Twisted Lies

A fake-dating billionaire romance from New York Times bestselling author and BookTok sensation Ana Huang.

Charming, deadly, and smart enough to hide it, Christian Harper is a monster dressed in the perfectly tailored suits of a gentleman.

He has little use for morals and even less use for love, but he can't deny the strange pull he feels toward the woman living just one floor below him.

She's the object of his darkest desires, the only puzzle he can't solve. And when the opportunity to get closer to her arises, he breaks his own rules to offer her a deal she can't refuse.

Every monster has their weakness. She's his.

His obsession.

His addiction.

His only exception.

***

Sweet, shy, and introverted despite her social media fame, Stella Alonso is a romantic who keeps her heart in a cage.

Between her two jobs, she has little time or desire for a relationship.

But when a threat from her past drives her into the arms―and house―of the most dangerous man she's ever met, she's tempted to let herself feel something for the first time in a long time.

Because despite Christian's cold nature, he makes her feel everything when she's with him.

Passionate.

Protected.

Truly wanted.

Theirs is a love twisted with secrets and tainted by lies…and when the truths are finally revealed, they could shatter everything.

Ana Huang is a #1 New York Times, Sunday Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and #1 Amazon bestselling author. Best known for her Twisted series, she writes new adult and contemporary romance with deliciously alpha heroes, strong heroines, and plenty of steam, angst, and swoon.

Her books have been translated in over two dozen languages and featured in outlets such as NPR, Cosmopolitan, Financial Times, and Glamour UK.

A self-professed travel enthusiast, she loves incorporating beautiful destinations into her stories and will never say no to a good chai latte.

Twisted Lies by Ana Huang is a steamy, drama-filled contemporary romance that follows the slow-burning, complicated relationship between Christian Harper and Stella Alonso, set against a backdrop of secrets, danger, and emotional baggage. Christian is a powerful, enigmatic billionaire who owns a security and tech company. Outwardly, he is cold, controlled, and ruthless, known for his sharp mind and lack of emotional attachment. Inside, however, he is deeply lonely and surprisingly possessive, someone who watches the world from a distance and prefers to pull strings from behind the scenes. Stella is his opposite in many ways: a sweet, soft-hearted fashion influencer who is trying to build her brand while dealing with insecurity, financial pressure, and a past that still quietly haunts her. On the surface she lives a glamorous life online, but in reality she struggles with self-doubt, family expectations, and the fear that she might lose everything she has worked for.

Their paths cross because Stella desperately needs help. She is being threatened and harassed, and there are signs that someone dangerous is watching her. Her landlord also wants to evict her, and she is on the verge of losing her apartment and the stability she depends on. Christian, who owns the building and has already taken an interest in her, offers a solution: he will give her free rent and protection if she agrees to a fake relationship with him. He needs a public girlfriend to improve his image and to help him with a business situation that requires him to look more respectable and settled. Stella is wary at first, sensing that Christian is not someone who gives things away without a reason, but she knows she cannot easily walk away from his offer. Her career, safety, and home are all at risk, so she accepts the deal, convincing herself that it is just temporary and purely business.

The fake dating arrangement quickly becomes more complicated than either of them expects. Christian is intensely drawn to Stella’s warmth and kindness, fascinated by the way she treats people and how she sees good even where others might not. Stella, in turn, discovers there is more to Christian than his cold exterior. He is fiercely protective and surprisingly attentive to details—what she likes, what she fears, how to make her feel safe. His “twisted lies” begin with small things: white lies to the public about their history, incomplete truths about his work, and hidden motives behind his generosity. But the biggest lie beneath it all is that their relationship is just for show. As they spend more time together, the chemistry between them grows, and the emotional lines blur. The pretend romance starts to feel real, even as both insist they can keep their feelings under control.

Stella’s personal journey is an important part of the story. She is a people-pleaser who often thinks she is not good enough, especially compared to more confident, polished women. As a content creator, she worries constantly about followers, engagement, and how she appears online. She faces pressure from her family, who do not entirely understand or approve of her career choices, and she still carries old wounds from being judged and underestimated. Through her relationship with Christian, she begins to confront those insecurities. His unwavering attention and belief in her talent push her to see herself differently, but his intensity also makes her afraid: of losing herself, of becoming dependent on someone who might hurt her, and of discovering parts of him that are much darker than she imagined.

Christian’s past and personality add a strong suspenseful layer to the romance. He is a morally gray character—someone who is capable of violence, manipulation, and ruthless decisions when he feels it is necessary. He has done things that would shock Stella if she knew the full truth. Little by little, the book reveals why he is the way he is: hints of trauma, loneliness, and a lifetime of learning that power and control are safer than vulnerability. His business reaches into private security, cyber-surveillance, and investigations, and he is well-connected in dangerously powerful circles. This means he can protect Stella, but it also means he lives in a world where threats and secrets are normal. His obsession with Stella’s safety borders on controlling, and he often crosses lines she would never even consider, all in the name of protecting her.

The thriller element of the book comes from the danger surrounding Stella. Someone is targeting her—possibly linked to her past and possibly connected to the darker corners of Christian’s world. Anonymous messages, stalking, and subtle threats make her feel watched and vulnerable. Christian uses his resources to trace the source of these threats, uncovering layers of grudges, jealousy, and hidden motives. There are people who do not want Stella to succeed and people who have reasons to hurt Christian through her. As the mystery unfolds, Stella realizes that her life and career are more entangled with Christian’s dangerous world than she ever intended. The line between lover and protector becomes blurred, and she must decide whether she can trust a man who lies so easily and who keeps so much in the shadows.

Their emotional conflict forms the heart of the story. Christian falls hard for Stella, in a possessive, all-consuming way that scares even him. He struggles with the idea of being worthy of her, knowing how much darkness he carries. Stella, who has always craved genuine affection and stability, finds in Christian the intensity and devotion she always wanted, but she is also afraid of being trapped by his control and his secrets. They argue, pull away, and come back together, each clash exposing deeper fears and desires. Stella learns to stand up for herself and set boundaries, refusing to be just another possession in Christian’s carefully organized life. Christian, forced to confront feelings he has always buried, has to choose whether he will change and be honest, or stay hidden and risk losing her.

By the climax of the novel, the external threats and internal emotional fights collide. The true nature of the danger around Stella is revealed, along with the full extent of Christian’s involvement and what he has done behind the scenes to keep her safe. Stella must face the reality of who Christian really is: not just the polished billionaire boyfriend, but a man capable of both tenderness and brutality. She has to decide whether his love, no matter how fierce, is something she can live with, and whether his lies can ever be forgiven. Christian, in turn, understands that real love demands trust and transparency, not just control and protection. He must prove that he can be more than his darker side, that he can choose her happiness even when it conflicts with his instinct to dominate and hide.

In the end, Twisted Lies delivers a romance that is intense, dramatic, and deeply emotional, full of passionate scenes, sharp dialogue, and moments of vulnerability. It explores themes of self-worth, trust, obsession, and the complicated nature of love when two very different people collide: a soft-hearted woman who fears she is not enough, and a powerful man who fears he is too much and too dark. Through fake dating, real danger, and the slow unfolding of secrets, Ana Huang shows how love can grow out of lies and fear—but only if both people are willing to face the truth about themselves and each other.