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kdowli01's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
At first glance, this sounded like a really standard legal thriller, but it ended up being so much more complex than that, and I absolutely loved it.
Synopsis: Former lawyer Zara Kaleel is a victim advocate in rape cases, and is helping Jodie Wolfe--a white girl with severe facial deformities--in a case against four Muslim boys. Zara being Muslim herself is placed a situation where she wants to see justice done, but is seen as a traitor to her community because of it.
So, on the surface, this is really exciting, with an ending I did NOT see coming. I'd recommend it just for that. But it was so much more than that. Zara's relationship with her family and the Muslim community is incredibly complex, and that added so much nuance to the story and what the whole process meant to her. In addition being just a really unique voice in the thriller landscape.
Zara is also incredibly flawed, and that is not glossed over in the least. This is listed as the start of a series, and I'll definitely be reading more to see what happens to her.
This covers a lot of really tough topics, so CWs galore: racism, islamophobia, bullying, victim blaming
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, and Islamophobia
msliz's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Interesting premise but disappointing execution. Characters felt fairly two-dimensional and as a result it was difficult to become invested in the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault
Moderate: Body shaming, Racism, and Islamophobia
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Take it Back is my first 5 star read of 2021. It is set in the UK and begins with 16 year old Jodie, a white girl with a severe facial deformity accusing four young Black Muslim men of rape. Zara is a former high-powered lawyer who supports her through the legal process. Zara also happens to be Black and Muslim.
I was blown away by how deftly Kia Abdullah weaves so many strands together in the plot - race, class, religion, disability, culture, addiction, bullying, prejudice, the legal system, immigration, normative beauty standards, sexism, the role of the media, women’s position in society, toxic masculinity and so much more. Even better is that it is all done in such a nuanced way. This is not a book where everything is wrapped up neatly. Instead it has a couple of believable plot twists that force the the reader to sit with a lot of uncomfortable questions.
A thought-provoking, compulsively readable book that touches on many social justice issues.
“Am I supposed to put my religion ahead of the fact that I’m a woman? Do I owe more loyalty to Islam than a girl who has been victimised?”
I was blown away by how deftly Kia Abdullah weaves so many strands together in the plot - race, class, religion, disability, culture, addiction, bullying, prejudice, the legal system, immigration, normative beauty standards, sexism, the role of the media, women’s position in society, toxic masculinity and so much more. Even better is that it is all done in such a nuanced way. This is not a book where everything is wrapped up neatly. Instead it has a couple of believable plot twists that force the the reader to sit with a lot of uncomfortable questions.
A thought-provoking, compulsively readable book that touches on many social justice issues.
“Am I supposed to put my religion ahead of the fact that I’m a woman? Do I owe more loyalty to Islam than a girl who has been victimised?”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Islamophobia
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