Three compelling new reads explore identity, connection, and resilience through sharply different lenses. Ashley Elston’s The First Lie Wins delivers a fast‑paced psychological thriller driven by shifting identities and dangerous secrets. Cali Adeline’s People Watching in the Desert offers a tender, heart‑warming look at loneliness and the unexpected bonds that shape us. Belle Burden’s memoir, Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage, provides a stark, intimate account of betrayal, privilege, and rebuilding a life after a long marriage collapses. Together, these books examine the stories we tell — about ourselves, about others, and about the people we think we know.

 An Entertaining Fast-Paced Thriller

Ashley Elston’s The First Lie Wins is a psychological thriller that delivers exactly what fans of the genre crave: clever twists, mounting suspense, and a heroine whose secrets are as compelling as the mystery itself.

Evie Porter appears to have the perfect life. She has a handsome boyfriend, a beautiful home, and a bright future. But “Evie Porter” isn’t her real name. It’s simply the latest identity assigned to her by a mysterious employer known only as Mr. Smith. Her job is to infiltrate people’s lives, earn their trust, and carry out assignments without asking questions. When her newest target, Ryan Sumner, turns out to be kind, intelligent, and genuinely likable, the carefully constructed walls around Evie begin to crack. As past identities resurface and someone starts playing a dangerous game with her, she realizes that she may no longer be the one in control.

Elston expertly balances present-day action with well-timed glimpses into Evie’s previous assignments, gradually revealing how she became trapped in a life built on deception. The alternating timelines never feel confusing; instead, they steadily raise the stakes and deepen our understanding of a protagonist who is both morally ambiguous and surprisingly sympathetic. Evie is resourceful, intelligent, and always thinking several moves ahead, making her a captivating guide through the novel’s maze of lies.

The pacing is brisk, with short chapters and frequent revelations that make the book addictive. While seasoned thriller readers may anticipate a few of the plot developments, Elston still manages to deliver satisfying surprises and a finale that feels both earned and emotionally resonant. Rather than relying on shock value alone, the novel explores themes of identity, trust, and whether it’s ever possible to escape the person you’ve pretended to be.

The First Lie Wins is an entertaining, fast-paced thriller with an engaging heroine and enough suspense to keep you guessing until the final pages. If you’re looking for a gripping page-turner with a fresh premise and plenty of twists, this novel fills the bill. GET THE BOOK.

Joan Pagano, CEO, Joan Pagano Fitness, NYC

Charming and Heartwarming

Cali Adeline’s debut novel, People Watching in The Desert examines loneliness, human connections, and the stories we create about ourselves and others.  This is a charming, heart-warming novel at its best, it reminds us that we can find connections in the most unexpected place.  I was lucky enough to get an advanced reader copy of this book and I can say I loved it from the first.

This story is set in a luxury Arizona resort.  It follows the main character, Sonny Magee, a socially withdrawn young woman who would rather observe life from the sidelines rather than participate in it.  She has a habit of making up stories about the people she meets in life.  As the story unfolds, the reader will discover that first impressions are not always accurate, and the narratives we create about strangers and ourselves can be far from the truth.  I found the stories she was creating in her mind to be fascinating, and I have found myself doing the same at times in my own life.

Sonny has spent most of her life alone, finding comfort in scribbling in her private notebook.  She lost her troubled mother when she was a young child.  Sonny was raised by her uncaring and sometimes cruel grandmother, who left her naïve about life.  She is a complex protagonist.  She has a dry sense of humor, while being socially awkward.  I really loved watching her slowly open herself to connecting with the people around her.  As a reader, I was rooting for Sonny all the way through the book.

Adeline has written a fabulous five-star debut novel.  She has done a beautiful job in writing light-hearted moments as well as emotional ones.  She has written characters who are flawed but also relatable.  I found the story very much like real life, with people I know or have known.  I highly recommend this book.  Congratulations Cali Adeline on your fantastic debut novel, due out on July 14, 2026.  GET THE DETAILS.

~Francene Katzen, Richmond, VA, advocate for parents of children with addictions

A Cautionary Tale

Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage, by Belle Burden  the granddaughter of Babe Paley, the famous fashion icon and one of Truman Capote’s swans, is a deeply personal memoir about the sudden collapse of what Belle Burden believed was a happy, secure twenty-year marriage. It’s a cautionary tale of the consequences of a woman turning a blind eye to her financial security in the name of love.

During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, while isolated with her family on Martha’s Vineyard, she receives shocking news that her husband is having an affair. Within weeks, he leaves not only her but also the life they had built together, becoming, in her words, a stranger. As Burden searches for answers, she revisits their courtship, marriage, family life, and her own upbringing to understand how someone she thought she knew so intimately could change so completely. The memoir explores themes of love, betrayal, grief, financial dependence, identity, and resilience, ultimately becoming a story of reclaiming her voice and independence after profound loss.

Strangers is an important read for young women – or any woman entering into marriage – about taking charge of their future.  While readers fiercely defend Belle as a victim and share her anger toward her husband, the writing seemed to lack any nuance considering her privilege and her remaining considerable multi-million-dollar fortune.

~Peggy Conlon, Ponte Verde, Florida, retired advertising CEO