First of all, I loved The Hate U Give. Angie Thomas is so incredibly talented and I had no doubt that On the Come Up would be equally impressive. And it really is.

There is some continuity between the two books that was really well done - both take place in the same neighbourhood, about a year apart. The main character Bri references the shooting and resulting riots a few times in the story, tying it back to her fear of the police. It’s subtle enough that you don’t need to read THUG to understand, and yet a thoughtful tie-in for those who have.

Thomas’ characters consistently blow me away - they are so well put together. Bri is 16 years old and dreams of becoming a rapper like her late father. Her personality fits well with a teen that age - impulsive and rebellious, while also worried about the future. She’s not the most likeable of people, but is such a solid character that you can’t help but become invested in her story very quickly.

But that investment made me more than a little anxious; Bri’s impulsiveness had her hurtling toward a wall, and I found myself mentally trying to tell her to slow down. But this is Bri’s coming of age story, a time when she is struggling to find her voice - and that is never a smooth or easy process. It gets a bit emotional - I’ll admit I teared up once or twice.

I’m not a music person; I rarely listen to it. But I do love poetry, and Thomas has created some pretty powerful poetry in Bri’s lyrics. They stick with you long after you’ve read past them. I loved it.