Groundbreaking, fresh, funny, and captivating romance from an important new voice. Looking forward to more from Danica Nava!

📣 I read this super early but don’t regret it! I’m really looking forward to what this author writes next.

Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

📖 how would you rate your last read using bowling terminology (this features in the book 🤣): a strike, close to a strike, a split with several pins that remain standing, or a total gutter ball?

Get you a fictional hottie who can fix your computer & tow your car.

Or a fictional hottie who takes charge of her life, kicking butts & taking names & sometimes getting herself into little awkward dilemmas as she does it.

Those are both leads of Danica Nava’s The Truth According to Ember, a sexy workplace contemporary that features these two standout Native MCs, their families (& sometimes the complications that come along with them), and the secondary leads—good, bad, & icky—who populate their Oklahoma City workplace.

In moments this book had me swooning hard & in others, getting frustrated with FMC Ember Lee who frequently resorts to lying (see title 😅) when it comes to her job & love interest Danuwoa.

But the book offers motivations behind many of the lies—at least in the beginning, before things start ramping up & Danica’s actions—though still somewhat understandable—had me stressing 😆.

Setting aside the lying, this book delivers on the romance front. Though lying can be iffy for me in terms of romance development, there’s a real connection between Ember & Danuwoa, forged on their attraction, their shared culture & experiences as Native Americans, & just what they want out of life.

Friends, I thought this book was great. There are some stellar scenes in it & lots of moments where I rooted for both of them, especially as Ember celebrates the milestones she’s making happen.

4.5 ⭐️. Out 08/06.

Please see a trusted reviewer’s list of CWs.

[ID: Jess’s white hand holds the ebook in front of a blue, pink, & green mural with a butterfly on it.]

I have been searching for more Indigenous/Native Romance novels and any titles to add to our library's collection. This book is about two Indigenous individuals fighting against racially discriminatory stereotypes and barriers to have a fair chance when being employed/promoted within the workplace, purchasing cars and homes, gaining access to education, and being treated respectfully in society along with being treated equally in the workplace. The author was able to work several heartbreaking issues into this story such as imprisonment, poverty, and mistreatment to show how the main characters use this as an impetus for self-improvement and self-care without it completely overwhelming the entire story. This book will appeal to readers who may have experienced parental abandonment, needing to provide assistance in raising a younger sibling, and those who have struggled against a corporate system where racial discrimination of the BIPOC community is still taking place leading to a loss in truly talented individuals struggling to find employment at this time.

The only part of this book that I found frustrating was the main character's consistent need to create more and more lies and yet, everyone forgives her at once when realistically this would be much harder for some individuals to do...however, this is a Romance novel with a nice resolution so I won't keep harping on this part of the novel. This didn't detract from my overall enjoyment of the title and I look forward to reading more titles from this author!

I really enjoyed this book. It’s funny, heartfelt…and multilayered.

The leading character is Ember, who is a bit rough around the edges, messy (and self-aware about it), and a fundamentally good person. And of course, Danuwoa is the wholesome, sexy, supportive love interest we want and adore.

No doubt, this is a fun romcom story. However, it goes beyond that and is honest and genuine about the lived experiences of its main character, Ember, as a Chickasaw woman. This includes references to missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, generational poverty and trauma, and the living legacies of colonialism. I also appreciate that this book leans into exploring the spectrum of how racism and sexism are perpetuated, and then also experienced, in workplaces.

Even towards the end, the book kept surprising me with its layers. In the final chapters, it dropped a subtle, but effective, observation about faux workplace friendships – those people you seek a connection with due to proximity and not perhaps, true compatibility.

All this is going on while the book is filled with humour and a cute blossoming romance between Ember and Danuwoa.

So why isn’t this a full 5 stars for me? The book had a few cringy moments, particularly with Ember’s attempts to cover up her lies. Those scenes may be cute and funny to other readers, but they just didn’t land with me.

4.5 out of 5 stars. This is a great debut from Danica Nava, and I look forward to reading whatever she releases next.

Big thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for allowing me to read this book.

A delightful rom-com where a woman’s lies spin out of control.

Ember Lee Cardinal needs stability. After her younger brother was put in jail last year and missed his hearing, she lost her money for school. She’s been applying for jobs, but never hears back. One day, she and her friend Joanna decide that maybe she’d get an interview if she stopped checking “Native American” on the identity box and checked “White” instead. Ember finally gets a job interview for an accounting job in Oklahoma City. Who cares if she didn’t finish her associate’s degree? She can learn quickly. Ember gets the job and meets Danuwoa Colson, the IT guy. They immediately hit it off, but Technix does not allow interoffice relationships. Ember struggles to contain her growing attraction to Danuwoa since it could cost her the first stable job she’s ever had. When a work trip forces them to confront their attraction, they realize there’s more than attraction. But someone else at the company has found out about Ember and Danuwoa’s secret romance and blackmails Ember. Ember must balance her growing affection for Danuwoa and her precarious position at the job she fought so hard for.

There’s so much to love in this story, however, much of it simply was not to my personal taste. I appreciate that Ember has her heart in the right place and is trying so hard to always do the right thing, but her lying about everything from having a boyfriend to not being allergic to cats stressed me out to the point where I was getting anxious. I really prefer having dual POV’s in romance because I think it helps us get an understanding of both characters. Ember has a really fun narrative voice, but I feel like I missed out on knowing Danuwoa. I felt like much of this book was more of Ember’s personal journey rather than a romance, especially the first 60% of the book.

I was greatly moved by the author’s Dear Reader not at the end of the book where she says: “I wanted to read a story where there were characters who identify as I do, and that inadvertently is a political statement. To write us in the pages of a love story, where we have never been allowed to be - except as caricatures or stereotypes to help non-Natives along their journeys - is powerful.” This book is a powerful political statement because it centers on Natives and their love story. In a genre and ultimately a world that often ignores Natives, a story that focuses on them and a love story is important reading.

While parts of this weren’t to my personal taste, I believe it’s a powerful work that’s worth reading.

I want to re-read this book again. OMG..it was so good. An Indigenous rom-com! Please give me more. I cannot wait for what Danica has next. I kinda can guess who is going to get a book 2 but I dont want to jump the gun.

Not only is The Truth According to Ember is the first Native American rom-com to be published by a major publisher, but it sets the bar high for rom-coms as a whole genre! Ember is one of the most relatable, honest, and authentic FMCs I've read in so long and she truly feels like someone I'd want to be friends with. This book captures what it's like to be young and trying to find your footing in the world so damn well. Ember and Danuowoa have fantastic chemistry and banter together that makes them pop off the page. I am so excited for readers to get this in their hands in August and devour it like I did! Danica Nava is a new author to absolutely have your eyes on.

I was giggling and kicking my feet this entire book! it was also laugh out loud funny I can't wait to read more books by Danica!

A true laugh out loud forbidden-coworkers romance with Native American representation!!!!
This not only had me giggling but grinning from ear to ear!
Ember our fmc who loves her white little lies was just so entertaining to read about and her personality was just so charismatic, I adored her even if she fibbed a little too much.The story was funny and witty but also touched on really important societal issues and experiences that indigenous people go through.
The romance within had me blushing and Danuwoa had me swooning, he is such a sweetheart! The side characters were all so lovable and the family aspect within this was tender and real.
The very first Native American rom com being published by a large publishing house that should absolutely make its way onto your TBR!!! As a native woman, this was such an incredibly special read to me, to be able to see glimpses of myself and my upbringing reflected on page and I’m just so proud of Danica and absolutely can’t wait to see more from her!!

Thank you Berkley and NetGalley for the advance review copy--all opinions are my own!

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.

How to describe this book…it’s like when you’re playing a game of Jenga—one wrong move and the whole thing collapses. The Truth According to Ember is a whole steamy, swoony, bantery disaster with Ember barely holding it all together. She sells a few lies about her identity and experience to land a job so she can have the life she wants but they just keep piling on. The last thing she expected was to meet her super hot coworker Danuwoa only to find out there is a strict no-dating policy at her new fancy job. Danica Nava also tackles topics of racism, cultural appropriation and sexism head on. This romance is at once designed to make you fall in love with Ember and Danuwoa while also digging through and confronting deeply rooted issues of oppression. I truly hope this opens the door to more Indigenous voices in the romance genre and I’m already looking forward to Danica’s next story!

3.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Ember Lee Cardinal, a Native aspiring accountant facing constant rejection, resorts to embellishing her qualifications and fabricating her ethnicity to secure a coveted accounting position in Oklahoma City. Thriving in her new corporate role, Ember also finds romance with Danuwoa Colson, a fellow Native coworker. Despite their workplace's no-dating policy, they engage in a clandestine relationship, which intensifies under the secrecy. Their affair is soon jeopardized when caught by a colleague during a work trip. Ember faces increasing pressure as she becomes entangled in a web of lies to protect her job and relationship. Ultimately, she must confront the choice between maintaining her silence or risking everything by revealing the truth.

ROMANCE IS THE MOST INCLUSIVE LITERARY GENRE and that is one of the many hills that I will die on. I was so excited to see a romance novel featuring Native characters and this book did not disappoint. A sweet story peppered with some darker elements, The Truth According to Ember is surprisingly relatable. Ember’s relationship with her brother, the loss of her parents, and the discrimination that she faces due to her ethnicity, are all obstacles that many readers will identify with. A lovely debut for Danica Nava!

i liked this book! it was a lot of fun and i really liked the representation through the characters! This was really fun

The story follows Ember Lee Cardinal, a young woman who is struggling to find a job in her field and decides to lie on her resumé to get ahead. As her lies snowball, she finds herself caught in a web of deceit and must make a difficult decision between revealing the truth or losing everything. The character of Ember is relatable and well-developed, with her struggles and insecurities making her a sympathetic protagonist. The author does an excellent job of exploring the complexities of identity and the pressure to conform to societal expectations. Ember's internal conflict of wanting to be accepted for her true self while also wanting to succeed in her career is realistically portrayed and adds depth to the story.
One of the strongest aspects of this novel is the exploration of Native American identity and culture. The author weaves in elements of Ember's heritage and the struggles faced by Native Americans in modern society. This adds a unique and important perspective to the story and sheds light on important issues.
The romance between Ember and Danuwoa is a central part of the plot, and their chemistry is palpable. Their relationship is portrayed with sensitivity and tackles the challenges of navigating a workplace romance with a no-dating policy. It also highlights the complexities of interracial relationships and the prejudices that can still exist in today's society.
The tension and suspense build as Ember's lies catch up to her, and the consequences of her actions become more severe. The supporting characters, especially Ember's scheming colleague, add depth and contribute to the conflict in the story.
Overall, this book is a well-written and thought-provoking story that tackles important themes of identity, acceptance, and the consequences of lying. I highly recommend this book!

The Truth According to Ember is a totally charming romp of a workplace romance with a smooth-talking, swoony hero, a smart, engaging heroine, and a rogue’s gallery of corporate villains to boo. I loved this story.

UGH ARE YOU KIDDING ME. Screaming crying throwing up with this novel. I loved the premise and every bad choice that Ember made, made me giggle and gave me a pit in my stomach at the same time. This is a one of a kind! 10/10

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️ (a couple of spicy scenes)
This was so…..genuine.

This was a cute and funny (with hidden little pop culture references) romance, but what made it special was how relatable the main character was. And also…Danuwoa. He’s a perfect new book boyfriend addition!

Ember, the FMC, is very relatable and I found myself connecting with so many things that she was experiencing.

It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book and really and truly felt like every “scene” or experience could actually happen in real life. I’m not just talking about fantasy (and the fact that men don’t actually have giant wings, etc…) But just experiencing a book that feels entirely relatable, and almost being able to smell and feel the scenes playing out on the page.

I cannot wait to read more from Danica!!!

I stayed up all night reading this cute yet self discovery of a story with Ember. Ember is Native American and identifies as another race with a name change to land her dream job. I, enjoyed Ember outlook on her culture, navigating and understanding the little "white lies" that she believe she had to tell. The chemistry between Ember and Danuwoa was so strong. Danuwoa was so sweet and just wanted the best for Ember. I, thought the pacing, development of the characters was done beautifully. I, LOVE seeing Native American representation in romance books. I, highly recommend.

I’m calling this right now. This is my #1 read of 2024! This book had me laughing at/with Ember and swooning over Danuwoa, while also discussing larger issues like, racism, poverty, and cooperate corruption. I’m so happy to have read the first traditionally published Native romance by a Native author. Danica Nava thank you for bestowing this AMAZING novel upon us peasants.🧎‍♀️I can’t wait to read the next book you publish and hope that this paves the way for more Native authors! 💗

I very much loved everything about this. I loved the representation and desperately wish more books would do it like this.