💛 ARC Review 💛

4/5 ⭐️s - 3/5 🌶️s

🍓 "I'm honestly not your ex-anything. I've always been dishonestly yours." 🍓

Tropes:
- Small-Town 🏡
- Slow-Burn ❤️‍🔥
- Second Chance-ish ❤️‍🩹
- Best Friend's Brother 🤫

Going into this book, I really had no idea what to expect, but oh my goodness! I loved it so much! I'm such a big fan of small-towns as a setting for a romance (& as a Connecticut girlie, it being set in my state was such a treat). Add to that a morally grey MMC and some will-they, won't-they, with a dash of flashbacks? DELISH! This book burned so slow, but so hot!

If you read this book, I definitely recommend reading the TWs as it does delve into some sensitive topics.

3.5 stars

Thank you Valentine PR for an arc of Dishonestly Yours! To say I was excited for this book would be an understatement!! Krista and Becca Richie are two of my favorite authors and when I heard they were coming out with a new romance series where the love interests come from families of con artists loaded with history and secrets, I was intrigued from the start!

Rocky and Phoebe’s relationship had a ton of tension and angst especially in the beginning, I was eating it up!! I usually don’t read best friend’s brother tropes but this one I didn’t mind because of the special dynamic between the two mcs and their families. The chapters where all the siblings were together and you could see how well they all mesh in such a unique bond was the highlight of this book for me. I personally wished we saw more of the siblings and their contributes to past con jobs but I’m sure their own POVs will come later on in the series(I can’t wait!!!).

As much as it was enjoyable, it wasn’t what I was expecting and at times I was a bit bored. The first few chapters really draws you into the storyline however, it lost me a bit towards the middle and with so many questions, I was confused at times with a lot of it going unanswered(which isn’t that big of a deal since I know this first book was full of setting the background & characters for the rest of the series). I also felt like the pacing of Rocky & Pheobe getting together threw me off. In one instance they felt like they shouldn’t flirt with the idea of getting together, and then in the next they flipped their minds and suddenly were together where something felt lacking for me. In my opinion, it was a weird pacing with the storyline and I didn’t care for the romance as much as I thought I would. Nearing the end of the book, the plot twist and cliffhanger surely grabbed my attention back in and nonetheless I’m still interested to see where this series goes!

I've read all of Krista and Becca's books so I was excited about a new one, although I wasn't sure about this one at first. While I really liked the concept, I found the beginning to be quite slow. The stakes really pick up at the end and I am very curious to see where we will go with the next book.

The con artists turned honest was really interesting and I love the way that the characters view their pasts. Seeing them try to fit in amongst a normal small town was great. I know K&B love a character driven story and this one is definitely character driven.

I love a con-artist story, and DISHONESTLY YOURS did not disappoint. Told in dual narration, from the POV of Phoebe and Rocky, who have a deep yet complex connection.

With themes of self-discovery and trust, I was pulled into the story and loved every tense moment! It was a fun read and I loved pairing it with the audiobook too.

WHAT TO EXPECT
-best friend’s older brother
-star-crossed lovers
-con artist families
-morally grey characters
-childhood friends

*many thanks to Berkley, PRH audio and Netgalley for the gifted copy

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the e-ARC. All opinions are honest and my own.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars, rounded up

TW: sexual assault, parental neglect, dysfunctional/abusive families, stealing, dishonesty

Krista and Becca Ritchie know how to pull at my heart strings and care about the messiest of characters. The one that I attached myself to the characters in this book needs to be studied and I am so excited and anxious to see what happens next in Destructively Mine. I saw another comment that says that this sister author duo has a tendency to abuse their female characters, and while I can see how and why they would think that I do not necessarily agree. Ritchie makes things difficult for nearly all of their characters, and while the sexual exploitation in this book is harrowing, especially considering it is done at the behest of their parents, I feel that their books contain a sense of honesty.

When I pick up a novel from them I know that I am going to be hit by the harsh realities of life and what some people do have to grapple, contend, and fight through – however, to me, their books are never without hope. While things are bleak and challenging there are still elements of joy, love, and friendship that still shine through. Do know that this book is full of grey characters who respond and are a direct result of the environments they have grown up in. Trauma bonds, deception, and hurt are abound, but if it wasn’t it would feel inauthentic to these young adults, who have grown up in a family of thieves, master manipulators, and con artists. Or equally duplicitous, very wealthy, disingenuous families who present a false face to the public.

Told in dual narration from the points of view of Phoebe and Rocky are star-crossed lovers who hold deep emotional tethers to each other, but face a crossroads as they hold different truths and desire conflicting futures. Every relationship holds two sides and the characters are reliably unreliable. This series has a darker tone than the Addicted series, and while both feature characters in difficult situations, the parents in Dishonestly Yours may be the biggest villains of all. How do you navigate the world when the people who are supposed to love and protect you, essentially pimp you out and derive joy from your societal misdeeds? If you like messy characters, tough decisions, and unsaid words that lead to anguish, confusion, and a handful of deception then this is the book for you.

The idea and summary of this book truly caught my attention in so may ways and I was so excited to read this. Yet there so something about this book that I just didn't connect to. This says more about me as reader than this does about the author's style or writing which was immersive in its creation to tension and romance.

Thank you to the authors, NetGalley, and Berkeley Pub for sharing this book with me.

Dishonestly Yours🍓 By: Krista and Becca Ritchie
Rating - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

This is my first book by Krista & Becca and I can see myself becoming a BIG FAN of their books! ✨ I was so interested from the very beginning so I k ew it was going to be so good. The story is about two friends, Phoebe and Hailey, that have grown up in a family of con artists and decide to leave their old lives behind for a fresh start. Who doesn’t want that?! Parts of the beginning felt a little slow-paced and felt a bit repetitive at points. So it took be a bit to get deep into this read. The flashbacks are great additions to the story and give you so much more insight into the character’s lives, but I also got a bit lost in them as well, thanks ADHD. We get a lot about the main characters Phoebe, Halley and Rocky; but I wish we could have seen a little more of their siblings’ personalities! (MAYBE IN OTHER BOOKS?!) The last bit of the book was so fast-paced i was craving more and more! There are so many different ways this series can go and I am excited to continue on with these books!

I am absolutely feral for this story. HOLY SHIT. Two con artist families that grew up together with fucked up dynamics and a murky past? YUM. A Romeo and Juliet style forbidden love story. BEST friends trying to protect each other. If you’re missing the heart wrenching all consuming yearning that comes with reading the Magnolia Parks series - READ THIS!! I’m cured. The yearning is top tier. The banter is delicious. The twists are WILD. The writing is gorgeous. The family and friendships hold weight in your heart. This ending? I am gnawing at the bars of my enclosure for the next book. I am so obsessed with all of them and I can’t wait for another highly entertaining, messy, and emotionally damaging story. WOW, I’m so happy I read this.

Dishonestly Yours by Krista and Becca Ritchie is a captivating and complex romance that explores deep emotions and complicated relationships. The novel is part of the "Aging Up" series and follows the journey of two characters who struggle with their personal desires and the intricacies of a complicated love triangle. As with many books by this writing duo, the character development is a standout feature. They manage to give readers relatable, flawed, and authentic characters who feel very real.

The book dives into themes of trust, vulnerability, and self-discovery. The authors’ writing is engaging, rich in emotional depth, and filled with steamy moments that are tempered by emotional complexity. The romance is not just about passion, but about growth, personal reflection, and navigating tough choices.

However, the tension between the characters may feel overwhelming at times, especially for readers who prefer more straightforward or lighthearted romance. But for those who love a bit of drama with their romance, Dishonestly Yours delivers in spades. If you're a fan of slow-burn romance and characters who aren't afraid to confront their emotions head-on, this one’s definitely worth the read.

Krista and Becca Ritchie do an excellent job of capturing the messiness of relationships and the grey areas that make love and life so complicated.

Can love exist in the most dishonest of places? Can two con artists fall in love amidst the web of lies that their lives are? 🍓🕷️🕸️

Oh, Krista and Becca Ritchie, you two just KNOW how to create the most interesting and captivating characters. This book had angst, mystery (did not expect but was INTO IT), and that trademark KBR captivating romance storytelling that we all know and love.

Dishonestly Yours 🍓🕸️🕷️tells the journey of two unconventionally intertwined families, raised together as con artists. The mothers, best friends, have passed on their deceitful ways to their six children. But the facade of their lives starts to crack when the daughters of both families, Hailey and Phoebe, decide they no longer want to live a life built on lies and deception. They move to a small coastal town, raising the question: can they escape the web of lies that raised them?

My favorite aspect of this book was the contradiction that were the main characters 🫶🏻

Firstly, Phoebe is driven by love. I adored her. She is a con artist to make her mother proud and escapes all she has ever known because she loves her best friend and won't ever leave her alone. Despite the dishonesty that surrounds her, she is loyal to a fault. It made my heart ache how her role in the cons determined her self-worth in such a low manner.

Rocky. Omg Rocky. He is cynical (of course, he is a con artist living with con artists), also loyal to a fault like Phoebe, and protective of the people he loves. Because he was raised where words were lies, he demonstrates his truths and loyalty with his actions.

Thank you Krista and Becca and Valentine PR for the opportunity to read this complex and captivating romance story. I am so excited to deep dive into this new KBR universe!

Me ha encantado el libro

Es bastante diferente a lo que estaba acostumbrada de leer en estas autoras, ya que las conozco por su saga addicted, pero ha sido un muy buen cambio de registro.

Los personajes están muy bien contruídos y los tropes me han gustado muchísimo. Es cierto que el inicio se hace un poco más lento, tambien porque cuesta entender el papel de cada uno, pero a medida que avanza la historia se va comprendiendo todo mejor

Tengo muchisimas ganas de leer el segundo y ver que pasa con la historia y sus personajes

I wish I could say I liked this but something was missing. The characters were *almost there* but also very hollow at the same time, and the pacing of the tension felt poorly timed. KBR are great writers but sadly this just missed the mark in engaging the reader

2.5⭐️i was not a big fan unfortunately😭i think the plot had so much potential (it’s kinda giving mafia vibes) but the dialogue was cringey — “okay judgey mcjudgey” PLS. i felt like there was no chemistry between the two main characters and just a bunch of side plot?? i’m sad. i wanted to like her so bad im sorry🥲

This was one wild ride of a book, full of so much drama, and I was really invested in this story and our characters. I honestly just had such a fun time with this one, and I really cannot wait for the second book! I was drawn in from the beginning and did not want to stop reading until I got to the end. The chemistry between the two main characters was undeniable. There were a few moments where I wanted a little more explanation, or more resolution, but overall, it was really solid!

I was surprised how much I loved this one after hating the Addicted series! The chemistry between the main characters is addicting and the plot is fast paced and easy to read. I can’t wait to read the next one after that cliffhanger!

This was one of my highly anticipated reads this year ever since I finished the addicted series. This books is so unique and addictive. You are dropped right into the story of phoebe and Hailey, two best friends who grew up learning how to con people. They have decided to step away and start a new, honest life. However, they never expected her brother Rocky to join them. The friendship between the two girls is beautiful. They take care of each other and are fiercely loyal. The flashbacks were so interesting and cons were so much fun to read bout because you want them to be successful.
The romance was chiefs kiss. It’s built upon years and years of building tension and hidden feels. But there are twists and turns that prevent them from being together.
And that end! The plot twist in the very few last chapters made me wish the next book was out already. As soon as it’s announced, you know I will be picking it up.

𝙇𝙊𝙑𝙄𝙉𝙂 𝙔𝙊𝙐 𝙃𝘼𝙎 𝘽𝙀𝙀𝙉 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙈𝙊𝙎𝙏 𝘼𝙐𝙏𝙃𝙀𝙉𝙏𝙄𝘾 𝘼𝙉𝘿 𝙉𝘼𝙏𝙐𝙍𝘼𝙇 𝙏𝙃𝙄𝙉𝙂 𝙄'𝙑𝙀 𝙀𝙑𝙀𝙍 𝘿𝙊𝙉𝙀 𝙄𝙉 𝙈𝙔 𝙇𝙄𝙁𝙀."


This is the first book I’ve read by Krista & Becca Ritchie (Addicted/Callaway series is long!!) When I saw the sign-up for arc for this one I knew I had to read it!

We have Hailey and Phoebe, besties for life but they’ve had enough of the con life style and decided to start over, somewhere new without the lies.

The found family between the two families in this just makes your heart burst. It’s given touch anyone and die vibes! Everyone is so protective of each other.

The chemistry between Phoebe and Rocky can be seen from a mile away! Love them both! I liked the flashback scenes, we got to see past jobs they’d done added to the characters' backstories.

I’ve never read anything about Con artists before so I enjoy the fresh element from that.

A few plot twists! What is up with the cliffhanger at the end!! I need to book two ASAP!

★ ★ ★ ★

I didn’t have many expectations going into this book as this was my first con artist type of trope and I really enjoyed it and found it difficult to put it down. Dishonestly Yours follows two best friends (mainly Phoebe) who each come from a family of con artists, who are wanting to lead an honest life. Theres only one problem, and his name is Rocky.

I loved getting to know about Phoebe and Rocky, they are the definition of complex and messy relationships. Talk about angst, this had ALL the angst and tension!
I feel for Phoebe; after hearing her role in the family business, my heart broke for her. I love watching Phoebes growth and can’t wait to read more about her.
Rocky is so loyal to those he loves and would do anything for his family. I love how he didn’t particularly agree with Haileys plan but did everything he could to ensure she succeeds.
I loved all of the side characters, especially Hailey and Oliver. I can’t wait to read more about them all!

The last 10% of that book was crazy! I actually did not expect one of the things that happened and now I’m going to be sitting here VERY impatiently waiting for the next book.

I will read whatever they write!!! Being back in a whole new world with them is EVERYTHING. I’m already obsessed with the plot and these characters and where it’ll go. The romance is everything and so is the found family to come from it.

I don’t think this author is for me. I really couldn’t get into these characters or vibe with the story. I think it might work for a younger audience (college age)