A review by tessa_talks_books
You Can Trust Me by Wendy Heard

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

What's it about (in a nutshell):

You Can Trust Me by Wendy Heard is a psychological thriller full of danger, secrets, and cons that create such a mind-blowing story that it is impossible to put down.

Bullet Point Review:

• I loved the Most Dangerous Game vibes. It goes in a different direction than the Most Dangerous Game, but it gives off those vibes. I would go so far as to say that it has the same essential core.
• I also loved that the main characters are morally grey and that I rooted for them regardless. They are entirely relatable and sympathetic characters and have one quality that makes them highly redeemable – their dedication to each other and the found family they created with each other.
• I loved all the twists and turns in this crazy story, and I can't mention, even vaguely, any of the ones currently running through my head for fear of spoiling.
• I think what makes this story a five-star read for me are the characters. They are so intricately developed with layer upon layer of a lifetime of overcoming challenges that would have brought most people to their knees.
• Summer and Leo (short for Leoneli) have formed a sisterhood bond and become as important to each other as any family by blood. Summer was born to a free spirit and didn't have a birth certificate or any additional identifying information, which led her to the life of a con woman to survive. She runs across a recent runaway Leo on the streets of LA and takes her under her wing. It quickly becomes Leo and Summer against the world, each finding something they desperately need in the other. When Leo goes missing, Summer refuses to stop looking for her until she finds her, but will she find her in time?
• The story is told in the first person through the two main characters, Summer and Leo.
• The pacing is incredibly fast. The chapters are short, and the action is frequent, and those two things work together with the first-person narration to create a rapid pace.
• You Can Trust Me is set in California – partly in LA and a more significant part on a private island near Catalina. The setting is not only well-utilized, but it's also almost another character in the story.
• Read if you're in the mood for:
  • A mysterious, dark, tense, and adventurous story
  • A thriller with strong character development and a fast pace
  • Morally grey characters that will win your heart

Rating: 5