Title: Take It Back
Author: Kia Abdullah
Genre: legal/domestic thriller
I don’t read enough books by Muslim authors, and this is a failing on my part. Not only do I want to support the community, but I also want to learn more about the Muslim ethnicity. So when I stumbled upon this book, I was eager to read and understand a bit more. Even though this book is fiction, being written by a Muslim author brings a level of authenticity to it. And I’m glad to say this book was really excellent overall. I definitely recommend it.
From Goodreads: The Victim: Jodie Wolfe, a physically flawed 16-year-old girl accuses four boys in her class of something unthinkable.
The Defendants: Four handsome teenagers from hard-working immigrant families, all with corroborating stories.
The Savior: Zara Kaleel, a former lawyer, one of London’s brightest legal minds, takes on this case. She believes her client, even though those closest to her do not.
Together, they enter the most explosive criminal trial of the year, where the only thing that matters is justice for Jodie. But this time justice comes at a devastating cost.
Poor Jodie. What a sad character. She was born with facial deformities and has grown up being called every taunting name, shunned from society, stared at by strangers, just a terrible world. Her father left after seeing her face, and her mother treats her like garbage. Jodie just wants to be loved and accepted like any other teenage girl. So, when she approaches Zara with the story of being gang-raped, Zara immediately takes her side and learns the boys she is accusing are Muslim, as is Zara. As much as Zara wants to support her community, she can’t just ignore Jodie’s claims. The Muslim community supports the accused, Zara is drawn into scandals, and plenty of people think Jodie is lying for attention. The plot just kept drawing me in. Did the boys do it? Whew… the story that unfolds is worth reading. I really enjoyed this book and wavered between Jodie telling the truth vs not. I won’t say how the book ends, but I will say I was left satisfied.
Pleasant Nights 