Love & Other Scams

Blurring the line between heist novel and rom-com, Ellis’s fun debut introduces an often-bitter antiheroine who hard-line romance readers may struggle to root for. Cat Bellamy hasn’t met her financial, professional, or personal goals, and though she longs to improve her life, her own resentments consume her thoughts. She takes to picking pockets at her more affluent friends’ weddings to cope—thefts that do not go unnoticed by bartender Jake Marlowe, a petty thief himself. The pair join up for the biggest heist either has ever attempted: they aim to steal a priceless engagement ring from Cat’s college roommate and best frenemy. What’s more, they have the perfect cover: Cat has been asked to serve as a bridesmaid in her narcissistic friend’s lavish wedding, and Jake will pose as her date. The fast-paced crime plot offers plenty of entertainment to which the romance takes a bit of a backseat. Readers looking for a zippy caper will want to snap this up, but they shouldn’t expect many swoony moments. Agent: Maria Whelan, InkWell Management. (Mar.)