This was one of my top reads of 2021! Faraday's debut is powerful and packs a hell of a punch. It's like Gossip Girl but mixed with horror and Get Out vibes. I will read everything she writes! I read this in one straight sitting.

I really enjoyed the fast pace of this book. I am astounded that this was the author’s debut book. While I wasn’t the target audience for this book, I can definitely see teens loving this book. The description of the book being like Gossip Girl meets Get Out was extremely accurate.

It was interesting. I read this a while ago, and found myself very curious.
But i felt like it could`ve been more.

The amazing book loved it thoroughly. I know the feedback is a few years too late but the I tried sending it multiple times and it is just stuck on my Net Galley page now.

I could kick myself for taking so long to read this book. I’ve had the ARC for well over a year and my physical copy for nearly a year, and yet last week I read the entire book in a few days over audiobook (thanks Libby). I was immediately sucked in. I usually go for more romance-heavy books but this book knocked me on my ass with how amazing it was. I was texting my friend live updates as everything was happening. I wanted to hug Chi and Devon throughout this entire book.

Thank you Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Feiwel & Friends, and NetGalley for giving me access to an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A gorgeously written novel about racism, nepitism and the dangers of social media. I read it in 2 days and plan to read it again soon. I would reccomend this book to anyone and everyone!

It discusses important topics along with a flair for suspense. One of the best YA novels I have read in a while.

Although this was only a sneak peak, I did enjoy what I got to read. I later bought a finished copy and sped through it. I enjoyed every second. Chiamaka was a riveting character. I loved her perspective on being a popular girl in high school. I do wish her queerness was explored a bit more but I understand as to why that wasn’t exactly possible. Devon was an interesting character who was the total opposite of Chiamaka in every way that mattered. I felt like his character had the depth and complexity required to pull off a story of this magnitude. However, I was left wondering quite how a society like the Aces could have gone undiscovered for so long, but I suppose that must have just been the work of racism. All in all, this was a great book and I can’t wait to see what Faridah Àbiké-Íyimidé writes next.

There's no right way to review this book; everyone needs to read it. it's so important that non-BIPOC read this, to really see how they genuinely affect us from school to work and real life

Ace of Spades follows the story of two Black teens, Devon and Chiamaka, at an elite rich school and it depicts their efforts to be the best in their classes, to do well, and to be able to attend a good university, it depicts them trying their best to live their dreams. All of a sudden they become the target of an anonymous bully who reveals all their secrets in order to ruin their lives. While trying to figure out who the person is, they need to stay strong and survive someone slowly destroying everything they worked for.

What I loved about all of the characters seen in the story is their depth. None of them were there just to be there. The author really showed all of them as people with dreams and passions, with motifs that explained their behavior and actions. Even if you don't like them, you can understand them and you can feel for them. Devon and Chiamaka specifically were very easy to like. Devon is this artsy student with a passion for music who's also gay which can put him in a lot of complicated situations since he lives in a tough neighborhood, he fears to tell his mum about how he really feels because he's scared she won't accept him. You can see him struggling with love and feelings due to some of the relationships that he's been in and during the whole book there were many moments when I just wanted to hug him. There was at least one very powerful scene during which I was at the edge of my seat, almost crying, hoping he'll be fine.

Then there's Chiamaka, the popular girl who is kind of mean but not really, she just needs to be tough to get where she wants to get. Let me tell you, she is a badass. On top of that, she's really smart, she knows she wants to be a doctor one day and she'll achieve it no matter what. Even when she decided to find out who the bully really is, she was assertive in getting certain information and she knew how to manipulate some of the white kids to get what she wanted. Honestly, I loved her! But then again, under the tough exterior, you could see all her worries about the mistakes she made, you could see her loving family and those cute moments when she started to find friends.

The pace is rather slow but I didn't really mind it since I like books focused more on the characters than action and it picks up after the first third of the book. Soon you'll get so hooked on all the secrets and you get really invested in finding the bully that you won't even notice how you got to the end of the book. I loved all the twists and secrets that were coming to the surface and how you could see the effect they had on the relationships between certain characters. The author also comments on the white supremacy and elitism that twists through our society and there were some brilliant and thought-provoking moments.

Overall I really enjoyed the book and I would recommend it to anyone who likes suspenseful thrillers.

Absolutely incredible, the book was outstanding and really pushed across some important social commentary. This book was like Pretty Little Liars meets Get Out - brilliant!

This book was amazing, but extremely haunting. It is a very good read. I thought that the premise, that it was a mix of get out meets gossip girl was extremely accurate, and i think that everyone should read this book.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the chance to sample Ace of Spades.

This novel had me on the edge of my seat with suspense and mystery. I loved the contrast between the characters, Devon and Chiamaka; while both are complete opposites, they share a common enemy/hater in the anonymous Aces, a shadow in the halls of the prestigious Niveus Private Academy who leaks dark secrets. This book was inspired by the cult classic Gossip Girl and a hint of Pretty Little Liar, the elements from both books mixed with the prejudice and racial social/class issues really brings the story to life in a frightening way.

To be in an environment set on pressuring one to fail is a heavy load to carry and an unsettling revelation that circumstances like this happen everyday. The idea of Aces and the haunting presence of someone leaking secrets for fun is a different kind of macob.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and everything it had to offer. If you haven't had the chance to read this novel yet, then I highly suggest you do so; definitely won't be one you regret.

5/5 stars!

This sneek peak made me buy the book and oh my god, I’m still reading it right now, but I’m blown away by how brilliant the plot seems to be. It’s heavy and grim, but you’re hooked from the first few pages. I’ve heard that it gets dark, and I’m scared but also sold.

this sneak peak gave a good insight in what the book is about and made me interested in reading the full novel

Overall, I loved the pace and concept of this debut novel; however, the ending left me underwhelmed, given all of the build-up in the pages prior. That being said, given how invested I grew in reading up to the climax, I will still read future works by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé. Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC from this promising author, and thank you, Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé for having the courage to share your talents.

One of my most anticipated reads of 2021 and it did not let me down—Ace of Spades is an amazing debut novel that touches on institutionalized racism and homophobia in a prestigious private school with the perfect amount of mystery and suspense. I love how it focuses on two Black and queer students and deals with their struggles in a completely elite, white school, all in a white dominated genre. There was definitely a slow start and I had trouble getting into the novel during the first half, but once things began to pick up, I couldn’t put it down and was on the edge of my seat for the remainder of the book. However, I will say the ending felt a bit rushed and left me asking “Is that it?”, but I can’t wait to see what Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé writes next.

Not a fan. This book dragged a lot and didn't work for me. I tried to enjoy it but the story and plot were lacking. I will still check out this author's future work. But this one wasn't great.

MUST READ FOR EVERYONE HIGHLY RECOMMEND EASILY HOOKED, FULL OF TWISTS AND TURNS, ALL AROUND WILD AF. No seriously, you gotta read this it is so intense and just completely unbelievable but also I 100% that this would happen in real life which is absolutely depressing but this book is so readable and well written and engaging PLEASE READ IT DO YOURSELF A FAVOR

While the writing style felt a bit off to me I’m intrigued to continue the story. I love stories that take place in a preppy rich school with mystery and this has that.