Both Things Are True: A Novel

by Kathleen Barber

Overview

For two exes who meet again, moving on is harder than ever in a funny and heartfelt romantic comedy about starting over by the author of Truth Be Told, now a major Apple TV+ series.

Vanessa is a yoga influencer living high in New York. But after her crypto-entrepreneur fiancé ruins both their lives by fleeing the country amid fraud allegations, Vanessa’s only choice is to start over—by flying home to Chicago and moving in with her sister.

Just as Vanessa puts her life back together, she bumps into Sam. Years ago, they fell hard and too fast. Their relationship ended in heartbreak after an impromptu Las Vegas wedding officiated by a Dolly Parton impersonator—and an annulment that was just as sudden. Now Sam is co-owner of a solar company with a promising future, a future Vanessa wants to be included in. But she can’t shake the whiff of scandal from her AWOL fiancé, and to protect Sam’s reputation, she’s keeping her distance. Then again…

If anyone can turn a negative into a positive—and a first love into a second chance—it’s a young woman with influence.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781662525742
Publisher:	Amazon Publishing
Publication date:	09/01/2025
Pages:	303
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.75(d)

About the Author

Kathleen Barber is the author of Follow Me and Truth Be Told, which was adapted into a series for Apple TV+ by Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine media company. A graduate of Northwestern University School of Law and a former attorney, she now writes full-time and lives in Washington, DC, with her husband and two children. For more information, visit www.kathleenbarber.com.

Editorial Reviews

The stuff of which Hallmark Channel romance movies are made…Memorably entertaining.” —Midwest Book Review

“Move over, Elvis. Dolly Parton is the patron saint of this love story. Kathleen Barber’s Both Things Are True is a voicey wild ride full of lost love, deceit, sisterhood, and second chances. You’ll fall in love with Vanessa and Sam, and root for them both to find a happy ending…hopefully with each other.” —Ali Brady, USA Today bestselling author of Until Next Summer

“Barber drops you right into the drama from the start and expertly weaves in twists, turns, and reveals to keep the pages turning. A one-sitting read that fans of second-chance romances will absolutely love!” —Suzanne Park, author of One Last Word

“Both Things Are True is an exciting, original, fast-paced, and modern romantic comedy that had me riveted from beginning to end. Sam and Vanessa’s awkward ‘meet again’ cute will make you laugh, cry, and cringe all at once, and their slow-burn second-chance romance will tug at your heart and keep tugging until the utterly satisfying happily ever after. Kathleen Barber’s transition from suspense to romance is seamless, and I’m already anxiously and impatiently awaiting her next book.” —Meredith Schorr, author of As Seen on TV

“In Truth Be Told and Follow Me, Kathleen Barber delved brilliantly into the mysteries of being ‘internet famous’—and the gaps between the public perception and the private truth. Both Things Are True finds the romance in the same relatable space, with characters who feel like people we know (or think we know) and a moving story of what it really takes to weather a scandal when it feels like the whole world is watching. Barber’s latest is my favorite kind of romance—the kind that reminds us all that before we can love anyone else, we need to learn to love ourselves.” —Jessica Strawser, USA Today bestselling author of Catch You Later

“Both Things Are True is a bighearted book about second chances, scandal, and of course, the power of Dolly Parton. Kathleen Barber mixes a deeply felt story of personal growth with page-turning twists, giving readers a romance that they’ll happily devour.” —Laura Hankin, author of One-Star Romance

“A deliciously fresh second-chance romance with the perfect mix of heart, humor, and high-stakes reinvention. Witty, romantic, and brimming with redemption, this story had me hooked from the very first page.” —Kristin Rockaway, author of Smart Girl Summer

From the Publisher