The Real Story

By Kween

In 2008, fourteen-year-old Mila Varga, an undocumented Romanian immigrant living in Haven Ridge, Minnesota, vanished from a party on the last day of school. For those left behind, that night became a tangle of guilt, regret, and secrets-what they said, what they didn't, and what they wish they could take back.

Fast-forward ten years: a hit true crime podcast shines a glaring light on Haven Ridge, thrusting Mila's brother Gabe, her ex-best friend Tate, and the party's host, Carsen, back into the public eye. Once inseparable, they're now scattered across the country, barely speaking, and still haunted by the roles they played in a tragedy they've never escaped.

As the podcast's audience grows, so does the pressure to finally confront what happened that night. Painful truths bubble to the surface, blurring the lines between victim and bystander, and forcing the trio to reconcile the people they were with the people they've become. What they reveal-or choose to keep hidden-could finally bring closure to Mila's story. But as the spotlight intensifies, it becomes clear: some secrets demand a price not everyone is willing to pay.

Funny, heartbreaking, and a little too honest, The Real Story is a debut novel that captures the messiness of growing up, the price of silence, and the enduring bonds of friendship-no matter how fractured they may be. KWEEN delivers a gripping tale of loyalty, loss, and the stories we keep to ourselves to survive.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0DSRST593
• ISBN13: 9798306303703
• Release Date: January 2025
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 554 Pages
• Weight: 1.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.0" x 9.0"