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On the Come Up
An NAACP Image Award Finalist
An ALA/YALSA Alex Award Nominee
AnnMarie is growing up fast. After years of living in foster homes and homeless shelters, the twelve-year-old girl can take care of herself and her ailing mother. At thirteen, she's competing with other girls for the attention of older boys in the hip hop and rap scene of Far Rockaway. At fourteen, she is in love and pregnant, but dreaming big. Taking a chance, she auditions for an independent film and—astonishingly—lands a lead role. As she tries to raise her baby girl and make sense of her relationship with her baby's father, her work on the movie offers AnnMarie a doorway to a wider world—Brooklyn, Manhattan, and the Sundance Film Festival.
With cinematic pacing and a vibrant voice, filmmaker Hannah Weyer’s unforgettable debut novel is a portrait of a tough, determined teenage girl striving to find the life she wants and the love she deserves.
An ALA/YALSA Alex Award Nominee
AnnMarie is growing up fast. After years of living in foster homes and homeless shelters, the twelve-year-old girl can take care of herself and her ailing mother. At thirteen, she's competing with other girls for the attention of older boys in the hip hop and rap scene of Far Rockaway. At fourteen, she is in love and pregnant, but dreaming big. Taking a chance, she auditions for an independent film and—astonishingly—lands a lead role. As she tries to raise her baby girl and make sense of her relationship with her baby's father, her work on the movie offers AnnMarie a doorway to a wider world—Brooklyn, Manhattan, and the Sundance Film Festival.
With cinematic pacing and a vibrant voice, filmmaker Hannah Weyer’s unforgettable debut novel is a portrait of a tough, determined teenage girl striving to find the life she wants and the love she deserves.
320 pages, Paperback
First published July 23, 2013
About the author
Hannah Weyer
3 books11 followersHannah Weyer is a filmmaker whose narrative and documentary films have been screened at the Human Rights Watch and the New York film festivals and have won awards at the Sundance, Locarno, Melbourne, Doubletake, and South by Southwest film festivals. Her screenwriting credits include Life Support (2007), directed by Nelson George, which earned a Golden Globe Award for its lead actress, Queen Latifah. Weyer has worked with teens in the media arts for the past fifteen years and, along with her husband, the filmmaker Jim McKay, started an after-school film club at a public high school in Brooklyn. On the Come Up is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
February 13, 2018
This was not a book I would have chosen were it not for playing Book Bingo at my library. I needed a book where the author and I share the first name...hence, Hannah Weyer's first novel.
I'm glad I read it however. One of the benefits of being a reader is the fact that reading opens our minds to new and different worlds, mindsets other than our own and forces us to walk in another's shoes.
On the Come Up is so far from my reality that it accomplished all of the above. I am white, Southern, rural and while I have been poor, I have never experienced true poverty.
The main character, Anne Marie, is black, urban, and becomes a teenaged, single mom. She has been raised in true poverty, in a cycle of poverty that is unending. Her story is one worth knowing. Her strength of character and her ability to move through her life are admirable.
The importance of this novel and it's ability to inspire is exceptional. I am sure that it is more relative to the lives of many than it is to mine. I am thankful that there are books such as this available.
I'm glad I read it however. One of the benefits of being a reader is the fact that reading opens our minds to new and different worlds, mindsets other than our own and forces us to walk in another's shoes.
On the Come Up is so far from my reality that it accomplished all of the above. I am white, Southern, rural and while I have been poor, I have never experienced true poverty.
The main character, Anne Marie, is black, urban, and becomes a teenaged, single mom. She has been raised in true poverty, in a cycle of poverty that is unending. Her story is one worth knowing. Her strength of character and her ability to move through her life are admirable.
The importance of this novel and it's ability to inspire is exceptional. I am sure that it is more relative to the lives of many than it is to mine. I am thankful that there are books such as this available.
June 8, 2020
I loved this beautiful coming of age story.
December 15, 2013
I didn't get the hype. On the Come Up had even been described to me as today's Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Souljah by a fellow reader. Now I wonder, what was she reading? Clearly she had not read Coldest Winter Ever or she hadn't read it in a long time.
Anyway, Weyer's narrator was weird to me and I felt that if we'd heard the story only from AnnMarie, it would have been better. I really liked the plot, but I don't feel that Weyer really made me connect with the characters. Surprisingly, I didn't feel AnnMarie, Blessed, Darius, Niki, Raymel, Star, or even Lu. And I feel that the power in this book would have been the connection I felt to the characters.
It's a young adult work with some serious material, like domestic abuse, child abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, and I think homosexuality is considered serious material these days, so I recommend it for older or mature teens, 14-18.
Anyway, Weyer's narrator was weird to me and I felt that if we'd heard the story only from AnnMarie, it would have been better. I really liked the plot, but I don't feel that Weyer really made me connect with the characters. Surprisingly, I didn't feel AnnMarie, Blessed, Darius, Niki, Raymel, Star, or even Lu. And I feel that the power in this book would have been the connection I felt to the characters.
It's a young adult work with some serious material, like domestic abuse, child abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, and I think homosexuality is considered serious material these days, so I recommend it for older or mature teens, 14-18.
June 16, 2013
*Won ARC from Goodreads giveaway*
Plot
Written in urban vernacular, On the Come Up is a coming of age story about black teen, AnneMarie Walker. While attending a school for pregnant girls, she spots an audition flyer for a movie. After landing the role, she must balance pregnancy, home-life and a rocky love life. Based on a true story.
Thoughts
First, full disclosure, I tend to stay away from books where the main character is a downtrodden black woman/girl. The new book releases have been so disappointing this year because the ones featuring black female protagonist tend to always be so depressing. As a black woman, I really am burnt out reading yet another story where someone like me is a slave/maid/servant/downtrodden. However, I gave this one a try because the blurb described it as "moving and funny." A little bit of tears and a little bit of laughter? That I can do!
AnneMarie is an extremely likable character. She is drawn so realistically (probably because she is based on a real person)that you can't help but empathize and root for her.
The book is written in an urban vernacular, a task that is not a very easy. On the Come Up does it with both success and failure. Once you get into the rhythm, the narrator will slip out of the vernacular. This is really evident when the author uses analogies. Also, some of the slang became repetitive, like the use of mad. Since the story is told over a period of about 5 years, the slang should have changed with the times. If you are going to write in vernacular, you have to fully commit to it. It may have been more successful if the book was written in 1st person, through AnneMarie's eyes.
The characters dialogue, however was very believable. Hannah Weyer is credited as a screenwriter, which explains why the book reads more like a play or movie.
The story itself is somewhat predictable. Although there was a plot twist in the last fifth of the book that came out of nowhere. It really ruined one of AnneMarie's the most beautiful and supportive relationships. On the Come Up lacked a lot of the humor that was described in the blurb. Too much despair for me.
Last quibble, I initially thought the book took place in the early 90s because of some of the slang and pop culture references. But, some scenes seem to be set in the early 2000s. One that sticks out is the girls arguing over the best girl groups: En Vogue, SWV, TLC, Destiny's Child. It was odd because the first 4 groups were popular in the early-mid 90s, while Destiny's Child didn't really breakout until the '99-'00 (DC was one of the last popular R&B girl groups). I was a huge fan of R&B girl groups in the 90s; that scene stuck out to me :P
Conclusion
AnneMarie is a great, realistic character. However, the story tends to be more downtrodden than humorous and uplifting. As I read the blurb on the back of the book closely, I see that they related AnneMarie to the Sappire's Precious Jones. If you like Push, you'll like this. If you are like me, and really have burnout on Push type stories, proceed with caution.
Plot
Written in urban vernacular, On the Come Up is a coming of age story about black teen, AnneMarie Walker. While attending a school for pregnant girls, she spots an audition flyer for a movie. After landing the role, she must balance pregnancy, home-life and a rocky love life. Based on a true story.
Thoughts
First, full disclosure, I tend to stay away from books where the main character is a downtrodden black woman/girl. The new book releases have been so disappointing this year because the ones featuring black female protagonist tend to always be so depressing. As a black woman, I really am burnt out reading yet another story where someone like me is a slave/maid/servant/downtrodden. However, I gave this one a try because the blurb described it as "moving and funny." A little bit of tears and a little bit of laughter? That I can do!
AnneMarie is an extremely likable character. She is drawn so realistically (probably because she is based on a real person)that you can't help but empathize and root for her.
The book is written in an urban vernacular, a task that is not a very easy. On the Come Up does it with both success and failure. Once you get into the rhythm, the narrator will slip out of the vernacular. This is really evident when the author uses analogies. Also, some of the slang became repetitive, like the use of mad. Since the story is told over a period of about 5 years, the slang should have changed with the times. If you are going to write in vernacular, you have to fully commit to it. It may have been more successful if the book was written in 1st person, through AnneMarie's eyes.
The characters dialogue, however was very believable. Hannah Weyer is credited as a screenwriter, which explains why the book reads more like a play or movie.
The story itself is somewhat predictable. Although there was a plot twist in the last fifth of the book that came out of nowhere. It really ruined one of AnneMarie's the most beautiful and supportive relationships. On the Come Up lacked a lot of the humor that was described in the blurb. Too much despair for me.
Last quibble, I initially thought the book took place in the early 90s because of some of the slang and pop culture references. But, some scenes seem to be set in the early 2000s. One that sticks out is the girls arguing over the best girl groups: En Vogue, SWV, TLC, Destiny's Child. It was odd because the first 4 groups were popular in the early-mid 90s, while Destiny's Child didn't really breakout until the '99-'00 (DC was one of the last popular R&B girl groups). I was a huge fan of R&B girl groups in the 90s; that scene stuck out to me :P
Conclusion
AnneMarie is a great, realistic character. However, the story tends to be more downtrodden than humorous and uplifting. As I read the blurb on the back of the book closely, I see that they related AnneMarie to the Sappire's Precious Jones. If you like Push, you'll like this. If you are like me, and really have burnout on Push type stories, proceed with caution.
February 11, 2015
Books written in vernacular don't typically sound like the thoughts and voice of a real person, but On the Come Up so does. I have a ton of admiration for Weyer's ability to capture her friend's voice and let that be the center of this book. I wanted to know more about her when I was done, where her life ultimately went after enduring such ups and downs.
It's about a girl growing up in a housing project, poor and pregnant young, yeah, but it never slips into being overly sentimental or like caricature. It's very clearly "based on a true story" because it's nothing but real.
It's about a girl growing up in a housing project, poor and pregnant young, yeah, but it never slips into being overly sentimental or like caricature. It's very clearly "based on a true story" because it's nothing but real.
November 19, 2014
I feel conflicted about this book. On one hand, I liked the structure, the writing, the characters, the plot, the vague feel that seemed to me to capture life-moving-quickly. On the other hand, the element of exploitation really bothered the hell out of me.
The author is the wife of the real-life "Dean" in the book, making her one-half of an indie film-writer/film-maker power couple. AnnMarie is based on her friend, Anna Simpson, who told her life story to the author but only gets credit in a few, quick sentences in the author's Afterward. That this older, privileged woman fictionalized the life story of a younger black woman, telling the other woman's story for profit and fame, does not sit well with me.
The author is the wife of the real-life "Dean" in the book, making her one-half of an indie film-writer/film-maker power couple. AnnMarie is based on her friend, Anna Simpson, who told her life story to the author but only gets credit in a few, quick sentences in the author's Afterward. That this older, privileged woman fictionalized the life story of a younger black woman, telling the other woman's story for profit and fame, does not sit well with me.
May 8, 2013
This book was simply amazing! I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads and had no idea what to expect. I couldn't put the book down! AnnMarie's life will shock you and inspire you. You will laugh at her spunk, cry with her pain and root for her. If you like great coming-of-age stories, this one is perfect for you.
April 12, 2014
Beautifully written, and very affective. I would recommend this to a high school curriculum, women and juvie resource programs, and for fans of The Coldest Winter Ever. This inner-city female narrative is both literary and accessible.
May 14, 2018
"She thought about how she'd made Darius it , the number one be-all, end-all. Even with making the movie and getting out in the world, she'd tethered herself to him, first for love, then for Star, then simply for the sameness of it. There'd been a comfort in the sameness. She'd never had the guts to tell him down. Five years, coming and going. He could punch her. F*** her. Kick her in the head. She'd get up...Yeah, she'd get up but she'd say, Come on in.
She didn't speak these words aloud. But she understood them suddenly and in a deep way. [...]having gone out into the world and come back again, seeing her life as a map with lines and markings...all the boundaries to cross and the ones she'd accepted. All the markings scratched out by petty beefs and throw-downs, the want of attention and money, by having a baby too young. The weight of an arm confused with a promise.
It came to her just before sleep, an idea crystallizing in the dark--how maybe the size of your world ain't what matter, whether it expand or shrink up or expand again. Hurdles to jump. You jump. Erase the lines, draw new ones. Chart a course and follow."
Meet AnnMarie Walker. She's a tween in the Far Rockaway neighborhood of Queens, New York. She doesn't know her dad--he was a violent drunk who her mother escaped from when AnnMarie was a baby. Escaping involved fleeing Trinidad for New York, and sleeping in homeless shelters while trying to eke out a live for herself and her child. Along the way AnnMarie spent time in various foster homes until her mother could provide a stable home environment. Now AnnMarie is nearing her teen years, and back with her mother. We meet her as she heads down the beach to sell Popsicles and other frozen treats to fund her back to school clothes.
We see her navigate her neighborhood, and the various joys and threats it contains. She has friends who are years older and are trying to form a girl's rap group. Through them she is introduced to Darius--he poses as a go-between for up and coming artists with recording studios. Most likely though, he is a thug. AnnMarie falls for his looks and smooth talking manner. Predictably, she becomes yet another human face to the teenage pregnancy statistics. Not so predictable is her response to challenge, and her fierce love for her daughter which gives her a reason to live.
Bottom line: Weyer breathed life into AnnMarie. Her personality is drawn in great detail, and I loved watching her grow and change when faced with adversity. Hers is not a "Cinderella" story. She was given opportunities, but realistically, an Indie film did not change her life excessively. Instead, it gave her the self esteem and motivational tools to change her *own* life if she should choose to do so. Grab this book if you are looking for a summer read with a heroine to cheer for. Given 4 stars or a rating of "Excellent". Recommended!
Another favorite quote: "So they did the scene, walking through the courtyard, the three girls from the movie, Crown Heights kids by the ice-cream truck, mad quiet, listening to the lines and waiting for their cue. And they had only had to do it three times. [...] Dean bought ice cream for all the kids out there that day and AnnMarie was about to tell him about Blessed doing the same thing a long time ago but she thought, Nah. I'm good. Right here, right now, staying in the moment with Sonia and Melody and all the other kids whose names she didn't know but who'd come up with a scene about bleeding without spilling a single drop."
Stuff I learned: Here's a link to a great article about Far Rockaway. It describes the natural beauty of the area, while briefly mentioning the Redfern houses that AnnMarie (and most people she knew) steered clear of late at night. https://ny.curbed.com/2016/9/2/127567...
And here's a link to a discussion on the pro's (not many) and the con's of separate schools for pregnant high school students. The example school is similar in many ways to the one that AnnMarie attended. https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/24/ed...
She didn't speak these words aloud. But she understood them suddenly and in a deep way. [...]having gone out into the world and come back again, seeing her life as a map with lines and markings...all the boundaries to cross and the ones she'd accepted. All the markings scratched out by petty beefs and throw-downs, the want of attention and money, by having a baby too young. The weight of an arm confused with a promise.
It came to her just before sleep, an idea crystallizing in the dark--how maybe the size of your world ain't what matter, whether it expand or shrink up or expand again. Hurdles to jump. You jump. Erase the lines, draw new ones. Chart a course and follow."
Meet AnnMarie Walker. She's a tween in the Far Rockaway neighborhood of Queens, New York. She doesn't know her dad--he was a violent drunk who her mother escaped from when AnnMarie was a baby. Escaping involved fleeing Trinidad for New York, and sleeping in homeless shelters while trying to eke out a live for herself and her child. Along the way AnnMarie spent time in various foster homes until her mother could provide a stable home environment. Now AnnMarie is nearing her teen years, and back with her mother. We meet her as she heads down the beach to sell Popsicles and other frozen treats to fund her back to school clothes.
We see her navigate her neighborhood, and the various joys and threats it contains. She has friends who are years older and are trying to form a girl's rap group. Through them she is introduced to Darius--he poses as a go-between for up and coming artists with recording studios. Most likely though, he is a thug. AnnMarie falls for his looks and smooth talking manner. Predictably, she becomes yet another human face to the teenage pregnancy statistics. Not so predictable is her response to challenge, and her fierce love for her daughter which gives her a reason to live.
Bottom line: Weyer breathed life into AnnMarie. Her personality is drawn in great detail, and I loved watching her grow and change when faced with adversity. Hers is not a "Cinderella" story. She was given opportunities, but realistically, an Indie film did not change her life excessively. Instead, it gave her the self esteem and motivational tools to change her *own* life if she should choose to do so. Grab this book if you are looking for a summer read with a heroine to cheer for. Given 4 stars or a rating of "Excellent". Recommended!
Another favorite quote: "So they did the scene, walking through the courtyard, the three girls from the movie, Crown Heights kids by the ice-cream truck, mad quiet, listening to the lines and waiting for their cue. And they had only had to do it three times. [...] Dean bought ice cream for all the kids out there that day and AnnMarie was about to tell him about Blessed doing the same thing a long time ago but she thought, Nah. I'm good. Right here, right now, staying in the moment with Sonia and Melody and all the other kids whose names she didn't know but who'd come up with a scene about bleeding without spilling a single drop."
Stuff I learned: Here's a link to a great article about Far Rockaway. It describes the natural beauty of the area, while briefly mentioning the Redfern houses that AnnMarie (and most people she knew) steered clear of late at night. https://ny.curbed.com/2016/9/2/127567...
And here's a link to a discussion on the pro's (not many) and the con's of separate schools for pregnant high school students. The example school is similar in many ways to the one that AnnMarie attended. https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/24/ed...
September 28, 2013
Based on a true story, this author narrates the life of a young girl she calls AnnMarie Walker. This thirteen year old girl lives on the edge of life. Raised in and out of foster care, a father she has never met and mother who is full of love but not always capable of parenting. With all the odds against her AnnMarie is brave, she is smart and she wants more. AnnMarie lives in a rough neighborhood with barely enough money or food stamps to get by, but she works it. She sells ice pops to make money for "back to school" and she has the singing voice of an angel. Pregnant and feeling alone AnnMarie finds an opportunity to audition for an indie film and it is this experience that takes her out of Far Rock for the first time. She is a hard worker with little support or guidance but finds love and friendship and even humor where its least expected. Told with compassion and honesty, this story is written in an urban vernacular that is so real the characters voices will remain in your heart long after the novel ends. Do not miss this glimpse into the life of a remarkable young woman faced with many obstacles and unending hope. Highly recommend this unique, outstanding first novel. BUY TODAY! On the Come Up: A Novel, Based on a True Story
August 14, 2015
Absorbing coming-of-age story about a teenage girl in Far Rockaway, Queens, as she navigates life on the economic and geographic margins of the city and carves a life for herself as a young mother. The author based her novel on the life of a friend, whom she met while involved in an independent film project. I had some concerns about the author's use of the vernacular to tell someone else's story, but it's respectfully and thoughtfully done, and the story flows like butter. I wondered if being "based on a true story" was a bit restrictive, and Weyer felt overly bound to be truthful, but I enjoyed it all the same. I think this would also be a great read for high school students. 3.5 stars.
January 9, 2015
I picked this book up because of the reviews. It took a second to grab me,but I'm so glad I kept reading. The book is dope--plain and simple. The writing is poetically raw, it completely sweeps you up into the story. I read a lot of urban fiction and I read a lot of Classic African-American literature, Weyer masterfully weaved these genres together.
July 24, 2013
I absolutely love this book. I purchased and read in ONE DAY! ! The characters were so real, life like. I just know this story is simular to so many young girls growing up too fast. I would highly recommend!
September 7, 2016
A good novel about a young girl who struggles to move out of poverty. I enjoyed the book and felt the events where handled realistically. I did however, feel that one too many things happened to the main character.
July 25, 2013
I love this book. Great story, sad, joyous, heartbreaking, and told in a very moving, very real voice. Great summer read.
August 4, 2013
I really enjoyed this book. One of the top 5 i've read this year.
May 13, 2025
I was deeply invested in AnnMarie and Star's story throughout the entire book. I needed to see where they ended up! That said, this was almost a DNF for me. I had complicated feelings about a privileged author writing a story centered on a young Black woman's experience and using her vernacular to tell it, especially as someone like Hannah who works in the arts and as a teaching artist in NYC.
I also wanted to share this mutual aid page for the folks in Far Rockaway, in case anyone reading this is interested in supporting their current efforts (there are many ways to get involved): https://www.instagram.com/rockawaymut...
I also wanted to share this mutual aid page for the folks in Far Rockaway, in case anyone reading this is interested in supporting their current efforts (there are many ways to get involved): https://www.instagram.com/rockawaymut...
September 21, 2023
Beautiful story about growing up in NYC public housing. The struggles and hardships; the triumphs and overcoming it all, learning and growing, always bettering one’s self. A truly special novel. Couldn’t recommend it more. ❤️❤️
November 25, 2013
I picked up this book not knowing anything about it or, having heard about it before. It starts out when the protagonist AnnMarie is 13. She is trying to make back to school money by selling drinks in her Queens neighborhood. AnnMarie is a likeable character. When the book starts she is living with her Trinidadian mother Blessed after having been in the foster care system. It's not an easy road for AnnMarie. Blessed has had a stroke. Her and AnnMarie aren't like they used to be. There is no communication between the two. AnnMarie is dealing with issues most teenage girls do (crushes, etc.) Her best friend moved that summer... Another girl is picking on her. She meets her crush Darius. This is the part that bothers me. I know it happens everyday, but still. Girls need to know their worth. But to hear a 14,15 year old describing sex is disturbing to me. To hear a 14,15, 16 year old girl (who at one point is pregnant) getting hit by her boyfriend is equally disturbing. Every time I thought she would break away, she didn't. There is obviously more to the story. Like the fact that AnnMarie could sing really well and actually starred in an independent film (very shortly after giving birth). She had a few more, smaller roles after that. And that she started having feelings and started a relationship with a girl towards the end of the book. There are memories of sexual abuse both by an ex boyfriend of her mothers and, boys that were in the same foster home as she was. Heartbreaking. I would love to know what her life is like now. I hope she is using the talents that seemed to come so easily.
September 16, 2015
This book was very interesting. The protagonist, AnnMarie, seems to have a pretty adult head on her shoulders for the most part. She still has a lot of growing up to do. At fourteen she becomes a mom, on purpose, but she knew what she was getting into and had her big girl panties on. Her mom, Blessed, seemed to come out of her funk knowing she was to be come a grandmother. The baby daddy was an abusive prick and I am glad AnnMarie saved herself.
Through the course of this book, AnnMarie had lots of positive things happen for her. She is also a person who WANTS to do and be better. She likes to sing and preform. She auditions for an Indie movie and gets the part. This experience takes her out of Far Rockaway and into the other boroughs of New York. She meets different people with real goals. She gets a on plane, for the first time, to Utah for the film festival and sees movie stars.
She eventually does a little modeling and by the end of the tale, she has a small role in a "real" movie and has moved in with her girlfriend.
It was great reading a book based in my hometown though some of the details were inaccurate, probably on purpose.
Through the course of this book, AnnMarie had lots of positive things happen for her. She is also a person who WANTS to do and be better. She likes to sing and preform. She auditions for an Indie movie and gets the part. This experience takes her out of Far Rockaway and into the other boroughs of New York. She meets different people with real goals. She gets a on plane, for the first time, to Utah for the film festival and sees movie stars.
She eventually does a little modeling and by the end of the tale, she has a small role in a "real" movie and has moved in with her girlfriend.
It was great reading a book based in my hometown though some of the details were inaccurate, probably on purpose.
November 30, 2013
Thirteen-year-old AnnMarie Walker dreams of a world beyond Far Rockaway, where the sway of the neighborhood keeps her tied to old ideas about success. While attending a school for pregnant teens, AnnMarie comes across a flyer advertising movie auditions in Manhattan. Astonishingly, improbably, and four months before she’s due to give birth—she lands a lead role. For a time, AnnMarie soars—acting for the camera, flying to the Sundance Film Festival, seeing her face on-screen. But when the film fades from view and the realities of her life set in, AnnMarie’s grit and determination are the only tools left to keep her moving forward.
September 18, 2016
I wish I liked this book but I couldn't get with the writing. It was weird because I felt like it was stuck in a time warp, like the 90s with occasional modern slang references to make it seem current, but it simply didn't work for me as a reader. I couldn't connect with the lead character either, and that was disappointing because I always want to root for the characters. I live for those moments but could not experience any with this book, unfortunately.
November 24, 2018
I didn’t really enjoy this book but it may be a preference not a reflection on the author. I didn’t enjoy the book being written how the main character would speak. I’ve read book written in the character’s dialect but this book didn’t hit the mark. I found I had to re-read several sentences because I didn’t get the correct meaning on the first read. I find that makes the book less enjoyable. I also didn’t feel any connection to the characters.
September 29, 2013
I wanted to like this book more than I did. AnnMarie was not that complex, letting life blow her this way and that. I never felt AnnMarie learned or grew through all that happened to her. It may have been based on a true story, but it did not feel realistic-- more of a cliche.
February 17, 2017
I found this extremely hard to read, follow and understand due to the way it was written. I really wanted to like it but street talk is something I'm not familiar with. I hope others like it better than I did.
January 25, 2016
After I got used to the ghetto vernacular lol it got really good. See my Vine review on Amazon.
February 17, 2020
Semi interesting read. I was never clear which direction the story was going. Why AnneMarie dealt with Darius all those years was just sad
December 1, 2022
Very good. Graphic sex surprised me. A main character you want to succeed. Thinking about it further. I don’t really care for the way the book makes it appear like AnnMarie “became gay” due to the failed relationship with Darius. Perhaps it’s just beyond the scope of the book but I feel like her bisexuality could have been explored further.
November 21, 2025
Based on a real life person, On the Come Up is a fiction story focused on a few years in the life of a teen mother turned actress. In addition to teen pregnancy and parenting, the book deals with domestic violence, LGBTQ+ issues, living in poverty, and belonging. It can be a bit slow at times, but I was quite invested in what happened to the main character and her success.
June 16, 2021
I usually like a true story but I didn’t like this one. (I grabbed this at the library because the name was the same as another book I previously read so I was seeing if it was just a different cover or a totally different book.)
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