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briekaryna's review
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
jsrogers123's review
5.0
I too would have gone to jail if my high school crush let me sleep with him tbh
adavis14's review against another edition
2.5
It was a fine book, just not my favorite. Couldn’t follow the business development. They both seemed like bad people and the one just couldn’t let his crush go
kristinvb520's review
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
“Love is a great unlocker of potential.”
Overall, I found this book intriguing from beginning to end. It was a quick, engaging read with an interesting concept. The entire time all I could think about was how the lengths some people go for scams is INSANE. Like, think of what you could do if you channeled that energy into something positive? (But I am well aware that sometimes this can come from a place of privilege, exposure, environmental factors, etc.)
Plot Thoughts: I am a total sucker for white collar crime/heists. This book was full of that, however, I will say I enjoyed their antics at the beginning the most. Once their “big” idea took off, it felt a little repetitive and slowed down, as it took more of a cult following turn. I just wanted more development and action - especially when you knew things were going south, it was just a matter of when and how.
Character Thoughts: The characters were so easy to hate, and I was frustrated with them 90% of the time. (Like, you love someone and based your entire life around them & their scams and they have the audacity to take and take and take from you but never give?!?! OMG.) I did want more from a development standpoint - I didn’t feel much of anything towards them or the big reveal. I think if there was a bit more development character wise, it really would’ve hit the nail on the head. However, I also think part of it (especially after reading the literal last page) is the fact that despite it all, these guys DON’T change or grow - they are who they are.
Which brings up an age old question - can people change? Are they products of their environments, or are they who they are from the depths of their souls?
👍🏻Would recommend to most but still select readers!
Overall, I found this book intriguing from beginning to end. It was a quick, engaging read with an interesting concept. The entire time all I could think about was how the lengths some people go for scams is INSANE. Like, think of what you could do if you channeled that energy into something positive? (But I am well aware that sometimes this can come from a place of privilege, exposure, environmental factors, etc.)
Plot Thoughts: I am a total sucker for white collar crime/heists. This book was full of that, however, I will say I enjoyed their antics at the beginning the most. Once their “big” idea took off, it felt a little repetitive and slowed down, as it took more of a cult following turn. I just wanted more development and action - especially when you knew things were going south, it was just a matter of when and how.
Character Thoughts: The characters were so easy to hate, and I was frustrated with them 90% of the time. (Like, you love someone and based your entire life around them & their scams and they have the audacity to take and take and take from you but never give?!?! OMG.) I did want more from a development standpoint - I didn’t feel much of anything towards them or the big reveal. I think if there was a bit more development character wise, it really would’ve hit the nail on the head. However, I also think part of it (especially after reading the literal last page) is the fact that despite it all, these guys DON’T change or grow - they are who they are.
Which brings up an age old question - can people change? Are they products of their environments, or are they who they are from the depths of their souls?
👍🏻Would recommend to most but still select readers!
all_roses's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
sittingwishingreading's review
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
lspargo's review against another edition
3.0
I've read several books in the past few years that end up involving a con, but I think what made this one less enjoyable was that it was more like a cult with a leader who seemed to believe his own con, rather than someone who knew they were getting away with something. It crossed a line that made it less enjoyable to me.
lyrareadsbooks's review
4.0
More of a 3.5. The first half was an absolutely delightful skewering of Horatio Alger stories and the American myth of rising to success. The second half was less satisfying, but I can’t pinpoint what it was - there were almost too many ideas that were pushed on but none successfully shifted into the full madcap parody achieved in the first half. Worth a read and I would seek out the author again.