Let me preface this review saying that I know of the Colby Wilkens identity controversy. When I requested/accepted the book, I honestly didn’t focus on the name. I focused on the fact that it was a sapphic book and said “yes” to the dress so to speak. It wasn’t until much later that I recognized the name and said, “Damn.” I still took a book from a publisher in exchange for an honest review. So here it is….

I have to admit to being a little excited to get a fun sapphic Romancing the Stone (Dir. R. Zemeckis, 1984) book and for the most part it is action-packed. There are clues, bad guys, a solid backstory, and some romance thrown in. Okay, the romance is heavily thrown in (chuckle). For the most part, it is fun if you can separate yourself from reality for a bit.

For professors who have gone out on expeditions before, they are pretty ignorant. Here is a small spoiler to give an example, how do you not know that a flashlight lit up in the dark allows the bad guys to find you? There are a couple of things that while reading will take you out of the story because you will be scratching your head saying, “huh?!” I think the biggest for me are the sex scenes. I get that the author is trying to create chemistry and show that there is heat in the story, but seriously this would not happen - any of it. There might be a glance or two, but you’re bleeding, freezing cold, injured, and with a crew of bad guys chasing you. Let’s just stop and have some nookie because I just can’t keep my scratched and bleeding hands off you. (smh)

The second-chance romance is okay. I find the time frame confusing between when Isi’s mother died and Dylan broke up with Lou. At first it seems like it is a distance apart, so it’s confusing how Lou doesn’t know that Isi kept looking for her mother and deserted her. Then in another part of the book, the events are all lumped together. Maybe it’s because for Isi they are all lumped together and that’s why it reads that way, or the timeline isn’t clearly laid out.

I did have fun with If I Dig You. It’s corny just like an ‘80s movie. I escaped for an afternoon chasing treasure and shook my head from time to time and I’m okay with that.

This book wasn't really for me. I liked the National Treasure premise, but it just didn't feel right to me. I understand suspending disbelief in order for things to make more sense in fictional worlds, but I couldn't get past how much I needed to just let things happen in order for the plot and book to make sense.

Additionally, upon reading other reviews, this book has been pulled from publication and there is controversy around the author. I am leaving this review because I received this ARC in exchange for a review from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/St. Martin's Griffin.

This was a fun, sapphic National Treasure-style romp with just enough angst to keep my little BookTok heart fed. If I Dig You gave me everything I wanted on paper—buried treasure, emotional pining, mutual survival trauma—but I didn’t fully fall head over boots for it. The chemistry between Isi and Lou was there, but the pacing felt a bit uneven, like the romance and the action-adventure elements were sometimes fighting for screen time. That said, I still devoured it in a weekend and would 100% watch the chaotic gay treasure-hunting movie this deserves to be. Not my all-time fave, but definitely a solid "add to your TBR if you love mess, mud, and mutual yearning."

It has come to my attention that this book has been pulled from publication due to the author fabricating her Native American heritage. Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for my advanced digital copy, but I will not be finishing it at this time.

I was recently made aware of the controversy and lack of publishing for this book. I did not start this book and I am choosing not to read it at this time. Thank you NetGalley and SMP for the opportunity.

This is a two-part review. The story is great. “If I Dig You” is a spicy sapphic romance with some treasure hunting. This part of the book was fantastic. I enjoyed the story. That is a 4 star review

The second part of the review is how The Tribal Alliance Against Frauds found that Colby Wilkens is not of Cherokee and Choctaw descent as she claimed. This is negative stars.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | St

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
3.5 stars
I enjoyed the archaeological aspects of this book and the friends to lovers trope. This was a unique story and it did keep you on the edge of your seat.

Not reviewing after belatedly discovering the author lied about being Native American. Super gross that white authors keep doing this, literally what is the point???

This was a big miss for me. The pacing was absolutely horrible, the characters I didn’t care for, the romance was lackluster at best, in the end I was skimming and hate reading. I checked review pages to see if it was a me issue and discovered the drama and discussion surrounding the author. This was my second attempt reading this author and the second book I’ve read that’s been a big miss. At this point I’ll be moving on from this author and not picking up anymore of their works.

Thank you NetGalley for this review copy. Somehow I couldn't get past the miscommunication and whiny characters. I wanted to love this book and just couldn't. *sigh*

Isadora Ross and Louise Morgenstern are both archaeologists and have been best friends for years. They have different areas of interest and Lou has returned from a year in Turkey. Isa felt Lou had broken a promise by being away and has very strong feelings for her. Isa has been spending her free time searching for clues of what happened to her mother. She was seeking ancient lost Cherokee gold and had disappeared fourteen years previously. When Isa finds her mother’s journal she and Lou start seeking the legendary gold. But they aren’t the only ones who want it.

I looked forward to this as a f/f romance, with a cute cover and an adventurous storyline. The characters are likable. And I like the pent up longing between the pair. There are villains wanting the two to find the treasure for them. Some of the plotting stretches the imagination, think Indiana Jones type adventure. But there is realism in surviving in the wilderness. This takes place in the same world as the author’s previous book ‘If I Stopped Haunting You”. I have read that as well but these are stand alone novels.

I wasn’t aware of the controversy surrounding this author and this book before reading it. I am not changing my rating because of the issue. But I do understand why others lowered their rating and I was glad to have their reviews so I could be more informed. One person said this book has been pulled from the publication schedule. I am not sure if that is true but am still leaving the review for the ARC edition I read.

ABSOLUTE PERFECTION. I loved this book so much. It's "The Mummy" meets "Indiana Jones" with indigenous and LGBTQIA+ representation. What else do you need? Not only was it a fun adventure, but I was LOLing at parts and the romance was scorching. I love these two!

Finished this book before I became aware of the controversy surrounding the author.

If addressed, will leave my honest review.

I will not be providing feedback as I believe this book has been pulled from publication. If anything changes in the future and the controversies around this book are resolved, I would be happy to review at that time. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the copy of this book.

No.

I really just don’t want to expand that. This was just a no.

Thank you to Netgalley and SMP for the arc though

Give me ALLLLL the lesbian romance books!!!!! I love a book I can relate to, and this was no exception. Thank you so much to St Martin’s Press for sending me a copy of this to read- it releases in 10 days for anyone that wants a wonderful queer romance story with a legit plot.

Louise and Isi have been best friends since college…and also have been in love with each other without the other knowing since then. Louise left Isi high and dry when her mother died, but now she’s back in town and they’re in the same archeological field; aka forced to interact with one another. Will their feelings for each other come to the surface? Or will they go another ten years not dealing with their own emotions?

DNF

I was sent an ARC of this book on Netgalley and accepted it based on the description. I DNF'd this author's previous book and have since learned of the controversy that she may have exaggerated her Native American Heritage. As a white person it's not my place to say if this has good Native American representation or not, but I suggest seeking out native reviewers who can speak to this.

I did attempt to read this, but the pacing was immediately slow for me. I also wasn't a fan of the characters.

Thanks Natgalley and St. Martin's Griffin for providing this ARC to me.

I will not be leaving a positive review for this book based on the controversy of this author. A dissappointment because the cover is really cute.

This book was not for me despite me being a huge Indiana Jones and Mummy lover. One of the FMC's was insufferable in a bad way, and the dialogue was too immature for my tastes. It was just overall meh to me.

Thanks to NetGally for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I read about 20% of the book before another book reviewer let me know this book was pulled from publication. I’m not sure if you eventually plan on releasing it, but I will not be continuing the book and so I won’t be reviewing it on my bookstagram. Here are my thoughts of what I did read:

I liked the treasure hunting aspect of the story. I love a book with adventure, so that aspect of the book really appealed to me. I like the friends to lovers, but I was getting a little annoyed with their miscommunication. Overall it was interesting, but after I found out about the author’s false native identity claims it soured the book for me.

Thank you!