'Ace of Spades' is one of my most anticipated books of 2021 and it did not disappoint. I loved this book so much and I want everyone to read it when it comes out on June 10th.

Firstly, lets talk about how beautiful the cover for this book is!! I am obsessed with both the UK and US cover for this book as they are both so beautiful and I love them.

'Ace of Spades' follows Chiamaka and Devon, who are the only two Black students at an all white private school but a mysterious online group called 'Aces' starts sharing their secrets to the school and trying to ruin their lives.

This book was so insanely good. I started reading this in February but put it down because I wasn't in the mood for it and didn't want to force myself to read it when I knew I would love it when I was in the mood for it. Then yesterday I picked it up again, and blew through the whole thing so fast and loved every second of it. This book makes you feel every emotion. I loved Chiamaka and Devon and just wanted them to experience only good things after every awful thing that they are put through in this book. The last chapter made me cry a little bit because I was just so proud of Chiamaka and Devon.

The plot twists in this book were insane!! I was on edge the whole book until the very last page because I didn't know what was going to happen next.

I just loved 'Ace of Spades' so much and I want to just talk about this book so much. I can't wait till this book comes out in June so everyone can read it and I can finally talk about it with people. I can't wait to read more books by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé because 'Ace of Spades' was incredible.

Thank you to Usborne Publishing for providing me with an advance copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Ace of Spades is a brilliantly-twisted, YA dark academia thriller by debut author Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé. Marketing this book as "Gossip Girl meets Get Out" was a great move because it had me intrigued before I'd even read a page. Thankfully, the book did NOT disappoint!

The story is told through the POV of our two MC's: Chiamaka and Devon. Aside from being the only Black students at Niveus - an elite, private school - they don't have much in common. Chiamaka is the rich, "popular" girl and her entire social life has been meticulously curated to cement this status. Devon, on the other hand, comes from a lower socioeconomic background and has no desire to be 'seen', preferring to focus on his musical talent instead.

Things seem to be going well until Aces, an anonymous texter, begins exposing secrets that always seem to target Chiamaka and Devon. After multiple incidents that severely impacted the pair's relationships, Chiamaka and Devon realise they have to work together to uncover the truth - before Aces reveals something that could change their lives forever.

Reading the first few pages, I thought this was going to be another YA book with lots of teenage friend/relationship drama. I could not have been more wrong. Ace of Spades had all of that and more. Very quickly, this book veered from light-hearted, teenage angst to an anxiety-inducing, racially-charged horror. There is an artful exploration of so many intersections, including race, sexuality and class. I loved the queer rep - it felt authentic, intentional and thoroughly fleshed out - a stark contrast to the usual "let's chuck a few queer characters in for the *diversity* and then forget about them."

Faridah's pithy and direct prose, coupled with a surprising plot, made Ace of Spades a delightful read. This is a debut novel and after reading it, I have every faith that this won't be the last I hear of Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé.

Thank you to NetGalley and Usborne for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
*** Although I was sent an ARC, I ended up pre-ordering a physical copy because I loved it that much!

A powerful, chilling look at systemic racism with endlessly compelling characters and a pacy, twist plot that, at times, left me breathless. No spoilers but...wow. I need everyone to read this and get to the second half so we can TALK ABOUT THIS BOOK.

Some beautiful LGBTQ+ representation too with some moments that felt like a punch in the gut and others that are so sweet, so endearing, that they had me shouting, 'yes!!!".

It takes a special kind of mastery to write as crisply as this and to develop characters the way this author does, uncovering layer after layer after layer. Definitely one to watch.

Ace of Spades is a deeply moving, riveting thriller that everyone should read.

My Rating: 5 Stars

Not all YA stories are this good. I think that's why I keep reading them; to discover stories that don't just fill pages but resonates with what happens in this world and to tell stories about them. The writing, characters, and representation were amazingly done in this book. The story made me so angry and indignant for how helpless the characters were made to feel.
This book was engrossing without one moment of distraction. It took a while to get used to Chiamaka's character, but I was fully invested in the book once I realized something more than teen-pranks in play. I'd ask everyone to read this book because it is gripping and has a strong plot. I highly recommend this book to fans of Thrillers and YA fiction.

I was kindly provided an ARC of this book by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Advertising this book as a gossip girl meets get out is really accurate, and I think it sums up the book pretty well.
I devoured this book in one sitting because I was so intrigued and involved in the story, it is brilliantly crafted : the tension, the characters, the suspense. This book targets real and serious issues, and it does it very well.
The plot unfolds quite well, yet, the ending seemed a bit rush and simplistic compared to the rest of the book which was so clever and that's the reason I don't rate it 5/5 stars.
Overall, it is a powerful book, and I am so glad there are books like this one hitting our shelves.

This book scared the hell out of me. Horror should be added as one of the sub genres. The story starts out so normal with both our main characters, Chiamaka and Devon, the only black kids in a privileged private school being selected for leadership roles. The gossip girl tagline quickly becomes evident in the first few chapters and I was geared up for a thrilling but fun ride and out of nowhere the plot hits you in the face. My biggest nightmare was brought chillingly to life with Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé‘s writing (I can’t tell you what it is because spoilers) and it was liking sitting in the driver seat of a car with no brakes waiting for the crash. The adrenaline rush was insane and I thought my heart would beat itself out of my ribcage. It was stunning and goose bump inducing and so insanely good!!!! I did have some issues with the way it ended, though. It felt a little rushed, with the climax feeling a little unrealistic and some loose threads to tie up but but but but don’t let that deter you from picking up this incredible debut. I absolutely recommend it and would definitely advise preordering it as soon as you can.

Wow, this book gave me the chills! I loved this so so much. There are so many strong themes in this story. I really enjoyed the mysterious component of this book with the anonymous texts, it reminded me a lot of pretty little liars and gossip girl. This is such an important story and it made me cry in many places. I would highly recommend this book.

Chiamaka is head girl at her elite private academy and isn't ashamed of who she had to stamp on to get there. Devon is a musical prodigy who makes it his daily mission to keep as low a profile as possible. These two had nothing in common, apart from being the only non-white individuals to attend their school. That was, until the arrival of Aces.

Aces is an unknown entity targeting both Chiamaka and Devon by putting their past dark deeds on blast and revealing every private secrets to the rest of the school. Their friendships are disintegrating, their grades are slipping, their dreams are crumbling, and their happiness is declining. They can either leave Aces to ruin them completely, or fight dirty and beat them at their own game.

This novel started out like Gossip Girl and ended up like Get Out. I was interested enough in the onslaught of petty drama and teenage angst, that formed the primary focus, but became super engaged with the twisted second half. The direction of the novel completely altered and Àbíké-Íyímídé completely fooled her readers into expecting a well-worn trajectory, before delivering something far more chilling and entirely different.

Despite my interest in the unearthed past secrets and solved current mysteries, it was the larger implications of this novel that so completely held my attention. The racial politics that Chiamaka and Devon had to navigate every single day was harrowing to read about. They were the minority in their elite school and were never allowed to forget it. Every aspect of their day was controlled by rules that supported their fellow white peers, from the hairstyles that were accepted to the esteem and allowances granted to heirs of the 'old money' families surrounding them. They had to fight harder just to get anywhere near the vicinity of the futures that were expected for their peers, and the colour of their skin was treated as a barrier to their success at every juncture.

This was an interesting novel, in its own right, but its exposure of the systems, politics, history, and ideologies that support white skin were where its power lay. It was an unapologetic, emotional, and harrowing read, which also ensured it to be an unforgettable one.

I love series like Gossip Girl, Pretty Little Liars and books like One of Us Is Lying. This book really reminded me of those types of story lines, so I loved it. It kept me on the edge of my seat. It was full of twists I did not see coming at all and got me to a point where I did not know who can be trusted any longer.

This book starts off where we follow Devon Richards and Chiamaka Adebayo as they start their first day of their senior year at Niveus Academy, an elite high school where all the students are perfect, rich and on their way to the best Ivy League schools and careers.

Devon and Chiamaka have nothing in common at all, except that they are the only two black students in the entire school. Devon is a scholarship kid who shares a room with his two younger siblings in a bad part of the neighbourhood - his mother works hard to make ends meet and his father is in prison. He dreams of getting into Julliard and his biggest passion is playing the keyboard. He does not really have friends, except his childhood friend, Jack, and is someone who is generally very under the radar and goes unnoticed, and so it comes as a big shock when he is elected as a Senior Prefect.

In contrast, it comes as no surprise when Chiamaka is elected as Senior Head Prefect. She has been working hard towards it for years. She ensures that she keeps her grades up, only associates herself with the right people and always looks the part in order to ensure her popularity and that she stays on top. Her father is Italian while her mother is Nigerian. Her best friends include Ruby, who seems to always be competing with her, Ava and then Jamie, who is also her crush. She is determined to make Jamie hers during their senior year.

Devon's joy is short-lived when an unknown person, known only as Aces, sends out a text to the whole school, which exposes Devon's secret, which could affect his life at school and at home. Not long afterwards, Aces starts spilling some of Chiamaka's secrets as well and it seems like they might know some of her deepest darkest secrets. Aces seems to become more and more dangerous as time goes on and Chiamaka and Devon need to work together to try to unmask who is behind it all, before they lose everything they have worked for.

I absolutely loved the protagonists in this book. I loved that we get to read both Devon and Chiamaka's POVs seeing as their personalities and lives are so different. Chiamaka is so badass and such a fighter while Devon is so loving and caring. I also loved Devon's mother. I loved the LGBTQ+ representation in this book and the fight against systemic racism.

There was never a dull moment in this book - there were so many twists and turns I had not anticipated at all and I found myself constantly questioning every character's motives by the time I was halfway through the book. There were so many moments that left me in shock and I did not expect the plot twists at all when I started reading this book.

I definitely recommend this for anyone else who loves Gossip Girl, Pretty Little Liars and the One of Us is Lying series.

The book is inspired by the Gossip Girls and the author is a huge fan of the show. The book starts off with the tribute to and quotes from the same. It’s also described as Gossip Girl meets Get Out, which I think really sums up this book.

Our two main protagonists, Chiamaka Adebayo (I’m in love with her name!) and Devon Richards are attending Niveus High, a private school with a background that couldn’t be more conflicting. Chi, a Jimmy Choo lover, perfect Head Prefect that everyone admires, and Devon, a scholarship kid, who comes from a small family trying hard to make their ends meet by the day. They don’t have anything in common, except that they both are black, are only two kids of color in a white sea, and dream to make it big. Everything is going well, until someone, Aces, starts to pour out their dark secrets in the public.

I loved the whole premise of it all so much. I haven’t seen gossip girls, so I can’t compare them, but I totally get the “get out “ part! I was completely engrossed in the story and couldn’t stop reading even when I tried hard to stop my eye-rolling way too many times. The flow and pace of the story are quite nice, though I do think the author could’ve cut down on the chi’s constant aggrandizement of herself and her diva-esque status and Devon’s ceaseless self-pitying lamentations.

As I started the book, I wasn’t really feeling the writing in the first few chapters. It took me about 10 or so to get into it fully, but then, it wasn’t for coming back. I was definitely hooked. This was probably the first time in my life that I’ve enjoyed a book without liking any of the characters! And I absolutely loath to say this. This is how my notes on characters looked like: “good fuckin lord, are you dramatic?”, “lol after going all feminist she really went and said “he probably didn’t mean it like that so I brushed off, wtf”, “why does everyone have a fucking amnesia?!” Don’t get me wrong, I loved the strong Chi who wasn’t afraid to kick some balls and adored Devon when he talked about music.

Coming to my favorite part- the reveal chapters! I loved everything about them. The flow, pace, writing, all the leading up to the brink. But then, I wasn’t really satisfied with the ending. There were some fray ends and too many bugging questions when it came to the whole wrap-up.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and do believe everyone will too!💖

I first heard about this book last year, and I desperately wanted to read it. I was insanely excited when I was approved to read it on Netgalley, but unfortunately it just didn't live up to the hype for me. I'll definitely be in the minority here, and I can see why so many people love it, but personally, I just felt it wasn't that great. The storyline felt a bit derivative, and the ending felt really rushed. I found the setting to be quite jarring - the mix of UK and US school elements really didn't work for me. I also wasn't that impressed by the writing quality. It felt in places like I was reading a fanfic rather than a finished novel.

Having said all that, I will definitely be interested to see what Faridah will write next.

"Hello, Niveus High. It's me. Who am I? That's not important. All you need to know is...I'm here to divide and conquer. – Aces"
Chiamaka is the popular girl at school, using whoever she needs to get to the top, graduate and get into Med school. Devon, on the other hand, keeps his head down and stays out of people's way. He is usually found in the music room, composing pieces to try and get a scholarship to a music college. They are not friends, in fact they never have any reason to speak to each other...until suddenly that changes.
When they both reach senior year, they become the target of the anonymous Aces, who seems intent on bringing all their secrets and skeletons out of the closet so the whole student body knows and knocking Chiamaka off her perch at the top. Who is this Aces and why are they only targeting Devon and Chiamaka?

I don't know what to say except you need to read this book! Every time you think you know what is happening, something else happens and you are back to square one.

The story is told from two POVs, Devon and Chiamaka and they both have distinctive voices so it is easy to distinguish who is telling the story. They weave together perfectly and the story flows really well. The pace starts off a little slow but picks up a lot throughout the book. The plot is utterly compelling and I couldn't put it down.

This book deals with systemic racism so well. It also briefly addresses racism within mixed race families, which though it sounds naive, I'd never really thought of before. There is also LGBTQ+ rep, which I wasn't expecting but was a welcome addition.

Honestly I think the only reason it isn't a 5 star read is because it STRESSED ME OUT. I can't think of anything wrong with the book itself and will be thinking about this book for a while.

⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ace of Spades is out 10th June 2021. Please check trigger warnings for this book before you decide to pick it up ❤

4.5🌟

my first thought once I had finished this was: wow 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

I loved so much about this book. though it may have been slightly slower-paced in the beginning, once I started reading the second half I honestly could not put this down. the inspiration the author took from gossip girl and get out were so cleverly constructed within the plot, and while the eventual revelations/plot twists may have seemed dark and shocking, what makes it even more eerie is that it’s completely believable for this to occur in reality.

in addition to the very important & relevant interrogations of race/racism in all-white educational spaces, I also thought each characters personal issues— concerning mental health, family, class and sexuality— were neatly and succinctly interwoven within the narrative. I can definitely see how much of an incredible addition this book will be to the YA/mystery and thriller genre in general, not just for its diverse cast of characters but also for its compelling plot. its certainly a book I’ll be excitedly recommending to fellow readers.

I raced through this debut novel and was blind-sided by the identity of the bully 'Aces' which was really clever. It manages to be both a pacy, compelling thriller and an exploration of race, responsibility and identity. I can't quite award full marks because I didn't really buy into the way it was taken forward after the reveal (although I LOVED the epilogue) and at times there was just a bit too many things going on. Overall, though, a really excellent read and I think it's going to be a hit with our students.

I'm afraid I'm going to have to use a lot of book review cliches here, because they're all true.

I was up all night reading this. Two nights in a row.
My heart was pounding as I sped through the last few chapters.
I was a bundle of nerves thinking about it.
And it really stayed with me for ages afterwards.

I've heard Ace of Spades described as Gossip Girl meets Get Out and that sums it up brilliantly. Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé's tale of the only two Black students in a privileged private school plays on that uneasy feeling of being the only one with your background in the room, of standing out, of being othered. If you've experienced it it'll make you shudder in recognition. If you're lucky enough to have never been in that situation before, it's a powerful way of showing you what it's like. But it's also a heartstoppingly good thriller.

Devon and Chiamaka, each have their own ways of navigating the all-white world of their school. Devon keeps his head down and concentrates on his college applications. Chiamaka tackles it head-on by trying to be the queen of the school. But whatever they do, a mysterious figure called Aces is working on bringing them both down...

Read it. It'll give you chills.

A book that will be a hit for sure this year and I can definitely see why. It was fun with a powerful message. I think many people are going to enjoy it!

Ace of Spades is a YA Thriller/Dark Academia novel by debut author Faridah Abike-Iyimide. It is such an amazing book and I love EVERYTHING about this book! Set in and around Niveus Academy, an elite school with a mostly white student body, it is marketed as “Gossip Girl meets Get Out” and boy, is that apt?

Students at Niveus are on a set path to top colleges and sterling career. The book revolves around Devon Richards and Chiamaka Adebayo, the only black students at NA, and the story is told from their alternating first-person perspectives. The book kicks off on the first day of their senior year, and what starts out as the perfect year soon comes crashing down. An anonymous texter only known as “Aces” starts spilling secrets about the student body, targeting Dev and Chi.

A black boy from the poor side of town and only at NA thanks to a scholarship, Devon has plans of going on to Julliard to study music. He’s a recluse at school and his only friend is his childhood friend Jack, a white boy who’s also a scholarship recipient. He has many secrets that Aces is quick to spill, and that not only messes up his school life, but his home and romantic life as well. Dev is one of my favorite characters in this book, and I love how he was used by the author to represent black boyhood and resilience in the midst of adversity.

Queen bee and total badass, Chiamaka knows what she wants and does whatever is needed to get it! She is my absolute favorite and I love everything about her. She’s the daughter of a Nigerian mom and an Italian dad and she’s loaded, with hella designer items in her wardrobe. I love that she is not a damsel in distress or a perfect girl with a squeaky-clean background. She is mean and she is devious and she is cut-throat, and she is not sorry about it. She’s also very sweet and amazing to the people in her corner so there’s that. She has the most plastic friends and she knows it, but as long as she’s on top and they know who the HBIC is, she’s Gucci. She has the deepest and darkest secrets of all, and she’s not ready to let them get out.

Circumstances forve Dev and Chi together, and an unlikely friendship is formed as they come together to try and take down Aces. Towards the end, the book takes on a very dark turn and the mystery gets super scary. I had a lot of guesses about what was going on, and while I was right about most of them, I was so unprepared for what was actually going on in this book.

I loved the topics brought up in this book. As a YA novel set in a school, there’s a lot of teenage drama, which is not overdone or cringeworthy. The book takes a deep dive into race and racism, and just how wide the network of white supremacy is. Other issues like life in the hood, changing yourself to fit in, toxic friendships and relationships, and incarceration are discussed in this book.

This book is amazing and I wholeheartedly recommend it to everyone. It’s out in June, so you know what to do!

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read this book early.

The intrigue! The emotions! The suspense! - Gossip Girl wishes it could.

In all honesty, this was one of the most intense, captivating book in a long time. I loved that this was told by two POV's and that while both black, these two kids live their high school experience completely differently. It was all the more enraging, heartbreaking and fierce to follow them through this journey.

The writing style is *chef's kiss*, the characters are nothing short of absolutely fabulous and I was EMERSED in this story. I was not trusting people, hating people, loathing people... the whole nine yards.

This review obviously does not do this book any justice, just know that you should get this book because you are in for an absolute TREAT!
I am so so so happy I got to read this pre-publication and cannot wait to hold it in my hands physically. Christ, this was so good. If you read one book this year, make sure it's this one.

This is one of those books that will stay with me for a long time. I couldn't put it down. It's just such a powerful novel about elitism, class and race, and how the this can become so incredibly dangerous when mixed in an evil, brain washing, right wing extreme school. I couldn't at first decide whether the main characters Chiamaka and Devon were there to be liked at first. Chiamaka comes across as very unlikeable and the kind of person that,regardless of colour, you would not want to cross at school. Devon I just felt sorry for but a bit annoyed that he didn't stand up for himself. The development of the story with it's incredible twists and turns is just so page turning and really shows how powerfully destructive text messages, bribery and elitism can be. I need to read it again as I almost read it too quickly as I was so scared for the characters. A fantastic debut which I will be promoting like crazy!

4.5⭐️

When I picked up Ace of Spades, I was eagerly anticipating a dark academia thriller that tackles the racial disparity in elitist education, and that is exactly what I got. I fully urge any fans of dark academia as a genre to pick up Ace of Spades come June. It kept me glued to the page, heart racing - whilst also delving deep into institutionalised racism, homophobia and elitism.

Chiamaka is the golden girl of the school. She’s brutal and cut throat in her desire to make her way to the top. But, we also see her vulnerability in journey to accept herself. She really is the queer Blair Waldorf we all deserve.

Devon was the misfit scholarship kid from the ‘wrong side of the tracks’, who’s heart is set on music. I just wanted to protect this little bean from everything bad happening to him.

This whole story is embroiled in social commentary, whilst also weaving a really clever and intricate plot. As the only two Black kids at school, but both from completely different situations in life, they must come together to find out why they’ve been the target of anonymous threats and bullying. I can’t speak to what Chi and Devon go through in this story, but their struggle was heart breaking - yet all too real for a lot of people. Dark academia is a largely white-washed genre that desperately needs diversifying and Àbíké-Íyímídé has done an incredible job of bringing this to the forefront. I adored dissecting clues and creating theories around the mystery element to this plot, but Ace of Spades also challenges the disparities and prejudices our characters face due to wealth, race and sexuality.

Àbíké-Íyímídé has excellent plotting skills, writes compelling and raw characters, and brings an exciting new voice to the genre. I cannot wait to read whatever she comes up with next!