Monica Murphy’s Letter to Librarians

In A THOUSAND PERFECT LIES, Monica Murphy delivers a story of prep-school glamour, sisterly redemption, and a mystery that turns privilege into peril. In her letter to librarians, she shares how so many of her favorite childhood memories are from visiting the library, and how it was the first place she turned to when she wanted to try to write her first romance.

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Dear Librarian,

When I was a young reader, my mom would take me to the library every two weeks to pick out new (to me) books to read, and it quickly became my favorite place to go. So. Many. Books! Not only could I browse through the endless rows, I also got to take them home? It was my dream come true. Over the years, I read so many different authors and genres. And when I first wanted to try my hand at writing romance, I immediately went to the library and checked out a bunch of craft books.

The library is such a valuable source to our communities. My mother-in-law was a librarian and a big lover of books, too, and I would often tell her how vital her job was. The moment she retired, she missed it terribly. The patrons, her coworkers, and all of those books. Libraries are a magical place.

Books are important. They open us to worlds we wouldn’t normally get to explore, all from the comfort of our favorite reading spot. I’ve read so many over the years and am so grateful my mother and grandmother showed me their reading ways. Visiting the library when I was a child makes up a huge part of my favorite memories to this day.

Librarians are the gatekeepers of reading recommendations—I remember my mother asking the ladies at the front desk, “Anything new come in that you enjoyed?” And the librarians would always eagerly share their latest favorites.

It would be my honor for you to read my newest young adult thriller romance, A THOUSAND PERFECT LIES. It’s full of twists and turns, people you can’t trust, and a protagonist you can’t help but root for. To see this book in a library, to have a librarian recommend it to readers, would be the biggest thrill.

This book means so much to me, and it’s all because of the main character, Billie Vale. She’s strong because she has to be, and she’s scared because her life has been completely turned upside down. But she’s also determined to discover the truth and willing to do whatever it takes to find out who hurt her sister. She might even fall in love, too…

I’ve always enjoyed a good mystery, and I hope you like A THOUSAND PERFECT LIES. Thank you for all that you do, and never forget how inspiring you are to readers. You mean the world to us.

xo,
Monica
Author of A THOUSAND PERFECT LIES