This is the most captivating book I have read in a long while.

For lovers of a legal drama the crime at the centre of the novel is perfect and yet almost too painful to want to dwell upon, it is also a tale absolutely set for our time.

The author cleverly challenged some of those unthinking assumptions, in the same way her barrister's had to challenge the opinion of the jury. If you are anything like me your mind will be switching backwards and forwards along with the legal ping pong and yet this book has far more to offer than that. This is a book whose characters are so well drawn, the perils they face so realistically evoked and the plot meticulously planned or put simply the best book I have read in a long while.

This was a fascinating legal thriller that deals with a multitude of complex and contentious issues that are very relevant in current society and, at the same time, providing a page-turning ‘who did what’ story. There are so many layers to this book that it is one I will definitely go back to and read again with a fresh set of eyes to make sure I have rung every nuance from it, but I will do the best I can to write my review based on my first read of it.

The story involves an allegation of rape by a girl with facial deformities against a group of boys from an ethnic minority background and, from the off, it causes discomfort in the reader as our sympathies are pitted against one another as we try and work out which characters are the real victims in the story. This is the main theme of the book, how do you deal with individuals from two separate, disadvantaged groups pointing the finger at one another without allowing personal or societal prejudices affect your judgement? The narrative casts a sharp and unflattering light on the way our society currently operates and how we view and react to people very different to ourselves. The book made me ask some very uncomfortable questions about my own privilege and possible prejudices and preconceptions and, by the end, I was left with more questions than answers and a good many issues to probe further.

The main character in the book is Zara, a modern woman with a high-flying career who has taken the drastic step of leaving behind a lucrative career at the Bar to help victims of sexual violence. Zara comes from a Muslim family and has a good many demons of her own to address, a number of which she is forced to confront as her current case spirals out of control and spills over into her personal life. The use of Zara as the main focus of the book is a clever vehicle for forcing the reader to see the kinds of problems minorities have to face in our society and what conflicts they are presented with. Those of us who do not fall into these categories can find it almost impossible to imagine what challenges are presented daily to minorities and books like this one which don’t shy away from presenting these challenges to us in a digestible format can offer the opportunity to think about these things from a different angle. The author does a really great job of portraying Zara as someone real and flawed and sympathetic so we can try, for a brief time, to slip into her shoes.

The protagonists on both sides of the criminal investigation are portrayed as complicated characters with motivations, personalities, desires and faults that are revealed gradually throughout the novel. so that the readers perception of who might be telling the truth and who might be lying can change from page to page as we learn more about them, just as Zara’s does. I had no clear idea of the truth until the very last page and, as a result, the book held my attention easily from beginning to end. It wasn’t an easy read, though. These are some deeply troubling issues that are being addressed in the story and parts of it made me extremely uncomfortable in a way that had me asking questions of myself throughout. For a thriller of this type, this is an unusual and accomplished achievement and puts this book a cut above some of the run of the mill titles that have appeared in this genre. To dismiss it as just another of its type would be to do the book a grave disservice.

The settings and descriptions of the book present a grim background that perfectly suits the plot and the writing really brought everything to life – location, characters, mood and story. This is a skilfully written book that offers a big punch and a lot of food for thought, as well as a gripping read. It is a book that will stay with me for a while and I highly recommend it.

A disturbing and upsetting read - although told very well. Plays on peoples preconceived perceptions and ideas. And the end was the really upsetting part - and didn't go at all the way as expected. You might have suspected what had happened, but then it was dealt with exactly the opposite as you would expect. A really good throught provoking read.

#Take It Back #
This was not just a good book, it was exiting as well as sad. I was well and truly absorbed into this so much. I completely lost time. When I did finally look at a clock. I should have really put it down and probably gotten some sleep. However I just couldn’t put it down, literally. I know on a few times. I was sat on the edge of my seat.and holding my breath for what was to come. It’s one heck of a rollercoaster of s book. You just can’t help bring angry also with empathy.. this pulls you in so far, I actually felt I was a big part in the story. Wow I definitely recommend this as a must read. Bloody awesome.

I honestly don’t even know where to start with this one! If you are looking for a tense, gripping thriller, then look no further. This was everything I expected it to be and more.

Take It Back dives straight into the heart of the story, and it immediately had me hooked. Abdullah’s writing style is excellent, and makes this an easy read, with no confusion of what is happening, or who is who. Recently, I have found a lot of thrillers to be very predictable, and easy to figure out, but I definitely can not say that about this book. Right until the very end, I was unsure as to which side was telling the truth, and who to believe, and it kept my mind racing from beginning to end, which is exactly what I want from a book.

What I didn’t expect from this book was the raw emotion, and the feelings it provoked. On a few occasions, the story actually brought me to tears, which is very rare when it comes to a thriller. The detail into the character’s feelings, and their reactions to events in the story is so well written that you actually start to feel it yourself, and you can relate to them on an emotional level, which makes it all the more enjoyable to read. I found Zara’s character in particular extremely easy to relate to. I loved the way that Abdullah delved into the back story of not only the main characters, but also other characters which connected to the main characters in the story. I felt like this give me more of an insight into the main characters themselves, and helped me to connect with them.

The representation of the racism problems of today was extremely accurate, particularly the way that a whole race or religion is seen as one, and blamed as the cause behind a single person, or small minorities actions. To think that this type of thing happens in real life, on a daily basis, is terrifying, and needs to be addressed properly. I applaud Abdullah on the way she put this across in Take It Back.

I was completely gripped by this book, and the ending certainly lived up to the standard of the story. The twist at the end was completely unexpected, and the questions that are left open from the way the story ends made this a very interesting way to end the book. I would love to see how or if the story continues!

Readers should know that there are detailed accounts of sexual assault, which could be triggering and very upsetting, so be aware of that before reading Take It Back. Although parts of the book were difficult to read, I couldn’t put this book down, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I highly recommend it!

Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for my copy, in exchange for an honest review. I give Take It Back an easy 5/5 rating.

A compelling read, and I’m grateful to NetGalley for allowing me the chance to read this prior to publication.
When we first meet Jodie Wolfe, she’s walking into a Rape Crisis centre asking for help. At sixteen, and with extreme facial deformities, Jodie has become accustomed to abuse. As she relays her experience, the reader cannot help but feel sympathy for her. Her physical appearance is not the issue here, but when she starts to blame herself for what happened because she thought someone was physically interested in her you can’t help but wince.
The details of her attack by four of her classmates are - understandably - difficult to read. The courage someone in her position shows cannot be underestimated.
The way this story is told focuses most of our attention on ex-barrister, Zara, who is determined to support this young girl because she believes her. We follow Zara as she supports Jodie in preparing to go to trial, and the inevitable fallout this causes as the boys Jodie accuses are ‘good Muslim boys’, well-respected in their community, and Zara’s involvement is quickly seen as evidence of her turning against her faith.
The nature of the case means so much depends on the reliability of witnesses. Four against one. No matter how strong the case seems to be, these are hard odds to beat.
Our narrative swiftly turns to the trial and the various attempts to undermine credibility of witnesses. We also deal with growing unrest in the community, and some awful behaviours as so many people try to appropriate events to suit their own ends.
It’s crucial that you go into this not knowing where this is going. Nothing is what it seems. We get to learn the truth, but talk about a Pyrrhic victory. Few come out of this story well, but it’s a must-read in my opinion.

It has been 24 hours since I have finished this book and I am still thinking about it. Jodie, a 16-year-old white girl with a facial disfigurement walks into Artemis House and accuses 4 young Muslim boys of rape. Taking on her case is Zara, a once successful barrister and now freelance defender for victims of sexual abuse. Zara was a strong character and one I took to straight away. Although she was good at her job, there was a sense of loneliness about her and she did have her own personal problems to deal with. Whilst Zara is determined to win this case, she knows that it is going to be one of the most difficult cases she has been involved in, even though she knew it may turn her family and her community against her she still wanted to get involved.
From the start of this book, I couldn't put it down. As you are reading this story, you are following the case from the moment Jodie reports the crime and it feels like you are watching it play out on a big screen.
At times it felt like I was reading a true crime novel as the characters felt believable. Not only do you find out about the crime, you learn more about the characters' backstories, which the more I found out about them all the more I kept changing my mind about their guilt. This story had me reading into the night as I was reading the court case scenes turning the pages quicker and quicker as I wanted to know what really happened. What I wasn't expecting was the twists in the story, they were jaw-dropping.
With some difficult subjects, the author writes with sensitivity and there may be some scenes that some readers may find distressing, but they were relevant to the story.
This is the first book I have read by this author, but I am going to look out for more of their work. If you like to read gritty pageturner than you will not go wrong picking up this book.

Taut, Gritty, Compelling and Dark
Jodie has facial deformities and has struggled all her life to, well do anything and to be accepted for who she is...
She has accused 4 Muslim boys of gang raping her
Zara, a Muslim herself and ex top lawyer now defender of victims of sexual crime takes the case on
She knows EXACTLY what she is taking on, how her community will react and how difficult it will be, a Muslim against 4 Muslims...what she isn’t expecting is what actually happens..
Based around the court case and questioning of both sides ( although a lot of the book isn’t just the court case ) the story leads towards the verdict and I felt it was real, I invested in the story, the defence and prosecution and came to my conclusion!!
Zara is brilliant but at times unlikeable in her role and the same
can be said for everyone in the book!
You will topsy turvy your virrs throughout!
The ending was a shock, the then next ending was even more of a shock
The writing is very real to life, no punches pulled here, no niceties observed and the subject matter is difficult at times to read but unavoidable
You will feel like your are enveloped in this case and the unseen juror
A fascinating, uncomfortable at times but brilliantly written book that asks as much as tells and will stay with you!!
10/10
5 Stars

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the advance copy of this book - I had not read this author before
In one word wow - on a very thought awkward and provoking topic. .
Extremely well written and the description of the characters was really good and the court case very well described.
The ending as not what I expected and this really made the story.
A really good book and I would definitely recommend.

WOW! Just wow! This book was wonderful from start to finish. I know that's a strange thing to say about a book about a most heinous, alleged, crime but it was. It's based on the age-old adage of he (they) said, she said, when Jodie, a young, disfigured girl, accuses a group of boys of rape. She is the neglected, naive daughter of an alcoholic and has kept quiet about that night to everyone but she eventually visits a woman's charity and tells her story to Zara who has left a glittering legal career to work there. Zara believes Jodie and persuades her to go to the Police to make things formal. And here's where it all gets a bit complicated. The four boys that Jodie has accused are all Muslim, as is Zara, albeit it lapsed. Jodie is white and so there is an uproar when Zara takes her side. And so begins a rather complicated, convoluted court case that pits Jodie against the four boys who are all protesting their innocence and standing together. That's all I can say about the plot without giving anything away. Suffice to say that the rest was captivating and held me in its thrall throughout as I really needed to know not only how the book would end but whether the truth would eventually come out and what that truth would be.
I literally hung on every single word delivered by the author. As with all books of this ilk, where we have contrary accounts of what happened, I tried to figure out who was telling the truth. As more and more background was revealed of the four boys, Jodie and Zara, it became evident that there was going to be so much more contained in this book than just what happened that night. I'd love to explain this, to go into more detail of how cleverly interwoven everything was but spoilers prevent me from doing so. I can just say that I really wasn't expecting it all to go where it went and end up there. Wowsers, shock after shock ably delivered in exactly the right times to move the story along and take it in another direction. The ending literally blew me away.
Characterisation was excellent - no mean feat considering the complex nature of both characters and storyline. We also had quite a bit of religion, politics, social and cultural differences included but in a "pertinent to the story" way rather than being preachy. All of which gave me food for thought along the way making this book, for me, so much more than just the story contained within. It's also quite shockingly credible and that made it all the more scary.
Of the 200 books I have read this year, this one has made my top five and I wouldn't be surprised to still see it there come December 31st. It's no easy read given the subject matter but it's a cracking book nonetheless. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Wow! This book surprised me in the best possible way! The subdued cover and the unassuming title had me fooled and it was only thanks to the glowing reviews that I picked this up. Set in the present day London, this is a brilliant court room drama about a rape trial that becomes much more and turns into a trial about race.

Jodie is a 16 year old girl with a face deformity and is used to being ridiculed by others. She has a crush on Amir, one of the most popular boys at school and so when Amir approaches her and suggests going to an abandoned warehouse, Jodie is happy to go with him. Amir's friends Hassan, Mo and Farid are also at the warehouse and start making fun of Amir for hanging out with Jodie. The series of events that follow are described differently by Jodie and by the 4 Muslim boys. At the heart of the story is Zara Kaleel, Jodie's rape counsellor who is Muslim herself. Zara is a former barrister who refuses to succumb to old tradition and be an obedient Muslim wife. Zara wants justice for Jodie despite the disapproval of her family and local community.

"Oppression spreads when women like you tell their daughters to marry a cetain man, or wear a certain dress, or work a cetain job. It happens when women like you tell us - gently and with all the love in the word - not to peek above the parapet, instead to stay at home, to be quiet, to be kind, to be good."

Take It Back was not a light read by any means. It explores a number of issues in the modern society giving its readers some food for thought, while having us guessing who is telling the truth until the very last page.

4.5 stars

Many thanks to HQ for my review copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book took me by surprise - in a very good way. It is excellent, so excellent I'm finding it hard to know where to start. It's not your usual courtroom drama, it's so much more - think Appletree Yard meets The Hate U Give and you'll be getting close. There is so much powerful drama packed into this story, it grips you from the start and invests you in the lives of all the characters, not just Jodie and the four muslim boys accused of her rape, but Zara, the muslim rape counsellor, who has made choices which clash with the traditions of her culture.

Not only is this is a story for our multicultural times, it also highlights the misogyny of the judicial system that makes it so traumatic for rape victims to come forward when the justice system is all about winning, rather than the truth. It talks about the people who are marginalised by disfigurement and poverty and the inbuilt prejudices of our cultures and up-bringing. And it illustrates the toxicity of social media, where anyone can say anything.

There is so much more to say, but honestly, you really have to experience this story for yourselves. It will stay with me for a long time because, for me, it spoke the truth.

5 Stars from me!

Wow. Just wow. This is one of those books which sticks with you after you've finished it - and not necessarily in a comfortable way!

There is an awful lot going on within these pages, the depth of the story and the message is huge even though it is dealt with in a sensitive manner. There are so many issues, all given the lightest touch, and all jostling for their time to be considered. 

Just the single thread regarding Jodie is a whole massive story on its own - how anyone copes as a teenager these days let alone with a neglectful, alcoholic mother, let alone with facial disfigurement.

Our former barrister, Zara, who now works to support victims of sex crimes, is also worthy of a story of her own as she turns her back on a glittering careers, tries to fight against decades of history and family 'rules' in order to tread her own path, all while battling her own demons as she risks everything to support Jodie.

The accused - their story is another one worthy to stand on its own. The complexities of friendships, the weight of responsibility upon their young shoulders.

Then there is the alleged assault. The main crux of the book, it demonstrates beautifully and painfully how incredibly difficult it is to ever prove a rape/sexual assault. I deeply admire those brave souls who endeavour to do so when they are up against the men who lie, the women who lie, the jurors who have their own preconceptions and judicial system which isn't always stacked fairly.

I am so glad I read this book.




Synopsis: Take It Back is a gripping courtroom drama, perfect for fans of Apple Tree Yard, He Said/She Said and Anatomy of a Scandal.

The Victim: A sixteen-year-old girl with facial deformities, neglected by an alcoholic mother. Who accuses four boys of something unthinkable.

The Defendants: Four handsome teenage boys from hardworking immigrant families. All with corroborating stories.

Someone is lying.

Former barrister Zara Kaleel, one of London's brightest young legal minds, takes up Jodie Wolfe's case; she believes her, even if those closest to Jodie do not.

Jodie and Zara become the centre of the most explosive criminal trial of the year, in which ugly divisions within British society are exposed. As everything around Zara begins to unravel she becomes even more determined to get Jodie the justice she's looking for. But at what price?

It took two goes for me to get into this, but once I did I was blown away. The amount of research that seems to have been done is clear, and this is a highly charged read. Definitely recommended.

This book! There are no words.

I probably wouldn't have picked this book up on the cover alone, I've always preferred a brighter cover, but the synopsis intrigued me.

Jodie, a white 16 year old girl who has horrific facial deformities has had a hard life. She has been bullied and taunted because of her looks. Her life is about to get a whole lot worse after she accuses four Muslim boys of rape.

This is a brilliant courtroom drama revealing what really happened on the night in question. A real she-said they-said story. Not only is it a courtroom based read, but it also covers race, society, religion and other hard hitting topics, all of which are beautifully written and brilliantly handled.

I found this book so compelling, powerful, emotional and definitely thought provoking. All throughout the book you are kept guessing as to who is telling the truth, questioning your thoughts over and over.

Having a background in both police and forensics I was really absorbed by this book. It grabbed me and held me within its pages until I had read the entire book in one sitting.

A definite read if you love a 'whodunnit'. Very highly recommended.

Thanks to @NetGalley, @hqstories and @kiaabdullah for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

*4.5 stars*

Jodie Wolfe is a white 16 year old girl with horrific facial deformities - she’s had a really difficult life, the constant taunting and bullying about her looks, not to mention an alcoholic mother who’s always concurred with other people’s perceptions of Jodie, basically that she’s ugly, and she’s happy to voice that opinion to Jodie on a daily basis. However when Jodie accuses four teenage boys from hard working immigrant families of rape, her life will take yet another turn for the worse.

What follows is the story of what really happened that June night, but we the readers are not privy to the truth until much later in the book, and believe me, you’ll be kept on tenterhooks before that truth is finally revealed.

Former barrister turned rape counsellor Zara Kaleel, is enlisted to help Jodie through the trauma she has suffered, and also to prepare her for the upcoming court proceedings. Zara is a Muslim, (as are the accused boys), and as the case proceeds it will lead to her being called a traitor, (and much worse) in her own community, resulting in some very ugly and violent scenes. Because of her accusations, Jodie also becomes a target for the ever present internet trolls.

The author takes us down a long and twisty road, never knowing who is telling the truth - I changed my mind on numerous occasions, but was still shocked by the reveal.

This is much more than a courtroom drama, it’s about the divisions in society, the issues of race, religion and misogyny, and the author hasn’t shied away from any of these difficult topics.

This is an immensely powerful, emotional and thought provoking read, - and extremely disturbing at times. It’s a case of who’s telling the truth, who’s lying, who did what, and who didn’t! Ultimately though, it’s one of the best ‘whodunnit’s that I’ve read ! Highly recommended.

A very well written book covering a very awkward topic. The idea that a white badly deformed white girl is raped by four Muslim youths with the prosecuting lawyer is a Muslim woman is certainly thought provoking. The story is basically centred around the court case but also describes so well the characters of all the people involved. The ending was certainly not expected and this really added to the whole story.
Great book well worth reading for the interesting racist asp3cts throughout and the superb ending.

Thanks to Netgalley and HQ for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Zara is a former barrister turned rape counselor. She becomes an advocate for Jodie, a 16 year old girl with facial deformities who claims she was raped by 4 boys from her school. Jodie is white, Zara and the boys are Muslim. The case goes to trial and Zara faces a backlash from family, friends and strangers for siding with the white girl.

3.5 stars. This was a good book, but maybe just not really my thing. I agree with another reviewer who compared it to a Jodi Picoult. It was more on the relationships and the race relations than the actual mystery. I did go back and forth on who was telling the truth, Jodie or the boys, but I still thought the mystery/courtroom portion was less of the focus than the drama of the situation various characters were in.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this gripping courtroom drama

a young girl is raped, she suffers from hideous deformities like the elephant man

4 young men are accused of raping her all deny this, they are all young men from muslim families

the girl is white and english and comes from a single parent family...

this book hits all the marks but it is so well written it makes for a gripping read as you follow the drama during the court case and the aftermath of all the comes with it....

oh my word could not put this book down and that ending...wow

Jodie is a sixteen year old white girl with facial deformities has been neglected all her life by her alcoholic mother. She accuses four Muslim boys of raping her. But who is telling the truth?

This is much more than your courtroom drama. It deals with religion, class status, gender and prejudice.against race. Zara is a rape counsellor who is dealing with her own issues. Zara believes Jodie and will fight for her. When the case gets to court, the nedia's involvement stirs up prejudice and racism on both sides. It's quite a hard book to read due to its difficult content but it was also honest, believable and current. A heartbreaking story that unfortunately far too many are scared to tell.

I would like to thank NetGalley, HQ and the author Kia Abdullah for my ARC in exchange for an honest review