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arhoades99's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
jaygabler's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thank you Random House for the free book.
Gorgeous grifters seducing billionaires? Just another day in Duluth!
…or, the premise of Wendy Heard’s delicious thriller about two wily women who get in over their heads with a suspiciously sympathetic tech bro.
Gorgeous grifters seducing billionaires? Just another day in Duluth!
…or, the premise of Wendy Heard’s delicious thriller about two wily women who get in over their heads with a suspiciously sympathetic tech bro.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Abandonment, and Sexual assault
hazel_oat's review against another edition
3.0
this was a neat premise, but the execution left me underwhelmed. the chapters bounced back and forth so frequently that the suspense was lost. needed more detail to truly build up the anxiety...! anyway i wish the various "twists" were less obvious. it would have been fun to have more of a puzzle to figure out.
thank you to random house publishing group for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review!
thank you to random house publishing group for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review!
atgerstner's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
mbkarapcik's review against another edition
4.0
Two young con artists go for the ultimate long con when they encounter a wealthy and handsome billionaire in You Can Trust Me by Wendy Heard.
Summer and Leo have been on their own for a while, and they manage to live within their means out of their car amidst the beaches and forests all across California. Part of the way they manage is by stealing and conning others out of money and then disappearing. It's an understatement to say they live an interesting life. But they're looking for the big win when they meet up with Michael Forrester. Will the win pan out?
I never read this author before, so I was interested to see if this thriller matched up to my expectations. It's different from many of the thrillers I've read before because you're approaching the story from the con artists' perspectives. You wonder if they will be outwitted for once yet you're rooting for the girls all the way, especially after you hear about their past lives and how it prompted them to embark on this peripatetic lifestyle.
I found the story intriguing and the pace rolls along at a good clip. You're given just enough back story about Summer and Leo to understand their motivations but not too much. I enjoyed their friendship, which seems more like two sisters against the world. You can sense the strong bond between these two throughout all the pages. I liked the back stories, too, and it made them more empathetic.
The glitter and glitz in the worlds in which they infiltrate were alluring, too. Once you get to the island, you're wondering what secrets and glamor could be awaiting everyone at Michael's island. The descriptions of the island are pretty incredible and really made me want to visit. It sounded like the ultimate pleasure resort that happens to be Michael's home.
A lot of action takes place, and, again, it moves at the right pace. You'll feel on edge as both girls encounter more than they bargained for. It's not terribly creepy but more puzzling and disturbing. I will say, though, that a few of the plot points I figured out before they were revealed. I kept reading because I enjoyed the writing, liked the characters, and wanted to see if I was right about the twists.
An issue that dissuaded me from giving the book five stars was the motivation behind one of the character's actions. I felt that could have been more developed. The ending wrapped up well, but I was looking for a little more intrigue on that front. Overall, I highly recommend this book and am looking forward to reading more from this author. It's definitely different from many thrillers I've read lately, so pick it up if you need a new spin on an old favorite.
Thank you, Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Bantam, for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Summer and Leo have been on their own for a while, and they manage to live within their means out of their car amidst the beaches and forests all across California. Part of the way they manage is by stealing and conning others out of money and then disappearing. It's an understatement to say they live an interesting life. But they're looking for the big win when they meet up with Michael Forrester. Will the win pan out?
I never read this author before, so I was interested to see if this thriller matched up to my expectations. It's different from many of the thrillers I've read before because you're approaching the story from the con artists' perspectives. You wonder if they will be outwitted for once yet you're rooting for the girls all the way, especially after you hear about their past lives and how it prompted them to embark on this peripatetic lifestyle.
I found the story intriguing and the pace rolls along at a good clip. You're given just enough back story about Summer and Leo to understand their motivations but not too much. I enjoyed their friendship, which seems more like two sisters against the world. You can sense the strong bond between these two throughout all the pages. I liked the back stories, too, and it made them more empathetic.
The glitter and glitz in the worlds in which they infiltrate were alluring, too. Once you get to the island, you're wondering what secrets and glamor could be awaiting everyone at Michael's island. The descriptions of the island are pretty incredible and really made me want to visit. It sounded like the ultimate pleasure resort that happens to be Michael's home.
A lot of action takes place, and, again, it moves at the right pace. You'll feel on edge as both girls encounter more than they bargained for. It's not terribly creepy but more puzzling and disturbing. I will say, though, that a few of the plot points I figured out before they were revealed. I kept reading because I enjoyed the writing, liked the characters, and wanted to see if I was right about the twists.
An issue that dissuaded me from giving the book five stars was the motivation behind one of the character's actions. I felt that could have been more developed. The ending wrapped up well, but I was looking for a little more intrigue on that front. Overall, I highly recommend this book and am looking forward to reading more from this author. It's definitely different from many thrillers I've read lately, so pick it up if you need a new spin on an old favorite.
Thank you, Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Bantam, for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
enticingtitles's review against another edition
5.0
This was such an awesome thriller. It was a new, fresh premise that I haven't seen and most of the twistiness I did not see coming! I loved both Summer and Leo's perspectives and even though they were grifters and inherently trouble, I trusted them as narrators.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
bear_reads_books's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this compelling thriller. Summer and Leo are more than best friends, they're chosen sisters. I loved their relationship and how loyal they are. They live a nomadic lifestyle, on their own terms. But it takes money to survive and they use their looks and pickpocketing skills to get by. Summer picks pockets, Leo prefers to go after a rich man and get gifts and/or blackmail material.
Leo has a billionaire on the hook and it seems like it's going to be an easy score. She's even enjoying her time with him. He comes across as humble and kind. Summer is expecting Leo to come back after her date and when she doesn't, she starts to worry. She knows Leo was getting restless but she wouldn't abandon Sumner without a proper goodbye... right?
Summer can't just assume she chose to leave. So she hooks up with one of the man's investors who is going to his private island for an event. She intends to either find Leo there or question the man. Leo could've become swept up into a new life or things aren't what they seem.
The story is told from both points of view. But Summer's is a day ahead so as she's investigating, you slowly learn what happened to Leo. The reveals are perfectly placed and keep you feeling tense and desperate to know what happened. There's no way off the island and everyone there is so secretive and suspicious.
I highly recommend reading You Can Trust Me. It's a perfect summer read.
Thank you Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Bantam and NetGalley.
Leo has a billionaire on the hook and it seems like it's going to be an easy score. She's even enjoying her time with him. He comes across as humble and kind. Summer is expecting Leo to come back after her date and when she doesn't, she starts to worry. She knows Leo was getting restless but she wouldn't abandon Sumner without a proper goodbye... right?
Summer can't just assume she chose to leave. So she hooks up with one of the man's investors who is going to his private island for an event. She intends to either find Leo there or question the man. Leo could've become swept up into a new life or things aren't what they seem.
The story is told from both points of view. But Summer's is a day ahead so as she's investigating, you slowly learn what happened to Leo. The reveals are perfectly placed and keep you feeling tense and desperate to know what happened. There's no way off the island and everyone there is so secretive and suspicious.
I highly recommend reading You Can Trust Me. It's a perfect summer read.
Thank you Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Bantam and NetGalley.
ahomelibrary's review against another edition
Book Review — “You Can Trust Me” by Wendy Heard (2023)
Categories — Thriller/Suspense, Best Friends, California, Rich vs Poor, Con Artists, Mystery, Dual POV
Pub Info — by Bantam in June 2023. Currently has 3.8 (4.9k reviews) on Goodreads and 4.1 (700) on Amazon
My Summary (No Spoilers) ⤵️
Two close friends are con artists that essentially pickpocket, scam, and steal their way through life in California. Through flashbacks, we see they both are dealing with trauma and grief, contributing to their choice on how to survive. When a plan to steal from a billionaire tech man goes wrong, however, one of the duo has to take dramatic action to save the other.
More Info (No Spoilers) ⤵️
This was probably a really good summer “beach read” as they say — I blew through it in less than 2 hours. The chapters are quick, and the pace explodes at one point.
Categories — Thriller/Suspense, Best Friends, California, Rich vs Poor, Con Artists, Mystery, Dual POV
Pub Info — by Bantam in June 2023. Currently has 3.8 (4.9k reviews) on Goodreads and 4.1 (700) on Amazon
My Summary (No Spoilers) ⤵️
Two close friends are con artists that essentially pickpocket, scam, and steal their way through life in California. Through flashbacks, we see they both are dealing with trauma and grief, contributing to their choice on how to survive. When a plan to steal from a billionaire tech man goes wrong, however, one of the duo has to take dramatic action to save the other.
More Info (No Spoilers) ⤵️
This was probably a really good summer “beach read” as they say — I blew through it in less than 2 hours. The chapters are quick, and the pace explodes at one point.