Member Reviews
Okay I really really liked this book, it was slow in the beginning but once it picked up I was into these teenagers, their drama and the mystery.
EVERYONE'S THINKING IT is definitely one of those stories where you come for the mystery and stay for the cast. Following two estranged Nigerian cousins, Iyanu and Kitan, as they navigate their private high school after everyone's secrets get mysteriously leaked, this YA struck a good balance between fun (again, with a great cast that had awesome rep and felt realistic, along with a lot of shenanigans and mess) and serious (tackling issues like biphobia, colorism, black fishing, and racism) and was overall a really great read. I genuinely wish I had more to say articulately, but I'm so stuck on how greatly executed this was. I think it would make for a phenomenal movie or miniseries, and I will be recommending this one widely!!
I wanted to like this book, but I just could not get into it. For one, the characters were all too confusing and I kept getting them mixed up as well a their relationships. This seems like a cheap version of the other British Nigerian author, Faridah or something. I just felt it was hard to read.
A great YA Sapphic mystery set in an English boarding school that sees two Black teen girls trying to discover who stole and released private photos. Perfect for fans of books like Ace of Spades and authors like Tiffany Jackson and great on audio too narrated by Nneka Okoye. This was a standout debut that is sure to keep you entertained and guessing right to the end. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review.
The cover for this book is what drew me in and the author has such a beautiful soul. I had an amazing interview with her which can be found here: https://youtu.be/Bz5EFtktnZo
I forgot to leave a review for this, but I really enjoyed it! It's been out for ages, so I won't say much more than I need to for my star rating. <3
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I'm disappointed it took me so long to get around to reading this book because I thoroughly enjoyed it and devoured it in a matter of about two days (as I had been going through a significant reading slump not too long ago, I will count that as a huge win). This was a solid, well plotted mystery that had excellent dialogue and three-dimensional, realistically flawed characters. There were certain twists to this mystery that I didn't necessarily see coming, which I always love, as I pride myself on my skills at predicting whodunnit and seeing twists coming, so when I'm surprised, it always delights me. I also liked the way this book tackled complex social issues like racism, blackfishing, blackface, and biphobia in a nuanced, sensitive way without coming off as overly "after-school special". Overall, a very fun read.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.
Honestly, I didn’t vibe with this book. I didn’t like the characters at all. At times I was getting so annoyed with them. and I wanted to stop reading, but I had to keep reading because I already started it.
I couldn’t get enough of Everyone’s Thinking It. The title alone screams mean girl and definitely gave me flashbacks to childhood. I have been loving YA Thrillers and I’m happy to come across another BIPOC author in this genre. She covered so many social issues from bullying, racism & colorism and who doesn’t like a mystery?! Plus the writing is chefs kiss. Look forward to reading more from Aleema.
Okay, this had me at "the space created by queer women of color writing their passions and experiences." Like my fellow reviewers, I loved the author's voice and also appreciate how she frames the story. I look forward to more from Omotoni!
LOVE the voice in this one. Definitely recommending to friends and colleagues. Omotoni is definitely a fresh new voice in the suspense space!
Sadly due to some unfortunate events that took place I was unable to read this before the archive date. However I do look forward to purchasing the book because of course I still want to dive in to the story.
I really wanted to love this book however I thought the plot was ill-developed. There wasnt a real mystery or investigation element, and it didn't hold my attention. I wish there was more of a relationship between the two cousin's on the cover, and I liked the Nigerian elements.
- thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc to review!
- a thrilling story with twists galore, a cast to root for, and commentary well executed. Omotoni is a brilliant author with beautiful prose and storytelling, and i cannot wait to read her other works in the future, as this book was a delight to devour.
Just by looking at the cover I thought this was going to be a historical fiction novel. But turns out it’s a YA novel filled with rumors, secrets that will puncture your reputation, blatant racism, fake friends, a little romance, and a dash of mystery. It was the perfect combination for a world-wind of drama and choas while also posing the question “How much are you willing to give at the cost of fitting in?”
It all starts when photos taken by Iyanu are stolen and sent out to everyone around school with juicy messages on the back. Some secrets revealed were true and the others were lies. Either way the whole school thinks Iyanu is behind it making her even more of an outcast than she was before. To make matters worse her cousin Kitan isn’t on her side and believes she did it too. While everyone is so desperate to uncover the truth behind the stolen photos they don’t realize exposing the truth might change their friendships forever.
This book will definitely give off a Mean Girls vibe cause Kitan’s bestfriend Heather was definitely Regina George and the things she did were completely unacceptable. Let’s just say she let finding out she had 0.0007% of black in her blood go straight to her head. Then we have Sarah who was never a true friend to Kitan to begin with IYKYK!!! The beginning was also a slow-burn but once the pace picks up you’re sucked in by all the drama.
The character development was complex and perfectly executed. Iyanu was one of my favorite characters because she stood on business PERIODT. I was waiting for her to check Heather. The creativity and vividness in the authors writing made it easy to put a face with all the characters. I did enjoy the dual POVs we were given from both Iyanu and Kitan. It allowed us a glimpse into the different lives they both live during school and with their families.
Overall, I enjoyed the book with all the twists and turns. The mystery behind who leaked the photos did drag a bit. But once the truth was revealed and the reasoning I was like girl you could’ve took that L instead of messing up people reputations to save your own. Special thanks to the author & @balzerandbray for my gifted copy!!!
Everyone’s Thinking It is a dramatic book about a school where everyone’s secrets are leaked one day!!
Iyanu is on the outskirts of the social pyramid, but she does a lot of event photography for the school. They have a matchmaking event where she takes photos of every attendee… and after the weekend, she comes into school and everyone is glaring at her. Turns out her negatives from that night got developed, each person’s photo had a secret of theirs written on the back, and then they were set loose in the school...
Kitan is Iyanu’s cousin, but they don’t associate, because Kitan’s in with the popular crowd. Yes, queen bee Heather’s daily makeup look is basically blackface, but Kitan think it’s still preferable to being a nobody. So when the secrets come out, she and her friends are in the spotlight.
Both girls have good reason to find out who leaked the secrets. They both start their own little investigations, but of course in the end it’s better to work together.
Everyone’s Thinking It is a drama, but it’s also a story of belonging, a little romance, and the important of having a supportive group of friends. Lots of queer rep, too :) It was a lot of fun to read!!
Everyone's Thinking It manages to examine racism and secrets within this Ace of Spades like mystery. It's about our secrets and desires being showcased. The opportunity for our own revelations robbed from us. In this dual POV story, Omotoni examines what we will do to fit in, to stay at the top, do what we think makes us safe. What happens when what we would do disappears? The places we hide which turn into rooms with double sided mirrors.
Well this book lured me in the easiest way a book can: by putting Black girls on the cover! So I was already on board and excited to read this and then I learned it was a thriller and I was even more hype. I'm just really loving this era of Black girls starring in thrillers/horrors/mysteries and I will honestly read anything with a Black girl in one of those genres. This one, I'm glad to say really lived up to my expectations. I enjoyed the slow burn of it and the hints we got along the way. It made me paranoid and nervous which is always the best way to feel when reading this genre. The characters were good and I was rooting for our main girlies the whole time. The twist was pretty good as well! I did guess it before it was revealed, but that didn't bother me so much! Overall, this was a really great read and I'm excited to read from this author in the future!
I liked this despite the plot dragging a little in the middle. These were really well written teens that held my interest.