Reasons to Lie

When a private school field trip ends with one student dead, three mothers must face the darkest secrets lurking beneath their lifestyles, their friendships, their children, and themselves.

In the privileged world of Manhattan’s elite Dearborn Academy, three mothers—Abby, Kara, and Hollis—form an unlikely bond. Until a student is murdered on a class trip their teenagers attended, and every parent has something to hide.

Artistic single mom Abby and career-challenged Kara have always felt like outsiders among Dearborn’s rich, powerful families. When glamorous, enigmatic Hollis arrives with her son and a picture-perfect life, they take her under their wing—despite nagging doubts about her past.

Their friendship only deepens after tragedy strikes on a school retreat. But as a determined detective edges closer to the truth of what happened in the woods that night, cracks begin to show—in their stories, their alliances, and their trust.

Each woman is keeping secrets. And so are their children.

Now, with everything at stake, Abby, Kara, and Hollis must decide how far they’ll go to protect their families—even if it means turning on one another.

Because everyone has a reason to lie.

And someone will stop at nothing to keep the truth buried.

Author Biography

Emily Listfield is the author of seven novels, including a New York Times Notable Book of the Year. Her books have been published in numerous foreign countries. She is the former editor-in-chief of Fitness magazine and executive editor of Parade’s HealthyStyle, and her writing appears frequently in Elle, Harper’s BAZAAR, Allure, The New York Times, and many other national publications. Listfield has served as a panelist at SXSW, has worked across media platforms, and was the cofounder of Jyst, a crowd-sourced relationship advice app for women. She lives in New York City.