I LOVED Promise Boys by Nick Brooks so I was very excited to get a copy of Up in Smoke. Unfortunately, it didn’t grab me the way Promise Boys did…I can’t put my finger on why exactly. This book didn’t hold my interest and it took too long to develop for me. Then I felt like it all wrapped up in one chapter. The book wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t as good as Promise Boys.

Two young people on the same side of an investigation to clear their friend/brother from murder charges will work both sides of the details. Cooper knows Jason was not there during the protest but'll implicate himself if he steps up. Monique trusts her belief that her brother is not a murderer. As they work together, more details become evident, and they will risk their lives before it's over. This was an engrossing read. Just when I thought I had solved it, a twist changed my mind. I'd not read any of Brook's back library, but I'm adding him to my TBR list.

Up in Smoke has a really strong premise. There are a lot of very important, timely social justice themes here; systemic racism, police corruption, and the complexities of Black youth navigating societal pressures.—and I appreciated how the story didn’t shy away from tough conversations.

One thing I liked was how the book gave both Cooper and Monique (his partner in the investigation) space to share their perspectives. It added additional depth to the storyline. That said, the pacing was a little slow for me, and more of the story focused on the budding romance between Cooper and Monique than I personally would have liked. That’s a personal preference, of course—some readers might love the romantic tension, but I was much more interested in the mystery and the social justice angle. All in all, it’s a thoughtful read with strong messages, but the slower pace and romance storyline kept it from being a total hit for me.

Considering the value in the themes of Nick Brooks' work, as well as my love for his previous novel, I will definitely be reading his future work.

4.5 ⭐️
This was such a fun & quick easy read. Everything flowed perfectly making the book play out like a movie in my head. I read this in one sitting. Each chapter kept me on the edge of my seat. There are heavy talks of Racism and other sensitive topics so if that’s not your jam, I wouldn’t recommend. But as someone with “The Hate U Give” as my favorite book and movie, I loved this and highly recommend!!

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC.

Up in Smoke is a fast paced mystery. I couldn't stop listening as Cooper and Monique have to not only figure out their own feelings, but also solve the crime to absolve her brother. I also loved how Up in Smoke explores what we can do with these feelings of rage within this dysfunctional system.

Up in Smoke is a fast paced mystery. I couldn't stop listening as Cooper and Monique have to not only figure out their own feelings, but also solve the crime to absolve her brother. I also loved how Up in Smoke explores what we can do with these feelings of rage within this dysfunctional system. There's layers of lies and secrets. Up in Smoke is about unraveling the secrets. It's an avalanche of choices which ends up in disaster. But can Cooper and Monique save Jason and their budding feelings?

I did enjoy this book - it was a quick read and kept my attention the entire time. I was eager to see how it ended, but the ending kind of fell short for me. I was hoping for a more satisfying ending. I wish the author had showed us what happened after the article was released.
My biggest issue was with the characters - they all lacked depth and I needed more from them. Like what made Monique and Jason have different approaches to protesting against the system that oppresses them? What caused Coop to not feel the need to be an activist for his own people until halfway through the story? Did his parents raise him a different way? Did Coop ever get any clarity from Jason about why he broke his promise by making him loot? As a reader, I want to understand why the characters of a story do what they do, but I didn't really get that here.

I really enjoyed the dual POV when reading the book. It was well-written knowing that it covered heavy topics.

Nick Brooks delivers a tense, emotionally charged thriller with Up in Smoke. Told in dual POV, this fast-paced mystery follows Cooper, who’s hiding a devastating secret, and Monique, who’s determined to clear her brother’s name—no matter the cost. With razor-sharp tension, a slow-burn romance, and themes of justice, loyalty, and truth, this book is perfect for fans of Karen McManus and The Hate U Give.

The plot twists kept me guessing, and the emotional stakes were sky-high. While a few moments near the end could’ve used a bit more development, the story as a whole is gripping, timely, and hard to put down.

Highly recommended for readers who love high-stakes mysteries with heart.

This book tackles incredibly important and timely social issues with care and authenticity. The representation throughout is meaningful, and the story brings up thought-provoking questions about justice, loyalty, and the weight of personal decisions in the face of systemic injustice.

While I appreciated the themes and found the premise compelling, I personally struggled with the pacing. Some parts felt rushed, especially during major plot points, while others dragged and made it hard for me to stay fully engaged. Ultimately, I didn’t finish the book—not because it wasn’t good, but because it didn’t quite hold my attention all the way through. That said, I still think it’s a worthwhile read, especially for those interested in contemporary stories that blend mystery with real-world relevance.

Nick Brooks is a gifted writer who brings a story to life. Up in Smoke gives readers different perspectives of characters and their actions to make us think about the choices we make. This book left me understanding life from a different perspective than my own.

It is a page-turning mystery that will keep you reading until the end!

Thank you to the publisher for a digital ARC.

"unmask a murderer or take the fall."

One girl trying to clear her brother's name after he was taken into custody once a protest went deadly-and one boy who is hiding a deep secret, not daring to risk getting dragged down for the crime as well.

I really loved this book! I'll definitely be purchasing a copy in the near future. I think a lot of people would enjoy it (but I really think it should be a required reading). I also listened to the audiobook format and I adored that version too!

I absolutely love Nick Brooks writing. It’s so immersive and I feel his books always have a really good message. This is a fast and easy read that will have you wanting more! I think this is well made for the targeted audience and it is so important to see more diverse characters like the ones represented in this book. Representation matters and this book is proof of that. Well done!

What a thrilling YA mystery! This one had my heartbeat racing toward the end trying to figure out who the real shooter was. I was hooked from the start. This book also tackles racial injustice and police violence in a realistic way—it didn’t feel forced. I really enjoyed reading this one.

Thank you MacMillian Children’s Publishing Group and Henry Holt and Co. for the arc.

Thank you to the publisher for an eARC of this book.

Tropes/Themes: Social Justice (injustice), amateur detective/sleuth, friends to lovers

This book was such a fast, intense read. I loved Promise Boys so much and this book was a similar vibe- which I LOVED. Cooper and Monique are the MCs in this story, and they are doing their best to clear Jason's name after he is accused of doing something on the day of a protest that gets out of hand.

Monique and Cooper have been friends since they were little, but they had a gap after Coopers mom passed away. Regardless, they still care deeply about each other. When Monique and Cooper start to investigate all the clues that they are finding, everything gets more complicated because Cooper isn't being honest.

There were a few red herrings and the author did a good job of making me think they were reliable clues, but alas they were not. THe end of the book was surprising, but going back I saw how all of the dots were connected. I also love that there is an album to go along with the book. I haven't listened to all of it but I love the vibes of connecting the two forms of media.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and was excited to read another book by this author.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Brookes thriller is around the Black Lives Matter movement and protests. Between social media and conspiracy theories it showed how easy it was for a young man to get caught up in a bad situation. The two POVs kept it interesting however some of the good parts that had the drama that sucks you in felt rushed and then some of the other parts like police investigating seerned to drag on too long. Overall it was a nice read.

This book missed the mark for me. It was a bit too predictable, and there wasn't overfocus on some plot points that really warns all that important to the story overall. I didn't really connect with the characters, though I did appreciate the dual points of view. Overall, I never clicked with the writing style.

The themes surrounding social justice in this book drew me in from page one. I really enjoyed the character dynamics, but the suspense could have been built a bit more. Overall, it was a great short read that would be perfect for reluctant readers with it's short chapters and timely topics. It was easy to finish within a couple days.

Up in Smoke by Nick Brooks is an intriguing crime thriller.
A great thriller that keeps you reading late into the night.
An extremely well written story with an intricate plot and skillfully drawn characters. it's a real page turner.

This was a quick and intriguing crime thriller with a great subplot around racism and police brutality.
The plot is very real which makes it easy to follow and believe but it is a little hard to believe that teenagers are trying to solve this case. But I appreciate that each path they follow makes sense.
I think the connection between Mo and Coop is really sweet and I definitely was rooting for them to get together. I also could feel his anxiety about being involved in the looting and not wanting to tell Mo about it.
I think I would market this more as a crime thriller or a crime mystery, it doesn’t read as a traditional thriller.
Overall, it’s fun, quick, and has a good lesson, I’d give it a 3.5-4 stars

Nick Brooks does an incredible job creating characters that feel real—there’s definitely someone in this book you’ll see yourself in or recognize from your own life. It’s a fast-paced, emotional story that hits hard in places but stays relatable and engaging from start to finish.

This book doesn’t hold back. It dives headfirst into the realities of being young, Black, and caught in a system that’s rigged from the start. It’s about truth, loyalty, and the impossible choices we sometimes have to make between protecting ourselves and doing what’s right. The themes are bold, the emotions are raw, and the message? Unforgettable.

4.25 out of 5 stars.