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I'm So Hood :Tales From A Chi-Town Savage: A Stand-Alone Novel

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Like most young men the goal is to always make it out the hood with your life and money intact.Kayson ‘Hood’ Gold is no different. Big dreams take a lot to turn into reality and he knew if he was gonna get shit shaking then he needed one thing…money. Late nights turned into even later nights as he hustled to provide not only for himself but his mother too. The come up was on the rise and if Hood had anything to say about it he would be the first in line.Seeing beyond the darkest days has always been Dakota “Ko-Ko’ Frazier’s greatest gift. She would take the saddest of situations and turn it into something to celebrate. She saw the beauty in the ugly and the greatness in the weak. The tragic part of it all was the sentiment was rarely returned. Responsibility weight heavy on her shoulders with her grandfather and little sister depending on her. What doesn’t crumble never falls in terms of Ms. KoKo. If you need it she got and nothing’s too pricy for her to boost. She didn’t agree with the methods used to finance her life but sometimes you had to do unspeakable acts just to make sure comfortability wasn’t no longer a luxury.From Harlem New York to the South side Jace, ‘Harlem’ Banks found himself right back where his life began; in poverty. The imprisonment of his father uproots his family and intensifies his ambition. The days of his mother struggling are done in his eyes. He jumps in headfirst but isn’t greeted by water in a friendly manner. Misery and confusion crashes into him like a wave.Never being wanted from birth isn’t an easy trauma to live with. River Tyson has been a ward of the state since she took her first coo. The feeling of being unloved and undervalued has haunted her until she found love where it never should’ve been found. A conversation with the women in the mirror is needed but for River she isn’t worthy of having it.That gutter life was cool when it came to some females but Destini Marcell always saw her life going differently. The hustle and bustle of the hood never intrigued her but in fact disgusted her. She was better and above all of it. Modeling became a passion while fame became an obsession. Who Destini had to step on didn’t matter because she was who she was and wanted what she wanted.Franklin housing projects is notorious on the southside of Chicago and for five friends it’s the place they call home. Pissy hallways, crack fiends in and out the buildings, dope boys on the stoop, big body cars, and even bigger money was what their place of residence has to offer.Greater things have come from worse places but for these five the hood was either gonna humble ‘em or crumble ‘em.

351 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 20, 2021

267 people are currently reading
52 people want to read

About the author

Bianca Marie

126 books133 followers

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5 stars
307 (80%)
4 stars
52 (13%)
3 stars
16 (4%)
2 stars
3 (<1%)
1 star
4 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
Profile Image for ReadnliftwithShar.
1,856 reviews
May 28, 2023
pretty good storyline

3.5 ✨- I liked this story a lot; it’s fast paced, plot twists, and that gritty street stuff that I like. I went through a rollercoaster of emotions throughout the book. My biggest complaint with the book were the errors and storyline inconsistencies.
Profile Image for Book junkie&#x1f48b;.
531 reviews17 followers
May 23, 2021
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book was so good. It had my emotions all over the place. I don’t even know where to start🤦🏾‍♀️ Well… Destini was a piece of work, that one was once selfish girl. River drove me up the wall, I was ready to jump in this book and knock some sense into to butt🤦🏾‍♀️ her situation had to be the hardest for me to read. Ko-Killa was my favorite though, she played no games. Now Hood is bae, I could stand the bits of Junior🤮 and Harlem was coo, I was shocked how things turned out with him. Now Kyra and Nitty definitely shocked me with how they turned out. That’s all I’m going to say😂 Just read the book🔥🔥🔥
25 reviews
June 5, 2021
Everything !!!!!!!!!!

I lovedddddddd this book!! It was hood real and rawww !!!! This story was so relatable, I’m sad about Hood and Harlem’s friendship, but I understood why they couldn’t be friends anymore. I love Hood and Koko together, Destini was extremely selfish and I’m glad she realized everything ain’t always greener on the other side. I was sad for Kyra, she was so young and had her whole life ahead of her, and thought what she seen was what life was all about. River made me cry the whole book, she really thought what She experienced with junior was love. This book hit home, so many people go through domestic violence every day and think it’s a normal way living. I’m just glad she made it out Alive. Harlem disappointed me, and I do believe he was stuck between a rock and a hard place. Him and Hood friendship maybe over with, but they will always love each-other. Great story !!!!!!!!!!
121 reviews3 followers
June 27, 2021
YES YES YES YES AND YESSSSSS…..

This is what you call a true breath of fresh air..Finally a book that flows and makes sense…Did you see some of the things coming? Absolutely but everything evolved in a way that made sense..We weren’t forced to read a bunch of nonsense with a heap of unnecessary moving parts and characters..The storyline was SOLID..HOOD..we need more books written with the main not being ridiculously messy and a sorry excuse..Hood and Harlem building bridges to find their way back on the strength of the Love of the Brotherhood they shared and exploring Harlem’s mindset making his decision in NY to become a FED after being a Dope Boy himself would make a nice Novella or Spin-off…It’s been a minute since a read has been better than decent..We need more because too many Authors are writing and recycling the same old tired story…Thanks Bianca Marie
Profile Image for TuraReads.
371 reviews11 followers
May 30, 2021
Bravo 👏🏽 freaking, BRAVO

This is why I read urban fiction! There’s absolutely NO other way to explain this book other than.... phenomenal! I fell in love with urban fiction because of books like this and Authors like Bianca Marie! This was by far the BEST book
I’ve read this year! “I’m So Hood” is the epitome of Drama, lies, deceit, passion, grit and LIFE!!! Hood didn’t play about his family and if you crossed the line, consider yourself..... dead... literally!

I can’t express how this book made me feel. I laughed, cried, got upset but still managed to receive the GEMS that spewed out through every page.

I don’t know what’s next for Bianca, but baby girl, this was It for me! You deserve more than 5 stars!!! Hats off to YOU, Queen❤️
Profile Image for Tasha.
651 reviews16 followers
June 8, 2021
Loved it‼️

This was really good‼️ Damn Harlem I just knew he and Hood would be running ish side by side. Destiny was just trifling. River got on my nerves been so weak for Junior who didn’t deserve her at all. Kyra wanted to be grown got caught in something she should’ve never been apart of. Nitty got on my nerves how she tried to come at Hood after everything he had done for her. I’m just glad River and KoKo got a happy ending after everything they had been they they both deserved some happiness. I just wanted Harlem to let Hood in on what was going on with him and they could’ve still been brothers it’s sucks to see a friendship, a brotherhood of over 15 years go down the drain. Anyway
really good read it was very well written and I love that it was a standalone.
Profile Image for Shanelle.
1,485 reviews21 followers
June 10, 2021
LOVED IT

My first read by this author and I loved every part of this book. Very well written, great storyline and character development. This was a great Hood story of childhood friends growing up, enduring quite a few trials and tribulations living in the projects but at the same time wanting better lives for themselves. Integrity, morals, and friendships were definitely tested with deceit, lies and secrets. My heart broke for Kyra, she really had the potential to be better. I'm glad Infiniti made it out and continued on to the next stage in her life. In the end, new bonds were created, friendships were lost but the respect remained and bad seeds were eliminated. Highly recommend reading this book.
Profile Image for Chanice Wilson.
194 reviews
May 25, 2021
I’m so Hood: Tales From A Chi-Town Savage 🔥🔥🔥🔥

Man when I say I couldn’t put this book down. This standalone was good as hell. This crew surprised me in a lot of ways. Hood sexy butt definitely been added to the list of Book Baes 😍😍 KO-KO was truly Hood rider. I always felt that they belonged together from the beginning . I’m so sad about Kyra this is a dog dog world out there. Junior little ike Turner ass got what he deserved. Harlem surprised the f*** outta me with this one. Destini was lost cause. How you do your little sister like that. I’m so happy Nitty had Hood & them. He really loved her. Hood was that n**** frfr I loved this standalone.
Profile Image for Terri-Ale Sanders.
274 reviews16 followers
October 3, 2022
I was so happy to Hood & Ko-Ko finally got together especially since everyone knew they were in love with each other. I didn’t care for Destine fake high class ass. River made me mad and sad at the same time. She choice to live like that, she could have done anything but she didn’t want to try. Man, Harlem l thought he was better than that but he ruined his friendship and almost lost his life. Ky & Nitty got on my nerves like if it wasn’t for Hood, Ko-Jo, & Pops y’all dumb asses would have been in the system.. I hate what happened to Ky but I was happy that she got Junior, he was a horrible person..
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Casheema J. Greene.
21 reviews
May 23, 2021
Awesome read

I don’t believe that I would have changed a thing about this book. It touches on a little bit of everything, giving different points of life from each character of they way of trying to make it out the hood. To the down fall an rise of making it out of the hood. This book touched on a number of things that either I have personally had to deal with in life or a friend or family member has had to deal with. This book had me in tears in some of the chapters. All in all it was a great read.
Profile Image for DeNae Sheree.
1,108 reviews21 followers
May 31, 2021
Great standalone

This was such a great story filled with twists and turns. I loved Hood and KoKo, they made the book for me. River was just too weak for me. The way she let Junior to disrespect her was mind blowing. There was no growth from the beginning of the book to the end for River. I was waiting for her to boss up, but she went from one man taking care of her to another man. Harlem was super flawed and he got what he deserved. I’m glad that Junior and Destini got the karma they deserved.
Profile Image for JeaNida Luckie-Weatherall.
2,996 reviews47 followers
June 8, 2021
Great Read

This standalone was so good from beginning to end. Enjoyed the storyline and these characters and I couldn't put it down..... a page-turner. A hood story will definitely make you or break you, without a doubt. It was full of drama, lies, deceit, betrayal, jealousy and life, that held my attention. It was very entertaining and intriguing, that touched on so many things. Emotionally, personally and mentally, had my feelings all over the place. But one word of advice definitely, don't cross HOOD!! Highly recommend this standalone. Great job Bianca Marie.
Profile Image for ashley.
891 reviews17 followers
June 9, 2021
3.75

3.75 . This is a complete story and that the characters are developed well. The story is about 5 friends whom are all walking a different path to get themselves out of the jet Chicago projects. A lot of different emotions was weaved in the story and it gave it grit. The pace, lack of editing in some area and drag takeaway from the enjoyment for me. The truth of some of these lives although hard it was different and was never cheering for anyone except Hood. You get loyalty and growing pains mixed with drugs. Good complete read.
105 reviews
May 29, 2021
🥰😘🥰

These 6 people were all born into unhealthy situations and had to survive in the projects. They did anything to survive. Some were loyal and some weren’t. Some had good qualities and some were just cutthroat. Koko, Hood, River, and Harlem were my favorites. I hate the way that Hood and Harlem’s friendship ended, however, I understood both sides. At least they still respect one another. I haven’t had from this author in awhile, however, she returned with a banger!!
372 reviews
June 4, 2021
Very Good Read

This is my first book by Bianca Marie. I thoroughly enjoyed it! I feel compassion for Kayson, Jace, Dakota and River. At first, I was so disappointed in River for letting her stay in Junior's corner after the beatings. Stockholm syndrome is real and thankful I have never had to experience it. Kyra broke my heart with her self destructive behavior. The writer had some good words of wisdom and old sayings to live by throughout the book.
9 reviews
June 18, 2021
Woooowwwwww

This was a very deep and emotional read!! I’m not from the projects but I felt every word in this book! I’m glad ko ko and hood finally got together and I can’t believe Harlem smh! River man I was so mad at her but in the same breath she legit did not know any better even tho her friends had her best interest at heart she was blinded by juniors sick ass form of love....I’m glad she got an happy ending. I loved this book! Thank You for a banger my love 💯💯
2 reviews1 follower
September 14, 2021
OMG

That was one of the best books I have read all year! I have skipped over this recommendation so many times but I was glad I took a chance. I agree with the other reviewer about River. I was literally yelling at my tablet but eventually I understood. Harlem really broke my heart. I wanted to give Hood a hug so bad. Ko-Killa was my dog through the whole book. Very, very, very good read!
Profile Image for Kami Holt.
797 reviews54 followers
June 2, 2021
Hood

I really liked the storyline overall and the characters. It was very unique and interesting. Hood was definitely the man to see and he wanted to see everybody win. There were quite a few grammatical errors and some highlighted passages throughout the majority of the book but it didn’t effect the overall enjoyment of the story it was just very noticeable
231 reviews2 followers
June 5, 2021
Ok

So who else wanted to jump through the book and beat the hell out of river lol she was stupid till the end of it wasn't for Kyra she probably would still be running behind Jr and a fed of all things he could've became he chose that I wish we could've heard more from jasmine and her story but over all a good read
Profile Image for LaShonda Gilmore.
109 reviews7 followers
Read
June 7, 2021
Hood

Hood was just that...hood, but he is definitely a book bae. Destini and Junior was straight trash and got what they deserved. Harlem was doing his job but if he knew he wasn't going to go through with it, he should have been honest Hood and let him know what was up at least he probably would have respected him more hearing it from him.
Profile Image for Pj.
8 reviews
June 10, 2021
I love Hood, he did what he did but he still showed us he was a real man no matter what. Density was a low down person who only cared about herself. I was so happy KoKo got with hood. I’m glad Harlem didn’t die because River need a real man in her life to show her love and I was glad Harlem didn’t testify against Hood.
Profile Image for Cheyunski Henry.
21 reviews
June 20, 2021
Great read!!

This book had everything... I loved that Kayson had more than ruthlessness about him. He had a heart. I wish him and Ko got together sooner but other than that it was good. I was over River she was too dumb for me. I hated Harlem switched but he proved himself in the end
92 reviews
June 30, 2021
An amazing page turner !!!!

Bianca brought it with this one. This book deserves 10 stars!!!! It had me from page 1 and filled with so much good drama. It was sad how the friendship of 6 people turned out the way that it did. Hood was a Boss with a heart and KoKo was a true rider. I'm glad the 🐍 got dealt with. Highly recommend!!!!
Profile Image for Rogzae Stewart.
143 reviews
May 22, 2021
Omggg I couldn't put it down

Where to start river kissed me off even till the end lol and poor kyra I love hood and I had hope for Harlem smh so can we get a tech and nitty next lol
253 reviews4 followers
May 25, 2021
Great read

I loved it this book really taught you a lot of life lessons. This one was straight from the hood of you know the hood yourself. Heartbreak, betrayal and drugs. All the things to hurt you to no ends and that's what happened in this story of friends.
Profile Image for SunShine.
933 reviews
June 3, 2021
Good read

This was a good read. I enjoyed most of the story. I’m not a fan of DV but it didn’t take away from the story. It’s a real thing that happens all the time just hard to read about. The flow was good and it kept me interested.
Profile Image for Mia Morgan.
1,144 reviews32 followers
June 3, 2021
Wow

I would have gave it 5 stars, but it had so many grammatical errors. A good editor was needed. Besides that, this story was good. I enjoyed it. I would say more, but I would be giving the story away.
Profile Image for Lisa Thomas.
441 reviews
June 3, 2021
Good Standalone

I loved Hood from the very beginning. He had a goal and he didn’t stopped until he reached it. Many of the characters went through so much. The book also has some unexpected twists and turns.
Profile Image for Carol.
2,052 reviews15 followers
June 4, 2021
Review

One thing I learned reading this book is that the hood can make you or break you. I suggest you read this book to get a better understanding. A word of advise: don’t cross Hood!!!
Profile Image for Kwastina Jackson.
649 reviews6 followers
June 5, 2021
I enjoyed it!!

I enjoyed reading about these six friends' journey to surviving the projects! Hood and Koko were very likable characters! This book would have been five stars but it needs a good editor to review it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews

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