Well, the marketing is true - this really is a mix between Gossip Girl and Get Out. When you first start reading it, you think you are getting a high school drama read, maybe with a dash of a secret society, similar to My Vengeful Hearts. However, what you then get is so much more.

My only pause on this book (and clearly not enough to knock it down a star) is I wish we found out a bit more context about Aces and how they continue to operate after so many years. However, even without that information, the idea of social eugenics is terrifying in and of itself.

And even without that aspect, this book also does a great job at touching on homophobia particularly in a community of color, microaggressions in predominantly white spaces, and the insidiousness of racism and white supremacy.

This is an absolutely fantastic and terrifying read.

Ace of Spades: 4.5/5

Thank you, Feiwel Friends and NetGalley, for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review

"The smell of bitch-ass liar is nauseating.

This book is incredible. I refuse to shut up about it.

Premise:
This YA thriller will have you on the edge of your seat. Previously described as Gossip Girl meets Get Out is 100% accurate, but it is also so much more. Devon and Chiamaka are complete opposites. Devon is gay and wants to blend in, while Chiamaka strives for popularity and is on top of Niveus Private Academy's social scene. The only thing the two have in common: is that they're the only two black students, but everything changes when an anonymous bully, who goes by the name Aces, exposes Devon and Chiamaka's secrets. The unlikely pair work together to find the identity of Aces and get pulled into a web of secrets, betrayal, and more.

Writing & Plot:
It isn't easy to believe this is a debut novel. Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé killed it with this book. I read the entirety of it in one sitting because I could not put it down. This is the first book I truly felt the need to annotate because I tried to solve the mystery myself. Ace of Spades is uncomfortable, thrilling, and terrifying as it blatantly explores themes of racism, homophobia, police brutality, and more. It is told in the two perspectives of Chiamaka and Devon as they slowly find their way to each other and build an unlikely friendship while trying to fight their demons. Ace of Spades is 100% one of the best debut novels I have ever read.

Now, is it perfect? No. I wish there were a bit more development at the end of the book. I still have some unanswered questions regarding specific characters, but the plot 100% makes up for it.

Characters:
Gosh, I loved both Devon and Chiamaka. They are two of the most dynamic, evolved, and interesting characters I have ever read. Not one perspective was better than another. They equally shared incredible stories, which are difficult to pull off in dual perspective stories. I loved reading both points of view, and both have incredibly distinct voices that you can tell who is speaking at which time, even without prompts.

The side characters as well were highly distinct from one another. Although their personalities were unique, I wish we got more backstory about each of them and a small piece in the epilogue regarding their outcome. Most of my unanswered questions revolve around these side characters and their legacy.

Conclusion:
Ace of Spades is genius. I usually do not gravitate towards mystery and thriller, but this book may have changed my mind. The twists and turns will catch you off guard and have you gasping out loud. I could not put this book down, and I believe it will be in my top 10 reads of 2021. I cannot recommend this book enough; it is incredible.

I wasn’t very far in Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé’s Ace of Spades when I started to realize that something really strange was happening with the characters. Some of the pieces of this YA novel are familiar from other books about the power of privilege and the difficulty of navigating systems of power as an outsider, but other parts are wholly original.

There’s a predominantly white private academy with a few key student honors for Senior Prefects. The narrative focuses on two students, the only Black students in their grade: Chiamaka Adebayo who has been forging a path to the top of her class, of the social scene, of every extracurricular, since she was a freshman; and Devon Richards who tries to stay as invisible as possible, banking on his talent as a musician to pave his way (and his family’s way) out of poverty.

On the first day of their senior year, they attend the opening assembly with a new headmaster and find out the prefects. It’s no surprise that Chiamaka is named Head Prefect, but everyone is shocked when Devon receives one of the other Prefect spots. This is not part of the plan, and this initial contrast between Chiamaka’s confident acceptance of what she sees herself as being owed and Devon’s complete shock was immediately compelling.

Chiamaka is surrounded by people, but they’re not really friends (at least mostly). Instead, she has a series of transactional relationships that help her to maintain her popularity—maybe her “popularity”—while doing the same for them. The one exception is Jamie, her absolute best friend . . . and the guy she’s had a crush on forever. Finally, she thinks it’s time for them to define their relationship differently. Devon, conversely, is a loner. He has one person, Jack, who has been his friend for a long time, but lately, that friendship seems to be based more in memory than in reality. Àbíké-Íyímídé develops these characters effectively as she shows how they are both so alone but in different ways.

Clearly, Chiamaka and Devon are complete opposites. The only things they have in common are their race AND that they each have secrets that could ruin all of their plans. So when someone who goes by the moniker Ace of Spades starts sharing those secrets with the entire student body, Chiamaka and Devon are drawn to each other for support and to work together to solve the mystery.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, which earns its comps to Get Out. It took me a few chapters to be pulled in completely, but once the plot started unfurling, I couldn’t wait to pick up this book, which was just wild. Àbíké-Íyímídé writes the book in chapters that alternate between Chiamaka’s and Devon’s points of view, which amped up the suspense as I tried to piece together the real story behind the sabotage. The author addresses issues of race, sexuality, privilege, and class, all while developing two complex characters and a thrilling plot.

A YA THRILLER I read in one sitting!!! Following Devon and Chiamaka as they discover who was behind Aces, the text messenger that was divulging all their secrets had my nerves going bad. There were so many surprising layers to this story, fake and secret relationships, racism, murder, and a secret society. I think Ace of Spades has a powerful message that will make readers think differently about the world of academia.
Thanks NetGalley!

4.5 stars!

Dark academia, touted as Gossip Girl meets Get Out, and Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé delivers! Chiamaka Adebayo and Devon Richards are the only two black students in their elite private school. However, they could not be more different from one another. Chiamaka, born in to a life of privilege, has been working hard to reach the top of the social pyramid. Devon on the other hand, comes from the wrong side of town, at school on scholarship, with only one friend, and trying to fly under the radar until he is able to get in to Juilliard. Now, as seniors, the year starts off well, as both are selected as class Prefects. However, then everything starts to fall apart when both are targeted by the mysterious Aces. Chiamaka and Devon are thrown together and need to learn to trust one another when there is no one else they are able to turn to.

The book is suspenseful and exciting, with heart-racing moments. It explores issues of race, homophobia, elitism/classism, and more. I appreciated that even the main characters are flawed and imperfect. However, I do wish that some of the other characters had more of a good/bad balance as well. Overall, this is a great YA contemporary thriller, and I am so thankful to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for a chance to read this ARC!

<i>"Whispers are like snakes; they slither into your ears and threaten to poison your sanity with their venom."</i>

Oooooh, this is a tricky one to review for me.
So, disclaimer: it is clear that this was a deeply personal story for Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé to write/tell, and it shows. There are also *really important* messages to this story that are so relevant to today, and *need* to be out there in the world for readers to read. And I loved the messages, and appreciated them, and thought they were handled deftly.

But the craft of the story was what fell a bit short for me.
That is -- this was billed as <i>Gossip Girl</i> meets <i>Get Out</i>, which I can see. I mean, I haven't actually *seen* <i>Get Out</i> because I am 100% a total wimp when it comes to horror and can't handle anything more stressful than a political thriller. But I know the general premise and The Twist, so I think it's a fair comparison. To me, it felt like <i>Pretty Little Liars</i> (right down to the stupidity of the characters who just kept making dumb moves and trusting people they shouldn't and just generally doing everything wrong. Which I think is a trope of the genre, but still. Frustrating.)

But here's the thing about a book medium: you have to be really, really adept at pacing and storytelling to be able to mimic that same creepiness you get from a TV show/movie -- where it's a lot easier to do, simply because you have more tricks up your sleeve: you have lighting and creepy, ominous soundtracks, and the visual images of actors looking terrified or unsettled or sinister. (Like how every ep of PLL ended with A doing something suuuper creepy.) It's much trickier to execute in a book because you have to rely solely on the written word and the reader's imagination -- and there were times when I was reading when I just...drifted.

﹅ -- Part of that is because the book doesn't really pick up until about 60% in. That is *a lot* of set-up, especially when you're navigating two POV characters. There's about 15% in the middle where things ramp up -- but, to me, the last 25% just felt rushed and a bit predictable.

﹅ -- It was also really hard for me to get through that first 60%, because the plot seemed a bit redundant.
This is 100% a personal thing, and not at all a commentary on Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, but I had just read <i>Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry</i> and there are a lot of initial similarities between the two books. They both feature upper-class Black girls (who have a douchey white Boy Best Friend whom they're secretly in love with) who get blackmailed by an anonymous bully. Yes, the plots do diverge, but the concept wasn't fully fresh for me. Again, *totally* a personal thing.
And, given the comparisons to <i>Get Out</i>, I kinda felt like I knew what the twist was.

﹅ -- Counting this one as a "meh" rather than a negative (probably because, again, I've read some truly awful and unlikable characters lately) but Chiamaka is a bit of an unlikable protagonist. I get the <i>Gossip Girl</i> angle -- she's totally a Blair (and I think there's even a reference to her?) -- and her assertiveness is meant to contrast Devon's relative meekness, as well as portray a strong, confident Black Girl who's at the top (???) in all aspects of life, and I respect that. But, the manipulation and cruelty were a bit much -- after all, it was an eternal thorn in Blair's side that Serena was so effortlessly likable and popular -- and she did it without having to resort to backstabbing and Mean Girl games.

﹅ -- Another "not-really-either-positive-or-negative-more-of-a-I-noticed-this-and-wasn't-really-a -fan," there was a weird mix of British/American stuff going on. Goodreads tells me that Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé is from London, so the Britishisms make sense: there's references to diaries (rather than a planner or calendar or datebook) and the whole concept of a prefect system is distinctly British.
But the book is set in....America? More specific than that, I can't tell you. (More on this in a bit.) And Chi and Devon didn't really seem to *do* much as prefects; it just seemed to be a way to bestow a title on them which could then be revoked.

Okay -- slightly more spoilery thoughts below, so if you want to remain unspoiled, stop reading:

✘ -- More on the Setting. This really bothered me. I get that Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé was commenting on the pervasiveness of racism and white privilege and white history, but I have *many* questions about where this book is supposedly set.
1 -- We know the school was founded in 1717 -- which, I get the number symbolism, but seems *really* early in American history. I did go to Google to double-check my American History memories, and the first part of the 18th century was fraught with wars and conflict. I mean, sure, Yale was founded in 1701, but that's YALE -- not a random private high school. Were high schools even a thing in 1717? I guess it could have evolved over the years but...
2 -- This kind limits the setting to the East Coast, because colonizers/explorers didn't really get much farther than that, what with the wars with the Native Americans and all. We're talking original 13 colonies and all.
3 -- The school is set in between a rich neighborhood and a really low-income one. Yes, obviously that can happen in big cities -- like New York or Baltimore where you cross one street and the whole demeanor shifts, but IDK. I didn't get "big city vibes" here.
4 -- They're also apparently within walking distance of the ocean. Mmmmkay.
5 -- Given the pervasive racism -- that's alive enough to have families organize a camp for white nationalists in 1965 -- that *screams* South, and people still clinging to visions of Old Dixie and ruined historical narratives of What Life Could Have Been Like If The War Of Northern Aggression Hadn't Happened. Which feels like the setting possibilities are narrowed to North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia...so, maybe Savannah? IDK. I don't know many big cities on the coast within walking distance of the ocean. Something like Atlanta could be a contender , but that's in the middle of the state.
As one other reviewer said, "Especially for something that has a twist reliant on US history, it needs to have the effects of that history (gerrymandered districts, urban sprawl and transportation access, etc.) represented."
YES. AGREE 100%. I needed more details on the setting especially if it's set in the US.

✘ -- IDK exactly what year this is set, some time after 1985 (the last year referenced in the school) and....Twitter becoming normal, but I really thought these teens would have more social media savviness. This might not be a fair thing to be frustrated by, but Devon doesn't use his phone for more than texting until the end, when he "happens" to open Twitter, fire off one Tweet (without many hashtags!), and then it goes viral.
And WHY would Chi and Devon not have vetted/researched their journalist? Why would they not have looked for a Black journalist/news anchor? I saw this twist coming a mile away, which was frustrating. I work with 18 year olds, and they are *so* savvy about these things -- especially students purportedly as smart as Chi and Devon are. So for them to NOT take to social media or do their research ahead of time...just felt odd to me.

Overall, this was a "fine" read for me -- I felt like I just wanted "more" in terms of story. I actually think this might have worked as a duology -- maybe the split between books is where the reveal about Niveus happened. I get why it was one book -- horror/thrillers are usually self-contained cycles (Scream resets each time, for example) -- but I felt there was just too much set-up where not much happened, and the ending came barreling to a conclusion without much resolution. What happened to Belle? What happened to Dre? IDK.

A beautiful combination of all the things I love in books: queer MCs, POC MCs, mystery, romance. The plot is amazing and very cleverly done to expose a horribly racist institution. Hauntingly eerie and told through the POVs of two interlaced characters, this is one of the best prep-school mysteries around.

I received an ARC from NetGalley.

I'm a fan of YA thrillers and Ace of Spades delivers. Set at the prestigious Niveus Private Academy, an anonymous texter Aces is unveiling student's secrets.

The action in this book starts pretty immediately and keeps you guessing throughout. As a reader, you're not sure who Devon and Chiamaka can trust--there are some really good twists that author Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé throws your way!

Told by both Devon and Chiamaka through alternating chapters, this book explores racism, homophobia, white supremacy and poverty. Heavy topics but so very well-done, I especially loved the Epilogue, even though I almost didn't want this one to end!

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillian Children's Publishing Group and Feiwel & Friends for an advanced copy of this and the opportunity to share my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book is is.... phenomenal. Thought provoking, thrilling, spine tingling goodness. I can already see this book on top of everyone's favorites list for 2021.

Read this for a crazy, wild and powerful read!!

Thank you to MacMillan Childrens publishing and netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Devon Richards and Chiamaka Adebayo are entering their senior year of high school at Niveus Private Academy. It is a huge milestone for them, especially since they were selected to be senior prefects. Senior prefects are the elite of the Academy. A senior prefect is a prestigious position as it opens doors to college scholarships and acceptance into Ivy League universities. The senior prefect position is Devon’s and Chiamaka’s crowning achievement, especially since they are the only two black students at the Academy.

But being a prefect is not all sunshine and roses. A cyberbully that goes by the handle of Aces begins to harass Devon and Chiamaka by distributing compromising photos and texts to the other students at the Academy. Humiliated and stressed almost to their breaking point, Devon and Chiamaka take it upon themselves to uncover and expose the real identity of Aces in hopes that their reputations are restored.

Ace of Spades is a suspenseful Young Adult novel. There are, however, some aspects that may not appeal to some readers. These aspects include LGBTQ, attempted suicide, abuse, and racism themes. Just a reader beware that the novel contains some controversial issues.

The main characters of Devon and Chiamaka are well developed Each of them have a unique personality, with clear motives. The reader gets to be immersed in each character’s thoughts, and emotions. Their individual points of view certainly made for a smooth narrative.

The plot itself was a little slow and somehow Devon’s and Chiamaka’s decisions seemed far fetched. However, their decisions did make for an entertaining and suspenseful read.

Overall, those readers not averse to the controversial issues mentioned above will find Ace of Spades a fabulous read. Four satisfying stars for me.

I received a digital ARC from Feiwel Friends through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

Could not put this book down. So amazing. I am not eloquent enough to express all of the amazing things about this book. The author tackles very sensitive matter in an amazing way.

Ace of Spades is told from the perspective of the only two black kids at a private school. Someone is anonymously leaking their secrets. For what though?

So well written, a beautiful debut novel from Faridah Abikah-Iyimide. Characters are incredible, they felt like real people. It was like watching a move, I can definitely see this getting a film or tv adaptation.

I was a little bit disappointed when I first realized who Aces was, but as I finished the story, it definitely made sense why it needed to be that way. That's all I can say about that without giving spoilers.

Amazing. A must read.

*Thank you to the publisher for this eARC.

The comparison of Gossip Girl meets Get Out is spot on! Take one expensive, privileged private school that's predominately white and mix in a mission to take down the two black students by sharing their biggest secrets and trying to ruin their lives. This is more than your typical mystery and grapples with larger issues . It's twisty and sinister and you won't be able to put it down.

Someone calling themselves Aces is targeting two students at the top of their class. Why are their secrets exposed to the school instead of others who are also in a position to be seen? Told in alternating perspectives, we read this inclusive story that turns into a mystery/thriller, as Devon and Chiamaka work to figure out who is exposing things they would rather keep secret.

This review has to be vague, so I don’t spoil anything for other readers. Àbíké-Íyímídé included serious, real-world issues including racism, bullying, homophobia, and so much more. The pacing, characters, and storyline are addicting. Ace of Spades is a book that will appeal to YA and adult readers alike; an enjoyable read. Thank you, MacMillan Children’s, for sending this along!

Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé has crafted a superb mystery thriller. (AND ITS HER DEBUT NOVEL!)

Devon is a scholarship student dedicated to music. Chiamaka rules the school halls. The two have almost nothing in common. When they both get elected to be a part of this year's perfects, the two find themselves the target of Aces, an entity that leaks Devon and Chiamaka's secrets to the school body. The secrets threaten their futures and the present, as Aces raises the stakes and the danger. And the two find out that they really do have something in common: they're the only non-white students at Niveus Private Academy.

Overall, I really liked this! Yes, it took a little to warm up to Chiamaka, but by the end I liked both Devon & Chiamaka. Ace of Spades had me flipping the page to the very ending trying to figure out who Aces was and wondering if Chiamaka and Devon would stop Aces. (Also it's refreshing to get a dual POV that is not ROMANTIC). All in all, I can't wait to see what Àbíké-Íyímídé writes next!

Content Warnings: https://www.faridahabikeiyimide.com/ace-of-spades-content-warnings

Special thanks to YALLWest and Feiwel & Friends (Macmillan Children's Publishing Group) for this eARC through NetGalley! I really appreciated the opportunity to read this!

ACE OF SPADES by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

Chiamaka and Devon are both students at the prestigious Niveus Academy and total opposites. Devon is a nobody, a scholarship kid who spends all his time working on music composition, only noticed by his friend Jack. Chiamaka is the definition of Queen Bee, working hard to be noticed and celebrated. She is a brilliant science student with designs on Yale.

Chiamaka and Devon have three things in common, though: they are both prefects at their school this year, they are the only Black students at Niveus, and they are both victims of an anonymous texter calling themselves "Aces" and sharing Chi and Von's secrets with the whole school.

⚠️: Author Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé provided [an extensive list of content warnings](https://www.faridahabikeiyimide.com/ace-of-spades-content-warnings) for the book on her website. Chief among them are racism and homophobia but this thriller is full of potential triggers so I definitely recommend reviewing the list before reading.

The promotional materials call this book "Gossip Girl meets Get Out" and that description is spot-on. If I get too specific I'll spoil more than I'd like, but it has the anonymous gossip and deep secrets, especially around personal relationships, of Gossip Girl and the "Oh no seriously get out of there" of Get Out. Multiple times revelations made me gasp and think "OHHHH!" There is some exposition at the beginning to introduce you to the characters and the setting, but as soon as Aces's first message comes out, the pacing picks up and things get and stay intense.

The book also reminds me of Veronica Mars, with its focus on intrigue, detailed depiction of class differences, and teenagers managing their own affairs without much adult interference.

I definitely recommend this to readers who love gossip, mystery, or thrillers. Author Àbíké-Íyímídé says she has "has dreamt of writing books about black kids saving (or destroying) the world all her life" (lack of capitalization in the bio on her website). She has succeeded beautifully here.

Pre-order ACE OF SPADES now, out June 1 in the US and June 10 in the UK. Àbíké-Íyímídé offers some pre-order incentives [on her website](https://www.faridahabikeiyimide.com/ace-of-spades-content-warnings), so be sure to check those out!

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan for the e-ARC of this book!

Oh my goodness. Get Out x Pretty Little Liars is NOT a combination I ever thought I needed. But it is.
This was a really good book with so many plot twists and surprises! I 100% recommend this to y'all!

Look out for my tiktok review on May 26th!

This is for fans of "Get Out", "When No One is Watching", basically any story that deals with the creepiness of gentrification or eugenics in combination with race. But it also really reminded me of Gossip Girl... always waiting for the message from "Aces"!
I think what was really done well in this story was that I really didn't know who to trust. It felt like everyone at some point was against Devon and Chiamaka. And you didn't want to think it was about race, until I saw them having similar experiences as me.
I absolutely adored Devon. I just really felt for him and the internal and external conflicts he was going through. I felt through the entire time, he never lost sight of who is was and his love for his Ma.
Àbíké-Íyímídé did a phenomenal job with this story. She was about to make it relevant for a young audience but captivating to keep the older ones engaged. For this to be her debut, I am so impressed and am so excited for what she does next!
Highly recommend!

Ace of Spades kept me hooked from the beginning! Lots of twists and turns, some expected and others not! An excellent debut, I'll be keeping my eye out for future work!

This book had me HOOKED! It was a bit of a slow start but once I got into it I couldn't stop -- I stayed up until 5am trying to finish it last night. Just an extremely gripping, original, well-written book. I do have a couple of minor complaints about a few small things but nothing big enough to affect the star rating. Can't wait until the book comes out and I can get a hard copy in my hands!

The premise of this story was unique and intriguing, but it fell flat in execution. The pacing of the writing was off, and the ending felt implausible. I would still recommend it because of the excellent diverse character representation and the important themes it addresses, but it wasn't as strong of a story as I was hoping for based on the description.