The Lies We Tell

"The Lies We Tell" by Katie Zhao is a tense YA novel set at Brookings University, where freshman Anna Xu balances her academic ambitions, a private investigation into a past campus murder, and a growing awareness of her place in a community affected by hate crimes. As Anna teams up with her childhood rival, Chris Lu, they navigate a complex web of friendship, rivalry, and social activism while uncovering uncomfortable truths about their surroundings. The story weaves themes of belonging, prejudice, and resilience into a thrilling narrative with a relatable rivalry-to-romance arc.