I don't read a whole lot of YA books these days, but Nicole Williams is one of those authors whose books I will *always* read, no matter the age group or genre. I love her writing, her characters and the story she tells with them. She never disappoints. Trusting You & Other Lies is the latest in a long list of books written by her that I've loved. 

This book was of the "read in one sitting" variety for me. It was fun and pretty light, but with a deeper message about trust that didn't get TOO angsty. I really liked Phoenix and Callum. They were both fairly complex characters and neither one was perfect. I love a character with flaws. It makes them easier to relate to — even when there's a pretty big age difference. I enjoyed watching each of these characters really come into their own during their time at summer camp. It's probably worth mentioning I do have a particular weakness for camp books. I've not read a ton of them, but the ones I have I loved. But, I digress. 

I'd say Trusting You & Other Lies is just about the perfect summer read if you're looking for a YA book to add to your TBR pile. I found it both charming and beautiful. I loved the romance and found the dynamic between Phoenix and her family. It made me smile — and gave me a few feels. I can't ask for much more than that!

FAVORITE QUOTES

I didn't do boy-crazy, I reminded myself. I didn't do weak-kneed and tongue-tied and starry-eyed. I did Miss Independent. I did my own thing. I did guys-were-a-nice-perk-but-not-the-pinnacle. That was my MO. 

"Our destiny is always waiting for us. It's right in front of us, all the time. Sometimes we just need a place and a time to be reminded of that."

"In my world, you start out with my trust. What you do with that is up to you." 

Callum might have been odd sixty ways to Sunday, but in the Teenage Girl's Bible of Boys, he was the holy trinity of hot, aloof and available.

He tasted like sunshine and a storm, and he kissed like we had forever and had run out of time. He kissed me like I'd wanted to be kissed my whole entire life—like I was everything.

Phoenix Ainsworth is facing a long summer. Her parents have decided to take her and her little brother to a family camp in Arizona for the whole school break. Considering that she’s from Santa Monica and is used to hanging out with friends at the beach during vacation, she’s not eager to be bunking in a cabin in the middle of nowhere. Add to that the strange notion of spending plenty of time with her parents, who haven’t been very involved in her life for a while, mainly since her father lost his job a couple years earlier, and it’s not looking fun at all. Phoenix’s parents haven’t been there for her, and on top of that, they’re clearly keeping secrets about how bad their financial situation is. She’s sick of them saying everything’s fine when she knows it’s definitely not — she just found an eviction notice in a pile of papers — and she wants to be told the truth so they can face reality together.

Though she’s never camped before, Phoenix has a job lined up to be a counselor, thanks to an old family friend who runs the camp. She’s not too thrilled about the job itself but is glad for the opportunity to earn some money to buy a car. Her little brother, Harry, is pretty excited about the camp, and he immediately jumps in and starts making friends and being busy with all the activities.

Meanwhile, Phoenix meets Callum, the uber-capable counselor who’s been going to and working at the camp for a long time. She can’t help but notice he’s cute but does NOT want to get involved with anyone after getting cheated on recently by her now-ex-boyfriend. He is fun and friendly at times but then when he’s assigned to train her, he’s pretty strict and exacting.

Trying to figure out how to deal with Callum, trying to lead when she doesn’t know what she’s doing, and worrying about her family and future make it a complicated summer.

Trusting You and Other Lies is a pretty good summer read, with characters to care about and a fairly believable setup. There were still a number of times that I, as an adult and parent, was just kind of annoyed by Phoenix. But she did seem to ring true as a typical teen. And some things that happened seemed to be a little forced to make the plot come together the way the author wanted. Overall, an enjoyable summer read but nothing I’ll love and come back to.

Rated: Moderate, for some mild and moderate language and crude sexual references here and there. Sexual behavior is mostly kissing and making out, but one scene has the characters talking about probably not having sex but then nearly going “all the way” anyway.

This was a lovely story even though it was really slow for my taste I enjoyed it a lot!It's a great light and cute read, perfect for the beach!It has plenty of angst which I love to my stories.The main character, Phoenix, was sassy but there were moments I didn"t like her a lot but she changed through the story for the good.Callum was a swoon-worthy hero!Maybe one of the best parts in this story!
Overall it was a great story that I could easily read it and relax!

Review will be posted on 7/17/17

Going to a family summer camp isn't high up on Phoenix's wish list this summer, but nonetheless, that's where she'll be along with her parents who don't get along and her younger brother. So, obviously, Phoenix is miserable. To top it off, she will be working there as a counselor. But once she gets there, she meets an experienced counselor, Callum, who is supposed to be mentoring her. She isn't a fan of his attitude, but she can't deny the attraction she feels towards him and she is starting to wonder if maybe he feels it too. But Phoenix has some major trust issues and Callum has put up some major walls, so can these two actually make a go for it? And what happens when the summer is over? Trusting You and Other Lies is your average summertime read for young adults that fans of outdoorsy settings will enjoy the most.

Phoenix....ugh. I wanted to like her, but she drove me nuts from the start. She's whiny and has a bad attitude. I mean her parents aren't that great, but obviously her father is dealing with a lot of financial difficulties. She never cuts her parents a break and is pretty self-absorbed. I did enjoy her relationship with her younger brother, but I had some issues with the plot surrounding her family. They were supposed to be repairing their relationship while at camp and family wasn't even a bit focus of this book until the end. So, there were some major plot holes in Trusting You and Other Lies.

Why I did give this book a higher than average rating is the character of Callum. I really enjoyed him; what can I say? I love a broody protagonist that is layered and mysterious. I liked his relationship with Phoenix as well as whole idea that he is mentoring her as a camp counselor. That's a great way to get to know someone and their witty dialogue was a lot of fun. Their relationship and bantering is what pulled me into Trusting You and Other Lies.

The setting of camp was also a plus for me when I read Trusting You and Other Lies. I really love summer camp stories and all the outdoorsy activities were also well done. I was a camp counselor for many years, so I could personally relate to this aspect of the novel.

Despite my issues with Trusting You and Other Lies, I thought it was a fun summer romance. Was it my favorite? Not by any means, but an enjoyable way to spend a lazy Saturday afternoon.

Trusting You & Other Lies was a thrill of a read, totally perfect for Summer and with a hard-hitting memorable set of characters. 4 stars well deserved!
Review to come on Pretty Little Memoirs very soon.

YA is where I first fell in love with Nicole Williams' writing (YA PNR to be precise) and so it was lovely to be be back in this genre. This is a book that is refreshingly low on angst and yet full on story, with characters that epitomise the genre correctly. It is a niggle of mine when YA books have teens acting like 20-year olds but both Callum and Phoenix were age-appropriate with sometimes ill-thought and impulsive decision-making, one moment mature and other times a little immature. This is what I want to see in YA, true coming-of-age; TRUSTING YOU AND OTHER LIES delivered on this.

Phoenix was a definitely likeable, she had a little brattishness in her but lots of selflessness too. The main story revolves around a family situation and I really enjoyed this storyline and Phoenix's reactions and relationships with her parents. Harry, her younger brother made my heart warm all throughout the book, he was such a special part of the story for me. Callum, was the kind of boy/man I would have wowed over at their age and he was totally loveable, if a little superior. The chemistry between these two was perfect and my teen daughter who has also read the book thought the chemistry was just right too.

At 90% I was a little worried where things were going to end up but Nicole Williams brought an ending that satisfied completely and an epilogue that left me sighing. I hope there will be more YA from this author alongside her more mature books as she is super talented in this kind of writing too.

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through netgalley in return for a honest review.

Reviewed for Jo&IsaLoveBooks Blog.

A camp setting, family playing a major role, a cute sorta-brooding guy, and a love/hate relationship? It's basically all the things I enjoy in a young adult (or new adult) novel. Phoenix and her family have hit a really rough patch. Her parents have been fighting and finances haven't been great. So they decide they should go to a family camp together to regroup and have some fun. Except Phoenix can thinks of anything less fun to do during the summer than share a cabin with her mom, dad, and little brother Harry (who she does have a good relationship with; I loved that part!). Phoenix ends up becoming a counselor at the camp and forced to train with Callum, the head counselor, whose hot and cold behavior are a mystery, and obviously source of attraction, to her. Like I said, this seemed like a great setup for summer book to fall in love with but I ended up not enjoying it as much as I hoped. The main "conflict" was both Phoenix and Callum's inability to trust, not just each other but in general too. I understood it up to a certain point but the trust thing got stretched to ridiculous levels that I found overly angsty. And I don't mind a bit of angst either! But this was much too much. There could've been more focus on how to open up to one another, their family situations or even the camp itself to help level it out a bit but unfortunately, that was not the case.

Every now and then I love a good YA read, especially after a particularly intense book, whenever I want a pick me up, or even just to reminisce. A feel good read that immerses you in all the trials and tribulations of young adulting and reminds you of all the ambiguity and discovery of growing up, all while filling you with hope, love, joy, and wonder. Trusting You and Other Lies is the perfect book for any or all of these applications.

The quintessential teenage story featuring a young woman resenting her parents, struggling with maturity and doing what's right, making plenty of misguided mistakes, questioning relationships, and dealing with an overabundance of feelings of just about every kind. Ah, the good old days, right? This engrossing and soulful story is one of learning and growth, relating and coming to terms, acceptance and love.

Phoenix is a teen with responsibility far beyond her pay grade, an axe to grind, and a good dose of bitterness and hard feelings. She is also an amazingly strong, determined, ambitious, and caring girl with courage and confidence for days. Whether you are a teen yourself or simply remember those days well, there is plenty of Phoenix's story to empathize with, to relate to, and to learn from.

Phoenix meets Callum at camp the summer before her senior year. Callum is pretty incredible himself and, while he may need a little care and guidance, brings a whole lot to the table in the way of captivation, inspiration, maturity, and enlightenment. The perfect mysterious hero, Callum is guarded and reserved yet sensitive and passionate, handsome and rugged, and enigmatic and intriguing.

Unlike some stories with more than a few supporting characters, each and every character in this story is just as significant and enthralling as Phoenix and Callum. From Phoenix's wise beyond his years little brother, Harry, to Phoenix's complicated and often misunderstood parents, Ben, the head honcho and resident hippie of the camp, and even Evan, the somewhat annoying, totally unabashed, and terribly persistent counselor that doesn't seem to understand the word no. Every character is sure to grab your attention and keep you invested while begging to learn more about each.

A sweet, fun, and easy read tackling the teenage angst of familial bonds, trust, dishonesty, good intentions, and growing up without being too heavy, tempestuous, or overdramatic. The perfect balance of entertaining and heartwarming, Trusting You and Other Lies will transport you, delight you, and just make you feel good.

*complimentary copy provided by publisher for an honest review

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Tried a bit of this and it wasn't for me. Thanks so much for letting me have the chance to try it.

I am struggling with this review. I have been since I finished the book. I am a huge fan of Nicole's. When I saw she was writing a YA book, I had to get my hands on it. I am not a huge YA reader, but I have really fallen for a few in the past, so I vowed to give this one a read.

The major drawback of this book is that it moved extremely slow for me. Although I was enjoying the book, the slow movement of the story made it a little harder for me to get through.

I loved the story overall. The journey each of these characters take was an emotional roller coaster and very realistic. The characters were so real and raw.

Overall, this was a very good read. I am glad I got my hands on it.

It’s no secret of my adoration for Nicole Williams, and I was thrilled when she announced her return to YA. It has been too long since she’s written in this genre. Trusting You and Other Lies is a delightful coming of age story and reminded me of how well Williams writes contemporary YA. I adored Phoenix and her journey of self discovery.

“Our destiny is always waiting for us. It’s right in front of us, all the time. Sometimes we just need a place and a time to be reminded of that.”

Flagstaff, AZ is one of my favorite vacation places, and I was elated to see this outdoor paradise as the backdrop. It’s the ideal setting for a summer romance. As the story begins, Phoenix appears to be an unconnected and emotionally closed off teenager. The scenes with her younger brother, Harrison quickly prove she’s caring and loyal. Their interactions are some of my favorite moments in the book. Harrison’s character adds a needed lighthearted element, and he always had me smiling. The strained relationship with Phoenix and her parents is tense but not overly dramatic. The attempts to make their family whole again is a slow process, but I liked how realistic and heartfelt they are.

“You’re my daughter. I’d walk through fire for you, so of course I’d jump into some silly little river to save you.”

Like with most true YA, the romance in Trusting You is the slowest of burns. Both Callum and Phoenix like keeping people at arm’s length and are hesitant to trust. I tend to prefer dual points of views, but having Callum’s story only through Phoenix’s narration works well. I enjoyed learning about his character as she does. I relished their intense and slow building relationship. It holds all the powers and emotions of first love, and I felt every moment with them.

"He kissed me like I’d wanted to be kissed my whole entire life–like I was everything."

If you’re looking for a low angst and heart warming YA, I recommend Trusting You and Other Lies. Yes, it is little predictable, but it didn't stop me from loving the journey. I hope Williams decides to write in this genre soon; I forgot how much I missed her there.

Thank you to Crown Books and Nicole Williams for my advanced copy.

3.5 stars

Let's start with the obvious: that name. Phoenix. It's so obvious and yet so unnecessary. It's also a dead giveaway for any sort of inherent conflict in this book: you know she will rise from the ashes.

The good news is that Nicole Williams does so many things right with this book that you can overlook the name of her main character.

From the start, it's clear that Phoenix will need to rise from several sets of ashes. There is her family's situation, which is real and heartbreaking (props to Williams for nailing that), and the state of her romantic life. Camp Kismet (um ... we have a name situation again) serves as almost a revolving door of ashes as Phoenix muddles quite a bit in her job as a camp counselor. And then there is her relationship with fellow counselor Callum (whose name means 'dove,' by the way), which she nearly torches to death.

Those of us who have spent time at a summer camp know that it can effect a myriad of changes (Safety Patrol Camp, the summer of 1975! HOLLA!), so as Phoenix grudgingly rides with her family to Camp Kismet, you know - before she does - that she is going to get far more out of this experience than she anticipates. But to do that, she's going to have to learn how to trust.

I don't mean she has to trust others - although that's certainly a part of it. More importantly, she needs to trust herself. My favorite scenes were the ones in which Phoenix faced her mistakes, whether errors of perception or her reaction to those perceptions. Williams never loses sight of the fact that Phoenix is seventeen. She's going to make mistakes, even as she believes she is infallible. She's real, flaws and all.

Not as well developed are her parents (particularly her father), and her precocious younger brother at times feels like he's straight out of Central Casting. Callum, though, is well-drawn. He's just the kind of guy you would have liked to meet when you went to summer camp.

This book is a sure-fire hit for teens, whether they go to camp or not.

Eeeeepppppp! This book has me on this level of happy right now. It's such a light but deep read. Williams knows how to make you think while totally enjoying the read.

Things I loved:
Phoenix's athleticism. Can I just say that I felt invincible during her running scenes? I mean. Wow.

Callum's mysteriousness. Um.. YES!

How they each give other chances and fight for something better.

Things I disliked:
The past 'that' line romance. I am a sucker for sweet romance, not past 'that' line romace. Although the way Williams handled it was ok and nothing was explicit.

A bit of lack of depth with the relationship between Phoenix and her father. The resolution was great but I feel that it lacked a bit of development throughout the book.

Overall, a fantastic summer (and anytime) read! Totally recommend it.

Ahh, Nicole Williams has done it again. She has succeeded in giving me all the necessary fills throughout a book. This was a ride I would go on again, the book was just flat out amazing. The character interactions, the emotions, the real life scenarios, it was just beautiful. Trust, it’s a hard thing to get back, but it’s an important thing to have with anyone.

We meet Phoenix, which when you finish the book couldn’t have been a more perfect name for the main character, who is on her way to spend the summer at a family camp, with her disastrous family. She doesn’t have too much of any high hopes that this vacation will be any good especially with all the background drama happening with her family. But being young, you really have no choice but to go along. This is where she meets Callum. He’s quite the enigma himself, keeping to himself but somehow she breaks down through some of those barriers.

The relationship the develop is very sweet and endearing, gives you high hopes that there are good things out there in life for us, but it’s their trust and sometimes lack of trust in one another that made their relationship just so real and believable. I felt for them, and I was rooting for them throughout the whole book. There were moments that made me smile, moments that made me sad and broke my heart and then of course moments that just outright made me cry throughout this book but those moments they shared gave me butterflies, and those are the best kinds of moments.

This book not only talked about romance, and love but it was about family. Trusting your family and making sure your family trusted you. It was a beautiful story to show this dynamic, everything isn’t always perfect but it’s how you perceive and work through those issues that make you the family you are. It will bring everyone closer together. Don’t get me wrong I loved the scenes between Callum and Phoenix, but those moments with her mom and her dad, and the precious ones with her brother, those are the memories I will keep the dearest to me from this book. Family is everything.

I will definitely give some high praise to this book because trust and lies sometimes they go hand in hand, and sometimes you just have to learn why someone did what they did to get clarity on everything.
I loved the characters in the book, the scenery with it being at camp, and it being summer and all. I really enjoyed reading through the different situations that took place in the book, again very believable and realistic, and dare I say may even be helpful to some who read it. Sometimes you just have to remember that sometimes people do certain things in your best interest, even if you don’t see it that way at first.

Go read this book! It’s worth it and you will not regret it. It really touched my heart and to that I thank the author, Nicole Williams, who has yet to let me down in any story of hers that I’ve read.

I love young adult and new adult novels, I don't think there is an age limit on your genre tastes, so I can safely say I am a massive, one-click fan of Sarah Dessen. Nicole Williams' Trusting You & Other Lies is of the same caliber, that is to say, amazing. In recent years I have read far more adult novels, but this new release made me remember why I love YA/NA reads so much. The feelings, the endless possibilities, the lessons we learn at that age that remain relevant even as we age, they are all in this book and then some. Plus, it helps that the cover is stunning, eye catching, and bears the name of Nicole Williams; she's an author guaranteed to give you a good story with fantastic dialogue and riveting prose.

"I didn't do boy-crazy, I reminded myself. I didn't do weak-kneed and tongue-tied and starry-eyed. I did Miss Independent. I did my won thing. I did guys-were-a-nice-perk-but-not-the-pinnacle. That was my MO."

Phoenix and her parents haven't been in a good place for two years, she knows they're keeping secrets. Forced to spend the summer before her senior year at a family summer camp, Phoenix is anything, but happy. The only saving grace is her brother Harrison, his happiness is more important. She's using the time to work as a counselor and save money to buy a car so she can leave her family and all their problems behind. When she finds out that her trainer is the tough, but warm counselor known as Callum she thinks things might just perk up a little, that she'd even have a friend during the mess. What she doesn't count on is her part in number of camp incidents and their trust slowly dwindling away even as their friendship evolves into something more.

"I didn't really know him at all, but I could already tell Callum wasn't your typical guy. I like that about him. Or i respected that about him, because - I reminded myself- there was nothing I should "like" when it came to Callum."

Trusting You & Other Lies took me back to my summer vacations from school, I was a massive fan of summer camp, but Phoenix's other issues felt like my own. Secrets kept by parents are hard, as a teen you are already a jumble of emotions, but being forced to endure a summer of family bonding, even though there is no bond to work on? Even harder. Phoenix is a tough character, we're only aware of her general unhappiness with her family, her absolute hatred of spending her summer away from her friends, and that she relies on morning runs to get her through everything. Even her take on no boys becomes muddied once she meets Callum. He challenges her, he makes her face his trust issues, though he struggles to face his own. Through first meeting, to first accident, and all the way to the very end, they share this connection that neither is prepared to confess to. I loved Callum, his history, and every single page that he showed up on. He's the boy you wouldn't probably pick first to fall for, but once you do he's everything you ever wanted, even if you didn't know it. He and Phoenix have a rocky friendship, a blossoming young relationship, and a shared lesson in trust, forgiveness, and self-love. Phoenix's family though, their issues require some extensive digging to work through. There's no easy way to be a parent, there's no easy way to be a kid, and Nicole Williams did a stunning job showing just how frustrating it is to be at that middle age where you're still a teen, but on the cusp of adulthood.

"I couldn't look at him. I could barely talk to him. I was just so angry at him and circumstances and...I was just so, so angry."

It's a cute, summer read that tackles relevant topics for teens, but in a way that doesn't take over the story. I loved the activities, the interactions, every single bit of dialogue, and Harry is the cutest child I've ever met in a book. It made me laugh, it made me cry, and it made me want to read all of my favorite summer-y YA books again. There's extensive character development and every character, even the most minor one, like her dad, show growth through out the novel. Just as rivers do, Phoenix's family life had roaring rapids to it, but the calm peace could be found along it too. Trusting You & Other Lies is a coming of age story that readers of all ages can pick up and relate to, whether from nostalgia or present experience. It made me want to be a teen again, to experience those butterflies again, and even to learn those hard lessons that make youth something we all look back on.

"When he was kissing me, it was easy to forget that summer would come to an end."

Just a day ago, I was minding my own business, living my life and worring—bitting-my-nails kind of worried—over whether or not I would enjoy this YA book. Worry not you all, I just finished it and discovered it is one of my favorite Young Adult books.
FYI, Nicole Williams is great at writing YA books.


Phoenix’s summer wasn’t going like she had planned. Not even close. She wanted to stay in sunny California and be with her friends and get ready for her last year of high school.

Instead, she’s stuck in the middle of nowhere Arizona with her brother Harry and her parents—who are currently at the top of her “Give the cold shoulder” list just below her cheating ex-boyfriend.

As if that torture wasn’t enough, she has to deal with Callum gorgeous head counselor who seems to like her one second and ignores her the next. Why does he have to be so darn mysterious?!

Phoenix thinks the only good thing about being a counselor at Camp Kismet is that by the end of the summer she’s going to have enough money to buy herself a car. Little did she know, being a counselor at Camp Kismet would turn this into the best summer she’s ever had.


I love me a good Young Adult read. They are my favorite books to read. Sadly, I’m hard to please when it comes to YA books and it is hard for me to find stories that I actually enjoy. I feel like most of the time YA stories are shooting unnecessary drama all over the place and I know teenagers are like little adults stuffed with drama—believe me, I’m one of them—but most of the stories seem very unrealistic to me.

That was absolutely not the case with Trusting You & Other Lies. This book is realness at its finest. It is everything I love and hate about being a teenager in 304 pages. It is my life and what I wish my life was. It is me and it is my complete opposite at the same time.


Tiny PSA: There’s a weird thing that I do where I figure out how much I love a YA book by the amount of quotes I can collect from it. Let me tell you, the amount of quotes I got out of this book is insane. I squeezed the crap out of this story.


There is one thing, one little detail that could have made this book better—as if it wasn’t already perfect, can someone roll their eyes at me please. Having alternating point of views would have been amazing. I’m still craving to get inside Callum’s head. As soon as I finished reading it, I was dying for more Callum in my life. He is my dream book boyfriend. Can someone bring him to life so I can kiss his face? Thanks.


Trusting You & Other Lies was the perfect way to begin my summer. It is the perfect summer read. I read it at the perfect moment in my life, just when I was in desperate need of it. I couldn’t be more thankful to Nicole Williams for giving me the chance of reading this book and reviewing it. There is a beautiful message inside this book and I hope y’all give yourselves the chance of discovering it.

Phoenix is having a major issue with her parent's right now. She knows something up with them and discovered something but when she tries to get them to fess up to what she found they just keep telling her lies. Now the whole family is going to summer camp the summer before her senior year. This is something she isn't happy about at all, she want to hang out with her friends back home, no be at some camp with her family. So now she has to be crammed into a cabin with her family. She only excited for her little brother, Harry who can't wait to go and enjoy some adventures at camp.

Phoenix is working as a counselor and Callum the hot head counselor is who is training her and he seems like its a know it all sometimes and other times not so much. She can't get a read on him, he hot one minute and cold the next. He is impossible for Phoenix to figure out. She is completely attracted to him but until she knows how he feels she doesn't know how to act around him. Can she trust Callum or is he just like everyone else and is all about telling lies?


First I have to say that I love Nicole Williams and haven't ever been disappointed in any of her books that I have read. She is amazing author and her books always bring me to tears. She brings out all the emotions in me and that what makes her stories so great because they give you the feels. I love Phoenix and Callum; they have great chemistry together. There is a lot going on then just their chemistry and I enjoyed them opening up to each other, it's not something that happens over night but I love that aspect of the story. There is a lot of growth from many of the characters throughout this story. It's one I would recommend you one click!

Trusting You and Other Lies is a highly addictive YA that takes you back to when you were a teenager and summer camp was a place to escape. It's also more than just that. It's a lesson on trust, life, love, loyalty and how much your family really does love you. Things aren't always what they seem and you shouldn't take them at face value.

Phoenix is a very like-able character. She's funny, smart, not too whiny. Just a normal teenager that thinks the whole world is on her shoulders. Camp Kismet is not how she plans to spend her summer but she has to make the best of it.

Harry.. I absolutely love Harry!!! If I had a brother I would want him to be Harry. He's so smart and intelligent that it's crazy and we really see him shine when he goes to camp. He's in his element and it's amazing what the outdoors does for everyone.

Then Callum.. silent, sulky, broody Callum. There's so much more to him than his body and good looks. There's a boy who's looking for someone to help him. To show him there are great things ahead for him.

Nicole Williams never disappoints me. Regardless what genre she writes she exceeds each one flawlessly. I really think you could tell her to write a book about eggplants and it would be fascinating by the time Nicole was done writing it. She has magical fingers and a more fascinating, unique mind than most authors I've read.

When I first heard that this book was going to be taking place at a summer camp and with camp counsellors, I jumped on this opportunity like white on rice. As a teenager, I went to summer camp for years and then when I was fifteen, I started working there for the summer. It was the best thing ever. Two days after school ended, you pack everything up and live with your friends for two and a half months out of the year. Doing this until I went to college, I got a pretty good handle on how camps work and run, what’s expected of the counsellors and activity instructors, etc. When I started reading Trusting You, it sent me way back to those summers and I couldn’t be happier to relive and remember some of those memories from many moons ago. Williams does a fantastic job of helping the reader reminisce about their summers as a child (even if you didn’t go to camp). It’s just got a summery feel to it. You can practically hear the wind rustling through the trees and picture the old cabins and dining hall.
“It isn’t my birthday.” “
It doesn’t have to be for someone to give you a gift.”
I worked my tongue into my cheek. He was as stubborn as someone else I knew. “I’d like to pay you back.”
“And I’d like a twelve-inch meatball sub in my mitts right this minute, but sometimes we just have to live with our disappointment.”
Sometimes I have a hard time with authors that I already know going from romance or New Adult to telling Young Adult stories; I just don’t always find the voice believable. However in this case, I actually really enjoyed the story and the way that the author not only told it, but her heroine’s voice and how consistent it was.
“[A]t that moment, sitting across from him, pretending to study for our SATs, I wasn’t thinking about the heap of reasons we didn’t make sense.
I was only thinking about the reasons we did.”
I enjoyed the issue of trusting others in this story and how it was a main focus. Not only that, but this lesson is applied in several different ways, so you can see it from different perspectives. However, if I could’ve changed one thing, I would’ve liked to see more depth between the relationship of the hero and heroine, not just the hero growing and the heroine growing separately, if that makes sense. I wanted some of those nostalgic butterfly moments that you would get as a teen and being around the boy you liked. The little, cute, defining moments that help building up a relationship, especially in YA when physical intimacy isn’t something that you can rely on. Back to the trust concept, with regards to the plot/conflict, I thought it was fine in relation to the family issues, but whereas talking about the romance aspect, I thought that the resolution between the characters just felt a little -meh-. I just wasn’t overly excited or interested in their little make up moment.
“I wasn’t weaker because of Callum O’Connor—I was stronger.”
This is definitely a summery read, though with trust issues being a factor, it may not be one for the beach. Though it’s still on the light side and cute, so don’t worry about being overloaded with angst. I enjoyed Phoenix, Callum and Camp Kismet, so I guess that means this is another winner by Nicole Williams!
I kissed Callum O’Connor. Soft and sweet, even a little unsure at first.
Finally.
And then he kissed me back. Hard and lingering, like he’d never been so sure of anything before.
His hand found my waist, and his arm slid around it as his body kept mine pinned against the picnic bench. He tasted like sunshine and a storm, and he kissed like we had forever and had run out of time.
He kissed me like I’d wanted to be kissed my whole entire life—like I was everything.
 
*An ARC was received in exchange for an honest review.

*Review by Shannon

Sweetly charming and filled with the reality and harsh consequences of a family torn apart, Trusting You & Other Lies was not only romantic but heartwarming, too. Nicole Williams captured a seventeen-year-old girl's mentality with skill, playing her feelings and reactions like a finely-tuned instrument. A summer of camp, stuck with her family, and the possibility of one boy who can get her to see what she's been missing all along.

With a family suffering from lies, avoidance, lack of affection, and disconnect, and a summer camp as a last resort to finding harmony, Phoenix found herself not only walled off from her parents, but from her own instincts as well. She was a girl conflicted, torn between anger and love to the two people who should never fall below love. This book was about so much more than a summer romance between a girl and a boy, but about the deeply-woven relationships of family, the people you trust most, and the consequences of what happens when that trust has dissolved. It affected more than just each person individually, but in how they viewed or treated those around them; issues that both Phoenix and Callum shared due to their home lives. I loved that, in a world so unsure and rocky, these two like-minded souls found one another, learned from each other, and unearthed something within themselves from it.

Trusting You & Other Lies was a perfect, light summer read. I fell for Williams' writing with her early Young Adult novels and I loved getting to experience it once again. The romance was sweet, comforting, and powerful in its effect. The familial relationships written about in this novel felt real and evocative, just as Phoenix as a main character did. Her growth and ability to change throughout the novel was inspiring to watch. It's the kind of novel worth reading to experience a young woman finding what's important about life and how the support of one unbiased person can help her find that inner strength.