The Girl You Thought I Was

“A smart and savvy take on coming of age and coming to terms, with a little help from your friends.”—Huntley Fitzpatrick, author of My Life Next Door

No one looking at Morgan Kemper would think she had a secret—at least not one that she’s deeply ashamed of.

To everyone she meets, she comes across as sweet, pretty, and put together. But Morgan knows that looks can be deceiving. For over a year, she’s shoplifted countless pieces of clothing and makeup. Each time, she tells herself it will be the last, and each time, it never is.

But when she’s caught and sentenced to thirty hours of community service, the image Morgan has carefully constructed starts to crumble. She’s determined to complete her punishment without her friends discovering the truth about her sticky fingers, but that’s easier said than done...especially once she meets Eli, the charming, handsome nephew of the owner of the charity shop where Morgan is volunteering.

Soon Morgan is faced with an impossible decision: continue to conceal the truth or admit that she’s lied to everyone in her life, including the boy she’s falling for.

Praise for The Girl You Thought I Was:

“A charming and poignant ode to the seasons of friendship, family, and love, and what happens when we dare to reveal our most messy selves. Simply put, The Girl You Thought I Was stole my heart!" —Darcy Woods, award-winning author of Summer of Supernovas

"The Girl You Thought I Was is an honest, compelling, nuanced look at fallibility, forgiveness, the unhealthy ways we cope, and the people who make us want to be better. If you're a fan of character-driven contemporary, don't miss this one." —Dahlia Adler, author of Behind the Scenes and Just Visiting

What happens when the girl who seems perfect is anything but?
YA Contemporary Romance: Morgan is determined to keep her secret. Eli is determined to get to know the real her. But the truth might tear them apart before they even get a real start.Community Service Romance: Sentenced to thirty hours at a thrift shop, Morgan never expected to meet a boy like Eli. Falling for him is easy—keeping her past from him is the hardest thing she’s ever done.A Redemption Arc: After a year of bad decisions, getting caught is a wake-up call. But can Morgan find the courage to face her mistakes and become the girl she wants to be?Finding Forgiveness: Facing the truth could mean losing her friends, the boy she loves, and the trust of her family. This heartfelt story is about learning to forgive others—and yourself.