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NetGalley Review of Trust Fall

Posted on September 28, 2026September 7, 2026 by caritagardiner
Screenshot 2026-09-04 at 5.24.25 PM (opens in new tab)

title: Trust Fall

author: Lynn Painter

publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

publication date: September 29, 2026

pages: 416

peppers: 1 (on this scale)

warnings: bullying

summary: When Julia's family in Nebraska inherits a mansion in NYC and millions of dollars, they're somewhat surprised by the stipulation that they must live there and Julia and her twin Liam have to attend a specific private school. Julia's math scores aren't up to the standards of the academy, so she has to get tutored by the snarky, cocky boy who's been tormenting her, Damion, whose family wants to figure out why their uncle/great uncle left his estate to some random family from Nebraska.

tropes:

  • the very rich
  • follow the will
  • tutor-pupil
  • mean girls
  • country pumpkin in the big city

what I liked:

  • scenes of rich-kid life
  • the school they attend
  • NYC life

what I didn’t like:

  • the mean kids seem too mean

overall rating: 4 (of 5 stars)

As always, you can click on the photo above if you want to buy the book.

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WHAT I DO

I serve as a class dean and teach English to high schoolers at a boarding school in Connecticut. I’ve earned a Bachelor of Arts (Amherst College), an Education Master in Learning and Teaching (Harvard University Graduate School of Education), a Master of Arts in English (Bread Loaf School of English), and most recently a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing with a certificate in the online teaching of writing (Southern New Hampshire University).

As a writer, I hope to capture the complexity and joy of life in the New England boarding school world. On this site, I share what I know about trying to write fiction while deaning, teaching English, coaching, and doing the other tasks associated with helping to raise over six hundred other people’s children.

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Read my recent “Why” Wednesday Blog Posts

  • NetGalley Review of Trust Fall
  • NetGalley Review of Hooking Nash
  • NetGalley Review of The Pools
  • NetGalley Review of The Twelve Loves of Christmas
  • 404. Why Do Your Own Work
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