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Title:	How to Loiter in a Turf War
Authors:	Solid, Coco
Genre:	Fiction: New Zealand
Pages:	176
Year:	2022
Language:	English
Description:	It's a day in the life of three friends in Tamaki Makaurau/Auckland. With gentrification closing in and racial tensions sweltering, the girls must cling to their friendship like a life raft, determined not to let their neighbourhood drift out to sea. This title is also offered as part of the Narrative Muse Book Club. View this title on the Narrative Muse website
Categories:	Fiction, Fiction NZ, Culture/Ethnic/Racial, Māori, Short Read, Staff Pick, Narrative Muse Book Club, 2024 Titles, New Adult

Reviews

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By: ROTO 018		2026-03-18 12:32:31

Easy to read. Original - although not all writing styles appealed to every group member. We enjoyed the characters, and thought that the book covered a lot of issues. It was revealing about parts of life we know little about.

By: TEPUK 006		2026-03-11 13:01:32

Basically about the effects of gentrification of an area usually peopled by working migrants in rentals. Interesting and thought provoking references to colonisation. Unusually written and challenging.

By: WHANG 036		2025-09-29 13:55:24

Some loved it - others struggled with the different writing style and format - thinking it was like 'sound bites', rather than development of characters/plot. We recognised some gems and had sympathy for the key themes.

By: COROM 005		2025-07-29 09:41:35

Some didn't finish the book but the ones who did enjoyed the novel. We agreed it was designed to be provocative and the discussions it prompted were very interesting, we thought the author explored the complicated nature of gentrification well. The characters were funny, imperfect and realistic, reading the everyday experiences of them navigating often subtly hostile situations felt very poignant.

By: DUNED 089		2025-02-20 10:03:00

The group was divided. Some loved it but others didn't relate to it at all. The discussion was really interesting so I think the author actually achieved what she set out to do.

By: CHCH 481		2024-11-21 11:48:40

Worth the effort that we felt was initially required. Colourful prose, and an important reflection of N.Z. society at the moment. A short read and a different type of narrative.

By: GOVER 005		2024-08-24 08:45:24

Although we all found it a little difficult at first, mainly due to the novel writing style, we all really enjoyed it. Its a quick read and we delighted in the journey it took us around parts of Tamaki Makaurau, much of which we recognised. The characters were fun, flawed but likeable and although we are a middle aged bunch of cis gendered straight P?keha women we still loved it!!! Lol. Gave us much to talk about re colonisation and the gentrification of towns and how that might feel to those not doing the gentrification!

By: AUCK 450		2024-08-19 10:40:26

This really divided opinions. One person didn't read the book after reading the back cover. Another was super enthusiastic as she felt it voiced some of her own thoughts. Another found it didn't sit well with her own world view. Two others of us were fascinated. Really stimulated fruitful discussion.