The Payback Audiobook By Kashana Cauley cover art

The Payback

A Novel

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The Payback

By: Kashana Cauley
Narrated by: Chanté McCormick
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When Jada Williams is relentlessly pursued by the Debt Police, she is left with no choice but to take down her student loan company with the help of two mall coworkers—from the author of the “lethally witty” (The New York Times Book Review) The Survivalists.

Jada Williams is good at judging people by their looks. From across the mall, she can tell not only someone’s inseam and pants size, but exactly what style they need to transform their life. Too bad she’s no longer using this superpower as a wardrobe designer to Hollywood stars, but for minimum wage plus commission at the Glendale mall.

When Jada is fired yet again, she is forced to outrun the newly instated Debt Police who are out for blood. But Jada, like any great antihero, is not going to wait for the cops to come kick her around. With the help of two other debt-burdened mall coworkers, she hatches a plan for revenge. Together the three women plan a heist to erase their student loans forever and get back at the system that promised them everything and then tried to take it back.

“A novel of great fun and unforgettable fury” (Megha Majumdar, bestselling author of A Burning) The Payback is a razor-sharp and hilarious dissection of race, power, and the daily grind, from one of the most original and exciting writers at work today. Literature & Fiction Revenge Genre Fiction Funny Witty African American Literary Fiction
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This was such a a delightful book. Jada lost her job and got behind on her student loans. Then she got attacked my the Debt Police. Two of her friends also got attacked. They decided to come together to take down the student loan company.
I enjoyed this book a lot.

Delightful

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Jada was complicated and relatable, and she felt like a real person. The narration brought her to life incredibly. I loved the commentary on power, debt, and social worth.

Angry and splendid

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This is a very creative book. I love the concept. I love the protagonist. The friends are interesting and are three-dimensional. The author includes some astute social commentary without jamming it down the readers throats.
The plot lagged at times, and would have benefited from a subplot or two occurring at the same time as the data hack. Maybe one of the women could have had an ongoing dramatic love affair, or something similar.

High concept

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