Read Between the Lies

A Novel

By: Jesse Q. Sutanto, Mindy Kaling - introduction

Narrated by: Eunice Wong

“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.

©2026 by PT Karya Hippo Makmur. (P)2025 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Prolific Sutanto showcases ‘the quieter, darker side of me,’ pushing plenty of hot-topic buttons—bullying, suicide, social media curation, cancel culture, and the cutthroat world of publishing.” —Booklist

“If you were fascinated by the Bad Art Friend, prepare for your next obsession. Read Between the Lies is a deliciously simmering pressure cooker of a book, with one of the most interesting and multilayered narrators I’ve read. Come for the whip-smart commentary and intricately twisted plot, and buckle in for the wild ride. In these pages, Jesse Q. Sutanto gives a front-row seat to the inner workings and heartbreaks of the publishing industry, and how friendships are forged—and destroyed—within it.” —Laurie Elizabeth Flynn, USA Today bestselling author of Till Death Do Us Part and The Girls Are All So Nice Here

“Everything that Jesse Q. Sutanto turns her hand to is gold.” —CrimeReads

Interesting idea

Started very slow for me. I almost gave up. Don’t! It’s a very good book.

Too self centered

Jesse G. Sutanto is a wonderful author.
I could not stand the lead character—too much whining for too much of the book. The attacks on her nemesis are too obvious and unnecessary. The last quarter of the book was more bearable.

Please read!!!

Oh my goodness! This book is everything I love in stories. It had me completely hooked from the beginning. Such a great build up to the story and characters.

it was ok long and drawn out

it was a good story but a little dramatic, I found it hard to finish but I powered thru and it was worth it. over all good story

emotional

The beginning of this book was slow and triggering. I had to take so many pauses. I'm glad I stuck around and found out. The ending of this book was shocking and I want to know the ending of this story for her. what happen once she tells. Short story should tell us.