Up in Smoke, Nick Brooks
Up in Smoke, Nick Brooks
List: $22.99 | Sale: $16.09
Club: $11.49

Up in Smoke

Author: Nick Brooks

Narrator: Aubrey Joseph, Megan Sousa

Unabridged: 6 hr

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 05/06/2025


Synopsis

"A dynamic and heart-pounding thriller . . . Up In Smoke has the highest of stakes and a tender love story at its core. Nick Brooks is a force." —Jessica Goodman, NYT-bestselling author of The Meadowbrook Murders and The Legacies

A girl determined to clear her brother's name. A boy determined to keep his out of the line of fire. A secret smoldering between them. This edge-of-your-seat mystery from the author of Promise Boys is perfect for fans of Karen McManus and The Hate U Give.

Unmask a murderer or take the fall.

After Cooper King is pressured by big brother figure Jason to go on a looting spree during a local march, the unthinkable happens: gunshots ring in the air and someone ends up dead. After Cooper flees, the news shows four teens in ski masks near the scene of the murder—Cooper and his friends. Cooper fears the cops will come knocking at his door, and the pressure only mounts when a suspect is taken into custody: Jason.

Monique, Jason's sister and Cooper's longtime crush, is willing to go any length to clear her brother's name. Even if she needs to go into the belly of the beast and confront the killer herself. When she teams up with Cooper, they fall down the investigation rabbit hole and start to fall for each other. But little does Monique know that within this web of deception, Cooper is shrouding the truth that he was there when the shots went off. If the pair fail to uncover the real murderer, Jason will get locked up for a crime he didn't commit—and drag down Cooper with him.

Pick this up if you love:
● high stakes, dual POV thrillers
● page-turning mysteries
● will-they-won't-they romance
● twists and turns you never see coming

About Nick Brooks

Nick Brooks is the critically-acclaimed author of Promise Boys and award-winning filmmaker from Washington, DC. He is a 2020 graduate of USC’s TV and Film Production program. His short film, Hoop Dreamin’, earned him the George Lucas Scholar Award and was a finalist in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Film Fest. Before becoming a filmmaker, Nick was an educator working with at-risk youth, and many of his stories are inspired by his experiences with the children and families of his community. He is also the author of the middle-grade series, Nothing Interesting Ever Happens to Ethan Fairmont.

About Megan Sousa

Megan Sousa is a compelling voice artist, actor, and stand-up comedian with narration credits in two audiobooks and one animated project. Known for her warm, expressive delivery, she brings characters to life with clarity, authenticity, and emotional nuance. Her voiceover work includes national campaigns for Farmers Insurance and Oscar Mayer, and she’s appeared on-screen in productions for HBO, Netflix, and ABC.Megan starred in They Cloned Tyrone—nominated for nine NAACP Awards—where she also lent her voice talent. She’s inspired by storytelling that reveals depth, sparks empathy, and resonates long after the final word. Her narration style spans energetic and emotional, casual and relatable, with specialties in comedic, dramatic, and authoritative tones—making her a natural fit across a wide range of genres.MeganSousa.com/voice-over


Reviews

4.5 stars rounded up I feel like this could turn into a YA mystery series! Set in Washington D.C., Up in Smoke follows a Black teen boy who has gotten in over his head when agreeing to help friends loot during a protest for money results in his friend Jason is arrested for murder. Cooper doesn't thin......more

Goodreads review by Zana on April 15, 2025

3.5 stars. What a thrilling ride! I love how Nick Brooks keeps it real in his books and doesn't shy away from the issues that Black working class teens face in their lives, particularly with systemic oppression and police brutality. While I didn't like this one as much as Promise Boys, I still had a g......more

Goodreads review by April on May 06, 2025

4.5 ⭐️| Excellent story! This book touched on some heavy subjects such as crime against black and brown boys/men, police corruption and protests gone wrong. The story was raw, real and drew out a lot of emotion. The characters are well developed and authentic, especially Cooper the protagonist, whos......more

Goodreads review by Jaimes_Mystical_Library on February 27, 2025

This was a quick, fast-paced ya thriller. I loved how this story was told through dual points of view between Cooper and Monique. This book was unique and a bit unpredictable which I really liked. Up In Smoke was very well written, especially as it covers some heavier themes. Overall this was a grea......more

Goodreads review by Cassandra on April 21, 2025

Thank you NetGalley for the digital copy of this book. Cooper King finds himself in over his head when he joins his friend/brother-figure on a looting spree during a march. Suddenly he is standing there, stolen goods in his bag, gunshots ringing in the air and someone ending up dead. This is a fast-......more


Quotes

* "A thrilling, heart-racing mystery with a page-turning budding romance at its center." —Kirkus, starred review

"A dynamic and heart-pounding thriller about systemic injustice, Up In Smoke has the highest of stakes and a tender love story at its core. Nick Brooks is a force." —Jessica Goodman, NYT-bestselling author of The Meadowbrook Murders and The Legacies

"A tense contemporary whodunit that will get you thinking and keep you guessing." —Lamar Giles, author of Ruin Road

"A nostalgic love story, intertwined in a fast-paced mystery that captures the gut-wrenching fears and emotional conflicts Black teenagers are forced to overcome in today's America.” —Jumata Emill, author of The Black Queen and Wander in the Dark

"[An] intense thriller [with] classic murder mystery elements [and] issues surrounding racism, police brutality, and corruption." —Publishers Weekly

Praise for Promise Boys:

An Odyssey Award for Excellence in Audiobook Production for Young Adults. A Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Honoree. A NYPL & Kirkus Best Book of 2023

"Thrilling, captivating, and blade-sharp." —Karen M. McManus, #1 New York Times bestselling author of One of Us Is Lying

"A brilliant pulls-no-punches mystery with bruised hearts at its core." —Adam Silvera, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of They Both Die at the End

"Expertly crafted." —Nic Stone, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of Dear Martin

*
"A top-notch page-turner . . . will grip readers, who won’t want to stop reading." —Booklist, starred review


Awards

  • School Library Journal Best Books of the Year