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Your Driver Is Waiting
A MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK OF THE YEAR • In this electrifyingly fierce and funny social satire—inspired by the iconic 1970s film Taxi Driver —a ride share driver is barely holding it together on the hunt for love, dignity, and financial security...until she decides she's done waiting.
“What you are about to read is a call to arms. Best to prepare for a confrontation." — New York Times Book Review
"A perfect gut punch of a novel…Full of love and real friendship and frustrations boiled over and the urge to burn everything down…[The] writing is laser-focused and hilarious and full of aching need. This is a hard-hitting masterpiece.—Kristen Arnett, author of With Teeth and Mostly Dead Things
Damani is tired. Her father just died on the job at a fast-food joint, and now she lives paycheck to paycheck in a basement, caring for her mom and driving for an app that is constantly cutting her take. The city is roiling in protests--everybody's in solidarity with somebody--but while she keeps hearing that they’re fighting for change on behalf of people like her, she literally can’t afford to pay attention.
Then she gives a ride to Jolene (five stars, obviously). Jolene seems like she could be the perfect girlfriend--attentive, attractive, an ally--and their chemistry is off the charts. Jolene’s done the reading, she goes to every protest, and she says all the right things. So maybe Damani can look past the one thing that's holding her she’s never dated anyone with money before, not to mention a white girl with money. But just as their romance intensifies and Damani finally lets her guard down, Jolene does something unforgivable, setting off an explosive chain of events.
A wild, one-sitting read brimming with dark comedy, and piercing social commentary and announcing Priya Guns's feverishly original voice, Your Driver Is Waiting is a crackling send-up of our culture of modern alienation.
“What you are about to read is a call to arms. Best to prepare for a confrontation." — New York Times Book Review
"A perfect gut punch of a novel…Full of love and real friendship and frustrations boiled over and the urge to burn everything down…[The] writing is laser-focused and hilarious and full of aching need. This is a hard-hitting masterpiece.—Kristen Arnett, author of With Teeth and Mostly Dead Things
Damani is tired. Her father just died on the job at a fast-food joint, and now she lives paycheck to paycheck in a basement, caring for her mom and driving for an app that is constantly cutting her take. The city is roiling in protests--everybody's in solidarity with somebody--but while she keeps hearing that they’re fighting for change on behalf of people like her, she literally can’t afford to pay attention.
Then she gives a ride to Jolene (five stars, obviously). Jolene seems like she could be the perfect girlfriend--attentive, attractive, an ally--and their chemistry is off the charts. Jolene’s done the reading, she goes to every protest, and she says all the right things. So maybe Damani can look past the one thing that's holding her she’s never dated anyone with money before, not to mention a white girl with money. But just as their romance intensifies and Damani finally lets her guard down, Jolene does something unforgivable, setting off an explosive chain of events.
A wild, one-sitting read brimming with dark comedy, and piercing social commentary and announcing Priya Guns's feverishly original voice, Your Driver Is Waiting is a crackling send-up of our culture of modern alienation.
320 pages, Paperback
First published February 28, 2023
429 people are currently reading
27284 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,481 reviews
February 6, 2023
Good lord, I’m tired of reading about Damani’s biceps, fit body and Dr Thelma Hermin Hesse.
Your Driver is Waiting is supposed to be inspired by the iconic movie Taxi Driver but it was nothing like that. Priya Guns creates a protagonist who’s strong, queer and funny (she tries) but even though the character had all it took to be brilliant, it was the storyline and weak writing that didn’t work for me. I wanted to like this novel. I mean, what’s not to like about a female taxi driver being brave and fearless in the face of odd passengers even in the middle of the night? She also goes gymming, is obsessed with her body and CANNOT stop talking about it. It gets quite annoying after the initial few pages. And it continues till the end of the book.
Damani lives with her mother in an unnamed city. She is also an activist of sorts, has a bunch of friends who speak up about immigration and other issues. Having lost her father, she becomes her mother’s carer, who is now grieving and refuses to get up from the couch. Amidst all this, Damani falls in love with a rich white girl named Jolene. There’s sizzling chemistry and romance but right when Damani thinks she knows everything about Jolene, something strange happens.
Damani’s character comes off as ‘trying too hard to stay relevant’. And perhaps this was why I couldn’t connect with her. The story in itself wasn’t too intriguing and the writing didn’t help either.
This book certainly wasn’t for me but I do think I’ll read her second book whenever it’s out. Thanks for the copy @penguinindia ✨
Your Driver is Waiting is supposed to be inspired by the iconic movie Taxi Driver but it was nothing like that. Priya Guns creates a protagonist who’s strong, queer and funny (she tries) but even though the character had all it took to be brilliant, it was the storyline and weak writing that didn’t work for me. I wanted to like this novel. I mean, what’s not to like about a female taxi driver being brave and fearless in the face of odd passengers even in the middle of the night? She also goes gymming, is obsessed with her body and CANNOT stop talking about it. It gets quite annoying after the initial few pages. And it continues till the end of the book.
Damani lives with her mother in an unnamed city. She is also an activist of sorts, has a bunch of friends who speak up about immigration and other issues. Having lost her father, she becomes her mother’s carer, who is now grieving and refuses to get up from the couch. Amidst all this, Damani falls in love with a rich white girl named Jolene. There’s sizzling chemistry and romance but right when Damani thinks she knows everything about Jolene, something strange happens.
Damani’s character comes off as ‘trying too hard to stay relevant’. And perhaps this was why I couldn’t connect with her. The story in itself wasn’t too intriguing and the writing didn’t help either.
This book certainly wasn’t for me but I do think I’ll read her second book whenever it’s out. Thanks for the copy @penguinindia ✨
August 19, 2023
Starting with what I liked about this book, I felt that Priya Guns wrote a sharp, biting satire about class, activism, and who has the privilege of engaging in protest and who must grind everyday just to survive. I found our protagonist, Damani, an honest narrator and I thought Guns did a great job portraying the tolls of capitalism on Damani as well as Damani’s complex family dynamics. Jolene came across as an exaggerated, though also accurate representation of white women who will hashtag social justice phrases or even go to protests, though when they’re asked to actually put their resources on the line or to self-reflect about their own racist behavior, they don’t. The short chapters also helped Your Driver Is Waiting feel readable and punchy.
I give this book three stars mostly because I had a hard time feeling a deeper emotional investment in the characters. On an intellectual level I think Damani’s experience is important in the context of class and activism, though the satirical writing style of the novel made it hard to feel with the characters instead of for them. Some of the pacing both on a plot level and a character development level felt a bit clunky to me. Still, this novel sought to put something different on the table and I appreciate that.
I give this book three stars mostly because I had a hard time feeling a deeper emotional investment in the characters. On an intellectual level I think Damani’s experience is important in the context of class and activism, though the satirical writing style of the novel made it hard to feel with the characters instead of for them. Some of the pacing both on a plot level and a character development level felt a bit clunky to me. Still, this novel sought to put something different on the table and I appreciate that.
January 9, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of
Your Driver is Waiting.
I remember watching Taxi Driver at an age when I shouldn't have been watching a movie like that.
Your Driver is Waiting is nothing like Taxi Driver, and I know I shouldn't make comparisons but book jackets do that all the time.
It's called marketing and sometimes it works. Most times, no.
** Minor spoilers ahead **
The story started well.
Damani is a struggling rideshare driver, doing her best to keep her family intact.
Her dad is dead. Her mother needs constant care and looking after, and the city is social and politically divided, charged with rallies and protests almost daily.
Then, Damani meets the woman of her dreams. And that's when the narrative turns silly.
Like teenybopper candy canes and soda pop silly.
The writing becomes sugary sweet, the author using phrases to describe Jolene as the sun and all the corny prose to describe how in lust Damani is.
I get it, sexual chemistry exists.
But the way Damani lusts after Jolene is just silly, especially when the narrative is supposed to be serious.
I wasn't surprised at Jolene's betrayal.
What do you expect from someone you barely know?
And Damani barely knows this woman.
I soon lost interest in the narrative, nor did I care about Damani.
I did sympathize with her mother, but recently I've read quite a few novels where the main character needs to step up because a spouse is deceased and the surviving wife or husband has fallen apart.
Once again, this struggle is nothing new.
The writing is fine, but the narrative didn't pull me in like I hoped it would, far sillier and lacking in substance than I imagined.
It read like the author wanted to write a queer romance but added some hot button issues to make the story more serious.
It didn't work.
I remember watching Taxi Driver at an age when I shouldn't have been watching a movie like that.
Your Driver is Waiting is nothing like Taxi Driver, and I know I shouldn't make comparisons but book jackets do that all the time.
It's called marketing and sometimes it works. Most times, no.
** Minor spoilers ahead **
The story started well.
Damani is a struggling rideshare driver, doing her best to keep her family intact.
Her dad is dead. Her mother needs constant care and looking after, and the city is social and politically divided, charged with rallies and protests almost daily.
Then, Damani meets the woman of her dreams. And that's when the narrative turns silly.
Like teenybopper candy canes and soda pop silly.
The writing becomes sugary sweet, the author using phrases to describe Jolene as the sun and all the corny prose to describe how in lust Damani is.
I get it, sexual chemistry exists.
But the way Damani lusts after Jolene is just silly, especially when the narrative is supposed to be serious.
I wasn't surprised at Jolene's betrayal.
What do you expect from someone you barely know?
And Damani barely knows this woman.
I soon lost interest in the narrative, nor did I care about Damani.
I did sympathize with her mother, but recently I've read quite a few novels where the main character needs to step up because a spouse is deceased and the surviving wife or husband has fallen apart.
Once again, this struggle is nothing new.
The writing is fine, but the narrative didn't pull me in like I hoped it would, far sillier and lacking in substance than I imagined.
It read like the author wanted to write a queer romance but added some hot button issues to make the story more serious.
It didn't work.
January 9, 2023
3.5 stars
YOUR DRIVER IS WAITING is a highly anticipated novel for 2023 and was definitely a book high on my TBR, so thank you @doubledaybooks for sending me an advanced copy. This review will be light because this book is a drama-edy / satirical tale of one woman's career as a RideShare driver (think Uber). The stories Damani tells readers, at times, is hilarious, but there's also very deep social commentary topics discussed, specifically immigration, race, and American culture. The story is a very unique read, but an accurate depiction on societal attitudes towards groups of people struggling to survive in America. I knocked a star and a half off of this review specifically because of the romance aspects of this book. I felt that the love story took away from the rest of the story's powerful messaging, but I still urge readers to give this book a try.
YOUR DRIVER IS WAITING is a highly anticipated novel for 2023 and was definitely a book high on my TBR, so thank you @doubledaybooks for sending me an advanced copy. This review will be light because this book is a drama-edy / satirical tale of one woman's career as a RideShare driver (think Uber). The stories Damani tells readers, at times, is hilarious, but there's also very deep social commentary topics discussed, specifically immigration, race, and American culture. The story is a very unique read, but an accurate depiction on societal attitudes towards groups of people struggling to survive in America. I knocked a star and a half off of this review specifically because of the romance aspects of this book. I felt that the love story took away from the rest of the story's powerful messaging, but I still urge readers to give this book a try.
March 30, 2023
This book has content warnings for sexual assault, slut shaming, homophobia, racism, and drugs.
I honestly had high hopes for this book but it just didn't end up working for me. The premise sounded really interesting to me and I did quite like it in the beginning. The short chapters make it so that this is an incredibly quick read. I thought the themes brought up were interesting, and the writing was different from what I was used to but I didn't hate it. However, as the book continued I found it more, and more difficult to actually get through this book. I thought our main character was just absolutely insufferable. She was so full of herself, constantly thinking she's better and cooler than everyone else. Her constant talking about her muscles was also just incredibly tireing. She also read very edgelordy and that just made me roll my eyes more than anything else. Her friends were much more interesting characters, in my opinion, and I would have loved to have gotten more of them. This book also just hinged WAY too much on the romance, in my opinion. Especially because the romance is easily the worst part about this book. It's poorly developed, and insanely insta-lovey. Like, these two women didn't even know each other for a week, yet I'm supposed to feel invested in it enough to believe that this "betrayal" truly came out of nowhere. Yeah, no. That didn't work for me. I also didn't like how stalker-y our main character became of her love interest. That completely unhinged behaviour was never challenged and actually shown as normal and that just completely gave me the ick. For the rest I also just don't really feel like a lot happened in this book. I was bored quite a bit, and for this to be a satire there wasn't a single funny moment at all in here. I did quite like the social commentary, and the activism in this book, even if it did feel a bit surface level in the end. So yeah, this wasn't for me AT ALL. I'm sorry.
I honestly had high hopes for this book but it just didn't end up working for me. The premise sounded really interesting to me and I did quite like it in the beginning. The short chapters make it so that this is an incredibly quick read. I thought the themes brought up were interesting, and the writing was different from what I was used to but I didn't hate it. However, as the book continued I found it more, and more difficult to actually get through this book. I thought our main character was just absolutely insufferable. She was so full of herself, constantly thinking she's better and cooler than everyone else. Her constant talking about her muscles was also just incredibly tireing. She also read very edgelordy and that just made me roll my eyes more than anything else. Her friends were much more interesting characters, in my opinion, and I would have loved to have gotten more of them. This book also just hinged WAY too much on the romance, in my opinion. Especially because the romance is easily the worst part about this book. It's poorly developed, and insanely insta-lovey. Like, these two women didn't even know each other for a week, yet I'm supposed to feel invested in it enough to believe that this "betrayal" truly came out of nowhere. Yeah, no. That didn't work for me. I also didn't like how stalker-y our main character became of her love interest. That completely unhinged behaviour was never challenged and actually shown as normal and that just completely gave me the ick. For the rest I also just don't really feel like a lot happened in this book. I was bored quite a bit, and for this to be a satire there wasn't a single funny moment at all in here. I did quite like the social commentary, and the activism in this book, even if it did feel a bit surface level in the end. So yeah, this wasn't for me AT ALL. I'm sorry.
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December 23, 2024the protagonist had all the makings to be a cool butch character, but the plot about her being swept in lust over a rich white girl seemed a bit too cartoonish and unbelievable for my tastes. i understand there is meant to be commentary about social justice, but i feel it's a bit limited to the caricature characters and the references to protests in the background, of which she doesnt actually engage with. i would've liked a more in-depth exploration!
March 14, 2023
Your smile is like a breath of spring
Your voice is soft like summer rain
And I cannot compete with you, Jolene
The only thing I have to say to Priya Guns is . . . .
This modernization of the classic Taxi Driver was a quality debut. It took me a minute to settle in, but once I did – what a ride!
3.5 Stars and I'm rounding up because I can and because we need as many fresh voices in the book world as we can get.
Your voice is soft like summer rain
And I cannot compete with you, Jolene
The only thing I have to say to Priya Guns is . . . .
This modernization of the classic Taxi Driver was a quality debut. It took me a minute to settle in, but once I did – what a ride!
3.5 Stars and I'm rounding up because I can and because we need as many fresh voices in the book world as we can get.
June 5, 2023
Ahhh this was so good! What a book!!! Damani is a queer brown rideshare driver who's just scrapping by, dealing with grief after her dad's death and taking care of her mom who has been wrecked by her husband death.
When Damani meets a rich white woman named Jolene, she falls hard and fast. But you know the whole time Jo is going to betray her, and it is tense waiting to find out how.The last third or so I couldn't turn the pages fast enough because I wanted to know what was gonna happen, but also I had to slow down on some sentences because they are so good. Priya Guns can write, and she can really transport the reader into Damani's head.
Jo didn't get what was coming to her as I'd hoped, which was sadly realistic. But I loved how Damani's friends stood by her in the aftermath of the disaster. And the ending was totally perfect, like expertly open-ended and conclusive at the same time.
I definitely agree with Kayla's review on AS where she said she doesn't read this book as satire: https://www.autostraddle.com/your-dri.... I get labeling this book as such, because it's critical (of performative allyship, whiteness, capitalism) and darkly funny, but the characterization of Jo (and minor other rich white progressives) is not exaggerated. It felt very true to life, as did Damani as a character and her friends Steph, Shereef, and Toni.
Also: I know this book is set in a nameless North American city, a setup which has its values, but this felt very Tkaronto to me -- and there is even a mention of bills being different colours...
Highly recommended!
When Damani meets a rich white woman named Jolene, she falls hard and fast. But you know the whole time Jo is going to betray her, and it is tense waiting to find out how.The last third or so I couldn't turn the pages fast enough because I wanted to know what was gonna happen, but also I had to slow down on some sentences because they are so good. Priya Guns can write, and she can really transport the reader into Damani's head.
Jo didn't get what was coming to her as I'd hoped, which was sadly realistic. But I loved how Damani's friends stood by her in the aftermath of the disaster. And the ending was totally perfect, like expertly open-ended and conclusive at the same time.
I definitely agree with Kayla's review on AS where she said she doesn't read this book as satire: https://www.autostraddle.com/your-dri.... I get labeling this book as such, because it's critical (of performative allyship, whiteness, capitalism) and darkly funny, but the characterization of Jo (and minor other rich white progressives) is not exaggerated. It felt very true to life, as did Damani as a character and her friends Steph, Shereef, and Toni.
Also: I know this book is set in a nameless North American city, a setup which has its values, but this felt very Tkaronto to me -- and there is even a mention of bills being different colours...
Highly recommended!
September 30, 2025
3.75 not much to it but compulsive and fun to read
October 31, 2022
Are you kidding me!! This was fantastic.
Our narrator is a Sri Lankan RideShare driver who's on the brink of collapse; her father passed away just six months ago, and it has fallen on her shoulders to support her and her mom since. She works long days, scraping by paycheque to paycheque, watching the RideShare app take the bulk of her wages while she drives around rude customers who barely tip, if they do at all. She's tired -- she's tired of the city, she's tired of her job, she's tired of her role as caretaker, and she's tired of trying to survive in a world that seems fundamentally rigged against her.
What makes life bearable for Damani are her friends, all in similar positions, all trying to advocate for livable wages and justice in the limited free time they have. They meet at the Doo Wop, a community hub, to dance, smoke, drink, talk, offer support, and organize. One day, while working, Damani picks up a beautiful lady named Jolene: they instantly have chemistry. Jolene is a proud ally who joins the daily protests that seem to erupt around the city, is a social worker, and hosts expensive fundraisers to raise awareness and funds... all between weekends at her family's summer cottage, a packed schedule of yoga and spin classes, and, of course, with a beautiful home and expensive champagne to return to each night. A relationship with golden, sparkling Jolene seems so ideal for Damani..... until it totally is not.
This book is satirical, dry, and biting - the first half is slow moving as we get the know Damani and her world, while the second half is an explosive, one-sitting read.
Your Driver is Waiting comes out in February 2023, and I have a feeling it's going to be a bookstagram favourite, for good reason. If you like characters who are cool until they snap, spiralling downwards, happy to watch the world burn along with them, mixed with queer romance and piercing social commentary, I am confident you will like this!
Our narrator is a Sri Lankan RideShare driver who's on the brink of collapse; her father passed away just six months ago, and it has fallen on her shoulders to support her and her mom since. She works long days, scraping by paycheque to paycheque, watching the RideShare app take the bulk of her wages while she drives around rude customers who barely tip, if they do at all. She's tired -- she's tired of the city, she's tired of her job, she's tired of her role as caretaker, and she's tired of trying to survive in a world that seems fundamentally rigged against her.
What makes life bearable for Damani are her friends, all in similar positions, all trying to advocate for livable wages and justice in the limited free time they have. They meet at the Doo Wop, a community hub, to dance, smoke, drink, talk, offer support, and organize. One day, while working, Damani picks up a beautiful lady named Jolene: they instantly have chemistry. Jolene is a proud ally who joins the daily protests that seem to erupt around the city, is a social worker, and hosts expensive fundraisers to raise awareness and funds... all between weekends at her family's summer cottage, a packed schedule of yoga and spin classes, and, of course, with a beautiful home and expensive champagne to return to each night. A relationship with golden, sparkling Jolene seems so ideal for Damani..... until it totally is not.
This book is satirical, dry, and biting - the first half is slow moving as we get the know Damani and her world, while the second half is an explosive, one-sitting read.
Your Driver is Waiting comes out in February 2023, and I have a feeling it's going to be a bookstagram favourite, for good reason. If you like characters who are cool until they snap, spiralling downwards, happy to watch the world burn along with them, mixed with queer romance and piercing social commentary, I am confident you will like this!
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April 13, 2023I honestly have no clue how to rate this book.
Did I enjoy it? Yes.
If you want an unreliable narrator full of unhinged feminine rage, this book is for you. Watching the book absolutely devolve into chaos as the main character became obsessive in their pursuit of what they wanted? I simply couldn't put it down.
The issue? It was almost too well written.
To the point where the main character's behaviour was verging on triggering based on past experiences I've had with people who were a tad too similar to the mc. This is not a slight to the book, but instead a credit to the author for how well they managed to create this complex and intriguing character.
If you're looking for a book with:
- a bisexual mc and queer love interest
- sapphics
- unhinged feminine rage
- a social critique
- a city in uproar and protesting
- complex characters
Then I do recommend picking it up!
But be warned, it's truly a wild ride.
Did I enjoy it? Yes.
If you want an unreliable narrator full of unhinged feminine rage, this book is for you. Watching the book absolutely devolve into chaos as the main character became obsessive in their pursuit of what they wanted? I simply couldn't put it down.
The issue? It was almost too well written.
To the point where the main character's behaviour was verging on triggering based on past experiences I've had with people who were a tad too similar to the mc. This is not a slight to the book, but instead a credit to the author for how well they managed to create this complex and intriguing character.
If you're looking for a book with:
- a bisexual mc and queer love interest
- sapphics
- unhinged feminine rage
- a social critique
- a city in uproar and protesting
- complex characters
Then I do recommend picking it up!
But be warned, it's truly a wild ride.
July 2, 2023
"If you’re going to be a driver, you’d better hide at least one weapon in your car. Especially if you’re a driver that looks like me. Not because I’m dashing or handsome, but because I am a woman, of course. I think it has something to do with tits even though not all of us have them."
off to a baffling start of virtue signalling disclaimers in paragraph one and it just gets boring and repetitive from there. could've established the soul crushing monotony of damani's life without crushing my soul from boredom in the process - how anyone described this as electrifying is beyond me unless their daily routine involves watching paint dry.
damani's characterization flops around the place like a dead fish. there's an effort to establish her as a jaded, cynical and streetwise character early on - promising start! then she meets jolene and her brain seemingly evaporates. no seriously. this is a woman who early on in the book says she won't reveal where she lives because you never know who's out to get you. then fifty pages later, the power of gay lust apparently destroys her common sense and she takes a woman she barely knows into her apartment with her ailing mother hello?
the blurb implies their relationship has some development, but nope. damani's just instantly bewitched by jolene's barbie doll looks and it makes her wax eloquent at the expense of her higher order thinking skills. there's no substance to their relationship at all - jolene barely does anything to earn damani's trust. the entirely of their arc goes like this: they have sex on their first date .... then jolene immediately invites damani to go to italy together on holiday. if that isn't an immediate reminder of the stark class divide between then and how jolene may as well be living on another planet compared to damani then i don't know what it. jolene is really such a textbook caricature of an oblivious privileged person that her "betrayal" is entirely predictable. what's surprising is why damani and all the characters around her (who are equally frustrated working class people) trust her in the first place. since the book never establishes believable characterization and development for jolene and her relationships with the rest of the cast, the way the plot plays out is just baffling and makes everyone look stupid.
in the aftermath, damani flounders around like a kid rejected by her crush. the epigraph foreshadows sinister comeuppance following the betrayal but once again i was left wanting. for a book thats only 250 pages long, so many pages are devoted to irrelevant meandering like damani's gym fixation and random riders she meets, instead of developing characters and relationships that would've made any of this impactful.
the silliness of the insta-lust romance clashes badly with the underlying focus on class struggle - not that this is explored particularly well since everyone involved reads like a caricature and the book just name checks every issue under the sun for some reason without every engaging with any of it meaningfully.
just disappointing. the best thing i can say is that it didn't take up much of my time.
May 5, 2023
Damani ist Fahrerin bei der Fahrdienst-App RideShare. Obwohl sie die meiste Zeit des Tages im Auto sitzt und Fahrgäst*innen durch die Gegend chauffiert, bleibt ihr am Ende nicht einmal genug Geld, um die Miete für sich und ihre Mutter zu bezahlen. Sie wird immer wütender auf die Welt und die Umstände, unter denen sie leben muss - bis eines Tages Jolene auf ihrer Rückbank sitzt. Sie ist attraktiv, reich, eine Verbündete und weiß. Noch nie hat Damani eine weiße Person gedatet, doch auf Jolene lässt sie sich ein. Bis diese etwas Unverzeihliches tut und Damanis Leben ins Chaos stürzt.
Priya Guns Debütroman "Dein Taxi ist da", übersetzt von Mayela Gerhardt, verhandelt die Themen unserer Zeit, rasant, dicht und ungefiltert. Mit Damani erschafft die Autorin eine Schwarze, queere Protagonistin, die in ärmlichen Verhältnissen lebt und ihre Mutter pflegt. Durch Damanis Lohnarbeit als Fahrerin bei einer Fahrdienst-App erhalten die Lesenden einen Einblick in die prekären Arbeitsverhältnisse dieser Berufsgruppe, zudem lässt Priya Guns durch Damanis Beziehung zu Jolene Welten aufeinander prallen und nimmt weißen, performativen Aktivismus auseinander.
In Priya Guns Roman geht es um Rassismus, Klassismus und Sexualität, um verschiedene Lebensrealitäten und Formen des Aktivismus - und um Freund*innenschaften. Während ich die Fülle an Themen eher als überladen und oft unpassend kurz angeschnitten empfunden habe und auch mit dem ruppigen, direkten Stil der Autorin nicht viel anfangen konnte, konnten mich die Beziehungen im Buch überzeugen. Damani selbst bleibt seltsam blass, durch die exakten Beobachtungen ihres Umfelds werden die Menschen, die ihr Nahe stehen, jedoch greif- und nahbar. Ich habe "Dein Taxi ist da" nicht unbedingt gerne gelesen, vor allem die erste Hälfte des Buches hat es mir schwer gemacht, dran zu bleiben. Ab dem Plottwist hatte mich Priya Guns aber am Haken, und auch wenn ich mich sehr durch die Geschichte gehetzt gefühlt habe, transportiert dieses politische, kontroverse Debüt viel Stoff zum Nachdenken.
Priya Guns Debütroman "Dein Taxi ist da", übersetzt von Mayela Gerhardt, verhandelt die Themen unserer Zeit, rasant, dicht und ungefiltert. Mit Damani erschafft die Autorin eine Schwarze, queere Protagonistin, die in ärmlichen Verhältnissen lebt und ihre Mutter pflegt. Durch Damanis Lohnarbeit als Fahrerin bei einer Fahrdienst-App erhalten die Lesenden einen Einblick in die prekären Arbeitsverhältnisse dieser Berufsgruppe, zudem lässt Priya Guns durch Damanis Beziehung zu Jolene Welten aufeinander prallen und nimmt weißen, performativen Aktivismus auseinander.
In Priya Guns Roman geht es um Rassismus, Klassismus und Sexualität, um verschiedene Lebensrealitäten und Formen des Aktivismus - und um Freund*innenschaften. Während ich die Fülle an Themen eher als überladen und oft unpassend kurz angeschnitten empfunden habe und auch mit dem ruppigen, direkten Stil der Autorin nicht viel anfangen konnte, konnten mich die Beziehungen im Buch überzeugen. Damani selbst bleibt seltsam blass, durch die exakten Beobachtungen ihres Umfelds werden die Menschen, die ihr Nahe stehen, jedoch greif- und nahbar. Ich habe "Dein Taxi ist da" nicht unbedingt gerne gelesen, vor allem die erste Hälfte des Buches hat es mir schwer gemacht, dran zu bleiben. Ab dem Plottwist hatte mich Priya Guns aber am Haken, und auch wenn ich mich sehr durch die Geschichte gehetzt gefühlt habe, transportiert dieses politische, kontroverse Debüt viel Stoff zum Nachdenken.
February 27, 2023
This book was just ok for me. Going in I thought it was going to be something totally different than what it actually was which was more of a romance. It dragged a lot in the beginning but picked up towards the end. It was funny at times but there wasn’t anything that stood out to me.
Damani is a Rideshare driver trying to make enough money to support her mother after the passing of her father. She works long hours with little to show for it. Her customers are cheap and rude and Damani is at her breaking point. Everything changes when she picks up Jolene. Jolene is beautiful, rich, and the two instantly have a connection. What could go wrong?
You’re Driver is Waiting is available February 28, 2023
Thank you netgalley and double day books for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
Damani is a Rideshare driver trying to make enough money to support her mother after the passing of her father. She works long hours with little to show for it. Her customers are cheap and rude and Damani is at her breaking point. Everything changes when she picks up Jolene. Jolene is beautiful, rich, and the two instantly have a connection. What could go wrong?
You’re Driver is Waiting is available February 28, 2023
Thank you netgalley and double day books for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
March 14, 2023
Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this book at all - and it was one of my most anticipated reads of 2023! As many other reviewers have pointed out, calling it a modern-day, gender-flipped Taxi Driver is total mis-marketing. Sure, the main characters in both works both drive cars for a living and hate the outside world, but I don't think that's enough to merit the comparison. (Side note: if you want to read an actual modern-day Taxi Driver, I'd recommend The Great Man Theory.)
What little plot there was dragged, and Damani hardly developed as a character to makeup for the lack of action. I hate to say it, but the writing was poor, filled with overly flowery or faux-literary language, metaphors that didn't make sense, and a lot of cringe-worthy madly-in-love truisms that felt very out of character. Sure, there was social commentary on the absolute shit folks working minimum wage have to endure to make ends meet, but it all felt so surface level: total caricatures of privileged people, nameless social justice protests, Damani's two-bit criticism of every living thing - none of it kept me interested.
I'd skip the audiobook - it was an immediate no from me. Thank you to the publisher for the ARC via Netgalley.
What little plot there was dragged, and Damani hardly developed as a character to makeup for the lack of action. I hate to say it, but the writing was poor, filled with overly flowery or faux-literary language, metaphors that didn't make sense, and a lot of cringe-worthy madly-in-love truisms that felt very out of character. Sure, there was social commentary on the absolute shit folks working minimum wage have to endure to make ends meet, but it all felt so surface level: total caricatures of privileged people, nameless social justice protests, Damani's two-bit criticism of every living thing - none of it kept me interested.
I'd skip the audiobook - it was an immediate no from me. Thank you to the publisher for the ARC via Netgalley.
May 11, 2023
The best thing about this is the title and the jacket cover.
May 23, 2023
this novel was really fun, but the end was a bit of a let down.
April 18, 2023
screaming literally all i can think of is how the protag cuts her hair into a mohawk and then says "my head became my pussy's doppelgänger."
February 28, 2023
Damani is running on fumes. Her father just died, her mother is house ridden, and she's driving a ride-share gig that is progressively paying her less and less. Her city is in an uprising, but protesting is not Damani's priority while she can't pay rent.
Enter, Jolene. She's hot, white, rich, queer, and An Ally. Damani let's her guard down, their chemistry is hot, and Jolene says all the right things. At least, at first.
Your Driver is Waiting has fiery, wry, wit, and a buff bisexual narrator that I know you fellow queers will eat up. Catch Damani before she's gone, or at least pay her for her time.
Priya Guns' debut novel, Your Driver is Waiting, out now!
Enter, Jolene. She's hot, white, rich, queer, and An Ally. Damani let's her guard down, their chemistry is hot, and Jolene says all the right things. At least, at first.
Your Driver is Waiting has fiery, wry, wit, and a buff bisexual narrator that I know you fellow queers will eat up. Catch Damani before she's gone, or at least pay her for her time.
Priya Guns' debut novel, Your Driver is Waiting, out now!
Read
April 22, 2023dnf @ 13%
bc I love myself too much to keep going through the slog.
bc I love myself too much to keep going through the slog.
March 14, 2023
“I was a woman who wasn’t going to take it anymore because I swear, I have taken so much already”
Imagine feeling unfulfilled with life, forced to be a caretaker, experiencing grief while feeling tired and exploited by your job…there is very little patience you will have — and this is where we meet Damani.
Damani is a Sri Lankan driver for a rideshare app (think Uber) dealing with the abrupt passing of her dad, living paycheck to paycheck while also having to be a caretaker for her grieving mother.
Have you ever wondered what is it like to be a driver for a ride-share app?
Priya gives us a glimpse as we experience Damani’s day-to-day life.
Not only do you meet a variety of people as a driver, but as a woman driver you have to take extra precautions which is why she has every weapon from pepper spray to a switchblade readily available. Let’s be clear, Damani is no damsel in distress.
Priya’s humor and socio-economic and cultural commentary were refreshing and made this story such a fun ride - ha! Especially when we meet Jolene, a white, wealthy, and privileged woman who appears to be everything Damani is looking for and uses all politically correct terminology until things take a turn…
This story touches on a lot of topics such as exploitation, performative ally-ship, safe spaces, grief, the role of activism, divides between classes and racial groups, the burden of being a caretaker, and lust vs love.
What a debut! I really enjoyed and had a lot of fun with this story. With the short chapters, we don’t delve too deep into of these layered topics but if you have experienced or are familiar with them you will still connect to Damani’s and her struggles.
“If those who have do not give, those who haven’t must take,” …
Also what a cover!! Thank you for the copy! I now need to go watch the Taxi Driver ASAP!
Imagine feeling unfulfilled with life, forced to be a caretaker, experiencing grief while feeling tired and exploited by your job…there is very little patience you will have — and this is where we meet Damani.
Damani is a Sri Lankan driver for a rideshare app (think Uber) dealing with the abrupt passing of her dad, living paycheck to paycheck while also having to be a caretaker for her grieving mother.
Have you ever wondered what is it like to be a driver for a ride-share app?
Priya gives us a glimpse as we experience Damani’s day-to-day life.
Not only do you meet a variety of people as a driver, but as a woman driver you have to take extra precautions which is why she has every weapon from pepper spray to a switchblade readily available. Let’s be clear, Damani is no damsel in distress.
Priya’s humor and socio-economic and cultural commentary were refreshing and made this story such a fun ride - ha! Especially when we meet Jolene, a white, wealthy, and privileged woman who appears to be everything Damani is looking for and uses all politically correct terminology until things take a turn…
This story touches on a lot of topics such as exploitation, performative ally-ship, safe spaces, grief, the role of activism, divides between classes and racial groups, the burden of being a caretaker, and lust vs love.
What a debut! I really enjoyed and had a lot of fun with this story. With the short chapters, we don’t delve too deep into of these layered topics but if you have experienced or are familiar with them you will still connect to Damani’s and her struggles.
“If those who have do not give, those who haven’t must take,” …
Also what a cover!! Thank you for the copy! I now need to go watch the Taxi Driver ASAP!
March 13, 2023
This book solidified that I will not be buying new release hardcovers anymore, not matter how enticing their covers are! I would have been very disappointed if I spent $30 on this one book so god bless our public library systems and audiobooks.
Your Driver is waiting ending up being just ok for me - yes it was satirical and a brutally honest portrayal of the immigrant and POC experience in America, but it didn't do much for me other than being a quick and at times funny read. Everything wrapped up way too abruptly and I was expecting much more anger or resentment or even action to the betrayal that happened?? What I got was quite the opposite (which was definitely interesting to say the least) but it threw me off. Maybe if it had been longer or if the tense parts of the novel were slightly more drawn out, I would have felt more satisfied by the end? Or if we had more time to sit with Damani's thoughts and background, it would have felt more introspective. It felt like we were watching the actions of a character we didn't really get to know, who felt like she was still a stranger by the end of the book.
Overall, it was a fast-paced and quick read that was ultimately forgettable and that I wanted much more from.
Your Driver is waiting ending up being just ok for me - yes it was satirical and a brutally honest portrayal of the immigrant and POC experience in America, but it didn't do much for me other than being a quick and at times funny read. Everything wrapped up way too abruptly and I was expecting much more anger or resentment or even action to the betrayal that happened?? What I got was quite the opposite (which was definitely interesting to say the least) but it threw me off. Maybe if it had been longer or if the tense parts of the novel were slightly more drawn out, I would have felt more satisfied by the end? Or if we had more time to sit with Damani's thoughts and background, it would have felt more introspective. It felt like we were watching the actions of a character we didn't really get to know, who felt like she was still a stranger by the end of the book.
Overall, it was a fast-paced and quick read that was ultimately forgettable and that I wanted much more from.
March 14, 2023
DNF-ing at 63% because that's all I can take. The writing is clumsy, the story feels pointless in a lazy way, the characters aren't well-developed, and it's trying so hard to say something by saying a lot of nothing that it comes across completely meaningless. This reads like somebody's bad MFA thesis.
May 10, 2024
2.5 maybe 3. i think it had potential to be very powerful but the way the story is told is just so confusing to me. it was also kind of vulgar in a way i didn’t appreciate
January 4, 2024
I liked this, I loved the focus on working class characters and the unapologetic way of portraying reality, struggles, camraderie and desires to break the system... but this made one of the main plot points very jarring in comparison.
I think no one was surprised by that white girl's betrayal (it's not a spoiler since it's in the blurb). I had such a hard time believing that anyone would even entertain her for a minute, much less... trust her? I couldn't see why the main character was drawn to her. The description says that she "said all the right things and knew theory" but on page she's only demonstrated being awkward and performative. Just whyyy :(
I yearned for a proper confrontation that just didn't come at the end!
I think no one was surprised by that white girl's betrayal (it's not a spoiler since it's in the blurb). I had such a hard time believing that anyone would even entertain her for a minute, much less... trust her? I couldn't see why the main character was drawn to her. The description says that she "said all the right things and knew theory" but on page she's only demonstrated being awkward and performative. Just whyyy :(
I yearned for a proper confrontation that just didn't come at the end!
March 25, 2023
I’m disappointed to be giving this only 3 stars. This book had so much potential, but I feel like it didn’t quite know what it wanted to be so it tried to be everything and that didn’t work.
The best comparison I can make is the book tried to be similar to Eileen or Pizza Girl. I am left wondering what motivation Jolene had to pull
The best comparison I can make is the book tried to be similar to Eileen or Pizza Girl. I am left wondering what motivation Jolene had to pull
March 1, 2023
This was okay and not really what I expected but that was my fault. I don't have much to say except for thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book!
September 11, 2023
Wow! Priya Guns' has a serious gift for descriptive writing! I felt like I was in the backseat of Damani's car while I read Your Driver Is Waiting - I could almost see Damani's triceps peeking out from her sleeve, smell Shereef's air freshener spray, hear the words of Dr. Thelma Hermin Hesse playing through the speakers and taste the chocolate covered almonds and sour cherry candy favored by the main character.
This book is set in an unnamed North American city (most likely in Canada, although, having never been to Canada, I saw it as NYC), where the main character, Damani is a driver for Rideshare struggling to pay rent for herself and her mom after her dad dies. She and her mom are grieving intensely and their grief manifests very differently. Amma becomes incapable of caring for herself she is so overcome with her grief, which adds to Damani's stress (although Amma has an incredible character arc). Damani slowly unravels over the course of the book, and as someone who recently lost a parent, I can totally relate.
Damani and her fellow drivers, most of whom are Brown and Black like herself (I think Damani is Tamil, although Guns also never explicitly says this), are angered that they only take home about 1/4 of their fares, which have been significantly lowered in recent months, while the greedy corporation they work for pockets the remainder. They participate in the multitude of protests that unravel in the center of the city on a nightly basis, but it feels futile.
Amidst the backdrop of civil unrest, Damani literally runs into (bumps with her car) a young white woman named Jolene, thus beginning a mutually obsessive romance between the two. Jolene is a social worker, but clearly comes from wealth as her lifestyle is quite luxurious and allows her to throw lavish fundraisers. In the climax of the story Jolene shows her true performative colors as she betrays Damani and her friends.
I don't want to give too much away, but I liked that the ending was left open-ended.
I've never seen Taxi Driver or read Hermann Hesse, so I can't speak intelligently about the influences on this book. I'm also not even entirely sure how to categorize this book - It's touted as a social satire, which I can see, however, I didn't feel like the author had to exaggerate the current state of affairs in North American cities as writers often have to do in satirical discourse and I also didn't find Jolene's character satirical as I know a lot of people like her, especially working in Corporate America. I will say that the satire of Damani's chosen "therapy" was a nice touch and also very representative of how so many of us hang on to every word of our beloved influencers and YouTubers when we would probably benefit from actual therapy.
I loved the descriptions of Damani's passengers, however short some of them may be, and especially adored Mrs. Patrice.
I loved the Queer representation and while this book definitely had some spice, it was far less cringey than a lot I've read this year.
For some reason, I thought this book would be a lot more violent, but I'm kind of glad it wasn't.
Finally, I need to find somewhere to try a Deviled Beef Sandwich - It sounds amazing! I have never tried Sri Lankan food and as soon as I finish writing this review, I'm going to see if there is anywhere to try it in my city.
*Thank you to Doubleday for sending me an ARC of this book!
This book is set in an unnamed North American city (most likely in Canada, although, having never been to Canada, I saw it as NYC), where the main character, Damani is a driver for Rideshare struggling to pay rent for herself and her mom after her dad dies. She and her mom are grieving intensely and their grief manifests very differently. Amma becomes incapable of caring for herself she is so overcome with her grief, which adds to Damani's stress (although Amma has an incredible character arc). Damani slowly unravels over the course of the book, and as someone who recently lost a parent, I can totally relate.
Damani and her fellow drivers, most of whom are Brown and Black like herself (I think Damani is Tamil, although Guns also never explicitly says this), are angered that they only take home about 1/4 of their fares, which have been significantly lowered in recent months, while the greedy corporation they work for pockets the remainder. They participate in the multitude of protests that unravel in the center of the city on a nightly basis, but it feels futile.
Amidst the backdrop of civil unrest, Damani literally runs into (bumps with her car) a young white woman named Jolene, thus beginning a mutually obsessive romance between the two. Jolene is a social worker, but clearly comes from wealth as her lifestyle is quite luxurious and allows her to throw lavish fundraisers. In the climax of the story Jolene shows her true performative colors as she betrays Damani and her friends.
I don't want to give too much away, but I liked that the ending was left open-ended.
I've never seen Taxi Driver or read Hermann Hesse, so I can't speak intelligently about the influences on this book. I'm also not even entirely sure how to categorize this book - It's touted as a social satire, which I can see, however, I didn't feel like the author had to exaggerate the current state of affairs in North American cities as writers often have to do in satirical discourse and I also didn't find Jolene's character satirical as I know a lot of people like her, especially working in Corporate America. I will say that the satire of Damani's chosen "therapy" was a nice touch and also very representative of how so many of us hang on to every word of our beloved influencers and YouTubers when we would probably benefit from actual therapy.
I loved the descriptions of Damani's passengers, however short some of them may be, and especially adored Mrs. Patrice.
I loved the Queer representation and while this book definitely had some spice, it was far less cringey than a lot I've read this year.
For some reason, I thought this book would be a lot more violent, but I'm kind of glad it wasn't.
Finally, I need to find somewhere to try a Deviled Beef Sandwich - It sounds amazing! I have never tried Sri Lankan food and as soon as I finish writing this review, I'm going to see if there is anywhere to try it in my city.
*Thank you to Doubleday for sending me an ARC of this book!
February 21, 2023
I did not think I was going to like this book. I wasn't sure about the writing style but once I figured out the rhythm and the tone, it was hard to stop reading.
Damani is a driver for a rideshare app, picking up passengers and dealing with their quirks, attitudes and sometimes, vomit. She is taking care of her mother, who is still living in her grief after the death of her husband. Damani and her mother live in the basement of their former home which sounds like hell. Protests are pretty much everywhere, with people fighting for equality for so many different reasons. This story could be the real world.
Fortunately (or unfortunately, imo), Damani meets Jolene, a rich white woman who believes herself an ally. Things seem to be going well until a miscommunication (or overreaction) causes Jolene to do the unthinkable (although if you've been paying attention to the news, nothing surprising). Damani is confused and devastated, leading her to make some wild choices in her search for answers and closure.
I can understand how this book is said to be inspired by the film Taxi Driver because Damani is like the female version of Travis Bickle. Her narration of events and dialogue is coherent for the most part, but then she does or says something so wild it knocks you out of your reading zone. Damani is a very interesting character who makes some very questionable choices, especially after Jolene's betrayal. I am a realist so I wasn't surprised about what Jolene did because women like her do stuff like that all the time in the real world. Jolene's attitude after the betrayal gave me a visceral reaction, and I wanted Damani to take her down somehow. You'll have to read the book to find out if she does.
But this book isn't just about privilege, equality and bad choices. It's also about dealing with grief, which Damani and her mother do terribly. But is there only one way to grieve? Of course not. This book is proof because Damani and her mother grieve in ways that are starkly different from each other, all while worrying about paying the bills.
This is a solid debut by Priya Guns (one of the coolest names I've seen in a while) and I definitely look forward to more of her work. I would definitely recommend this book to my readers.
Damani is a driver for a rideshare app, picking up passengers and dealing with their quirks, attitudes and sometimes, vomit. She is taking care of her mother, who is still living in her grief after the death of her husband. Damani and her mother live in the basement of their former home which sounds like hell. Protests are pretty much everywhere, with people fighting for equality for so many different reasons. This story could be the real world.
Fortunately (or unfortunately, imo), Damani meets Jolene, a rich white woman who believes herself an ally. Things seem to be going well until a miscommunication (or overreaction) causes Jolene to do the unthinkable (although if you've been paying attention to the news, nothing surprising). Damani is confused and devastated, leading her to make some wild choices in her search for answers and closure.
I can understand how this book is said to be inspired by the film Taxi Driver because Damani is like the female version of Travis Bickle. Her narration of events and dialogue is coherent for the most part, but then she does or says something so wild it knocks you out of your reading zone. Damani is a very interesting character who makes some very questionable choices, especially after Jolene's betrayal. I am a realist so I wasn't surprised about what Jolene did because women like her do stuff like that all the time in the real world. Jolene's attitude after the betrayal gave me a visceral reaction, and I wanted Damani to take her down somehow. You'll have to read the book to find out if she does.
But this book isn't just about privilege, equality and bad choices. It's also about dealing with grief, which Damani and her mother do terribly. But is there only one way to grieve? Of course not. This book is proof because Damani and her mother grieve in ways that are starkly different from each other, all while worrying about paying the bills.
This is a solid debut by Priya Guns (one of the coolest names I've seen in a while) and I definitely look forward to more of her work. I would definitely recommend this book to my readers.
January 19, 2023
Your Driver Is Waiting by Priya Guns, a contemporary Adult Fiction Novel with the themes of Queer, Romance, Strong Female Characters, etc... Our main character Damani, a queer Sri Lankan woman tells us the story of her life as a taxi driver called as RideShare (can think of this as Uber).
Damani is a hustler, and lives to pays off her bills and take care of her sick mom. Until one day she meets - Jolene, a white woman in the same society. Consider this book as a drama as well as a satire to the entire black vs white and other races that face these issues everyday.
The author has very well depicted the plot as well as the characters. The book takes a turn when series of incidents take place and we get to read how Jolene is connected to them and see Damani and her other work friends face the consequences of the same.
Damani is a hustler, and lives to pays off her bills and take care of her sick mom. Until one day she meets - Jolene, a white woman in the same society. Consider this book as a drama as well as a satire to the entire black vs white and other races that face these issues everyday.
The author has very well depicted the plot as well as the characters. The book takes a turn when series of incidents take place and we get to read how Jolene is connected to them and see Damani and her other work friends face the consequences of the same.
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