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Winners & Liars
Derin’s acceptance into Cambridge University is the end of an era—just not the one she expected.
When she and her ultra-competitive Uni prep group, The Kenfield Set, were first invited to Professor Darnley’s summer ball, they planned on celebrating the group's success surrounded by the riches of his historical Kenfield estate—not kicking off the festivities with the professor’s will reading.
But when the Darnley’s aristocratic children are disinherited, the students are offered the opportunity of a lifetime: compete in a Victorian, literary-inspired inheritance competition to be named the new heir—winner takes all!
For Derin, it's a chance to help her working-class family. But the remaining Darnleys won’t take losing their stately home and its multimillion-pound inheritance lying down. And into the mix, a mysterious note is slipped under Derin’s door alluding to a dark family secret lying in wait.
Now, Derin must balance the cutthroat games; scheming relatives; and a cute Kenfield intern amidst her dawning realization that the history of this inheritance might be soaked in lies… and blood.
When she and her ultra-competitive Uni prep group, The Kenfield Set, were first invited to Professor Darnley’s summer ball, they planned on celebrating the group's success surrounded by the riches of his historical Kenfield estate—not kicking off the festivities with the professor’s will reading.
But when the Darnley’s aristocratic children are disinherited, the students are offered the opportunity of a lifetime: compete in a Victorian, literary-inspired inheritance competition to be named the new heir—winner takes all!
For Derin, it's a chance to help her working-class family. But the remaining Darnleys won’t take losing their stately home and its multimillion-pound inheritance lying down. And into the mix, a mysterious note is slipped under Derin’s door alluding to a dark family secret lying in wait.
Now, Derin must balance the cutthroat games; scheming relatives; and a cute Kenfield intern amidst her dawning realization that the history of this inheritance might be soaked in lies… and blood.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published May 12, 2026
About the author
Aleema Omotoni
5 books133 followersAleema Omotoni is an award-winning British-Nigerian author. She writes novels that centre Black teens coming of age, falling in love, and navigating all kinds of contemporary and fantasy worlds. She loves knitting, podcasts about her special interests and colourful Autumn walks in her favourite London parks.
Her debut novel, EVERYONE’S THINKING IT, won the 2024 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work - Youth/Teens.
Her debut novel, EVERYONE’S THINKING IT, won the 2024 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work - Youth/Teens.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
July 9, 2026
Rating: 4.5 ✨
———
Wow…this turned out to be crazy! It started a little slow, but it was intriguing enough to keep me invested, and once the story picked up, I couldn’t put it down.
One of the things I appreciated most was how the story highlighted the ways African American history is often erased. As a people, we have to work so diligently to uncover our truths because, if we don’t know our past, we’re destined to repeat it. The novel also explores how those in power will often do whatever it takes to stay in power, as the Darnley family stops at nothing to keep the rightful heir from receiving what they’re owed.
The Kenfield Set was such an interesting group. I loved getting to know each character and imagining their unique personalities. Although Derin was the main character, the supporting cast was developed well enough that I felt connected to each of them, even without chapters from their perspectives.
I will say that the flashback chapters from when the professor and Cornelia were still alive didn’t add much for me personally. I understood that they were meant to show how Derin processed her grandfather’s passing, the support both of them gave her, and the way that helped shaped who she became throughout the competition. However, I felt like those points were already communicated through present-day conversations and Derin’s own private reflections among the talks with her friends, so the flashbacks felt somewhat unneeded.
There was also a sweet touch of romance between Teddy and Derin that I really enjoyed. Beyond that, the story weaves together themes of grief, guilt, whitewashing, betrayal, and the beauty of genuine friendship. Every member of the Kenfield Set shared a different kind of bond, and I loved that the book showed friendship isn’t always perfect—sometimes people are fiercely loyal, and sometimes they fall short, but those relationships are still meaningful.
✨ Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
———
Wow…this turned out to be crazy! It started a little slow, but it was intriguing enough to keep me invested, and once the story picked up, I couldn’t put it down.
One of the things I appreciated most was how the story highlighted the ways African American history is often erased. As a people, we have to work so diligently to uncover our truths because, if we don’t know our past, we’re destined to repeat it. The novel also explores how those in power will often do whatever it takes to stay in power, as the Darnley family stops at nothing to keep the rightful heir from receiving what they’re owed.
The Kenfield Set was such an interesting group. I loved getting to know each character and imagining their unique personalities. Although Derin was the main character, the supporting cast was developed well enough that I felt connected to each of them, even without chapters from their perspectives.
I will say that the flashback chapters from when the professor and Cornelia were still alive didn’t add much for me personally. I understood that they were meant to show how Derin processed her grandfather’s passing, the support both of them gave her, and the way that helped shaped who she became throughout the competition. However, I felt like those points were already communicated through present-day conversations and Derin’s own private reflections among the talks with her friends, so the flashbacks felt somewhat unneeded.
There was also a sweet touch of romance between Teddy and Derin that I really enjoyed. Beyond that, the story weaves together themes of grief, guilt, whitewashing, betrayal, and the beauty of genuine friendship. Every member of the Kenfield Set shared a different kind of bond, and I loved that the book showed friendship isn’t always perfect—sometimes people are fiercely loyal, and sometimes they fall short, but those relationships are still meaningful.
✨ Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for granting my request to read this e-ARC and provide my honest opinion.
I really had high hopes for this book; I mean, look at that cover!!! 😊 But unfortunately, I was disappointed. As a mystery YA novel, it was so slow, and personally, I do not like slow books because it takes a long time for me to connect to the book, storyline, and characters, and it makes me space out.
I must say that I felt a little thrown by the constant need of the author to make most of the characters either bi or other forms of sexual representation, and while I get the need to get sexual representation on page too, this just felt like it was overdone.
I loved the whole plot of playing games in which the winner of the games becomes the heir of a big inheritance, but... The history aspect was too much; it took so much away from the main story; it didn't work seamlessly. I kept thinking how Derin's great-grandparents tied in with the inheritance, but my brain wasn't getting it despite the many explanations 🤦🏾♀️. This might be a me issue, though.
What did work for me was the thrill of the games; the games were very intense, and I loved the tension it brought!!! But that tension brought a whole lot of chaos to the Darnleys. Yeah, sure, some of the secrets, when revealed, were surprising, but others were just there.
Thank you once again for the e-ARC.
I really had high hopes for this book; I mean, look at that cover!!! 😊 But unfortunately, I was disappointed. As a mystery YA novel, it was so slow, and personally, I do not like slow books because it takes a long time for me to connect to the book, storyline, and characters, and it makes me space out.
I must say that I felt a little thrown by the constant need of the author to make most of the characters either bi or other forms of sexual representation, and while I get the need to get sexual representation on page too, this just felt like it was overdone.
I loved the whole plot of playing games in which the winner of the games becomes the heir of a big inheritance, but... The history aspect was too much; it took so much away from the main story; it didn't work seamlessly. I kept thinking how Derin's great-grandparents tied in with the inheritance, but my brain wasn't getting it despite the many explanations 🤦🏾♀️. This might be a me issue, though.
What did work for me was the thrill of the games; the games were very intense, and I loved the tension it brought!!! But that tension brought a whole lot of chaos to the Darnleys. Yeah, sure, some of the secrets, when revealed, were surprising, but others were just there.
Thank you once again for the e-ARC.
Want to Read
October 10, 2025"Knives Out for YA readers, this is a twisty, high stakes game for a life-changing inheritance brimming with chilling family secrets"
preordered just like that
preordered just like that
July 30, 2026
my best buddy is a two-time published author and I’m so unbelievably proud!!!
perfect for the knives out loving ya reader in your life ♟️🌸🎼
perfect for the knives out loving ya reader in your life ♟️🌸🎼
November 8, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
A competitive inheritance game, a mysterious death, a wealthy family full of secrets, and a group of students who suddenly have a whole lot more to worry about than their university applications? “Winners & Liars” by Aleema Omotoni has such a fun premise, and it definitely gives off Knives Out vibes!
Derin and the rest of the Kenfield Set have spent years working toward their dream of attending Cambridge, with their beloved Professor Darnley guiding them along the way. But after the unexpected deaths of the professor and his wife, the students are invited to a rather unusual will reading. Instead of leaving his fortune to his own children, Professor Darnley has decided that the Kenfield Set and a group of other students must compete in a series of games to determine who inherits his estate. Naturally, the disinherited Darnley family isn't thrilled about this arrangement, and things get even more complicated when Derin receives a mysterious note suggesting that there's something much darker going on. Suddenly, she's juggling a high-stakes competition, a possible murder investigation, and a family history filled with secrets.
I absolutely love the concept of this book. Turning an inheritance into a competition, complete with literary-inspired challenges and a gorgeous historical estate, is such an entertaining setup. The games were definitely one of my favorite parts, especially as the challenges tested different abilities and brought plenty of tension and chaos. I also enjoyed how the competition and the murder mystery unfolded alongside each other. There were enough twists and revelations to keep me curious about what was really happening, even if I did manage to figure out a few things ahead of time.
One of the strongest aspects of the story is its exploration of Black history and the ways it has been erased, overlooked, or deliberately whitewashed. The Darnley family’s efforts to protect their wealth and position are tied to a much larger history of injustice, and I appreciated how the novel connected those historical issues to the present-day mystery. It gives the story something meaningful to say beyond simply figuring out who will win the inheritance. There are also some lovely themes surrounding grief, guilt, betrayal, family secrets, and the importance of genuine friendship.
I really enjoyed the Kenfield Set as a group, too. Derin is the main character, but her friends each have their own personalities and relationships, and I liked seeing the different ways they supported one another, disagreed, and dealt with grief. The relationships aren't always perfect, which made them feel more believable. I also appreciated the queer representation, particularly that Derin, Teddy, and Bryony are bisexual, with Bryony also being demisexual. Derin and Bryony remaining friends after dating was another detail I loved seeing. And speaking of Teddy, the sweet, subtle development of his relationship with Derin was a nice addition without completely taking over the mystery.
That said, I did have a few issues. The beginning felt a little slow, and it took me some time to get fully invested in the story and its characters. I also wish some of the relationships and character development had gone a little deeper. There are plenty of interesting people here, but I sometimes wanted more emotional depth and stronger connections, particularly when it came to Derin. The flashbacks involving Professor Darnley and Cornelia also felt a bit unnecessary at times, since much of that information was already communicated through present-day conversations and reflections.
The historical elements were another mixed bag for me. I appreciated the important conversations about Black history, but some of the explanations and family connections could be confusing, and I occasionally felt like the historical background distracted from the actual competition. The Victorian-inspired atmosphere, costumes, and literary aesthetic were fun in theory, but they didn't always feel essential to the story. I also would have liked a little more explanation of the fictional book that plays such an important role in the competition.
Overall, “Winners & Liars” was an entertaining YA mystery with a fantastic premise, intriguing challenges, and some genuinely important themes. It isn't without its flaws, particularly when it comes to pacing and character development, but the inheritance competition and the secrets surrounding the Darnley family kept me interested. I think this will especially appeal to younger YA readers who enjoy mysteries, elaborate competitions, historical aesthetics, and a little romance mixed in with their family drama. It might not have completely lived up to its potential for me, but there's plenty here to enjoy!
A competitive inheritance game, a mysterious death, a wealthy family full of secrets, and a group of students who suddenly have a whole lot more to worry about than their university applications? “Winners & Liars” by Aleema Omotoni has such a fun premise, and it definitely gives off Knives Out vibes!
Derin and the rest of the Kenfield Set have spent years working toward their dream of attending Cambridge, with their beloved Professor Darnley guiding them along the way. But after the unexpected deaths of the professor and his wife, the students are invited to a rather unusual will reading. Instead of leaving his fortune to his own children, Professor Darnley has decided that the Kenfield Set and a group of other students must compete in a series of games to determine who inherits his estate. Naturally, the disinherited Darnley family isn't thrilled about this arrangement, and things get even more complicated when Derin receives a mysterious note suggesting that there's something much darker going on. Suddenly, she's juggling a high-stakes competition, a possible murder investigation, and a family history filled with secrets.
I absolutely love the concept of this book. Turning an inheritance into a competition, complete with literary-inspired challenges and a gorgeous historical estate, is such an entertaining setup. The games were definitely one of my favorite parts, especially as the challenges tested different abilities and brought plenty of tension and chaos. I also enjoyed how the competition and the murder mystery unfolded alongside each other. There were enough twists and revelations to keep me curious about what was really happening, even if I did manage to figure out a few things ahead of time.
One of the strongest aspects of the story is its exploration of Black history and the ways it has been erased, overlooked, or deliberately whitewashed. The Darnley family’s efforts to protect their wealth and position are tied to a much larger history of injustice, and I appreciated how the novel connected those historical issues to the present-day mystery. It gives the story something meaningful to say beyond simply figuring out who will win the inheritance. There are also some lovely themes surrounding grief, guilt, betrayal, family secrets, and the importance of genuine friendship.
I really enjoyed the Kenfield Set as a group, too. Derin is the main character, but her friends each have their own personalities and relationships, and I liked seeing the different ways they supported one another, disagreed, and dealt with grief. The relationships aren't always perfect, which made them feel more believable. I also appreciated the queer representation, particularly that Derin, Teddy, and Bryony are bisexual, with Bryony also being demisexual. Derin and Bryony remaining friends after dating was another detail I loved seeing. And speaking of Teddy, the sweet, subtle development of his relationship with Derin was a nice addition without completely taking over the mystery.
That said, I did have a few issues. The beginning felt a little slow, and it took me some time to get fully invested in the story and its characters. I also wish some of the relationships and character development had gone a little deeper. There are plenty of interesting people here, but I sometimes wanted more emotional depth and stronger connections, particularly when it came to Derin. The flashbacks involving Professor Darnley and Cornelia also felt a bit unnecessary at times, since much of that information was already communicated through present-day conversations and reflections.
The historical elements were another mixed bag for me. I appreciated the important conversations about Black history, but some of the explanations and family connections could be confusing, and I occasionally felt like the historical background distracted from the actual competition. The Victorian-inspired atmosphere, costumes, and literary aesthetic were fun in theory, but they didn't always feel essential to the story. I also would have liked a little more explanation of the fictional book that plays such an important role in the competition.
Overall, “Winners & Liars” was an entertaining YA mystery with a fantastic premise, intriguing challenges, and some genuinely important themes. It isn't without its flaws, particularly when it comes to pacing and character development, but the inheritance competition and the secrets surrounding the Darnley family kept me interested. I think this will especially appeal to younger YA readers who enjoy mysteries, elaborate competitions, historical aesthetics, and a little romance mixed in with their family drama. It might not have completely lived up to its potential for me, but there's plenty here to enjoy!
July 12, 2026
I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was great. I really liked the main character and I hadn't read the synopsis so I was really taken aback by everything, the concept, the plot, everything. I kept taking me by surprise and I loved every single second of it. i was really annoyed when work got in the way of my reading, all I wanted to do was read. The whole dynamics between the characters were all so interesting and I loved getting to know them. it all just worked so well, and I had the best time figuring out the clues through the book. It was just so well weaved together and I had an amazing time. I also enjoyed the little flashbacks of the professor, all of it was just great. It's a perfect sophomore book and I can't wait to see what the author comes up with next.
This was great. I really liked the main character and I hadn't read the synopsis so I was really taken aback by everything, the concept, the plot, everything. I kept taking me by surprise and I loved every single second of it. i was really annoyed when work got in the way of my reading, all I wanted to do was read. The whole dynamics between the characters were all so interesting and I loved getting to know them. it all just worked so well, and I had the best time figuring out the clues through the book. It was just so well weaved together and I had an amazing time. I also enjoyed the little flashbacks of the professor, all of it was just great. It's a perfect sophomore book and I can't wait to see what the author comes up with next.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Actual Rating: 3.75 Stars
Thank you to HarperCollins Children’s Books and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review! This comes out June 30th.
Winners & Liars by Aleema Omotoni follows Derin and the rest of her university prep group, nicknamed the Kenfield Set, after the death of both their beloved professor and his wife, a celebrated novelist. Instead of celebrating their acceptances into Cambridge University or mourning the loss of that dream, the five students find themselves at a will reading where it’s revealed that Professor Darnley and his wife Cornelia have left their inheritance to whomever from the Kenfield Set and a group of other students can win a series of games.
The set-up of this novel is a lot of fun but it didn’t quite live up to the premise in my opinion. The stakes felt relatively low and every time it seemed like Derin was in trouble she got out of it with relative ease.
I also wish the characters were better developed. As it stands, they’re rather thinly sketched. It’s hard to care all that much about who killed Cornelia and who will win each game when the characters don’t have much going on in terms of personality. I found myself much more taken by the late Cornelia and Professor Darnley than the teenagers.
I enjoyed the queer representation. Derin, her love interest Teddy, and her ex-girlfriend Bryony are all bi. Bryony is also demi ace which is so wonderful to see. I liked that despite dating in the past, Derin and Bryony remain close friends. There’s this myth that you can’t remain friends with someone you once dated and I loved seeing it dispelled in this.
I thought the chapters set in the past and told in third person were rather random and added nothing of substance to the story. The choice to write them in the third person is strange to me when they all follow Derin. I think Omotoni missed a chance to follow other characters, and develop them further, in these chapters.
It felt like a very young YA book to me, even close to middle grade, and I think it could definitely appeal to younger readers. If I had read this in middle school I could see myself having loved it.
I thought Winners & Liars had great things to say about the role of Black elites during Victorian Era England and their erasure, and the white-washing of history. It’s definitely something I want to learn about further.
Even though Winners & Liars wasn’t perfect for me I do recommend it to others! I think Omotoni has a bright future in the YA and middle grade age ranges.
Thank you to HarperCollins Children’s Books and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review! This comes out June 30th.
Winners & Liars by Aleema Omotoni follows Derin and the rest of her university prep group, nicknamed the Kenfield Set, after the death of both their beloved professor and his wife, a celebrated novelist. Instead of celebrating their acceptances into Cambridge University or mourning the loss of that dream, the five students find themselves at a will reading where it’s revealed that Professor Darnley and his wife Cornelia have left their inheritance to whomever from the Kenfield Set and a group of other students can win a series of games.
The set-up of this novel is a lot of fun but it didn’t quite live up to the premise in my opinion. The stakes felt relatively low and every time it seemed like Derin was in trouble she got out of it with relative ease.
I also wish the characters were better developed. As it stands, they’re rather thinly sketched. It’s hard to care all that much about who killed Cornelia and who will win each game when the characters don’t have much going on in terms of personality. I found myself much more taken by the late Cornelia and Professor Darnley than the teenagers.
I enjoyed the queer representation. Derin, her love interest Teddy, and her ex-girlfriend Bryony are all bi. Bryony is also demi ace which is so wonderful to see. I liked that despite dating in the past, Derin and Bryony remain close friends. There’s this myth that you can’t remain friends with someone you once dated and I loved seeing it dispelled in this.
I thought the chapters set in the past and told in third person were rather random and added nothing of substance to the story. The choice to write them in the third person is strange to me when they all follow Derin. I think Omotoni missed a chance to follow other characters, and develop them further, in these chapters.
It felt like a very young YA book to me, even close to middle grade, and I think it could definitely appeal to younger readers. If I had read this in middle school I could see myself having loved it.
I thought Winners & Liars had great things to say about the role of Black elites during Victorian Era England and their erasure, and the white-washing of history. It’s definitely something I want to learn about further.
Even though Winners & Liars wasn’t perfect for me I do recommend it to others! I think Omotoni has a bright future in the YA and middle grade age ranges.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I would like to thank NetGalley, author Aleema Omotoni, and HarperCollins Children’s Books for the ARC version of this book in return for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Derin spent the last few years preparing her self to apply to her dream school, Cambridge, part of it spent with a group of five other students all with the same singular focus. Just as they are preparing for their interview results, they are also recovering from the sudden loss of their beloved mentor who coached them all the way through the application process. And just because Professor Darnley could do anything as expected, he posthumously threw his will reading into a tail spin by disinheriting his family and setting up his mentees with the opportunity to compete in a series of games to inherit it all.
What no one expected from this already unexpected situation was for it to also uncover a murder plot, a generations long family secret cover up and not one, but two family members that no one knew about. Even the professor and his deceased wife couldn’t have cooked up a plot this delicious.
What a fantastic plot for a book! I love a good game especially a battle for an inheritance. It adds such a fun high stakes situation to a book plot. I love the way Omotoni wrote it to be based off a book written by one of the characters and the immersive environment of Kenfield Estate. I wanted to immediately book a trip there.
The absolutely necessary conversation of history and how it is white washed and as so beautifully wrapped into the story and plot that made it important to where you couldn’t ignore it, but not in a preachy way that would turn someone away from the story. And was very well done age appropriate wise.
I love that every character, even Derin, has character flaws that made them relatable but they also, eventually, all Acknowledged them or were held accountable for them. Every character each also had a unique grieving story and we got to see multiple ways that trauma situation can/will be handled.
I was utterly obsessed with the subtle way that Teddy and Derin’s flirtship grew into a relationship. It felt very natural and didn’t overtake the plot point, but still let us as the readers along for the journey.
I felt a little thrown into the world and confused at first, but by the time the games got there, I pretty much had a handle on everything. I also would have liked some excerpts or more explanation about the plot and story of BTSE as it is a huge plot point of the book but never fully explained or described. Some parts of the book felt lacking to me but not enough to overshadow a phenomenally written book.
Derin spent the last few years preparing her self to apply to her dream school, Cambridge, part of it spent with a group of five other students all with the same singular focus. Just as they are preparing for their interview results, they are also recovering from the sudden loss of their beloved mentor who coached them all the way through the application process. And just because Professor Darnley could do anything as expected, he posthumously threw his will reading into a tail spin by disinheriting his family and setting up his mentees with the opportunity to compete in a series of games to inherit it all.
What no one expected from this already unexpected situation was for it to also uncover a murder plot, a generations long family secret cover up and not one, but two family members that no one knew about. Even the professor and his deceased wife couldn’t have cooked up a plot this delicious.
What a fantastic plot for a book! I love a good game especially a battle for an inheritance. It adds such a fun high stakes situation to a book plot. I love the way Omotoni wrote it to be based off a book written by one of the characters and the immersive environment of Kenfield Estate. I wanted to immediately book a trip there.
The absolutely necessary conversation of history and how it is white washed and as so beautifully wrapped into the story and plot that made it important to where you couldn’t ignore it, but not in a preachy way that would turn someone away from the story. And was very well done age appropriate wise.
I love that every character, even Derin, has character flaws that made them relatable but they also, eventually, all Acknowledged them or were held accountable for them. Every character each also had a unique grieving story and we got to see multiple ways that trauma situation can/will be handled.
I was utterly obsessed with the subtle way that Teddy and Derin’s flirtship grew into a relationship. It felt very natural and didn’t overtake the plot point, but still let us as the readers along for the journey.
I felt a little thrown into the world and confused at first, but by the time the games got there, I pretty much had a handle on everything. I also would have liked some excerpts or more explanation about the plot and story of BTSE as it is a huge plot point of the book but never fully explained or described. Some parts of the book felt lacking to me but not enough to overshadow a phenomenally written book.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Why leave your entire estate to your children when you can turn it into a competition? That’s the premise Aleema Omotoni runs with in this very Knives Out-style mystery, where Derin and a group of her school peers are invited to compete for their late professor’s fortune after he unexpectedly cuts his own children out of the will. The students are put through a series of challenges—testing their physical abilities, intelligence, and how well they retained what they learned from him. But while everyone else is focused on winning, Derin quickly realizes something deeper is going on, especially after receiving a note that suggests foul play. So alongside the competition, she’s also trying to solve the mystery of the professor’s death—and uncover how her own past might be connected to it all.
As a mystery, some elements are fairly easy to figure out, even with the twists Omotoni throws in. That said, the balance between the competition and the investigation is well done. It keeps the pacing steady and prevents the ending from feeling rushed. I liked that the reveals—both about the killer and Derin’s personal connections—were separated, allowing each to have its own moment rather than cramming everything into one big twist.
One aspect that felt unnecessary, though, was the 18th-century aesthetic layer. The costumes, corsets, and overall “period” vibe didn’t really add anything meaningful to the plot. It seemed like it was there purely for visual flair or to limit technology use, but even that wasn’t consistent since they did have access to their phones in private. It ended up feeling more like a gimmick than a meaningful world-building choice, and honestly got repetitive the few times it was emphasized.
Derin herself is an enjoyable protagonist—she’s witty, determined, and easy to root for in both the competition and the mystery. However, I do think her character lacked some emotional depth. There were opportunities for stronger connections—whether through friendships, romance, or even her relationship with her grandparents—but they never fully developed. As a bi character, Derin had multiple potential romantic dynamics hinted at, but the story kept everything at surface-level flirting instead of exploring any of them further. Because of that, it felt harder to fully connect with her on a personal level.
Overall, this is a fun, fast-paced mystery with a strong concept and engaging structure. While some elements feel underdeveloped—especially character relationships and certain stylistic choices—the core idea of a competitive inheritance mixed with a murder mystery makes for an entertaining read.
As a mystery, some elements are fairly easy to figure out, even with the twists Omotoni throws in. That said, the balance between the competition and the investigation is well done. It keeps the pacing steady and prevents the ending from feeling rushed. I liked that the reveals—both about the killer and Derin’s personal connections—were separated, allowing each to have its own moment rather than cramming everything into one big twist.
One aspect that felt unnecessary, though, was the 18th-century aesthetic layer. The costumes, corsets, and overall “period” vibe didn’t really add anything meaningful to the plot. It seemed like it was there purely for visual flair or to limit technology use, but even that wasn’t consistent since they did have access to their phones in private. It ended up feeling more like a gimmick than a meaningful world-building choice, and honestly got repetitive the few times it was emphasized.
Derin herself is an enjoyable protagonist—she’s witty, determined, and easy to root for in both the competition and the mystery. However, I do think her character lacked some emotional depth. There were opportunities for stronger connections—whether through friendships, romance, or even her relationship with her grandparents—but they never fully developed. As a bi character, Derin had multiple potential romantic dynamics hinted at, but the story kept everything at surface-level flirting instead of exploring any of them further. Because of that, it felt harder to fully connect with her on a personal level.
Overall, this is a fun, fast-paced mystery with a strong concept and engaging structure. While some elements feel underdeveloped—especially character relationships and certain stylistic choices—the core idea of a competitive inheritance mixed with a murder mystery makes for an entertaining read.
June 30, 2026
📖 Title: Winners & Liars-a standalone
✍🏾 Author: Aleema Omotoni-new to me author
📅 Publication date: 6/30/26 | Read: 6/29/26
📃 Format: e-Book 304 pgs.
Genre:
*Mystery/Suspense
*YA
*Romance
Tropes:
*competition/inheritance-Victorian literary inspired
*AA Interests
*LGBTQIA+ rep
*coming of age
*family drama/secrets
*dark academia
*hidden truths/secret identities
*wealthy
👆🏾POV:1st person single
⚠️TW: death of loved ones, classism, racism, whitewashing history, cutthroat games, murder
🌎 Setting: England-Kenfield House
Summary: After the death of their favorite Professor Darnley, Derin and four other potential Cambridge students are given the chance to inherit his wealth. Darnley's estate, the grounds, and contents could be theirs if they win a competition of literary inspired games featuring his wife Cornelia's book turned studio film "By the Season's End" with its characters and 1840's attire. Derin receives mysterious notes that Darnley's family has secrets that could keep everyone from his fortune.
👩🏾 Heroine: Aderinsola "Derin" Ayodele -has a working-class family from Lagos- parents both teachers and grandma lost grandpa recently
🎭 Other Characters
* Professor Alexander Darnley-taught @ at Kenfield Grammar School and Marlwood Gate Grammar. Retired though he still preps students to attend Oxford and Cambridge
*Cornelia Darnley-Alexander's wife, a novelist (deceased)
*Kara Moss-lost parents @14, took in by Bryony's (her cousin) family
*Bryony Moss-Nicky's ex-gf, Kara's BFF
*Nicholas "Nicky" Darnley-Professor Alexander's grandson (white)
*Pippa Darnley-Nicky's mother
*Theodore "Teddy"- Professor's intern who researches Cornelia's works
*Mason Darnley-Professor Darnley's great-nephew
*Wren Harewood-Nicky's BFF (white)
*Jade Bayani-Cornelia's assistant, game master
*Reina-Professor & Mrs. Darnley's attorney
*Stuart & Eleanor Darnley- Professor's son and daughter-in-law
*Lewes-Stuart's son
🤔 My Thoughts/Likes:
-Cornelia's journal mystery
-Family plotting each other's demise
-What greed and envy do to people
-Derin's frenemies/friend group
-Justice for Professor Darnley and Cornelia
-Derin's HEA
Rating: 4/5 ✨
Spice level: 1/5🌶️
🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, HarperCollins Children's Books| HarperCollins, and Aleema Omotoni for this ARC! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions are my own.
✍🏾 Author: Aleema Omotoni-new to me author
📅 Publication date: 6/30/26 | Read: 6/29/26
📃 Format: e-Book 304 pgs.
Genre:
*Mystery/Suspense
*YA
*Romance
Tropes:
*competition/inheritance-Victorian literary inspired
*AA Interests
*LGBTQIA+ rep
*coming of age
*family drama/secrets
*dark academia
*hidden truths/secret identities
*wealthy
👆🏾POV:1st person single
⚠️TW: death of loved ones, classism, racism, whitewashing history, cutthroat games, murder
🌎 Setting: England-Kenfield House
Summary: After the death of their favorite Professor Darnley, Derin and four other potential Cambridge students are given the chance to inherit his wealth. Darnley's estate, the grounds, and contents could be theirs if they win a competition of literary inspired games featuring his wife Cornelia's book turned studio film "By the Season's End" with its characters and 1840's attire. Derin receives mysterious notes that Darnley's family has secrets that could keep everyone from his fortune.
👩🏾 Heroine: Aderinsola "Derin" Ayodele -has a working-class family from Lagos- parents both teachers and grandma lost grandpa recently
🎭 Other Characters
* Professor Alexander Darnley-taught @ at Kenfield Grammar School and Marlwood Gate Grammar. Retired though he still preps students to attend Oxford and Cambridge
*Cornelia Darnley-Alexander's wife, a novelist (deceased)
*Kara Moss-lost parents @14, took in by Bryony's (her cousin) family
*Bryony Moss-Nicky's ex-gf, Kara's BFF
*Nicholas "Nicky" Darnley-Professor Alexander's grandson (white)
*Pippa Darnley-Nicky's mother
*Theodore "Teddy"- Professor's intern who researches Cornelia's works
*Mason Darnley-Professor Darnley's great-nephew
*Wren Harewood-Nicky's BFF (white)
*Jade Bayani-Cornelia's assistant, game master
*Reina-Professor & Mrs. Darnley's attorney
*Stuart & Eleanor Darnley- Professor's son and daughter-in-law
*Lewes-Stuart's son
🤔 My Thoughts/Likes:
-Cornelia's journal mystery
-Family plotting each other's demise
-What greed and envy do to people
-Derin's frenemies/friend group
-Justice for Professor Darnley and Cornelia
-Derin's HEA
Rating: 4/5 ✨
Spice level: 1/5🌶️
🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, HarperCollins Children's Books| HarperCollins, and Aleema Omotoni for this ARC! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received a free eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This worked better for me than The Heirs, and it’s worlds better than The Inheritance Games (I assume, I noped out on that one after like 3 chapters!). But in the end it’s sadly another case of “but what are the adults up to?” And much like The Heirs, it also feels like we’ve been dropped into book 2 or 3 of a series, rather than a standalone story. There’s a lot of monologing and info-dumping and flashbacks that stall our main narrative in its tracks. And while I appreciate that Omotoni stuck to a single narrator (minus the flashbacks that are inexplicably in 3rd person), I still felt like there were too many people to keep track of.
Our narrator is Derin, who has just finished her final year of whatever the English version of high school is (university?), and is bound for Cambridge in the fall. When the novel opens, she and the four other members of The Kenfield Set (their…study group? Look, I clearly don’t understand how English schools operate!) are still mourning the death of their advisor Professor Darnley, who died of a broken heart shortly after his wife passed. But they were all invited to attend the Darnleys’ annual spring ball, so they’re headed to his fancy house. At the will reading, they learn that he’s effectively disinherited his actual family and is instead giving the entire Darnley fortune to whoever wins a series of games that will play out over the course of the week. It’s the Kenfield set versus a couple of similar 5-student groups - another set of five history students (Kenfield were English scholars) and I think there’s another set of 5 there too who were maybe bound for Oxford instead of Cambridge? They’re barely given names, so they don’t really matter and there are already far too many people to keep track of as it is. Also Derin’s friend Nicky is in a weird spot, as Darnley was his grandfather, so he’s technically both an heir AND a competitor. And the Kenfield set are of course personally messy - Derin used to date Bryony, who used to date Nicky. There’s also Wren and Kara who don’t have all that much to do here. Kara is Bryony’s cousin and Wren is…a boring privileged white boy. Kara and Wren are also the two of the five who didn’t get into Cambridge. Basically everyone has something to prove in these games.
Once things get underway, it becomes clear that of course Something is Afoot. Derin keeps getting notes shoved under her door, hinting that the Darnleys are hiding something. There’s a cute intern named Teddy floating around who definitely knows more than he’s letting on (there’s a whole staff of people in the house, plus interns who I guess did research for Cornelia for her books? Like I said, just a lot to keep track of!).
Without giving away too much of the plot, it becomes clear that the Darnleys are indeed Up To Something, and while I don’t think this is a case of following the wrong character, per se, it does seem like the focus is…off? Or maybe it’s the pacing? I can’t put my finger on it. I’ve seen a few other early reviews lamenting that the pace is pretty slow for a YA mystery, and I have to agree. The games are at least interesting to read about, but the games themselves do kind of put a pause on the actual mystery in a way that’s frustrating.
Our narrator is Derin, who has just finished her final year of whatever the English version of high school is (university?), and is bound for Cambridge in the fall. When the novel opens, she and the four other members of The Kenfield Set (their…study group? Look, I clearly don’t understand how English schools operate!) are still mourning the death of their advisor Professor Darnley, who died of a broken heart shortly after his wife passed. But they were all invited to attend the Darnleys’ annual spring ball, so they’re headed to his fancy house. At the will reading, they learn that he’s effectively disinherited his actual family and is instead giving the entire Darnley fortune to whoever wins a series of games that will play out over the course of the week. It’s the Kenfield set versus a couple of similar 5-student groups - another set of five history students (Kenfield were English scholars) and I think there’s another set of 5 there too who were maybe bound for Oxford instead of Cambridge? They’re barely given names, so they don’t really matter and there are already far too many people to keep track of as it is. Also Derin’s friend Nicky is in a weird spot, as Darnley was his grandfather, so he’s technically both an heir AND a competitor. And the Kenfield set are of course personally messy - Derin used to date Bryony, who used to date Nicky. There’s also Wren and Kara who don’t have all that much to do here. Kara is Bryony’s cousin and Wren is…a boring privileged white boy. Kara and Wren are also the two of the five who didn’t get into Cambridge. Basically everyone has something to prove in these games.
Once things get underway, it becomes clear that of course Something is Afoot. Derin keeps getting notes shoved under her door, hinting that the Darnleys are hiding something. There’s a cute intern named Teddy floating around who definitely knows more than he’s letting on (there’s a whole staff of people in the house, plus interns who I guess did research for Cornelia for her books? Like I said, just a lot to keep track of!).
Without giving away too much of the plot, it becomes clear that the Darnleys are indeed Up To Something, and while I don’t think this is a case of following the wrong character, per se, it does seem like the focus is…off? Or maybe it’s the pacing? I can’t put my finger on it. I’ve seen a few other early reviews lamenting that the pace is pretty slow for a YA mystery, and I have to agree. The games are at least interesting to read about, but the games themselves do kind of put a pause on the actual mystery in a way that’s frustrating.
May 26, 2026
I loved the premise of this book, sold as a mystery/thriller about Oxbridge hopefuls competing to win a multi-million pound inheritance. The YA novel draws attention to various injustices, including the struggles of surviving in poverty and striving to live up to hugely competitive academic aspirations, the pressure of trying to bring value to those you love (and who are supposed to love you, unconditionally), the challenges of being queer and a person of colour, and the whitewashing of British history.
After the unexpected death of a beloved professor and his wife, both mentors of five Oxbridge candidates, a carefully selected assortment of young adults are welcomed to the historic residence of the late couple: Kenfield house, to hear the reading of a will, which determines that whoever successfully completes a series of challenges (concocted by the Darnley’s themselves), will inherit their multi-million pound estate. Throw in the complication that several of the students are direct relatives of the Darnley’s and the book’s themes of entitlement and justice are brought to the foreground, as the plot develops.
This was a book layered with detail, that initially built slowly, but then really took off after around the sixty percent mark, where I raced through to the conclusion of the book, which felt both poignant and satisfying, especially after twists that I didn’t see coming, despite my best detective work!
Overall, an entertaining read that I’d recommend if you like a mystery surrounding intelligent characters with complex backgrounds. Perfect for teens!
4⭐️
Many thanks to NetGalley and to Scholastic for providing me with an advanced review copy of this book!
After the unexpected death of a beloved professor and his wife, both mentors of five Oxbridge candidates, a carefully selected assortment of young adults are welcomed to the historic residence of the late couple: Kenfield house, to hear the reading of a will, which determines that whoever successfully completes a series of challenges (concocted by the Darnley’s themselves), will inherit their multi-million pound estate. Throw in the complication that several of the students are direct relatives of the Darnley’s and the book’s themes of entitlement and justice are brought to the foreground, as the plot develops.
This was a book layered with detail, that initially built slowly, but then really took off after around the sixty percent mark, where I raced through to the conclusion of the book, which felt both poignant and satisfying, especially after twists that I didn’t see coming, despite my best detective work!
Overall, an entertaining read that I’d recommend if you like a mystery surrounding intelligent characters with complex backgrounds. Perfect for teens!
4⭐️
Many thanks to NetGalley and to Scholastic for providing me with an advanced review copy of this book!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I received a review copy from the publishers in preparation for a < href = https://ukyaspotlight.co.uk/>UKYAS... interview. It has not affected my opinions.
WINNERS AND LIARS is a compulsive thriller about an inheritance competition.
This book has both a thriller aspect (who will win the competition) and a mystery aspect (what happened to the professor and the novelist). The thriller certainly takes precedence over the mystery as the various elimination rounds take the bulk of the page count and focus. It's a useful tool for the pacing as there can be some switching between lines to avoid it ever feeling like it drags (which is doesn't - this is such an addictive book and easy to fly through!)
The bestselling novel is a historical book about the lives of Black Victorian elites, and the contest is inspired by the book, so there is an element of cosplay about the contest. It's all petticoats, suits, and skirt lifts. A fair bit of research has actually done, which is nice.
I actually quite liked this historical-in-the-modern day element of the book. It was a nice way of bringing two different genres together - mystery and historical. Plus it gives the book an avenue to explore the erasure of people of colour, particularly Black people, from the historical narrative.
There are flashbacks throughout the novel to the year and a half that the professor was mentoring the students. It's a useful set of scenes as it builds a sense of who he and his wife were and why they matter on a personal level to Derin. These scenes are not in first person, unlike the rest of the book, which helps to differentiate them so you know you're in the past.
WINNERS AND LIARS is a compulsive thriller about an inheritance competition.
This book has both a thriller aspect (who will win the competition) and a mystery aspect (what happened to the professor and the novelist). The thriller certainly takes precedence over the mystery as the various elimination rounds take the bulk of the page count and focus. It's a useful tool for the pacing as there can be some switching between lines to avoid it ever feeling like it drags (which is doesn't - this is such an addictive book and easy to fly through!)
The bestselling novel is a historical book about the lives of Black Victorian elites, and the contest is inspired by the book, so there is an element of cosplay about the contest. It's all petticoats, suits, and skirt lifts. A fair bit of research has actually done, which is nice.
I actually quite liked this historical-in-the-modern day element of the book. It was a nice way of bringing two different genres together - mystery and historical. Plus it gives the book an avenue to explore the erasure of people of colour, particularly Black people, from the historical narrative.
There are flashbacks throughout the novel to the year and a half that the professor was mentoring the students. It's a useful set of scenes as it builds a sense of who he and his wife were and why they matter on a personal level to Derin. These scenes are not in first person, unlike the rest of the book, which helps to differentiate them so you know you're in the past.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Winners & Liars by Aleema Omotoni
Rating: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to HarperCollins Children’s Books, HarperCollins, Netgalley, and the author for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Winners & Liars is a great, engaging, and fast-paced story that’s super intriguing from the very first page! A thrilling read that’s equal parts mysterious and unexpected. With a unique premise, lots of twists and turns, as well as plenty of drama, this is an all-around fantastic read!
When Derin and her Uni prep group, the Kenfield Set, were first invited to Professor Darnley’s summer ball, they did not plan on starting the festivities with the professor’s will reading. But when the Darnleys’ children are disinherited, the students are offered the opportunity to compete in a Victorian, literary-inspired inheritance competition to be named the new heir. For Derin, it’s a chance to help her working-class family. But the remaining Darnleys won’t take losing their inheritance lying down. And, a mysterious note is slipped under Derin’s door emphasizing a family secret. Now Derin must balance the games, those who want to stop her, and an intern she’s interested in, all while realizing that the history of the inheritance may be darker than she imagined.
Winners & Liars is a fast-paced, fun, and entertaining YA read featuring a well-developed cast of characters, a unique Victorian literary-inspired competition, and lots of mystery throughout. The story explores ambition, loyalty, and the price that can come with success throughout the many tense and dramatic moments, as well as through the character dynamics. Overall, an interesting and compelling read!
Rating: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to HarperCollins Children’s Books, HarperCollins, Netgalley, and the author for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Winners & Liars is a great, engaging, and fast-paced story that’s super intriguing from the very first page! A thrilling read that’s equal parts mysterious and unexpected. With a unique premise, lots of twists and turns, as well as plenty of drama, this is an all-around fantastic read!
When Derin and her Uni prep group, the Kenfield Set, were first invited to Professor Darnley’s summer ball, they did not plan on starting the festivities with the professor’s will reading. But when the Darnleys’ children are disinherited, the students are offered the opportunity to compete in a Victorian, literary-inspired inheritance competition to be named the new heir. For Derin, it’s a chance to help her working-class family. But the remaining Darnleys won’t take losing their inheritance lying down. And, a mysterious note is slipped under Derin’s door emphasizing a family secret. Now Derin must balance the games, those who want to stop her, and an intern she’s interested in, all while realizing that the history of the inheritance may be darker than she imagined.
Winners & Liars is a fast-paced, fun, and entertaining YA read featuring a well-developed cast of characters, a unique Victorian literary-inspired competition, and lots of mystery throughout. The story explores ambition, loyalty, and the price that can come with success throughout the many tense and dramatic moments, as well as through the character dynamics. Overall, an interesting and compelling read!
July 4, 2026
Winners and Liars by Aleema Omotoni is a brilliant story of a young woman trying to win a series of games to help out her family.
Can Derin win the games set out by her teacher and his wife?
Derin
Derin is one of five students mentored by Professor Alexander Darnley at Kenfield Grammar School. She has always been driven by the need to learn about anything that she wanted to. The other things are the need to help her family do better than what life has dealt them. Derin is a great character that I love reading about. She is flawed like anyone is, but hers are more linked not only to her past but also to what the money from the Darnley estate can do for her family.
I like how Derin considers everything they have learned over time with the professor and his wife, along with what she learned before being placed in this group. If I were to see Derin on the street, I would like to get to know her and be her friend.
The Games and Mystery
Derin and the rest of the Kenfield Set, along with two other groups, are named in the will to compete in a competition based on a book inspired by the Victorian era. The games are so hilarious, and I loved trying to solve them with Derin when I possibly could. I loved how Ms. Omotoni created each of these games while crafting a mystery around them. Ms. Omotoni had me guessing. I definitely didn't catch the killer until it was being revealed. Ms. Omotoni did an excellent job of distracting me.
Five Stars
My rating for Winners and Liars by Aleema Omotoni is five stars. I do recommend this book. Ms. Omotoni evoked the feelings I have whenever I watch a movie from the Knives Out franchise, while also making me feel like I am part of the Victorian era, playing the games. I love how each part of the book could work separately on its own, but it works really well together. Ms. Omotoni definitely transported me to England to help Derin and the other Kenfield Set in this inheritance game.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Winners and Liars by Aleema Omotoni.
Until the next time,
Karen the Baroness
If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out Baroness Book Trove.
Can Derin win the games set out by her teacher and his wife?
Derin
Derin is one of five students mentored by Professor Alexander Darnley at Kenfield Grammar School. She has always been driven by the need to learn about anything that she wanted to. The other things are the need to help her family do better than what life has dealt them. Derin is a great character that I love reading about. She is flawed like anyone is, but hers are more linked not only to her past but also to what the money from the Darnley estate can do for her family.
I like how Derin considers everything they have learned over time with the professor and his wife, along with what she learned before being placed in this group. If I were to see Derin on the street, I would like to get to know her and be her friend.
The Games and Mystery
Derin and the rest of the Kenfield Set, along with two other groups, are named in the will to compete in a competition based on a book inspired by the Victorian era. The games are so hilarious, and I loved trying to solve them with Derin when I possibly could. I loved how Ms. Omotoni created each of these games while crafting a mystery around them. Ms. Omotoni had me guessing. I definitely didn't catch the killer until it was being revealed. Ms. Omotoni did an excellent job of distracting me.
Five Stars
My rating for Winners and Liars by Aleema Omotoni is five stars. I do recommend this book. Ms. Omotoni evoked the feelings I have whenever I watch a movie from the Knives Out franchise, while also making me feel like I am part of the Victorian era, playing the games. I love how each part of the book could work separately on its own, but it works really well together. Ms. Omotoni definitely transported me to England to help Derin and the other Kenfield Set in this inheritance game.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Winners and Liars by Aleema Omotoni.
Until the next time,
Karen the Baroness
If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out Baroness Book Trove.
June 20, 2026
Actual Rating: 3.5⭐
I have pretty mixed feelings about this one.
On the plus side, I really enjoyed the mystery—the investigation into the professor and his wife’s deaths, plus the inheritance games tied to Kenfield House, were super intriguing. Those games were honestly what kept me turning the pages.
Following Derin as she pieced together clues and fought to win was such a fun perspective, and that final twist? Completely shocking.
I never would’ve guessed the culprit—it caught me off guard in the best way.
But here’s where it got tricky.
As much as I loved the suspense and clever puzzles, the sheer number of characters and the layered family history made things feel a bit overwhelming.
Between the games, the historical unraveling, and all the personal relationships, there was just a lot going on. At times, it felt heavier and more complex than the fast paced mystery I was expecting.
Overall, though, it’s still a quick and entertaining read.
If you’re into layered mysteries with historical depth and don’t mind juggling a big cast, I think you’ll really enjoy this one.
For me, it leaned a little more toward “dense” than “light,” but the twists and suspense definitely made it worth the ride.
I received a review copy through Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Huge thank you to the publisher!
⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: death, grief, racism/colonial history
I have pretty mixed feelings about this one.
On the plus side, I really enjoyed the mystery—the investigation into the professor and his wife’s deaths, plus the inheritance games tied to Kenfield House, were super intriguing. Those games were honestly what kept me turning the pages.
Following Derin as she pieced together clues and fought to win was such a fun perspective, and that final twist? Completely shocking.
I never would’ve guessed the culprit—it caught me off guard in the best way.
But here’s where it got tricky.
As much as I loved the suspense and clever puzzles, the sheer number of characters and the layered family history made things feel a bit overwhelming.
Between the games, the historical unraveling, and all the personal relationships, there was just a lot going on. At times, it felt heavier and more complex than the fast paced mystery I was expecting.
Overall, though, it’s still a quick and entertaining read.
If you’re into layered mysteries with historical depth and don’t mind juggling a big cast, I think you’ll really enjoy this one.
For me, it leaned a little more toward “dense” than “light,” but the twists and suspense definitely made it worth the ride.
I received a review copy through Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Huge thank you to the publisher!
⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: death, grief, racism/colonial history
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to HarperCollins Children’s Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC - all thoughts and opinions are my own!
This was an enjoyable summer YA thriller read - it had very smart characters, a cool version of games and puzzles with a huge inheritance as a prize, and lots of drama and historical references! It was also very refreshing to see a very diverse cast of characters including BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ rep, and I always am happy to see both of those reps in the books I read because I like seeing more inclusive characters!
If you are not someone who likes academia or a lot of history/literature references, then you may find parts of this book to be a little slow or a little too cerebral, but I enjoyed learning about Britain’s history especially in terms of colonialism and how a lot of many countries’ histories have been effectively whitewashed. These characters are all very academic and about to start college, so academia and their futures are heavy on their minds as well what winning the inheritance could mean for their families.
Overall, I did enjoy my time with this book and I loved seeing them solve the puzzles and trying to figure out how to win the competition! Definitely recommend if you enjoy games/competitions, secrets and betrayals, and YA light academia!
This was an enjoyable summer YA thriller read - it had very smart characters, a cool version of games and puzzles with a huge inheritance as a prize, and lots of drama and historical references! It was also very refreshing to see a very diverse cast of characters including BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ rep, and I always am happy to see both of those reps in the books I read because I like seeing more inclusive characters!
If you are not someone who likes academia or a lot of history/literature references, then you may find parts of this book to be a little slow or a little too cerebral, but I enjoyed learning about Britain’s history especially in terms of colonialism and how a lot of many countries’ histories have been effectively whitewashed. These characters are all very academic and about to start college, so academia and their futures are heavy on their minds as well what winning the inheritance could mean for their families.
Overall, I did enjoy my time with this book and I loved seeing them solve the puzzles and trying to figure out how to win the competition! Definitely recommend if you enjoy games/competitions, secrets and betrayals, and YA light academia!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Fun. Fun. Fun!!!
This book was so much fun. I started and then could not stop, and then boom, it was done. (Which made me so sad, sigh.) It took me about 24 hours to finish in and around life and work. But that may have been because every second I could, I was running back to the pages. Simply put, the author had me in a trance.
The story is told from the pov of Derin, our FMC. She and her friends are just about to enter university. To prepare them for this, they spent some time being mentored by a beloved professor. They get to know him and his wife, and a strong bond forms between the professor and his wife, and the students, and amongst the students themselves. Unfortunately, instead of the celebration they expected to cement this rite of passage from high school to university, they must go listen to the professor’s will.
And that is where things get intriguing and competitive. It is also when the students find out what their relationships with one another are really all about. Are they friends? Will they now be foes? Who can you trust? The answering of those questions kept my brain sizzling as I read.
Mixed in with those queries are some historical surprises and deep family mysteries that push them all to their limits. And by all I mean me as a reader too, lol!
As I said… so much fun!
The pace is quick, the emotions are potent, and the backstories are fascinating. Trust me when I say anyone who loves mysterious academic twists, along with found family realness, will have a new joyous read with this one. Slip this one onto your tbr today; you will not regret it.
Thank you so much to HarperCollins Children’s Books and NetGalley for this arc in return for my honest review!
This book was so much fun. I started and then could not stop, and then boom, it was done. (Which made me so sad, sigh.) It took me about 24 hours to finish in and around life and work. But that may have been because every second I could, I was running back to the pages. Simply put, the author had me in a trance.
The story is told from the pov of Derin, our FMC. She and her friends are just about to enter university. To prepare them for this, they spent some time being mentored by a beloved professor. They get to know him and his wife, and a strong bond forms between the professor and his wife, and the students, and amongst the students themselves. Unfortunately, instead of the celebration they expected to cement this rite of passage from high school to university, they must go listen to the professor’s will.
And that is where things get intriguing and competitive. It is also when the students find out what their relationships with one another are really all about. Are they friends? Will they now be foes? Who can you trust? The answering of those questions kept my brain sizzling as I read.
Mixed in with those queries are some historical surprises and deep family mysteries that push them all to their limits. And by all I mean me as a reader too, lol!
As I said… so much fun!
The pace is quick, the emotions are potent, and the backstories are fascinating. Trust me when I say anyone who loves mysterious academic twists, along with found family realness, will have a new joyous read with this one. Slip this one onto your tbr today; you will not regret it.
Thank you so much to HarperCollins Children’s Books and NetGalley for this arc in return for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a really enjoyable read overall!
The plot was what caught my attention first. I’m a sucker for a plot where characters have to play games to win a big inheritance, so this was right up my alley.
This book definitely delivered on the games aspect, as they were very intense and thrilling! I also appreciated all the secrets and twists—some I guessed beforehand, but others came as a shock.
One thing I loved about this book was the queer representation! There were many characters that were queer, which was refreshing to see. And as a whole, I really liked all the characters, and they all served their purpose in the story well.
The pacing was a bit slow for my personal tastes, specifically with all the monologues, info dumps, and flashbacks that stalled the main narrative. There was a lot to keep track of, which took me out of the story at times.
All in all though, I really enjoyed the reading experience. I would recommend this book for readers who are fans of YA mystery novels like The Heirs by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé and The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and HarperCollins for allowing me to read the eARC!
August 6, 2026
Derin, a Black bisexual high-schooler in the UK, has been taking rigorous English courses in preparation for applying to Oxford for years. Her studies are guided by a pair of eccentrics: Professor Darnley and his wife, Cornelia Darnley. Cornelia Darnley turns up dead one day after an alleged fall and Professor Darnley dies “of a broken heart” soon after. Derin and her classmates are invited to his estate for a reading of his will reading, where they find out that the DarnleysProfessor and Cornelia are leaving their inheritance to whichever of their students wins a series of puzzles and games, rather than to their family. Derin and her classmates compete for the chance to win a life-altering inheritance that they all desperately want.
This cast of characters are very diverse. Many of the main characters are Black or biracial, multiple characters are bisexual (including the main character, Derin), and another central character, Bryony, identifies as “demi ace”, which is on the asexual spectrum. This novel addresses themes of racism, colonialism, and wealth inequality. You can’t go wrong adding this book into your young adult collection! Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...
This cast of characters are very diverse. Many of the main characters are Black or biracial, multiple characters are bisexual (including the main character, Derin), and another central character, Bryony, identifies as “demi ace”, which is on the asexual spectrum. This novel addresses themes of racism, colonialism, and wealth inequality. You can’t go wrong adding this book into your young adult collection! Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for sending me this eARC! I love all kinds of high-stakes competitions, so "Winners & Liars" was a good fit for me. It started off a little slow, because there was quite a bit of background establishment, but by game time, I was hooked. The games were exhilarating, and the overarching mystery led to some shocking revelations and an explosive finale. When the plot twists came to light, I was left downright speechless; I completely missed the subtle foreshadowing!
Cornelia's historical research was fascinating, and it was fitting that it played such a major role in the story since the games were inspired by her novel. She was a catalyst by which Omotoni effectively shed a light on the domino effect that tainted history can have.
Cornelia's historical research was fascinating, and it was fitting that it played such a major role in the story since the games were inspired by her novel. She was a catalyst by which Omotoni effectively shed a light on the domino effect that tainted history can have.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Competetive uni peers are pinned against each other in a string of intense games to be the lucky inheritor of their former professor's impressive estate.
What I loved: Derin had an interesting backstory that made me want to cheer for her. The setting of Professor Darnley's atmospheric estate was fun to envision. The little hints of romance were fun... I would have enjoyed a little more.
What I didn't love: I typically cruise through mysteries quickly. This particular story took me a few weeks to complete; as I was not craving getting back into its world. I struggled to keep all of the characters straight for much of the story. They were described with overly dramatic actions and narratives, which made it difficult to picture being believable. It felt to me like I was reading scenes from an overdramatized early 2000's sitcom.
I can see this being a good crossover recommendation for tweens/teens just beginning to explore our young adult collection in our library.
Competetive uni peers are pinned against each other in a string of intense games to be the lucky inheritor of their former professor's impressive estate.
What I loved: Derin had an interesting backstory that made me want to cheer for her. The setting of Professor Darnley's atmospheric estate was fun to envision. The little hints of romance were fun... I would have enjoyed a little more.
What I didn't love: I typically cruise through mysteries quickly. This particular story took me a few weeks to complete; as I was not craving getting back into its world. I struggled to keep all of the characters straight for much of the story. They were described with overly dramatic actions and narratives, which made it difficult to picture being believable. It felt to me like I was reading scenes from an overdramatized early 2000's sitcom.
I can see this being a good crossover recommendation for tweens/teens just beginning to explore our young adult collection in our library.
July 4, 2026
There were several elements of this that I liked a lot but also a couple that I felt were not executed well. Overall, I enjoyed the competition aspects the most, followed by the investigation. I think the book would have been better served removing the romantic aspects from it because they felt half baked at times. The info dumpy explanations of everyone's sexuality also felt disingenuous at times and there was the plot device of everyone liking everyone or having already dated everyone just because they are all queer, that I especially dislike.
That being said the plot was paced well, the culprit was surprising enough but not so out of left field that it didn't make sense. I liked the why of it all a lot and I think the author did a wonderful job of tackling heavy topics in an appropriate manner for the age range she was writing for.
I loved the narration and would recommend it. 3.5 stars overall, will buy for my high schooler, I think she will enjoy it!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC!
That being said the plot was paced well, the culprit was surprising enough but not so out of left field that it didn't make sense. I liked the why of it all a lot and I think the author did a wonderful job of tackling heavy topics in an appropriate manner for the age range she was writing for.
I loved the narration and would recommend it. 3.5 stars overall, will buy for my high schooler, I think she will enjoy it!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really wasn't expecting this book to hit me the way it did, it wasn't just a story it was thought provoking in so many different ways and I really enjoyed it.
It was full of the complexities of human and familial relationships, and the strengths of those bonds. It had LGBTQ+ rep very much part of the story and the characters, interwoven into their relationships both past and present.
It explored whitewashing of history both in the larger context and within the specific story. It made for thought provoking reading and I especially liked the what ifs that were peppered throughout.
An inheritance up for grabs for those that can solve the games and a disgruntled disinherited family was always going to make for a tense story but having the other aspects of it really sets this one apart from other titles in this genre.
I'm intrigued to read more from this author.
Thank you to the author, Scholastic and Netgalley for my copy.
It was full of the complexities of human and familial relationships, and the strengths of those bonds. It had LGBTQ+ rep very much part of the story and the characters, interwoven into their relationships both past and present.
It explored whitewashing of history both in the larger context and within the specific story. It made for thought provoking reading and I especially liked the what ifs that were peppered throughout.
An inheritance up for grabs for those that can solve the games and a disgruntled disinherited family was always going to make for a tense story but having the other aspects of it really sets this one apart from other titles in this genre.
I'm intrigued to read more from this author.
Thank you to the author, Scholastic and Netgalley for my copy.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Derin is one of five aspiring Cambridge English majors chosen by their high school to receive special intensive preparation for their entrance exams. Professor Darnley and his accomplished novelist wife pour their time and attention into these five but at the end of the year they both die under somewhat mysterious circumstances. Invited to the Darnley’s enormous estate for the reading of the will, they are astonished to learn that they will be part of a competition to inherit all the Darnley property. As each challenge is met, more secrets are revealed! An intriguing and impelling story structure made even stronger by Derin’s search for the truth about her Nigerian family’s connections to the Darnleys. Colonialism, erased history, and what it means to be a friend. Bi representation. EARC from Edelweiss.
August 30, 2026
I’d say this is a 3.5 read for me. I agree with other reviewers that, at times, this book got really convoluted with multiple timelines and tons of characters to keep track of. I had notes in my phone about who everyone was, that helped immensely. I love a good “who will inherit” competition and Omotoni did a great job setting up really fun puzzles and games to compete in. The partial focus on the erasure of Black people from history was a real strength, you can tell the author has a great interest in lost history and primary sources too. I’m so curious to read more about prominent black families in Victorian England now! I’m really intrigued by Sarah Forbes Bonetta. I did feel like there may have been one too many secret relative reveals, but that did make the ending incredibly dramatic! A fun fast read with some good for thought too.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What a read this was.
The book kept me on my toes, kept me wondering what exactly was going on. Everyone was suspicious, they all seemed to be hiding secrets, it was so good.
I quite enjoyed the aspect of this story. A group of friends going against each other in a few rounds of games to try and win the opportunity to become the heir of a big inheritance. The stakes were high and the games intense. Each character brought their own vibes and I loved that, I loved this group of friends.
I have to talk about the twist though, the multiple twists in fact because WHAT and WHAT????
As much as I enjoyed it parts of it seemed slow and confusing and didn’t hold my interest but I powered through and I’m glad I did. Such a fun read.
The book kept me on my toes, kept me wondering what exactly was going on. Everyone was suspicious, they all seemed to be hiding secrets, it was so good.
I quite enjoyed the aspect of this story. A group of friends going against each other in a few rounds of games to try and win the opportunity to become the heir of a big inheritance. The stakes were high and the games intense. Each character brought their own vibes and I loved that, I loved this group of friends.
I have to talk about the twist though, the multiple twists in fact because WHAT and WHAT????
As much as I enjoyed it parts of it seemed slow and confusing and didn’t hold my interest but I powered through and I’m glad I did. Such a fun read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I picked this book up, intrigued by the synopsis, but I really struggled to read this. The writing style was choppy and slow, and I just couldn’t fully get into it. The premise is honestly right up my alley, which made this even more disappointing. I liked the idea behind the story and there were moments I enjoyed, but overall I found myself getting bored and zoning out.
I can definitely see being a favorite for other readers, but it just wasn’t for me - 2 stars.
Thank you to Aleema Omotoni, HarperCollins Children's Books | HarperCollins, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book!
#WinnersLiars #NetGalley
I can definitely see being a favorite for other readers, but it just wasn’t for me - 2 stars.
Thank you to Aleema Omotoni, HarperCollins Children's Books | HarperCollins, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book!
#WinnersLiars #NetGalley
September 30, 2026
As a working class Black girl, the odds were against Derin making it into Cambridge, but she succeeded. Tragically, her mentor Prof. Darnley didn’t live to see it. When her study group goes to his estate for the annual ball, everyone is shocked to learn he disinherited his relatives in favor of the winner of a Victorian-themed contest. As Derin, her friends, and a bunch of extraneous teens compete, she keeps getting hints that something is rotten in the Darnley family tree. Starts slow and contains too many side characters, but successfully weaves together many plot threads for a satisfying finale.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Winners & Liars (Hardcover)
by Aleema Omotoni
A black history month feature. This story shows the nature of black history and how it affects society in England. The fact that blacks have been in English history before the roman rule, and were white washed out of English history in the 1800's. The book shows the nature of that popular ideology, how it is wrong on many modern levels. The mystery and games brings these controversial history to light, but not as a lecture, but as a correction. The author does a great job of blending history and current ideology.
by Aleema Omotoni
A black history month feature. This story shows the nature of black history and how it affects society in England. The fact that blacks have been in English history before the roman rule, and were white washed out of English history in the 1800's. The book shows the nature of that popular ideology, how it is wrong on many modern levels. The mystery and games brings these controversial history to light, but not as a lecture, but as a correction. The author does a great job of blending history and current ideology.
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