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Riche$
The beach read just got bigger! Get even further away this summer with this globe-trotting, back-stabbing, boy-snaring, snog-busting follow up to FORTUNE. CELINE has all of Buenos Aires – especially the boys – at her feet. She's hot, she's talented, and she has a glittering future as a fashion designer ahead of her. Well, if she can get her pushy parents off her back. JHUMPA is this close to breaking into Bollywood. She's moved out of her dad's house in Mumbai, and into an apartment paid for by her agent – she's so confident she's going to be a star that she's not looking back. LUCI has the looks and the brains. Gorgeous darling of the Tatler crowd, equally at home on a pheasant shoot or on the dancefloor, she's also studying archaeology at Oxford. Three very different girls… suddenly united by one terrible tragedy. The question is, can they solve the mystery that united their parents – a mystery that involves the most valuable jewel in the world? You wouldn't want to bet against them. Sisters might be doing it for themselves – but get them to work together, and there's nothing they can't do…
- GenresYoung AdultMystery
413 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
About the author
Megan Cole
19 books19 followersMegan Cole is a celebrity and fashion blogger who lives in London with her best friend Jess. She has written for numerous magazines, flown all over the world interviewing stars and was once asked out for mojitos by an A-Lister, but had to leave to catch her flight. He wasn't her type anyway (honest) but it was nice to be asked…
Megan Cole is the pen name of a journalist and writer.
Megan Cole is the pen name of a journalist and writer.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
June 24, 2014
This novel was better than I expected. It was a fun read which was like Indiana Jones meets Gossip Girl. Frustratingly, the ending was a bit abrupt for me and I didn't like how much men had to help intervene to save the three female protagonists. While I foresaw some of the twists and turns, it was still a cute read. Overall, it was very light and would make an ideal beach read.
October 12, 2025
A few months ago, I read Megan Cole's Fortune and called it my most surprising book of 2025. When I found out that she wrote another book in the same vein, I absolutely had to read it. Both Fortune and Riche$ are genuinely fascinating to me, because in some ways they feel like a novelized episode of Keeping Up With the Kardashians or Love Island, what with the endless dropping of brand names (there were twenty-four mentions of iPhones, iPads and iPods alone; every piece of clothing or accessory was Gucci or Chanel or Louboutin) and drooling over boys (female homosexuals do not exist in these books) and the constant catfighting (especially between Celine and Jhumpa in Riche$). But it also feels like all that stuff is just window-dressing, because mixed in very skillfully is a true, genuine passion for storytelling.
It feels like the author set out to just tell a good story, and in my opinion, she does that extremely well. This book felt like a homage to Indiana Jones, Tomb Raider (those two franchises are mentioned at one point in the book), and a little bit of Totally Spies. There were a lot of very fun action scenes. The characters are all tropes that we've seen a billion times before--the clumsy, absentminded archeologist who's secretly a total badass; the bitchy fashionista with a secret heart of gold; the wise, kind holy man; the villain who's straight out of a Saturday morning cartoon--but they're all written so earnestly and with such passion that it works. I also really enjoyed watching Mike and Luci fall in love over the course of the book; there was genuine chemistry there, both as friends and romantic partners. Jhumpa and Celine spent most of the book at each other's throats, and it was wildly entertaining. So many authors can't write entertaining dialogue, but Megan Cole can. I was genuinely laughing out loud at some points, and it takes a lot to make me laugh at a book. Yes, sometimes my enjoyment was ironic, but there was also plenty about it that I enjoyed un-ironically.
The pacing of this book is truly great. It is 413 pages long and it never drags. I've read books that are over 100 pages shorter and felt longer. Again, it impressed me; it shows that both the author and editor have a sense of what makes a book good.
However, I will say that the proofreading leaves a lot to be desired. Cadwallader Hall would oftentimes be referred to as Cadwallader House; the butler's name switched between Stevenson and Stephenson; "bought" was often used in place of "brought", you get the idea. It didn't ruin the book for me, but I was fixing a lot of mistakes as I went along.
I'm honestly sad that I can't find anything about this author online; supposedly she had a fashion blog in the 2010s, but it seems to have been nuked off the internet. Wherever she was, whatever she's doing, I really hope she's still writing. It is such a rarity to read books written by someone who truly enjoys telling a story. I can't say that this is great literature, but I don't think it's trying to be. If you're looking for a good time, I would definitely recommend both this and Fortune.
It feels like the author set out to just tell a good story, and in my opinion, she does that extremely well. This book felt like a homage to Indiana Jones, Tomb Raider (those two franchises are mentioned at one point in the book), and a little bit of Totally Spies. There were a lot of very fun action scenes. The characters are all tropes that we've seen a billion times before--the clumsy, absentminded archeologist who's secretly a total badass; the bitchy fashionista with a secret heart of gold; the wise, kind holy man; the villain who's straight out of a Saturday morning cartoon--but they're all written so earnestly and with such passion that it works. I also really enjoyed watching Mike and Luci fall in love over the course of the book; there was genuine chemistry there, both as friends and romantic partners. Jhumpa and Celine spent most of the book at each other's throats, and it was wildly entertaining. So many authors can't write entertaining dialogue, but Megan Cole can. I was genuinely laughing out loud at some points, and it takes a lot to make me laugh at a book. Yes, sometimes my enjoyment was ironic, but there was also plenty about it that I enjoyed un-ironically.
The pacing of this book is truly great. It is 413 pages long and it never drags. I've read books that are over 100 pages shorter and felt longer. Again, it impressed me; it shows that both the author and editor have a sense of what makes a book good.
However, I will say that the proofreading leaves a lot to be desired. Cadwallader Hall would oftentimes be referred to as Cadwallader House; the butler's name switched between Stevenson and Stephenson; "bought" was often used in place of "brought", you get the idea. It didn't ruin the book for me, but I was fixing a lot of mistakes as I went along.
I'm honestly sad that I can't find anything about this author online; supposedly she had a fashion blog in the 2010s, but it seems to have been nuked off the internet. Wherever she was, whatever she's doing, I really hope she's still writing. It is such a rarity to read books written by someone who truly enjoys telling a story. I can't say that this is great literature, but I don't think it's trying to be. If you're looking for a good time, I would definitely recommend both this and Fortune.
September 27, 2011
I really enjoyed Megan Cole’s debut novel Fortune, so it was inevitable that I’d buy her second novel, Riches. It’s a very different novel to its predecessor, but it keeps the rich feel of the first book as all the girls are rich and beautiful (as we’re rather constantly reminded). Fortune is more light and airy and more of a beach read than Riches. Despite the fact I liked the idea of Riches, I did feel it was very, very over the top. If you want to read – and enjoy – the book, you’re going to have to suspend your beliefs as three girls from different parts of the world unite in a bid to save their parents and rescue a diamond(!) in the process. Oh, not to mention, they flit from Morocco, to Australia, to India at the drop of a hat. Don’t get me wrong, Fortune was OTT, too, but it had more of a beach-read OTT feel and Riches doesn’t have that. Riches is just seriously OTT.
Riches is a very quick read, and I finished it in a matter of hours and it is very readable despite it’s believability (or lack thereof). And despite calling it OTT, I did enjoy getting lost in the world of Celina, Jhumpa and Luci for a few hours and it’s the kind of read that doesn’t really offend and is just a very quick read. The book is let down massively by the editing – I mean, seriously, I read lots of books with lots of errors but Megan Cole is, hands down, the worst writer ever. She has the worst editing team, too, just to add on the pressure. This is an author and editing team who do not know of the word “brought” and instead Jhumpa “bought herself up”. Oh yes, that is what the sentence says. She bought herself. And it continues, at least three or four times in the novel the word “bought” is used instead of “brought”. I mean, it’s basic English for God’s sake and it makes me so angry it was allowed to slip through, along with numerous other spellings errors and wrongly-worded sentences. If I managed to spot it straight away, then what the heck were her editing team looking at? There’s nothing worse than a badly-spelt book. It’s just lazy.
Overall, I enjoyed Riches. It wasn’t as good as Fortune, although the editing errors were on par with each other(!). If Megan Cole brings out a third novel, I will pick it up as despite the OTT plots and OTT characters and constant use of the word “OMG” I do enjoy her books. They’re light and fluffy and they quite easily pass a couple of hours and I enjoy reading them. Riches won’t set the world alight, but for a quick beach read it does the business nicely. Sometimes it’s nice to read something somewhat light and Riches fit the bill for me and I’d definitely read a third Megan Cole novel, though if only if I’m allowed to proof-read it first… (Just joking.) (Really.)
Riches is a very quick read, and I finished it in a matter of hours and it is very readable despite it’s believability (or lack thereof). And despite calling it OTT, I did enjoy getting lost in the world of Celina, Jhumpa and Luci for a few hours and it’s the kind of read that doesn’t really offend and is just a very quick read. The book is let down massively by the editing – I mean, seriously, I read lots of books with lots of errors but Megan Cole is, hands down, the worst writer ever. She has the worst editing team, too, just to add on the pressure. This is an author and editing team who do not know of the word “brought” and instead Jhumpa “bought herself up”. Oh yes, that is what the sentence says. She bought herself. And it continues, at least three or four times in the novel the word “bought” is used instead of “brought”. I mean, it’s basic English for God’s sake and it makes me so angry it was allowed to slip through, along with numerous other spellings errors and wrongly-worded sentences. If I managed to spot it straight away, then what the heck were her editing team looking at? There’s nothing worse than a badly-spelt book. It’s just lazy.
Overall, I enjoyed Riches. It wasn’t as good as Fortune, although the editing errors were on par with each other(!). If Megan Cole brings out a third novel, I will pick it up as despite the OTT plots and OTT characters and constant use of the word “OMG” I do enjoy her books. They’re light and fluffy and they quite easily pass a couple of hours and I enjoy reading them. Riches won’t set the world alight, but for a quick beach read it does the business nicely. Sometimes it’s nice to read something somewhat light and Riches fit the bill for me and I’d definitely read a third Megan Cole novel, though if only if I’m allowed to proof-read it first… (Just joking.) (Really.)
March 5, 2012
a great twist on a romance never saw it comeing if you have only read this book by megan cole you should read forture also by megan cole.
September 21, 2013
Surprisingly good for a beach read! Impressed
September 1, 2018
Fabulous, as there is a truth about relationships in there, but after someone has cheated you once, why did you then fall for him again? When you have ideas of what he is!
February 5, 2013
The beach read just got bigger! Get even further away this summer with this globe-trotting, back-stabbing, boy-snaring, snog-busting follow up to FORTUNE.
CELINE has all of Buenos Aires at her feet. She's hot, she's talented, and she has a glittering future as a fashion designer ahead of her. Well, if she can get her pushy parents off her back.
JHUMPA is this close to breaking into Bollywood. She's moved out of her dad's house in Mumbai, and into an apartment paid for by her agent -- she's so confident she's going to be a star that she's not looking back.
LUCI has the looks and the brains. Gorgeous darling of the Tatler crowd, equally at home on a pheasant shoot or on the dancefloor, she's also studying archaeology at Oxford.
Three very different girls! suddenly united by one terrible tragedy.
The question is, can they solve the mystery that united their parents -- a mystery that involves the most valuable jewel in the world? You wouldn't want to bet against them. Sisters might be doing it for themselves -- but get them to work together, and there's nothing they can't do
CELINE has all of Buenos Aires at her feet. She's hot, she's talented, and she has a glittering future as a fashion designer ahead of her. Well, if she can get her pushy parents off her back.
JHUMPA is this close to breaking into Bollywood. She's moved out of her dad's house in Mumbai, and into an apartment paid for by her agent -- she's so confident she's going to be a star that she's not looking back.
LUCI has the looks and the brains. Gorgeous darling of the Tatler crowd, equally at home on a pheasant shoot or on the dancefloor, she's also studying archaeology at Oxford.
Three very different girls! suddenly united by one terrible tragedy.
The question is, can they solve the mystery that united their parents -- a mystery that involves the most valuable jewel in the world? You wouldn't want to bet against them. Sisters might be doing it for themselves -- but get them to work together, and there's nothing they can't do
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 28, 2015
I don't really know what to think of this book. I didn't really like it until page 250 or so. Everything was happening so slowly and there was very few character development. But when the story got more exiting, I wanted to read on and on! I started to like it, but for me, it was just to supperficial to enjoy. There were hardly any feelings discussed for example, whilst it's quite a heavy subject. I don't really know.. I liked the book. Nothing more, nothing less.
May 29, 2012
This book was painful. The writing was at the level of a young teenager. The cliches were abundant and bland. The characters were barely developed. Their interactions were ridiculous and unbelievable. The dialogue was cringe-worthy. Editing mistakes were littered through-out the book.
One of the worst books I've read in a long time.
One of the worst books I've read in a long time.
April 30, 2013
After reading Fortune, which I loved and highly recommend, I was excited to read riches! The plot was good, the characters were good but I can't help but compare it to fortune and I was disappointed! The book lacked any thrill and didn't completely grip me into it like fortune! I'm still happy I read it, but it was definitely a let down from the amazing fortune!
July 19, 2012
First Book I read of Megan Cole's. Found in charity shop and understand why it was there. It appealed to me at the very start but the writing style is like young teenager.This is second worse compared to Twilight Series in Plot, Spelling, Editing and overall tacky cliche.
May 19, 2012
Original ideas, plot predicable concept & shockers were also predicable, character behavior very annoying & unoriginal
February 3, 2013
Writing the wrong word in books annoys me. I thourght people were supposed to check it made sence before it goes on the shelves.
July 26, 2014
I loved it, it is one of my most favourite book.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews