Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

To Have and to Heist by Sara Desai

6 reviews

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. 

---

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

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

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

kdailyreads's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious tense 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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Violence, Sexual content, Gun violence, Blood, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Kidnapping, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Alcohol, Death of parent, Excrement, Infidelity, Alcoholism, Death, and Cursing

Minor: Pregnancy, Vomit, and Fire/Fire injury

purplepenning's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful mysterious medium-paced

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

3.75

Finley Donovan meets Dial A for Aunties in a mystery caper rom-com (romp-com?) with an Oceans Eleven heist and an Indiana Jones love interest. Perfect for readers searching for an updated Stephanie Plum. 

I could've done with just a little less thirst and a lot less torture, but in general this was a frothy rollick that delivers what it promises. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Gun violence

Moderate: Ableism, Alcohol, Blood, Gore, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Torture, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Domestic abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, and Sexism

Minor: Cursing, Death of parent, and Excrement