I was expecting great things from ACE OF SPADES by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, and this YA thriller surely did not disappoint. (Swipe for synopsis!) It reels you in casually with high school drama and intense pranks then TURNS THE HEAT ALL THE WAY UP towards the middle of the book. I felt on guard while reading this because there were so many chilling moments. It gave me serious Pretty Little Liars vibes (the earlier seasons that made sense 🥴🤫), and I was here for it. Think of this book like the younger, but just as powerful, sibling of When No One Is Watching by Alyssa Cole.

Chiamaka and Devon are such different characterd; you never forget whose perspectives you’re reading from. Also, Chiamaka is not the super likable Black girl protagonist you want her to be that folds herself and tames down her power in a sea of whiteness in order to blend in, so if you’re expecting that, DON’T. Chiamaka is calculating, motivated, and knows (or so she thinks) how to play the game she’s in to the best of her ability. Capped off with a dope ending, ACE OF SPACES perfectly captures how even an “invisible” threat like racism can ruin your mental, emotional, and physical health little by little. This YA thriller tackles institutional racism, systemic and structural racism, and the part white women and poor white people play in a white supremacist society.