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White Lies
Missy’s sweet sixteenth is almost here, but her last three birthdays haven’t exactly been happy occasions. Her little brother died when she turned thirteen and now birthdays are just painful reminders of their loss. If only she had walked him to school that morning, like she was supposed to... Adding fuel to the fire, Missy’s mom was arrested on her fifteenth birthday and her father’s mood swings are unbearable. Then Missy meets Luke ― a new classmate she cannot stop thinking about. Luke understands what she’s going through more than anybody, but will Missy be able to let him in?
- GenresYoung Adult
240 pages, Paperback
Published May 17, 2022
2 people are currently reading
41 people want to read
About the author
Sara de Waard
3 books23 followersSara de Waard is an author, screenwriter, and educator of Métis descent and is currently in the process of exploring her family’s heritage. Her debut novel, White Lies, won the 2022 ETFO Writer’s Award for Women. Soon after completing her BA in Radio and Television from Toronto Metropolitan University, de Waard returned to her hometown of Port Colborne, ON, where she currently lives with her two kids.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 2, 2022
This was such a good book I could not put it down and finished it in one sitting!! Not only is this such a beautiful and empowering story this has also been written by a local author and getting to support her is amazing! Highly highly recommend this book if you're looking for a real raw look into someone's life and how white lies can be more dangerous than we think.
March 25, 2022
Oh, my, goodness. What a lovely book. My friends and I recently read this together, and we all absolutely loved it. Missy’s character is awesome, and she is really struggling, but everyone around her lends a hand in different ways, and they all seem happy to do it. Dr. Tandalay is an amazing character, and she pushes Missy in all the right ways to heal from her trauma. Luke is an incredible love interest for Missy, because he truly seems to get her, and they become one, both from traumatic pasts, but they heal together.
October 13, 2022
So enjoyed this book. Beautifully written and appreciated.
May 22, 2022
Young adult story of Missy dealing with past trauma and the people trying to support her. Easy to read with good pace to the story. Some small references that will fly over teens heads, where you can tell the author is around 40ish. A rather tidy, happish ending that readers of this genre will appreciate. Great read! Will pass on to my 14 year old.
March 2, 2022
A brilliant tale of a girl brilliant beyond her years! Missy has a story to tell and it becomes a story you want to know mere minutes into cracking the cover. Her articulate self awareness, quick wit that is timely as often as inopportune and careful insight into her own relationships are especially admirable when you’re reminded she is in her 16th year. Surely, circumstances of the past have forced Missy into early adulthood yet, all along remains a sense that the 𝒘𝒊𝒔𝒆 had been there from the start. It was a pleasure to 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍 alongside this protagonist; to cry with her, cringe with her, be anxious with her and experience joy with her. Though it would be so great to know what is next for Missy, it’s easy to feel confident that her future most certainly is a shiny one.
March 25, 2022
“White Lies” is my favourite book I have every read. It has so much heart, an incredible supporting cast from different heritages, and a wonderful surprise twist for the ending. Missy is so believable; you can feel her emotions flowing through the pages, right into your mind. Her father is so relatable; and everyone struggling with mental health or illness will benefit from reading this book; over and over again. In her debut novel, Sara de Waard’s career seems to have a fantastic start, from this novel, “White Lies.”
March 26, 2022
Could not put the book down. Author has you hooked from the start of the book to the finish. The character development is outstanding. A must read if you have teenage children. My daughters are currently reading the book as well and are thoroughly enjoying it.
August 20, 2022
This is a real page-turner packed with strong emotions. I read my autographed copy, given to me by this debut author as thanks for an interview at the Operation Awesome blog. This is my honest and unbiased review. My heart breaks for Melissa, Missy, the main character, in the first ten pages.
About half a million Americans under age 18 have a parent who is an inmate, so there is a huge audience who can identify with characters in this book. I love a YA novel with such strong characters who have so much to overcome.
My absolute favorite scene is when Missy and Luke are in an "old-school media store." Nirvana, Madonna, and Marilyn Manson -- music that gives the book appeal to Gen X readers who like YA. (It also seems like a hint Missy's dad might snort cocaine, in addition to his other addictions.)
A line that really got me, really took the wind out of me from the emotional power:
A bunch of people who have to justify their jobs rally around you like they truly care when, in reality, you feel like you're just a checkmark on their to-do lists.
I felt deeply invested in the life of the main character, which kept me turning the pages to find out what would happen to Missy, and what had happened to her brother. Plus, I read this book right around the time of my own birthday. (Missy has the worst birthdays possible.) A lost-and-found hat to deal with unexpected menstrual troubles made me grateful that I couldn't relate to this particular scene. I do wonder if chairs in public schools in Canada have fabric (instead of being all plastic and metal)?
This is realistic fiction, happily-ever-after (happily-for-now), with light romantic scenes, several tear-jerker scenes, controversial moments because of the parents, fast-paced chapters, some plot twists, and meaningful moments. According to the author, Luke is Métis (people of mixed European and Indigenous ancestry, a recognized Aboriginal people in Canada). Miss Maalouf has a middle eastern accent, darker skin, and black hair. Renshu wasn't born here, so she didn't know how well he spoke English until he conversed with a customer, and speaks Mandarin with his daughter, Valkyrie. George, who has dark skin, calls Melissa Bells "Larry Bird," because she's tall and white. (She's also left-handed and has severe anxiety and other probable mental issues.)
I think the title references the white lies we tell ourselves, especially when the truth is difficult to handle. Missy seems like her "love language" is probably giving, because when she's meant to compliment herself, she instead compliments someone else, when she's to get something nice for herself, she instead gives something to a child. Finding out the reason for the bicycle on the cover is heart-wrenching.
It's a well-edited book. Mindfulness, forgiveness, and self-blame isn't usually justified. Nothing in the book "just happens," there's a cause for every effect. Her future is the result of her own choices and actions. Nothing was easy for Missy in this book. It holds up a mirror to society in the struggles endured by Missy and Luke. I look forward to reading more books from this author in the future.
About half a million Americans under age 18 have a parent who is an inmate, so there is a huge audience who can identify with characters in this book. I love a YA novel with such strong characters who have so much to overcome.
My absolute favorite scene is when Missy and Luke are in an "old-school media store." Nirvana, Madonna, and Marilyn Manson -- music that gives the book appeal to Gen X readers who like YA. (It also seems like a hint Missy's dad might snort cocaine, in addition to his other addictions.)
A line that really got me, really took the wind out of me from the emotional power:
A bunch of people who have to justify their jobs rally around you like they truly care when, in reality, you feel like you're just a checkmark on their to-do lists.
I felt deeply invested in the life of the main character, which kept me turning the pages to find out what would happen to Missy, and what had happened to her brother. Plus, I read this book right around the time of my own birthday. (Missy has the worst birthdays possible.) A lost-and-found hat to deal with unexpected menstrual troubles made me grateful that I couldn't relate to this particular scene. I do wonder if chairs in public schools in Canada have fabric (instead of being all plastic and metal)?
This is realistic fiction, happily-ever-after (happily-for-now), with light romantic scenes, several tear-jerker scenes, controversial moments because of the parents, fast-paced chapters, some plot twists, and meaningful moments. According to the author, Luke is Métis (people of mixed European and Indigenous ancestry, a recognized Aboriginal people in Canada). Miss Maalouf has a middle eastern accent, darker skin, and black hair. Renshu wasn't born here, so she didn't know how well he spoke English until he conversed with a customer, and speaks Mandarin with his daughter, Valkyrie. George, who has dark skin, calls Melissa Bells "Larry Bird," because she's tall and white. (She's also left-handed and has severe anxiety and other probable mental issues.)
I think the title references the white lies we tell ourselves, especially when the truth is difficult to handle. Missy seems like her "love language" is probably giving, because when she's meant to compliment herself, she instead compliments someone else, when she's to get something nice for herself, she instead gives something to a child. Finding out the reason for the bicycle on the cover is heart-wrenching.
It's a well-edited book. Mindfulness, forgiveness, and self-blame isn't usually justified. Nothing in the book "just happens," there's a cause for every effect. Her future is the result of her own choices and actions. Nothing was easy for Missy in this book. It holds up a mirror to society in the struggles endured by Missy and Luke. I look forward to reading more books from this author in the future.
August 2, 2022
White Lies by Sara de Waard follows the story of Missy, a young girl weighed down by her past misfortunes and continuous distress. While dealing with a myriad of personal problems, she attempts to find herself and discover her life's true purpose. Missy’s compelling journey of navigating her mental obstacles and personal conflicts provides the readers a view into the life and mindset of a normal teenager and demonstrates the healing power of love. When she meets Luke, a boy from her English class, she finds indisputable similarities between their difficult situations and complex personalities. This book shows a teenager's journey as they contend with their personal and emotional turmoil. This novel would cater to anyone from the age group 13-18. White Lies is extremely insightful and deserves all the 5 stars given. The plot and the story are beautifully woven together and the perspective on the different events of the book provides a strong voice to the character. Overall this book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys realistic fiction!
Review by Madhalasa I, age 16, North Texas Mensa
Review by Madhalasa I, age 16, North Texas Mensa
December 10, 2022
I think I wanted to enjoy this more than I did, which isn't a bad thing. Missy is an interesting protagonist, if only because of her unreliability, but that's what makes this a bit of a falter for me. It's well written, and does a great job at conveying trauma, but I think there's something that didn't click with me on a personal level and I found myself wondering where points were going to go. Ultimately, this was good, but not my personal cup of tea.
April 13, 2026
White Lies was so good.
The kind of book where the tension quietly builds, and you keep turning pages because you need to know what’s really going on. It plays with perception, truth, and the stories we tell ourselves—and others—in a way that feels a little too real at times.
Gripping, unsettling, and hard to put down.
The kind of book where the tension quietly builds, and you keep turning pages because you need to know what’s really going on. It plays with perception, truth, and the stories we tell ourselves—and others—in a way that feels a little too real at times.
Gripping, unsettling, and hard to put down.
July 7, 2025
YA for high school book club
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews