I love the premise (not to mention the cover) of Ace of Spades, and it definitely delivers what was promised. I can't fault it on that, although I had some issues with the execution; a lot of things just don't really make sense, on both a tiny and a large scale (individual sentences that I had to reread a few times because what does it mean for someone's hair to light up...? as well as a certain flimsiness to the conclusion). I also thought the fact that this is a debut author showed; the writing veers into amateurish and clunky, and I found myself too often rewriting whole chunks of the book. (One of the pettier examples of this - there are a LOT of UKisms and turns of phrase that were jarring coming out of the mouths of American characters. But mostly it was just awkward, stilted writing, rather than UK/US adjustments. On that note, though, where the heck was this story supposed to be set?? And why does their town have zero public transportation? I know, that's petty, but it did take me out of the story pretty frequently...)

Overall, though, in spite of my problems with it, I found the story compelling (up until an ending that was simultaneously super melodramatic and somehow not extra ENOUGH. I mean, it's compared to Gossip Girl, it can be SO over the top, right?), and the protagonists, Chiamaka and Devon, appealing and interesting, so the 400+ pages zipped by.

They zipped by despite the fact that I was listening to the audio ARC, and the readers were both definitely on the slower side. I'm not someone who usually speeds up every audiobook I listen to, but I did increase this one. Fortunately, the two narrators are equally slow, so it worked for both POVs! Generally speaking, both narrators (Jeanette Illidge for Chiamaka, and Tapiwa Mugweni for Devon) also had good voices for their roles - they sounded like I'd expect Devon and Chi to sound, and were clear and easy to follow, despite the slow pacing. But I didn't care for Illidge's exaggerated choices for other character voices, such as Jamie's rasp, which were just a bit too over-the-top, beyond what's necessary for differentiating characters. Because of this, I think I'd have preferred reading the text version.

Despite the occasionally inelegant writing, Ace of Spades is a fun, sharply compelling read, one which I'm sure will have plenty of fans.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advance review copy!

Life is excellent for Chiamaka, a wealthy biracial girl, and Devon, a hardworking scholarship black guy. They are in their senior year at the prestigious Niveus Private Academy. They make prefect, which means basically being a shoo-in for college applications and having a solid shot at valedictorian.

Enter Aces - an anonymous cyberbully who sets to make their lives hell and turn their world upside down. Because, why not?

I read Ace of Spades as an audiobook produced by Macmillan Audio. If there is one thing I can count on is the quality of their production, it never disappoints, but it surpassed all my expectations this time. Ace of Spades is an excellent impactful book, and producing its audiobook version was such a gamble. But wholeeee - Jeanette Illidge and Tapiwa Mugweni did it so much justice! They embodied our main protagonists and gave them a respectful, accurate, and impactful voice. Their pacing was so on point, and the emotion they lent to their narration must have been so draining; I felt I was getting all of them and all of Chiamaka and Devon!

I have never watched Gossip Girl, but I know about it, and I feel that the description of "GG meets Get Out" is very accurate. Ace of Spades is uncomfortable in the most brilliant way, insidiously claustrophobic, painfully honest, and beautifully vulnerable. There is nothing I can fault on this book. It contains inspired characterization, compelling atmosphere, tight plotting with perfect execution—chef's kiss.

I am literally in awe! After reading the book as I was getting my blog post ready and found Faridah's website, I found out this remarkable writer is 22!! TWENTY-FREAKING-TWO.

I am not saying that young people can't be this talented, because that would be a lie. Talent is something you're born with, but the depth of characters, the ease with which she pulled the reader in, the beautiful poetry of her prose while at the same time punching your gut with uncoated realism seems to me to be beyond the years of a young adult.

Writing is her calling, and I am so happy to experience her first novel; I only hope to read many more. I don't know Faridah, but I am so proud of the woman she is; I actually cried, empathizing with the pride her parents must feel!

I'm going on a short tangent but bear with me. I know this is a controversial opinion, but I am one of those people who believe that Michael Jackson wasn't a pedophile. I feel he has been someone used and abused from a young age who never had a chance to be a child. I honestly believe that his proximity to children was a way for him to try to have the childhood he was deprived of. I don't want this to be a controversial post, but it is undeniable that MJ was a pure musical genius. He single-handedly revolutionized pop and was ahead of his time in the beats he created; he might as well have created MTV because his music videos were always the ones who STARTED trends; he was also the first to make concerts as experience. The guy was and always will be a genius!

Why am I talking about him? Well, I kind of feel that Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé was born under the same star. She is, in my opinion, to fiction (and I say fiction because I feel she could write anything and be amazing) what Michael Jackson was to music. A pure, blessed genius who was born to touch people through her words. I'll stop because I sound like a stalker. Promise you I am not. Just deeply touched and awe-struck.

Ace of Spades is a compelling work of non-fiction that uses fictional characters and settings. Everything our protagonists go through is very much real, which is scary. It shares with the world the impact of racism on the lives of those who suffer from it. I loved how it represents many sides of racism, from the most veiled to the most disgustingly open. Ace of Spades also does a tremendous job representing queerness, privilege, social injustices, biracial relationships, adolescence, and the pressure to do better than one's parents.

It is very much a book meant to give voice to those who feel powerless and encourage people to fight for who they want to be and what they want to do. Even if the journey is more challenging, they are worth the result.

I hope that everyone who reads this book takes a meaningful lesson with them. If they feel powerless, I hope they learn to fight. If they realize they are a monster, I hope they reflect on the impact of their actions and learn that it's never too late to change. If they are privileged cowards, I hope they decide to stop turning a blind eye.

Honestly, my mind is so blown. I'm crying as I write this because this book touched me so much. I don't know how prose can read like poetry, but this was my experience. I have no more words.


I'm just humbled and in awe. Reading Ace of Spades felt like an intimately emotional experience. I am pretty sure I just witnessed a star being born, legit greatness.



Disclaimer: I first read it as an ARC. In exchange for an honest review, I am thankful to Macmillan Audio, Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of Ace of Spades.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for my alc of this title.

One sentence review: Ace of Spades is a wild ride of a thriller that will keep you guessing while also providing social commentary on systems of education and racial discrimination.

Ace of Spades centers around a prep school where two high achieving black students, Chiamaka Adebayo and Devon Richards, are targeted by a cyber bully. The synopsis calls this Gossip Girl meets Get Out and that seems like a pretty accurate description to me. The story alternates viewpoints between Chiamaka and Devon.

My thoughts:

- This audiobook is one that I did not want to turn off. With constant action I was fully immersed in the characters and needed to know more.
- I loved the dual narration. Both students lived such different lives that I thought the dual commentary really helped provide a richness to what was happening.
- I thought the book did a good job addressing the fears and emotions of Devon, a queer character who has experienced bullying throughout his life due to his sexuality.
- The book started a little slow for me as I didn't particularly care for one of the characters. As the book progresses and you gain more insight to the characters though I found I couldn't put the audiobook down.
- The story addresses a lot of different social issues from different angles. I really appreciated the commentary but felt at one point that it messed with the pacing of the book a bit. It was by no means a deal breaker but it felt like we were building to a crescendo in the story only to take a break and lose some momentum. It was important social commentary, I'm just not certain if it needed to be placed exactly where it was in the book.
- For a debut effort, I really think Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé knocks it out of the park with this book.

In summary I loved the book and would highly recommend it to those who love shows like Gossip Girl. It would also appeal to people who enjoyed Alyssa Cole's When No One is Watching.

NARRATION: Jeanette Illidge and Tapiwa Mugweni both do a fabulous job with the narration on this one. I felt they both really immersed us in the inner thoughts of their characters.

One of my favorite books of the year so far! I didn’t want to stop listening from the very moment I started it. The narrators for the audiobook were amazing, and made me feel like I was in the thick of the plot. What starts out as a dark version of Gossip Girl quickly devolves into a sinister high school version of Get Out. There were moments when I found myself gasping for breath or clamping my hand over my mouth in shock. Incredibly well-written and insane storytelling!

Loved the LGBTQ representation and essentially everything about this book was amazing.

So let me start by saying I have not watched a single episode of Gossip Girl or read it (I think it's a book) but I know who A is suppose to be (my friends loved the show) but I have watched get out. I personally think it has a splash of I know what you did last summer too but that might be because of my lack of knowledge on Gossip girl. I don't know.

I did quiet enjoy this book it kept me engaged in trying to find out just who was trying to take the only two black kids down.

While I do think this was really on the nose with the lines of Get out it has enough of its own uniqueness to make it its own.

This book also makes me feel like I should dye my hair anything but blonde and hide my blue eyes.

If you’re going to pitch me a book as Get Out meets Gossip Girl…I’m going to read that book. Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé delivers on that concept while managing to bring forth commentary on race in America and marginalized queer voices.

We have two main protagonists, Chiamaka and Devon, the only two black kids at their prestigious private school. Chiamaka comes from money and has settled herself at the top of the food chain; Devon, on the other hand - is a scholarship student who is trying to keep his head down and get noticed as little as possible by his peers.

Enter: Aces.

The anonymous Gossip Girl-esque character who starts sending texts that go from outing Devon to calling Chiamaka a liar. Aces takes things a step further than their Upper East Side inspiration, by never actually texting the person they’re targeting, creating a tension for Chiamaka and Devon everytime someone else is looking at their phone.

Things take off when they realize that....they seem to be the only ones targeted by Aces.

Ace of Spades was a high stakes, engaging story about institutional racism and the legacy of privilege and hate that can permeate any spaces. I do think Gossip Girl meets Get Out are the perfect comps to give you the vibes of the story - Chiamaka was 100% channeling her inner Blair Waldof and I was so here for it. We know from the synopsis that The Aces are the group terrorizing Chi and Devon, but they don't really know about them until the last third of the book - which makes sense in the context of this story, but it was frustrating at times because they didn't talk about their problems to anyone or seek help from anyone. But overall, this story was incredibly successful in it's goal and created an unflinching examination of privilege, power, and racial politics.

I received a copy of the audiobook from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Ace of Spades is a Gossip Girls inspired novel that will also appeal to fans of the dark academia vibe. Ace of Spades, by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, tells the story of two students at an exclusive private academy, Devon and Chiamaka, as they struggle with institutionalized racism and a mysterious figure, Aces, who seems determined to ruin their senior year and any chance they have to get into college.

I wanted to start my review by saying how much I liked both of the narrators for this book. They made the listen engaging and often I found myself forgetting to do anything but continue to listen to the story. The music was a little cheesy but it did add to the suspense of what was happening.

Over all, I really enjoyed this story. I was kept guessing all the way up to the end on just who Aces really was and I loved the surprise of who they ended up being. I still think the reason for why Aces was doing what they were doing was a little iffy but I can appreciate it for what the story was trying to convey. I think Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé was very smart in giving us two characters, both minorities, but still living a very different existence. Even though Chiamaka was privileged in a lot of ways, she suffers a lot of the same instances of racism that Devon does.

I highly recommend not only this book, but also the audiobook. Not only will you enjoy the story but it will also get you thinking about your own privilege.

Wow! This was such a ride and such a great way to start off my reading month! It is so rare when you get a book that is exactly as it is billed, in this case: "Gossip Girl" meets "Get Out." That comparison and the cover made me pick up this book.

"Ace of Spades" is a YA thriller following Chiamaka and Devon, the only two Black students in Niveus Private Academy, who suddenly in their last year of school become the targets of a cyberbullying campaign led by the mysterious "Aces." The rest of the novel is basically them trying to figure out why they are being targeted and who is behind this entire campaign.

I read this book on audio, and it was a great experience. The story is told in dual POV alternating Chiomaka's chapters with Devon's, and we have two different narrators for each of the character's chapters. Both narrators did a solid job, in my opinion. They were pleasant to listen to and contributed to the novel's increasing suspense. I would have listened to it in a sitting if I could have.

In terms of characters, I think both of the main characters were good choices to tell this story. Chiamaka and Devon arrived at Niveus Private Academy from different backgrounds so each of their chapters helps depict how Aces' campaign affects them in varying ways. While flawed, I loved reading about their development arcs, particularly both of their journeys coming to terms with their identities.

The novel also explores difficult themes, such as racism, classism, eugenics, and homophobia in ways that are horrifyingly realistic. The writing style was also very easy to get into and made you want to continue reading.

Trigger warnings: racism, homophobia, classism

"Ace of Spades" comes out on June 1, 2021.

I got this as an early copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review! And I am most happy with the way this turned out. I for some reason thought this was a fantasy, but it is a thriller and just took unexpected turns and was overall a delight to read.

First of all I am not own voices so I am not going to say much in regards to a book like this as I feel like its not my place.
What I do want to say is that I really enjoyed reading this. The characters were great and the following along with the mystery was perfect. This is definitely a timely and important book but told in a really interesting way. If you are into things like Get Out, Them, or Us then this book is definitely something you would enjoy.

"Growing up, I realized quite quickly that people hate being called racist more than they hate racism itself."

Wow, what a book! The description of Gossip Girl meets Get Out is absolutely correct. I was glued to the page as I wanted to find out the identity of "Aces" and why Chiamaka and Devon are being targeted.

When everything is wrapped up in the end this is a stunning work of creativity and a forthright light shining on today's society. It's an exciting, fast-paced book with examination of perception, prejudice, bullying, racism, and LGBTQ+ issues woven through a mystery thriller.

The one thing I wished was that the pacing was a little different. I felt like the ending wrapped things up much too quickly and I wanted to know more about how all of that took place. It's just a small thing though, and I think this is an important, well-written book that readers of all ages will like even though this is a YA book.

I listened to some of this as an audio book and read a print copy for the rest. The two narrators for Devon and Chiamaka do a fantastic job giving those characters realistic voices in the narrative. I thought that some parts it was actually easier to listen because then I knew who was narrating. When I was reading the print copy occasionally I would forget whose perspective I was in and then had to backtrack to find out.

Highly recommended.

Ace of Spades is pitched as Gossip Girl meets Get Out and that description perfectly encapsulates what to expect from this book. From the threatening and revealing text messages being sent in mass to the students at Niveus, to the gripping adventure that leads us to find out why such text messages are being distributed; this book was hard to put down.

This story was told through the lens of two students: Chiamaka and Devon. In turn, the audiobook was narrated by Jeanette Illidge and Tapiwa Mugweni who both did amazing at encapsulating the tone of the story. Divided in three parts, in the first part of the story, we we were introduced to our leads, Niveus, and Ace; our antagonist who sends out mass text messages to give hell to Devon and Chiamaka. Very much like Gossip Girl, you never knew who Ace was and when they would reveal more about you. In the second part, we see more students turn against them, especially Chiamaka who was Queen Bee, and was their down fall as these incriminating text messages not only turns their social lives to the worst, but also their prospects outside of this school such as universities. The build up of both parts was perfectly paced. It felt like we had enough time to truly know Chiamaka and Devon, the school setting and its students and reachers, as well as understand the anxieties both main characters suffered through.

It wasn't until the third part of the story where we uncover the whys was I wasn't able to put the book down. I constantly needed to make a minute to breathe from the high pressure and stress as each pieces of the puzzle slowly fit together to show us the grand picture. It wasn't until this part that the Get Out side of the book's pitch really shone through.

Ace of Spades is a perfect thriller book that explores the horrors of racism, classism, and old traditions. I highly recommend it if you enjoyed Gossip Girl and Get Out, but also if you just want a book to suck you in a high stakes adventure.

This was a WILD and crazy story! I loved the racial tones, and felt that while this was a thriller, the racial story was the winner of this plot.

I loved this story and I think YA readers will too!

The audiobook for this novel is SO GOOD. The narrators are wonderful actors, and hearing the words on page translate into voice acting drew me so much further into the story. My only gripe is the speeds are a bit weird: 2x speed is still fairly slow, but 2.5 is so fast you can't understand half the words the narrators are saying. I couldn't change it to 2.25 in the Netgalley app, so I'm not sure how that would sound, but I imagine it's likely the sweet spot for this audiobook, which is a bit higher than typical audiobooks.

Here is my book review:

I am once again asking for authors to actually use the word lesbian to describe lesbian characters.

Warning: this review discusses things that aren't necessarily spoilers, but I believe it's best to go into this book a lot blinder than this review will make you. Please don't read this review until you've read the book, just trust me.

This book was REALLY GOOD. I've never read a book that was more accurate to it's comparison tagline: this story is Gossip Girl meets Get Out to it's core.

Ace of Spades follows our two Black main characters as they become victims of targeted harassment at their elite, all White boarding school. An anonymous texter nicknamed "Ace" leaks sex tapes, frames the victims for crimes, and reveals deadly secrets.

This book is largely a story of the deeply rooted racism is in America, and how it thrives to this day. We see the racism in the prison system, in academia, and the white supremacy of American cultists who believe it's there job to prevent Black Americans from ever gaining equality.

This book is also pretty heavy on LGBTQ representation, and how deeply rooted homophobia is in society as well, however there are aspects to this representation I don't love, namely the refusal to just say the word lesbian. "I like this girl more than I've ever liked any man in my life" is not a substitute for the word lesbian. The author has no problem calling the gay male main character gay on MANY occasions, but for our lesbian character we only get lines alluding to her lesbianism? I'm tired.

Overall, this book was amazing. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, and I absolutely couldn't put the book down. This is a beautiful and gripping thriller that exposes just how deep the roots of white supremacy and homophobia are in America by showing the ultimate lengths white supremacists will go to sabotage Black people out of their lives.

This is a story about surviving the kind of people who hide beneath academics opportunity instead of white sheets.

The descriptions of “Gossip Girl meets Get Out” is spot on. This book was painful at points & filled with horrifying moments where I felt certain the protagonists were not going to survive their surroundings.
I’m not always a proponent of dual POVs, but in this case I felt equally connected to both, and their voices were unique enough that it didn’t feel repetitive. I also loved the way that social commentary was integrated- the pacing was outstanding.

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ .💫

Thank you Netgalley & Macmillan Audio for the AlRC! & Feiwel & Friends for the e-Arc!

Did you spend years obsessed with Pretty Little Liars and Gossip Girl? Then this book is for you! It was amazing. It follows Devin and Chiamaka as they start their senior year as the only two Black students at Niveus Academy when suddenly an anonymous texter named Aces starts outing all their secrets. This book will keep you on the edge of your seat as you try to guess who could possibly be Aces. It also serves as an amazing allegory for what it’s like to be in an environment where you’re the only one who looks like you. The book also delves into classicism and the morally grey things you do to survive when someone is trying to kill you (literally or figuratively you’ll have to read to see 😜)
It’s also queer and full of amazing fashion. I will be thinking about this book for awhile so please go read it immediately.