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The Revenge Playbook
Not yet published
Expected 21 Jul 26In this deliciously twisty YA novel, two girls ( enemies) at a boarding school must team up to take down the boy who hurt them– perfect for fans of Ace of Spades and Do Revenge.
Uyai and Fiyin may be roommates at Blue Waters Secondary School, but they are not friends. Uyai is popular and fierce– she dominates every room she walks into. Fiyin is nerdy and quiet– she’s easy to miss. Anyone who knows them (assuming they know who Fiyin is at all) would argue that, besides that shared dorm room, the two girls have absolutely nothing in common.
But they do.
Because both girls have been hurt. Humiliated. Taken advantage of. And both girls have just one boy to blame for it.
Fiyin thinks Uyai is an irresponsible mean girl. Uyai thinks Fiyin is an uptight loser. They both think the boy that hurt them deserves to suffer. But taking down one of the most popular guys in school isn’t a one-woman task. If they want to get their revenge before graduation, Uyai and Fiyin will need each other’s help– regardless of how they feel about each other.
After all, you don’t need to be friends to be teammates.
Uyai and Fiyin may be roommates at Blue Waters Secondary School, but they are not friends. Uyai is popular and fierce– she dominates every room she walks into. Fiyin is nerdy and quiet– she’s easy to miss. Anyone who knows them (assuming they know who Fiyin is at all) would argue that, besides that shared dorm room, the two girls have absolutely nothing in common.
But they do.
Because both girls have been hurt. Humiliated. Taken advantage of. And both girls have just one boy to blame for it.
Fiyin thinks Uyai is an irresponsible mean girl. Uyai thinks Fiyin is an uptight loser. They both think the boy that hurt them deserves to suffer. But taking down one of the most popular guys in school isn’t a one-woman task. If they want to get their revenge before graduation, Uyai and Fiyin will need each other’s help– regardless of how they feel about each other.
After all, you don’t need to be friends to be teammates.
- GenresYoung AdultFiction
304 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication July 21, 2026
About the author
Rimma Onoseta
2 books78 followersRimma Onoseta is a Nigerian author who writes stories she wanted to read when she was younger: stories about young girls who are chaotic and fierce and who question what they’re taught. She invites you to connect with her online at rimmaonoseta.com.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Uyai and Fiyin are roommates at a boarding school, and they are only weeks away from graduation. Uyai has a dominating presence, a loud and in charge type personality. Fiyin is the quiet one, spending her time in the library or tucked out of the way. They have nothing in common until they decide to come together to take revenge on a boy that has humiliated them.
I appreciated being immersed into all the aspects of Nigerian culture – the language, school system, relationships, styles – I felt fully present within the story. As characters, Uyai and Fiyin were robust, coming together in both their school and home settings. Uyai may not have been likeable, but she was well written. Surrounding characters supported the movement throughout the story.
While the synopsis states this is a story of revenge, it also felt like it was about young, hurting people intent on hurting others. It felt like a community of misplaced pain and humiliation; more like Mean Girls, fueled by grudges and a need to carry that pain to others.
The story wove in important topics around family and loyalty, about how differently females can be treated compared to male counterparts, as well as how we need to sometimes look out for ourselves. There was very little sense of community, and there was very little presence, adult or otherwise, to help bring anyone together. Things came together in a twisty, somewhat satisfying end, though personally I had hoped for there to be a hint of learning to work through pain instead of continuing to react to it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown Books for Young Readers for the advanced digital copy or The Revenge Playbook. All thoughts are my own.
I appreciated being immersed into all the aspects of Nigerian culture – the language, school system, relationships, styles – I felt fully present within the story. As characters, Uyai and Fiyin were robust, coming together in both their school and home settings. Uyai may not have been likeable, but she was well written. Surrounding characters supported the movement throughout the story.
While the synopsis states this is a story of revenge, it also felt like it was about young, hurting people intent on hurting others. It felt like a community of misplaced pain and humiliation; more like Mean Girls, fueled by grudges and a need to carry that pain to others.
The story wove in important topics around family and loyalty, about how differently females can be treated compared to male counterparts, as well as how we need to sometimes look out for ourselves. There was very little sense of community, and there was very little presence, adult or otherwise, to help bring anyone together. Things came together in a twisty, somewhat satisfying end, though personally I had hoped for there to be a hint of learning to work through pain instead of continuing to react to it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown Books for Young Readers for the advanced digital copy or The Revenge Playbook. All thoughts are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is very obviously aimed under my age group, but I still enjoyed this!
Uyai is a stubborn girl who has grown tough skin. She doesn’t let things get to her and has really commendable confidence in herself, especially considering she’s in high school. Fiyin is basically the polar opposite. She’s shy and reserved, and is the pastor’s daughter. Unlikely circumstances have these girls teaming up together (it’s blackmail, Uyai is ruthless) to dismantle Kola’s reputation. These girls are cunning and come up with some downright evil (for high school, anyway) plans to do so.
The characters are both drastically different, and we get chapters from both POV’s which adds layers to the book. Both have dealt with family issues, and both have been publicly humiliated. They have responded very differently to these events, and it’s interesting to watch the girls slowly empathize with each other. Uyai learns a smidge of kindness and Fiyin grows a backbone.
The writings was easy to follow, although there were parts of the book I couldn’t necessarily 100% understand because I believe the writing was slang. No big issue, context clues are important and helped me get the gist of things.
Great and fun read for a YA group, with plenty of shenanigans and drama to keep it interesting.
This is very obviously aimed under my age group, but I still enjoyed this!
Uyai is a stubborn girl who has grown tough skin. She doesn’t let things get to her and has really commendable confidence in herself, especially considering she’s in high school. Fiyin is basically the polar opposite. She’s shy and reserved, and is the pastor’s daughter. Unlikely circumstances have these girls teaming up together (it’s blackmail, Uyai is ruthless) to dismantle Kola’s reputation. These girls are cunning and come up with some downright evil (for high school, anyway) plans to do so.
The characters are both drastically different, and we get chapters from both POV’s which adds layers to the book. Both have dealt with family issues, and both have been publicly humiliated. They have responded very differently to these events, and it’s interesting to watch the girls slowly empathize with each other. Uyai learns a smidge of kindness and Fiyin grows a backbone.
The writings was easy to follow, although there were parts of the book I couldn’t necessarily 100% understand because I believe the writing was slang. No big issue, context clues are important and helped me get the gist of things.
Great and fun read for a YA group, with plenty of shenanigans and drama to keep it interesting.
July 12, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. I greatly appreciate it.
Uyai, the ultimate Regina George of Blue Water Boarding School seeks revenge on a boy Yola after publicly embarrassing her in front of the entire student body. Fiyin, her brother Etim's best friend and kind of girlfriend (girl idk lol), constantly gets wrapped into conflict with Uyai, but is willing to help her get her revenge after realizing the kind of person Uyai is.
As someone who likes a YA drama with diverse characters, this book would've been really good if I read this like 8 years ago (lol I didn't think 22 years old was too old for YA but I digress). I felt like even though the writing was good, this wasn't the most painfully interesting or really juicy book I thought it was going to be.
I initially thought the revenge would be more satisfying, but since I was pretty bored throughout the book and only seem intrigued when conflict was involved, it didn't really make me feel super excited or on the edge of my seat. I liked kind of exploring each of the characters pasts and understanding why they are the way they are, but idk I just wished it was more interesting instead of super slow.
Uyai, the ultimate Regina George of Blue Water Boarding School seeks revenge on a boy Yola after publicly embarrassing her in front of the entire student body. Fiyin, her brother Etim's best friend and kind of girlfriend (girl idk lol), constantly gets wrapped into conflict with Uyai, but is willing to help her get her revenge after realizing the kind of person Uyai is.
As someone who likes a YA drama with diverse characters, this book would've been really good if I read this like 8 years ago (lol I didn't think 22 years old was too old for YA but I digress). I felt like even though the writing was good, this wasn't the most painfully interesting or really juicy book I thought it was going to be.
I initially thought the revenge would be more satisfying, but since I was pretty bored throughout the book and only seem intrigued when conflict was involved, it didn't really make me feel super excited or on the edge of my seat. I liked kind of exploring each of the characters pasts and understanding why they are the way they are, but idk I just wished it was more interesting instead of super slow.
March 31, 2026
This book was about 2 very different girls from the same boarding school. They both team up to get back at a guy that has wronged both of them. There is some different twists and turns here and there.
I thought we spent a lot of time in the book just getting like a “lead up” to the plot of the book and not so much time with the actual plot. We do learn about each of the characters though, which I enjoyed. I didn’t really sympathize with the one FMC just because she really was just rude most of the time. I think getting both sides with 2 FMC’s was nice so you can see more than one side. I also liked getting to know about the side characters and their relationships.
The ending was kind of ambiguous which I don’t mind but I feel some points were just left open so we don’t know how things turn out.
Some translations to English weren’t translated super well so I had a hard time understanding somethings but other than a few things here and there I think things were good.
Rated 3.5/5
Thank you Little Brown YR and Netgalley for this eArc in exchange for an honest review.
I thought we spent a lot of time in the book just getting like a “lead up” to the plot of the book and not so much time with the actual plot. We do learn about each of the characters though, which I enjoyed. I didn’t really sympathize with the one FMC just because she really was just rude most of the time. I think getting both sides with 2 FMC’s was nice so you can see more than one side. I also liked getting to know about the side characters and their relationships.
The ending was kind of ambiguous which I don’t mind but I feel some points were just left open so we don’t know how things turn out.
Some translations to English weren’t translated super well so I had a hard time understanding somethings but other than a few things here and there I think things were good.
Rated 3.5/5
Thank you Little Brown YR and Netgalley for this eArc in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3 stars
Two young women decide they will get theirs in this tale about exacting revenge. Both characters have distinct personalities and motives, but their focus is singular.
My favorite elements of this read are the cultural details that come through about the community, expectations, religious details, and other beliefs and expectations. I enjoyed watching the characters operate in this space.
I did experience a central challenge throughout the novel: more telling than showing. YA can be really smart, and I felt like some of the presentation was too simplistic and lacked nuance here. The foundation is good, but the details could be refined IMO.
This was my first experience with this author, and I'd recommend this book for folks interested in experiencing YA in a culture that may be distinct from their typical expectations.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Two young women decide they will get theirs in this tale about exacting revenge. Both characters have distinct personalities and motives, but their focus is singular.
My favorite elements of this read are the cultural details that come through about the community, expectations, religious details, and other beliefs and expectations. I enjoyed watching the characters operate in this space.
I did experience a central challenge throughout the novel: more telling than showing. YA can be really smart, and I felt like some of the presentation was too simplistic and lacked nuance here. The foundation is good, but the details could be refined IMO.
This was my first experience with this author, and I'd recommend this book for folks interested in experiencing YA in a culture that may be distinct from their typical expectations.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
June 30, 2026
⭐
THE REVENGE PLAYBOOK by Rimma Onoseta (July 21, 2026)
Thank you Netgalley and Little Brown Books for the eArc
Two girls, Uyai and Fiyin, have both been humilated. They team up to enact revenge.
THE REVENGE PLAYBOOK is a YA revenge thriller that is both frustrating
and boring. This has a very slow start, and by the 25% mark, the story seemed to be going nowhere. The plot wasn't plotting. It was all drama for the first part. Don't get me wrong...I love drama. But...Where was the revenge? Why was I over 50% in, and the "revenge playbook" had yet to start? When it did start, it was childish, and honestly didn't help the book.
From the title alone, I expected thrills. For me, this did not deliver.
THE REVENGE PLAYBOOK by Rimma Onoseta (July 21, 2026)
Thank you Netgalley and Little Brown Books for the eArc
Two girls, Uyai and Fiyin, have both been humilated. They team up to enact revenge.
THE REVENGE PLAYBOOK is a YA revenge thriller that is both frustrating
and boring. This has a very slow start, and by the 25% mark, the story seemed to be going nowhere. The plot wasn't plotting. It was all drama for the first part. Don't get me wrong...I love drama. But...Where was the revenge? Why was I over 50% in, and the "revenge playbook" had yet to start? When it did start, it was childish, and honestly didn't help the book.
From the title alone, I expected thrills. For me, this did not deliver.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Revenge was had. The hazing that the older kids did to the younger ones is sort of hardcore in my opinion. I enjoyed the way Uyai and Fiyin were opposites but at the same time could collaborate for a common goal. This book made me question if I should just feel bad for everyone. It also was an interesting commentary on how parents actions can impact and influence kids not only in how they feel about themselves but others as well. These kids took an eye for an eye very seriously. Let’s just say you wouldn’t want to be on the bad side of Uyai and Fiyin.
March 14, 2026
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I think as an English reader knowing this book was translated to English, it was a little bit of a challenge. There were some phrases that they tried to translate and did not translate well. There were times I had to use a whole page full on context clues as to know what someone said.
The overall story line was good but maybe not my cup of tea. Good revenge ideas!
I think as an English reader knowing this book was translated to English, it was a little bit of a challenge. There were some phrases that they tried to translate and did not translate well. There were times I had to use a whole page full on context clues as to know what someone said.
The overall story line was good but maybe not my cup of tea. Good revenge ideas!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
In this twisty YA novel, two girls team up to take down a boy who has done them wrong. Rimma brings us Uyai, a popular girl and her roommate, Flyin, a nerdy girl. They are enemies and Uyai actually coerces Flyin to team with her to bring this boy down. The plot full of twists and surprises, and we get to learn lots about the Nigerian culture and language. It is a fun read and there is a good lesson at the end, but it is a twisty ride to get there.
July 13, 2026
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
3.5⭐️ - I liked the boarding school aspect and the two main character perspectives. It was a good book but I didn’t love it.
3.5⭐️ - I liked the boarding school aspect and the two main character perspectives. It was a good book but I didn’t love it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Read the full review with representation information and trigger warnings on my blog.
3.5 stars rounded up
Uyai and Fiyin are roommates at their prestigious boarding school, but they couldn’t be more different. Their lives entangle when Uyai discovers that Fiyin had sex with her twin brother and had a pregnancy scare from it. They end up able to bond over being more similar to each other than they thought, but that bond may not last forever due to the complicated web of drama they find themselves in.
I agree with the description of the book that this book is twisty, but it seemed like in the case of a lot of the plot twists, there was no foreshadowing leading up to it so it really felt like they were just plot twists for the sake of surprising the reader. I did also find it awkwardly paced — the description of the book talks about Uyai and Fiyin teaming up to take down the boy who wronged both of them, but they do not actually agree to team up until halfway through the book, and it’s only because Uyai is blackmailing Fiyin. The twists and their friendship would’ve been more impactful if it was just genuinely two different girls teaming up to take down a boy, and not Fiyin being forced to participate. Because of that, I struggled to sympathize with Uyai.
Fiyin does get an ending that was somewhat satisfying to me, but because of the way the book was paced and the twists were written, it didn’t seem to make much sense. Fiyin does have character growth, but it seems like it happens all at once at the end, with nothing that led up to it. Uyai’s plotline about her situation with her family was compelling, but it also felt like it lingered in an unresolved way. There was a lot to like about this book, but I think it could have benefited from more editing.
The side characters were interesting, and I would’ve liked them to be more fleshed out, especially Victoria. She seemed kind of interesting. The school as a setting was compelling, where you could see why the brutality and strict structure of the school could lead the students to develop the opposite type of character than those in charge of the school expected all the restrictions would cause them to develop. To me, that was the strongest part of the book. I hoped to see the creepy male teacher getting some sort of consequence, but unfortunately he did not. That is frequently realistic, though, so it did show how the environment shaped the girls and boys who attended the school.
I’m not super sure what the message of the book was supposed to be. I think there are some positive messages in the book about standing up for yourself, though. I’m not sure if that was exactly what was intended, but that’s what I got out of the book.
The Revenge Playbook releases July 21 from Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. Thank you to Netgalley, Little, Brown Books and Rimma Onoseta for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
3.5 stars rounded up
Uyai and Fiyin are roommates at their prestigious boarding school, but they couldn’t be more different. Their lives entangle when Uyai discovers that Fiyin had sex with her twin brother and had a pregnancy scare from it. They end up able to bond over being more similar to each other than they thought, but that bond may not last forever due to the complicated web of drama they find themselves in.
I agree with the description of the book that this book is twisty, but it seemed like in the case of a lot of the plot twists, there was no foreshadowing leading up to it so it really felt like they were just plot twists for the sake of surprising the reader. I did also find it awkwardly paced — the description of the book talks about Uyai and Fiyin teaming up to take down the boy who wronged both of them, but they do not actually agree to team up until halfway through the book, and it’s only because Uyai is blackmailing Fiyin. The twists and their friendship would’ve been more impactful if it was just genuinely two different girls teaming up to take down a boy, and not Fiyin being forced to participate. Because of that, I struggled to sympathize with Uyai.
Fiyin does get an ending that was somewhat satisfying to me, but because of the way the book was paced and the twists were written, it didn’t seem to make much sense. Fiyin does have character growth, but it seems like it happens all at once at the end, with nothing that led up to it. Uyai’s plotline about her situation with her family was compelling, but it also felt like it lingered in an unresolved way. There was a lot to like about this book, but I think it could have benefited from more editing.
The side characters were interesting, and I would’ve liked them to be more fleshed out, especially Victoria. She seemed kind of interesting. The school as a setting was compelling, where you could see why the brutality and strict structure of the school could lead the students to develop the opposite type of character than those in charge of the school expected all the restrictions would cause them to develop. To me, that was the strongest part of the book. I hoped to see the creepy male teacher getting some sort of consequence, but unfortunately he did not. That is frequently realistic, though, so it did show how the environment shaped the girls and boys who attended the school.
I’m not super sure what the message of the book was supposed to be. I think there are some positive messages in the book about standing up for yourself, though. I’m not sure if that was exactly what was intended, but that’s what I got out of the book.
The Revenge Playbook releases July 21 from Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. Thank you to Netgalley, Little, Brown Books and Rimma Onoseta for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
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