i haven't read a book by alisha rai in a hot minute, so i was very excited for this one! it is a little different than i expected, kind of romantic suspense with dashes of comedy? not quite what i was expecting/wanting, but i still enjoyed it.

• Second Chance Romance
• Heist-y, Caper
• Romantic Suspense
• South Asian MCs

Partners In Crime really took me by surprise – I went in ready for a second chance romance and got so much more! This book was such a fun adventure, filled with twists, turns and all the caper / heist-y vibes:

Two exes who had previously been matched up by a matchmaker are thrown back together in a surprising way when they find themselves forced to work together to find a missing diamond necklace and keep their respective families safe. They learn all sorts of things about themselves and each other, and in their race to find the necklace, they find themselves starting to fall again.

I had a blast reading this one – it turned out to be a romantic suspense filled with all sorts of surprises along the way that kept me flipping the pages. I ended up reading this one in a day. I think the comparison to the movie Date Night was apt, it definitely had some of those same vibes. The story was fun and fast paced, I enjoyed both of our MCs Mira and Naveen – I was particularly intrigued with Mira’s whole backstory and that unfolding.

If you enjoy romcoms with a dose of action / adventure – this one is for you. If you’re like me and like a mix of the mystery element in the fall, this one will fit in great with your fall read lists. Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books for the chance to read an early copy. All thoughts and opinions offered are my own.

This book is an absolute gem. I loved loved the characters, Mira stole me heart. The plots is fresh and so much fun. Although the chemistry was a bit lacking the romance was still very fun to read and I thoroughly enjoyed the book! Alisha Rai continues to be a romance genius!!

An adventurous love story with lots of crime and action. It was an enjoyable book overall, but the story line seemed to drag for me. The twist at the end was a surprise but I either didn't pick up on the clues or it was very unpredictable. The romance between the two main characters kept the book moving for me.
Thanks Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC!

I’ve long been a fan of Alisha Rai’s books but this was a bit of a miss for me. Both of the MCs came with a LOT of baggage and then it just got messier and messier and messier. And the Cobra reveal at the end and all that followed was really just too much. I did like the 2 MCs and I liked the heist aspect of it and the inadvertent road trip that they were forced into but everything else just ate up sooooo much time and I wish the romance had been centered a little bit more instead of feeling like an afterthought. Also, why does the book description identify Naveen as an English professor when he’s a lawyer in the book? Makes no sense to me.

Content notes; toxic family, crime family, shooting to injure, shooting to kill, parental death, kidnapping, assault, theft, estranged family; recovering alcoholism, mention of rehab, PTSD, therapy

*2.75/5
this was an enjoyable and quick read, but in my opinion it wasn't remarkable. i felt a little disconnected from the two main characters, mira and naveen, and their romance. the plot was okay, nothing special, i saw the ending coming since the beginning. i personally found the fact that all the events narrated spanned only two days made the story progress a little too quickly. overall, it was a nice read but it did not elicit any particular emotion because, even if i didn't dislike it, i didn't particularly love it either.

arc provided by netgalley and avon and harper voyager in exchange for an honest review.

A romantic suspense novel with South Asian hero and heroine. Mira and Naveen meet by chance? When her aunt’s will is read. This starts a chain of events that lead them both on a chase to save her sister.

Twist and turns and surprises around every page turn, it was a fun read. Not too violent, somewhat of an Oceans 11 vibe.

I enjoyed it.

I usually like this author but this one was not my favorite, it was good and sweet. It also had some humorous notes but dragged some for me.

This reads more like a madcap caper (which I LOVE) than a romance: I was more caught up in trying to keep track of the wild plot than feeling particularly invested in the relationship between Mira and Naveen. Second-chance romance, handled well, with both characters making life changes to make real growth and continue to push past psychic scarring to find vulnerability and partnership. The plot grew increasingly wild and ridiculous, and Mira's sister totally felt like a plot piece who was clearly going to be getting her own book (a pet peeve of mine).

The moment I saw this book's gorgeous cover, I was intrigued. Then I read the description and was sold. A mad dash to find a diamond necklace, foil a kidnapping (or two), and maybe even run a heist?? Two exes who still aren't over each other, falling harder than ever as they unravel in the chaos, thus revealing unknown depths and a few secrets? I AM SO IN. Partners in Crime delivered exactly what it promised, with enough action, humor, and heart to satisfy even this caper-mad reader. I can see myself picking this up next time I need something light and fun, and although this was my first Rai book, it certainly won't be my last.

My thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Partners in Crime is a fun romantic suspense book. I enjoyed this book. Mira’s growth was really nice to read and I thought the author handled family trauma well. This book isn't super romantic and I wasn't fully invested in the relationship between Mira and Naveen, but I did enjoy both characters. Overall, this book is more action than romance which is probably why I liked it.

This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange of an honest review

Showed real potential at the beginning. Respectively the characters garnered a bit of my interest, Naveen more than Mira if I’m being honest. However as the story progressed and the characters interacted everything was just … lackluster. This story just did not engage me.

** This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange of an honest review**

Thank you, @Netgalley & @AvonBooks, for a free ARC in exchange for my honest feedback! I thought I was going to read a romance story with some twists and turns, but I had no idea it would turn into a full-on suspense romance!

Mira doesn't like to talk about her past or even her childhood, and her goal in life right now is to find a partner and get married. She gets a matchmaker and has a spreadsheet with all of her requirements for a husband, but no one seems to be the one.

Enters Naveen Desai, someone who previously matched with Mira, but it didn’t work out. When Mira's aunt passes away her will is read by lawyer Naveen is this fate or just a lousy chance? When Mira leaves the office, she is kidnapped by some vicious people from her past, rather than her dad's past. To make matters worse, she is kidnapped by her ex.

This book was so much fun to read, and I felt like I was in the back of the car with the couple. It was like a telenovela mixed with a Bollywood movie. There was some spice, but also, a lot of the characters understood themselves and not letting the pressure of family dictate their lives.

This is a second-chance romance, and I loved it! The moments of sadness with one of them remembering what their touch feels like make my heart swoon.

If you're a fan of fast-paced reading, second chance romance or love STRONG female lead characters give this book a try!

Let’s keep this short and brief—Alisha Rai’s “Partners in Crime” had a premise that checked off everything I wanted to read next and I was excited to pick up this new exciting second chance POC romantic action novel… Unfortunately, it. Was. Boring. As. Heck.

This read ended up being a dud. Mira and Naveen chemistry was nowhere to be found and forced proximity forced a romance that just wasn’t there for me. I was unable to connect with either character, the repetitive phrases and background stories had me rolling my eyes, and lastly—the ending. What the heck was that?! The plot ‘twist’ didn’t benefit the story whatsoever and was absolutely unnecessary.

Nonetheless, I will still recommended this in clubs/events at the library due to prominent diversity/POC elements that I know that many readers will be drawn to.

I love Alisha Rai's books and this one definitely did not disappoint, I loved this! It gave Romancing the Stone vibes, which is one of my favorite movies of all time. I really loved this one. Highly recommend.

This has nothing to do with my review, but the people need to know. The goodreads synopsis is not accurate! It's not for an entirely different book, but first ideas to finished product there were some changes so keep that in mind
Mira is looking for a husband to build the family she's always wanted. She's dated 12 guys over the past 3 years and only one made her heart patter, and she left him because those feelings scared her.
Naveen is a lawyer on a better path putting his life together, when in walks the girl who broke up with him via text. Soon they are embroiled in a mystery surrounding Mira's family, something she never talked about when they were together.

I loved seeing Mira and Naveen's expectation of who they were fall away as they get to know each other more authentically. Some of the plot of this was far fetched but it was interesting and definitely kept me hooked for most of the story. For most of the book, it felt almost like mission impossible if the team was full of amateurs.

You had me at CRIME!!!

But in all seriousness, there was so much I loved about this newest book from my FAVORITE lawyer/romance author, Alisha Rai. I racked my brain, and I think this might be the first time Alisha Rai has written a lawyer main character? If this is in fact the case, then the wait was worth it, because Naveen was just the sweetest, nicest, and most adorable hero, while also being a very authentic and realistic depiction of a lawyer taking over his grandfather’s hang-a-shingle, jack-of-all-trades, community-based lawyer after he burned out of Big Law. (some slight spoilers ahead) I also really, really appreciated the thoughtful handling of Naveen’s alcoholism and recovery journey. I think this is the first romance I’ve read with a MC who has been to rehab (I know other books are out there, but I haven’t stumbled upon them!), and it’s definitely the first lawyer MC who has been to rehab that I’ve read. Alcoholism and addiction are very prevalent in the legal profession due to the stress, unhealthy work-life balance, and professional drinking culture. Naveen’s story is one that I have seen or heard about many times. All around, he was just so authentically depicted; I feel like I’ve known people exactly like Naveen. He felt so real. And so it makes me so happy to see how well he’s managing his recovery and stress, especially through his adorable love of escape rooms. I love to see good lawyer wellness representation!!!

Overall, Partners in Crime was such a fun romp. But also still very suspenseful - there were moments when this felt like a true romantic suspense, ala another lawyer/romance author Selena Montgomery (aka Stacey Abrams), and I loved that! This book was also a quirky love letter to Las Vegas, a city which is a part of Alisha Rai’s own real-life wedding story.

This romantic caper combines crime bosses, high-stakes Vegas games, a second chance at love, and clues to a hidden treasure. Mira runs into her ex, Naveen, in the lawyer’s office after her aunt leaves her an inheritance. The action picks up immediately, as Mira and Naveen are kidnapped by a crime lord who thinks Mira knows where her father hid a mysterious jewel. Fun and thrilling as they dig into Mira’s complicated past.

Mira is looking to settle down but all of the men her Indian matchmaker sets her up with just aren't right. After being dumped on her last date, Mira is sure her matchmaker will drop her. In comes Naveen, a lawyer and her very first match from years ago that she ran from. The two of them set off on an involuntary adventure that leads to the most hectic night of their lives. While their lives hang in the balance their feelings begin to grow.

The description compared it to Date Night so, I anticipated a rom-com with some bit of suspense and mystery. What I got was an adventure mystery romance. I'm not mad about it but it was a bit more serious then I expected. Overall, I actually ended up enjoying more of the adventure mystery part than the romance. The way the author intertwines Mira's family and past was really interesting. There were even a few twists I didn't expect at all. Reading how Naveen would look at a problem as if it were an escape room was a lot of fun as well.

The romance was lacking. It felt really odd and almost forced. I enjoyed that Naveen was an intense love interest from her past so that we weren't thrown into an insta-attraction/love trope. However, their whole attraction just fell flat and the first intimate scene was pretty cringey. The ending though was redeeming in the romance category. I like how it wrapped up both in crime and family plot as well as the romance.


Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

Not your typical contemporary romance. This second chance romance is set against a backstop of mafia hijinks, Indian Aunties and family dynamics, with a healthy dose of kidnapping and pining. The characters were all well developed and the pacing of the story was good. The side characters held their own and enriched the novel. Alisha Rai delivers a good time with Partners in Crime