'Til Heist Do Us Part

Starred review from June 17, 2024
Desai does it again in this thrilling, laugh-out-loud sequel to To Have and to Heist. Simi Chopra and her ragtag crew pulled off the impossible when they stole the Wild Heart necklace from Mafia boss Joseph Angelini on the day of his daughter’s wedding. Unfortunately, Angelini has discovered who stole the necklace and he wants it back—plus Simi’s now ex-boyfriend Jack and 30% interest on the necklace’s value. Simi and her crew have four weeks to turn all three over, or they’ll all be killed. To complicate things even further, Angelini kidnaps a member of their team to ensure they’ll do the job, and Jack’s ex Clare has stolen the necklace and won’t give it to Simi’s crew unless they help her, in turn, steal the Florentine diamond from a billionaire’s underground bunker. This leads to a thrilling series of clever twists and funny turns, led in large part by scene-stealer Simone, a high society lady who finds it perfectly reasonable to wear a 2018 Gucci ski mask to a robbery. Simi and Jack sizzle in their scenes together as their love rekindles. They prove a refreshingly self-aware pair, and their honesty about their insecurities leads them to grow through repeated challenges, rather than just repeating the same argument. The heist and the love story are equally satisfying, resulting in a fun and funny beach read that will delight Desai’s fans and win her some new ones. Agent: Laura Bradford, Bradford Literary.

July 1, 2024
Exes get pulled into another heist--and back into each other's orbit--in this fun sequel. Desai's To Have and To Heist (2023) introduced readers to Simi Chopra, Jack Danger, and their ragtag crew when they stole a multimillion-dollar necklace as a means to clear Simi's best friend Chloe's name. A year later, no one is where they expected to be--their reward money didn't go as far as they thought it would, and Simi and Jack's relationship couldn't stand up to his demanding schedule as a mysterious thief. Now a mafia boss shows up at Simi's office demanding the necklace--plus millions in interest--so Simi has to get the gang back together--including her hacker BFF, a tough-girl driver, a wannabe MMA fighter, and, unfortunately, Jack. He's back in town and willing to do whatever it takes to show Simi's he's ready to settle down (as much as an international thief ever can) and be there for her no matter what--which includes helping her with this heist. Unfortunately, the necklace is in the hands of Jack's ex, a very angry thief named Clare--and she's not willing to forgive or forget how Jack abandoned her. But Simi and company have to work with Clare if they have any hope of getting the necklace back and saving their lives. Although the story is packed with action, near-death experiences, and plenty of violence, Desai keeps the tone light. Simi and Jack's banter, by turns annoyed and romantic, helps things stay breezy--even in the most dire of situations, those two can't keep their hands off each other. Simi's slightly quirky but ever loyal group of friends keep spirits high as they refuse to give up on the job or each other. The details of the jewelry theft can get a little convoluted, but it's best to simply focus on the fun and excitement that Simi's crew brings to the process. A fast-moving action comedy with all the thrills of a summer blockbuster.

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June 21, 2024

Desai (To Have and To Heist) offers another rom-com caper starring Simi Chopra and team. It has been a year since they, with the help of Jack Danger, got the reward money for the diamond necklace job. Now a mafia boss wants the diamonds and the money, and it will take another score to solve the problem. Prepub Alert.

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