Set in 1990's in Staten Island a group of teens take out the mob at the dump. This was a good book, I enjoyed my time reading this one. The story was well written and kept my interest. I gave this one 4 stars and will recommend. I will be waiting for his next book to come out.

While reading this, I feel like I’m experiencing a book version of Stranger Things—minus the Demogorgon and the Upside-Down world. It carries the same thrill and excitement I felt in the journey of Raj and his friends, but this time, the monsters are the people who hold too much power. And in their pursuit of that power, the lives of others no longer matter.

In the summer of 1991 in Staten Island, New York, where the story starts off, Raj Patel and his friends find a scary secret buried in the trash at Fresh Kills Landfill. What starts as a fun adventure soon turns dangerous as they try to uncover the truth. But the more they dig, the more trouble they find. As danger grows, Raj must decide how far he's willing to go to reveal the secrets that could change everything.

It’s really rare for me to read a young adult novel, and I’m glad this one did not disappoint. I was hooked from start to finish. Aside from the feeling of thrill and suspense, it also has humor and the ’90s vibe that felt nostalgic. Overall, this book is engaging and thought-provoking with emotional depth.

This book was fantastic! It was a redux of the Goonies vs the Fratelli’s. I loved it and wondered what was coming next! I had no idea how the story would turn out, but the result was great! The characters were so real and vivid, the plot was fast paced, and the action was perfect! Kudos on an awesome story!

I was so excited to receive this book in an advanced reader copy! Thank you to netgalley for proving me to read this book!

I absolutely devoured the story! It was so good and so captivating! I was on the edge of my seat!

Coming of age story that takes places in the 1990s in Staten Island. Raj is the main character we follow along with his friends, who are called the Victory Boys. They somehow become involved with the Staten Island crime family and are trying to navigate their way out of it. The story was engaging and witty, the characters are interesting and engaging and it gets emotional at times.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I loved this book way more than I was expecting to. The cast of misfit characters were so fun, and the overall mystery of the book made it a quick read. Plus, I love a good coming of age novel, especially one with good vs evil and a surprising backdrop!

There’s plenty of fantasy reads, realistic fiction, and romance for YA readers, but not really mystery or thrillers sadly. Garbage Town by Ravi Gupta fills that void quite neatly. It’s hard to talk about it without spoiling too much and that made me very happy. Until I realized I now need a friend to read this delightful book so I can properly talk about it. What I can say is that Raj lives with his overworked single mom, has a couple of close friends that he may or may not run money making opportunities with to help at home, and meets a mysterious girl. But stuff stuff stuff happens and it’s hard to know who to trust and what the right move is. Someone read this so I can talk about this, please!

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC. This book is recommended to those who love and emotions. Had a thrilling journey.

Set in the late '90s, Garbage Town follows a group of teenagers who are no strangers to trouble, but this time, they stumble upon a dangerous secret that could cost them their lives. Raj, a 16-year-old boy, and his gang uncover something about their hometown, Stateland Island, that changes everything. The story is packed with drama, intense fights, and unexpected betrayals.
Although I initially had low expectations for the book, I ended up enjoying it more than I thought. The title Garbage Town sparked my curiosity, and I’m glad I picked it up. While the plot was somewhat predictable and the explanations were adequate, I found it hard to fully connect with the characters and their situations. Still, it was an engaging read that kept me hooked.

This book had my attention from beginning to end. It’s a great coming of age story with a good twist. I wish some of the other characters were more involved instead of being left behind part of the way through. I also wanted to read more about Georgia and her background. Maybe a chapter or two from her POV. Regardless, it’s a great read!

Thank you for the opportunity to read! I didn't enjoy it as much as I'd hoped. It seems a little more YA than adult fiction. There were a few time I almost DNF'd it but I carried on and finished it.

I was about to put this book as a DNF after about 20% in but glad I kept going. There was some unnecessary filler that didn’t add anything to the story but overall kept my attention.

This book grabbed my attention right from the synopsis and it did not disappoint. Raj and his friends find some buried secrets in the largest landfill in the world located right in Staten Island and embark on a journey. This book is captivating and the characters are so well developed and written. You are reading a coming of age story and adventure. The teenage boy wit was making me laugh out loud at time. This story is just the complete package and while it may be categorized in the YA section, I would recommend this for adults too.

I cannot believe this was Ravi Gupta debut book and if this is what the author has to deliver, I cannot wait to see what else he writes. Thank you NetGalley and Greenleaf Book Group for an ARC in return for an honest review.

I know this may be an unpopular opinion, but Garbage Town just didn’t work for me. While it's marketed as adult fiction, the tone, pacing, and overall vibe felt much more like YA, and not in a way that transcends age categories. At times, it felt like Scooby Doo collided with a toned down version of The Sopranos, and not in a way that blended smoothly. The central premise of organized crime involving high school freshmen was just too far fetched for me to buy into, even with a generous suspension of disbelief.

That said, the writing itself was solid, and the characters were reasonably well developed, especially given the book’s shorter length. I do think there was room for deeper exploration and more complexity, but what was there was competent. Unfortunately, the plot felt implausible and the ending pushed it further off the rails, leaving me more frustrated than entertained.

In the end, while I can appreciate the creativity and effort behind Garbage Town, it simply wasn’t a good fit for me. Readers who enjoy quirky, genre bending stories with a youthful flair might have better luck, but I found it too unbelievable and lacking the depth I look for in adult fiction.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Ravi Gupta, and Greenleaf Book Group for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

An interesting, fast-paced and heartfelt story about a group of teenagers, that's at once a coming-of-age story as well as the age-old story of good versus evil. Though billed as a YA mystery thriller, it can easily be considered a clean read for anyone interested in a story from the turn of the century, that is full of nostalgic reminders of that time, as well as a smart, character-driven story that is about friendship and betrayal and conscience and legacy.

Raj, Val, and a couple of their buddies live the usual troubled lives of teenagers in Staten Island in 1998, when Georgia happens to come by. She is a stranger in town, and somewhere between trying to impress her and being a usual goofy teenager, Raj and his friends end up in the middle of a shocking disappearance, that may be murder, but there's no proof, and no body. Instead of moving on, they decide to insinuate themselves in trying to figure things out, and to set things straight - only to realize the hard facts of reality that life is unforgiving, and just because they are minors doesn't imply mean and cruel adults will shy away from inflicting unspeakable pain on them and their loved ones.

What starts off as a high school drama suddenly transforms into a high-stakes mafia story, with possible political and social ramifications, and tentacles that go far and deep all around.

Spinning a yarn that's fresh and entertaining, while at the same evocative of the late 90s can't have been an easy task, but Mr. Gupta makes it seem easy. The easy-flowing banter of the friends brings a smile to one's face every so often, and you can't not root for them, even as you see them sinking deeper into the quagmire that's their town, Travis.

All said and done, this is not a sweet story, and in fact admirably so, the author doesn't shirk from throwing hard truths and shocking twists, that may seem nearly brutal but, for the most part, come across as justifiably cruel.

Recommended!

Thanks to NetGalley, Publisher and the author for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest and original review.

GARBAGE TOWN

Set in the late 1990s on Staten Island, a group of local teens “Victory Boys” and a special new outsider experience some unusual activity in the Fresh Kills Landfill, the largest landfill in the world. Waste management is big business, and City of Travis Mob is very much into the action. Local politicians wield their influence to use the landfill to its greatest advantage. Teens Rajiv Patel and Valery Ivanicki, along with Georgia Bazemore from the Mississippi Delta, discover some extremely upsetting information associated with the landfill and struggle with how to try to make things better.

Just a really good story about teenagers growing up, loyalty, family, making tough decisions. Lots of good 1990s references - music, movies, clothes, and a terrific feel for the locale. Very enjoyable, fresh and original.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Ravi Gupta, and Greenleaf Book Group Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.

One of the most engaging stories in a long time, the pacing, the gritty reality, the characters all made this tale great. SA Cosby comes to mind but can’t explain why, just take the compliment for what it is

This was a very good book. It was well-written. At times, it was hard to read, but the resolve of people was astonishing. It's amazing how people can survive.

I wanted to like this book. I completely understood The Outsiders comparison, and I loved the modern setting with diverse characters. However, I got a little bored. I didn't understand the point of the love triangle (insta love was just way too much on Raj's side). Raj felt a little one-dimensional, to be honest. I couldn't connect with the characters.

I read this book much faster than I was expecting to. I enjoy a good coming-of-age story, especially ones set in the 1990s. The author excelled at bringing the setting and the time period to life. From small details relating to pop culture and clothing, to larger details surrounding the environment and typical ways of thinking about things, the 1990s and Fresh Kills came to life, creating an immersive read.

The characters were also well written. The teens avoided much (all?) of the angst and off-putting character traits that often get included in YA books. Part of what made the characters feel so strong was how well the author included conflict between the characters, internal conflicts within the individual characters, and wove it together with the plot-driving conflicts.

While this is a YA read, it is quite strong, and I think readers of adult fiction could likely enjoy it still. My thanks to NetGalley and Greenleaf Book Group for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.