Count my lies

In Stava's devilishly plotted if somewhat far-fetched debut, a seemingly chance encounter with a wealthy man in a Brooklyn park transforms a young woman's life. Toiling in an upscale nail salon after being fired from her preschool teaching job, Sloane Caraway is desperate for change. When she bumps into the distractingly handsome Jay Lockhart one afternoon, she tells him she's a nurse named Caitlin and starts ingratiating herself with him and his wife, Violet. Soon, Sloane lands a full-time gig nannying the couple's daughter, Harper, in their multi-million dollar brownstone. Though workaholic Jay is seldom around, the charming Violet treats Sloane so warmly that the emotionally needy sitter starts to view her as the sister she never had. But Sloane's perception of what's actually going on proves dangerously far from reality. The Lockharts' marriage, it turns out, is less idyllic than it appears--and when it comes to lying, Sloane is punching way above her weight class. Though not every twist in the breakneck home stretch is believable, Stava keeps the pages turning. This is good fun. Agent: Elisabeth Weed, Book Group. (Mar.)This review has been edited to remove spoilers.

A woman with a penchant for deceit becomes entangled with a wealthy couple who live in a world where nothing is quite what it seems. Sloane Caraway lies about everything to everyone because "the truth is so uninteresting." But behind the easy bravado is a young woman who longs to feel special in ways that her often difficult working-class life never allowed. When she runs into Jay, a handsome game developer, in a Brooklyn park, she presents herself as a nurse named Caitlin. She tends to Jay's bee-stung daughter with assumed authority, all while dreaming of another encounter. She gets her wish when she meets Jay's wife, Violet, in the same park and receives an invitation to their home. Asked to become a nanny for the couple's daughter, Sloane enters a world that is anything but perfect. Stava engages readers start to finish not only with characters who hide their motivations from each other, but also a narrative built on unexpected twists: As much as Sloane wants to literally become Violet and have her beautiful life, Violet wants nothing more than to dispense with her identity and escape a cheating husband who loves her only for her money. Shifting points of view add psychological complexity to each of the three main characters. There are no heroes or villains in this story: only people drawn to each other for things--like money or freedom--that they desire enough to engage in dangerous games of deception. This compelling, tautly plotted book will appeal not only to lovers ofGone Girl--style tales of suspense but anyone with a taste for smart, well-crafted fiction. A page-turning thrill ride of a story from a debut novelist. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.