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The House That Hustle Built #1

The House that Hustle Built - Part 1

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Beg, Borrow, or Steal.
Worlds collide when a car thief and a self-proclaimed entrepreneur meet. Pearla is a born hustler, and Cash was born to steal. Pearla sets her sights on Cash and motivates him to take his petty crimes to the next level.

Together, the two get money throughout the tri-state, while friends and family want to be upgraded without putting in work. At first, the couple makes it rain in the hood, taking care of those they love, but a hustler always knows when to draw the line.

Suddenly, Pearla proclaims the ATM closed, and a quiet storm begins to brew. When the beggars can't beg anymore and the borrowers can't borrow anymore, friends become enemies. Words and bullets are exchanged, leaving The House that Hustle Built under attack and at risk of collapse.

250 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 23, 2015

15 people are currently reading
325 people want to read

About the author

Nisa Santiago

48 books300 followers
Nisa Santiago came bursting onto the literary scene in 2009 with her debut title, Cartier Cartel. The book garnered rave reviews and left her readers wanting more. She followed up with the sequel, Return of the Cartier Cartel – which turned into a national bestseller. The Library Journal declared that Santiago’s sequel, [Return of the Cartier Cartel] “Will keep readers hooked to the last chapter.”


Born and raised in Brooklyn, and now living in Harlem, the author is moving at full speed with her writing endeavors. Coined the Duchess of Hop-Hip lit, Santiago humbly admits, “I’m just grateful to be doing what I love as a career and not just a hobby.”

Her latest novel, Bad Apple – The Baddest Chick is slated for an October 2011 release date. The author emphatically states that her decision to start a new series instead of penning part 3 to Cartier Cartel was a brave one. “My readers love Cartier and they wanted more.” Santiago wants her readers to know that she has so many stories to tell and shows no signs of slowing down. Dirty Money Honey is an anthology with her peers, Erica Hilton and Kim K., Melodrama Publishing’s new trinity of authors.

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5 stars
81 (60%)
4 stars
34 (25%)
3 stars
12 (8%)
2 stars
8 (5%)
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0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
Profile Image for Denise Gilliam.
715 reviews21 followers
December 23, 2016
I started the book just to see if I was going to like it and couldn't put the book down. Cash and Pearl are a couple finally. What they went through was true character in itself. Can't wait to see what happens in part 2. Nisa Santiago can really pull you into a story. Great job Nisa Santiago.
Profile Image for Nicole.
153 reviews3 followers
August 6, 2017
A real page turner couldn't put the book down. Cash and Pearls relationship is toxic. I don't see how she stayed with him he sleep with both of her friends (Roark and Jamie) she should have stayed with Hassan. Jamie was wrong but I didn't think Pearla would kill her over Cash. Their parents are a trip they need to be cut off completely. The crazy part they didn't know who was gunning for them because they crossed so many peoples and many people had crossed them but greed and jealousy was their downfall.
Profile Image for Patrice.
72 reviews
March 22, 2017
The haters are real. I love there strive. The knew that they needed to survive and that's what mattered. The way Pearla was effing people over, no wonder the couple has so many enemies.
Profile Image for Marie Morisset.
63 reviews4 followers
May 31, 2015
Avid Leo Reader

Here we have a new series by Ms. Santiago. The book features Perla, a young hustler who enlists her closest friends to help her carry out her schemes. What starts off as simple boosting only fuels Perla's lust for money and power as she sets her eyes on bigger prizes. Along the way, her path will cross and her heart will belong to no other than Cash, a low level car thief. When Perla makes Cash realize his full potential, the sky is the limit as money starts rushing in like a river. But as we all know every hustle has a timeline and with more money you make, the more problems ensue. Will Cash and Perla be one step ahead of their lengthy list of enemies or will their house that their hustle built crumble before their very eyes? Well read and find out. As always it is a pleasure to read a well edited book. My only problem with the book was that I found Perla way too gullible when it came to Cash and that she didn't care about all the bridges she burned along the way. Considering I'm so used to the strong female characters in all of Ms. Santiago's past books. Nonetheless, I will read the second part to find out whose throwing all this shade on the house that Hustle built.
Profile Image for Sheryl Boyce.
399 reviews8 followers
March 19, 2015
This was a pretty good book. Pearla was really stuck on stupid in love with Cash. Dude was a player before you met him, and when he first met you he wasn't interested, so what made her think she was going to change him. Lol Her mom was very disrespectful to her but in the end she needed her help. Cash's parents are drug addicts and he aids their addictions. In the end they turn on him. But his dad saves Cash and Pearla's lives. I'm hoping there will be another book cause this one didn't end right.
Profile Image for Monique.
1,815 reviews
April 19, 2015
I haven't read a urban lit book in quite sometime...now I remember why. Some old story with different names and different hustle. At least I finished reading this one in under two hours. Quick diversion.
Profile Image for Kithanna Smart.
5 reviews
March 5, 2018
I loved reading this book, even though I wasn't supposed to be reading it (lmao). The book itself is very intriguing and it had a lot of sad parts like when her boyfriend cheated on her a lot and it was grimy cause she was really down for him she even got kicked out of her mom's house cause she was with him. but she still did her, hustled for the pay and her mom ended up coming back to her for money.
Profile Image for Kara Franklin.
181 reviews30 followers
April 15, 2020
2.5⭐ Ok this is a hard rating... I read it in less than a few days so clearly it had my interest... But I can't say I liked it or that I'm excited to read the next book. However the cliffhanger peaked my interest, so I will give the second book in the series a try, hopefully it's better. What I enjoyed was the character build, but it took a while to get to the juicy part
Profile Image for S.
533 reviews12 followers
May 31, 2021
Highly recommended!!!

This book was a wild ride from beginning to end. These two go from never seeming to be able to catch a break to them being two of the luckiest people on earth. I can’t wait to read part two where I know the drama is sure to continue.
Profile Image for Elise Randall.
161 reviews2 followers
February 10, 2018
Absolutely amazing. I can't believe how much stuff they got into and got away with. Then things started falling apart can't wait to read more
1 review
August 22, 2024
🔥

This is Definitely a must read for adult fiction lovers! Now I’m hooked on finding out what happens next..On to part two!
Profile Image for Melissa.
1,524 reviews24 followers
July 21, 2015
1.5 stars. No character development or even fully fleshed out characters. Which, you can still have in Urban fiction. Pearla and her friends are professional shoplifters. But, Pearla is always hustling with an ear open for other schemes. She meets Cash. Who steals cars. They meet and fall in something I guess is love. Specifically on Pearla's end. Cash runs through a lot of ladies before and while he is with Pearla. Including Pearla's closest friends. Pearla betrays people that helped her earlier on. She convinces Cash to do the same to people he has been in business with for a while (which, was the only part of the book that gave me pause). But, I guess there was no honor system.The lack thereof left he book with a cliffhanger for a sequel. I probably won't read it.
Profile Image for Sandra (Book Loves) Atueyi.
709 reviews20 followers
March 16, 2015
I just finished reading The House That Hustle Built by Nisa Santiago. This is my first time reading from this author. This book is a good read. I enjoyed reading this book and get know each of characters in this book.

I like the concepts and vibe in this book because it's well written and well character. I could related to Pearla because she doesn't play when it comes her man and her life. Jamie is a something else. I don't like Roark and Jamie. Both are a dead wrong. This book and this deserved five ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️from me. Nisa Santiago did a good job. I'm looking forward to read another book from this author.


Good Job!
Sandra
32 reviews
March 4, 2016
It was cool I guess


I liked this book. But I will say reading other books by her I kinda expected more. I brought both part 1&2 at the same time cause I just knew it was going to be good. I'm used to her books being real page turners so I will say I Expected more from her. It took me a little longer reading this book then any other book I've read by her and to be honest if I didn't already purchased part 2 I wouldn't have brought it after reading this book. I still gave it four stars because it was a good but it was just too slow and I found myself dragging to get to the end.
Profile Image for Donica James.
600 reviews4 followers
December 12, 2015
I loved reading this book.Both characters,a woman named Pearla and a man named Cash both wanted a better life. So, each of them ended up being scheme artists.life is good for awhile but things start taking a turn for the worst.Pearla convinces Cash to ripe off his boss,uh oh Wat trouble. Also, Pearla starts her owns Bussiness; making her boss furious. I can't wait to read part 2. I need to know what happens next.
Profile Image for Dee Cherry.
2,945 reviews68 followers
May 30, 2015
House Hustle 1

This house...of Perla & Cash was surely built off hustling. These were 2 characters that truly belonged together- dangerous & deceptive. This was another excellent read by Nisa Santiago comprised of a well written storyline, plenty of drama, & a cast of unforgettable characters. Anxiously awaiting part 2!
17 reviews1 follower
March 12, 2015
I Loved it!!

I Am TEAM CASH N PEARLA! The Only thing I'm mad about is that they didn't have sense enough to Stash money away for Hard times! I'm ready for part 2! & Ready for them to get bk to the MONEY!!!
Profile Image for Tip Mack.
315 reviews26 followers
May 18, 2015
It wasn't one of her best books. I gave it three. I can usually read her books in one or two days.
Profile Image for Sharon Coleman.
29 reviews1 follower
January 10, 2016
PEARLA AND CASH

All I know is these two characters are absolutely AWESOME... Nisa you are the Bomb when you wrote this book.
Profile Image for Tonikia.
206 reviews15 followers
Read
February 18, 2016
Nice

This book was a very good read. I recommend that if you haven't added it to your Nisa Santiago collection, then please do so.
Profile Image for Courtnei.
35 reviews
May 8, 2015
Cash was ridiculous but it was a coo little book.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews

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