Confess: A Novel [Paperback]

An “edgy, sexy” (Booklist) story where love battles against betrayal, and every confession hides a dangerous secret—from the beloved #1New York Timesbestselling author ofReminders of Him,Verity,andIt Ends with Us.

Auburn Reed's life is one meticulously constructed plan after another. But when she stumbles into Owen Gentry’s art studio, a chance encounter unravels a connection she cannot deny. Owen’s art, created from anonymous confessions, carries an eerie weight, its beauty laced with sorrow and truths too unsettling to ignore. Auburn is drawn to both the man and his mysterious work, and she’s willing to risk everything to know more.

But Owen has his own confession. His past is shrouded in secrets that could destroy everything Auburn believes about him. As choices made in the shadows threaten to unravel the delicate bond they’ve created, Auburn soon finds herself trapped in a labyrinth of lies, where love seems as dangerous as it is irresistible.

Raw, intense, and brimming with feeling,Confesstakes us on a heart-wrenching journey where trust is a fragile weapon in the battle to hold onto what matters most—and true love and family are bonds that can never be broken.Colleen Hoover is the #1New York Timesbestselling author of more than twenty-three novels, includingIt Starts with Us,It Ends with Us,All Your Perfects,Ugly Love, andVerity. Colleen lives in Texas with her husband and their three boys. For more information, please visit ColleenHoover.com.Chapter One: Auburn CHAPTER ONE Auburn
I squirm in my chair as soon as he tells me his hourly rate. There’s no way I can afford this with my income.

“Do you work on a sliding-scale basis?” I ask him.

The wrinkles around his mouth become more prominent as he attempts to keep from frowning. He folds his arms over the mahogany deskls*