This was such a sweet read and definitely the first of many I will be reading by this author. I found all the characters relatable in their own way. The romance aspect was written so well.

This was one of the best Y.A. books I have ever read! The storyline of a homeless teenage boy, searching for his long-lost mother while grieving for his recently deceased father, and the people he encounters that help him on his quest, was beautifully heart-wrenching.
I would recommend this for more mature Y.A. readers because of some the subject matter, and because of the strong language used. Overall, this is one that I will be reviewing favorably on Goodreads, and will be buying in a print copy for re-reading.

Not really what I expected. I appreciate what Dailey has added to the traditional teen romance plot here but the big reveals are telegraphed a little too hard and the relationship between the two doesn't seem especially healthy.

First of all a big thank you to netgalley, the author and the publishers for sending me a copy of this book to read and review.

This was absolutely adorable! I loved the relationship between Alma and Rumor. It was just the cutest thing. I loved Alma and her big heart. And I wish I had her family. The siblings really do go out of there way to help each other and as soon as they realise that Rumor is living under the same roof they bring him into the fray like hes one of them. No questions asked. I loved the mystery of finding Rumor's mum/family,

Such a quick fun and easy read. This made me so emotional at times but I loved it!

This was one of the best Y.A. books I have ever read! The storyline of a homeless teenage boy, searching for his long-lost mother while grieving for his recently deceased father, and the people he encounters that help him on his quest, was beautifully heart-wrenching.
I would recommend this for more mature Y.A. readers because of some the subject matter, and because of the strong language used. Overall, this is one that I will be reviewing favorably on Goodreads, and will be buying in a print copy for re-reading.

This was a cute read. The first half felt a bit slow, and I wasn't sure if I would love it, but I liked how everything tied in at the end. The second half got much better though..
There really wasn't all that much going on in this book, an I was disappointed because I expected actual kleptomaniac actions from Alma based on the title. It seemed a little misleading.

Overall it was a cute story.

Alma Underwood is a treasure finder of sorts and is such a unique and intriguing person. She is definitely an individual and is part of a family of individuals as well. I loved the wit and character in the relationships in the book and desperately want to sleep on a pizza mattress now. I really appreciated the story and would love to hear more from this author. I found this book to be highly enjoyable. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley.

It sounded interesting and i had high expetations when i dove into the book but i don`t know? it had some nice parts espesially the Harry Potter references, i liked that but for most parts i were just bored? the Kleptomaniac parts were suddenly forgotten and idk i thought it was going to have more to the story since the start was heavy with it at the start. But everyone seemed to accsept that she just took things? i found that odd. The chemistry between Alma and Rumour felt...forced? or that it happend too fast and it just...wasn`t something i felt? maybe a bit of both. Rumour was sort of interesting, thought everyone seemed to accsept him right away when Alma took him with her almost as one of the things she takes.

Let's just ignore the fact that it took me ages to read this and instead focus on the positives: I FINALLY finished it after over 2 weeks. It's not even 300 pages - I can usually read that much in probably 3 hours. But it wasn't the book's fault at all - I've been in the biggest reading slump. I actually really enjoyed this book. It was light hearted and fun and easy to read but still tackled hard hitting issues like homelessness. Alma was a breath of fresh air and I loved all her siblings. Plus, I loved her and Rumor's friendship and eventual relationship. I thought it was cute. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who just wants a quick, feel good read that occasionally punches them in the heart.

"The best part about working as a maid in her parent’s motel is pocketing all the random objects people leave behind. From old ticket stubs to the glue that comes with a toupee, Alma has discovered it all and stored it in a tub beneath her bed.
Her greatest treasure isn’t what she found in room six at Great Lakes Motel, but it’s who she discovered in an old, abandoned train car behind her house.
His name is Rumor, and he certainly won’t fit under her bed."

Although it is categorized as a Young Adult book, and I am 60, I still really enjoyed this book.

The story revolves around Alma, a friend she meets that summer who changes lots of people's lives forever. The book includes loss and grief in a very empathetic way and explores the angle of teenagers dealing with finding not only themselves but also how to negotiate in the world. It is also funny in places, endearing in others and very reminiscent of innocent teenage days in the sun.

Recommend it to young adults and older adult alike. Only 4* because the last few chapters felt a bit rushed and could have been expanded upon slightly more, in my opinion.

This book was honestly a refreshing Young Adult read that I would recommend for a more mature reader. Was this a light read? Definitely not. Is Alma a kleptomaniac? Yeah, most likely but I am not a licensed professional to determine that for myself. I felt like I was on an endless rollercoaster ride with the endless emotions that Alma had to face due to different relationships within her. I was not overwhelmed by the number of problems she faced and I honestly felt that the author adequately was able to portray them without overwhelming me, the reader. I did find the interactions Alma and her family had to be hilarious and the banter to be natural.

While there were things I really enjoyed about this novel, overall it did not engage my attention enough for a rating higher than 3 stars. The author did an excellent job with unusual character descriptions and defining characteristics. However, the dialogue often seemed clunky and unrealistic, detracting from the story. Also, the one major plot twist fell a little flat and the major relationship was too cliched for me.

“Death is a thief. It takes, and it takes, and it takes. Nobody is safe from being robbed. Not the deceased, not those who are still living.”

What a sweet, heartbreaking romance! This is a fantastic story about hope, love and loss. The writing style is fantastic and engaging. The characters are all amazing and I’d love to read more about the wonderful Underwood clan.

If you love emotional but romantic YA then this is one you should definitely pick up!

4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (rounded up to 5)

An endearing story with a lot of feel-good moments. Hits hard on some deep topics, but also is predictable in many ways. A charming read that many teens will love.

Oh my goodness. I loved this book, it was great. It was a short book that packed a punch. Alma was such a great character, she was such a good, genuine person, and you couldn't help but really like her. Though I have to say, Rumor was my favorite. He went through so much and came out of it all still hopeful, with help from Alma. The story and characters felt so REAL, it was so easy to connect and get submersed.

Alma Underwood is not a kleptomaniac, she doesn't steal, keeps abandoned objects left in her parents motel. One day Alma finds a boy in an old train car at the edge of the field behind the house. Since Alma is a very fiercely caring person, she decides that this boy, Rumor, is now hers to care for and hides him in her bedroom.

Of course the family finds out. Of course the two of them fall in love on the way.

I have to say, I truly liked Alma, but I didn't like this story. It felt a bit disjointed in places. Some of the banter and dialogue felt clunky and I found myself skimming the second half of the story.

I am very selective about reading YA titles, in large part because I don’t always connect with the characters. Alma Underwood is a Kleptomaniac was a delightful read with enjoyable characters and made me happy I took the chance on reading it. Alma likes to take things, hence the title, but not in the “walk into a store, and leave with items” kind of way. She rescues items left behind by the guests at her parents’ motel, making them her own treasures. Meet Rumor, a homeless boy, on the run with a jagged history, looking for his mother. Alma & Rumor become friends & much of the book shares in their budding friendship. This is a sweet, touching story that will help you reconnect with your own adolescence and remind you about the importance of cherishing your loved ones. Thanks NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you netgalley for allowing me to read this early. I have never read anything by this author so i was excited when I was granted access. This was such a fun and original story! i really liked Alma and her story!

Alma Underwood is a star. She shines brightly, oozing kindness and compassion wherever she goes. She also keeps things left behind by people, eager to give them a loving home. And so, when she comes across a homeless teen, she takes him under her wing and sets up a pizza slice shaped pool floatie on the floor next to her bed. Rumour - yes, that is his real name - and Alma are both in for a hell of a ride.

Alma Underwood Is Not A Kleptomaniac is not what I was expecting at all. This may have something to do with my tendency to randomly read books without looking at their blurbs, but that's not the point. The point is, Lacey Dailey (the author) swept me off my feet with this exceedingly cute YA romance.

I loved the characters. I especially loved how not one character we meet or hear about has a mean bone in their body. "Kindness makes a huge difference" is a nice quote and I saw it come to life in this book. For me - who enjoyed reading this book immensely and loved the characters dearly - and also for Rumour, who found more than what he bargained for.

Would recommend to anyone looking for a quick, light, feel-good book. I have a feeling I will be reading this again soon.

This was a cute read. Honestly, the first half was a bit slow, and I wasn't sure where it was going, but I liked how everything tied in at the end. The second half was much better, and I was suprised by the intensity of Rumor's emotions. He was totally in love with Alma, and he kept calling her baby, which I do find endearing, although I was then reminded that he was only 17, which made it a little weird for me.

There really wasn't all that much going on in this book, but it was a pleasant enough read. The length of the chapters was just right, but part of me was disappointed because I expected actual kleptomaniac actions from Alma based on the title. The story is a lot more sweet than the title infers.