The Truth According to Ember - by Danica Nava (Paperback)

About the Book

"Ember Lee Cardinal has not always been a liar, not for anything that counted. But when her râesumâe is rejected thirty-seven times, she takes matters into her own hands. She gets creative listing her work experience and answers the ethnicity question on all job applications with a lie. No one wanted Native American Ember, but Caucasian Ember landed her dream accounting job on Park Avenue (Oklahoma). Accountant Ember thrives in corporate life--and her love life seems to be looking up, too: she starts to secretly date the IT guy and fellow Native, Danuwoa. But when they're caught in a compromising position on a work trip, a scheming mid-level executive threatens to expose them unless Ember manipulates the company's accounting books for him"--

Book Synopsis

A Chickasaw woman who can't catch a break serves up a little white lie that snowballs into much more in this USA Today bestselling rom-com by critically acclaimed author Danica Nava.

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 as well: 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.

Review Quotes

"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 Funny Story

"It's the details that really bring this book to life...It's funny and messy in the best way, and I was rooting for Ember even as she dug herself deeper and deeper."
--The New York Times

"A dazzling debut filled with hilarious and loveable characters. I couldn't put this book down and I can't wait to read what Nava does next!"
--Hannah Grace, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Daydream

"My heart was in my stomach as I watched Ember weave herself a tangled web and have to figure her way out. Danica Nava's The Truth According to Ember gives us a fresh, relatable heroine in Ember, who has been so focused on helping everyone else that she doesn't always know how to ask for help herself. And Danuwoa! No wonder Ember blushes every time the swoony IT technician tells her to unplug it and plug it back in. This book provided the perfect escape mixed with the perfect amount of grounded reality, bringing the characters to life."
--Alicia Thompson, USA Today bestselling author of The Art of Catching Feelings

"Danica Nava has created a fantastic heroine in Ember Lee Cardinal, whose good heart and determination to do the right thing are as admirable as her occasional lies are understandable...Nava guides Ember along a compelling journey of empowerment while tackling complicated issues of identity, racism, corporate corruption, and the pain and joy that family can bring. And the book is so funny, too! The characters shine, each of them unique and interesting and so real they could step off the page. The Truth According to Ember was a delight from start to finish, and Nava delves into both heartbreaking and life-affirming topics with wit and wisdom. Danica Nava's writing is fresh, funny, and romantic, and I will read anything she writes."
--Sarah Hawley, author of A Werewolf's Guide to Seducing a Vampire

"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

"The Truth According to Ember is a witty, laugh-out-loud delight that deals with important themes and delivers much-needed perspective--all while being an utterly stellar debut of a romance. I can't wait to see what Nava does next!"
--Lana Ferguson, USA Today bestselling author of The Game Changer

"The Truth According to Ember by Danica Nava is a hilarious, heartfelt journey of ambition, identity, and reinvention. Ember Lee Cardinal, a sharp-tongued dreamer from Oklahoma, is fed up with dead-end jobs and the biases keeping her out of the corporate world. Her solution? A well-intentioned lie about her ethnicity. But when her new career collides with Danuwoa, a charming co-worker, things get messy fast. Unapologetically bold and laugh-out-loud funny, Nava's debut tackles identity and ambition with a side of romance that sizzles."
--Nikki Payne, author of Sex, Lies and Sensibility

"The author delivers some delicious rom-com moments while also sensitively portraying the overt and covert racism her characters face. ... With wit, smarts, and abundant heart, this office romance is a triumph."
--Publishers Weekly, starred review

"The Truth According to Ember offers readers a modern Native American love story, one that embraces and illuminates the realities of what it is to be a Native person in the U.S., while delivering a heartfelt happy ending."
--Entertainment Weekly

"A captivating romance that effortlessly balances laugh-out-loud scenes and heartwarming family moments."
--Kirkus, starred review

"With relatable storylines about identity, family, and self-worth and endearing characters, this steamy rom-com is a strong debut and a must-have for romance collections."
--Library Journal, starred review

"A big-hearted romp of a first novel."
--Elle

"This book is more than just a workplace romance; it's a searing look at all the ways women of color - particularly Indigenous women - must navigate structural injustice and oppression. The sizzling chemistry between Ember and Danuwoa doesn't hurt either. All in all, a heartwarming and laugh-out-loud read."
--NPR

"Witty banter, little lies, and juicy scandal make The Truth According to Ember a captivating novel for readers."
--SheReads

"Ember is a delightful heroine."
--BookRiot

About the Author

Danica Nava is an enrolled citizen of the Chickasaw Nation and works as an Executive Assistant in the tech industry. She has her MBA from USC Marshall School of Business. She currently lives in Southern California with her husband and daughter. The Truth According to Ember is her debut novel. You can find her on Instagram at the handle @danica_nava.