I really wanted to like this book- coworkers and ex friends-with-benefits fall in “love” or at least back to “friends with benefits”? Do you know what romance means? I have read some extremely good books lately and some clever and challenging contemporary romances, but this one was just awful. Clipped dialogue, huge plot holes. The jewel heist parts were confusing at best and boring at worst. There are way too many great books out this year for you to pick up this one. Very skippable.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. Cringe face— they have a lot of good books, this just isn’t one of them.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing, Canary Street Press, and NetGalley for this ARC!

Jewel Me Twice by Charish Reid is a second-chance romance with main characters in their early 4os who reunite to carry out their mentor's final wish of pulling off the ultimate heist. The heist they failed at five years prior. Celest St. Pierre, Magnus Larsson, Lawrence, and Santiago come back together, along with help from Beatrice, Celeste's assistant, and a few other acquaintances they meet along the way to try and not repeat history.

As always with Reid's stories, I appreciate and love the black women representation in her stories, and Jewel Me Twice features three incredibly smart, clever, and brave black women. Magnus has a lovely dirty mouth and a strong weakness for Celeste. When Celeste and Magnus see each other again for the first time in five years the sexual tension is strong. The attraction was never the problem, but pride definitely was and still is. Both Celeste and Magnus had difficult childhoods, and it has shaped who they are today and why they steal. I felt like I got to know Magnus and what drives him more than Celeste. At the end I felt like Celeste was still a safe to be cracked by Magnus. In this story Celeste starts to question if she truly knew her mentor mostly because the comments Lawrence, Magnus, and others make about Doris. Celeste gets to read Doris' journal to discover more about her beloved mentor, but does Celeste feel like she now knows who Doris was? Why the mysterious, passive aggressive comments from those who knew Doris? I would've loved to get Lawrence's inner thoughts about Doris.

Overall, I give this story a 3.75 rating. I enjoy Charish Reid's writing, but this story was a little slow for me and I expected more action and suspense from this band of thieves. The sexy times were sexy, but I felt like there was still so much for Celeste and Magnus to open up about. I understood the physical attraction and adrenaline-fueled romps, but I needed a little more to feel like they were truly in love with each other. Jewel Me Twice seems to be the start of a series, and I'm looking forward to reading the next story about two characters who I really enjoyed reading about in this story.

Sexy friends/coworkers to lovers - the banter and the intrigue are white hot. Loved the female empowerment component of this heist thriller.

A Delightful Blend of Humor, Heart, and Heat!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Jewel Me Twice" by Charish Reid is a delightful romance novel that seamlessly blends humor, heart, and heat. Reid has a knack for creating relatable, multi-dimensional characters and placing them in engaging, emotionally rich scenarios.

The plot follows the lives of two protagonists, whose paths cross in an unexpected and humorous way. The narrative is well-paced, with a mix of witty banter, romantic tension, and genuine emotional moments. Reid excels at character development, crafting protagonists with distinct personalities, motivations, and backgrounds. Their chemistry is palpable, making their romantic journey both believable and compelling. Supporting characters are also fleshed out, adding depth to the story.

Reid's writing is engaging and vivid. She has a way with words that brings scenes to life and immerses the reader in the story. The dialogue is sharp and often humorous, adding a layer of charm to the narrative.

The book explores themes of love, self-discovery, and personal growth. It highlights the importance of communication and trust in relationships and delves into the complexities of balancing personal aspirations with romantic commitments.

What I loved most about "Jewel Me Twice" is that it felt like the movie *Spy*, but with more romance and depth, which hooked me in completely. The added romantic elements and the deeper exploration of characters' emotions made the story even more engaging. Additionally, I appreciated that the female main character was a person of color (POC), adding a refreshing and much-needed diversity to the genre.

"Jewel Me Twice" is a thoroughly enjoyable read. It's perfect for fans of contemporary romance who appreciate a good mix of humor, heart, and heat. Charish Reid has delivered a charming and satisfying story that will leave readers eagerly awaiting her next book.

If you like second-chance romance, "one last job" heists, posthumous scavenger hunts, MCs in their 40s, a child-free epilogue, and some really steamy steam, you probably want to check this one out. I wish there had been a little more resolution with the dearly departed mentor's farewell "job," but all in all this was a fun book. I think it will really appeal to contemporary romance fans who want all their romance goodness with just a little something extra to set the book apart.

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

A spicy second chance romance caper! Celeste and Magnus are thieves who worked together and then split to do their own thing. She's gone legit-sort of. And now they're back together at the behest of their mentor who wants them to do one last run. Their bantering is good, some of the situations will make you chuckle and Reid does a nice job of showing how race can affect, well, being a jewel thief. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. It's light and might make a fun movie.

This was a really fun, high energy heist romance! I enjoyed Cherish's previous book so I hoped this would deliver a similar level of sweetness and spice and it did! Celeste St. Pierre and Magnus Larsson used to be in the same crew of thieves until they failed at a big job and the team broke up. 5 years later, the death of their mentor and leader of their former crew brings them back together for one last big job. I love how Celeste and Magnus are a little older (40s) but still have a great energy (and chemistry)

I enjoyed the treasure hunt across Europe and adventure of planning the heist but also the relationship building between the action. I think, like the author's other book, I wanted a little bit more at the end when everyone is happy and am hoping that there is a follow up book for two of these side characters....

ARC Review: Jewel Me Twice by Cherish Reid ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Thank you to NetGalley and Canary Street Press for the opportunity to read this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Former criminal partners Celeste St. Pierre and Magnus Larson haven’t seen each other in 5 years - since a botched mission to steal crown jewels in Sweden. Reunited after the unexpected loss of their mentor, Celeste and Magnus must decide if they can work together again to honor their mentor’s last wish - one final heist. Teaming up for a globetrotting adventure reopens old wounds and Celeste and Magnus’s sex-filled history. Can they forge a new path forward while completing a heist that threatens to drag them back to the past?

Jewel Me Twice is a fun read! It’s fast-paced, action-packed and H-O-T! I really liked the idea of a heist romance, and thought this cover was gorgeous! However, for me the heist plot and the romance plot didn’t really connect for me. Celeste and Magnus’s dynamic in the field and in the bedroom give off very different vibes, it feels like they belong in different stories. The heist plot was suspenseful and cinematic, I was on the edge of my seat to see if they could pull it off! I just wish the romantic elements were more my taste, but I’m also not a second chance romance girlie (don’t come for me 🫣).

Jewel Me Twice will be published July 22nd 2024!

Comp with Oceans 11 had me intrigued enough to request this ARC and I was glad I did. Big thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher.

NYC antique dealer Celeste St. Pierre and geology professor Magnus Larsson lead double lives as professional jewel thieves. Once romantically involved when part of the same crew, they once again cross paths on a jewel heist, and we are off to the races. Jetsetting to gorgeous locations, this steamy romance is fast-paced and entertaining, with witty dialogue and action that will have you flipping those pages.

Cons - the plot is simple. The characters aside from Celeste and Magnus are not well developed, and after a while, the storyline gets repetitive. In terms of movies, this is not one for The Criterion Channel, more along the lines of Lifetime TV.

It is what it is, and what it is is a charming, fun read perfect for the summer.

3.5 stars rounded up

I’m sure this book is wonderful as I love Charish Reid and her previous work but the formatting of this book made it difficult to read. It was just a PDF and when I tried to read this on an e-reader I kept coming across random letters and numbers and it took me out of the story to much to actually read and enjoy this one. I’ll give it another go when it is a published and in a readable format.

This is a 3.5 for me. I really like the concept of this book. It sounded like such a fun and cute book, and I was really excited for it. I mean lovers reuniting for one last big heist and reconnecting sounded like a blast. I really enjoyed Celeste especially when she was interreacting with her assistant Beatrice. I loved their dynamic. But while I may have enjoyed the idea of this book and the FMC the book just made me feel a little underwhelmed. While the heists were interesting especially the last one, they weren't as exciting as I hoped especially the first one which seemed really really easy. The same could be said for the romance between Celeste and Magnus as I just didn't think they were a good match honestly. Magnus was just really annoying at times doubting Celeste, then doubting himself, naysaying everything he just always seemed like a wet blanket trying to cast doubt all the time. Now they are both described as beautiful people, so I get the sexual attraction to one another, but I just didn't get the emotional connection for a relationship. I felt more chemistry between Beatrice and the getaway driver.

In the end I liked the concept, the FMC, the last heist was the most interesting part of the book.


It's been 5 years since Celeste saw the last of her crew, Magnus in particular after their last job went horrible wrong. Since then, she has been living her life in her antique shop in New York with the occasional small heist to keep her talents honed. But during a heist who should walk in while she is cracking a safe but none other than Magnus. While the attraction is still there between them nothing is stopping her from walking out of that room with jewel she came for. So, she walks away from him again with a kiss to the lips and a hidden jewel tiara. This meeting, however, just brings back all the memories of their time together which just seemed to be a foreshadowing of what is to come as she receives a letter that her mentor who taught her how to be a thief has passed away. But if that wasn't enough her mentor decided to be a little cheeky and as a last wish of sort asks the old crew to get back together to complete some heists around Europe for her. An old crew which again included Magnus who the attraction is still there for but there are a lot of feelings and memories standing between them. What could do wrong?

I received an ARC Copy from Netgalley and HTP in exchange for an honest review.

I had a tough time with this story before finally sitting down to finish it. Although I found CeCe, Magnus, and their group interesting, I have to admit that none of them truly captivated me. I didn't feel the chemistry between CeCe and Magnus, and their constant back-and-forth quickly took me out of their relationship. It all became quite tedious and repetitive.

However, that's not to say I didn't enjoy "Jewel Me Twice." There were certainly some enjoyable parts, especially the insights into Celeste's work and being Black. I had hoped for more, but it's alright if it didn't meet my expectations. I wouldn't discourage anyone from reading this book, especially if you're into second-chance romances with a couple involved in heists.

I would like to thank the publisher for the opportunity to read and review it.

Jewel Me Twice is a sexy Romance between jewel thieves who reunite to pull heists at the behest of their mentor and one-time leader of a group of thieves. Through reading her mentor's diary, Celeste learns more about her life and motivation to become a thief. Celeste is not quite sure about returning to work with Magnus after a disastrous heist, but at the behest of her late mentor's last wishes, and a need to bring closure to the end of their relationship, Celeste agrees to join forces with Magnus and the old gang. A series of tests and then planning a bigger heist creates a lot of moments of sexual tension and even more moments releasing that built up desire between both Celeste and Magnus. Charish Reid has an amazing sense of describing passionate scenes. And she has a knack of writing secondary characters, wishing there was a book for them too.
Thank you to the publisher, NetGalley, and the author for an opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Jewel Me Twice by Charish Reid is a captivating heist thriller that had me hooked from start to finish. The intense chemistry between Celeste and Magnus made this second-chance love story a page-turner. Reid's clever writing kept me engaged throughout, making it a truly unforgettable read.

I really appreciate Charish Reid's emphasis on more mature romances with more serious topics. While the heist plot line of this story was a fun time, what stuck out to me was the tension between Celeste and Magnus. This led to heavy, emotional moments between them against the backdrop of the action-packed heist moments.

I loved the discussion of race and privilege in this book, added more depth to a spicy romance story. I hope Charish Reid expands more on the side characters in books of their own in the future!!

A high stakes heist and dual POV second chance romance for the books.

This really is the ultimate thief-cute!! I adored every aspect of this dual POV, steamy thrill ride. Celeste and Magnus had incredible, undeniable chemistry and such witty banter that had me kicking my feet.

The heist was riveting, especially considering the clues and what not that were laid out for them along the way. It made for a very compelling and engaging plot that I was eager to continue. I actually finished this book in one sitting with how engrossed I was in both MCs and the heisting world.

I absolutely loved this book and am so excited to discover Charish Reid's other novels!

Thank you to Charish Reid, Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC <3

Pros were that I liked Magnus and Celeste together as sparring partners. But after that the whole book just started to read as repetitive after a while. The secondary characters were not well developed. And the whole plot of one last heist was wearing thin there for me after a while.

"Jewel Me Twice" follows former lovers and still thieves, Magnus and Celeste. They run into each other trying to steal something and then old memories come rushing back. When their former matriarch dies and requests one last heist with the entire crew, they agree, and then "feelings" arise.

I thought the love scenes and dialogue worked. But honestly, I think the diary entries from the former head that Celeste was reading got old quick. It wrecked the flow of the book.

Also, Beatrice, Santiago, and Lawrence were not very well developed in my opinion.

The ending I thought was solid for a second chance romance, but it seems as if Reid may be setting this up to be part of a series, and I don't know if I am interested enough to read about these same characters again.

This was such a fun heist novel! I loved the motley crew of characters, and how all their dynamics came together. I thought it was a really strong start, but got a little bit lost towards the end of the book. I did like the insight into Doris with the diary entries, but also thought that part of the book could have been tightened up a bit/more emotionally impactful to Celeste.

This book cemented me as a Charish Reid fan and I can't wait to read what she puts out next!

✅ Celeste St. Pierre, 41, antiques dealer and thief & Magnus Larsson, 44, geology professor and thief
✅ second chance romance
✅ jewelry heist + global adventure
✅ read it if you like The Italian Job, Oceans 8/11-13 or really any heist movie!

I love a heist and I love a second chance romance, but this wasn't the book for me. The characters didn't engage me in any way and so I wasn't especially interested in the relationship or the heist. Hopefully others will enjoy it!

Thank you to the publisher for sending a copy to review