March 25, 2024
Following the news that her father cheated on her mother, white-cued 17-year-old Olivia Owens and her mom must give up their lavish lifestyle; they’re both kicked out of their Rhode Island estate and Olivia loses her inheritance. When her father decides to marry for a third time and Olivia’s boyfriend cheats on her, she resolves to exact revenge. She refuses to let her father get away with his past lying and cheating, especially as her mother’s medical bills mount. With the help of a former high school teacher, Olivia assembles a motley crew of classmates à la The Italian Job and plots a heist to infiltrate her father’s upcoming wedding at the Rhode Island estate. But her quest for vengeance (and search for millions) is complicated by curious wedding guests, apologetic ex-boyfriends, and extended family members with agendas of their own. In this quickly moving story of self-discovery and high-stakes revenge schemes, married creators Wibberly and Siegemund-Broka (Never Vacation with Your Ex) employ Olivia’s sardonic first-person voice to construct a serpentine plot that’s equal parts intense action and organic teenage interactions. Ages 12–up.
April 1, 2024
A Rhode Island teen who went from riches to rags when her parents divorced masterminds a scheme to get even with her father. After her mom leaves her philandering dad, 17-year-old Olivia Owens and her principled, loving mother are left broke. Swimming in medical debt after her exhausted mom falls asleep at the wheel in between jobs and is injured in a car crash, Olivia assembles a madcap cast of peers, plus a former teacher, each of whose skills are required for her plan to steal the codes for her dad's offshore accounts. She intends to execute the heist during her father's lavish wedding to his third wife, who's only 25. Tom Pham, Deonte Jones, Cassidy Cross, and Mr. McCoy each have their own basically noble reasons for needing their cut of the money, though Jackson Roese, Olivia's recent ex, still tries to convince her to abandon her potentially dangerous plan when he shows up at the wedding in a bid to win her back. Twists, obstacles, and double-crossing abound in this totally fun, over-the-top novel featuring smart, witty characters whose first impressions belie their more complex selves. Olivia's frenetic inner thoughts as she navigates each successive snag balance her ongoing hurt feelings from being abandoned by her dad. Most central characters read white; Tom's surname cues Vietnamese heritage, and Deonte is Black. Goofy, poignant, and wildly entertaining. (Thriller. 13-18)
COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
May 15, 2024
Grades 9-12 Two years ago, after her father was caught cheating, Olivia Owens was forced to move out of the mansion she'd grown up in. Five hours ago, she dressed to the nines to attend her famous father's third wedding--and rob him of all the money his prenup kept from her ailing mother. Her revenge will hit him hard, if she and her team of misfits, including an old teacher and a dramatic new flame, can get in and out of the huge wedding event with his account passwords. Unpredictable guests and her (also cheating) ex-boyfriend get in the way of Olivia's careful planning, but she and her coconspirators are determined to make her dad pay--with his millions and with his reputation. Wibberley and Siegemund-Broka, well known for cocreating mainstream romance novels, take an unexpected turn with this heist novel, but it's a welcome one. There is romance here but also a solid underlying plot and a thrilling heist. Recommended for all libraries.
COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
June 1, 2024
Gr 9 Up-Seventeen-year-old Oliva Owens was kicked out of her father's mansion and forced to give up her opulent lifestyle when her parents divorced. Since then, she and her mother work numerous minimum wage jobs to stay afloat but are still drowning in her mother's medical debt. With her selfish and condescending father to blame, Olivia plans an elaborate heist to steal millions of dollars from him at his upcoming wedding. Enter a ragtag group of high school students and one jilted ex-teacher. Together, Olivia and her crew tackle numerous unforeseen obstacles that stand between them and millions of dollars, including a persistent ex-boyfriend, a vindictive ex-stepmother, and a surprise foe readers will never see coming. The plot is both twisty and clever, but the pacing is often slow with many info dumps throughout. The characters are likable despite being flawed by questionable motives. The romance between Olivia and her ex-boyfriend is a central plot point, but it feels a little more logistical than romantic, and may leave readers feeling unsatisfied. The ending is a little unrealistic but is just as twisty and clever as the plot. VERDICT This romance-infused heist novel is ultimately a solid choice for most collections.-Candyce Pruitt-Goddard
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