Another over the top romantic suspense from fav Canadian author, Sara Desai. I am so here for Sara's switch to mad cap rom coms. This latest has a second chance, interracial romance, kidnappings, heist crews, found family, fake deaths, fake funerals, TONS of near-death moments, spice, humor and a big, close-knit Desi family. Throw in some mob bosses, exes, motorcycle gangs and MORE and this book was high octane fun from start to finish and never slowed with the exciting times. Great on audio narrated by two other favs, Soneela Nankani and Andrew Eiden. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!

ARC Review: Til Heist Do Us Part by Sara Desai ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Romance for the opportunity to read this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In the second installment of her heist series, Desai places Simi Chopra and her heist crew back into hot water! Simi and Jack have broken up, Simi and Chloe’s event planning business is going bankrupt, and Jack’s dangerous ex-partner Clare has resurfaced looking for vengeance. The gang is thrown back into the world of crime when the family who was robbed in the last heist realizes their jewels have been swapped for fakes and demands their return - with interest.

Desai’s sequel novel delivers higher stakes, more action and even more surprise twists! I really enjoyed reading Til Heist Do Us Part! The suspense and action kept me enthralled and I had to keep reading to see how the heist would turn out! I was a little bummed that the central reason for conflict was that the crew hadn’t really gotten away with their first heist. The characters endured so much during the first book, to put them back at square one was disappointing. I think the addition of Clare and her henchmen to the heist team added a great element of internal tension and made the drama extra juicy!

Til Heist Do Us Part will be published August 20th 2024!

I love a rag tag group of misfits with a predilection towards crime!

I didn’t realize this was a continuation of Desai’s other Heist novel, but I still had a good time. I do feel like this leans more towards the adventure/crime genre as opposed to romance, however. The found family and group dynamics were some of my favorite parts!

This was a chaotic fun time but don’t go in expecting a big sweeping romance.

Thank you Berkley Romance for an arc!

This is one of the best romantic action/suspense series on the market currently! A relatable, every day heroine (and her bestie) who keeps finding herself caught up in outrageous and dangerous mafia heists (think Finlay Donovan, but with a single 20's-something amateur sleuth team). This second book in the series brings Simi and her smoking hot ex-boyfriend thief back together for another heist. Banter, fake marriage/forced proximity, toe-curling spice, hilarious secondary characters, and an action packed plot made this read fly by for me! This second installment seemed to lean more heavily on Simi and Jack's second chance relationship and connection than Book 1, and I really enjoyed it! It gave Simi and Jack more depth and the 'will they, or won't they' get back together was full of angst and mutual pining. While the majority of the book is from Simi's POV, readers do get a section of the book from Jack's POV and I loved that new addition and cannot wait to continue this fun series.

If you enjoy heists, second chance romance, LOL banter, found family, spicy scenes and a band of misfits, you should absolutely give To Have and To Heist series a spot on your romance TBR.

Read if you like:
💍 Heists
🚔 Love Triangles
🏡 Found Family
🥈 Second Chance Romances

If you love the Finlay Donovan series, here is a fantastic BIPOC version with great found family, heists, humor, and romance!

This is the second book in the series, and omg with the ending, are we getting a third?!?!

I absolutely love the Simi being like Finlay in that she is a normal person who keeps getting herself into situations with the mob and being part of heists to save herself and her best friend.

Also, the opposites attract and he falls harder with Simi and Jack is so well done!!!!

If you loved the first book, To Have and To Heist you will want to continue the adventure in book two with this group!

Also, the Romeo and Juliet fake dead part 😂 ohhh I loved this part!

Thanks so much to PRHA and Berkley for my gifted audiobook and ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Simi and Jack are back! Those who read the first novel will be pleased to spend more time with this rollicking couple and their merry band of amateur thieves and new readers should be able to enjoy it as a standalone. Simi is struggling a bit not only to keep her head above water financially but also in her relationship with Jack whose background is fleshed out a bit more in this installment. Their heist has come back to haunt them and they're forced to do it one more time. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This installment sees less about the group than it does about Simi and Jack but it's still a fun and funny read.

We’re back with the same cast of misfits who managed to pull off a diamond heist last year - as complete novices. In an Ocean’s 12-esque move, the crew who thinks they’re in the clear suddenly is…not. And not only are they not in the clear, but they also caught the wrath of the Chicago mafia boss. How will these bumbling, well-intentioned characters get themselves out of another cluster? 

This was so fun!! Just like the first book, it gives romance, action, heist FUN! It’s an amazing blockbuster heist story and PERFECT for a summer fun read. It comes out 8/20 so add it to your calendar and read it, read it, read it! Don’t let me down!

Thanks to Berkley for this gifted copy!

Little backstory. When I requested this on Netgalley, I didn't realize it was the second book in a series. I ended up listening the the audiobook of To and and To Heist and I LOVED it! I really feel like this was meant to be consumed in audio format... that's how good the audio book was. SO I decided to wait until I got the ALC of 'Til Heist Do Us Part from PRH Audio. I am so glad I did because the narrator did an amazing job again. With an ensemble cast it's important that the voice are distinguishable. Such an enjoyable audiobook that had be laughing out loud.

I really loved the first book and was excited to rejoin the gang on another heist. It did not disappoint! Uses a mix of situational comedy and satire which I found absolutely hilarious. This cooky gang of the most unlikely criminals are absolutely ridiculous in the best possible way. Every single character is over the top! I mean the MMC's name is Jack DANGER! The romance in this book is really just a sub plot which I didn't mind at all. This was like watching a comedy movie. The audiobook for this was done so well. The narrator really brought these funny moments to life. I did like the first book slightly more than this one.

This is such a fun heist romance!

If you haven’t read the first book in this series, I definitely recommend reading that first. While you likely will be able to follow the series, it really is a continuation of that story.

We have the class amateur heist hijinx - a ragtag group of misfits, lots of scheming, mishaps, everything that makes a fun and captivating story. There’s also a couple of plot twists that I didn’t see coming, which changed the course of the story!

Beyond the heist and the crew dynamics, there’s also a second chance love plot. There’s enough angst and tension to keep the story interesting, and while following the heist dynamics, you’re also rooting for the main characters to figure out their love and find their way together. There’s also a couple of side romance pairings, so the story never slows down or gets boring.

I would definitely recommend this for anyone looking for a lighthearted but action-packed romance!

Book 2 didn’t make me laugh as much as the first one did, but it was still a fun read! Most of the rag tag crew is back, plus a few additions that make for a twisty ride! Each character is well developed that even though there are quite a few, I was easily able to follow along and am fully invested in each one’s story! But I highly encourage reading these books in order. There is enough of a recap throughout the book to refresh your memory if it’s been a while, but I don’t think it’s enough to dive in as a stand alone.
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If you’re looking for drama, action, mystery, banter, humor and a relatively small amount of spice, I definitely recommend this series!

I’ve read Sara Desai books in the past and liked them. However I was just not able to get into this one. The plot points feel a bit forced. I wasn’t able to bring myself to care much for the characters. The stakes don’t seem that high. Also the touches to Indian culture feel like afterthoughts.

Having said that, I believe this is a sequel book? I haven’t read the previous one. So maybe others may like it.

This was an e-ARC so first off, thank you so much to Sara and her team for allowing me to read this book before it is out to the public! I am so honored because this was my first time getting an ARC.

Having said that, I feel like I would’ve maybe liked it more if I had read the first book “To Have and To Heist” first to get to know the characters better. My favorite character in THIS novel however was Emma, which I don’t think she’s supposed to be anyone’s favorite so read into that how you will. Simi and Jack, in my opinion, are the epitome of a relationship that needs adrenaline and adventure in order to be sustained. Their lust for each other during really inopportune moments was kind of irritating to me. They would be in the middle of making an important decision for the heist and then Jack and Simi would be distracted, wanting to get it on right then and there.

Speaking of the heist plot, I don’t understand how this crew got anything done when they would argue for 20 minutes about the plan every single time. I understand they’re a “rag tag” team but come on guys. They got lucky 90% of the time and didn’t really do much themselves.

I did however enjoy the banter throughout the friend group and the found family they created. I definitely didn’t see the plot twist at the end coming and my jaw was on the floor! For my first heist romance book, I enjoyed myself but it also took me a long time to read because I wasn’t fully locked in till around 50% of the way through.

Thank you again to Sara and her team, and I hope to get another chance to read an ARC in the future!

This was a fun second book in this series, but it seemed to be missing something that the first book, To Have and to Heist, had which made it a bit of a let down for me. I can’t quite put my finger on why this one felt different, it might have been my mood, but I would still recommend this one especially if you have read the first book.

Simi is back in full force and is struggling to keep not only her business afloat, but her relationship with Jack from quickly sinking. I still really liked Simi in this next book. I like how quickly she can think up a plan when the last one totally went off the rails. I also like her relationship with Chloe, her best friend and with her family. But it was her relationship with her crew that is really what makes me like her so much. She is just so loyal to them and will do anything to keep them from harm.

We got to learn a lot more about Jack’s past in this one, which really rounded him out nicely as a character. He to, will do anything to protect the ones he loves and cares about, and sometimes this gets him into trouble. I really do like the chemistry between him and Simi. They really click together as partners both in crime and in bed. Some nice steamy, hot sex scenes in this one, that were not overly graphic.

I think one of the things that I didn’t like about this one is that we didn’t see as much of the secondary characters as I would have liked. There was still some great banter between them all, but if you hadn’t read the first book, you would feel no connection with these characters. There was just a bit too much focus on Simi and Jack and not enough on the heist or other characters. But there was a new addition to the crew, Simone, who is in the first book but now is a more central character, who I really enjoyed and I loved how she worked with the rest of the group.

The plot was well done and nicely paced. I did like the whole set up for the heist and loved how they found themselves chasing the necklace all over the east coast. The banter between the characters was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed seeing them all work together. There are some great plot twists that were a lot of fun even when I knew they were coming.

This was a fun and cozy thriller with a great cast of characters. It could be a standalone, but I wouldn’t recommend it. You are much better off reading the first book, before picking this one up. The ending of this one does leave it open for a third book, which I am certainly going to keep an eye out for. Another great summer beach read, especially for those of you who have read the first book.

Simi Chopra and her team must retrieve a stolen diamond necklace from Jack Danger’s vengeful nemesis to appease a Chicago Mafia boss. Amidst this high-stakes mission, Simi grapples with relationship troubles, a rival thief, and a determined detective, making her heist even more perilous.

Til Heist Do Us Part is a sequel to To Have and To Heist, even though it’s not listed as such on Goodreads. To truly enjoy the book and understand the dynamics of Simi and Jack’s relationship along with the quirky side characters that make up the ragtag heist crew, it helps to have read the first book, as they frequently reference their initial heist. The romance here is more of a subplot. Despite its unrealistic elements, I found the book wildly entertaining and binge-worthy. I loved that the author continued to deliver amusing antics and funny characters. However, I didn’t care much for Simi and Jack’s second-chance romance, as I felt Jack's character development was lacking. I wished for more perspectives from Jack to understand him better. Overall, I found this to be an entertaining read and recommend picking it up if you enjoyed To Have and To Heist!

The plot was insane, and I loved it. I’ve never heard of a romance where they make a living doing heists. That’ added a thought of mystery and thrill to this story.

This is book two and why you *could* read it as a standalone, I hadn’t read the first one and felt behind. There was a lot I didn’t know and felt confused on, so I recommend reading it in order.

I also wanted more romance between Claire and Jack because there chemistry was explosive and wasn’t explored as thoroughly as I would’ve liked.

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

Going into this book, I was excited, as I'm always up for an Adventure Romance.  And this one does not miss a beat, with non-stop action pretty much from beginning to end.  But it was almost had too much for me.

I will back up by saying that going into this, I wasn't aware that this was part of a series (Goodreads doesn't indicate it as such), with To Have and to Heist being book one in the series.  The author did a good job of catching me up to speed with the couples featured in the book, but there are a lot of characters, each with their own side story.  So, it was a lot to take in.  Then you add all the action from this book, and my head was spinning.

As the title suggests, this book features some characters who make a living stealing valuable items.  Unsurprisingly, this is a competitive field and for the main character Jack, he is constantly trying to one up his rival, Clare (who he just so happens to have had a prior relationship with).  There is a lot of backstabbing and deception to try and get on top.  But Jack isn't on his own, and her cast of characters all play a significant role in the heist.

There is also a romantic element sprinkled in (not with Clare, to be clear), but it is a small part of the story.  And those brief moments actually seemed like the calmest part of the storyline.

Overall, while this book was entertaining, I would have pared down the sub plots from some of the characters, that made the story a bit overwhelming.

I went into this book not knowing that it was a sequel, whoops, but I still enjoyed it. I think it can still standalone because the story feels new and there was plenty of character introductions that I didn't feel lost or like I was missing something. Told in quasi-dual points of views, this book was written with very compelling language that kept me intrigued to keep reading. It was very cute, and end with an HEA but the epilogue hints at potentially another sequel. If that's the case, I'll definitely be back.

Much like the first one this was chaos in the best way! It was fast paced and silly and serious!! Everything was so complicated and well thought out! You’d think that since this heist team did this before they’d know what they’re doing this time around?? But of course not, and that’s sort of their thing!!

As always I LOVE SIMI! She is a girl after my own heart. She is honestly just a sad girl and she is trying so hard to be strong and stick up for herself!! And I love that she’s able to be with her family, she’s worked through some of the trauma. But that still carries over into her relationship with Jack! And while I do find Jack frustrating…..I think it’s MOSTLY because he’s still such a mystery! It’s so clear how much he loves Simi! SO CLEAR. But he also has a lot to work through.

But also Simi and Jack are SWEET! This time around they were working through her heartbreak and he was trying so hard to woo her!! And be cute and flirty and goofy and!! And so easily seducing her (successfully because really who can resist Jack)!! And she was trying to hard resist! Their banter is so good! And their chemistry is SO GOOD!

I was so happy to see everyone again! The crew is hilarious! Everyone has such a big personality but it doesn’t take up too much space?? It’s just so well balanced! Simone was an excellent addition to the crew this time around!!

Hopefully there’s more to come, cause I think I could read about them forever!!

Thanks to Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

4/5 ⭐️
2/5 🌶️

I had not read the first book in this series when I got into the sequel. I didn’t feel like I was missing much, can be read as standalone, but lots of callbacks to the first one. So I would have liked to read the first before getting into this one if I could do it over. (For some reason I thought I’d already read it!! 🤦🏾‍♀️)

Simi and the gang are all a riot in their own ways. Love their dynamics and utter chaos! 😂 And LOVED the twist ending. I had an inkling of doubt about 2/3 of the way through but it still caught me by surprise, and I loved it!

The romance part of the book is very much secondary or even tertiary I’d say. It’s not a focus of the book and left a bit something to be desired in the romance department. But the comedy and heist aspect were great!!

If you are a fan of heists and whodunnit, you have to check the first book and this sequel out!! I couldn’t put it down and finished it into the early AM. It had me chuckling and rolling my eyes and in anticipation of what was gonna go wrong now!

Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC!

I loved this rom com that was involved heists. It give me grown up Heist society. So it gave me all the feels.