Pure Ox

by Mateo Askaripour

From the New York Times bestselling author of Black Buck: a dazzling, inspiring novel about an ordinary sanitation worker whose dream of becoming a real writer comes true—until everything he’s worked so hard for begins to crumble

You’ve never noticed Ox, but Ox has noticed you. Waking before sunrise, he works long hours loading a nineteen-ton collection truck that he and his friend and shift partner, La Reina, drive along the streets of Brooklyn. He fiercely loves his job and being of service to others, but his biggest dream has always been to be a writer—to write one good book.

Ox’s dream meets reality when he discovers that a high-powered literary agent has moved into a house on his pick-up route, and La Reina convinces him to leave a copy of his manuscript on her doorstep. Soon, Ox is being wined and dined by every major publisher, fighting to make sense of an industry that wants what he has, even if it doesn’t exactly welcome him with open arms.

But when sanitation workers go on strike, Ox is forced to contend with the steep price of success and whether the duty we have to others is stronger than our duty to ourselves.

Brimming with hope and humor, Pure Ox is an unforgettable story centered around one How can we make the most of our lives and not waste a second?

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, New York

Kindle Edition

Expected publication January 5, 2027

About the author

“A month ago, I’d never heard of Mateo Askaripour. Today I would buy anything from him.”
—Ron Charles, The Washington Post

Mateo Askaripour wants people to feel seen. His first novel, Black Buck, takes on racism in corporate America with humor and wit. It was an instant New York Times bestseller and a Read with Jenna Today show book club pick. Askaripour was chosen as one of Entertainment Weekly’s “10 rising stars poised to make waves” and was named as a recipient of the National Book Foundation’s “5 Under 35” prize. This Great Hemisphere, published in July 2024, is his second novel. He lives in Brooklyn. Follow him on Instagram @AskMateo.

Reviews

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

There isn’t a writer quite as talented as Mateo Askaripour. If you’ve ever read Black Buck (which I gave five stars), it might remind you of a Black Wolf of Wall Street. Razor-sharp, witty, and incredibly observant of the world around us, Askaripour can tell a story like no other. While not a sequel, Darren from Black Buch makes a cameo in this!

Pure Ox tells the story of a dreamer. Ox, a sanitation worker (not a garbage man), loves his job cleaning the dirty streets of Brooklyn. He makes good money, doesn’t complain, and works hard as one of the unnoticed angels of the world. However, his real dream is to be a writer and publish his first book. Then, he has a chance encounter on his route with a well-known book agent.

What happens next, while purely a dream come true in the most unlikely set of events, almost feels like a fever dream. Ox becomes the next big author, even having his book optioned for a Hollywood movie. But of course, this success doesn't come without ridicule and judgment from his allies, his fellow "san workers." While you never want Ox to give up, there are moments where you just want to scream at him to keep pushing. As we all know, though, it can be much easier to give up than to resist what society expects you to become.

While Pure Ox is about dreaming big and never giving up hope, it is also, written in Askaripour’s signature prose, a sharp social commentary on how we view underappreciated jobs, as well as the Black men who strive for the best and often fall short due to societal barriers.

Whatever goes on in Askaripour’s mind, I want to dig deeper, because there are very few writers with as much wit and heart as him. I can’t wait to see what he writes next!

Thank you Dutton for the advanced copy!

[KiKi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the way Mateo writes with such authenticity. From the dialogue, the characters, the intention behind every word on the page-this book was so good. I didn't think there'd be much similarities between the sanitation industry and the publishing industry-but the two intertwined with each other chaotically. Ox struggling to balance his allegiance between service and his own writing dreams provided so much conflict between every chapter. At times, this book read just like a Spike Lee screenplay with its characters popping off the pages. I'm torn on Buck's cameos throughout the novel but I think it parallels themes of the first book. I know the ending will be divisive but I'm eager to see what the reaction will be.

[Louisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an eARC of this book. Here is my honest review.

Pure Ox gets off to a roaring start. We ride along with Ox and La Reina, getting to know a bit about their fellow san workers and the lifestyle. Ox loves his job but his real dream is to be a writer - he has a manuscript, just needs the rest of it. When fortunes (and La Reina) collude to put his manuscript in the hand of a publishing agent, magic happens. Suddenly his dream is coming true.

I really liked the start of this. Ox is such a sweetheart, getting to know people on his route and being so kind and helpful. The other personalities were fun too. I felt the book started to drag in the middle then galloped towards an intensely paced ending.

Ox failed to keep me onside as a character which is a shame as he is definitely the heart and soul of the book. I got quite frustrated with how the story was playing out but that was likely intentional. Overall, a good book but unfortunately not very memorable. 3.5 stars.

[yarnandprose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meet Reginald Oxford Lorde. AKA: Ox. He takes pride in his work as a sanitation soldier in the busy streets of NYC while working very hard to write “one good book.” Ox is sweet, compelling, naïve, and very trusting of those around him. He has a lot of depth and the character relationships are built very well. He's a young man on the journey to becoming an adult.

The story resembles the illusion of looking into a mirror with a mirror. Ox is pulled into the publishing industry and finds himself warping his thoughts to be what everyone else wants him to be. What happens when you go from amateur to professional? Is achieving your goal worth the trade for your artistic happiness?

The story centers around Ox and his family, but the overall book feels like a tribute to the everyday employee. Acting as a reminder to be kind because everyone is doing the best they can.

Pure Ox is an ambitious story attempting to answer a lot of questions about pride, work, and art. The beginning of the story laid a solid foundation about who Ox is and what his motivations are. The events towards the last quarter of the book felt disjointed and rushed, but tied up all the loose ends. This is a fun read if you like humor mixed with societal commentary.


*** My sincere thanks to Netgalley and DUTTON for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review. ***

#PureOx #NetGalley #mateoaskaripour #arcreview

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reginald “Ox” Lorde, is a sanitation worker and an aspiring writer living in New York City, much to his parents’ disappointment, and the day he realizes he has a literary agent on his route is the day his life begins to change. What follows is the journey Ox goes on between taking a leap of faith and finally figuring out exactly who he wants to be. Throughout the book, Ox really struggles with balancing his wants and dreams with the needs and expectations of others, which felt relatable, and at times I wanted to wrap him up in a soft blanket and glare at everyone who made him feel sad or less than. Or sic La Reina on them, she’s a little terrifying.

For me, this book really shines in the way it made small moments feel meaningful, and the quiet ones feel loud, while still giving me the space to process my own thoughts and feelings, of which I had many. There were a lot of themes/topics that stood out to me as I read: racial identity, integrity vs making a difference, the struggles of a workforce that is looked down on and disregarded, faith, family dynamics, mental health, grief, self-worth, loyalty and friendship. Listed out like that it seems as though this book would be weighed down and heavy, but it never felt like the author was here to demand something from you but rather draw your attention to things worth thinking about and examining. (To avoid spoilers, I will include a list at the very end of my review of a few potential mental health triggers that I feel like some readers may want to know about ahead of time.)

All in all, I really enjoyed this one! If you are someone who wants some bitter with their sweet, some hope with their healing, and a character who is easy to root for, then I think Pure Ox is for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own and freely given.

4.5 stars



****Potential Spoilers/Trigger Warnings****



- On page attempted suicide
- Death and grieving of a loved one
- Discussions of depression and feelings of hopelessness
- Family member with ongoing unidentified mental health issues that disappears at random and behaves erratically

[Ronnica Fatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Books rarely make me laugh out loud. But one that made me both laugh AND cry? Unheard of, but Pure Ox did that. This is nuanced racial satire drawing attention to the publishing industry and beyond. Systems are called out, but us people are also called in. Not to the weaponization of community as is depicted at several points, but to actual community with our fellow human beings and to treating all, even ourselves, in our full humanity.

[Angela · Rating 1 out of 5]

Should’ve DNF’d (and yes I am SO sick of writing this phrase in reviews lately).

This book had SUCH potential with a compelling premise, great characters (La Reina, I would follow you to the ends of the earth), and commentary on the publishing industry and who gets to tell stories. Which is why it made me so mad that the author squandered the potential of the book by turning it into a saccharine collection of inspirational self-help mantras disguised as a novel and then added an unnecessary inane twist out of left field at the end that pushed the story to unrealistic heights.

I also really didn’t enjoy the author’s writing style at times, especially the “translations” of certain dialogue that spoonfed the reader the subtext and interpretations he wanted us to take away. Let the reader do some of the work themselves!

I’m honestly baffled by the positive reviews for this one because I didn’t feel it was well-written or conceptualized despite having been presented as an uplifting story. I loved Black Buck and gave it five stars, but this one really disappointed me.

[emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished reading and…. Wow, honestly, one of the best novels I’ve read all year!! Well, yes! I loved reading about Ox’s journey from being a sanitation worker with dreams of becoming a successful writer. Ugh, I don’t want to spoil much, but let’s just say, “What goes up must come down,” and I was in for a ride! This is the first Mateo Askaripour book I’ve read, and I kept hearing about Black Buck, and Pure Ox didn’t disappoint at all. His friends, family, and even foes (trust me, a lot of foes) were beautifully written (loved the translations!!). The novel explores Ox’s newfound journey and success from Waste. This novel argues that, like garbage, we can waste our lives and be wasted by others if not careful. I think this could be an eerie meta-synopsis of his aspirations to turn his dreams into reality. As I delved further into the novel, there was a lot of commentary on the publishing industry (learned a lot btw) from his close relationships, the pressure of success, and the industry's glamour and ruthlessness. I also really enjoyed exploring the sensory descriptors in smell from his sanitation job and how it follows him throughout his career/novel. I want to write more, but I will probably spoil a lot. Pure Ox is not only informative but also exhilarating, so if you’re unsure, just give it a chance: add it to your tbr or request an arc, you won’t regret it! Time to read Black Buck!!