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A review by mbkarapcik
You Can Trust Me by Wendy Heard
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!