Chiamaka and Devon are characters readers will root for as they search for "Aces", the racist source of much strife for them personally and professionally. As the book unfolds, revelations are explosive. The narrators were fantastic and kept me listening on the edge of my seat. This one is a must read!

I usually don't like ya thrillers but this was amazing! I felt that most young adult mysteries are very unrealistic and overdramatic but this concept was carried out very realistically. I loved most of the things about this book. There were many good conversations opened in this book. The only thing that I disliked was the fact that there were too many characters and I was confused a lot of the times while I read this.

Oh my goodness you guys…this one gave me all the Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars vibes. It is SO good!!

Chiamaka and Devon attend the prestigious Niveus Private Academy and are selected to be prefects for their senior year. Everything appears to be going great until one day, Aces starts sending out anonymous text messages about them to the student body, spilling damaging secrets. With no sign of Aces stopping and not knowing who else to trust, Chi and Devon join forces to put a stop to Aces before its too late…♠️

I really recommend this one to anyone who was a fan of #gossipgirl or #PLL It also tackles racism, white supremacy, privilege and sexuality. The author’s note at the end is also really powerful. It was 5⭐️ for me!!!

Ace of Spades was one of my most anticipated reads of this year, but unfortunately it didn't live up to my expectations.

I liked the writing style and character development the most in this book. The writing style was top notch and amazing for a debut book. The characters are devloped, I liked how the character of Chiamaka grows through out the book.

I think the execution was very poor, I was able to guess most of the twists. Also I picked this book up expecting a thriller, but I only got teen angst and drama.
This book is heavily inspired by Gossip and Pretty Little Liars, having watched both of these shows it did ruin my reading experiences and I could see so many plot elements the author had taken from these shows.
I found it very unrealistic and was filled with plot holes.

Overall i think the plot was very weak and had a lot of untapped potential.

Creepy as hell, but SO good. Abike-Iyimide is a master of creating tension and twists and turns that will leave you guessing until the very last page. I found myself on the metaphorical edge of my seat while driving, cleaning, and working, while I listened because I couldn't make myself stop. The characters feel real and like they could walk straight out of the page and into the real world. I absolutely cannot wait to see what she does next.

The narration of this book is spot on as the character voices are illustrative of teenagers and their emotions. There are smooth transitions from one voice character to the next. This is a private school mystery and backstabbing. Two different students, one is the perfect, top of her class Chiamaka. She knows what she wants and will do what it takes to get there. The other is Devon, the scholarship, uber talented musician. Both have something in common, both are being targeted by the anonymous texter Aces who has been mass messaging everyone in the school about 'secrets' each of these top students possess. Why would anyone do that and will it bring down these top students? YA - appropriate for grade 9+

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Ace of Spades was a pretty interesting and mysterious book. Even though I'm not a huge fan of getting Gossip Girl vibes.. I actually ended up enjoying this one. I just think it worked because of so many other elements to this book. So whenever those GG vibes came up.. I just kind of ignored them and went back to being suspicious of everyone.

In it, you will meet Devon and Chiamaka. They are currently students at Niveus Private Academy and are in the running for valedictorian. If they thought things were going to go smoothly this year.. they were definitely wrong. Only because Aces (aka Gossip Girl) has entered the chat. This mystery gossiper starts spilling the tea on these two which definitely makes things a bit interesting and awkward.

As for these two, I just loved them. They just completely sucked me in and I wanted the best for them. Of course, drama had to unfold throughout the book. Which either made me mad or sad. So it's safe to assume that I had revenge on my mind for most of this book.

Other than that, the big reveal was kind of okay. Even though I was so intrigued to figure out who it was. It's weird to explain but I was just okay with it if I'm being honest here. I wasn't left in awe or anything. I just sort of said okay and moved on with my life.

In the end, I'm glad that I got the chance to dive into this book because it really was interesting.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

OVERVIEW
I was skeptical at first, I'm not going to lie. I was never a fan of Gossip Girl or Pretty Little Liars, and don't generally enjoy high school drama, but this book blew my expectations out of the water. This may be the most important book I'll read this year. I gave it 4.5/5 stars. This is a spoiler-free review.

WHAT I LOVED (and where to even begin)

- The Representation
This book... I have no words. Well, obviously I do or I wouldn't be writing this review but metaphorically speaking, I am speechless. I am always seeking out books with BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ representation, but this took it to a whole new level. I appreciated the realness, the education, that came along with it. Devon is gay, Chiamaka is queer, and they are the only two black students attending their prep school. Devon lives in a neighbourhood stricken with poverty. The life that he leads outside of school grounds is raw and real. It is an insight into a life that many black folks lead, a life many of us choose not to see. We also experience his hardships as a closeted black man. We learn that being black and being gay are not two things that go hand in hand in his community. We also have Chiamaka, who has money for days and has worked so hard to be head girl, but this doesn't mean that she is loved or respected. We also get to watch her come into her sexuality, which I just think was so wonderful to read.

- The Plot
I spent a lot of this book thinking I knew what was going on, that I knew who Aces was. I was entirely wrong. The plot grows around these characters until a twist so unbelievable happens that I wanted to scream. I was so blown away by this story and so thrilled with how the plot was crafted. This is definitely a book I wish I could read again for the first time.

- The Themes & Education
There was mystery, tension, heartache, and stress in this story, but there was also this horrible feeling of helplessness throughout. We get first-hand experience of how it must feel to be black in America, or anywhere for that matter. I cannot stress enough how important these themes were. We see notes on cops, slavery, and outright racism. I learned so much from this book. While a fictional tale, these themes are very real. I, as a white woman, will never know and truly understand how black people feel in the face of racism, injustice, and cruelty. I greatly appreciated this book for its perspective. To help me understand on a deeper level as I see through the eyes of Devon and Chiamaka.

WHAT I DIDN'T LOVE:

- The Pace
At first, I was a little skeptical about whether or not I would like this book. It starts very slow and focuses on the drama going on within the high school. I wanted to get into it, understand how big a threat Aces really was. I just didn't really care about the other little details. However, this slower beginning was important for things to unravel the way they did. I wouldn't change it.

OVERALL RECOMMEND?
YESYESYESYESYESYESYES GO READ THIS NOW!!!

Gossip Girl meets Get Out? I was intrigued based off of that alone. When I read the synopsis I thought it had potential. When I found out the audiobook was available, I quickly jumped at the opportunity to listen to it. I love audiobooks that have more than one narrator so I was excited that we would be able to hear Chiamaka and Devon's points of view throughout the story.

As for the story itself, it was excellent! I felt that I did start out a little slowly, but I was also slowly pulled into and as each twist and turn was revealed I was more and more invested in the story and was flying through the book to find out what happened next. I loved all of the twists and turns, and some of the really surprised me. There is definitely something very scary about how real this could actually be. You never know who you can trust.

In the beginning, I hate Chiamaka. I thought she was just a mean girl that didn't care about anyone else except herself. Devon was the quiet, shy kid that I was rooting for. However, as the story progressed, I found myself more interested in Chiamaka's chapters than Devon's. I found her "let's go after it" attitude to be exactly what was needed to get to the bottom of things. Devon just felt like a big softie.

Overall, I thought the book was excellent! It's one of my favorites of this year so far. I would give it 5 stars, however the audiobook itself had some problems. Both narrators were great, and I loved the back and forth of them. However, the audio quality wasn't very good. It all sounded "metallic" and had a slight echo to it. It was almost as if robots were narrating the story. I'm not sure what that was, or if it was just because I received an ARC of it, but the audio quality was a little distracting so I am knocking off a star for that.

Book/Story - 5 stars
Audiobook - 4 stars

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This is one of those books that makes you so angry, not at the writer but that something so unjust and horrible is happening. A school turning against students and ruining their lives simply because of their race? This situation may be fiction, but things like this happen in real life too. Kids bullied, harassed, threatened because they're black or any race besides white. It enraged me, saddened me, and makes me want to do better. I hope others feel the same way after reading this.

The mystery part of the story was great, I was on the edge of my seat and constantly worried for Devon and Chiamara. I didn't trust anyone and just wanted them to get out and be safe. There were a couple things I guessed, but I enjoyed the reveals and some really surprised me.

The pacing of this is well done and the dual narration was a great choice. What a great debut and I'll be on the lookout for more.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. Thank you to Macmillan and NetGalley for the copy.

At Niveus Private Academy, your position on the social food chain is everything. Queen bee and head girl, Chiamaka, has nothing in common with reserved, musical Devon, besides being the only two Black kids at school— until an anonymous texter, Aces, starts spreading dangerous rumors about both of them.

Ace of Spades starts strong and does not quit. Just when you start to think that things cannot get any more out of hand, the plot escalates and you get a new rush of adrenaline that stops you from putting the book down. The blurbs are not kidding when they say this book is Gossip Girl meets Get Out: it’s a teen drama turned deadly thriller for the only two Black kids in their school.

For all of the accolades that I’ve heard from other people about this book, I promise that they are beyond well-deserved. This book is worthy of its instant bestseller status. The dimensionality of her main characters shines, they aren’t perfect, but they bring the story of two teenagers to life so realistically. The mystery of the book is never cheesy and keeps you guessing, even if you think you’ve figured it out. While this book is YA, the fact that it falls into that age group shouldn’t dissuade older readers from enjoying it (I never thought I would enjoy a book about high schoolers like this), it’s as mature and thrilling as (or maybe even more than) any adult mystery can be.

The story is very purposefully written to take place in an anonymous town, anywhere in the US, and speaks strongly about the anywhere-ness of the situation. While the plot of this book just keeps escalating, many of the aggressions that the characters face— from having their hair touched to having to work twice as hard for all of their accomplishments to keeping their sexuality a secret— are commonplace for many students of color in majority-white schools, as experienced by the author when she went to college. It’s a surreal, horror take on racism that many kids experience in the classroom, and it is unforgettable.

To read this book and then discover that it is Àbíké-Íyímídé’s first (that she wrote WHILE attending college) is truly shocking. It is so expertly crafted, and I’m absolutely positive that she will be unstoppable as her career grows.

Gossip Girl meets Get Out 👀 This is a great new YA Suspense story! I wouldn’t necessary call it a thriller but there was a big mystery and a lot of suspense on what was going to happen.

Books like this are hard to review because you really do need to go in blind and I don’t want to give anything away! But you can know that it provides a good commentary on systemic racism and how deep it’s roots are as well as how it’s woven into many institutions, it’s reach goes beyond schools. And I liked that there was no particular setting (besides the name of the school) because it’s a book that really could take place anywhere. I also appreciated the LGBTQ representation in something other than a romance or coming of age story. Kind if wish there was more to the ending but would definitely recommend this one!

Rating this book was difficult, as the first 50% felt like a three-star read and the other 50% felt like a 5 star read. I am settling on 4 stars, but that twist really does make this hard to lock into. The audiobook was incredibly well narrated and put together, though. There wasn’t a moment where it was hard to follow, and the two separate narrators did a fantastic job.

Overall, this was a solid thriller once it got going. Despite the slow build-up, I enjoyed the twist immensely. There were moments where the character’s actions were very horror movie standard, but, I still enjoyed reading about them and this plot to discover Aces.

Full review October 22nd, 2021.

OMG! I am speechless, once again I went into "Ace of Spades" knowing very little about it. Am I ever glad, because I was constantly second guessing my self. I love the writing style and how fast paced it is. Like with any thriller, I was trying to guess who Aces could be and was I shocked. I will be recommending this to so many of my friends. A very unique story indeed.

Thank you Macmillan audio via Netgalley for the audiobook.

When the author dedicates her book to Gossip Girl and Blair Waldorf, you know its going to be a good on teen drama. As Ace of Spade is one of my most anticipated summer reads, I went in with high expectations, and it delivered. 4.25/5 ♠️

Chiamaka, what a beautiful name. She is the “it” girl who is not-so-surprisingly named the Head Prefect at the Niveus Academy. She and the only other black student Devon are targeted buy an unknown internet bully Aces. When Devon & Chiamaka get their private stuffs posted on the internet that will ruin their dreams of a bright future, they come together to figure out the truth as to who is behind Aces. As the story progresses, we readers get to know the socioeconomic statuses and the relationships of these two students, who are so much alike yet different and how the society of a sick rich people only cult treats them. Honestly listening to this story on audio aggravated me! Like a true thriller, we get to suspect several characters and trust no one. That is some good writing. Also, the ending. Wow, as a reader I knew what was going to happen, yet I was vividly excited to see how it all came down. Although fiery, I did feel that the ending was a bit rushed down after the buildup. The respective group should have been held accountable for what they did over the years. The epilogue & the author notes at the end gave a good bookend and a background of how this story formed.

Overall, the sickening reality of a private school, what it does to minorities, especially the institutional racism against black students who enrol with a lot of dreams is a crowned jewel in dark academic thriller trope and is definitely better at entertaining than Gossip Girl.

(btw the two audiobook narrators did an amazing job!)

So. Uhm. WOW. I knew I was going to love this book, because a dark academia version of Gossip Girl featuring Black and queer people? Throw in a dash of Pretty Little Liars, and you've got this masterpiece (I can't talk for Get Out as mentioned in the synopsis, since I have no idea what it is lol).

There is so much tension and drama in this book. I love that both main characters/POVs are Black kids, instead of them being background characters. AND THEY ARE BOTH QUEEEER. There was so much tension, drama, and suspense throughout this book. Oh, also... I didn't know what the dark academia genre really was, but now I am ALL FOR IT.

Admittedly, I had SOME suspicions as the story unfurled. But boyyyy did I not expect how so much deeper and darker it would all get. I really appreciated how both (very different, very against each other) MCs joined forces, despite their differences, to fight their adversaries : white racist supremacists.

Tbh, I don't know what much else to say, without spoiling something.

So anyways. READ. IT.

Also, that epilogue 😭💛

This is a thriller that alternates between the points of view of two members of Niveus Private Academy, Devon Richards and Chiamaka Adebayo, who are the only two Black students at Niveus. When they are both chosen to be senior class prefects, they are happy, it puts them both in the running for valedictorian, looking great to prospective colleges and will please Devon’s mom. They aren’t expecting it when their lives take a turn for the worse when an anonymous texter calling themselves Aces begins revealing secrets about Devon and Chiamaka that threaten both their public reputations and their futures that they have been working so hard toward.

This is an incredible debut. Devon and Chiamaka both have such strong voices and i was absolutely horrified by the betrayals and abuses of power that the two of them had to endure throughout the novel. It was a great exploration of how systemic racism bleeds its way through families and how all white people play a part in upholding it, sometimes even the well-meaning ones. I don’t feel I can speak on the exploration of Black trauma and pain, though it played an integral part in the story and I loved that these topics were delved into so deeply and the author didn’t shy away from it.

I loved that both main characters were queer and especially empathized with Devon having to face being outed sooner than he was ready. I enjoyed the exploration of how poverty leads to committing crimes as an act of survival and how the system ultimately ends up punishing good people who were just trying to get by. I loved how Devon’s story echoed that of generations of kids (Black kids in particular) with incarcerated parents who are left behind to deal with the trauma and seek answers. The well-executed plot twists are no easy feat, but to have such an enjoyable thriller that explores so many themes is rare. I think many kids will relate to and hold this book close.

Devan and Chiamaka are the only two Black students attending Niveus Private Academy. Although they've had two very different high school experiences, they are both named senior prefects for the year. Then an anonymous bully, named Aces begins sending out texts, incriminating Devan and Chiamaka in various scandals. Although they weren't friends before, the two decide that they will join forces in order to stop Aces, before their futures are taken from them.

I really loved these characters and this story. The comparison of Gossip Girl meets Get Out was right on. I liked the mystery behind Aces and who was behind it. The book dives into much deeper topics than I had thought including racism, homophobia, elitism and white supremacy, in such an amazing and well done way. I listened to this on audio, and the narrators did a FABULOUS job with these characters and their voices. The suspense was palatable and I could not stop turning the pages to find out what was going to happen next.

I definitely recommend this book to everyone!

Holy shit, what an incredible book. I already know my review isn't going to do this book justice, but here we go.

Triggers: racism, classism, homophobia, bullying, targeted hate crimes, death of a parent, car accident, stalking

This has been one of my most anticipated reads since the book deal was first announced, and even still, I was so nervous to read it since I didn’t want to end up being disappointed if the book didn’t live up to the hype that I created in my head. Spoiler alert, this book was INCREDIBLE and deserves all the praise.

Ace of Spades is told through dual narration that alternates between Devon Richards and Chiamaka Adebayo. It’s senior year for Devon and Chiamaka, and both of them have perfect grades and have been selected as class prefects…both of which make them even more competitive for prestigious universities.

It’s also no secret that Devon and Chiamaka are the only two Black students at Niveus Academy. What should be smooth sailing for their senior year turns into an absolute nightmare since both Devon and Chiamaka are on the receiving end of virtual attacks by the anonymous Aces. The two of them must work together to solve this mystery before it’s not just their secrets that are at stake.

Let’s talk characters. Devon Richards is a gay, Black American boy who mainly keeps to himself outside of his one friend Jack. Instead of connecting with his classmates, Devon would rather focus on honing his music composition in order to get into Juilliard. Devon is an absolute cinnamon roll that needs to be protected at all costs.

Chiamaka Adebayo is a queer, biracial (Nigerian mother and Italian father) girl who is literally the queen B of Niveus and has her eyes set on Yale. Chiamaka is known for making the rules and her minions bowing down, so when the tables turn against her, Chiamaka has to dig into her old personality that she tried so hard to forget. While I wasn’t such a fan of Chiamaka at first, you better believe that I will go to bat for her any day of the week.

I’m not going to go into plot details because this is one of those books that you truly need to experience first hand. What I will say is that Àbíké-Íyímídé provides an unflinching examination of racism, classicism, prejudice, bullying, and queerness all within the context of a thriller setting.

I’ve always been drawn to dark academia stories, but I’ve always noticed that no one really wants to address the elephant in the room, which is the inherent racism and bias within the academic system. Àbíké-Íyímídé ensures that no one forgets that message in this book.

One last note is that to say this book is atmospheric is an absolute understatement especially in the second half of the book. As I progressed through the story, there was a growing sense of unease that resulted in a claustrophobic experience that led me to question everyone and everything that I was reading.

This is what I want more of when it comes to dark academia, but it’s not just secret societies with rich white people. There are very real consequences for BIPOC.

Thank you to Fierce Reads for providing a finished copy for review. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.

Thanks to Netgalley for this audiobook in exchange for my honest review!!!

Out now!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.💫/5 Stars
(4.5 Stars)

Get out meets gossip girl plus black and LGBTQ main characters! Sign me the heck up!! I was so happy when I got this audiobook approved.

I liked the narrators. There was one narrator for Devons chapters and one for Chiamakas. Their voices kept me interested. There voices were also good at distinguishing between different characters during dialogue scenes throughout the book! I enjoyed this as an audiobook!

There is an annoymous texter named “Aces” that starts exposing secrets on the two black students at this elite private school. It makes for a lot of twists and turns and a great YA thriller.

Chiamaka the main girl reminds me of Blair in gossip girl. She’s the queen B of the school, people fear here and wants to go to Yale. However she is so much more than that, a thing we find out in this book.

I really liked the two main characters and reading both of their stories in this book. They were very complex and compelling!

Reason for 4.5 Stars
The one thing is that some parts could have been cut . Some parts dragged on especially during the first half of this book and were a little boring at times. There’s a twist around 60 percent in that makes the pace pick up. It gets absolutely crazy towards the end!!! Make your heart pump! All that being said overall it was an amazing Ya thriller read with excellent representation!!

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a new YA thriller to read! There is some dark and heavy topics in this book so please check trigger warnings.

The authors note at the end was absolutely beautiful ❤️

Trigger warnings I noticed while reading (please check online for more as this might not have everything listed)
Sexual assault
Violence
White supremacy
Homophobia
Car accidents
Drugs
Racism
Classism
Suicide
Hate crimes

Thanks to Netgalley
Macmillan Audio
Macmillan Young Listeners for providing me with this audio book in exchange for my honest opinions and review.