Looking Glass Lies — Varina Denman

A poignant and relatable novel, "Looking Glass Lies" captures the war women wage against themselves, and the struggle to see beauty reflected in a mirror not distorted by society's unrelenting expectations.

For most of her adult life, Cecily Ross has compared herself to other women -- and come up short. After a painful divorce from her emotionally abusive husband, Cecily returns to her hometown of Canyon, Texas, looking to heal.

But coming home isn't what she expects. In a town as small as Canyon, her pain is difficult to escape -- especially with her model-perfect ex-sister-in-law working at the town's popular coffee-shop hangout. With help from her father, a support group, and an old friend who guides her to see her own strengths, Cecily may have a shot at overcoming her insecurities and learning to love again.

The true test comes when tragedy strikes, opening Cecily's eyes to the harmfulness of her distorted views on beauty -- and giving her the perfect opportunity to find peace at last.