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3.31 AVERAGE
3.31 AVERAGE
I definitely see the connection to oceans 8 in this book. I enjoyed this read and the cast of eclectic characters. I wish the stakes had felt higher throughout. I was waiting for a grand con but in the end I felt it wasn’t enough. I wanted more action and drama. While I love a good falling for the body guard trope, I wasn’t worried she actually needed one. The writing was hard for me at points, a little in your face and not as nuanced as I’d want while reading about con artists. In the end it was cute and cheesy and warm hearted.
Thank you Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager . Two words to describe this book - Fun and Drama!
The book circles around Jillian who spent 39 months in prison and comes back to her family unexpectedly. Her aunt tells her at the tail end of the party where her uncle (Jay) had his next victim " Hire a bodyguard." "Trust No one". Something one does not want to hear especially when they are fresh out of prison.
The one thing I loved about this book is the rules of the family that's motioned at the beginning of each chapter, and the chapter covers how the rule applies to it. A family of grifters trying to con their latest victims, Jillian has to figure out who in her family sent her to prison -Family who think they can send Jillian back to the prison and keep her money. I love how the book covers family dynamics and drama that comes with money. I also like how the author covers that not everyone in the family is a bad apple. If you like a light fun read, I recommend this book!
The book circles around Jillian who spent 39 months in prison and comes back to her family unexpectedly. Her aunt tells her at the tail end of the party where her uncle (Jay) had his next victim " Hire a bodyguard." "Trust No one". Something one does not want to hear especially when they are fresh out of prison.
The one thing I loved about this book is the rules of the family that's motioned at the beginning of each chapter, and the chapter covers how the rule applies to it. A family of grifters trying to con their latest victims, Jillian has to figure out who in her family sent her to prison -Family who think they can send Jillian back to the prison and keep her money. I love how the book covers family dynamics and drama that comes with money. I also like how the author covers that not everyone in the family is a bad apple. If you like a light fun read, I recommend this book!
I thought that this was a really fun book. Meet Knives Out but with some romance. This was an entertaining book filled with lots of family entanglement.
After a three year prison sentence, Jillian returns home to her family’s estate and her con artist family, who aren’t exactly thrilled to welcome her home. I was really intrigued by the premise, and the book was a fast-paced, easy read, but I wish we’d had a bit more time to let the characters and their relationships develop. I wasn’t quite as invested as I hoped to be. But Beck, Jillian’s bodyguard, was my favorite for his moments of humor! I also hoped for more surprises and unexpected twists. Overall, definitely a fun beach read that I’m sure readers will enjoy next summer!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Merged review:
After a three year prison sentence, Jillian returns home to her family’s estate and her con artist family, who aren’t exactly thrilled to welcome her home. I was really intrigued by the premise, and the book was a fast-paced, easy read, but I wish we’d had a bit more time to let the characters and their relationships develop. I wasn’t quite as invested as I hoped to be. But Beck, Jillian’s bodyguard, was my favorite for his moments of humor! I also hoped for more surprises and unexpected twists. Overall, definitely a fun beach read that I’m sure readers will enjoy next summer!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Merged review:
After a three year prison sentence, Jillian returns home to her family’s estate and her con artist family, who aren’t exactly thrilled to welcome her home. I was really intrigued by the premise, and the book was a fast-paced, easy read, but I wish we’d had a bit more time to let the characters and their relationships develop. I wasn’t quite as invested as I hoped to be. But Beck, Jillian’s bodyguard, was my favorite for his moments of humor! I also hoped for more surprises and unexpected twists. Overall, definitely a fun beach read that I’m sure readers will enjoy next summer!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I think comparing this to Knives Out does it a disservice. Yes, Jillian has a cut-throat family, but it's not really a mystery. And by comparing it to Knives Out has people reading it who wouldn't normally like its true genre(s): fiction/women's fiction/romance. But I really enjoyed watching Jillian deal with everything and learn a lot about herself in the process.
2.25 stars.
This was fine, I wanted it to be better though.
This was fine, I wanted it to be better though.
This was such a fun read! Seriously so entertaining.
I enjoyed so much of this. I have hesitancies with certain parts of it, but I loved our narrator, the writing style, the humor, the family dynamics, and the drama! It was so easy to settle into this story like I was watching a trainwreck happen in my head (does that make sense?).
I only have some minor problems; if you can even call them that, that's stopped it from being 5 stars. First I think the story should have taken place over a more extended period. I was surprised by how fast things were moving. What was taking days should've been taking weeks or even months? While it kept the plot moving forward, it also felt rushed and like I was missing out on taking every part in. I understand that things needed to escalate quickly, but I also think some more build-up was necessary. Jillian’s family dynamics could have used some more time in between. And my biggest "issue" of all (SPOILER ALERT) is how rushed things were between Jillian and Beck! It was such a letdown to see how fast things went between them. Where was the build-up? Or the depth?
I was so shocked when things happened so quickly! They could've used more time to get to know each other, build that trust and loyalty, and solidify their relationship. I was looking forward to seeing them banter and be frustrated with each other, yet they dived into each other super quickly? Just felt super rushed and unrealistic. It was incredibly anticlimactic. Top that off with how short the story’s timeline was, and I was left feeling like the story was lacking in terms of build-up.
HOWEVER, I still thoroughly enjoyed this! I can't wait for others to read it. It was so fun, comical, ridiculous, and a great time overall. So happy I had the chance to read this! I truly loved it.
Thank you, Avon and HarperVoyager, for the chance to read this in exchange for an honest review! I'm so excited for this to come out!
I enjoyed so much of this. I have hesitancies with certain parts of it, but I loved our narrator, the writing style, the humor, the family dynamics, and the drama! It was so easy to settle into this story like I was watching a trainwreck happen in my head (does that make sense?).
I only have some minor problems; if you can even call them that, that's stopped it from being 5 stars. First I think the story should have taken place over a more extended period. I was surprised by how fast things were moving. What was taking days should've been taking weeks or even months? While it kept the plot moving forward, it also felt rushed and like I was missing out on taking every part in. I understand that things needed to escalate quickly, but I also think some more build-up was necessary. Jillian’s family dynamics could have used some more time in between. And my biggest "issue" of all (SPOILER ALERT) is how rushed things were between Jillian and Beck! It was such a letdown to see how fast things went between them. Where was the build-up? Or the depth?
I was so shocked when things happened so quickly! They could've used more time to get to know each other, build that trust and loyalty, and solidify their relationship. I was looking forward to seeing them banter and be frustrated with each other, yet they dived into each other super quickly? Just felt super rushed and unrealistic. It was incredibly anticlimactic. Top that off with how short the story’s timeline was, and I was left feeling like the story was lacking in terms of build-up.
HOWEVER, I still thoroughly enjoyed this! I can't wait for others to read it. It was so fun, comical, ridiculous, and a great time overall. So happy I had the chance to read this! I truly loved it.
Thank you, Avon and HarperVoyager, for the chance to read this in exchange for an honest review! I'm so excited for this to come out!
3.5
i did take it down a bit. while i loved Jillian and her aunt. i really wanted more from the characters and see them fleshed out a bit.
i wanted to like the romance between Jillian and Beck, while it was cute and all, i didn’t really like it. it felt weird, and very quick/forced. there was not enough romance in this book for it to be labeled a “romance” by my local library.
i wish it had a bit more heist moments as well, but all and all i enjoyed it a lot and it was a quick, fun read. i liked her writing style a lot
i did take it down a bit. while i loved Jillian and her aunt. i really wanted more from the characters and see them fleshed out a bit.
i wanted to like the romance between Jillian and Beck, while it was cute and all, i didn’t really like it. it felt weird, and very quick/forced. there was not enough romance in this book for it to be labeled a “romance” by my local library.
i wish it had a bit more heist moments as well, but all and all i enjoyed it a lot and it was a quick, fun read. i liked her writing style a lot
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated