Reviews

Black Buck by Mateo Askaripour

kerrin_h's review against another edition

dark funny hopeful tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

spatterson12's review against another edition

4.0

A Black man working at Starbucks is approached by the CEO of a startup who offers the opportunity he’s been waiting for, except once in the thick of things he’s faced with the micro and macro aggressions of white corporate America. This was an impressive debut, and is marketed toward those who enjoy the storytelling style of Wolf of Wall Street.

melinda_and_her_books's review against another edition

4.0

Thank you netgalley and the publisher for my gifted copy. I enjoyed this book about an unambitious starbucks barista who randomly makes a comment to the CEO of SamWun, NYC's hottest tech group landing him a job on the team. After a hell of a first week and being the only black person working there he begins to come up with a plan to help young people of color infiltrate America's sales force. His motivation and will to keep going was inspiring to me.

tbagherlee's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

The plot of this kept me very entertained, and I thought it had some valid points to make on racial capitalism and gentrification. I cringed at several points while reading: both when I felt like Darren was being targeted and when he turned into a villain. I will say - some of it (especially the advice) came off as corny to me. The ending also has me like ???? and not in a good way

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

Moderate: Grief and Terminal illness

reinedumonde's review against another edition

dark funny

3.0

jess_mango's review against another edition

4.0

Darren was the valedictorian of his class at one of the best public schools in the nation but is now working as a supervisor at a Manhattan Starbucks. He is content with his life: living with his mom in Bed-Stuy, spending time with his girlfriend Soraya, and working his no stress job. He is very unambitious. Then a impresses a startup CEO with his coffee sales skills and is offered a job in sales at Sumwun. Darren is the only Black employee at the company and gets some flack from his boss and some definite profiling. Darren goes through an intense week of training and during training is dubbed "Buck". Darren tries to live up to his new role as Buck, the hotshot sales person. The company has a scandal and Buck thinks its all over, but can things turn around? He comes up with a plan to help educate other down on their luck BIPOC to become hotshots in sales.

This was a fun read! It was satirical and witty with observations aplenty about today's society AND today's corporate society. This was a very clever and well written book. I related to so much that was going on and laughed at times. The sly observations about today's world were on point. This was Askaripour's debut novel but I am really hoping to read more by this author in the future.

What to listen to while reading...
Know Your Worth by Khalid & Disclousure
Eye of the Tiger by Survivor
Black Man in a White World by Michael Kiwanuka
Pursuit of Happiness by Kid Cudi
Memerize by Ja Rule
Say it Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud by James Brown

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!

booksamongstfriends's review against another edition

3.0

Alright, here’s my take on "Black Buck" by Mateo Askaripour!

bluejay1997's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

treehugger513's review against another edition

4.0

3.5 stars. I loved a lot about this book. The discussion on racism was important and the satirical approach was a great way to highlight everything. I think this book tried to address a lot and maybe it had an affect on the writing. For me, there was just something missing in the writing. I don't know if it was lacking or if it just didn't click with me. I liked it enough to read Askaripour again. Maybe another one of his works will resonate with differently.

ghostreadin's review against another edition

dark emotional funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5