Trust Me – Book Review
I was very excited to get a review copy of Trust Me, a young adult coming-of-age story about teen Chelsea and her struggles in life. As sad as it sounds from the description, it also felt very compelling and relatable. As a content warning before you dive in, this book deals with loss of a parent, grief, and mental health (anxiety).
In short, I really loved it. It’s about learning to live and love in a world that is often very heartbreaking. It’s about learning to trust again when life has dealt you a few bad hands. Now, let’s get into my spoiler-free review.
Grief is a silent monster that lingers rather than roaring. With a narrative that feels as honest and genuine as a late-night confession, Emily Fellstar evokes that eerie quiet in Trust Me. This young adult book explores the tiny, agonizing moments that characterize what it means to recover from loss without resorting to melodrama or exaggerated plot points.
Tragic events have characterized Chelsea Reed’s life, including the death of her mother, the emotional absence of her father, and the separation of a best friend at a time when she most needed them. Fellstar responds sensitively to each of these hits, demonstrating that grieving doesn’t happen all at once but rather in waves, often years apart. This exhibits remarkable emotional realism. Anyone who has ever attempted to reconstruct their world from the rubble of loss will find Chelsea’s anxiousness, her fear of connection, and the brutality of her peers to be realistic and brutally familiar.
Then there’s Ben, a gentle, quiet person with his own wounds. His introduction is a patient, methodical unraveling of two wounded people learning to trust again rather than a romantic cliché. They have a timid, uncomfortable, and painfully human relationship. In these delicate interactions, where every look and half-spoken thought matters, Fellstar’s writing is at its best.
It’s difficult to read at times, because life is difficult, and anyone who has been through the things Chelsea has been through will likely feel it even harder. But all is not hopeless.
Trust Me’s genuineness sets it apart from other narratives on teen sorrow and bullying. There isn’t a quick remedy or “happily ever after.” Fellstar offers readers something more potent instead: hope gained from integrity. Chelsea’s path is about realizing that letting someone in doesn’t mean losing yourself again, not about running away from suffering.
It’s intriguing and heartwarming to watch Chelsea slowly open up to a new person in her life. Knowing all she has been through and the anxiety she battles with daily helps us to understand just how hard it is for her to trust, making it all that more touching.
The book, overall, is well written and nicely formatting. The dialogue feels realistic and is written smoothly. The conversations also feel realistic to the ages of the characters. The story keeps you hanging on page by page, waiting to see what happens for Chelsea next.
Trust Me is a moving reminder that connection is still possible even after sorrow, with incisive emotional understanding and a tone that strikes a balance between gloom and tenderness. Readers who enjoy the works of authors such as Sarah Dessen, Gayle Forman, and Jennifer Niven will adore this book.
It’s 5 stars from me. I think readers of all ages can appreciate this story, but especially young adults who will relate the most with Chelsea’s struggles, and anyone who has been through similar traumas.
Trust Me by Emily Fellstar is available now in paperback, Kindle, and Kindle Unlimited.