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A Chickasaw woman who can’t catch a break serves up a little white lie that snowballs into much more in this witty and irresistible rom-com by debut author Danica Nava.

Spice level: 3/5 open door.

Ember Lee Cardinal has not always been a liar—well, not for anything that counted at least. But her job search is not going well and when her resumé is rejected for the thirty-seventh time, she takes matters into her own hands. She gets “creative” listing her qualifications and answers the ethnicity question on applications with a lie—a half-lie, technically. No one wanted Native American Ember, but white Ember has just landed her dream accounting job on Park Avenue (Oklahoma City, that is).

Accountant Ember thrives in corporate life—and her love life seems to be looking up too: Danuwoa Colson, the IT guy and fellow Native who caught her eye on her first day, seems to actually be interested in her too. Despite her unease over the no-dating policy at work, they start to see each other secretly, which somehow makes it even hotter? But when they’re caught in a compromising position on a work trip, a scheming colleague blackmails Ember, threatening to expose their relationship. As the manipulation continues to grow, so do Ember’s lies. She must make the hard decision to either stay silent or finally tell the truth, which could cost her everything.

Don't just take our word for it...

“The Truth According to Ember is a truly funny and wonderfully heartfelt comedy of errors with a plucky, lovable heroine I rooted for from page one. Danica Nava is a fresh, exciting new voice in the world of romantic comedies and I can’t wait to see what she does next.”
– Emily Henry, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Happy Place

“Fresh, funny, and full of heart, The Truth According to Ember delivers a romantic comedy delight. Ember is lovable and laugh-out-loud hilarious, and her journey as she learns to lean into the support of her community, discovers unconditional love, and embraces the power of telling her truth, is wonderfully touching. This is a romance I won’t soon forget.”
– Chloe Liese, USA Today bestselling author of Always Only You

“There are so many reasons to love The Truth According to Ember, from this being a swoony and smart debut, to author Danica Nava’s authentic and thoughtful Native representation on the page, to a heartfelt love story with all the delicious workplace romance tropes that will have readers obsessed (like me).”
– Vanessa Lillie, USA Today bestselling author of Blood Sisters

Taste the very first page

I was not always a liar. I mean, sure, white lies were inevitable. I told them all the time. My habit of lying started with a simple “Yes, that beaded key chain is really pretty” to my best friend, Joanna, when we were fifteen. It was a vomit-green “lizard,” and it was an insult to lizards everywhere. The key chain looked demented, all lumpy with gaps where beads should’ve been, but I lied through my teeth. What was I supposed to do? Tell her the truth and have her stop beading altogether? I couldn’t do that to her. My little fib meant a lot to her, and I realized my words had an impact when she gifted the key chain to me that same Christmas with a little note that read, Thank you for believing in me.

That ugly little lizard, in all its garish glory, still lived on my key ring. It was so ugly, I was convinced that it could ward off evil; it was my little lucky charm and my most prized possession. Joanna ended up finding success with her beadwork. As the years went on, her ambitious designs served as a stable source of in- come, so I’d argue that my first white lie was a good one.

August 2024