Olivia Twist

I'm going to be honest and admit that I have never read Oliver Twist, so I can't really compare this one to the classic at all. The story is about Olivia Langdon, who was born in a workhouse and named Oliver Twist. However, she was raised as a boy because the doctor who delivered her told the nurse who raised her to raise her as a boy so she could avoid the hardships of being an orphaned girl. From there, the story skips to when Olivia is 17 or 18 years old, and she is living happily with her uncle. The sad part is that her uncle is losing his wealth, and in an effort to help him, Olivia has continued with her skills of robbery that she learned growing up on the streets as the member of Dodger's gang. In addition, she feels obligated to marry well so she can help her uncle financially to try to repay him for taking her in all those years ago when she thought she had no one else to turn to.
Of course, Dodger is in the story too. He shows up as the charming Jack MacCarron, an Irish gentleman, who is supposedly the nephew of Lois March, a well-to-do widow in London's society circles. However, Lois's husband left her with numerous gambling debts, so in exchange for a better lifestyle, Dodger became Jack MacCarron, and he helps rob from the rich as well to provide an income for Lois when she has no other way to live.
Jack and Olivia actually meet in the very beginning of the book, and Olivia recognizes him as Dodger, but when she calls him that, he refuses to acknowledge that is who he is. The mystery continues as Jack and Olivia are thrown together at parties and dinners, and even in the streets of London while trying to pawn the goods they have stolen for their benefactors. Eventually, the two develop feelings for each other, but Olivia cannot give in to the feelings because she is going to marry Maxwell Grimwig, a millionaire, who can help provide all she and her uncle will ever need.
The conflict comes into play when a new street lord, Monks, shows up and begins threatening and hurting Olivia's gang of orphans that she secretly supports as well. Olivia introduces the boys to Jack, and he promises to help them as much as he can. Of course, Monks is also Olivia's long-lost half-brother, and he is angry because their father left his fortune to his daughter rather than Monks. As a result, Monks frames Olivia for murder, and Jack/Dodger has to come in to rescue her.
The story is super cheesy, and there is a lot of romance along with kissing throughout the book. I actually had a hard time figuring out who was who because it seemed like most of the characters had two different names (even though that wasn't really the case). Also, the ending was a bit abrupt, and I felt that things were wrapped up quickly so the author could give Jack and Olivia a happily ever after.  I wouldn't recommend this to anyone who really loves the original Oliver Twist because I know it would just ruin it for you. However, I did enjoy the book, and it was a fun read for me (especially during the Co-Vid 19 quarantine when I'm not at school teaching for two weeks). This is one that I would recommend to girls who enjoy the sappy romance that is a twist (no pun intended) on a classic.