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Another Look: Heist Society – Ally Carter

Heist Society
Author: Ally Carter
Series: Heist Society #1
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Mystery
Publisher: Hyperion
Old Rating:

New Rating:

Summary:

When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her to the Louvre…to case it. For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria…to steal the crown jewels. When Kat turned fifteen, she planned a con of her own – scamming her way into the best boarding school in the country, determined to leave the family business behind. Unfortunately, leaving “the life” for a normal life proves harder than she’d expected.
Soon, Kat’s friend and former co-conspirator, Hale, appears out of nowhere to bring Kat back into the world she tried so hard to escape. But he has a good reason: a powerful mobster has been robbed of his priceless art collection and he wants it returned. Only a master thief could have pulled this job, and Kat’s father isn’t just on the suspect list, he is the list. Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat’s dad needs her help.
For Kat, there is only one solution: track down the paintings and steal them back. So what if it’s a spectacularly impossible job? She’s got two weeks, a teenage crew, and hopefully just enough talent to pull off the biggest heist in her family’s (very crooked) history – and with any luck, steal her life back along the way.

 
First Sentence: No one knew for certain when the trouble started at the Colgan School.

My Review:

The first time I read Heist Society was four years ago – and I DNF’d it midway through the book. The Heist Society series wasn’t like the Gallagher Girls series at all – there was no Cammie, hilarious adventures, secret hideouts, and a bunch of spy tips that made the Gallagher Girls so much fun to read. However, since Perfect Scoundrels came out this week, I decided to re-read Heist Society and give it another chance. Not much really changed, except that this time, I actually read through the entire book and took careful notes on my thoughts. In the end, Heist Society rose one star from a 2.0 star rating to a 3.0 star rating.

When I first read Heist Society the first time, I could care less about any of the characters. This time, I officially adore Hale. He is everything you’ll ever want in a guy – rich, handsome, smart, savy, and has a soft heart (although he tries not to show it). I love how Hale supports Kat no matter what and can somehow read her mind with their connection. When Kat hinted at how they met, I could already tell that their relationship went really deep, deeper than they probably both knew.

One problem I had with Heist Society before and this time again is that I never truly connected with anyone besides Kat and Hale. Gabrielle was just the very pretty girl, Hamish and Angus are the trouble-making twins, and Simon is the computer geek hacking genius. We never got the chance to really connect with Kat’s con crew besides learning what they can basically do.

I love how Ally Carter focused some parts of Heist Society to make the horrible injustices done to the Jewish people and everybody else during the World War II known to us readers. Very valuable paintings were taken away by the Nazis from whoever they could bully, and some stolen paintings have still not been recovered since. It’s really sad, especially if the paintings are heirlooms.

Overall, I will read Uncommon Criminals and hopefully Perfect Scoundrels because I want more Hale. No, I need more Hale. I still [obviously] think that Ally Carter’s Gallagher Girls series is better than her Heist Society series so far, but then again, I didn’t really enjoy book one of Gallagher Girls series until I read book two. Let’s see if Uncommon Criminals, book two of the Heist Society series, can do the same exact thing the Gallagher Girls series did.

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-Kelly

Posted by Kelly on 2-10-13 · 24 Comments
Categories: 2011 book, another look, book review Tagged: 3 star

« Stacking the Shelves [19]
Book Review: Stolen – Lucy Christopher »

Speak Your Mind

  1. Lina-chan says

    2-20-13 at 4:05 AM

    I just finished Heist Society (I gave 3 out of 5 stars too) and start read Uncommon Criminal :)

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      8-25-13 at 6:43 PM

      I still have to read Uncommon Criminals. I hope it’s good! (:
      Kelly recently posted…Stacking the Shelves [47]My Profile

      Reply
  2. Karin says

    6-17-13 at 1:15 PM

    I loved that book.It was hilarious

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      6-18-13 at 10:56 AM

      Heist Society is indeed hilarious. :D
      Kelly recently posted…Top Ten Books At The Top Of My Summer TBR ListMy Profile

      Reply
  3. Shamara Catama says

    6-21-13 at 10:53 AM

    I also read Heist Society but I gave it 4 stars purely for how entertaining and funny it was, but I see why you would give it 3 stars

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      6-21-13 at 7:09 PM

      Heist Society was entertaining and funny, but I just couldn’t give it more than 3 stars. :l
      Kelly recently posted…Book Review: Vampire Academy – Richelle MeadMy Profile

      Reply
  4. Karen M says

    7-03-13 at 2:12 AM

    It was actually Heist Society that got me into the Gallagher Series, I read the book and fell for Ally’s writing.

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      7-03-13 at 6:58 PM

      Ohh, it’s nice to know that! :D
      Kelly recently posted…Waiting On Wednesday [31]My Profile

      Reply
  5. Alex says

    7-11-13 at 11:50 PM

    I was thinking of reading Heist Society because I’ve seen a lot of other bloggers talk about how good the series it. I actually choose to read The Gallagher Girls instead of Heist Society which was a terrible idea for me because I ended up hating Gallagher Girls. I found the characters dull and the pace slow and boring. But based on the reviews I’ve read, I think Heist Society is more my speed.

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      7-12-13 at 8:49 PM

      Really? I personally love GG a lot more than I like Heist Society, but that’s just my personal opinion. :P
      I can see why Heist Society is more of your speed though; it’s unique and such a fun read.
      Kelly recently posted…Let’s Speculate: How Setting Causes A Reading SlumpMy Profile

      Reply
  6. Jaime Lester says

    7-14-13 at 11:44 PM

    I keep hearing about the Gallagher girls, but I am not quite sure which books they are. I haven’t read any books about spying, and I think that I would enjoy them. But it sounds to me like Gallagher girls are the way to go, instead of this series. Except for Hale, of course~

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      7-16-13 at 6:18 PM

      I love the Gallagher Girls series a lot more than I do with this series, but other people won’t agree. I guess it mainly depends on your book taste Jaime.
      Kelly recently posted…New Blog Design + A GiveawayMy Profile

      Reply
  7. Fatma Shahin says

    8-22-13 at 7:47 PM

    Ive heard a lot of good things about this book in the booktube community but idk if i would like it or not. It strikes me as somewhat cliche but if given the chance, ill read it and see :)

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      8-25-13 at 6:44 PM

      Spy plus heist books are cliche? Really? o:
      I personally think that Heist Society is unique. I mean, I’ve never read any other spy book like the ones Ally Carter writes.
      Kelly recently posted…Stacking the Shelves [47]My Profile

      Reply
  8. Fatma Shahin says

    9-01-13 at 9:13 AM

    I’ve heard mostly good things about this book but I’m still unsure of it. I think it might be the cover and just the general vibe that it gives off. I don’t know. I might, however, borrow it from the library and give it a chance.

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      9-01-13 at 12:59 PM

      Ha ha, I understand your iffy feelings about the cover. The cover doesn’t catch my attention either, but the story is GOOOD. ;D
      Kelly recently posted…ARC Book Review: Smoke – Ellen HopkinsMy Profile

      Reply
  9. Jennifer says

    9-28-13 at 11:12 AM

    I hate to admit it but I was never crazy about Heist Society and I’m still not. I think it was probably because, as you said, I never really connected with any characters other than Kat and Hale. I only continued with the series because I could see how much potential it had. And man was I lucky I did! This is one of those rare series that gets better with each book!
    Jennifer recently posted…Review: Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie PerkinsMy Profile

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      9-28-13 at 11:48 AM

      I’m REALLY happy to hear that the series gets better with each book. I wasn’t all that impressed with Heist Society and was wondering if I should continue on with it or not.
      And this getting better with each book thing is exactly like what happened to the Gallagher Girls series. The series gets better with each book. (:
      Kelly recently posted…First Year Blogoversary + Three Giveaways!My Profile

      Reply
  10. Sana says

    9-30-13 at 7:43 AM

    I’m so in love with the covers of this series.
    Thumbs up for your honest review :)

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      10-05-13 at 9:33 PM

      I personally don’t really like the covers for this series. There’s nothing really special about a girl on the cover with glasses, but again, that’s just me.
      Kelly recently posted…Stacking the Shelves [52]My Profile

      Reply
  11. Susan T. says

    10-11-13 at 7:40 PM

    I’ve read a lot of good reviews for this book so I’ve been wanting to read it. Isn’t it funny how a few years changed your opinion, at least a little?

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      10-12-13 at 1:05 PM

      I hope you’ll like it Susan! Heist Society is really unique.
      And yeah, it’s funny how a few years does that. A few years definitely opened my eyes more when I read books.
      Kelly recently posted…Stacking the Shelves [53]My Profile

      Reply
  12. Marlot Schonewille says

    12-28-13 at 8:06 AM

    I started reading this book about a year ago because I loved the Gallagher Girls series, but I still haven’t finished it.
    I just can’t get through, but a great review! :)

    Reply
  13. Vivien says

    12-29-13 at 11:19 PM

    This book was middle of the road for me as well. Though I did read it in one sitting. Overall I liked it, but didn’t feel anything particular tie to the series.

    Reply

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