The Lies We Tell

by Fatima Bala

“A piercing collection of intimate reckonings.”

—New York Weekly



The Lies We Tell is a fierce, dazzling, heartbreaking collection of stories set across the motor parks, matrimonial bedrooms, and candlelit hostels of Northern Nigeria. From the dye pits of Zaria to the rooftops of Abuja, Fatima Bala pulls back the curtain on the secret architecture of Hausa women's lives, the bargains made in silence, the truths swallowed whole, the love offered and withheld and weaponised across generations. Spirits move through these pages alongside pharmacists and politicians. Grandmothers whisper to unseen things. Girls become women and women become ghosts, and some, only some, find their way back.

Written in a voice that crackles with wit, grief, and an almost unbearable tenderness, these stories ask the question no proverb has ever answered: when the lie is the only thing holding everything together, is it still wrong to tell it?

Genres: Romance, Novels, Thriller

260 pages, Paperback

Published July 22, 2026

About the author

Fatima Bala is a lecturer, poet, and writer who lives in Canada with her family and a pet fish named Fishy. Her books have received starred reviews from The Los Angeles Tribune, London Post, and New York Weekly. She graduated from Algonquin College, Vancouver Island University, and Stanford, where she studied Tourism, Business Management, and International Women's Rights. She loves traveling, playing board games, and watching movies with unanticipated twists.

Her Instagram account is @aka.fatima.bala

Reviews

[Umaymah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A solid 5 stars of a book. For me, being from Northern Nigeria, this was a mirror of my society and what delightful reading it made!

[mariemyar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh Fatima. The woman that you are!
This was such an iconic book. Every short story left me even more captivated than the last, what a collection!

[Ann Nwuzor · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lies We Tell is a collection of 12 short stories divided into two parts: Transgressions and Virtues.

These stories navigate womanhood ,the difficulties and struggles women face in their marriages, and the societal expectations women feel the need to fulfill. There are also themes of sexual abuse, how it affects one’s psyche, and how victims of abuse can sometimes turn into predators themselves, causing further harm.

I loved how the characters were interlinked. It was so beautifully done. I enjoyed my brain working to connect the stories together.

I enjoyed every story, but if you ask me on a deeper level, my favorite was In Search of a Bed of Gold. It’s a reminder that you should fear a desperate woman. I didn’t like that Zinaru and Azumi were groomed by Hajiya Bilikisu, but I understood that this was included to shed light on how older women can be complicit in grooming.

I also learned some new words ,like Kannywood, and Auren Dangi, which refers to marriage between first cousins. Apparently, some parts of the north don’t mind marrying within the family this closely.

I’d rate this a solid 4/5. I really enjoyed reading it.

[iyinolaoluwamide O · Rating 4 out of 5]

Omo!!! I have to deduct points cos if have liked a better closing to most of the stories

[Baseerah · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute web of intrigue, passion, and secrets!

The Lies We Tell completely consumed me from start to finish! Fatima Bala knows how to build tension, complex relationships, and a storyline that keeps you hooked on every single word.
The character dynamics are so intricately linked and layered that it keeps your mind racing the entire time. There is so much depth, history, and hidden detail woven into their connections that by the time you reach the end, you’re already itching to jump right back to page one!
I am 100% planning a future re-read to catch every subtle detail, trace every character link, and fully appreciate all the masterfully hidden clues I might have missed the first time around. A thrilling, emotionally intense, and unforgettable read…
Fatima Bala delivers again!

[Aisha Jamari · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely and thought provoking read.

When I heard Fatima Bala was releasing a new book, I was so excited… only to find out it was a collection of short stories. 😭 If you know me, you know I’m not a fan. I was expecting a HOT Arewa contemporary romance, a cautionary tale, something that would make us feel. I still bought it because I genuinely wanted to support her.

The synopsis said it was about the lives of women in Northern Nigeria, so I braced myself for a heavy, trauma-filled read.

I went into this book with zero expectations and ended up finishing it in a day.

Fatima’s writing feels so much more refined. The stories are raw, honest, and deeply human. Yes, the familiar struggles of Northern women are there, and no, most of the endings aren’t exactly happy. But somehow, they didn’t leave me feeling emotionally drained. They felt quietly reflective rather than devastating.

I really enjoyed this one and I’d definitely recommend it. ❤️

[Mosope · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! I enjoyed most stories and was left with a web of entangled feelings after reading them.

One story in particular was difficult to follow. I also got confused with the number of characters I had to keep track of especially since the stories overlapped. Once I took the time to figure out the connections, it created another layer of depth to the stories.

I enjoyed seeing Fatima stretch herself here regarding the kind of stories she writes. This is worth a read!

[Kameela Salimanu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful!

When I first heard she had just released a new book, I was expecting something like Broken or Hafsatu Bebi, two books of hers that I enjoyed so much. I was really looking forward to this.

Then I heard it was a collection of short stories, and I was eager to see what it was like. I’ve only read a couple of short stories books, so I didn’t know what to expect.

The book was thought provoking. One chapter I was feeling bad for the woman whose story I was reading, and the next, I was understanding why she did what she did, even if I didn’t agree with it.

I enjoyed every story, and each page left me wanting more. I can’t wait for more releases from her in the future.

(My only problem was translating the Hausa phrases and sentences because I don’t speak Hausa😂 but this was a great read and I’d definitely recommend)

[Mandu Ekpe · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I love most about Fatima Bala’s writing is how unapologetically bare it is. She doesn’t shy away from showing the realities of Northern Nigerian society, and through her books, I’ve learned so much about the people, culture, and issues I previously knew very little about.

This book is a collection of 12 short stories exploring marital problems, young girls being deceived at a young age, and the spiritual and social vices that exist in society.

As a fan of short stories, I really enjoyed this collection. Some stories were just there for me, but most were genuinely interesting and thought-provoking.

My biggest struggle was the Hausa language, because I don’t understand Hausa, so translating some parts was a bit difficult.

Overall, another Fatima Bala book that taught me something new while keeping me entertained.

[Kabura Zakama · Rating 5 out of 5]

The short stories in this collection are both subtle and sharp.

You don’t just enjoy the stories, you get some education on the culture of some parts of the core north.

I was highly privileged to have met Fatima Bala at the reading of this book in Abuja. Her appeal among young Northern girls was huge - the venue filled and overflowed with them.

Could her writing spark something in the parts of the North where the stories are set? Could people reading these stories twenty or so years from now say the author orchestrated change in the way girls live and marry? Such is the force I see in these stories.

I would recommend Fatima Bala’s books to everyone, especially those who want to explore traditions and cultures. I’d buy anything she writes without hesitation.

[Kehinde Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

When i read Hafsatu Bebi, I was going through something (i can't remember what now) but I had progressed to a point that I woke up in the midnight and didn't sleep till I concluded it.
I decided I wasn't going to read Broken, and ran (seems like i will have to go back to it).
I was intrigued by The Lies We Tell, first, by its cover, second, a short stories collection (I love short stories collections, easier to read and very unpredictable).
My review of this book, avoiding spoilers is this, I love it and I'm giving it the five stars. Northern women go throughout alot even though we never often hear their stories.
Their resilience should be studied and I will learn to view them with warmth and be kinder in my assessments.

[Zainab Balogun · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was good.
Not great but it’s important to note that I’m not really a fan of anthologies because I don’t like when stories feel incomplete.

The Lies We Tell is a deeply cultural book about the lives of people; women especially in Northern Nigeria from young to old.

It took me a while to understand the connection between part 1 & 2 of the book but once I connected the dots, it started to flow better.

However, there were about 2 stories that felt like riddles for me & I just couldn’t crack what they interpreted to.

But nonetheless, it was an enjoyable read for the most part. The author knows her onions when it comes to writing. Amazing work!

I’d rate it 3.8 ⭐️

[Dun · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first half of the book more than I did the second half. There was something about the beginning that really pulled me in. The stories were intriguing and I genuinely wanted to know where they were going. But somewhere towards the latter part, I felt like it lost its spark. The connection between some of the characters didn’t feel deeply intense enough for me. It felt a little flat, ngl. But I still think it was beautiful.

[Rukayya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved it. This book contains short stories that are so relatable and hit home. I went from surprise to shock, got appalled, blushed, and even said one or two profanities in Hausa. Fatima Bala is tagged as a romance writer; she is not just that. She is a storyteller who uses literature to look at culture through critical lenses.

[aishareadsnrambles · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short story collection featuring Hausa women of different apges and classes all involved in the conundrum called marriage.

The book was a good read. It's something that you'll want to finish as soon as you start it and it was that way for me. The stories were catchy, and you can't help but feel for some of the FMCs.

It's even sadder that stuff like this actually happens in real life because the desperation of some of the women was out of this world.

Anyway, I'll definitely recommend it.

[Firdaus Abubakar · Rating 3 out of 5]

This has just solidified the reason why I don’t enjoy short stories. Just when you get invested it ends. Felt like most of the stories needed a few more pages to feel complete, nevertheless love Fatima Bala writing style.

[Zigalobari Nalley · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favourite thing about short stories is how a writer can pull me into a character’s world in such a short time. In this book, Fatima Bala was able to give me a glimpse into the inner lives of Northern Nigerian women, and I really enjoyed that.

[Bose Néné · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know why this has the rating it has but I thoroughly enjoyed this and I can't wait to re-read it. Wishing all the ladies in those stories the best always except Azumi and Anisa😕
Tauhida my girl, I hope you're very happy 😊
Habiba I don't know what happened but I hope it all works out.

[BinamReads🎀🦢💐 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️This was a very fast read. I’m not really a fan of short story collections, but I would say it was an interesting read🩷

[Adesuwa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the short stories. Some of them had me gasping and clutching my pearls! Fatima Bala is up there as one of my favourite authors

[Hope Etuk · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

[Aisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Better than broken. This one wasn’t giving wattpad.

[TheLifeAndTimesofOre · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 ✨
A collection of gripping short stories, not all totally unrelated. Her usual style of writing, would have loved the full stories of some.

[Florence Obioha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a nice read but I enjoyed the first part of the book more . I really loved the plot twists (the lies 😉).

[Temi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really enjoyed reading this book, I just got too invested in some stories and before I knew it, we had to move to the next

[Nafeesa Mohammad Mohammad Bello · Rating 2 out of 5]

All I can say is Fatima Bala did not eat with this book🤦🏽‍♀️ I had so much expectations because I know how much of a good writer she is, only for me to predict all the stories 😒

[Naomi Uwayah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love this book