Our character Zara is a diamond through the deepest of dirts, uncovering the truth behind a sexual assault. 

This book follows themes such as religion and culture, all whilst maintaining such incredible pace. The ending was an unexpected addition to an already wild plot. Thank you for letting me read

The blurb sounded good but the book was disappointing. I kept on reading waiting for something to happen. It just did not hold my attention. Saying that I am sure other readers will enjoy it more. Just not for me.

Kia Abdullah has written a superb, powerful and intelligent psychological thriller and courtroom drama as it exposes all the loathsome prejudices and differences in this contemporary world. Encompassing race, class, disabilities, religion, politics and culture, this was a deeply unsettling and uncompromising read, with incredibly well- executed storytelling by the author.

Although I haven’t read any other work by this author, I had no problem getting stuck in to Take It Back and I was really thrilled with the story! It felt all too real and authentic and it could so easily be true. 

This superb, multi-layered thriller really packed a punch with its clever, excellent plot, sharp commentary and plenty of suspense and drama to interest the reader. Horrifyingly plausible, it was the kind of story that made me question myself and my own opinions.This made for an uncomfortable and disquieting reading experience at times, but was all the more compelling for it. 

I particularly liked Kia Abdullah’s first-rate and skilful character creation, many of whom I was absorbed in, no matter what particular traits they possessed. There was definitely something about the complexity of the characters that completely held my attention as I questioned each one’s variation of the truth. 

Emotional and often disturbing, Take It Back kept me on my toes and fully entertained all the way through. I found my thoughts constantly changing, making for a tense and unpredictable read. 

If you are a fan of atypical psychological thrillers, challenging story-lines and courtroom dramas, you don't want to miss Take It Back!

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from HQ via NetGalley at my own request. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

When a young girl from a disadvantaged background and facial deformities accuses four Muslim boys of rape the case spirals into an ugly game of she said/he said – but who is lying and at what cost?

I found Take It Back to be a tricky book to review. On the one hand it’s a compelling courtroom drama that tackles difficult and unusual subjects. It pulls up a lot of interesting points about race, religion, family, drugs, commitment, disability which all come together to make a powerful read. I like how in depth the Muslim community was portrayed (although not always with a positive brush at times). Zara is an interesting main character – a powerful lawyer who gave up her career to help victims of sexual assault, ostracised by her family for refusing to have an arranged marriage and baring the brunt of an entire community for her choices on this particular case. However, I actually found her quite a hard character to sympathise with, she is so distant emotionally and we don’t really get in her head enough to see any of this break down at points except when she makes some unwise decisions. There aren’t really any characters in the book that I liked or sympathised with which made for a tiring read at times.

I felt the case itself was very interesting but lacking in depth as well, by the time we got to the actual case the book seemed more focused on what was going on outside the case rather than the information being portrayed. The last chapter of the book however, is a great twist that I did not see coming, although it arrived a little too late to make much of an impact on my reaction to the book as a whole.

Overall Take It Back is a powerful read that covers a variety of subjects, I just felt that it would have been nice to get into the main characters head a little more than we did. Thank you to NetGalley & HQ Stories for a chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was very pleasantly surprised by this book, I could not have guessed how the story unfolded. I really enjoyed it. Highly recommended. 

Many thanks to Netgalley and Kia Abdullah for the copy of this book. I agreed to give my unbiased opinion voluntarily.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.

Sixteen year old Jodie Wolfe had not had an easy upbringing.  Jodie had been born with a severe facial deformity.  Her father had left when Jodie was two due to the way she looked.  Jodie was also a carer for her mum who was an alcoholic.  

Jodie had been bullied at school but her friend Nina persuaded her to attend a classmates party.   Once there Jodie left the party with Amir who she had a  crush on.  They went to a warehouse where Amir and his friends raped her.

Shocked Jodie went to ex barrister now rape counsellor Zara Kahell.  Zara believed her but knew the trial would be controversial because Jodie was white and Amir and his friends were British Muslims.  Zara herself came from a traditional Muslim household which she had always fought against.   Zara had left her arranged marriage after two weeks when it wasn't working and left the criminal bar.

Take It Back is set to be my favourite book of 2019.  This plot was bigger than a courtroom thriller.  It was about rape, racism, religion, sexism and trial by media.

I constantly changed by mind constantly throughout the story.    At first I believed Jodie and was angry on her behalf.   However I changed my mind when I read about Amir and his friend Hassan, they seemed like a decent kids.

I loved the double bluff at the end, I did not see that coming.

I liked Zara and the mysterious private investigator Erin.  I enjoyed reading about Zara and the problems she had fitting in with her conservative Muslim family.  I would love her to have her own series.

I would give this book more than five 🌟🌟 🌟🌟🌟 stars if I could.

I was really taken by surprise with this book as it was not at all what I was expecting - in a very good way! 
Take it Back follows the story of 16 year old Jodie who has had a difficult start to her young life due to a significant facial deformity and an uncaring alcoholic mother. Jodie has a crush on Amir, a young Muslim boy who also happens to be part of the popular gang at school. One night at a party Amir invites Jodie to 'hang out' and he takes her to a nearby abandoned warehouse where they are soon joined by Amir's 3 friends. What happened next is the basis of the story as Jodie accuses the 4 boys of a terrible crime - but what really happened?
A truly absorbing courtroom drama that addresses some very powerful issues and will stay with you long after the last page.
4 stars and huge thanks to Netgalley and publishers for the ARC.

This is the story of one event that has two perspectives. Jodie is a white 16 year old girl with severe facial deformities. One day she visits a crisis centre and tells Zara Kaleel, a rape counselor and former lawyer, that she was raped by four Muslim boys, What follows is a roller coaster ride of a story. Zara questions Jodie about the events before taking her to the police to report the rape, where she is perplexed to note that Jodie's story now has some inconsistencies. With the boys being arrested and questioned too we see that their stories also have some inconsistencies and it is clear that someone is lying but the reader is never quite sure who. 

The story flicks backwards and forwards between characters and we get to see all of the people involved's opinions, including Jodie's mother as well as her best friend Nina. We see how the press hounds Jodie and ultimately drive her away from her home. The press are equally as unkind to Zara, who is accused by her Muslim society of throwing innocent Muslim boys under the bus in the name of being more western.  

This novel is part social commentary, part court room drama and you won't be disappointed if you do read it. There are twists and turns and shocking events right up to the very ending page. A real page turner that kept me coming back time and again until I'd finished it.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I don't really know what to say about this book. At the moment my head is just swarming with so many thoughts that I can't pick one out. I jumped from one side to the other side throughout this book, not knowing who to believe. The ending honestly just made me feel sick to my stomach.

This is a GOOD book - but a fair warning, it's really heavy and absolutely not something to take lightly.

I may come back to this in future and edit my feedback to give you a more comprehensive understanding of the book but I just currently am in shock.

Kia Abdullah does not pull any punches with this book!

Take It Back follows the story of Zara, an ex-lawyer with addiction problems, who is supporting Jodie through a rape accusation and subsequent trial. Jodie is accusing four Muslim boys from her school of gang-raping her. The problem – or one of the many problems – is that not even Jodie’s own mum or best friend believe her story. You see, Jodie has a severe facial deformity that impacts her ability to speak clearly and also affects her perceived worth as a subject of sexual advances. Despite the fact, clearly noted more than once by the author, that rape is an act of power rather than sex, people struggle with the idea that these handsome and intelligent young men would have ‘chosen’ someone visually ‘imperfect’ to target.

Oh, also, the boys all thoroughly deny her story – all of it!

The trouble is, for Zara and for me, that when we are shown Jodie’s perspective I believe her. But when we are shown the boy’s perspectives, I believe them too (well, some of them). Their stories directly contradict each other, so someone MUST be lying. The question, of course, is who…?

I don’t have to point out that the subject matter is harrowing and could trigger some people, but the author handles it well and treats all of her characters sympathetically and with as little judgement as possible. Not only are Jodie, Zara and the boys all given a chance to show their perspective on events, but this is the first legal-thriller novel I can remember reading where there are no corrupt cops, evil lawyers or incompetent judges. Instead, Kia Abdullah shows us a law enforcement and legal system of decent people trying to do a good job with the information they have available. The prosecution and police aren’t out to ‘stitch up’ the accused and the defense isn’t trying to weasel them out of things unfairly. The real enemies in this story are the tabloids, whipping up their usual feeding frenzy of human misery, and the pack mentality of the general public when presented with partial facts on a subject that invokes strong feelings.

I know the label of ‘thought-provoking’ is something of a cliché, but Take It Back really does force the reader to confront their own unconscious biases, whether related to race, religion, sex, sexuality, disability, addiction or mental health. For instance, you may initially doubt Zara’s ability to do a good job on behalf of Jodie, due to her personal issues with substance abuse. Yet the author shows that such stereotyped views may hold grains of truth but are always more nuanced and complex when it comes to the capacities and abilities of individuals.

Similarly, you may find you lose track of the truth in this story while eagerly chasing the lies. Kia Abdullah has cleverly woven a tale in which the reader follows the same path, and takes a similar mental and emotional journey, as the main character, and emerges both shocked and more socially aware.



The girl was quiet for a moment. Then, in a voice that was soft and papery, said, ‘Five days ago, I was raped.’
Zara’s expression was inscrutable.
Jodie searched for a reaction. ‘You don’t believe me,’ she said, more a statement than a question.
Zara frowned. ‘Is there a reason I shouldn’t?’

– Kia Abdullah, Take It Back

Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog

This was a thoroughly enjoyable read, with a powerful storyline about racial tensions and honour. When Jodie, a disfigured 16 year old girl accuses four respectable, Muslim, classmates of rape, not even her mother and best friend believe her. But former barrister and Muslim, Zara, now working for a rape crisis centre, finds truth in her tale and takes on the case. But when the trial begins at the Old Bailey, Zara finds they are battling not only the defence, but also the racial divide. 

I found the book compelling reading, and the ending really surprised me, so well had the plot been playing out. My one criticism would be that I found some of the court scenes a bit long winded (I guess in the same way that courts often are!), and at times I skipped a few lines to move on.  However, overall a cleverly written story which gave me food for thought.

This has got to be one of my favourite books of the year. It gripped me from start to finish. Zara, ex lawyer, now a sexual assault support worker meets  Jodie, a girl that has had a hard life from the moment she was born. Jodie was born with deformity on her face and struggled to fit in in life. One night after a party Jodie says she is raped by four Muslim boys. Zara fights in court for Jodie while the four boys fight for their innocent.  
This is a book that is so much more than a court room drama, it hit of morals and judgments and what life if like in different communities. I absolutely loved it and the ending just packed a massive punch.

Take it Back is an explosive and powerful novel of truth and lies, based around the alleged gang rape of a white girl with severe facial deformities by a group of young Muslim boys. Jodie Wolfe is the 16 year old girl in question. Life is hard enough for Jodie already; not only is she used to the mocking stares and comments from her peers, but she also has to contend with living on a rundown London estate with her alcoholic mother who is clearly ashamed of her daughter’s appearance, and openly blames Jodie for her father’s absenteeism.

Zara Kaleel was a young hotshot lawyer from a traditional Muslim family with a shining career and financial rewards aplenty when she upped and left it all behind to work at a charity for abused women, much to the chagrin of her friends and (partially estranged) family. Jodie’s case lands on Zara’s desk and she knows immediately it’s going to be a game-changer. She believes Jodie is telling the truth, and encourages her to step up, and take her attackers all the way through the legal process. Although a courtroom drama in many ways, a lot of the action, and story building takes place outside of the legal arena.

The boys that Jodie accuses, are Muslim boys from hard-working immigrant families who each deny the charges. Jodie is a disabled white girl from a broken home - even her own mother doesn’t believe her. It’s obvious that thanks to the numerous themes running through the case that it isn’t going to play out well in the media or on social media where it’s bound to appear sooner rather than later, injunctions be damned.

The ripples appear quickly and run deep. Zara is branded a traitor to her faith and community. Her personal life comes under intense scrutiny, her integrity questioned, and her life threatened. Jodie is pilloried and mocked so badly online that she wants to stop the process, wishing she could ‘Take it Back’. The accused boys are branded and face seeing their hard-fought for lives fall down around them before they ever really got a chance to get going. 

Kia Abdullah is an incredible storyteller. This novel is multi-layered, thoughtful and complex, and as I was reading I was flip-flopping between who I believed. Every chapter I read made me see the characters differently, and I changed my mind so many times. When I got to the end and found out what really happened on that fateful night, it was believable, and sad. It’s not an easy read, but it’s an excellent one. 

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for inviting me to read this novel.

Just finished reading this book 

This was such a rollercoaster read! I really enjoyed this book. 

The book centres around four Muslim boys who are accused of raping a white disabled girl. 

It was a rollercoaster of a ride of who to believe. Did the girl make it up or did the boys actually do it? 

I felt so sorry for Jodie and when the truth came out, I just felt so bad for her. 

this was a great read and highly recommended for anyone who likes court room dramas!

Totally repetitive story about religion, culture and a possible rape that cruises these boundaries. Not recommended

IT’S TIME TO TAKE YOUR PLACE ON THE JURY.
The victim: A sixteen-year-old girl with facial deformities, neglected by an alcoholic mother. Who accuses the boys of something unthinkable.
The defendants: Four handsome teenage boys from hardworking immigrant families. All with corroborating stories.
WHOSE SIDE WOULD YOU TAKE?

This was such a gripping read!!
So well written with so many twists and turns throughout I didn't know who to believe.
Very fast paced and didn't want to put it down.
Exceptional controversial plot and story line that will challenge you.
Well written and fleshed out characters that were believeable.
Really enjoyed reading.
Reccommend reading.

I voluntarily reviewed this complimentary digital book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my very own!

[REVIEW] "Take it Back" by Kia Abdullah. 4 stars.
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I finished Abdullah's book on Thursday and haven't been able to review it. How do you review a book you didn't like but at the same time, want to give a high rating to?
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To say I didnt like this book isn't right either. The story telling is powerful and the prose well written. What I didn't like was the actual story being told and I really didn't like any of the characters. 
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Normally, when reading fiction, there's a kind of unacknowledged barrier. You know some stories are taken from fact but you're always on the outside of the action. In Abdullah's book, the literature version if the 4th wall is demolished. The reader is forced to engage with the text or stop reading.
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At the end I was angry, I was challenged, I was tired and emotional. The reader does not get to go through this story with half their mind elsewhere.
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"Take it Back" is a truthful, brutal telling of a story that could be ripped from the papers. I won't say this has been a pleasurable novel but I haven't really been able to stop thinking about it. 
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#takeitback #kiaabdullah #review #bookreview #netgalley #text #racism #extremism #violence #women #books #igreads #instabook

Loved every bit of it from the very start A welcome original plot ( I’m sure you all already have read the blurb but briefly a facially deformed sixteen year old accuses four handsome and popular Asian boys of rape) is told in an exquisite and no holds barred style which thrilled, appalled and saddened me throughout. The oh so believable characters whom Kia Abdullah brings so precisely to life made a huge impact on the story. I hated having to put the book down at any time but hated it more when it was finished. I wanted so much to still have this excellent story to read. 
If you only read one book this year make it this one it’s brilliant at every level.

4🌟 I heard alot about this book & I've seen it promoted well,  I love a good courtroom drama the subject of this book is controversial to say the least,  you have One Victim & four Accused. Who Is Telling The Truth?

You have a Sixteen year old Girl with facial deformities she's neglected by her alcoholic mother. Who accuses the boys of something unforgivable!

The Defendants  four handsome teenage boys from Muslim families all with corroborating stories.. I got into this book from the very first page it's a very hard hitting story it really gets to you your view changes as the story goes on you will get to a point you will take sides  the plot is very good it's thrilling and edgy but I'll be honest I got to a point where I thought i knew what the out come would be I started to think it was a bit predictable but I was proven wrong I did really enjoy this book I admit the topic of the book isn't for everyone but  I think all book lovers should read it, it will have you guessing till the very end..

Zara is helping a young girl with facial deformities bring down the four boys who raped her. They of course say they didn't do anything and it was all consensual.  The case goes to trial but it goes beyond just the rape, theres a race issue at hand too. Jodie is white and the boys are Muslim as is Zara putting her in a difficult position but what is the truth? 

This was a powerful read. It deals with some very serious issues. The story itself was interesting and built well with some clever twists along the way. The ending was unexpected but added another depth to the story. One last twist to finish the story. This deals with some very dark themes and there's quite a lot of bad language.