Common Sense Media Review
By Sage Moreaux
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Cute rom-com filled with swearing, pop-culture references.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
In TRUST FALL, when Julia's family inherits millions of dollars and a brownstone in New York, she's whisked away from Nebraska to attend an elite private school where she absolutely doesn't fit in. As the bullying begins, she learns that she needs to improve her grades, or she might be expelled, jeopardizing her family's inheritance. Fortunately, a dreamy tutor named Damion is available. Unfortunately, he's also the nephew of the man who left his fortune to Julia's family. But Damion doesn't tell Julia of his connection to her benefactor. His family is convinced his uncle was out of his mind when he changed his will. As Damion and Julia grow closer, the lies multiply until Damion doesn't know who to support, Julia or his own parents. Will Julia and Damion find a way through, or will their trust be broken?
Is It Any Good?
Fun and charming, this story is a light read with fall vibes and lots of banter. Trust Fall feels like a mash-up of Gilmore Girls and Gossip Girl. Expect flirting galore, along with plenty of song lyrics peppered in, topped off with epic parties and rich, mean-girl bullying.
The story is cute enough to keep you reading, and hints at deeper themes including privilege and trust, without getting too deep. It fills all the genre expectations, so kids who love light, flirty romantic comedies and lots of real-world references to music and brands will find this a fun seasonal read. But the characters fall a little flat, and the tidy resolution leaves something to be desired.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the fortune left to Julia's family in Trust Fall. How do you feel about Damion's uncle leaving his fortune to the strangers who showed him so much compassion in the last years of his life? Did he do Damion a disservice, or was it a blessing in disguise?
What do you think about all the pop culture references used in the book? Did they immerse you in the story, or pull you out of it?
Did you notice any stereotypes? How did they make you feel? What's the impact of inaccurate or stereotypical depictions in the media?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Romance
- Topics : Family Stories , School ( High School )
- Character Strengths : Compassion
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
- Publication date : September 29, 2026
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 18
- Number of pages : 416
- Available on : Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 6, 2026
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