Review: Trust Fall by Lynn Painter
Thank you Simon & Schuster for my copy! All thoughts are my own.
Lynn Painter’s YA books have continued to impress me. After LOVING Fake Skating last year, I was very excited for trust Fall. It didn’t disappoint! I loved the NYC setting, the tension between the main characters, and the small town girl/city boy trope. I tend to like her YA more than her adult novels because for some reason, they feel more mature! Make it make sense, but my brain eats up the YA.
Synopsis:
“Julia is just a small-town girl from Nebraska who loves her peaceful life. But when her elderly next-door neighbor—who just happens to be a secret multi-millionaire—leaves everything to Julia and her family after his passing, Julia is swept away to live in a historic brownstone in New York City and attend an elite private school for the super-rich.
It should be a dream come true. Wrong. Julia doesn’t fit in at her new school; worse, she’s failing. Enter Damion, the mysterious and handsome tutor who will get Julia back on track. Except Damion has a secret. He is the great-nephew of the man who left everything to Julia’s family. Damion doesn’t buy for a second that the person who was like a father to him would leave his home to strangers. And he’s determined to prove it.
To uncover the truth, Damion schemes to earn Julia’s trust. Not an easy task with Julia unsure about this rich boy with a rebellious personality. But the more time Damion spends with Julia, the more his plan begins to backfire. Because he is falling for the enemy—and the enemy is falling for him.
As Damion and Julia figure out where they belong, can they see past their differences and act on their feelings, or will the trust Damion has worked so hard to gain fall apart?” —NetGalley
What I Liked:
The NYC Setting—Something about an elite prep school in the Fall that is my kryptonite! Put that school in my favorite city and it’s a recipe for success.
The Tension—I think Damion will make it onto a lotttt of book boyfriend lists.
The Autumn Vibes—Fall was my favorite season when I lived in New York. I think Painter captured the turn of the season so well.
What Didn’t Work for Me:
The Bullying was BRUTAL though necessary for the plot! Not docking any stars for it, but oof did it make my stomach churn and send me right back to being 16/17.
Character Authenticity: 4/5 Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Content Warnings:
bullying, grief