The Knockout by Sajni Patel

Mar 18, 2020 Reading_ Tam_ Ishly rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Into the first chapter, I was like 'okay! Calm down! We all want to stay alive while reading this book!'
Into the second chapter, I was like 'whoa! Did she just turn mellow and all girly? Is there an insta romance happening right there? Are we even talking about the same person from the first chapter?'
Then into the third chapter, I was like 'Okay I am so not buying the emotions. Is something wrong with me?'
Into the fourth chapter, I was wishing the 'too-hyped-up-character-vibes' to die down a bit ...more

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Feb 19, 2020 TABI⁷ (ᕗツ)ᕗ marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley

my MMA loving heart needs this book

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Aug 04, 2020 Bree Lauren rated it it was amazing

ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

I'm absolutely in love with so many things about this book. The diversity (her best friend is Filipino!), the characters, the sweet romance, and the inspiring sports and STEM aspects.

I absolutely adored Kareena's character. Even though she is so young, her confidence and self-awareness and perseverance is so inspiring, yet still believable for someone her age. She still has a lot to learn, but I appreciated how NOT annoying it was to be in her head. ...more

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Jul 29, 2020 Silvia (roomforbooks) rated it liked it

2.5
CWs misogyny, bullying
Rep Indian American mc, Indian American li, Filipina American side character, Indian side characters

I received an early copy of this from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

I rarely read the blurb of a book before starting it but I don't know why with this one I did and it was exactly that that drew me in, I'd never read a book where the main character did martial arts, Muay Thai in this case and it seemed like an original story.

I always say thi ...more

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Aug 13, 2020 Mahnoor Waqas (she.reads.too.much) rated it liked it

I got this book as an ARC by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review! Thank you for the opportunity to review this #ownvoices book.

An Indian girl who's into Muay Thai and is also simultaneously battling with the judgements of the people of the Indian community who seem to think she's deviating from the norms? I was immediately intrigued. As a Pakistani girl, I could relate to the whole conservative views of most desi people, that girls taking part in rough contact sports is something to be d I got this book as an ARC by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review! Thank you for the opportunity to review this #ownvoices book.

An Indian girl who's into Muay Thai and is also simultaneously battling with the judgements of the people of the Indian community who seem to think she's deviating from the norms? I was immediately intrigued. As a Pakistani girl, I could relate to the whole conservative views of most desi people, that girls taking part in rough contact sports is something to be disgusted at. However, I really loved how strong Kareena was in her conviction, and didn't care a lot about what people thought as long as she could do what she loved. She struggled with doubts now and then because she didn't think she could belong to the Indian community if she deviated from their norms. Here's what I liked about this book:
1) accurate Indian rep, with good representation of conservative folks of the community. Sure, the narrow minded values upheld by the community were problematic but unfortunately it still reigns true in real life.
2)Kareena's parents and how they struggled and did everything to support Kareena. It must have been very difficult to break the toxic stereotypes of the Indian community and in a way be cut off from them. Her father had health problems and the financial strain was beating down on them yet Kareena's parents didn't back down from supporting her. Kareena herself felt very guilty and tried to shoulder some of the burden despite her parents' protestations. I love the whole family. It was so wonderful to see the love they shared with each other.
3) The positive body message; that girls shouldn't be expected to have a certain body and everyone's bodies are beautiful the way they are, especially athlete girls who have muscles and abs aren't any less girls because of their body! I loved how the author slammed down all misogynistic ideas!
4) girls supporting girls is my weakness and I loved how this book had this element.
I really liked Kareena's internal conflict about hiding her passion from her classmates because she felt judged. She was so pleasantly surprised when her classmates did everything they could to support her dream. This taught us that we aren't as alone as we think we are and that kind people are around us everywhere.

Now, what I didn't like :
1) The writing style was a bit forceful and inconsistent. The first chapter started out wonderfully, but in the next I felt like there was a sort of insta love between Kareena and Amit which was a bit confusing because they didn't seem to be strangers but were portrayed as such.
2) I didn't like how skeptical Kareena was of every nice thing Amit did for her. I get it she has been judged by every Indian she has met but even after Amit more than proved himself that he wasn't the judgemental sort, she still refused to give him the benefit of the doubt and continued to doubt him. I'd have felt really annoyed if I was Amit. ...more

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Apr 10, 2020 Shaila rated it it was amazing

I was given an early copy for a review, and I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. It did NOT disappoint. I LOVED it!

If you're a fan of Miranda Kenneally and YA sports romance, you do NOT want to miss this one! <3

Kareena Thakkar is a Muay Thai fighter (Thai boxing) who's raising money to go to the Muay Thai US Open. It'll give her a shot to be invited to the World Championship team with an eye toward the Olympics, and she is one determined, badass character who I was rooting for the entire time. I was given an early copy for a review, and I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. It did NOT disappoint. I LOVED it!

If you're a fan of Miranda Kenneally and YA sports romance, you do NOT want to miss this one! <3

Kareena Thakkar is a Muay Thai fighter (Thai boxing) who's raising money to go to the Muay Thai US Open. It'll give her a shot to be invited to the World Championship team with an eye toward the Olympics, and she is one determined, badass character who I was rooting for the entire time. Along the way, she meets Amit Patel, and during their budding relationship, she learns a lot about herself, her community, and friendship in general.

Most sports romances have a pretty basic formula: the character works hard, stumbles, but finally gets to the championship and the love interest. What made The Knockout different was how layered the story was. It's a coming of age tale in the truest sense--where she learns to stand up for herself, navigate the ups and downs of friendships and a romantic relationship, as well as juggle academic, athletic, and cultural expectations. Add this to her worries at home, and you have a richly paralleled story that had me turning pages well past midnight.

The thing that sets this apart from most YA sports romances is that Kareena Thakkar is not only a female in what most would consider a "male" sport (that's hard enough!), but she's an Indian-American girl who is struggling against cultural expectations of what is feminine and "appropriate." The author does an amazing job of layering this aspect of the story too. As an Indian-American myself, I identify with Kareena's cultural disconnect of not being "Indian" or "American" enough, but throw that in with the stigma of stepping outside your gender lane? I seriously wanted to punch a few people myself along the way.

The author handles each of these layers with wonderful world-building, an engaging voice, and excellent pacing. I can't wait to see if there'll be another book in this series...perhaps when she makes it to the Olympics??

This book would be awesome for anyone who loves Miranda Kenneally, wants an #ownvoices read, loves badass heroines, slow-burn romances, and a fist-pumping, heart-thumping ending. (Can you tell I loved this book?) ...more

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Jul 03, 2020 Hira Chaudhary rated it it was amazing

I received a free copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

This is it. This is the best, cutest, most powerful story you will read all year. Look no further, because Sajni Patel has written a stunning young adult novel after hitting it out of the park with her debut adult romance, The Trouble with Hating You.

This book is just amazing. Kareena is a Muay Thai fighter, and she's good at what she does. Good enough that she could make it to the US Open. If she can produce I received a free copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

This is it. This is the best, cutest, most powerful story you will read all year. Look no further, because Sajni Patel has written a stunning young adult novel after hitting it out of the park with her debut adult romance, The Trouble with Hating You.

This book is just amazing. Kareena is a Muay Thai fighter, and she's good at what she does. Good enough that she could make it to the US Open. If she can produce the money to enter and get there. Her parents are supportive, but her father is sick, and most of their money goes towards his treatments.

At school, Kareena is asked to tutor Amit in coding, but she quickly learns that he's a genius but has his own reasons for falling behind in class. The two of them spend more and more time together and Kareena can see herself falling in love, even though it's the last thing she has time for. Both of them have a lot going on in their lives, but they try to balance it out with the time they spend together.

I really enjoyed the romance because they were both such sweethearts and they were both always so kind with each other's hearts. I loved how they were there for each other and tried to support one another. I loved how Amit never blinked at the things Kareena did that weren't considered "typically Indian" and how he loved those things about her. They were just so great and perfect together. I loved their relationship to no end.

I really loved the support Kareena gets from the other girl athletes at her school and how they rally behind her to help her get to the competition. That was amazing and I loved the sisterhood. I also adored Kareena's best friend Lily and how sweet she was. I loved how she could see Kareena and Amit falling for each other and how she was totally shipping it from the start.

This was just a really incredible young adult novel that blended Indian culture with girl sports with women in STEM with sisterhood with positive family support with the cutest romance I have ever gushed over. This book just had it all and I loved every second of it <3 ...more

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Jul 12, 2020 Nicole| Booklover.zzz | Zamudio-Roman rated it really liked it

Shelves: indie-books, young-adult, arc, cover-love

Wow! That story was very compelling, I’m not gonna lie. The main character has a very distinct voice which I loved! At no point did it come across as boring or slow. Indian-American Muay Thai fighter teen, Kareena Thakkar experiences an extraordinary coming of age through friendship, cultural experiences, family, romance, and fighting. She struggles against sexism and questioning the appropriateness women to partake in such a sport. Not only that, but she also has to overcome identity struggles. ...more

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Jul 29, 2020 Vighnesh Muraly rated it really liked it

Shelves: arcs

4.5 stars.

This was good. Really good. The premise of the book was so intriguing and it definitely ticked all the boxes for me.

The main character was so complex and she struggled a lot but her character arc is one of the best I have read so far.

The plot went in a direction I did not expect it to take but I definitely loved it.

The love interest in this novel was developed so well and I liked how the author delved into his situation and I really got to read both experiences of being an Indian Amer ...more

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Nov 19, 2020 Kajree Gautom rated it liked it

3.5 stars

I think this was such a fun and powerful read! I loved the premise of the book, the storyline and the way it proceeded. There were parts in between where I felt the romance was kind of overpowering the main plot and it did get a lot cringy to my liking, but otherwise I enjoyed the friendship and the way the author handled culture and family. Overall, it was a really sweet story filled with strength of goals and dreams, and I loved that our MC was so well crafted. To see the dilemma o ...more

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Mar 05, 2020 Ahana M Rao (Heart’s Content) marked it as to-read

*Received an ARC via NetGalley from publisher in exchange for an honest review! Thank you!*

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Apr 20, 2020 Sylvs (NOVELty Reads) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: netgalley

ARC given through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

When I first came across The Knockout, I thought it would be just another sports or Indian-culture themed book but I got so much more than I hoped for. It was a book about self-love, friendship, family, support and of course, Muay Thai.

The story follows Kareena Thakkar, an Indian girl who just got the opportunity of a lifetime to compete in the US Muay Thai Open which could result in her getting onto the first ever Muay Thai Olympic t ARC given through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

When I first came across The Knockout, I thought it would be just another sports or Indian-culture themed book but I got so much more than I hoped for. It was a book about self-love, friendship, family, support and of course, Muay Thai.

The story follows Kareena Thakkar, an Indian girl who just got the opportunity of a lifetime to compete in the US Muay Thai Open which could result in her getting onto the first ever Muay Thai Olympic team! If only her sport wasn’t seen as too rough for girls and something she should be afraid to share with people outside her family. With debts rising and Kareena struggling to afford her competition entry, Kareena starts feeling as if she’s not “Indian enough” with Muay Thai only making it worse. On top of Kareena’s training she starts tutoring the “perfect Indian boy” Amit Patel, the boy that Kareena refuses to fall in love with.

I honestly loved everything about this book. I felt like I could relate to the character’s struggles and how the author, S.A Patel particularly focused on Kareena’s self-doubt and struggles fitting in with other girls especially who share her culture. Kareena was portrayed as a strong character however you could definitely see her layers underneath that façade as the book progressed. I truly started to respect her character even more for her bravery and courage which was displayed throughout the novel.

There was another character, Amit who was seen the “smart kid” or “soon-to-be-valedictorian” type of guy. His struggles also unfolded in a way that was completely surprising and unexpected (in a good way). For someone so clever as him he definitely had a lot of struggles living up to those expectations put on him and I think the dynamic between him and Kareena really helped him with those issues. There were times at which I absolutely fell in love with Amit and could definitely see why Kareena was falling in love with him. He was sweet, caring and kind but there were times when I felt like he might’ve been too much which definitely changed my perception of him over the duration of the novel.

Characters aside, there was a major spotlight towards friendships both healthy and toxic and it was explored in a way that I enjoyed reading about. The book starts off with Kareena having one main friend she talks to at school however as the book progresses, she comes out of her shell more and meets all sorts of people like her who are accepting and supportive of her and her accomplishments. But on the other hand, Kareena experiences bullying and the toxic nature of another student at her school. The way the author wrote about that character dynamic was done so well and I could feel both pity and hatred towards that character because she had a lot of character development much like Kareena and Amit.

All in all, I definitely loved this book with all its depictions of Muay Thai, friendships, culture and self-esteem. Throughout the whole novel I easily fell in love with all the characters and even more so with how they developed from start to finish.

ACTUAL RATING: 4.5 STARS
...more

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Oct 27, 2020 Vaishnavi -bookishbelle1008 rated it it was amazing

The Knockout 🥊

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

I would like to thank Edelweiss+ and Flux Publishing for an ARC of this book.

Kareena Thakkar has landed a once in a lifetime opportunity to attend the US Muay Thai Open which could lead to a spot on the first ever Olympic team. Her Parents are extremely proud of her, she is doing exceptionally well in school and working to get her family out of debt. The only downfall is that she feels alienated from the Indian community who leave her feeling that she is not Indian en The Knockout 🥊

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

I would like to thank Edelweiss+ and Flux Publishing for an ARC of this book.

Kareena Thakkar has landed a once in a lifetime opportunity to attend the US Muay Thai Open which could lead to a spot on the first ever Olympic team. Her Parents are extremely proud of her, she is doing exceptionally well in school and working to get her family out of debt. The only downfall is that she feels alienated from the Indian community who leave her feeling that she is not Indian enough, with her training causing the rift to widen.

As Kareena starts falling in love with Amit Patel, the idealistic Indian, she realises she will have to face disapproval, battle her own insecurities and remain focused on the fight to become a champion all at the cost of her pride. Does she have the courage to go down in history and make her bid for the Olympics?

I read The Trouble With Hating You earlier this year and I immediately fell in love with @sajnipatelbooks way of writing. I felt extremely lucky to be given an ARC of this book and it was an incredible read!

Kareena is fierce, courageous and dedicated towards her passion for Muay Thai and love for her family who serve as a shining light in her life. My heart was full when reading about this desi (Indian) female MC who is a beautiful badass and completely unapologetic about it! Her relationship with the seemingly perfect Amit is built on a foundation of respect, admiration and friendship. Amit never felt threatened by Kareena’s strength and whilst he took his time to understand her, he always stood by her. The various friendship groups that form throughout the story are all gifts in Kareena’s life; each teaching her a new lesson about herself.

What spoke to me most about this story was the unwavering faith that Kareena’s parents had in her that allowed her to become who she was. Regardless of their personal struggles, they constantly encouraged and reminded Kareena to fight for her dreams and to never give up. My parents have always been my biggest pillars of strength and I am for evermore grateful for their ongoing support and guidance. In the story, part of the Indian community that Kareena has been raised in are judgemental, discriminatory and harsh in their treatment towards Kareena and her family. To see the way her family unit works together against all odds and enables her to find an identity within that community is heartwarming.

I can’t wait for The Knockout to release on January 26th, 2021. It’s a book I would highly recommend that will leave you with a warmth in your heart and a smile on your lips as you fall in love with the characters and put down the book feeling inspired. ...more

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Aug 18, 2020 Gayathiri Rajendran rated it really liked it

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher, Flux Books for providing me with a free advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Knockout by Sajni Patel follows the story of Kareena Thakkar,a Muay Thai fighter who gets an opportunity to compete in the US Muay Thai Open which in turn might open doors to getting on the Muay Thai Olympic team. I do not generally read books about sports and I think this has to be my first. This book falls under the YA category but it has some serious th ...more

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Sep 13, 2020 Mariah Wamby rated it liked it

“I was the girl on fire. And what was fire if not unpredictable?”

Thank you to both NetGalley and North Star Editions for an ARC of The Knockout by Sajni Patel in exchange for my review!

The star of The Knockout is Kareena Thakkar who is making her way through her senior year of high school while struggling with financial issues brought about by her father’s serious illness. Kareena’s outlet through all of this has been Muay Thai, a form of martial arts that she loves and excels at. Thanks t ...more

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May 28, 2020 Shehzeen Muzaffar rated it it was ok

I was SO excited for this book and now that I have read it, i am sad because it was just not good?

While I am really happy about the American Indian representation and that HOLI scene made me REALLY happy, this book overall didnt work for me.

I mean i get it that Kareen is an athletic person and she's supposed to be strong but I found it SO hard to root for her ans I hate to say it but she was very one dimensional and don't even get me started on Amit!!! Amit. The perfect Amit. Who is so perfect ...more

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Apr 24, 2020 Aisyah rated it liked it

Rating : 3.5/5

It was superb! The concept of martial arts and high school also about female fighter are well-written. Hearing the word fight or martial art probably leads to something heavy or epic but I feel much cozy when I was reading this.

There were a lot of different conflict about schools, friends, boys and even Muay Thai itself. I really impressed by the way they all tangled and resolve together.

Personally, I do like Kareena. She's a good representative of a female fighter and an Indian h ...more

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Nov 01, 2020 Faith Noelle rated it liked it

3.5 stars - Overall I enjoyed this book. I think it's a nice, heartwarming story with a lot of girl power, friendship and family, and culture throughout. I didn't actually find the romance itself that interesting - it just fell flat a bit for me, and while the love interest has sweet moments which I liked, he was weirdly secretive about things that didn't really warrant it to me, and the romantic drama wasn't that interesting. That being said, I like that romance was really only part of the book ...more

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Aug 09, 2020 Alessandra Erazo rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Ever since I started this book I couldn’t let it down. I just loved how fierce and brave Kareena was regardless what people in the Indian community said about her. It shows how real her character is. This book reminded me that girls can be athletes too. This book deserves all the recognition of the world.

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Mar 06, 2020 Fanna marked it as definitive-tbr

Shelves: 2021-releases

March 7, 2020: My desi heart is flipping right now because I'm genuinely so excited to read this! A brown sports-romance is what I needed in life and now it's here. Thank you, Flux Books for the digital review copy via Netgalley!

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Apr 08, 2020 Sara Jo rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley

This. Book. Is. Amazing. 👏

A strong female high school athlete who knows exactly who she is and what she wants in life with amazingly supportive parents and a difficult family situation. I loved Everything! I want more! Amit, Lily, Kimmy! Do not skip out on this story!!

I was provided with an ARC of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Apr 17, 2020 Lori rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, ownvoices, wish-to-own, 2020-pub, romance, asian-authored, contemporary, favorites, yarc2020, ya

I'm not crying 😭😭😭😭. This book was so beautiful, and I'm so grateful that I got to read it as an ARC

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Apr 12, 2020 kb rated it it was ok

Shelves: 2020-reads, arcs-galleys, ya-reads

I was extra excited for this, so now I'm a little heartbroken to give it just an "okay" rating. A 17-year-old Indian girl excelling in the male-dominated arena of Muay Thai, with a little side of romance, seemed so promising! But while it did deliver in the cultural aspect (Holi part was 😍) and the "am I American/Indian enough" narrative—plus a mention of Filipino food culture (lol Pinoy pride, go swipe and see), something about the characters didn't feel quite right. They were either too one-di ...more

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Mar 24, 2020 Jesse rated it liked it

The Knockout is a story about seventeen-year-old Katreena, a Muay Thai fighter who gets the opportunity to fight at the USMTO (United States Muay Thai Open) that, I’d she wins, could put her on the path to be part of the first MT Olympic team and could get her family out of medical debt.

Imma be real, there were a number of moments where I was not a fan of Kareena, and that is valid. Sometimes she was repetitive and stubborn when she didn’t need to be, but I was on her side and I supported her t ...more

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Mar 01, 2020 Lashyashy84 rated it it was amazing

Shelves: books-from-giveaways

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. *I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Below is my honest review.*

**I don't spoil what happens in the story or how it ends, but I do mention some of the overall concepts.

~~SPOILER WARNING~~

🥊𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝖪𝗇𝗈𝖼𝗄𝗈𝗎𝗍 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝖺 𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗒 𝗀𝗈𝗈𝖽 𝖻𝗈𝗈𝗄. 𝖨𝗇𝗂𝗍𝗂𝖺𝗅𝗅𝗒 𝗐𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝖽𝗋𝖾𝗐 𝗆𝗒 𝖺𝗍𝗍𝖾𝗇𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇 𝗍𝗈 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝖻𝗈𝗈𝗄 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖼𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗋. 𝖨 𝖺𝗆 𝖿𝖺𝗆𝗂𝗅𝗂𝖺𝗋 𝗐𝗍𝗁 𝗆𝗂𝗑𝖾𝖽 𝗆𝖺𝗋𝗍𝗂𝖺𝗅 𝖺𝗋𝗍𝗌, 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗂𝗆𝗆𝖾𝖽𝗂𝖺𝗍𝖾𝗅𝗒 𝗍𝗁𝗈𝗎𝗀𝗁𝗍 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝖺𝗋𝖾 𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖿𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗌𝗍𝗒𝗅𝖾𝗌 𝗂𝗇𝖼𝗈𝗋𝗉𝗈𝗋𝖺𝗍𝖾𝖽 𝗂𝗇𝗍𝗈 𝗂𝗍, 𝗌𝗈 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗐𝖺𝗌𝗇'𝗍 𝖺 𝗌𝗎𝗋𝗉𝗋𝗂𝗌𝖾. *I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Below is my honest review.*

**I don't spoil what happens in the story or how it ends, but I do mention some of the overall concepts.

~~SPOILER WARNING~~

🥊𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝖪𝗇𝗈𝖼𝗄𝗈𝗎𝗍 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝖺 𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗒 𝗀𝗈𝗈𝖽 𝖻𝗈𝗈𝗄. 𝖨𝗇𝗂𝗍𝗂𝖺𝗅𝗅𝗒 𝗐𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝖽𝗋𝖾𝗐 𝗆𝗒 𝖺𝗍𝗍𝖾𝗇𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇 𝗍𝗈 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝖻𝗈𝗈𝗄 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖼𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗋. 𝖨 𝖺𝗆 𝖿𝖺𝗆𝗂𝗅𝗂𝖺𝗋 𝗐𝗍𝗁 𝗆𝗂𝗑𝖾𝖽 𝗆𝖺𝗋𝗍𝗂𝖺𝗅 𝖺𝗋𝗍𝗌, 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗂𝗆𝗆𝖾𝖽𝗂𝖺𝗍𝖾𝗅𝗒 𝗍𝗁𝗈𝗎𝗀𝗁𝗍 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝖺𝗋𝖾 𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖿𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗌𝗍𝗒𝗅𝖾𝗌 𝗂𝗇𝖼𝗈𝗋𝗉𝗈𝗋𝖺𝗍𝖾𝖽 𝗂𝗇𝗍𝗈 𝗂𝗍, 𝗌𝗈 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗐𝖺𝗌𝗇'𝗍 𝖺 𝗌𝗎𝗋𝗉𝗋𝗂𝗌𝖾. 𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝗆𝖺𝗂𝗇 𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗋𝖺𝖼𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝖻𝖾𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖨𝗇𝖽𝗂𝖺𝗇 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝗈𝗎𝗀𝗁, 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖨 𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖾𝖽 𝗂𝗍!

𝖨 𝖿𝖾𝖾𝗅 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗂𝗍 𝗂𝗌 𝗂𝗆𝗉𝗈𝗋𝗍𝖺𝗇𝗍 𝗍𝗈 𝗁𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗅𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖺𝗎𝗍𝗁𝗈𝗋'𝗌 𝗇𝗈𝗍𝖾 𝗍𝗈 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝖽𝖾𝗋, 𝗐𝗁𝗂𝖼𝗁 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗁𝖾𝖺𝗋𝗍𝖿𝖾𝗅𝗍 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗉𝗋𝗈𝗏𝗂𝖽𝖾𝖽 𝖺 𝗅𝗈𝗍 𝗈𝖿 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗅 𝗅𝗂𝖿𝖾 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗅 𝗅𝗂𝖿𝖾 𝖾𝗑𝗉𝖾𝗋𝗂𝖾𝗇𝖼𝖾 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖻𝖺𝖼𝗄𝗀𝗋𝗈𝗎𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝗈 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗌𝗍𝗈𝗋𝗒. 𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝖺𝗎𝗍𝗁𝗈𝗋 𝖽𝗂𝖽 𝖺 𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗒 𝗀𝗈𝗈𝖽 𝗃𝗈𝖻 𝖽𝖾𝗌𝖼𝗋𝗂𝖻𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖬𝗎𝖺𝗒 𝖳𝗁𝖺𝗂 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖼𝗎𝗅𝗍𝗎𝗋𝖺𝗅 𝗂𝗆𝗉𝖺𝖼𝗍. 𝖨𝗍 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝖺 𝗀𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗍 𝗌𝗍𝗈𝗋𝗒 𝗈𝖿 𝗉𝖾𝗋𝗌𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋𝖺𝗇𝖼𝖾, 𝗋𝗈𝗆𝖺𝗇𝖼𝖾, 𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖾, 𝖿𝗈𝗋𝗀𝗂𝗏𝖾𝗇𝖾𝗌𝗌, 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗋𝖼𝗈𝗆𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗆𝗎𝗅𝗍𝗂𝗉𝗅𝖾 𝗍𝗒𝗉𝖾𝗌 𝗈𝖿 𝖺𝖽𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗌𝗂𝗍𝗒 (𝖼𝗎𝗅𝗍𝗎𝗋𝖺𝗅, 𝗋𝖺𝖼𝗂𝖺𝗅, 𝖿𝗂𝗇𝖺𝗇𝖼𝗂𝖺𝗅, 𝗅𝗈𝗐 𝗌𝖾𝗅𝖿-𝖾𝗌𝗍𝖾𝖾𝗆, 𝗉𝗈𝗈𝗋 𝗁𝖾𝖺𝗅𝗍𝗁, 𝖾𝗍𝖼.).

𝖨 𝗀𝗂𝗏𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗌𝗍𝗈𝗋𝗒 𝗍𝗁𝖾 ➄ 𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗋𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗂𝗍 𝖽𝖾𝗌𝖾𝗋𝗏𝖾𝗌. ...more

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Mar 13, 2020 chrysa rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: 2020

"Whatever sadness or anger or loneliness you might face, harness it."

That was such a promising ya debut and one of my most anticipated ones. The book follows Kareena, a 17-year-old Indian who's training in preparation for the US Muay Thai Open, while coming to terms with her father's illness, figuring out her place in the Indian community and navigating her way through her first relationship. As someone who loves learning about different cultures I was pretty excited to read about traditio "Whatever sadness or anger or loneliness you might face, harness it."

That was such a promising ya debut and one of my most anticipated ones. The book follows Kareena, a 17-year-old Indian who's training in preparation for the US Muay Thai Open, while coming to terms with her father's illness, figuring out her place in the Indian community and navigating her way through her first relationship. As someone who loves learning about different cultures I was pretty excited to read about traditional Indian clothing, food and festivities. The chapter about Holi was one of my favorites. Look it up if you haven't heard of it, it's a riot of color and joy. Another thing I loved about The Knockout was how encouraging Kareena's parents were. Particularly in sports, gender stereotypes are pervasive. Therefore, it was refreshing to read about a young woman of color establishing herself as a history-making martial artist, while having the full support of her family.

One of the questions I'd asked myself when I first started reading was this one: should I read books about realistic situations, problems and solutions (including the slightly problematic ones) or should I go with books that feature ideal relationships and a healthy environment? I can't say I have a definite answer (if only the world weren't so casually cruel..) but this book definitely took it too far. You see, we have Amit. Amit was so perfect he made me furious. Don't get me wrong, I love how he didn't judge people or diminish their feelings and there's definitely a lesson to be learnt there, but honestly his whole purpose was to serve Kareena. He had no life. Everything he did, eventually, benefited her. Also, what's the deal with him visiting her house super late at night and going to her gym uninvited? Is this supposed to be what love and devotion look like? I call this stalking behavior. Not to mention he was supposed to have an IQ of 160. I don't know, people. That seemed like a ridiculous thing to throw in. Further into the whole utopia issue, the majority of the people in this novel were saints, appearing when needed to help our protagonist. Do people in real life actually organize all these fundraisers? And since when are there companies that favor the poor?? Finally, I didn't like how the author handled Kareena's dad's illness and approaching death. If you're looking for a book with a similar theme I'd recommend Second Chance Summer. It was at times hard to read but utterly cathartic.

To end on a high note, I'd like to point out Patel's ability to make the ordinary seem extraordinary. I loved how she used scenery to set the tone of the scene and was rich in her descriptions. The cover is amazing as well.

Theme Song: Eminem - Guts Over Fear (ft. Sia)

~An e-copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.~ ...more

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Aug 01, 2020 Ashley rated it liked it

Shelves: arcs-to-read

Somewhere between a 2.5 and 3 is how I would rate this book. I was really interested to read to this because of the desi representation and the plot itself seemed interesting with the Muy Thai part, but it really didn’t meet my expectations in the end. Not to say that it’s a bad book, and I encourage others to give it a try if they seem interested but some parts really fell flat for me. As an Indian American, I like to see that representation, as there is with Kareena and Amit. And the struggles Somewhere between a 2.5 and 3 is how I would rate this book. I was really interested to read to this because of the desi representation and the plot itself seemed interesting with the Muy Thai part, but it really didn’t meet my expectations in the end. Not to say that it’s a bad book, and I encourage others to give it a try if they seem interested but some parts really fell flat for me. As an Indian American, I like to see that representation, as there is with Kareena and Amit. And the struggles she had with balancing her culture and her American life was very valid and understandable, and I could kind of relate but not completely. While I totally understand that everyone has their own insecurities and there are some Indian people who are very traditional and can be very strict and judgmental, I just couldn’t relate to her being insecure for being athletic. I’m sorry I couldn’t. Maybe I’m just projecting because I’m currently trying to get more in shape, but every time she felt embarrassed about being athletic and having abs, all I could think was I wish I had could have that honestly. And while I know some traditional Indian people in my family, I couldn’t relate to having people judge me for being athletic. My Indian parents would have been thrilled if I had more athletic tendencies. And I also felt like American culture is much more geared towards people being athletic, so I guess I couldn’t understand why she felt she’d be judged like that at school. Again, I completely understand that she is valid in having her anxieties and she does state in the book that “Insecurity isn’t logical.” And that’s very true, so I don’t want this review to be perceived as me bashing the characters anxiety. I just personally could not relate, and that’s fine.

Some things I did enjoy was the girl power that played a big role. We love to see women supporting women. Fellow female athletes banded together to help her reach her goals of performing in the Muy Thai competition, which in turn led to mass support from other students into the school and I enjoyed seeing that. The romantic interest Amit, was a very sweet guy, and while he wasn’t perfect, he always made sure Kareena knew he wasn’t judging her and remained supportive continuously, helping her with her family and and her personal goals. The romance was a bit rushed but still cute. There was some petty girl drama, but for the most part Kareena had some pretty awesome and supportive friends which was great, as well as parents who encouraged her constantly and sacrificed a lot for her. That’s one things that can be said for most desi parents, including my own. They do their best in making sure their children can be the best they can be. It can become overbearing at times, like it happened to Amit, whose parents just expected the best from him, but it can also be nice to have parents who always have your back. Kareena’s parents never wanted her to give up on her dreams.

If you think you would enjoy this book, please give it a shot, as I know others have enjoyed tremendously. It wasn’t my personal favorite but I don’t regret reading it. I received this ARC from NetGalley and all opinions stated here are my own ...more

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Mar 02, 2020 Cece Beckman rated it it was ok · review of another edition

The Knockout Advance Readers Copy (ARC) by S.A. Patel

“Let's talk about the cover of this novel: a close up drawing of a female torso, where she is preparing for a fight, her brown arm flexed, her fist tight as she finishes wrapping her left hand with pink fabric, the Henna tattoos etched on her fingers like war paint. It’s an impressive image, one that would have readers buying the novel purely on the cover alone.” Cecelia Beckman, Sheaf & Ink

The Story

Kareena Thakkar is a fighter. But not just a The Knockout Advance Readers Copy (ARC) by S.A. Patel

“Let's talk about the cover of this novel: a close up drawing of a female torso, where she is preparing for a fight, her brown arm flexed, her fist tight as she finishes wrapping her left hand with pink fabric, the Henna tattoos etched on her fingers like war paint. It’s an impressive image, one that would have readers buying the novel purely on the cover alone.” Cecelia Beckman, Sheaf & Ink

The Story

Kareena Thakkar is a fighter. But not just any fighter, she participates in the "art of the eight limbs," Muay Thai a combat sport. She practices day and night to be the best fighter in her region. When an opportunity of a lifetime arises, Kareena will do anything for a chance to earn a place on the first ever US Olympic team.

My Thoughts

The Knockout synopsis was a unique and intriguing one. It’s a story of a young Indian high school student fighting for more than just a national title, but a place in a sport dominated by men. And to see a fierce heroine, making a place for herself by pursuing her passions is always a refreshing and aspiring story to read.

Even though the story is an #ownvoice Young Adult debut with an interesting premise, the execution of the narrative was disappointing. As the reader, I had no emotional investment for Kareena Thakkar because she lacked identifiable characteristics. She didn't seem fully rounded with complex feelings or emotions that would endear her to the reader.

I think the main concern I had was the writing itself. There was so much potential for this novel to be as powerful as its title. Where Patel could have explored, in much more detail and depth, the Indian culture, emotions of the main character, her drive to fight, why she started fighting, and more.

Given that this was a story about fighting, literally and figuratively, for so many reasons: family, friendship, and self, Patel could have made a more lasting impression had the dialogue sounded more natural and not a torrent of words with little to no inference. But most importantly, writing more vivid and elaborate descriptions of Kareena’s culture, her emotions, feelings, surroundings, and interactions to add to the fullness of the story.

Happy Reading ̴ Cece ...more

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Apr 21, 2020 Annette Jordan rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley-review, young-adult, romance, fiction, 2020

The Knockout by S.A. Patel is the story of seventeen year old Kareena Thakkar , a young Indian - American girl who feels disconnected from her culture and heritage because of her love for Muay Thai . She does not just love to fight, she excels at it , so much so that she wins a spot at a prestigious national competition that could lead to a place on the US National Team and possibly even a chance to represent her country at the Olympics. Despite the wholehearted support of her parents, she strug The Knockout by S.A. Patel is the story of seventeen year old Kareena Thakkar , a young Indian - American girl who feels disconnected from her culture and heritage because of her love for Muay Thai . She does not just love to fight, she excels at it , so much so that she wins a spot at a prestigious national competition that could lead to a place on the US National Team and possibly even a chance to represent her country at the Olympics. Despite the wholehearted support of her parents, she struggles to believe that the rest of the Indian community will be as accepting of a girl being so unfeminine as to fight , and from the reactions of some of her schoolmates she may not be right,. When she is asked to tutor Amit Patel , who might just be the world's most perfect Indian boy, the last thing she wants is for him to find out, but when she starts to fall for him she realises that keeping secrets will only come between them.
There are lots of things to like about this book most notably the positive messages it gives about girls being involved in sports of all kinds. Not only does the author stress how much balance training and competing gives to Kareena , she also shows other girls being supportive of each other when it comes to sports, cheering each other on , fundraising and welcoming new people into their group. I also really loved Kareena's relationship with her parents and how supportive and accepting of her they are. While I eventually grew to appreciate her growing relationship with Amit, I found it a little off- putting at first.
While there is a strong emphasis on the sports aspect of the story as well as the romance, Kareena's character also undergoes a lot of personal growth and development, learning to accept herself and feel at home in her own skin as well as learning that not all friendships are meant to last for ever and sometimes it is better to let the toxic influences go. Now I have to admit that at times that growth was frustratingly slow, as Kareena made the same mistakes and assumptions over and over, but in the end there was definitely a real sense of satisfaction.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own. ...more

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Jul 09, 2020 Kate Larkindale rated it liked it

Netgalley let me read this book early and I'm grateful for that. I mean, look at that cover! It's gorgeous!

The Knockout is about Kareena Thakaar, a seventeen-year-old Indian American who does't quite fit the mould of perfect Indian daughter. She fights Muay Thai and is making a name for herself in the sport. If she can raise enough money, she can fight in the US championships. And if she does well there, she might even make the Olympic team.

She needs to focus and she needs to train. But it's not Netgalley let me read this book early and I'm grateful for that. I mean, look at that cover! It's gorgeous!

The Knockout is about Kareena Thakaar, a seventeen-year-old Indian American who does't quite fit the mould of perfect Indian daughter. She fights Muay Thai and is making a name for herself in the sport. If she can raise enough money, she can fight in the US championships. And if she does well there, she might even make the Olympic team.

She needs to focus and she needs to train. But it's not easy. Her father is sick and she's all too aware of how much his continual medical treatments and hospitalizations cost. And then there's Amit, the super-smart perfect Indian valedictorian who inexplicably needs tutoring in computer science. Amit, who makes her feel all kinds of things she's never felt before.

Kareena has always considered herself not Indian enough. Indian girls don't fight, yet fighting is what she's good at. Indian girls are involved with the Indian community and go to the mandir. Yet Kareena's family don't go to mandir and her mother is too busy working two jobs to join the other aunties in their gossip and matchmaking.

As Kareena struggles to balance the things important to her, she also struggles to figure out who she is.

There was a lot to like about this book, but it fell flat for me. I wanted to really root for Kareena, but she never really became a fully formed character for me and her constant negativity about herself was draining. She only needs to look around at the friends and family who support her to see that she isn't actually lacking in any of the ways she seems to think she was.

It was also difficult to believe Amit's character, especially the high-level programming job he has. The kid is seventeen. He's not going to be given access to patient's medical records, even in the line of duty. And who hires their seventeen-year-old nephew to do something this high-level anyway? Not to mention he's just too nice, especially when Kareena is anything but toward him.

The writing wasn't fantastic either, which is perhaps why the characters fell flat for me.

So overall, while I loved the premise and the Muay Thai fighting, this one just isn't as good as it could have been. ...more

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