The Snowballing Lie

At 34, single mom Mia Bennett has spent her life putting her daughter Emma first, having had her at 16. Now, with 18-year-old Emma heading to college, Mia desperately needs a stable career to support them both. Despite being naturally talented and well-read, her lack of formal experience leads to constant rejections. In a moment of desperation, she creates an elaborate fake portfolio to land a position at Riverside Digital Publishing.
Initially planning to keep the job just long enough to gain real experience, Mia finds her simple observations being praised as innovative writing. Each time she genuinely attempts to confess her deception, circumstances twist her confessions into seeming even more brilliant. Her imposter syndrome-fueled writing ironically becomes celebrated for its "authenticity."
The situation complicates when Emma visits the office during a break from college. In a moment of panic when colleagues assume they're sisters due to Mia's youthful appearance and having had Emma so young, Mia doesn't correct them. Emma, who has watched her mother sacrifice everything for her, reluctantly plays along. As Mia's professional reputation grows, so does the pressure to maintain the facade.