Member Reviews
I really wanted to like this one, but it ended up being a dnf for me. I have found that I just don’t tend to enjoy books by these authors :(
I had to take a second before I wrote this review to process. This book had me spiraling and questioning everything in the best possible way. These characters are all so lovable in their own way. I love how each has their own demon they are battling and yet they all want the best for each other. The angst was TOP TIER along with the banter. I knew right away that Rocky was going to be an interesting character. I attached myself to him right away. By the halfway point he made it instantly on the list of book men I wish were real. He’s the type of character that would throw himself in front of a bullet for those he cares about. The more I read, the more layers of him were pulled away and I just fell more and more in love with his character. Phoebe was such a strong and intricate female MC. She carries so much weight on her shoulders and constantly battles with herself and who she is at her core. I loved watching her face her demons head on in the name of protecting those she loves. I’m already itching for the second one and this book hasn’t even hit the shelves yet!
Angsty, messy and toxic love with found family set in a wealthy coastal town, written by the people who gave me two of of my all time favourite couples, it's like this book was made for me.
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book pulled me in from the beginning. I have not read the addicted series because the summary did not appeal to me, but now I am rethinking that decision. The writing in this book was very well done, and I love the story and the premise. I actually got upset when the book was over because I wasn’t ready to finish and it did leave off on a cliffhanger. I truly hope they continue this as a series. I loved the relationships with the characters and the spicy scenes. Regardless of if they were fantasy (in a characters, head) or actuality were so hot! I want to learn more about both of these families and the truth about T( iykyk no spoilers!!). I’m really hoping for a book 2 and I said that like five times now but I’m not done with these characters and story yet and I’m not ready to let go!!
Dishonestly yours was a unique plot for me and sounded like something I had not read before. Phoebe and Hailey are grifters/con artists that have decided to try a more honest life in a new town. Hailey’s brother Rocky goes along with them because he doesn’t think it’s the best idea. It was meant to be short term, but he sticks around.
Throughout the first few chapters we learn that Phoebe and Rocky have pretended to be many things to each other during their cons, and currently Phoebe explains to the new landlord that Rocky is her ex-husband. You can feel the angst between them. I was left wondering why they just don’t get together already. It dragged on though and I ended up not caring at some point.
Throughout flashbacks, we get more details about their lives and the job that can’t be named. I just felt like it took too long for me and I started to lose interest. Maybe the plot type/subject matter is just something that is not for me. This was the first book in the series and it just did not hook me. I want to be able to explain how the characters and plot made me feel, but I’m just not left with anything memorable right now.
Thank you NetGalley and Berkely Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
“Our lives were always fantasies, and our parents taught us how to construct them and then rebuild when they started to crack.”
WOW WOW WOW, what an absolutely phenomenal book. The plot of this book was just so unique, it truly felt like a breath of fresh air. I have never (EVER) read a book quite like this.
Two different con families ✅
Best friends older brother ✅
Forbidden romance ✅
Childhood crush ✅
Broody MMC ✅
Banter ✅
Morally grey characters ✅
Major plot twists ✅
I’m so obsessed with Rocky and Phoebe. Instantly submitted a preorder. I fear I can die happy now after reading this. (That Cliffy though… I might have to hang around much longer.)
5/5 ⭐️
2.5/5 🌶️
Oooooh I loved this book! I haven’t read a series (one that must be read in order, that is) in quite some time so I’m already itching for the second book to be released.
This book had a great combination of romance, suspense, and tension. I really enjoyed the characters as well as learning their backstories and (some of) their secrets.
It’s going to be really hard to summarize this without spoiling anything so I’ll just say that this is definitely a book you’re going to want to read.
Thank you NetGalley for this arc!
“I’ve always been dishonestly yours. And it looks like that’s not changing.”
i’m not sure what i initially expected when i started this book but i honestly enjoyed it so much. this book follows the family of con artists, specifically phoebe as she attempts to leave the life of crime behind with her best friend hailey but there’s only one speed bump in their way and it happens to be hailey’s older brother rocky.
rocky and phoebe seem to have a complex relationship in the past that we get slight glimpses of throughout the book. the authors really weren’t lying when they said angsty relationship and we get very push & pull interactions between the mc’s which could be a bit annoying at times but i love the banter and angst! while im not sure how i feel about phoebe just yet i loved rocky especially because he gave loren hale vibes plus i think we got more emotion from him<3
as for the side characters, i loved hailey and the rest of the siblings on both sides. i do not think anything could compare to the core six, a few characters did remind me of connor in the slightest way but as the books continue to release i feel like this found family will definitely be a top one!
a few issues i did have however, was the their relationship although we’re told it runs deep, it felt very surface level. the past moments were insightful but i wanted more vulnerability even though rocky and phoebe do not seem like emotional characters whatsoever. i had some other issues as well but im keeping this spoiler free but overall i enjoyed it a lot!!
thank you to netgalley and berkley publishing group for this arc in exchange for an honest review
With its powerful plot-twists and gripping prose, "Dishonestly Yours" is set to change the trajectory of romance as we know it.
In an age of recycled plots and disappointing dialogue, Krista and Becca Ritchie breathe life into everything that is modern literature, time and time again. After taking the world by storm with the Addicted series, these two sisters successfully set yet another precedent that I’ve no doubt they’ll surpass the more we delve into the Webs We Weave universe.
Phoebe Graves, the Seductress, is a protagonist with nuances so strong, you won’t be able to resist the pull of her at your heartstrings. After being entangled in enough webs of deception to last a lifetime, she finds herself seeking a new beginning in an enigma of a town on the upper East coast in Connecticut. With only her freshly dyed hair and best friend, Hailey, by her side, Phoebe is determined to make the most of this humble and honest way of living; despite the cost of being in a constant state of unknown.
Brayden “Rocky” Tinrock, the Silver-Tongue of the team, is a riddle I may spend my entire life trying to solve. Edges jaded from years of tasting the bitter betrayal of family, or rather, parental, secrets, Rocky is a fierce protector of those he loves. Starting over means trying on a life with a transparency that is very intricately woven between the past, present, and future; a role he isn’t quite committed to playing long term. Nonetheless, he’s willing to bear the repercussions of faking the part, even if it's purely to preserve the last of his sister’s dwindling happiness.
Together, Phoebe and Rocky are a force that even nature couldn’t reckon with. A captivating dynamic that is the very definition of palpable angst, if you will. As someone that tends to shy away from slow burns, the story itself is balanced so perfectly between being character and plot driven, that I didn’t mind the delay of romantic progression in their relationship. It flowed naturally to set the upcoming installment of the series up for their well-timed, happy (hopefully) ending.
With a cast of never before seen characters, the Ritchie sisters deliver the found family trope in spades, as per usual. I will forever be impressed at their ability to establish distinctly authentic characters from their predecessors, a skill that many authors spend years trying to hone. More than that, their approach to story-telling is original in a way that keeps you yearning for more.
Not even a chapter in, I could tell my heart was no longer mine. Instead, it would be trapped inside the pages alongside the very souls of those that stole it. The best stories are the ones that entrance you in a manner that is contradictory to time. In translation, I read this in a day without even thinking about it, and would do it again in a heartbeat. So much so that as an avid one-time reader, I’m already planning my pre-release re-read.
An enthralling tale of temptation, redemption, and finding your moral compass, "Dishonestly Yours" lights the way as a must-read of the summer.
Thank you to Berkley Romance and Krista and Becca Ritchie for so kindly providing me with an ARC. As always, all thoughts are my own and are in no way influenced by early access to this title.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
"hoax" and "guilty as sin?" by taylor swift HELLO these are phoebe and rocky's songs!!
the con artist life in this book was giving anna delvey!! And I love it!! It was definitely a new direction that i wasn’t expecting from kbr
the story mainly follows two best friends phoebe graves and hailey tinrock running away from their conning lifestyle and trying to live a more honest life.
personally, it took me a while to get into the story because of the large cast especially with keeping track of who is who and who is related to whom. once i figured it out, i was LOCKED IN!!
anyways i enjoyed the overall story!! The book introduces readers to a exciting world of cons with faking identities, and stealing from the rich - definitely shocking moments during their cons that made my jaw drop like truly did not expect kbr to write this. the web of this world is tangled but its slowly unraveling and i'm excited to read more!
SPOILERS INCOMING
i love the characters and their own different personalities.
hailey - where she has a goth style which is reminiscent of kinney hale, but she is also the genius in the family like a mix of rose calloway/garrison.
Hailey !!! I love her! Her loyalty to her loved ones and overall strength made me adore her so much.
phoebe and hailey my two girlies
i wish we got to know the characters more as well as their relationships with each other but book was more plot-focused and its understandable that we don’t truly understand each character bc of their other fake alias mixed in.
the rest of the cast is introduced later on in the book. i wish we got to meet them sooner to establish a sense of attachment/familiarity for me (or better character building) because towards the end of the book, there’s a huge plot twist involving the group. The plot twist was still surprising but it would’ve been more impactful if I had a better connection with some of the characters as a reader or at least the group dynamics
this book involved the marketing of found family and I see the idea of it but I wish it was more emphasized. However, I understand this is still the first book to the series and that the story is just developing.
i wish there was a tw warning in the beginning of the book of the content.
tw: assault mentioned
Thoughts
I have to start out by saying I have never read these authors before and I’ve seen theres a series that they wrote before this that people are crazy about and I can see why Dishonestly Yours is a start of new series but after reading this I am definitely going to check out their other series called addicted. And OMG can we take a moment for this books cover 🍓💛💛💛.
I seen this book and seen the cover and con-artist mentioned and I knew I had to read it and I am glad I did. I highly recommend reading these twin sisters author’s books.
We follow 3 main characters as they try to escape from their families and a life as con-artists. But what goes on in the mean time is Rocky and Phoebe have a tension building that they don’t know what to do with it. They’ve played so many roles together they now they are confused if they are really falling for each other.
I look forward to reading more about these characters.
The only bad thing about the book is it doesn’t come out until July 2 2024
Thank you @netgalley @berkleyromance
This is very different from the other books I have picked up by the Ritchie sisters, but that doesn't mean I enjoyed it any less. The family of con artists was a very fun and different pace from what I have been reading and it added that aspect of tension that I enjoyed. I love when a slow burn has me internally screaming for the characters to just love each other and this was definitely that. I can't wait to see where the next book goes and for more Phoebe and Rocky!
Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Rating is a 4 stars!! ✨
Thank you to Krista and Becca Ritchie for writing this book, and to Berkley Publishing as well as NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in advance. #Dishonestlyyours #Netgalley
Dishonestly Yours is a book about Phoebe our FMC and Rocky our MMC who grew up together as children of 2 con artists families in their 20s, and their friends. This story is told in a past and present timeline where we learn about their dynamic throughout the years. As we progress in the book we learn so much about their relationship with each other going from the roles in cons / heists that they played out all the way into present day. Phoebe and Rocky’s relationship was so interesting to witness, as I am a true sucker for a childhood friends to lovers romance. This one even had tension in it where there was jealousy with other people… ugh so good. I would give this book 2 🌶️ for the spice.
Overall, I throughly enjoyed this book by Krista and Becca, I can’t wait to see whats next!!
This is another masterpiece written by the Ritchie twins. I think at this point they could write an instruction manual and it would be captivating,
The plot of Dishonestly Yours is so original. A 20 something wokan raised in a family of con artist who wants to break away from the life of crime and start living truthfully with her best friend- add in her bffs older brother (HELLO NEWEST BOOK BOYFRIEND ROCKY) and you have a 5 star read.
THE TENSION between the FMC and MMC is incredible and SO DELICIOUS😂
I cannot wait for more in this series
I’m so incredibly thankful that I got an arc of this!! Thanks netgalley!!
The premise of this sounds so good and fun but I feel like I couldn’t really form a connection to the characters.
They know each other since they were babies and I get that they went through a whole lot together but I feel like knowing that wasn’t enough for me.
I really enjoyed that they had to work together all the time and that they trust each other with their lives!!
The twists that were in this book kept me interested, but the romance fell kinda flat for me <i>but</i> I will definitely continue this series because I have <b>so</b> many questions that I need answers to:
• is jake lying about his sister
• are they really siblings & are they their real children
• whats happening with the moms
• what are their real names
• how old are they really
• were they lied to about everything by their parents????? I need answers
Towards the end I liked the characters more than in the beginning and I’m sure I’m going to enjoy this series so much more once I know more about the characters and we get more books in the future :)
this was so entertaining and unique!! I’ve only read a few kbr books, but I can tell that their brains operate in such a unique and original way compared to other mainstream contemporary literature. while I do think parts of this book felt a little clunky, the potential for a stellar series is absolutely there.
rocky and phoebe have me SAT. they are hot!!! I am not super emotionally connected to them just yet because a lot of their connection relies on their implied (and sometimes shown) past. however, rocky’s feelings had me in a puddle on the floor. the level of trust they have in one another and how they are very much partners in crime (literally and figuratively) has me rooting so hard for them.
I found "Dishonesty Yours" to be a bit disappointing. While the final portion had some captivating moments, the rest of the book fell short of its potential. The characters were its strongest aspect, particularly Rocky, who stood out brilliantly. However, the overall tone was overwhelmingly bleak, which made it difficult to fully engage with the story. Despite my anticipation, the book didn't deliver the complexity I was hoping for. While I appreciate morally ambiguous characters and emotional depth, "Dishonesty Yours" lacked variation and felt excessively long in its gloominess. The romance subplot was passable, and I enjoyed the nods to "Supernatural," but these elements weren't enough to elevate the overall experience for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.
kbr literally can never write a bad book. this was everything and i will be re reading it ASAP. i just knew i’d be obsessed with this and i am
Thank you Berkley & Netgalley for the free e-arc in exchange for an honest review! <333
I had such a good time with this read, I was a little nervous going into it first because this is the first Krista & Becca Ritchie book that's not related to the "Addicted verse."
Regardless I was interested in reading this book because of the "Con-artist" starting a new life plot and hehehe, I was not disappointed!
The drama and thrill of this book was so enticing, I was literally gobbling this book up. Entertainment at its prime. And might I even throw in the word, "Addicting"
Phoebe is such a great FMC, who despite her terrible upbringing is doing the best she can. I literally fell in love with her character as soon as we met her and I truly cannot wait to see more of her!!
Rocky, my mans. This man is SOOOOOO fine. I was rooting for him too, despite his "hard shell" he is such a romantic at heart. And I cannot wait to see more of it.
Now I know that y'all are here for the drama and plot and I will obviously share what I can. I personally found it enjoyable, seeing how Phoebe, Hailey, Rockey, and the others ;) were raised was fulfilling to the plot.
The ending had my jaw dropped even though I knew it was coming!
I hate Addison SM (IYKYK)
Krista and Becca both did such an incredible job with this book, as a fan of their previous work as well. I look forward to seeing what's in store for this series next! If you've enjoyed KBR's work in the past, I have no doubt that like me you'll enjoy this book.
I'm intrigued to see more of these characters and will def be reading all future books within the series!
(I also need Hailey to get a book of her own, PLEASE!!!)
I absolutely devoured this! I love the different aspects of it and the angst! The found family has to be my favorite! As i was reading I just felt like I was in this amazing friend group that cared for each other no matter what. I loved how the plot was gripping with the aspect of them being scammers. The chapters that went back in time to tell us stories of past scams were so interesting! I’m so ready for book 2 cause that was a CLIFF HANGER!! My jaw was on the floor when i realized the next page was the acknowledgments. Krista & Becca this story was amazing and I’m so ready to read more of the characters!
Rocky and Phoebe have a spark like no other and have been in each other’s life forever. They have lived their lives as scammers taught by their parents. Phoebe and her best friend decide to clean themselves of scamming after a scam goes south and start living a clean life. Rocky joins them being the protective big brother for Hailey, but what he is to Phoebe is a lot more complicated. As they try to start this new honest life in Connecticut they experience life from a different viewpoint with all new challenges.