The Secrets We Kept: Reese's Book Club

A Novel

By: Lara Prescott

Narrated by: Carlotta Brentan, Cynthia Farrell, Mozhan Marnò, Saskia Maarleveld, Jonathan Davis, David Pittu, James Fouhey

A HELLO SUNSHINE x REESE WITHERSPOON BOOK CLUB PICK

"This month for Reese’s Book Club, we are listening to The Secrets We Kept by Lara Prescott! Set during the Cold War, it tells the story of secretaries turned spies who are tasked with smuggling Doctor Zhivago out of the USSR and into the hands of Russian citizens. You’ll get to know Sally and Irina, two spies who risk it all for love and adventure." (Reese Witherspoon)

A thrilling tale of secretaries turned spies, of love and duty, and of sacrifice - inspired by the true story of the CIA plot to infiltrate the hearts and minds of Soviet Russia, not with propaganda, but with the greatest love story of the 20th century: Doctor Zhivago.

At the height of the Cold War, two secretaries are pulled out of the typing pool at the CIA and given the assignment of a lifetime. Their mission: to smuggle Doctor Zhivago out of the USSR, where no one dares publish it, and help Pasternak's magnum opus make its way into print around the world. Glamorous and sophisticated Sally Forrester is a seasoned spy who has honed her gift for deceit all over the world - using her magnetism and charm to pry secrets out of powerful men. Irina is a complete novice, and under Sally's tutelage quickly learns how to blend in, make drops, and invisibly ferry classified documents.

The Secrets We Kept combines a legendary literary love story - the decades-long affair between Pasternak and his mistress and muse, Olga Ivinskaya, who was sent to the Gulag and inspired Zhivago's heroine, Lara - with a narrative about two women empowered to lead lives of extraordinary intrigue and risk. From Pasternak's country estate outside Moscow to the brutalities of the Gulag, from Washington, DC to Paris and Milan, The Secrets We Kept captures a watershed moment in the history of literature - told with soaring emotional intensity and captivating historical detail. And at the center of this unforgettable debut is the powerful belief that a piece of art can change the world.

This audiobook features performances by Mozhan Marno as Olga, Carlotta Brentan as Irina, Cynthia Farrell as Sally, Saskia Maarleveld as The Typists, Jonathan Davis as Boris, David Pittu as Sergio, and James Fouhey as Teddy.

©2019 Lara Prescott (P)2019 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"The Secrets We Kept is simply sensational. Two gripping narratives unfold in the pressure cooker of the Cold War: passionate, courageous Olga who stands in the shadow of Soviet author Boris Pasternak yet inspires him to write a heroine for the ages, and the cynical, equally-overshadowed women of the CIA who help bring Pasternak's masterpiece Dr. Zhivago to bear as a weapon against Soviet oppression. From the gulags of the USSR to the cherry blossom trees of Washington DC, the story grips and refuses to let go. Lara Prescott is a star in the making." (Kate Quinn, New York Times best-selling author of The Huntress and The Alice Network)

"Through lucid images and vibrant storytelling, Prescott creates an edgy postfeminist vision of the Cold War, encompassing Sputnik to glasnost, typing pool to gulag, for a smart, lively page-turner. This debut shines as spy story, publication thriller, and historical romance with a twist." (Publishers Weekly, starred review)

"Delightful.... An intriguing and little-known chapter of literary history is brought to life with brio." (Kirkus Reviews, starred review)

The greatest love story ever told

I listened to this on Audible and the only reason I chose it was because it was Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club pick. I am so glad it was chosen because it was a great story. Based on real life events of a CIA plot to infiltrate Soviet Russia. They pulled two women out of the typing pool who had “special skills” and used them to smuggle the book Doctor Zhivago out of the USSR, which is said to be the greatest love story of the 20th Century. This book actually tells two stories at once, the writing of Doctor Zhivago and the dangers of writing such a story at the time. It also tells the story of the women from the CIA typing pool. If you get the chance you should definitely give this a listen, the cast of narrators are excellent, some with better Russian accents than others, but they add life to the words.

Not bad

Not a bad story but a little dull and boring. There was no real action or climax. I kept waiting for something to happen but it ended up being very basic the whole time

Fascinating Historical Fiction

I knew very little about the subject of Dr. Zhivago. I hope that what was written was basically true. I sort of felt that the relationship b/w Irina and Sally wasn't clearly defined in the end. Otherwise, I thought that it was an amazing first novel.

Fascinating!

I knew nothing of the CIA's involvement with Dr Zhivago. What a great and interesting read!..It has spurred me on to do more research and reading about this interesting time and topic.

Beautiful

I cried and laughed... this is the best book I’ve listen to in a long long while

Captivating and uniquely written

This story is captivating in a way that keeps you thinking and wondering about the multitude of characters introduced. It does have many layers to it and many storylines, but it is very well written and feels like you are walking the timeline with the women involved. A great read that leaves you thinking about the power of literature in both love and politics.

A saga for America and Russia

Most people know the love story of Yuri and Lara, but who was Pasternak's inspiration and how did it hit the literary scene when Boris was still in the clutches of Mother Russia? Find out these answers and more with"The Secrets We Kept".

Too many plots to do any of them well

Beautifully written and narrated but there were so many plots that none of them were developed fully.

Love this book!

Love this vivid glimpse into the past. So glamorous and intriguing. Wonderful audio performance. Made me look up so much Russian history.

loved the voices behind each character, wonderful.

I truly enjoyed the voices behind each character, this was my first audio book. I'm hooked.