Trust Fall by Lynn Painter
Trust Fall by Lynn Painter is a YA enemies to lovers romance book set during fall in New York City, featuring a Midwestern girl and a prep school guy who banter their way through autumn in New York.
Trust Fall by Lynn Painter
Trust Fall isn’t the most fall coded romance book out there, but it’s very high rated and does take place in New York City (with a quick trip to Nebraska) so let’s go with it.
My take: Trust Fall has the formula that have led so many readers to become Lynn Painter superfans: a hate to love (or enemies to lovers) couple, lots of saucy banter, and a sweet love story.
The fun part of the hate to love aspect of Trust Fall is that Damion hates Julia because he thinks she stole his inheritance, while she hates him because she thinks he’s snobbish and annoying. Of course, both of them end up being wrong.
The story takes place at an Upper West Side private school (think Trinity but even more uptown) filled with upper crust students in blazers and skirts.
Another part of the story that delighted me? Where else have we seen a Midwestern pair of fraternal twins thrust into a world of snobbish rich kids? YES, Trust Fall had major Beverly Hills 90210 vibes. The OG, of course.
Trust Fall had:
- Dual POV narration
- An Upper West Side Manhattan setting
- A darkest moment set at a fancy ball (just for a smidge of Gossip Girl “Kiss on the Lips”
- TONS of banter. In a 400+ page book it felt like a bit too much banter for me, but I know most readers love it.
- Publication date: September 29, 2026 by Simon & Schuster Teen. Thanks so much to them for the advance review copy.
Trust Fall is Perfect For:
- Readers who love flirty, hate-to-love banter
- Fans of Beverly Hills 90210 and Gossip Girl (me!)
- Readers who want a PG reading experience
My Master Post on the Best Rated Fall Romance Books has all the cozy fall romance books you need to know about.
