Well, this kept me on my toes! Summer and Leo are a super close knit friendship bonded on the road together living out of their vehicle while keeping afloat swindling others for their money. Leo owes Summer a debt she doesn’t feel she can repay but she is going to try and that pay day will come courtesy of one Michael Forrester. Chance encounter? Match made in Heaven? What secrets does Leo keep that she should’ve told Summer long before?

This book was a pretty fast paced one that you don’t want to put down. While I did feel the ending was rushed, a little unbelievable and quite anti-climactic, I think it would make a great movie!

I loved this book! I loved the setting, I loved the characters, I loved the suspense, I loved the plot twists! Excited for more by Wendy Heard!

Thank you to @atRandom and #NetGalley for the digital ARC of #YouCanTrustMe. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

Set mostly in present day California against the background drop of the ultra-wealthy tech industry, this is a pretty decent suspense/thriller about 2 young women surviving as hustler-pickpockets. Summer has been on her own since her "free spirit bohemian" mom abandoned her in a campground. When she befriends Leo, she feels like she's "found" family again. While working a 'mark', Leo disappears and Summer knows she has to do whatever it takes to find out what happened to her. Told in alternating points of view (Summer/Leo), there's some good twists and some predictable turns.

This would be a perfect beach/vacation read. Haven't read this author before. May check out some of her other books.

This was okay. I got bored with some parts and guessed a few of the twists way before they happened, but overall it was a quick, fun read. It got slow at times but the action segments were pretty good. I wouldn't read this again, but I would probably read other books by this author.

I felt a little bored by this. Leo and Summer consider themselves like sisters. They live out of Summer’s truck and make their living by conning people. Summer’s specialty is pickpocketing while Leo is more into the long game. She is looking for a billionaire to swindle, but she winds up getting more than she bargained for.

There were no likable characters here. None. And I felt like the twist needed more depth. I still don’t really understand how that happened. Everyone seemed a little evil or at the very least, cared about money more than anything else. The ending wasn’t Really satisfying either. I would consider this 2.5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley for a free copy on exchange for an honest review.

Pub date: 6/13/23
Genre: thriller
Quick summary: Con artist BFFs Summer and Leo have found their newest mark - philanthropist Michael. But then easy money turns a lot more dangerous.

Oh, how I love a con artist thriller. There are always so many layers, and you never know who's playing whom. This book is no exception. It sucked me in and kept me reading, and there were some twists that came out of nowhere! I don't want to say too much for fear of spoilers, but if "con artist BFFs" sounds at all interesting to you, you should give this one a try! I haven't seen The White Lotus, but it seems like it gives those sorts of vibes.

Thank you to Bantam Books for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a good book - I love the con story and the Robin Hood of it all - only the super-rich will be affected. It was hard to put down. My only quibble is that the timelines were confusing - I had to keep going back to see what day and time it was for that section.

Thank you for the ARC NetGalley!

Got me out of my thriller slump!

You Can Trust Me is a gripping thriller about two con artists whose target is not who he seems to be--putting their con and lives in danger.

Summer grew up off the grid. At a young age, she was taught to pickpocket, and now in her 30s, she is a master at not being seen stealing from those around her. She takes Leo, a young woman living on the streets, under her wing, and the two women join forces to con a billionaire. But when Leo doesn’t return from a trip with the billionaire, Summer must risk it all to save her friend.

The bulk of the story takes place in the present and the chapters alternate between Summer and Leo. Summer’s voice got me from the start--I was immersed within the first few pages. She is a strong and dynamic character. Leo’s voice is quiet but equally intriguing in a different way.

Both of their stories contain flashbacks which allow the reader insight into how they came to be. Summer’s character is more dynamic, but Leo’s story is just as intriguing as Summer’s. The friendship between these two women is strong, and their bond propels the narrative.

This book took me on a ride. I was never quite sure where it was headed or how things would play out. A significant plotline revolves around a pretty big conscience, which normally would irk me, but in this case, it is so tightly wound that it works. You Can Trust Me is packed with tension and suspense, twists and turns, and one super creepy character.

Thrillers are my favorite genre, but lately, I have read dud after dud--even by my go-to authors. When I started this book, I went in with zero expectations--I have never read anything by Wendy Heard, so I was pleasantly surprised when I found myself instantly immersed. What makes her a standout is her strong characterization. While I have read plenty of plots revolving around con artists, this one felt fresh, and it was exciting to read.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Random House Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

Title: You Can Trust Me
Author: Wendy Heard
Publisher: Bentham
Pub Date: June 13, 2023
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📚Synopsis:
✨Summer and Leo come from different backgrounds but find common ground in the here and now. They have carved out a life together as soul sisters, looking out for another as they travel around California in Summer’s LandRover looking for their next target. Summer found she has a talent as a pickpocket, something her free spirited and nomadic mother taught her before abandoning Summer as a teenager. In any given day/night, Summer can bring home a couple of hundred dollars or a couple thousand. Cash is preferred but she will take what she can get such as jewelry to pawn or sell. Leo prefers the long game with the potential for a large payout.
✨The girls find themselves at a bar where Leo strikes up a conversation with a handsome man she recognizes as a billionaire tech innovator. This run in wasn’t accidental; Leo is a master at following and watching social media, noting which locations the wealthy are tagging themselves in.
✨Leo and Michael, the tech innovator hit it off and Michael asks Leo if she is interested in accompanying her to his hotel room. She readily agrees and makes sure to update Summer. Once at the hotel room, Leo confesses to Michael that she loves adventure, the unexpected, and being spontaneous. Michael says he loves and appreciates a girl like that and offers to take Leo on a thrilling nighttime ride on his boat to his private island. This is just the kind of long game Leo has been looking for and throws herself at this once in a lifetime opportunity.
✨Summer and Leo suddenly fall out of contact with one another and Summer quickly realizes something is amiss. She knows Leo would never take off without telling her yet there is that small part of her that is reminded that her own mother abandoned her. Pushing that thought aside, she’s determined to get her own invitation to this private island to make sure Leo is okay. She finds a world unlike anything she’s ever seen. This island is a dangerous place where the past life of the girls will catch up with them. Alliances are made, lies unfold, and not everyone makes it safely off the island.

📚Thoughts/Recommendations:
✨This is the first book I’ve read from Wendy Heard and I appreciate the strong spirit of women she captured. I enjoy books wherein women look out for one another and aren’t just petty and seeking ways to stab someone else in the back. This book showed female strength and a determination to survive no matter what and regardless the cost. I would say this books falls into the genre of mystery and thrillers involving strong female characters. If you enjoy elements of sisterhood, righting the wrongs in the world, the strength of being a survivor, female empowerment, and mystery then I would check this out! I have already added additional books by Wendy Heard to my TBR list.

📚Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ahead of its release in exchange for an honest review.

Based in California, Summer and Leo are two thieves who have no home and are always on an adventure to get by with what they have. Despite lacking in riches, they maximize on the qualities they do have which is beauty, pick pocketing and tricking men into falling in love with them. Leo meets a billionaire and gets swept away in the thick of it all. However, a rendezvous night and Leo becomes missing. Where is Leo? And at what lengths is Summer willing to go to find out the truth?

I've never heard of Wendy Heard and was immediately enticed to read this thriller due to the cover (guilty). How I would describe the novel is it definitely is a thriller that is more women's fiction forward which I enjoyed. The dynamics and female friendship between Summer and Leo was great. The writing is easy to follow and plot line is extremely fast paced due to the nature of the novel being not only dual POV but with a past/present timeline. There are definitely moments of whiplash and plenty of plot twists to keep the reader engaged. I read basically in a sitting.

However, I wish there was a bit of less 'tell' and more 'show.' As well, when describing emotions, the author tended to use the word 'thing' instead of showcasing the emotions/actions. In addition, the cliches/stereotypes are too heavily shoved in the reader's face with the concept of the wealthy and how man ain't all that and some. What was surprising to me is I was able to guess the major plot twist, but the author did get me with the minor ones!

Overall, if you're looking for a fast paced thriller (or a fan of Freida McFadden because the vibes are similar, do pick it up on pub date which is 6/13/2023!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine/Bantam for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions.

This book wasn’t for me, simply because of the final reveal. It was a bit too dark/creepy for my taste. This book is dual POV told from the perspectives of our main characters Summer and Leo, two grifters who survive by conning rich people. What could possibly go wrong? The answer, Leo is missing and Summer must figure out what happened. The main suspect Michael was just a bit too creepy for me, and if anything, I needed to understand more why the way he was. I did love the friendship between Summer and Leo and how much they looked out for each other.

A big thank you to Random House Publishing Group/Ballantyne and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book!

You can trust me was pretty well written. It doesn’t have a long build up like most psychological thrillers do, it catches your attention fairly quickly in the first few chapter. I loved that it kept you guessing about Leo’s past throughout the book and brought everything together and answered all your questions by the end of the book.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this ARC!

I cannot even begin to say that this has been by far my favorite read of 2023.

Summer and Leo are two women with no home, no personal belongings and always up for adventure. They are extremely good at two things; pickpocketing and making men fall in love with them.

Though there is a slight age gap, Leo is considered to be Summer’s protégé and her “younger sister”. But neither one of them know the extent of each other’s past lives, and how they will resurface when they meet one man.

I loved the dynamic characteristics of both of these main characters. I have never read anything so powerful when it comes to women in mystery thrillers. This story kept me on my toes, and I finished it in less than a day, but I struggle to put into words how amazing this read is, and how amazing this read would be for other people.

I hope in the future we can hear more about summer and Leo, because they are like the modern day Thelma and Louise.

Thank you to Random House - Ballantine and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

You Can Trust Me by Wendy Heard is the perfect beach read! The story revolves around Summer and Leo, two best friends who are also con artists. Leo's latest target is Michael Forrester, a billionaire who invites her to his private island. When Leo doesn't return from her trip, Summer has no choice but to go undercover on Michael's private island to find out what happened to Leo. Will Summer find the truth and expose what happened to Leo, or will she be the next girl to disappear?

Here is a gripping excerpt from the Prologue:

"With no adults looking, my hand snaked over, pinched the twenty, and as she walked away, it slipped out of her pocket and into my hand.
And so I learned my first lesson about pickpocketing: The target must be distracted, and the friction of the item leaving their pocket must blend in with the friction they feel from movement. Pickpocketing requires empathy, knowing how it feels to be in someone’s body, even the micro things like how their pants fit around the hips, how their purse slings across the chest.
My mom didn’t notice. She was sitting back down, arranging her skirt.
...
I shoved it deep into my pocket. It was mine."

Overall, You Can Trust Me is a vacation thriller that will appeal to fans of White Lotus. One highlight of this book is the intriguing premise. When I read the synopsis, I immediately wanted to read this book. Another highlight of his book is the mystery aspect. It definitely kept me turning the pages, and I did not want to put it down. The plot really picks up and gets exciting halfway through. One last highlight is the climax, which is terrifying and action-packed. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of thrillers in general, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in June!

This was an amazing wild read. I could not put it down, such a really gripping good read about doing whatever it takes to survive. I also loved the power of female friendship. I've had really strong female friendship bonds, so I personally get it. I literally devoured this read and plan to buy it when it releases.

I really enjoyed reading You Can Trust Me. I read it quickly because I kept wanting to find out what happened next. Summer and Leo are great characters - capable, independent, adventurers. But when Leo doesn't return from her date with Micheal, Summer isn't sure if Leo is heading out on her own or if something went wrong. I consider this book a thriller - the tension and mystery build throughout the book. I'd love to read more books by Wendy Heard. Thank you to NetGalley for and an advanced copy in return for my honest review.

I was asked to read “You Can Trust Me” by Wendy Heard and went into reading the book, blindly, not even looking at the synopsis first.

Summer and Leo are bound by the fact that they do not fit in anywhere but with each other. They survive by taking what they need, but Leo decides to set out and trap a bigger catch, billionaire Michael Forrester. Yet, when Leo gets an invite to a big party, she fails to return. Summer, not sure how she can manage to survive on her own, is determined to find out what has happened to her friend, which leads her (and the reader) on a roller coaster ride.

The writing moves at a lively space and I found myself in places, unable to put the book down as I wanted to know what happened next. The story wasn’t necessarily deep but it was enjoyable.

Three and a half stars.

Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for my advanced copy.

Summer and Leo are friends living in a van in California. They are grifters, living their way, when Leo meets billionaire Michael. This was a very good, fast-paced story and I really enjoyed it. Great beach read. Recommended!

The story of two girls Summer and Leo that bond as grifters and con women had me intrigued. They lured rich billionairs to get money to survive. But then Leo goes missing. Did she want to go out on her own? You want to keep reading to find out..

I have just read You Can Trust Me By Author Wendy Heard.

This is a thriller book about two friends Leo and Summer, who have gone through a rough patch in life and are living together in a van in California.

The story caught my attention right away, and I was enjoying it till about the halfway point or so, then it seemed to fizzle out for me personally.

They get by with pickpocketing and are con artists.This book really had a beach read, chick storyline feel to it.

As mentioned, I did enjoy it, but really would have liked more depth into the storyline and plot both. I had a hard time getting behind the main characters.

Thank You to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine for my advanced copy to read and review.

#netgalley #wendydheard #randomhouse #ballantinebooks