Review: Monday's Not Coming By Tiffany D. Jackson

Title:  Monday's Not Coming

Author:  Tiffany D. Jackson
Publisher: Katherine Tegan Books 

Publishing Date:  May 28th, 2018

Pages: 448
Genre: YA Realistic Fiction, Mystery

Series:  Stand Alone
Source:  Audio

 

A gripping, relentless, and timely new novel from the critically acclaimed author of Allegedly, Tiffany D. Jackson, about the complex mystery of one teenage girl’s disappearance and the traumatic effects of the truth.
Monday Charles is missing, and only Claudia seems to notice. Claudia and Monday have always been inseparable—more sisters than friends. So when Monday doesn’t turn up for the first day of school, Claudia’s worried. When she doesn’t show for the second day, or second week, Claudia knows that something is wrong. Monday wouldn’t just leave her to endure tests and bullies alone. Not after last year’s rumors and not with her grades on the line. Now Claudia needs her best—and only—friend more than ever. But Monday’s mother refuses to give Claudia a straight answer, and Monday’s sister April is even less help.
As Claudia digs deeper into her friend’s disappearance, she discovers that no one seems to remember the last time they saw Monday. How can a teenage girl just vanish without anyone noticing that she’s gone?

I received this book as an ARC but I wasn't sure I was going to read it. I think the only reason why is the cover looks boring to me. I know I know don't judge a book by its cover. Anyways, it came out on audio and I have heard amazing things about this author... so I decided to give it a try. Oh, my goodness. I loved this book. It was hard, it was difficult, it made me cry, it made me yell, it made me want to throw something but it was so so so amazing and beautifully written. 

Monday and Claudia have been friends for a very long time. They know each other's secrets, they are there for each other, they love each other.  The only time they are apart for a long period of time is when Claudia spends the summer with her grandmother. This summer when Claudia returns, Monday is missing. She doesn't show up at school, her phone is disconnected, no one seems to know where she is. Claudia sets out on a mission to find Monday and finds out that Monday had secrets. Horrible secrets.

This book was so good but so hard to read. It was difficult to get through because of the hurt and the damage and the things that are so wrong in the lives of some kids. This book brings light to all those things. The things we know exist but if we don't see it we can pretend it's not happening. This book lit it all up and boy did it hurt, but it was also beautiful. 

This story was beautiful because it was about family and friendship and love. Claudia had these things and didn't realize not everyone did. She had a good family, they loved her and they kept her safe and fed and happy. She had a best friend that loved her for who she was. She had a good life. Until Monday went missing. 

The story is told from Claudia's point of view, and it rotates between timelines of when Monday was around, Monday missing, and after they find out why Monday was missing. It does get confusing at times. But in the end, it all makes sense and comes together. I love the mixed timeline and even though it did confuse me at times, I felt it added to the intensity. 

Claudia was a great character. I felt she didn't know how beautiful or smart or wonderful she was. She went to a school with mean kids and she just didn't have the self-worth she needed. She found her self-worth in Monday. Monday came off like she had confidence but really had no self-worth either. This kind of characters just saddens me because there are so many teenagers and kids out there that feel this and just need someone to look out for them. 

That is what made me mad in this story. No one was looking out for Monday. There were signs of her home life everywhere. She was bruised, she was distant, she was dirty, the signs were there. No one knew of the bullying, the name calling, the rumors. No one knew these things because no one cared to look, or if they did they didn't see the severity because they didn't know what to do. So just ignore the problem, maybe it will go away. 

This book was real and raw and hard and damaged and so much heartache. BUT it was so worth the read.

Just so good! So so GOOD!

Tiffany D. Jackson is a TV professional by day, novelist by night, awkward black girl 24/7. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Film from Howard University and her Master of Arts in Media Studies from The New School University. A Brooklyn native, she is a lover of naps, cookie dough, and beaches, currently residing in the borough she loves with her adorable chihuahua Oscar, most likely multitasking.