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You'll Never Believe Me: A Life of Lies, Second Tries, and Things I Should Only Tell My Therapist
"A captivating, sharp and very funny memoir." —New York Times Book Review
"Kari Ferrell’s memoir is a zippy, intimate account of low-level trickery before the era of scams fully erupted." —The Atlantic
"Raw and riveting. With a combination of bruising vulnerability and self-deprecating humor, Ferrell’s audacious coming-of-age tale pairs the thrill of true crime with the redemptive arc of a good memoir. It’s a deliciously edgy testament to reinvention." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
The compelling, edgy, compassionate, laugh-out-loud memoir from Kari Ferrell, formerly known as the "Hipster Grifter"
Before Anna Delvey, before the Tinder Swindler, there was Kari Ferrell. Adopted at a young age by a Mormon family in Utah, Kari struggled with questions of self-worth and identity as one of the few Asian Americans in her insulated community, leading her to run with the “bad crowd” in an effort to fit in.
Soon, stealing from superstores turned into picking up men (and picking their pockets), and before she knew it, Kari graduated from petty theft to Utah’s most wanted list. Though Kari was able to escape the Southwest, she couldn’t outrun her new moniker: the Hipster Grifter.
New York City’s indie sleaze scene had found its newest celebrity—just as Kari found herself in a heap of trouble. Jail time, riots, bad checks, and an explosion of internet infamy and fetishization put her name in the spotlight. Beyond the gossip and Gawker posts, there’s a side to Kari the media never saw—until now.
"Kari Ferrell’s memoir is a zippy, intimate account of low-level trickery before the era of scams fully erupted." —The Atlantic
"Raw and riveting. With a combination of bruising vulnerability and self-deprecating humor, Ferrell’s audacious coming-of-age tale pairs the thrill of true crime with the redemptive arc of a good memoir. It’s a deliciously edgy testament to reinvention." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
The compelling, edgy, compassionate, laugh-out-loud memoir from Kari Ferrell, formerly known as the "Hipster Grifter"
Before Anna Delvey, before the Tinder Swindler, there was Kari Ferrell. Adopted at a young age by a Mormon family in Utah, Kari struggled with questions of self-worth and identity as one of the few Asian Americans in her insulated community, leading her to run with the “bad crowd” in an effort to fit in.
Soon, stealing from superstores turned into picking up men (and picking their pockets), and before she knew it, Kari graduated from petty theft to Utah’s most wanted list. Though Kari was able to escape the Southwest, she couldn’t outrun her new moniker: the Hipster Grifter.
New York City’s indie sleaze scene had found its newest celebrity—just as Kari found herself in a heap of trouble. Jail time, riots, bad checks, and an explosion of internet infamy and fetishization put her name in the spotlight. Beyond the gossip and Gawker posts, there’s a side to Kari the media never saw—until now.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published January 7, 2025
186 people are currently reading
25.9k people want to read
About the author
Kari Ferrell
2 books68 followersKari Ferrell is a producer, writer, speaker, activist, and creator. Her work is centered around incarceration and the justice system, mental health, human rights, and other issues she feels passionately about.
Kari’s production company, Without Wax, is dedicated to uplifting and telling other WOC’s stories, across a variety of mediums. Every project that she works on is done with the mission of moving the needle toward a more compassionate society. She enjoys the work she does with Second Chance Studios, Books Through Bars, the ACLU, and other advocacy groups.
When she’s not working doing the above she enjoys spending time with her partner and rescue pup, crossword puzzles, eating x1000, boxing (to counteract the eating), getting stoned and writing about herself in the third person.
Kari’s production company, Without Wax, is dedicated to uplifting and telling other WOC’s stories, across a variety of mediums. Every project that she works on is done with the mission of moving the needle toward a more compassionate society. She enjoys the work she does with Second Chance Studios, Books Through Bars, the ACLU, and other advocacy groups.
When she’s not working doing the above she enjoys spending time with her partner and rescue pup, crossword puzzles, eating x1000, boxing (to counteract the eating), getting stoned and writing about herself in the third person.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 210 reviews
December 5, 2024
If you, like me, are a particular vintage of millennial, you will remember the Hipster Grifter. For a brief time in the late aughts, stories about her crime spree dominated the snarkiest corners of the internet. Now she’s telling her own story—and it’s one well worth reading.
I basically inhaled this book. As she herself acknowledges, the author is skilled at wielding words, and she’s written an incredibly readable book infused with a darkly witty voice. Her stories about life as a cross-cultural adoptee and Mormon-turned-fraudster are laugh-out-loud funny at some points and heartbreaking at others. I also appreciated her clear desire to be an advocate for incarcerated woman.
If you’re looking for a quick, funny read that feels like talking to the wildest girl in your friend group, this one’s for you.
I basically inhaled this book. As she herself acknowledges, the author is skilled at wielding words, and she’s written an incredibly readable book infused with a darkly witty voice. Her stories about life as a cross-cultural adoptee and Mormon-turned-fraudster are laugh-out-loud funny at some points and heartbreaking at others. I also appreciated her clear desire to be an advocate for incarcerated woman.
If you’re looking for a quick, funny read that feels like talking to the wildest girl in your friend group, this one’s for you.
January 11, 2025
I am a different generation than Kari Ferrell and was not familiar with the Hipster Grifter, but found the book on a list of hot upcoming releases and was approved to review it for NetGalley.
Although she writes with a humorous style, I cringed through much of the book, imagining how it would feel to be one of Kari's friends she scammed, or the mother of one of the young men she scammed. Her connection with her adopted parents/family is negligible and not dived into by the author, and I could find no evidence of the author compensating those she stole from (and for which she served time) which ticked me off.
Trauma is very specific to each person, and I don't want to diminish Kari's issues with being Asian in America, or being adopted, but she still comes off as a pretty crass and awful person, which colored my view of her memoir. Kudos for her speaking to the issues incarcerated women face (although I recommend the book Mama Love for a better dive into that), but I'm not sure she has actually done anything on that topic.
As a reader I can't really separate my distaste for her actions from my review of her book. I guess some people may find it entertaining, but I'm not that target audience. 2-stars.
Although she writes with a humorous style, I cringed through much of the book, imagining how it would feel to be one of Kari's friends she scammed, or the mother of one of the young men she scammed. Her connection with her adopted parents/family is negligible and not dived into by the author, and I could find no evidence of the author compensating those she stole from (and for which she served time) which ticked me off.
Trauma is very specific to each person, and I don't want to diminish Kari's issues with being Asian in America, or being adopted, but she still comes off as a pretty crass and awful person, which colored my view of her memoir. Kudos for her speaking to the issues incarcerated women face (although I recommend the book Mama Love for a better dive into that), but I'm not sure she has actually done anything on that topic.
As a reader I can't really separate my distaste for her actions from my review of her book. I guess some people may find it entertaining, but I'm not that target audience. 2-stars.
February 2, 2025
I can't recall where I saw this book. It was some book list of anticipated releases for 2025. Whoever added it to that must-read list needs to more exposure to better books. This book was boring, and the author was uncompelling in any meaningful way. The description of the book, turns out, was mostly the equivalent of clickbait. Save your time folks. This one is a dud. Oh, and I actually don't believe everything she claimed, nor do I care.
February 14, 2025
There wasn’t quite as much grifter or hipster in this as I expected, but I think that was the point! This memoir was a real ride, and one in a number of recent books and documentaries in which someone whose life has been overly impacted by - or in some cases, victimized by - social or Internet media reclaims and corrects their narrative.
There were times here when I didn’t understand quite why, or what, I was reading, and I even had the thought that the narrator seemed to lack empathy. And then there were times when the narrator spoke really eloquently about important topics including adoption trauma and growing up as one of the only Asians in a conservative, white, largely Mormon community. She also effectively describes how people tend to abruptly write off teen girls who don’t conform to accepted models of emergent promising young womanhood. She has a bit of the class clown personality about her in that she does not shy away from offering some raunchy disclosures or shocking comments, but she can be funny and the tone of her writing and persona are definitely unique. There’s no question in my mind that she’s a talented writer who would have a lot of interesting things to say about other topics too, especially when matched with ones that would be a good fit for her style. I feel like she actually lived the life of a fictional protagonist in one of today’s popular thriller novels involving charismatic young scam artists.
Toward the end, during an engaging and humanizing portion where she describes a time in prison, she passingly mentions that she is only 23 at this time, and it landed with me that she had lived so much hard life by then and was really only a baby when much of this memoir happened! Her rebuilding process from all this took an admirable amount of toughness, reflection, and persistence, and I think it’s safe to say she definitely paid a pretty significant price for some early mistakes - especially when you consider what shady and often overtly malicious shit many people get away with over the long haul and well into maturity and the shoulda known better times…
Despite some of my mixed feelings, my overall conclusion is that this a worthwhile and original story about recovering and learning from those missteps we all make - which also often involve using the best survival skills and both personal and interpersonal resources we felt we had available to us at the time. As someone who made some pretty massive stumbles early on herself, I really appreciated this. Most importantly, I loved that the author remained authentic and a bit messy and didn’t sell out her story to some kind of tidy Hallmark Movie treatment as I fear some recent popular memoir authors have done.
There were times here when I didn’t understand quite why, or what, I was reading, and I even had the thought that the narrator seemed to lack empathy. And then there were times when the narrator spoke really eloquently about important topics including adoption trauma and growing up as one of the only Asians in a conservative, white, largely Mormon community. She also effectively describes how people tend to abruptly write off teen girls who don’t conform to accepted models of emergent promising young womanhood. She has a bit of the class clown personality about her in that she does not shy away from offering some raunchy disclosures or shocking comments, but she can be funny and the tone of her writing and persona are definitely unique. There’s no question in my mind that she’s a talented writer who would have a lot of interesting things to say about other topics too, especially when matched with ones that would be a good fit for her style. I feel like she actually lived the life of a fictional protagonist in one of today’s popular thriller novels involving charismatic young scam artists.
Toward the end, during an engaging and humanizing portion where she describes a time in prison, she passingly mentions that she is only 23 at this time, and it landed with me that she had lived so much hard life by then and was really only a baby when much of this memoir happened! Her rebuilding process from all this took an admirable amount of toughness, reflection, and persistence, and I think it’s safe to say she definitely paid a pretty significant price for some early mistakes - especially when you consider what shady and often overtly malicious shit many people get away with over the long haul and well into maturity and the shoulda known better times…
Despite some of my mixed feelings, my overall conclusion is that this a worthwhile and original story about recovering and learning from those missteps we all make - which also often involve using the best survival skills and both personal and interpersonal resources we felt we had available to us at the time. As someone who made some pretty massive stumbles early on herself, I really appreciated this. Most importantly, I loved that the author remained authentic and a bit messy and didn’t sell out her story to some kind of tidy Hallmark Movie treatment as I fear some recent popular memoir authors have done.
November 15, 2024
Wow!! I wish there was more because this was a really good read. Ferrell really pulls you in. This memoir tells of Ferrell really finding her identity. Her discussion of dieting as a kid brought back some rough memories. Once Ferrell begins talking about her grifting, the memoir feels like a movie. The growth and self-reflections she has by the end are admirable. Such a well done memoir!
Thank you Macmillan Audio and Net Galley for an advanced copy of this audiobook.
Thank you Macmillan Audio and Net Galley for an advanced copy of this audiobook.
January 25, 2025
Libby app, Overdrive was better.
Narrator did a good job but I had to keep reminding bits cause I missed what they were saying (could be my adhd though).
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The name Hipster Grifter sounded familiar to me,but I don't remember hearing the news stories or looking anything up (with my memory gaps though, who knows). Took a chance on this one without reading too many reviews.
My brain 🧠 checked out with all the s*x talk stuff but her story was really interesting. (I guessed she was adhd before she mentioned getting diagnosed with it.. neurodivergents for the win 🏆🙌).
I devoured this book 📖. It's very easy to get caught up in what's she telling you.
Her stories were funny, pulling on heartstrings, and will sometimes have you shaking your head and rolling your eyes 👀.
Would recommend, had fun with this one.
Narrator did a good job but I had to keep reminding bits cause I missed what they were saying (could be my adhd though).
----
The name Hipster Grifter sounded familiar to me,but I don't remember hearing the news stories or looking anything up (with my memory gaps though, who knows). Took a chance on this one without reading too many reviews.
My brain 🧠 checked out with all the s*x talk stuff but her story was really interesting. (I guessed she was adhd before she mentioned getting diagnosed with it.. neurodivergents for the win 🏆🙌).
I devoured this book 📖. It's very easy to get caught up in what's she telling you.
Her stories were funny, pulling on heartstrings, and will sometimes have you shaking your head and rolling your eyes 👀.
Would recommend, had fun with this one.
December 9, 2024
I had never heard of Kari Ferrell before listening to this book (but I definitely googled "hipster grifter" as soon as I finished it). I'm fascinated by a lot of different elements in the book: growing up LDS, transnational adoption, selling yourself like a commodity while also focusing on "authenticity"...
I found that the memoir stayed pretty "surface level" to me. While Ferrell talks about her crimes and takes responsibility (for the most part), she doesn't go into her motivations or draw many (any?) conclusions. Obviously people are entitled to their privacy and can write memoirs however they like. I can admit that I expect more of a thesis or driving point in my books, and that includes memoirs. Why did she feel the need to write this? I'm still not sure even after having finished.
This was a quick listen and I think Ferrell, who narrated her own book, did a good job. (This is not a given - I've definitely heard authors who should NOT have been the ones to read their own books!). I think I'd have liked it more if I'd been more familiar with her story, so if you were an avid Gawker or Observer reader at the time of the Hipster Grifter stories, this would probably work better for you.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the memoir.
I found that the memoir stayed pretty "surface level" to me. While Ferrell talks about her crimes and takes responsibility (for the most part), she doesn't go into her motivations or draw many (any?) conclusions. Obviously people are entitled to their privacy and can write memoirs however they like. I can admit that I expect more of a thesis or driving point in my books, and that includes memoirs. Why did she feel the need to write this? I'm still not sure even after having finished.
This was a quick listen and I think Ferrell, who narrated her own book, did a good job. (This is not a given - I've definitely heard authors who should NOT have been the ones to read their own books!). I think I'd have liked it more if I'd been more familiar with her story, so if you were an avid Gawker or Observer reader at the time of the Hipster Grifter stories, this would probably work better for you.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the memoir.
October 14, 2024
Super unique perspective and personal story. I was hooked throughout the story. Covering experiences like growing up Mormon and spending time in prison with an authentic and often humorous tone was an engaging blend. I loved this!!
January 26, 2025
This memoir isn’t for everyone, but I found it both funny and enlightening at the same time. It’s also a story of growth and not being defined by one’s past, and reclaiming one’s own story. I actually found the very end of the book to have some of the best parts, which isn’t always the case. I listened to the audio book and it was well-narrated.
4 stars
4 stars
June 6, 2024
I loved this book. Ferrell is so cool and shares her story like a badass. Apparently she was semi-famous and called the "Hipster Grifter" for a time, but I was never aware of the story. She was laundering bad checks and then escaped after she was out on bail. The summary gives away a lot of the details--otherwise I wouldn't spoil it--but Ferrell also details the time she spent in both jail and prison and what that experience was like. I actually had to put this book down a couple times because I didn't want it to end yet.
January 5, 2025
Before Anna Delvey, before the Tinder Swindler there was Kari Ferrell. Way back in 2009 she was dubbed the Hipster Grifter in an article that exposed not only how she scammed her way around Brooklyn, but that she was wanted for felony fraud in Utah.
Internet infamy followed, along with gossip, fetishization, exploitation + jail time. She committed petty theft + check fraud. Simultaneously charmed + duped people. The fascination with Kari’s story grew as people came forward with tales of deception and the public’s obsession with this mysterious con woman took on a life of its own.
But those stories didn’t tell the whole truth. They didn’t even get all of the stories right. And they didn’t tell Kari’s story. Did she do some awful things? Hurt people in the process? She’ll agree that she did. Were lines blurred and crossed by the media? Absolutely.
YOU’LL NEVER BELIEVE ME is Kari’s turn to set the record straight, to bring the reader behind the curtain & into her world, her motivations and her life today.
Full disclosure, before I read this book I’d read some of the online stories. And before I read those stories I was one of those corporate world work colleagues she mentioned that loved working with her. It feels like a lifetime ago — really it was a decade, which kind of is a lifetime.
The book is written with wit, sharp humor — I laughed a lot — and a reflective nature. She can recognize the good, see where things went sideways and takes us through some dark moments. There’s a rawness to some chapters, a no holds barred look at her time in jail + the dark days that followed. It’s uncomfortable and vulnerable. It’s not every salacious detail, but it’s her audacious choices, her resilience and her determination to create something positive from the infamy.
The book reads like a friend telling you stories, as the cover says: a life of lies, second tries and things I should only tell my therapist. I’m glad she decided to tell us too!
I was lucky enough to get an audio ARC and the physical book and did a combo reading. Kari narrates the book which really elevates the story and adds her pitch perfect humor in all the right places. It's an entertaining, quick read and I recommend giving it a go.
Internet infamy followed, along with gossip, fetishization, exploitation + jail time. She committed petty theft + check fraud. Simultaneously charmed + duped people. The fascination with Kari’s story grew as people came forward with tales of deception and the public’s obsession with this mysterious con woman took on a life of its own.
But those stories didn’t tell the whole truth. They didn’t even get all of the stories right. And they didn’t tell Kari’s story. Did she do some awful things? Hurt people in the process? She’ll agree that she did. Were lines blurred and crossed by the media? Absolutely.
YOU’LL NEVER BELIEVE ME is Kari’s turn to set the record straight, to bring the reader behind the curtain & into her world, her motivations and her life today.
Full disclosure, before I read this book I’d read some of the online stories. And before I read those stories I was one of those corporate world work colleagues she mentioned that loved working with her. It feels like a lifetime ago — really it was a decade, which kind of is a lifetime.
The book is written with wit, sharp humor — I laughed a lot — and a reflective nature. She can recognize the good, see where things went sideways and takes us through some dark moments. There’s a rawness to some chapters, a no holds barred look at her time in jail + the dark days that followed. It’s uncomfortable and vulnerable. It’s not every salacious detail, but it’s her audacious choices, her resilience and her determination to create something positive from the infamy.
The book reads like a friend telling you stories, as the cover says: a life of lies, second tries and things I should only tell my therapist. I’m glad she decided to tell us too!
I was lucky enough to get an audio ARC and the physical book and did a combo reading. Kari narrates the book which really elevates the story and adds her pitch perfect humor in all the right places. It's an entertaining, quick read and I recommend giving it a go.
January 26, 2025
This is a tough one to rate/review. It’s definitely interesting and the author is extremely witty. She has a great sense of humor and is very charming (which is how she managed to con so many people). However, the author is a con artist and a thief. I found myself trying to empathize with the author but struggled because she treated her friends and family very poorly. She also treated strangers despicably. The author readily admits to this but I never felt the genuine remorse I was hoping for. But, ultimately, this is the author’s story to tell in the way that she wants to so I tried to respect that.
I was glad that we did get to see the author mature by the end of the book. She goes to therapy and enters into a seemingly honest and healthy romantic relationship.
I don’t know about this one. It’s a good book but it’s written by someone who admits having difficulty with the truth so I just kept wondering whether any of it happened the way she wrote it or is this book the ultimate grift?
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was glad that we did get to see the author mature by the end of the book. She goes to therapy and enters into a seemingly honest and healthy romantic relationship.
I don’t know about this one. It’s a good book but it’s written by someone who admits having difficulty with the truth so I just kept wondering whether any of it happened the way she wrote it or is this book the ultimate grift?
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 6, 2024
4.25-4.5z
I devoured the audio in 24 hours! I knew nothing of the “Hipster Grifter” but I love a con-artist story so I was immediately intrigued by Ferrell’s memoir.
She’s an excellent storyteller and funny too. I will admit that I thought she was a bit immature or lacked insight at first but by the end I quickly changed my mind.
If you’re looking for an engaging, thoughtful and entertaining memoir then be sure to give this a go.
Thank you Macmillan Audio for the alc.
I devoured the audio in 24 hours! I knew nothing of the “Hipster Grifter” but I love a con-artist story so I was immediately intrigued by Ferrell’s memoir.
She’s an excellent storyteller and funny too. I will admit that I thought she was a bit immature or lacked insight at first but by the end I quickly changed my mind.
If you’re looking for an engaging, thoughtful and entertaining memoir then be sure to give this a go.
Thank you Macmillan Audio for the alc.
July 11, 2024
Kari has written an absolute banger of an autobiography, reclaiming the narrative of her life that at times was out of control, only to rise from the ashes of her own doing. The “hipster grifter” moniker she was afforded, lent her a sense of infamy, but it is not who she truly is — at least not after everything she’s gone through.
This book is a look under the hood of all the hoopla, and how one ultimately finds the person they truly are through it all. Kari’s life has been harrowing and funny and frightening and eye-opening in equal measure, and being able to experience it through her eyes has been an empowering affair.
Put this in your “want to read” list, pre-order it, and enjoy it when it drops on 1/7/25. What a wonderful first novel!
This book is a look under the hood of all the hoopla, and how one ultimately finds the person they truly are through it all. Kari’s life has been harrowing and funny and frightening and eye-opening in equal measure, and being able to experience it through her eyes has been an empowering affair.
Put this in your “want to read” list, pre-order it, and enjoy it when it drops on 1/7/25. What a wonderful first novel!
August 12, 2024
An amazing story that is, at times, soul crushing and truly LOL depending on the page. I didn’t know what to expect and what I got was so much better. Ferrell sets the scene with details that made me feel I was in Brooklyn, even though I’ve only been in my dreams.
I had no idea who she was, and now it feels like I’m one of her best mates. Highly recommend!
I had no idea who she was, and now it feels like I’m one of her best mates. Highly recommend!
November 27, 2024
You'll Never Believe Me is the self-written, self-narrated autobiography/memoir of Kari Ferrell aka the Hipster Grifter.
It seems at some point this was all over the news but I've never heard of her before (oops), but I love a good self-narrated autobio and this was... all right? It was fine? It's Ferrell's childhood as a transnational adoptee (side note: I also love hearing stories from people in my age bracket and we had eerily similar childhoods outside of adoption and Mormon conversion) to a girl who was too good at talking her way into her friends' wallets and good graces until she evaded the authorities, moved 3,000 miles, and sort of did it all over again.
The major chunk of this book however is Ferrell's time in jail/prison as she states that her goal now is to bring attention and changes to the carceral system but the meat of it felt sort of... not much, as a listener? I'm sure it felt like a lot to her, and I was honestly surprised that she was only 23 when the majority of things went down but I think unfortunately what would have worked better for this book was more detail in... her scams, what actually happened and piled up that led to the warrant. It seemed like she was only in prison a few months before release, was somehow allowed to be released to a friend (who is also an ex-felon) before having to make it on her own in a stack of strange situations.... but then you read other articles about her (where she has been interviewed, even) and they don't match the story in the book either (for example, https://www.thecut.com/2022/05/kari-f... ), and she talks about a TV show that was in production before the pandemic, but easy googling shows there's been one in progress since 2022. So what's the truth? Of course the people want the juicy details from a scammer and What Really Happened but so much fell flat.
I did really enjoy the chapter (singular) about Farrell visiting South and North Korea and how it made her as a transnational adoptee feel, and there was a mention about how it fed into her current work (is this a book an advertisement for her production company?) , and there were bits and pieces that were interesting but overall it felt both lacking and not quite... enough? Flat?
But it was a quick listen, and entertaining for commuting!
Thank you to St Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the ALC in exchange for review!
It seems at some point this was all over the news but I've never heard of her before (oops), but I love a good self-narrated autobio and this was... all right? It was fine? It's Ferrell's childhood as a transnational adoptee (side note: I also love hearing stories from people in my age bracket and we had eerily similar childhoods outside of adoption and Mormon conversion) to a girl who was too good at talking her way into her friends' wallets and good graces until she evaded the authorities, moved 3,000 miles, and sort of did it all over again.
The major chunk of this book however is Ferrell's time in jail/prison as she states that her goal now is to bring attention and changes to the carceral system but the meat of it felt sort of... not much, as a listener? I'm sure it felt like a lot to her, and I was honestly surprised that she was only 23 when the majority of things went down but I think unfortunately what would have worked better for this book was more detail in... her scams, what actually happened and piled up that led to the warrant. It seemed like she was only in prison a few months before release, was somehow allowed to be released to a friend (who is also an ex-felon) before having to make it on her own in a stack of strange situations.... but then you read other articles about her (where she has been interviewed, even) and they don't match the story in the book either (for example, https://www.thecut.com/2022/05/kari-f... ), and she talks about a TV show that was in production before the pandemic, but easy googling shows there's been one in progress since 2022. So what's the truth? Of course the people want the juicy details from a scammer and What Really Happened but so much fell flat.
I did really enjoy the chapter (singular) about Farrell visiting South and North Korea and how it made her as a transnational adoptee feel, and there was a mention about how it fed into her current work (is this a book an advertisement for her production company?) , and there were bits and pieces that were interesting but overall it felt both lacking and not quite... enough? Flat?
But it was a quick listen, and entertaining for commuting!
Thank you to St Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the ALC in exchange for review!
January 9, 2025
2.5 Stars
You'll Never Believe Me by Kari Ferrell shows glimpses of potential but ultimately falls short of delivering a truly compelling memoir. While an easy and entertaining listen, the book suffers from a lack of depth.
Initially, the author's wit draws you in, but the humor soon becomes forced and overdone. The memoir also frustratingly skims over potentially rich material - a deeper look at Ferrell's adoption story, unpacking her separation from the Mormon church, the finer details of her involvement in various scams, or a more profound critique of the American criminal justice system.
Perhaps most disappointingly, the book lacks a meaningful redemption arc or evidence of personal growth. Rather than offering genuine reflection or remorse, it reads more like an attempt to maintain relevance. Still, Ferrell shows promise as a writer and you (kinda) have to admire the hustle.
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an arc of You'll Never Believe Me in exchange for an honest review.
You'll Never Believe Me by Kari Ferrell shows glimpses of potential but ultimately falls short of delivering a truly compelling memoir. While an easy and entertaining listen, the book suffers from a lack of depth.
Initially, the author's wit draws you in, but the humor soon becomes forced and overdone. The memoir also frustratingly skims over potentially rich material - a deeper look at Ferrell's adoption story, unpacking her separation from the Mormon church, the finer details of her involvement in various scams, or a more profound critique of the American criminal justice system.
Perhaps most disappointingly, the book lacks a meaningful redemption arc or evidence of personal growth. Rather than offering genuine reflection or remorse, it reads more like an attempt to maintain relevance. Still, Ferrell shows promise as a writer and you (kinda) have to admire the hustle.
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an arc of You'll Never Believe Me in exchange for an honest review.
January 6, 2025
Apparently, I live in a cave with no internet access, because I’d never heard of Kari Farrell, otherwise known as the “Hipster Grifter.” But I love memoirs, and hers sounded interesting, so here we are.
Some people are going to love her memoir, while others are going to hate it. Her writing made me laugh. She can be a little (!) vulgar, so if language offends you, this book is not for you. I enjoyed her honesty and observations, even though I felt like she tended to say (write) things for shock value.
If this memoir had been a novel, I’d be calling her out on plot holes. While she gave us a whole lot of personal information on certain issues, we leapt over others. But of course this is her memoir, and she gets to tell her story any way she wants.
I was especially interested in her thoughts on her childhood as a Korean child in a primarily white area, being adopted by white parents raising her as “white,” and her sense of being displaced from her roots. I would have loved more focus on this issue as she grew up and came to terms with it all.
*I received a free eARC from St. Martin’s Press, provided via NetGalley.*
Some people are going to love her memoir, while others are going to hate it. Her writing made me laugh. She can be a little (!) vulgar, so if language offends you, this book is not for you. I enjoyed her honesty and observations, even though I felt like she tended to say (write) things for shock value.
If this memoir had been a novel, I’d be calling her out on plot holes. While she gave us a whole lot of personal information on certain issues, we leapt over others. But of course this is her memoir, and she gets to tell her story any way she wants.
I was especially interested in her thoughts on her childhood as a Korean child in a primarily white area, being adopted by white parents raising her as “white,” and her sense of being displaced from her roots. I would have loved more focus on this issue as she grew up and came to terms with it all.
*I received a free eARC from St. Martin’s Press, provided via NetGalley.*
January 29, 2025
Thank baby Jesus millennials are finally writing memoirs. This was jaw-droppingly funny. Even though some of the things the “Hipster Grifter” pulled off (identity fraud, bad check cashing) weren’t nice, and I didn’t always “like” her, I always respected her perspective as a transnational adoptee from S Korea raised in LDS and determined to shoot her shot in all the ways once she finally came of age. Insider stints at Vice and, well, prison were entertaining and insightful, never exploitative.
January 20, 2025
Hmm okay. So I think there were a lot of interesting things about this book. I had not ever heard of the hipster grifter, or KF’s story. But I was very intrigued by the description. I also love memoirs read by the author on audio. I think in general, this story has a lot of pieces that work well—a series of really problematic decisions, oftentimes cruel and selfish behavior, some pretty severe consequences, and later on, some success. But some things were really missing for me. I don’t think we ever get a clear understanding of how exactly she ran her scams, or a detailed look at the individual people she hurt. The characters throughout this story really blend
together (I kept thinking, wait who?!) making me more convinced they didn’t and don’t matter to her. We also don’t get meaningful insight into her thoughts at the time. She also mentions stealing from a ton of her good friends, yet we always see her having a bunch of friends, and it’s unclear if she ever really apologized to them, or paid them back. She talks about herself as relateable, quirky, smart, at one point as a manic pixie dream girl, but this wasn’t my experience of her. I found KF very unlikable, and I do feel kind of bad about that because I wanted to like her—she tried so hard to be funny, but I just kept wondering, wait, why don’t you feel sorry? It also seemed like she was trying to take a few details about her personal life (being adopted, being raised Mormon) and use them to make us see why she did why she did—and while people are gross and said some truly ignorant stuff to her, I think we all have experienced mean kids, horrible people making terrible comments about us for one reason or another, but most of us don’t go on to really harm people we supposedly care about, or lash out at people in general. I just didn’t buy that her life was so hard that she had all this anger and sadness that caused her to act out. I wanted to buy it, but she didn’t help me understand. KF also has a gigantic ego, something she freely admits multiple times throughout this memoir, but it didn’t help me sympathize with her, because we don’t see her redemption. I also find comments about how she was “reading at a high school level when [she] was 5…” really irritating. No you weren’t, stop. Even if you somehow were you wouldn’t have the frame of reference to read friggen Chaucer or whatever it is you’re claiming. She takes on a very cavalier tone consistently throughout. She must be a very charismatic person irl because she has been able to constantly have friends, jobs, boyfriends etc, but I’m not seeing exactly how she ever made real amends. There is a lot of arrogance in the way she talks about herself. She does call herself out at times, but it rings kind of hollow. I really feel bad because I think there’s a good chance she has actually become a good person, but this book doesn’t really show that. At times she sounds…proud. We never really understand her relationship with her family or real friends in depth at all, a huge part of the story. All in all, this was a solidly written memoir, with a worthwhile story, but the idea of this person being able to launch their crimes into a tv show, makes me angry.
together (I kept thinking, wait who?!) making me more convinced they didn’t and don’t matter to her. We also don’t get meaningful insight into her thoughts at the time. She also mentions stealing from a ton of her good friends, yet we always see her having a bunch of friends, and it’s unclear if she ever really apologized to them, or paid them back. She talks about herself as relateable, quirky, smart, at one point as a manic pixie dream girl, but this wasn’t my experience of her. I found KF very unlikable, and I do feel kind of bad about that because I wanted to like her—she tried so hard to be funny, but I just kept wondering, wait, why don’t you feel sorry? It also seemed like she was trying to take a few details about her personal life (being adopted, being raised Mormon) and use them to make us see why she did why she did—and while people are gross and said some truly ignorant stuff to her, I think we all have experienced mean kids, horrible people making terrible comments about us for one reason or another, but most of us don’t go on to really harm people we supposedly care about, or lash out at people in general. I just didn’t buy that her life was so hard that she had all this anger and sadness that caused her to act out. I wanted to buy it, but she didn’t help me understand. KF also has a gigantic ego, something she freely admits multiple times throughout this memoir, but it didn’t help me sympathize with her, because we don’t see her redemption. I also find comments about how she was “reading at a high school level when [she] was 5…” really irritating. No you weren’t, stop. Even if you somehow were you wouldn’t have the frame of reference to read friggen Chaucer or whatever it is you’re claiming. She takes on a very cavalier tone consistently throughout. She must be a very charismatic person irl because she has been able to constantly have friends, jobs, boyfriends etc, but I’m not seeing exactly how she ever made real amends. There is a lot of arrogance in the way she talks about herself. She does call herself out at times, but it rings kind of hollow. I really feel bad because I think there’s a good chance she has actually become a good person, but this book doesn’t really show that. At times she sounds…proud. We never really understand her relationship with her family or real friends in depth at all, a huge part of the story. All in all, this was a solidly written memoir, with a worthwhile story, but the idea of this person being able to launch their crimes into a tv show, makes me angry.
December 8, 2024
I wasn't sure about this book, at the beginning, the language put me off some and I didn't want to read about someone bragging about their criminal exploits. Far from it! This book was so engaging and interesting. Ferrell's writing pulls you in, I could not put the book down. Definitely worth the read.
Thanks to Net Galley for providing me the book to read.
Thanks to Net Galley for providing me the book to read.
November 9, 2024
7/10
Prior to reading this book, I had never heard of Kari Ferrell or the “hipster grifter”. I didn’t know what I was getting into.
I think the most interesting thing about this book is not so much the story, but the peak into the mind of somebody who becomes a grifter and how natural it seems. Most of us have stolen things when we were kids (right? Is it just me?), but there’s an element of conscientiousness that stops us from going to far with it - despite the rush you feel in getting away with it.
Kari didn’t have that conscientiousness. I don’t fault her for it - that was part of her journey. I do fault her for hurting so many people along the way. And I applaud her for spending her time now trying to balance the karma of her past.
Overall, Kari seems like a fun, friendly, charismatic and sexy person, all of which are important personality traits for a good grift.
If you liked “Orange Is The New Black” you’ll love this story.
#netgalley #youllneverbelieveme
Prior to reading this book, I had never heard of Kari Ferrell or the “hipster grifter”. I didn’t know what I was getting into.
I think the most interesting thing about this book is not so much the story, but the peak into the mind of somebody who becomes a grifter and how natural it seems. Most of us have stolen things when we were kids (right? Is it just me?), but there’s an element of conscientiousness that stops us from going to far with it - despite the rush you feel in getting away with it.
Kari didn’t have that conscientiousness. I don’t fault her for it - that was part of her journey. I do fault her for hurting so many people along the way. And I applaud her for spending her time now trying to balance the karma of her past.
Overall, Kari seems like a fun, friendly, charismatic and sexy person, all of which are important personality traits for a good grift.
If you liked “Orange Is The New Black” you’ll love this story.
#netgalley #youllneverbelieveme
February 1, 2025
I flew through this book in two sittings. I was really drawn into Ferrell's storytelling style. Witty, chaotic, and wild.
January 13, 2025
I feel like it’s a crime that I haven’t heard of the Hipster Grifter until now.
I’m always interested in stories about former Mormons (like me) more specifically how high demand religious impact different people. And this story! Invested.
Ferrell did a great job painting a vivid tale spanning her young life to adulthood and how her choices ultimately landed her in prison as The Hipster Grifter.
Definitely go with the audiobook. The author narrates the book and did a great job.
Thanks to netgalley and Macmillan audio for an alc
I’m always interested in stories about former Mormons (like me) more specifically how high demand religious impact different people. And this story! Invested.
Ferrell did a great job painting a vivid tale spanning her young life to adulthood and how her choices ultimately landed her in prison as The Hipster Grifter.
Definitely go with the audiobook. The author narrates the book and did a great job.
Thanks to netgalley and Macmillan audio for an alc
October 25, 2024
Oh, the Hipster Grifter. The way that the story captured a certain sect of the internet during the rise of internet culture is one that is almost too true to be believed. BUT - it did happen, and Kari Ferrell is telling her story.
Adopted from Korea, raised in Utah, put into the Morman church....it was bound to happen sooner or later. Ferrell was a smart kid and knew how to get what she wanted, and continued to do so until she was caught...the first time. Then, after a move to New York, it started all over again.
Keri Ferrell was the Anna Delvey of her time. In fact, I would argue that Keri did it better. Instead of trying to stay in the public zeitgeist, she paid for her crimes and built her life back up in an honest and true way. I don't expect to see her on Dancing With the Stars, because she is, after all, a hipster at heart.
This is an excellently written memoir from someone who really needed to grow up and did. It's for former indie sleaze kids, recovering hipsters, and people who loved reading Gawker before the lawsuit. It's for the people who never made the move to NY, for people who see how bad the justice system is, and for anyone looking for a funny writer who deserves any praise that comes her way.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review. Thanks to Keri for writing the story that we all wanted. Want to hang out sometime?
Adopted from Korea, raised in Utah, put into the Morman church....it was bound to happen sooner or later. Ferrell was a smart kid and knew how to get what she wanted, and continued to do so until she was caught...the first time. Then, after a move to New York, it started all over again.
Keri Ferrell was the Anna Delvey of her time. In fact, I would argue that Keri did it better. Instead of trying to stay in the public zeitgeist, she paid for her crimes and built her life back up in an honest and true way. I don't expect to see her on Dancing With the Stars, because she is, after all, a hipster at heart.
This is an excellently written memoir from someone who really needed to grow up and did. It's for former indie sleaze kids, recovering hipsters, and people who loved reading Gawker before the lawsuit. It's for the people who never made the move to NY, for people who see how bad the justice system is, and for anyone looking for a funny writer who deserves any praise that comes her way.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review. Thanks to Keri for writing the story that we all wanted. Want to hang out sometime?
January 7, 2025
Dear You'll Never Believe Me,
I didn't know anything about the Hipster Grifter before I read you, but you were extremely interesting. The perspective and distance that Keri was able to take from her experiences was so compelling to me and I found your writing easily accessible and friendly. It is hard to judge a memoir because of how personal the story is. But over all you were a unique and interesting story and it was fun getting to know your story and Kari for the first time. You were a down to earth story of a sensational experience.
I didn't know anything about the Hipster Grifter before I read you, but you were extremely interesting. The perspective and distance that Keri was able to take from her experiences was so compelling to me and I found your writing easily accessible and friendly. It is hard to judge a memoir because of how personal the story is. But over all you were a unique and interesting story and it was fun getting to know your story and Kari for the first time. You were a down to earth story of a sensational experience.
September 10, 2024
If you lived in New York in 2009, it was hard not to know about Kari Ferrell. She became an overnight icon, a kind of OG "villain era" character. But I don't think any of us knew there was so much more complexity to her story. This woman has LIVED. (If you begin life in SLC as a Korean adoptee to white, Mormon parents...it's probably a rite of passage to get into some trouble??) Ferrell's story arc is incredible. This is the memoir of a true survivor. She endured prison violence, some truly horrible men, a lifetime of racism, and so much more. Yet she offers us her story with humor in a narrative that feels both honest and repentant. I didn't expect to laugh as much as I did! A remarkable memoir. 5 stars.
February 27, 2025
A Darkly Hilarious, Brutally Honest, and Surprisingly Moving Memoir
This memoir is exactly the kind of absurd life story I love. It’s raw, outrageous, and unflinchingly honest. But it’s also deeply human and unexpectedly poignant. Ferrell takes her infamous past as the “Hipster Grifter” and turns it into a captivating redemption story. But this isn’t some neatly-packaged, sanitized “I’ve changed” narrative. It’s messy, sharp, and filled with the kind of gallows humor that makes you laugh out loud even as you cringe at the audacity of it all.
At its core, this book is a coming-of-age story wrapped in a true crime saga, delivered with the comedic timing of a woman who has fully embraced the absurdity of her own existence. Ferrell doesn’t ask for sympathy, nor does she downplay the harm she caused. Instead, she leans into the chaos of her past with an almost surgical self-awareness, cutting through the myths and internet lore that have followed her for years. She brings us along for the ride as she hustles, cons, and self-destructs. Then she brings us further into her journey as she slowly and painstakingly rebuilds herself from the wreckage.
What makes this memoir really stand out is its perfect balance of dark humor and emotional depth. Ferrell’s writing is razor-sharp and wickedly funny. There’s also an undeniable vulnerability woven throughout her story. She doesn’t just recount her cons, she unpacks them, examining her deep-seated need for acceptance, the trauma of being an outsider, and the ways in which self-sabotage can become second nature. Despite everything, you find yourself rooting for her.
This memoir is filled with internet-era absurdity. It’s a cautionary tale, a comedy of errors, and a genuinely moving testament to the possibility of redemption, all wrapped into one. Ferrell may have once been known for her lies, but in this book, she delivers nothing but the bold, messy, and deeply entertaining truth. I highly recommend to fans of memoirs that dare to be different. This one is unforgettable and absolutely wild.
This memoir is exactly the kind of absurd life story I love. It’s raw, outrageous, and unflinchingly honest. But it’s also deeply human and unexpectedly poignant. Ferrell takes her infamous past as the “Hipster Grifter” and turns it into a captivating redemption story. But this isn’t some neatly-packaged, sanitized “I’ve changed” narrative. It’s messy, sharp, and filled with the kind of gallows humor that makes you laugh out loud even as you cringe at the audacity of it all.
At its core, this book is a coming-of-age story wrapped in a true crime saga, delivered with the comedic timing of a woman who has fully embraced the absurdity of her own existence. Ferrell doesn’t ask for sympathy, nor does she downplay the harm she caused. Instead, she leans into the chaos of her past with an almost surgical self-awareness, cutting through the myths and internet lore that have followed her for years. She brings us along for the ride as she hustles, cons, and self-destructs. Then she brings us further into her journey as she slowly and painstakingly rebuilds herself from the wreckage.
What makes this memoir really stand out is its perfect balance of dark humor and emotional depth. Ferrell’s writing is razor-sharp and wickedly funny. There’s also an undeniable vulnerability woven throughout her story. She doesn’t just recount her cons, she unpacks them, examining her deep-seated need for acceptance, the trauma of being an outsider, and the ways in which self-sabotage can become second nature. Despite everything, you find yourself rooting for her.
This memoir is filled with internet-era absurdity. It’s a cautionary tale, a comedy of errors, and a genuinely moving testament to the possibility of redemption, all wrapped into one. Ferrell may have once been known for her lies, but in this book, she delivers nothing but the bold, messy, and deeply entertaining truth. I highly recommend to fans of memoirs that dare to be different. This one is unforgettable and absolutely wild.
January 8, 2025
I've been trying to broaden my reading horizons beyond my usual thrillers. I stumbled upon a memoir that caught my eye: "You'll Never Believe This." I was intrigued, thinking it might offer a captivating story. Instead, it felt like I was tuning into a stand-up routine where the comedian narrated someone else's chaotic life. My opinion is a bit different from the majority, so keep that in mind!
The audiobook is self-narrated by Kari, the notorious "Hipster Grifter." I'd never heard of her before, but apparently, she had quite a reputation. As I listened, I couldn't shake the feeling that she was almost proud of her actions, laughing them off without an ounce of remorse. She conned friends who were already struggling by spinning a tale of having cancer—who does that?! Her lack of reflection on how her schemes hurt those around her was chilling.
Kari paints herself as quirky and relatable, trying to charm her way into people's hearts only to exploit them later. I found it hard to connect with her. I might have enjoyed the book more if someone else had narrated it.
When her life began to unravel in Utah, instead of facing her problems, she dashed off to New York, only to repeat the same destructive patterns with a new set of victims. Anyone who offered her a helping hand quickly became her next target, including her own family.
The blurb calls her someone forced to run with the "wrong crowd" to fit in, but it seems she was the definition of the "wrong crowd" herself.
I thought about not finishing this story, but I wanted to know if Kari paid all her retribution, made amends with friends and family, and got her life back on track.
Thanks to the author, Macmillan Audio, and St. Martin's Press for the ARCs I received through NetGalley and Google Play. All opinions are my own and left voluntarily.
The audiobook is self-narrated by Kari, the notorious "Hipster Grifter." I'd never heard of her before, but apparently, she had quite a reputation. As I listened, I couldn't shake the feeling that she was almost proud of her actions, laughing them off without an ounce of remorse. She conned friends who were already struggling by spinning a tale of having cancer—who does that?! Her lack of reflection on how her schemes hurt those around her was chilling.
Kari paints herself as quirky and relatable, trying to charm her way into people's hearts only to exploit them later. I found it hard to connect with her. I might have enjoyed the book more if someone else had narrated it.
When her life began to unravel in Utah, instead of facing her problems, she dashed off to New York, only to repeat the same destructive patterns with a new set of victims. Anyone who offered her a helping hand quickly became her next target, including her own family.
The blurb calls her someone forced to run with the "wrong crowd" to fit in, but it seems she was the definition of the "wrong crowd" herself.
I thought about not finishing this story, but I wanted to know if Kari paid all her retribution, made amends with friends and family, and got her life back on track.
Thanks to the author, Macmillan Audio, and St. Martin's Press for the ARCs I received through NetGalley and Google Play. All opinions are my own and left voluntarily.
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