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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Picking up where Dishonestly Yours ends, we are thrust back into the world of Phoebe and Rocky as they and their family work a con in an affluent Connecticut town. As always in a Ritchie novel, I enjoyed the closeness and dynamics between the main characters and their families (found or related).
Coming in at over 500 pages, this never felt long as it was entertaining and the writing flows easily. Yet much of it also felt like it was largely filler, preparing us for the finale next book. Not a lot happens until the end.
As this series focuses on two con families, there’s a hint of mystery involved and I enjoyed trying to figure it out.
I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
Coming in at over 500 pages, this never felt long as it was entertaining and the writing flows easily. Yet much of it also felt like it was largely filler, preparing us for the finale next book. Not a lot happens until the end.
As this series focuses on two con families, there’s a hint of mystery involved and I enjoyed trying to figure it out.
I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Let me first start off by saying that I love Krista & Becca Ritchie. I will read literally anything this duo writes. Dishonestly Yours was one of my top reads for 2024, so I’m not gonna lie, the bar was set extremely high for Destructively Mine.
Destructively Mine picks up right where the last book left off and I couldn’t help but fall harder for Phoebe and Rocky. I mean, the steam between them is OFF the charts and I just love how they fought to be together and where their relationship ended up. The secondary characters were just as fantastic and engaging as they were in the first book. I loved that while we finally got some answers, the plot twists were twisting and kept me on my toes.
All that being said, I did have some major issues with this book. The first one is always a big one for me and that’s the pacing. At over 500+ pages, I could not believe how slow the pacing was. It felt like the story just dragged and that nothing really happened until I got about 40% or so into the story.
To be honest, I felt like this book suffered from second book syndrome. Like it was an enjoyable read, but it didn’t live up to the hype of the first book, and it KILLS me to say that. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but this book was way longer than it needed to be and it felt like something was missing.
Overall, I thought this book was an okay read. I think maybe my expectations for this book were a bit too high. I enjoyed this book, but I didn’t love it as much as I was hoping to. All my issues aside, this book was still filled with enjoyable drama, tension, and scorching moments.
*I was provided an ARC copy of this book via the publisher & NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review*
adventurous
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
thank to berkley for the arc in exchange for an honest review 💌
i loved(!) dishonestly yours. read it in two sittings and yapped abt rocky for a m i n u t e. but sadly, i rly struggled getting into this second book for quite a few reasons.
the writing seemed much more choppy in dialogue & inconsistently paced compared to the first book. we changed locations very randomly and it would jarringly take me out of the story until i could figure out where things were exactly happening. the setting of this book is an east coast country club and scenery is hardly even mentioned so i had to rely on my own imagination a LOT for this.
as far as character development, i couldn’t make a connection with anyone because the fmc pov was so elementary in narration that it felt impossible to see or feel beyond that. rocky is still a great character as an mmc but even his povs had a disconnect that made it seem like he was directing his story via yelling from another room. supporting characters who were prominent in the first book took major backseats when so much intrigue had been set up for them and way more c-list characters than i thought necessary were brought in to further interrupt whatever groundwork had been laid to add depth to the primaries.
the romance was what initially sold me on the first book as the tension was extremely well drawn out but it tapered off instantly in the first few chapters. on page emotional depth trumps high school level lusting any day when it comes to developing connection and i’m so sad i didn’t get that.
the plot…addled and delivered so monotonously i found myself not even caring and to go from raving abt DY to basically hate reading DM made me feel exhausted as a reader.
maybe i’ll continue the series just to see how things progress but the page number would need to be significantly shorter because in my honest opinion, there was no reason for this book to be over 500 pages.
i loved(!) dishonestly yours. read it in two sittings and yapped abt rocky for a m i n u t e. but sadly, i rly struggled getting into this second book for quite a few reasons.
the writing seemed much more choppy in dialogue & inconsistently paced compared to the first book. we changed locations very randomly and it would jarringly take me out of the story until i could figure out where things were exactly happening. the setting of this book is an east coast country club and scenery is hardly even mentioned so i had to rely on my own imagination a LOT for this.
as far as character development, i couldn’t make a connection with anyone because the fmc pov was so elementary in narration that it felt impossible to see or feel beyond that. rocky is still a great character as an mmc but even his povs had a disconnect that made it seem like he was directing his story via yelling from another room. supporting characters who were prominent in the first book took major backseats when so much intrigue had been set up for them and way more c-list characters than i thought necessary were brought in to further interrupt whatever groundwork had been laid to add depth to the primaries.
the romance was what initially sold me on the first book as the tension was extremely well drawn out but it tapered off instantly in the first few chapters. on page emotional depth trumps high school level lusting any day when it comes to developing connection and i’m so sad i didn’t get that.
the plot…addled and delivered so monotonously i found myself not even caring and to go from raving abt DY to basically hate reading DM made me feel exhausted as a reader.
maybe i’ll continue the series just to see how things progress but the page number would need to be significantly shorter because in my honest opinion, there was no reason for this book to be over 500 pages.
This is such a fun world to jump back into, especially as I find these characters to be so fascinating in their own very different ways. I love Phoebe and Rocky, but the side characters really do make this whole thing that much better, and I hope to keep seeing more of them. The relationships and dynamics between these characters are so wonderfully crafted, which doesn't surprise me— if there's one thing I can always count on Krista and Becca to deliver, it is the found family.
I'll admit it took me a second to get into it, and I was fearing it would fall flat for me, but once I got at around 20% I was hooked. Literally impossible to put down, as things just kept happening, and it took turns I didn't see coming. There were so many questions answered, and so many more were created, and I can't wait for the third book. It was also so interesting to actually follow as they planned and executed a job, and it kept me on edge as I tried to analyse everything that could go wrong.
This has been incredibly high up on my list of anticipated releases ever since I read Dishonestly Yours, and it definitely lived up to expectations. There's just something about Krista & Becca's books that always hit the spot for me. Overall, it truly is just such a fun, thrilling ride
Many thanks to Pan Macmillan & NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
I'll admit it took me a second to get into it, and I was fearing it would fall flat for me, but once I got at around 20% I was hooked. Literally impossible to put down, as things just kept happening, and it took turns I didn't see coming. There were so many questions answered, and so many more were created, and I can't wait for the third book. It was also so interesting to actually follow as they planned and executed a job, and it kept me on edge as I tried to analyse everything that could go wrong.
This has been incredibly high up on my list of anticipated releases ever since I read Dishonestly Yours, and it definitely lived up to expectations. There's just something about Krista & Becca's books that always hit the spot for me. Overall, it truly is just such a fun, thrilling ride
Many thanks to Pan Macmillan & NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
**Thank you to Berkeley Romance and Krista & Becca Ritchie for sending me an advanced reader copy**
We are SO BACK! It was such a good time being back in the con world with Phoebe and Rocky and the gang.
This book was so different from the first one, and I think there’s a lot of reasons for this. First and foremost, Phoebe, Rocky, and the group have gone through a lot of inner change- they’ve been con artists they’re whole lives, but now there’s the question of if they’ve been conned themselves. It was really interesting to see how each character shifted with this new dynamic in mind.
Through this, the plot of the book was also different. A lot happened, and yet nothing did? And maybe that’s the point-maybe KBR wanted to create this chaotic confusion. Personally, I was annoyed with this and wanted a better understanding of what was going on, especially with their parents.
Phoebe and Rocky are so solidified as a couple that it’s almost annoying. I think they both somehow lost themselves as individual characters and became completely warped in their relationship. While there’s nothing wrong with being deeply in love, you are your own person at the end of the day.
The next book has a LOT to get through. But, KBR has been in the game for so long that I have no doubt that they'll do these characters justice!
We are SO BACK! It was such a good time being back in the con world with Phoebe and Rocky and the gang.
This book was so different from the first one, and I think there’s a lot of reasons for this. First and foremost, Phoebe, Rocky, and the group have gone through a lot of inner change- they’ve been con artists they’re whole lives, but now there’s the question of if they’ve been conned themselves. It was really interesting to see how each character shifted with this new dynamic in mind.
Through this, the plot of the book was also different. A lot happened, and yet nothing did? And maybe that’s the point-maybe KBR wanted to create this chaotic confusion. Personally, I was annoyed with this and wanted a better understanding of what was going on, especially with their parents.
Phoebe and Rocky are so solidified as a couple that it’s almost annoying. I think they both somehow lost themselves as individual characters and became completely warped in their relationship. While there’s nothing wrong with being deeply in love, you are your own person at the end of the day.
The next book has a LOT to get through. But, KBR has been in the game for so long that I have no doubt that they'll do these characters justice!
dark
emotional
funny
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:
Yes
Spice? Mystery? Elaborate plans and deceits? Sign me the fuck up.
Destructively Mine starts right where Dishonestly Yours leaves off, with our favorite gang of con-artists shaken by a recent revelation that shows their whole lives are not what they believed them to be. Alternating between Phoebe and Rocky's POV, this book takes us deeper into the underbelly of Victoria, Connecticut, and the histories of the Tinrocks and the Graves. I love how we learned more about the gang's origins, with flashbacks of previous jobs they pulled, as well as seeing Phoebe and Rocky's relationship grow. We also get to know their other siblings better and see more relationships blossom(I am so here for the potential of a MMF relationship between Oliver, Jake, and Hailey).
This book gave us so many answers and so many more questions. It also gave us elaborate cons, shocking twists, and moments that stopped my heart. Krista and Becca have done it again, giving me a book that left me 100% breathless.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Destructively Mine starts right where Dishonestly Yours leaves off, with our favorite gang of con-artists shaken by a recent revelation that shows their whole lives are not what they believed them to be. Alternating between Phoebe and Rocky's POV, this book takes us deeper into the underbelly of Victoria, Connecticut, and the histories of the Tinrocks and the Graves. I love how we learned more about the gang's origins, with flashbacks of previous jobs they pulled, as well as seeing Phoebe and Rocky's relationship grow. We also get to know their other siblings better and see more relationships blossom
This book gave us so many answers and so many more questions. It also gave us elaborate cons, shocking twists, and moments that stopped my heart. Krista and Becca have done it again, giving me a book that left me 100% breathless.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Destructively Mine by Krista and Becca Ritchie follows con artists on the straight and narrow who are thrown back into the game to keep their new lives from imploding.
After reading book one, I couldn’t wait to pick up book two of this series! It’s such a fresh take on contemporary romance and I love the found family the authors have created. Even while the characters are doing not-so-legal deeds, you still can’t help but root for them.
Overall, I gave this a four star rating. My only critique is I wish each book followed a different couple. There’s such a great cast of characters that I want to spend more time in their povs and not just the main couple. But still, loved it and highly recommend!
Destructively Mine by Krista and Becca Ritchie follows con artists on the straight and narrow who are thrown back into the game to keep their new lives from imploding.
After reading book one, I couldn’t wait to pick up book two of this series! It’s such a fresh take on contemporary romance and I love the found family the authors have created. Even while the characters are doing not-so-legal deeds, you still can’t help but root for them.
Overall, I gave this a four star rating. My only critique is I wish each book followed a different couple. There’s such a great cast of characters that I want to spend more time in their povs and not just the main couple. But still, loved it and highly recommend!
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing this book, with my honest review below.
Destructively Mine had me a bit confused on its genre, it read at points like YA but then went into serious adult territory with its spice and some of the plot turns. What I’ve settled on is that this is reminiscent of a younger leaning soap opera, melodramatic and likely going to completely drive young adult readers crazy (in a good way) with its extremes.
Part of a series, I’d recommend reading the first book though there are flashbacks and recaps that help. That said this ends on a cliffhanger and is clearly meant to tell the whole story across the series. I enjoyed the parts about the cons and Brooke, Hailey, Rocky, and their families’ background, but those parts don’t make up the majority of the story as the intense relationships and the increasingly tangled web of issues is the focus.
Not for me in that it is too contrived and just too much, I can absolutely see young adults (by which I mean late teens and early 20’s, this one isn’t for kids) who like extreme turns and over the top romance being big fans, as this is passionate. Just be ready to commit to the series as this leads you along with no complete closure but several loose threads to follow in future books about these characters.
Destructively Mine had me a bit confused on its genre, it read at points like YA but then went into serious adult territory with its spice and some of the plot turns. What I’ve settled on is that this is reminiscent of a younger leaning soap opera, melodramatic and likely going to completely drive young adult readers crazy (in a good way) with its extremes.
Part of a series, I’d recommend reading the first book though there are flashbacks and recaps that help. That said this ends on a cliffhanger and is clearly meant to tell the whole story across the series. I enjoyed the parts about the cons and Brooke, Hailey, Rocky, and their families’ background, but those parts don’t make up the majority of the story as the intense relationships and the increasingly tangled web of issues is the focus.
Not for me in that it is too contrived and just too much, I can absolutely see young adults (by which I mean late teens and early 20’s, this one isn’t for kids) who like extreme turns and over the top romance being big fans, as this is passionate. Just be ready to commit to the series as this leads you along with no complete closure but several loose threads to follow in future books about these characters.
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.
Destructively Mine begins right where the first book ended. It had me hooked from the very start. The storyline continued to be interesting and unique. This time around it kept me even more on edge. There was so much going on with the mystery as well as the other activities the characters were involved in. It was almost too much for me at times, but I pushed through because I HAD to know what was going to happen and what would be revealed. I also loved that Phoebe and Rocky were once again the narrators. These two were made for each other and their love was palpable. They had so many great moments together and with their friends and family. Their yearning to be with each other could have easily been the entire story, but I'm glad it wasn't. Their friends and family also had a lot going on. Hailey's storyline took a turn I wasn't expecting, and it is one I'm a little nervous about. The rest of the guys had me a little worried, too. I would love to say more about what was going on with them, but I don't want to give away any of the excitement. I'll just say it was fun and stressful to be back in the small coastal town with everything it was hiding. The twist and turns this book made surprised me when I was least expecting it. And that cliffhanger... I need the next book NOW. I know this was a jumbled mess of a review, but I'm still processing everything that happened and feeling like there is something I missed along the way.
Destructively Mine begins right where the first book ended. It had me hooked from the very start. The storyline continued to be interesting and unique. This time around it kept me even more on edge. There was so much going on with the mystery as well as the other activities the characters were involved in. It was almost too much for me at times, but I pushed through because I HAD to know what was going to happen and what would be revealed. I also loved that Phoebe and Rocky were once again the narrators. These two were made for each other and their love was palpable. They had so many great moments together and with their friends and family. Their yearning to be with each other could have easily been the entire story, but I'm glad it wasn't. Their friends and family also had a lot going on. Hailey's storyline took a turn I wasn't expecting, and it is one I'm a little nervous about. The rest of the guys had me a little worried, too. I would love to say more about what was going on with them, but I don't want to give away any of the excitement. I'll just say it was fun and stressful to be back in the small coastal town with everything it was hiding. The twist and turns this book made surprised me when I was least expecting it. And that cliffhanger... I need the next book NOW. I know this was a jumbled mess of a review, but I'm still processing everything that happened and feeling like there is something I missed along the way.
This was good but not great. I am more invested in the con artist side of things rather than the romance, but this was more romance heavy. I wish we spent less time on spice and more time on the plot. It felt pretty filler heavy and like it didn’t need to be its own whole book. All that being said I did still really enjoy it. I feel like I can picture everything so clearly which is normally hard for me to do and I really hope that Hailey ends up getting a book because there is a love triangle I am actually really invested in. I will 100% be continuing this series, the mystery is just too good, just wish it was a bit quicker paced.