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.