Thomas’ first novel, The Hate U Give, was and still is a sensation. As her sophomore novel, On the Come Up had a lot to live up to. Though they’re different in many ways and thus not necessarily comparable, both dissect racism in a brutally honest way. Both have strong black girls and families at their core, and both are absolutely amazing.

I’m honestly struggling to express how much I enjoyed this book. Even though I can’t in any way relate to the themes or the characters, I became so invested in every element. I was hooked from the very first page to the very last. Anytime I picked this up, I swear, I’d blink and an hour would’ve passed; I’d read another eighty pages. Not only that, but after certain events, I would stop reading to update Goodreads or get water or something, in order to compose myself. The only other contemporary I can recall doing that with is Red, White and Royal Blue, one of my all-time favorite books. I believe this is a great indication of Thomas’ incredible skill as a writer.

I loved Bri’s headstrong attitude, her passion for rap, and her dedication to her family. I loved her friends, Sonny and Malik, how the three of them bantered and fought but came together no matter what. I loved her family, the way it was evident that her mom and older brother Trey were hard on her but still loved her fiercely. I loved the cute, snarky budding romance in the last third of the book, how so much was built between two characters without taking up much page time. And surprisingly, despite having no knowledge of or interest in the genre, I loved the rap. Bri’s ability to freestyle was really impressive, and I liked that her lyrics were meaningful and snarky simultaneously.

If I had one criticism, it would be the way Thomas ended the story. While it was satisfying to see Bri do her own thing and, overall, everything was resolved, I would’ve liked more. The epilogue left me especially curious. Where did things go from there? I know, I know, all stories have to end somewhere, and Thomas ultimately did right by her characters. I just wanted more.

I think that covers everything. I really enjoyed On the Come Up, and I’m grateful — it seems to have gotten me out of my slump, at least for now, and renewed my desire to read all the books. But anyway, highly recommend this to all who can handle the content.

Representation:
• Bri, her friends, family, and most of the characters in this book are black.
• One of her friends, Sonny, is gay as well. He starts to talk to an anonymous guy online, whose identity is revealed toward the end. They do, to my knowledge, get together.

CW: racism, physical assault, gang violence, gun violence, death of a parent, grief, discussion of drugs and addiction in two characters, poverty