It’s more incredible news for Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé! Her YA thriller Ace of Spades, which has enjoyed remarkable success since its 2021 publication, has officially hit 100,000 ratings on Goodreads.

“This is such a cool milestone!!” the author shared on Instagram, thanking every reader who has taken the time to engage with her stories. To put this achievement in perspective: when we covered the book’s foreign rights acquisition back in 2021, it had received over 20,000 ratings in less than four months after publication. Now, four years later, that number has quintupled, proving that Ace of Spades isn’t just a flash-in-the-pan success but a book with serious staying power.

The journey from 20,000 to 100,000 ratings reflects how the book has continued finding new audiences across the globe. Those nine foreign language editions we reported on in 2021, published everywhere from Germany (Lago) and Brazil (Plataforma21) to Russia (Popcorn), Spain (Planeta), and France, have helped introduce Àbíké-Íyímídé’s “utterly compelling” story to readers worldwide. Described as “Gossip Girl meets Get Out,” Ace of Spades follows Chiamaka and Devon, two Black students recently appointed prefects at the elite Niveus Academy, who must work together to stop an anonymous troll threatening to expose secrets that could destroy their lives and futures. The book’s unflinching examination of racism at predominantly white institutions, wrapped in a thriller structure, clearly struck a chord that transcends language and geography.

This milestone comes at a moment when representation in YA publishing continues to be hard-won, making Àbíké-Íyímídé’s success all the more significant. From topping bestseller lists and landing Goodreads Choice Award nominations to now reaching 100,000 ratings, Ace of Spades has proven what happens when African authors are given the platform they deserve: readers show up, and they stay. For those keeping track, this is exactly the kind of trajectory we love to see.

Congratulations to Faridah on this well-deserved achievement!