Cover Image: Heiress Takes All

Heiress Takes All

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for providing this book, with my honest review below.

Heiress Takes All was so much fun, and I was glad to see a well done heist novel for a younger reader. Olivia used to be the heiress in the title until her mother divorced her not so great father. Resolving to recover some money for her family, Olivia plans a heist with a funny cast of characters to take place during her father’s wedding. She finds herself, romance, and that deception is a complicated concept in doing so.

This was a great ride and I thought it brought a little bit of everything for readers looking for adventurous books that mirror some of the shows and movies they may enjoy. Recommended!

Was this review helpful?

This was a super fun read and I loved how big the cast of characters was. The twist was great but I felt like it was a little predictable and I guessed it early on.

Was this review helpful?

Olivia plans to steal millions from her father's online accounts after he cheats on her mom and cuts her off finacially. She works with a crew to handle the heist.

It's a suspense/heist novel filled with humour. The romance is sweet and has lots of touching moments. Jackson is very sweet! I love the over-the-top plot and twists...
Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

Was this review helpful?

How many times do I have to try these authors before I can just admit that they aren't for me? It's me, I'm the problem.

Was this review helpful?

I got the chills so many times toward the end of this book. It completely blew my mind. It managed to surpass my high expectations AND be nothing at all like I expected. Let me preface this with an apology. If I sound stunningly inarticulate at times in this review, I can't help it. My mind is completely fried from this being amazing. I recommend it for those looking for a good suspense book. My only complaint is that in order to make it a standalone, the author gave away too much of the plots of the previous books.

Was this review helpful?

“Heiress Takes All” is an adventurous YA mystery / thriller that I thoroughly enjoyed. Light easy, entertaining read for teens, YA and adults alike.

The first chapter had me hooked, we see our FMC racing through a mansion whilst being chased down by guards, and just as we think she has found an escape an unknown persons crashes the party.

Then we flash back to what brought our heroine to these circumstances and learn all about her plot to run a heist with the goal of stealing millions of dollars from her awful father, with the help of her group of trusty misfits with unique sets of skills.

We also have some romantic tension and chemistry with the likes of her steamy ex boyfriend, Family feuds and lots of twists and action.

I thoroughly enjoyed the ride, this is the perfect pallet cleanser if you’re looking to take a break with a not-so-serious, humorous and adventurous read.

Thank you to Emily Wibberley, Austin Siegemund-Broka, Little brown books for young readers and NetGalley for the EARC!

Publish date: June 4th

Was this review helpful?

This story has it all-a clever heroine with heart, misfit co-conspirators, angry family and a sexy ex-boyfriend. The clever planning of the heist and many, many unexpected twists mKe this a very fun read. Olivia is a great character, but my personal favorite is Jackson. The rest of the crew are perfect. I would recommend this title to all teens.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown Books from Young Readers for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is my first YA read of this author pair- as I've only read their adult romances previously and I loved how their collective voice translated to this genre. This story was full of twists and wildcards and overall was very exciting. I loved the found family aspect along with the character growth. I will definitely be seeking out more of Emily & Austin's YA backlist!

Was this review helpful?

King, Queen, Bishop, Knight, Rook, and Pawn show up for heist in this young adult thriller.

Life has changed drastically for Olivia Owens since her parents got divorced - she and her mother were kicked out of the house, they are cut off from any funds, and her father is getting remarried to a women who could be her sister. Rather than wallow in her unhappiness, Olivia takes matters into her own hands when she chooses to accept her father's wedding invitation. Her plan? Gather her chess pieces and execute a revenge checkmate on her father and his fortune.

The many twists and pitfalls in this thriller made for some entertaining, though at times hard to believe, scenes, and there were some enjoyable subplots woven throughout the story. With this book releasing in June, I can see many readers choosing to indulge in the heist pull side and get a few laughs.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed this book! The characters were very complex and the setting was gorgeous. I loved the little details, to me they really make the story. I would definitely recommend!

Was this review helpful?

Thank you Netgalley and Little Brown Books for Young Readers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

"Heiress Takes All" by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka is a fun and engaging YA heist novel that blends suspense and humor into an exhilarating adventure. If you are a fan of heist movies, such as “Ocean’s 11,” then you will definitely enjoy this book, especially due to the diversity of the crew in the book.

The story revolves around Olivia Owens, a ex-heiress teenager who concocts a daring plan to reclaim her rightful inheritance during her father's wedding. With a carefully assembled team, Olivia navigates the complexities of familial betrayal and romantic entanglements while executing her high-stakes heist.

While the main focus of the book involved the actual heist, there was also a gripping mystery infused with elements of revenge and female empowerment about the truth behind Olivia’s inheritance and who exactly is entitled to that money. I really enjoyed that aspect of the mystery, maybe even more than the actual plot itself. I loved learning all the little clues while also learning more about the characters. There were several intricate plot twists throughout the book that keep you guessing throughout on whether the heist will be successful as well as more about the inheritance itself. I will say that I think there were almost too many twists and unexpected occurrences going on with the heist that, while keeping me guessing, also made me think that there was just too much going wrong. Though I suppose that’s true for any kind of heist, that nothing ever goes according to plan.

I also really enjoyed the cast of characters with each member bringing a distinct personality and skillset to the table. From the chess-themed nicknames to the banter, the ensemble shines with vibrant energy. Particularly, Kevin emerges as a standout character, providing a source of entertainment and intrigue throughout the narrative. I like how each character’s motivations were explored throughout the book, especially a particular character towards the end that was involved in a plot twist I definitely wasn’t expecting.

Despite the high-stakes premise, the book maintains a balance of humor and heartfelt moments. While heist stories often veer towards tension and seriousness, "Heiress Takes All" injects plenty of laughter and levity, making for an engaging and enjoyable read. The romance was sweet in the book as well between Olivia and Jackson, though his utter devotion to Olivia felt a bit unrealistic for teenage characters. He was basically willing to do anything for Olivia, and while this did bring adorable golden retriever energy, I also don’t think there are many teenagers who would actually act like that.

Overall, "Heiress Takes All" was such a fun read that delivers on its promises of suspense, romance, and unexpected twists. While the ending wrapped everything up nicely, it does suggest a potential sequel in the future, which is definitely something I would want to read.

Was this review helpful?

this was pretty good. they tried to make it more like the inheritance games but it did not hit like that, but it was still fine

Was this review helpful?

📚 Heiress Takes All
✍ Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka
📖 YA Mystery
⭐3/5

➡ Olivia Owens used to have it all: a mansion, a spot at a posh private school, popular friends and the best clothes money can buy. But all of that changed when her dad cheated on her mom and kicked them to the curb with nothing to show for their former lives.

But Olivia has a plan for revenge. With a band of misfit classmates, a teacher and a faux wedding cake, stealing millions from her father during his 'wedding of the century' should be no big deal for this mastermind. But what happens when nothing goes to plan? A meddling ex-step mother, a nosy classmate, a kidnapping gone wrong and one traitor later, Olivia's about to find out if her heist will leave her for richer or poorer.

🙏 Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Little Readers for an advanced copy of Heiress Takes All. All opinions are my own.

🎯 What I loved: This was a fun premise- a teenage Ocean's 11 type book set at a wedding with revenge at the forefront of everything. The character players were fun and all had unique motivations for being part of the heist. The book all took place within a short timespan, so it feels fast and like you're reading as things are happening in real-time.

🙅‍♀️ What I didn't: While this had the makings of a really fun adventure, I just didn't find it propulsive. Olivia, the main character, was difficult for me to empathize with. While I understood that she wanted revenge on her father for his wrong-doings, it felt like she spent the entire book referring to 'The Plan' and everything she was mad about vs. actually engaging in the heist/plot. And, where at the end of Ocean's 11 and similar heist movies, you're left wowed by the final twist, there really wasn't one in Heiress. I liked that the story took place in present-tense but because of that, there wasn't a lot of character evolution which I really crave in YA books. I love Wibberley and Siegemund-Broka as an author pair, but this was definitely not one of my favorite books of theirs.

Read if you love:
*adventure heist plots
*love triangles
*mismatched friend groups on a mission

See also: The Wishing Game, Heist Society, Death Prefers Blondes

Was this review helpful?

I found the premise of this book really interesting and was excited to pick it up on NetGalley. The Inheritance Games meets Ocean's 11 sounds like something I'd like. It did not work for me. I just did not like the characters, except maybe Kevin. I could not connect with the FMC Olivia. The romance was a very small part of the story. Overall, the book dragged for me.

Was this review helpful?

5⭐️
These two authors never fail to surprise me. ITS ANOTHER HIT! If you love the inheritance games, you won’t want to miss this. This story is fun and entertaining.

Was this review helpful?

Many thanks to Netgalley and the authors for this ARC!

Olivia is a teenager who, with the help of some schoolmates and a former teacher, is going to steal the fortune that is rightfully hers. The target? Her own father. The place? His wedding.

I already knew the authors' work after reading The Roughest Draft, but I hadn't read any of their young adult yet. And what a delicious surprise!

I expected to like the story just because of their writing, but I also ended up getting hooked because of the fluid and engaging narrative, the chapters are short and always end in a mini cliffhanger, it's impossible to stop reading.

In addition to the heist, we have the romance between Olivia and her ex-boyfriend Jackson. I admit that the cheating plot made me afraid for the couple, but everything ended up working out, phew!

As the wedding unfolds, we see that even with a seemingly solid and flawless plan, Olivia and her accomplices will face many obstacles, nosy guests and surprising twists.

Heiress Takes All is a very funny, entertaining, cute book that at the end leaves signs of having a sequel. I highly recommend it!

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book in exchange for my review! All opinions are my own.

Thiis book was fabulous. It reminded me of both Finlay Donovan and A Good Girls Guide to Murder. I have read other books by Emily Wibberly and Austin SB and they are some of my favorite authors to read. I absolutely loved this book and I would consider reading it again for sure! I 100% recommend it. It's part romance, part mystery and part drama. I think it will be going on my list of favorite books of 2024!


Connect with Me <3

My blog is https://bookreviewsbyjules.blogspot.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/44083250-julia (follow me and/or send a friend request!)

Instagram/bookstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookreviewsbyjules/ (I follow back all Book accounts)

Substack: https://bookreviewsbyjules.substack.com/ (feel free to subscribe!)

Was this review helpful?

I'll admit it. I was a little skeptical when I saw the announcement for this book as I have only ever read the romance books written by these authors but boy was I in for a treat!

"Heiress Takes All" is a YA thriller that really had me rooting for the characters. Olivia, the protagonist and heist leader of a ragtag team was hard not to like, even when she's quite literally committing white-collar crime. Going into this book, I had a clear layout in my mind of how I thought this book was going to go and up to the 60% mark, I was pretty spot on. The twists and turns, however, started coming and I could barely guess what was coming next! Even though the book isn't long by any means, the characters all had really satisfying arcs. I really enjoyed the subplot of romance as it was present throughout the book but wasn't distracting from the actual heist and other pivotal plot points. In addition, the authors set themselves up perfectly for a sequel (which I would read in a HEARTBEAT)!

I would highly recommend this book, especially if you're looking for a fun, YA, quick-read thriller!

Was this review helpful?

this was entirely my fault for not reading the blurb and getting excited at seeing my favorite author duo write a new book. this was a let down for me- not in the sense that it was a badly written book (it was actually quite captivating), but more so that this is not the genre i typically gravitate towards, and for that i was simply uninterested for most of it. it was a cute YA novel i still recommend for fans of knives out or the inheritance games.

Was this review helpful?

What a fun read! The found family in this novel was one of my favorite parts. Had a GREAT time reading this book!!! Overall rating: 4.5/5

Was this review helpful?