WATCH NOW! Abiola discussing Dare with the African American Literary Book
Club.
"The debut
novel from Abiola Abrams is sleek. Her expose of the hip hop world is entertaining and intriguing. Each character is
interesting and colorful, making the reader to learn more about them. Abrams's
book is a fantastic first attempt. Readers are not going to be able to put it down. They will become lost in the behind-the-scenes
world of hip hop and will never want to leave." -LEIGH O'DONOVAN, Authors on the Rise
Book Reviews.
"Dare is a beautifully written book by a woman
whose soul is full of light and who obviously wants to brighten up her reader's lives, too. You not only get a heart-rending
tale of a strong woman's life, you get life lessons as well. Abiola Abrams has filled Dare
with personal dares that will change your life if you open yourself up to them--one of these is a "Beauty Day".
No, this isn't pampering at the spa, it's noticing and acknowledging beauty everywhere. "Ms.
Abrams writes with the rhythmic beauty of both a musician and a poet. Her imagery is strong with color and sensory impressions.
Scenes will bring tears to your eyes and leave you laughing and cheering. You
don't have to love rap or hip hop to love this book. You do need poetry in your soul and be willing to open up and learn--because
Maya does have some amazing insights into life in general."-Rebecca Kyle, Amazon Top 500 Reviewer
"Abrams has written a great, thought-provoking debut novel. Her writing is fresh and witty and her characters
are lively and engaging. Dare's plot is strong and without question, realistic. I
enjoyed following the characters' angst in taking on roles that unsettled their souls and witnessing the strength it took
to practice tough love. The back cover labels Dare as urban fiction, but it
seemed to be more chick-litish. Urban fiction fans may feel cheated since it does not follow the traditional formula of the
genre. Chick-lit and contemporary fiction fans will surely enjoy this read. I look forward to reading Abrams' future works."
APOOO BookClub
"Dare is an intriguing
debut novel by Abiola Abrams. Abrams brought us a new twist on how a young woman tries to break into the music industry.
The rich character development adds to the unique flavor to this story. Dare is a
fun, socially conscious novel with a good dose of humor. Hopefully this is just the start of Abiola Abrams' novel writing
career." URBAN REVIEWS
"Abrams uses the mystery, bling and oft times violence of the hip-hop world, the rapper's
delight, if you will, as a backdrop for a strangely twisted coming of age story. Sometimes lovers, both old and new, don't
know what to make of a caterpillar's transformation into a butterfly. Neither do friends, for that matter. But what happens
when a woman looks around, finds herself hiding in a corner, and coaxes herself out to play? Now that's the stuff good books
are made of. Taking a DARE doesn't get any more enlightening than this." - THE RAWSISTAZ REVIEWERS
"Abrams is spreading her gospel of empowering people culturally,
emotionally, sexually and politically." -PAPER MAGAZINE
Meet
Maya Hope. Double-dipped in cocoa with brick-house curves, she's
a lover of jazz, a political poet, and a sociologist. Her best friend and roommate, Athena Jackson, is her opposite in every
way- a petite ex-cheerleader who's always blaring rap, grinding out rhymes, and ready to take the next man home. When Maya
is forced to pinch-hit in an audition and bust Athena's rhymes, she finds herself on an undercover escapade in the wild world
of hip-hop as the raw, sexy, roughneck Jezebel. After striking a deal with her own personal devil, Maya sets off on the tempting
roller-coaster ride of a lifetime -- finding music, more fun than she's ever had, and even a man or two...but not without
Faustian consequences.
An off the hook cast of colorful characters
includes Lucy, the diva deluxe brand-addicted publicist from hell; Shell the Boy Wonder, wunderkind entrepreneurial label
mogul party boy and Thug, the gritty handsome hardcore rapper with something to prove. Dare is an unforgettable, envelope-pushing odyssey of two gutsy women playing
by their own rules.
dare to get
a life
dare to
live
dare to laugh
dare
to love
dare to be
b.a.d.
beautiful
and daring
it's
a revolution
PROLOGUE: Mays is madly
in love.
CHAPTER
1: Maya busts her fiance cheating at his bachelor party the night before the wedding. Now what?
"Abiola Abrams'
first novel, Dare, is a Faustian tale set in the world of hip hop. Abrams has a keen
ear for dialogue, and though almost outrageous at times, her characters are believable and often fascinating. Dare may end up in several nooks of your bookstore, filed under "chick lit," "African American
literature," or even in the burgeoning "street lit" genre. Don't be fooled by the labels, this is a promising
and enjoyable debut." -DAVID GUTOWSKI,
Large Hearted Boy
"Abiola Abrams' debut is like a breath of fresh air for young fiction and the
depiction of women in hip hop. Finally, the world will see the conflicted struggles of ladies in the rap biz in a way that
women in hip hop have known and understood for years." -RAQIYAH
MAYS, Writer/Radio Personality on Hot 97 & 98.7 Kiss FM
"Abiola Abrams does a wonderful job of portraying the behind the scenes world
of hip-hop between the pages of Dare. With unforgettable characters and non-stop drama,
Dare is an easy and fun read." SHELIA GOSS, Essence Magazine Bestselling Author
"From the very first page this was a wonderfully unique read. Maya and Athena, and the
world they inhabit, jump off the page. I loved the details Ms. Abrams used in describing the making of a star and the publicity
spins involved. I enjoyed the multi- dimensional portrayal of gangsta rapper Thug. Ms. Abrams puts a very human face on a
world that is frequently seen as only glitz, glamor and violence." -COFFEE TIME ROMANCE
"DARE takes chick lit to another level. Without
a doubt, all the fun and fantasy is still there, but Abiola Abrams serves them up with a healthy serving of smarts and spirituality.
Her debut novel, at once, gives us what we love about this genre, yet breaks new -- and deeper -- ground." - SOFIA QUINTERO AKA BLACK ARTEMIS, author & activist
"Abiola
Abrams blends literary and hip hop sensibilities for a daring debut." UPSCALE MAGAZINE
"DARE is the
first novel by Abiola Abrams, who is also a filmmaker and pretty dynamic. The book is a hip-hop retelling of Faust, but as Abrams acutely describes, it's about "finding love and finding yourself."
This book was dope for several reasons. It represents what great hip-hop fiction can be: smart, edgy, hip-hop inspired, but
not just hip-hop, empowering, and provocative. It's a great story about living life, not just existing, and makes you think
about your own journey thus far; and Dare is fun and entertaining." -AOL Black Voices
"I've been a fan of Abiola's since her podcasting days. When I heard she had a novel out, I wasn't surprised
- her creativity sprouts in so many directions! Just the cover alone is empowering! I bought the book, read it in one day,
and loved it. The story has hip hop as a backdrop, and it was exciting to step into that world and see the rise of a superstar
in the character of Maya. It makes me wonder how much of her experience really happens in true life with these young stars.
My favorite aspect is that Abiola adds in affirmations throughout the book, as told by Maya. They are words to live by. I
can hardly wait for a sequel to this story!" Lifetime TV's Crafty Chica, Kathy Cano Murillo
"ABIOLA ABRAMS puts it down in
her new novel DARE. Full of flavor, a fast-paced mix of wit, drama and scandal. You did
your thing, lady." -TN BAKER, Essence Best-Selling author of Sheisty and Dice
"DARE is a good read all the way around from the title chapters that take you back to memorable female lyrics
to the fascinating plot. Different, adventurous, and just plain fun, this debut adds much needed spice to the literary arena."
--MIASHA, Essence Best-Selling Author of Never Enough and Sistah for Sale
"Maya clashes with superficial celebrities, deceitful insiders, the media machine and her own self-esteem on a
sordid Hip Hop tour of self-discovery from the female perspective. The truths among the lies in the Rap game have never been
disclosed so insightfully--with thought-provoking portrayals and captivating narrative. Abrams' breakaway debut novel is a
chart-topping, champagne popping, heel-clicking adventure you wouldn't Dare ignore!"
- ALEX MAGAZINE
