The Lies About Truth

This story from Courtney Stevens—the gifted author of Faking Normal—about hope and courage and the struggle to overcome the pain of loss will appeal to fans of Jandy Nelson's and Gayle Forman’s emotionally gripping novels.

Sadie Kingston is living in the aftermath. A year after surviving a car accident that killed her friend Trent and left her body and face scarred, she can't move forward. The only person who seems to understand her is Trent's brother, Max.

As Sadie begins to fall for Max, she's unsure if she is truly healed enough to be with him. But Max looks at her scars and doesn't shy away. And Max knows about the list she writes in the sand at the beach every night, the list of things that Sadie knows she must accomplish before she can move on from the accident. And while he can help her with number six (kiss someone without flinching), she knows she's on her own with number three (forgive Gina and Gray) and the rest of the seemingly impossible tasks that must be made possible before she can live in the now again.

But healing is more complicated than checking items off a list, especially when the truth about the accident is buried under a mountain of lies. Can she find the courage to face her past, even if it destroys her future?

• Best Friend’s Brother Romance: She shouldn’t be falling for Max, the one person who understands her grief. He’s her dead best friend’s brother, and their connection feels like a betrayal of Trent’s memory.
• A Journey of Forgiveness: To move forward, Sadie must forgive her ex-boyfriend Gray and her former best friend Gina for their roles in the accident. But forgiveness seems impossible when just looking at them is a reminder of everything she’s lost.
• Dealing with Scars, Inside and Out: Sadie’s scars are more than skin deep, and she’s not sure she can ever be the girl she was before. Max is the only one who isn’t afraid of the damage, but his acceptance might be the most terrifying thing of all.
• A Powerful Coming of Age Story: A heart-wrenching and hopeful novel about picking up the pieces after a tragedy, perfect for readers who love the emotional depth of Jandy Nelson and Gayle Forman.