This memoir was unbelievable! I had never heard of the author or the hipster grifter prior reading this so I was in for a real treat. Kari was an adoptee from Korea to a Mormon family, this made her feel as if she didn’t belong. She goes on to make a lot of bad choices and actually ends on Utahs most wanted. Absolutely captivating and interesting.

So fascinating! Kari Ferrell lets us in on what it's like to be a transnational adoptee, to be raised in the Mormon Church, to living a life of grifting and then being sent to prison because of her crimes, and then her rehabilitation. She has an incredible way with words and I loved reading each page. This memoir is fun to read and quite entertaining. I was annoyed with her behavior, and really could not connect with her mindset, but I wish her all the best as she strives to live out her best life, and contribute to her community. I hope she publishes a "sequel" in about 10 years!

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review You'll Never Believe Me.

I had never heard of Kari Ferrell before reading this book (but I definitely googled "hipster grifter" as soon as I finished it). I'm fascinated by a lot of different elements in the book: growing up LDS, transnational adoption, selling yourself like a commodity while also focusing on "authenticity"...

I found that the memoir stayed pretty "surface level" to me. While Ferrell talks about her crimes and takes responsibility (for the most part), she doesn't go into her motivations or draw many (any?) conclusions. Obviously people are entitled to their privacy and can write memoirs however they like. I can admit that I expect more of a thesis or driving point in my books, and that includes memoirs. Why did she feel the need to write this? I'm still not sure even after having finished.

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the memoir.

I knew nothing about the Hipster Grifter going into this book, so that was an education in itself. I finished this entire book in one day because I was so fascinated by Ms Ferrell's story. I'm also fascinated with cults so that aspect intrigued me from the get-go. I do feel like there's an unreliable narrator at work here, as well as a lack of remorse, but it was enjoyable all the same.
I would recommend this to others.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the ARC!

In the blurb, it says “Before Anna Delvey…” and already I was interested. However, I don’t think the book really covers a lot of the author’s “hipster grifter” days. And it’s one thing to hear about conning rich people, but it’s harder to hear about when it’s just friends and “regular” people getting scammed.

The author relates how people treated her differently not just from being adopted, but from being a minority in a predominantly white town. (Her white parents adopted her from Seoul.) And I think just her experiences growing up with that in a Mormon community made for an interesting read. She eventually ends up going to jail for her crimes, and then Kari covers some systemic issues with the prison system, too.

Overall, I’d say this was a “come for the grifting, stay for the … moral shifting?” I don’t know, but I liked reading how Kari tried to find herself and deal with bigotry all at the same time. She also is hilarious and I found myself actually laughing out loud more than a couple times.

I wasn't familiar with the hipster grifter, but I was drawn to the title and the cover. A grifter story from the aughts, sign me up. I wanted more self reflection from Kari. She briefly touches on her adoption and possible identity issues but doesn't dig deeper into. There was a lack of remorse in the things she did and a rather cavalier-ness to the story. I mean, she was able to get a job at Vice and reinvent herself over and over again, but I wasn't ever clear on the end game. I wanted more from the story and still felt like it was too long in the middle.

3.5 stars but rounding down.

Thank you for the advanced reader copy St. Martin's Press and Netgalley.

Before reading this memoir, I had never heard of her. This brutally honest book reveals her as sharp-witted and razor-tongued, with a charm that can both steal your heart and your money. From her life with her adoptive parents in Utah, to their unwitting involvement in a cult, her development of skills in writing bad checks for cash, her time in jail, and her many attempts at redemption—her story is a compelling ride. It's fascinating to delve into her memoir.

I wish to thank NetGalley and St. Martin Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

If you, like me, are a particular vintage of millennial, you will remember the Hipster Grifter. For a brief time in the late aughts, stories about her crime spree dominated the snarkiest corners of the internet. Now she’s telling her own story—and it’s one well worth reading.

I basically inhaled this book. As she herself acknowledges, the author is skilled at wielding words, and she’s written an incredibly readable book infused with a darkly witty voice. Her stories about life as a cross-cultural adoptee and Mormon-turned-fraudster are laugh-out-loud funny at some points and heartbreaking at others. I also appreciated her clear desire to be an advocate for incarcerated woman.

If you’re looking for a quick, funny read that feels like talking to the wildest girl in your friend group, this one’s for you.

I find it so hard to give feedback on memoirs without coming across as a commentary on the author themselves rather than the book. I like Kari, and her writing style is easy to read. I wish this book dove deeper into specific parts of her life. I feel like the actual grifting and bad cheques were breezed over in the beginning, then she’s trying to convince us how cool she was in New York, and then bam, jail. I would honestly read a whole memoir about Kari’s time in Jail. That was my favourite section, and the times when she came across most sincere.

I was not familiar with the Hipster Grifter before reading this memoir. I didn't find the story to be engaging and felt like I didn't get to know Kari very well. However, I think Kari has a charming writing style that will endear readers to her despite her actions.

Thank you to St. Martin's and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

At one point, Kari Ferrell was apparently known as the "Hipster Grifter," and was somewhat of an internet sensation. I didn't know this, so I approached this memoir with zero expectations. As far as memoirs go, this one doesn't dig very deep. The various events provide snapshots into her thoughts, but I was left feeling more curious about what she left out. Although the title suggests she should only tell her therapist the content of this book, I found myself thinking that if I were her therapist, I'd want to dig far deeper. Let's get past your quirkiness and the "OMG I can't believe you tried to get away with that!" and really examine the motives. Was she ever able to repair any of the relationships she harmed? What was it about her partner that disrupted her relational pattern with men? What exactly has she learned from that experience and how does it apply to her work now? The memoir seemed to stop abruptly without going into much detail about the work she does.

This story is absolutely wild. I hadn’t heard of the Hipster Grifter, but listening to her story, my jaw DROPPED at times. WOW, I can’t believe some of this happened! But I supposed that’s the point of a book entitled, You’ll Never Believe Me. I was fascinated with hearing her thought process for all her misdeeds. I also appreciated how she included not just the wild times she had as a grifter, but also the struggle to re-acclimate to a world that wanted nothing to do with her.

I didn’t expect this memoir to be relatable, but it really is. It touches on mental health challenges, feelings of isolation, and the struggle to just MAKE it in the world today. It’s engaging and fascinating and at times you can’t stop reading even though you want to (like watching a car accident — it’s horrible but you have to look). She did some terrible things, but also found a way to turn her life around. I’m pleased to have read it and would recommend it to fans of minor celeb/celeb adjacent memoirs.

Prior to reading this book, I had never heard of Kari Ferrell or the “hipster grifter”. I didn’t know what I was getting into.

I think the most interesting thing about this book is not so much the story, but the peak into the mind of somebody who becomes a grifter and how natural it seems. Most of us have stolen things when we were kids (right? Is it just me?), but there’s an element of conscientiousness that stops us from going to far with it - despite the rush you feel in getting away with it.

Kari didn’t have that conscientiousness. I don’t fault her for it - that was part of her journey. I do fault her for hurting so many people along the way. And I applaud her for spending her time now trying to balance the karma of her past.

Overall, Kari seems like a fun, friendly, charismatic and sexy person, all of which are important personality traits for a good grift.

If you liked “Orange Is The New Black” you’ll love this story.

#netgalley #youllneverbelieveme

This book was so good! It was in parts hilarious, heartbreaking, understandable, unexpected, shocking, and sobering. She writes very conversationally, which makes for a very easy and enjoyable read. I flew through this book and enjoyed all of it! I’d definitely read more from her and will keep an eye out to see her story on the screen. Great memoir!

Since I was lucky enough to be gifted this book by the publisher I literally went into it completely blind. I had never heard of Kari Ferrell before so I didn't know what her story was. The more I got into this book and the comparisons between her and con woman Anna Delvey and the Tinder Swindler I knew that this was a book that would for sure grab my attention and I wasn't wrong. This book is all about our main character Kari who ended up conning a bunch of her friends, and eventually strangers out of tons of money. Since this was a little bit more up-to-date it focused on her getting internet fame and popularity unlike the previous mentioned women. I loved how this book was written by Kari herself because it gives a lot of insight on why and how she did what she did and what her motives were behind things. It also shows what was going through her mind and gave lots of details that just wouldn't be available if it was written by another person. Even though this was a very serious subject I love the sense of humor that Kari had when we telling all the events around her con as well as the events that led up to her deception. Each event was written almost in its own story so it gave a lot of details and then moved on to something else while the seems almost choppy it was anything but and made from a much smoother read. This was a funny quick read that I just couldn't get enough of but the thing that made this the best was the way that the author wrote the book almost sarcastically like she was talking directly to the reader instead of writing a novel. It made for a much faster read and I found myself unable to put it down. Kari's little personal comments that she added to her sentences were perfect and really pushed the book from good to great. This was unlike anything I've ever read before and I couldn't get enough, just knowing all of the hardships that Kari put everyone through makes me question a lot of things in my own life. This is a book that will get you talking, get you thinking, and just all in all get your blood pumping. I'm so glad that I got the chance to check it out because I know that there won't be another book anywhere as close to this in the future. 5 out of 5

Kari Ferrel, AKA The Hipster Grifter writes one heck of an autobiography. She tells a not so funny life story with humor and honesty. Her message delivery is funny and spot on and keeps the pages turning.

I enjoyed every detailed time slot in Kari’s life. She begins by explaining some Morman religious beliefs. (I am a non Morman living in Utah and found this educational and answered many questions as an outsider to the religion), then she continues on and ends in the final chapter where she visits both north and south Korea and does some deep soul searching.

Her writing is light hearted and she is comical. She recounts her time incarcerated with conviction. She also explains where her head was at when she was scamming and cheating her trusting friends over and over again. Leaving Utah and ending up in NYC she tries to regain her footing to get her life back on track. All good intentions but her past keeps creeping up on her. Typically when an employer would find out about her past she would be let go from whatever job position she was holding.

This story covers race and discrimination along with a host of other push button topics. Excellent story telling and a lighthearted educational read. Loved it.

Many thanks to Kari and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced readers copy of this book.

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

The publisher blurb mentions Anna Delvey and the Tinder Swindler so I was expecting a lot more from this book. And while Ferrell certainly admits to her deceptions and crimes, it's really a story of someone who doesn't know where they fit in - in their family and in the world - and the long, twisty path she takes to find herself.

Not bad overall, but not nearly as scandalous or engaging as I was expecting.

awesome memoir. the pain felt by the author is really shown, but she does not shy away from the things she has had to grow from. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

Oh, the Hipster Grifter. The way that the story captured a certain sect of the internet during the rise of internet culture is one that is almost too true to be believed. BUT - it did happen, and Kari Ferrell is telling her story.

Adopted from Korea, raised in Utah, put into the Morman church....it was bound to happen sooner or later. Ferrell was a smart kid and knew how to get what she wanted, and continued to do so until she was caught...the first time. Then, after a move to New York, it started all over again.

Keri Ferrell was the Anna Delvey of her time. In fact, I would argue that Keri did it better. Instead of trying to stay in the public zeitgeist, she paid for her crimes and built her life back up in an honest and true way. I don't expect to see her on Dancing With the Stars, because she is, after all, a hipster at heart.

This is an excellently written memoir from someone who really needed to grow up and did. It's for former indie sleaze kids, recovering hipsters, and people who loved reading Gawker before the lawsuit. It's for the people who never made the move to NY, for people who see how bad the justice system is, and for anyone looking for a funny writer who deserves any praise that comes her way.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review. Thanks to Keri for writing the story that we all wanted. Want to hang out sometime?

In full disclosure: I knew nothing about Kari Ferrell before picking up her memoir, despite the fact that I've lived in NYC for over the past decade - but I'm so glad I gave this book a chance because I finished it within a day and wanted more.

In "You'll Never Believe Me", Kari Ferrell gives her voice and perspective to her life, much of which has been publicized. Adopted from Korea as an infant and raised by two white parents in the Mormon community of Salt Lake City, she covers her precocious childhood where she never felt like she fully belonged, to her untethered teenage years where she began to carry out illegal acts, to escaping to NYC in her 20s - and to her present. Ferrell doesn't hold back recounting her behavior, from starting with petty theft and asking friends to cash in checks she knew would never process, to targeting men in NYC and gaining her nickname "the hipster grifter".

I feel like Ferrell has already lived 9 lives in her albeit short years; while there wasn't much I could personally related to her on, I certainly understood how out-of-place she felt from a young age and the desire to belong and please others - a facade that she built up over time. She takes us with her on an incredible journey, from her small home in Salt Lake City, to the streets of NYC, to the prison in Philadelphia, to a plane to and from Seoul and seamlessly interweaves her own thoughts and personal growth over those years as well. Ferrell writes with incredible wit and dry humor, fully acknowledging her own past and actions, but also sheds light on a number of incredibly heavy topics: racism, spanning fetishization and microaggressions; sexuality, especially in deeply religious environments; as well as incarceration, and the conditions and treatment of women specifically.

5/5 stars, and highly recommended to anyone when this memoir is published in January 2025!