I Must Betray You

By: Ruta Sepetys

Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini, Ruta Sepetys

Length: 7 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's summary

#1 New York Times Bestseller and winner of the Carnegie Medal!

A gut-wrenching, startling historical thriller about communist Romania and the citizen spy network that devastated a nation, from the #1 New York Times bestselling, award-winning author of Salt to the Sea and Between Shades of Gray.

Romania, 1989. Communist regimes are crumbling across Europe. Seventeen-year-old Cristian Florescu dreams of becoming a writer, but Romanians aren’t free to dream; they are bound by rules and force.

Amidst the tyrannical dictatorship of Nicolae Ceaușescu in a country governed by isolation and fear, Cristian is blackmailed by the secret police to become an informer. He’s left with only two choices: betray everyone and everything he loves—or use his position to creatively undermine the most notoriously evil dictator in Eastern Europe.

Cristian risks everything to unmask the truth behind the regime, give voice to fellow Romanians, and expose to the world what is happening in his country. He eagerly joins the revolution to fight for change when the time arrives. But what is the cost of freedom?

Master storyteller Ruta Sepetys is back with a historical thriller that examines the little-known history of a nation defined by silence, pain, and the unwavering conviction of the human spirit.

Praise for I Must Betray You:

“As educational as it is thrilling...[T]he power of I Must Betray You [is] it doesn’t just describe the destabilizing effects of being spied on; it will make you experience them too.” –New York Times Book Review

“A historical heart-pounder…Ms. Sepetys, across her body of work, has become a tribune of the unsung historical moment and a humane voice of moral clarity.” –The Wall Street Journal

* "Sepetys brilliantly blends a staggering amount of research with heart, craft, and insight in a way very few writers can. Compulsively readable and brilliant." –Kirkus Reviews, starred review

* "Sepetys once again masterfully portrays a dark, forgotten corner of history." –Booklist, starred review

* "Sepetys’s latest book maintains the caliber readers have come to expect from an author whose focus on hidden histories has made her a YA powerhouse of historical ­fiction…Sepetys is a formidable writer, and her stories declare the need to write about global issues of social injustice. For that reason and her attention to detail, this is a must-read." –School Library Journal, starred review

* "Cristian’s tense first-person narrative foregrounds stark historical realities, unflinchingly confronting deprivations and cruelty while balancing them with perseverance and hope as Romania hurtles toward political change." –Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Sepetys keeps readers riveted to this vivid, heartbreaking and compelling novel, locked into every meticulously researched detail. I Must Betray You demands a full investment from its audience--through poetic writing, sympathetic characters, revolutionary plot and pacing, it grips the heart and soul and leaves one breathless.” –Shelf Awareness, starred review

"A master class in pacing and atmosphere." –BookPage

©2022 Ruta Sepetys (P)2022 Listening Library

Critic reviews

Winner of the Josette Frank Award for Fiction ♦ An NPR Best Book of the Year ♦ An Amazon Best Book of the Year ♦ A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year ♦ A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year ♦ A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year ♦ A Christian Science Monitor Best Book of the Year ♦ A New York Public Library Best Book of the Year ♦ A Bank Street College of Education Best Book of the Year ♦ A YALSA Top Ten Best Fiction for Young Adults Pick ♦ A Goodreads Choice Award Nominee

Brought back Memories

I was a young man in my early 20s in 1989 living in Munich, Germany. I vividly recall the Velvet Revolution and the exciting time it was. Growing up in the Cold War was scary and I think we’ve forgotten it. Communism was not a good system and millions suffered under its repression. This book brought back all those memories. It was an excellent and very quick read. I finished it in a week I think just while driving

Enthralling and Informative

I Must Betray You is a stunning work of historical fiction. I am ashamed to admit that I knew practically nothing of the plight of Romanians during the 1960's-1980's. The story is told from the perspective of a young student, Cristian, who is approached by the secret police and is instructed to spy on an AMerican diplomat's son.
I Must Betray You is a story of a country's heart-rending plight under a ruthless dictator, but it is also a story of heroism and strength. I particularly loved the depiction of the relationship between Cristian and a neighbor named Liliana. The scene where Cristian and Liliana share a Coke is so beautiful. I realized how much prosperous countries take for granted, especially when Cristian relates his longing to taste a banana. The poverty and constant fear of the people was palpable, and Sepetes makes you experience these feelings without being overly gratuitous.

Ruta Sepetes has made me want to research true accounts of this time period.

The audio narration is superb! Edoardo Ballerini has such a wonderful cadence to his voice, and his accents are very good without making the text unintelligible. I thoroughly recommend this audio edition of the book. You will be unable to stop listening to the story once you start. Ruta Sepetes herself reads a poignant historical note at the novel's conclusion. Please give this informative and beautiful story a chance. God bless you all.

Great Story

A good reminder where the world was not long ago, made me appreciate the freedoms we enjoy today.

Must Read!!

Gratitude to Sepetys for her accurate portrail of 1989 Bucharest and the very specific details of the communist/authoritarian regime that reigned over us through fear! There wasn't one aspect of my lived experiences as a Romanian teen this novel didn't cover accurately and that is hats down to Sepetys' skills as a historical fiction writer. Readers will get close to feeling what it was like to be a teenager on the brink of and through a popular uprising Revolution: fear, powerlessess, lack of trust at the foundation of lack of basic needs such as safety.

The protaginist Cristian/Cristi is spot on with his polarized needs and wants, though his progress in the span of the novel seems a tad exagerated. I appreciated archetypes embodied by Bunu the dissident, the ghostly overworked father, and Mama, whose concern for her family errodes her mental health. Cici's character missed the mark, as there was so much possible complexity that failed to manifest. I loved the use of the Romanian words 'Mama', 'Bunu', and first and last names 'Cici', 'Florescu'

The thriller aspect was so close to my lived experiences, it didn't quite work for me, and the unraveling at the end didn't seem to honor the predicament of the surprise antagonist. The intelligence reports were spot, as were the nicknames of the shady characters serving the regime.

I will reccomend this book with my whole heart!

Loved this one!

Very insightful and moving book. The fact that it is historically based is eye opening. Really enjoyed reading this book!

So GOOD!!

I wish it was longer. I finished this book in less than 2 days. I will think about these characters for many days to come.

Historical fiction about the fall of communism in Romania

Great read about how prevalent and nefarious the surveillance was in Romania. I recommend this book.

A must read!

Suspense. History. Tragedy. Some comedy. All the things you need to keep you on the edge of your seat. Do yourself a favor and take a listen.

Another fantastic piece of historical fiction

This is the fourth book written by Sepetys that I’ve read, and this one was just as fantastic as the other three. A chilling story of guilt, secrets, and fear. Makes me want to call my Romanian friend and talk to him about what he and/or his parents remember.

Bravo! A Must-Read

Bravo!! Exceptionally written, wonderful novel. I was so moved by this book. It made me think, cry, and even laugh now and again. I highly recommend this book! Narration was excellent.