Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite

Beyond The Gate is an urban crime novel by Nicole E. Avery. Seventeen-year-old Nyla Slayings' life didn't turn out quite the way it was supposed to after her parents were deported six years ago. Forced to live with her abusive foster father, the only respite she gets is being a vendor of food products at the local baseball stadium. However, things take a turn for the worse when her foster father catches her being intimate with her boyfriend, Juan, leading to a confrontation that results in his death. Plagued by guilt, Nyla and Juan find themselves blackmailed by a corrupt detective who wants to take advantage of their situation. Deeply in love, Nyla and Juan are determined to get through their predicament together. But Juan's untimely accident puts Nyla into a dire situation she never could've envisioned.

A tragic tale about parental abuse, systematic corruption, and the loss of innocence, Beyond The Gate is an absorbing read from start to finish. Author Nicole E. Avery tells a gut-wrenching story of a foster child who finds herself being the victim of abuse by the very people meant to protect her. The narrative follows Nyla, an enterprising seventeen-year-old who struggles to navigate her precarious situation surrounded by an abusive father, corrupt cops, and a hostile work environment. Through this captivating crime thriller, Avery tackles some heavy topics, such as child abuse, rape, harassment, corruption, and much more. Nyla is someone you can't help but root for. If you enjoy books containing relevant social issues, don't miss out on Beyond The Gate.