Ace of Spades - Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

⭐ 8.0/10

(Originally written by Magdalene)

This book is huge on BookTok and pretty everywhere else, so I had to give it a try, plus the premise was very intriguing. Devon and Chiamaka, the only Black students in Niveus, are suddenly targeted by the anonymous Aces, who is slowly revealing all of their secrets to the rest of the students through texts. Chiamaka is the school's It Girl who has fought to be at the top, and Devon is a closeted gay boy who just wants to play music and help his mom. The confusion and secrets and pressure on both of them ramps up as they try figure out who is trying to ruin their lives, and why.

This book is intense and full of drama, like I imagine shows like Pretty Little Liars are. It's hard not to get wrapped up in the mystery and intrigue. It's compulsively readable and an enjoyable ride, exploring racism, social structures, discrimination and more in a glossy package. I can see why it's popular, but I personally felt like it was obvious it was a debut. There are just some dropped plot threads and weak aspects of the story, and things that, looking back, didn't quite add up. But I definitely think it's still worth reading.