A Project Chick by Nikki Turner

Looking for a tale about a straight up guttersnipe (in my Iyalna Vzant voice)? Keep it moving, cause this ain’t it. THIS urban tale is about Tressa, a fly girl of the 90s and 2000s, who is accustomed to the finer things in life, thanks to her boyfriend Lucky. Though Tressa is what some may consider a “hood princess,” she is anything BUT…a victim of unfortunate circumstances, Tressa decides to reclaim her life by leaving  her abusive drug dealing ass boyfriend. With only pennies to her name, Tressa fights (literally) tooth and nail to make a life for her and her twin boys. Now, is Project Chick a Pulitzer Prize book? Hell nah. But it’s (somewhat) relatable af, at least for me. That whole leaving a man because he ain’t shit, and going out and getting it out the mud for you and your children…yeah, I felt that. Butttt then there were times when I was like okayyy Ms. Turner, you’re pushing it (i.e. the ending of the book side eye). Oh and random fun fact: My dad had this book, and I snuck it out of his home library in 9th grade, and I devoured it. Back then A Project Chick had me gaspinggg for air. Now in 2022, it ain’t giving all of that, I’m going to be honest but taking this book for what it is…one of the first Urban Lit./Triple Crown Publication books of the early 2000s (ahh the feels), it was worth the reread.

Last words: READER BEWARE — if you’re a stickler for perfect grammar and syntax, just go on and lay this book down baby, because this one ain’t for you. BUT if you’re in a mood for a quick nostalgic Urban Lit. read, PLEASE PROCEED..this one is definitely for you.

Trigger Warning: domestic violence, emotional/physical/verbal abuse, handicap abuse, torture, murder, animal cruelty and abuse, addiction, death of a parent, gun violence.

Spice: meh...