You Can Trust me is like if you threw The Glass Onion and Inventing Anna in a blender and added even more murder. It’s a fun, fast beach read and I enjoyed reading about Summer and Leo, a pair of young scam artists. Is the plot extremely far fetched? Yes. Did I really care? No. I was in the mood for a fun thriller and this fit the mood perfectly.

The ending fell a little flat—it felt abrupt and also there were some loose ends I would love to see tied up. However, I enjoyed this book and would read another by Wendy Heard. I’d also recommend this to anyone looking for the perfect vacation read—especially if you’re heading to a mysterious and secluded island.

Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for an early copy of this book.

Hunter and Hunted - But Who Is Who? This is one of those books that seems like it wants to take on Big Ideas, but in its brevity... eh, those Big Ideas are more sacrificed to telling a more compelling and less potentially divisive story, while still hitting some of the high points of the Big Ideas. Ultimately, this is a book whose main characters are very finely drawn and nuanced... and whose lesser players are almost cardboard caricatures. Still, Heard here uses the main characters, their varying histories, and the island setting (through at least half the book) quite well indeed to craft a suspenseful tale that will keep you on the edge of your beach or pool lounger just enough to keep your feet in the water... without giving you a heart attack before you can finish the book and dive in. A couple of bits in particular are more mind-bending than others, though those are quickly moved on from and the more cat and mouse nature of the book again reasserts itself. Overall a solid, mildly pulse pounding book that will be quite enjoyable as a vacation read and one that should be able to be devoured almost no matter how little reading time one may have on a summer break or vacation. Very much recommended.

Summer and Leo were young women living on the street until they found each other and created a sisterly bond. Now the pair live in Summer's Land Cruiser, traveling around California to avoid their pasts, each using their talents (Summer is a skilled pick-pocket, Leo is a practicing con artist) to pay the bills.

Leo's next target is billionaire philanthropist Michael Forrester. It's almost too easy; her charm is rewarded with an invite to his private island where she's sure she'll make off with plenty of valuables and a few great stories.

When Leo fails to return from her weekend adventure with Michael, Summer knows she'll have to infiltrate Michael's next big event to discover Leo's fate.

This story requires you to suspend your disbelief. While it begins in the realm of possibility, it spins into a far-fetched plot but is so entertaining, I was still flying through the pages! The chapters are short and switch between Leo and Summer to unfold the story from both points of view.

This is a great summer beach read!
Thanks to Bantam and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. You Can Trust Me is scheduled for release on June 13, 2023.

I love a good mystery. I also simultaneously love and hate Leo and Summer. I love that Summer is as talented as she is, but I also feel bad for the people left in her wake. I mean, if you’re going to steal, do it from greedy corporations and not from people, because not all of them are millionaires. I love their nomadic lifestyle, even limited to California, Summer’s comfort blanket.

When Leo goes missing, Summer’s instincts kick into overdrive. They’ve never led her astray, and she will find Leo, no matter what. Her search will take her to a luxurious island. She’s so crafty that if anyone can find Leo, it’s her. At first, I was a little sad that I figured a major plot point out just before the 70% mark, but Heard kept the book engaging after that, so I continued to enjoy myself.

Thank you, Random House/Ballantine, for the advanced copy.

The pacing and shifts in character perspective made this book hard to put down! I really liked the main characters. They are both tenacious and resourceful and I was on the edge of my seat cheering for them. They are surprisingly likable for being con-artists. I also loved the descriptions of California. I grew up in southern California and I could picture the beach cliffs and smell the Pacific Ocean while reading this book. This was a fun thriller but also a book about friendships and our ability to create family when circumstances don’t give us the family we need.
Thank you to Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Oh. My!

Wendy Heard’s latest offering, You Can Trust Me, is a thrill-a-minute rocky roller coaster of a wild ride—right from its gripping opening pages, through it’s claustrophobic middle bits, and straight on into its jaw-dropping climax.

The plot follows Summer, a pickpocket and con artist, and her partner-in-literal-crime, Leo. When Leo bites off more than she can chew and goes missing, Summer follows her trail to the private island of Leo’s last mark, and from there, things get dangerously fun.

If you’re in a reading slump, this book will break it. If you’re on the prowl for a book with compelling characters, a captivating plot, and propulsive pacing, you’ve found it. In this one, the stakes are so high that you’ll practically choke on them. You’ll feel the tension behind every breathtaking word, and you’ll keep turning pages until long after bedtime.

Save the date. Clear the schedule. You’ll hate yourself if you miss it. It’s the summer read you’ve been aching for; we suffered through winter to get our hands on this book. Trust me.

This book was addicting! I couldn’t put it down! Summer and Leo’s backstories and POVs made their characters come alive- I forgot they were fictional characters at time! I love the con artist trope especially with women and this was so entertaining. Once clues were given, I did figure out the twist, but there were others I didn’t get! The ending was very satisfying! 4.5 stars!

Thank you NetGalley, Wendy Heard and Bantam for my eARC!

Review Date: May 25, 2023
Publication Date; June 13, 2023

This was a pretty solid thriller for most of the book. Fast paced and engaging. I really enjoyed different POVs and the remote, private island setting gave this story a mysterious, almost creepy vibe which I loved. However, I wasn’t a big fan of the ending. It felt rushed and kind of all over the place. It left me a little disappointed.

Solid 3.5 stars from me.

Thank you NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and the author for ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This one was just okay for me. It was easy to read and had a simple dual point of view that I enjoyed. The suspense and thrill element was lacking a bit and so much of the story was so far fetched. There is no way Summer was digging into other women's purses at parties and bars and getting their wallets. Most womens purses are closed and right by their side. Stealing cash out of someone's wallet could maybe happen... but was still brought up way to many times to be realistic.
And at one point she picked a lock with compressed bread LOL. Had to roll my eyes at that one.
I liked the writing style a lot and flew through this book pretty quickly and easily, but there were lots of characters and sub plots that I wasn't invested in. This was a perfectly entertaining read but not something super memorable or that I will recommend to others.

I had such a good time with this one! At first, as the story and the characters were being built up, I didn't quite know where things were headed. Summer and Leo are two kindred spirits who found each other at just the right time in their lives. Summer is unbearably lonely having lived off the grid, with virtually no identity for her entire life, and gets by on her clever thievery and pickpocketing skills. Leo is a young woman who experiences a terrible tragedy, leaves home and winds up desperately panhandling in the streets of L.A. Their paths crossed, Summer took Leo under her wing, and they now live a free-spirited, nomadic lifestyle, stealing from clueless strangers and scamming bored rich men. And then, having come upon what she thought was a major score, Leo unknowingly targets the wrong billionaire and disappears somewhere on his luxurious private island. Frantic to reunite with her one true friend, Summer uses every trick up her sleeve to scam her way onto the island during an investor's retreat so that she can get to the bottom of everything and bring Leo home safely. Despite being a somewhat twisty thriller, I loved how the themes of friendship, found family, and long-term effects of grief and loss were woven into the fabric of this story, and overall, I thought it was a really good time (which I always feel weird saying about murdery books, but eh, you like what you like.)

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free electronic copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: June 13, 2023
Summer is a pickpocket and a small-time thief, traveling through the streets of California in her Land Rover, which is also her home. She befriends Leo, also left to her own devices on the streets, and soon the two of them are best friends, scheming together and planning their next heist. Leo is offered the chance of a lifetime when she is invited to be the guest of tech billionaire Michael, and Leo sees Michael as her chance to get off the streets, for good. Summer coaches and encourages Leo the whole way, until Leo falls off the grid. Unable to get in touch with Leo, Summer finds a way onto the private island where Leo was last headed and is soon caught up in something far more sinister than she, or Leo, could have ever planned.
Wendy Heard knocked my socks off with “Finding Annabelle”, and although I did not get around to reading any other novel she has written (totally my bad) I jumped at the chance to read “You Can Trust Me”.
Summer and Leo are young women living on the street, abandoned by all who love them, with only each other as company. Stealing, pickpocketing and manipulating is how they put food in their mouths, but yet they still maintain a strong moral compass. With heartbreaking background stories, it’s easy to sympathize with the pair, and their instantaneous connection was genuine. The rest of the characters in the novel are deplorable, purposely, and that makes it easy to look beyond Summer and Leo’s illegal activities. The protagonists are two female “Robin Hood’s”, stealing from the rich to give to the poor (themselves). As two female runaways, they are literally society’s castoffs, and they make the claim themselves that no one will take their side versus a rich white man’s, which is not only entirely legit, it is also heartbreaking and only serves to endear the reader more.
Summer and Leo alternate narrating the tale, and although it is mostly told in present day the reader is blessed with a few snippets that outline Leo and Summer’s pasts, which helps to explain their choices. The remote island aspect is overdone, in my opinion, but “You Can Trust Me” is more than your average locked-room (or private-island) mystery.
I was able to guess one of the main plot twists right at the beginning, but this did not lower my enjoyment in any way. Heard provides a conclusive, satisfying ending that left me cheering. The quick-flowing, page-turning, pulse-pounding chills and thrills this novel provides make it a tough one to put down. Heard deserves props for bringing a creative twist to an overdone genre.

Wow! Just when I thought I knew what was about to happen, a twist was revealed that kept me turning the pages. A definite edge of my seat nail biter.
At times there were situations that were over the top and unbelievable, however, I still enjoyed every minute I spent reading this book.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC.

I had no idea where this story was going for most of this book. And when I did figure it out, the next chapter was a what-the-forking-sheets-is-even-happening-right-now twist. I absolutely loved this book!

Summer and Leo have managed to find each other when they needed someone the most. Now the two are as thick as thieves, literally. While Summer is great at pickpocketing, Leo’s specialty is getting men’s attention and spending their money. Leo has a big fish on the line, a technology mogul who has their own private island. Soon Leo is being swept away there and being wined and dined. Summer begins to worry when it has been days with no word from Leo, something is wrong. Summer decides to use her con skills to get an invite to his private island so she can find Leo. Once there, Summer starts to think that something more sinister is at play on this island and she will have to use every trick in the book to get her friend back.

Hands down the best book I have read in 2023 so far! This book had it all, a remote island, con jobs and a dash of sex. The development of characters was phenomenal and I loved the bond between Summer and Leo. Although they may do bad things you still are rooting for them the whole time and hoping for the best outcome for them. A sexy summer must read!

This book took me on a wild ride! From the characters to the plot to the twist! It was beautifully written!! I look forward to reading more by Wendy Heard

Wow, wow, wow! This was quite a surprise.

I'll admit I requested this one because the cover drew me in. Then the synopsis sounded intriguing. Well, I was in for one hell of a story! Truly had no expectations for this and where it might take me, and that's the best kind of reading experience!

This was entertaining from page one and didn't let up. I loved Summer & Leo, all the SoCal references (I live in SoCal) and all the mystery and suspense as you finished each chapter.

You Can Trust Me took you on quite the adventure. I had no idea where this would go. Everything about the island was amazing. I love how the chapters alternated between the characters and different timelines. Don't get too hung up on remembering which is going on, it doesn't really matter or make a difference.

Con stories or revenge stories are my favorite, and this has both sprinkled throughout. Yes, Summer and Leo are gorgeous hustlers, but Summer definitely has the revenge vibes and badass-ness that I love in a character. Loved her chapters so much. Something about a strong, conniving female character that just holds the whole story, regardless if the plot sucks. But this one doesn't. It's so good!

This was easy to follow, the pacing was superb, and the ending was satisfying! No hints at a sequel, but I would pick that up in a heartbeat if there was one.

Some of my favorite quotes that made me laugh:
"This is one of the many things I hate about Los Angeles: Everything that seems like a good idea to you also occurred to everyone else."

"...and then we're going to steal the diamond rings off these bitches' fingers."

"I'm pinning her down and guess what, bitch, I go to the gym, too."

WOW. I'm told this is categorized as YA, and it's some of the best YA horrors I've ever read. I am so thankful to Ballantine Books, NetGalley, Wendy Heard, and PRH Audio for granting me digital and audiobook access to this twisty, binge-easy thriller before it publishes on June 13, 2023.

Summer and Leo have a good thing going, identifying as scrappy runaways, conning rich people, and putting funds directly in their pockets. As they roam around the LA area, Leo gets a tip on a tech-rich networking event popping off, and this seemingly simple happy hour turns into a nightmare they didn't anticipate.

Leo pairs off with venture capitalist/tech CEO Michael. He whisks her off to his private island for a romantic getaway that turns into a trap featuring his pervy fetish of painting women unable to escape his sick and twisted dungeon. Summer comes to the rescue, brutally slaying those in her path to save her best friend and found sister from suffering the fate of so many missing women in cohorts with Michael of times past.

This is a new favorite thriller. I don’t say that lightly, as it has to really slap for me to stay interested these days. This did exactly what I needed. It was so compulsively readable + juicy from page one & gave subtle Lucia & Mia White Lotus season 2 vibes - but make it LA edition.

The story starts off with Summer and Leo, a sexy duo who live off the grid as grifters and con artists all down the coast of California. They con rich men and chosen marks with their seductive looks and practiced charm. (Plus a bit of calculated pick pocketing)

The story has dual POVs and flips back and forth between the two best friends as they are hurled into the exclusive world of tech billionaires. But of course things aren’t quite what they seem, and a mystery develops with high stakes and danger ahead. I refuse to give anything else away because I enjoyed the suspense and various turns this book made and would be a terrible person to ruin it for other readers. 😌 Just know, it’s good.

I loved the themes of found family in this one and the sisterhood that developed between Leo and Summer. I really felt for the characters and was fully immersed from start to finish. I officially want to read all of Wendy Heard’s backlist. I’m a fan.

4.5 stars rounded up. What a fast paced and captivating story. From the very beginning, I was all in, ready to know what was going to happen next. Nomadic, con-artists looking for their next big score from LA's richest. If that doesn't sound interesting enough, one of them goes missing after having a date with a billionaire and the other ends up on his private island looking for her. It's the perfect summer, popcorn thriller with a "locked door" setting, a beautiful island with only yourself to trust. It's told in 2 POVs and the switching is timed perfectly. I figured pretty much all of the twists out but the story was so engaging, I didn't care, I still HAD to know how it would all end. The ending was very satisfying.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a story! This was such an engaging read for me. Summer and Leo are a great pair and Summer was a character whose mind I really felt I understood.

I was into the book from the very beginning. I love the way the author crafted the story and the shifting POVs worked really well. I had a sense of “something isn’t right” pretty early on and I found that to be impressive on behalf of the author to be able to make me actually physically feel that, like a pit in my stomach. The story unfolded beautifully and I just couldn’t put the story down until I know what happened to everyone.

There was one loose end that I wish I had more information on, but not a huge deal! This was definitely a 5/5 for me and I’ll recommend it to tons of different readers. This would make a great book club pick. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review You Can Trust Me. All thoughts and opinions are my own.