How to Steal a Galaxy is the second book, after Full Speed to a Crash Landing.

As I enjoyed the first book, I'm not quite sure if I can say the same thing about this one. There is action and we understand more about what's happening with Planet Earth and how the galaxy wants to take action, This time around I found myself not trusting Ada one bit, it was easier to create a connection with her and the other characters in the first book.

As if this didn't make my reading a harder experience, I also didn't care much about what was going on at one point, I feel the best way to describe this book is that it is the connection between book 1 and book 3. It explains more about what are their goals and what they're doing to come up to terms with it, but not much more.

In the first book we got more action, more angst and more questions! I'm still curious to read book 3 and understand who is the good person and who is the bad person!

Genre: sci-fi romance

Picking up not long after the conclusion of Full Speed to a Crash Landing, Ada Lamarr, space looter with a conscience, is on another mission for a client. It takes her to a charity gala raising money for Sol Earth (her home, and ours) where an announcement about nanobot climate cleaners is scheduled to be announced... but also where she knows she'll find the sexy government agent Rian White.

The tone of these novellas works really well for me as audiobooks: the first person POV putting us in Ada's head as she tackles difficult situations and running internal monologue delivered by Dara Rosenberg makes me laugh and cuts the tension of high stakes heists. Ada felt more the daredevil in book one, while in book two, she's calculating. Because we're getting everything from Ada's perspective, we see her machinations to topple her foes and bask in her gleeful exultation. She's a main character I love to see in science fiction.

Like I said in my review for Crash Landing: Ada is snarky and unrepentant, making for a very fun POV who hit the spot. I love a heist, I love a romantic arc, and I love when that all clicks in a SF setting.

Just as good as book 1! This was a blast and I cannot wait for #3.

I continue to love Ada as a main character and her dynamic with Rian is so much fun! I also really like that this series doesn't shy away from difficult topics like climate change and capitalism while still remaining upbeat and fun.

Also the narration is perfect, Dara Rosenberg does an amazing job of bringing Ada to life.

To begin with, I recommend reading first book in this series if you want this one to make any sense. Fortunately, I have read the first book, and liked it enough to request this book from NetGalley, so I was not lost coming in. But I suspect a reader who just picked up this short book with the nifty cover art and began reading might be confused. Not utterly lost, because Revis is a talented enough writer that her story is still a story, but the relationship between Ada and Rian, and their history with her previous job, is not rehashed, and so an unfamiliar reader will have to make up their own story about how they know each other. Actually, that's probably not the worst thing, and might even add a bit of suspense to the read. Huh. I still recommend reading the first book, though, because it's fun.

That said, I like this book better. Ada reminds me significantly less of a foul-mouthed version of Lift from Brandon Sanderson's Stormlight Archive (Lift is an annoyance who I have not learned to appreciate with time and rereads). Unfortunately, Rian is somewhat less charming than he was in the first book, but he's still a lovely male lead and the slower development of the attraction between them is satisfying to read, even though the ending of this book leaves some doubt as to how Rian's going to feel about Ada in the sequel.

Relationships aside, this is a heist story. It begins a few months before the heist, but the majority of the action takes place over the course of a single evening, and in addition to having an interesting heist going on, Revis manages to deliver a scathing indictment of the lengths people with wealth will go to in order to preserve their wealth, and what that costs them in terms of humanity. Not bad for a book less than 200 pages long.

I'm looking forward to reading the sequel, and I think others will, too. Assuming they read Full Speed to a Crash Landing first.

I got to read the next chapter in the Chaotic Orbits series from Beth Revis, How to Steal a Galaxy. Ada Lamarr returns to pull off her next great heist and this one is just as interesting as once again you’ll be left guessing the true target and goal until the moment it happens. We also get the return of government agent, Rian White. This time Ada infiltrates a charity gala where Rian is assisting security. I really love getting to see these two characters go back at it like when we read Full Speed to a Crash Landing. Beth continues to deliver us this fantastic rivals to lovers trope all set in an interesting future that I think has some interesting things to say about the modern world. I love Beth Revis’ writing, sci-fi, and heist stories. So this is a great combination of those interests. I highly suggested Full Speed to a Crash Landing and definitely recommend How to Steal a Galaxy. I’d even say you could jump into this without the context of the first book, but I’d say read it anyways because they’re both awesome and decently paced to make for easy reading.

Ada Lamarr is back and she's just as fiesty as ever and here to keep Rian White a nervous wreck trying to figure out her endgame. We've added in some new faces to our cast of characters. Phoebe, Rian's Security person and Strom Fetor, a tech trillonaire who is on Ada's list of people she'd like to eject into a Black Hole.

This time, Ada isn't asked to steal something, although she doesn't let Rian know that. Her mission is more vague. And she gives lots of false clues leading Rian on a chase all night.

Beth Revis's attention to detail when describing a scene left me feeling as if I just read a master class in "how to do this the right way". Her description of the Central Hall of the Museum left me in awe. I felt like I was there amongst the silk dresses and fine suits.

Read this book if you like:

☎️ Banter
💄 Snarky Statements
💋 Dangerous Kisses
🫢 Kidnapping
💃 Haute Couture
🌎 Save The Planet

"I watch him, the only art in the room that's mine to view." Ada Lamarr, How To Steal A Galaxy

Thank you to @dawbooks @netgalley and @bethrevis for this gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

How to Steal a Galaxy picks up right where book one left off. Ada is working with a rebel group to retrieve the government’s plans at a charity gala where Rian just so happens to be. Rian suspects Ada will make an appearance and the two collide in an explosive night of drama, intrigue, and stunning chemistry.

I really enjoyed the sequel but I did prefer the first book. This one is a bit slower and focuses more heavily on the world building. While I did enjoy the expansion of the world, I did prefer the high-stakes, action-packed first book. The heist element was lots of fun and I was so hooked and curious about how things would end. The ending really makes up for it though because it sets up the finale really well. I can’t wait to see what happens!

Ada and Rian are such a treat to read about. Ada is truly such a fun and hilarious main character. I’d read so many books from her perspective. It’s so full of life and snark. I loved the shenanigans she got up to in this book and her banter with Rian—so cute. The progression of their relationship after the ending of book one was really done and the last 10% of this was so fun.

Overall, if you’re looking for a fast, fun sci-fi romp, I’d definitely recommend checking this trilogy out!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

This is such a fun, unique series.
Ada is a shar witted, morally grey delight of a protagonist. Is she doing the right thing for money? Because she believes it's right? Because it's fun? All three.. maybe?
While not as fast paced as the first novels in the series, this second installment follows Ada around a gala where she .. maybe?.. plots to steal something, insults an important rich man, torments Rian and just generally has a good time enjoying the amazing food.
Can't wait for the next book!

I just absolutely love this series. It's fun and quippy and quick-witted. There's a lot of seemingly chaotic thoughts and dialogue, but it's all part of Ada's master plan. I love the heists and the staying one step ahead of the love interest. This is quite everything I love in a sci-fi rom com. light romance in this, so don't expect there to be spice, but there are some swoony kisses.

Also, the audiobook narrator is PERFECT for this story. I couldn't imagine a better person to play Ada. She gets her mannerisms and quips perfectly. These audiobooks would be perfect for a road trip as they are shorter and keep you engaged the whole time.

Advanced copy kindly provided through Netgalley, though my enjoyment of this ride is entirely my own.

A heist is afoot! Ada is back, clashing with Rain - but this time at a charity event on another planet. Cue: chaos, betrayal, some kissing ...

Another winner from Beth Revis! A short but gripping science fiction adventure, one not to miss

Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy to review

I didn’t plan it this way, I swear, but I somehow ended up scheduling two books by Beth Revis in the same week! To be fair, the first one was a jointly written sequel, so it wasn’t just two Revis books completely. And also also to be fair, there are very few new releases that come out in December, and this one was one of the few titles that I planned on for this month! The entire thing is all the more funny because the first book I read by this author was a YA science fiction book about ten years ago that I…didn’t enjoy. But now, almost a decade later, she’s made her way onto my list of authors to always check out when she releases a new book. And this series of novellas is a perfect example of why that is!

I read the first book in this novella trilogy only a few months ago, but even with some more distance, I’m sure the word that would come to mind when describing it would be “fun.” It told a solid little story, was chock full of adventure, and had an excellent snarky (but complicated!) main character at its heart. And really, it’s that last part that really sold me on the continued success of this series. This book yet again highlights that while Ada can come across as your typical “badass, snarky thief extraordinaire,” her priorities, approach to her work, and sometimes even her own conflicting and tangled moralities, all give her an unexpectedly deep level of characterization for a lead in only two short novellas.

While I think the first book perhaps had more straight action, this one really honed in on the way that Ada works and thinks. This was particularly intriguing when we see her run up against her own limits or when she attempts to explain to others how she draws the lines that she does, what she considers acceptable and unacceptable (always a rich topic for a main character whose career is crime). We do learn more about what drives her, but I was pleased to see the author shy away from the tendency for these sorts of thief characters to quickly veer away from morally grey and fall straight into the typical resistance freedom fighter/Robin Hood re-imagined character that we’ve all read a million times. No, Ada needs to get paid to work.

Of course, we see more of Rian, too, and the development of this romance. Like the first book, I enjoyed the way this romance played out. There is definitely more of it, but it was also never forgotten that these two truly only barely know one another, each having read more about the other from reports than from any true amount of time spent with one another. And, of course, Rian is now aware of Ada’s work and spends the majority of his time throughout this book attempting to thwart her, giving the reader all the enjoyment of watching him fail repeatedly.

For such a short book, I was also impressed by the amount of page time devoted to expanding on the political and social structures of this universe, particularly the ways in which the populations of these other planets view the perils of the original Earth and its struggling population. Without being too heavy handed, Revis does an excellent job of skewering the dangers of leaving crucial projects in the hands of tech billionaires. But at the same time, she takes several swings at the inefficiencies and corruption of government to accomplish the same task. When you write it out, it’s quite dire. But the fact that this book, like the first, is such a fun time is testament to the strength of Revis’s comedic writing and the sheer force of the main character’s personality on the page.

If you can’t tell by now, I had a blast with this book! More so than the first, this set up a lot of moving pieces that are primed to come into play in the next book. And I, for one, can’t wait to see how Ada’s plans all pan out!

Rating 8: Proof that a book can tackle tough topics of climate change, tech billionaires, and corruption while also not skimping on the the comedy, adventure and romance!

Link will go live on The Library Ladies on Dec. 20

In the follow up to Full Speed to Crash Landing we follow Ada and Rian at a museum gala. Ada and Rian continue to have impeccable chemistry that makes this novella continue to be a blast to speed through. I loved the setting of this one and enjoyed the further development of the politics of their world - meeting a member of the Jarra and learning just how brutal life on earth is.

Very excited for the conclusion to this series especially with the twist at the end.

this is such a fun and chaotic continuation of the series. the books are short and easy to read, and they keep you engaged. this story made me like ada much more, and i also really liked the way the plot unpacked. i am excited to see how the series turns out. i do, however think that the story could ahve been written in one book so far, instead of 2, but that might be a personal preference.

thank you to netgalley and the author for sending me the book in exchange for an honest review

The second installment of the Chaotic Orbits novella series, this time with more tension and kissing! And also space shenanigans, but that’s a given. I can’t decide if I like the first or second of this series the most as I feel they’re pretty equally balanced, despite being pretty different in plot execution/emphasis. Whereas the first feels more like classic science fiction with ships and a mysterious object, this is a little more glitz, glam, and romance. Still, Ada’s voice is so strong throughout, regardless. Overall, I think that this series in general and this novella particularly are fun, and I feel invested in the characters, and I’m interested to see where the rest of the series will go in both plot and relationships now that we’ve established the general thread.

Solid follow up set at a gala that gets to have our mains flirting at each other a lot, revealing more about themselves, and a third act plot twist that sets up an intriguing third book. Definitely in for more.

I really enjoyed Full Speed to a Crash Landing so was excited to get this one and it did not disappoint! Extra highlight was reading it while in Egypt and seeing the King Tut item on auction in person just days after reading about it. These books move fast and are telling one story in three parts but it doesn't detract from my enjoyment of Ada and Rian. I was able to keep up with Ada better in this one which made me very proud of myself. Can't wait to read book 3 but also sad we won't get more Ada and Rian!!

This is a great follow up to Full Speed to a Crash Landing!

This is Book 2 of Chaotic Orbits, and it needs to be read in order. We're back with Ada and Rian and it's another heist but at a high end museum. We don't know what Ada is there to steal, but Rian is going to stay right by her side the entire night. Not because she's clever, confident and beautiful. No just for his job. He'll stay as close as he possibly can, and never take his eyes off her.

The tension! THE TENSION. It's crackling and I love it.

This is a fast-paced heist from a museum and we don't find out until the very end what Ada is there to steal. We have misdirects and red herrings.

This book is best read in an art gallery. Don't forget your lip gloss.

Full disclosure: I asked for this book because the synopsis sounded great, I received it; I downloaded it... and THEN I realized that it was the second in a series lol So, of course, I went to kindle and purchased the first one. And I loved it, so then I jumped right to this one. And so, finally, I can leave a review in this one xD

I loved this book. I really like Ada as a main character and POV. She's funny, introspective and deep. I really like the hints of her backstory that we get in every book and how those parts of her past shaped. I also love her dialogue, specially with Rian! I also like Rian as the love interest-kind-off-antagonist in this book. I loved the sexual tension of the first book and following their story in this book, with different circumstances and knowing what he (and we) know about Ada after the end of the first book, was great. The back and forth between the two is simply perfect.

I also love every bit of world building that we get. How everything expands a little bit with every chapter. The pacing is also great, very easy and quick to read. It's the perfect read for a rainy weekend or a summer vacation. Just *cheff kiss*.

I think this will be a trilogy, so I'm hoping to grab the third one as soon as it gets out!

This series is so much fun to listen to and scratches every heist, intergalactic, space opera, romance itch I have. The pacing is so quick and satisfying and the adventure keeps me on my toes every time. I cannot get enough and need even more!!! The audio narration is superb and I cannot wait to read/listen to the next installment!

I continue to have such a fun time with this series. Even though we learn so much more about Ada in this installment, her end game and her clients remain a mystery. I love how this was just a single day (more or less) in the storyline and it moved really quickly. Excited to read the next one!