With a setting that's as old as time, you'd think this story would be cliche. It just goes to show how powerful Kylie Scott's words are that turned this story into a master piece. I was so drawn in by this story and the characters that I lost complete track of time and swallowed this book whole.

This story is in a high school setting. It's the classic bad boy hottie vs unpopular, overweight girl. She's crushing and he's confused. It should have felt overdone, instead it felt fresh and new. The story was light and dark. Somber and funny. It gave me a deep sense of satisfaction at the end that I don't experience often.

I think it's safe to say I loved it and that Kylie Scott has earned a new fan. ARC provided by NetGalley.

I can't pick a thing. I mean, I have no idea where to start because there was so much awesome packed into this book. This was my first Kylie Scott experience, so I have nothing else to compare it to, all I know is that if they all grab my attention, keep me held in thrall, and send my heart on the same kind of rollercoaster that Trust did? Then I am a new forever fan.

The story starts with a bang - like took my breath away, had me on the edge of my seat completely gripped by the story - bang. And that's basically how I spent the rest of the entire book. The story is intense, and the storytelling is on point. I never wanted to put this book down. I literally spent 24 hours with my nose buried in my Kindle while I lost my heart (and my mind a little bit) with Edie and John.

What was interesting (and lovely) to me is how much time I spent with a goofy grin plastered on my face. This isn't a light, fluffy book. I didn't expect to smile so much. I didn't expect my heart to feel all light and fluttery - and yet, truly, that's how I spent the majority of the book. There's a sweetness to the slow burn between John and Edie that I loved losing myself in. A much softer side of an otherwise difficult story and it blended so seamlessly into beauty from pain, it just - GAH! It basically owned my heart, and probably will for a while.

As if that wasn't enough? The secondary characters in this book made a habit of stealing scenes in a way that I could not get enough of. There's no such thing as too much Hang or Anders as far as I'm concerned. I utterly adored them (and, for the record, would read a book about them in a heartbeat).

I just...really really loved this book, you guys. It's an extremely mature young adult, and it just got everything exactly right, as far as I'm concerned. The dialogue was smart, entertaining, and the perfect level of sarcastic irreverence that I basically live for. The characters were multi-dimensional, strong, and relatable. The story was compelling and nearly impossible to put down. I loved every minute and there is no question I'll be back for more.

✮✮✮ 4.5 Stars ✮✮✮

"Racks full of magazines filled the front glass wall; nothing could be seen of us below chest height. Above that line, the world was red, white, and blue
.
Edie and Georgia only want to get snacks for a Harry Potter marathon. They never imagined that an innocent trip to a drop shop would become their worst nightmare. All of a sudden Edie is looking at the wrong end of a gun and two men are dead. A boy saves her life. A boy who is under suspicion of collaboration with the robber.
And if all that wasn't upsetting enough her best friend betrays her trust. The final straw comes from the school's (b)witch who bullies Edie and she is done with private school. She'd rather go to public school and get a fresh start..

John saved Edie's life and was taken into custody because of his criminal record of selling weed. It is thanks to Edie that he was released quickly when his role became obvious. Back at school he sees the new girl but doesn't approach her - his reputation shouldn't rub off on Edie. Of course his good intentions don't last long. A nightly visit and a conversation about the aftermath and nightmares of that horrible day strengthen the bond that was formed that night in the convenience store.





Events like this one will change a person. There is no way it won't. Edie used to be a normal teen with all the insecurities that come with it. Well maybe not so normal because she has been bullied for a plus size body. What would have hurt Edie before the night of the robbery she now brushes off. She has become strong and resilient, her focus shifted and her priorities too.
The self-consciousness about her body doesn't disappear but weighed against losing your life it becomes insignificant. What becomes stronger is her need for privacy. She doesn't take her best friend's betrayal well and in the process trust doesn't come easy to her. Who she really trusts, however, is John.
I loved Edie's snark, her care about John and her imperturbable loyalty for him. But of course she is also a young girl and she does some immature things.

John Cole was stupidly beautiful, in that he was so beautiful it made me stupid.


John has inherited the weed selling business from his brother who has moved on to harder drugs. After the day that changed his life he tries everything to get his life back on track. He stops selling, he makes an effort to improve his grades at school but every single day he has to fight against prejudice. John's and Edie's bond becomes stronger every day and their friendship is beautiful.


“Thanks for tonight,” I said, keeping my voice low. “This is nice.”
He smiled. “Yeah, it is.”
“We should be friends.”
Brows arched, he gave me an amused look. He had nice lips. “We are, you goose.



You can only guess at John's feelings for Edie because you only get her POV but at some point you get an inkling that not everything is as platonic as he makes it out to be.
John's a bit moody but very sweet and honest and a wonderful friend. He is the kind who has your back when you need a getaway car, even if he is at odds with you. While reading I saw an endearing boy with a whole lot of love to give and his share of insecurities despite the flashy good looks.

“You’re here?”
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
“Because this is where you are,” he said, as if it were obvious.




The whole cast of this book is very well fleshed out. I loved Hang, who accepts Edie the way she was. She is just as loyal as John and a great friend to have when you need someone at your back. Anders, John's best friend, is a nutcase and oh so hilarious. I hope that Kylie Scott has a story for him and Hang!

In the beginning of the story my heart was in my throat. It grips you right away and pulls you into it. When the anxiety of the first 10% eases it starts to become a captivating story. This isn't just a love story between teenagers. It touches some subjects young people have to deal with on a daily basis and Kylie Scott addresses them tactfully. It has her signature snarky writing style which I have become a fan of!
If I can find any fault with this book it was the lack of a proper last chapter that would ease us into an epilogue. We have some action and a showdown, then cut: "Epilogue." That threw me a bit. I loved the epilogue, but it didn't make up for a proper last chapter. Overall Trust made for an engaging and compelling read.

“Edie?”
“Hmm?”
“Me too. On the… you know.”
I cocked my head. “You mean the love thing?”
“Yeah. That.”



Trust is a standalone novel. An awesome one. Read it.

This book will stress you the eff out, the entire time you read it. It was intense and scary, then it was frustrating, and a little sad. There was redemption, and people finding themselves, as well as, the characters finding out who their real friends truly were. Our characters realize what truly matters in life. And despite all the intense Suspenseful and somewhat depressing moments, came some laugh out loud comedic relief. I loved every second of this book, and I loved every main and supporting character written inside this story.

The characters are fantastic, and the situations are believable, and totally relatable. You and I may not ever live through some of the things these characters do, and hopefully we never have to, but I would assume that all the feelings represented are exactly what would occur. Aside from the obviously traumatic stuff the characters experience, the rest of the story could be summed up into exactly what being a high schooler would feel like. No issue is left uncovered.

I would suggest this book highly to adults, and to teenagers. I'm an educator and I would have no issues letting my students read this book. It covers all the real, and the rawness is perfect for the story being told. I could not put this book down for a single second, and I don't regret it a single bit.

**4.5 Stars**

Sweetly romantic and poignantly captivating, Trust was a timely portrayal of the external and internal struggles for a young woman in modern society. With a tough-as-nails heroine who easily captured inner-strength with a side of vulnerability, Scott penned a beautiful story of growth, love, and self acceptance.

Body issues and the viewpoint of the public aside, what was most enjoyable was that these labels didn’t define the story or the heroine, but were mere stepping stones to cross over in order to meet the next hurdle. Edie became like any other main character, regardless of her struggles, in that she was real and suffered normal setbacks with the uncertainty most would have. Scott beautifully portrayed the effects of the traumatic event Edie suffered, allowing her to find her own way in the aftermath, showing us the deep repercussions of how the mind fights back. Most inspiring of all, though, was the kind of beauty that can come from a horrible situation as she and John suffered.

Sexier than expected, classifying this one as more upper YA/lower NA, the love story in this novel was perfect in every aspect. John and Edie’s connection grew organically with the speed of travelling ivy, allowing the most natural, feral attraction to form. Friendship and comfort and trust fell into so much more.

Learning how to trust one’s own self, those around them, the sense of safety, the fragility of the mind, and the love of another became the powerful messages to take home once the book ended. Scott did an amazing job tackling so many issues without one overpowering the other or feeling as if Edie was lost inside of it. Trust packed an emotional punch that continued to weigh on me long after the last page was turned, and I applaud the unabashed way in which Scott told this story. Don’t let the YA genre of the story fool you; it still had everything this author’s known for plus so much more that I hope to continue to see this author use in her future works.

i've been dying to read trust since i heard about the book. several authors i follow have been raving about this book. and i love ya. i love romance. i love bad-boy-good-girl romances. in some ways talking about trust as just a romance feels reductive. it is a romance. but it's more than a boy meets girl and changes life for her kind of story.

when john and edie meet they endure a traumatic event. held hostage by an out of his mind drug addict, john calms him down enough to get him talking. but that doesn't stop him from holding edie at gunpoint and nearly killing everyone in the store. he kills the clerk and tristan, the young man buying drugs off john in the first place.

the fact that john is a drug dealer, was a drug dealer, should matter to edie. but it doesn't. becausee she knows he saved her life. and that moment of connection from the store, when edie realized he was trying to save everyone he could, soon turns into a real friendship. and more than anything else in this book, we see that friendship build and grow. and as it builds and grows it changes.

especially for edie. she trusts john like no one else. he is the only other person who lived through that moment in the gas station with her. but trusting him means that he has power over her. the power to hurt her. she knows she's not a typical teenage girl, and that maybe her innocence and her insecurities are huge turnoffs. but she can't help but want him. but does he want her?

i mean, it is a romance. but edie and john don't walk a straight path into a relationship. but this is what makes this book something more. the fact that both john and edie have past and present baggage to overcome. sometimes i wish that kylie scott did the dual pov thing, i like her heros, they are generally complex, layered, but because we only ever see the one side of the story they remain at a distance, a mystery that you never fully figure out. and i think because we spend so much time in edie's head worrying about her appearance and putting herself down, that you miss the counterarguments from john's perspective.

the truth is size shouldn't matter, right? i have enough of my own issues with weight and dieting and exercising, that if i'm being fully honest, i don't find all that appealing to read about. but at least it's nice when the hero makes it clear that he likes something to hold on to. that he's not seeing curves as weight that needs to be cast aside. i don't know. i guess i wish that there were a more interesting weigh to deal with the issue. or at least a more interesting way to make a heroine stand out, because i feel like i've read a lot of romance novels with heroines struggling with the same things. and it's a common problem, i get it. but i like to escape, not be reminded constantly that i should also be going on a diet.

This is the first book I have read by the author and I am not going to lie, I usually don't go for books with shirtless men on the cover. I do enjoy the NA genre (although this book is categorized as YA) but am weary about trying new authors. I was honestly surprised how much I enjoyed this book. Edie is a great main character and although she is struggling with many things throughout this book, she still has a sense of humor and I felt like she really knew who she was as a person & accepted that. Edie's best friend at her new school, Hang, is great and John's best friend, Anders is hilarious. I also really enjoyed John's character, although he has a bit of a rough past, you can tell that he really is trying to get his life together and change his future. There were parts where I wished he has expressed himself a bit more, but overall I really enjoyed his personality. This book actually didn't have that much sex in it, in fact there really wasn't any in the first half of the book. Although Edie and John are both in high school, I do think this leans more into the NA category. Some of the terms and writing regarding Edie's PTSD could have been a bit more accurate and there was a bit of language I could have done without, such as terms like "douche-canoe" but otherwise, I really enjoyed the author's writing and the story itself. I look forward to reading more by the author in the future.

Thank you to the author for sending me an ARC.

I was actually equally nervous and excited to read Trust as I love Kylie Scott and (mature) YA and was SO READY to fall in love with another one of her her stories while trying something new from her in the process. And after reading this and being completely honest here, this novel was absolutely brilliant!!! It had a HOT, badboy alpha male with alot of edge, a sassy gorgeous heroine who gave as good as she got and an INSANE, movie quality plot that had me hooked from the get go. This novel was incredible and I can not stop thinking about it!

This novel touched on quite a few things that I loved. First, I thought the storyline was so darn unique it was on another level. It literally starts off with a bang and you're left disturbed, gasping for air , engrossed and sucked in before you know it. Second, on a personal note, I take my hat off to this author for aptly depicting the feelings and insecurities Edie faced for being a plus sized goddess. I say goddess because she was probably one of the strongest heroines I have ever read. She legit gave no effs, spoke her mind and took ALLL the names while doing it. She wasn't a cookie cutter heroine which is what made her beautiful on the inside and out. She embraced who she was and only wanted quality, caring and TRUSTworthy people around her. I absolutely loved her. John was also one of my favorite parts of this book. This hero felt very vintage NA. A broody, reformed badboy with an edge. He was everything I loved about in an anti-hero. He was who he was and made no excuses but still used his and Edie's experience to not only better himself but his future as well. I absolutely adored them together. Their banter was great and I could not get enough of Edie's inner dialogue. She was so honest, sarcastic and refreshing that I wanted to be her friend. It was also well written, sexy and also awkward as only first love can be.  

All in all this was an exceptionally honest depiction of a modern young love story and I for one hope that Kylie Scott continues writing in this genre! Bravo! 4.5 stars! ~Ratula

This was my first Kylie Scott book and I enjoyed it. However, I also happened to be listening to LICK, the first book in Scott's Stage Dive NA series from a few years ago, and the similarities between both MCs and their love interests were uncanny and difficult to ignore.

From their physical descriptions: eye color/hair/height/weight, apparel (black clothing, Doc Marten boots), friends, issues, and backstories, even the way they spoke was identical. For example, the conversation Edie and Jack have in TRUST about her affinity for the color black, even though it's not technically a color, etc., is the exact same one Evelyn and David have in LICK, verbatim. The only difference being, it's David who has the affinity for the color black.

Aside from a few minor changes, TRUST read like an aged-down version of LICK with recycled characters--minus the deaths and graphic sex scenes. As a new-to-Scott reader I'm surprised no one picked up on the similarities before now. Or perhaps they did and it didn't think it would matter. Scott has a big fan base, and I've no doubt they will love TRUST every bit as much as her other books.

This book is a coming of age book. It's so funny, awkward and scared me with how real it is. The characters have a journey they go on, it's endearing to see it because it's not all flowers and chocolates. It's heartache, and pain and emotional turmoil. The mum's reaction to their relationship is gold and Matt's reaction to her reaction had me howling with laughter. It was so funny!

Now, I am not usually one to read YA - old fart here - however I will pick up and read anything by Kylie Scott.

And wow! Just wow! This book is amazing. It had me hooked from the very first page, and I just needed to flick each page to find out what was going to happen.

Have you watched the book trailer? Check it out on youtube, you won't regret it.

Everything about this book had me on edge. From the events that start it all, to Edie and John dealing with the aftermath.


I adore Edie. Belittled her whole life, she draws such strength from not just what happens, but from John. What a guy is all I can say about John. I can't get all swoony over him, as I could be his mother! However he is all kinds of amazing.

I don't want to give anything away with this story, but I had a serious book hangover when I finished. I know we throw those words around a bit, but this one was just like the book.

Dark. Broody. Intense.

Buy it. Read it. Love it.

Take it from this old fart, you will not be disappointed.

*ready to go live on blog and Amazon on release dayNow, I am not usually one to read YA - old fart here - however I will pick up and read anything by Kylie Scott.

And wow! Just wow! This book is amazing. It had me hooked from the very first page, and I just needed to flick each page to find out what was going to happen.

Have you watched the book trailer? Check it out on youtube, you won't regret it.

Everything about this book had me on edge. From the events that start it all, to Edie and John dealing with the aftermath.


I adore Edie. Belittled her whole life, she draws such strength from not just what happens, but from John. What a guy is all I can say about John. I can't get all swoony over him, as I could be his mother! However he is all kinds of amazing.

I don't want to give anything away with this story, but I had a serious book hangover when I finished. I know we throw those words around a bit, but this one was just like the book.

Dark. Broody. Intense.

Buy it. Read it. Love it.

Take it from this old fart, you will not be disappointed.

Review Scheduled to go live on blog on July 17th @ Naomi’s Reading Palace - http://nomisparanormalpalace.blogspot.com.au

I've read a few of Scott's books now, and the way this book started... just wow! I wasn't expecting that much intensity and my heart ached for all the characters involved. I could see that it would bring Edie and John together in some way. Even after the incident, Edie continued to feel the effects and lost trust in someone she considered close.

I thought she had a lot of grunt, deciding to start over in a new school. She made a few friends quickly, and wasn't that timid girl she used to be. She stood up for herself and didn't hold back. She became close with John, as he started a new, clean path in life. Their connection strengthened a long the way, although they faced their own trust issues. They had a bond that no one could understand, and heir feelings often messed things up between them.

I liked that Edie had a little spunk, and kind of rebelled, doing things she wouldn't usually do after what she went through. She decided she wanted to do more in her life and to experience things that she'd put off for later, so John helped her with a few of these. And of course she wanted to explore her sexual side, so I could see that the lines were going to blur between them.

I liked the change in John, even though he tried to keep to himself. He changed his life and grew into a strong young man. He looked after Edie, whether she needed him or not.

Kylie Scott has a way of drawing readers into her worlds, creating unique characters that touch you in some way. The supporting characters were developed well too, and I am keen to see more of them. Trust was a read that will be on my mind for a long time, it was powerful, sweet, intense and beautiful.

Trust was phenomenal. I could not put this book down. Really. I started it on a Saturday night. I read about 20% of it and then forced myself to sleep. Then right upon waking the next morning, I was reading it. I read it all day. Every minute I had free, I read it. I finished it late afternoon. That's not easy folks, I have three children under the age of 7. So...

From the very first page, Trust had me completely intrigued. It was heart stopping and emotional. Even though things settled down a bit throughout the most of the book, I could not get enough of Edie and John. Their relationship. Their growth throughout the story. It was just amazing.

I didn't want the story to end, but I felt that their story came to a close and I also felt satisfied and fulfilled when I finished the story. I was thinking that Scott was just a great author I enjoyed reading. This was only my third book of hers I've read. But now, I'm positive that Scott is a favorite of my mine for life. I want to be her when I grow up (as an author someday. I'm already a grown-up). I'd love to listen to this on audio. I'd also like to mention how much I LOVED the trailer for this book. I never bother with trailers, but this one felt so personal and real and OMG. I might re-read Trust right now.

Trust, is the perfect example of how one decision, no matter how big or small, can impact the destination of a life.

Trust isn't your typical cookie cutter YA novel. I like how outside the box this novel is. Edie isn't the typical YA teen character.

All Edie wanted was to make a quick run into the Drop Stop and get her snacks for the Harry Potter marathon her and her best friend Georgia were watching. She didn't imagine that night would take a turn for the worse and she would find herself staring down the end of a loaded fun. She never imagined she would witness the brutality that one man would inflict. She never would have imagined her life would change in the blink of an eye and the bang of a gunshot.

Edie's new reality is sleepless nights and fear of the unknown.

I'm a sucker for trying new novels but when I heard Kylie Scott was writing a YA novel, I'm not going to lie, I was a little hesitant with the decision to review or not to review. Let's face it, When I think of Kylie Scott I think of Mal Erickson and all of his sexy rocker self. I decided to request a copy on Netgalley and see where that took me, because....Have you read the synopsis. This blurb literally made the decision for me. I'm glad I decided to take a chance like Kylie Scott did because I loved Trust.


Now for the reason I dropped a star. Even though I loved the hell out of Edie and Johns story and the traumatic life altering events they witnessed I found myself a little annoyed at times. Edie was an overweight teenager. This is one reason why I loved this novel and Edie's character, I loved how she isn't the typical hot as hell bone thin teenager that we read all the time in novels. Her strength in dealing with the skinny cliques made her the type of heroine that I love in my novels. But, and only in a few occasions, her inner monologues and the way she viewed herself, slightly, dimmed the heroism I was feeling towards her character.


Overall,

I really enjoyed Trust! I enjoyed the different take on the YA genre. I was intrigued from start to finish. I loved the underlying threat that Edie was always feeling. The fear that ran through her at the simplest things like a blown tire sounding like a gunshot. The emotions are true and straight to the heart.

For those that are like me and are hesitant about this novel. I'm glad I pulled my head out of....the sand....and read Trust!

I definitely recommend this novel!

Trust by Kylie Scott is such a powerful novel to read about.

This novel is definitely a deviation from what I'm used to reading by Kylie. But you know what? I am so happy that it is different, because this novel was amazing!!

Edie and John have each been through so much in such a short amount of time. It is because of this, that I found their emotion and connection so inspiring and real. The events that take place throughout this novel are horrible, and you would never want to experience them in real life. Despite this, the events very well could take place, and therefore, this novel shows just how tragic and how much of an impact others can make in your life.

This novel deserves to and should be read by as many people as possible! Go and pick it up for yourself today.

5/5 Stars!

Edie’s just your normal, everyday, shy, overweight teenager picking up snacks for a late-night movie marathon with her best friend, when a man with a gun takes her hostage at the gas station. In an instant, Edie’s life changes and everything takes a sharp left turn. Edie and John are the only ones left standing. In the publicity hype that follows, Edie walks away from her best friend and fights back against the girl who’s been bullying her for years. Shy, quiet Edie chucks her private school career to go to public school, where she hopes she’ll fit in better.

Of course, the hype follows her to her new school, but this time it’s because of her connection to John, school bad boy and now-former weed dealer. Edie makes new friends, but finds it hard to open up. With no one else who understands, Edie and John are drawn together and become friends, bonding over that fateful night. Soon Edie finds herself wanting more than friendship with John, but someone like him could never be interested in her.

I loved this book! Read it straight through in one sitting. Edie is a kick-butt heroine. Smart-mouthed and droll, she stands up for what she believes in, no matter what, and her wry observations frequently had me laughing. Her friendship with Han was fantastic, with none of the petty jealousies and insecurities I’ve come to expect in YA. John is beyond fantastic. The way his character grows in this story is enthralling, and seeing him evolve as he and Edie grew to trust each other showcased just how much people can change. Tons of witty banter, joking, and hijinks here, but there’s a serious side to this novel, too. I give this 5+ stars!

(Galley provided by author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)

A powerful and engrossing novel.

Kylie Scott’s Trust handles some tough questions with no clear answers. It’s a story that makes you think and consider your own life and choices, discovering things about yourself as the characters are discovering their own answers. I have a feeling this book will stay with me for quite some time.

Two worlds collide when high school student and good girl, Edie, finds herself in the middle of a robbery gone wrong. She’s saved by a boy who’s caught in the middle of his old life. Soon, they’re thrust into the same school, and as Edie wants to go a little bad, John’s trying to straighten up his world.

Edie goes to an all-girl private school, makes good grades, and is bullied day in and day out for her weight. A quick trip to a convenient store goes horribly wrong and everything that defined her life pre-robbery is changing. Edie is changing.

Gosh, there was something so charming, so real, about Edie. She has a very dry humor and is so darn witty. This quality really blew me away, especially post-robbery. She has this ability to laugh at herself, yet she doesn’t take anyone else’s BS. She’s not used to drawing attention, let alone being around someone like John.

John is the big-shot at his high school and is caught up in dealing drugs. After the robbery, he’s reconsidering his life, and Edie—bold and brave Edie—confuses him all the more. They begin this tentative friendship, connected by this absolutely horrible, life-defining event.

So, what happens when life gets f*cked up? They have to live with this new reality, and each are figuring out if and how they can move on, if they’re coping or living, and what really matters.
All of these intriguing questions sweep the readers into this tragedy, and everything is bundled up in friendship and love, life and loss.

Trust latched on and clutched right at my heartstrings. I bled and laughed with these characters, and putting it all together makes this book a must read.

4.5 stars!

I requested this book from Net Galley to read and review. I love YA books! There's something so refreshing about teenagers' drama and angst.  Edie was at a convenience store buying snacks for a movie marathon with her best friend. When she's leaving the store, a meth-head gone crazy blows into the store, pushing her and causing her to fall. Then he proceeds to rob the cashier and kill him. She's paralyzed by the violence and thinks she's facing her last moments. John Cole was in the store with another young guy.  They bring beers and start a chat with the meth head, to try to defuse the situation.  Turns out John's brother is also a drug addict and knows the robber, named Chris.  They chat, and the place gets surround by police.  Eventually Chris gets hysterical, wants out, and is about to start a killing spree, when John and Isaac rush Chris and a melee ensues.  John is shot in the arm, Isaac ends killed and Edie with contusions and cuts.

After the event, when Edie is released from the hospital, her stance on life changes, her priorities shifted. Now school is not as important as before, and being accepted is not necessary. She faces and punches her school cheerleader bully and demands from her mother to get transferred from her private school to the public school.  Once in the pubic school, she starts to relax.  She still suffers from nightmares, anxiety attacks, has trouble trusting people, and doesn't care if people criticize her for being overweight.

In English class, she gets a huge surprise, John Cole takes this class with her, but other than widening his eyes, he ignores her.  This intensifies her feelings of anxiety until he visits her, at night, at her bedroom window.  And here is when the book got intense and interesting and riveting.  These two teenagers turned into each other's support person, school coach, life coach, shrink.  John's reaction from the incident was to turn over a new leaf; he had been dealing pot among students and drifting through school, now he was paying attention and staying away from the stuff.  Still, his rep stayed dubious and he was having problems changing people's mindset.  Edie stayed true to her friend and her new girlfriends from school.  I loved Hang, Edie's new bestie, and Anders, John's bestie.  They were cute and funny and the dialogues between all four were hilarious, witty and sensitive.

Edie sense of mistrust came from her best friend from childhood, Georgia.  After the incident, she took the opportunity to get publicity for her rising career as actress, accepting payment for interviews and discussing Edie's private business, slandering John, whom Edie defended as her hero and saving her life.  Edie broke the friendship with Georgia, yet the sting remains.  Also, Edie was very overweight and she didn't think that John, who was very yummy hot, could ever be interested in her other than as friends.  This leads to the typical teenager misinformation, miscommunication, time outs, and make ups that are to necessary to teenage angst.  I had a great time watching these kids solder on so valiantly through a traumatic post event and come through better persons.  Edie's mother probably aged years and got a lot of grey hairs, but she got a very mature and balance daughter out of all the process.  Edie learned to see herself as the hot girl who John loved and John found acceptance and trust in Edie and her family and friends. As stated before, the pace of the book was superb and the dialogues brilliant.  Great read!

Oh my gosh, this book! Kylie Scott's foray into the YA genre is so exciting and something I didn't know I wanted. I'm an ardent fan of hers and in Trust, she doesn't shy away from some serious themes, tackling them with her usual humour and straight-forwardness.

Edie's life abruptly changes one night when she's held hostage at a gas station. All the girl wanted was some junk food and now some crazy, drugged out psycho with a gun in his hand has her on the floor scared for her life. There are other hostages there, too and one of them apparently knows said druggie. He tries to keep him calm and reason with him. Caught up in the fright and confusion, she doesn't understand what's playing out in front of her until she finally snaps out of it to realize that this stranger is trying to save her. They eventually do get out of it though not unscathed. People died, she almost lost her life and suddenly things that mattered before, don't. This horrifying incident hit a reset button in Edie's mind. She no longer cares to quietly stand by while some bully wants to get at her for her weight or to even receive disparaging comments about her surviving her ordeal. She's speaking her mind now and if she has to, throw in a little muscle. Edie convinces her mother that a new start at a new school is better for her than remaining where she's at now.

Flying under the radar at her new school is impossible once the other students pick up on who she is. It's made even weirder when it turns out that her saviour from that night, John Cole who goes to that same school and who's usually on the fringes, will only talk to her. John has a reputation as a troubled kid and a dealer but after what he went through that night, he's made up his mind to get out of that game and focus on school. Edie is drawn to him because not only does she owe him his life, he's the only one who understands what she's feeling. Their unlikely pairing is a source of comfort for both of them but it's not without its difficulties. John doesn't want to taint her reputation just by association and Edie doesn't want to admit that she experiences anxiety attacks from that night.

I don't know what I was expecting from Scott but it wasn't this. She tapped into a young girl's insecurities about her weight and her standing in the school hierarchy without allowing her character to be completely self-loathing. She subtly explores Edie's anxiety and even though she has moments almost paralysing fear, she also gives Edie the guts to get out and live her life. Edie's reaction to her ordeal feels legitimate. She pushes boundaries - understandable since one, she's a teenager and two, she's a bit of a mess. John is surprisingly calming, earnest and gentle. Everyone else is so willing to write him off. Not Edie though which had me appreciating how Scott made him more than what everyone sees on the surface. Though I enjoyed the simmering attraction between them I was mesmerized by their friendship more than anything. It was exactly what both of them needed that they couldn't find anywhere else: to be seen past their appearances, to be heard beyond all the gossip.

Reading Trust is kind of like driving with your foot on the brake pedal: you want to get to your destination but you're having too much fun enjoying the view. If I could have found a way to prolong the experience I would have. When I did finish it, I had a ridiculous smile plastered to my face and a hell of a book hangover from all the feels to accompany it. I fell hard for this story, even harder for the characters. From the swoon-worthy cover to the sweet, intense private moments, there was nothing in it that I wanted to change.

~ Bel

With all the confusion and uncertainties that comes with high school, Trust takes us on a journey of two people who survived a traumatic event with all the emotional scrapes and bruises such survival would leave behind.

I really enjoyed this book. The initial drama during the opening scene was written so well, I could feel Edie’s heart pounding, hear her struggling to breathe, and smell the fear in the air. I wanted nothing more than to get out of there.

I loved how these two characters came together in a rather organic manner first as friends, to lovers, to more. Despite being YA, the angst level was not extreme. There were some great secondary characters, plenty of fresh humor that never overrode the storyline, and even some steamy moments that felt true to a young girl’s first time.

This is my first Kylie Scott novel and I’m kicking myself because I know I have some of her previous work already downloaded on my Kindle. I assure you, I will be pulling them from the TBR pile.

ARC provided through NetGalley

Heroine POV
Some OW drama (view spoiler)
Possible Triggers (view spoiler)