(The Glass Houses Collection, #2)
Publication date: September 24th 2026
Genres: Adult, Suspense, Thriller, Women’s Fiction
They have money. Status. And terrible judgment.
It was supposed to be the ultimate escape. A curated guest list. A luxury yacht. A week on the crystal-clear Adriatic, far from everyone’s real lives.
Except no one is there for the view. Careers, contracts, and futures are all quietly in play.
Antonia and Ted have built a global brand on their perfect marriage, which would be more convincing if they could still stand each other. Mercy has spent years smoothing over the worst instincts of her powerful husband, convinced the man she fell in love with is still there. Winslow is hiding a secret that could end his career, while his husband, Miguel, is carrying news that will change everything between them.
And then there’s Charlotte, the assistant everyone overlooks. Which gives her an excellent view of everything.
The first night, the drinks flow, the gossip gets vicious, and everyone shares far more than they should. But what’s a little indiscretion among new friends?
The trouble with a yacht is that there’s nowhere to go once you’ve said too much. No separate hotels. No quick exits. Just the same people, fewer places to hide, and another breakfast together in the morning.
By the third day, one marriage is as good as over. One guest is desperate enough to do something irreversible. And Mercy is realizing the man she loved was all for show and the man she fears is who he really is.
Before any of them set foot on solid ground again, one of them will be dead in the water.
Privilege has protected them from consequences for years. But desperation can make even very comfortable people do terrible things.
The Awful Truth is a sharp, warm, wickedly funny domestic suspense novel about marriage, power, and the spectacularly bad decisions people make when they have everything to lose. For readers who love the wit and heart of Liane Moriarty and Sally Hepworth, with the glamor and menace of The White Lotus.
Excerpt
Antonia walked into their room, then turned back to Ted and put her hands on his shoulders, squeezing them before dragging her hands down to his biceps. She moved her lips so they were hovering over his. “How about it, Dr. Dawson? Should we pretend we’re twenty-five?”
“No, we should not. You’re drunk, and quite frankly, I’m pretty pissed about how you conducted yourself.”
She narrowed her eyes a little, wracking her brain for what he was talking about, only to come up blank. “Help me out because I honestly don’t have the first clue what I did wrong.”
Before he could answer, she held up one finger to his lips. “Actually, don’t tell me. I’m in too good a mood to fight. Let’s just…do it. No talking. Just sex.” Pointing to the floor she added, “Right here. Let’s pretend we’re so wild for each other we can’t even be bothered to get to the bed.”
She pressed her hands against his chest and closed her eyes, waiting for him to kiss her. After a few seconds, she opened her eyes again and leaned toward him. “Heeelloooo?” She snort-laughed to herself, too drunk to care about how angry he looked.
Then the room started to spin and she gripped his shirt to steady herself. “You know what, Teddy? I may have had too much to drink.”
“You think?”
“Yes, I do.” Holding up one finger, she snorted again. “My professional medical opinion is that I’m totally wasted.”
She pushed off of him and staggered across the room. Flopping onto the bed, she said, “I’m just going to close my eyes for a bit. I’ll get ready for bed after I have a nice little nap.”
“In your dress?”
“S’very comfortable.” A moment later, her eyes were closed and she felt herself falling asleep. She heard him sigh, then felt him put the covers on her, and suddenly she was warm and loved and happy again. “I love you, Ted. With my whole heart.”
By the time he answered, his words were quiet, and she was only a very small bit conscious. “And I hate you with all of mine.”
Heat Level: Open door, spicy not explicit
Tone: A fast-paced, suspenseful, emotional, character-driven drama
Series Type: Standalone, part of a collection of domestic suspense novels
Ending: Emotionally satisfying, book club / upmarket resolution
POV: Multi-POV, third person
Content Notes: Infidelity, emotional abuse dynamics, death, suicidal ideation, brief sexual violence, psychological tension
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