Synopsis

Review
“That’s what we call our goal, the come up. It’s when we finally make it with this rap stuff. I’m talking get-out-of-the-Garden-and-have-enough-money-to-never-worry-again-and-make-it.”
4,5 stars
This book is like a song. You have an intro (took me 100 pages but …) to catch our attention and get used to the beat. Then you have the verse when you are really into the book and feel the flow of the story and I would say the choruses are all the repetitive slap in the face Bri and her family took. These setbacks really made you rage against fate and society as a whole!
When I read The Hate U Give it took me some time to enter into the story and into Starr’s life. The exact same phenomenon happened with On the Come Up.
In the beginning I was lost and not much interested. I guess it’s due to the “lingo” used by the characters that is part of their “culture” (without being pejorative here) and all the rap/hip hop references so far from my musical knowledge. I had to get my baring literally and imbibe the culture.
I must confess that I can’t stand rap and this book did not change my view on rap.
What this book did perfectly is make me aware of these injustices many “black” people suffer from. It also shows that your family may deal drugs it remains your family and you love them. Because if they are bad for others they are good to you.
“You know how many rich white folks come to the courthouse for drug possession?” “A whole lot” says Jay. “Too many,” Aunt Chelle says. “Every single one gets a little slap on the wrist and goes right back into society, like it’s all good. Black folks or poor folks get on drugs?” “We’re ruined for life” Jay says. “Sounds about right.”
It also shows that when you are really poor and sometimes don’t have gas, electricity or food you do what you think needs to be done to help your family.
This is also an interesting tale on how social media can hijack your image and make you into someone you are not. Showing the truth and changing this reputation is not easy as often people prefer to believe in what they have built, their own version of the truth rather than open their eyes if that reconstrued reality better serves their goals.
Now let’s back to the story, the characters and how I experienced this book.
Bri or Brianna has a dream: she wants to become a rapper. A good rapper. And earn enough money to help her mom and brother because things are really hard for them right now.
She’s always been tight with Sony and Malik. They are the Unholy Trinity.
They should support her choice right? Only when an opportunity arises, Bri does not make the smartest choice and everything backfires.
People paint her under a rebellious light. They see her as dangerous and “criminal” when Bri is just an armless sixteen year old girl.
Because Bri may be stubborn and have a quick temper she has also a golden heart and knows right from wrong.
Yet turning the tide is not easy and it feels especially bitter when your friends suddenly don’t seem to have your back anymore. That’s when you are let a little alone that the wolves can enter and influence you, sending you on a path that you would never have walked had you been supported and advised by your loved ones.
As I’ve said before I needed 100 pages to really fall into the story. But once I was in I was all in and did not want to stop reading! I cared for Bri and raged when her friends seemed excluding her all of a sudden. I was furious against fate when I saw all the drama that hit her family while her mom and brother really were honest and courageous people.
I wanted to slap her “Manager” Supreme and shake some sense in Bri because he was manipulating her, morphing the girl into someone she was not. Yet I understood Bri because she really wanted to help her family.
I was raging again against the unfair treatment Latinx and Black got at school and against this “white mom” who petitioned against Bri. Or I was mad at misogynistic pigs in the music industry.
I swooned too because you have to get your sweet in the story.
All the characters felt real. Not only Bri but her friends, her family …. It’s in their backstory that you get to know them like Curtis who claimed in fifth grade that “Rihanna was his cousin and that his mom was on the road with her.” Then she was with Beyoncé while really his mom was in prison. Angie Thomas really gave life to all of them and that’s a gift, specially for a reader who loves character driven stories!
I think Angie Thomas is a talented story teller who builds her tale like she would write a song. With lots of dialogs (maybe it’s linked with being a rapper?) to keep the flow smooth and effortless.
Let’s chat! Have you read this one? Or THUG? What did you think of them?
Thanks for reading!
Great review, Sophie! I haven’t read this yet but I’m glad to hear that you loved it! 🙂
I’m glad you enjoyed this book despite the slow start, I really can’t wait to read it and see if it lives up to THUG for me, or not! 🙂 Lovely review! 🙂
Thank you so much Marie! I can’t wait to read your review 😉
A very controversial read, like its predecessor, seems good!
It is Jennifer!
Sound pretty powerful.. Another in-depth look at society’s injustices by Angie Thomas.
Exactly Nina!
Glad to hear this was so good and eye-opening with the different things it helped you realize. Did you draw that picture of the girl from the cover? It’s really good!
Yes Kristen I drew it! Thank you so much! Some covers with graphics and drawings had me finding my pencils and sharpies again. I think this is a fub way to stay creative and gives great bookstagrams!
My copy of this book just came in the mail, so your review is perfect timing. I’m glad to hear how much you enjoyed it even though it took you a while to really fall into the story.
Oooh Suzanne I hope I’ll get to read your review soon! We have pretty similar tastes in books so I am curious!
It really says something that it took a while to get caught up in this and you can’t stand rap but you ended up loving the story. I’d like to try this one myself.
Laura if you do one day I so want to read your review! Angie has a very distinctive style that makes us think and see the world from another perspective!
Thanks for sharing, though this is one of those books that I would pass on…for now. I am avoiding what I consider heavy books for lighter travels through the fiction world.
sherry @ fundinmental
Sherry there is no shame to want to read something lighter! Honestly I would never judge someone’s taste in books as what’s important is to have a good time reading!
Great review! I knew we had similar takes to this book, but I am glad to finally hear all your thoughts.I honestly don’t know how I feel about this book. I know that I liked it, but I don’t know that it is a new favorite, you know?
Yes I get what you mean Samantha! I think her books are rather meant to make us think and see the world from another perspective.
Angie Thomas will be at our local book fest in April, so I’ve been holding off on buying this one until I can get a signed copy. Glad you enjoyed it, Sophie!
Oooh you are so lucky to get to meet her Teri! I hope you’ll love her book.