Wifey in the Making

It's the thrilling, gritty tale fans of superstar Kiki Swinson's nationally bestselling urban lit novels have been waiting for—the story of how Kira, an impressionable teen, emerges from poverty to become the fierce, indomitable criminal known as Wifey. But learning the streets has a cost that could break her faster than make her . . .

Growing up in a housing project in Portsmouth, Virginia's poorest neighborhood, 18-year-old Kira is tired of living with constant violence, no money—and even less hope. Still, she has a dream: to open her own hair salon. But that will require cash she won't get working 9-5 . . .

Kira knows better than to fall victim to the local drug dealers, pimps, or stick-up boys. Her solution—go into business for herself with several illegal side hustles. And with help from best friends Buffy and Katrina, she quickly aces everything from fencing expensive department store merchandise to ripping off drug dealers so skillfully they never know they've been robbed. Plus, selling drugs soon gives her all the cash she needs to quit.

But for Kira, breaking the law is now a special rush she can't—and doesn't want—to shake. As she gets in deeper and deeper, dating bad boys and learning all their tricks, she's fast finding ruthless rivals, vicious enemies . . . and shattering tragedy. Soon, the losses and arrests pile up, and it might take more than even Kira has to escape the consequences . . . and survive to come out on top.