Read Between the Lies

Jesse Q. Sutanto

“Read Between the Lies is a dark, delicious takedown of cancel culture and the publishing industry—I read it in two sittings because I had to stop midway and go google my own name. Highly recommend.” —Mindy Kaling

In this claustrophobic psychological suspense from USA Today bestselling author Jesse Q. Sutanto, the line between victim and villain blurs with every chapter. Because in the end, everyone has their own version of the truth—but only one will make it onto the page.

Fern’s dream of becoming a published author is finally coming true. After years of rejection, her debut novel has sold, and she’s ready to join the supportive online community of fellow debuts. But when she discovers her high school bully, Haven, has landed a major book deal and will be debuting alongside her, old wounds reopen.

As the pandemic forces everyone online, tensions escalate in their writing community. While Haven seems to succeed effortlessly, Fern watches her own career crumble. Yet beneath their polished personas lies a darker truth about their shared past—one involving a lost friend, Dani, and secrets neither wants revealed.

Fern isn’t the same person Haven bullied all those years ago. She’s learned that the best revenge stories aren’t written—they’re lived. And she’s been plotting this one for years.

What begins as online rivalry escalates into dangerous obsession. Because neither woman is telling the whole truth about what really happened to Dani…or about who’s the real victim in this story.

Published
February 1, 2026
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Author

Jesse Q. Sutanto

Jesse Q. Sutanto’s books are an irresistible blend of humor, family chaos, and unexpected twists. Growing up in the vibrant mix of cultures in Indonesia and Singapore, Sutanto’s writing is infused with the warmth of familial bonds, the messiness of love, and the kind of humor that feels like it could only come from someone who’s lived it. With a background that spans across continents, cultures, and a deep love for storytelling, Sutanto's work is a fresh, exciting voice in contemporary fiction. Her breakout novel, Dial A for Aunties, is an uproarious crime-comedy that puts her family’s hilarious—and often wild—antics on full display. The…