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Rules for Aging and Larceny
Ocean's Eleven meets the Golden Girls when an all-female group of chaotic, elderly thieves come out of retirement for one last heist against a young Crypto-loving DudeBro-type... while trying to repair their fractured friendship along the way.
For fans of Deanna Raybourn's Killers of a Certain Age and Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth.
Frances Deluca has always been a force of nature. Active and agile into her 70s, she can handle anything—except perhaps the stretch of empty days looming ahead. Widowed, with a grown son living far away and her own mortality suddenly in view, Frances longs to feel busy again. What she really wants is the familiar rush of a well-crafted plan coming together. It’s been a while, decades in fact—since Frances and her friends pulled off a heist . . .
Frances, Joan, Edie, and Irene were a girl gang before such things even existed, joining forces in their 20s for a one-time job that revealed a remarkable affinity for crime. They developed a code of honor, taking only from those who deserved it—until misunderstandings and pride drove them apart.
Now, one by one, Frances manages to convince her old friends to put aside their grudges and reunite. And where better for a reunion tour than Las Vegas? Their Rocco Vitali, a mobster’s grandson who’s developed a high-tech shakedown. Rocco is a Crypto-loving scam artist, and Edie’s beloved granddaughter just lost everything to him, including her self-respect. But the women intend to take it all back—with interest.
Risks will be taken. Fractured relationships will be mended. And four badass seniors will discover how formidable a whole lot of experience can be . . .
For fans of Deanna Raybourn's Killers of a Certain Age and Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth.
Frances Deluca has always been a force of nature. Active and agile into her 70s, she can handle anything—except perhaps the stretch of empty days looming ahead. Widowed, with a grown son living far away and her own mortality suddenly in view, Frances longs to feel busy again. What she really wants is the familiar rush of a well-crafted plan coming together. It’s been a while, decades in fact—since Frances and her friends pulled off a heist . . .
Frances, Joan, Edie, and Irene were a girl gang before such things even existed, joining forces in their 20s for a one-time job that revealed a remarkable affinity for crime. They developed a code of honor, taking only from those who deserved it—until misunderstandings and pride drove them apart.
Now, one by one, Frances manages to convince her old friends to put aside their grudges and reunite. And where better for a reunion tour than Las Vegas? Their Rocco Vitali, a mobster’s grandson who’s developed a high-tech shakedown. Rocco is a Crypto-loving scam artist, and Edie’s beloved granddaughter just lost everything to him, including her self-respect. But the women intend to take it all back—with interest.
Risks will be taken. Fractured relationships will be mended. And four badass seniors will discover how formidable a whole lot of experience can be . . .
353 pages, Paperback
Published June 30, 2026
About the author
Julia London
201 books3,228 followersJulia London is the New York Times and USA Today best selling author of more than two dozen romantic fiction novels. She is the author of the popular historical romance series, the Cabot Sisters, including The Trouble with Honor, The Devil Takes a Bride, and The Scoundrel and the Debutante. She is also the author of several contemporary romances, including Homecoming Ranch, Return to Homecoming Ranch, and The Perfect Homecoming.
Julia is the recipient of the RT Bookclub Award for Best Historical Romance and a six-time finalist for the prestigious RITA award for excellence in romantic fiction. To keep up with all the Julia London news, please visit http://www.julialondon.com. Follow her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/julialondon
Julia is the recipient of the RT Bookclub Award for Best Historical Romance and a six-time finalist for the prestigious RITA award for excellence in romantic fiction. To keep up with all the Julia London news, please visit http://www.julialondon.com. Follow her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/julialondon
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Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The book blurb describes this as the Golden Girls meet Ocean 11. And I’d say it was spot on!
Frances, now in her 70’s, is getting restless and not ready for the rocking chair in a retirement home. She feels the itch to assemble her little gang of girlfriends and pull off one more heist before they all go gently into the night! And what better place for this comeback tour than Las Vegas.
I loved learning about the characters in their personal life struggles. We learn what drove them apart, and now their efforts to put their differences aside for each other. It is a heartfelt story mixed with humor and witty banter. A great combination!
✍️ Julia London
📄 304 pages
🗓️ Anticipated release date: June 30 , 2026
📈 4/5🌟🌟🌟🌟
👉 Contemporary
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing
Frances, now in her 70’s, is getting restless and not ready for the rocking chair in a retirement home. She feels the itch to assemble her little gang of girlfriends and pull off one more heist before they all go gently into the night! And what better place for this comeback tour than Las Vegas.
I loved learning about the characters in their personal life struggles. We learn what drove them apart, and now their efforts to put their differences aside for each other. It is a heartfelt story mixed with humor and witty banter. A great combination!
✍️ Julia London
📄 304 pages
🗓️ Anticipated release date: June 30 , 2026
📈 4/5🌟🌟🌟🌟
👉 Contemporary
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing
June 6, 2026
5 SOLID ⭐️
When I read “Oceans Eleven meets The Golden Girls”, I was immediately intrigued.
I’d also say that that’s a very accurate blurb, with one of the characters even living in a 55+ community in Miami called Shady Oaks (a reference to Shady Pines).
In the first chapter we meet Frances Deluca, who loves to play pickleball and then hit the bar.
I was already laughing out loud in the first chapter when she was kicked out of her pickleball club for being too aggressive (she even hit a ball right at one guy’s hernia)!
She’s got chutzpah!
This was in Houston, although it sounds like something that would actually happen in The Villages, Florida.
Then suddenly everything changes when Frannie receives a terminal cancer diagnosis.
Instead of destroying the pickleball courts, she’s having headaches and feeling nauseous.
Realizing she doesn’t have much time left, she decides to try to reunite with her three best friends, all of whom haven’t spoken in over forty years because of a major falling out.
In their 20’s they did heists together, and Frannie decides that before she checks out (as she calls it), she wants to have that adrenaline rush one last time.
The four ladies in this book are all so different, but together they form such a cohesive quartet.
We learn what they’ve all been up to in the forty something years since they last saw each other, and for the most part have all had very different lives.
I couldn’t help but love all of them!
There were several parts of this book that had me laughing out loud.
All of the talk about seniors with STIs was both disturbing and hilarious at the same time.
As someone who watches MS NOW on a daily basis, I also appreciated the subtle Fox News references.
This is easily going to be one of my top 5 favorites of 2026!
Thanks to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC to review.
When I read “Oceans Eleven meets The Golden Girls”, I was immediately intrigued.
I’d also say that that’s a very accurate blurb, with one of the characters even living in a 55+ community in Miami called Shady Oaks (a reference to Shady Pines).
In the first chapter we meet Frances Deluca, who loves to play pickleball and then hit the bar.
I was already laughing out loud in the first chapter when she was kicked out of her pickleball club for being too aggressive (she even hit a ball right at one guy’s hernia)!
She’s got chutzpah!
This was in Houston, although it sounds like something that would actually happen in The Villages, Florida.
Then suddenly everything changes when Frannie receives a terminal cancer diagnosis.
Instead of destroying the pickleball courts, she’s having headaches and feeling nauseous.
Realizing she doesn’t have much time left, she decides to try to reunite with her three best friends, all of whom haven’t spoken in over forty years because of a major falling out.
In their 20’s they did heists together, and Frannie decides that before she checks out (as she calls it), she wants to have that adrenaline rush one last time.
The four ladies in this book are all so different, but together they form such a cohesive quartet.
We learn what they’ve all been up to in the forty something years since they last saw each other, and for the most part have all had very different lives.
I couldn’t help but love all of them!
There were several parts of this book that had me laughing out loud.
All of the talk about seniors with STIs was both disturbing and hilarious at the same time.
As someone who watches MS NOW on a daily basis, I also appreciated the subtle Fox News references.
This is easily going to be one of my top 5 favorites of 2026!
Thanks to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC to review.
July 6, 2026
Rules for the Aging and Larceny by Julia London
Contemporary mystery, fiction.
Four friends decades ago were a bit wild and on the run. Amateur thieves, they managed to pull off a few major heists in the 70’s. They only stole from someone crooked themselves and doing harm to others. When one of their crew fell in love, the gang broke up and they each went their own ways.
The women have gotten back together for one last heist. They are in their 70’s and want one more hurrah. If their hips and joints will allow.
The tag line is Ocean’s Eleven meets Golden Girls and that description fits well, except these women are not experts in anything current. Assuming they will actually make everything come together is half the humor. They still have some skills, the best is friending the locals and finding the right people to help.
The women each has their own conflicts and complications, primarily Frances who drives the determination.
It’s amusing at times, sometimes sad, as we get more backstory of the women and how they’ve lived the intervening years.
An impossible caper. Four determined women with supporting helpers. A crazy plan.
A campy undertaking. A crazy plan.
Never underestimate a woman and her friends.
4.25
I received a copy of this from NetGalley.
Contemporary mystery, fiction.
Four friends decades ago were a bit wild and on the run. Amateur thieves, they managed to pull off a few major heists in the 70’s. They only stole from someone crooked themselves and doing harm to others. When one of their crew fell in love, the gang broke up and they each went their own ways.
The women have gotten back together for one last heist. They are in their 70’s and want one more hurrah. If their hips and joints will allow.
The tag line is Ocean’s Eleven meets Golden Girls and that description fits well, except these women are not experts in anything current. Assuming they will actually make everything come together is half the humor. They still have some skills, the best is friending the locals and finding the right people to help.
The women each has their own conflicts and complications, primarily Frances who drives the determination.
It’s amusing at times, sometimes sad, as we get more backstory of the women and how they’ve lived the intervening years.
An impossible caper. Four determined women with supporting helpers. A crazy plan.
A campy undertaking. A crazy plan.
Never underestimate a woman and her friends.
4.25
I received a copy of this from NetGalley.
February 24, 2026
I was so happy that this cast of characters were older. I loved how it was described as Ocean’s Eleven meets Golden Girls. It was hilarious but also so true. All these ladies were active and were not ready to give up their adventures.
Frances Deluca finds out she has terminal cancer. She decides she wants one last hurrah so gets her gang of female friends/thieves together to pull off one last job. They have lost touch and ended on bad terms but she wants to be able to make amends and repair the friendship before it’s too late. Frances, Edie, Joan and Irene all have different skills they bring to the team. The ladies were all very comical especially all the witty banter and nick names and outfits as disguises.
It was great to see them all connect and get a little revenge in the process.
Frances Deluca finds out she has terminal cancer. She decides she wants one last hurrah so gets her gang of female friends/thieves together to pull off one last job. They have lost touch and ended on bad terms but she wants to be able to make amends and repair the friendship before it’s too late. Frances, Edie, Joan and Irene all have different skills they bring to the team. The ladies were all very comical especially all the witty banter and nick names and outfits as disguises.
It was great to see them all connect and get a little revenge in the process.
Did Not Finish
July 11, 2026I can't rate this one, even though I read a bunch of it, because my primary problem with it was personal. The main character is dying of brain cancer and the heist is her last hurrah. I don't want to read about brain cancer after watching someone die of it, especially not in my light heist novels. Like, I tried, because I do love Old Ladies Doing Crimes, and I hung in there for 80% of the book, but it was making me actively sad and I eventually quit. Not for me! Definitely for someone else, though.
September 4, 2026
the setup…
Septuagenerian Frances DeLuca is recently widowed and her adult son doesn’t live close. She longs for something challenging to do in this phase of her life but soon learns that her time is limited. Fran decides to reach out to the women of her youth, her best friends who she hasn’t seen in over 40 years. She, Edie, Joan and Irene were once a formidable “girl gang” who planned and executed major heists against people who had wronged them. Frances wants one more caper, a chance to reunite with her old friends and put aside what tore them apart. Didn’t see that coming.
the heart of the story…
I first thought this was a nutty idea until these women reunited and I learned how super skilled they used to be. They were still keen minded and knew what they were doing. Edie’s granddaughter was swindled by a cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme so the Las Vegas-based mastermind is their target. The moments of hilarity were well balanced by the depth of the relationships and savvy of these women.
the narration…
I highly enjoyed Christina Moore’s performance as she gave distinctive voices for all four women and more. Her pacing was pitch perfect and her storytelling wonderful.
the bottom line…
This is one time when the promotional promise that it was Golden Girls meets Ocean’s Eleven rang true. They also proved that most of the world finds those of a certain age to be invisible and it helped them a lot with the caper. Yes, I had to suspend belief quite a bit but the repair of the lifelong friendships and them demonstrating that aging doesn’t mean you have less mental acuity resounded. I had such a good time with these “golden” women.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Recorded Books and Spotify for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
Septuagenerian Frances DeLuca is recently widowed and her adult son doesn’t live close. She longs for something challenging to do in this phase of her life but soon learns that her time is limited. Fran decides to reach out to the women of her youth, her best friends who she hasn’t seen in over 40 years. She, Edie, Joan and Irene were once a formidable “girl gang” who planned and executed major heists against people who had wronged them. Frances wants one more caper, a chance to reunite with her old friends and put aside what tore them apart. Didn’t see that coming.
the heart of the story…
I first thought this was a nutty idea until these women reunited and I learned how super skilled they used to be. They were still keen minded and knew what they were doing. Edie’s granddaughter was swindled by a cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme so the Las Vegas-based mastermind is their target. The moments of hilarity were well balanced by the depth of the relationships and savvy of these women.
the narration…
I highly enjoyed Christina Moore’s performance as she gave distinctive voices for all four women and more. Her pacing was pitch perfect and her storytelling wonderful.
the bottom line…
This is one time when the promotional promise that it was Golden Girls meets Ocean’s Eleven rang true. They also proved that most of the world finds those of a certain age to be invisible and it helped them a lot with the caper. Yes, I had to suspend belief quite a bit but the repair of the lifelong friendships and them demonstrating that aging doesn’t mean you have less mental acuity resounded. I had such a good time with these “golden” women.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Recorded Books and Spotify for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
June 19, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for an advanced reader copy of Rules for Aging and Larceny by Julia London in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Rules for Aging and Larceny is described as “Ocean's Eleven meets The Golden Girls when an all-female group of chaotic, elderly thieves come out of retirement for one last heist”. The book turned out different than I had anticipated. I had expected more of a Killers of a Certain Age vibe, with more twists and outsmarting the bad guys. Unfortunately this group of female friends was more disorganized and not quite as fun.
I love a heist story and was excited by the premise of four 70-ish former thieves and best friends reuniting. The four main characters are quite stereotypical: 1 bored retiree, 1 stepford wife, 1 black (also lesbian), and 1 Asian. Relatively early in the book, a major development involving one of the four main characters felt unnecessary and pulled me right out of the story. At that point, I stopped trying to make sense of it and just went along for the crazy ride. I liked the focus on the female friendships but would have enjoyed even more feminine rage and vigilantism. Ultimately although the novel’s premise had great potential, the execution was a bit of a disappointment to me 2.75/5⭐️
Rules for Aging and Larceny is described as “Ocean's Eleven meets The Golden Girls when an all-female group of chaotic, elderly thieves come out of retirement for one last heist”. The book turned out different than I had anticipated. I had expected more of a Killers of a Certain Age vibe, with more twists and outsmarting the bad guys. Unfortunately this group of female friends was more disorganized and not quite as fun.
I love a heist story and was excited by the premise of four 70-ish former thieves and best friends reuniting. The four main characters are quite stereotypical: 1 bored retiree, 1 stepford wife, 1 black (also lesbian), and 1 Asian. Relatively early in the book, a major development involving one of the four main characters felt unnecessary and pulled me right out of the story. At that point, I stopped trying to make sense of it and just went along for the crazy ride. I liked the focus on the female friendships but would have enjoyed even more feminine rage and vigilantism. Ultimately although the novel’s premise had great potential, the execution was a bit of a disappointment to me 2.75/5⭐️
July 15, 2026
So boring and draggy. So silly yet so unfunny. I can’t keep falling for every old spy/old criminal story because I hope they will be as satisfying as the THURSDAY MURDER CLUB books because (so far) they never are.
May 18, 2026
I laughed, I cried, then repeated the process. Loved the entire story 🫶🏻
August 24, 2026
[NetGalley Read #80]
4.25 ⭐️
"Unfortunately, she'd been around long enough to know that wishes were just that, and not all of them came true. So many things left undone."
Very good, very enjoyable with great characters, dialogue and humor (dark and otherwise).
I really liked 'Everything Is Probably Fine' by Julia London and when I read the description/plot of this book, it was so much different than that. And, finishing 'Remarkably Bright Creatures' shortly before this, it was quite the experience to read this. Going from Tova Sullivan in a small town to Frances, Edie, Joan, and Irene robbing a casino in Las Vegas with the help of a bunch of colorful/quirky characters (Marcy, Skinner, Todd, Trojan) was quite a pleasant experience.
Like 'Everything is Probably Fine', the strength of this book is its characters. I really liked Frances and then gradually as we got introduced to more and more characters, I found myself liking all of them. My only gripe is not getting POV chapters for Joan and Irene. I would've liked seeing all four perspectives. It is understandable, though. Juggling loads of POVs can be tricky and sometimes take you out of it if you don't like a character or their voice.
The story evokes a lot of emotions. There is humor at the beginning (and throughout most of the story, really) with Fran and Marge, which turns dark once Frances' diagnosis is revealed (liked the Google joke, very dark humor). Then there is the longing for one last heist, to get the gang back together and the emotion behind that is solidly written. The regret over the fight.
The dialogue was very enjoyable to read between the four friends. Their whole dynamic is just very solid. You can imagine the famed 'fight' of fifty years ago just based on how they work and talk. And I liked that instead of the old fight told through a flashback, we got another fight near the end, right before the heist. Those two chapters (34 and 35) were really explosive in a sense that all the tension that was building throughout the story came to a head. And it led to a very tender moment.
Also, in no particular order, liked: Marcy (she was relatable), Irene's bullshit sex-ed class, the interaction with Joan's mother and the weed farm, Frances and Edie's happy/luxurious lives and how they contrasted with Irene and Joan's. And that one hilarious chapter where they first used the earpieces. The whole interaction between Edie, Frances, Marcy, and that one poor waiter was comedy gold.
It's a short-ish book (270-300+ pages). Easy to read. Tons of fun.
Recommended. 👍
4.25 ⭐️
"Unfortunately, she'd been around long enough to know that wishes were just that, and not all of them came true. So many things left undone."
Very good, very enjoyable with great characters, dialogue and humor (dark and otherwise).
I really liked 'Everything Is Probably Fine' by Julia London and when I read the description/plot of this book, it was so much different than that. And, finishing 'Remarkably Bright Creatures' shortly before this, it was quite the experience to read this. Going from Tova Sullivan in a small town to Frances, Edie, Joan, and Irene robbing a casino in Las Vegas with the help of a bunch of colorful/quirky characters (Marcy, Skinner, Todd, Trojan) was quite a pleasant experience.
Like 'Everything is Probably Fine', the strength of this book is its characters. I really liked Frances and then gradually as we got introduced to more and more characters, I found myself liking all of them. My only gripe is not getting POV chapters for Joan and Irene. I would've liked seeing all four perspectives. It is understandable, though. Juggling loads of POVs can be tricky and sometimes take you out of it if you don't like a character or their voice.
The story evokes a lot of emotions. There is humor at the beginning (and throughout most of the story, really) with Fran and Marge, which turns dark once Frances' diagnosis is revealed (liked the Google joke, very dark humor). Then there is the longing for one last heist, to get the gang back together and the emotion behind that is solidly written. The regret over the fight.
The dialogue was very enjoyable to read between the four friends. Their whole dynamic is just very solid. You can imagine the famed 'fight' of fifty years ago just based on how they work and talk. And I liked that instead of the old fight told through a flashback, we got another fight near the end, right before the heist. Those two chapters (34 and 35) were really explosive in a sense that all the tension that was building throughout the story came to a head. And it led to a very tender moment.
Also, in no particular order, liked: Marcy (she was relatable), Irene's bullshit sex-ed class, the interaction with Joan's mother and the weed farm, Frances and Edie's happy/luxurious lives and how they contrasted with Irene and Joan's. And that one hilarious chapter where they first used the earpieces. The whole interaction between Edie, Frances, Marcy, and that one poor waiter was comedy gold.
It's a short-ish book (270-300+ pages). Easy to read. Tons of fun.
Recommended. 👍
September 13, 2026
This was a great cozy read, my only complaint is that I wish our two lesbian characters got some more development and weren’t just shoe horned in for the hell of it.
Definitely big cw for cancer and end-of-life, as our main character goes through this book and the heist as a sort of last hurrah. Overall it’s exactly what I expected from a book about old ladies pulling off one last heist. Super fun and nothing you can take too seriously.
Definitely big cw for cancer and end-of-life, as our main character goes through this book and the heist as a sort of last hurrah. Overall it’s exactly what I expected from a book about old ladies pulling off one last heist. Super fun and nothing you can take too seriously.
Did Not Finish
June 12, 2026I received an ARC and I am very grateful!
However, I was kind of expecting something different. I think I wanted more humor. That doesn’t mean this was bad! This just means it’s not the right book for me and I don’t want to give a rating to something that’s going to be great for others, but wasn’t written for someone like me! I think the writing is really quite good and this is absolutely a story for, like the back says, those that enjoy Ocean’s Eleven. For fans of The Golden Girls? Maybe not so much.
If you’re interested, though, give it a try!!
However, I was kind of expecting something different. I think I wanted more humor. That doesn’t mean this was bad! This just means it’s not the right book for me and I don’t want to give a rating to something that’s going to be great for others, but wasn’t written for someone like me! I think the writing is really quite good and this is absolutely a story for, like the back says, those that enjoy Ocean’s Eleven. For fans of The Golden Girls? Maybe not so much.
If you’re interested, though, give it a try!!
October 7, 2026
I'm really enjoying this current crop of novels with feisty (and sometimes cranky) older women.
July 30, 2026
⭐️ 2 stars. Every chapter i thought about DNFing and convinced myself it was about to get interesting - it never did.
Update: The first problem is that Francis is dumb and fails to observe anything around her. Her internal monologue confirms this - like when she wonders 3 separate times “what is up” with her 2 friends who are obviously in a relationship with each other. Second, all the problems that are easy to solve (like deciding if they want to work together) took 400/450 pages to resolve, and all the complicated problems (like the entire heist) took one chapter. And then after catching Francis with a bag of money in her hand the police just drop their interest in her when she plays dumb for an hour? Bad ending.
Update: The first problem is that Francis is dumb and fails to observe anything around her. Her internal monologue confirms this - like when she wonders 3 separate times “what is up” with her 2 friends who are obviously in a relationship with each other. Second, all the problems that are easy to solve (like deciding if they want to work together) took 400/450 pages to resolve, and all the complicated problems (like the entire heist) took one chapter. And then after catching Francis with a bag of money in her hand the police just drop their interest in her when she plays dumb for an hour? Bad ending.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 5, 2026
Rules for Aging and Larceny completely stole my heart.
I picked this up expecting a fun mystery with a quirky premise, but what I found was so much more. It was hilarious, heartfelt, inspiring, and surprisingly emotional. I laughed out loud more times than I can count, but it also reminded me that life, friendship, and adventure don’t have an expiration date.
Frances, Edie, Joan, and Irene each brought something different to the group, and that’s what made their friendship feel so authentic. Their conversations, unwavering loyalty, and determination to take on one last adventure were an absolute delight. They reminded me that growing older doesn’t mean becoming invisible…it means carrying decades of wisdom, resilience, and stories worth telling.
And can we talk about Margaret? Every scene with her was comedy gold. She completely stole the show for me.
This is one of those books that leaves you smiling long after you’ve finished. It’s funny, clever, uplifting, and full of heart. By the end, I found myself hoping I’m just as bold, witty, and fearless when I’m in my 70s.
If you’re looking for a story about friendship, second chances, found family, and proving that it’s never too late for one more adventure, I can’t recommend this one enough.
Thank you to Kensington for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts are my own.
I picked this up expecting a fun mystery with a quirky premise, but what I found was so much more. It was hilarious, heartfelt, inspiring, and surprisingly emotional. I laughed out loud more times than I can count, but it also reminded me that life, friendship, and adventure don’t have an expiration date.
Frances, Edie, Joan, and Irene each brought something different to the group, and that’s what made their friendship feel so authentic. Their conversations, unwavering loyalty, and determination to take on one last adventure were an absolute delight. They reminded me that growing older doesn’t mean becoming invisible…it means carrying decades of wisdom, resilience, and stories worth telling.
And can we talk about Margaret? Every scene with her was comedy gold. She completely stole the show for me.
This is one of those books that leaves you smiling long after you’ve finished. It’s funny, clever, uplifting, and full of heart. By the end, I found myself hoping I’m just as bold, witty, and fearless when I’m in my 70s.
If you’re looking for a story about friendship, second chances, found family, and proving that it’s never too late for one more adventure, I can’t recommend this one enough.
Thank you to Kensington for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts are my own.
September 8, 2026
2.75🌟 | I'm never gonna think about this book ever again. #nothing burger
July 15, 2026
Made it 50% of the way. Characters keep making stuuuuupid fucking mistakes, even REPEATING said stuuuuupid fucking decisions after they have faced some consequences for being so fucking stupid and it's driving me up the wall.
July 7, 2026
Did not finish, stopped at 11%
Main character receiving a diagnosis of in Chapter 3 should really have been a trigger warning
Main character receiving a diagnosis of in Chapter 3 should really have been a trigger warning
October 2, 2026
When you are near the end of your vitality, your joys, and your agency of free will, what will your last "hooray" thought? Knowing that our lives have an uncertain end date, this idea rambles around my mind. Will I have any last regrets?
For 70+ y/o Frances, the pickleball court queen who is no longer welcomed because her tough play, finding herself in the hospital after passing out is demoralizing. She is fit, active, still has her sharp witty mind, and google tells her the symptoms can be one of several things. But when the young teenaged doctor tells her its cancer, she hides from follow-ups, letting her son know, and wants one more adventure with her long-lost friends. Her son wants to move her to the podunks, with him in control of her finances, her life just she can be closer....ack!
This was a fun second chance with friends who lived the bestest lives as new adults, planning and getting away with each sneaky heists until that one time, when they were betrayed and 3 of the 4 had to serve time. Frances had no scheme in mind other than get the 3 others (Irene, Joan, and Edie) to agree...fortunately the scuzz grandson of a Vegas baddie ponzi's a granddaughter and it's on! Love that these septuagenarians have no real idea about crypto but with a bit of sass and help, plot to re-finance themselves. Without letting anyone really knowing, Frances' cancer doesn't get the best of her...she is the face of having your say in how you want your days to count.
For 70+ y/o Frances, the pickleball court queen who is no longer welcomed because her tough play, finding herself in the hospital after passing out is demoralizing. She is fit, active, still has her sharp witty mind, and google tells her the symptoms can be one of several things. But when the young teenaged doctor tells her its cancer, she hides from follow-ups, letting her son know, and wants one more adventure with her long-lost friends. Her son wants to move her to the podunks, with him in control of her finances, her life just she can be closer....ack!
This was a fun second chance with friends who lived the bestest lives as new adults, planning and getting away with each sneaky heists until that one time, when they were betrayed and 3 of the 4 had to serve time. Frances had no scheme in mind other than get the 3 others (Irene, Joan, and Edie) to agree...fortunately the scuzz grandson of a Vegas baddie ponzi's a granddaughter and it's on! Love that these septuagenarians have no real idea about crypto but with a bit of sass and help, plot to re-finance themselves. Without letting anyone really knowing, Frances' cancer doesn't get the best of her...she is the face of having your say in how you want your days to count.
August 27, 2026
I listened to this as read by Christina Moore, and it was such good fun. It was a mixture of amusing and heartwarming - and I'm always a fan of longstanding friendships and sisterhood, with some crime thrown in.
It had a similar feel to The Thursday Murder Club, whilst focussing a lot on the friends' past heists and shared history.
For me, it was a little more Golden Girls than Oceans 11, and could have spent longer on the heist itself. But I also loved the insight into an older group of friends reconnecting.
If you want a feel-good story about a group of 70 year old women trying to rob a bank vault, then this is for you.
It had a similar feel to The Thursday Murder Club, whilst focussing a lot on the friends' past heists and shared history.
For me, it was a little more Golden Girls than Oceans 11, and could have spent longer on the heist itself. But I also loved the insight into an older group of friends reconnecting.
If you want a feel-good story about a group of 70 year old women trying to rob a bank vault, then this is for you.
September 4, 2026
This was such a fun escape - what great fiction is all about! I'm loving this relatively new genre that focuses on retirees who are smart, active, clever and capable. This novel focuses on 4 women (think Golden Girls, only more active) who pulled off lots of heists in their 20s. Now, in the their 70s and not having been in touch with each other in many years, the plot of this novel has them reassemble to pull off one final heist - think Ocean's Eleven, only with 4 female seniors! The storyline was obviously a bit of a stretch - some of it realistic, other parts clearly not realistic at all. But the basic premise of the plot, the characterization, and the humor really made this a fun read. This is a lighthearted novel that also touches on some serious themes involving aging, illness, regrets, friendship and family. I don't know if anyone has snatched up the rights to the this book yet, but I could visualize this making a fun Netflix or Amazon movie!
August 18, 2026
4.5 stars. This book was an absolute hoot. I’m surprised it isn’t more popular with a higher rating. It’s written in a Tongue In Cheek manner and the characters are all hilarious. It’s sort of Golden Girls meets Ocean 11. A spunky group of friends who had an interesting youth pulling off heists are now senior citizens looking for one last hurrah. They have a bone to pick with a guy dealing in bitcoin fraud so they set out to pull off one last stunt. I seriously laughed on every page. Such a fun book.
August 13, 2026
Rules for Aging and Larceny was such a fun, lighthearted read! I loved getting to know each character, seeing what drove them apart and watching them find their way back to each other. The banter had me laughing out loud and I really enjoyed the mix of humor, heart, and chaos. Such an entertaining read!
August 9, 2026
This was truly not a good book. The writing was awful and cringy. There was way too much unnecessary swearing, “trendy” slang words that were not natural in the writing, and clearly absolutely no thought whatsoever about how 74 year olds actually speak. A 74 year old today (and I know many) do not say words like: vibey, true that, riz, boss b*, etc. Also the plot? It took until the very last three chapters for anything to actually happen. I’m so disappointed because the idea of this book sounded so fun and hilarious. I honestly don’t know why I bothered finishing it. I just kept thinking it had to get better, and it never did. Also the description compared the book to Oceans 11 and the heist was basically non-existent.
August 19, 2026
A fairly entertaining listen, but the actual heist felt so rushed that it didn't pay off on the premise as well as I'd hoped.
August 10, 2026
Frankly I was so stressed about Frances the entire book that I nearly gave this three stars.
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June 25, 2026I'm loving the recent trend of criminals of a certain age, especially if they are women. In this amusing heist caper, a woman gets some unfortunate news and decides to reunite her old crime gang for one last hurrah.
Because Edie and Frances got (close third) POVs, I feel like we got to know them better, and that they had the most developed backstories. The other women (Joan and Irene) got a bit of a short shrift.
No surprises here, but if, like me, you are inspired by watching seventy-year-old woman kick ass, grab this for your summer TBR!
Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!
Because Edie and Frances got (close third) POVs, I feel like we got to know them better, and that they had the most developed backstories. The other women (Joan and Irene) got a bit of a short shrift.
No surprises here, but if, like me, you are inspired by watching seventy-year-old woman kick ass, grab this for your summer TBR!
Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!
July 30, 2026
I am enjoying the new trend of older MCs looking to break out of their shell and take advantage of their old age to get away with something. I enjoyed getting to know these four, but the story lacked some of the charm others, such as the Thursday Murder Club or Killers of a Certain Age have. The characters were all likeable but not necessarily memorable and, while I laughed in places, some of it felt forced and a tad bit silly. There was so much time spent in the beginning “getting the band back together” that the heist felt rushed. Otherwise, this was cute and I loved the resolution at the end.
August 26, 2026
This was a very fun read!! Frances and three of her friends pulled some heists when they were in their 20s and now that they are in their 70s, they are getting together for one last heist. They don’t really have the skills for this big heist but there is a lot of humor and fun in getting there. They are good at getting others to help them. Very fast and fun read!!!
August 11, 2026
Listened to the audiobook.
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