I loved Angie Thomas' writing when I read THUG a while ago so when I saw this sampler, I was so excited to read more of her work.

I was not disappointed and I am now very excited for the full book to come out as I am desperate to carry on reading. From such a short sample of the book, you could really get a feel for the rest of the story and if it continues to be as good as the start, it will definitely be a 5 star read.

This prequel to The Hate U Give is perfect. We join Maverick as he becomes a father for the first time. It’s fascinating to meet the characters as their younger selves, and discover how they became who they are in THUG.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Balzer+Bray and Angie Thomas for the opportunity to read this sample. I cannot wait for publication.

The latest book by Angie Thomas is the origin story of Maverick from The Hate U Give. I already knew I wanted to read it but after this extended sampler I really can't wait. Maverick is just 17 when he discovers he's a father and that the mother isn't his long term girlfriend. The sampler is the first few chapters and it hooked me in immediately- I'm so excited to read the full book in January.

Even though I only read an extended sampler of Concrete Rose, I already know I will absolutely LOVE this book. It will be one of those books that will stick with you forever, just like THUG and On The Come Up did!

Angie Thomas has a way of writing that completely transports you to another time and place entirely. From the get-go, I felt as if I was in this world and these characters felt familiar to me. Maverick's story feels compelling and one that I'm sure will leave an imprint on me, just as THUG did. This sampler was the perfect size to intrigue me and keep me captivated, I'll definitely be reading the full book once it's released. Looking forward to learning more about this character and his story!

I love Angie Thomas's writing, and was thrilled to see her return to the world of The Hate U Give. I always felt there was more to tell here, and we finally get to see more of Star's father and how he became the man he is in The Hate U Give.

A great sampler, this has all the eloquent writing I'd expect from Thomas that manages to draw you effortlessly into this world. It's told with truth, with heart and emotion, and thus makes it so easy to love her characters. It's a timeless story, and I can't wait to read it all come January.

I absolutely loved this sampler, I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this novel as it's a prequel so we already know what the ending is in a way. But this short sampler already offered new depth and insight into characters we're already familiar with, my heart broke for Maverick when faced with a new challenge in life and my heart continues to break because I know some of the hardships he's going to face over the course of the novel. January can't come quick enough for me now as I am desperate to continue reading about Maverick and Lisa's journey before THUG. An emotional read that is so needed.

I was sceptical that a prequel for such a wonderful contemporary YA novel (The Hate U Give) would work, but these early chapters have proved me wrong. Maverick as a young man clearly has a compelling story to tell.

We're brought straight into the action with the most prominent parts of Maverick's backstory from the previous book. It had me gripped right away.

Maverick has been an enigma ever since I read THUG and now getting to know more of his story is an utter delight. This sampler gave me a glimpse of what I can expect and it didn’t disappoint at all. I am doubly excited for this book now and can’t wait to read the rest

This is my first time requesting a Netgalley sampler and I'm delighted that I chose this title.

When listening to the audiobook of The Hate U Give earlier this year, I was struck by Starr's father, Maverick, and I really wanted to know more about him, his history and his relationships. Concrete Rose gives me all of that and more and I LOVED it. I'm so looking forward to reading the rest of the novel in January 2021.