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Heiress Heists #2
Heiress Among Thieves
Stealing from her rich family was supposed to be a fun winter getaway for teen mastermind Olivia Owens, but when a rival thief, a love triangle, and a murder suspect interfere, she’ll have to decide how far she’s willing to go for the vault full of gold—and for the boy she loves, in this sequel to the Reese Book Club Pick Heiress Takes All.
When teen heiress and heist leader Olivia Owens receives an invitation for her cold-hearted grandmother’s seventieth birthday at the family’s inherited Swiss castle, only one thing entices her to the vault full of gold waiting in the castle’s frigid dungeons. Assembling her old crew of high school criminals, now including her boyfriend Jackson, Olivia feels more prepared than ever for grand theft.
But not everything is what it seems when they arrive. For starters, the reunion turns out to be less of a party and more of a wake. Her grandmother announces that she’s dying… and plans to be buried with her fortune. Suddenly the entire greedy Owens clan turns their eyes toward Olivia’s target. It’s hard enough to steal something everyone’s looking at, but an old backstabber, a new suitor, and an uninvited guest add fuel to the fire until Olivia is desperately trying to hold the pieces of her plan—and her crew—together.
As Olivia faces her family’s dark legacy of deceit, grift, and maybe even murder, she's forced to weigh how deeply she loves Jackson with how her love might destroy him. She didn’t choose her family, but now she has to choose—who she loves, who she trusts, and who she’s willing to risk to get what she wants. In a family of thieves, this might cost her everything.
Perfect for fans of…
★ The Inheritance Games
★ Jessica Goodman
★ Knives Out
★ Oceans 11
★ Succession
★ Gossip Girl
Don’t miss the revenge heist that started it Heiress Takes All.
Praise for Heiress Takes
"A perfectly delicious tale of greed, family, vengeance, and revenge." —Kathleen Glasgow, New York Times bestselling author of Girl in Pieces and The Agathas
“Riveting, swoony, and so much fun.” —Jessica Goodman, New York Times bestselling author of The Legacies and The Counselors
“An edge-of-your-seat thrill ride the whole way through.” —Rachel Griffin, New York Times bestselling author of Bring Me Your Midnight
When teen heiress and heist leader Olivia Owens receives an invitation for her cold-hearted grandmother’s seventieth birthday at the family’s inherited Swiss castle, only one thing entices her to the vault full of gold waiting in the castle’s frigid dungeons. Assembling her old crew of high school criminals, now including her boyfriend Jackson, Olivia feels more prepared than ever for grand theft.
But not everything is what it seems when they arrive. For starters, the reunion turns out to be less of a party and more of a wake. Her grandmother announces that she’s dying… and plans to be buried with her fortune. Suddenly the entire greedy Owens clan turns their eyes toward Olivia’s target. It’s hard enough to steal something everyone’s looking at, but an old backstabber, a new suitor, and an uninvited guest add fuel to the fire until Olivia is desperately trying to hold the pieces of her plan—and her crew—together.
As Olivia faces her family’s dark legacy of deceit, grift, and maybe even murder, she's forced to weigh how deeply she loves Jackson with how her love might destroy him. She didn’t choose her family, but now she has to choose—who she loves, who she trusts, and who she’s willing to risk to get what she wants. In a family of thieves, this might cost her everything.
Perfect for fans of…
★ The Inheritance Games
★ Jessica Goodman
★ Knives Out
★ Oceans 11
★ Succession
★ Gossip Girl
Don’t miss the revenge heist that started it Heiress Takes All.
Praise for Heiress Takes
"A perfectly delicious tale of greed, family, vengeance, and revenge." —Kathleen Glasgow, New York Times bestselling author of Girl in Pieces and The Agathas
“Riveting, swoony, and so much fun.” —Jessica Goodman, New York Times bestselling author of The Legacies and The Counselors
“An edge-of-your-seat thrill ride the whole way through.” —Rachel Griffin, New York Times bestselling author of Bring Me Your Midnight
428 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 24, 2025
82 people are currently reading
1324 people want to read
About the author
Emily Wibberley
21 books2,248 followersEmily Wibberley attended Princeton University where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. She now lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Austin Siegemund-Broka, with whom she is author of The Roughest Draft, as well as several love stories for teens.
Visit her and Austin's website at www.emilyandaustinwrite.com.
Visit her and Austin's website at www.emilyandaustinwrite.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
June 25, 2025
4.5 stars !
ya mystery ┆13+ ┆mild language ┆innuendos
arc review ᝰ.ᐟ
release date: june 24
꒰ ⚔️ ꒱ this was such a good sequel!! i enjoyed it way more than the first book in the series, heiress takes all because it was a fast-paced read with so many twists and was way more unpredictable with a high-stakes. plus, this book felt a lot more like the inheritance games which the first book is compared to by marketing. this would have been a five star if it weren’t for a couple of things (my ratings are mostly vibes nowadays)
➛ plot:
at the end of heiress takes all olivia receives an invitation to her grandmother’s birthday party, who she hasn’t seen in years. olivia and the chess club travel with her to the other side of the world to pull of an even bigger heist than olivia’s dad’s wedding: steal from olivia’s grandmother’s vault in her freakishly large castle-like mansion. but when olivia’s grandmother reveals something huge and an elite high-status group is against them, olivia will have to use her wits to pull this off
➛ romance:
although i was obsessed with the romance, i do think it was mostly one-sided, as jackson is wayyyy to good for olivia. however, it was cute and i can’t wait to see their relationship grow after that cliffhanger esp
➛ the writing:
it wasn’t anything special. i got annoyed by how some phrases were repeated a lot + how in the first book olivia was proud to get a “b” for the first time in english literature class and using fancy words like “erstwhile” 😑
➛ character analysis:
ੈ‧₊˚ olivia. i have mixed feelings ab her. i js think her vocabulary was really unrealistic. her internal monologue was really repetitive with her js moping ab her childhood trauma which led her to ignore jackson most of the time
ੈ‧₊˚ jackson. he deserves sm better 🥺 i wanted to pull him out of my kindle and give him a hug so many times. he’s such a cutie patootie who would do anything for olivia and is so unappreciated 🎀
⤿ i definitely recommend, js keep in mind that the first book is js okay!! btw—“heiress takes all” is available on kindle unlimited 💌
~•~•~•~•
edit 05/14/25: got approved for the arc !
AHHHHHH
A BOOK 2?!?!?
BUT ALSO NAURRRRRR IF THIS IS HARDCOVER THAN IT DOESNT MATCH THE FIRST BOOK 😭
my review of heiress takes all (book 1)
ya mystery ┆13+ ┆mild language ┆innuendos
arc review ᝰ.ᐟ
release date: june 24
꒰ ⚔️ ꒱ this was such a good sequel!! i enjoyed it way more than the first book in the series, heiress takes all because it was a fast-paced read with so many twists and was way more unpredictable with a high-stakes. plus, this book felt a lot more like the inheritance games which the first book is compared to by marketing. this would have been a five star if it weren’t for a couple of things (my ratings are mostly vibes nowadays)
➛ plot:
at the end of heiress takes all olivia receives an invitation to her grandmother’s birthday party, who she hasn’t seen in years. olivia and the chess club travel with her to the other side of the world to pull of an even bigger heist than olivia’s dad’s wedding: steal from olivia’s grandmother’s vault in her freakishly large castle-like mansion. but when olivia’s grandmother reveals something huge and an elite high-status group is against them, olivia will have to use her wits to pull this off
➛ romance:
although i was obsessed with the romance, i do think it was mostly one-sided, as jackson is wayyyy to good for olivia. however, it was cute and i can’t wait to see their relationship grow after that cliffhanger esp
➛ the writing:
it wasn’t anything special. i got annoyed by how some phrases were repeated a lot + how in the first book olivia was proud to get a “b” for the first time in english literature class and using fancy words like “erstwhile” 😑
➛ character analysis:
ੈ‧₊˚ olivia. i have mixed feelings ab her. i js think her vocabulary was really unrealistic. her internal monologue was really repetitive with her js moping ab her childhood trauma which led her to ignore jackson most of the time
ੈ‧₊˚ jackson. he deserves sm better 🥺 i wanted to pull him out of my kindle and give him a hug so many times. he’s such a cutie patootie who would do anything for olivia and is so unappreciated 🎀
⤿ i definitely recommend, js keep in mind that the first book is js okay!! btw—“heiress takes all” is available on kindle unlimited 💌
~•~•~•~•
edit 05/14/25: got approved for the arc !
AHHHHHH
A BOOK 2?!?!?
BUT ALSO NAURRRRRR IF THIS IS HARDCOVER THAN IT DOESNT MATCH THE FIRST BOOK 😭
my review of heiress takes all (book 1)
July 11, 2025
Although I was surprised there would be a sequel to Heiress Takes All, I am not complaining.
It has been a few years since I read the first book so it took me a while to remember everyone. The story also started off really slow. However, once I got past the 40% mark, the plot picked up and I found myself enjoying the book a lot more.
The protagonist Olivia has always been very cunning and calculating, but she cared deeply for her friends and wanted her estranged family’s love as well. She was a complex character and grew a lot over the course of the book. I really enjoyed the relationship between Olivia and her father too. I didn’t think the authors could redeem him in my eyes, but there were some surprising layers and depth to him.
I didn’t like how the author included a love triangle though. It is one of my least favourite tropes and it didn’t feel necessary because Olivia and Jackson were pretty solid throughout the entire story. I don’t think the authors really fleshed out Tom as a love interest for Olivia either which made the love triangle even more unbearable. I also wished we had gotten more romantic moments between Olivia and Jackson. There weren’t that many compared to the first book which was disappointing.
All in all, this was a good read, but I don’t think it surpassed the first book. The story did end on a cliffhanger though and I need the authors to fix what they broke ASAP.
It has been a few years since I read the first book so it took me a while to remember everyone. The story also started off really slow. However, once I got past the 40% mark, the plot picked up and I found myself enjoying the book a lot more.
The protagonist Olivia has always been very cunning and calculating, but she cared deeply for her friends and wanted her estranged family’s love as well. She was a complex character and grew a lot over the course of the book. I really enjoyed the relationship between Olivia and her father too. I didn’t think the authors could redeem him in my eyes, but there were some surprising layers and depth to him.
I didn’t like how the author included a love triangle though. It is one of my least favourite tropes and it didn’t feel necessary because Olivia and Jackson were pretty solid throughout the entire story. I don’t think the authors really fleshed out Tom as a love interest for Olivia either which made the love triangle even more unbearable. I also wished we had gotten more romantic moments between Olivia and Jackson. There weren’t that many compared to the first book which was disappointing.
All in all, this was a good read, but I don’t think it surpassed the first book. The story did end on a cliffhanger though and I need the authors to fix what they broke ASAP.
July 18, 2025
*Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an E-Arc in exchange for an honest review!*
A solid 4 star read!
If The Inheritance Games and Knives Out had a glamorous, criminally clever baby, Heiress Among Thieves would be it.
Olivia Owens is back, and this time the stakes are snowier, snarkier, and so much sharper. When her next heist takes her to her family’s Swiss castle—complete with suspicious cousins, rival thieves, and a murder rumor chilling the halls—what should be a straightforward score turns into a tangled web of secrets, sabotage, and swoony moments.
The tension crackles, the banter bites, and the plot twists like a ski slope. Olivia continues to be a complex and compelling heroine—torn between heart and loyalty, love and legacy. The winter setting adds a cozy-but-cutthroat vibe that’s just chef’s kiss.
It’s slick, fast-paced, and full of flair. Whether you're here for the drama, the diamonds, or the dangerously charming boys, this sequel delivers.
-------------------------------------
ANOTHER ARC FOR ONE OF MY MOST ANTICIPATED READS OF THIS YEAR!!!!
*giggles, kicks feet in the air among other fangirling activities*
A sequel to 'Heiress Takes All'?
This only means one thing. I'm gonna have to read book 1 for the 2751th time.
A solid 4 star read!
If The Inheritance Games and Knives Out had a glamorous, criminally clever baby, Heiress Among Thieves would be it.
Olivia Owens is back, and this time the stakes are snowier, snarkier, and so much sharper. When her next heist takes her to her family’s Swiss castle—complete with suspicious cousins, rival thieves, and a murder rumor chilling the halls—what should be a straightforward score turns into a tangled web of secrets, sabotage, and swoony moments.
The tension crackles, the banter bites, and the plot twists like a ski slope. Olivia continues to be a complex and compelling heroine—torn between heart and loyalty, love and legacy. The winter setting adds a cozy-but-cutthroat vibe that’s just chef’s kiss.
It’s slick, fast-paced, and full of flair. Whether you're here for the drama, the diamonds, or the dangerously charming boys, this sequel delivers.
-------------------------------------
ANOTHER ARC FOR ONE OF MY MOST ANTICIPATED READS OF THIS YEAR!!!!
*giggles, kicks feet in the air among other fangirling activities*
A sequel to 'Heiress Takes All'?
This only means one thing. I'm gonna have to read book 1 for the 2751th time.
June 16, 2025
4 ⭐
I had to cram in reading this between study sessions, because of exams... So if you’re wondering why my review is in bullet point form and why it's shorter compared to others, that’s why.
PS: there’s no spoilers for the first book! So if you have not read Heiress Takes All, you can still read this!
✍🏻 THE WRITING
- The writing in the first half of the book annoyed me SO MUCH!!
- I’m sorry, what eighteen-year-old has ever said the word, “erstwhile”?! It might be just me, but I never heard that word before.
- Or what about when Olivia says, “Only because it will imperil my plan…” IMPERIL MY PLAN?! Again: what eighteen-year-old speaks that way?!
- I will say there is less and less of that as the book went on, but it still annoyed me.
- Not to mention when Olivia was swearing in the most random places. Throwing in a swear word does NOT make the sentence 10x more impactful or whatever. I know I haven't published a book, but I still feel like using f-bombs to get the point across is lazy. (I just checked and there are 14 in total. So not that much, but still).
- “Owens family curse,” (and variations) were overused WAY too much. At first I thought, “oh that's kind of clever” but then Olivia just kept using it and using it to the point where I would cringe when she said it. (For those that haven't read the first book this curse is the fact that everyone just cares about money and themselves).
👥 THE CHARACTERS
- I would have liked more of McCoy in this one
The entitlement of practically all of her family members is actually crazy. I mean, your grandmother/mother is dying and all you care about is her money?! Have some heart!
Olivia - FMC
- I was genuinely surprised with Olivia's character development in Heiress Among Thieves!
- Looking back at my annotations, I found one that just says “THANK YOU” when Olivia had to make a tough choice regarding someone dear to her...
- I can’t really say anything other than that or else I’d be giving major spoilers, sorry!
Jackson - her boyfriend
- Oh lordy, What to say about Jackson??
- I guess all I can say is that:
1) Jackson is too good for Olivia. It kinda reminds me of Phil and Claire in Modern Family, if the two were teenagers who plan multi-million dollar heists).
2) That boy made some pretty stupid choices (iykyk)
- Wish I could say more!
💰 THE ENDING
- I am so happy that I guessed the plot twist in the final pages (similar vibes to one of the Inheritance Games books)
- Also the final heist WAS SO CLEVER! 👏🏻 I probably should have seen it coming, but it’s fine because I remember thinking that the authors were so smart when they came up with that.
- And the cliff-hanger?!?!
🤔 RANDOM THOUGHTS
- The authors definitely got placed on a watch list with all the research they had to do 😂
- It took me a few chapters to fully remember what happened in Heiress Takes All, and who the characters were. The authors explain it a bit, but not right away.
- Without saying too much, there was some good blackmail in there, and by good I mean smart.
Anyways, I hope that was semi-comprehendible. If you read Heiress Takes All, then get excited for this! If you read this review without reading the first book, then mark the series on your TBR!
Many thanks to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review! All quotes are taken from an ARC and may vary from the published version.
As always, make sure to check out the review on my blog, The Inkbound Reader!
I had to cram in reading this between study sessions, because of exams... So if you’re wondering why my review is in bullet point form and why it's shorter compared to others, that’s why.
PS: there’s no spoilers for the first book! So if you have not read Heiress Takes All, you can still read this!
✍🏻 THE WRITING
- The writing in the first half of the book annoyed me SO MUCH!!
- I’m sorry, what eighteen-year-old has ever said the word, “erstwhile”?! It might be just me, but I never heard that word before.
- Or what about when Olivia says, “Only because it will imperil my plan…” IMPERIL MY PLAN?! Again: what eighteen-year-old speaks that way?!
- I will say there is less and less of that as the book went on, but it still annoyed me.
- Not to mention when Olivia was swearing in the most random places. Throwing in a swear word does NOT make the sentence 10x more impactful or whatever. I know I haven't published a book, but I still feel like using f-bombs to get the point across is lazy. (I just checked and there are 14 in total. So not that much, but still).
- “Owens family curse,” (and variations) were overused WAY too much. At first I thought, “oh that's kind of clever” but then Olivia just kept using it and using it to the point where I would cringe when she said it. (For those that haven't read the first book this curse is the fact that everyone just cares about money and themselves).
👥 THE CHARACTERS
- I would have liked more of McCoy in this one
The entitlement of practically all of her family members is actually crazy. I mean, your grandmother/mother is dying and all you care about is her money?! Have some heart!
Olivia - FMC
- I was genuinely surprised with Olivia's character development in Heiress Among Thieves!
- Looking back at my annotations, I found one that just says “THANK YOU” when Olivia had to make a tough choice regarding someone dear to her...
- I can’t really say anything other than that or else I’d be giving major spoilers, sorry!
Jackson - her boyfriend
- Oh lordy, What to say about Jackson??
- I guess all I can say is that:
1) Jackson is too good for Olivia. It kinda reminds me of Phil and Claire in Modern Family, if the two were teenagers who plan multi-million dollar heists).
2) That boy made some pretty stupid choices (iykyk)
- Wish I could say more!
💰 THE ENDING
- I am so happy that I guessed the plot twist in the final pages (similar vibes to one of the Inheritance Games books)
- Also the final heist WAS SO CLEVER! 👏🏻 I probably should have seen it coming, but it’s fine because I remember thinking that the authors were so smart when they came up with that.
- And the cliff-hanger?!?!
🤔 RANDOM THOUGHTS
- The authors definitely got placed on a watch list with all the research they had to do 😂
- It took me a few chapters to fully remember what happened in Heiress Takes All, and who the characters were. The authors explain it a bit, but not right away.
- Without saying too much, there was some good blackmail in there, and by good I mean smart.
Anyways, I hope that was semi-comprehendible. If you read Heiress Takes All, then get excited for this! If you read this review without reading the first book, then mark the series on your TBR!
Many thanks to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review! All quotes are taken from an ARC and may vary from the published version.
As always, make sure to check out the review on my blog, The Inkbound Reader!
June 13, 2025
Thank you, Netgalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, for an E-arc and giving me the chance to read and review this book.
So this book was just meh for me. I think it might have helped if I had read book 1. I just felt like I was missing out by not having read the first book. Don't get me wrong, it was interesting and a quick read. I will be reading Book 1 and possibly re-reading Book 2. Additionally, this book is primarily intended for the YA audience, and I wouldn't classify it as a thriller. It would be more of a Suspense book. It has lots of twists and turns and will keep you on the edge of your seat for sure.
Heiress Among Thieves is a captivating read that balances suspense and heist elements with heartfelt character arcs. It's a must-read for fans of young adult suspense and those who appreciate complex relationships and high-stakes adventures.
While the book offers a satisfying conclusion, it also leaves room for further exploration of Olivia's journey, making it a promising continuation for fans of the series.
Looking forward to the next one for sure.
So this book was just meh for me. I think it might have helped if I had read book 1. I just felt like I was missing out by not having read the first book. Don't get me wrong, it was interesting and a quick read. I will be reading Book 1 and possibly re-reading Book 2. Additionally, this book is primarily intended for the YA audience, and I wouldn't classify it as a thriller. It would be more of a Suspense book. It has lots of twists and turns and will keep you on the edge of your seat for sure.
Heiress Among Thieves is a captivating read that balances suspense and heist elements with heartfelt character arcs. It's a must-read for fans of young adult suspense and those who appreciate complex relationships and high-stakes adventures.
While the book offers a satisfying conclusion, it also leaves room for further exploration of Olivia's journey, making it a promising continuation for fans of the series.
Looking forward to the next one for sure.
June 2, 2025
4.5⭐️ So authors have been hitting their book 2’s out for the park of late! I was a bit worried for a hot minute at the beginning of the book as I didn’t get as sucked in from the jump as I did with Heiress Takes All. It was unfounded as there is no sophomore slump happening here.
Do you have to read book one to enjoy this one? No. You could easily jump right in as the author team with more complicated last names than I can remember did a great job of giving enough of the pertinent info from book one without sounding repetitive.
From a prose perspective Wibberley and Siegemund-Boka (I told you it was a lot), a wife and husband dynamic duo, due a fabulous job of presenting in one seamless voice. The only indication that there are two different gendered authors is the authenticity they impart onto the characters.
This is one of the few series where I want to root for the FMC despite not liking her very much. For readers that aren’t YA fans typically, this needs a bit of suspension of disbelief with high schoolers pulling off some very adult things but the good part is that it does read more adult for finicky readers but still very enjoyable for our young readers.
I am thankful to have gotten a complimentary eARC from Little, Brown Books for Young Readers through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.
My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars
⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again
Do you have to read book one to enjoy this one? No. You could easily jump right in as the author team with more complicated last names than I can remember did a great job of giving enough of the pertinent info from book one without sounding repetitive.
From a prose perspective Wibberley and Siegemund-Boka (I told you it was a lot), a wife and husband dynamic duo, due a fabulous job of presenting in one seamless voice. The only indication that there are two different gendered authors is the authenticity they impart onto the characters.
This is one of the few series where I want to root for the FMC despite not liking her very much. For readers that aren’t YA fans typically, this needs a bit of suspension of disbelief with high schoolers pulling off some very adult things but the good part is that it does read more adult for finicky readers but still very enjoyable for our young readers.
I am thankful to have gotten a complimentary eARC from Little, Brown Books for Young Readers through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.
My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars
⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again
December 20, 2025
4.5 ⭐️ SO much better than the fist book. I loved reading about the family and about Olivia’s “heist of all heists”! Just to say, loved the plot twist at the end, but it’s kinda unbelievable. I just don’t think that with how much the book played into the opposite of that, that that would be the ending. (im not talking abt the grandpa btw) Anyways, the authors better write fast because i am eagerly waiting the next!
June 9, 2025
I loved this follow up to Heiress Takes All. I enjoyed being back with these characters and their heisty hijinks. Looking forward to more books in this series!
I was provided an advanced copy of this book which has not affected my review.
I was provided an advanced copy of this book which has not affected my review.
Want to read
November 24, 2024I KNEW WE WERE GETTING A SEQUEL!! IM SO EXCITED!!
November 8, 2025
3.5 Stars
This was okay? I wanted to love it more because I adored the first book in the series. "Heiress Takes All" was super fun, light, charming and delivered a convincing heist story about a girl's revenge on her rich absentee father by ruining his (third) wedding and stealing his money out from under him while doing so. That was so fun. This sequel? Is not fun. For some reason, the author duo decided to take the story in a much darker direction and while I thought the plot surrounding a jewel heist, a secret society and even a murder investigation was interesting and well done, it was so tonally different from the first book that I couldn't help being a little disappointed.
When the heist is just not heisting
"Heiress Among Thieves" is very little actual caper story and more generic 2025 YA thriller. This might surprise some people, but I read heist stories for the heist: the planning, assembling the team, having to carry it out in a high-stakes finale, that stuff. All of that seriously takes a back-seat in this book, with most of the page time being dedicated to family drama and intrigues and somehow for some reason a scary elite secret society that kills people? Okay? It also didn't help that the most funny characters from the first book, Kevin and McCoy, were barely in this one. Kevin's ideas and dialogue were funny in this book too but we barely saw him at all.
The shift towards an overall darker tone didn't suit the storylines set up in the first book though so everything was suddenly weirdly dramatic? For instance, Olivia's relationship with golden boy Jackson was cute and felt authentic in book one. In book two it's all brooding, and "We can't be together, because you're good and I'm an evil heist mastermind", which made the romance lose all its charm for me. Didn't help that Jackson behaved like a wet blanket for most of "Heiress Among Thieves". Yes, he was righteous and good in book one too, but he worked as Olivia's conscience somehow, he had agency. In this book? He's basically on holiday while the rest of the team is dealing with everything.
(Also, by the way: I hated how Olivia's entire inner conflict was about how she feared she was dark and evil for liking to steal money from her corrupt rich family members. This is a heist story. It's established from the start we're here to read about criminals. Having the criminal mastermind heroine stop every few pages to ruminate on whether she was a bad person felt not only redundant but also entirely misplaced in a story like this. Caper (romantic) comedies are meant to be exciting and fun. We don't read them for a reminder that criminals are bad actually every ten pages. We know. But this is fiction.)
I still had a lot of fun with this book because the plot twists worked and I wanted to find out all the answers to the secrets and how everything would come together in the end. I think as a stand-alone YA thriller this book works, but as a sequel to "Heiress Takes All" it falls short. It's just baffling to me why you would continue such a charming, fun caper story with such a dark sequel. What was the reason? ALSO there was one other thing that had me feeling like I was going delulu for the entire book:
Why is this "Midnights" by Taylor Swift fan fiction, actually?
So, since we're here, let's also adress this real quick: I knew this author duo were swifties, considering they wrote "The Breakup Tour", but I didn't really notice any signs of swiftie-dom in the first book. This one, though? Oh, boy. You could play a drinking game with "Heiress Among Thieves" and the references to Taylor Swift's "Midnights" album, actually. From the repeated use of literal song titles off the album ("Mastermind", "Maroon", "Paris" were the ones I caught, not once, but a few times) to the themes of the album finding their way into the book, there is just no way the authors didn't have the album and especially "Anti-Hero" on repeat while writing this.
Olivia's entire inner conflict in the book is how she thinks she's a villain and doesn't deserve her good, righteous boyfriend Jackson and how she will one day drive him away because she keeps plotting heists and schemes. Taylor herself sums it up nicely in the lyrics of "Anti-Hero": I wake up screaming from dreaming, one day, I'll watch as you're leaving, cause you got tired of my scheming." In a similar fashion, there's this whole thing about Olivia "masterminding" her heists and her relationship with Jackson, which is quite close to what "Mastermind" is about. I felt like that meme of the conspiracy guy trying to make connections while reading this book and noticing all these references, like, this can not be a coincidence, right?
I don't want to reach too far, but I guess you could also make a point for there being "Bejeweled" references, this book being about a diamond heist, or the character of Leonie mirroring the rich but bitter female character whose family is trying to cheat her out of her fortune from "Anti-Hero" (I have this dream my daughter in-law kills me for the money, she thinks I left them in the will, the family gathers 'round and reads it and then someone screams out, she's laughing up at us from hell"). Oh, and of course, the most "damning" evidence: Leonie basically telling Olivia: You're the problem, it's you. Oh, lol. (Also there's a whole bit about Olivia suddenly thinking she can't trust anyone in her crew and will have to walk it alone, like "You're on Your Own, Kid" came on and its theme was also swiftly worked into the narrative?)
There are other things too, like the character Abigail being described with auburn curly hair, just like the real Abigail, an old friend of Taylor's. (And Olivia herself being a blonde who loves red lipstick, of course.) And, obviously, Taylor is name-dropped head on when the characters in the book play some of her "vault songs", considering they're trying to break into a vault.
Listen, it could be fun being a big fan of a singer and her music and hiding some references to that in your book. But why is this basically "Midnights" fan fiction, mirroring the themes and lyrics of the album? Like, the album is good and all, but this is YOUR book. Why are you making it about your favourite singer so much? I just don't get it and the further I read, the less cute I thought it was and it was bugging me enough for me to write this essay about it and deduct a half star from my rating. So there we have it. You're the problem, it's you, indeed, because some little references to "Mastermind" and "Bejeweled" to go with the heist theme? Could have been fun. But it was way too much. Unless I'm going delulu and it's all a coincidence after all but somehow. I doubt it.
This was okay? I wanted to love it more because I adored the first book in the series. "Heiress Takes All" was super fun, light, charming and delivered a convincing heist story about a girl's revenge on her rich absentee father by ruining his (third) wedding and stealing his money out from under him while doing so. That was so fun. This sequel? Is not fun. For some reason, the author duo decided to take the story in a much darker direction and while I thought the plot surrounding a jewel heist, a secret society and even a murder investigation was interesting and well done, it was so tonally different from the first book that I couldn't help being a little disappointed.
When the heist is just not heisting
"Heiress Among Thieves" is very little actual caper story and more generic 2025 YA thriller. This might surprise some people, but I read heist stories for the heist: the planning, assembling the team, having to carry it out in a high-stakes finale, that stuff. All of that seriously takes a back-seat in this book, with most of the page time being dedicated to family drama and intrigues and somehow for some reason a scary elite secret society that kills people? Okay? It also didn't help that the most funny characters from the first book, Kevin and McCoy, were barely in this one. Kevin's ideas and dialogue were funny in this book too but we barely saw him at all.
The shift towards an overall darker tone didn't suit the storylines set up in the first book though so everything was suddenly weirdly dramatic? For instance, Olivia's relationship with golden boy Jackson was cute and felt authentic in book one. In book two it's all brooding, and "We can't be together, because you're good and I'm an evil heist mastermind", which made the romance lose all its charm for me. Didn't help that Jackson behaved like a wet blanket for most of "Heiress Among Thieves". Yes, he was righteous and good in book one too, but he worked as Olivia's conscience somehow, he had agency. In this book? He's basically on holiday while the rest of the team is dealing with everything.
(Also, by the way: I hated how Olivia's entire inner conflict was about how she feared she was dark and evil for liking to steal money from her corrupt rich family members. This is a heist story. It's established from the start we're here to read about criminals. Having the criminal mastermind heroine stop every few pages to ruminate on whether she was a bad person felt not only redundant but also entirely misplaced in a story like this. Caper (romantic) comedies are meant to be exciting and fun. We don't read them for a reminder that criminals are bad actually every ten pages. We know. But this is fiction.)
I still had a lot of fun with this book because the plot twists worked and I wanted to find out all the answers to the secrets and how everything would come together in the end. I think as a stand-alone YA thriller this book works, but as a sequel to "Heiress Takes All" it falls short. It's just baffling to me why you would continue such a charming, fun caper story with such a dark sequel. What was the reason? ALSO there was one other thing that had me feeling like I was going delulu for the entire book:
Why is this "Midnights" by Taylor Swift fan fiction, actually?
So, since we're here, let's also adress this real quick: I knew this author duo were swifties, considering they wrote "The Breakup Tour", but I didn't really notice any signs of swiftie-dom in the first book. This one, though? Oh, boy. You could play a drinking game with "Heiress Among Thieves" and the references to Taylor Swift's "Midnights" album, actually. From the repeated use of literal song titles off the album ("Mastermind", "Maroon", "Paris" were the ones I caught, not once, but a few times) to the themes of the album finding their way into the book, there is just no way the authors didn't have the album and especially "Anti-Hero" on repeat while writing this.
Olivia's entire inner conflict in the book is how she thinks she's a villain and doesn't deserve her good, righteous boyfriend Jackson and how she will one day drive him away because she keeps plotting heists and schemes. Taylor herself sums it up nicely in the lyrics of "Anti-Hero": I wake up screaming from dreaming, one day, I'll watch as you're leaving, cause you got tired of my scheming." In a similar fashion, there's this whole thing about Olivia "masterminding" her heists and her relationship with Jackson, which is quite close to what "Mastermind" is about. I felt like that meme of the conspiracy guy trying to make connections while reading this book and noticing all these references, like, this can not be a coincidence, right?
I don't want to reach too far, but I guess you could also make a point for there being "Bejeweled" references, this book being about a diamond heist, or the character of Leonie mirroring the rich but bitter female character whose family is trying to cheat her out of her fortune from "Anti-Hero" (I have this dream my daughter in-law kills me for the money, she thinks I left them in the will, the family gathers 'round and reads it and then someone screams out, she's laughing up at us from hell"). Oh, and of course, the most "damning" evidence: Leonie basically telling Olivia: You're the problem, it's you. Oh, lol. (Also there's a whole bit about Olivia suddenly thinking she can't trust anyone in her crew and will have to walk it alone, like "You're on Your Own, Kid" came on and its theme was also swiftly worked into the narrative?)
There are other things too, like the character Abigail being described with auburn curly hair, just like the real Abigail, an old friend of Taylor's. (And Olivia herself being a blonde who loves red lipstick, of course.) And, obviously, Taylor is name-dropped head on when the characters in the book play some of her "vault songs", considering they're trying to break into a vault.
Listen, it could be fun being a big fan of a singer and her music and hiding some references to that in your book. But why is this basically "Midnights" fan fiction, mirroring the themes and lyrics of the album? Like, the album is good and all, but this is YOUR book. Why are you making it about your favourite singer so much? I just don't get it and the further I read, the less cute I thought it was and it was bugging me enough for me to write this essay about it and deduct a half star from my rating. So there we have it. You're the problem, it's you, indeed, because some little references to "Mastermind" and "Bejeweled" to go with the heist theme? Could have been fun. But it was way too much. Unless I'm going delulu and it's all a coincidence after all but somehow. I doubt it.
September 4, 2025
DNF 36% in. I thought I was waaaay farther into this book. I forgot how obnoxious the main character was with her overthinking and calculating thoughts. She thinks she's so clever that it's really annoying. We get it. You pulled off a heist before. This one is an attempt to get her grandmother's fortune from under her entire family's noses, with the help of most of the cast from the first book which was nice. The forced love triangle is over and done with, though that's one that the author I guess isn't finished with.
July 25, 2025
Great sequel, although I didn’t care for the ending. It is set up for the next one though.
Read
June 10, 2025Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy
Heiress Among Thieves by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka is the first person-POV YA contemporary heist sequel to Heiress Takes All. Olivia, Jackson, Tom, and the rest of their crew are back to perform another heist. This time, they’ll take the gold and jewels belonging to Olivia’s grandmother, Leonie, before Olivia’s other family members can take them. But when Leonie announces that she’s dying, it throws all of their plans out of whack.
I was not aware that this was a sequel when I requested it and that is my fault for not checking. I think that I need to go back and read the first book so I can have a much better grasp of Olivia and Jackson’s romantic relationship. It is pretty firmly established in Heiress Among Thieves and there isn’t a ton of development in relation to backstory or how their relationship started, which makes me think most of that occurred in the first book and this was not meant to be read as a standalone. As such, if a reader wants to pick this up because they are interested in the romance aspects, I’m gonna suggest reading the first book beforehand.
Of all the relationships in the book, the one that interested me the most is the one between Leonie and Olivia. Olivia is estranged from her father, Leonie’s son, and has a very complicated relationship with the rest of her family as she is the black sheep and didn’t grow up in the same lap of luxury that they did. Leonie is initially quite hostile to Olivia and is often trying to convince Olivia to give up Jackson because she only sees doom for their relationship, doom that would come at Olivia’s hands. There’s something really interesting about a character seeing so much of themselves in a grandchild they barely know and kept trying to push away and then give romantic advice meant to spare the love interest not their grandchild.
I wouldn’t quite call this a thriller because it’s more pushed forward by character dynamics rather than revelations and twists like I would expect in a thriller. There certainly are twists and it is definitely a heist book, but it’s missing those key aspects I would associate with a thriller. It might be a suspense but I’m not super familiar with the subgenre in the YA space to say for sure. It is heavier on voice than atmosphere and the worldbuilding tends to come only when needed, which does contribute to it feeling more voice-driven.
I would recommend this to fans of YA and heist books and readers looking for a Succession-style YA book
Heiress Among Thieves by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka is the first person-POV YA contemporary heist sequel to Heiress Takes All. Olivia, Jackson, Tom, and the rest of their crew are back to perform another heist. This time, they’ll take the gold and jewels belonging to Olivia’s grandmother, Leonie, before Olivia’s other family members can take them. But when Leonie announces that she’s dying, it throws all of their plans out of whack.
I was not aware that this was a sequel when I requested it and that is my fault for not checking. I think that I need to go back and read the first book so I can have a much better grasp of Olivia and Jackson’s romantic relationship. It is pretty firmly established in Heiress Among Thieves and there isn’t a ton of development in relation to backstory or how their relationship started, which makes me think most of that occurred in the first book and this was not meant to be read as a standalone. As such, if a reader wants to pick this up because they are interested in the romance aspects, I’m gonna suggest reading the first book beforehand.
Of all the relationships in the book, the one that interested me the most is the one between Leonie and Olivia. Olivia is estranged from her father, Leonie’s son, and has a very complicated relationship with the rest of her family as she is the black sheep and didn’t grow up in the same lap of luxury that they did. Leonie is initially quite hostile to Olivia and is often trying to convince Olivia to give up Jackson because she only sees doom for their relationship, doom that would come at Olivia’s hands. There’s something really interesting about a character seeing so much of themselves in a grandchild they barely know and kept trying to push away and then give romantic advice meant to spare the love interest not their grandchild.
I wouldn’t quite call this a thriller because it’s more pushed forward by character dynamics rather than revelations and twists like I would expect in a thriller. There certainly are twists and it is definitely a heist book, but it’s missing those key aspects I would associate with a thriller. It might be a suspense but I’m not super familiar with the subgenre in the YA space to say for sure. It is heavier on voice than atmosphere and the worldbuilding tends to come only when needed, which does contribute to it feeling more voice-driven.
I would recommend this to fans of YA and heist books and readers looking for a Succession-style YA book
March 28, 2025
If you know me at all, you know that I love heist stories. There’s just something about a crew of people coming together to pull off a con or theft.
This is a sequel to Heiress Takes All (which I read last year and loved) and you will definitely need to read that book first because this book takes off not long after the first one ended.
I really liked all of the scheming, plans, and all the different friends working together. However, I missed the humor that was so prevalent in book one and I really missed McCoy, who was my favorite character. I loved him.
This one adds new layers of schemes and new characters that our main group must face. The twist at the end I found to be a bit predictable, but I still really enjoyed seeing everything unfold. And the way the book ended?? I need the next one now!
This is a sequel to Heiress Takes All (which I read last year and loved) and you will definitely need to read that book first because this book takes off not long after the first one ended.
I really liked all of the scheming, plans, and all the different friends working together. However, I missed the humor that was so prevalent in book one and I really missed McCoy, who was my favorite character. I loved him.
This one adds new layers of schemes and new characters that our main group must face. The twist at the end I found to be a bit predictable, but I still really enjoyed seeing everything unfold. And the way the book ended?? I need the next one now!
July 18, 2025
Solid YA thriller. Drawn out quite a bit but was decently done. Olivia is such a sad character to me, but does have some good growth at the end. I do like the ensemble cast she gathers around her for the heists.
July 31, 2025
Great sequel! This definitely went off the rails but in a great and entertaining way. A lot of good twists except I may never forgive the authors for taking away Jackson’s sweetness and making him ruthless! The third book better bring back the sweet and kind Jackson!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 2, 2025
2.5 stars
August 15, 2025
An extra half a star because she traveled to Norway 😅
August 16, 2025
3.5/5
its so slow and doesn't get good until the last 100 pages or so
its so slow and doesn't get good until the last 100 pages or so
July 21, 2025
・゜✧
→ Heiress Amongst Thieves
・゜✧ 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫:
→ Emily Wibberley
・゜✧ 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞:
→ mystery, romance, heist
・゜✧ 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠:
→ ★★★☆ ☆
・゜✧ 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
→ this book was fine but if I'm going to be honest the first book was a whole lot better. There was just a lot going on and a lot of characters and as nice and mind blowing the plot twists are I'm going to be honest that it hurt my head sometimes. It was a really good book though but I prefer the first one.
・゜✧
・゜✧ 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬/ 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐈 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝:
→ plot twists, heist
・゜✧ 𝐖𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝?
→ Yea
・゜✧ 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬:
→ HONESTLY I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY ABOUT MY FINAL THOUGHTS BECAUSE THE ENDING LEFT ME VERY SHOCKED LIKE ON EARTH HAPPENED. AFTER FINISHING THIS I WENT TO SEARCH UP TO FIND OUT IF THERE IS A NEXT BOOK BUT APPARENTLY THERE'S NO LIKE ANYTHING ABOUT A THIRD BOOK AND WITH THAT ENDING I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY'RE JUST GOING TO END THIS?!?!?!?!
ANYWAYS I REALLY DO HOPE THERE IS A THIRD BOOK BECAUSE THIS ENDING KILLED ME LIKE WHAT THE FUDGE?????
❤️𝓟𝓻𝓮𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭
OMG FINALLY!!!!! I REALLY LIKED THE FIRST BOOK AND NOW I GOT THE NEXT ONEEEEE!!!! LET'S HOPE ITS AS GOOD AS BOOK 1!!!
→ Heiress Amongst Thieves
・゜✧ 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫:
→ Emily Wibberley
・゜✧ 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞:
→ mystery, romance, heist
・゜✧ 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠:
→ ★★★☆ ☆
・゜✧ 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
→ this book was fine but if I'm going to be honest the first book was a whole lot better. There was just a lot going on and a lot of characters and as nice and mind blowing the plot twists are I'm going to be honest that it hurt my head sometimes. It was a really good book though but I prefer the first one.
・゜✧
・゜✧ 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬/ 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐈 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝:
→ plot twists, heist
・゜✧ 𝐖𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝?
→ Yea
・゜✧ 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬:
→ HONESTLY I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY ABOUT MY FINAL THOUGHTS BECAUSE THE ENDING LEFT ME VERY SHOCKED LIKE ON EARTH HAPPENED. AFTER FINISHING THIS I WENT TO SEARCH UP TO FIND OUT IF THERE IS A NEXT BOOK BUT APPARENTLY THERE'S NO LIKE ANYTHING ABOUT A THIRD BOOK AND WITH THAT ENDING I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY'RE JUST GOING TO END THIS?!?!?!?!
ANYWAYS I REALLY DO HOPE THERE IS A THIRD BOOK BECAUSE THIS ENDING KILLED ME LIKE WHAT THE FUDGE?????
❤️𝓟𝓻𝓮𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭
OMG FINALLY!!!!! I REALLY LIKED THE FIRST BOOK AND NOW I GOT THE NEXT ONEEEEE!!!! LET'S HOPE ITS AS GOOD AS BOOK 1!!!
November 8, 2025
UGH UGH UGH UGH UGHHHHHHHHH
🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄
Let me just start with how I discovered this book! I was scrolling on NetGalley, looking for books to request, and I saw this one. It gave me Ally Carter vibes, it reminded me of the Inheritance Games, so I requested it. I was accepted!!! Then I realized this was book 2 (which is totally and completely my fault for judging a book by its cover) and I immediately was super bleh about it. This feeling only continued after I begrudgingly read the first. If you haven’t read my brief uninspiring review for Heiress Takes All, I encourage you to do so, because it easily sums up my thoughts.
In my opinion, this story should’ve stopped while it was ahead, even if it was only ahead by a mediocre median of 3 star reviews. Heist stories have a slight tendency of repeating themselves, mostly because the main plot is well… about a heist, and it’s just very hard to make stealing a large amount of money interesting. And even harder to make it interesting twice. And even harder if the first time wasn’t interesting. And even harder… well, you get the point.
Obviously, I’m not going to say this book is less than satisfactory without backing up my claim.
The characters. I hate characters I can’t root for. I mean, Olivia was just stinking annoying. This second heist felt so annoying because why did she need to be big and greedy by stealing some more money on top of her earnings from the first book. She never considers than her actions may have consequences. Kevin was annoying at best. Grace felt like an unnecessary addition to the team. Deonte barely was in the book. His romance with Abigail felt so out of nowhere. Tom was an instant eye roll any time I read his name. Jackson was the most tolerable, but even I couldn’t agree with the way the book ended on his part. The nicest way to phrase all this is that all the characters felt flat and static. If there were seven different people as main characters maybe this book would have been tolerable!
Also sort of on the notes of characters, let’s talk about the amount of language in this book. Normally, language is something I can turn a blind eye to, but here, it felt all too unnecessary and belligerent. I, though it may be hard to believe, am an actual teen, and have heard the way ACTUAL TEENS talk, and this is not accurate in the least. Though lots of teens do cuss, they rarely solely drop f-bombs mid unrelated sentence, especially unaccompanied by any other curse words. People use the excuse of adding profanity to books to make them more realistic, but it becomes pointless when your dialogue does not effectively mirror that of your target.
The setting was beautiful, probably the only redeeming quality of this book. Volenvell, a mansion of intrigue and secrets was a well thought out, fitting setting for the novel.
The plot was just too all over the place, not even in a fun way. Now, all of a sudden, those cuff links taken in the first book are important and indicate membership of a super secret, super elite club that also maybe was responsible for the death of an Owens family member? Whatever. Breaking into Leonie’s vault seemed so simple, but apparently required an extensive amount of scheming and planning for things that weren’t even necessary in the grand scheme of things. Outrageous twists one after another, meant to make me gasp and rise from my seat in awe, but in actually made me literally roll my eyes and consider banging my head against a wall. And the audacity to include a cliffhanger! I hope I forget about this series long before the next installment is released or I might accidentally stab myself in the foot by making myself feel guilty enough to finish this trap.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for a (brutally) honest review.
BUT ASIDE FROM THIS I’M SO EXCITED TO BE DONE WITH THE FIRST BOOK I’VE FINISHED IN SUCH A LONG TIME!!!!!
🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄
Let me just start with how I discovered this book! I was scrolling on NetGalley, looking for books to request, and I saw this one. It gave me Ally Carter vibes, it reminded me of the Inheritance Games, so I requested it. I was accepted!!! Then I realized this was book 2 (which is totally and completely my fault for judging a book by its cover) and I immediately was super bleh about it. This feeling only continued after I begrudgingly read the first. If you haven’t read my brief uninspiring review for Heiress Takes All, I encourage you to do so, because it easily sums up my thoughts.
In my opinion, this story should’ve stopped while it was ahead, even if it was only ahead by a mediocre median of 3 star reviews. Heist stories have a slight tendency of repeating themselves, mostly because the main plot is well… about a heist, and it’s just very hard to make stealing a large amount of money interesting. And even harder to make it interesting twice. And even harder if the first time wasn’t interesting. And even harder… well, you get the point.
Obviously, I’m not going to say this book is less than satisfactory without backing up my claim.
The characters. I hate characters I can’t root for. I mean, Olivia was just stinking annoying. This second heist felt so annoying because why did she need to be big and greedy by stealing some more money on top of her earnings from the first book. She never considers than her actions may have consequences. Kevin was annoying at best. Grace felt like an unnecessary addition to the team. Deonte barely was in the book. His romance with Abigail felt so out of nowhere. Tom was an instant eye roll any time I read his name. Jackson was the most tolerable, but even I couldn’t agree with the way the book ended on his part. The nicest way to phrase all this is that all the characters felt flat and static. If there were seven different people as main characters maybe this book would have been tolerable!
Also sort of on the notes of characters, let’s talk about the amount of language in this book. Normally, language is something I can turn a blind eye to, but here, it felt all too unnecessary and belligerent. I, though it may be hard to believe, am an actual teen, and have heard the way ACTUAL TEENS talk, and this is not accurate in the least. Though lots of teens do cuss, they rarely solely drop f-bombs mid unrelated sentence, especially unaccompanied by any other curse words. People use the excuse of adding profanity to books to make them more realistic, but it becomes pointless when your dialogue does not effectively mirror that of your target.
The setting was beautiful, probably the only redeeming quality of this book. Volenvell, a mansion of intrigue and secrets was a well thought out, fitting setting for the novel.
The plot was just too all over the place, not even in a fun way. Now, all of a sudden, those cuff links taken in the first book are important and indicate membership of a super secret, super elite club that also maybe was responsible for the death of an Owens family member? Whatever. Breaking into Leonie’s vault seemed so simple, but apparently required an extensive amount of scheming and planning for things that weren’t even necessary in the grand scheme of things. Outrageous twists one after another, meant to make me gasp and rise from my seat in awe, but in actually made me literally roll my eyes and consider banging my head against a wall. And the audacity to include a cliffhanger! I hope I forget about this series long before the next installment is released or I might accidentally stab myself in the foot by making myself feel guilty enough to finish this trap.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for a (brutally) honest review.
BUT ASIDE FROM THIS I’M SO EXCITED TO BE DONE WITH THE FIRST BOOK I’VE FINISHED IN SUCH A LONG TIME!!!!!
July 9, 2025
There is no real motivation behind stealing the money from her living grandma except the fact that she wants to get rich, even though she has tons of money from her other heists. In her first book, she argues that she deserves this inheritance she stole from her father and it was more of a victim mentality, but here she really isn't stealing it, rather, her grandma pretty much gave it to her when confronted. The heist was so predictable because, of course, she has to be the winner and steal all of her Grandma's money. She has no depth and uses such repetitive dialogue, and the characters' motives aren't really shown correctly. Overall, I did not enjoy reading this book.
October 3, 2025
I had very mixed feelings about the first book and this sequel is no different. It does start off slow and there are times when it’s hard to push through and keep reading. There were a few times when the characters became so obnoxious I emotionally disconnected. Heist plots are one of my favorites but this one is more about family drama than anything else. I didn’t dislike the plot itself, there is a decent amount of mystery, intrigue, and overall fun. It was the characters that I didn’t fully connect with.
To start with, Olivia is just an unlikable character. I do think she’s somewhat relatable and her circumstances when it comes to her dysfunctional family are compelling. Her attitude and the way she treats people who are supposed to be her friends are borderline insufferable though. The other characters are more likable than she is, especially Tom and Kevin. I even found myself liking Mia more than Olivia. I really didn’t like Mia in the first book but in this one we get a lot more of her background which adds complexity and dimension to her character.
I also am not the biggest fan of Olivia and Jackson’s relationship. I was here for it in the first book but in the sequel it was a bland continuation of the previous drama. I get that their relationship issues were one of the main plotlines with Olivia convinced she would corrupt him. I understand how it was supposed her coming to realize she can have a healthy relationship without constantly having the undertones of her daddy issues poisoning it but it just came across as her being controlling and toxic and then shocked when it backfires on her.
I also found myself disliking Jackson more and more as the story progressed. He starts to just be whiny and pathetic and their relationship dynamic is toxically painful to observe. I even started rooting for Tom instead, they really would be a far more suited match and they would the perfect partners in crime. All of the angst really takes away from the story which was entertaining enough. The themes of redemption and reconciliation are kind of ruined by the fact that Olivia still steals millions of dollars from the people she’s realizing she still cares about.
I’m not sure that I would recommend this book unless you’re really desperate for something to read or just want some mindless entertainment. However, I would probably read the third book to see if it gets any better with all the action finally ramping up. The new Knives plot is intriguing so I could see the series improving especially if Olivia finally realizes her relationship with Jackson has been on the rocks for a long time and just goes for Tom instead who is probably my favorite character out of all of them. 3 stars.
To start with, Olivia is just an unlikable character. I do think she’s somewhat relatable and her circumstances when it comes to her dysfunctional family are compelling. Her attitude and the way she treats people who are supposed to be her friends are borderline insufferable though. The other characters are more likable than she is, especially Tom and Kevin. I even found myself liking Mia more than Olivia. I really didn’t like Mia in the first book but in this one we get a lot more of her background which adds complexity and dimension to her character.
I also am not the biggest fan of Olivia and Jackson’s relationship. I was here for it in the first book but in the sequel it was a bland continuation of the previous drama. I get that their relationship issues were one of the main plotlines with Olivia convinced she would corrupt him. I understand how it was supposed her coming to realize she can have a healthy relationship without constantly having the undertones of her daddy issues poisoning it but it just came across as her being controlling and toxic and then shocked when it backfires on her.
I also found myself disliking Jackson more and more as the story progressed. He starts to just be whiny and pathetic and their relationship dynamic is toxically painful to observe. I even started rooting for Tom instead, they really would be a far more suited match and they would the perfect partners in crime. All of the angst really takes away from the story which was entertaining enough. The themes of redemption and reconciliation are kind of ruined by the fact that Olivia still steals millions of dollars from the people she’s realizing she still cares about.
I’m not sure that I would recommend this book unless you’re really desperate for something to read or just want some mindless entertainment. However, I would probably read the third book to see if it gets any better with all the action finally ramping up. The new Knives plot is intriguing so I could see the series improving especially if Olivia finally realizes her relationship with Jackson has been on the rocks for a long time and just goes for Tom instead who is probably my favorite character out of all of them. 3 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 24, 2025
4.5 stars rounded up.
Heiress Takes All is one of my favorite YA books, and I loved Heiress Among Thieves just as much (maybe even a little bit more??)!
This book follows Olivia and her crew as they head out to their next mark- Olivia's grandmother's safe full of precious gems and gold. Ever the mastermind, Olivia has meticulously planned for every contingency and is more than ready to endure a weeklong family reunion with the cousins who tormented her as a child. But when her grandmother announces that she is dying and intends to be buried with her fortune, suddenly the race is on for every family member to get into the safe.
I love Olivia's character so much! She's smart and cunning, but also generous and loyal. She's constantly looking out for her crew, and underneath all the rage, she's just a girl looking for love from her family. She honestly makes these books for me, I'm not sure they'd work as well with a different protagonist. I thought she had a lot of character development in this book,
I really enjoyed how fast-paced and action-packed the plot was. One of my only criticisms of book one was that the pace started to drag toward the end, but that was not the case this time! I did not see any of the twists coming, and all of the blackmail and subterfuge kept me on the edge of my seat as I was reading.
I absolutely ate up the romance in this book. I lived for all the moments with Jackson, and given how the book ends, I can't wait to see what we get from him in the next book.
While I enjoyed all of the interactions with Olivia's family, I did feel like this book was missing some of the crew interactions and hijinks that I loved so much in book one. But overall, I thought this was a fantastic sequel, and I will be eagerly awaiting book three!
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book for Young Readers for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Heiress Takes All is one of my favorite YA books, and I loved Heiress Among Thieves just as much (maybe even a little bit more??)!
This book follows Olivia and her crew as they head out to their next mark- Olivia's grandmother's safe full of precious gems and gold. Ever the mastermind, Olivia has meticulously planned for every contingency and is more than ready to endure a weeklong family reunion with the cousins who tormented her as a child. But when her grandmother announces that she is dying and intends to be buried with her fortune, suddenly the race is on for every family member to get into the safe.
I love Olivia's character so much! She's smart and cunning, but also generous and loyal. She's constantly looking out for her crew, and underneath all the rage, she's just a girl looking for love from her family. She honestly makes these books for me, I'm not sure they'd work as well with a different protagonist. I thought she had a lot of character development in this book,
I really enjoyed how fast-paced and action-packed the plot was. One of my only criticisms of book one was that the pace started to drag toward the end, but that was not the case this time! I did not see any of the twists coming, and all of the blackmail and subterfuge kept me on the edge of my seat as I was reading.
I absolutely ate up the romance in this book. I lived for all the moments with Jackson, and given how the book ends, I can't wait to see what we get from him in the next book.
While I enjoyed all of the interactions with Olivia's family, I did feel like this book was missing some of the crew interactions and hijinks that I loved so much in book one. But overall, I thought this was a fantastic sequel, and I will be eagerly awaiting book three!
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book for Young Readers for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
June 15, 2025
Heiress Among Thieves by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka
Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Thank you to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, Netgalley, and the authors for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Heiress Among Thieves is such an entertaining read that excellently balances the suspense that comes along with a daring heist and heartfelt moments featuring multi-faceted characters. Definitely a must-read for fans of YA reads with drama, adventure, and suspense!
After stealing her father's fortune, Olivia Owens decides that the ultimate prize would be to steal all her grandmother's treasure from her vault. So, she gets her heist crew together again and heads to her grandmother's castle in Switzerland where she's been invited to celebrate her grandmother's seventieth birthday. When Olivia’s grandmother, Leonie, announces that she’s dying though, all the plans Olivia and her crew had are off kilter. Nonetheless, the always determined Olivia is focused on seeing the heist through. Secret societies, a stunning setting, and constantly scheming cousins further drive the plot forward and contribute to the fast paced nature of the story. Olivia’s family is full of thieves and backstabbers, so absolutely nothing about the heist is easy.
Overall, Heiress Among Thieves is amazing! Featuring lots of suspense, a heist, a sweet romance, some mystery, and lots of drama, this one is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat throughout its entirety. The plot twist and cliffhanger were so unexpected and made the story even more compelling. The perfect blend of twists and turns, thrills, and romance!
Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Thank you to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, Netgalley, and the authors for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Heiress Among Thieves is such an entertaining read that excellently balances the suspense that comes along with a daring heist and heartfelt moments featuring multi-faceted characters. Definitely a must-read for fans of YA reads with drama, adventure, and suspense!
After stealing her father's fortune, Olivia Owens decides that the ultimate prize would be to steal all her grandmother's treasure from her vault. So, she gets her heist crew together again and heads to her grandmother's castle in Switzerland where she's been invited to celebrate her grandmother's seventieth birthday. When Olivia’s grandmother, Leonie, announces that she’s dying though, all the plans Olivia and her crew had are off kilter. Nonetheless, the always determined Olivia is focused on seeing the heist through. Secret societies, a stunning setting, and constantly scheming cousins further drive the plot forward and contribute to the fast paced nature of the story. Olivia’s family is full of thieves and backstabbers, so absolutely nothing about the heist is easy.
Overall, Heiress Among Thieves is amazing! Featuring lots of suspense, a heist, a sweet romance, some mystery, and lots of drama, this one is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat throughout its entirety. The plot twist and cliffhanger were so unexpected and made the story even more compelling. The perfect blend of twists and turns, thrills, and romance!
June 23, 2025
This was as good as Heiress Takes All which is unusual as the sequel is never as good. As expected, there were tons of twists and family backstabbing. Reading Heiress Takes All right before reading the sequel was best as there were several points I would have forgotten.
Olivia is back and going to take on her famously reclusive grandmother during her 70th birthday in Switzerland on NYE. Her crew is also back with a notable exception Abigail is nowhere to be found. Mr. McCoy also politely declined the invitation so in their place, we have Jackson and Grace (Tom’s brother). The plan is simple break into Leonie’s vault during her birthday/NYE celebration and sneak out with all of her gold and diamonds. Unfortunately, Leonie caused open season on the vault when she announces she’s not well but also plans to be buried with all of her fortune. Yet again, we can trust no one from the Owens family.
Now for the spoilers:
I was shocked what Leonie had on the Knives was a list of all the members and the tasks they performed to get in
Mr. McCoy made a comeback and saves the day by going to the Cotswalds for his secret mission
Jackson is now a Knife
Leonie wanted to set up Dash for the Knoves card
Leonie and Andrew pulled off the heist for the Lnives info years after they divorced
Andrew is alive and not Dash’s father
Dash worked with Olivia and her crew
This was a fantastic follow up, and I can’t wait to read the third installment!
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for providing this book.
Olivia is back and going to take on her famously reclusive grandmother during her 70th birthday in Switzerland on NYE. Her crew is also back with a notable exception Abigail is nowhere to be found. Mr. McCoy also politely declined the invitation so in their place, we have Jackson and Grace (Tom’s brother). The plan is simple break into Leonie’s vault during her birthday/NYE celebration and sneak out with all of her gold and diamonds. Unfortunately, Leonie caused open season on the vault when she announces she’s not well but also plans to be buried with all of her fortune. Yet again, we can trust no one from the Owens family.
Now for the spoilers:
I was shocked what Leonie had on the Knives was a list of all the members and the tasks they performed to get in
Mr. McCoy made a comeback and saves the day by going to the Cotswalds for his secret mission
Jackson is now a Knife
Leonie wanted to set up Dash for the Knoves card
Leonie and Andrew pulled off the heist for the Lnives info years after they divorced
Andrew is alive and not Dash’s father
Dash worked with Olivia and her crew
This was a fantastic follow up, and I can’t wait to read the third installment!
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for providing this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 27, 2025
When teen heiress and seasoned heist leader Olivia Owens is summoned to her icy grandmother’s seventieth birthday at the family’s inherited Swiss castle, only one thing tempts her into accepting: the vault of gold buried deep in the castle’s frozen dungeons. With her high school crew reunited—including her boyfriend, Jackson—Olivia feels more prepared than ever for a high-stakes score. But the "celebration" quickly unravels into a grim affair when her grandmother announces she’s dying—and plans to be buried with her entire fortune. Now, the greedy Owens clan has their sights on the very prize Olivia came for, and the job becomes infinitely more complicated. As old betrayals resurface, a mysterious new suitor emerges, and an uninvited guest threatens to blow the whole operation, Olivia finds herself scrambling to hold her plan—and her crew—together. Facing a legacy of lies, theft, and possible murder, Olivia must decide how much she’s willing to risk for love, for loyalty, and for the life she’s always known. In a family of thieves, the greatest danger might not be the score—it might be each other.
Book 2 didn't disappoint. A bit of a slow burn this time around. Love the found family dynamics in the story along with Olivia's determination to take down her "other family" while discovering more and more about herself, her sister and her father Dash. Can they be a family? Trust is a major factor in this story. Who can Olivia trust? Once again the team comes together, playing their own version of chess.
Book 2 didn't disappoint. A bit of a slow burn this time around. Love the found family dynamics in the story along with Olivia's determination to take down her "other family" while discovering more and more about herself, her sister and her father Dash. Can they be a family? Trust is a major factor in this story. Who can Olivia trust? Once again the team comes together, playing their own version of chess.
June 28, 2025
Olivia Owens and The Chess Club are at it again. After months of planning, it's time for a new heist with a new target. Volenvell Castle is the home to Olivia's grandmother Leonie and the home of Leonie's massive vault full of untold riches. The teens have a week to get in, get the fortune, and get out... but how many others are planning to do the same?
I didn't think it would be possible for Heiress Among Thieves to best Heiress Takes All, but I was wrong. This book was non-stop action and plot twists! We got to go on another adventure with characters we loved and characters we loved to hate, but we also welcomed new characters into the fray. Once again, there were no throwaway characters or events. Every puzzle piece fit perfectly into place. This book still had all of the magic of the first... maybe a little bit more. Heiress Takes All felt like The Inheritance Games because of the theme (an outsider amongst the uber-rich) and relationships but the sequel took it to the next level. This series is ORIGINAL and unique but, as someone who fell in love with The Inheritance Games and fell out of love with the sequels, I feel the same feelings I felt when reading the Heiress Heists series as I did reading The Inheritance Games. I can't wait to read book 3!
Note: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
I didn't think it would be possible for Heiress Among Thieves to best Heiress Takes All, but I was wrong. This book was non-stop action and plot twists! We got to go on another adventure with characters we loved and characters we loved to hate, but we also welcomed new characters into the fray. Once again, there were no throwaway characters or events. Every puzzle piece fit perfectly into place. This book still had all of the magic of the first... maybe a little bit more. Heiress Takes All felt like The Inheritance Games because of the theme (an outsider amongst the uber-rich) and relationships but the sequel took it to the next level. This series is ORIGINAL and unique but, as someone who fell in love with The Inheritance Games and fell out of love with the sequels, I feel the same feelings I felt when reading the Heiress Heists series as I did reading The Inheritance Games. I can't wait to read book 3!
Note: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
June 20, 2025
Olivia is back and has her eye on her Grandmother’s vault. The book picks up not long after the first book ends and sees Olivia and her crew travelling to Switzerland for a family reunion.
All the fun quirky characters are back and Olivia has a plan. Instead, we get a twisty new mystery and a lot of family background. I didn’t enjoy this one as much as the first. The family background was really important and it kind was kind of drip fed until well into the book when we start getting all the details. No one is likeable. Olivia makes bad choices. In the end, we’re set up for another book, but without a cliffhanger which I appreciated.
This just felt so young. It is YA so maybe that’s on me and I didn’t deduct stars because of that issue. I didn’t enjoy the family drama and there is a lot of it. The family is as horrible as Olivia always says and it’s hard to become invested when no one is a good guy. I didn’t like the “her love might ruin him” angle. It wasn’t believable to me but Olivia clearly believed it.
I enjoyed reading this though I felt unsatisfied with the ending. It’s better suited to a YA reader. Without giving away spoilers, I wasn’t hooked by the new angle the authors decided on, so I may or may not pick up the third.
All the fun quirky characters are back and Olivia has a plan. Instead, we get a twisty new mystery and a lot of family background. I didn’t enjoy this one as much as the first. The family background was really important and it kind was kind of drip fed until well into the book when we start getting all the details. No one is likeable. Olivia makes bad choices. In the end, we’re set up for another book, but without a cliffhanger which I appreciated.
This just felt so young. It is YA so maybe that’s on me and I didn’t deduct stars because of that issue. I didn’t enjoy the family drama and there is a lot of it. The family is as horrible as Olivia always says and it’s hard to become invested when no one is a good guy. I didn’t like the “her love might ruin him” angle. It wasn’t believable to me but Olivia clearly believed it.
I enjoyed reading this though I felt unsatisfied with the ending. It’s better suited to a YA reader. Without giving away spoilers, I wasn’t hooked by the new angle the authors decided on, so I may or may not pick up the third.
July 15, 2025
This books takes up a couple of months after the end of the first book, right where we are expecting from how book one ended. It is a worthy sequel; I enjoyed it even more than the first book. This book did in fact have Inheritance Games/Knives Out vibes that it promised and I was all for it. I enjoyed the ride that the plot took me on. No one can be trusted, as motives all around are unclear. I enjoyed Olivia and Jackson’s dynamic this time around as they embrace their coupledom - almost. Olivia thinks Jackson is too good for her and doesn’t want to taint/change him. However, we start to see a different side of Jackson, and is there ever more to come! I think that’s what I am most excited about, seeing Jackson come to life in a whole other light in the next instalment (of which there had better be one). The usual suspects from book one are all back in varying capacities. I enjoyed each and every one of them. They did just such a fun dynamic in the team.
I recommend this series to anyone that loves a fun heist story and in this case, anyone looking for a story in the vein of The Inheritance Games.
Many thanks to Little Brown Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of the book. The opinions expressed are given freely and are honest and my own.
I recommend this series to anyone that loves a fun heist story and in this case, anyone looking for a story in the vein of The Inheritance Games.
Many thanks to Little Brown Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of the book. The opinions expressed are given freely and are honest and my own.
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