This was a reread for me. It was 5 stars the first time I read it (it was my favorite book of 2019) and it was 5 stars again when I reread it. I love this book so much and recommend this to everyone. It is amazing!!! ( )

teen fic (action/heist/drag queens - LGBTQA interest)
Lots of action, begins in medias res--just couldn't get into it at the time but have heard good things. ( )

I was not ready for Death Prefers Blondes. Wow, did I like this book.

Sometimes, unexpected books come into your life when you need them. Sometimes those books are deeply meaningful to you in that moment. And sometimes those books are a drag queen Ocean’s Eleven in the middle of a bunch of really serious books.

Death Prefers Blondes is the latter.

I picked this up with no expectations. I needed a heist book for fulfill a reading challenge prompt and the bright pink cover drew me and I was like “sure”. But this book was fun! Every single character in this book had layers upon layers – even Margo’s mother, who we see for a single scene. The story took on twists I wasn’t expecting and the pacing was really fast. The book was over 400 pages, but it didn’t feel like it was that long. There were so many things going on, and there was so much at stake. Roehrig took me by surprise again. And again. And again.

There are a few different storylines in Death Prefers Blondes, and I am here for all of them. This book has high potential to be a four-book series, with the first book focusing of rich girl “Mad” Margo. The rest of the characters are fabulous though – each with their own unique challenges and problems. The LGBTQIAP+ diversity here is sublime, with a gender-fluid character, a m/m relationship, a drag show… and while Margo doesn’t identify herself specifically, she’s either bisexual or pansexual from my observations. I can’t speak to the success of this rep, but I was so glad to see it. Roehrig is part of the LGBTQIAP+ community himself, so it’s always more heartening to know it’s an Own Voices story. There’s also some racial diversity as well, but Roehrig doesn’t harp on it – there is diversity because the world is diversity, but that’s not a theme in the story.

Are there a few things that don’t add up in this book? Yes, absolutely. Some things are a little too convenient, and others are overly coincidental. But Death Prefers Blondes moves quickly enough that you don’t really think about that until you stop out of the story. And anyways, I think there are a lot of things in heist stories that require suspension of disbelief. At the end of the day… it’s fun. It’s just fun. Great characters, a great story, and a generally enjoyable, creative, and uncommon type of book. I absolutely recommend Death Prefers Blondes, and for myself… I really hope Roehrig is writing at least one follow up book because I would preorder it in a heartbeat. ( )

When you are a spoiled rich girl, how do you get your kicks when drugs and drinking are just so passe? You create a team of skilled students to help you rob museums, and other rich folks. And we are not talking about the Bling Ring, but a group with many more skills, and lots more balls. And to top it all off, the team dresses in Drag to help hide their identity. But Drag is not just a costume. It’s armor, and it’s Life.

Margo is the “poor little rich girl” in this book. But shes not bad. There is a purpose behind her thefts. It helps her friends with no other way to live, and helps secret organizations help others. But her life is not all champagne and caviar. Her father is sick with some mysterious illness, and everyone wants to rule her world. Only Margo can save the company and herself, but she will need all the help from her fabulous team.

Her team is made of of her best friend Axel and his brother Joaquin. Axel is a true Drag performer. It is his passion and his escape from the life his embezzling father left behind while in prison. Joaquin is the newest member of the team who is enamored with team member Leif. Leif, is a small town country boy moved to the big city to be himself, and attend ballet school. He needs the money from these jobs to pay his tuition as his strait laced religious parents will no longer help foot the bill for his alternative lifestyle. The last team member Devan is the car person. You can pull his drag hills from his cold body when he is gone.

This book was so much fun. It is very inclusive. Margo is bi, and the rest of the team is gay. And it just is. No explanation needed, no excuses, it just is, deal with it. (Love that). It also hits every point to be labeled a SAGA (sexual and gender acceptance) read. As well as having a cast of characters who can claim various nationalities and skin color. This book does contain sexual situations, but most are glossed over, or hinted out. However the innuendo is full on, especially when the team needs a sixth member. Some of it might be considered gratuitous, but then again, I think it is realistic to the teens it represents.

Overall this was a fun romp. I hope the author makes it a series for new adults. I could see the team becoming spies, or secret operatives. I think they could do it, forwards, backwards, and in heels.
#MountTBR
#NancyDrewChallenge #HardCover ( )

This book is AMAZEBALLS. It combines some of my favorite things : drag queens, con artists, and bad ass heists. I loved every single second of this fabulous book and can only hope we see Margo and the crew again!! ( )