This felt like a great idea for a book, but it’s not exactly as advertised.

I was familiar with Mosley’s podcast, but the concept for this sounded intriguing so I was eager to check it out. Mosley is definitely funny and that goes a long way, as do some of the more clever theories about how everything is a scam.

Unfortunately the book departs from this frequently to something more akin to a memoir, and the structure and style of the book read like a podcast script. Which tells me that this is probably a podcast worth listening to, but that it shouldn’t have been turned into a book.

Mosley also engages in a lot of stereotyping that feels exclusionary and mean-spirited, which I didn’t love. And it’s too bad, because a lot of what she says aside from that truly is funny. In all, this is a miss, but it has some moments that are interesting and enjoyable.

I liked that the author narrated her story as well. Honestly, I did not enjoy this book and found it hard to finish. The stories felt like scraps that she gave the peasants to collect a check. This is not a book I would recommend. I don't remember any story being original, well maybe the one about her pastor. For the most part, this was nothing new and barely interesting.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC in audiobook format.

Scam Goddess: Lessons from a Life of Cons, Grifts, and Schemes by Laci Mosley, narrated by the author herself, is a delightful and subversive collection of essays that offers a humorous yet insightful look into the world of scams and the scammer mindset. Known for her popular podcast “Scam Goddess,” Mosley brings her sharp wit and unique perspective to this audiobook, making it an engaging and thought-provoking listen.

Mosley’s narration is a stellar feature, as her lively and charismatic delivery perfectly complements the content. Her voice brings an authentic and personal touch to the stories, making listeners feel as though they are having a candid conversation with a friend. This personal connection enhances the overall experience, drawing listeners into the world of cons, grifts, and schemes with ease.

The audiobook is structured around Mosley’s own life experiences, from her childhood in rural Texas to her adventures in Hollywood. She shares how her scammer instincts have guided her through various stages of her life, offering humorous anecdotes and valuable life lessons. Mosley’s ability to find humor in the absurdities of life, while also providing insightful commentary on societal issues, makes this audiobook entertaining and enlightening.

The Scam Goddess successfully explores the broader implications of scams in our everyday lives. Mosley delves into how we are all, in some way, participants in a world filled with scams—whether it’s through the beauty industry, capitalism, or personal relationships. This perspective encourages listeners to reflect on their own lives and the systems they navigate, making the audiobook not just a collection of funny stories, but a meaningful critique of modern society.

The essays are peppered with true-crime scam stories that inspired Mosley, adding an extra layer of intrigue and excitement. These stories are well-researched and presented in a way that is both informative and captivating, showcasing Mosley’s talent for storytelling.

Scam Goddess is a must-listen for fans of true crime, comedy, and anyone interested in the art of the con. Laci Mosley’s blend of humor, personal insight, and social commentary makes this audiobook a standout in its genre.

As a fan of Laci's podcast, this was every bit as fun as I expected it would be. From the first page, Mosley brings her wit and frank attitude, weaving together personal stories and the wild world of cons in a way that feels both relatable and funny. Her reflections on scamming- whether it’s the beauty industry, capitalism, or just everyday life- are both eye-opening and oddly empowering. What really drew me in was how Mosley frames the idea of scamming as a survival tactic, especially for people who don’t fit into systems designed to keep them out. She shares her own scammer mindset with such honesty that I couldn’t help but root for her and even relate to her, whether she’s hustling her way into Hollywood or navigating sketchy bartending gigs. There’s a nice balance between personal essays and true-crime scam stories that inspired her, and while some parts had me laughing out loud, others made me stop and think about how deeply embedded scams are in our world. Definitely a quick and fun read whether you're familiar with her or not!

Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the audiobook ARC!

Scam Goddess is full of offbeat advice and funny anecdotes. But the parts of the book that really stood out to me where the more serious issues that the author has faced in her life came out. Her words of warning and advice for people in similarly tough positions rang especially true and important due to the change in tone from the more lighthearted and flippant parts of the book. Hopefully, some people who really need to hear these things will encounter this book.

Love love love. Laci is the best and her podcast is a standout. This book is no exception. Love it! Hehehe go read it for real.

This was not the book I was expecting when I decided to read it, but once it started up, I found Laci Mosley’s storytelling to be extremely engaging and I was immediately hooked!

In Scam Goddess, Laci Mosley takes the reader through a personal memoir based around scams and then proceeds to relate her lived experiences to famous and not so famous scams and grifts from history and current day.

This blending of stories creates every relationship with the other and brings to life the real world cause an effect of scams.

I did not already know author/narrator Laci Moseley from my previous acting work or her national podcast, but after reading this book, I do want to know more about!

Mosley narrates her book in a fashion that feels like she’s speaking directly to the audience. Her podcast experience and she easily engages through her personal stories and relaying the related stories.

This is such an enjoyable listen, and Mosley is an excellent storyteller. I can easily recommend this audiobook to fans of the book, I’m Glad My Mom Died, and true crime stories!

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of Scam Goddess by Laci Mosley.

Laci Mosley has a new fan! Did you know she has a podcast? In this book she talks about how through little scams of her own, she finds success in the acting world. She talks about scams big and small, and highlights how most things really are just a big giant scam. Some scams can be run to help the vulnerable, but others can cause a lot of harm to a lot of innocent people. She covers them all, big and small. She's funny, charming, and well researched. I'm excited to listen to her more on her podcast!

I love Laci ( I say this like I know her). I have listened to a lot of podcasts where she guests on for years and of course, her podcast. Scam Goddess is a great book that explores Laci's life and many scams and scammers. Her personal stories are heartfelt and funny. She give a lot of information of what it is like to be an actor and the "scams" that go into it.

Honestly, I usually don't like the earlier parts of people's stories-- how interesting could a little kid be? Well, Laci Mosley was absolutely hilarious as a little girl. I loved how she looked around and made her own choices, even when she was too young to really comprehend the consequences.
I also really liked how she kept saying that everything is a scam. To me that's an exaggeration, but then she tells stories of how she was taken advantage of and the lessons she learned. It can happen to anyone, even someone as obviously intelligent and aware as Ms Mosley.
I finished this quickly, and I was smiling most of the time. The narration was enthusiastic, hilarious and engaging. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me listen to this audiobook.

4 stars.

Laci Mosley's "Scam Goddess" is a riot! I was unfamiliar with her before reading this book, but I am glad I have seen the light. Mosley takes on true crime, acting, college, job hunting, comedy and improv, the grift of religion, friendships, boundaries, social media, a little history, and, of course, scams, in this hilarious memoir. Her anecdotes had me laughing the entire novel. She clearly has natural talent for storytelling! I learned a little bit about a lot of scams while reading this book. I do think listeners of her podcast will have a leg-up on those who don't. I also think you'd be doing yourself a disservice by not listening to this via audiobook. Mosley's voice is perfect, her inflection an important tool for the way she tells her stories with engaging ease and frenetic energy. I dug it, and I think you will, too!

Thank you to NetGalley, Laci Mosley, Hachette Audio, and Running Press Adult for the complimentary ALC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

3.5 stars!

Overall this was an enjoyable how-did-I get-to-where-I-am memoir in essays, with some life advice to readers on how to confidently navigate the world, peppered with a few true-crime scam stories in between. 
 
I would have preferred if this book was either all memoir or all true crime, the mix of both didn't really do it for me. I understand that she has a true crime podcast so wanted to do something different here, but the structure of this with the real scam chapters shoe-horned in between Laci's own anecdotes didn't add much for me.
 
I really enjoyed Laci's stories of growing up/moving to Hollywood, her exploits with the headshots and improv and getting an audition to making her first movie and dating etc etc... HOWEVER for all the talk about how she's a master scammer I kept expecting ...more? Maybe the emphasis should have been on how the world is full of scams and she is out here navigating them, rather than scamming people herself. 
 
If you want to read this I would definitely recommend the audiobook, because Laci is incredibly entertaining and I'm pretty sure I could listen to her read the phone book and still have a fun time. I have never listened to her podcast "Scam Goddess" before, however after reading this I might give it a go!

Thank you to Hachette Audio and NetGalley for the ALC!

This was fun! It was such an enjoyable listen, she's had such interesting experiences and she writes so compellingly. It was a bit on the shorter side and I don't know if she fully fleshed out what she meant by scamming, since it sometimes wasn't the typical use of the word, but it made me laugh so a win in my book!

Scam Goddess: Lessons from a Life of Cons, Grifts, and Schemes wasn't quite the book I thought it was going to be. I figured it would be more true crime, less memoir. That said, I enjoyed the actual book very much. I had never listened to the Scam Goddess podcast prior to listening to this audiobook, but you better believe it's now in my Pandora collection! Contrasting the two, I think I liked the less boisterous Laci Mosley who narrated the audiobook a little better than the Laci who runs the podcast. That's fine, they're really two different Lacis for two different, yet complimentary, works.

So, podcast fans, don't think I'm saying that Scam Goddess: Lessons from a Life of Cons, Grifts, and Schemes is boring. It's anything but, and I laughed a lot along with Laci. I also nodded my head in solidarity, wished I could give her a hug from thousands of miles away, and overall just thanked her for sharing. I wished it had been a lot longer, but Laci Mosley is still young. Plus, I've now got the podcast to enjoy. If Laci decides to write and narrate (because there is no one else who could've done a better job) volume two, sign me up!

I would like to thank Hachette Audio | Running Press Adult for allowing me to experience this NetGalley audiobook.

I picked up *Scam Goddess* because I’m obsessed with scams, MLMs, and all things related! Going in, I didn’t know much about the author, her podcast, or any of the stories shared here, which made the book a fun surprise. The vibrant, colorful cover instantly caught my eye!

I absolutely loved Laci’s storytelling style—she’s super engaging, and I’m now tempted to check out her podcast. While I didn’t agree with some of her commentary, especially when it didn’t align with my biblical worldview, she’s still incredibly entertaining and fun to listen to. Even with a few disagreements, I still found myself enjoying the book.

There were moments that raised some red flags for me, like casual mentions of drug use (she talks about showing up to a date on mushrooms). There was also some heavier content, including discussions of abuse. That said, Laci does navigate these sensitive topics with honesty, and I’m glad she shared her journey out of those tough situations. For those sensitive to these issues, just be aware of potential triggers.

Laci’s humorous take on scams was great, but what I loved most was hearing about her friendships. She speaks so highly of her friends, especially one (whose name I’m blanking on) that clearly means the world to her. Laci did a beautiful job of expressing her love and gratitude for those closest to her.

The book blends personal memoir, scam stories, and a documentary/podcast vibe, which was super fun. I’d definitely recommend the audiobook—Laci’s voice really brings it to life! If you love scams and humor with a touch of personal reflection, this is for l

Thank you #Netgalley for the advanced copy of this audiobook!

I had not listened to her podcast before, but I will be a new listener soon! Loved Laci's perspectives on scams, both her own and those she has covered for her podcast. It is a nice balance of personal and public scams and if she agrees with them or not. Loved hearing about her childhood and the opening story about going "missing". Really set the tone of the story, it felt like you were sitting with a friend listening to her tell stories. Great quick listen!

In this delightful collection of personal essays, Laci Mosley shares her personal experiences with scams and cons while also highlighting notable fraudsters as well. The essays are structured in a biographical timeline, beginning with her childhood in Texas and following her as she pursues an acting career. Mosley uses her personal history to discuss different types of scams: financial, romantic, the beauty industry, Hollywood, etc. Her tone is open, candid, and often hilarious.

As a listener of her podcast, I appreciated the deeper dive into her own history but was slightly disappointed that there were not more stories about "historical hucksters". For that content, listen to the podcast, I guess.

Mosley's narration reflects her skills as a comedian and story teller. As you listen to this, you might feel like you're sitting with a world-wise friend while she shares her experiences over brunch. Her anecdotes are hilarious and her insights will help bolster self-confidence.

This one is for anyone who enjoys the allure of scams or reading about a Black woman breaking into the acting business. You don't have to be a listener of her podcast to give this content accessible.

This review will be posted to Goodreads on September 5, 2024 and to Instagram on September 6, 2024.

If you’re looking for a quick, entertaining read that will have you laughing and also looking over your shoulder, *Scam Goddess* by Laci Mosley is the one! I absolutely loved that Mosley narrated it herself—it adds so much personality and punch to the storytelling. She’s got this incredible energy that makes every scam story and personal anecdote pop.

The book is filled with humor, sharp wit, and some wild tales of scams throughout history. It’s like taking a fun crash course on grifting, conning, and hustling. Mosley’s personal stories blend in well. Highly recommend if you're in the mood for something light, fun, and a little bit mischievous!

I didn’t put two and two together that Laci Mosley was in the iCarly revival! I loved her role in the show (oh how I wish there was another season). So I went into this audiobook quite blind. I loved the concept of breaking the book down into different types of scams: childhood scams, religious scams, Hollywood scams, etc. Laci’s narration immediately captivated me. She had a way with words that drew me in. I look forward to checking out her scam goddess podcast!

Laci mixes in short vignettes of scammers with stories from her life which involve scams in some sort of way and inserts self help style “scam hacks” to win at life.

I just didn’t really connect with this. I enjoy Laci’s podcast when I listen to it but this book felt kind of disjointed and not fully formed. I feel like this book doesn’t fully know what it is. I do really find Laci’s mindset fascinating and she’s so right that life is one giant scam full of one tiny scam after another.