Title: Trust FallAuthor: Lynn Painter
Pages: 416
Publication Date: Sept. 29, 2026
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Contemporary
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?
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I went into this book thinking it would be a quick contemporary romance, but it ended up being so much more than that. I was deeply moved by both Julia and Damion’s stories and the person who connected them.
The story starts as Julia and her family inherit millions of dollars and a house in New York City from a beloved friend, but there’s a stipulation. They must live in NYC for at least six months, and Julia and her brother must attend an elite school. Enter Damion, a fellow student at their new school and, unbeknownst to Julia, the great-nephew of the man who willed his inheritance to Julia’s family. Damion becomes Julia’s tutor to get close to her and find evidence that will help him get the inheritance his family feels they deserve.
Julia was easy to like from the start, as is her twin brother. From Nebraska and now living in New York City and attending an elite school, Julia is a bit of a fish out of water, and she’s treated terribly, unlike her charming and outgoing brother. Even Damion isn’t very nice to Julia, which, along with his attitude, made him a bit tough to like at first. However, he ended up being my absolute favorite character because underneath that rude, cocky, and sometimes insulting exterior is a broken and grieving person with horrible parents and a future he didn’t choose. I really felt for him after learning of his background and relationships, and it made the loss of his beloved and supportive great uncle that much more devastating.
Damion and Julia have a slow-building enemies-to-lovers kind of romance. Their meet-cute sets the tone for their relationship, at least at first. However, even when they don’t trust each other or really get along, the banter and chemistry between them is great. And I love the way they challenge each other. As they grow closer, they become more vulnerable and supportive, and their relationship flourishes into something quite lovely.
Much of the story revolves around the loss of Remi/Lou, and the author depicts loss and grief so realistically. Everyone grieves differently, and we see that in Damion, Julia, and the other characters who have suffered from it. It was very emotional at times, and I cried more than once. I understood what Damion was going through, and it was heartbreaking. I also love how the character who had already passed had such a big presence in the story. Each chapter begins with a little quote from Remi, which I adored. They were funny and sometimes wise, and they revealed so much about the man who touched so many people.
The story also delves into other poignant topics, like old money vs. new money, bullying, the heartbreak of first love, school politics, and the stress of moving and starting over. It’s a layered and interesting story that I will definitely be thinking about for a while.
- enemies to lovers
- fish out of water
- he falls first
- small town — big city
“Someone who wants to explore with you is someone you want to explore.” Remington
“I felt like I knew her, all of her. And that she somehow knew exactly who I was. The good and the bad. The real me..”
I was enamored with everything about her. The poetry of my Julia. I am wind, and you are chimes. The way she thought, the way she grinned, the way she moved.”
This is an amazing review! 😍 And I have to check this book out because it sounds really interesting! It made me think a bit of The Inheritance Games series by Jennifer Lynn Barnes but with totally different vibes and layers!