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.

Really enjoyed this one. A creative story with interesting characters and a great setting. It got pretty wacky, and I felt like there were threads that could’ve been explored a little more - for ex, what’s Michael’s super secret work? How much do his colleagues know? Does actual research happen in the research center or is his purpose all there really is to it? Regardless a fun read I will certainly recommend to others

Wow! What a fun read! This thriller had me interested from chapter one. I would recommend going in blind, don’t read the synopsis. I loved both main characters and their unique histories. Did the ending completely shock me? No… but I still enjoyed every page!

This book sucked me in and I devoured it in 2 days. This is the first book for me by this author and I can say that I will be getting more. I love a fast paced thriller and this delivers. The relationship between Leo and Summer is sweet and makes you see how friends for life can actually be your sisters and what you would do for them.
I wish I could give 1/2 stars… because this is a solid 3 1/2 stars for me!!!

Summer and Leo are best friends who live their lives by scamming and taking advantage of men. They look for the best deal, and think they have found it in a tech zillionaire. But he takes Leo to his private island, and she disappears. Summer tries to find her, and things go from bad to worse. This is a fun psychological thriller, and a quick read. #youcantrustme #wendyheard #psychologicalthriller #suspensenovel #bookstagram #booklover #reader #bookblog #lovetoread #fictionreader #bookreview #bookrecommendation #readersofinstagram #bookloversofinstagram #takeapagefrommybook #readallthebooks #booksbooksbooks

This was a pretty fun thriller with 2 great female characters. I really enjoyed it!

I don’t think I’ve ever read a story with 2 off the grid female con artists/thieves before, and I was surprised how much I like both of them and cheered them on. They aren’t “good guys” but they have their reasons…

I loved the friendship and bond between the 2 MCs, and the pacing of the story. This was action packed! While you do figure out the twist about half way though, it’s still a very satisfying unveiling of events. Solid writing and dialogue, bonus points for a very cool island setting.

I look forward to reading this author again! Great summer thriller!

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book early in exchange for my honest review.

This is a great thriller and an easy read. The friendship was of summer and Leo was a nice touch and the pacing was well done. I usually don’t like multiple POVs but I enjoyed this one. Overall a great read and I’ll be purchasing it to gift to my mother!

A fast-paced suspense novel and feel-good friendship story all in one, You Can Trust Me by Wendy Heard can largely be described as a fun book. Best friends and partners-in-crime Summer and Leoneli are not particularly round characters, but they’re humorous and endearing nonetheless. When their bond and their safety are predictably tested after “Leo” earns the trust of charming billionaire Michael, Summer proves to be as tough and resourceful as she is jaded and manipulative in her quest to save the only family she knows. Heard is masterful in pacing her development of Leo’s character from goofy and gorgeous to vulnerable but strong as her dark past is revealed during her fateful time with Michael. Ultimately, the novel has an unsurprising but satisfying ending. I would happily read Heard’s work again.

3.5 stars rounded up.
Summer and Leo are best friends. And grifters. Summer was born into a nomad life with her free spirited mom who abandoned her at 17. Leo, six years younger, ran away from home after a tragic family event. Summer took Leo under her wings and taught her how to con, pick pocket, and live life on the road with multiple identities. Leo's next target is Michael Forrester, a super wealthy Silicon Valley CEO. Leo manages to track him down on an L.A. business trip and he is hooked immediately. He invites her to a party and she brings Summer along.

The party is the last time Summer sees Leo. She is desperate to find her and discovers Michael has a big shareholders event on his own private island near Catalina. Summer, being the con woman she is, scores an invite to the event. Will she be able to find her best friend?

The pacing of this book was very effective. It rotated between Summer and Leo's POV with some flashbacks from both of their respective pasts. I loved the pickpocketing and stealing watches from ignorant rich people parts, so very Ocean's 8. While i really enjoyed the two main characters, I think the secondary characters could have been flushed out a little stronger.

All in all a satisfying thriller, a great beach read. Thank you Random House and NetGalley for the ARC for my honest review.

I truly struggled to put this book down... I finished in 3 days and found myself reading any chance I could. On break at school, at bars when I didn't want to be on social media, before going to sleep, when I woke up, on lunch breaks for work... literally ANY chance I could to discover what secrets were being hidden.

What caught my eye was the unique plot. Two best friends make a living conning people, but it's not too much of a choice. One of the girls doesn't even know her own last name due to growing up in a nomad lifestyle... I couldn't imagine not having a birth certificate, no identification other than first name, and not even knowing when your birthday is. what!! Hasn't caught your attention yet? Just wait...

Leo (one of the women) sets her eyes on a billionaire and is invited to his private island. only she disappears... Summer does what one usually does when a friend goes missing -- reports to the police and what do you know? they pass it off as "oh I'm sure she's out somewhere enjoying herself, don't worry about it" Summer finds a way to get onto the island and discovers secrets she wasn't expecting.

I loved both characters in this book!! they were such likable characters and it was a nice switch up to having female best friends as the main characters rather than the typical sisters or male and female friendship. There were different POVs throughout the book which made it to when one chapter ended, you NEEDED to keep reading to find out what the heck happened. The author - Wendy did an exceptional job at keeping the pace, there wasn't a moment where I was bored. The right amount of suspense draws one into the book making you anticipate what will happen next. I'll be adding this author's books to my tbr and MOST definitely purchasing this physical copy as soon as it's released. I can't stop raving about it to my book friends...

Step into the thrilling world of grifting and deception with Wendy Heard's latest novel, perfect for fans who craved more of Lucia and Mia's perspectives in season 2 of White Lotus!

This book is my first novel from Wendy Heard, but it won't be my last. In this popcorn thriller, best friends Summer and Leo have each other's backs through thick and thin but face one of their greatest challenges together.

Summer, an expert pickpocketer, takes Leo, a young woman living on the streets, under her wing, and together they plan a con that quickly spirals out of control. These two skilled grifters set their skilled sights on a billionaire named Michael but find themselves in danger when they discover their mark isn't who he seems to be.

When Leo disappears, Summer takes matters into her own hands and infiltrates Michael's private island to find her friend. But with no sign of Leo and no way off the island, Summer begins to suspect that she may have met her match in this page-turning story.

The story, told from alternating perspectives, also builds smart backstories and motives for both Summer and Leo as the two try to find one another again. Heard weaves in these flashback sequences seamlessly, helping to build tension, suspense, and connection through these timelines.

Her writing shines in her grifting sequences, and many passages seem borrowed from Epstein's island, and the horrifying ways women were lured and held there. The problem in this story is that this millionaire may have met his match by trying to con these seasoned grifters, challenging any narrative of victimhood and making it feel feminist-forward.

If you loved this book, Heard also has a few other suspense and thriller titles for adults and teens, including The Kill Club, She's Too Pretty to Burn, and Dead End Girls.

I recommend Pretty Things or Stonecold Fox for a great grifter of a summer book stack.

This was a quick, entertaining read! I enjoyed being able to read the story from both Summer and Leo’s perspectives, and the con artist background was a change up from the usual thriller protagonist (unreliable, alcoholic female). It was a little predictable, but the pacing kept me engaged. Would be great to read on a flight or vacation.

Thanks to Random House and Netgalley for the ARC!

Occasionally, @Netgalley reaches out to me with an ARC suggestion based on my previous reading. This tale, about two best friends who live off the grid and support themselves by thieving and conning, was interesting. When the con artist disappears on an island off the coast of California with an incredibly rich (and twisted!) man, the thief sets off in hot pursuit to find her. A lot of bad decisions along the way by the thief lead to both of them almost being killed, but all works out in the end (of course!). One plot point seemed far fetched (dead sister) and you could see it coming a mile away. I think, however, if you are looking for a quick read for the beach or a long plane ride, this will not disappoint.

Really enjoyed this book. Was the perfect mix of drama and suspense. Kept you guessing till the end and I wasn’t expecting the ending

I felt satisfied when I closed the book. This is a 5-star read for me! The two main characters are smart, interesting, and make you want to root for them. The scenery was vivid, I felt like I was inside the book.

Great writing! Very twisty and thrilling. A few times I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what was going to happen. Great read!
thank you to net galley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for this advanced copy. This is the first novel I’ve read by Wendy Heard and look forward to reading more. This was an entertaining from the get go. A twisty read that I definitely recommend to others. I loved the two POVs and the various timelines. I read this over a weekend as I didn’t want to put it down!

You Can Trust Me is far from your usual thriller (you know… lakes, cabins, small towns) and is a perfect summer thriller.

This fast paced book has a private island, money, and warm weather.

We are introduced to two attractive best friends, Summer and Leo, who have been living together in Summer’s Land Cruiser for the past several years in California. They have left their previous lives behind and rely on each other to have enough money to survive. Summer is an expert pick pocketing while Leo takes a more long game approach to earn money. Leo ends up meeting billionaire Michael. Things end up going her way, and he wants to take her to his private island. However, Leo actually disappears and Summer has no clue what happened to Leo. They have not been apart in years, and Summer is rightfully worried.

This book flips between Summer and Leo’s points of view. We end up learning their back story and how they both ended up surviving on their own before their paths crossed. Both are interesting stories and keep the plot interesting. The significant twists were mostly at the end. My only possible dislike was at times I felt the resolution worked out a little too easily/well but overall was still satisfying.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine / Bantam, Wendy Heard, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced reader’s copy.