The Truth According to Ember Book Review - No Spoilers
Plot Summary
The Truth According to Ember by Danica Nava follows Ember Lee Cardinal, a driven Chickasaw woman who can’t catch a break. Desperate to land an accounting job, she bends the truth on her resume—claiming she’s white and has a degree she hasn’t earned. The gamble works, and she lands the job at a tech firm on Park Avenue in Oklahoma City. She excels—and even sparks a secret romance with Danuwoa Colson, a fellow Native colleague. But as her lies multiply, a scheming coworker isn’t far behind, threatening to expose her. Ember faces a difficult choice that could cost her everything.
Why I Love This Book
I love how Ember’s flaws feel real. I love that she's smart, driven, and messy in ways that make me root for her—even when I want to shake her. I love the cultural layers woven into the story—how being Native matters in real, unspoken ways, without forcing it. I love the chemistry between Ember and Danuwoa. It crackles in stolen moments and makes me swoon. I love how the story balances humor, heart, and tough issues—like racism and identity—with a rom-com voice that’s sharp and personal.
Who Will Like This Book
If you want a workplace romance that digs into identity and ethics, you’ll connect with this. If you like rom-coms that are both fuzzy and sharp, with characters who screw up and still soar, this fits. If you want Native American representation that feels lived-in, not token, you’re in the right place.
⚠️ Trigger warning: This book includes themes of dishonesty, lying about identity, workplace ethics, racism, and family hardship. It’s emotional and sometimes messy—approach with that in mind.
Tagged As
contemporary romance, workplace romance, Indigenous romance, Native American representation, rom-com, identity, deception and redemption, slow burn, spicy romance, moral conflict, debut novel, HEA, indie romance, series potential
Steam Level
There’s a bold level of steam here. Ember and Danuwoa’s attraction is intense and unfiltered at times. It fits their chemistry and heightens the stakes, without ever feeling gratuitous.
This novel is #4 on our list of 7 Spicy Romance Novels with Insanely Hot Enthusiastic Consent. View the full list.
