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A review by expatpanda
Victim by Andrew Boryga
5.0
Victim by Andrew Boryga is a wild ride through the life of Javier Perez, a young Puerto Rican man from the Bronx who discovers that the path to literary fame is paved with a little embellishment (or a lot, depending on how you look at it). Think of it as The Great Gatsby meets The Wolf of Wall Street, but instead of green lights and stock market shenanigans, we have a college student crafting sob stories that tug at the heartstrings of well-meaning liberals.
Javi’s journey begins in a neighborhood where witnessing your father’s murder is just another Tuesday. After this traumatic event, he learns that being a “victim” has its perks—like skipping class to visit the school nurse. Ah, the sweet smell of exploitation! Thanks to a well-meaning guidance counselor who clearly took “encourage your students” a bit too literally, Javi realizes he can turn his life into a narrative that sells. Who knew trauma could be so marketable?
As Javi navigates his way through elite academia, he discovers that the secret to success lies in crafting “authentic” narratives that are about as real as unicorns. With phrases like “critical race theory” rolling off his tongue, he becomes the poster child for emotional manipulation—writing articles that make readers feel good about their empathy while completely fabricating his experiences. It’s like he’s playing a game of “how much can I stretch the truth before someone calls me out?” Spoiler alert: he stretches it a lot.
Boryga’s writing is sharp and witty, poking fun at the absurdity of social justice culture while also delivering poignant commentary on identity and authenticity. Javi’s escapades lead him to love, betrayal, and some seriously questionable moral choices. You can’t help but root for him even as you shake your head at his antics—because let’s face it, we’ve all wanted to be someone else at some point.
While Victim is undeniably entertaining, it also raises some heavy questions about truth and representation in storytelling. Is Javi a hero or just another hustler? The answer may depend on how much you enjoy your fiction with a side of sarcasm.
I’d give Victim 5 stars for its clever satire and engaging narrative. It’s a book that makes you laugh while simultaneously making you question your own life choices—like that time you thought about writing your memoir but realized your most exciting story was about getting stuck in an elevator. So grab this book if you’re in the mood for some deliciously dark humour wrapped in social commentary; just don’t expect any actual victims—only one very crafty storyteller.
Javi’s journey begins in a neighborhood where witnessing your father’s murder is just another Tuesday. After this traumatic event, he learns that being a “victim” has its perks—like skipping class to visit the school nurse. Ah, the sweet smell of exploitation! Thanks to a well-meaning guidance counselor who clearly took “encourage your students” a bit too literally, Javi realizes he can turn his life into a narrative that sells. Who knew trauma could be so marketable?
As Javi navigates his way through elite academia, he discovers that the secret to success lies in crafting “authentic” narratives that are about as real as unicorns. With phrases like “critical race theory” rolling off his tongue, he becomes the poster child for emotional manipulation—writing articles that make readers feel good about their empathy while completely fabricating his experiences. It’s like he’s playing a game of “how much can I stretch the truth before someone calls me out?” Spoiler alert: he stretches it a lot.
Boryga’s writing is sharp and witty, poking fun at the absurdity of social justice culture while also delivering poignant commentary on identity and authenticity. Javi’s escapades lead him to love, betrayal, and some seriously questionable moral choices. You can’t help but root for him even as you shake your head at his antics—because let’s face it, we’ve all wanted to be someone else at some point.
While Victim is undeniably entertaining, it also raises some heavy questions about truth and representation in storytelling. Is Javi a hero or just another hustler? The answer may depend on how much you enjoy your fiction with a side of sarcasm.
I’d give Victim 5 stars for its clever satire and engaging narrative. It’s a book that makes you laugh while simultaneously making you question your own life choices—like that time you thought about writing your memoir but realized your most exciting story was about getting stuck in an elevator. So grab this book if you’re in the mood for some deliciously dark humour wrapped in social commentary; just don’t expect any actual victims—only one very crafty storyteller.