In “First Lie Wins,” Ashley Elston crafts a gripping tale of deception and identity. Evie Porter has the perfect Southern life—except she doesn’t exist. Tasked by her enigmatic boss, Mr. Smith, Evie infiltrates towns and targets unsuspecting marks. But when Ryan Sumner becomes her latest assignment, things get complicated. Evie starts to dream of a different life, even as her past threatens to unravel everything. A thrilling story of love, lies, and second chances.
“Yellowface” by R.F. Kuang is a gripping exploration of identity, ambition, and the literary world’s dark underbelly. When struggling writer June Hayward witnesses the sudden death of her more successful friend Athena Liu, she makes a split-second decision to steal Athena’s unpublished manuscript. As June’s star rises, she grapples with guilt, cultural appropriation, and the haunting legacy of her deceit. This novel is a thought-provoking, page-turning journey into the complexities of authorship and authenticity.