As an avid fan of Krista and Becca Ritchie's work, I was thrilled to dive into their latest book, "Dishonestly Yours." Having received an ARC, I found myself captivated by a story that stands uniquely apart from their previous works.

The heart of "Dishonestly Yours" lies in its brilliantly crafted characters and their undeniable chemistry. Phoebe and Rocky, the two protagonists, are delightfully grumpy yet incredibly endearing. Their witty banter and undeniable tension kept me eagerly turning pages, always on the edge, waiting for their dynamic to unfold.

What sets this book apart is not just the romance, but the sense of found family that permeates the narrative. The secondary characters are as richly developed as Phoebe and Rocky themselves, adding layers of depth and authenticity to the story.

Krista and Becca Ritchie's writing shines in "Dishonestly Yours," seamlessly blending humor, heart, and palpable emotion. It's a testament to their skill that they can deliver a romance that feels both familiar and refreshingly new.

In summary, "Dishonestly Yours" is a must-read for fans of contemporary romance. With its magnetic characters, sparkling dialogue, and irresistible tension, it's a book that will stay with you long after you turn the final page.

4/5 ⭐
ARC REVIEW!!! one of my most anticipated reads of 2024, and it did not disappoint! when i got accepted for this arc, i was so incredibly happy and shocked! the preface of this story was so interesting to me and like nothing i've read before! as always, the writing style was super engaging and i was hooked from the start. i was always itching to read what came next. i couldn't put this down once i started it!

i will forever read anything that krista and becca ritchie write. their stories and worlds never fail to disappoint me. nothing will ever be able to top the core six for me, but these characters were super enjoyable and i can't wait to see what comes next! the second half of this book is really what drew me in and i can't believe that cliffhanger! impatiently waiting for the second book 🤭

read if you like:
-best friend's brother
-forced proximty
-con artist families
-found family
-dual timeline/pov
-morally grey characters

thank you to krista and becca ritchie, berkley, and valentine pr for this arc in exchange for my honest review!

*THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS*

First and foremost, consider this my formal written complaint towards Krista & Becca because YOU CAN'T JUST END THE BOOK LIKE THAT?????????

Second of all, thank you to Valetine PR and the twins for granting me the opportunity to receive an ARC of Dishonestly Yours. I'm eternally grateful for you 🍓❤️

And now let's get into the review, shall we?

This was SUCH a unique storyline. I loved every single character that was introduced and the plot had be enticed from start to finished. I love a good heist/con artist trope so this checked off all my boxes.

Phoebe and Hailey's friendship is what stood out to me the most. Talk about doing anything and everything to protect your best friend (IYKYK) 🥺

And I feel like this goes without saying but BRAYDEN ROCKY TINROCK THE MAN THAT YOU ARE...... *SPOILER* I about needed to call an ambulance when I read the line "Safe word. Pick one. Now." JFC

The tension was impeccable. The drama was prominent. And this would be a KBR review without me commenting on the found family. Yes, I know most of them are related (or are they? 👀) but it still hits. Trevor, Nova, and Oliver also stole the show and I can't wait to see their stories progress as the books continue.

5 STARS. NO NOTES.

Dishonestly Yours is such a fun read! This book has found family, suspense, romance, fake dating, con artists, and my personal obsession: morally grey characters with excellent banter. Krista and Becca Ritchie create some of the most interesting characters. I absolutely adore Rocky and Phoebe. They both have so much to discover and heal from, and Rocky's inner monologue was SO fun. I was so invested in the story, which made the book really hard to put down. I already need the next book in my hands because I need to know what happens after that ending twist. (I was left repeatedly yelling "NO" at my kindle.)


Thank you to Valentine PR and Krista & Becca Ritchie for this ARC❤️

The first series i ever read to get back into reading was The Addicted Series! I was obsessed with it. Now here I am with a special ARC book of Dishonestly Yours. Also favorite crime is LITERALLY this book & NOBODY can tell me otherwise!!!!!!!

❣️SPOILER FREE REVIEW❣️

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.7

I have enjoyed reading this book SO much. It has such an interesting story line that I have never read before! Rocky & Phoebe are childhood friends and also a part of a con artist family. This book takes us through their journey and we get to see Phoebe & her best friend Hailey (also ROCKYS SISTER BTW, also arguably my favorite character) decide to run away & start completely over. I loved the interactions and workings of the different siblings and seeing a little bit of them because i know we will get to learn more! There are so many characters which is always fun! This book SCREAMED the slowest slow slow slow burn - not like typical slow burn because we already know they want each other but geeze, take me through a rollercoaster and keep me at the top.

There are so many layers to these characters especially being that they are involved in crimes and schemes. There are so many characters that play a part in this book that i cannot possibly wait for book 2 in this series!!!!! ALSO WARNING THE BOOK ENDS ON A CLIFF HANGER OK!!!!!!😭😭😭

If you enjoy:
🍓Found Family
🍓Grumpy / Grumpier
🍓Best friends older brother
🍓HIGH angst
🍓Crime families
🍓MORALLY GREY MEN
🍓Coastal small town / Wealthy towns
🍓Hurt her & YOU DIE

Then please read this!

I can finally cross “read book featuring con artists” off my list. KBR had me from the beginning. Phoebe and Rocky are con artists but have also been manipulated from day one. But through it, these two formed an unbreakable bond that stemmed to real feelings

🍓It’s strange to feel so bound to someone but to have never kissed outside of a con. Yet, the way his fingers hook mine is intimate and loving. “What are you to me now?” I whisper.
He shakes his head, uncertain, but he grips my gaze. “I’m just your Rocky.”🕷️

Most of this takes place in Victoria, Connecticut as Phoebe and Hailey want to live a life without being con artists. I think changing the way you live your life after living it one way for so long is a hard cycle to break. This book was a web of lies told as truths. Phoebe and Rocky finally coming together had me cheering. The end left me shocked!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️
😢

4 stars 2.5 spice

Im not sure how I am going to make it until the next book! I became so immersed in this small-town drama of Victoria, Connecticut, and the web of characters. I can definitely see myself completely obsessing over this group.

The first 25ish percent of this was a lot of build-up and character introduction, but it really set the groundwork necessary to understand the family dynamics and become attached to these characters. Everyone had such distinct personalities, and the writing made it feel like watching a TV series unfold.

I absolutely loved the flashback chapters that showed jobs Phoebe and Rocky had done together. This is where I really saw the chemistry and tension between them develop for the first half of the book, and then all the little details in the present chapters, including motives, began to make sense. I really fell for Rocky and Phoebe as they came to terms with their feelings for one another and how to navigate them in their world.

The ex-con artist group meets wealthy, country-club small town was so different, and I loved it. The setting was immersive and the way the story unfolded has me addicted now. I was shocked by some of the plot twists and NEED the next book after the way this ended.

Im really excited for this series and definitely think you need this on your TBR asap!

Tropes:
- best friends older brother
- ex-con artists
- found family
- wealthy coastal small town
- angst and tension
- “its always been you” vibes
- plot driven
- banter


Thank you Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks, NetGalley and valentine PR , for the e-ARC!

The concept of two con artist families is really intriguing, and the first half of the book had me interested. However, after a certain point, it lost its momentum, and the romance didn't really grab me.

There are a lot of characters, and I'd love to see them get thier own book. Even though this one didn't fully work for me, I'm curious about the rest of the series and what happens next with these characters.

It wasn't bad, but it felt like it never really took off. The romance lacked the spark and stakes I was hoping for. Still, the world and characters have potential, so I'm looking forward to the next one.

Dishonestly Yours is the first book in the Ritchie's newest series, Webs We Weave.

This story is told in dual POV and is definitely a slow building story. Please keep that in mind as this story is worth that build up.

Dishonestly Yours follows Phoebe, Hailey and Rocky as they try to separate themselves from their con artist families. As I said, it's told from dual POV's but also has flashbacks and this allows readers to better understand how these three are intertwined. This story mainly focuses on Phoebe and Rocky, but Hailey is strong secondary character and adds great value to this story.

My only main issue was the depth of relationship between Phoebe and Rocky. Yes, the flashbacks help, but I wanted a deeper level of these two in the now, more vulnerability. I won't go into details as I do not want to spoil anything, but for me, I wanted more from them both.

Overall, a great start to this series. I cannot wait to see where series goes and what the Ritchie's bring us next.

***Honestly very little of the plot can be talked about without wing a spoiler so read this with caution even though I avoided any major spoilers***

I was GRIPPED with the tension of this book! Honestly I had no idea where this story was going (or what it was about, lol, always going into books blind) but I 1000% trusted the Ritchie sisters to finish this book off perfectly and they did, even though it ended in a CLIFFY!! 😍 I loved the mystery of the characters backgrounds, and I even loved that this book leaves us with so many questions! The tension between Rocky & Phoebe was amazing and I’m just really loving how different this book is than the Halloway series!

"It's always been my job," I breathe. "Loving you, though, that wasn't a role I was given, Phoebe. Loving you has been the most authentic and natural thing I've ever done in my life. And I don't protect you just because I'm told to. I protect you because I'm yours. You've had me since I was five.”

I love a best friends sibling romance, (especially when it’s not forbidden and they are all more friends) and the found family between the two families was so fun! The Ritchie sisters always know how to write great “squad goals” and I just loved the banter between the six ‘kids’ so much!

"I'm your Phoebe."
The purest emotion brims his eyes. "I'm your Rocky."
^^^But like they are grifters so the names they use they have chosen for each other 🥹🥹

🍓Best Friends Older Brother
🕷️Childhood Friends to Lovers
🤍Their both Grifters
🕷️Secret Pasts & a dash of thriller plot
🍓Found Family
⚠️Check CW! (Discussion of SA)

Final Rating: 4.5⭐️, 2.5🌶️

WHEN THE HECK IS THE NEXT BOOK COMING OUT I NEED TO KNOW!

Thank you @valentine_pr_ and @kbmritchie for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

3.5✨ Rounded up!

This was such a fun and different read for me! I really like the concept of con artist, I have never really read anything like that before. Where I struggled with this book was honestly, I was confused a lot of the book. Lol the beginning of a new series is always about of information, new characters, etc, but I just felt like the book didn’t flow very well. One minute we’re in the present and the next we’re 3 years later, then present, then jumping back 4 years later? And it was at such random times when it would jump back to the past. Make it make sense.

Other than that I had a lot of fun reading this book, it’s a great concept and the last few chapters had me in a literal chokehold. I can’t wait to see how the rest of the series plays out!!

What to expect :
🍓Best friends brother
🕷️Con artist families
🍓Grumpy x Grumpy
🕷️Wealthy coastal town
🍓Dual POV
🕷️first in series
🍓slow burn

Thank you KBR NetGalley and Valentine PR for the ARC 🤍

HOLY COW! I am OBSESSED with this! It was my first book by these authors and I’ll definitely be reading more. This was the slowest of burns, and I absolutely ate it up. I am beyond in love with all the characters in this book, and I can’t wait to see what comes next for them! It did end on a major cliffhanger, so I’m holding my breath for the next one!

The whole plot of this book is absolute perfection. A whole group of con/ ex con artists?? Sign me up. Rocky and Phoebe and the TENSION?!?! Come on.

If you know me, you know I absolutely LOVE the Addicted/ Calloway sister series. This book is giving SO MUCH of those vibes!! There are two families (each has 3 siblings) so are we having a little core 6 moment here?? I can’t wait to find out!! I also can’t wait to see if we will get the other characters stories like we did in their previous series!

After a bad con, Hailey and Phoebe decide to take their chances and move to Connecticut to start a new life with no cons, crimes, or lies. They must learn the hard way of how to survive without their parent’s help and their scams. How difficult will this be? You’ll have to read to find out!

Read this if you love family/found family, enemies to lovers, slowburn, tension, and just a lot of fun!

But can we talk about that ending??? Wait I won’t spoil it for you. But seriously?!! How am I supposed to wait for the next one???

Truly think this will be a new amazing series and I can’t wait to see what Krista and Becca do with it. I know I’ll eat it up regardless, but I am still so hyped! I’m obsessed!!

ARC review.
Dishonestly Yours
This is my honest to goodness review on this book, despite being an ARC reviewer. 🩵
All the dang stars. I was nervous going in because there were already mixed reviews. But I don't get why. I was there for it. All of it. Rocky is the perfect grump. Phoebe is possibly my most favorite FMC. This book was it. The twist? Wasn't expecting it! My only downside to it was that cliffhanger. MAN. I NEED to know what happens. IMMEDIATELY. Please and thank you. Definitely recommend.

🕷️ #DishonestlyYours: 🍓⁣
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Thanks for the free book @prhaudio @berkleyromance #BerkleyPartner #PRHAudioPartner ⁣
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“Lust is too ruthless, and love is too tender”. ⁣
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When I went to Love Y’all Fest this year, the lines for Krista and Becca Ritchie were out the door! I had never read one of the books, but I knew I needed to after seeing the hype. So when I found out there was a new series starting (you know I’m a series sucker) I figured this would be the perfect time!⁣
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I love a con artist background in a book. I love seeing the web of lies (no pun intended for this spider) they weave and how they masterfully get out of it. I also really like how angsty and messy this book is. Cause y’all, it is capital “M” messy. But it’s life. It’s not cookie cutter and I like it a lot. I was a little on the weary side for the target demographic as it teeters between YA, NA, and adult, but regardless, I liked it.⁣
⁣
Audio is the way to go. It’s dual POV chapters and we get dual narration. Loved this combo of Aaron Shedlock and Carly Robins. I think they really brought out these characters.⁣
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Overall, a hit for me. I like how the series started and can’t wait to see what happens next. Out today!⁣
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QOTD: Any 4th plans? (To my Canadian friends, did you do anything fun on Canada Day?)

I received a copy of this book from the publisher/author to review for Stephanie's Book Reports.

This is the story of Phoebe and Rocky. I love a book where you gain a found family. This one has that in it and so much more. Now I will warn you that this book might start out slow for you. It could have been me and my mood, but I did find it hard to get into a first. I am so glad that I didn't lay it down and kept going. From that point where It started to pick up for me was when I really got invested in these characters. I don't even know how to review this book. I sure don't want to give anything away. This story revolves are changing your life. Reinventing yourself in some way and the temptation to go back to what you know is right in front of your face. There is a lot on the line, some serious stuff on the line. This book has it all. Twists and turns. Lies and manipulation. Deception is a living breathing thing in this book. I could not lay it down once it picked up. You do not want to miss this book. You can fall in love with these characters and be just as invested in them as I am.

Dishonestly Yours was a very intriguing and enjoyable read. The characters, romance and premise were highly entertaining. This is the first book in the Web We Weave series and was honestly just a great start.

It is dual POVs of the main characters, Rocky and Phoebe, and there are some great tropes like, best friend’s brother, both grumpy characters, it’s always been you, con artists families, and a wealthy coastal town.

I would recommend checking the content and trigger warnings before reading just in case, as there were mentions of sexual assault.

The overall premise was highly entertaining and unique. I loved the con artist aspect and the characters trying to leave that life behind. There were a lot of complex, interesting and intense moments. As well as some amusing, sweet and heartfelt ones. All the side characters were interesting and the found family aspect was beautifully written.

Both Rocky and Phoebe had such interesting storylines and backgrounds. Their complex feelings towards their family, the conning, and their romance were perfectly explored and written.

The romance between Rocky and Phoebe was very intense, passionate and angsty. Their development was very much a slow burn but filled with a lot of sexual tension, devotion and love. The way that they supported and fought for one another was just amazing. The open door spice did not disappoint as well.

I will say though, some aspects that I struggled with this book was the constant push and pull from Rocky. At times his attitude and stubbornness got a bit frustrating. Additionally, the first half of this book was quite slow paced and didn’t pick up until the middle and ending.

The last few chapters were high stakes and intense. There were a lot of moving components and unanswered questions. This book does leave off an a cliffhanger, which I was not expecting but thoroughly enjoyed.

Overall, just a fantastic start to a new series with some amazing characters and a unique premise.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I’m intrigued by the start to this new series, though this one definitely feels like it takes a long time to set the stage with our characters, which detracted from the story for me. It’s one part buddy story and one part romance. You have Phoebe and Hailey, BFFs who are moving away and trying to go straight from the con life, and you have Phoebe and Rocky, sometime con partners and romantically entangled and off-limits at the same time. Phoebe is the feminine bait in all their cons, and it’s almost a relief for her to have a chance to be normal for once and have a mundane job, no matter how stressful it is. Hailey is the goth-appearing girl, who is secretly a sweetheart. She does the recon on the jobs. Rocky is Hailey’s brother. He’s cynical, but he’s fiercely protective, and there’s no way he’s going to let the girls do this on their own with no support—without the ‘family team’ that normally surrounds them or the financial means. Seeing the history between Rocky and Phoebe play out against the present made me root for them even harder. You just want them to make it work. There’s also the fantastic ‘con family’ they’re all a part of. The six of them, three siblings in each actual family, are so supportive. They’re unwilling to let it go when the girls disappear to the other side of the country, dogging them and showing up on their doorstep. They’re the family who will step up for you, protect you, and fight for you. I can’t wait for more of the entire cast.

I was so excited when I got the ARC for this book because Krista and Becca are the authors of my all-time favorite series!

This was a great introduction to what I’m sure will become another one of my favorite series. The writing was incredibly engaging, and the plot was so fun! I haven’t read a book quite like this before. I loved every character, especially the friendship between Phoebe and Hailey 🥺. The tension and angst that built up between the main characters was perfectly executed, and the little bit of spice we did get was perfection. The drama, characters, plot, and banter was everything!!!

I can’t wait to see where this series goes. The ending!!!!!! I need the second book now!

Thank you, Berkley and NetGalley, for an ARC 🍓🤍

・———— ・ ✦୨୧✦ ・———— ・

“I’ve always been dishonestly yours. And it looks like that’s not changing.”

When I read the synopsis for this book I immediately knew it was right up my alley. I expected angst, tension, banter, and of course Krista & Becca Richie delivered. Phoebe is tough and self assertive, yet vulnerable and insecure about her role in the cons, which honestly pulled at my heartstrings reading about it. Similar to Phoebe, Rocky is rough on the outside and clashes with her like no other, but deep down he has a soft spot for Hailey and Phoebe (WHICH I LOVE). I am so excited to not only follow their love journey/hardships, but also their relationships amongst family and friends in the next books.

Thank you so much Valentine PR, NetGalley, and Berkley Publishing Group for sending me an e-arc!!!


・———— ・ ✦୨୧✦ ・———— ・

4 ⭐