***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***

Trust by Kylie Scott
Publication Date: July 18, 2017
Rating: 4 stars
Source: eARC from NetGalley

Summary (from Goodreads):

Being young is all about the experiences: the first time you skip school, the first time you fall in love…the first time someone holds a gun to your head.

After being held hostage during a robbery at the local convenience store, seventeen-year-old Edie finds her attitude about life shattered. Unwilling to put up with the snobbery and bullying at her private school, she enrolls at the local public high school, crossing paths with John. The boy who risked his life to save hers.

While Edie’s beginning to run wild, however, John’s just starting to settle down. After years of partying and dealing drugs with his older brother, he’s going straight—getting to class on time, and thinking about the future.

An unlikely bond grows between the two as John keeps Edie out of trouble and helps her broaden her horizons. But when he helps her out with another first—losing her virginity—their friendship gets complicated.

Meanwhile, Edie and John are pulled back into the dangerous world they narrowly escaped. They were lucky to survive the first time, but this time they have more to lose—each other.

What I liked:

This is the first Kylie Scott book I've read, despite wanting to read one of her books for a long time. She has a lot of interesting-looking adult romance books published, and several are on my TBR. This book, Trust, is a Young Adult contemporary romance novel. Usually I don't go after YA contemporary, but this one came recommended by Nick @ Nick & Nereyda's Infinite Booklist. I really enjoyed the book!

The story starts with the terrifying scene of Edie being held hostage at gunpoint in a convenience store by a man who was on drugs and definitely off his rocker. She is saved by a young man named John, who was also at the store. As it would turn out, John is a senior at the high school to which Edie has transferred. Edie and John form a strange but strong bond, trusting each other with their experiences and feelings, becoming friends over the terrible event. John is not someone Edie would take home to her home - he used to sell weed, he used to sleep through his classes, he still has a bad-boy reputation. But John becomes an important part of Edie's life, and she needs him as her friend. But things get complicated when Edie decides she wants to punch in her V card, and John offers to help her with this first. This story is about two teens going through a life-changing event, coming back from the trauma, and discovering life after it.

This book had a Katie McGarry vibe to it and I love that. If you've not read any of McGarry's books (Pushing the Limits, Dare You To, etc., I highly recommend you do so). Or Kami Garcia's The Lovely Reckless. This book is right up there with those amazing YA contemporary romance novels.

Edie is one of the most interesting and unique YA heroines I've coming across. She is full of spunk and confidence, though she has her insecurities and vulnerabilities. She is somewhat fat and she is just fine with her size, but she gets bullied a lot for her weight. People say things to her, pick on her, judge her, and it hurts her. But she is such a strong and confident girl and she stands up for herself. Edie has a toughness and a likable nature that made it hard not to adore her.

John has the cool, calm, and collected thing going on. He is a quiet brooder, a guy of few words, a smart student who just needs a chance. He used to deal marijuana, and he has a player's reputation among the ladies, and the teachers in school don't give him a chance. But he cleans up his act after the robbery incident, and he starts to do better. John has a bad-boy vibe that I loved, but he is also so much more. I like that he is has that tall, dark, and handsome persona, but he also has insecurities and weaknesses. He isn't a perfect guy and that makes him more likable. I love how protective he is, how he would do anything to help and protect Edie and make her happy. He is a closet sweetie!

I'm going to be honest - I love the good-girl/bad-boy romance trope. I am sucker for the trope - it's probably second only to hate-to-love romances. Edie used to go to a private all-girls school and she got excellent grades. Now she goes to the public school. John has that bad-boy vibe, and he really is a little "bad" (dealing marijuana when you're underage is illegal, no matter which state you're in). It's opposites attracting, and in this case, a good, sweet girl and a bad, brooding boy.

The romance is sweet and subtle and swoony! Edie develops a crush on John fairly quickly after meeting him in the high school (after the robbery incident), but she wants to be friends with him because she needs the friendship (it is good for her). When they have sex (for Edie to lose her virginity - John offered because he wanted her first time to be with someone she liked and trusted, not with a random guy from school), things change. The romance was fun and sweet and tender, and the chemistry (especially once lose-my-virginity thing comes up) gets pretty hot. These two are a great couple, in terms of chemistry and emotional bond. They have a strong friendship but they also have a good physical connection.

This story is so much more than a romance, though the romance is very important. I love that it deals with certain tough issues, like Edie dealing with the bullies, body positivity, second chances, drugs, family, trust, good friendships. Edie has several great girl friends, and John has a really great guy friend, and all of these friendships are strong and healthy.

I didn't expect to pick up this book because I'd barely even heard of it, but I'm glad I decided to take a chance on it. The story was so wonderful and uplifting, even in the slightly dark moments. I love how there was so little drama in the romance (and the story in general), and how communication was done well (i.e. there was no miscommunication drama). This was a wonderful YA contemporary romance story, one I may come back to in the future!

What I Did Not Like:

I can't think of anything specific! I liked this book a lot and I'm going back and forth between 4 stars and 5 stars.

Would I Recommend It:

I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes YA contemporary romance, or tough-issue YA contemporary. I don't typically enjoy YA contemporary but when there is a strong, swoony romance, I'm in. This book was very well-written, very engrossing, and so worth the read. It was funny, it was sad, it was heart-warming, it was swoony.

Also, like I said, this is Young Adult! Not New Adult or Adult. The sex scenes aren't super explicit (but they exist). So readers of many ages can try this one, no need to worry about well-detailed sex scenes or anything like that. (I love adult romance, so I'm not knocking well-detailed sex scenes!)

Rating:

4.5 stars. I'm rounding down to 4 stars as per my usual policy but I may change my rating and round up in the future - perhaps if/after I reread the book. I will definitely be rereading it! This is a YA contemporary romance novel that you do not want to miss, especially if you're a fan of Katie McGarry or Kami Garcia, or even Huntley Fitzpatrick.

Trust is a standalone contemporary young adult romance with two beautiful broken people who find strength beyond the tragedy of life's circumstances.

Edie is a teenager stocking up goodies at the local convenience store for a fun filled night with her best friend when in just a single moment, her life is changed forever. The store is overtaken by a robber and tragedy strikes. Throughout the chaos of the moment, Edie is saved by a troubled team named John. When the sounds of sirens and the blood are cleared away, Edie and John are left broken.

John has a reputation for dealing drugs and raising hell in his school. When Edie transfers from her posh private school to the local high school, she runs into her savior John. Even though the horrors of the robbery have passed, John feels the need to protect her again. This time protection means keeping her far away from him. And yet, despite his best efforts, John and Edie can't seem to stay away from each other. After surviving such a horrific event, they are drawn to each other. Edie struggles with a low self-esteem and abandonment issues, and now she has post traumatic stress disorder. John is trying desperately to break away from his tainted past and start again. As they find peace in together, friendship blossoms and eventually transforms into something so much more.

Told in Edie's POV, Trust is a beautiful young romance with action and light steam. I found the relationship between Edie and John to be raw and full of inspiration. The evolution of their romance is slowly explored as both are learning and growing together. The secondary characters enhance the plot as they offer support to John and Edie. The stakes are high for both of them to overcome their past, their differences, and find happiness together.

Overall, Trust is an absolute must read for YA Romance fans. I have long been a fan of Ms. Scott's work, and John and Edie are quite a beautiful pair. If you are looking for a beautiful friends to lovers romance who overcome tragedy together, then this is the summer read for you!

This was a book that pulled me in and had me re-reading parts to make sure I read that right. Kylie Scott wrote a book that kept me on the edge of my seat and held me hostage until I finished.

These two characters couldn't have more different to the outside world. They had strong bond no one could understand. After experiencing what they did they find comfort in each other.

Edie learns quickly who her true friends are. It's hard to have a so called normal life when any loins sound can take you back to that one tragic night.

John has to decided to get on more of the straight and narrow path. He is changing his ways and trying to better himself.

The relationship between John and Edie is perfect. It's exactly what the two of them need at the time. This book will gut you and then heal you. I can't imagine what they went through. If your looking for a book that is full of twist and turns and some romance this is for you.

I'm not a huge YA reader - NA yes but these characters were 17/18 so I figure they could qualify as NA.

Edie is living her young life as normal. She and her friend are at a Harry Potter movie-thon and need some snacks. Edie runs into the convenience store and there her life changes. She ends up being part of an armed holdup and having a gun pointed at her more than once. This is also where she meets John who saved her life. As I was reading this event, I could feel my anxiety rising because I was in the story watching this armed robbery.

This crime changes Edie drastically. She is suddenly acting out, quick to lose her temper and just wanting to not be "the girl who had a gun pointed at her". Thankfully, her savior John, forms a friendship with Edie and is just what she needs to get through the nightmares. And John needs her because he's leaving his life of being the high school dealer and needs a friend.

I loved this story so much! Ever since I was introduced to Kylie Scott's writing, I haven't read a book of hers that I haven't loved. Plus this one was set near my hometown, so that added an extra love.

Ahhhh… Young love is literally my favorite thing to read about. THIS is why I LOVE the young adult genre. Not only that, but MATURE young adult. Teen angst is literally my guilty pleasure and I have zero shame. Needless to say, TRUST is no doubt my type of book. It’s got drama, angst, emotion, and some steam. I easily devoured it in one sitting!

These characters and their struggles felt so real. I loved John as the hero. He was a bad boy but wanted to change and be better. He wanted to be the good guy. Edie was the kind of heroine a lot of us girls can relate to. These two were so different yet so perfect for each other. I loved how they formed a friendship and then slowly started feeling more toward each other.

TRUST is a well-written, edgy young adult romance that is easy to lose yourself in. I would LOVE for Kylie Scott to write more in this genre!

"The most common form of despair is not being who you are" - Soren Kierkgaard

Trust is a Young Adult novel written in a single POV by Kylie Scott. From the moment I heard about Trust and read the blurb I was instantly intrigued as to what direction Kylie would take this story in. I love Kylie's style of writing and the strong heroines she creates. She gets today's woman and the struggles they have and incorporates that into every character.

"I slid a bookmark in to flag where I’d been up to, because only an ignorant, soulless monster doomed to burn in hell for all eternity would dog-ear a page."

Everyone has that one defining moment in their life that changes there perspective on everything. Trust is based on Edie and John's defining moment. It begins with Edie heading out with her best friend Georgia to buy some junk food for a movie marathon from the Drop Stop. While there Edie encounters John for the first time who ultimately saves her life.

While I'm a huge lover of the Young Adult genre and also absolutely love Kylie's writing and her heroine's I really struggled to connect with Edie in Trust and I can't pinpoint the exact reason why. I found Edie to be quite cynical and bitter which was understandable considering the situation she found herself in the first quarter of trust.

I loved the beginning, it captured my attention instantly and I was desperate to see how the relationship between Edie and John would develop. When it comes to YA I usually expect a certain amount of angst and I think that was missing between Edie and John. I also think I would have loved to read some of Trust through John's POV. There were certain moments that I really wanted to understand what John was thinking and why he was saying and acting the way he was.

Perhaps I've been spoiled by dual POV becoming the norm in Romance!

“Why is there one set of rules for you and another for me?” “Because I never knew a girl I wanted to look after before.” That shut me up."

Trust was a solid 3.5 Star read for me, It had Kylie's sarcastic style in spades that I love and her writing style that is all her own!

Trust is a standalone novel, somewhere on the cusp of young adult and new adult (Edie and all her friends are in high school, but the language and sex scenes are pretty graphic). It starts with a robbery gone bad that leaves Edie both traumatized and full of rage. It becomes the story of friendships, of two damaged people getting close, of realizing life could be short so you shouldn't live in fear.

Edie is pretty great. She's fierce, she doesn't take anyone's crap. She's a good friend, and she stays away from slut-shaming or mean-girling. She's also fat, and while she sometimes feels anxiety about her body, her trying to lose weight is not a focus of this story. The story is about her growth as a human and becoming well after everything she went through.

The novel starts out in a very dark place, and Edie and John struggle a lot. Despite that, their romance is a very sweet thing, and I loved watching their relationship bloom.

With all of its positives, I've still struggled to figure out what to rate this book. Beyond the suspenseful opening, I found the beginning of the novel kind of slow, and the end is almost too dramatic. I also wish that Edie's we-only-live-once-so-let's-do-exciting-things had been a little better integrated into the story, a little more exciting.       

 Despite its issues at the beginning (and the end), I blazed through Trust. When I had to put it down, I couldn't wait to get back to it to see how all turned out. It's angsty, hopeful, sweet, and also pretty hot.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Erica – ☆☆☆☆☆
Commentary on the cover (placed at the start of the review for a reason): While it's an awesome cover (it caught my interests), it's more befitting an older book in a different genre. I fear it will have readers one-clicking, then feeling as if it's not-as-advertised, as it looks like a musician/tattoo/biker/badass type read in the New Adult or Adult genres. I realize this cover represents John (not our narrator), but it gives off a sex-laden appeal, not representative of the content. Our narrator is a 17-year-old girl, and it takes place in a high school, with the usual content represented in a young adult novel. As example, no first kisses being had before the 58% mark, with a handful after. Not that that is a bad thing, just that the cover gives off a different vibe.

Kylie Scott is a new-to-me author. From word one, I was hooked. I couldn't put it down – I was being bombarded with chatter around me, a loud TV, and two dogs barking at each other, and I continued to read without any of those distractions pulling me from the story. I took a break around the 50% mark to go check out what else the author had penned and to go tell my fellow reviewers how great the book was. Then I finished the book in the privacy of my own bedroom, refusing to be interrupted.

Layers upon layers of emotion, this novel had one of the best developed characterizations I've come across. Edie is our 17-year-old narrator – a chubby teenage girl who loves to wear the color black, read books, and binge-watch TV. Edie represents a large population of girls who are always designated as the sidekick. Non-athletic, not a joiner, being chubby, going to an all-girls private school, she's bullied. Not meek, she keeps her mouth shut in order not to feed the bullies.

Yes, her insecurities infect a portion of her thought process, not in a redundant way. But, for anyone who has ever been overweight/other insecurities, you know it's at the forefront of your mind at all times, so this was also a realistic portrayal of a larger girl. In high school, you can be a bit chubby, and everyone treats you like you're morbidly obese, because most of the kids haven't filled out into their adult shapes yet, still small like children while you're shaped like a grown woman. In the real world, we all wish we were that size again, the size we were bullied over – laughing. Edie represents us big girls, and the author did an excellent job with the mindset.

Edie's grabbing some Oreos and Doritos from a convenience store, with her BFF in the car in her jammies, refueling for another binge-watch session, and life changes at an instant. Without going into detail, I will say the following events were beyond realistic, transporting me into the book with Edie and her fellow captives.

In the aftermath, Kylie Scott creates a gut-wrenching read filled with realistic human emotions. Instead of ignoring how the event would change who the characters are at their very cores, using it as a vehicle to drive straight into romance, it's fully fleshed out realism that isn't romanticized.

It's hammered home how Edie and John's lives will never be the same – this will forever be riding shotgun with them through life. Survivor’s guilt. Panic attacks. Nightmares. Wondering if there was something they should have done differently. Woulda/shoulda/coulda of the wrong place at the right time. The blame game.

Edie changes, sees everything through a different lens, and this filtered into every aspect of her life. Instead of focusing on the romance, the author spotlights her characters' evolution, which draws the two survivors together.

Nothing forced. Nothing instantaneous. Edie and John grow together, their personalities complementing one another in the perfect balance. A slow-burn romance, where true friendship is built and felt by the reader, with the angsty feel of a teenager's first venture into love.

I highly recommend to more mature young adults and older readers too. While it does have sexual situations and romance, they are not the focus of the novel itself – while on the page, it's quick and to the point. However, if you're a fan of the author's other works, expecting an angst-filled New Adult read, with sex and tension and lust and hot bad guys, don't judge a book by its cover. This truly is a young adult read, with young adult issues/mentality/maturity, set in a high school, with curfews and meddlesome mothers. It's a raw, dark, and gritty read, realistic, but not in the way the cover suggests.

Young Adult age-range: parental discretion advised – mature young adults+, due to realistic violent situations, drug-use, and age-appropriate sexual situations. I could have handled this book at age 12-14, but another peer may have had to wait until 16+. With the novel's content, it's dependent on the emotional maturity of the reader.


Shannan – ☆☆☆☆☆
I was sucked in from the first chapter and couldn't put it down until I finished. I am not a huge Young Adult reader but I love throwing one in every once and a while, especially after a heavier, darker read. I thought Trust would be a perfect light read. I was so invested and had such a hangover. It may not have been the light choice I was hoping for, but it blew anything else out of the water. Edie was different and made for such an interesting character.

Trust is heart-pounding suspense. I loved every aspect of this read. Ms. Scott is such a word wizard that she can come out swinging in any genre she chooses and knock it out of the park.


Jordan – ☆☆☆☆
Trust was my first introduction to the author Kylie Scott and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised how much I ended up liking this book. As a reader in my twenties who enjoys reading Young Adult books, it can sometimes be a challenge to find book that won't just make me feel like I'm too old to be reading it, but Trust can easily be enjoyed by young and old readers. Edie, the main character, was refreshing and easy to relate to. I loved seeing all the ways she grew over the course of the story. I think older YA readers will have no trouble getting sucked into Trust, but younger readers should be prepared for some mature themes, such as alcohol/drugs and violence. Although the main character, Edie, is a 17-year-old high school student, I felt like this book seemed to border a little between a YA read and drifting a bit into the New Adult genre. Nevertheless, I enjoyed reading Trust and I will be looking to see what other gems Kylie Scott has hidden away!

4 STARS for Trust


Veronica – ☆☆☆☆☆
Edie gets caught up in a violent convenience store robbery while doing a midnight snack run. John, a high school student and local drug dealer, is also in the store at the time of the robbery and tries to talk the robber down.

Following the incident, Edie changes schools and discovers John sitting in the seat behind her in class. A friendship develops between John and Edie and we see that while the near-death experience has scared John straight, it has done the opposite to Edie. She realises that life can end in an instant and things that once seemed scary or important, are less so now.

Trust is told entirely from Edie's point of view, but it is John's story as much as it is hers. Their shared experience leads to friendship as they help each other get through life after the trauma.

Trust is a gripping story. At no time did my mind wander or did I get distracted. The story had my complete attention, so much so that walking home from work I pulled out my e-reader while waiting for traffic lights to change, just so I could read an extra paragraph or two. I didn't want to put this book down, and would recommend it to older teens and adults. Trust is brilliant and gets 5 stars from me.

Age recommendation: 16+


Kris – ☆☆☆☆☆
I've been a Kylie Scott fan for a bit now after devouring her Stage Dive series and was happy to have a new book from her that wasn't part of another series. But, I was sure not expecting Trust to be so darn amazing and yet remain young adult. I was blown away!!!

Starting at the Drop Stop convenience store for some pre-movie binge snacks, 17-year-old Edie finds herself in the middle of a hold up and hostage situation by a crazed meth head. After the clerk was shot and killed, only Edie, John, and his friend are left to fight for their lives from drug crazed Chris, the robber. John and Chris sort of know each other from certain drug circles and John tries to talk Chris down and help Edie and Malcom get out alive. All hell breaks loose right from the first few chapters and I was sucked into the story so hard I think I might have hickeys. This was an amazing emotional journey dealing with life changing events in a young adult's early maturity.

After being bullied and overweight in her old private girls’ school, Edie refuses to be this person any longer. Changing schools and trying to put the attack that ended two young lives but spared hers behind her, Edie is on the cusp of realizing what's real and what's really important. Having a gun shoved in your mouth will do that to a girl. Forging a bond with John, the boy who saved her life that fateful night, is the only thing that's keeping Edie sorta sane. They are the only people who know how it felt to be there and go through that experience.

John has a tainted past, he was a low-key pot dealer and not the best student in school. Just drifting through life. But after the attack at the store, he's decided his life is worth way more than he's been giving it. Trying to change and become worthy of the life he was spared, John finds himself facing bad press and old grudges that die hard by teachers and parents. Trying to prove himself to them and stay out of trouble is harder than it seems. Edie is the only solace in his new life, someone he can talk with about what happened and how it's left him unable to sleep.

Edie and John were one of the best romances I've read in a while and we're still talking young adult here! John is experienced, Edie is not. John is gorgeous and Edie is just another chunky girl in the mix of so many others. But she and John have a bond that no one can break. The relationship has the classic stalls and starts, miscues, and missed opportunities, but it's done so perfectly (along with several sneaky parallel plot issues happening in the book Edie happens to be reading!!) I was groaning in agony, shaking my head in sympathy, but all with my nose pressed to my Kindle.

One of the best slow-burn relationships I've read in a while. Lots of spark for Young Adult, but not too much detail on the steamy scenes. I'd still say a more mature YA audience recommended due to the violence and a little due to the sexual contact.

There is amazing poignant emotion being played out by these two characters. I FELT for them! I cheered for Edie finding her spine against the mean girls at school, I was angered by the teacher's dismissal of John's hard work, I empathized with Edie's poor mom trying to keep it together after what her child went through. These young adults lived through a horrific, life changing event and came out alive, they are forever changed and this is the story of how they live through it. This book pulled it all out of me and left me longing for more. Hats off to Kylie Scott here, this book is a 10!

WOW! This one was a surprise for me! I’ve read almost all of Kylie’s books and have loved them all. She has a style all her own and it really works. But with Trust she veered away from her tried and true formula and took a risk into mature YA and it was a complete success for me.
Trust gave me an intense book hangover, I simply could not put it down. rust is a friends to lovers romance about to troubled teens whose shared tragic encounter took them from strangers to friends. Edie and John are so different and while John started the book on the wrong side of the law and Edie is a good girl, but after they both have this horrible event happen to them they basically switch. Edie walks the line of making good/bad choices and John works on turning his life around.
This story was hard in the best ways possible. I was never quite sure how it would all work out. These tow were not instantly in love, it was a struggle to move past their co-dependent odd friendship to something more. They didn’t always make the easy or right choices but something about the story and no matter how hard it got that each hardship seemed needed and only made their eventual pairing all that more rewarding.
I’m not sure what I was expecting with Trust but I can tell you that she blew my expectations out of the water. I went through the gamut of emotions and I personally hopes she takes another risk like this again.
~miranda

Trust by Kylie Scott is a coming-of-age novel of two teens connected by an irrevocable night that changes both their lives in different ways. Filled with emotion and drama, Ms. Scott's debut YA novel touches upon the subject of family, friendship, bullying, death, survivor's guilt, and evaluates what's really important in life.

Seventeen-year-old Edie Millen finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time when she goes to the convenience store in the middle of the night. Held at gunpoint during a robbery as a hostage with two other teens, Edie is saved by the heroic efforts of the two teens who were held hostage with her, one of whom is John Cole.

Unable to go back to her old life, with the snobbery and bullying at her private school, she decides it's time for a change. Life is not infinite and soon Edie finds it hard to motivate herself to pursuing good grades, or attending class. Going to the local public school, Edie makes new friends with a kind and supportive girl named Hang, talkative and goofy Anders, and most of all she makes friends with John.

Like Edie, John Cole's life will be forever changed after the night he saves her life, but instead of running wild and getting in trouble like Edie ends up doing, he changes his ways from being the bad boy with the bad reputation to being on the straight and narrow. After years on the wrong side, dealing drugs with his older brother Dillon, he's now thinking about his future and wanting to do good. When he and Edie are reunited, an unlikely bond grows as they share in their experience of surviving that one night, as well as, what they're feeling and dealing with afterwards.

What I enjoyed about Trust is how relatable and endearing Ms. Scott's characters are. Edie and John are supportive of each other and as their relationship grows from friendship to more, I found it believable and filled with emotion. My favorite character in the story was John. He was a strong character and wanted a future: away from his brother, and from his past. I loved how he was with Edie and helped bring her out of her shell.

Overall, Trust by Kylie Scott is a well-written novel that will have you wanting to see what is going to happen next. I very much recommend.

(I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book I received for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my open and honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.)

Before I even start my review Amazon made a mistake and has this book listed under children's book in sales ranks, in what universe would this book be a children's book?

With that being said no way is this a YA book either. I read YA books, I have a teenage daughter in high school who reads YA. In middle school they were expected to read YA books, no way in this lifetime would she ever be allowed to read this book. The cover alone makes it appear to be an adult contemporary story. This is more of a coming of age story. So from the start, I was disappointed, especially after seeing the book trailer all over social media. I was so excited! Perhaps that was the problem, I was too excited! The trailer was brilliant but this review is for the book which unfortunately, fell flat to me.

I wanted to love this book, I love this author's work, I really do! John was a likable enough guy, even as a drug dealer and Edie, loved her. The friends, Hang and Anders, loved them. The other friends, Carrie and Sophie while I think the author was going for edgy with them being a lesbian couple, I don't think it added anything to the story other than wanting to add a shock value. They were lovely, protective friends, especially after the betrayal she endured with Georgia. This also brings me to another point in this story I found unbelievable She's only been in school a couple of weeks and already she made three best friends as a Senior in high school.

I live in California, my daughter is a high schooler in California, I kept asking her would seniors do this and she would look at me uh no, not in the least. Perhaps, we're one of the lucky middle class schools that don't have a predominant bullying problem in our city of 147,000 people. I found it very hard to believe that she endured such bullying in both schools. Yes, bullying happens but this book made it seem so unbelievable. There were so many other inconsistencies with life in California and I get authors are free to creative liberties but it just felt she forced me, as a reader to believe all this. I honestly didn't start getting into the book until 57%. I just could not get into it at all. Again, I loved the trailer and watched it many times on social media, maybe I expected too much.

All that being said, I want to end on a positive note so I will say the writing in general was very good and characters were all very likable. I might even read a Hang/Anders story because I have a feeling that's coming next.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2054839128?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

THIS BOOK MADE MY HEART SO HAPPY I CRIED!!!!!!

Edie was a normal girl until the day she was held hostage by a psychopathic drug addict. That one incident changed her entire view of life. Unable to stand the fake snobbish kids at her school she transfers to a local public school where she meets John, the boy who saved her life.

In him, she finds a kindred spirit because he is the only one who recognizes the turmoil going on inside her. John might not be the best guy to hang out with, But Edie can't stop the pull he has on her. Of course she knows about his philanderer ways but the heart wants what it wants.

EDIE IS MY HERO!!! I can't even with her because God I love her so much. *ugly sobs* She is such a pillar of strength and determination, if I had 10% of what she does I'd have done great things by now. She is hilarious, real and such a pure soul. I felt connected to her on a cellular level. Did I say I love her more than life? Can she be real and become my best friend?

John, my boo thang!!! I just love and adore him with all my heart. I love that he is trying his best to do right but still the raw and passionate essence of his remains. GOD if he went to my school, I'd have been all over that and then some. I want to hug that guy and then permanently attach myself to him. Totally normal!

Kylie Scott can write ANYTHING and I'll read it without giving it two thoughts. Her stories never cease to surprise me and always leave me in utter awe. I am just going to sit in my corner and think about this book for a long time. And then read it all over again.

5 Perfect YA CROWNS

YA books are a hard sell for me. I don't generally read them, but when Kylie Scott writes a YA book you read it, and Trust doesn't disappoint.

I absolutely love these characters. John's character is a tad more rebellious and damaged than Edie, but his evolution as a character is great. His decision to make changes, to be better for himself is wonderful because he drives this decision. Edie is everything I hope for my daughter to be. Yes, she has insecurities about her body, but who doesn't. She is so much more than that. She is incredibly brave and confident in all other aspects of who she is. She looks for solid and real relationships, and surrounds herself with good people. I love that she has her own personality and embraces what she enjoys. She is truly a heroine who could teach teenage girls how to focus on things that matter in life, and they need that.

This story will ensnare readers from the opening pages. Kylie Scott tosses us right into the action, and while we see the fall out from the event, most of the story focuses on these two making changes and finding solace in each other. What will keep readers enticed is the relationship between John and Edie. It isn't the steaminess of a romance, because it is YA, but there is a real connection that is established between these two. By the end of the book, Ms. Scott brings the story full circle, and this event really serves to showcase the full evolution of the characters.

As a mom, this is a story I would want my daughters to read for many reasons. There are topics of relationships, friendships, moving on from the past, changing for the better. Yes, there is alcohol and drugs, but this is a part of high school. It isn't abused, and the author accurately represents how it plays into the life of not all but a lot of teens. As a teacher, I think this novel also has a lot to offer to class discussions: bullying, drugs, friendships, etc.

Trust is simply phenomenal. It integrates important YA topics with romance that will draw readers to pick it up. There is value to these characters and their story, making it much more than pure entertainment.

ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

Sometimes our lives veer off course and head into directions we never thought they would. After Edie and John's life forever changed the night they met at a convenience store robbery. Edie starts to run wild to experience all that life has to offer, while John realize he is on a path to nowhere and wants to change for the better. Two polar opposite people who are learning how to trust one another as they bond together to become a couple. All this while dealing with their senior year of high school and life as a teen.

Scott took a chance on writing this Young Adult novel that delves into the minds of survivors and teens and she does it with style and grace.

5 Stars!!

I've got so many thoughts going through my head after finishing this book, to sum up all of the thoughts I pretty much just want to say WOW!
Now I love Kylie's Stage Dive & Dive Bar books, but I've got to say, even with this being a YA book it is her best work by far!!
You get sucked right into this book from the very first page. This is a coming of age book that is so carefully thought out, you fall in love with both characters throughout their journey of self discovery after going through a traumatic life changing event.
The book is told from Edie's POV, but I would have loved to see some of John's POV in some parts of the book.
Edie and John both meet at the most horrifying life changing event a teen could possibly go through. Edie was your typical good girl but that soon changes after that fateful night. Edie begins to look at life a little different and try's to live more than shying away from everything. Whereas John, he was the school trouble maker and local weed dealer, who decides to turn his life around and focus on his future.
Having gone through this traumatic event together, they have a bond nobody seems to understand, a bond that starts with friendship and a great amount of "Trust", that soon turns into more and a beautiful coming of age love story unfolds.
I for one cannot wait for more YA stories from Kylie Scott and I would love if some of the secondary characters in Trust got a book of their own.

4,5/5 STARS

TRUST was like a “first” for me, since I never read a YA story from Kylie Scott. I don’t usually do YA, but I sometimes make some exceptions, with authors I love.

And Kylie Scott didn’t disappoint!

TRUST is a beautiful story, realistic, about two teenagers, almost adult, which life will never be the same after a traumatic hostage taking.

A life altering experience for both Edie and John.


Kylie Scott creates perfectly imperfect characters, two kids that manage to rebuild themselves after this tragedy.
Edi goes a little wild, and John is trying to let the wild behind.


Edie lost her innocence and has several disappointments in several aspects of her life, but she also meets new people who help her in this new start.

John decides to stop dealing…. Leaving this world (and his bothers’ business too) behind…

They soon became inseparable, but they share way more than a traumatic experience.
Edie fights really hard not to fall for the sexy John, because apparently her weight and bullied past doesn’t seem to fit with his popular bad boy status. At least that what society would think…

The author delivers a beautiful and realistic story, with a lot of different feelings, great supporting characters and gets into interesting subjects (bullying, teenagers/YA relationships with their parents, self-esteem, second chances, friendship, and above all, TRUST)

A must read among YA releases this year. Despite my “old” age, I loved the whole journey.

Received an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.

Okay, now this is the kind of YA/NA book I want to read. Kylie crafted a book that is such a wonderful, but heart-wrenching read. Edie and John were brought together under the weirdest circumstances, and while they would have never been together if that night hadn't brought them together, they made sense. It made sense that they'd find their way back to one another and while I agree with her mom calling them "codependent" I also have a lot of questions about her parenting style.

Edie was such a relate-able character that I have to believe Scott crafted her around some real person. She loves to read, understands that she's bigger and that's how it's going to be, and has a healthy appreciation of a fine male. This girl might be me 10 years ago. John seems too good to be true in the way that high school loves always are.

I'm just totally in love with this book and want to go back and read all of Kylie's books. She's become an auto-buy author for me and I ain't even mad about it.

I received an e-arc of Trust by Kylie Scott from Inkslinger PR as part of their blog tour in exchange for an honest review, this has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book.  

I hadn't read any Kylie Scott books before I picked up Trust and now I cannot wait to read more. If you didn't know before I started blogging, I never really read much contemporary, it was all fantasy. But, now I love reading it and while I do love it contemporary romances can feel quite the same. However, Trust was such a refreshing read that really stood out to me. 

Trust follows protagonist Edie as she recovers after being held hostage during a terrifying robbery. With everything going on, she decides that she can't deal with the snobbery of her private school and moves to a local public high school. It's there she meets, John, the guy that saved her life. And let's just say that things are about to get interesting.  

What I loved most about Trust was how refreshing it was. It's very rare to see a bigger girl in YA, especially as a love interest. That first drew me into Trust and I loved it so much. At times Edie was hard to get along with. You wanted to yell at her and give her a little shake. But, then at other times, you wanted to wrap your arms around her. 



Edie has been a hell of a lot and I think nearly all the things she does or tries to do is so she could feel something. Something other being scared. I really liked the concept of PTSD or along those lines being presented in Trust. Edie had a gun to her head and that doesn't just go away. 

John was an interesting character in himself and it did take me a while to warm up to him. I really don't know what it was, but it didn't take me long to find out who he was. I did at times feel that it was too hard to connect with him and maybe it was because Edie and John both had walls up that needed to be cracked. John has a tough past, so I wasn't expecting him to easy to get to know. 

The romance in Trust was quite sweet at times. When you normally think 'bad boys' it's the opposite, but John was really sweet with Edie. And as the novel went on you could see that they were starting to fall for each other. I also felt that Trust was very sex positive, especially for teens. Again something nice to see. 



I didn't like that there weren't any amazing family relationships. It's missed a lot in YA and I would have really enjoyed Trust more if there was. In saying that Edie relationship with her mum wasn't horrible, just I wanted something more.  

Overall, I really enjoyed Trust. Was it perfect? No. But it was still a refreshing YA contemporary that had a protagonist that isn't typical for YA. She is flawed and is also on the larger side. And I was able to connect with her insecurities and some of the ways she looked at things. I enjoyed the romance and while I did want to see more, it was still very enjoyable. Trust explores the notion of finding yourself, falling in love and learning to breathe again.