Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

DNF @ 50%. I really do try my best to complete ARCs, but in this case, I just couldn't do it. There isn't anything egregiously wrong with this book; rather, everything was just ok. There's a lot of different elements in this story: the con, the romance, the Roaring 20's inspired setting. But none of them came together for me. The con wasn't convincing, I didn't root for the romance, and the presence of the 20's aesthetic was more of a whisper than a roar. I'm a big fan of con artist stories, but this one was especially lackluster for me. The MC does not come across as especially competent or committed to the con. (She gets figured out by the love interest within 30/40% of the book, and instead of trying to lie her way out of it, she decides to completely spill the beans! Not to mention the fact that she got found out because she was trying to get some, like, priorities girl.) I also did not like the romance. Other than mutual attraction, they have nothing else going for them, they have zero chemistry. Lastly, the 20's aesthetic was barely there. I was expecting them to use more of the slang, or mention more flapper-type of fashion, but other than being rich and attending opulent parties and operas, that was the extent of it.

Overall, perhaps this was just not for me.

This was so fun! This book is a screwball comedy, sapphic romance, and con artist romp, with just a hint of Pride & Prejudice but in spaaaace. I loved the narrative voice, the 1920s vibe, and the delightfully scheming lead, who's looking for revenge (and money) but naturally ends up far more embroiled in schemes and difficulties than she was bargaining for.

The worldbuilding is light, but effective. I liked a lot of the science fictional touches. I enjoyed the prose, which works very well for the setting. The author strikes a fascinating balance with the narrative voice, adopting a mostly light, airy tone, but with a world-weary undercurrent that reminds us that she's a cynical con artist who is desperately wishing she didn't have to be so cynical all the time. It gives a bit of a noir detective vibe that works really well with the 1920s setting.

The pacing was mostly good, but I did feel that it lagged slightly in the second half; the story got a little convoluted and started feeling less easy breezy to me. Things got back on track quickly, though, and I was fully back into it by the 75% mark.

Some of the plot elements didn't quite land for me, but mostly I was just happy to be along for the ride.

Overall I really enjoyed this, and will absolutely be recommending it and reading Rebecca Fraimow's other work.

3.75 stars, rounded up to 4 for a great narrative voice and fun lesbian hijinks.

Thank you to Rebecca Fraimow, Solaris, and NetGalley for generously providing an ARC for review!

2SLGBTQIA+ BIPOC Sci-Fi Steamy Romance about a small-time hustler who's set on revenging her jilted sister but winds up falling for her mark's sister and getting tangled up in her troubles.

5/5 stars: Fraimow's newest 2SLGBTQIA+ BIPOC Sci-Fi Steamy Romance is a enemies-to-lovers stand-alone romance that features a small-time hustler who's determined to get revenge for her jilted sister but finds herself falling for her mark's sister and getting all tangled up in her troubles. Fraimow's writing and character work are stellar; the characters are well-rounded, complex and yet remain incredibly likable. Ruth's tough and I love seeing her open up to loving Sol. The two of them spark off each other, are incredibly swoony and the slow burn consummation OPS scenes is deliciously steamy. And I have to say I loved the intrigue, mystery and adventurous aspects. I thought it was very well done and kept the plot moving. While there are plenty of humorous moments, Fraimow does tackle some sensitive topics, so take care and check the CWs. With that ending I really hope there's more to coming from Ruth, Sol, Jules and the sprog but even if there isn't I look forward to reading more from this author, highly recommend!

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Solaris in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

Miss New Monte Chivalry over there knew her lines. I almost hated to step on her scene, but she could vamp the debs any day of the week, and a girl only gets one first impression. [loc. 104]

Sapphic romance featuring a con artist and a disaffected socialite, set on a space habitat beyond Pluto, with a Jazz Age ambience, a Black heroine, and a subplot involving kosher duck. I hadn't connected the author's name with her excellent, Hugo-nominated short story 'This Is New Gehesran Calling' (published in Consolation Songs) so I was trepidatious about this novel, but I'm happy to report that it is just as much fun as you'd expect from my description.

Professional gambler and con artist Ruthi Johnson sets out to charm Esteban Mendez-Yuki, the man who dumped her sister Jules: he's heir to a vast insurance corporation, though would rather talk about soil types. Ruthi poses as a naive young debutante and infiltrates the high society of New Monte: her similarity to her sister attracts the eye of Esteban the Cad, but also snags the attention of his glamorous sister Solada, who has an eye for the girls and a swashbuckling sense of style. Ruthi finds herself tangled up in an old acquaintance's plot against Sol, who may be too sharp not to spot that Ruthi has a scheme of her own.

The futuristic setting had plenty of fun details (like a hair salon where the gravity continually alters 'so you could check out how your new hairstyle looked in any sort of an atmosphere'; like cockail boxes, and jewel-studded atmospheric breathers), and though the focus was largely on the trading aristocracy, there were glimpses of less privileged lives as well -- not least Ruthi's own past. Plenty of diversity, too: Ruthi is dark-skinned (and aware that there are some places still too 'light' for her to fit in); Sol's chain of sapphic flings is nothing remarkable, though some young women might not want a long-term contract in case they end up living somewhere where the rules about 'spousal contracts' are more old-fashioned; Ruthi and Jules speak Yiddish together as a secret language, and the kosher duck is actually relevant to the plot. The attraction between Ruthi and Sol, with the increasingly awkward overlay of Ruthi's alter ego Lady Evelyn, felt sparky and exciting, and the various threads of the story wove together very satisfactorily. I liked this a lot, and shall now search out the author's other works

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the advance review copy, in exchange for this full honest review. UK Publication Date is 04 JUN 2024.

A compelling read and a wild ride!

Ruthi is bent on avenging her sister's broken heart by pretending to be a debutante to win over the man who did the heartbreaking. Ruthi did not account for his sister Sol, and soon Ruthi finds herself enmeshed in an even higher stakes scheme. Oh, and the whole thing takes place in space.

This was a brilliant debut mixing sci fi with Sapphic romance featuring a con artist. I loved the world building and the characters and all the moving parts.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review!

This is a fun read that took all the typicals a turned them askew in a new take that made this a book unlike any I could compare it to.

The worldbuilding was well done - fully immersive but unique that it didn't feel like a copy paste from every other sci-fi future. I liked that there is a whole 1920s/1940s vibe for the whole book, it gave it a new layer that I really enjoyed.

To me I think the con as a whole fell a bit flat for most of the book - I think because even as Ruth points out multiple times Esteban is not a difficult mark, and I still have a hard time figuring out what her sister ever saw in him. The subplots add in the intrigue and conning that I think the main con is lacking so it's still a fun read with all the right genre elements that I crave from heist/long con stories.

I didn't feel the chemistry between Ruth and Sol that I wanted, although I can't quite put my finger on why. I think it's mostly they didn't interact enough for me to really feel like I understood the attraction on Ruth's part. We do see Sol become more complex and layered, but I still found it hard to be sympathetic with her problems.

I appreciated that we can see through Ruth the commentary on the richest classes and how their wealth impacts their worldview/lives- and probably why I love heists and long con stories. It's nice to see the people usually obviously to real problems and consequences get it a bit of comeuppance. We also see Ruth grow in her relationship with her sister which I thought was really well done.

All that said, again it is really a fun book with multiple stories and layers that makes this a better than usual book and a great summer read or for a book club.

This was fun! A sci fi crime caper with a dash of romance that evokes the vibes of the Roaring 20's. The world building and characters were great, and I loved the way the ending was pulled off--very clever and satisfying!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc! Opinions are my own.

This was such a fun read, I enjoyed the sisterly bond and the inclusion and diversity of this book. Ocean 8 vibes with a twist of sapphic made me giggle and kick my fèet, I loved every part of this book especially the last line of the book making me gasp and then giggle.

This was a great queer romance with a fun and engaging heist plot. Diverse characters and great worldbuilding. Would recommend for those interested in black, Jewish, and diverse science fiction romances.

Loved this take on "The Lady Eve" set in space. A grifter sets her sights on the man who wronged her sister. She will make him pay. If only his sister wasn't so beguiling or smart or everywhere.

a revenge heist turned sapphic romance set in space? sign me up! this was compulsively readable and a huge amount of fun. brilliantly well formed characters in a uniquely exciting and opulent high society.

Thank you to NetGalley and Solaris for my digital review copy.

I really enjoyed this book!

I loved the setting - the glitz, the glamour - it's almost Gatsby-ean in the vibes and I am absolutely the target audience for any form of Jazz Age inspiration.

This was a delightful blend of an almost caricature Jazz Age, coupled with sci-fi and I loved every second of it.

Ruth as a character is complex - she has one goal, but many obstacles in trying to reach said goal, and I lived for seeing her scheme and plot her way through high society.

The plot pacing of this book felt really great to me - it progressed naturally and didn't feel too slow or too quick.

I would have liked more of an explanation to the sci-fi technology and I would have liked the ending to be better, but overall, I would recommend this book for someone who wants something sapphic and fun to read.

Ruthi Johnson has a plan. An experienced con woman, she is going to charm Esteban, the wealthy insurance heir who knocked up and ditched her sister. Once the betrothal contract is signed, she’ll be able to take off with a good chunk of money for her sister and future niece, as well as leaving the asshole publicly humiliated.

The complication is the mark’s sister Sol, who is immediately suspicious of this supposed heiress from a remote colony world. She is also attractive and charming, and a crush is a whole *other* complication Ruthi wasn’t counting on.

Things get even more tangled when Ruthi finds out Sol is in debt to the mob - and the mobster on hand is an old acquaintance of Ruthi’s. He’s got no problem with her running her own game, so long as she stays out of the mob’s business. But he would appreciate it greatly if she used her in with the family to do him a trifling favor or two…

This is a fun romp with clever people outsmarting other clever people in a world of glitz & glamor. I love a con story, and this is a good one. Ruthi is caught between many opposing forces - her desire to get comeuppance for her sister; her desire to protect Sol from the mob; her desire to avoid drawing the ire of the mob herself, as they generally don’t like people telling them “no;” her worries over being so far from her pregnant sister.

The atmosphere has a distinct Roaring Twenties/Art Deco vibe, which the cover strongly reinforces. It’s fun, it’s filled with twists, and it’s spicy. Great entertainment.

🍸 𝕃𝕒𝕕𝕪 𝔼𝕧𝕖’𝕤 𝕃𝕒𝕤𝕥 ℂ𝕠𝕟 🍸

Ruth has only ever cared about one thing in the galaxy, her sister Jules. Orphaned at a young age she took care of her the only way available, a life of crime. Seasoned con artists the girls know how to get what they want, until the game is flipped and Jules ends up with broken heart.

Now Ruth is out for revenge. Posing as rural heiress she sets her sights on the fortune of the man who hurt her sister. The stakes are high but Ruth knows how to play her hand, until a wild card she didn’t expect enter the game: the marks sister. Sol is on to Ruth’s plan and doing everything she can to stop her. However, being stopped suddenly doesn’t seem so bad. As Ruth gets closer to payout she may have to choose between losing the money or her heart.

I’ve never considered myself much of a romance reader but after this I may have to broaden my horizons. This book was so much fun! It reads like a 1920’s noir but takes place in a future where we’ve successfully colonized the galaxy. Imagine flapper girls in zero gravity and tell me you’re not intrigued.

The writing was honestly what hooked me. Ruth’s voice comes thru so clearly with language that is so colorful and candid you can’t help but feel like your with bestie giggling over cocktails.

The author does an amazing job of world building through out the narrative in a way I like to describe storytelling versus explaining. It just flows naturally.

The romance aspect was enemies to lovers, filled with witty banter, and leaves you on the edge of your seat waiting for the moment they realize how their relationship has evolved. I loved every minute of it.

If you enjoy fun, light hearted, sapphic romance with a noir feel, I highly recommend you adding this read to your TBR. Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Pub Date: June 4, 2024

Thank you NetGalley and Sorrell Publishing for a free e-reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Lady Eve's Last Con is a book that promises a hustle based plot line with in built romance and boy did it deliever! Ruth is on a mission to get revenge and a payout from her sisters ex, after he left her heartbroken, however what Ruth did not expect was falling for Esteban's sister. Can Ruth get the revenge she desires or will her feelings for her targets sister alter her plans?

This book was brilliant, first off the cover is stunning and it has fascinating world building (with humans inhabiting other planets with artificial environments which sounds so intriguing and brilliant) I did get a little lost in regards to the planets proximity to each other so would have loved a galaxy map to show just where each of the planets were and how they connected.

The romance is brilliant with an unusual love triangle, but the tension and chemistry between Sol and Ruth is palpable and very well written, especially the one steamy scene that is described very tactfully so! I enjoyed the way they interacted with each other, and seemed to encourage each other's behaviours, I completely shipped them, but I couldn't get a read on which way the author was going to take their relationship! The book was paced really well and I liked the build up throughout, you were really able to get inside Ruth's head, and as a main character I really liked her and understood her intentions. The author did a great job of keeping the reader engaged and I like how the pace picked up with the big con reveal/action sequence it was completely engrossing!

The characters were all great, I really liked Ruth, Sol and Julia, I enjoyed reading the sisters interactions and would have loved to have more reading time with the pair of them as their scenes were brilliant, you could just feel the bond and relationship they had, plus adding Sol into that mix was brilliant, she gave just as good as she got. I think Esteban was a little bit of a wallflower in this story, he seemed to be more of an object in this story to be used for the plots development, but I didn't really get a connection or sense of personality from him, I would of liked to see how his story ended to be honest.

Overall this is a great book, with a sapphic hustlers ploy, with plenty of shock reveals and brilliant relationships throughout, I would love a sequel!

4.5

I was initially unsure about Lady Eve's Last Con - for what I had taken to be a space-faring, futuristic heist, there was an air of regency comedy of manners about it. However, as the plot hit its stride and the characters developed fully, the two seemingly conflicting genres worked together beautifully. I found the first-person narrative really engaging - I like the occasional nod to noir and heist tales with Ruth's tone. I was taken aback by how much I warmed to her as a character - I was truly rooting for her by the end, and let out a gasp aloud at a particular twist (despite having seen it coming all along) as I was so invested. I also enjoyed watching Ruth and Sol interact - the development of their relationship felt both real and satisfying, as the reader got to see them work through their various issues.
4.5 rounded up to 5 because I had such a good time reading it.

This was a delightful, fun book! I breezed through it — the characters are charming and distinct, and the world-building adds flavor without becoming overly complicated or distracting. Satisfying romance and family story-lines — I will be eagerly looking for Fraimow's next book!

This was a fun, lighthearted and quirky clean sapphic romance set in a futuristic, interstellar, 1920's-esque high society.

The story, told in first person, follows a con artist Ruth Johnson who arrives in the high society of New Monte while pretending to be an eligible debutante, Evelyn Ojukwu - a princess from a faraway planet. She immediately captures the attention of Esteban Mendez-Yuki, one of the wealthiest heirs in New Monte, with the intent of making him fall in love with her, marry her, break his heart, and steal his fortune as revenge for breaking her sister's heart. Things don't go as plan when Esteban's charming and brilliant sister, Sol, appears to be suspicious of her and seems to have her figured out.

I found the worldbuilding, particularly the technology aspect, to be a bit flimsy (the technology seems high-tech... but also not? Also, when do they use breathers - is it just an optional fashion choice to be carried around for emergencies?) but the high-society and futuristic parties and social engagements were pretty interesting.

I'll also note that the con also didn't seem well thought out (if I were Ruth's sister, I'd be LIVID that my sister ran off to marry my ex, even if it's just to scam his of his money).

The romance and banter was fun (even though I wasn't the biggest fan of Ruth's personality and voice), and the story was fast-paced (although maybe a bit too rushed at times).

Overall, a decent book for those looking for a light-hearted sci-fi story.

this book started off really strong but lost me throughout the last half. (this is very much my fault since i was hindered from reading it).

i enjoyed the sapphic romance plot as well as the sci-fi plot very much.
overall this is a very enjoyable and fun story.

THIS WAS A MASTERPIECE! put it in a museum! it deserves so much recognition! i’m going to blast it in all socials! everyone needs to read this book!!