Outstanding!

This one is a solid thriller and a very welcome read after reading a few duds. We have two women, in their 30s, who fall into each other as they try to make their way into the world. Summer is a small time thief, con artist, and pick pocket who lives in her Land Cruiser trying to get by. Along the way she meets Leo, a runaway, and together they lean on each other as they try and get by.

Fast forward to this plot. Leo falls into a certain billionaire, Michael Forrester, and they form a scheme to gain his trust and pull off a con as Michael invites Leo to his private island. But after Leo leaves with Michael, days go by and no word is heard from her. She is just gone.

This is where the book takes off. Summer goes day by day without hearing from Leo, who she has started to depend on over time. Without her she starts losing it and finally she forms a plan to sneak onto that island and get her back.

Bravo! I just love how much these two depended on each other and the lengths they go to to keep each other safe and out of danger. The friendship Summer had with Leo was inspiring and I loved it. The story is written in present day and flashbacks to how these two ended up friends and it was very cohesive and "thrilling"

A great book and highly recommended!

I really appreciate Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Bantam for giving me the opportunity to read this book for free for a honest review and it has a publication date of June 13, 2023

What a ride. This book hit the ground running from page one and it was riveting. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the pages. This was fast-paced and well written, with deep characters that you almost love to detest.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of You Can Trust Me. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

I absolutely devoured this book in about 5 hours, because I simply couldn't put it down. I was instantly drawn in by the characters and the story, even before the thriller plot started. Leo & Summer are the girls you're rooting for, even though they make some pretty bad decisions. If you enjoy the found family through trauma trope, this is the book for you. As for the thriller aspect, I desperately needed to know how it ended and it did NOT disappoint. I did guess the last, biggest twist about 30 pages before it was revealed, but I genuinely enjoyed how it came together. I'm also very into the two-person POV with staggering days, so this was very fun to read for me. I can't wait to read more of Wendy Heard's books and I would highly recommend this one!

Leo and Summer have been carving out a life for themselves along the California coast. While Summer loves a good pickpocket scheme, Leo likes to play a longer con. Looking for a big payday Leo finds her perfect mark in a tech billionaire. It’s a game of cat and mouse with high stakes and a luxury island. What’s better than a page-turning thriller? A page-turning thriller set on an island with no way off. It’s not only a great story, it has a lot to say about agency and friendship.

Grab your sunblock and your towel, You Can Trust Me arrives June 13th

Flat story, weird timeline, and a slow pace. Sorry this was just not enjoyable to me.
Thank you though to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

This thriller had a very interesting premise- a couple of homeless friends, scamming billionaires to get by when they meet one mark who may be more than they can handle. I enjoyed the book, however the lacing was a bit slow for my liking. Aside from that, it was an enjoyable read. I would read more from this author.

Thanks to the Publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy. I enjoyed the non-linear timeline and felt like it gave the story an interesting way to lay out the story. The twist seemed a bit predictable and the ending leaves more questions than answers but all in all a great, quick thriller novel

An easy read with an interesting plot, but uninteresting characters. Found myself not liking the main characters from the beginning of the book. The ending was decent, while slightly predictable.

What entertainment can a billionaire not afford? Michael is very handsome and his blue eyes bewitch young women. Leo is immediately smitten and follows him to his island retreat. Summer, her best friend, wonders what happened to this free spirit and discovers that Leo may have gone to the recluses’ island.

Leo is honored and thrilled that Michael would choose her to go to his island retreat and offer to paint her portrait. His wall is filled with smiling, lovely young ladies. Summer, however, is not convinced that this is a good idea. Her best friend is now incommunicado and she goes to the island to find her friend.

Javier is fiercely loyal to Michael and will protect him with his life. All of the ladies who visit Michael on the island are approved by Javier as there is a danger and potential loss of livelihood if Michael’s secrets are revealed. Summer coming to the island without a real invitation is clearly troubling!

Wendy Heard has developed a fluid and frightening tale of intrigue and suspense off the California coast. The primary lesson of this tale is: “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.” Enjoy the narrative and its’ myriad twists. 4.5 stars – CE Williams

Wow wow wow. I loved this book and was hooked from the very beginning. You get sucked in right away with the main character waking up and having no memory at all with just a note saying don’t worry and don’t look into your past.
I love how she developed friendships along the way trying to find secrets to her past. I really enjoyed this book and got lost in her adventure to find secrets to her past.

You Can Trust Me when I say this is a suspense filled novel! Two friends living off the grid and doing what they know best, being con-women. Their next target isn’t who they thought it would be!
This is a must read for any thriller fans.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love any book about grifters and con artists, and this one was no exception. While I’d definitely classify this as a thriller, I loved how much focus there was on the relationship between Leo and Summer, and how much they truly love each other. This was twisty, riveting, and kept me on the edge on my seat! The second half of the book started to feel a little convoluted once things started going sideways on the private island, but I still enjoyed the ride. This is the perfect beach read, and will be a hit with fans of fast-paced thrillers and strong female friendships.

Thank you to Bantam Books, NetGalley, and Wendy Heard for the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. This book will be available June 13, 2023 and I won’t be surprised if it’s a Reese Witherspoon book club pick. A hot summer thriller with that “stuck on an island” trope. I liked a lot of things about this book: friendship and feminism.

I really liked this book! Two young women living very a unconventional, yet interesting life in California. They think they have it all, and almost do! A thrilling adventure ensues and surprises at every turn. Great ending as well! Thanks for allowing me to rad and advanced copy!

Wendy Heard's You Can Trust Me is a page turner you won't be able to put down. It may not be the most satisfying book you read all year, but you won't regret the ride. Overall, a story with two characters I wanted to root for. I just reviewed You Can Trust Me by Wendy Heard. #YouCanTrustMe #NetGalley
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Two besties, living in a car, petty theft and scams left and right—until one goes missing. The way this book shifts and moves forward at this point is great! I liked both girls, Leo and Summer and all the character building by the author.
I had never read this author prior and really enjoyed and plan to read more. I liked the way the author writes as well as the plot she built. Great story that kept me intrigued from beginning to end!

Summer and Leo are a pair of young, attractive, and homeless best-friends in their 20s. They support themselves in California by petty theft and scamming wealthy men to support themselves. They stake out a billionaire tech CEO and separately find themselves on his private island and research facility for an investors weekend. Things don’t go as planned. This book was really hard to put down and definitely kept my attention. Towards the end I was having trouble with some of the plot twists and the second half of the book really wasn’t holding my interest in the same way. But maybe that’s just my take. I recommend this to those that enjoy romance/thrillers.

This was my first read by this author and I was extremely impressed! The characters kept me engaged the entire way through, and the ending was perfect. I am looking forward to reading more from Wendy Heard!

PUBLICATION DAY: June 13, 2023

This is the fast paced story of Summer and Leo, two con women who rely on each other, as they have no one else to turn to. Worldly Summer thought her luck had changed when she met the innocent and dynamic Leo. Together they rob and steal their way towards a pretty happy life. Until Leo meets billionaire Michael, then all bets are off. When Leo doesn’t call her after a night with Michael, Summer is determined to find her, and when her search leads her to a mysterious island, Summer will stop at nothing to find her friend.

PROS and CONS:
Whoever rated this as Young Adult on Goodreads needs to actually read the book. The author may have written young adult books before but this one is not that. It’s gritty, entertaining and a bit spicy. I loved the alternating chapters between Summer and Leo, and despite their questionable modes of obtaining money, I found myself cheering for them. The timeline was great as Summer’s chapters were just after Leo’s, creating a real sense of tension and mystery as to what happened to Leo. Really good!

READ IT?
If you’re looking for…an intriguing mystery that you just can’t look away from, and with two captivating main characters, then this one’s for you!

4 Stars

Really fast paced thriller about a couple of crafty thieves that get in over their heads with a mark. Pacing was good, atmosphere was intense, plot twist came through. Overall a good quick read.