Starred review from June 17, 2024
Desai does it again in this thrilling, laugh-out-loud sequel to To Have and to Heist. Simi Chopra and her ragtag crew pulled off the impossible when they stole the Wild Heart necklace from Mafia boss Joseph Angelini on the day of his daughter’s wedding. Unfortunately, Angelini has discovered who stole the necklace and he wants it back—plus Simi’s now ex-boyfriend Jack and 30% interest on the necklace’s value. Simi and her crew have four weeks to turn all three over, or they’ll all be killed. To complicate things even further, Angelini kidnaps a member of their team to ensure they’ll do the job, and Jack’s ex Clare has stolen the necklace and won’t give it to Simi’s crew unless they help her, in turn, steal the Florentine diamond from a billionaire’s underground bunker. This leads to a thrilling series of clever twists and funny turns, led in large part by scene-stealer Simone, a high society lady who finds it perfectly reasonable to wear a 2018 Gucci ski mask to a robbery. Simi and Jack sizzle in their scenes together as their love rekindles. They prove a refreshingly self-aware pair, and their honesty about their insecurities leads them to grow through repeated challenges, rather than just repeating the same argument. The heist and the love story are equally satisfying, resulting in a fun and funny beach read that will delight Desai’s fans and win her some new ones. Agent: Laura Bradford, Bradford Literary.
December 1, 2024
Desai delivers another fun, fast-paced Simi Chopra novel (after To Have and To Heist) that perfectly blends humor, suspense, and romance. This latest installment picks up a year after Simi and her misfit heist crew successfully stole a high-priced diamond necklace with the help of Simi's on-again, off-again romantic partner, Jack Danger. When a Chicago mob boss demands the jewels back, the crew is forced to reunite, only this time, one of the pieces is in the hands of Jack's ex, a master thief who is out for revenge and isn't above using blackmail to get it. In exchange for her cooperation, Simi, Jack, and the crew have to pull off their most ambitious con yet, which may just cost someone their life. This dual-perspective, second-chance, interracial heist romance is full of found family, mob bosses, exes, motorcycle gangs, serial killers, kidnappings, fake deaths, fake funerals, and near-death moments. It is excellently narrated by Soneela Nankani and Andrew Eiden, who truly bring Simi's and Jack's characters' chemistry and humor to life. VERDICT A high-octane, entertaining experience from start to finish, with shocking twists and exciting interludes that never seem to end.--Shannon O'Connor
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