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Rush
Some legacies are inherited; others are survived.
Two girls. Two centuries. And a deep truth that could never be silenced.
Rush is a sweeping, time-bending tale of survival, love, and legacy. Moving between the glittering promise of 1890s Johannesburg and the harsh reality of 2006, it follows Joey, a runaway teenage girl haunted by danger, and Grace, a Boer-era diarist caught in the turbulence of colonial greed, war, and betrayal. Their lives, separated by more than a century, entwine through blood, memory, and the land itself—revealing that some secrets never truly stay buried.
A Gritty Coming-of-Age Story — Joey, homeless and invisible, finds refuge in the decaying Gold Rush theme park, only to stumble into danger, unlikely friendships, and a fragile first love.
A testament and guide to strength and resilience — Joey and Grace face abuse, exploitation, and society’s pressures, showing young readers that courage and resilience aren’t just for surviving history—they’re tools for navigating life today.
A Haunting Historical Narrative — Grace records the brutality and beauty of life in the 1890s for a young native girl, and the merciless hunt for gold that shaped South Africa.
Threads of Mystery and Survival — Past and present collide as hidden diaries, buried treasure, and old grudges echo into the modern day.
Romance, Resilience, and Reckoning — At its heart, Rush is about to the people we love, the secrets we inherit, and the courage it takes to choose freedom.
Blending historical fiction, South African literature akin to a modern-day Bosman, and suspenseful coming-of-age drama, this story is a cinematic, heart-wrenching debut that how much of the past can we escape, and how much must we carry forward?
If you love epic historical sagas, gritty survival stories, or suspenseful novels with strong female leads, Rush will sweep you away.
Scroll up and click “Add to Cart” to begin your journey into the heart of gold, love, and survival.
Rush is a sweeping, time-bending tale of survival, love, and legacy. Moving between the glittering promise of 1890s Johannesburg and the harsh reality of 2006, it follows Joey, a runaway teenage girl haunted by danger, and Grace, a Boer-era diarist caught in the turbulence of colonial greed, war, and betrayal. Their lives, separated by more than a century, entwine through blood, memory, and the land itself—revealing that some secrets never truly stay buried.
A Gritty Coming-of-Age Story — Joey, homeless and invisible, finds refuge in the decaying Gold Rush theme park, only to stumble into danger, unlikely friendships, and a fragile first love.
A testament and guide to strength and resilience — Joey and Grace face abuse, exploitation, and society’s pressures, showing young readers that courage and resilience aren’t just for surviving history—they’re tools for navigating life today.
A Haunting Historical Narrative — Grace records the brutality and beauty of life in the 1890s for a young native girl, and the merciless hunt for gold that shaped South Africa.
Threads of Mystery and Survival — Past and present collide as hidden diaries, buried treasure, and old grudges echo into the modern day.
Romance, Resilience, and Reckoning — At its heart, Rush is about to the people we love, the secrets we inherit, and the courage it takes to choose freedom.
Blending historical fiction, South African literature akin to a modern-day Bosman, and suspenseful coming-of-age drama, this story is a cinematic, heart-wrenching debut that how much of the past can we escape, and how much must we carry forward?
If you love epic historical sagas, gritty survival stories, or suspenseful novels with strong female leads, Rush will sweep you away.
Scroll up and click “Add to Cart” to begin your journey into the heart of gold, love, and survival.
369 pages, Paperback
Published November 28, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 1, 2026
I enjoyed this read. I have to admit, while reading it, I wanted to stay in the timeline we were at every time it switched, and it did take me a paragraph or two to get back into the new timeline. But overall the read was enjoyable.
The timelines going back and forth brought out a Full Circle moment with a Great Ending.
I did want more of the characters and their stories moving forward (like, what comes after the ending), and turned the page, just for it to be done.
I would definitely recommend to those who like split timelines, and enjoys a little bit of history thrown into their fiction.
This wasn't just a coming of age story, but a reclaim of self, growth, and just being your own strong person.
The timelines going back and forth brought out a Full Circle moment with a Great Ending.
I did want more of the characters and their stories moving forward (like, what comes after the ending), and turned the page, just for it to be done.
I would definitely recommend to those who like split timelines, and enjoys a little bit of history thrown into their fiction.
This wasn't just a coming of age story, but a reclaim of self, growth, and just being your own strong person.
May 27, 2026
Joey creeps into your heart slowly and then all at once. She’s a deeply layered character carrying so much emotional trauma and baggage, yet her resilience never stops shining through. She’s sharp, quick on her feet, and constantly adapting to survive, even when the world seems determined to break her. Watching her navigate pain, loneliness, and vulnerability made her feel incredibly real, and I found myself rooting for her more and more as the story unfolded.
Grace and Marie completely stole my heart. Set against the backdrop of the 1800s, their friendship felt both tender and heartbreaking. Two girls — one Boer and one African — finding kinship and understanding in a world where that connection was never meant to exist. Their bond added so much emotional weight and beauty to the historical timeline, reminding you that humanity and love can still bloom in the harshest circumstances.
Eldo and Claud quietly sneak into your heart too. The way they look out for Joey, especially during the moments she needs it most, brought such warmth to an otherwise gritty and painful story. Those small acts of loyalty and care stood out so powerfully and gave the story moments of light amongst all the darkness.
Rush is emotional, haunting, and beautifully layered. The dual timelines are woven together so seamlessly, with the past and present echoing into one another in ways that kept me fully invested. Jessica Wright Botha creates a story filled with survival, resilience, love, and generational pain, while also exploring identity, belonging, and the scars history leaves behind.
This isn’t just a historical fiction novel or a coming-of-age story — it’s a deeply human story about the people we love, the secrets we inherit, and the strength it takes to keep going. By the end, Rush leaves its mark on you long after the final page.
Grace and Marie completely stole my heart. Set against the backdrop of the 1800s, their friendship felt both tender and heartbreaking. Two girls — one Boer and one African — finding kinship and understanding in a world where that connection was never meant to exist. Their bond added so much emotional weight and beauty to the historical timeline, reminding you that humanity and love can still bloom in the harshest circumstances.
Eldo and Claud quietly sneak into your heart too. The way they look out for Joey, especially during the moments she needs it most, brought such warmth to an otherwise gritty and painful story. Those small acts of loyalty and care stood out so powerfully and gave the story moments of light amongst all the darkness.
Rush is emotional, haunting, and beautifully layered. The dual timelines are woven together so seamlessly, with the past and present echoing into one another in ways that kept me fully invested. Jessica Wright Botha creates a story filled with survival, resilience, love, and generational pain, while also exploring identity, belonging, and the scars history leaves behind.
This isn’t just a historical fiction novel or a coming-of-age story — it’s a deeply human story about the people we love, the secrets we inherit, and the strength it takes to keep going. By the end, Rush leaves its mark on you long after the final page.
June 30, 2026
Rush by Jessica Wright Botha (@jessicawrightbotha) is a story of resilience and what it takes to survive. I got a chance to read an ARC copy of this great South African tale!!
We follow a host of characters navigating the complicated world around but we mainly focus on Joey, a homeless girl hiding in the Rush Theme Park in the early 2000s and Grace, a young black girl navigating the colonial world of miners and boers in the late 1800s.
They are connected through the strange land the theme park is built on and the secrets kept there. How they start to intersect leads to an intriguing mystery, unlikely friendships and fragile love and hope.
I adored these characters and I found the concept of secretly living in a theme park fascinating (we have all thought about it don't lie!) I really enjoyed how the themes of homelessness, racism and gendered violence were handled with a lot of care and realism.
While tragedy does haunt our characters at every corner, there is always a sliver of hope, a quiet resolve to put another foot forward and carry on. To not let the weight of the world's cruelty rush you towards giving up. And, like Joey and Grace, you leave the book not perfectly fixed, but with a firm gaze toward the future, cautious but ready to take it on.
A great debut by Jessica Wright Botha! I can't wait to read what you write next!
We follow a host of characters navigating the complicated world around but we mainly focus on Joey, a homeless girl hiding in the Rush Theme Park in the early 2000s and Grace, a young black girl navigating the colonial world of miners and boers in the late 1800s.
They are connected through the strange land the theme park is built on and the secrets kept there. How they start to intersect leads to an intriguing mystery, unlikely friendships and fragile love and hope.
I adored these characters and I found the concept of secretly living in a theme park fascinating (we have all thought about it don't lie!) I really enjoyed how the themes of homelessness, racism and gendered violence were handled with a lot of care and realism.
While tragedy does haunt our characters at every corner, there is always a sliver of hope, a quiet resolve to put another foot forward and carry on. To not let the weight of the world's cruelty rush you towards giving up. And, like Joey and Grace, you leave the book not perfectly fixed, but with a firm gaze toward the future, cautious but ready to take it on.
A great debut by Jessica Wright Botha! I can't wait to read what you write next!
June 11, 2026
This book broke my heart and put it back together again. The characters felt so real that I found myself thinking about them long after I turned the final page. The dual timelines were handled brilliantly, and the connections between past and present were both devastating and beautiful.
What surprised me most was the overwhelming sense of nostalgia the story evoked. Despite never having lived through the time periods myself, the novel captured that era so vividly that it felt strangely familiar, like remembering a place I’d never actually been. There was something deeply bittersweet about it.
Rush is a moving story about survival, friendship, family, and the scars history leaves behind. An unforgettable read.
What surprised me most was the overwhelming sense of nostalgia the story evoked. Despite never having lived through the time periods myself, the novel captured that era so vividly that it felt strangely familiar, like remembering a place I’d never actually been. There was something deeply bittersweet about it.
Rush is a moving story about survival, friendship, family, and the scars history leaves behind. An unforgettable read.
May 23, 2026
Beautifully written! Overarching themes and timeliness that keep you captivated until the last page. Could not put it down.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews