4.25/5 but I’m rounding up because the Nigerian in me felt so happy reading this!

Okay I really really d this book, it was slow in the beginning but once it picked up I was into these teenagers, their drama and the mystery. I loved the main characters Kitan and Iyana so much, they were great complex characters. The school vibes reminded of the drama that went on in boarding schools and it fun to read. I loved how the author explored racism, colorism, and black fishing in an easy and compelling way that flowed with the mystery plot. There’s a lot of pining, teenage romance subplots and side characters that I both loved and hated lol. What I loved the most was how Nigerian this book was even though it didn’t take place in Nigeria. From the food and the characters speaking/insulting people in Yoruba, to the indomie and suya references and all the wonderful nods to our culture I loved it so much. Please read this if you want a ya mystery with mean girls,secrets, stakeouts, culture and some teenage angst.

Tropes/themes:
- Ya academia
- Dear white people meets mean girls
- Prestigious boarding school
- Dual pov
- Nigerian fmc
- Bipoc characters
- Queer characters
- Teenage piningyoung-adult34 s2 comments kimberly ?285 4,954

4.25 stars


omg omg omg what a book!!28 s h i n d 344 312 Want to read

- Shakespeare reimagining
- that dark academia boarding school life
- exploration of colourism and beauty standards
- photography nerd MC
- being obliviously in love muslim-author21 s Hannah B.1,062 1,671

Sure it takes place around Valentine’s Day but it was perfect for autumn. I just want to wear oversized cable knit sweaters, drink tea that I maybe don’t even , and solve mysteries in an English boarding school. The vibes in this book were immaculate and the mystery had me guessing until the end. It def had a Mean Girls feel—which I loved—and it felt very cinematic. The narrators were impeccable and soothed me even when crazy, angering things were happening.17 s Aleema OmotoniAuthor 1 book91

I'm so excited to share this story with all of you soon ??17 s Racquel MarieAuthor 6 books655

ya contemporary is alive and well with upcoming releases these14 s Ana836 554

**4.25

This book definitely solidified my hatred of high school students. They’re so…evil. It was actually realistic how all of the characters are little shits who do terrible things that you kinda just move on from cause Teens Will Do Stupid Teen Stuff. Except, obviously, certain…people…who were so hilariously evil it was actually quite entertaining. I honestly didn’t expect to have this much fun because I’ve said before I don’t YA, but the mix of me being on an eight hour plane ride with nothing to do and needing to read this definitely added up in my favor. It was great.

I have to point this out for transparency’s sake: three of the main/side (??? I can never tell the difference. All three are important to the plot but don’t get POV’s) characters are Cuban and Yes That Absolutely Might Have Affected My Rating A Little. It caught me by surprise and I really wasn’t expecting it so it was not on purpose!!! But I can’t help it that I suddenly enjoy a book more if it reminds me of my country. It’s who I am. Also it helped that all three of them were genuinely good people and likable and one of them was the main love interest (YESS).

All the other characters are…you gotta read it. Iyanu is unequivocally great. , she’s objectively the best person in this book. Kitan’s POV was very entertaining as she was caught right in the middle of that world. Both good main characters who guide the reader through an exploration of race, sexuality, and discovering one’s safe space when young.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced reader’s copy.2023-challenge 4-star-goodie academia ...more13 s sailormoonreads113 3

This is how you write a debut.
Autor del comentario:
=================================