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A review by readandwright
The Truth According to Ember by Danica Nava
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