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Book Summary and Reviews of The Truth According to Ember by Danica Nava

The Truth According to Ember by Danica Nava

The Truth According to Ember

by Danica Nava

  • Critics' Consensus (11):
  • Published:
  • Aug 2024, 384 pages
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About this book

Book Summary

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.

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.

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!
  1. Have you ever lied about your qualifications to achieve something?
  2. Do you think telling white lies is okay? In what situations do you consider it appropriate to lie?
  3. Do you think Ember ultimately deserved to get fired for her lies and actions, or do you think the company should have taken the circumstances into consideration?
  4. What is your dream job? Would you ever pursue it?
  5. Have you ever faced microaggressions in a public setting, like at work or school? How did you confront them?
  6. Do you think employers discriminate against applicants based on the ethnicity question on job applications?
  7. We generally have not had accurate Native American representation in media, whether it be in film or even ...
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Reviews

Media Reviews

"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)

"A captivating romance that effortlessly balances laugh-out-loud scenes and heartwarming family moments." —Kirkus Reviews (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

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

"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

"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 Wildfire

"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 With Love, from Cold World

This information about The Truth According to Ember was first featured in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.

Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.

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Author Information

Danica Nava

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.

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