I’m a fan of TV “feel-good crime” shows like Leverage, and that’s what Kurt Dinan’s young adult book reminds me of. Enter the unreliable narrator, Boone McReedy. Shady. Narcissistic. And a kid, too. The goal? With the help of his fiery ex-girlfriend, Darby West, pull off enough cons to cover the $15,000 scammed from his mom’s business…that was his fault.

Yes, he’s a kid con artist, but Dinan works hard to make him likable despite his flaws. He’s got a dad in jail—reader sympathy there for sure! He’s got the fast-talking gift of gab—fun! And when it comes to cons, Boone’s only conning those who deserve it, Robin Hood style.

I enjoyed this book a good bit. It moved fast, the cons were fun, the humor was there without being overdone, and Boone had a complexity that was unexpected.

So, read it. You’ll enjoy it. As Boone himself says it: “You have my word. Would I lie to you?”

(Visit the author’s website to get The Con Artist Dates: The Prequel Stories to THE SCAM LIST for free by signing up for a newsletter, if you want!)

I enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought I would at first. The main point of view character is Boone. He is a 17-year-old scam artist and at the beginning is really pretty gross. He doesn't even like himself very much, though his cocky mouth would make one believe otherwise. His mom owns the local flea market which is quickly being overshadowed by the new fancy flea market across the street. His dad is in prison for running a scam and stealing a lot of money. He gets his scam skills from dad.

The very best part of this book is Darby West. Her parents have a booth in the Golden Mountain flea market She is a martial artist with a rough childhood and a past with Boone. When Boone loses the $15000 deposit money to a girl at a bar, they team up to run some scams to get the money back. Darby makes it clear that she doesn't trust him and she's only in it to save the market. But man is she tough! I loved her character.

There are a couple of other side characters that really fill out the story and make it fun. Roadie, Mo, and Arlo are a few. Even the skeezballs are hilarious.

Another fun quirk is the habit Boone has of describing people by saying "fast forward twenty years" and describing a possible future for that person. It's pretty funny what he comes up with.

The only thing I didn't like about this book is the fact that I felt like I needed a shower after each reading session, which may actually be a point in the its favor in the way of descriptive writing. The flea market, Boone's car, the diner, all of it just disgusting.

There is some character growth in the story and it's fun to see people get what they deserve. And there are some very deserving people in this one. I read it quickly and with bated breath to see what the heck Boone was going to do next.

Firstly thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the ARC of this book, I was immediately drawn in by the synopsis and knew that I would be in for a treat reading this.

I've never read anything like this book before, it was so different and I think that's why I loved it so much! From start to finish it was excellent.

We read this book from Boone's POV, the whole way through. It's written very cleverly and I felt as though we were looking at the world through Boone's eyes. The only disappointment with this is that it felt like we missed a couple of things because of how unobservant he is.

The plot itself was brilliant, and the work and writing that went into every chapter and scam was second to none. It was so engaging and would make even a reluctant reader want to keep turning the pages.

Throughout the book I was laughing out loud, it was so cheeky and lighthearted. Which was only enhanced by the interactions between Boone and Darby, I thought they worked perfectly together!

I really enjoyed watching Boone grow the book and his realisations, it added a "grown up" feel to the book, and it helped me really connect with Boone as a person.

The final scam made me SO EXCITED, it had this really excitable feel to it. It was as if the book was buzzing with excitement, I didn't want the book to end but I wanted to see what happened. I loved how everything seemed to wrap itself up too, and we got answers to everything.

On the whole, I absolutely loved this book. It was so lighthearted, cheeky and funny and I was sorely disappointed when it ended!

The Scam List by Kurt Dinan: A boy is conned out of his family business' money, and has to use all his skills to get the money back.

What a really fun, laugh-out-loud book! There were moments where I found myself so immersed in the dialogue, I felt like I was back in high school. The characters words and actions were so believable. Their snark, their anger, their insecurities, all of it. I wish there were more YA books like this one being published. It seems the last few years, the YA authors have been trying to one-up each other on how dysfunctional an environment they can create for their characters. Characters who, usually, have Olympic sized obstacles to overcome, some sort of abuse or addiction, and on and on. The Scam List was a very refreshing change from all that darkness, a wild ride of shenanigans, hoodwinkery, and, of course, scams.

100% recommend this book, and not just to young adults. Life is too serious most days folks, take a break and step into a novel that will make you laugh and forget about being an adult for just a little while.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing me with an ARC of The Scam List by Kurt Dinan in exchange for my honest review.

This one wasn't for me. A bit to casually snarky and this got very wearing after about 20 pages. I attempted to push through but it got the better of me.

Short and Sweet
After Boone gets scammed out of $15,000 of his mom’s money, he has no choice but to get the money back one con at a time. Boone decides to team up with Darby his ex-girlfriend. These two have to work together to get the money back without killing each other in the process.
Characters
Boone: Boone is out main character, and he’s known for being a conman. Boone means well but he gets a kick out of doing cons. After losing his mom’s money he knows he has to pull out the scam list which is a little book full of cons his dad used to pull.
Darby: Darby is feared by most of the people in town, she has a tough exterior but she tries to do good. Darby agrees to help Boone with his cons as long as the people they’re conning deserve it. I liked Darby as a character she’s about empowering women and she tells it like it is.
Romance
Boone and Darby: Boone and Darby went out on three dates and after that she started ignoring him. But now that they have to work together we see that they do have chemistry and they’re both good people they just go about things differently which was the reason for the split in the first place.
My Thoughts
~ Golden Mountain is the flea market Boone’s mother owns and with the $15,000 stolen Golden Mountain is under the risk of shutting down.
~ It was interesting seeing how Boone got scammed out of the money and it was even better seeing who was behind everything.
~ Boone’s father is in prison for running cons and Boone goes to visit him to catch up and get advice for how to get the money back.
~ I liked seeing each of the cons, Darby and Boone make a good team.
~ We get to meet a lot of characters and one of my favorites is Roadie he has a booth at the flea market and he ended up helping Boone a lot in this book.
Overall
I really enjoyed this book! It was funny and it had a bit of a mystery and I loved seeing how the cons would play out and I just wanted to see if Darby and Boone would reach their goal. If you wanted a bit of background on Boone and Darby there’s also a novella out with a few short stories! I would recommend this book it was funny and held my attention until the very end!

Boone Mcreedy lives in Batesville and works at a Place called Garbage mountain which his Mom owns. Boone Mcreedy's life is also complicated his dad is in jail because he is a notorious Con Man his mom is just trying to make ends me as a single parent and never wants to talk about what went on with him or see him again. Garbage Mountain It's a complicated flea market with complications after he messes things up for them. Boone Mcreedy was entrusted with about 15,000$ CASH to turn over to a bank on behalf of Gabrage Mountain.
Things got a bit out of hand ( such as he was drunk) Robbed by a mysterious women who doesn't exist and the blame falls on him also peoples jobs are on the line. Not just jobs also The business is in trouble now from a rival company that sells similar stuff also. ( Called treasure Island)
Boone Exists Darby West to help him out to try to track down what happened to the money, save the business, and find out what happened and track down the girl. Maybe play some small scams wait... Only against bad people who deserve it on Darby's list. ( abusive people, etc)

This Arc was given to me by net galley in exchange for an honest review.

This was given to me by NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

This was a book I was super looking forward to reading because the plot seemed like it was up my ally and from other reviewers, it sounded like it was a lot of fun and entertaining to read.

I had really wanted to like this book, but unfortunately this didn’t do much for me. And I’m so sad about it.

Getting what I liked out of the way: Boone had a very distinctive voice and narrative.
I didn’t mind Boone’s character considering the fact he’s a con artist.
And I enjoyed the banter between Boone and the other characters (specifically with Darby).

Now onto what I didn’t like: I seem to be the minority when it comes to my thoughts on the pacing, but it was ALOT slower than I had initially thought. I wasn’t fully invested in the story and I found myself not wanting to pick it back up again after putting it down. I was quite bored for the majority of my time reading it.

In conclusion: Despite having high hopes for the book, my dislike towards it is mainly a me-thing and not entirely the book's fault. Plus me liking the characters was not enough for me to fully enjoy the book.

one word...amazing, This book had me guessing up until the very end. It was an easy read and I would definitely recommend it to others.

At first, I thought of this as a book I couldn't see myself recommending. It's entertaining, and Boone is an easily likable character despite being an obvious rogue, but it feels unrealistic. Not a lot of people running old-school cons in this day and age - this isn't "The Sting" or that one episode of "The Simpsons" with the carnies. But the more I think about it, I think this kind of thing would really rope in kids - boys especially - who don't want to read fantasy or sci-fi, and used to love reading "funny" or "gross" books when they were younger and allowed to be immature. Well, some of those kids are still immature, and they need this in their hands.

I want to technically give this book 4.5 stars and I decided to round up instead of down. I really enjoyed this book! Mr. Dinan has a humor that I really like. I do feel I should mention that there is a short prequel available if you join his mailing list that gives a nice pre-intro to Boone and Darby and their relationship before the start of the book. While it can be read after and it’s not necessary to the enjoyment of the story, I thought it helped me get a better idea of who they were and how they worked as a team.

I went for the 4.5 rating because I really liked this book but there were just a few moments that kept it from being a full 5 stars for me. Some meh moments in the middle of scammy goodness. The plot was certainly interesting though and there were moments that had me questioning some of my morals. Boone, Darby, and the rest of the characters were very entertaining (special shout out to Kimberly). If you’re looking for something light, funny, and just different (in a good way, I say check this book out. I mean “Would I lie to you?”

A quick, light-hearted read that gives off Scott Pilgirm vs. The Universe vibes. The humour sometimes wasn't up to my standard, but I guess it's the matter of taste. Nice palate-cleanser between longer books with heavier themes.

Boone McReedy was a notorious conman, and many have been his victim. This time, he's the victim and his family's business lies in the balance. Now, Boone and his ex, Darby, must race against the clock as they embark on a scam-spree, but will they be able to save Golden Mountain?

The main reason I wanted to read this book was because I LOVED Dinan's Don't Get Caught. It was hilarious, and as expected, so was The Scam List. Packed with wit, humor, and quirky characters, I found myself lost in this story and totally invested in its outcome.

Boone's narration was probably one of my favorite things about this book. The kid was snarky, wry, self-depreciating, and fluent in my mother tongue - sarcasm. I loved being in his head. I was bit worried about him with his laissez faire attitude, but the conman being conned humbled him a bit. Spending time with Darby (who was phenomenal) was also good for him. She helped him gain some perspective on things, and it was a pleasure seeing him grow.

The whole scam spree was brilliant. It resulted in so many pitch perfect comedic moments, and I always welcome a good laugh. I am also not privy to the world of scammers, and therefore, found all these plans quite intriguing. The plotting of the BIG CON was especially fun and gave me some heist-like vibes. It was quite a trip being with these two as they delivered their brand of justice scams, and I loved every second of it.

Life inside the Golden Mountain flea market was a hoot too. To have that many zany characters in one place was a treat for me. I found myself looking forward to meeting each and every one of the boothers and adored them all.

When I picked up this book, I was looking for something that was laugh-out-loud fun, and Dinan delivered. I had an amazing time getting to know Boone and the rest of the Golden Mountain family, and am grateful I got to tag along on this caper.

The Scam List is a quick and fun read following the scams carried out by both Boone and Darby as they try to save their workplace.

I really liked the main character and the writing style of the book, he makes little comments for the reader throughout the book and he is a charming character. I do feel that because of Boone’s personality, the other characters seem bland in comparison.

In terms of the plot, it was a fun read with different scams taking place in order to get money and ending with a big scam at the end, I also enjoyed the setting of the book. But, I did get bored towards the middle of the book because the book is quite slow paced and full of too much dialogue and less action then I expected.

3/5

What a great read! This book had a bit of a Ferris Bueller vibe to it. It could have been written 20 years ago, present day, or 20 years from now and it would tickle your funny bone. Some passages were so funny I had to stop laughing out loud to read them to those around me. I had so much fun going on this scammy adventure. Reads quickly and is hard to put down.

This was my first Kurt Dinan book. I got this book as an ARC on NetGalley. It was such a thrilling and exciting read. A teenager who wants to help his mom recover 15.000 dollars, through scams.
I know now, to never ever engage in a bar bet, so thank you Dinan.
Darby is such an exciting female character. The absolute bad ass of this book, and I thought it was interesting to see how teenage hormones mixed with rage, but containment.
Read the book in two days, was a thrilling ride. I would absolutely recommend the book if you like unlikely characters, an adventure of sorts and stories about the underdog. In a way it reminded me of some of Carl Hiaasen's story telling (good guys, but also bad, bad guys who can always get worse). Can't wait to see what Kurt writes next.

Rating: 4.5*
Plot: 3*
Characters: 5*

Before getting into the actual review, I just need to say that this book made me laugh so hard I almost cried. I adored our main character Boone and his voice was so refreshing and amusing at the same time. I loved how he handled everything with a healthy dose of sarcasm and his relationship with his mom (and even dad) was pretty touching. I think I highlighted almost all of his clever remarks and especially parts where he and Darby fought because it made me chuckle and I will definitely want to reread it. I enjoyed learning about different cons and actually seeing how they pull them off.

That brings me to the part of the story I didn’t exactly love. I loved the idea of Darby, I mean who wouldn’t want s badass fighter girl? But for me, Darby felt a little too preachy and some of her actions felt very abusive and not so funny (like the scene where she gets Boone to volunteer to teach girl self defence class and she encourages a little girl to kick him in the groin, while reading that I was pretty disgusted). Later in the books she addressed her anger issues and I liked that but I feel like she should’ve maybe also apologized to Boone because for the most of the book she was pretty rude to him. Also, I felt like Boone changed quite a lot for her but she didn’t do anything for him. All that talk through the book that he doesn’t deserve her or that she is too good for him just rubbed me the wrong way cause I didn’t see what’s so good about her, other than her so-so moral compass. But as I said, I started liking her more as the story progressed and I love how she let herself be vulnerable in the end. I wouldn’t mind reading more about Boone and her where they go to college and get themselves into more trouble.

Another part that felt a bit unconvincing for me was the ending, especially the part where they “convince” Parker not to show that girl's pictures by threating him with a beating from a little girl. That felt a bit too campy for me because the rest of the con was actually very clever and subtle and I love how it was pulled off. Actually I found myself wishing the last con was a lot longer because I loved watching Boone make Parker paranoid and see all boothers from Garbage Mountain working together. All in all, I would definitely recommend this book to everyone looking for a clever and funny main character, great snark and just all together a fun read.

I was given this book to review via Netgalley. Thank you for this opportunity.
I love this book!
It is laugh out loud funny but has a big heart too. The writing is sharp and witty, with jokes slipped in throughout that make you smile and chuckle. I devoured this book in one sitting. Boone is the main character who lies for a good proportion if the novel but I couldn't help liking him especially as the novel went on and we learn more about his father and past.
Darby is also an excellent character, being a strong, fearless and intelligent young woman. The eccentric characters of Gold Mountain are an unlikely but fabulous cast of characters in this novel.
I feel that YA readers and older readers will enjoy this book that does not subscribe to common tropes but explodes onto the scene with its own don't care attitude, golden mountain heart and awesome story that stays with you for a good while. I will be recommending this book to my friends and family as I look forward to reading the author's (Kurt Dinan) other books.

Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

What happens when you lose $15,000? To understate it, that's a huge problem, but even more so when it means that you most likely ruined your life, your mom's life, and the lives of all of your friends. Enter Boone McReedy's reality in Dinan's The Scam List.

Overall, I believe that this novel has a real place on many reader's shelves. I liked seeing Boone's thought process and how he develops as a character. There were several different twists and turns that kept things interesting. I didn't feel like there were any gaps in the story. I just didn't love this, and I think it's because I'm not the target audience. But if you're looking for a witty, sarcastic, morally flawed, and somehow still reflective teenage boy narrator, Boone is probably for you.

This was probably one of the funniest book I've read in a while. It was clever and witty and had me laughing out loud at so many moments.

THE SCAM LIST revolves around a smart and sharp-tongued kid named Boone. His thoughts and descriptions of people and places were probably my favorite part of this whole book. If I could have him narrate me through life, I think I'd always be laughing.

Something I loved about this book was the many different ways Boone knew how to scam people. And I love that we learned these tricks as a reader from him. It made me feel like I was in on the scam with him. Before reading this, I kinda just thought I'd tag along for one big scam and that would be the book, but I like that I was able to experience multiple small ones as well.

One thing that kept me from giving this book five stars was the pace of it. The book took longer to get to the actionable parts of the story than I would have liked. Sure, there were some small adventures along the way, but I kept finding myself thinking, "Okay. But when are we going to do this thing?"

Overall, I really enjoyed this book! The humor was top-notch, the story-line was fun and wit-driven, and there were so many characters to love. I'd recommend this to anyone looking for a laugh-out-loud comedy and adventure.