Thank you so much for this E-ARC

The story centers on two con artist families: the Graves and the Tinrock. Our main character, Phoebe Graves, along with her best friend Hailey Tinrock, decides it's time for a fresh start after a job goes wrong. They move to Vittoria, Connecticut, aiming to leave scams and secrets behind.

Hailey's older brother, Rocky, gets wind of their new situation. Rocky and Phoebe have always had a complicated relationship, full of mutual attraction but strained by family pressures.

I really enjoyed this book! The characters were great, the setting was lovely, and the plot twists kept me hooked. Krista & Becca's writing always nails the found family theme, and the sibling bonds in this story were especially touching.

I loved the tropes of this book a lot! If you’re looking for morally grey, best friend‘s brother, small town and grumpy MCs that pretend they have been married this will be your thing! I liked the romance part a lot and got through the book rather quick. The only downside was that it took me a long time to built a genuine connection to the characters.

The book was a delightful one. The writing was amazing and wonderful as always ❤️ love the way the characters are penned and drafted in this plot. I had set an expectation and the authors met it. I was reading slump yet this book kept me hooked till the very end of the plot thus it defines how much I enjoyed reading this.

Basic info:
- Contemporary Romance.
- Double POV, 1st person, single timeline (with a few flashbacks to one past event).
- Part of the series of standalone books.

Tropes and hooks:
- Two families of con artists
- Best friend's brother
- Morally gray characters
- Escape to a small town
- Grumpy/Grumpy
- They pretend they have been married

Synopsis & my opinion:
This book follows Phoebe and Rocky, children of two con families that work together. Hailey (Rocky's sister and Phoebe's best friend) convinces Phoebe it's time they end their con life and start an honest one in a small but wealthy coastal town. Of course, this stunt won't go well with their parent and Rocky knows it, so he comes to the same small town to have an eye on his sister (and subsequently her best friend). I was very excited about this book because I am in love with the Addicted series by the authors, unfortunately, this book didn't work for me as well. In the Addicted series, I fell in love with each and every character of the book, which didn't happen in Dishonestly Yours. I did care more about Phoebe and her insecurities about being the seductress in their con group, but I felt absolutely nothing for Rocky, even though we had his POV. He is a natural protector, this I'll give him. The romance in general was a lot of tell and no see. We are told that Phoebe and Rocky have been into each other for years but never acted on it because of their families, but I personally see no chemistry there. We are led to believe there was one job that turned their relationship around and when the details of that job were revealed it was very underwhelming for me, I was expecting something more substantial. The plot in general was very slow-paced and almost nothing was happening, just life in a small town. So it's an extremely introductory book but I believe the next book can be way more fast-paced once we establish the characters and the ambiance. You can argue the Addicted series is the same, but in that series, I cared about characters so I was up to reading about almost anything they were up to. In this book, neither the plot nor the character caught my attention. To be sincere even the final plot twist didn't engage me, but I'll still probably read the next installment in the series to solidify my opinion on the series, I also do believe that as of now I like Hailey more than Phoebe and Rocky.

ARC

Wow! I love this book so much. The angst between Rocky and Phoebe was everything! I love the relationships between all the characters so much. There was so much twist and turns in this book and I was hooked from the very beginning.


Thank you Netgalley and pan Macmillan for the arc!

I love Krista & Becca’s books so was extremely excited to read this one. The idea was such a fun and unique way to start their new romance series and was really intrigued by the characters and storyline throughout.

I loved getting to know Phoebe and Rocky. Their push and pull dynamic really did speak volumes about their connection and bond. Nobody could try to convince me that these two weren’t made for each other.

I sometimes find that flashbacks don’t work as well in books as I hoped they would, however I thought that the ones in Dishonestly Yours continued so well to the story and really helped develop the plot.

Nobody does found family like K&B!! There’s characters, two sets of three siblings, and they’ve all known each other for their entire lives. The bonds between these characters was something I felt so connected and close to, and really reminded me of the bonds in the Addicted Calloway series. They would all do whatever they had to in order to protect each other, and I just fell in love with the dynamic and banter! I can’t wait to read more about the six characters in the next books.

Despite the story having similarities to the Addicted Calloway series (in a great way!!), this series is definitely new and fresh. Something that Krista and Becca do so well with in writing about imperfect characters that everyone can see themselves in. We want to see their messy lives and tricky family dynamics. I’m now eagerly awaiting the next book in the series and can’t wait for people to read this.

A book that fans of the Addicted series will definitely love!
The story felt very unique. I mean two con artists as main characters is not something I have come across before.
The book was full of drama, angst, twists and turns.
I really enjoyed having morally gray characters. And Krista and Becca Ritchie are so good at building found family.
The story also has some chapters where we get to go back in the timeline and live through some of their past cons,
Needing to know what was going to happen next kept me hooked, plus the ending had me itching for more.
Overall an enjoyable read.

This was SUCH a fantastic read. I immediately started it after receiving my eARC, thinking I'd read just a bit and then continue the next day...😅. That didn't happen. I finished it that very night!

I am obsessed with the Addicted series and so excited to have this new gang to fall head over heels in love with. The tension between Phoebe and Rocky is so messy and so magnetic that I cannot wait to see how this plays out later in the series. Overall, I am just so impressed by how KBR kept me entranced with every reveal throughout this story. If Dishonestly Yours is just the introduction, I am sure this will be an excellent new series for all original and new fans.

Thank you to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I LOVED THIS BOOK! If I could give it 6 stars I totally would. It is one of those books that you want to immediately reread once you finish it.

Phoebe and Hailey have been best friends since birth, growing up on the run as both their families are con artists. After a high-stakes job goes awfully wrong, they decide to settle down in a small town in Connecticut and start fresh: live honestly, no more cons.

I went into this book completely blind, and I recommend doing the same! I love character-led stories, and Krista and Becca Ritchie have a unique gift when it comes to writing complex and believable personalities. Phoebe and Rocky are the main characters of this story, and their history is MESSY! Their interactions are real and raw, their feelings so complicated, and I was incredibly invested in their story. All the characters are lovable and charming, they all have their own perks, and as expected from the Ritchie sisters, this story has a big cast!

I would love to know more about Hailey, I hope we get to be in her POV in future books.

The story is well paced and the plot will keep you hooked until the very end, with the story being told against the beautiful New England backdrop and ending on a major cliffhanger. There are a couple of stylistic choices that are a bit cringe (the word “celestial” was used twice to describe very mundane things!), but nothing major enough to take you out of the story.

I also enjoyed the winks to the Addicted series! 🥹

All in all, I can say I am honestly obsessed with this new series🍓🕷️.

TW for SA, emotional manipulation and cheating, anxiety and panic attacks.

This book is like a perfect mixtape of all my favorite story elements: the yearning, the close quarters situations, the jealousy... it's all there! And let's not forget the thrill of the con jobs! The characters are like a tight-knit family, each playing their own unique role in the cons they pull off. Reading about their past gigs really adds depth to their characters and makes you understand why they are the way they are now.

This book it the perfect beginning of a new series, and I can't wait to see where the story goes next and how the characters evolve. It's like being part of an ongoing adventure with friends you can't get enough of!

Rate: 4,5 stars

Dishonestly Yours follows con artists Phoebe and Rocky as they try to leave the life of conning behind and live an honest life in Victoria, Connecticut.

There were definitely aspects of this book that I enjoyed which were mostly around the cons that were pulled in the past. That was really interesting. It was just a bit disappointing that the same level of intrigue wasn’t there during the present timeline. The present timeline felt really slow and mostly frustrating because I just wanted the story to actually progress. It did feel as though the most interesting parts were the flashbacks and the last 10%. That was the sweet spot in terms of pacing.

I was already a huge fan of the Richie sisters thanks to the Addicted series, and they didn’t let me down with Dishonestly Yours.

This truly was the slow burn to end all slow burns. The angst! The longing! The DRAMA! I was hooked from the very beginning, just waiting for Rocky and Phoebe to FINALLY get together.

This has all the tropes you want in a romance, including Best Friends Brother which is done so well in this instance. The history that these two have, and the sexual tension? You could cut it with a knife it was that thick.

I have never read a romance with the con aspect so predominant in the storyline, but this was fresh and exciting. Reading it was refreshing and entertaining.

I absolutely loved it.

This book grabbed my attention and never let go. The balance of reality and lies is forever changing in this book. You have two con artist families who lie like they breathe, but Hailey is done with it and wants a normal life. Hailey drags Phoebe along for the ride, and Hailey’s brother Rocky insists on tagging along just to see that they are alright in their new town.

Rocky and Phoebe are the dictionary definition of enemies/friends to lovers with extreme tension and frosty banter. They were so enjoyable to read about, and read them sparring back n forth while also trying to maintain this new life and hide from their families so they could really give this “fresh start” a shot. The whole book is tumultuous and fun with slow burn throughout. So gutted it ended on a cliffhanger but I’m ready and waiting on the next book!

As always, a promising start to a new series by authors KB Ritchie. They always come up with freaking great premises and contemporary universes, and with interesting characters especially. The buildup was a little slow at first, but it's understandable as this is the first volume in the series. However, I feel like (some other reviewers seem to agree) things fizzled out after the "reveal" (which I expected a bit more from?). It's still a very cool first volume and I will be looking forward to reading the next one.

Really really wanted to like this one, and there was absolutely potential!

P&R are very Lily and Lo coded and I thought the concept of con-men who have to partner up so often that they’ve been so many different people to each other was really interesting. As always KBR are great at creating great big casts of intertwined characters who I’d like to know more about, and P’s detachment issues and protectiveness felt like cool building blocks for a character. Also Jake had a lot of potential as an outsider they get involved with. There’s also a lot of momentum for setting up the rest of a series here and I do think there was an interesting twist towards the end that I didn’t see coming and was really compelling.

Unfortunately, lots of this was more interesting in theory than it actually ended up being. I genuinely wanted to have a good time here but so much of the story and relationships just felt forced, like what I was being told about these people didn’t quite hold enough weight. And unfortunately lots of the plotting is just convoluted rather than clever. P had more natural chemistry with Jake for half the book and I wanted more of Hailey, her actual best friend.

There’s bones here, and I am honestly curious to see where it goes, but I just didn’t buy it this time

4,25 ✨️

What a wild ride! "Dishonestly Yours" by Krista & Becca Ritchie is a masterclass in crafting a surprising and exhilarating plot. This book plunges the reader into a world of cons and deception, leaving you on the edge of your seat as you try to navigate the tangled webs woven by the complex characters.

Getting to know the cast of characters—especially the main focus on Phoebe and Rocky—was a thrilling experience. Their chemistry is electric and undeniably intense, setting the stage for a journey full of twists and turns. The novel explores their lives and motives, presenting a multifaceted look at their cons and how they operate in this morally ambiguous world.

The depth of the protagonists' story, shadowed by sadness, tugged at my heartstrings. The authors brilliantly portray the layers of angst, tension, and drama that encompass the lives of Phoebe and Rocky. The secrets they hold, and the sense of found family, create a rich narrative that propels the story forward.

What truly sets this book apart is the focus on morally grey characters trying to find their own truths and colors in a murky world. This nuanced exploration of ethics and personal growth adds depth and resonance to the story.

As for the cliffhanger ending—it left me speechless! The suspense and unanswered questions have me yearning for the next installment. Is everything the characters believed about their lives a big lie? Could their whole existence be one giant con? I cannot wait to uncover the truth and find out what happens next.

In short, "Dishonestly Yours" is a must-read for fans of suspense, intrigue, and complex characters. I am counting down the days until the next book!

Thank you so much to Netgalley, the publishers, Krista and Becca Ritchie for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review! 🩵

“I’ve always been dishonestly yours. And it looks like that’s not changing.”

What you can expect from this book:

- best friend's older brother trope
- morally gray characters
- two families of con artists
- a litle bit of spice
- angsty & messy romance

KBR are my favorite authors so I was REALLY excited to read the first book of their brand new series... and they didn't disappoint me at all! I didn't really know what to expect from these new characters, especially from Phoebe and Rocky, but discovering their past through some flashbacks and get to know them in the present was really interesting. I loved their messy relationship, even if they made me really impatient and I felt like I was going to implode when they still wouldn't admit their feelings for each other. Some of their scenes were funny but I found the others really sweet and I loooved that.

I enjoyed the other characters as well! Phoebe and Hailey's friendship was so cute, but I personally LOVED the siblings relationship the most. KBR are the best at describing family relationships, this is definitely one of the things I love most about their books. I can't wait to know more about Nova, Oliver and Trevor!

AND THAT ENDING??? That felt illegal. I need to read the second book asap!

3.5 STARS

This was my first Krista & Becca Ritchie book, and it wasn't quite what I was expecting.

It had such an interesting premise. I loved the idea of a family of con-artists, and there was so much that could have been done. I wish we had gotten a more indepth look at them running the cons, we got a few flashbacks and peeks into their lives, but I think fleshing this out would have made the story much more gripping.

The characters were good, I felt most connected to the two female characters, although we don't learn huge amounts about them until quite late in the story, they were both very interesting to read. However, I did think all the characters read VERY young, considering they're supposed to be in their mid-20s.

I think overall, this book worked to set up the series well. The ending of this book really gears up the plot for book two. Other than that, I think it slightly missed the mark. It had the potential to be a really fun read, but I think it got bogged down being angsty and trying to be mysterious. I'm still interested to see where this series goes though, so I'll look forward to book 2!

I love this book written by 2 of my favorite authors❤️. So Happy I got an ARC from netgalley🙌🏾.. wish I had a physical copy also.. con artist family, small town.. the angst and tension was so good.. cliffhanger ending..OMG can’t wait to read the rest of the series.. If you like the addicted series you are going to love this.🖤

I absolutely adore Krista and Becca Ritchie's writing style, it feels so comforting and is very bingeable and so it's no surprise that I finished this book in about 4 hours in one sitting. Everything about the story and characters just worked; the found family, the angst, the friendships and how far they'd go for each other, I couldn't put this book down. The chemistry and banter between Rocky and Phoebe was so palpable, you could feel, it through the screen! You're not going to want to miss this one when it comes out!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the arc in exchange for an honest review!