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Don't You Trust Me?
A teenage girl switches identities with a stranger and pulls off a long-term scam in this smart, sarcastic thriller perfect for fans of Ally Carter.
Don’t you trust me? I mean, look at me. Blond, blue-eyed, the very image of innocence. Pretty enough, if you care about that kind of thing. I don’t.
But would a normal person switch identities with some wet mess of a girl at the airport, just to get her to stop bawling about being separated from her loser boyfriend and sent to live with some distant relatives? Nope, she wouldn’t. Yet I did. I’m not as normal as you think. And you’ll just have to trust me on that.
Don’t you trust me? I mean, look at me. Blond, blue-eyed, the very image of innocence. Pretty enough, if you care about that kind of thing. I don’t.
But would a normal person switch identities with some wet mess of a girl at the airport, just to get her to stop bawling about being separated from her loser boyfriend and sent to live with some distant relatives? Nope, she wouldn’t. Yet I did. I’m not as normal as you think. And you’ll just have to trust me on that.
256 pages, Unknown Binding
First published August 30, 2016
8 people are currently reading
440 people want to read
About the author
Patrice Kindl
10 books173 followersChildhood:
I was born in Alplaus New York in 1951, the youngest of four daughters. My father is a mechanical engineer, my mother a housewife. My family is very nice – I like them all a lot. As a child I loved animals and read obsessively.
We had (still have) a family cottage on Lake George. The people who live next door are life-long friends. On summer weekdays during my childhood there were ten females in the two houses, no males. As a result of this background I feel that I understand girls better than boys, which is why I write primarily for girls.
Education and other jobs:
After high school I went to Webster College in St. Louis, Missouri. Oddly enough, given the location, it was a well-thought-of theater school. I attended for a year and a half and then (this was the 60’s, early 70’s) dropped out and decamped for New York City and a real drama school (not a liberal arts college like Webster). I appeared in a few television commercials, waitressed, auditioned and did a little modeling.
After three or four years of this sort of thing I realized I was going nowhere fast. I came back upstate and worked, at first full-time and then, after I married and my son was born, part-time, as a secretary at a consulting engineering firm called Encotech. As a result, I am an excellent touch typist today, which is handy for a writer.
I only began writing seriously when I was in my late thirties and was first published in my early forties. While I worked on OWL IN LOVE (my first book) I became involved in a program called Helping Hands, in which I raised two monkeys to be aides to quadriplegics. You can check it out at www.helpinghandsmonkeys.org. You can see a photograph of Kandy on this page and Susi on the FAQ page.
Family:
My husband Paul is president of Encotech (that’s where I met him). My son Alex is 25. He and his art rock band Bible Study (no religious connotation) live with us part-time. They rehearse directly over my office, so it is lucky that I think they are great musicians (Click here to listen to one of their songs). The vocalist is one of America’s few female Master Falconers. When the band is in residence we also have several hawks or falcons.
I was born in Alplaus New York in 1951, the youngest of four daughters. My father is a mechanical engineer, my mother a housewife. My family is very nice – I like them all a lot. As a child I loved animals and read obsessively.
We had (still have) a family cottage on Lake George. The people who live next door are life-long friends. On summer weekdays during my childhood there were ten females in the two houses, no males. As a result of this background I feel that I understand girls better than boys, which is why I write primarily for girls.
Education and other jobs:
After high school I went to Webster College in St. Louis, Missouri. Oddly enough, given the location, it was a well-thought-of theater school. I attended for a year and a half and then (this was the 60’s, early 70’s) dropped out and decamped for New York City and a real drama school (not a liberal arts college like Webster). I appeared in a few television commercials, waitressed, auditioned and did a little modeling.
After three or four years of this sort of thing I realized I was going nowhere fast. I came back upstate and worked, at first full-time and then, after I married and my son was born, part-time, as a secretary at a consulting engineering firm called Encotech. As a result, I am an excellent touch typist today, which is handy for a writer.
I only began writing seriously when I was in my late thirties and was first published in my early forties. While I worked on OWL IN LOVE (my first book) I became involved in a program called Helping Hands, in which I raised two monkeys to be aides to quadriplegics. You can check it out at www.helpinghandsmonkeys.org. You can see a photograph of Kandy on this page and Susi on the FAQ page.
Family:
My husband Paul is president of Encotech (that’s where I met him). My son Alex is 25. He and his art rock band Bible Study (no religious connotation) live with us part-time. They rehearse directly over my office, so it is lucky that I think they are great musicians (Click here to listen to one of their songs). The vocalist is one of America’s few female Master Falconers. When the band is in residence we also have several hawks or falcons.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
June 21, 2018
Basically a watered-down version of the Talented Mr. Ripley. Kinda like fat-free cookies. It gives you a brief taste of greatness, but you're ultimately left unsatisfied.
November 21, 2017
This is genuinely one of the most fucked up and fun books ever.
Don't You Trust Me? is about a girl who steals another girl's life and ends up as the starlet of a town. Our protagonist is Morgan, who is... a fucking sociopath. Morgan is arrogant, rude, and selfish. She is completely out for herself and it is delightful. This book is totally messed up but it's such a fun journey. I blew through this one just to find out what would happen next. The story flows so well I barely realized I was closing in on the end. Patrice Kindl writes with so much humor and wit that suspension of disbelief becomes easy.
While Morgan isn't exactly likable, you're almost forced to root for her anyways. She's so unabashedly manipulative and terrible but man, is she funny. Kindl does a good job making the reader feel torn; you almost want her to win in the end, just because of all the effort she's putting into this con, but you also desperately want to see her get taken down.
I also appreciated Kindl's ironic storytelling tone. In the hands of a less adept author, Morgan might have been completely hateable, yet here, she's almost funny. There's an odd sense of meta to the book, an underlying curtain of how-could-this-really-happen. The whole thing is so entertaining just for that reason alone.
I do think this book could've been far better if the other characters had been less plot-convenience stupid, and if not for the fatshaming. I'm aware it's somewhat necessary for the plot, but I wished for the cousin especially to get more agency during the ending.
VERDICT: This was just such a fun ride. Definitely recommended for anyone who wants to read something that's somehow both fucked up and ironically hilarious?? I'm aware it will be a polarizing book, but I loved it.
Don't You Trust Me? is about a girl who steals another girl's life and ends up as the starlet of a town. Our protagonist is Morgan, who is... a fucking sociopath. Morgan is arrogant, rude, and selfish. She is completely out for herself and it is delightful. This book is totally messed up but it's such a fun journey. I blew through this one just to find out what would happen next. The story flows so well I barely realized I was closing in on the end. Patrice Kindl writes with so much humor and wit that suspension of disbelief becomes easy.
While Morgan isn't exactly likable, you're almost forced to root for her anyways. She's so unabashedly manipulative and terrible but man, is she funny. Kindl does a good job making the reader feel torn; you almost want her to win in the end, just because of all the effort she's putting into this con, but you also desperately want to see her get taken down.
I also appreciated Kindl's ironic storytelling tone. In the hands of a less adept author, Morgan might have been completely hateable, yet here, she's almost funny. There's an odd sense of meta to the book, an underlying curtain of how-could-this-really-happen. The whole thing is so entertaining just for that reason alone.
I do think this book could've been far better if the other characters had been less plot-convenience stupid, and if not for the fatshaming. I'm aware it's somewhat necessary for the plot, but I wished for the cousin especially to get more agency during the ending.
VERDICT: This was just such a fun ride. Definitely recommended for anyone who wants to read something that's somehow both fucked up and ironically hilarious?? I'm aware it will be a polarizing book, but I loved it.
October 9, 2016
oooioih my god. It's so messed up, I love it
October 18, 2021
This book was very interesting. I read it because I needed an independent reading book for english and I just happens to pick this one off the shelf. The story kept me interested because I wanted to see what would happen at the end. The ending was definitely not what I expected and I thought that it wasn’t very good. I think the way they portrayed the cousins to be dumb fat blonds was not cool. I did not enjoy that at all. The only reason I enjoyed this book was the plot.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 7, 2017
I've decided to give this book an above average rating due to the originality of the way the author chose to approach the main character (with my rating system 4 stars=above average and I don't give those out too often). I can honestly say I have never read a book with a main character written like this before.
In this book, Morgan is about to be shipped off boarding school. At the airport, she encounters Janelle, who could be her doppelgänger, only she's over the top hysterical because she is being shipped off to live with her aunt and uncle because her parents do not want her around her much older boyfriend. Morgan, being the resourceful cynic she is, devises a clever plan to take Janelle's place by pretending to be her and taking her spot on her flight, allowing Janelle to sneak off to leave with her boyfriend. Morgan gets to avoid boarding school and endless therapy for life in the lapse of luxury (turns out Janelle's family is extremely wealthy).
Morgan is really twisted and messed up. What's interesting is that this book is written in her point of view so you get to see the way her mind works. That is why I liked this book so much; you really get to see into the mind of a girl who basically has no morals. Morgan is certifiably insane. She steals thousands of dollars from charity that she only collected to begin with by scamming innocent people. She's also a good talker and can easily get anyone and everyone to like her, leading to instant popularity at her new school. By the end of her escapade she has literally stolen over eighteen thousand dollars from her charity drive stolen money and from Janelle's family.
What is bizarre is that Morgan literally has no moral compass. It is extremely interesting and original to have a book written in the point of view of a girl who is so relentlessly selfish and twisted. Interesting enough, there's no sad back story. Morgan's childhood and family life is fine, so there is no reason explaining why she is the way that she is. Literally, the reason why her family even shipped her off to boarding school to begin with is because they were scared of her. What's funny is that she is roped into horseback riding lessons shortly after taking over Janelle's identity, and her horse is literally scared to disobey her. The other horse trainers think it is because Morgan has such a connection with her horse but really it is because that horse is terrified of her. Other than the horse, Morgan has everyone else fooled.
Overall, this book was a unique take on YA because of the way the author chose to characterize Morgan. We really get to see inside the mind of a character who is seriously messed up and has no regrets. This book is really amusing, surprising at parts, and a lot of fun.
In this book, Morgan is about to be shipped off boarding school. At the airport, she encounters Janelle, who could be her doppelgänger, only she's over the top hysterical because she is being shipped off to live with her aunt and uncle because her parents do not want her around her much older boyfriend. Morgan, being the resourceful cynic she is, devises a clever plan to take Janelle's place by pretending to be her and taking her spot on her flight, allowing Janelle to sneak off to leave with her boyfriend. Morgan gets to avoid boarding school and endless therapy for life in the lapse of luxury (turns out Janelle's family is extremely wealthy).
Morgan is really twisted and messed up. What's interesting is that this book is written in her point of view so you get to see the way her mind works. That is why I liked this book so much; you really get to see into the mind of a girl who basically has no morals. Morgan is certifiably insane. She steals thousands of dollars from charity that she only collected to begin with by scamming innocent people. She's also a good talker and can easily get anyone and everyone to like her, leading to instant popularity at her new school. By the end of her escapade she has literally stolen over eighteen thousand dollars from her charity drive stolen money and from Janelle's family.
What is bizarre is that Morgan literally has no moral compass. It is extremely interesting and original to have a book written in the point of view of a girl who is so relentlessly selfish and twisted. Interesting enough, there's no sad back story. Morgan's childhood and family life is fine, so there is no reason explaining why she is the way that she is. Literally, the reason why her family even shipped her off to boarding school to begin with is because they were scared of her. What's funny is that she is roped into horseback riding lessons shortly after taking over Janelle's identity, and her horse is literally scared to disobey her. The other horse trainers think it is because Morgan has such a connection with her horse but really it is because that horse is terrified of her. Other than the horse, Morgan has everyone else fooled.
Overall, this book was a unique take on YA because of the way the author chose to characterize Morgan. We really get to see inside the mind of a character who is seriously messed up and has no regrets. This book is really amusing, surprising at parts, and a lot of fun.
March 31, 2021
I just couldn't buy it. I couldn't suspend disbelief long enough to buy in to the plot. I even flipped to the front page to see what year this was published because. . . I can't imagine two teens trying to pull off what they were trying and not switch electronics to ensure they could keep up each other's social media. . . And I don't know of a single airport where you can stumble in to a TSA line 10-20 minutes before your flight in supposed to leave and you make it. I've arrived an hour early before and they gave me guff and I barely made it on time....I just couldn't do it so the rest of the story was just a drag for me.
October 24, 2020
DNF: page 80 (?)
I had extremely high hopes for this book (even though the whole plot felt extremely unrealistic) and was—ultimately— let down.
I tried extremely hard to get into the book, though I found the main character unlikeable. Even though I've previously enjoyed books with flawed characters, Don't You Trust Me is different. She's extremely snobby, deceiving and her remarks towards Janelle were just downright rude and not "humour."
Also, the whole "cold" people thing was extremely cringeworthy and I didn't get the point of it.
I had extremely high hopes for this book (even though the whole plot felt extremely unrealistic) and was—ultimately— let down.
I tried extremely hard to get into the book, though I found the main character unlikeable. Even though I've previously enjoyed books with flawed characters, Don't You Trust Me is different. She's extremely snobby, deceiving and her remarks towards Janelle were just downright rude and not "humour."
Also, the whole "cold" people thing was extremely cringeworthy and I didn't get the point of it.
June 26, 2016
I hope this isn't in any way autobiographical, or Patrice Kindl is one twisted lady, who I really want to catch a drink with. Morgan's head was a delight to run around in, and I'm curious as to how dazzling her future exactly would be.
I really enjoyed the way that Morgan didn't really put the pieces of her destruction together as they were happening, but noticed enough for me to be able to put them together, and then confirm them at the resolution, like a good little narrator. I don't even mind that she didn't fill me in on one of her scams having to do with local frat boys, but that whole little scene also could have been deleted without taking anything away from the novel.
I received an arc of this book at YALLWEST. This is my obligatory legal statement, read it as such.
I really enjoyed the way that Morgan didn't really put the pieces of her destruction together as they were happening, but noticed enough for me to be able to put them together, and then confirm them at the resolution, like a good little narrator. I don't even mind that she didn't fill me in on one of her scams having to do with local frat boys, but that whole little scene also could have been deleted without taking anything away from the novel.
I received an arc of this book at YALLWEST. This is my obligatory legal statement, read it as such.
November 2, 2016
Fabulous and completely different from her other novels. In short, classic unclassifiable Patrice Kindl. If Patricia Highsmith wrote YA, she might produce this. Although it wouldn't be quite as strangely appealing.
March 14, 2024
This book narrative needs a bit to digest since the narrative can be a little fast paced and adventurous
The story featured a narcissistic, intelligent, manipulative , swindling kleptomaniac FMC , Morgan.
Back when she was young, she sees through the insensitivity of adulthood as how.This changes her thinking when she grows up, she sees her viewpoint not only rational but that her decisions and actions are justified such as when she stole necklace from jewellery shop, haughty/forcefully persuading residents for charity donations, even intimidating her horse to obey her during horse riding sessions.
To start the story, she was dumped by her parents at the airport where they want to give her a chance to live her life without them.
Then she met her doppelgänger who was seen in distress in between choosing her boyfriend or his parents to stay, she decided it is the chance to switch persona so that Morgan can be with the fake family for a period of staycation while Janelle can be with her bf.
Welcomed into a new family, Morgan takes on the lifestyle of Janelle and learn her surroundings well and discovered interesting thoughts of each family member towards her or their backgrounds.
Towards the end, Janelle eventually intervened and says that she wanted to returned to her own family. This caused distress to Morgan whom everything will be lost to her when she came back.Her plan was to faked herself as Janelle’s cousin Brooke by dressing up as her, She then drives her to a nearby neighbour place to lured her into a basement and trapped her together with the real Janelle.
Fleeing to the airport, there was another person waiting for her whom is a security guard and Brooke close acquaintance.
Up for police interviews, together with Brooke and Janelle,they decided it is best that Morgan would reunited back to her old family again and starting therapy session but they would still kept in touch (Brooke and Morgan) since they form somewhat of a relationship in these month.
Starting a new life again, Morgan is aiming to become a psychiatrist in the future as she is interested about studying psychology of humans and other areas.
Feeling confident that her future is going great, there is also a point where her mentality is also starting to improved where she would monitor her to stop stealing and learn to show more decency in her character.
Throughout most of the book, Morgan uses her sharp critical analysis, rationale, manipulation tactics to get what she wants and most of the time it succeeds.
I felt like most reader eventually hated the book not only is some part of the story became unbelievable like how most of the characters are too naive, to believed some of FMC actions and give praises continuously to FMc lucks and intelligence which almost hamper the seriousness of the story.
And also dispute to the nature of the protagonist self reflection onto herself, how consistently she compared superiority reign towards others thoughts and beliefs.
Why I like this book is because it is very rare that the protagonist think of themselves,and the FMC is someone you should hated at first because these people are the worst of society and just called for sociopathic tendencies in it.
However, it is one of the moment where YA novels took a different levels of story creativity. So that why I appreciated this gestured of storytelling cause it brings divergent with the genres.
The story featured a narcissistic, intelligent, manipulative , swindling kleptomaniac FMC , Morgan.
Back when she was young, she sees through the insensitivity of adulthood as how.This changes her thinking when she grows up, she sees her viewpoint not only rational but that her decisions and actions are justified such as when she stole necklace from jewellery shop, haughty/forcefully persuading residents for charity donations, even intimidating her horse to obey her during horse riding sessions.
To start the story, she was dumped by her parents at the airport where they want to give her a chance to live her life without them.
Then she met her doppelgänger who was seen in distress in between choosing her boyfriend or his parents to stay, she decided it is the chance to switch persona so that Morgan can be with the fake family for a period of staycation while Janelle can be with her bf.
Welcomed into a new family, Morgan takes on the lifestyle of Janelle and learn her surroundings well and discovered interesting thoughts of each family member towards her or their backgrounds.
Towards the end, Janelle eventually intervened and says that she wanted to returned to her own family. This caused distress to Morgan whom everything will be lost to her when she came back.Her plan was to faked herself as Janelle’s cousin Brooke by dressing up as her, She then drives her to a nearby neighbour place to lured her into a basement and trapped her together with the real Janelle.
Fleeing to the airport, there was another person waiting for her whom is a security guard and Brooke close acquaintance.
Up for police interviews, together with Brooke and Janelle,they decided it is best that Morgan would reunited back to her old family again and starting therapy session but they would still kept in touch (Brooke and Morgan) since they form somewhat of a relationship in these month.
Starting a new life again, Morgan is aiming to become a psychiatrist in the future as she is interested about studying psychology of humans and other areas.
Feeling confident that her future is going great, there is also a point where her mentality is also starting to improved where she would monitor her to stop stealing and learn to show more decency in her character.
Throughout most of the book, Morgan uses her sharp critical analysis, rationale, manipulation tactics to get what she wants and most of the time it succeeds.
I felt like most reader eventually hated the book not only is some part of the story became unbelievable like how most of the characters are too naive, to believed some of FMC actions and give praises continuously to FMc lucks and intelligence which almost hamper the seriousness of the story.
And also dispute to the nature of the protagonist self reflection onto herself, how consistently she compared superiority reign towards others thoughts and beliefs.
Why I like this book is because it is very rare that the protagonist think of themselves,and the FMC is someone you should hated at first because these people are the worst of society and just called for sociopathic tendencies in it.
However, it is one of the moment where YA novels took a different levels of story creativity. So that why I appreciated this gestured of storytelling cause it brings divergent with the genres.
March 20, 2018
This spectacular book called Don't You Trust Me by Patrice Kindl. This book is a realistic fiction book about a troubled girl whose parents no longer wanted to deal with her so they sent her away. She ends up running into a girl who she feels bad for so she switches places with her so the sad girl can run away. If there was one thing the author would want the reader to know it is important to do the right thing, don't lie about something, ever. It is very important that you do the right thing so you do not get into very deep trouble. The main character learned it the hard way.
This whole disaster started when her parents no longer wanted to deal with her terrible behaviors. They thought Morgan was completely messed up and in most ways is. She has no regrets. Her parents sent her off to bording school because they did not want to have to deal with it anymore. When she was at the airport she saw a girl crying. The girl was getting sent off to her aunt's because she was in a bad relationship. Morgan decided to switch places with her so she can ran away with her boyfriend. She would pretend she was the girl and stay at the aunt's house for the rest of her life. Morgan did not think about the consequences just did what she wanted at the second. She goes through some crazy disasters because of her poor decision.
This book overall was pretty good. It had lots of suspense and crazy actions. The story made you think why in the world would she do that. There were lots of interesting and quick things that happened, from switching places, to robbing people. The author does a great job of making you like the story and not become bored. There was lots of suspenseful parts that made me keep wanting to read. But the problem was I had a hard time relating to the story. The reader could not picture what was happening or going on. It was hard to feel and see what the characters are doing and what they are like. As the reader I could not picture the setting and what actions are happening. This story is pretty good, with lots of suspense, but was not the best story because it was hard to get into it.
Overall this book is very interesting and enjoyable. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a funky and interesting story. This book is a realistic fiction book filled with lots of suspense. It is not very long so if someone just wants a quick short book to read for a little bit this is it. I personally enjoyed this book and though it was very funny.
This whole disaster started when her parents no longer wanted to deal with her terrible behaviors. They thought Morgan was completely messed up and in most ways is. She has no regrets. Her parents sent her off to bording school because they did not want to have to deal with it anymore. When she was at the airport she saw a girl crying. The girl was getting sent off to her aunt's because she was in a bad relationship. Morgan decided to switch places with her so she can ran away with her boyfriend. She would pretend she was the girl and stay at the aunt's house for the rest of her life. Morgan did not think about the consequences just did what she wanted at the second. She goes through some crazy disasters because of her poor decision.
This book overall was pretty good. It had lots of suspense and crazy actions. The story made you think why in the world would she do that. There were lots of interesting and quick things that happened, from switching places, to robbing people. The author does a great job of making you like the story and not become bored. There was lots of suspenseful parts that made me keep wanting to read. But the problem was I had a hard time relating to the story. The reader could not picture what was happening or going on. It was hard to feel and see what the characters are doing and what they are like. As the reader I could not picture the setting and what actions are happening. This story is pretty good, with lots of suspense, but was not the best story because it was hard to get into it.
Overall this book is very interesting and enjoyable. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a funky and interesting story. This book is a realistic fiction book filled with lots of suspense. It is not very long so if someone just wants a quick short book to read for a little bit this is it. I personally enjoyed this book and though it was very funny.
February 1, 2017
A very quick read. Morgan is a "cold one" (basically, a sociopath) who is fearless, clever, and more than a bit impulsive. When she is supposed to be shipped off to reform school, she instead switches places with a stranger at the airport and assumes a different life with the stranger's wealthy relatives (who haven't seen her in many years). What follows are a lot of lies and careful manipulations as Morgan attempts to keep those around her fooled while basking in the good life.
Morgan is definitely an antiheroine; she is not meant to arouse sympathy. Usually a protagonist telling lies makes me as the reader feel guilty and uncomfortable, but since Morgan felt zero guilt, it was actually a bit entertaining to see how much she could get away with, even as I was waiting for the other characters to catch on to her game and end it.
That said, while I enjoyed this book (Patrice Kindl is always worth reading), it felt a bit insubstantial. "Morgan fools people and looks down on them" is pretty much all there is, with no deeper plot or significant character development. It's only a complaint because I was enjoying the book and wanted there to be a little more to it. Still, this would be an excellent choice for a beach read or short plane ride, or maybe a quick "break" read after something long.
Morgan is definitely an antiheroine; she is not meant to arouse sympathy. Usually a protagonist telling lies makes me as the reader feel guilty and uncomfortable, but since Morgan felt zero guilt, it was actually a bit entertaining to see how much she could get away with, even as I was waiting for the other characters to catch on to her game and end it.
That said, while I enjoyed this book (Patrice Kindl is always worth reading), it felt a bit insubstantial. "Morgan fools people and looks down on them" is pretty much all there is, with no deeper plot or significant character development. It's only a complaint because I was enjoying the book and wanted there to be a little more to it. Still, this would be an excellent choice for a beach read or short plane ride, or maybe a quick "break" read after something long.
March 19, 2017
Are you the type of person that takes chances without thinking of the long-term consequences? Would you switch identities with a stranger at the airport so that you can run away from your boarding school and she can run away with her loser boyfriend?
Apparently there are people out there, "colds," who would do that without thinking. Morgan is a teenage girl that is "cold." She's only concerned about herself, no one else. What do her actions and other's actions get her in the long run? That's her only concern.
When Morgan's parents decide to send her away to reform school, she has other plans. She meets Janelle, a similar-enough looking girl that is being sent to live with her aunt and uncle so that she has no contact with her older boyfriend. They switch places in the airport and each go their separate ways.
Morgan is living it up with the rich aunt and uncle, posing as a charity worker and taking a big slice of money for herself from all the charity work she's doing. When the bottom begins to drop out from her scheme, she's not ready to leave yet. Will she get caught? Will she go to jail? Will she be sent back to her parents?
This fast-paced novel takes you on a wild ride with Morgan. If you like action-packed books, like The Girl I Used To Be, this will be a quick read for you.
Apparently there are people out there, "colds," who would do that without thinking. Morgan is a teenage girl that is "cold." She's only concerned about herself, no one else. What do her actions and other's actions get her in the long run? That's her only concern.
When Morgan's parents decide to send her away to reform school, she has other plans. She meets Janelle, a similar-enough looking girl that is being sent to live with her aunt and uncle so that she has no contact with her older boyfriend. They switch places in the airport and each go their separate ways.
Morgan is living it up with the rich aunt and uncle, posing as a charity worker and taking a big slice of money for herself from all the charity work she's doing. When the bottom begins to drop out from her scheme, she's not ready to leave yet. Will she get caught? Will she go to jail? Will she be sent back to her parents?
This fast-paced novel takes you on a wild ride with Morgan. If you like action-packed books, like The Girl I Used To Be, this will be a quick read for you.
January 30, 2017
Morgan convinces the family she is staying with as Janelle, their niece, to call her by her real name.
Trouble is, she should not be with this family. Morgan is supposed to be at a reform school.
She fools a lot of people for a long time. But Morgan is a cold-hearted sociopath, a thief, a conniving liar.
She does learn from her mistakes....
Trouble is, she should not be with this family. Morgan is supposed to be at a reform school.
She fools a lot of people for a long time. But Morgan is a cold-hearted sociopath, a thief, a conniving liar.
She does learn from her mistakes....
November 18, 2017
15 year-old Morgan is unlike any other teenager. She views herself as one of the “cold ones,” who doesn’t have empathy for anyone. She is a master manipulator, liar & sociopath. Her parents ship her off to a boarding school for troubled youth, however in the airport she meets another teenager & takes on her identity. While staying at Janelle’s aunt & uncle’s house, Morgan goes undetected long enough to take advantage of everyone she meets. I found the characters shallow & the protagonist unlikable.
July 1, 2021
I picked this book up because I am a big fan of some of Patrice Kindl's other novels, which I found to be quirky, interesting, and fun. Unfortunately, I didn't like this one at all. The MC is a psychopath (literally: displays cold-hearted behaviour, maintains a normal life as a cover for criminal activities, fails to form genuine emotional attachments but pretends to care, etc). I thought perhaps she was just emotionally stunted at the beginning and we were going to see her grow and redeem herself as a person, but nope, she starts out bad and ends bad, with no growth as a character. I guess as an exploration of a psychopath it could be interesting, but it was definitely not my cup of tea.
May 28, 2023
This was honestly a weird book lol. The plot was ok (ish) and the characters were weird too….It was like the author was trying really hard to write a thriller (I think) and failed pretty bad…Also, they played the cousins as being fat and dumb, which was not cool at all.
Would not recommend.
Read this book if you enjoy: Thriller
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Length of book: Idk
Language: 3/10
Format I read: Hardback (Library)
Would I recommend to others: No
Would not recommend.
Read this book if you enjoy: Thriller
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Length of book: Idk
Language: 3/10
Format I read: Hardback (Library)
Would I recommend to others: No
March 15, 2024
I'm guessing this was... YA? I think with the lack of cuss words and all the teenagers, it's probably meant to be YA.
It was.... ok. Part of it may have been the reader? She gave nearly all the teenage girls baby voices which was very grating to listen to for five hours.
Spoiler:
If the imposter had got away with it, it would've salvaged the story somewhat. Instead, it just became a morality tale. Ugh.
It was.... ok. Part of it may have been the reader? She gave nearly all the teenage girls baby voices which was very grating to listen to for five hours.
Spoiler:
If the imposter had got away with it, it would've salvaged the story somewhat. Instead, it just became a morality tale. Ugh.
June 22, 2018
I must be in the minority here cuz I had to grit my teeth to finish this. I suppose of you're a really young YA and have to be told why a character does something after they do it, this book's for you.
The premise is great fun, and even some parts are interesting, and the main character is wonderfully devious and callous.
But, overall, it feels like a schtick.
The premise is great fun, and even some parts are interesting, and the main character is wonderfully devious and callous.
But, overall, it feels like a schtick.
August 19, 2020
The review says "smart and sarcastic," but I humbly disagree. Sarcastic, yes. Nasty and uncaring characters, definitely. I like to like characters. I want to learn to be more accepting and empathetic. I like characters who inspire me to be better.
This one didn't do it for me.
However, other readers have liked it. Maybe I am missing something.
This one didn't do it for me.
However, other readers have liked it. Maybe I am missing something.
August 30, 2020
A fun switched identity story that keeps you on the edge of your seat as you wonder how far our narrator will go to deceive and reach her own goals. A fortuitous meeting at an airport, a close resemblance and smooth talking all allow our narrator to take on a new identity and begin the heist of a lifetime. A cool ya read for those who like psychological stories or fast paced fiction.
June 16, 2022
The review says "smart and sarcastic," but I humbly disagree. Sarcastic, yes. Nasty and uncaring characters, definitely. I like to like characters. I want to learn to be more accepting and empathetic. I like characters who inspire me to be better.
This one didn't do it for me.
However, other readers have liked it. Maybe I am missing something.
This one didn't do it for me.
However, other readers have liked it. Maybe I am missing something.
June 18, 2018
This was kind of not super intelligent. Like at all. I was so excited by the premise, but I've read books similar to this that were far better done. Too many loose strings and not enough at stake. And the ending, just what?
October 1, 2018
i was getting annoyed with the main character sigh and i didn’t expect the story to develop into that. i was expecting something different when i read the synopsis at the back of the book when i was contemplating on buying it
January 29, 2019
This book was really good and addicting to read! I'm a fan of books that make me keep wondering if the characters are going to be able to get away with things and that book did just that. I would definitely recommend this book to others!
February 22, 2018
Actually 4.5 as some of the side characters were flat. Really interesting concept.
December 9, 2022
Fun interesting easy audiobook to get thru quickly
Interesting concept.
I do wish some if the grifts by Morgan would have been better explained
Some were only hinted at and never fully described.
Interesting concept.
I do wish some if the grifts by Morgan would have been better explained
Some were only hinted at and never fully described.
June 7, 2023
Delightfully fucked up and such a fun ride.
June 18, 2023
Our main character is a selfish a**holes who think she’s better than everyone because she’s “cruel” or “emotionless” and “take’s risk”.
While the rest of the characters are doodoo dumb…..
🫠
While the rest of the characters are doodoo dumb…..
🫠
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