★Desai, Sara. To Have and To Heist. Berkley. Jul. 2023. 416p. ISBN 9780593548509. pap. $17. CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

Simi Chopra’s life is one disaster after another. Simi’s family won’t stop trying to set her up with a boyfriend, she’s working two jobs just to afford a currently flooded basement apartment, and her best friend Chloe is being framed for stealing a $25 million necklace. Simi can’t do anything about her parents, her apartment, or her job, but she will do everything in her power to keep her friend out of jail. Gathering a crew of misfits, Simi plans the perfect heist with the aid of master thief Jack, who she isn’t sure she should trust. This hilarious, slow-burn romantic comedy features a full cast of fun, quirky characters and intriguing, likable protagonists. Jack and Simi have instant chemistry, as do Simi and the police detective investigating Chloe’s case. The light love triangle adds to the storyline, which twists and turns throughout the novel, keeping readers on their toes. The dialogue and Simi’s internal (and external) monologues are animated, upbeat, and extremely well-written. VERDICT This unputdownable novel will fly off shelves, and readers will clamor for Desai’s (The Singles Table) backlist.