Love & Other Scams by P.J. Ellis
Description:
“Cat has a dangerously dwindling bank balance. She also has:
·a month before her landlord kicks her out
·a surprise wedding invitation from rich mean girl, Louisa
·a secret talent for con artistry
A priceless jewel the size of a cocktail olive is glinting on Louisa’s finger.
And when Cat meets her ideal plus one, Jake – who’s gifted at hustling and posing as the perfect boyfriend – this wedding becomes a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. After all,
How hard can a diamond heist be?”
My review:
I am giving this book a rating of 5 out of 5.
I’ve actually read this book twice – the first time in 2024, when my husband bought the book for me as a birthday gift, and for the second time in 2026. This is one of my favourite reads of the last few years – it’s brilliant!
While Cat, the protagonist, is a fantastic character who has been so well written (and is relatable), I have to say Jake is my favourite character of the novel. He’s kind, clever, and has a lovely sense of humour – the way he is with Cat makes him the ideal candidate for a male lead in a romantic comedy film. Harper is a great character as well, and her presence in the story forced Cat to face her own insecurities and change her belief systems, without which it would’ve been near impossible for Cat to develop as a character. I found the relationship between Cat and Jake was nicely written, aside from Cat’s reluctance to act on her feelings for Jake earlier in the story – wanting to ‘keep things professional’ seemed like a weak excuse not to move the romance plot forward, given how strongly they felt about each other; it didn’t feel believable based on Cat’s history of not calculating the consequences of her decisions ahead of time (e.g. renting a room in the house of a married couple for years, and not expecting them to want her to move out eventually).
The settings were so intelligently crafted that you’re transported seamlessly from one to another, and they’re part of the story as opposed to being just the backdrop for story events.
In terms of plot, I thoroughly enjoy reading heist novels and rom-coms, so I found that both these elements worked well to keep the story interesting and maintain good pacing that made the novel easy to read.
The ending was fantastic! I’d definitely read a second novel that follows the adventures of Cat and Jake if the author ever decides to write another book about these characters.
If you’re looking for a fun beach read with rom-com vibes or an enjoyable way to pass a Sunday afternoon, I highly recommend picking up Love and Other Scams!
Read in: August 2026 (initially read sometime in 2024!)
Format: Paperback
I’m including the date and format in which I experienced this story for transparency, since whatever is going on in the world (and a reader’s private life) at the time of reading, along with a book’s reading format, can influence an individual’s enjoyment of a story.
Disclaimer: This book was gifted to me by a loved one, meaning they either purchased it in person (e.g. at a bookshop, supermarket, charity shop, etc.) or purchased it online. All opinions expressed in this review are mine and have not been influenced by the author or publisher in any way. This book review does not contain affiliate links.