If I Dig You by Colby Wilkens
Contemporary diverse sapphic romance. Slow burn.
Archaeologist Isadora Ross lost her mother fourteen years ago. She disappeared on a research trip in the mountains. Isa has been quietly searching different area of the mountain to try to get answers but hasn’t found anything to help. Isa also misses her best friend who moved to Turkey for a dig, leaving Isa behind. She’s in love with Louisa and can’t believe she left her alone.
Dr Louisa Morgenster recently moved back to the Georgia mountains to teach archaeology. She ran to Turkey as an excuse. She’s been in love with Isa forever and hopes she can figure out how to get their friendship back at the very least.
When Isa finds her mother’s journal, she and Louisa are kidnapped for a treasure map that was included. They escape and then follow the clues on the map while being followed by the group that’s after the treasure. While they search the mountains and follow the clues, Isa and Louisa try to deny their feelings but finally start to reveal and talk about their love. The path is perilous both physically and emotionally.
Can they find the treasure before the others? Can they repair their relationship? It’s an adventure on both sides.

Lies and lack of communication are my least favorite troupes, so I struggled through a lot of the angst in this story. The treasure hunting was interesting. The villains almost comical.

I cannot address the cultural details or issues since I don’t have the knowledge.
My review is on the romance only which was disappointing for the number of years they hid their feelings or lied which followed them for the bulk of their adventures.

I was gifted a copy of this from NetGalley.

I was recently made aware of the controversy surrounding this book, so I’m not sure if this will be published later on or if it’s been completely removed. But I did enjoy several aspects of this book including the archaeological plot and the sapphic romance.

Thank you the publisher via Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Note: I received this e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I wanted to enjoy this book, it had a great premise, but fell flat. The writing style was very juvenile and it felt like the author and editor tried to make up for it with a lot of sexual innuendo, but that just made it feel even younger.
I was unaware of the author’s controversy before reading this book, and now am disappointed that I read it to begin with. If it’s still being published, I wouldn’t continue to recommend it at all.

Thank you to SMP and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

I’m not sure if this is still being published, but I did just want to say I did enjoy it. I loved the Indigenous notes and the relationship. I thought it was a good book.

Let me preface this review saying that I know of the Colby Wilkens identity controversy. When I requested/accepted the book, I honestly didn’t focus on the name. I focused on the fact that it was a sapphic book and said “yes” to the dress so to speak. It wasn’t until much later that I recognized the name and said, “Damn.” I still took a book from a publisher in exchange for an honest review. So here it is….

I have to admit to being a little excited to get a fun sapphic Romancing the Stone (Dir. R. Zemeckis, 1984) book and for the most part it is action-packed. There are clues, bad guys, a solid backstory, and some romance thrown in. Okay, the romance is heavily thrown in (chuckle). For the most part, it is fun if you can separate yourself from reality for a bit.

For professors who have gone out on expeditions before, they are pretty ignorant. Here is a small spoiler to give an example, how do you not know that a flashlight lit up in the dark allows the bad guys to find you? There are a couple of things that while reading will take you out of the story because you will be scratching your head saying, “huh?!” I think the biggest for me are the sex scenes. I get that the author is trying to create chemistry and show that there is heat in the story, but seriously this would not happen - any of it. There might be a glance or two, but you’re bleeding, freezing cold, injured, and with a crew of bad guys chasing you. Let’s just stop and have some nookie because I just can’t keep my scratched and bleeding hands off you. (smh)

The second-chance romance is okay. I find the time frame confusing between when Isi’s mother died and Dylan broke up with Lou. At first it seems like it is a distance apart, so it’s confusing how Lou doesn’t know that Isi kept looking for her mother and deserted her. Then in another part of the book, the events are all lumped together. Maybe it’s because for Isi they are all lumped together and that’s why it reads that way, or the timeline isn’t clearly laid out.

I did have fun with If I Dig You. It’s corny just like an ‘80s movie. I escaped for an afternoon chasing treasure and shook my head from time to time and I’m okay with that.

This book wasn't really for me. I liked the National Treasure premise, but it just didn't feel right to me. I understand suspending disbelief in order for things to make more sense in fictional worlds, but I couldn't get past how much I needed to just let things happen in order for the plot and book to make sense.

Additionally, upon reading other reviews, this book has been pulled from publication and there is controversy around the author. I am leaving this review because I received this ARC in exchange for a review from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/St. Martin's Griffin.

This was a fun, sapphic National Treasure-style romp with just enough angst to keep my little BookTok heart fed. If I Dig You gave me everything I wanted on paper—buried treasure, emotional pining, mutual survival trauma—but I didn’t fully fall head over boots for it. The chemistry between Isi and Lou was there, but the pacing felt a bit uneven, like the romance and the action-adventure elements were sometimes fighting for screen time. That said, I still devoured it in a weekend and would 100% watch the chaotic gay treasure-hunting movie this deserves to be. Not my all-time fave, but definitely a solid "add to your TBR if you love mess, mud, and mutual yearning."

It has come to my attention that this book has been pulled from publication due to the author fabricating her Native American heritage. Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for my advanced digital copy, but I will not be finishing it at this time.

I was recently made aware of the controversy and lack of publishing for this book. I did not start this book and I am choosing not to read it at this time. Thank you NetGalley and SMP for the opportunity.

This is a two-part review. The story is great. “If I Dig You” is a spicy sapphic romance with some treasure hunting. This part of the book was fantastic. I enjoyed the story. That is a 4 star review

The second part of the review is how The Tribal Alliance Against Frauds found that Colby Wilkens is not of Cherokee and Choctaw descent as she claimed. This is negative stars.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | St

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
3.5 stars
I enjoyed the archaeological aspects of this book and the friends to lovers trope. This was a unique story and it did keep you on the edge of your seat.

Not reviewing after belatedly discovering the author lied about being Native American. Super gross that white authors keep doing this, literally what is the point???

This was a big miss for me. The pacing was absolutely horrible, the characters I didn’t care for, the romance was lackluster at best, in the end I was skimming and hate reading. I checked review pages to see if it was a me issue and discovered the drama and discussion surrounding the author. This was my second attempt reading this author and the second book I’ve read that’s been a big miss. At this point I’ll be moving on from this author and not picking up anymore of their works.

Thank you NetGalley for this review copy. Somehow I couldn't get past the miscommunication and whiny characters. I wanted to love this book and just couldn't. *sigh*

Isadora Ross and Louise Morgenstern are both archaeologists and have been best friends for years. They have different areas of interest and Lou has returned from a year in Turkey. Isa felt Lou had broken a promise by being away and has very strong feelings for her. Isa has been spending her free time searching for clues of what happened to her mother. She was seeking ancient lost Cherokee gold and had disappeared fourteen years previously. When Isa finds her mother’s journal she and Lou start seeking the legendary gold. But they aren’t the only ones who want it.

I looked forward to this as a f/f romance, with a cute cover and an adventurous storyline. The characters are likable. And I like the pent up longing between the pair. There are villains wanting the two to find the treasure for them. Some of the plotting stretches the imagination, think Indiana Jones type adventure. But there is realism in surviving in the wilderness. This takes place in the same world as the author’s previous book ‘If I Stopped Haunting You”. I have read that as well but these are stand alone novels.

I wasn’t aware of the controversy surrounding this author and this book before reading it. I am not changing my rating because of the issue. But I do understand why others lowered their rating and I was glad to have their reviews so I could be more informed. One person said this book has been pulled from the publication schedule. I am not sure if that is true but am still leaving the review for the ARC edition I read.

ABSOLUTE PERFECTION. I loved this book so much. It's "The Mummy" meets "Indiana Jones" with indigenous and LGBTQIA+ representation. What else do you need? Not only was it a fun adventure, but I was LOLing at parts and the romance was scorching. I love these two!

Finished this book before I became aware of the controversy surrounding the author.

If addressed, will leave my honest review.

I will not be providing feedback as I believe this book has been pulled from publication. If anything changes in the future and the controversies around this book are resolved, I would be happy to review at that time. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the copy of this book.

No.

I really just don’t want to expand that. This was just a no.

Thank you to Netgalley and SMP for the arc though

Give me ALLLLL the lesbian romance books!!!!! I love a book I can relate to, and this was no exception. Thank you so much to St Martin’s Press for sending me a copy of this to read- it releases in 10 days for anyone that wants a wonderful queer romance story with a legit plot.

Louise and Isi have been best friends since college…and also have been in love with each other without the other knowing since then. Louise left Isi high and dry when her mother died, but now she’s back in town and they’re in the same archeological field; aka forced to interact with one another. Will their feelings for each other come to the surface? Or will they go another ten years not dealing with their own emotions?