This is my favorite book by Wendy Heard! I wasn't sure what to expect getting into it, but I sped through it and it's worth every single 5-star I plan to leave here! Summer and Leo are best friends, both women on the outskirts of society. They live in their SUV and swindle their way through life, each with their own special talents, and both dealing with their own pasts. When Leo catches the attention of a very rich and well-known man, she thinks she has the scam of a lifetime, and follows him to private island. But Summer soon realizes something is not OK and finds her own way onto the island, where all hell breaks loose. The two must learn to depend on themselves and each other of either of them is to survive!

This was one of those unique thrillers that not only has a twisty dark tale that keeps the pages turning, but that also feels like it has full character arcs. I loved it and can't wait for Wendy's next book!

This is a beautiful story about how far best friends, nearly sisters, will go to protect each other. The two main spunky characters, Summer and Leo (narrators), immediately capture the hearts of the readers. Their back stories are wildly different than most, but still relatable, as most people have to learn to fend for themselves at some point in their lives. Summer's survival is dependent on pickpocketing, Leo's on manipulating rich men, which ultimately gets them into some trouble.

The author is brilliant in the way she alternates between the two narrators - their personalities are so vastly different that the reader quickly learns whose story is being told. The timeline intertwines between past and present, and ultimately the two narrators' present timeline comes together nicely. It is a fast read, a little predictable but not in a bad way, and the ending is beautiful.

I enjoyed reading this psychological thriller. It held my interest from the first page. I was a little disappointed because I figured out part of the ending when I was only 65% of the way through the book. I was hoping there would be more of a twist and that I was wrong. Overall, this is a fun read!

I couldn’t get into this book, I had to push myself to finish…. It was a good plot but I felt like if the setting was different it probably would have held my attention more.

Drawn together with their wandering spirit and methods for obtaining what they need to survive, two women meet with an opportunity that takes a dark turn in Wendy Heard’s You Can Trust Me.
Summer and Leo, each with pasts that haunt them that they’d rather leave behind, have forged a strong sisterly bond over the years throughout their wanderings along the California coast as they grift from the elite to fund their life of freedom. Having been taken under Summer’s wing, Leo is determined to be able to pay Summer back for helping to cover a recent debt and is pursuing tech billionaire, Michael Forrester. After luring her mark with ease, Leo’s invited to Michael’s private island, a prospect she eagerly accepts for the bounty it could yield. But Summer doesn’t hear from her the next day and gets worried so manages to snag herself an invitation to the private island as a plus one for one of Michael’s colleagues during an investors meeting, providing her with a chance to alleviate the worry nagging at her that something’s happened to Leo. Summer’s unease is far from assuaged as Michael and his staff claim that Leo’s not on the island despite little clues that don’t quite add up. While she’s trapped on the island for the weekend she investigates what she can and is soon confronted with the terrible reality of the secrets she learns about.
Told through the perspectives of Summer and Leo, in both their respective pasts and disjointed in time yet intertwined present, a story of female friendship and the power it carries emerges against something more sinister lurking beneath. The bits of backstory about Summer and Leo’s pasts were filled with a sad tragicness that explains their current behavior and attitude toward the world around them, which was amusing to see play out, helping to make them characters to root for; however, their pasts, as well as Michael’s, didn’t have as much depth to them after being obscured too much for too long, leaving their characters with less growth and development than would invite greater investment in their fates and quite a few practical logistics were glossed over that raised questions that remained unanswered. Though the narrative moves swiftly forward in the present, the snippets from the past are slowly trickled in, slowing down the momentum and tension that’s been built up, rendering the twists presented toward the end that were meant to shock easy to anticipate, lessening their impact.
Overall, I’d give it a 3 out of 5 stars.
*I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

You Can Trust Me by Wendy Heard is a thriller that follows Summer and Leo, two nomadic ladies who get by through thievery and grifts while trying to stay off the radar. Summer was born into the lifestyle while Leo is a runaway. Together they are very close so when Leo goes missing, Summer is desperate to find answers. This leads her to a mysterious island owned by a tech guru that is in the middle of having a weekend getaway where Summer finds herself in deep with people she may not be able to keep up with.

I was so hooked by the first 25 percent of this book. I loved Summer and Leo’s introduction and sisterly bond. I always love a little heist so seeing them working their talents to get some money was really fun. My attention kind of waned a little in the second quarter because the story got a little stale. And then the last half of this book really lost me. I felt like any big twists were very easy to spot so I kept reading hoping that maybe it was a fakeout and something else would happen but it was just boring. The timeline is also very convoluted. We get both girls’ POV but happening a day or two apart and it was just really odd and confusing. I also think there was a pretty big plot hole towards the end that was kind of looked over for the sake of plot convenience. There was also a side female character that really gave me bad vibes and I don’t think it was intentional for the story.

I’m really bummed because I was so sure this was going to be something that I loved. Thank you so much to Penguin Random House for sending me this arc to read and review ahead of its release. I know some people will really love it.

Wendy Heard's You Can Trust Me is an unpredictable thriller that had my heart racing from start to finish. Summer and Leo are the best of friends, brought together by their unfortunate circumstances. Summer has taught Leo how to con wealthy men and their adventures have been wildly successful until they both get swept away to a billionaire's private island. This is a wild thrill ride that will keep you up all night.

Wow! This book impressed me with its character depth and the quick paced plot. Summer and Leo are two lost souls who find each other on the open road. The two are inseparable and rely on their unique talents to survive even if it’s not legal.

Despite their backgrounds, it is difficult to not root for these characters. I also enjoyed their bond and seeing how far Summer would go to save her best friend. The story is told in a dual POV from Summer and Leo. Each chapter switches back to each character. I enjoyed this format since you would learn more about each character’s past and see where they are in the present.

The island setting with all the high-tech cameras and drones, made me uneasy, and really added to the isolated setting the characters find themselves in.
Overall, the writing and dialogue were solid. Despite a predictable twist, I found this to be a satisfying read. If you are looking for a fun thriller to read by the pool or beach, then I would highly recommend this book. The expected release date is June 2023 so this will be perfect for the summer.

Thank you, Random House Publishing and Net Galley, for sending me a digital ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

3.5 stars

This bingeable read is tense and twisty! We follow two young conwomen in this thriller. Summer, a skilled pickpocket and thoughtful planner, and her chosen sister, Leo, who is adept in charming rich men. Both have things in their past that have led to this life on the road.

When Leo goes missing after meeting a handsome older billionaire, Summer manages to get invited to his private island along with other guests to investigate.

The tension and not knowing who can be trusted will certainly keep you turning pages. Some reveals did take me by surprise, but one of the biggest ones I figured out fairly quickly. I still enjoyed all the action and intrigue along the way, and I enjoyed our main characters, but I figured out too much to absolutely love it.

Summer and Leo are so close they could be sisters. They live on the road and do what they need to do to survive. When they find their next big score, billionaire Michael Forrester, Leo plans to woo him. Instead she goes missing.

Great read especially if you need an easy, fast one for vacation! Some of the twists were a little too coincidental but the plot was so entertaining, I completely forgive it. I loved the two main women and found their lifestyle interesting. If you love bad ass women finding themselves in trouble, this is a great one.

“Not all open doors lead to freedom and adventure. Some lead to death.”

You Can Trust Me comes out 4/25.

Thank you to @Netgalley and Random House for this ARC.
Summer and Leo are two lost souls that find each other. Summer was abandoned by her mother and in order to live, she became a professional pick pocket. Leo ran away from home because of a tragedy and she has been trying to land a rich man to take care of her. When they meet up, they become quite a team. When Leo meets the wrong guy, Summer does everything she can to save her. This book had me from page one. It is a good one! #YouCanTrustMe #WendyHeard #RandomHouse #June2023

I really enjoyed reading this book! A perfect book to sit by the pool and read. Loved the relationship between Leo and Summer . Leo has disappeared and Summer is on the hunt to find her but what she finds is much more sinister, Perfect light hearted mystery with a touch of suspense. Great read!

Obsessed, couldn’t put it down. Love the description from one of the reviews that it’s like if Mia and Lucia from White Lotus were in a thriller! There’s an island, pickpocketing, terrible rich people - what more could you ask for. Out 6/13 - I’d pre order it. Thanks to Net Galley and Random House for an advanced copy (got me out of my reading slump!).

I was really drawn to the unique skill set and lifestyle of the two women. The author does a good job of fleshing out a backstory for both women that ties into their current lives. Summer and Leo only have each other and their latest mark ends up being extremely problematic. I was really engaged in the book until around the midway point when the plot just becomes completely convoluted and too heavy handed. The lack of perceived intelligence from these tech guys loses it's luster. They have this island in the middle of nowhere and it is obvious that this is not the first time a girl has been brought to the island in this manner. They skate out like there is just an open door to go through. This does not work for me. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley.

I truly enjoyed You Can Trust Me by Wendy Heard. I am grateful that I was given the opportunity to read this as a prerelease book to review.
Summer has lived her entire life as a drifter not having a true home or traditional upbringing. Her mother raises her as a gypsy traveling the coast of California moving constantly and making a living begging or pickpocketing. When Summer is seventeen she wakes up to find the caravan she and her mother are currently traveling with all packed up and heading out to their next destination. Summers mother leaves her there in Big Sur alone at seventeen with a tent and her few belongings. She is completely alone and devastated by this betrayal by her mother.
Leo is a runaway, determined that her sisters death is her fault she vows to never return home. Leo is alone and starving when Summer encounters her begging on the street in the tenderloin district of San Francisco.. The two become immediate friends and from that day on the are a family.
Michael Forrester is wealthy and he happens to be the next mark on Summer and Leo's radar. Michael is has made his fortune in the tech industry. Leo plans to work her way into his and reap the benefits of being a rich mans girlfriend or maybe she will find some dirt on him and blackmail him. The stakes are high this time but these girls are smart and beautiful and they know how to con and steal and work their way into mens hearts.
The game is on but how it turns out is anyones guess. Everyone has secrets and who really is the mark in this game?

This is my first book by Wendy Heard and will not be my last! I loved that the chapters switched back and forth from the two girls points of view. I couldn’t get to the end fast enough to see how everything turned out! I will definitely recommend this book to others!

Summer and Leo are the sisters who aren’t really sisters. They’re living on the road, getting by through sneaking, stealing, and conning. So when Leo gets an opportunity with a billionaire that could leave them set for a while, she takes it and disappears to his private island with him. When Summer doesn’t hear from her, she has to figure out what happened to Leo and how to get her off the island.

Overall, this was a good read! I liked that the main characters were hustlers living the nomad life; I found myself rooting for the “rob from the rich” situation. The closeness of their friendship is also a great part of the story, and what leads them to sift through truths and lies to save one another. The other characters on the island confused me at points, I couldn’t always figure out who was on Summer & Leo’s side. Which, I suppose is part of the mystery!

4.5 stars
Really enjoyed this book a lot. The two main characters were very interesting to read from and I enjoyed the present and past narrative style. This is very much about two girls who take advantage of the wealthy as a means of survival. This leads them to trouble in ways they would have never realized. I felt that the twist at the end was a little too predictable. It almost came off as too convenient of a plot twist but overall I really recommend this one for the summer.

This is a novel about two women who are expert scammers that have finally gotten caught up in something they can’t seem to escape from.
Leo falls for a billionaire whom she feels would be her most successful scam yet until he takes her to his private island, where things are definitely not what they seem.

As Leo turns up missing, Summer must find a way to infiltrate the island she believes her friend has been taken to, yet it seems as if Leo were never there. No one has seen or heard of her. What secrets will Summer uncover in the hunt for her friend?

I was not entirely excited about this one. While the plot had promise, it seemed to falter at times. With too many odd twists and turns paired with the sloppy dialogue, I couldn’t quite enjoy the direction it was headed in. I think there is something special about this book, though; I just don’t believe I’m the person to find it.

Overall, great concept.

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was invited to read this title by the publisher in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley. I jumped on it as Wendy Heard is one of my more recent favorite YA thriller writers. You Can Trust Me is an adult thriller.

Summer and Leo are best friends and soul sisters on the road in California. Summer grew up in a bohemian, nomadic lifestyle with her mother, who abandoned her at 17 to be with a boyfriend. Summer learned how to pickpocket when she was 8 years old. She has honed her skills as an adult. Leo (short for Leoneli) grew up in a middle class home and was pretty happy with it until her sister Amanda died. First, we are told it was in a car accident, but there's more to the tragic loss than Leo wants to talk about. Summer and Leo have been traveling between NorCal and So Cal for 5 years, running grifts, stealing and conning to survive. They are quite gifted at it too, Leo more with long cons on rich (sometimes married) men. They sometimes camp out in tents or sleep in a converted Land Cruiser with a double bed.

Summer goes to earn money to fill their coffers at a club, while Leo arranges an accidental meet-up with a hot billionaire who liked her insta picture. Leo hits it off with Michael, who seemingly seems pulled into her charm and beauty. He invites her to his private island near Catalina, and that's when things go sideways quickly. When Summer and Leo are separated and unable to communicate with each other, they have to rely on their wits and instincts about each other. The island part is CRAZY - I can't tell you anything except it kept me on the very edge of my seat the whole time. One thing that I suspected was somewhat predictable but didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book. The alternating chapters between the 2 main characters are on slightly different timelines, adding to the suspense.

TW for psychotic murderers, sexual assault, drugging women to be compliant and gaslighting. 5/5☆ release June 2023.