Audiobook for Teen/YA and anyone older that likes a fast paced clever, in a trickster/grifter way, bit of fun. At St Agatha’s High if pupil’s need an issue fixed then Julep is the go to girl. Julep Dupree has learned her skills from her father. But then her dad disappears and she needs all her resolve, and to call in the favours she’s earned, as she struggles to find him. There is so much humour and snark to balance some sad twists, and also many typical teenager struggles to deal with as well. As this is book one, I’m really glad there’s lots more listening to come. Thank you to Monoceros Publishing LLC and NetGalley for the audio ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

Smart, sharp, and full of twists, Trust Me, I’m Lying is a fast-paced YA mystery/thriller that keeps listeners hooked from start to finish. Mary Elizabeth Summer introduces readers to Julep Dupree—a witty, street-smart con artist trying to balance her double life at Chicago’s elite St. Agatha High. By day she’s just another student navigating prep school drama; by night she’s running clever scams for classmates to keep herself afloat. But when she comes home to find her father missing and her apartment torn apart, Julep’s “easy cons” give way to a dangerous game of survival.

As Julep follows a trail of cryptic clues left behind by her grifter father, she faces threats from all sides—mysterious enemies, life-or-death chases, and the looming possibility of losing everything she has left. With the help of her loyal best friend Sam and the unexpected charm of Tyler Richland, Julep must rely on every trick in her con artist playbook to uncover the truth before it’s too late.

The audiobook narration enhances the experience, bringing Julep’s sarcastic humor, quick wit, and moments of vulnerability vividly to life. The voice performance captures both the high-stakes tension and the lighter, quippy moments, making it easy to fall into Julep’s world.

Perfect for fans of Ally Carter’s Heist Society and Veronica Mars-style sleuthing, Trust Me, I’m Lying combines action, mystery, and just the right touch of romance. It’s clever, unpredictable, and brimming with attitude—a thrilling listen that proves you should never judge a crook by her cover.

This was just the book I needed right now, you must absolutely suspend all belief for this story and just enjoy it for what it is. Of course its not plausible that a teenage grifter moves from making fake ID's to becoming embroiled in the criminal underworld whilst still maintaining school and friends. If you can accept that part of the story for what it is then there is so much to enjoy with this book!

I loved Julep as the narrator she was funny and snarky and her banter and inner monologue were great. I enjoyed how the story moved around from a thriller to mystery and back again, the unpicking of all the clues was done in a really fun way.

For a book that doesn't take itself overly seriously it did manage to encompass serious pretty well, touching on some quite heavy social topics in a way that expressed the gravity of the situation but not allowing the story to become consumed by the darker content.

I picked this on a whim and I'm so glad I did, its a great light read and definitely the kind of story that I turn to if I'm in a slump.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ALC the narration was 100% on point - I'll definitely be adding this series to by TBR!

Such a great idea for a story. Unfortunately, it didn't work for me at all. Show don't tell? Julep Dupree keeps telling us what a great grifter she is but she's naive, trusts everyone, is impulsive, and jumps to illogical conclusions-- no grifter would survive with those qualities. At the beginning, there's also a lot of trying to convince us that she's not like other girls, to the point that it got annoying.
The plot doesn't make sense-- her dad disappears because of a dangerous emergency but stops and leaves puzzles? And the characters were so obvious. I don't know if the next in the series will be better, because sometimes writers learn as they go. The best thing about this audiobook was the narration, which was well done.

I wanted to love this book so much. The title alone sold me. I’ve read a few spy type books involving teens/young adults and they’re fun. But this book fell so short and I’m sad as the potential was absolutely there! It was just way too unrealistic. I can absolutely let things slide here and there, but at some point, a 16-year-old still needs to be a kid in many aspects. And this was not the case. I asked myself if the character was maybe 19 or 20 years old, would I have felt the same? Yes and no. Things would have been a little more believable, but not much.

How many times is the main female going to tell us that she’s a grifter? Other than getting a free coffee she wasn’t really a con artist. And arguably, in real life, the barista would have just been annoyed with some dumb teenager and given the coffee, not because of a con, but because is easier to get rid of the kid. I would have described the main female as more of a manipulative teen girl, not a grifter or con-artist.
Unfortunately, there were far too many unrealistic aspects to this book for me to have any investment in it. A 16-year-old kid finding the head of the Ukraine mod and telling him she’s going to need a few days to “solve the mystery?” Come on. Then this kid is ordering the FBI around, after simply walking into high security buildings? Ugh.

My sole investment was the riddles and mystery. That portion was clever and I was interested to see that conclusion. Sadly, that was it.

Thank you NetGalley for the read. I’m so sad to have a less than positive review, but regardless, I’m always excited to get a book and dive into a different world.

Thank you, Netgalley, for an advanced copy of this audiobook

In this story we are following a young teenager who was brought up by her father to be a grifter, never using her original name never letting anyone to close etc... but when her father goes missing she wants to find him or the reason he went missing.

I want to say that the writing style is not going to work for everyone and some might find it lacklustre or bland because of it, but I enjoyed the story I was presented with and had this read within a few days.

Seeing her trying to piece things together but also finding herself along the way was fun, she wants to be normal and not a grifter anymore

"I want to be normal and the best at it, you know"

The story is quite predictable as well
I gave this 3.75 but rounded up to a 4

3.5 stars on audio this was a fast paced and engaging listen. I wanted more grifting and a more realistic plot line overall.

I think for a younger audience (mid teens) this would be a perfect listen!

3.5⭐️
I usually enjoy YA heists or the “teen criminal with a heart” trope, but this one didn’t quite hit the mark.

This is an audiobook release of a title that first came out several years ago (with some updates, I believe). Unfortunately, it still feels dated and overly convenient. Even for a premise built around teen con artists, the story leaned too heavily on clichés and predictable turns. It read like a newer writer sticking too closely to a formula instead of letting the characters and plot breathe.

That said, I was entertained enough to keep going. The action–mystery blend worked well, and I did appreciate the attempts at weaving in deeper themes, even if they didn’t always land.

The audiobook helped elevate the experience. Elena Anderson’s narration had good pacing at 1x speed, and her deeper voice fit the FMC’s personality, though it didn’t always match the fact that she’s meant to be in high school. Still, her expressive delivery and emphasis kept the story engaging and lively.

Overall, an enjoyable listen but one that leans heavily on tropes without bringing much new to the table.
I was fortunate to receive a complimentary ALC from Monoceros Publishing, LLC through NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.

How I Rate
Because I mostly read ARCs, I focus on how I think fellow readers with similar tastes will respond. I sometimes round up or down based on pacing, prose, or overall impact, and I try to keep my personal preferences from weighing too heavily.

⭐️ 1 Star – Finished, but not for me; I never DNF ARCs.
⭐️⭐️ 2 Stars – Struggled due to writing, content, or editing issues.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 Stars – Decent read with untapped potential; recommend with some reservations.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars – Really enjoyed it and would recommend for several reasons.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars – Exceptional; lingers in my mind well after reading. A story I’d gladly revisit.