Immoral Code

This is a book that I had heard a lot about so when I checked our local library I was super glad that it was available to be checked out. 

Immoral Code by Lillian Clark is basically a heist book. But there is so much more to it than that! A team of friends and partners in crime is made up of five seniors in high school. They are all facing their futures as school comes to a close. Narioka or Nari loves her computer hacking and coding and plans on having a big career at a place like Google or Apple. Keagen, with a strict moral code, is her boyfriend and plans on following wherever she leads. Reese is an artist with a very free spirit who plans on traveling the world wherever she can. Santiago or San has secured himself a diving scholarship at Stanford and plans on training for the Olympics. Last but not least is Bellamy, a genius at physics and all things science who is admitted to MIT. She hits a snag though when her financial aid is denied because of her estranged father who happens to be a billionare. 

Nari doesn't plan on allowing her friend's dream of MIT to be ruined because of a deadbeat dad so she hatches a plan and recruits all the others to steal just enough money for Bellamy to afford school. What ensues is an unbelievable heist where they all must pitch in their individual skills and abilities. 

Heist movies have been super popular over time. Think of films like Baby Driver, Ocean's Eleven, Ocean's 8, and even the "time heist" business from Avengers: Endgame. I think this specific type of action film appeals to a lot of people. There is a specific task, usually a crime, that a team is trying to accomplish and they work together to do it. They are a lot of fun, I think. This book gave me that same appealing action and desire to see them steal the money. 

I also really enjoyed the relationships between the group. There is not only friendship but a few romances as well. Reese is ace/aro so she sometimes feels like a fifth wheel with the other couples. Keagen and Nari have been together since sophomore year. But this plan of Nari's puts a lot of strain on their relationship as Keagen fights with his strong moral compass to decide whether or not the ends justify the means of their heist. San and Bellamy aren't a couple...yet. But they both agree that they are their favorite people to spend time with. But with only a few months left in senior year, is it worth starting a new relationship when they might be separated across the country. 

The point of view switches between the characters throughout the book which I love because I felt like the story belonged to each and every one of the group members. I liked the switching back and forth so that the reader can get to know each character equally.

I recommend this book for fans of heist stories, YA, a little romance, and family reconciliation.