Jen Ryland Reviews

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Review of Ace of Spades

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I love Dark Academia so I couldn’t wait to read Ace of Spades, a new YA Dark Academia book. What did I think? Did it live up to my strict Dark Academia standards? Check out my review of Ace of Spades!

Review of Ace of Spades

What is Ace of Spades About

Cover Ace of Spades

Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé.

Published on June 1, 2021 by Feiwel and Friends. Thanks so much to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review. I read this book in May 2021.

Synopsis: When two Niveus Private Academy students, Devon Richards and Chiamaka Adebayo, are selected to be part of the elite school’s senior class prefects, it looks like their year is off to an amazing start. After all, not only does it look great on college applications, it officially puts each of them in the running for valedictorian. Shortly after the announcement is made, though, someone who goes by Aces begins using anonymous text messages to reveal secrets about the two of them that turn their lives upside down and threaten every aspect of their carefully planned futures. As Aces shows no sign of stopping, what seemed like a sick prank quickly turns into a dangerous game, with all the cards stacked against them. Can Devon and Chiamaka stop Aces before things become incredibly deadly?

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Read These Five Books During the Spooky Season

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If you’re like me, you love the fall, are stockpiling cobwebs, and maybe have a few too many skeletons in your closet (of the Halloween decoration sort, obviously!) So you should definitely Read these Five Books During the Spooky Season

Five Books To Read During the Spooky Season

Are you looking for books that will get you into the Halloween spirit? Me too. This year is going to be a strange one, and I’m trying to find ways to celebrate the holiday without some of the usual traditions.

Here are three 2020 YA books and two 2020 adult books featuring witches, devious killers, and paranormal happenings. All of them will have you hiding under the covers!

Spooky 2020 Adult Books

The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson – this adult book is one part historical fiction, one part feminist tale, and a whole lot of suspense and witchiness. I highly recommend this one!

His & Hers by Alice Feeney – this book about a TV reporter investigating a crime in her small England hometown is so dark and twisty that you’ll be dizzy by the end. If you like audiobooks, I recommend listening!

And Now She’s Gone by Rachel Howzell Hall – I love police procedurals! This book features a missing woman, a Black female detective who is constantly underestimated, and a seedy L.A. setting. I’m thrilled to put Rachel Howzell Hall on my list of authors to watch!

Spooky 2020 YA Books

None Shall Sleep by Ellie Marney – this one was awesome! If you loved Silence of the Lambs and Mindhunter, check out this YA story about two teens matching wits with a dangerous murdered. To do so, they’ll have to enlistthe help of a Hannibal Lechter-style serial killer who is behind bars.

The Ravens by Danielle Paige and Kass Morgan – this story about a sorority of witches at a Southern college comes out in early November 2020 and is filled with witchy suspense!

If you are looking for even MORE scary books, check out these book lists:

YA Books About Witches

Best YA Books About Witches

New YA Mysteries and Thrillers for 2020

  • Best-YA-Mysteries-Nancy-Drew-Fans
  • YA-Mysteries-for-Sherlock-Holmes-Fans

The Best YA Mysteries: a Definitive List

Best YA Books About Ghosts

Best YA Books About Zombies

Whew! If that doesn’t give you options, I don’t know what to say. (I did say I loved scary books!)

Tell me in comments about YOUR favorite book for the spooky season!

New YA Mysteries and Thrillers for 2020

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I’ve always loved mysteries and thrillers, but in the pandemic I’m loving them even more. They’re easy and absorbing reads and usually have a satisfying conclusion. Check out my list of New YA Mysteries and Thrillers for 2020 plus a peek at 2021!

How many of these have you read?

This post contains affiliate links.

New YA Thrillers Spring/Summer 2020

Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holy Jackson (February 2020 from Delacorte) – this Serial inspired YA was really fun – you can read my review here.

All Your Twisted Secrets by Diana Urban (March 2020 from Harper) – a locked room Breakfast Club story.

Clique Bait by Ann Valett (April 2020 from Harper) – a girl dons a disguise to avenge her friend.

I Killed Zoe Spanos by Kit Frick (June 2020 from Simon & Schuster) – this Rebecca inspired YA was really a good read – you can find my review here.

You’re Next by Kylie Schacte (July 2020 from Jimmy Patterson) – a girl investigates the death of her ex.

Girl From Nowhere (July 2002 from Bloomsbury) – sadly I didn’t find this one consistently thrilling, but you can find my review here.

They Wish They Were Us by Jessica Goodman (August 2020 from Penguin BFYR) – murder at an exclusive prep school.

Harrow Lake by Kat Ellis (August 2020 from Dial Books) – the daughter of a fillmaker is sent to live at a spooky lake.

New YA Mysteries and Thrillers Fall 2020

Nobody Knows But You by Anica Mrose Rissi (September 2020 from Harper) – death at a summer camp, told in letters.

None Shall Sleep by Ellie Marney (September 2020 from LBBYR) – LOVED this YA serial killer book set in the 80s and you can read my review here.

Five Total Strangers by Natalie D. Richards (October 2020) – a girl accepts a ride from a stranger when she’s trapped in a blizzard, but things get weird.

Incognito by Katie Delahanty (October 2020 from Entangled) – this is a sequel to Keystone, which is about a girl who joins a secret school for thieves.

Girl on the Run by Abigail Johnson (October 2020 from Underlined Books) – a girl discovers that her mother has some dark secrets.

Those Who Prey by Jennifer Moffett (November 2020 from Atheneum) – psychological thriller about a lonely college freshman seduced into joining a cult

The Ravens by Danielle Page and Kass Morgan (November 2020 from Philomel) – a sorority of witches… YESSSS!

The Good Girls by Claire Eliza Bartlett (December 2020 from Harper) – three suspects in the murder of a cheerleader.

SNEAK PEEK at a few Spring 2021 YA Mysteries and Thrillers!

Good Girl Bad Blood by Holly Jackson – the sequel to Good Girl’s Guide to Murder comes out in the US on

Influence by Sara Shepard and Lilia Buckingham (January 2021 from Delacorte).

The Sky Above Us by Natalie Lund (April 2021 from Philomel) – a twisty psychological thriller about a group of teens who all lose loved ones in a plane crash.

Can you never get enough of YA Mysteries and Thrillers? Check out my Definitive List of YA Mysteries! Includes Sherlock inspired Mysteries and Best Girl Detectives!

  • YA-Mysteries-for-Sherlock-Holmes-Fans
  • Best-YA-Mysteries-Nancy-Drew-Fans

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