Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. I absolutely love boxing and loved this book, but I feel like even readers who aren't fans of boxing would enjoy the story. ~ Sierra Doherty (Reviewer), NetGalley

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. I was not sure I would like this book, as I am not a fan of boxing or any other sport, for that matter. Yet, as I read, I began to appreciate the person Barry is and how he maneuvered his way through life despite the many obstacles he encountered. Barry is lovable but flawed. Early on, he followed his love of boxing, while working on cars to earn a way. Little did he realize or know that the two men who gave him a job really were out to exploit him. He kept at his boxing under the tutelage of Albert at the gym. Can he finally succeed at what he wants? Is it possible in today’s world? This is Barry’s story about his life and his aspirations, trudging along through the many pitfalls he encounters. I like the book, because it brought home how different life may be from what we have envisioned, with many surprises. It showed me that you can achieve what you want, only that it may take effort, time and perseverance. This is a good coming of age story that can and will inspire. ~ Kathy Talley (Reviewer), NetGalley

I honestly wasn't sure I was going to like this book as I'm certainly not a fan of boxing! But I was pleasantly surprised because as a retired high school English teacher, I am a fan of teacher/mentors seeing the unrecognized potential in students and fostering that drive to help them find their passions and succeed. So of course I adored Barry from the beginning and cheered him on as he found his inherent nature working with cars and followed his nascent talent for boxing. Barry is a lovable, flawed young man who has beaten the odds, and as he falls in with Ronnie and Terry who give him a job, he has no idea how they are plotting to exploit him. And yet he finds solace and a desire to push himself physically at the gym where Albert teaches him to be a true athlete. What fate has in store for Barry is the rest of the story, but let's just say I inhaled this book as I was hooked from the beginning! So while I may never attend a boxing match, I recommend this book as a lovely coming of age story that reveals how life has its surprises, but if you believe in yourself, have a work ethic and a conscience, you can achieve incredible success and get ahead of life's inevitable pitfalls and live your best life. ~ Anne Foster (Educator) , NetGalley

N.E. David is a natural story-teller with a strong, distinctive voice perfectly suited to this direct and hard-hitting account of the young boxer, Barry Mullins. Nick has an instinctive grip on what makes a reader want to move swiftly to finish the first line, to finish the first paragraph, to finish the first page and to keep on going to the end. He’s also one of those rare writers who knows what it really feels like under the skin of so-called ‘ordinary’ people, and his ability to tell their stories on their terms is what makes this book truly unforgettable. ~ Terry Edge, author and editor

For boxer Barry Mullins, opportunity comes hand-in-hand with trouble. In Barry, author N.E.David has created a hero for the age of uncertainty. A book that shines fresh light on our times. ~ Peter Bartram, author of the Colin Crampton series

BOXED IN is like all the great title fights - it has drama, suspense and intrigue and packs a major punch. But it's not just a novel about boxing - it's about people and the places that mould them. A fantastic book. ~ James Oddy, Boxing Monthly correspondent

In Boxed In, N.E.David reintroduces us to Baz, first encountered in one of Nick's short works, A Day at the Races. But in this case it's a more rounded and nuanced Baz, a boxer-come-motor mechanic, more failed than failure as he faces yet another setback, a setback that threatens the very essence of who Baz is. Nick's careful prose charts the course of Baz's rise and fall, filling in the essential gaps as he lives guilelessly trusting unworthy friends until he finally figures things out. ~ Alan Gillott, writer and broadcaster

I really enjoyed BOXED IN. Even though boxing isn't my thing I got caught up in the individual stories and I liked the different viewpoints and tangled destinies. I could see it as a film with some quirky direction by Danny Boyle! ~ June Taylor, author of Keep Your Friends Close