About the Book
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Authors:
- Emily Wibberley
- Austin Siegemund-Broka
- Voices:
- Cis Girl
- Straight
- White (Non-Specified)
Cover Story: Delectable
BFF Charm: Eventually
Talky Talk: A Decent Risk
Bonus Factors: Heists, Found Family, Plot Twists
Anti-Bonus Factor: Dan Scott Award for Awful Parenting
Relationship Status: Give Me A Disguise
Cover Story: Delectable
I love this cover; it’s eye-catching and relates not only to weddings in general, but one of the characters is an aspiring baker and the cake is a bit part of the heist plan. Having the title carved into the frosting by a sneaky hand is, well…the icing on the cake. *ba-dum-cha*
The Deal:
Life threw once-heiress Olivia Owens a few curveballs over the last few years: her father cheated and divorced her mom, kicking them out of their Rhode Island mansion and leaving them with nothing. Now she’s decided that she and her mom deserve what her mother was denied with no prenup: a portion of her father’s wealth. She’s spent the last few months putting together a rag-tag group of wannabe-thieves who all have their own reasons for needing extra cash, and the day of reckoning is finally here. It also just so happens to be her father’s wedding day to his third wife.
BFF Charm: Eventually
I never disliked Olivia, but I don’t know if she was bestie material at the start. She’s clearly been through a lot, and while she’s had a lot of hurt, I do think in the long run it’s going to make her a more empathetic person (I think she’d agree). I can always count on Wibberley and Siegemund-Broka to give us a sometimes unlikeable but complicatedly layered main character.
Swoonworthy Scale: 4
Olivia broke up with her practically-perfect boyfriend when she learned he was cheating on her, but this was all after he’d already been invited to the wedding. Of course, it’s not a heist story without some wrinkles, and a certain someone is determined to win Olivia back.
Talky Talk: A Decent Risk
This is a bit of a different kind of plot for Wibberley and Siegemund-Broka, who’ve often leaned more romance than thriller in their writing. It can be a challenge to translate the high-stakes of a typical heist story into YA-appropriate levels of thrills, and, for the most part, I think they pulled it off. Were some things a bit hokey? Sure. But Olivia’s righteous anger felt real, and we’ve seen enough shitty, real-world parents to know that there’s plenty of Dashiell Owens out there. I was willing to suspend any disbelief I may have had and go along for the ride.
I did think the first few chapters were tougher to get into (they do that whole “drop you in the middle of the action and then rewind a few hours” story beat) but I eventually caught the groove and it was smooth sailing from there.
Bonus Factor: Heists
I think it’s human nature to enjoy a good puzzle, and a heist has everything it takes to keep us engaged. Of course nothing about the plan ever goes quite right, but isn’t that half the fun?
Bonus Factor: Found Family
What would a heist be without a team? We don’t get to spend a TON of time with the entire group, but I liked seeing how they would pop up within each of Olivia’s heist phases and watch her soften up to them, because sometimes it really is about the friends we make along the way.
Bonus Factor: Plot Twists
Because this is a teen heist story about stealing millions of dollars from her father, I did spend most of the book wondering if Olivia was going to get the money and then have to, like, do the moralistic thing and not actually take it, or realize along the way money isn’t everything (or some such nonsense). But I won’t ruin the story for you, so enjoy also wondering about this and other plot bunnies until you finish the book!
Anti-Bonus Factor: Dan Scott Award for Awful Parenting
The way Dash Owens is written makes him sound like a Joe Rogan, jerk-for-shock-value type, but if he came from old money (I actually have no idea if Joe Rogan grew up rich or not and really don’t care to Google this to fact-check myself). He is a slimy weasel who deserves to lose every penny he has. I also found Olivia’s relationships with her step-moms interesting and complex, and while they aren’t as bad as Dash, neither woman is that great.
Relationship Status: Give Me A Disguise
I mean, if we were REALLY going to be thieves together, Book, I’d probably be the worst person to be on your team because I’d be a nervous wreck the whole time, plus I’m a horrible actor, but if we’re talking fantasy (and we are) then sign me up to infiltrate the catering staff!
FTC Full Disclosure: I received my free review copy from Little Brown Young Readers. I received neither money nor peanut butter cups in exchange for this review. Heiress Takes All is available now.
