Julep is a con artist and a high school student at the elite Chicago school St. Agatha High. While she mostly runs petty scams, the stakes are raised when she comes home to find the apartment ransacked and her grifter father missing. With the help of her friends, Julep is prepared to do anything to find her father.

Trust Me, I'm Lying was definitely action packed and a had a good amount of twists and turns. I liked Julep a lot, although I did find the side characters to be slightly underdeveloped. There were also times the story moved on fairly quickly, and I think more time could've been spent on certain plot points. Overall though a fun YA novel that is reminiscent of Veronica Mars.

3.5 stars

This was a good thriller/mystery book. kept me intrigued and wanting to continue to find out what happened. I have never read anything by this author but now I want to continue! Thank you so much Netgalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this book! Very well written

This was a pretty good conn artist book, definitely leaning a little harder into YA, but appreciated the friendships and development of the MC.

This was a nice fast pace action thriller. First time I've read anything by this author and was really good! The narrator was amazing and easy to listen to. Thank you this opportunity to listen to this one!

Julep is a teen in the family business of grifting. She returns home to a tossed apartment and her dad missing. With her mom already out of the picture, it's up to her to find her dad.

This was a fun YA with twists that were mostly predictable, but a few were a surprise. Julep's character was fun to get to know and I'd like to see more of where her story is going. Of course the story may have you suspending some of reality, but it all could happen. I do like that even though her character was supposed to be good at what she did, she became a bit naive and off her game when it came to her dad - it made the unrealistic perfect teenage grifter a bit more relatable.

The narrator did an awesome job bringing Julep's personality to life. I think it made this book even more enjoyable.

🎧💥 5-Star Audiobook Review 💥🎧
Trust Me, I’m Lying by Mary Elizabeth Summer
Narrated by Elena Anderson
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What a wildly fun ride! Trust Me, I'm Lying had me hooked from the very first con. Julep is clever, sarcastic, and just the right amount of morally gray—and listening to her scheme, bluff, and banter her way through high school and a missing person mystery was absolutely addictive.

The plot is full of fast-paced twists, clever reveals, and emotional turns I did not expect. But what really pulled it all together was Elena Anderson's narration. She brings Julep to life with just the right blend of confidence, wit, and vulnerability. The voice acting was on point for every character, and I could easily follow the action without ever needing to glance at a page.

If you’re into smart teen thrillers with found family vibes, sharp dialogue, and an unforgettable heroine, this one’s for you. I already can’t wait to dive into the sequel!

🎧 Posted to NetGalley & #shannonreadsandreviews


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This is somehow extremely wholesome. It is also really sad and fun.
I love the narration. I love the high school romance. I love the ending.

Trust Me, I'm Lying will be a big hit with my junior high students. This book had great characters. The narration was great.

"Trust Me, I'm Lying" by Mary Elizabeth Summer is a fast-paced, action-packed young adult mystery thriller and the first book in the "Trust Me" series.

I really enjoyed it! The book is filled with mystery and surprises that kept me guessing about where the story would lead. Several plot twists are genuinely unexpected. While there is a bit of typical young adult naivety and arrogance, overall, it is a delightful read.

Julep Dupree, is a teenage con artist who is charming, resourceful, and morally ambiguous. She's witty, intelligent, and skilled in the art of deception and disguise. Julep is clever and knows how to solve problems on the spot. When her father, also a con artist, goes missing, Julep follows clues and finds herself in dangerous situations as she searches for him.

I listened to an audiobook narrated by Elena Anderson, and the tempo was spot on, guiding me through the story with a natural and compelling flow. Elena truly captured the emotional core of the story, conveying joy, sorrow, and suspense with equal conviction.

This was a great YA read. I loved the storyline and enjoyed how interesting and smart the protagonist was throughout the book. The plot kept growing and changing, which kept me engaged the entire time. I would love to add it to my high school library collection.

3.5 rounded up to 4 stars. Thank you to Net Galley for the audio book of Trust Me, I'm Lying! I really enjoyed this book, especially the twist once she goes to get Sam back from Petrov. Glad she got her happy ending in a sense.

As a fan of the Artemis Fowl books, I'm used to a young criminal mastermind/evil genius, but Julep Dupree is not Artemis Fowl, and I'm fine with that. She's likeable & believable - she makes mistakes, she's smart, she's in over her head, she's a grifter and a fixer.

The narrator also elevated this book for me. She made it an enjoyable listen, and I hope they keep her for all the future audiobooks. I'm certainly looking forward to those audiobooks. This was my first foray into this series, and I'm looking forward to more.

I really enjoyed this book. The narrator did a great job. I loved the mystery and the theme and the treasure hunt so to speak. Recommend for those that liked The Hawthorne Legacy.

This was a fast pace and truly exciting listen with wonderfully developed characters and a unique and unforgettable plot.

Julep is a 16-year-old con artist. Her father gave her an extensive education in grift, then sent her to a swanky school for rich kids. Her character is so well written and developed that you can easily find yourself rooting for her even when she's breaking every law she knows. Julep develops her own circle of friends at school, and together they form a formidable team of young criminals. Everything seems to be going smoothly until Julep's Dad disappears. Did his grifter life catch up with him? Julep will use every tricck she knows to find him.

I listened to the audiobook, and it's so good, I'm looking for the next book in the series.

Trust me, I am not lying when I say this is a pretty darn good and entertaining listen.

Mary Elizabeth Summer's Trust Me, I'm Lying narrated by Elena Anderson is a combination that is as endearing as a season of Castle or Wild Cards. Julep is a fantastic character and she comes alive in this audiobook as do all the characters, friends, marks, and cons that surround her and even the ones who purposefully put themselves near her. She used to being the odd or weird girl in school, the daughter of a grifter, and a grifter herself but she isn't as aware of her natural charm. That and her innate kindness swirled up with the knowledge and skills she has acquired from her father and on her own make her a sustainably engaging heroine. If there is any fault I can find is that sometimes she may come across as older than she is. It is easy to eschew as she has had the sort of upbringing that would require that, but still.

And that paragraph alone should entice you to read/listen to this book. If it isn't, how about this- it's an inventive mystery that paces like a heist and makes sure to include a few good scares, some yearnings, some delightful uncoverings, some romance, and some heartbreak. Why are you still reading this when you could be diving in to Trust Me, I'm Lying? It has to be enough, because I don't want to reveal anything else about the story. I want you to delight in the twists and turns. I want you to try to figure it out while hoping you stay one step behind Julep as getting to witness the steps she takes is a great world to navigate as an inside safely protected outside spectator.

Trust me, again, I am not lying when I say it is worth your time.
Sincerely, sm for BB

Trust Me, I’m Lying is a sharp and entertaining YA mystery with a main character who’s as complicated as she is intriguing. Julep Dupree is not your typical high school student—she’s a con artist who uses her skills to hustle her way through private school. What starts out as witty schemes and scams quickly turns into something much bigger when her father disappears and Julep finds herself pulled into a dangerous mystery.

What I enjoyed most was the voice—Julep is funny, smart, and self-aware, which makes her easy to root for despite her flaws. The book balances humor and suspense well, and I found myself invested in both the cons and the unraveling of the larger mystery. The pacing was quick, with enough twists to keep me guessing without feeling overdone.

That said, there were a few moments that felt a little far-fetched, especially when Julep managed to pull off cons that seemed a bit too slick for a teenager. Some of the supporting characters also could have been fleshed out more. Still, these were small distractions in an otherwise fun and engaging read.

If you like clever heroines, high school drama with a twist, and mysteries that keep you turning the pages, this one is definitely worth picking up.

TW for abandonment (mainly parental), human trafficking (doesn't go into any detail, but living conditions are described), and children (18ish) getting grievously hurt.

This book was so well written, I finished it super fast. I loved the writing style, the characters, and the plot. I clocked early on the ending, but I still enjoyed the ride, and I don't know that everyone would think things would turn out the way they did. The way the mystery unfold definitely has some twist to it, so it kept me guessing if my initial gut reaction was right.

This was a great book, and I look forward to more from Mary Elizabeth Summer. Thank you for the ARC!

Definitely recommend if you liked Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera or like a good con/mystery crossover plot (think The Mentalist but Jane is in high school).

This was a great YA thriller that was filled with a good puzzle, cons and mischief, messy families, and strong relationships. It’s action packed and has good character development. Some of the twists and romance elements I guessed, but it was still really fun. It has a satisfying conclusion and then sets up the next book well.

The audio narration was excellent. The narrator does a great job with the characters and action scenes. It’s easy to listen to, the difference voices are distinct, and the performance is engaging. I would definitely listen to this narrator again!