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juniperlily's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
emmywenny's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Wow! Wow! Wow! What an absolutely breathtaking debut by Danica Nava! I enjoyed every single second of this book! Danica did an amazing job of building the characters, the workplace, and the community within this book. It felt like I truly knew every person and the environments created felt like realistic ones that either I have navigated or that I have seen others navigate. I know this book will allow readers, Indigenous or non-Indigenous, to feel seen, understood, and loved!
Ember is a liar, but also a good person! This girl can do no wrong in my eyes! She was making me cry, cackle, and even had me feeling proud of her in certain moments. Her character development was absolutely phenomenal and I think the ways that Danuwoa helps her in that growth is really beautiful.
Danuwoa is probably one of the sexiest MMC I’ve ever read! This man had me feeling things! His kindness, patience, and honesty made him not only the ideal man, but also exactly what Ember needed.
These two characters compliment each other so well! Their ability to communicate with just facial expressions and subtle touches made me absolutely squeal every single time! Their romance was sexy and quick, but it didn’t feel rushed or surface level. While reading I could feel that these characters genuinely liked each other and I could feel the love growing between them as the book progressed!
I cannot recommend this romance enough! It is definitely my favourite workplace romance that I’ve ever read and I already can tell it is going to be one of my favourite reads of 2024!!!
readandwright's review
3.75
Thank you Berkley for my copy! All thoughts are my own.
When I first learned about The Truth According to Ember by Danica Nava while scrolling threads one day, I was so excited to see it. First of all, one of my gateway romances was a workplace romance. It’s a trope I don’t always lean towards but every time I read it, I’m reminded of how much I love it. The tension! It’s unmatched. Secondly, since I read so much Romance, i’m thrilled to add an Indigenous author and story to my shelves. Love is a universal feeling, so everyone should be represented in the genre.
Overall, I really liked this book. I think the opening scenes were so great at setting it up. I didn’t vibe with some of the pacing but I think it balances the more difficult moments that are necessary to the story with the swoony rom com moments. I highly recommend reading the author’s note at the end. There’s a lot of pressure to the “first” and I’m glad the author was able to tell a story authentic to her.
Synopsis:
“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.” —NetGalley
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.” —NetGalley
What I Liked:
- The Tropes—I love a workplace/office romance and I haven’t read one in so long! I love the tension this trope creates and there was definitely a lot at stake in this story.
- The Characters—I really could identify with Ember’s need to present herself as someone she wasn’t. It took me a long time to accept that my journey is my own and my worth isn’t reflected by my accomplishments. I obviously I have privileges discussed in this book, but the core of her struggles made me feel seen.
- The Conflict—I thought the conflict was very realistic which is great as a reader but very sad and difficult to read about as a human. But, it all made sense and moved the story along.
What Didn’t Work for Me:
- Some Romantic Moments Felt Forced—I just wanted a little more depth, but I think it’s because this started with a little insta-love/insta attraction and sometimes that’s hard for me to buy in to.
Character Authenticity: 4/5 Spice Rating: 2/5 Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Content Warnings:
racism, racial slurs, cultural appropriation, abandonment, classism
sallysimply's review
5.0
Even after sitting with it for a few days, this is an easy 5 stars for me. It's strange to think that we needed to wait until 2024 to get our first traditionally published Native American romance, but I'm glad the time is here and that Danica Nava is blessing us with this delectable story.
The Truth According to Ember has so much I love in a romance: a protagonist that feels like a friend (even when you yell at her for the decisions she's making), chemistry and tension that leap off the page, discussions of real-world issues that don't feel heavy-handed, people and situations that feel authentic, and of course, some hot scenes.
Plus, that scene in the supply closet?! It's what my romance dreams are made of!
This is such an easy recommendation that I shared it with at least a dozen people within 24 hours of finishing it.
The Truth According to Ember has so much I love in a romance: a protagonist that feels like a friend (even when you yell at her for the decisions she's making), chemistry and tension that leap off the page, discussions of real-world issues that don't feel heavy-handed, people and situations that feel authentic, and of course, some hot scenes.
Plus, that scene in the supply closet?! It's what my romance dreams are made of!
This is such an easy recommendation that I shared it with at least a dozen people within 24 hours of finishing it.
momadvice's review
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I know many buzzy romance novels dropped this year, but I hope one of this year's buzziest will be discovering that readers have gotten their first Native American rom-com. This novel is entertaining and offers readers a fresh perspective on workplace dynamics and the challenges Native Americans face in contemporary society.
Ember is in her twenties and struggling financially. Now rejected for her 37th time for a job, she decides to fabricate her education and job background to land a corporate position that will finally give her a leg up. Along with these subtle shifts in her work history, she also answers the ethnicity question on applications with a half-lie checking the box for white instead of Native American.
These omissions and adjustments do land her a promising job interview for an accounting position that could change the trajectory of her financial life as long as her struggling vehicle can get her there.
Through a comedy of errors on her way, she meets a handsome man named Danuwoa, who works at the same corporation. With one swoon-worthy hair tuck behind his flowing braid, Ember is smitten with the IT guy.
However, the company's strict policy against workplace romances means she has to quickly give up pursuing a romantic relationship with him as feelings escalate in the office.
This novel offers many laugh-out-loud moments as she navigates the weird corporate culture, from not understanding "all hands on deck" to never knowing what they do in the company due to their vague website description. I laughed so hard that I got a few weird looks from my family members as I poured over these relatable corporate scenes.
What sets this novel apart is its authenticity. Nava draws from her experiences to paint a vivid portrait of modern Native American life, from everyday microaggressions to deep-seated fears. Somehow, it easily navigates that tricky terrain of becoming one-note or preachy by embedding natural moments that I found eye-opening as a white reader.
As the couple are from different tribes, navigating their language differences offered an extra layer of charm for readers that I had not considered until reading this book.
Sometimes, characters in their twenties don't feel relatable, but Ember's messiness is endearing. I laughed out loud at the shenanigans while admiring her scrappiness in trying to get herself out of a difficult financial position.
This romance is medium-spiced, with two open-door scenes that are easily skimmable while still enjoying the steamy chemistry between these characters. I am excited to see what this author writes next because I can see this novel being a massive success.
I’m thrilled to share that Danica will participate in our summer author series to discuss this debut journey! Be sure to reserve your copies now!
TAG: Native American Representation, Diverse Romance, Forbidden Romance, One-Bed Trope, Workplace Romance, Rom-Com Books
gammys_reads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Thank you NetGalley, Danica Nava and Berkley Publishing Group for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.
What an exquisitely written and genuinely heartwarming<I> debut</I> rom-com, showcasing Native American representation!! "The Truth According to Ember" intricately weaves a forbidden workplace romance, brimming with witty banter, fiery passion, and undeniable chemistry that will make you swoon and laugh. Amidst the sizzling romance, the narrative delves into themes of poverty, racism, and the repercussions of dishonesty, enriching the storyline with depth and complexity. The author has masterfully crafted characters so authentic and relatable that rooting for them becomes irresistible. It's a compelling blend of heart, humor, and social commentary that will keep you enthralled until the very end. I absolutely loved this book and cannot wait to read more from Danica Nava!!! 💜💜💜💜💜
Ember Lee Cardinal hasn't always been prone to deceit-at least, not for anything significant. But faced with repeated job rejections, she decides to take matters into her own hands. Crafting a creatively embellished resume and bending the truth about her ethnicity, she lands her dream accounting job on Park Avenue (in Oklahoma City, that is). In her new corporate role, Ember flourishes, and her romantic prospects brighten with the attention of Danuwoa Colton, a fellow Native coworker who catches her eye. Despite the office's no-dating policy, they embark on a secret relationship, adding an extra layer of excitement. However, their clandestine affair takes a dangerous turn when they're caught during a work trip, leading to blackmail from a manipulative colleague. As Ember's web of lies grows, she's faced with a tough choice: maintain her silence or risk everything by telling the truth.
Ember, who has a penchant for harmless white lies, was incredibly entertaining and made me cackle. While Danuwoa, is the epitome of charm, earning him the endearing label of "sexiest cinnamon roll." Additionally, the secondary side characters are just as incredible and the family dynamics within the story are real and moving.
In conclusion, the author adeptly pays homage to Native American culture and addresses the social injustices they have faced with remarkable skill. I wholeheartedly recommend this impactful and thought-provoking read!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
What an exquisitely written and genuinely heartwarming<I> debut</I> rom-com, showcasing Native American representation!! "The Truth According to Ember" intricately weaves a forbidden workplace romance, brimming with witty banter, fiery passion, and undeniable chemistry that will make you swoon and laugh. Amidst the sizzling romance, the narrative delves into themes of poverty, racism, and the repercussions of dishonesty, enriching the storyline with depth and complexity. The author has masterfully crafted characters so authentic and relatable that rooting for them becomes irresistible. It's a compelling blend of heart, humor, and social commentary that will keep you enthralled until the very end. I absolutely loved this book and cannot wait to read more from Danica Nava!!! 💜💜💜💜💜
Ember Lee Cardinal hasn't always been prone to deceit-at least, not for anything significant. But faced with repeated job rejections, she decides to take matters into her own hands. Crafting a creatively embellished resume and bending the truth about her ethnicity, she lands her dream accounting job on Park Avenue (in Oklahoma City, that is). In her new corporate role, Ember flourishes, and her romantic prospects brighten with the attention of Danuwoa Colton, a fellow Native coworker who catches her eye. Despite the office's no-dating policy, they embark on a secret relationship, adding an extra layer of excitement. However, their clandestine affair takes a dangerous turn when they're caught during a work trip, leading to blackmail from a manipulative colleague. As Ember's web of lies grows, she's faced with a tough choice: maintain her silence or risk everything by telling the truth.
Ember, who has a penchant for harmless white lies, was incredibly entertaining and made me cackle. While Danuwoa, is the epitome of charm, earning him the endearing label of "sexiest cinnamon roll." Additionally, the secondary side characters are just as incredible and the family dynamics within the story are real and moving.
In conclusion, the author adeptly pays homage to Native American culture and addresses the social injustices they have faced with remarkable skill. I wholeheartedly recommend this impactful and thought-provoking read!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
ameliabiblio's review against another edition
The writing style was a little bit too simple for me: lots of sentences starting with “I” and even some descriptions that I can only describe as Wattpad-adjacent. I also found Ember to be a little too whiny and lacking chemistry with her love interest. There was also simultaneously a lot going on and somehow nothing happening. All in all, this just wasn’t for me, but I hope this book finds the right people :)
thelibraryskeeper's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for this absolute delight of a debut novel.
The Truth According to Ember is a romantic comedy that handles generational trauma and cultural appropriation in a way that I do not think I have seen represented in a Native-told story before. The author remarked "Where are all the native romances?" and I asked the same thing. Nava lays out the story using a single POV (honestly not done often enough in the romance genre) from Ember. The main character has applied for jobs to try and move on up in the world to prove herself. After rejection after rejection, she concludes that maybe it's her on paper that is stopping her from getting where she wants to be. So begins the lies. Ember lies her way into her dream job and then some. Not to mention the literally Native Daddy of her dreams. But at what cost will her lies be? At what point will it be too much? The author mentions at the end of the book that a lot of what Ember went through was actual things she dealt with in her life. Reading this at the end of the book hit me with maximum impact. It's awful and it's real. Big congratulations to Nava on her debut - I can't wait to see what's next.
Themes: forced proximity, happily ever after, he falls first, forbidden romance
The Truth According to Ember is a romantic comedy that handles generational trauma and cultural appropriation in a way that I do not think I have seen represented in a Native-told story before. The author remarked "Where are all the native romances?" and I asked the same thing. Nava lays out the story using a single POV (honestly not done often enough in the romance genre) from Ember. The main character has applied for jobs to try and move on up in the world to prove herself. After rejection after rejection, she concludes that maybe it's her on paper that is stopping her from getting where she wants to be. So begins the lies. Ember lies her way into her dream job and then some. Not to mention the literally Native Daddy of her dreams. But at what cost will her lies be? At what point will it be too much? The author mentions at the end of the book that a lot of what Ember went through was actual things she dealt with in her life. Reading this at the end of the book hit me with maximum impact. It's awful and it's real. Big congratulations to Nava on her debut - I can't wait to see what's next.
Themes: forced proximity, happily ever after, he falls first, forbidden romance
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Cultural appropriation
Minor: Classism and Abandonment
kayken24's review
3.5
This is definitely a solid debut which puts my rating at a 3.5. The Truth According to Ember is a single POV funny romcom featuring Native American protagonists in Oklahoma. The female main character Ember is stuck in an underpaying job with unfinished college credits. She feels backed into a corner to lie about her ethnic identity, work experience, and college degree on her job applications to be approved for a interview. When she makes it into a corproate job assisting in the accounting department she meets the man of her dreams, Danuwoa. Ember feels overwhelmed though as her amount of lies increase and she can't keep her story straight, but she feels compelled to share her ugly truths with Danuwoa. As Ember wrestles with her flaws and past family trauma, she seeks to find stability and let herself love and be loved by her community.
The book shines with a great cast of characters and intriguing use of existing tropes like forced proximity, etc. A huge standout is Ember's eccentric best friend Joanna. Also, the book strikes a great balance between romcom absurdity and realism. There are a lot of moments that speaks to Indigenous, female, and class experiences that are coupled with the absurdity of great joke or just hilarious circumstances brought on the nature of Ember's lies. This also speaks to the book as two romances - one with Danuwoa and one within Ember herself. Ember has to love herself before she can love Danuwoa. There are a lot of themes and moments that more or less get their moment within this book, but with further iterations of the author's work I believe they will have the opportunity to focus on less and flesh these themes out more regarding parental abandonment, community responsibility, presentation outside of your ethnic community, etc.
There's only a couple things that I struggled with the book - one, I believe this book needs a prologue and two, the propensity of "show telling". The main reason I believe this book needs a prologue is that Ember brings a lot of past trauma to our entry point as readers. When we meet her she has a tumultuous relationship with her brother Sage that occurs before the story begins. Because, we never see the actual moment that leads to Ember and Sage's falling out and how it derailed her career and personal goals, it skews the readers viewpoint of their interactions on the page. Most times I felt that Ember was too harsh with Sage. Many times I felt that there was no love at all in their relationship as siblings up until the epilogue. At times, Joanna or Ember's Auntie would point out her harsh perception of Sage, but she never apologizes or considers the hurt that she's impacting on him even when she reveals that he cannot change her viewpoint until he pays her back (an act that will take a long time/she doesn't think he will able to do at all). I believe seeing and feeling the emotions Ember goes through when Sage betrays her that I will be on the journey with her to trust Sage again. On the note of "show telling" is a trend I see in a lot of debut authors because their intended audience is very broad at the beginning of their career. What I mean by this term is that for example in this book it will show you a bout of misogyny and then explain what misogyny occurred, why it's pervasive, and how the audience should see this interaction. This is only a problem for me is that I'm bringing my own experiences to this book that may have experience these moments the author is explaining, so it comes off redundant. I gave those moments grace for the reasons I previously stated but it does hurt the momentum I had reading the book.
All in all, I love the fun, crazy energy of this book. At moments, I wanted to give Ember a hug and other times just throw a sock in her mouth so she would stop lying. It's been awhile I've read a single POV romance, but I didn't find myself missing the male POV at all. It was refreshing to get a cheesy romcom that had all the stress and tension of real-life problems thrown into the mix. Can’t wait to read more from this author!
The book shines with a great cast of characters and intriguing use of existing tropes like forced proximity, etc. A huge standout is Ember's eccentric best friend Joanna. Also, the book strikes a great balance between romcom absurdity and realism. There are a lot of moments that speaks to Indigenous, female, and class experiences that are coupled with the absurdity of great joke or just hilarious circumstances brought on the nature of Ember's lies. This also speaks to the book as two romances - one with Danuwoa and one within Ember herself. Ember has to love herself before she can love Danuwoa. There are a lot of themes and moments that more or less get their moment within this book, but with further iterations of the author's work I believe they will have the opportunity to focus on less and flesh these themes out more regarding parental abandonment, community responsibility, presentation outside of your ethnic community, etc.
There's only a couple things that I struggled with the book - one, I believe this book needs a prologue and two, the propensity of "show telling". The main reason I believe this book needs a prologue is that Ember brings a lot of past trauma to our entry point as readers. When we meet her she has a tumultuous relationship with her brother Sage that occurs before the story begins. Because, we never see the actual moment that leads to Ember and Sage's falling out and how it derailed her career and personal goals, it skews the readers viewpoint of their interactions on the page. Most times I felt that Ember was too harsh with Sage. Many times I felt that there was no love at all in their relationship as siblings up until the epilogue. At times, Joanna or Ember's Auntie would point out her harsh perception of Sage, but she never apologizes or considers the hurt that she's impacting on him even when she reveals that he cannot change her viewpoint until he pays her back (an act that will take a long time/she doesn't think he will able to do at all). I believe seeing and feeling the emotions Ember goes through when Sage betrays her that I will be on the journey with her to trust Sage again. On the note of "show telling" is a trend I see in a lot of debut authors because their intended audience is very broad at the beginning of their career. What I mean by this term is that for example in this book it will show you a bout of misogyny and then explain what misogyny occurred, why it's pervasive, and how the audience should see this interaction. This is only a problem for me is that I'm bringing my own experiences to this book that may have experience these moments the author is explaining, so it comes off redundant. I gave those moments grace for the reasons I previously stated but it does hurt the momentum I had reading the book.
All in all, I love the fun, crazy energy of this book. At moments, I wanted to give Ember a hug and other times just throw a sock in her mouth so she would stop lying. It's been awhile I've read a single POV romance, but I didn't find myself missing the male POV at all. It was refreshing to get a cheesy romcom that had all the stress and tension of real-life problems thrown into the mix. Can’t wait to read more from this author!
mpurr's review against another edition
3.5
Ember and Dans story was cute. A solid rom com if that’s what you’re looking for. Loved the native representation - I could have lived without some of the comments. I love it when the reader is shown the difficulty, and the disparity. It didn’t take away from the story but it would lead my mind to stray at those points.