Book Review: Smash and Grab by Amy Christine Parker



Smash and Grab
Author: Amy Christine Parker
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary
Released: July 19, 2016
Review Source: Random House Books for Young Readers

LEXI is a rich girl who loves a good rush. Whether it’s motorcycle racing or BASE jumping off a building in downtown Los Angeles, the only times she feels alive are when she and her friends are executing one of their dares. After her father’s arrest, Lexi doesn’t think twice about going undercover at his bank to steal the evidence that might clear his name. She enlists her hacker brother and her daredevil friends to plan a clever heist.

CHRISTIAN is a boy from the wrong side of the tracks. The local gang has blackmailed him and his friends into robbing banks, and he is desperate for a way out. When the boss promises that one really big job will be the last he ever has to do, Christian jumps at the chance for freedom. In fact, he’s just met a girl at the bank who might even prove useful. . . .

Two heists. One score. The only thing standing in their way is each other.

Told in alternating points of view, this caper is full of romance and fast-paced fun. Hand to fans of Perfect Chemistry, The Conspiracy of Us, and Heist Society.


The story:  Smash and Grab is about bank robbers from two completely different worlds. Lexi and her group of wealthy friends, are a bunch of adrenaline junkies pulling off crazy stunts for fun. When her father is arrested for fraud, she does what it takes to clear her father's name from the bank he worked. Christian, has been threatened and blackmailed to rob banks and is only doing it because he's forced into it. The two cross paths when they end up at the same bank.

The likes:  I loved how the story started with the Lexi and her friends on top of the building. It caught my attention from the very beginning. I like that the story was told from dual points of view.  There were many points where I was biting my nails wondering what was going to happen and if they were going to get caught.  I really liked Christian's character. He goes through so much and just wants to succeed in life and go to college.  I like the chemistry between the two main characters. It was a very subtle romance, which was OK with everything going on in both of their lives. It was believable.

The dislikes:  When I started reading I thought the author was going to go into more detail and development of Lexi's group of friends/family because of how tight they seemed but I was left wanting more.  Another issue is the fact that they are all in high school....robbing a bank and doing crazy things.  It was a little difficult to wrap my brain around that aspect to enjoy it fully.  I didn't connect with Lexi as much as I did to Christian because of the whole "rich, spoiled girl" qualities that came out.

The rating:  my rating for this book is 3.5. I really enjoyed this book and would read more books from Amy Christine Parker.

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