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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
I was invited to read this title by the publisher in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley. I jumped on it as Wendy Heard is one of my more recent favorite YA thriller writers. You Can Trust Me is an adult thriller.
Summer and Leo are best friends and soul sisters on the road in California. Summer grew up in a bohemian, nomadic lifestyle with her mother, who abandoned her at 17 to be with a boyfriend. Summer learned how to pickpocket when she was 8 years old. She has honed her skills as an adult. Leo (short for Leoneli) grew up in a middle class home and was pretty happy with it until her sister Amanda died. First, we are told it was in a car accident, but there's more to the tragic loss than Leo wants to talk about. Summer and Leo have been traveling between NorCal and So Cal for 5 years, running grifts, stealing and conning to survive. They are quite gifted at it too, Leo more with long cons on rich (sometimes married) men. They sometimes camp out in tents or sleep in a converted Land Cruiser with a double bed.
Summer goes to earn money to fill their coffers at a club, while Leo arranges an accidental meet-up with a hot billionaire who liked her insta picture. Leo hits it off with Michael, who seemingly seems pulled into her charm and beauty. He invites her to his private island near Catalina, and that's when things go sideways quickly. When Summer and Leo are separated and unable to communicate with each other, they have to rely on their wits and instincts about each other. The island part is CRAZY - I can't tell you anything except it kept me on the very edge of my seat the whole time. One thing that I suspected was somewhat predictable but didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book. The alternating chapters between the 2 main characters are on slightly different timelines, adding to the suspense.
TW for psychotic murderers, sexual assault, drugging women to be compliant and gaslighting. 5/5☆ release June 2023.
Summer and Leo are best friends and soul sisters on the road in California. Summer grew up in a bohemian, nomadic lifestyle with her mother, who abandoned her at 17 to be with a boyfriend. Summer learned how to pickpocket when she was 8 years old. She has honed her skills as an adult. Leo (short for Leoneli) grew up in a middle class home and was pretty happy with it until her sister Amanda died. First, we are told it was in a car accident, but there's more to the tragic loss than Leo wants to talk about. Summer and Leo have been traveling between NorCal and So Cal for 5 years, running grifts, stealing and conning to survive. They are quite gifted at it too, Leo more with long cons on rich (sometimes married) men. They sometimes camp out in tents or sleep in a converted Land Cruiser with a double bed.
Summer goes to earn money to fill their coffers at a club, while Leo arranges an accidental meet-up with a hot billionaire who liked her insta picture. Leo hits it off with Michael, who seemingly seems pulled into her charm and beauty. He invites her to his private island near Catalina, and that's when things go sideways quickly. When Summer and Leo are separated and unable to communicate with each other, they have to rely on their wits and instincts about each other. The island part is CRAZY - I can't tell you anything except it kept me on the very edge of my seat the whole time. One thing that I suspected was somewhat predictable but didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book. The alternating chapters between the 2 main characters are on slightly different timelines, adding to the suspense.
TW for psychotic murderers, sexual assault, drugging women to be compliant and gaslighting. 5/5☆ release June 2023.
Incredible read! The bond between Summer and Leo is a strong and beautiful friendship.
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
This was a gripping read until the final act -- I found the twists predictable from early in the book and the character changes were hard to believe.
This was a pretty fun thriller with 2 great female characters. I really enjoyed it!
I don’t think I’ve ever read a story with 2 off the grid female con artists/thieves before, and I was surprised how much I like both of them and cheered them on. They aren’t “good guys” but they have their reasons…
I loved the friendship and bond between the 2 MCs, and the pacing of the story. This was action packed! While you do figure out the twist about half way though, it’s still a very satisfying unveiling of events. Solid writing and dialogue, bonus points for a very cool island setting.
I look forward to reading this author again! Great summer thriller!
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book early in exchange for my honest review.
I don’t think I’ve ever read a story with 2 off the grid female con artists/thieves before, and I was surprised how much I like both of them and cheered them on. They aren’t “good guys” but they have their reasons…
I loved the friendship and bond between the 2 MCs, and the pacing of the story. This was action packed! While you do figure out the twist about half way though, it’s still a very satisfying unveiling of events. Solid writing and dialogue, bonus points for a very cool island setting.
I look forward to reading this author again! Great summer thriller!
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book early in exchange for my honest review.
Pretty good thriller with lots of intense and action-packed moments! I predicted the twist pretty early on, but thankfully it didn't make the rest of the book any less exciting!
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for the ARC!
Wow. I could not put this down. I had been in a rut with thrillers prior to this book and this immediately took me out of it!
Wow. I could not put this down. I had been in a rut with thrillers prior to this book and this immediately took me out of it!
For me, this was just middle of the road. It was fast-paced and fun, but I saw just about every twist and turn coming a mile away. I did like how the author depicted a found sister relationship, but I also got kind of bored with the story toward the end.
Disclosure: I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley, however all opinions are my own.
Leo and Summer live the life of nomads, doing what they can to make money the illegal way while trying to live their lives on their own terms. Neither has had an easy life and because of this they come together like sisters, doing anything for each other.
But then their luck runs out. Things don't go the way they're supposed to, and according to Summer, Leo disappears. Summer knows something is very wrong and she decides to use every trick she's learned on the streets to get Leo back.
This is a fast paced thriller with twists around every single turn. I could not put it down, and the ending is just ridiculously incredible. It's a great read for lounging by the pool - just don't get sunburned when hours go by while you're sucked into Summer and Leo's world.
Leo and Summer live the life of nomads, doing what they can to make money the illegal way while trying to live their lives on their own terms. Neither has had an easy life and because of this they come together like sisters, doing anything for each other.
But then their luck runs out. Things don't go the way they're supposed to, and according to Summer, Leo disappears. Summer knows something is very wrong and she decides to use every trick she's learned on the streets to get Leo back.
This is a fast paced thriller with twists around every single turn. I could not put it down, and the ending is just ridiculously incredible. It's a great read for lounging by the pool - just don't get sunburned when hours go by while you're sucked into Summer and Leo's world.