Lucy Albright is far from her Long Island upbringing when she arrives on the campus of her small California college and happy to be hundreds of miles from her mother—whom she’s never forgiven for an act of betrayal in her early teen years. Quickly grasping at her fresh start, Lucy embraces college life and all it has to offer. And then she meets Stephen DeMarco. Charming. Attractive. Complicated. Devastating.
Confident and cocksure, Stephen sees something in Lucy that no one else has, and she’s quickly seduced by this vision of herself, and the sense of possibility that his attention brings her. Meanwhile, Stephen is determined to forget an incident buried in his past that, if exposed, could ruin him, and his single-minded drive for success extends to winning, and keeping, Lucy’s heart.
Lucy knows there’s something about Stephen that isn’t to be trusted. Stephen knows Lucy can’t tear herself away. And their addicting entanglement will have consequences they never could have imagined.
Alternating between Lucy’s and Stephen’s voices, TELL ME LIES (Atria Trade Paperback; On Sale February 5, 2019; ISBN: 9781501169656; $16.99) follows their connection through college and post-college life in New York City. “Readers will be enraptured” (Booklist) by the “unforgettable beauties in this very sexy story” (Kirkus Review). With the psychological insight and biting wit of Luckiest Girl Alive, and the yearning ambitions and desires of Sweetbitter, this keenly intelligent and supremely resonant novel chronicles the exhilaration and dilemmas of young adulthood and the difficulty of letting go—even when you know you should.
Confident and cocksure, Stephen sees something in Lucy that no one else has, and she’s quickly seduced by this vision of herself, and the sense of possibility that his attention brings her. Meanwhile, Stephen is determined to forget an incident buried in his past that, if exposed, could ruin him, and his single-minded drive for success extends to winning, and keeping, Lucy’s heart.
Lucy knows there’s something about Stephen that isn’t to be trusted. Stephen knows Lucy can’t tear herself away. And their addicting entanglement will have consequences they never could have imagined.
Alternating between Lucy’s and Stephen’s voices, TELL ME LIES (Atria Trade Paperback; On Sale February 5, 2019; ISBN: 9781501169656; $16.99) follows their connection through college and post-college life in New York City. “Readers will be enraptured” (Booklist) by the “unforgettable beauties in this very sexy story” (Kirkus Review). With the psychological insight and biting wit of Luckiest Girl Alive, and the yearning ambitions and desires of Sweetbitter, this keenly intelligent and supremely resonant novel chronicles the exhilaration and dilemmas of young adulthood and the difficulty of letting go—even when you know you should.
Advance Praise for TELL ME LIES
“Think: The Affair meets Animal House meets your beach bag. Get into it.”
—TheSkimm
“Tell Me Lies is a page-turner. I devoured it in forty-eight hours.”
—Jessica Knoll, New York Times bestselling author of Luckiest Girl Alive and The Favorite Sister
“Dizzying… juicy.”
—Cosmopolitan
“Everything you could ever want in a summer read.”
—USA Today
“If you were pulled in by Joe’s passion in You, you’ll fall for Stephen and his unique charm in Tell Me Lies.”
—PopSugar
“A sizzling summer read, Tell Me Lies is an absorbing novel with plenty of twists and surprises along the way, including a satisfying reveal near the end. But it’s also a fascinating examination of toxic relationships, dysfunctional relationships, and the bad habit we have all been guilty of having: confusing lust with love, drama with maturity, and Mr. Wrong for Mr. Right. Only maybe now, after seeing Lucy and Stephen’s train wreck unfold, we’ll all be able to recognize the signs in our own lives a lot sooner.”
—Bustle
“Weaving between perspectives, Carola Lovering’s addictive—and toxic—love story explores the pains of letting go… for good.”
—Us Weekly
“This story of addictive love is the perfect companion for a day at the beach.”
—Working Mother
“A dark, exhilarating coming-of-age story… There might be no better addition to your beach bag.”
—Town & Country, Best Books to Read This June
“A coming-of-age story that explores the consequences and tribulations of still being haunted by the wrong one who you just can’t let go of.”
—Brides
“As the years pass and shocking twists reveal themselves, the more hooked you’ll be. Tell Me Lies is the perfect thrilling summer read.”
—HelloGiggles
“Lovering’s debut is like a chemical reaction, exploding with sex, drugs, and all things that make a relationship toxic… From the emotionally raw, vulnerable, yet addicting lure that Lucy experiences with Stephen to his lack of guilt over his misdeeds, readers will be enraptured by this story that explores the darkest sides of a relationship gone wrong.”
—Booklist
“Passion, friendship, heartbreak, and forgiveness ring true in Lovering’s debut, a fast-paced ride through hookups, breakups, and infidelities… There are unforgettable beauties in this very sexy story.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Fans of Colleen Hoover will devour Lovering’s debut that is full of toxic love, secrets, and intense romance.”
—Library Journal
“A winning debut.”
—Publishers Weekly
“A very strong debut; Lovering has not just done great things with her character development, she also has nailed a strong sense of pacing... I already am looking forward to seeing what Lovering writes next.”
—BookReporter
About the Author
Carola Lovering attended Colorado College, and her work has appeared in W Magazine, National Geographic, Outside, and Yoga Journal, among other publications. Tell Me Lies is her first novel. She currently lives in Brooklyn.
Website: www.carolalovering.com
Twitter: @carolatlovering
Instagram: @carolatlovering
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