Extremely addictive and readable, I whizzed through it. However, in playing on its satirical nature, it just ended up feeling like a caricature of what it was meant to be.

This was an okay read for me. I found the characters interesting, some more than others and the feeling of impending doom and things turning on their axis any minute now kept me going. But, ultimately, the whole story felt a bit flat by the end and I'm not sure how memorable this book will be. The queer angle was great and the build up was good, I just feel that I was left wanting more?

thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my review copy, all opinions are my own.

A literary version of White Lotus, equal parts juicy and wry in its approach to modernity. Brilliant.

This is such a marmite book and whilst there were confusing bits, overall I loved it. What initially appears to be a lighthearted rom-com quickly evolves into a satirical commentary on social media, influencer culture, and the complexities of human connection. The authors brilliantly capture the tension between the idealized Instagram aesthetic and the messy realities of everyday life. Recommend.

Newlywed Rosie finds herself disillusioned with the hustle and bustle of New York City. Seduced by picturesque images on Instagram, she yearns for the idyllic charm of rural life upstate, craving authenticity and beauty. Supportive of Rosie's dreams, her tech-bro husband, Jordan, agrees to her vision and joins her in pursuing a historic fixer-upper in the serene Hudson Valley, despite its hefty price tag.

However, their fairy-tale aspirations take a sharp turn when Jordan unexpectedly loses his job on the very day they seal the deal. With their plans upended, the couple is forced to make ends meet by renting out the property's rundown outbuilding.

In steps Dylan and Lark, a striking and skilled queer couple, offer to lease the outbuilding while assisting Rosie and Jordan with renovations. Living the rustic lifestyle Rosie had dreamed of, complete with handcrafted furniture, herbal remedies, and charming farm animals, Dylan and Lark embody everything Rosie desires. As Rosie becomes increasingly enamoured with their tenants, particularly the captivating Dylan, Jordan's unease grows palpable, setting the stage for a tense and captivating narrative.

This is the perfect read for when sitting around the pool or beach, especially if you have a summer holiday coming up! 🌞☀️

Thank you so much to the authors - @l.l.blackett and @therapy_animal as well as Sarah at @verve_books for sending out the copy!

Rosie and Jordan live in NYC, but Rosie feels underwhelmed and wants a change. Instagram ads inspire her to want an extravagant cottage in rural upstate NYC, now she just needs to persuade her tech-savvy husband. Jordan will do anything for Rosie’s happiness, which means they put in an offer in an historic fixer-upper in the Hudson Valley. They get ‘settled’ and become entangled with a query couple who are renting the building in their garden. This makes it even harder for Rosie to figure out what she really wants in life.

This book was ok. I did enjoy it but felt a bit bored at times and started despising some of the characters. It does show the real and the messy parts of life though, the true reality of what it’s like to feel out of place, change where you are and then completely regret the decision you made The development of Rosie really helped move the book forward but I felt like the ending was missing something!

Trust & Safety by Laura Blackett and Eve Gleichman is a rollicking good read packed with wit and wickedness and so much fun!

In an insta-spired world, Rosie decides ot up sticks and undertake a fixer-upper in the Hudson Valley with her husband Jordan, however, things do not go as planned and they are left with a huge mortgage and no income, what will they do? Get a couple tenants! This however is where things that were already awry, get flipped on their heads

I was absolutely honking with laughter throughout, I cannot praise it enough. Great flow, and so funny, loved it!

Absolutely recommended

Thank you to Netgalley, Verve Books and the authors Laura Blackett and Eve Gleichman for this ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

This book is a very well-written satire, BUT it is SO FRUSTRATING TO READ!

Nearly four stars for me, but I had too much of the ick.

I spent the first quarter rolling my eyes at these horrible characters and wondering why it had been tagged as a queer book on Netgalley.

Then Dylan arrived, and I was like, OK! Now we're getting somewhere.

The ending is funny but also annoying. It makes me feel like a fable for why you should never date someone who is exploring their sexuality.

I'm glad the right people end up with the house in the end, tho.

This book made me feel super disquieted - which I think was the point! A fable on the dangers of social media, performative attitudes and idolisation of certain lifestyles.

I really didn't like any of the characters, but I don't think any of us were supposed to! I'd recommend it to anyone who wants to read something that makes them feel a little uneasy.

As always, thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.

This is a quirky and very well-written novel, seemingly written by two writers - Laura Blackett and Eve Gleichman. I am not sure how they organised the writing but it reads seamlessly and in a polished way, therefore I am intrigued as to how they managed this.

Rosie and Jordan are a couple living in New York. Rosie is desperate to move, whereas Jordan isn't, really, but he decides to purchase the Bakker Estate (coveted by Rosie from her social media scrollings) with help from mis mother, Bridie - unbeknownst to Rosie. Just before they are set to move to the Hudson Valley, Jordan loses his job - but it is too late to do anything about their life change at this point.

The couple's life in the new house is troubled - it is ramshackle and falling down. They have little money. Things in the local stores are overpriced. They decide to rent out an outbuilding and before long, Dylan and Lark (a lesbian, polyamorous couple) show great interest and move in - and miraculously, they make the house - 'The Fold' - spectacular in very little time. Rosie wants to live the good life, to forget about their city lives in New York, whereas Jordan is wanting to transplant his old life to this rural setting. The main fly in the ointment is Rosie's relationship with the others, and their friends, particularly Dylan.

'Trust & Safety' is a satire - particularly the way the Family Friend device listens in to everything (think Amazon Alexa on steroids) - at times, though, the inclusion of what the FF wants to order is a little OTT, very much like the amazing progress Dylan and Lark make in The Fold - in reality, I think such changes are somewhat implausible. There are many current issues here, from unconventional relationships to sperm donation and greed, or lack thereof. In all, I really enjoyed it - and I like the way, specifically towards the end, the novel flip-flops in terms of Rosie's predicament and how her life is going to pan out.

Trust & Safety, Laura Blackett and Eve Gleichman's sophomore novel, is a strange little book, and I still don't quite know what to make of it. The first third made me think this was going to be a tiresomely cringy story about an oblivious rich couple who move from a New York apartment to a fixer-upper in the Hudson Valley after the wife, Rosie, falls in love with the visions of a rural idyll she's seen on Instagram. The register is obviously satirical, but I wasn't sure what Blackett and Gleichman were trying to say with their over-the-top depiction of these ignorant people, who think of themselves as queer allies but make gaffes at every turn when they encounter actual lesbians and trans men, and don't get that 'butchering' a chicken might mean killing it. And that early vibe never goes away, but it's somehow transmuted into something sweeter and funnier. Against all odds, Rosie starts to become more likeable as she gets to know the queer couple, Dylan and Lark, who are renting an outbuilding on their new property. Dylan and Lark seem to have walked straight out of one of the Instagram stories Rosie adores: they eat breakfast at a table 'outfitted with indigo-dyed linens, matte porcelain plates, mismatched mugs, and a jar of wildflowers' and Lark keeps 'a tall wooden cabinet filled with amber jars and bags of dried herbs'. I really enjoyed Dylan's practicality and her mix of kindness and self-protection, and as she warmed to Rosie, I did too. A gentle twist near the end makes it clearer what this novel is all about, and that it's not as simple as bad Instagram versus actual reality. And while others have struggled with the ending, I thought Blackett and Gleichman struck the right balance between unrealistic utopia and total cynicism; there's a sense that change doesn't happen all at once, but the possibility is still there. By the end, Trust & Safety is quietly compelling. 3.5 stars.

what a way to start off the summer with such an enticing & unique read. there is so much thought & meaning takes entangled between the pages that i have found myself reflecting on each key moment of the story. i love how it questions traditional marriages & the strict gender roles of societies, mostly through a queer lense. it also ponders upon the idea of being the perfect maternal figure, exploring how some women aren’t supposed to be mothers while others are, however i do wish this was touched upon more.

it seems that rosie, the protagonist that isn’t very self aware was a cautionary tale for those swept up by the utopian slow life that only exists on social media, a very relevant case for these times. unfortunately, through this trap, rosie felt lost & disconnected but i felt it couldn’t excuse her actions & she should’ve communicated instead. i thought jordan wasn’t being listened to & that he was more of a victim than rosie, but i also don’t agree with his actions & strict take on traditional views. i also feared the story was going down a route & finale i didn’t like, but was pleased with the real ending which may be an unpopular opinion…

everything i have said in this review is of course very specific to the characters, so i’m looking forward to hearing more thoughts on it once it’s finally released! overall, it’s a wonderful story on the portrayal of queerness as a romanticised fantasy in the story as well as the breaking down of social barriers. i really enjoyed the story however i have to say that characters frustrated me.

What a complete and unexpected wild ride. It’s been a long long time since I’ve genuinely been caught off guard by a book’s twists, turns, and long downward spiral. I picked this one up without knowing much about it, and I am glad I did: it had me turning page after page, gasping and humming and rolling my eyes at every other word.

On the surface, it does not have much to say, but once you let yourself be swept up by the story, you realise it is actually so incredibly snarky and judgemental - and that us humans are all silly little ridiculous creatures.

I have to say that by the end of it I hated every single character so fervently - in the exact same way I hate myself after scrolling instagram and TikTok for three hours straight - and at this point I simply can’t tell you anymore if that is a compliment or a criticism.

The ending is so un-satisfying but I don’t think any ending could have been and maybe that’s part of the point.

The synopsis of this book drew me in straight away, sounded like the perfect blend of messy and chaotic that I love. It did not disappoint in that area!!

The plot started slowly, but definitely gained momentum about 25% of the way through. It was a little confusing to follow at times, I did find my attention wavering in parts.

The characters were well written but I don’t think I was overly invested in them. But I think that was more due to their actions/ personalities making them not particularly likeable.

However, I was really rooting for Rosie to be bold and grab what she really wanted. But I have to admit, even that wavered towards them end. Her actions were, don’t want to give spoilers, so not as I’d expected.

The whole group of, Dylan, Lark, Hank, Sasha, Callie and the child - I loved. Again, until we found out the truth about them. When I tell you I was shocked - I had to reread a part to make sure I’d read it properly.

I think this would be a great book club pick, as there’s so much to unpack from it all. Like, I needed someone to discuss things with as I was reading 🤣

When big city folk dream of a new life in the countryside, is that really what they want? Or do they just want to live their normal lives with a better background for photos?

That's the question explored in Blackett & Gleichman's newest novel, Trust & Safety. The story follows Rosie, a disgruntled charity canvasser, and her tech-bro lawyer husband Jordan as they move from their swanky NYC apartment to a big house in the Hudson Valley based solely on an Instagram ad.

Obviously when they get to their new house, it's nothing like they expected. The place is old and dilapidated, the winter wind howls through the single-glazed windows and there's a creepy shed that they're pretty sure is haunted at the bottom of their yard. Jordan has also recently lost his job, so when a friendly polyamorous lesbian couple offers 6 months of rent upfront to live in the haunted shed, Rosie and Jordan have no choice but to accept.

Rosie is intrigued by one member of the couple, Dylan, as she represents the wholesome rugged life that Rosie was looking for in that Instagram ad.

Just a warning that I've seen a review boggled that this passes for romance. It does not, and I'm pretty sure if it was marketed to you that way, it's been tagged incorrectly. Although the novel does explore love and desire, it doesn't follow the path laid out by romance tropes, so if that's what you're looking for this isn't the book for you. But if you want a deeply satirical novel that pokes fun at almost everyone in it, then you might enjoy it.

I will say that the ending disappointed me, even for satire. It felt a little like it was enforcing the stereotype that bisexual women don't really fit in with the queer community, and they'll always end up going back to the hetero default. Even if Rosie didn't enjoy living in the polycule, I think a better ending would have been for her to go off on her own somewhere, maybe back to the Alps?

Thanks to NetGalley and VERVE books for the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

What a let-down of an ending! I know that life in the Hudson Valley was never going to be everything that Rosie had pictured, but it was so disappointing to see how quickly she gave up on her hopes and ideals and went back to being exactly the wife Jordan wanted and expected.

The characters in this book were interesting, and the development of Rosie's character, her identity and her dreams were one of the things that really drove the book forward, which is why it was such a shame to see the ending. It feels almost like the authors didn't know how to end the book, and so chose the easy option.

The book was well-written, and enjoyable, but the queer-baiting left a bad taste in my mouth.

I was deeply disappointed in the end- felt like it needed a few more chapters. I found it curious the children didn't have names. I wish the Polycule had been fleshed out more.

This was a 3.5 for me because while I liked some of the characters, the others did not appeal to me. The writing style was interesting and I found several parts quite funny. 4 stars for those who like unexpected and not-entirely-plausible plot twists.

The book is amusing and thought provoking. It has the kind of conversations that will make you laugh out loud and think about life twice.

Rosie and Jordon are newly married couple. The author has shared everything about them; how they met and elaborated the bond between them. Rosie is not satisfied with her life. She is looking for a better life and she comes across an old house located in Hudson Valley. It fascinated her. But Jordan and Rosie are faced with the unexpected challenges. There they meet a queer couple. Their life changes in an unexpected way.

The character development was good. Plot twists were unpredictable. The writing is compelling. Jordon was willing to do anything for Rosie. While Rosie was finding her happiness. Dylan and Lark were good. The book is good if you want to read about life and things you never talk to anyone about like the bond between couple, things we realise so late in life and the conversations that make you uncomfortable.

A really gripping read, I thought the characters were intriguing and I'm going to look out for more by this author.