Trust Fall - Review

Trust Fall

By: Lynn Painter

Publication: September 29, 2026 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

416 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Better Than the Movies, Lynn Painter, comes a rags-to-riches rom-com about a small-town girl whose family inherits a fortune and moves to New York City, where she meets a big-city boy hiding an explosive secret.

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?

I've had an up-and-down relationship with Lynn Painter's writing. I've really enjoyed some of her books, but the language seems to get worse and worse with each one. This book has the f-word 137 times. I just find that super discouraging. I can skim over language, but when it is this excessive, I feel like I need to comment on it. Trust Fall does contain innuendo even if no spicy scenes. Amazon has this listed for 14 years old and up, but I probably wouldn't feel great about my 14-year-old reading it.

The idea of a millionaire elderly man who moved to Nebraska, leaving his fortune to a family who has been nice to him when he has family, seems a little far-fetched. Yet I don't usually like to nitpick unless things are really out there. I can get on board with this given that Damion's parents really need no extra money, and they have terrible attitudes. 

I didn't love the stereotyping in this book. Rich people being mean, judgemental, too much cologne; the poorer people being farmers with mall haircuts. I didn't like the names of the cliques in the "Chilton-esque" school either. The Skins, the Toms. So weird. Maybe I'm getting too old for young adult fiction. 

Favorite quote:

-The brown-eyed recipient of my future.

Julia has social anxiety, and fitting into a new school in a new tax bracket is challenging to the extreme for her. But these days, I think almost everyone has social anxiety. Probably due to social media and parasocial relationships. I really got annoyed with the small-town anti-farm hate. Who do you think feeds the cities? Why does it matter? It was expected and cliche that the mean rich girls would make fun the poor, country girl. Yet Julia's twin brother doesn't have a hard time fitting in at all. Obviously, he wasn't written with social anxiety, but it frustrated me nonetheless.

Another pet peeve is in that a character is quoted "saying a prayer of thanks." To who? 

Trust Fall wasn't terrible, although I find that I have more negative to say than positive. I did like Damion. He wasn't a perfect character, but he was genuinely a good guy. I felt bad for Julia, but it felt expected at the same time. I did read this pretty quickly which always affects my enjoyment of a book positively. Trust Fall gets 3.5 Stars. Have you read Trust Fall? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post - 09/27/26

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ The Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~this meme was inspired in part by ~ In My Mailbox~ It's a chance to share News. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.

This was a good week. We had good school days this week. Monday afternoon, Big Girl had pitching lessons. Tuesday, we had ball games and grocery pickup. Wednesday we had church. Thursday we went to band, then hung out with my parents, dropped off a couple of bags of donations, and then had more ball games. Friday, Big Boy had pitching lessons. It's funny to me how completely different his lessons are from hers. Saturday, I cleaned the pool. And then we had a birthday party for a friend to go to for dinner. The weather has been so nice this week. It's false fall here. We can't trust it, but we'll enjoy it while we can.

THE PAST WEEK

Monday: Review of Reckless (Powerless Trilogy, # 2) by Lauren Roberts (2 Stars)
Tuesday: Top Ten Fall 2026 TBR List
Friday: Homeschool Friday - Halle Takes a Stand

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

My annual "All Things Halloween" event is starting this week. This is my month-long event where I feature reviews from Halloween-y genres (fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, sci-fi, horror, mystery, thriller, and suspense). Over the last few years I've had mostly fantasy books as I just haven't been in the mood for much horror, but still...these are books that can get you in the mood for Halloween.

Monday: Review of Trust Fall by Lynn Painter
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday
Thursday: All Things Halloween Review of Heartless Hunter (Crimson Moth, # 1) by Kristen Ciccarelli
Friday: Homeschool Friday - Jax's Tail Twitches

NEW BOOKS:

Night Tide

By: Lexi Ryan

Expected Publication: February 23, 2027 by Avon

432 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Romantasy, Vampires

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Aurora Evanselier’s graduation from Invictus Mage Academy is meant to be the most unforgettable night of her life. The glittering ball is supposed to begin with music and dancing and end with a single which of the empire’s four ruling kingdoms she’ll serve with her formidable magic.

As the emperor’s daughter, everyone expects Aurora to choose Daybreak, the most powerful kingdom in the empire. But when her father collapses, only one man can save him—Malek Ravenstorm, the brooding, magnetic prince of Night Tide. Malek has never forgiven the emperor for executing his brother, but he offers Aurora a his healing magic, in exchange for her allegiance. Desperate to save her father, she agrees.

Now Aurora is bound to a kingdom rumored to harbor witches and vampires, where the castle hides forbidden wings, and nothing is what it seems—especially Malek. He’s infuriating. Irresistible. Dangerous. And determined to keep her in the dark.

But Aurora didn’t trade her freedom to become a pawn. As whispers of a curse stir and Night Tide’s mysteries deepen, she uncovers a truth that threatens everything she thought she knew. Because the darkest secret of all isn’t Malek’s. It’s hers.

Night Tide begins a steamy, high-stakes romantasy trilogy where magic is power, desire is dangerous, and the shadows hold answers that can’t survive in the light.

TROPES YOU'LL FIND IN NIGHT TIDE:

Magical academyBrother rivalry (with Vampire Diaries' Stefan-Damon vibes)Enemies-to-lovers romanceFound friendshipRoyals with secret identitiesMysterious creatures that roam the nightBound by curses and fate

That's it for my shelves and recaps of my past and upcoming week. What did you add to your shelves this week? Any bookish news you want to talk about? Let me know!

Homeschool Friday - Halle Takes a Stand

Homeschool Friday is a feature here at Somewhere Only We Know that showcases books my family reads during homeschool and provides a mini-review for each.

Halle Takes a Stand (Good News for Little Hearts)

By: Paul David Tripp

Illustrated By: Joe Hox

Publication: March 31, 2022 by New Growth Press

32 pages

Genre: Children's, Animals, Picture Books, Christian, Manners

Source: Personal Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate link. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--This colorful, beautifully illustrated children's book invites children ages three through eight into Halle Hedgehog's world to learn alongside her how Jesus gives her courage to take a stand against meanness.

Halle Hedgehog has a group of school friends she sits with at lunch and plays with at recess. One day, the whole group excludes another girl and decides to be mean to her. This bothers Halle, but she doesn't say anything because she doesn't want to be excluded, too. Halle's teacher Mr. Owl talks to her about who she really needs to fit in with, and how she can speak out against bullying because Jesus is with her.

Parents and children will learn concrete, grace-based ways to deal with the pressures of fitting in. Edited by Paul David Tripp, Halle Takes a Stand ends with a special section that guides parents in teaching their children to respond with faith when fear or the overwhelming desire to fit in takes hold in their hearts.

Halle Takes a Stand is part of the Good News for Little Hearts series, bringing gospel help and biblical counsel to families. Based on CCEF's model of hope and help, each story focuses on an animal family's real-life issues, encouraging young readers toward a growing relationship with Jesus in the midst of challenging circumstances. Each individual story guides parents toward meaningful conversations with their kids, based on what Scripture has to say about living by faith in everyday life.

By providing biblical help and hope to issues every child faces through vivid illustrations and a story based on a different animal family, even the youngest child will be engaged. Each story offers practical ways to follow Jesus in difficult situations. Instead of a moralistic message, young readers are encouraged to develop a real relationship with the God who cares for them.

I absolutely love the Good News for Little Hearts series. There's always a Scripture where a book dedication usually stands. Halle Takes a Stand features Proverbs 29:25, "If you are afraid of people, it will trap you. But if you trust in the Lord, he will keep you safe." Halle Takes a Stand is 32 pages long, but of course, it isn't an AR book so finding an exact book level for reading purposes would just have to be a guess, but I would put these books on par with the Berenstain Bears which ranges from a level-2 to a level-4. Either way, this is a book that I've read to my kids, not a book that my kids have grabbed for supplemental reading purposes (at least so far).

The book starts with a Friday waffle day in the Hedgehog House. Halle and Henry are off to school. At lunch, Halle's science partner, Freya, tried to sit at her lunch table, but Maddie had a thing against frogs and was ugly and teasing. When Freya walked away, Maddie continued to loudly talk down about frogs. Halle laughed and joined in a bit with the others making fun of Freya. Little did Halle know that their teacher Mr. Owl had come up behind them. He asked Halle to stay and talked to her a bit about what happened. When she got home that night, her parents noticed her different behavior, and Halle admitted that Mr. Owl had sent home a note for them to read. Mama and Papa talked to Halle about the unkind things said about Freya. Mama shared a story of her childhood when another girl made fun of her in front of everyone and how one friend stuck up for her. Papa tells Halle that doing the right thing is not easy, but Jesus welcomed the friendless, and we should too. Papa and Mama pray for Halle to be brave and trust God. Papa gives Halle a piece of paper with Proverbs 29:25 written on it. And then Papa asked if Halle could see how Maddie trapped her. Papa guides Halle to pray and ask Jesus for forgiveness. The next morning Halle goes to school early to talk to Mr. Owl. She shares her discussion with her parents with him. And then Mr. Owl reinforced Halle's parents' lesson. At lunchtime, Halle had the opportunity to stand up to Maddie and defend Freya, which she did. After Maddie was ousted from her table, the only table left was the bullfrog boys. Maddie has an embarassing moment, but Halle stands up to comfort Maddie.

At the end of the book is a section to parents about helping children with peer pressure. And then finally, there are four "Back Pocket Bible Verses" that you can pull out and give to your child/children for when they want to fit in. Proverbs 29:25, Matthew 11:28, John 15:13, and Psalm 62:11-12.

Picture books that teach about Biblical character in a way that children can understand and apply in their lives are among my top favorite books. This entire series is great. Halle Takes a Stand gets 5 Stars. Have you or your child read Halle Takes a Stand? What did you think? Let me know!

Top Ten Fall 2026 TBR List

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. This week's topic is Top Ten Fall 2026 TBR List

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1. Silver & Smoke (The Ashes of Thezmarr, # 3) by Helen Scheuerer
2. Her Hidden Fire by Clíodhna O'Sullivan
3. The Realm Reaper (Reign of Remnants, # 3) by Julie Johnson
4. A Bargain So Bloody (Kingdom of Dark Magic, # 1) by Vasilisa Drake
5. Deceptive Inheritance (Remnants of the Lost, # 1) by Jennifer Anne Davis
6. Chase Me if You Can by Heather Frances
7. Spellcast (Fire in the Sky, # 3) by Sophie Jordan
8. Of Blades and Wings (Flame Cursed Fae, # 1) by Eliza Raine
9. The Matchmaker's Cottage by Kat Sloane
10. Kiss of the Black Flame by Helen Scheuerer

Which books are on your fall 2026 TBR list? Let me know!

Reckless - Review

Reckless (Powerless Trilogy, # 2)

By: Lauren Roberts

Publication: July 2, 2024 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

383 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Magic

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Paedyn and Kai battle with duty and desire in this highly anticipated second installment in the sizzling and epic romantic fantasy trilogy that’s packed with spicy tension and edge-of-your-seat betrayal.

The kingdom of Ilya is in turmoil…

After surviving the Purging Trials, Ordinary-born Paedyn Gray has killed the King and kickstarted a Resistance throughout the land. Now she’s running from the one person she had wanted to run to.

Kai Azer is now Ilya’s Enforcer, loyal to his brother Kitt, the new King. He has vowed to find Paedyn and bring her to justice.

Across the deadly Scorches, and deep into the hostile city of Dor, Kai pursues the one person he wishes he didn’t have to. But in a city without Elites, the balance between the hunter and hunted shifts—and the battle between duty and desire is deadly.

I was disappointed with the ending of Powerless. *Spoilers for the previous book!* How Kitt and Kai could both basically be in love with the same woman, know the other brother is in love with her, yet refuse to even discuss it, was beyond me. I really wanted to punch Kitt in the face, to be honest. I wasn't even sure I wanted to continue the series if brothers fighting over a girl that obviously favored one of the over the other was going to be the path we took. But since I got Reckless on audio, I decided that I would continue at least through this book and see how I ended up liking it.

Paedyn is on the run for killing the king of Illya. Of course, he attacked her first, but details don't seem to matter. Kitt and Kai both feel betrayed by Paedyn. And Kitt has charged Kai with bringing her back. Kai injures her in his pursuit, but she does manage to escape and cross the Scorches to the next city of Dor. Kai pursues her. And the two play cat and mouse for a while. Ultimately, Kai does capture Paedyn, but getting back to Illya isn't smooth sailing. Plus, their forced proximity brings old feelings to the surface.

I can't even begin to tell you how much the cliffhanger to Reckless angered me. Like, I really and truly don't know if I want to continue the series after that mess. Seriously. What in the world is Lauren Roberts thinking except trying to make her readers angry? Well, it's working.

I don't have any favorite quotes since I listened to the audiobook version, but I will say the narrators Cecily Bednar Schmidt, Chase Brown, and Jared Zeus did a fabulous job.

Reckless was actually better than I expected it to be. I was hooked from the beginning due to the cliffhanger of the previous book. But I was so angry over the cliffhanger of this book that I don't even know if I want to finish the series. Kai and Paedyn all the way. Kitt can go kick rocks. Reckless would have gotten 4 Stars until the sorry cliffhanger which takes my rating down to 2 Stars. Have you read or listened to Reckless? What did you think? Let me know!

P.S. Since finishing these two books, I have followed a series on Instagram by Kim Argyle discussing the ethicacy of this series, and I am apt to agree with her assessment on this series thus far. I noticed similarities with Powerless and both The Hunger Games and Red Queen, but it's been so long since I read the Dance of Thieves duology that the similarities with that series didn't stand out to me, even though I did notice more similarities with Glass Sword.