Reasons to Lie

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.

One of Oprah Daily’s 31 Most Anticipated Books of 2026“Listfield knows exactly how to skewer the ‘perfect’ Manhattan parent set. Brace yourself for her sharpest turn yet.” —Oprah Daily“Taut, riveting, and laced with stunning and unsettling revelations, Reasons to Lie explores the complicated, often painful truths about motherhood, privilege, and the fragile bonds between parents and their teens—while asking how well do we really know the people we love, and how much would we risk to protect them?” —Kate White, New York Times bestselling author of The Wrong Man and Eyes on You“Listfield unspools a delicious web of family secrets and lies that pulls you in and doesn’t let go until the very last page.” —Tamara L. Miller, author of Into the Fall“A tragic death on a junior class overnight trip is the catalyst for Emily Listfield’s latest propulsive thriller. Was it an accident? A suicide? Or murder? It seems impossible to untangle the truth when the administration, students, and parents all seem to be hiding something. Told from the perspective of three disparate mothers, Reasons to Lie pulls you in on the first page and doesn’t let you go.” —Greer Hendricks, New York Times bestselling coauthor of The Wife Between Us“I loved this smart, intriguing, captivating mystery! How did Emily Listfield make every character—the good, the imperfect, the suspicious—so true to life and relatable? Who died by whose hand is an absorbing enough question, but for added and delicious tension, Reasons to Lie is set at the kind of snobby Manhattan school I love to hate. Highly enjoyable, flawlessly written, and highly recommended!” —Elinor Lipman, author of Every Tom, Dick & Harry and Ms. Demeanor