Reviews

Aces Wild: A Heist by Amanda DeWitt

lilacbunnyboy's review against another edition

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

oh this book was so so good, i fell in love with the whole friend group immediately and dont even get ne started on jack, he has such a special place in my heart :,)

hollyn_middle's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

missingbuttons's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

tessa3768's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

reefsharkie's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

silesmil's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes

3.5

landofkait's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Jack Shannon leaves his Massachusetts boarding school’s underground blackjack game behind for a shot at a high-stakes game of getting his mom out of jail and putting the right criminal behind bars. With the help of some internet friends who met on Star Trek forums after bonding over all being ace, Jack sets out on a dangerous road to freedom.

This book was fun. It was a quick read that sucked me in easily. Jack is a great narrator dealt a bad hand that he tries to get out from under. His friends—ones he’s never met in real life—all leap off the page with unique personalities. My favorite friend was Remy (and spoiler, that’s Jack’s too). This also loosely explored the idea of being ace while having a crush, though a little bit more could have gone into that. Overall, a really fun read with a twist that I sort of saw coming, but still enjoyed nonetheless.

ladykaylee's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I really liked this book, but I just wish there were more- more character development, especially with the sidekicks of the heist, more of an epilogue, especially with the fallout from the family about the secret uncovered during the course of the book, and more of the heist itself.  I was really looking forward to reading about a casino heist, especially in a book where "heist" is part of the title, and I was continually disappointed.  The gang got together (and I quite liked having a gang of teenaged asexuals as the protagonists, though I think the author tried to fit in too many people in so short a novel, and most of them felt very flat and one-dimensional), but the "heist" was very disappointing to me- they tried multiple attempts to break in to the Avalon Club, but it didn't have that classic "heist" feel that I was hoping for when I started the book. 

tell_them_stories's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

charthegoose's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful lighthearted tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

A heist book with ace rep- what’s not to love? I really enjoyed this book and loved getting to know the whole group. The plot twists had me hooked and Jacks inner monologue paired tense and exciting moments with relatable humour. It was wonderful getting to see so many ace characters and the different ways they express and experience their sexuality. Having their views and feelings on being ace included throughout the book was refreshing and it was wonderful seeing romance through characters who view love in a similar way to me.

The idea Jack found out he was ace through a Star Wars fan page from someone with a Jar Jar Binks handle had me dying 😂. Also Jack being a Cavelaro!!! I only realised about 2 pages before Jack told us.

 
Overall Aces Wild is a great book with wonderful ace rep which made me feel seen and validated. The heist storyline had me hooked and I rooted for the characters to succeed. It was a wild ride and I loved every second 💜