I can already tell this will be on plenty of 2023 Beach Reads list. Loved the twisty plot, I was constantly on the edge of my seat and had problems putting this book down. Summer and Leo are such a badass duo, exemplifying the unending loyalty that comes from true best friends.

Con artists Summer and Leo bonded over shared traumas in their past and are as close as sisters. When Leo disappears after hooking up with a mysterious billionaire, Summer will leave no stone unturned to find out what happened.

I loved this book! I didn't think I'd like the main characters, but I really did--they were so well-drawn and sympathetic that it was very easy to look past their bad behavior. The author did a masterful job of combining a fast-moving plot with developing the characters of Summer and Leo. I literally could not put this one down and can't wait to read more by Wendy Heard!

I was all-in quickly for this one and finished it in 2 days. The story revolves around Summer and Leo – two women who live in a converted van and steal to survive. They use their looks and get away with it most of the time. While they do the same thing, they are very different characters and I appreciate the delineation between the two. Both have very different pasts and trauma that turned them into grifters.

The bulk of the story starts when Leo meets a tech-billionaire and decides she will seduce him and either get presents or steal from him. She meets him at a hotel and disappears, leaving Summer to find her. When Summer learns he took her to his island off the California coast, she scams her way onto the island to rescue her.

This is a very unique plot with ample twists that I didn’t see coming. I enjoyed the writing and the snarky man-hating dialogue. I will be reading more of her books.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for this ARC.

An utterly intriguing plot that kept me wanting to read more. One of the big twists I guessed pretty early on and I don't usually do that, so the twist will probably be obvious to many readers. I liked the sisterly bond between Leo and Summer, a nice found family.

Summer and Leo are two best friends and con artists. When Leo ends up invited to a billionaire/philanthropist’s private island she sees it as an opportunity. However, Leo ends up missing and Summer must infiltrate the island and try to find out what happened to her friend.

You Can Trust Me is a very tense and fast paced thriller that I could not put down and read in practically one sitting. I definitely recommend it- this was the first book that I read by Wendy Heard and it won’t be the last!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Expected publication: June 13, 2023

You Can Trust Me is one harrowing psychopathic experience for Leo and Summer two seasoned thiefs and adventurers. As you cheer for their survival, the situations become more tense and hopeless Wendy Heard has penned a dynamic thriller that keeps you reading until the horrific ending.

𝑰𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝑰 𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒘 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒅𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒎𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒔 𝒅𝒂𝒊𝒍𝒚, 𝒂 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒅 𝒃𝒊𝒓𝒅 𝒇𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒂 𝒔𝒎𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒄𝒂𝒈𝒆.

Told in alternating points of view from grifters Summer and Leo, this thriller had me in its grips from the first page and didn't let go until the last word. This is sure to be a summer bestseller!

I've often wondered what it would be like to hit the open road and live a nomadic lifestyle, unfettered by possessions and the daily grind of trying to earn a living. Summer was born into this lifestyle thanks to a nomadic, free-spirited mother who isn't even sure of her daughter's birthday. Summer has no birth certificate, no last name, and while still in her teens, her mother took off with her latest boyfriend, leaving Summer to fend for herself. Thankfully, she has learned how to pickpocket and con people with ease.

Leo is at her lowest point when Summer finds her. She has left home after a painful incident and is living on the street. The two women become fast friends and travel companions, and soon their lives take a turn when Michael Forrester, self-made billionaire and philanthropist, likes one of her Instagram posts. Seeing him as the mark of a lifetime, the women target him, but little do they do, he's already targeted Leo.

When Leo is invited to his private island, the woman can't believe their luck. But when Leo turns up missing and Michael claims she's never been there, Summer knows she's in for the fight of her life. What exactly is Michael hiding on his island?

People like the fictional character of Michael Forrester terrify me because when a person has so much money, everything becomes disposable, even human beings. This was a tense, fast-paced, character driven drama. I so enjoyed both the alternating points of view and the dual timelines. Many thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the early read. YOU CAN TRUST ME will publish June 13, 2023.

4.5/5

Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review! I was super excited to see I didn’t even have to apply for this ARC, and I was hooked on this book, even though I’ve been in a bit of a reading slump. It’s fast paced and enjoyable - I probably should have figured out the twist, but once it happened it was one that surprised me but ALSO made sense which I appreciate. A lot of thrillers I’ve read have twists for the sake of a surprise, and I appreciate that this one is clear and wasn’t too out there.

I only give it a point off because there’s a character who we never get a follow up to on what happens to them! It’s an intentional open ended thing, not something the author forgot, but I still wanted so badly to get an update.

What a wild ride of cons, action, and just pure desperation. Summer & Leo were quite the team!

This book was your classic marks, cons, and danger wrapped with a locked door type mystery. (On an island) I had felt a slight drag in the pacing but otherwise enjoyed the characters dynamics. I also was a bit confused with so many new players, and the POVs were hit or miss.

Overall a good read while in between novels! Thanks to Randomhouse Publishing Group Ballantine for the E-Arc in exchange for my review!

This breathtakingly intense, excessively claustrophobic, and absolutely exciting thriller grabs you from the beginning! With each chapter, you become more drawn into the universe of drifters and enigmatic, ultra-rich billionaires.

The story revolves around two misfits, grifters, and tough survivors: Summer and Leo. They are accomplices, soul sisters, and con women. Leo, in her late twenties, ran away from her hometown after losing her sister in an accident and becoming tired of picking up the broken pieces of her family. She was found by Summer on the streets at her lowest point: penniless, hungry, and lost.

Summer never knew her full name, her father, or her real birthday. She doesn't exist on paper. Her nomadic mother gave birth to her at the back of a van, and Summer spent her childhood drifting from campsite to campsite with her mother. At the age of 17, her mother left her at a campsite with nothing and without any direction for her life. For years, she searched for Jane Does to find out where her mother was, but she never found her. Leo is the only family she has.

Summer teaches Leo pickpocketing, and they find themselves living in a tricked-out Land Cruiser, lurking around California. As Summer keeps stealing from rich people, Leo sharpens her seduction skills and chooses at least ten-year-older rich men as her prey.

They need more money to keep their heads above water. Luckily, Leo sets her sights on tech billionaire Michael Forrester. She gets an invitation to their party filled with rich investors and plans to end the night in Michael's bed, promising to text Summer the next day at noon.

But the text never comes. That's unlike Leo. Summer returns to the hotel where Michael is staying but realizes he has already checked out and cannot be reached. Could her friend have decided to fly solo, being sick of her protective manner and leaving her behind? The only way to find out is for Summer to seduce one of Michael's co-workers to get an invitation to Michael's private island off the coast for a top-secret technology meeting. There are only 50 people invited to this occasion, and Summer thinks she will find her friend as Michael's date, tanning on the beach, sipping a cocktail, and having the time of her life.

But as soon as she takes her first step onto the island, surrounded by tall, gigantic walls, heavily guarded, and wired, she realizes that something very dangerous is going on in this place. She puts herself in a more dangerous position than she expected, but she is determined to find her friend and get the hell out of this claustrophobic place before all hell breaks loose!

The characterization is perfect, and the riveting pacing and eccentric mystery keep you on your toes. It's a tense, action-packed, dark, and twisty read that thriller lovers will enjoy.

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.

3.5 stars rounded up!

Mixed review, here we go!! I absolutely loved Summer and Leo! Scam artist and pickpocket, living off of the wealth of others with no home to call their own but the back of a tricked out Land Cruiser. These girls truly represented "living life to the fullest" in every possible way. I also really loved the premise of this novel. The storyline was tense and terrifying at times, but I can't say that I agree with the other reviewers that are saying it was fast paced. It was akin to a roller coaster with quite a few uphill climbs. There was a lot of bouncing back and forth between Summer and Leo's POVs, past and present. I think that this actually ruined some of the suspense for me. I'd get all worked up and then read something completely off topic, distracting me from the best feelings one can have while reading a thriller. The reasoning behind Leo's disappearance was extremely odd. I am not discounting the idea. It just wasn't an OMG moment for me. I would have loved to have more "scammer" activity from the girls. I think this would have added more of a dangerous and exciting vibe to the story. With all that being said, I did like this book. I just didn't love it. I think that the POVs alternating so frequently took away from me giving this book a 5-star rating.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for sending me the email widget!! And thank you to the author and NetGalley for allowing me free access to this eARC in exchange for my honest review!!

this was a neat premise, but the execution left me underwhelmed. the chapters bounced back and forth so frequently that the suspense was lost. needed more detail to truly build up the anxiety...! anyway i wish the various "twists" were less obvious. it would have been fun to have more of a puzzle to figure out.

thank you to random house publishing group for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book is tense and terrifying in equal measure. It has a real sinister undertone, but also some lovely moments between best friends.

Summer and Leo live the “van life”, making their living by finagling their way into rich parties so they can pickpocket from the rich and bamboozle men into giving them what they need. One of their marks isn’t what they envisioned and they find themselves in serious peril. They must each make some tough choices to survive. There are so many high octane moments occurring that you’ll be hard pressed to put this one down.

This is a completely immersive, rousing and thrilling story. I give it 4 stars and wouldn’t mind a sequel to this. Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the ARC.

Summer and Leo are best friends who have been grifting their way through Carolina. They are survivors living a nomadic life with just each other and their Land Cruiser. Summer is a brilliant pick pocketer and has an abundance of street smart skills. Leo is a beauty who lures rich men with her long legs and being whoever they want her to be. Leo has her sights set on her next mark. A rich, brilliant eco tech philanthropist named Michael Forrester. Leo quickly wins him over. After a passionate night together, he whisks her away to his private island. What a score, and she can't wait to tell Summer. But Leo never meets back up with Summer. Summer is now worried about her best friend and will do anything she can to find her. She cons her way on to his private island, and slowly unfolds hidden secrets. Will Summer be able to find Leo? Can she survive the island?

What I enjoyed:
- Dual POVS between Summer and Leo. Plus we get glimpses of Summer's past. We learn how both women form their friendship. Plus what got them to this life style.
- I LOVE their friendship. Seriously, they were the sisters they got to chose. Their relationship was beautifully fleshed out.
- The pacing was great! I was able to finish this read in less than a day. I had to know what was Leo and Summer's fates.
- The story was super interesting. I was even interested in the side plots.
- The twists

Overall, I really LOVED this book! I appreciated the fleshed out female friendship portrayed. I also really loved both Summer and Leo. I am about to head to the authors catalog to find my next read! 4 stars out of 5. Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

An immersive, tense, and darkly glamorous thriller.

Summer and Leo are like sisters. They live on the road, roaming around, looking for opportunities (i.e., pickpocketing partygoers in nightclubs and dating wealthy men). When Leo aims high and targets a handsome billionaire, Leo and Summer think this could be their big break. That is until Leo disappears leaving Summer committed to finding out what happened to her. After Summer finagles her way to the billionaire’s private island, she starts to get a bad feeling about what is really going on…

When I saw the positive reviews and particularly, the advance praise referencing Mia and Lucia of White Lotus Season 2, I knew I had to check it out. It is compulsively readable and I did not put it down until I finished. Though I correctly predicted a couple of the twists, there is still plenty of mystery and unanswered questions to keep you guessing (and reading). Recommended to anyone who thinks billionaires are unethical and to those looking for a fast paced page-turner featuring two magnetic leads.

Thank you very much to Random House Ballantine and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

Lots of twists and turns throughout this one! It was a little bit predictable in some areas, but still a very good read that kept me on the edge of my seat. The multiple timelines got a little confusing (especially when Leo’s and Summer’s timelines were separated by just a day or two), but easy to figure out with a few quick page flips back to the start of the previous chapter.

This was very intriguing right from the start,. Even though the two main characters make their way in life by picking pockets and cons, they are likable and interesting. I found them and the story very compelling and different from other thrillers I’ve read and therefore enjoyed this book all the more.

The extremely fast-moving plot grabs your attention. Trust me you won’t be able to put this book down. To add even more inquisitiveness Summer and Leo steal the show. Their imperfections, ride-or-die bond, and all-around dynamic complete the crafty narrative. Despite the fact, a few of the plot scenarios were a bit stretched and the twist predictable it was more than an entertaining read. You will undoubtedly enjoy this female potent duo.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine for an advance readers copy, in exchange for an honest review. You Can Trust Me is the story of Summer and Leo, two close friends who appear to live an extremely glamorous life in California. But, in actuality, they survive by pickpocketing and acting as con artists to the unsuspecting rich. This may sound a bit harsh but, both characters have a conscience about what they are doing and recognize that while profitable, this lifestyle can only take them so far. The story takes a sharp twist when Leo disappears a few mornings after she was last known to be with her next big billionaire target. This leaves it up to Summer to find and hopefully rescue her best friend, without getting caught in the web herself.

This story is just what I could want from a thriller— fast paced, just the right amount of backstory and drama to propel it forward, and an interesting premise that makes you want to find out what happens at the end. While the story frequently switched perspectives between our main characters, I think that it was effective and quick enough so as not to be too disorienting. I also appreciated how quick witted our main character was, as it helped her get out of a few challenging scenarios and also made for interesting sequences of events to read.

While there were elements of the ending that I was able to predict, there were also a few good twists that made for an intriguing conclusion. Thrillers are usually a tough genre for me to begin with but, I’m glad that I read this one. I could see this being a fantastic beach read, easily consumed over the course of a day in the sun, which would pair nicely with the story’s setting.

Heart pounding thriller that left me on the edge of my seat. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one. Definitely one of the best books this year.