This was such a good book with tons of action, adventure and twists that kept me guessing through the whole book. I loved the connections between the thieves and how trust has to be earned, which was so true in so many aspects of this book.

The book does end in a bit of a cliffhanger, and I am excited to read the next installment. This is one that I have already been recommending to fans of Ocean's Eleven movies and anyone who enjoys a good action story. I would love my tweens to read this, but there are a few mentions of underage drinking which puts it squarely in YA for me.

I can't recommend this book highly enough. Ross, Devroe, Noelia, Kyung-Soo, and all the other characters will continue to live on in my head until I can get my hands on the sequel!

This one wasn’t for me. I was really intrigued by the premise and I love young adult but it felt too juvenile for me.

This is a great read. The author has put together a diverse group of characters to take you on one adventure after another. It has all of the elements you need to keep you reading. Who doesn't love a good heist book with secrets, deception and intrigue. Our high school readers are going to love it. Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

**Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for a fair and honest review**

This one sucked me in quickly. I loved the fast pace and the Oceans 11 meets Hunger Games premise. Can Ross win the competition, claim her wish and rescue her Mum?

Of course, things aren't as straightforward as she hopes. Who can she trust? Why is her ex-best friend taking part? What is the truth about the other competitors? What about the shadowy figures running the Gambit from behind the scenes?

Lots of fun, I'll look out for book 2.

Thank you to NetGalley and Nancy Paulsen Books for the eARC of the book!

Rosalyn “Ross” Quest comes from a long line of master thieves: her mom, aunt, even her grandparents. It’s her entire life—everything that she has ever known. However, she wants more—she wants to meet other people outside of the thieving world. But when her plan to escape ends with her mom getting kidnapped, Ross only has one option: to enter into the Thieves Gambit, a competition amongst world class teenage thieves for the ultimate prize of a wish for anything. But what starts as just a game slowly reveals more to Ross about her competitors…and her family’s legacy.

This was SO MUCH FUN!! I absolutely loved the heist/Ocean’s 11 vibe of the book, and I know so many readers will enjoy it. This also felt like a novel that had real stakes to the “game,” and I loved all of the characters and their interactions. I could see this being a big hit for fans of Ally Carter, Sonja Stone, Jennifer Lynn Barnes, or any spy thriller (with the twist of this being about the thieves!). Great for middle and high school libraries!!!

I absolutely adored this book! What a heist!
It really does live up to Oceans 11 meets The Inheritance Games and I really hope this is going to be a series, and not a standalone.

This book was so fun to read truly had me hooked from beginning to end. The cast of characters was strong and the tension between her and her arch nemesis was fun to read. What I really enjoyed was the competition itself and the heists they had to pull off to determine who the best heister is. There were some easy to guess plot lines, but nothing that took away from the story itself.

Apparently Lionsgate bought the rights, so I hope this is turned into a movie/tv show!

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group for the ARC of Thieves’ Gambit in exchange for my honest review.

First big thank you to NetGalley for an E-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Hunger Games meets Inheritance Game meets Squid Games (minus the death if you fail). Take parts of each, throw them into a cocktail shaker and serve it over ice cold betrayal and you have Thieves' Gambit.

First the cover hooked me then the description sucked me in fully like a hypnotism wheel. A game made specifically to find the best thief in the world? Count me in! Each phase and puzzle challenge made me kept wanting to read more. With the knowledge already in my head that all these "'players" were not fully adults yet (main character is seventeen) it made me question what exactly what all these people have done that got the attention of the organizers and how they would react around their own kind. The reader is introduced to a bit of what this whole experience could be like when we get information about the main character's childhood and a failed friendship that altered more than one life course in a way.



The main character Ross Quest grew up in a master thief family living and breathing everything thief. Her specialty was escape plans, or it was until one day a job goes south even more than she planned. Ross wanted a break from the thieving life to do something normal like go to gymnastic camp but her family would never allow her to go so she was going to just take a different escape route after a job with her mother until somehow her mother got caught and the ransom was too big to pay doing her normal jobs she had to do something bigger. Thieves' Gambit enters the chat giving Ross exactly what she needs but only if she wins.

Each player has their own reasons for playing and along the way the readers and the main character must figure out if she must break or follow rule one: "Trust no one" in order to win this game. Can a thief trust another thief (let alone more than one) when a big prize is on the line? Alliances will get tested, people will be betrayed, stuff will get stolen, and blood will be drawn to cross this finish line


I enjoyed trying to figure out motives of people and the secrets that were being hidden. The romance was a bit unnecessary in my eyes only because i liked the action so much it just made me feel like i was at a red light waiting for the light to switch back to green. I do understand why i was needed though and how it made that ending even more book hangover worthy.

Will there be a next one? YES PLEASE ! I NEED IT NOW IF THERE IS.

my jaw dropped, honestly cannot believe the whirlwind this book took me through. following Ross as she navigates the charming British boy, her childhood nemesis, and fights her way through a high-stakes competition was exhilarating and I was drawn in immediately between the fun banter, the even better side characters, and being on edge to see if Ross can pull off the heists, prepare yourself for a jaw-dropping read and probably prepare to pull an all-nighter to finish this because you honestly won't want to put it down.

thank you penguin teen for a physical copy!! all opinions are my own

** I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. **

The most perfect combination of globe-trotting, backstabbing, heist games, and romance mixed together for a book you won't be able to put down until it's over. Then when it's over you will definitely sit in silence contemplating the perfection that you just finished. You'll want to immediately pick it up and start again to see what tiny details you missed. Rinse. Repeat.

Ross is a 17-year-old thief from one of the prestigious families in the business. When her mother is kidnapped, Ross decides she will do anything to get her back. Enter the Gambit competition and its ultimate prize of one wish being granted to the winner. Throughout the competition, Ross learns that not everything is always as it seems and sometimes you have to lean on those around you.

I loved all of the main players and found each of their quirks endearing. The plot was great but the characters truly drew me in, and I wondered what they could be doing even in those moments I had to put the book down shortly. I don't think I could pick a favorite and while Ross is the main focal point don't think that the rest just fade into the shadows.

The book started a little slow and I originally had my doubts. But once we jumped into the main plot of the story I was hooked. About halfway through I became worried that this was going to be a standalone book and was saddened at the prospect. With that ending; if there is not a follow-up book I will likely cry. This book immediately went onto my favorites shelf and will always be an automatic recommendation from me. It has a little bit of something for everyone while still being wholesome. I can see this being a comfort read for years and will definitely be re-read on many occasions.

Give it a try. If you regret it, try again because you definitely missed something. Happy Reading!

Can there be honor among thieves? Rosalyn Quest may have been brought up in one of the legendary thieving families, but she's been sheltered and never made friends. She lives by the rule; never trust anyone who's last name isn't Quest.

When a job goes bad, her attempt to get out of the thieving life and try to be "normal" for awhile is sent off course. Now she needs to find a way to come up with a billion dollars and rescue her mom. Her only option is the strange email waiting in her family's black box email account. Sent by The Organizers, asking her to join this year's Gambit.

When she arrives, her only acquaintance is Noelia Boschert - the girl who betrayed her and ran the lesson home about trusting no one when they were both only 9. She quickly learns that out of the 12 teens invited, she might be the only one who hasn't heard of The Organizers or the Gambit. She doesn't plan to be out of the loop for long though.

Each contestant must make their way through three phases in order to be the winner. From the outset, Devroe tries to join up with Ross, offering to team up with her in the museum. Despite turning down his offer and being determined to work alone, he saves her later in the night. Then The Organizers are separating them into two teams, and Ross is questioning everything she's ever known.

Can she really trust her teammates? Can she save her mom without them? And when push comes to shove, can she win the Gambit her way?

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of Thieves’ Gambit! Where to begin? This was an absolutely thrilling read—I finished it in only a day. It’s not hard to see why Lionsgate bought the rights. As a fan of heists and competitions, this novel was well-paced and kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. While some of the twists were predictable, others were not, and I was thoroughly invested until the end. The writing flowed well and the characters were well-written; despite not getting to know every character as deeply as others, they never felt two dimensional or flat to me. I can’t wait to see what happens next!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Books for providing me with an egalley of this title to read and give an honest review.
When I read the synopsis of this book, my mind immediately went to Ocean's 11. The idea of teenage thieves competing against one another was very intriguing. And I will admit, fun!
The plot: teen girl goes on a mission, fails, and needs to make it right. Why? Because her mother's life is on the line. So she signs up for a competition to help her win the money she needs for the ransom. Ross is well thought out. All her life thieving for her family name. She wants out, though. She wants to be more normal. But that's not in the cards for her. She enters a competition where you should trust no one, but makes the mistake of trusting someone. You can guess that backfires a bit for her. Of course the plot is a little outrageous, and the teens get away with much more than you would think possible. But isn't that the point?
The characters: just ok. I like that the author chose to have kids from all over the world. this made for a more interesting feel. Though I do feel like she could have show cased their heritage a bit more. This may have made for a more interesting competition. I like Ross. She spunky and smart. She thinks outside the box. I like her rivalry with childhood bestie. Of course there''s romance, though I just didn't quite feel the connection (but I could see the con a mile away).
The pacing: fast. It did keep me reading. I wanted to be in the action and see where it took me.
Overall this was a fun read and I'd recommend it for anyone who likes a good heist and a little mystery.

Omg this book was like Oceans Eleven meets Leverage and I loved it! The characters were fun and the storyline kept me hooked the whole way! I need more heist books in my life

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for the e-ARC of this book!

As a high school teacher who simply wants students to rediscover reading for fun, this book is one I will absolutely be adding to my classroom library!

Ross Quest is no stranger to heists, but after one goes wrong and her mother is taken, she enters the Thieves' Gambit in order to win a wish, hoping to free her mother. This competition is high-stakes, possibly lethal, and teen readers will love all of the challenges the contestants face!

This book will be perfect for reluctant teen readers, and of course any reader who enjoys a fast-paced, fun story!

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group for the ARC of Thieves’ Gambit in exchange for my honest review.

Ross Quest is the youngest in her family of professional thieves. Wanting a break from the family business, Ross plans to leave but her plan takes an unexpected turn that leaves her mother’s life in danger.

With no other options to help, Ross enters the Thieves’ Gambit, a series of dangerous, international heists where nothing, especially killing the competition, isn’t off limits. The winner, only one, gets a wish of anything possible. Ross needs to win to get that one wish to help her mom but when she learns that her competitors include her old childhood nemesis and a handsome, slick talking guy, the Thieves’ Gambit might be even harder than she thought.

When I tell you I really enjoyed this. Now this book was said to be Inheritance Games meets Ocean’s Eleven. I can’t speak on the comparison to the book but I get the comparison to the movie. I felt like this was very much teen Ocean Eleven. I could definitely see this being adapted into a movie.

The characters were easily like-able(well most of them). I loved that the characters were all from different parts of the world (Bahamas, Nicaragua, Australia, US, India, South Korea, Japan, Switzerland, & England). I do wish however we got some aspect of the different languages in the context. Maybe just a greeting/common saying especially when the author mentioned someone was talking in another language which it seemed like occurred often. And especially since we have these characters from all over the world. I was pulled in from the first chapter but one ce the games begin its hard to put this book down. The different personalities of each character makes this book fun and easy to enjoy and get wrapped up in.

The ending was very shocking and it was so much given at once and then the boom… the winners wish and I was like what?!?! I honestly felt bad for the characters mainly Ross. With the setup of the ending I can only assume there will be a book two. Because I enjoyed Thieves Gambit, I would definitely continue reading to see where this story leads.

Thanks so much for the ARC, NetGalley! This book was so much fun to read. It reminded me a lot of The Inheritance Games, which is one of my favorite series. The twists! The turns! The riddles! This book kept me wanting more. I am so excited to see where this series goes. Excellent read!

Overall this book was ok, very reminiscent of The Inheritance Games. Here are the things I liked:
- Solid teen feel; not an adult book masquerading in the teen genre
- Interesting plotline, especially once the actual competition began

Things I didn’t like:
- There were lots of instances of telling, not showing; writing felt unpolished
- Many of the side characters drove me NUTS
- Even tho the plotline was interesting, the execution of it felt really slow and drab.
- Teen drama got to be a little too much

Bottom line: Great for a younger teen audience, anyone who’s looking specifically for teen fiction. Definitely could be a Disney+ or Netflix movie. However, I won’t be reading the sequel. I just wasn’t invested in the writing.

Readers, I am exhausted. I stayed up until 2 am last night reading this book ( I think it was 2 am. I woke up later with my Kindle lying on my chest and m glasses still on). When that happens, I know I'm about to give a book five stars because sleep is essential to me and so is routine and when that gets messed up by a good book, I'm not even mad.

We're thrust into Ross's world right off the bat. She comes from a family of thieves, living in the Bahamas. She wants a normal life so badly that she ignores a mysterious message about a thieving competition and jumps for joy when she's accepted into a gymnastics summer camp. But things take a turn when, on a subsequent job, her mother is kidnapped with a billion-dollar ransom on her head. The only way to get the money is to enter the Thieves' Gambit, a competition where there can only be one winner.

Ross has to win.

She also can't trust anyone

The phases of the contest take the competitors to different countries where they must work against each other or as a team to complete their missions. Ross is trying her darndest not to form bonds with the others and she's especially not trying to catch feelings for the Regé-Jean Page wannabe ( in my head, he looked exactly like him), Devroe. The tension gets higher and higher with every mission, and I could not figure out for the life of me how Ross was going to get out of her situation (thus the late night last night) There are twists and turns, A HA moments, and little details you may have missed or forgotten that come into play.

Reading this book felt like I was in the gambit, trying my best to pay close attention to each and every interaction, etc A did have a little con ( in a review full of pros, I mean...) and it's that some things felt a little too convenient (especially one particular part I won't mention in detail) but all in all, it didn't take away from the overall experience.

I fell in love with the author's work with THE HALF-CLASS, but this one solidified my loyalty. I cannot wait to see if there will be a book two!

Rosalyn (Ross) Quest is a member of one of the top thieving families in the Americas. She is highly skilled, with a particular knack for figuring out the best ways in and out of targets. However, she is also lonely, as Mama Quest has instilled in her that she cannot trust anyone but family; a lesson that was reinforced by a betrayal at age nine by the daughter, Noelia, of another thieving family, the Boscherts. Yet, at age seventeen, Ross wants to experience a more normal teenage life, even if only for a little while, and has plotted an escape to a summer gymnastics camp. Unfortunately, during the surprise job which Ross has decided to use to make her escape, the job goes "south" and Mama Quest is captured, and the captors demand $1 billion for her return -- not an amount of money the Quest family has just lying around or can easily obtain. In order to rescue her mother, Ross accepts an invitation to the Thieves Gambit, an international thieving competition which awards the victor one wish (the bounds of which are nearly limitless).

The Thieves Gambit is not for the faint of heart, and the winner gets his/her wish but is also saddled with a rather significant obligation to the organization running the contest. The competitors, which of course will include Ross' nemesis Noelia, are a very eclectic group. That is one of my favorite aspects of the book. Ross is from the Bahamas, with other competitors from the US, England, Australia, South Korea, Japan, Switzerland, India, and Nicaragua. The author includes aspects of their characters that fit their homeland, but also character traits that are not origin specific, but which differentiate the characters, both in terms of thieving methods/skills and personalities. While there can ultimately only be one winner, the contest will require competitors to work together at times. This poses a challenge for Ross and her "don't trust anyone but family" mantra, especially with one particular competitor, Devroe, who very much wants Ross to trust him. Ross will discover that there are people she can trust, but also that the "don't trust anyone but family" mantra is still a good basic principle to follow. She will also discover information about her mother that will be life changing.

Reviewed for NetGalley:

I loved the idea of this book, a YA heist thriller, especially with the Inheritance Games comparison.

However, I just didn't connect with me the same way and found myself glossing over much of the plot while reading.