One of the most absurdly funny books l've read. What if student loan lenders sent out debt police to harm borrowers who are having trouble paying back their loans? The Payback explores this!
Jada and her 2 friends/coworkers are highly educated, as most Black women are, but all 3 have crippling student loans. They've each been targeted by the debt police in such violent ways. As a result, they come up with a plan for payback.
I had such a fun time reading this book! It was absurd in the best way and so funny. Jada is one of those characters that make you say 'girl what are you doing?!' But once the first violation from the debt police starts, I think her actions are validated.
If there ever comes a time where student loan debt police really come about, I wouldn't be surprised if this is how they would treat borrowers.

One of my first thoughts when the extremely brutal Debt Police make an appearance in The Payback was, “I hope no one in power reads this and gets ideas,” because like a lot of books with dystopian elements, The Payback should not be an instruction manual. Well, unless you’re rooting for the protagonist, Jada, and her friends, Audrey and Lanae, as they come up with a scheme to erase their student debt and take down the system as a whole. The novel shows how deep the problem of debt, especially student loan debt, runs and how difficult it can be to get out from under it. The Debt Police are a violent representation of how much debt can brutalize you and keep you down, adding a physical layer of demoralization, fear, and despair to Cauley’s critique of the current system, ultimately asking the question of whether we need to be paying so much for education (among other things) at all.

Cauley’s characters are well developed, entertaining, and smart, and the novel is a necessary critique of many elements of society. I highly recommend it!

The Payback is a fun, fast-paced read about three women drowning in student debt—and the bold plan they hatch to erase it all. When Jada loses her job and runs out of options, she comes up with a wild idea: break into the debt collection agency and wipe out everyone’s records. With the help of her two friends, Lanea and Audrey, the group sets off on a heist that’s equal parts chaotic and hilarious.

I enjoyed the friendship between the women—it felt real, supportive, and full of personality. While there are lots of funny moments, the novel doesn’t shy away from showing the darker side of debt. One shocking scene where the women are physically attacked over unpaid loans stood out to me and added some unexpected weight to the story.

Overall, this was a clever and entertaining novel—perfect for a summer weekend read.

*** Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Unfortunately The Payback was a novel where the premise -- student loan heist plot!! -- was better than the actual book. And struggling to get through it doesn't bode well when the novel is only 250 pages. It was well over half the book before the action finally began and when it did, any sort of climactic high point just wasn't there. The book fizzled out and I was left wondering what the point was.

Kashana Cauley’s novel The Payback is a zany satire that takes on the predatory student loan system the only way we can– with a dark sense of humor and a wild revenge fantasy.

Cauley’s dedication claims that the student loan industry’s threatening phone calls made this book possible, and the novel consistently offers shrewd commentary on the debt burden placed on first-generation college students. With the tools of fiction, Cauley makes a speculative leap from threatening phone calls to actual debt police who can use any means necessary to recover debts– physical violence, confiscation of resources, even imprisonment. There are many ways to be indebted aside from student loans– medical debt, mortgages, car payments, credit card debt– and, in this novel, all fall victim to the debt police. What’s worse, in this version of the world, debts aren’t erased after a person’s death, but the debt is transferred to the next of kin.

The novel’s narrator, Jada Williams, is a messy LA millennial, formerly a Hollywood wardrobe designer, and now a retail salesperson at a boutique in the mall. First Jada was fired for something that wasn’t her fault, then she was fired again for something that was. The most absurd and cringey moment for me in the book was the chapter describing Jada’s rock-bottom gig: an ASMR channel for paid subscribers featuring the sounds that food makes when she’s cooking and eating. This was torturous for me to read because of my particular sound-aversions and misophonia-- but that’s exactly the point. We’re supposed to viscerally feel the humiliation and the angst that plague and torture Jada.

In this rock-bottom state, she is ambushed and beaten up by the debt police, and begins to notice the signs of these beatings happening to others. One character in the novel flees from his partner’s funeral when the debt police come knocking because he has inherited his partner’s death on top of his own. What happens when one too many bad hits knocks her down all the way to the ground? And not just her, but all her people too? She finally snaps when her only source of income is confiscated by the debt police because she chose to pay her rent rather than her student loans. So Jada does the only thing she can think of: plan a heist with some friends to wipe out everyone’s student debt for good.

This book paints a picture of a world so insane—with systems so evil, punishment so extreme, people so apathetic—and yet so true to our very real lived experience. Nearly 43 million Americans carry student loan debt, which disproportionately affects first-generation college students and people of color. Black women have the most student debt, statistically speaking, and in the dystopian world of this novel, it shows– in broken ribs, black eyes, and always looking over their shoulder. The imagined revival of the debt police hearkens back to the debtors’ prisons of centuries ago. Debtor's prisons have a long and grim history, particularly in England and the United States, but were mercifully abolished due to public outcry and legal reforms. Perhaps public outcry and legal reforms might also change the current predatory system as well? If not, I suppose there’s always an opportunity for a heist. Or at least a book about one, full of cringey-yet-cathartic, gotta-laugh-to-keep-from-crying moments that will stick with me for a long time.

Jada Williams boldly confronts her predatory student loan company, rallying her mall coworkers, Lanae and Audrey, to join her mission. What unfolds is an exhilarating journey fueled by friendship and a fierce quest for justice.

This book exceeded my expectations! The story expertly intertwines humor and sharp satire, offering a refreshing take on revenge that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. Jada's clever schemes and the dynamic among the trio kept me hooked from start to finish.

I found myself laughing at Jada, Lanae, and Audrey's shenanigans while feeling a deep sense of dismay for these women caught in the grips of our country’s student loan crisis. Their struggles to pursue their dreams while being targeted by the "Debt Police" made this work of fiction resonate all too well.

If you're in search of a book that combines humor with a timely and powerful message about standing up against injustice, I highly recommend The Payback. Get ready for a delightful blend of laughter and inspiration as Jada and her friends navigate their quest for payback!

I was expecting more dystopian tragic — and there is that in the book. I thought it was going to be all about the newly created Debt Police (who are after the narrator, Jada Williams) and the backbreaking onus of student loans. And yes, that’s the book’s scaffolding.

But I was surprised by how really, really funny it is. So well written. The narrator’s love of fashion and her detailed, evocative descriptions of hustling for commission in The Phoenix (a small retail store in a mall in Glendale) were spot on. Her takes on customers, coworkers, and managers were priceless. I’ve honestly never read anything this sharp and emotionally true about working retail.

Also, her side hustle of eating food on the internet for money was hysterical. I’m not sure if she qualifies as a mukbanger (a term I learned after Googling to see if this was a real thing), but that whole storyline was a highlight.

It’s interesting that the main revenge plot doesn’t come in until halfway through the book. It worked for me, but may be a slow burn for some readers. No spoilers, but the story is, ultimately, uplifting.

This was such an unexpectedly fantastic read - I knew I was going to enjoy it from the first page, but it just kept gaining momentum. Cauley has a sense of humor that I haven't come across in a book, and it really hits the spot. This is a great premise, and it felt incredibly relevant and real.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of The Payback by Kashana Cauley.

This dark comedy about the takedown of the student loan empire was incredibly relatable and sad just how realistic it felt. The story felt slow at times, but especially once you got to the second half when they were planning the heist, it was a fun read. The authors reflections on how women of color are disproportionately affected and villainized for this debt were also good.

Comic thriller set in a world where debt has become criminal, and debt collectors can assault people on the street. Jada Williams decides she is tired of hiding from the debt police and plans a heist to set herself free. This felt like a Boots Riley movie which is a really high compliment for me. I read this book initially six or so months ago, and in a world of masked ICE agents kidnapping mothers in the street, the world it posits is a lot more plausible.

Honestly, the story felt really slow, and I just couldn’t get into it just right. I couldn’t bring myself to care about what was going on. It took until 34% of the book just to get to the first timeskip after she gets fired. Everything before that felt kind of pointless to me, lots of narration that didn’t really add anything.

Weirdly, there were also so many timeskips, even though the pacing was already slow. It just didn’t work for me. I found myself losing interest pretty quickly. I’m giving this 2 stars only because the writing style itself was okay.

Thanks NetGalley for the copy of this book.

The book title reminded me of the James Brown song, and I love when titles are culturally specific.

The plot was chaotic, in a way that worked for the story and its character captures the absurdity of the student loan crisis. Everyone was operating off pure rage (rightfully so), with zero real scheming experience.

This book affirmed my belief that we’re truly one scam away from living the life we deserve.

The Payback by Kashana Cauley
#seventythirdbookof2025
#arc #thepayback #debtpolice

CW: violence and assault, extreme student debt

From NetGalley: Jada Williams is good at judging people by their looks. From across the mall, she can tell not only someone’s inseam and pants size, but exactly what style they need to transform their life. Too bad she’s no longer using this superpower as a wardrobe designer to Hollywood stars, but for minimum wage plus commission at the Glendale mall. When Jada is fired yet again, she is forced to outrun the newly instated Debt Police who are out for blood. But Jada, like any great antihero, is not going to wait for the cops to come kick her around. With the help of two other debt-burdened mall coworkers, she hatches a plan for revenge. Together the three women plan a heist to erase their student loans forever and get back at the system that promised them everything and then tried to take it back.

My thoughts: This book has a very interesting premise and frankly, it doesn’t sound very far fetched from real life of late. Anyone not in good standing with their student debt is subject to arrest or assault from the Debt Police, who will give you a warning in the form of a beating, or will simply steal your stuff and credit your balance with a negligible amount. This is a sort of a heist novel but it’s pretty low key and there’s not much hard action until the end. I expected a touch more suspense but I did enjoy the detail given about Jada’s career and her retail work. It’s a short read and has interesting things to say about race, class, and exploitation. I really enjoyed this book. It’s worth picking up.

Thank you to @atriabooks and @netgalley for the advance copy. (Pub date 7/15/25)

The Payback by Kashana Cauley was a fun and entertaining read that I finished in a few hours.
A well written story that kept me hooked from the very beginning.
The characters draw you in and keeps you flipping the pages.
They are realistic and very well developed.
I really enjoyed the writing style. I found myself hooked, turning the pages.

For anyone who's ever felt burdened by debt and disheartened by the inequities surrounding modern life, Kashana Cauley's "The Payback" is a completely relatable story.

The story follows Jada Williams, who used to be a coveted Hollywood stylist. Nowadays, however, Jada is stuck working in a mall in Glendale. She's broke, frustrated, and being chased by the Debt Police. Then something happens that becomes the catalyst to Jada's breaking point. She soon teams up with two of her coworkers to take down the student loan company that’s ruined all their lives.

"The Payback" is part heist and part satirical social commentary. Cauley nails the tone perfectly, with sharp, funny writing that also includes heartfelt moments. The narrative is fast-paced and clever, but also realistic about what it feels like to continuously feel like you'll never get ahead. The best part of this book is the characters. They are smart, but messy. Even as they plan something wildly illegal, it's still easy to root for them. And for all its comedy, "The Payback" feels like an important read with something serious to say.

Jada Williams knows style. She can take one glance at someone and know their clothing sizes, can see in an instant what’s wrong with their clothes, and come up with a better look for them in an instant. After film school, she was certain her life would be spent on movie sets, styling the stars and helping to create the make-believe that creates magic on theater screens. And she did make her way to that exact job.

And then it fell through her fingers.

That’s how she ended up at Phoenix, a clothing store at the Glendale Mall. She works there with Lanae, who fronts a punk band on the weekends, and Audrey, who used to work for the government as a hacker. Jada likes her job okay. It pays the bills, lets her live alone and splurge once in a while for her favorite pizza. But it can’t make a dent in her student loans, which hold her down like a weight.

When their boss at the store suddenly dies, the three women are devastated. Richard had been a good boss and a good friend. But a new boss changes everything, especially for Jada, who gets fired. She tries to find another job, but she can’t. She earns some money online, but not enough for those loan payments. And that’s when the Debt Police find her.

They don’t arrest her, but they do beat her badly and leave her laying just outside of the grocery store. She is able to make it back home, but she’s not okay. And when the Debt Police also find Lanae and Audrey and leave them bloodied and bruised, Jada knows that they have to do something. Audrey’s time working for the government means that she knows what to look for, to find where all the debt records are kept. And since Jada doesn’t have a job, she has time to stake out the building and learn about their security.

And then they come up with a plan to wipe out their debt. But not just their debt. They want to wipe out all the student loan debt. Will they be able to pull it off, or will the Debt Police take them down once and for all?

The Payback is a scorching social commentary on race, entitlement, and wealth inequalities. It’s smart, funny, and cutting as it skewers the way student loans turned into a crisis and dives into how that effects those who are trying to pay off the loans and also get ahead in the world. Jada and her friends are intelligent and driven but also beaten down by a corrupted system.

I really liked The Payback, but I also found it hard to read at times. I am also someone who has struggled with student loans for many years (and will for many years to come), so this brought up a lot of feels for me. But I loved these characters and wanted them to see all their dreams come true. I was cheering them on throughout their adventures and hoped they could delete all that debt (mine included, obviously).

Egalleys for The Payback were provided by Atria Books through NetGalley, with many thanks, but the opinions are mine.

Thank you, @KashanaCauley and @AtriaBooks for my free book. #AtriaPartner

📚 #BOOKREVIEW 📚
The Payback by Kashana Cauley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Pages: 256
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Release Date: July 15, 2025
🥳#HappyPubWeek!🎉

After being wrongfully fired from her dream job as a costume designer, Jada Williams is trying to claw her way back into fashion working a retail job at the mall while desperately trying to pay off her student loans. But the Debt Police are out of control and have been empowered to hunt down those who are late with their payments and physically beat them. Their favorite targets are black women, and no one seems to care. Sick of this injustice, Jada and her friends make a plan to steal back their freedom.

While the Debt Police are fictional, the feelings they evoke are real. This dark satire shines a light on the ridiculousness of student loans and the hardship they put on this particular segment of the population. I quite enjoyed this thought-proving book and its complex characters.

This book was a very slow taste book. Nothing happened until about the 50% mark. It was definitely not what I expected. I felt it was a bit cheesy and unrealistic at times. I just don’t think it was the book for me.

A timely and topical novel about three young women pushed over the edge by student debt. Narrated by Jada who, now in her thirties, dropped from working on films to working retail, it's very relatable and yet unrealistic. Audrey a former NSA hacker and Lanae who fronts a punk rock bank are also caught in the net of the Debt Police with their abrupt tactics turquoise uniforms. And then they hatch a way out using their skills. They become the Robin Hoods only they didn't factor in the extent to which there is surveillance of everything, It's a turner. I liked the characters especially Jada and her sense of humor. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A very good read for anyone with loans looming.

In The Payback by Kashana Cauley, Jada Williams loses her dream job, and with it, any hope of paying off her student loans. She takes a retail position that barely covers her bills, let alone her monthly payments. Her coworkers are similarly afflicted. underemployed, scraping by, and drowning in debt.

It’s a stressful but survivable existence… until the Debt Police show up.

This elite (and terrifying) branch of law enforcement is tasked with intimidating or outright beating payments out of debtors. Author Kashana Cauley describes these cash-hunting cops in teal-trimmed spandex as perfectly coiffed, wellness-obsessed and needlessly cruel. Mostly white. Mostly male. And they disproportionately target Black women.

The futility of squeezing minimum-wage workers for tens of thousands of dollars seems completely lost on them. Eventually, Jada grows tired of living in fear and, with nothing left to lose, enlists the help of her coworkers in a plot to exact revenge on the usurious student loan company on behalf of everyone the Debt Police have harmed.

The Payback is sometimes darkly funny, sometimes infuriating. She paints a dystopian but timely picture of a system that punishes the poor while pretending to uphold justice.

Caule could not have known that by her publication date, there would be uncanny parallels between her fiction and the daily reality of people being racially profiled and scooped up by a cruel branch of law enforcement. A group with no apparent oversight or regard for the Constitution. It makes the story hit particularly hard.

I received this Advance Reader Copy of The Payback from Atria and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.