This was such a BLAST!

I have been loving a romance with some action recently and this was perfect! I thought that Sara did such a great job with balancing the action moments with her comedic timing.

This book was SO FUNNY. I absolutely LOVED the quirky characters that made up "The Wedding Crew". They all effortlessly elevated the plot and had me giggling multiple times while reading.

I loved the aspect of found family with "The Wedding Crew", that they all needed each other to better themselves.

I thought that Simi had such a great character arc! I loved how she came into her own and was able to find her true calling in life! It made my heart so happy.

If there was one thing that I didn't understand, it was the subplot romance with Officer Garcia. I felt like it wasn't entirely necessary to the plot with Simi and Jack.

Overall a great time!

Thank you Sara Desai, Valentine PR, Netgalley, Berkley Pub, and PRH Audio for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

(received from NetGalley and Berkley) The rundown: Simi is a 29-year-old who is struggling with her career. Hops from meaningless desk job to meaningless desk job, works part-time in the mall candy store, and generally feels unsuccessful and aimless in life. Her best friend Chloe, also a part-time hacker, gets tricked by an online friend and framed for stealing a 25-million-dollar necklace. Simi comes to her aid, thus getting herself involved with the cops and also under suspicion for being an accomplice to the robbery. Also, that night, a mysterious man named Jack attempts to keep the cops from finding Simi. To clear Chloe's name and keep both Simi and Chloe from jail, the girls realize they have to find the necklace and return it. With Jack's help, Simi forms a heist crew. A hilarious cast of characters are included in the hijinks to recover the necklace. And Jack and Simi... end up together... idk now we're getting into the review because... what the fuck?

You might be thinking, Allison, you sound really upset with this book, how ever did it get 2.5 stars from you? The truth is, I was definitely vibing with this book hardcore at the beginning there. Simi was a bit too quirky and weird for me at times but I set that aside for the fun found family kind of energy the story was putting out. It was definitely fun for the first half! But then I remembered this is a romance??? huh??? Heres the book for you:
- they attempt a heist
- theyre quite a silly cast of characters but it kind of works for them (some of the side characters are better than others, aka cristian was such a weird addition to me, and something about it was grating on my nerves and giving me the ick and also felt kind of gross)
- Jack is not a team player and is constantly absent from most of the heist stuff -- side note, there's instant attraction and infatuation between him and Simi
- somehow, despite Jack literally never being around in the story, Simi and Jack fall in love?
- Gage (big murderous muscle of the team) and Chloe steal the show (tbh give me their story)
- Simi has better chemistry and banter with the detective investigating her case than she does with Jack (which i believe is meant to be some sort of half-baked love triangle or angle to stir up Jack's jealousy?)
- oh and my absolute favorite part of this story (not), was the part where Simi continually expresses her frustration w the fact that Chloe and Gage are falling for each other ... yes... she proceeds to explain that her and her best friend have been there for each other for over a decade and is mad(?) that Gage is 'stealing her away' and taking Simi's job of protecting Chloe. what the fuck. i was so confused. SO CONFUSED. it was so weird? this detail of Simi continually having some offhand comment about Gage stealing 'her girl' away from her. like I get it but also i dont??

anyway. I wanted this to be something it wasn't. I was hoping for that 'I can See You' by Taylor Swift energy and it was simply not... that...

Mix a little romance, a little jewelry theft, and a lot of fun banter and you’ll get To Have and To Heist from Sara Desai.

Simi and her best friend have been accused of stealing a multimillion-dollar diamond necklace from a museum, when really they were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. However, the wrong place is the same place Simi meets Jack, who is mysterious and keeps lots of secrets, but also wants to help steal the necklace from the thief and return it to its rightful owner.

Simi’s heist crew is a ragtag group of misfits, but gosh did they worm their way into my heart. The banter between Anil and Emma always stole the show. (I definitely connected with Emma, but that’s a whole other story!)

Was it little predictable - yes, absolutely. Did I love it anyway - without a doubt.

Read To Have and To Heist for:
—Witty Banter
—Diverse Representation
—Cozy Mystery
—Light steam🌶

Thank you to Valentine PR and Sara Desai for the ARC of To Have and to Heist.

A delightfully ridiculous romp of a heist story, with impulsive millennial Simi ready to lay her life on the line for her bestie Chloe after Chloe gets caught up in a jewelry robbery gone wrong-- and Simi ends up in the arms of Jack, a Robin Hood among thieves. This is totally a heist with a side of romance, and I loved every second of it, including the elephant.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
🌶️🌶️ 2/5

Have you ever read a cold open to a book that is so perfect that it immediately lures you in? Not yet? Well then, you’ve gotta pick up this book, because I absolutely loved the start to this one.

This story was filled with so many fun moments and believable twists and turns that kept me biting my nails. With any heist, there are times when things might not go to plan and I love how Sara Desai played those moments out. I will say, I did not see the end coming in this one, but boy did I love it!

The best part of this book for me was the characters! I felt like each member of the heist crew had their own thing, which I have seen neglected by other authors with books that have a full cast of characters. I sincerely applaud this author for creating such well-rounded characters.

The romance in this story was also fun to watch play out with a mix of on and off-screen spice. There was a bit of a love triangle that had me going back and forth. In the end, I think Simi chose the right man for her and I hope we get to see more of them in the future.

Thank you to Sara Desai, Berkley (@berkleypub @berkleyromance), and NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I'm so sad to say that I did not finish this book.

The writing style of the book didn't work for me, and I felt like a lot of the jokes just fell flat. Additionally, I struggled to connect with the characters.

Thank you to Valentine PR and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.

I had so much fun reading 𝘛𝘰 𝘏𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘛𝘰 𝘏𝘦𝘪𝘴𝘵. Simi and her motley crew of would-be thieves stole the show. They were such a fun group of unique personalities that complemented each other in unexpected ways. I love a good romance (and this one was no exception), but the heist planning and execution were my favorite parts of this book. And just when you think the story can’t get any crazier—it does 😂

I also love a good epilogue, and this one from Jack’s POV? Perfection 🤌

Featuring accidental criminals, outlandish situations, and hilarious hijinks, this book is perfect for fans of 𝘍𝘪𝘯𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘋𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘢𝘯! If you’re looking for a light hearted read that’s guaranteed to make you laugh, then look no further!

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝗼𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞:
💎 Jewelry heists
🚓 Amateur criminals
👯‍♀️ Lovable group of misfits
🫶🏼 Found family
♥️ A little bit of romance (🌶️.5)
😂 Laugh out loud moments

This was a fun read, I loved Simi and her crew. It was a great mixed of characters. The romance I wasn't invested in, when Jack left Simi to defend herself I found his reasoning to be flaky and I didn't enjoy that. The side romance was lovely and was rooting for that.

It was a cute read and I gave it 3.5 stars.

This has me laughing from the first page. I love the sarcastic and side comments.

As funny as Simi is, she comes across as ignorant and not knowledgeable for someone of her pedigree.

I enjoyed the shenanigans of The Wedding Crew and would love to read each of their stories and probably watch this on screen one day.

I loved the character development- Simi became a leader and able to stand up for herself so did all of the characters.

I love the diversity portrayed. It is good to find characters eating curry and being called their names before their title (read to discover this yourself).

If you love a bit of action, mystery, heist and of course romance then you will love this.

In To Have and to Heist, lead Simi is prepared to take a bullet, hide a a body, or lie for her BFF Chloe. So when Chloe is framed for a museum heist, Simi is determined to get her out the jam. Even if that means working with a ragtag team of misfits to steal back the necklace from those who really stole it. Along with computer whiz Chloe, Simi gathers together a known thief she can't trust but has the hots for, an Uber driver with the need for speed, a lanky nerd her parents want her to marry, her father's employee who has a side hustle as an escort and keeps trying to get her into bed, her elderly yet promiscuous landlady, and a mysterious thug with a heart of gold. The team set out to plan the wedding of the century--a cover-up for their heist--collect the reward money, and prove to the handsome detective that Chloe is innocent.

If that sounded like a lot going on, it's because it was. This book was a wild ride from start to finish. With dashes of romance and intrigue, this genre-bending story has a lot to offer. There's certainly no dull moments, with action packed in at every turn, but it's hard to accept some of the implausible turns this story takes. It almost seems to be the set up for a series, with the tease of a love triangle and a continued working relationship planning weddings for the gang, but it works as a standalone, too. It's a bit crazy for my tastes--more the implausible Four Aunties and a Wedding than the hilarious Dial A for Aunties--but I have to admit I had fun reading it.

Thanks to Berkley for my eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4 stars - 7/10

This book is so much friggin fun!! ⁣
Ah I couldn’t put it down. It was wildly entertaining. ⁣
⁣
It’s like Oceans Eleven or Kaleidoscope meets The Wedding Planner. We have such a mix of different personalities who come together to try to steal back a necklace that was stolen from a museum, and set up so that Chloe would go down for it. ⁣
⁣
Except Simi never leaves her bestie hanging and goes to try to get her out of the situation, but “Oliver Twist/Jack” is there to keep Simi from getting caught; but she does anyway. ⁣
⁣
Simi is hilarious, has no filter, mouth vomits all truths all the time and is so endearing you can’t help but adore her. ⁣
⁣
The crew they set up is like a band of misfits and before they know it not only are they planning a heist but they’re planning a wedding for a mobsters daughter. ⁣
⁣
It is complete and utter chaos, wildly funny, and even a little romance in there for Simi and Chloe. I adored reading this.⁣
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

I had such a good time reading this!
The story sure as hell will leave you laughing. It was really funny to follow along with Simi and her team. I was rotting for her to succeed in her love life and in her professional life, too. I didn't expect to this be more of a cozy mystery, but it I enjoyed it. I learned so much about the Indian culture reading this book.
If you want an action-packed romcom with Oceans Eleven vibes, then you should read this! Be prepared because you will laugh your a** off while reading!!!
Rating ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Simi is down and out on her luck. Fired from her last job, forced to move back in with her parents after her apartment floods, and drowning in student loans, things are not looking good. When her best friend is then accused of stealing a $25 million necklace, things go from bad to worse. Bound and determined to help her friend, Simi runs into the mysterious and oh so handsome Jack. A thief with ties to the underworld, Jack offers to help clear her friend’s name, if Simi is up for a heist. Enter a ragtag crew of misfits, a high-society wedding, reward money that would change all of their lives, and a little romance… what could possibly go wrong?

To Have and to Heist is a light hearted, goofy rom com with elements of a cozy mystery. Those looking for a silly read, and who can suspend belief at the shenanigans these characters get up to, likely will have an excellent time. As a reader of Desai’s Marriage Game series however, I was quite let down. I am unsure if my reading preferences have simply changed in the time that has passed since I read those books, or if To Have and to Heist was not a good pick for me at this time, but this book really missed the mark for me.

While reading I found the novel to almost be too silly and the language too causal. For a woman in her late 20s, I kept shaking my head every time Simi repeatedly referred to her friend as her “bestie” or called her opponents “bad dudes”. Perhaps it was a misinterpretation on my part, but I was expecting more romance in comparison to how much time was spent focusing on the heist and preparing for it. I would have liked to see Simi and Jack get to know one other more, and to see more depth to their relationship. Lastly, for such a light read, I was expecting a shorter number of pages. At times, the story seemed to drag, and I think a shorter length could have lent itself well.

All in all, with a premise that was clearly meant to be a fun time, a fun time I unfortunately did not have. But as they say different strokes for different folks! If you’re looking for a quirky and silly read, maybe this book will be for you.

Thank you Berkley and NetGalley for access to a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 STARS
This book is so much fun! It’s a classic jewelry heist with suspense, mystery and a seemingly clueless crew that’s a mix of a couple of professionals and mostly newbies.
Simi and Chloe’s friendship is the kind you dream of having, they’d literally bring the tarp and shovel to help each other, no questions asked.
Simi is a quirky character, she has no filter and no fear when she gets fired up. (Which she does often.) It makes for some very hilarious scenes. I love the way her mind works, I love her unique qualities that this wild situation allows her to finally shine and be seen for the amazing person she is.
Jack is mysterious, sexy and definitely hiding some secrets. He’s the pro and the chemistry between him and Simi is immediate and hot!
The rest of the crew are equally quirky and highly entertaining. I love the banter and teasing between them. I love the way they slowly become a real team. When they start to see each other’s strengths and appreciate them. The teasing lends to moments of camaraderie. It’s heartwarming and adorable with endless laughs.
It’s a fast paced story and there’s the threat of danger throughout that kept me turning the pages. It’s such an entertaining story with lovable characters.
There’s plenty of action, so much humor and there are some heartfelt moments between all of the characters.
This one was the total package for me, it’s different than my typical reads so it was very refreshing.
It’s low on the romance and spice scale, but there is so much going on in the story, I didn’t need any more.
The emotional and family aspects were well balanced with the heist plot line.
I really loved this book and the characters so much, it was really entertaining and well written.

I LOVED this book!!

Simi Chopra does not have the best of luck. Her basement apartment is flooded, she recently lost her job, her parents keep on trying to marry her off, and her best friend has been accused of stealing a $25 million dollar necklace. While trying to save her friend, she bumps into a mysterious man named Jack.

Jack while being mysterious, is also charming. There is something about him that Simi is attracted to. Jack offers to help Simi find the missing necklace and steal it back in order to clear her friends name. Simi jumps at the chance, but first she needs a team. Her new ragtag crew is made up of strangers and in just a few days, they have to become an elite heist crew, infiltrate a high-society wedding, and steal the necklace from a dangerous criminal. The crew has a plan but they face a few bumps along the way. From a bride keeping secrets. a detective who keeps showing up, mysterious characters, and Jack trying not only to steal the "Wild Heart" but also Simi's heart.

This book truly has it all. There is romance, mystery, and suspense. It is not only a great romantic comedy novel, but one about a found family. I fell in love with these characters. This book kept me guessing until the end and had me laughing the whole way through. I HIGHLY recommend this book!

Oh my gah! To Have and To Heist caught me by surprise. I’m not usually a fan of “heist” novels, but I loved this story! Simi Chopra is witty, strong, a little bit awkward, but all around awesome!
The FMC Simi and her best friend, aka her “ride or die”, Chloe are very relatable! l connected with Simi because she is sassy, loyal, and boy crazy.
With attractive men at every corner, I didn’t know who Simi would end up with. I’m not disappointed with her choice 🙃
One of the most surprising thing about this romcom is that I was left a tiny book hangover. 😅
The audiobook narrated by Soneela Nankani is a performance not to be missed! Thank you @prhaudio for the ALC

What I loved about this novel:

Found Family
Ocean’s 11 vibes
Friend Goals

Ocean's Eleven meets The Wedding Planner...

Simi Chopra, part of a large, complicated, loving and loud family, finds herself having to defend her best friend, who is being blackmailed into stealing jewelry worth 25 million. From a mobster.

How? Become a wedding planner!

The book is billed as a romance, but really, the romance takes a back seat to the heist shenanigans, until the very end. Simi's crew includes her eighty year old ninja of a landlady Rose, the mysterious Jack who she met hiding from the cops in the bushes when he took her captive, Cristian the womanizing gigolo who works at her dad’s tailor shop, Anil the dorky nerd her parents are trying to marry her off to (who still lives with HIS parents), Emma her race-car Uber driver, and the big, brooding and dangerous Gage who acts as the muscle of the group. But he loves animals.

It's the gang that really made this story work. It's funny, Simi is wish-fulfillment competent and brave. The gangsters are real creeps, and it gets pretty violent toward the end, but romance wins. I hope the author is planning to revisit this group!

Simi Chopra’s day goes from bad to worse starting with a flood that results in her to move back in with her parents who are determined to marry their ever ageing daughter off to a nice boy for the purpose of producing babies, before culminating in her attempted rescue of her best friend Chloe that ultimately leads to her arrest!

This was a fantastic rollicking adventure of a romcom as a wonderful group of oddballs band together with Simi to extricate Chloe from the prospect of a stint in the big house for a jewel heist she’s been set up to take the fall for. Among the crew are Rose, an octogenarian channelling her inner Tom Cruise, Chloe the white hat hacker, Anil aka the Butcher and the tech expert, wheel woman Emma who doubles as an Uber driver, Christian a gigalo or life coach as he prefers. The muscle is brought by badass Gage and the thief, the mysterious Jack aka Oliver Twist who has a habit of appearing at inopportune moments and then disappearing at the first sign of danger – the A Team they ain’t! Along the way they’ll encounter mafia weddings and elephants , stolen jewels and runaway brides, danger and double crosses all in the pursuit of justice….. and of course a share of the reward money. With some fantastic dialogue, even if Simi appears to suffer from verbal diarrhoea whenever she’s faced with a badge in the shape of the swoony Detective Garcia, this was a great introduction to Sara Desai’s books and a part of me hopes it’ll become a series I loved these characters so much.

This pains me to say it as someone who hates TV/movie adaptations as a rule but this is one book I’d love to see on the big screen but only if they didn’t cut a single part.

This was SO FUN! I loved this book so much! It was light hearted, funny, and the wedding crew was such a unique mash up of characters!

I had felt some Finley Donovan vibes mixed with Dail A For Auntie humor and it was just so enjoyable!

Obviously nothing can be taken seriously in this crazy heist book, but that was the point! This took me out of my head, made me laugh, and just enjoy the ride!

✨ Review ✨ To Have and to Heist by Sara Desai; Narrated by Soneela Nankani

The perfect blend of heist + romance + comedy!

This is the second book by Desai that I've read and I loved it! This one reminded me a lot of Alisha Rai's Partners in Crime in how it blended thriller and romance and a South Asian main character!

Simi's in a string of bad luck, but she'll always help out her best friend Chloe. Early in the book, she speeds to help Chloe who got set up in the theft of a priceless necklace from a Chicago museum. Simi stumbles on Jack in the bushes, and somehow becomes a heist leader to get Chloe free. Along the way she gathers her own crew of misfits, plans a wedding, and all sorts of shenanigans ensue.

I loved the audio narration, and I laughed frequently throughout -- especially at all the fun characters it brought in. Definitely the perfect beach or vacay read!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: thriller/mystery + f/m romance
Setting: Chicago
Reminds me of: More diverse Oceans Eleven + Alisha Rai's Partners in Crime
Pub Date: out now!

Read this if you like:
⭕️ heist stories
⭕️ rom-coms that are on the more comedic side of the scale
⭕️ Chicago / Lake Michigan settings
⭕️ misfit found families

Thanks to Berkley, PRHAudio and #netgalley for advanced copies of this book!