natalie intihar

Publication Date: September 29, 2026

Lynn Painter’s talent for writing both adult and YA romances truly should be studied, because she is incredible at it! Trust Fall captures the beauty and heartache of being a teenager at once, and Julie and Damion felt like taking a trip back in time in a good way. I enjoyed spending time with these two as they figured life out and of course, fell in love along the way.

Julia and Damion’s dynamic develops so seamlessly over time that it reads as effortless, even though their relationship certainly is full of hard work. There’s a lot of shared resentment and incorrect assumptions that they both have to unlearn as they get to know one another. Ultimately, they do end up being a much better match than either of them would have anticipated at their first meeting- which is a total treat to see.

I felt such a tenderness towards both these characters as they go through their senior years of high school amid a great deal of life changes. Both Julia and Damion experience grief as well as complex family dynamics, new friendships, and a budding relationship. It was so easy to connect with these characters and to hop into their world to spend time alongside them.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing and Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers for the opportunity to read and review this book! I received a free advance copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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