fully capture my interest as I had hoped. Still, for those who enjoy contemporary YA with emotional depth, it may be a worthwhile read.

Poetry is well suited to this story, conveying great emotion between two friends without sounding sappy or unlikely. It also clearly shows the repetitive life that senior year can feel like, spinning your wheels through a million hoops with everyone around you only interested in one ending. The tragic nature of both these boys story felt very real, each having no other choice but to make the decisions they made. Apart from the three main characters, Benny, Lawson and Benny's mom; most characters are fairly thin, and could have used a bit of development. the story is heartbreaking, but well written.

Wow. Verse novels in general pack an emotional punch, and this was no exception. Diego, aka Benny, has been working his whole life to get good grades, graduate, and get into college so he can make his and his mom’s life better. The one hurdle in his way seems to be his best friend and neighbor, Lawson, who is also trying to make his life better, but by dealing drugs. Diego tries to help Lawson get out of the business a number of times to no avail. And just when you think you know how it’s going to wrap, Ogle shocks you numb with the ending.
Highly recommended for older teens and up, and would also be good for street lit classes.

Everything about this broke me, I'm shattered. Free verse has never been my favourite, however Rex has a way of making you FEEL for these characters in so little words, their mastery of the poetic form is evident.

When We Ride, explores themes of addiction, drugs, the dark and the gritty, the truth we are surrounding it. It is tragic, it is relatable, it reflects on loyalty and friendship and found family — you're screaming at Diego to leave Lawson, you know that it is only going to end in tragedy for both of them, you understand why Diego can't abandon his brother and why Lawson means so much to him but you know Lawson is NOT RIGHT for him. You are forced to watch as things take a turn for the worse — something you know is fated to happen — you just don't know HOW

and
so you
wait.....
until it all
comes
crashing

down.

My heart breaks for Lawson, for Diego, for Lori, for Venessa, for Diego's mum — and for all who have suffered as a consequence of drug abuse. Painful as this was to read, I hope it gets to more of its audience because it is so so important that the message reaches the masses, I've seen flames being extinguished because of one wrong association and one wrong turn and I just can't... Reading this a second time would be so much worse because now that you know what has happened you're just reading through the characters' minds and wishing they had gotten everything they deserved :')

Although it is a quick read, it is something that'll stick with you for ages to come.

TWs: drug abuse, drug selling, addiction, death, gun violence, alcoholism socio-economic inequalities and discrimination, blood

This book made me laugh and cry in equal measure. Benny and Lawson felt so real, like boys I knew in high school. Rex Ogle has written another winner. I would recommend for age 15+.