Scan barcode
mari1532's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I read this book through my library using Libby.
Brief Summary: Simi and Chloe are best friends...the kind of best friends that would help you hide a body no questions asked. So, when Chloe gets accused of a crime she did not commit, Simi will do whatever it takes to keep her friend out of jail. Even if it means planning a heist and organizing an eclectic group to pull it off.
Thoughts: As a heist book with elements of Ocean's 8, I loved this book. The quirky group of characters who are forced to work together and throughout the book become a tight-knit family was a five out of five read for me. The cast of characters was fun and diverse and I genuinely liked them all...okay there is a rank order, but still, every character had a shining moment.
Where this book lost me was the love story plot line. First, the love triangle was just not something I was even remotely into. Especially since Detective Garcia had a job to do and I often felt that Simi was misreading his job performance as interest in her. Second, Jack was hardly in this book! I felt the spark of something between him and Simi on the page at first, but I never really felt it take off. So I was not invested in whether or not they got together or not. I was way more interested in Chloe's love life and I was kind of annoyed that we did not focus more on that this book, especially since it seems like this book is leading into a sequel.
This book is a fun read, but I wouldn't go into it because it's a romance novel. I would say go in for the heist and if you are happy with the love story that is a nice bonus.
Brief Summary: Simi and Chloe are best friends...the kind of best friends that would help you hide a body no questions asked. So, when Chloe gets accused of a crime she did not commit, Simi will do whatever it takes to keep her friend out of jail. Even if it means planning a heist and organizing an eclectic group to pull it off.
Thoughts: As a heist book with elements of Ocean's 8, I loved this book. The quirky group of characters who are forced to work together and throughout the book become a tight-knit family was a five out of five read for me. The cast of characters was fun and diverse and I genuinely liked them all...okay there is a rank order, but still, every character had a shining moment.
Where this book lost me was the love story plot line. First, the love triangle was just not something I was even remotely into. Especially since Detective Garcia had a job to do and I often felt that Simi was misreading his job performance as interest in her. Second, Jack was hardly in this book! I felt the spark of something between him and Simi on the page at first, but I never really felt it take off. So I was not invested in whether or not they got together or not. I was way more interested in Chloe's love life and I was kind of annoyed that we did not focus more on that this book, especially since it seems like this book is leading into a sequel.
This book is a fun read, but I wouldn't go into it because it's a romance novel. I would say go in for the heist and if you are happy with the love story that is a nice bonus.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Violence, Torture, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Alcohol, Cursing, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Sexual content
accidiosav's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
I light silly book, that would perform better as a tv script for an action comedy.
It's not bad, but it was not good either.
It's not bad, but it was not good either.
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence
hazelgirl21's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Sexual content
samchase112's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
SO MUCH FUN! A rollicking, rooming, page-turner that made we want to keep reading long past my bedtime. The banter was delightful, the pacing nonstop, the romance sizzling, and even the humor landed perfectly. It was slapstick crazy, but also heartwarming and so. much. fun. I never would have picked this up if it weren’t for my chronic library borrowing, but I’m so glad I did!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Physical abuse, Confinement, Gun violence, Sexual content, Blood, Kidnapping, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
amberinpieces's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcohol, Excrement, Blood, and Cursing
Minor: Medical content, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Animal death, and Gun violence
edhyndman's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Violence and Domestic abuse
kshertz's review against another edition
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was quite the light hearted romp and different from any other romance books I’ve read. It’s not meant to be a serious heist, something I had to remind myself about a few times. It was light and witty and I enjoyed the journey.
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence, Sexual content, and Murder
beckyremillard's review
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Mostly mystery with a little bit of romance. Funny story, I just didn’t totally love the choices of the MMC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Gun violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content
courtofsmutandstuff's review against another edition
2.75
I feel bad about how much I didn't like this book. The writing was fine, and I like the idea of basically Mindy Lahiri organizing a heist to save her best friend - I just didn't really like it, mainly because Jack was an absolute asshole and it didn't help it was closed door. Chloe and Gage were a much more compelling romance couple for me because Gage actually HELPS Chloe, and never leaves her naked and alone while he runs away from men breaking down her door (and Gage does the opposite - empowering Chloe to keep herself and her daughter safe from her abusive ex, while providing support at all times). I really wish I got to see more of Chloe and Gage, because I just could not root for Jack, especially with every passing lie, mistruth, deception, etc. He wasn't a good person and the "oh he just has to keep things hidden" did not work for me, and it honestly made no sense for me why Sini got back with him to the point I was honestly thinking she was going to end up with the cop in the end.
The heist also was almost... perfunctory? Like I liked that it seemed realistic (just keep trying the safe combination possibilities in blunt force rather than anything fancy like in a heist movie) and I liked the quirky characters for the most part (but they are very much in the adorkable or overly quirky vein and I see how they might grate some people, especially as the supporting characters have largely one characteristic they are focused on). Sini also largely works for me as a FMC (and I thought she had some ADHD coding, especially when she talks about how her brain always worked differently then others and she thrives when she has multiple different tasks at once) and I really liked how she flourishes with her wedding event business. I just HATE that she fell for Gage and stayed that way. I also love how much she and Chloe love each other.
I was disappointed in this one, and am disappointed that I'm disappointed, as I really do love heists, best friends who would do anything for each other, books set in Chicago, and big, overbearing families while the protagonist is just trying to live his/her life.
The heist also was almost... perfunctory? Like I liked that it seemed realistic (just keep trying the safe combination possibilities in blunt force rather than anything fancy like in a heist movie) and I liked the quirky characters for the most part (but they are very much in the adorkable or overly quirky vein and I see how they might grate some people, especially as the supporting characters have largely one characteristic they are focused on). Sini also largely works for me as a FMC (and I thought she had some ADHD coding, especially when she talks about how her brain always worked differently then others and she thrives when she has multiple different tasks at once) and I really liked how she flourishes with her wedding event business. I just HATE that she fell for Gage and stayed that way. I also love how much she and Chloe love each other.
I was disappointed in this one, and am disappointed that I'm disappointed, as I really do love heists, best friends who would do anything for each other, books set in Chicago, and big, overbearing families while the protagonist is just trying to live his/her life.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Domestic abuse
callidoralblack's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Torture, Physical abuse, and Violence
Minor: Death, Grief, Kidnapping, Medical content, Alcohol, Blood, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Car accident, and Gun violence