Before I begin, let’s all please clap a little for this, the very first romance novel about Indigenous people by an Indigenous writer published by a traditional publisher.
Then, let’s all boo those publishers for depriving us all of something so good for so long.
And then, let’s clap again because Danica Nava put her whole heart into this book and it’s an absolute joy.
Now that we’ve all gotten our cardio in, here’s the plot: Ember is poor but ambitious. She’s also a liar, even marking her ethnicity as “white” on a job application instead of mixed Chickasaw and Choctaw. Somehow this gets her hired at one of Oklahoma City’s wealthiest accounting firms. Enter Danuwoa–the hot Cherokee IT guy at the firm, who is authentic and honest in a way that challenges Ember without her realizing it. Sparks fly, and this is where I tell you that romance plots are familiar, so you know what happens here–dates, awkward family introductions, spicy sessions, misunderstandings, a third act breakup, and a big reconciliation.
But often, what makes or breaks a good romance novel isn’t what happens but who it happens to. These characters and their world are really warm and embracing. There’s so much #ownnormal here: casual inclusion of family members with Down Syndrome, vivid understanding of poverty and the shame and fragile pride that go with it, and acceptance of the fact that when your auntie calls you to come out to dinner, you go, even if it’s a long drive, you’ve had a bad week, and you really don’t want to make up with your younger brother.
Also, let’s be frank– lots of romance novels feature Indigenous characters. Most are interracial romances written by white authors, and therefore really weird, if not outright–is there a word like Orientalist, but for Indigenous people? Because yeah, that. It is such a breath of fresh air to read about two normal modern Indigenous people falling in love without calling upon the Power of Heart, or whatever. In fact, there’s a hilarious subplot lampooning that nonsense, and lots of little nods to culture for culture, not for fetish.
Guess all that’s left to say is I hope we get a lot more books like this, from Nava and other Indigenous romantics.
Honest fame and global popularity to The Truth According To Ember.
(Fellow readers! Back when I first started this site, I wrote a piece about my embarrassing obsession with a book called Brave Heart back in the day, which I later made private because oh, the cringe that younger me inspired. Comment if you want me to make that post public again. Also, check out this booklist of work by Indigenous people, and don’t forget that any purchases you make in the Equal Opportunity Bookshop result in a commission being earned and moar books! Moar reading! Moar reviews! And also, apparently, moar old meme references. Thanks for visiting, beautiful people. Now, go read something good! Peace!)
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