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Chaotic Orbits #2

How to Steal a Galaxy

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A high octane sexy space heist from New York Times bestselling author Beth Revis, the second in a novella trilogy

Ada had no intention whatsoever to continue working for the rebel group that hired her to retrieve the government’s plans for a nanobot climate cleaner if they weren’t willing to pay her for it, but then they offer a different an undercover mission to a charity gala where Rian will be in attendance. Rian, meanwhile, has volunteered his services for the gala believing that the rare items up for auction will attract Ada’s eye. Hoping to catch her in the act and pin her with a punishable crime, Rian has no idea that Ada’s real mission is to convince him to join the rebels. And the rebels have no idea that Ada’s decided that kidnapping Rian is the most efficient means to an end.

How to Steal the Galaxy continues the sexy, rip-roaring good time that Beth Revis began in Full Speed to a Crash Landing, with the return of Ada, Rian, and all the tension, twists, and turns that made the first novella so much fun.

144 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 3, 2024

101 people are currently reading
1,503 people want to read

About the author

Beth Revis

59books6,636followers
Beth Revis writes books. She also eats too much chocolate, wishes she could travel more, and prefers puppies to people. Beth lives in rural NC with her boys: one husband, one son, two very large puppies.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 480 reviews
Profile Image for Fairuz ᥫ᭡..
437 reviews576 followers
December 27, 2024
3.5 Stars! 🌌 How to Steal a Galaxy was one glamorous, chaotic ride! 🚀 First off, a PSA for my fellow bookworms: if you haven’t read Full Speed to a Crash Landing recently, DO NOT PASS GO. Seriously, grab a refresher first, or you’ll be more lost than a spaceship without GPS. 🛸 (Learn from my mistakes, okay?) Also, maybe wait until the trilogy is complete, because this one feels like the “we’re setting up for the finale� episode.

� Tropes! �
� Enemies to lovers 💘
� Space heist vibes 🛸
� High-stakes gala drama 🎭
� Witty banter galore 💬
� Strong, morally gray FMC 🖤
� “I’m watching you� obsession 👀
� One-night-only setting 🕛
� Environmentally conscious undertones 🌍
� Slow-burn tension that’s killing me 🔥

Okay, let’s talk vibes. Imagine the Met Gala, but in SPACE. 👗� Glitter, celebs, paparazzi drones, and enough drama to fuel a thousand rom-coms. Sounds perfect, right? Well� sort of. While the setting slayed, the plot kinda didn’t. It felt more like a sparkly filler episode than the next epic chapter I was craving. Also, WHERE WAS THE SPACE?! I came for galaxies and got stuck in a museum. 😭

That said, Ada? My chaotic queen! 👑 She’s morally gray, unpredictable, and so sharp she could cut you with her wit. Her energy carried the whole book. Rian, on the other hand, is serving “I’m smarter than you� vibes, but Ada’s over here playing chess while he’s stuck on checkers. 😂 Their chemistry? Electric. I need more of their tension-fueled banter ASAP.

The ending was such a tease, leaving me with more questions than answers. 🌀 Book three, you better deliver the SPACE DRAMA and wrap this galaxy up with a big, twisty bow!

CW:
- Environmental destruction
- Mild violence
- Betrayal/trust issues

Final thoughts: This was fun, shiny, and twisty, but it didn’t quite hit like book one. Would I recommend it? Yep, but only after the trilogy is complete. Save yourself the agony of waiting, and binge-read when it’s all out. Future you will thank you. 🤞�
Profile Image for Sylvie {Semi-Hiatus} .
1,166 reviews1,713 followers
December 5, 2024
*Many thank to NetGalley for providing me an early audiobook in exchange for an honest review.*

4 out of 5 stars!

Ada is a bit a lot unhinged.
______________________
Ever since I joined ŷ i was obsessed with the idea of reading Beth Revis� ‘Across the Universe� trilogy, never found the right time to pick them up, sadly. Then I started showing major interesting in her other new book series, haven’t had the chance to read those either.

So, I feel like this is a sign for me to finally pick up a book by this author. Although, I have to read the first instalment in this trilogy first, in order to understand this one.

Either way, I’m beyond excited!!
Profile Image for Robin (Bridge Four).
1,862 reviews1,641 followers
December 5, 2024
Full Speed to a Crash Landing ✩✩✩�
How to Steal a Galaxy ✩✩✩✩�

This review was originally posted on

Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

How to Steal a Galaxy is the second book in the Chaotic Orbits series featuring an unscrupulous Heroine who is always on a grift of some kind and this time she has agreed to go to a gala, steal something and make contact with Rian her crush, flirtation and the man she got one over on in the first book of the series.

Ada is fun! I wasn't sure how to take her in Full Speed to a Crash Landing but now that we all know what she is capable of, I was ready for the ride. Ada is on a mission and while she'd like to say it was for altruism to save Earth, the original one, not the spin offs, well that isn't the case. She took the job for money...and the chance to see Rian again. Ada's infatuation with him is cute and sometimes a little steamy in the PG-13 kind of way. Their interactions are worth reading the book, he knows she is trouble and up to something but he is struggling trying to figure out what it might be.
It’s amazing how people just keep going. Supervolcanoes, climate collapse, global pandemics, dissolution of society . . . and there are still farms in Indiana raising wholesome young women who grow up to work as double agents and look hot in red gowns.

Rian has great intentions, but he works for the government and Ada is sure they can't be trusted. She and Rian might even have the same end goals but Ada's path is far different from the straight one Rian was planning on following. What follows was a fun, what is she up to fancy heist to set the stage for the final book in the series. How to Steal a Galaxy seemed like it had a slightly better flow than the first book in the series and made sure we learned a little more about both characters and their backstories. This made Ada much more relatable and helped to understand her actions.

Overall this has been a fun sci-fi heist series. Each of the books is a novella in length which makes it a quick fun ride that is action packed. Looking forward to seeing how everything plays out in the final book. Especially after Ada's intentions were revealed at the end of this book. It should be fun. And I think Beth Revis put it best in the acknowledgements.
I threw everything I loved into it: heists and chaos and pretty dresses and saying the inside thoughts out loud and a little bit of social commentary and a little more chaos for fun.
Profile Image for Julie - One Book More.
1,264 reviews218 followers
July 29, 2024
This is the second novella in the Chaotic Orbits series, and though it isn’t as action-packed and intense as the first book, Full Speed to a Crash Landing, it was still a quick and entertaining read.

The story picks up not long after the ending of Full Speed to a Crash Landing with Ada attending a posh gala with the directive to steal something of importance. Of course, Ada has more than one scheme going on, and the reader (and Rian) is left trying to figure out what her true motives are. Rian, knowing that Ada will be there, is also in attendance, and he is determined to ensure Ada doesn't trick him again.

After the surprising twist at the end of the last book, I was really interested in seeing how Rian would react to seeing Ada again. They have such amazing chemistry, but lies, subterfuge, distrust, and opposing political views are some hefty obstacles for the pair to face. I love their banter and the sexual tension between them, and I can’t wait to see what happens with them in the next story!

What really stands out in this novella is Ada. She’s a complex and fascinating protagonist with a quick wit and sharp intellect. Morally grey and more than a little shady, Ada isn’t the most reliable narrator, as she always seems to be hiding something, but that’s part of the fun of the story - you never know what she’s going to do next or what her real intentions are.

This novella also delves deeper into the political unrest in the galaxy as well as social and environmental issues that feel relatable despite the sci-fi setting and premise. Even in space, you can’t get away from greedy leaders who thrive in a capitalist culture, and it’s interesting to see Rian and Ada’s views on what’s happening since they both want the same thing, to save the people and planets, but go about it in different ways.

I’m loving this series! It’s fun and exciting, and it is a great balance of suspense, romance, and humor. I can’t wait for book three and am hoping we’ll see more of the Halifax crew in the next book. Special thanks to NetGalley and DAW for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
Profile Image for Kay H.
608 reviews50 followers
December 11, 2024
First, if I were a booktuber and did Top 10 videos of the year, this audiobook would be on that list of Top 10 Audiobooks. Dara Rosenberg proves the difference between a narrator and a *voice actor*. I truly cannot overstate how WELL this was performed. I never once felt like a book was being read to me, instead, I felt like I was in a character's head and following them along through the story.

The plot overall is also extremely well done. In the first entry into this series, the book-specific plot was excellent and the beginnings of the series plot were laid out. In this entry, again the book-specific plot was exceptional but the growth of the series plot was really what kept me hooked.

You know when you are reading a book and it is first person, but yet the character never thinks about their devious plans so it shocks the reader when it all unfolds? It feels disingenuous - if we were IN THEIR HEAD, how did we not see this coming? This is not the case here. Our main character has thoughts and inner monologues about the big plan. Enough that we are kept intrigued, but not so much that anything is spoiled. We are hooked, wanting more. It strikes a balance so well that everything feels authentic, not as if the character keeps secrets from the reader.

If you are looking for a short but highly engaging read to help you hit your reading goals, or if you need a palette cleanser, or if you simply enjoy a delightfully entertaining sci-fi, I cannot recommend How to Steal a Galaxy (or really, the entire Chaotic Orbits series) enough. I will also recommend that you choose the audiobook experience, I do not think you will be disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an advanced listener copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Weronika.
489 reviews13 followers
December 3, 2024
How to Steal a Galaxy brings Rian back into Ada’s orbit. When a high stakes charity gala meant to bring life saving technology back to Earth is threatened by the very person in charge.

I’m really enjoying the creativity in this novella series. It’s silly, fun, and mysterious. Ada is a mastermind, I have no idea what she’s planning half the time! There wasn’t too much romance or tension in this one but I really liked the banter. I’m hooked with the setup for the third book, really looking forward to it!

Narration by Dara Rosenberg is so fun and upbeat. I love Ada’s snark and attitude, she really adds flourish to Ada’s character. While we don’t get a full performance from David Bendena, I thought his delivery was on par with Rian’s personality and how these characters play off each other. Well done!

Thank you DAW and Dreamscape Lore for the review copies.
Profile Image for Neha Jain.
98 reviews30 followers
October 20, 2024
This is second Novella in the Chaotic Orbits series. It attempts to continue the thrilling and imaginative space opera with romance and heist, but does not live up to the expectations as the first part.

Its a heist story set in a high profile museum on a different planet in another galaxy. Ada and Rian are back, with each having their own agenda and the precious item they want to steal. Their chemistry and the fun banter keeps the momentum going. They both are perfect enemy to lover embodiment.
The gala happening at the Museum is a exact replica of Met Gala. It has celebrity quotient, red carpet, paparazzi drones, adding bit of fun and glamour to the story but nothing more.

This is dystopian series and is based in a universe where humans have destroyed Earth's environment and have, "found other planets and named them Earth too, distinguishing them by their sun." Environment safety and a bleak future is an underlying commentary, which is difficult to ignore. I appreciate author's choice and creativity to blend this message neatly with the party noise and romantic banter.

Thanks to Netgalley for a digital arc in exchange of this honest review.

Series is going strong so far but yes, the first book was better than this one, keeping fingers crossed for the third one.
Profile Image for Bookphenomena (Micky) .
2,819 reviews535 followers
June 30, 2024
Headlines:
Plots
Heists
I missed space

The story in this second installment picked up fairly soon after book one ended but I missed the space setting. This story was planet-side, completely set in one evening and pretty fast-paced.

Ada was a different persona yet again. She is the biggest double crosser that was ever written and she's not to be trusted. Yet she's such an interesting and likeable character. She's as grey as they come, with some integrity but we are yet to see if she really has Sol-Earth's best interests in mind or her pocket.

The chemistry between Ada and Rian is real and those splashes of connection on the page were great, but I need more! I loved where this novella ended up even if I didn't enjoy the majority of the journey as much as book one. I'm still eager to read the culmination.

Thank you to DAW for the eARC.
Profile Image for emma.
310 reviews44 followers
Shelved as 'did-not-finish'
March 1, 2025
dnf 29% i loved the first one but i haven’t touched this since december and it is march so i feel like that’s an indicator or how well the sequel gripped me
Profile Image for Brittany.
321 reviews23 followers
December 14, 2024
How to Steal a Galaxy leaves off a couple weeks after Ada ran off with the plans for the nanobot climate cleaner. Ada believes that her job with the rebels is done until they bring her another job at a charity gala where Rian has volunteered his services in hopes of catching Ada. However, neither Rian nor the rebels know Ada's true intentions.

Although I did not enjoy this novella as much as Full Speed to a Crash Landing, I still enjoyed the banter between Ada and Rian. The events in this book left me with several questions on what is going to happen in the finale and the twist at the end, I found both hilarious and surprising. I am excited to read the final novella in the series when it comes out in 2025.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to review How to Steal a Galaxy. All thought and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Lata.
4,617 reviews242 followers
December 3, 2024
The clever and sarcastic Ada is back, taking on a job to deal with the release of the clean-up technology on Earth.

The rebel group that employed Ada to steal the revolutionary technology (in book one) to remediate the environmental damage on Earth come back to her, as they need her to do more for them at an auction. They offer her increasingly large sums of money, but it's the knowledge that Rian will be present at the auction for a charity gala at a museum that seals the deal for her.

A glammed up Ada wanders around the museum exhibits on the extremely wealthy planet, hobnobbing with fabulously rich people, while Rian tails her, intent on catching her steal whatever she's there for. And there are a LOT of intriguing and unique objects on display, but despite his certainty that she's after something, she continues to confound his expectations, teasing and bantering with him.

She does get to meet the beyond stupidly wealthy head of the company whose tech is intended to fix Earth, but Ada knows what the utterly self-absorbed man's real intentions are for the technology.

There is so much chemistry between Ada and Rian, who, circle each other throughout this fun, fast-moving and often very funny novella. Even though the two beautiful people at the centre of this story are attracted to one another, there are some serious differences between them: he stands for the rule of law, and does not quite understand how her experiences on Earth have shaped her, her feelings and her chosen profession.

She is a complicated person, who firmly stands in the grey; she may not generally do anything altruistic without getting paid, and she always seems to have plans within plans, and we're never entirely sure whether what she says about herself or her intentions, are true. This proves to be the case when a calamity ensues at the auction, and Ada does something quite contrary to what she would normally do that puts her and her plans at great risk, but it also is something that could be seen as "good".

I liked how author Beth Revis gave us more about the political situation in human settled space, and how no matter how far out we expand into the galaxy, greed and corporate self-interest are still very much at play, with someone always eager to profit off someone else's catastrophe.

The ending was again left open, with a race to Earth, which is where book three will likely pick up.

I thoroughly enjoyed this instalment, which I enjoyed in text and audio; Ada is a hoot, and I love her narration, which is smart and amusing, even while she is skewering the people around her. Her attitude comes through beautifully in the narration of voice actor Dara Rosenberg, who captures the balance between audacious, slightly sad, the knowledge that she's smarter than everyone around her and delighted by it, disgusted, and very occasionally self-deprecating. Voice actor David Bendena as Rian doesn't have as big a presence this time in the audiobook as in book one, but he still treads the line between bemused, frustrated and confused when we switch to Rian's PoV.

I am anxiously awaiting book three, and the wrap-up to this fun series.

Thank you to DAW and to Dreamscape Media for these ARCs in exchange for my review.
Profile Image for SaraFair.
102 reviews42 followers
December 1, 2024
As the second installment of Beth Rivas� trio of science fiction novellas, How To Steal a Galaxy is a continuation of Ada’s attempt to make a difference for her world. Unlike the space opera style of the first novella, this story almost entirely takes place on planet. This portion of the trio is mostly a mental running history and background on why Ada is doing this job. We get a few more characters and a few back stories. However this story is basically a fancy party to raise funds and its description. The reader waits almost to the end to see why this wind up is created. This installment has very little of the banter, excitement and science fiction of the first. In short, it is boring and makes me wonder whether I should continue this batch of novellas. The very last few paragraphs have me enticed to grab the next one though. Thank you to Netgalley and DAW books for a chance to preview this book for an honest review.
Profile Image for Karen’s Library.
1,240 reviews195 followers
December 5, 2024
Beth Revis is bonkers and I’m all in! This book was so much fun with the banter and the unexpected twists!

How to Steal a Galaxy is book 2 of the Chaotic Orbits trilogy of space opera novellas. Ada and Rian are back but this time on a planet attending a very futuristic Met Gala type event being held at a museum.

The snarky Ada and straight laced Rian once again provide another book filled with unexpected twists and likable characters. Even though Ada is shady as heck, you can’t help rooting for her. Beth Revis describes this series as a spacemance and I love it.

I can’t wait for the last novella, Last Chance to Save the World to see what Ada does next!

*Thanks so much to Daw Books and NetGalley for the advance eGalley and to Daw Books for the surprise hardcopy!*
Profile Image for h o l l i s .
2,669 reviews2,271 followers
June 26, 2024
I'm going to be honest, I didn't really get anything more out of this one than I did the first one, which is a bit of a bummer, b u t, that ending kind of saved it. And I'm still thinking once the trilogy is complete it might be more fun and feel a little more solid overall?

Looking forward to the conclusion!

3.5 stars

Full review to come.

** I received an ARC from Edelweiss+ and the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
Profile Image for Elizabeth.
3,283 reviews284 followers
December 7, 2024
I really enjoyed myself but it wasn't a five star because I feel like we are in her head too much to not be completely in her head. I want to see more of the relationship between the two and I want more of his side of the story if we're not gonna know what exactly is going on with her.

But, for the most part it's a fun space romp
Profile Image for Andrew.
300 reviews79 followers
April 30, 2025
This was a fun little next chapter in this series that was randomly chosen for book club. The setting, pacing, and story were in stark contrast to the first, but the "heart" was the same, for better or for worse.

We pick up with Ada shortly after where we left her. Having fulfilled her job from the previous book, her employer reluctantly hires her again for a job, more important, and time sensitive, than the last one. But ever cynical Ada only takes it for one reason -- Rian. The job specifically will put her squarely back into Rian's sights, so why not? The job seems simple, go to a fundraising gala that is raising money for the original Earth to scrub the pollution and radiation out of it, funded by their version of intergalactic Elon Musk. The problem is the method, nanobots designed to self-replicate and complete the scrubbing, but something is suspicious with their programming, the very programming Ada secured in the first book. So she has to go to the gala and steal.. something else. A nice change of pace, but trouble is never too far away as protesters, other warring underground groups, and Rian all have their eyes on her the entire time she's there, and she's only happy about one of them.

This was cute, I found that I've warmed up to the characters, particularly after devoting myself to reading the physical book rather than the audiobook, which I don't recommend. I liked the change in setting, but also appreciated the same small scale; one small job, the buildup, the climax, the resolution, and the promise for more. It kept it as tight as it needed to be, and it was a breeze to read.

If you absolutely hated the tone of the first book, this will not be for you. Probably not surprising but it is maintained here. I disliked it a bit in the first, largely in part due to the audiobook narrator, but I grew more accustomed to it this time around. It still reads as juvenile "manic pixie" a bit, but I do think Ada has a bit more complexity to her character here. And it resolved the problem of the first book which had too many named characters for the length of book, this kept the cast small and the story laser focused. If you even have middling feelings about the first book, I'd recommend picking this up from the library or something, it is such a quick and easy read you might as well!
Profile Image for Chanel.
366 reviews58 followers
March 9, 2025
Continuing from the first book, Ada takes a job at a fancy gala where she's to steal something but mainly she goes to meet with Rian again. He mission is to steal an important piece of the puzzle that will lead her to more money but could also lead to a cleaner Earth.

This installment was a bit more political than the first story. There essentially is a race between tech companies to get the code and equipment needed to clean the air so that people can inhabit main Earth again. Just like in real life you have the rich ones who have ulterior motive attached to their help and the scientists who are extremely passionate about saving the world with or without the praise and with no stipulations attached.

Rian very much is the latter but he also happens to have money and connections. The hard part for him is convincing Ada of that. However Ada is always 10 steps ahead. I really loved reading from her point of view and how she plans for literally anything. I also very much enjoyed the increased tension between her and Rian.

I won't spoil it but the ending was a surprise. I didn't guess that bit of plot twist but I'm excited for the 3rd and final book and I can't wait to see how this all ends.
Profile Image for Jessica {Litnoob}.
1,299 reviews102 followers
January 1, 2025
The first book was good, I really liked it. This one though? Iconic. It hit all of the points that I really needed it to hit. And maybe it’s because we already know these characters and so a little bit of the heavy lifting is gone that had to be carried in the first one? But still it just delivered. We still got spaceantics, but now there’s political intrigue. And while we were off of a ship for 98% of it, it still felt intergalactic. And for something to take place on a planet, far far away and still be so poignant and impactful about the commentary of this planet? Truly an icon. This had so many great elements to it. We’ve got a heist, we’ve got the Met Gala, but Spacey, We’ve got activism, both the nonviolent violent kind. And both the good guy and the bad guy version. For such a short little space book it very much so talked a lot about very real world things. If I could give it 10 stars I would. Plus it’s really really funny.
Profile Image for Alaina.
7,046 reviews207 followers
May 11, 2025
Oh, this was such a fun and quick novella to dive into. I really enjoyed the first book last year and was very excited that my library had the sequel today. With zero hesitations, I decided to jump headfirst into How to Steal a Galaxy without rereading the first one. I have no regrets about that at all because I absolutely crushed this in one sitting.

Ada and Rian are just so interesting. While I obviously have a favorite out of the two, Ada, I still like them both. They both want to help and save people/things but they do not go about it in the same way at all. Again, it's interesting and I enjoy the bantering at times. I honestly can't wait for the next book after how this one ended. I just need more from these two.
Profile Image for Jane ☾.
236 reviews17 followers
March 28, 2025
Yasss I loved this, it's got the same sassy vibe as the first one. The shenanigans continue and the plot thickens. I can't wait to see what comes next!!!
Profile Image for Sophia.
Author5 books391 followers
December 20, 2024
After Full Speed to Crash Landing launched this trilogy of high-octane futuristic heist sci-fi romance novellas, I was jazzed to pick up where things left off in Ada and Rian’s second eventful encounter.
Beth Revis combined a wise-cracking, savvy expert thief for heroine and straight arrow, capable government operative for hero playing a galactic-sized cat and mouse challenge with the continued existence of earth as their end game.
Only, readers are left wondering exactly who is the cat and who is the mouse...

How to Steal a Galaxy keeps up the twisty, suspenseful plot set up in the previous entry which, incidentally, really needs to be read first for this one to make much sense.

Ada returns to report in to the people who hired her and delivers the goods, but now they have an all new job for her to do. She gives her handler a hard time, but ultimately finds this task aligns well with her own inclination because it involves Rian White, the agent who got under her skin as much as she got under his. She must do the job at a high brow museum fundraiser where the galaxy’s elite will come to bit on Old Earth artifacts and donate to the cause of taking care of the aging, sagging planet that was nearly decimated by environmental issues and a super volcano fallout.

Ada’s Old Earth girl all the way and curls up her lip at these richy types� token efforts to look good and her home planet a little fascination piece. It’s cute to her how the head of security for the night’s gala, Rian White, is tracking her through the museum on alert for what she plans to stealth after her last heist left him holding the bag. If he only knew...

I enjoyed the twisty, turning plot style and Ada’s way of being flirtatious and mysterious. This time, with some idea of what motivates her and background of what is going on, I was onto much of her plotting so I enjoyed how she wound Rian up throughout the story. Their mutual attraction is a source of struggle for him because he’s a by-the-book type and Ada’s got a lot of larceny in her. But, she has a good heart and a strong heroic motive because the villain’s greed will destroy thousands of lives if successful.

In the end, I was left with a cliffie, but it wasn’t unexpected. Looking forward to the grand finale book that will be the biggest heist job of all if it can be pulled off.

For those who want playful and flirty with a heist caper sci-fi romance, this will hit the spot.

I rec'd an eARC via NetGalley to read in exchange for an honest review.

My full review will post at That's What I'm Talking About Dec 12, 2024.
Profile Image for Lola.
1,875 reviews272 followers
April 7, 2025
I received a free copy from the publisher through Netgalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

I liked book in this series and was excited to continue the series. Unfortunately I enjoyed book 2 less than the first one. And despite it being a quick read I was bored at times and the book didn't really hook me. Where book 1 took place in space this one mostly takes place in the span of a few hours in a museum. Ada is there to steal something and Rian is there to stop her. And as the reader we don't know what Ada's plan are either.

I didn't really care for the museum setting or the whole atmosphere of this book, I missed the space setting of book 1. I also thought the whole plot with Ada planning something and the reader not knowing what worked better in book 1, here it just felt like a lot of build up and tension and it not really going anywhere. The ending was a bit of a let down and this book just mostly felt like a way to cross from book 1 to 3 and it just didn't really keep my attention.

I also felt this one was a bit of a clash with my previous read, a very sweet contemporary romance with characters who actually communicate and then How to Steal a Galaxy book had all this hinting and being subtle and pushy without actually talking. I also didn't like Ada as much in this one, although I do think she's an interesting character.

What I did like was seeing how the plot of this book builds upon the plot of the first book with what Ada did in book 1 continuing with this new mission. I also thought the part about saving Earth was interesting. And how Ada pretends to be tough and only care about money, but she definitely cares about Earth. There was some interesting backstory that comes to light that adds to Ada's character. I liked how different Rian and Ada are, but I felt this book had less opportunities for them to connect. I am curious what book 3 will bring and do plan to finish the series.

To summarize: While I enjoyed the first book, I didn't enjoy this sequel as much. The plot was less interesting and I felt like there was a lot of build-up and waiting till the end to finally find out what it all was about and then the ending felt a bit anticlimactic as well. I also thought the museum setting was less interesting than the space setting from book 1. I struggled a bit with Ada in this book and there isn't as much romance and opportunities for them to connect. I did like seeing how the plot builds on from book 1 and there are some interesting bits of Ada's backstory that come to light. I do plan to finish the series and am curious how book 3 wraps things up.
Profile Image for Janall.
527 reviews
November 19, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

In the story, we have a female mercenary Ada -full of bravado à la Han Solo- she claims she just cares about getting paid. Story centers around earth that is dying and much of the population (at least the wealthy ones) have moved to other planets such as Rigel. The poor are living on a decimated earth coming to the end of its viability for life.
The villain is an “Elon Musk-ish� dude who is the richest man in the universe- runs, owns and controls everything. He has a plan to release nano bots to earth that will clean up the the toxic water and air. However, our heroine Ada, discovers that his plan is just to continue to enrich himself as the nano bots will fail and make earth in perpetuity on “a subscription plan� where the poor continuously pay to live.
To stop this evil plan, Ada enlists the help of Mr. stick up his butt/ government official hottie Ryan to help her change the code so the bots do what they’re supposed to do.
This is the 2nd book in a series and ends in a cliff hanger. It’s a pretty short story that takes place mostly at a party and I found it rather meh. I have a personal problem with cliff hanger books- feels like a $ grab.
Note- no streamy scenes but the F word is used constantly.
Profile Image for Cassidy | fictionalcass.
361 reviews24 followers
July 30, 2024
Hello I’m here today to tell you that I adored this little book. I ate up every second of Full Speed to a Crash Landing as well, and this one delivers all the same delicious morsels. What a fun little series!!!

This book features the most unhinged date night (yes I’m calling it that, I’m Team Ada obviously) at a space and tech MET gala. Ada and Rian’s dynamic is keeping me fed for real for real. The nice guy who thinks things will work if you do them the right way + vigilante con artist who only does things her own way vibes are so wonderful. I could read 100 little books of these two playing cat and mouse across space and not get tired of it.

Alongside all of this tension and banter, we also have plots to both destroy and save Earth, which are also interesting and it’s cool to see the different ways these are approached. I really like the way that Revis has built up this future version of our world and the challenges that have come with advancement and climate. Big big fan of these.

If you’re looking for fun little adventures that actually do have in reality very high stakes, check these out. 5⭐️ from me!! Can’t wait to get physical copies and show them off!!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the earc of this book.
Profile Image for Heather.
143 reviews
December 31, 2024
4.5 Stars Rounded Up

Loved this. So excited to continue the series. This was a great second book and I loved it more than the first. The first book starts off a bit slow and slightly confusing with a lot of clarification in the last 5%. How to Steal a Galaxy slowly laid out the details. I loved the museum as a background and the running commentary on greed, corruption, capitalism, commercialization, and society. While the author frames a lot of these issues in a light-hearted way the impact is still there. I love Ada and how her mind works. She is always 20 steps ahead and poor Rian is just trying to keep up. Now the long wait until the third and final book comes out.

The audiobook is great. Love the narrators and how they brought the story to life.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for an ARC of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Amy .
3,026 reviews
September 19, 2024
Talk about a story that leaves you wanting more. How to Steal a Galaxy might be a novella, but it certainly packs a punch. This story sucks you in slowly and takes you on a fun, sci-fi adventure. It has a little bit of everything from different planets to heists and to subtle romance and a little chaos in between.

Admittedly, I didn’t read the first installment, but I surprisingly never felt lost. I jumped right into the story and was hooked before I knew it.

In the end, I thought this was a quick, enjoyable read that will leave you eager to get your hands on the next book.


*I was provided an ARC copy of this book via the publisher and NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review *
Profile Image for Katie (Melting Pages).
439 reviews78 followers
December 10, 2024
Final Rating: 4.5

This series is just so much FUN! This second book wasn't as action packed as the first book was, but I loved the gala heist and the background we got on Ada! And of course the chemistry between Ada and Rian was fantastic, I love their banter and the tension especially considering all the lies and distrust that's between them! I adore how morally gray Ada is, she's doing what she thinks is right but also getting some revenge along the way (and getting paid, of course). I loved the ending, and I can't wait to see how everything wraps up in the final book Last Chance to Save the World when it comes out in April 2025!
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