“Riotous – and righteous.”—Vanity Fair

“For all that it deals with systemic racism and economic precarity, The Payback is a terrifically fun book that made me laugh out loud at least once every chapter.” —The Los Angeles Times

“A twisted, cathartic romp…There’s an undercurrent of Luigi Mangione-like disquiet in this story: We’re rooting for the brave antihero, the political martyr, the rebel with a rightful cause.”—The New York Times Book Review 

New York Times 31 Novels to Read This Summer

“A novel of great fun and unforgettable fury, The Payback sharply questions the punitive systems we live within, the contradiction between social wellbeing and individual wellness, and what it means to work toward a decent life.” —Megha Majumdar, bestselling author of A Burning
 

“In Cauley’s timely and playful novel, three retail co-workers-turned-friends hatch a plot to wipe out student loan debt. From bonding over their distrust of the debt police to carrying out their daring scheme, the trio’s story reads like a delightful heist movie. (Actually, Hollywood, if you’re listening: Snap this one up).” —Bustle, Most Anticipated Books of Summer

“A dark comedy on the friendship and resourcefulness of three Black women who plan a caper to erase everyone’s debts. Engaging, emotional, and entertaining.”—Boston Globe, Best Books of Summer

“Timely and riotous…[The Payback] delivers outstandingly on this spectacular premise. Cauley’s prose sings, snappy and clever, painting a picture of a world that feels at the same time utterly absurd and chillingly close at hand.”—CrimeReads

“Could this novel be any more timely or more delightful? Delicious, fabulist and cuttingly insightful about the current moment, The Payback is Moonstruck meets heist movie, true fun with real teeth. We will all be reading Cauley for many years to come.” —Rufi Thrope, author of Margo's Got Money Troubles

“Cauley burnishes her page-turner with shrewd commentary on the debt burden placed on first-generation college students. It’s a knockout.” —Publishers Weekly

“The Payback is as shady, cunning, and wickedly fun as its gimlet-eyed narrator. It describes - like nothing else - an America drowning in cheap merch and dipping FICA scores, the endless want of living here. Luigi, save us. We know not what we've done.” —Danzy Senna, author of Colored Television