On the Come Up by Angie Thomas

YA Contemporary, 2019 by Balzer + Bray, 464 Pages 

What I Didn’t Like:

• I didn’t connect with Bri like I wanted to. She struck me as spoiled and selfish and it irked me when she continued to hide stuff from the people in her life who obviously love her and wanted to support her. 
• Romance didn’t work. It felt flat, dry, and forced. 
• It seems too easy. That’s strange to say because we’re in the middle of the chaos with Bri and it obviously doesn’t all go well. But for a teenager picking this up dreaming of being a rapper, it’ll seem too easy. Bri isn’t the majority on this one. She’s a rare talent who gets lucky in the right ways. 

What I Did Like:

• The representation is great. The neighborhood and hip-hop were both well represented. 
• The lyrics. We meet Bri because she wants a future in rap so I was pleased when her lyrics were well written. They make sense, they flow nicely, and they work. 
• The big lessons. Staying true to yourself, speaking your voice, and finding yourself were all well represented here. These are great lessons for teens to learn!

Who Should Read This One:

• If you’re a big hip-hop or rap fan, the lyrics in this one will interest you for sure. 
• If you like contemporary stories, give this one a try. 

My Rating: 3 Stars.

The story is good and the lyrics are great, but I didn’t connect with Bri like I wanted to and that affects my rating. If you’re here for the lyrics, you’ll love it.