To Have and To Heist
Sara Desai
416 pages
Berkley
published July 18, 2023
Thanks to @berkleyromance and @prhaudio for my #gifted book and audiobook. #BerkleyPartner #Berkley #PRHAudioInfluencer
If Ocean’s Eleven and The Wedding Planner met in the middle, you’d have To Have and To Heist.
I wasn’t sure what to expect with this one. It’s a smart, funny rom com with such rootable characters that there’s already a second book. I love the blend of action and romance and that it doesn’t take itself too seriously.
Sumi, our heroine, is a little bit overconfident in her abilities and she’s surrounded by a harem of beautiful men willing to do almost anything she asks.
The heist crossed with a wedding provided many reasons to laugh but my favorite part of the book is the rag tag team Sumi assembles to pull off the heist. They’re quirky and diverse and they just may be overqualified for their parts.
I liked the sexual tension Sumi has with both Jack, her accomplice, and Detective Garcia, who thinks she’s the prime suspect.
This leans more towards comedy than romance but I found myself torn over which man was best for Sumi. It’s almost reminiscent of the early Stephanie Plum where she bumbles her way through her job while fighting off the men in her life.
I’m really looking forward to picking up book two and see what Sumi has stumbled into next.
Soneela Nankani narrates the audiobook and really nailed the playfulness of the book. I usually favor dual narration in romances but it never really crossed my mind as I listened to this one. I spent my time wanting more as it unfolded.
Its Elementary
Elise Bryant
368 pages
Berkley
published July 9, 2024
Thanks to @berkleypub for my #gifted book. #BerkleyPartner #Berkley
It’s a mystery, a light romance, the struggles of parenting and even a little where is my place in life. But mostly it’s a fun, enjoyable caper.
Set in the midst of an elementary school PTA, Mavis is trying to do her part and balance one more thing in her life.
With an array of genres and lots of antics, this gives me feels of the early Stephanie Plum series. While totally different, but Mavis stumbling into the murder and then bumbling along as an amateur sleuth gave me those same vibes. Of course with an updated feel and POC main character.
I felt for Mavis as she balances life and her determination to make a difference at the school. But mostly I just sat back and enjoyed an escapist read that had me both laughing and shaking my head.
It’s the perfect read on relieve the back to school stress.
One Star Romance
Laura Hankin
400 pages
Berkley
published June 18, 2024
Thanks to @berkleyromance for my #gifted book. #BerkleyPartner #Berkley
I love when books have books (and authors or publishers or libraries) in them.
The synopsis and the cover suggest a light romance but this is about a lot more. I’m not usually a fan of this bait and switch tactic but I’ll forgive it this time because the writing is great and I connected and rooted for the main characters. There are moments that Natalie walked the line between relatable flaw and fatal flaw but her growth helped make it relatable for me.
There is witty banter balanced with some more serious issues, I found I didn’t want to put it down.
Told over 10 years and in seven parts, the two main characters run into each other in their friends’ lives and must figure out how to coexist as enemies. I was invested more in their struggles and growth than the romance. But as the years passed I grew fond of the characters and their outcome and that they finally get their act together.
I’ve love this trend of smashed genres and this one does a great job of blurring the lines between women’s fiction and rom coms without doing either one a disservice.
Leave a Reply