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Our American Friend
A globe-spanning thriller of love and betrayal about a mysterious first lady with an explosive secret.
Paris, 1974. Lara Orlov and her family arrive from Moscow at the height of the Cold War, thanks to her father’s position as a diplomat. The years pass, and Lara becomes more and more enamored with the City of Lights. As a teenager in Paris, she falls deeply in love with a fellow Russian expat: the passionate, intellectual Sasha, who opens her eyes to the ills of the Soviet Union.
Decades later and across the globe, journalist Sofie Morse is taking some much-needed time off after several chaotic years covering Washington politics. But when she gets a call from the office of First Lady Lara Caine, her curiosity is piqued. Sofie, like the rest of the world, knows little about Lara—only that she was born in Soviet Russia and raised in Paris before marrying Henry Caine, the brash future president.
After decades of silence, Lara is finally ready to speak candidly about her past: about her father’s work for the KGB and about her ill-fated relationship with Sasha—which may be long in the past, but which could have explosive ramifications for the future. As Sofie begins to write Lara’s biography, she can’t help but wonder: Why is Lara revealing such sensitive information? And why now? Caught in a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse, both Lara and Sofie must ask themselves what really matters—and confront their own power to upend the global political order.
Paris, 1974. Lara Orlov and her family arrive from Moscow at the height of the Cold War, thanks to her father’s position as a diplomat. The years pass, and Lara becomes more and more enamored with the City of Lights. As a teenager in Paris, she falls deeply in love with a fellow Russian expat: the passionate, intellectual Sasha, who opens her eyes to the ills of the Soviet Union.
Decades later and across the globe, journalist Sofie Morse is taking some much-needed time off after several chaotic years covering Washington politics. But when she gets a call from the office of First Lady Lara Caine, her curiosity is piqued. Sofie, like the rest of the world, knows little about Lara—only that she was born in Soviet Russia and raised in Paris before marrying Henry Caine, the brash future president.
After decades of silence, Lara is finally ready to speak candidly about her past: about her father’s work for the KGB and about her ill-fated relationship with Sasha—which may be long in the past, but which could have explosive ramifications for the future. As Sofie begins to write Lara’s biography, she can’t help but wonder: Why is Lara revealing such sensitive information? And why now? Caught in a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse, both Lara and Sofie must ask themselves what really matters—and confront their own power to upend the global political order.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published February 15, 2022
219 people are currently reading
18741 people want to read
About the author
Anna Pitoniak
7 books635 followersAnna Pitoniak is the author of The Futures, Necessary People, Our American Friend, and the forthcoming The Helsinki Affair (November 2023). She graduated from Yale, where she majored in English and was an editor at the Yale Daily News. She worked for many years in book publishing, most recently as a Senior Editor at Random House. Anna grew up in Whistler, British Columbia, and now lives in New York City and East Hampton, NY.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 525 reviews
March 6, 2022
Such a riveting political thriller, spy, espionage story with several time jumps taking you to very long trip starting from 70’s and 80’s, touring around 2016 , ending at present time.
An ambitious White House correspondent Sofie Morse is the narrator of the story who loses her patience to deal with outrageous behaviors of bigoted, racist president Henry Caine and she resigns from her job, packing her bags to leave but she gets a surprising invitation from First Lady Melanie Tru...hmmm I mean Lara Caine.
She gets intrigued because First Lady always keeps things private and she gets an offer to write a biography of her. Of course she accepts because she wants to learn more about the past of this mysterious lady who truly reminds us a real ex First Lady was born April 1970, Russian, ex model, married with racist president.
As they learn more about Lara, meeting with her daughters, mother and sister, they slowly bond a unique friendship, at least this is what Sofie thinks...
Then at the second timeline Lara opens up about her childhood, how she felt living under Soviet regimen and being a daughter of Soviet official, a KGB member. Then they moved to Paris for his father’s new mission to gather information. We see the change of Lara’s character. She’s not that obedient, good daughter who does what she’s told anymore.
Throughout their interview, Sofie always thinks Lara keeps something from her she cannot put finger on. She seems like genuine, honest, open about her past but could entire story she’s told be the misdirection to cover something crucially dangerous?
When we jump to the third timeline in the present time we realize Sophie and her husband are laying low at Croatia. Sophie meets with a mysterious person to consult about her fears because somebody is digging out the biography she’s written. They are in witness protection program. But why? What happened to them?
I have to admit the timelines are a little confusing but I liked well constructed character portraits and honest descriptions of the characters’ journeys. It seems like there is a big twist but it was so foreseeable from the beginning. But at least the author wrapped up the entire execution very adroitly.
It is a quiet marvelous historical, political journey. It’s not one of my best thriller reading experience but the author’s talent made me enjoy the riveting chapters, traveling between Cold War era and today’s modern global political era.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Simon& Schuster for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
An ambitious White House correspondent Sofie Morse is the narrator of the story who loses her patience to deal with outrageous behaviors of bigoted, racist president Henry Caine and she resigns from her job, packing her bags to leave but she gets a surprising invitation from First Lady Melanie Tru...hmmm I mean Lara Caine.
She gets intrigued because First Lady always keeps things private and she gets an offer to write a biography of her. Of course she accepts because she wants to learn more about the past of this mysterious lady who truly reminds us a real ex First Lady was born April 1970, Russian, ex model, married with racist president.
As they learn more about Lara, meeting with her daughters, mother and sister, they slowly bond a unique friendship, at least this is what Sofie thinks...
Then at the second timeline Lara opens up about her childhood, how she felt living under Soviet regimen and being a daughter of Soviet official, a KGB member. Then they moved to Paris for his father’s new mission to gather information. We see the change of Lara’s character. She’s not that obedient, good daughter who does what she’s told anymore.
Throughout their interview, Sofie always thinks Lara keeps something from her she cannot put finger on. She seems like genuine, honest, open about her past but could entire story she’s told be the misdirection to cover something crucially dangerous?
When we jump to the third timeline in the present time we realize Sophie and her husband are laying low at Croatia. Sophie meets with a mysterious person to consult about her fears because somebody is digging out the biography she’s written. They are in witness protection program. But why? What happened to them?
I have to admit the timelines are a little confusing but I liked well constructed character portraits and honest descriptions of the characters’ journeys. It seems like there is a big twist but it was so foreseeable from the beginning. But at least the author wrapped up the entire execution very adroitly.
It is a quiet marvelous historical, political journey. It’s not one of my best thriller reading experience but the author’s talent made me enjoy the riveting chapters, traveling between Cold War era and today’s modern global political era.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Simon& Schuster for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
February 15, 2022
I really enjoyed Anna Pitoniak’s prior two books, so I was curious what she would tackle this time. And the answer is politics. President Henry Caine is obviously based on Trump, and his wife on Melania. But thank heavens reality diverges from fiction as we didn’t have to deal with a second term of Trump. “It’s like he’s made out of Teflon…The normal rules just don’t apply to him.”
Sofie Morse quits her job as a White House reporter, burned out after four years of covering President Caine. But then, his wife, Lara, asks for her help in writing her biography. Lara is an enigma, not the typical First Lady, revealing very little to the American public. Lara is Russian by birth, her father a KGB spy.
The book was a slow burn. We know something has happened, that Sofie has revealed something and that she and her husband are hiding out in Croatia. But what exactly? Using the book as backdrop, Lara’s early life is slowly revealed to the reader.
It’s an interesting story, showing Sofie being drawn in more and more. Are they friends? Where do her loyalties lie? Lara may be married to Caine, but there are signs their beliefs aren’t in line. The story weaves past and present. There are several twists and it all comes together beautifully in the end. I also felt I got a better feel of Russia in the 1980s as Gorbachev slowly opened up the country.
I’m not a fan of political thrillers, because they’re usually so unbelievable. Unfortunately, after living through Trump, this one is all too believable. Pitoniak makes you really understand the sacrifices that both Lara and Sofie make at various times of their life. And how often, we don’t truly understand what those sacrifices are going to be until our decisions are irrevocable.
My thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for an advance copy of this book.
Sofie Morse quits her job as a White House reporter, burned out after four years of covering President Caine. But then, his wife, Lara, asks for her help in writing her biography. Lara is an enigma, not the typical First Lady, revealing very little to the American public. Lara is Russian by birth, her father a KGB spy.
The book was a slow burn. We know something has happened, that Sofie has revealed something and that she and her husband are hiding out in Croatia. But what exactly? Using the book as backdrop, Lara’s early life is slowly revealed to the reader.
It’s an interesting story, showing Sofie being drawn in more and more. Are they friends? Where do her loyalties lie? Lara may be married to Caine, but there are signs their beliefs aren’t in line. The story weaves past and present. There are several twists and it all comes together beautifully in the end. I also felt I got a better feel of Russia in the 1980s as Gorbachev slowly opened up the country.
I’m not a fan of political thrillers, because they’re usually so unbelievable. Unfortunately, after living through Trump, this one is all too believable. Pitoniak makes you really understand the sacrifices that both Lara and Sofie make at various times of their life. And how often, we don’t truly understand what those sacrifices are going to be until our decisions are irrevocable.
My thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for an advance copy of this book.
April 9, 2022
I was quite wary going into this ebook that my brain wouldn't be able to focus but it definitely did. A little different kind of book that I usually read but the political part of this novel intrigued me. It was very well written and I got invested in both the characters and plot.
July 15, 2021
A clever thriller featuring a Trump-like President and his Soviet-born wife whose father was with the KGB. Political intrigues span the Cold War to the present, from Moscow to Paris, D.C. to NYC, with a riveting tale you just can’t put down. Great fun!
4 of 5 Stars
Pub Date 15 Feb 2022
#OurAmericanFriend #NetGalley
Thanks to the author, Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for the ARC; opinions are mine.
4 of 5 Stars
Pub Date 15 Feb 2022
#OurAmericanFriend #NetGalley
Thanks to the author, Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for the ARC; opinions are mine.
February 15, 2022
Read this one for a cover quote and very much enjoyed it: an intriguing Russian nesting doll of modern Washington politics, Cold War spy games, and above all women with secrets. A burned-out White House correspondent gets the opportunity of a lifetime when she is selected to write the biography of an enigmatic Russian model turned even more enigmatic First Lady of the United States. Just what is the President's wife hiding? Anna Pitoniak's masterful puzzle of espionage, love, and betrayal kept me flipping the pages to find out.
January 28, 2022
(“I felt helpless,” she said. “Here it is, I thought. This is what the bargain comes down to. This is your destiny, Lara. You will be a part of this, this tragedy. And there is nothing you can do about it. Because you chose this.”)
Sofie, a former White House correspondent, is astonished to be chosen to be the biographer of the mysterious First Lady Lara Caine. As Lara tells her story, Sofie comes to realize that the secrets she’s spilling out could be ruinous – or save the nation instead.
This was an exceedingly odd book. It is very well-written and touches on the interesting theme of what makes a person complicit in a corrupt regime. It provides a portrait of a woman who has been badly burned but is learning to care about her impact on the world again. The relationship between Sofie and Lara is an intriguing one that you must peer between the lines to get at.
But this is unabashedly Melania Trump fanfiction. It takes all that speculation about real-life Melania’s views and translates it to fiction with a First Lady who is secretly against her populist husband. Admittedly, I too am against her populist husband, but it seemed odd that Lara and Henry are written as such thinly veiled versions of their real life counterparts – it feels invasive. But then again I enjoy fanfiction about the Tudor dynasty so perhaps I am on thin ice with that particular criticism.
My personal misgivings aside, there were more general problems with this book. For an espionage mystery, it is strangely lacking in twists and turns – the plot was more or less a straight road lying open to my relatively undiscerning gaze from the begin. The pace is sluggish throughout and I never grew invested in the characters. And, most frustratingly, the ending is almost hand-waved after the complicated schemes set up earlier in the book – almost as if the author herself did not know how to resolve her problem but in the most ham-fisted way.
Ultimately, very well-written, but does not I think accomplish what it set out to do.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Sofie, a former White House correspondent, is astonished to be chosen to be the biographer of the mysterious First Lady Lara Caine. As Lara tells her story, Sofie comes to realize that the secrets she’s spilling out could be ruinous – or save the nation instead.
This was an exceedingly odd book. It is very well-written and touches on the interesting theme of what makes a person complicit in a corrupt regime. It provides a portrait of a woman who has been badly burned but is learning to care about her impact on the world again. The relationship between Sofie and Lara is an intriguing one that you must peer between the lines to get at.
But this is unabashedly Melania Trump fanfiction. It takes all that speculation about real-life Melania’s views and translates it to fiction with a First Lady who is secretly against her populist husband. Admittedly, I too am against her populist husband, but it seemed odd that Lara and Henry are written as such thinly veiled versions of their real life counterparts – it feels invasive. But then again I enjoy fanfiction about the Tudor dynasty so perhaps I am on thin ice with that particular criticism.
My personal misgivings aside, there were more general problems with this book. For an espionage mystery, it is strangely lacking in twists and turns – the plot was more or less a straight road lying open to my relatively undiscerning gaze from the begin. The pace is sluggish throughout and I never grew invested in the characters. And, most frustratingly, the ending is almost hand-waved after the complicated schemes set up earlier in the book – almost as if the author herself did not know how to resolve her problem but in the most ham-fisted way.
Ultimately, very well-written, but does not I think accomplish what it set out to do.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
June 19, 2022
Thank you Simon & Schuster for an ARC of “Our American Friend” by Anna Pitoniak for an honest review. 📚 ❤️
If you’re looking for a female protagonist international spy mystery that will keep you fully entertained, you’ve come to the right place. “Our American Friend” has intrigue, betrayal, and seat-of-your-pants genius that keeps the pace going until the last pages. All the twists and turns are brought together for a very satisfying conclusion, making a great summer 2022 read. Highly recommend. 📕
If you’re looking for a female protagonist international spy mystery that will keep you fully entertained, you’ve come to the right place. “Our American Friend” has intrigue, betrayal, and seat-of-your-pants genius that keeps the pace going until the last pages. All the twists and turns are brought together for a very satisfying conclusion, making a great summer 2022 read. Highly recommend. 📕
February 16, 2022
Thanks to @simonandschuster for an ARC of #ouramericanfriend.
𝘈𝘯𝘯𝘢 𝘗𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘢𝘬 who has done it again! Her new book 𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐍 𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐃 cements her as an author I will always read. The story centers on Sofie Morse, a one-time White House journalist, who is recruited by the First Lady to write her biography, but Lara Caine isn’t your typical First Lady. She’ll remind you of Melania, but there’s a whole lot more to her than that. Lara is also Russian and the daughter of a long time KGB agent stationed in Paris. She grew up on the periphery of the spy-game, learning its rules and eventually how to play.
The real question becomes why? Why does Lara want her biography written now and why Sofie? This is the essence of 𝘖𝘶𝘳 𝘈𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘍𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥 and out first clue is that as the book opens Sofie and her husband are living in exile in Croatia. Why? From start to finish, I was captivated by both women’s stories, flying through those pages looking for answers. In the end, I was very satisfied. This is a fast, fun read that I definitely recommend! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
∙
𝘈𝘯𝘯𝘢 𝘗𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘢𝘬 who has done it again! Her new book 𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐍 𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐃 cements her as an author I will always read. The story centers on Sofie Morse, a one-time White House journalist, who is recruited by the First Lady to write her biography, but Lara Caine isn’t your typical First Lady. She’ll remind you of Melania, but there’s a whole lot more to her than that. Lara is also Russian and the daughter of a long time KGB agent stationed in Paris. She grew up on the periphery of the spy-game, learning its rules and eventually how to play.
The real question becomes why? Why does Lara want her biography written now and why Sofie? This is the essence of 𝘖𝘶𝘳 𝘈𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘍𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥 and out first clue is that as the book opens Sofie and her husband are living in exile in Croatia. Why? From start to finish, I was captivated by both women’s stories, flying through those pages looking for answers. In the end, I was very satisfied. This is a fast, fun read that I definitely recommend! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
∙
May 27, 2021
Thanks to NetGalley for an advance read.
This is the story of a Melania Trump-like character married to Donald. The similarities are endless.
*The president is "Henry Caine," which seems like a copy of "Herman Cain."
*His wife is Lara...born in Russia, model, same age (April 1970); IRL, Eric's wife = Lara.
*Prez threatening to abandon NATO.
*Prez met with Russian prez and no US translator
*Surrounded by loyalists; fired those not loyal
*Paranoid; deep state
*Impeachment petered out
*Narcissist incapable of loving anyone but himself
And on and on.
For most of the book, it's not clear why Sofie and Ben are in witness protection, or if book is a mystery. Jumps around and isn't always clear past or present...even on same page.
Took forever to read.
This is the story of a Melania Trump-like character married to Donald. The similarities are endless.
*The president is "Henry Caine," which seems like a copy of "Herman Cain."
*His wife is Lara...born in Russia, model, same age (April 1970); IRL, Eric's wife = Lara.
*Prez threatening to abandon NATO.
*Prez met with Russian prez and no US translator
*Surrounded by loyalists; fired those not loyal
*Paranoid; deep state
*Impeachment petered out
*Narcissist incapable of loving anyone but himself
And on and on.
For most of the book, it's not clear why Sofie and Ben are in witness protection, or if book is a mystery. Jumps around and isn't always clear past or present...even on same page.
Took forever to read.
June 20, 2024
My thanks to @Simon & Schuster, as well as to @NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of Our American Friend.
3.5 Stars
White House correspondent Sofie Morse quits her job and plans to leave politics behind - right up until she gets an intriguing call from the office of First Lady, asking her to come in for a private meeting with Lara Caine. When Lara asks Sofie to write her official biography Sofie’s curiosity gets the better of her and she agrees.
Much has been made over the similarity between the Trumps and the Caines but I felt Our American Friend was much more about Russia than the Trumps. It was quite the dynamic Cold War-era spy novel. The book spanned from the 1970s to the present day, traveling from Moscow and Paris to Washington and New York. I found most of the book fascinating, especially the parts about Russia, but I really wish that when the book was jumping to a different place and/or time that there had been headings of some sort stating where or when the next page or chapter was taking place. I wanted to just read what was happening next, rather than wasting time figuring those things out. Otherwise, my review would have been 4.5 stars.
#OurAmericanFriend #NetGalley
3.5 Stars
White House correspondent Sofie Morse quits her job and plans to leave politics behind - right up until she gets an intriguing call from the office of First Lady, asking her to come in for a private meeting with Lara Caine. When Lara asks Sofie to write her official biography Sofie’s curiosity gets the better of her and she agrees.
Much has been made over the similarity between the Trumps and the Caines but I felt Our American Friend was much more about Russia than the Trumps. It was quite the dynamic Cold War-era spy novel. The book spanned from the 1970s to the present day, traveling from Moscow and Paris to Washington and New York. I found most of the book fascinating, especially the parts about Russia, but I really wish that when the book was jumping to a different place and/or time that there had been headings of some sort stating where or when the next page or chapter was taking place. I wanted to just read what was happening next, rather than wasting time figuring those things out. Otherwise, my review would have been 4.5 stars.
#OurAmericanFriend #NetGalley
January 10, 2022
Oh dear, this left a very bad taste in my mouth. OUR AMERICAN FRIEND has a fantastic cover, with promises of a Patricia Highsmith-like thriller through the romantic streets of Europe. However, it is instead bafflingly a re-telling of Melania Trump's life, making her out to be a heroic figure that actually takes down the Presidency of her fascist husband's through links to the CIA (and a, no joke, modeling career). I have absolutely no idea what the author intended to achieve with this story as it is neither satirical, nor very well written. Sure, it can be seen as a fantasy, but any story (fiction or not) that gives some sort of apologetic nature to anyone in the Trump family (even though names and some details are changed) is simply not something I can endorse. I read the whole thing as I wanted to give it a fair shake, and thought maybe the ending could justify the means, but there just simply isn't anything redeemable about this one.
dnf
August 1, 2024DNF at page 36. Just not connecting with this at all.
June 19, 2022
Our American Friend is the third novel from Anna Pitoniak that I've had the pleasure of reading. Though I must confess, the beginning was a bit slow and the story seemed to be on the verge of flagging. I like Anna Pitoniak's writing a lot. (Her debut novel, The Futures, was the BEST debut novel I've yet read.) But I wasn't at first sure how Sofie Morse's story (she's a journalist who had recently been doing the White House beat, covering a President ill-suited for the office who spoke to the baser instincts of people and alienated the country's traditional allies) would fit within the novel. Thankfully, my reservations proved to be wholly unfounded.
Our American Friend, in short, is a political thriller with a Cold War backstory in which the life story of the First Lady (Lara Caine) serves as the cornerstone of the novel. Indeed, Lara's story was little known to the public and largely shrouded in mystery -- born in Moscow, moved to Paris with her family when she was a small child in the early 1970s; her father was an undercover KGB agent operating out of the Soviet Embassy, and her first love (Sasha), a brilliant philosophy student who dared to strike out against the Soviet system, would have a profound impact on the rest of her life. She becomes acquainted with Sofie's work and asks her to write her biography. Both meet over a series of months for private interviews in the White House.
This novel is made up of various disparate elements from the present and parts of Lara's past. Pitoniak has arranged these elements very convincingly, creating a story that is not without startling surprises and gripping dramatic tension. All in all, Our American Friend is a very satisfying thriller perfectly poised between past and present.
Rating: 3.5 (out of 5 stars)
Our American Friend, in short, is a political thriller with a Cold War backstory in which the life story of the First Lady (Lara Caine) serves as the cornerstone of the novel. Indeed, Lara's story was little known to the public and largely shrouded in mystery -- born in Moscow, moved to Paris with her family when she was a small child in the early 1970s; her father was an undercover KGB agent operating out of the Soviet Embassy, and her first love (Sasha), a brilliant philosophy student who dared to strike out against the Soviet system, would have a profound impact on the rest of her life. She becomes acquainted with Sofie's work and asks her to write her biography. Both meet over a series of months for private interviews in the White House.
This novel is made up of various disparate elements from the present and parts of Lara's past. Pitoniak has arranged these elements very convincingly, creating a story that is not without startling surprises and gripping dramatic tension. All in all, Our American Friend is a very satisfying thriller perfectly poised between past and present.
Rating: 3.5 (out of 5 stars)
February 5, 2022
Our American Friend is an intriguing political thriller/espionage/spy story. At the center of this story is Sofie Morse who has just quit her job as a White House correspondent because she feels she had become too jaded to do the job anymore. To Sofie’s surprise, she’s invited to meet with FLOTUS, Lara Caine. Lara Caine wants her biography written and has chosen Sofie to write it. Sofie is given unprecedented access to Lara’s mother, sister, daughters and FLOTUS. FLOTUS is an enigma and as Sofie spends more time with Lara, she tries to figure out what her hidden agenda just might be. It all starts out innocuous enough but is Sofie to close to the situation to see what Lara’s real aim is. From the years of the Cold War to Present time we follow the journey.
I really enjoyed the story and the author wrapped things up nicely. There were parts of the story that dragged a bit but overall was a really good read. I would recommend this book. Thank you to #Edelweiss+ and #SimonandSchuster for allowing me to read the ARC of this book. All opinions expressed above are my own,
I really enjoyed the story and the author wrapped things up nicely. There were parts of the story that dragged a bit but overall was a really good read. I would recommend this book. Thank you to #Edelweiss+ and #SimonandSchuster for allowing me to read the ARC of this book. All opinions expressed above are my own,
June 30, 2021
I’ll be completely honest and say that I had a really hard time getting myself invested in this book. The pacing of the first half of the book was extremely slow and nothing seemed to make sense. It wasn’t until the second half that the story picked up, dots started to connect, and I became hooked.
Sofie Morse is a former reporter tasked with writing the biography of the illusive FLOTUS. Little does Sofie know, she is in for a tale of Soviet spies, betrayal between families, and treason. Lara Caine is not at all who she seems to be. she tells the story of a young Russian girl that will do anything to protect her family and avenge the death of a loved one.
With a little patience, you will find this story to be fantastic and fully worth the wait. The twist, turns, and surprises will leave you on the edge of your seat. It’s all “too perfect to be a coincidence”
Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review
Sofie Morse is a former reporter tasked with writing the biography of the illusive FLOTUS. Little does Sofie know, she is in for a tale of Soviet spies, betrayal between families, and treason. Lara Caine is not at all who she seems to be. she tells the story of a young Russian girl that will do anything to protect her family and avenge the death of a loved one.
With a little patience, you will find this story to be fantastic and fully worth the wait. The twist, turns, and surprises will leave you on the edge of your seat. It’s all “too perfect to be a coincidence”
Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review
May 9, 2021
Wow. I could not put this down. Guarantee everyone will be talking about this one, and for good reason. The author does a fantastic job of weaving the stories together- from present day to Cold War times, with intricate details about life in both eras (and in many places- loved the descriptions of Paris and DC, which so resonated with me!). Strong women leads. Wisps of current events woven in. Similar to a Curtis Sittenfeld set up, in a very good way. Highly recommend.
Thanks @simonbooks and Net Galley for this ARC!
Thanks @simonbooks and Net Galley for this ARC!
August 11, 2021
Thank you Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC. I am wavering between 2 & 3 stars for this one because I'm unsure how I felt about it, to be honest. First, the things I know I did not like: for a self-described "spy thriller," the pacing was off and the chapters are ENTIRELY too long. Only 18 chapters for an espionage novel? No. The pacing needs to be much faster with shorter chapters designed to ramp up the tension in the same way the characters experience it. This story, instead, felt mostly plodding. Other things that weren't great for me: we don't need Sofie's character or storyline at all. Had this book been pitched as historical fiction and consisted of entirely Lara's story, it would have been much more compelling. I found myself itching to get back to those characters and thought Sofie and Ben were BORING.
I'm also unclear on if this is meant to be Melania Trump fan-fiction or just wishful thinking on the part of our author. There is enough here for us to assume that the author is not a fan of the Trumps, but there's also this weird fangirl vibe for the Lara character who is modeled on Melania. Our main character also spends a lot of time waxing poetic on her complicity in working with this fictional-but-based-on-Trump-administration, but instead of feeling authentic it felt really surface-level. It was hard for me to imagine Sofie's ability to self-reflect--it didn't feel natural at all. I'm still not sure what I think of this as it's not nearly as well done as say...the wishful thinking and self-reflection in Rodham, by Curtis Sittenfeld, for example.
Good things: it was a quick read, if only because I did want to know how it all played out in the end. And much of the writing is strong. But again, much of the actual story felt forced and unnecessary. Not sure it's one I'll be recommending, though I love seeing more women writing in the espionage drama.
Whomp, whomp.
I'm also unclear on if this is meant to be Melania Trump fan-fiction or just wishful thinking on the part of our author. There is enough here for us to assume that the author is not a fan of the Trumps, but there's also this weird fangirl vibe for the Lara character who is modeled on Melania. Our main character also spends a lot of time waxing poetic on her complicity in working with this fictional-but-based-on-Trump-administration, but instead of feeling authentic it felt really surface-level. It was hard for me to imagine Sofie's ability to self-reflect--it didn't feel natural at all. I'm still not sure what I think of this as it's not nearly as well done as say...the wishful thinking and self-reflection in Rodham, by Curtis Sittenfeld, for example.
Good things: it was a quick read, if only because I did want to know how it all played out in the end. And much of the writing is strong. But again, much of the actual story felt forced and unnecessary. Not sure it's one I'll be recommending, though I love seeing more women writing in the espionage drama.
Whomp, whomp.
June 26, 2022
Thinly - very thinly - veiled Melania Trump fanfiction, at its heart.
Sofie Morse, a journalist covering the White House, gets tired of i all and decides to retire. She's invited, however, to write a biography. Of the First Lady, Lara Caine, by the First Lady, Lara Caine.
Lara Caine is simply Melania, with some details altered (Caine was born in Soviet Russia; Melania in Slovenia), some not (both are former models). Caine has a whole pack of baggage, including a former KGB dad (Putin) and the whole thing was unpalatable, really.
Morse, of course, as a reporter, gets wrapped up in the story, which runs from the 70s to current times, and stops being able to tell where the line should be.
I finished it, grudgingly, to see where the mystery slash thrillerish thing went. There aren't a lot of twisty turns or things that make you go hmm. The whole thing left a bad taste in my mouth, as the ending wasn't worth the buildup.
If you think you admire the former First Lady, it may be more your style. It certainly was not mine.
Thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the reading copy.
Sofie Morse, a journalist covering the White House, gets tired of i all and decides to retire. She's invited, however, to write a biography. Of the First Lady, Lara Caine, by the First Lady, Lara Caine.
Lara Caine is simply Melania, with some details altered (Caine was born in Soviet Russia; Melania in Slovenia), some not (both are former models). Caine has a whole pack of baggage, including a former KGB dad (Putin) and the whole thing was unpalatable, really.
Morse, of course, as a reporter, gets wrapped up in the story, which runs from the 70s to current times, and stops being able to tell where the line should be.
I finished it, grudgingly, to see where the mystery slash thrillerish thing went. There aren't a lot of twisty turns or things that make you go hmm. The whole thing left a bad taste in my mouth, as the ending wasn't worth the buildup.
If you think you admire the former First Lady, it may be more your style. It certainly was not mine.
Thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the reading copy.
May 8, 2022
Yikes, author is another President Trump basher. I have have enough bashing with the media in the four years of his presidency, and they are still bashing him 1 and 1/2 years after his term. Instead of reporting on Biden destroying our country with everything he touches. Another delusional story about Trump and Russia. And as for the collusion with Russia and money making deal with fictional president character in book, author should look at the illegal money making deals that Obama made with Russia in the Uranium One deal or idiot Biden’s deal with son and China, making millions. Very disappointing.
March 2, 2022
dnf @30%
I’ve made a resolution this year to DNF things that I am not enjoying instead of pushing my way through it. It’s not that I didn’t like this book but I have been trying to push through it for several months and I realize that I just have no desire to return to it so I’m gonna call it an official DNF.
I’ve made a resolution this year to DNF things that I am not enjoying instead of pushing my way through it. It’s not that I didn’t like this book but I have been trying to push through it for several months and I realize that I just have no desire to return to it so I’m gonna call it an official DNF.
January 11, 2022
I liked the personal story of the main character, Lara. As for the political espionage portion, I thought it was far fetched. The novel is a thinly disguised fictionalized depiction of a previous administration. It was an ok read. Thanks to Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for the advance read.
June 14, 2023
First Lady Lara Caine is a mystery. The American public doesn't know a lot about her, other than the fact that she's a gorgeous Russian immigrant who grew up in Russia during the Cold War and is now married to a racist, nationalist president. (...Sound familiar?) But political journalist Sofie Morse catches Lara's eye - and unexpectedly, Sofie is invited to the White House to talk to the First Lady. Turns out, Lara wants to share her past - not in the form of a ghostwritten memoir, but in the form of a biography written by Sofie. She'll give Sofie full access to her life, including her mother and sister, and Sofie can write whatever she pleases. Although Sofie doesn't quite understand the catch here, it's an opportunity she can't pass up.
Lara begins to tell Sofie her whole life story, from her mother's childhood as the poorest of the poor orphans forgotten and starving in Stalin's Russia, only to work her way out of that and marry a successful Russian attaché (read: KGB agent) - to her family moving to Paris on assignment from her dad's work and Lara meeting the young love of her life there. Sofie begins to learn stunning secrets about Lara, things that would blow the public's mind if they saw the light of day. And soon enough, you see that Sofie and her husband are hiding out in Croatia for some unknown reason. The plot begins to come together, and you know that Sofie is part of something much bigger than just a biography.
The premise of this book is certainly interesting - perhaps not very timely, but it's intriguing to imagine that another Russian first lady had some secret, salacious past of foreign intelligence and espionage. (Although I can pretty much guarantee that that's not true to life.) Unfortunately, this book just didn't grab me in the way I hoped it would - perhaps because spy and political thrillers are not usually my thing, or perhaps because I just didn't connect to the characters and their emotions enough to help me understand why Lara made certain decisions that she made. Some of the spy stuff seemed a little fanciful, like secret codes that you imagine spies using in the movies but are not even close to how it works in real life, or like kids playing make believe spy games. When it got deep into that subject matter, the book kind of lost me. More than that, Lara makes decisions that completely baffled and angered me. She was a very frustrating character to read, and I often felt no sympathy for her in parts that I was definitely intended to.
Overall, this could be a good read for you if you like political or espionage thrillers - it's a bit slow at parts and I thought the characters could have used more development, but it's a fun play on imagining the hidden backstory of a mysterious Russian public figure. Thank you to Simon & Schuster for the ARC via Netgalley.
Lara begins to tell Sofie her whole life story, from her mother's childhood as the poorest of the poor orphans forgotten and starving in Stalin's Russia, only to work her way out of that and marry a successful Russian attaché (read: KGB agent) - to her family moving to Paris on assignment from her dad's work and Lara meeting the young love of her life there. Sofie begins to learn stunning secrets about Lara, things that would blow the public's mind if they saw the light of day. And soon enough, you see that Sofie and her husband are hiding out in Croatia for some unknown reason. The plot begins to come together, and you know that Sofie is part of something much bigger than just a biography.
The premise of this book is certainly interesting - perhaps not very timely, but it's intriguing to imagine that another Russian first lady had some secret, salacious past of foreign intelligence and espionage. (Although I can pretty much guarantee that that's not true to life.) Unfortunately, this book just didn't grab me in the way I hoped it would - perhaps because spy and political thrillers are not usually my thing, or perhaps because I just didn't connect to the characters and their emotions enough to help me understand why Lara made certain decisions that she made. Some of the spy stuff seemed a little fanciful, like secret codes that you imagine spies using in the movies but are not even close to how it works in real life, or like kids playing make believe spy games. When it got deep into that subject matter, the book kind of lost me. More than that, Lara makes decisions that completely baffled and angered me. She was a very frustrating character to read, and I often felt no sympathy for her in parts that I was definitely intended to.
Overall, this could be a good read for you if you like political or espionage thrillers - it's a bit slow at parts and I thought the characters could have used more development, but it's a fun play on imagining the hidden backstory of a mysterious Russian public figure. Thank you to Simon & Schuster for the ARC via Netgalley.
June 4, 2022
This is the story of an unlikely relationship between a journalist and a First Lady. White House correspondent, Sofie Morse, wants to leave politics behind until she is asked to privately meet with First Lady Lara Caine. Lara asks Sofie to write her biography about her life. She was born and raised in Soviet Russia, lived in Paris, then moved to America and married the future president, Henry Caine. Sofie agrees and starts writing this story where Lara tells the world all of the secrets she's kept until now. But the truth could affect the nation and world they live in.
I couldn't believe this book was coming out in the context of everything that is going on in the news right now. Like the Putin character, the American president and wife share some commonalities with the former president.
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://zibbyowens.com/transcript/ann...
I couldn't believe this book was coming out in the context of everything that is going on in the news right now. Like the Putin character, the American president and wife share some commonalities with the former president.
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://zibbyowens.com/transcript/ann...
May 20, 2021
Thank you, NetGalley, for this ARC. The review below contains my own opinions and is unbiased.
I can quite enjoy a good political thriller or spy story, unfortunately this one was a swing and a miss for me. The narrator never seemed like a real person to me, she simply served as a plot device, slowly pushing this plodding tale to its end.
This novel was obviously intended as a jab at the Trump administration and I suppose it succeeded on that front. If that was its only intention, rather than crafting interesting, believable characters and an engrossing plot, I would consider it a success. There are certainly people who will enjoy it for poking fun at the former buffoon in office, and I can appreciate that, but I was hoping for something more interesting and less predictable. Ultimately it was a quick, fun read but nothing more.
I can quite enjoy a good political thriller or spy story, unfortunately this one was a swing and a miss for me. The narrator never seemed like a real person to me, she simply served as a plot device, slowly pushing this plodding tale to its end.
This novel was obviously intended as a jab at the Trump administration and I suppose it succeeded on that front. If that was its only intention, rather than crafting interesting, believable characters and an engrossing plot, I would consider it a success. There are certainly people who will enjoy it for poking fun at the former buffoon in office, and I can appreciate that, but I was hoping for something more interesting and less predictable. Ultimately it was a quick, fun read but nothing more.
August 1, 2021
It was a good book and I enjoyed reading it.
March 18, 2022
Loved this political spy thriller!
May 27, 2021
Content warnings: death, suicide
Our American Friend follows the story of Lara Caine- a secretive, USSR-born wife of a bigoted, amoral president of the USA. To everyone else, she appears as a trophy wife. That is, until journalist Sofie Morse comes along and unravels Lara’s secrets, revealing the true depth behind the character.
This book follows a complex timeline from the Cold War times to present day, with settings in Moscow, Paris, and the US. Honestly, I can’t really explain the timeline because it jumped from present to past, to further past, to sometime later, and so on. Though I love when there are flashbacks in books, this book had a little too many. My flow of reading was constantly disrupted because of all the sudden time jumps, and I often got confused trying to figure out what I was reading. Additionally, there were tons of names mentioned and history dumps that, for someone who is not extremely familiar with all the history, might be confusing. This aspect did make it a little more difficult for me to get through the book, but reading it at a slower pace helped me retain the information. The second half of the book picked up a lot, so I got through that at a faster pace.
On the other hand, I absolutely love Pitoniak’s writing style. Her writing flowed well and provided a clear image in my head during the entire book. Additionally, I really like how she wrote the characters. My favorite thing about them was that they weren’t perfect, and that just makes them even more realistic and interesting. Sofie is nothing incredibly special, but she’s real and relatable. Lara is perhaps my favorite character in this book- she’s a strong and tough main character who’s been through so much but still manages to stand tall.
As for the plot, I think it was interesting enough. I thought the whole ‘USSR spies’ and ‘bad American presidents’ plots were ok. It’s clear that this book is somewhat based on America’s current political standing. Lara Caine representing Melania Trump (both born in Russia, models, same age) married to a bigoted and racist president (Donald Trump). The list continues and it’s very easy to spot all the comparisons while reading.
This book also gives off some The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo vibes, considering that both books include a secretive famous woman requesting a nobody journalist to write their biographies and tell their secrets to the world. Although Our American Friend definitely did not have as much of a romance aspect- the romance was more of a subplot and motivator for the main character. This book did a good job handling the ideas of gloomy war times, risky decisions, sneaky deals, and shifting loyalties.
The most riveting thing about this book was how there was a constant sense of mystery throughout. The reader is constantly left on their toes, wondering what will happen next. Information began to reveal itself throughout the book and the way in which that happened really hooked me in. It felt like unwrapping a tightly wrapped present- a bit frustrating while opening it, but satisfying and exciting when it’s finally opened. The way everything in this book came together was really cool, but I have to admit I was a little disappointed in how it ended. I feel like there was so much unfinished business and questions I wanted answered. However, the way that it ended did imply that the story would continue, just not with us following along.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It took me a while to read (2 weeks, and i’m a decently fast reader), and was very confusing at times, but I liked the plot and how it all unraveled. I definitely enjoyed the second half more than the first.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Do I recommend this book? Yes
Rating: 3 stars
Our American Friend follows the story of Lara Caine- a secretive, USSR-born wife of a bigoted, amoral president of the USA. To everyone else, she appears as a trophy wife. That is, until journalist Sofie Morse comes along and unravels Lara’s secrets, revealing the true depth behind the character.
This book follows a complex timeline from the Cold War times to present day, with settings in Moscow, Paris, and the US. Honestly, I can’t really explain the timeline because it jumped from present to past, to further past, to sometime later, and so on. Though I love when there are flashbacks in books, this book had a little too many. My flow of reading was constantly disrupted because of all the sudden time jumps, and I often got confused trying to figure out what I was reading. Additionally, there were tons of names mentioned and history dumps that, for someone who is not extremely familiar with all the history, might be confusing. This aspect did make it a little more difficult for me to get through the book, but reading it at a slower pace helped me retain the information. The second half of the book picked up a lot, so I got through that at a faster pace.
On the other hand, I absolutely love Pitoniak’s writing style. Her writing flowed well and provided a clear image in my head during the entire book. Additionally, I really like how she wrote the characters. My favorite thing about them was that they weren’t perfect, and that just makes them even more realistic and interesting. Sofie is nothing incredibly special, but she’s real and relatable. Lara is perhaps my favorite character in this book- she’s a strong and tough main character who’s been through so much but still manages to stand tall.
As for the plot, I think it was interesting enough. I thought the whole ‘USSR spies’ and ‘bad American presidents’ plots were ok. It’s clear that this book is somewhat based on America’s current political standing. Lara Caine representing Melania Trump (both born in Russia, models, same age) married to a bigoted and racist president (Donald Trump). The list continues and it’s very easy to spot all the comparisons while reading.
This book also gives off some The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo vibes, considering that both books include a secretive famous woman requesting a nobody journalist to write their biographies and tell their secrets to the world. Although Our American Friend definitely did not have as much of a romance aspect- the romance was more of a subplot and motivator for the main character. This book did a good job handling the ideas of gloomy war times, risky decisions, sneaky deals, and shifting loyalties.
The most riveting thing about this book was how there was a constant sense of mystery throughout. The reader is constantly left on their toes, wondering what will happen next. Information began to reveal itself throughout the book and the way in which that happened really hooked me in. It felt like unwrapping a tightly wrapped present- a bit frustrating while opening it, but satisfying and exciting when it’s finally opened. The way everything in this book came together was really cool, but I have to admit I was a little disappointed in how it ended. I feel like there was so much unfinished business and questions I wanted answered. However, the way that it ended did imply that the story would continue, just not with us following along.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It took me a while to read (2 weeks, and i’m a decently fast reader), and was very confusing at times, but I liked the plot and how it all unraveled. I definitely enjoyed the second half more than the first.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Do I recommend this book? Yes
Rating: 3 stars
September 21, 2022
I'm a little mad at myself for reading this. It is basically liberal fanfiction. The main character is a reporter, interviewing "Lara Caine" (Melania Trump) for a biography. She hates Caine but is using this to further her career because "Lara" is so elusive and nobody knows anything about her. Lara is a Russian immigrant whose father was in the KGB when she was a little girl. There is some espionage and political maneuvering, which should feel exciting but doesn't. The whole book felt very flat. There weren't high stakes at any point. The reporter's husband doesn't even get angry that And the ending was one of those "and then they all clapped" kind of ridiculous endings: Pitoniak writes good descriptions, but the political side of this felt extremely rudimentary and unnuanced, and the characters all felt extremely cliche. The main character reporter has such a ridiculous crush on "Lara Caine," for no real reason, and I did not relate to any of the characters or frankly care about any of it. She tried to make it suspenseful and profound but it just felt flat and boring. It took me forever to finish reading it. Would not recommend except as a laugh.
January 22, 2022
Sofie Morse is a former White House correspondent who is asked by the mysterious, Melania-esque First Lady, Lara Cane, to write her biography. Lara grew up in Paris with a KGB agent father, had a successful modeling career, and then married a morally repugnant businessman who became an equally repugnant president. As Lara reveals more of her life story, Sofie finds herself with more questions than answers and is caught up in a dangerous game.
Our American Friend kind of reminded me of American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld, but the fictionalized Laura Bush/Dubya counterparts seem downright cute compared to the obvious parallels between President Caine/the orange menace and Lara/Melania. It all felt a little too on the nose, a little too soon, and I don't think the issue of complicity was explored very well. Lara's stories about her KGB agent father and her life in Paris were interesting -- I love Cold War-era spy stories -- but the current day sections with Sofie fell flat, and the ultimate conclusion was somehow overly complicated and simultaneously overly simplistic. I did enjoy reading this book overall and wouldn't tell anyone not to read it, but it wasn't a great fit for me.
* thanks to Simon & Schuster for the NetGalley review copy. This comes out February 15, 2022.
Our American Friend kind of reminded me of American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld, but the fictionalized Laura Bush/Dubya counterparts seem downright cute compared to the obvious parallels between President Caine/the orange menace and Lara/Melania. It all felt a little too on the nose, a little too soon, and I don't think the issue of complicity was explored very well. Lara's stories about her KGB agent father and her life in Paris were interesting -- I love Cold War-era spy stories -- but the current day sections with Sofie fell flat, and the ultimate conclusion was somehow overly complicated and simultaneously overly simplistic. I did enjoy reading this book overall and wouldn't tell anyone not to read it, but it wasn't a great fit for me.
* thanks to Simon & Schuster for the NetGalley review copy. This comes out February 15, 2022.
June 14, 2021
Thank you, NetGalley, for this ARC. The review below contains my own opinions and is unbiased.
This book definitely has a compelling hook that makes you want to read it. And once I started, I found it hard to put down. It was clear from the start that something big had happened to Sofie as a result of her work with First Lady Lara, and in reading to find that answer, the author took us on both Sofie's journey and on Lara's journey from Russia to Paris to the White House. I loved the character development of Lara and Irina, and the immersion into the Cold War and spy tradecraft. The dual timelines weren't as clearly delineated as I've experienced with other books, so it did require some thoughtful reading to keep track of where/when we were in the story. I also felt like we could have learned a bit more about Sofie and spent more time on the tensions of being a journalist.
I didn't enjoy how closely the plot rode the narrative of the *actual* Trump presidency. I think I would have enjoyed the book more had it taken the Trump presidency as inspiration, but created a truly new scenario and set of characters. Just too close, too soon.
This book definitely has a compelling hook that makes you want to read it. And once I started, I found it hard to put down. It was clear from the start that something big had happened to Sofie as a result of her work with First Lady Lara, and in reading to find that answer, the author took us on both Sofie's journey and on Lara's journey from Russia to Paris to the White House. I loved the character development of Lara and Irina, and the immersion into the Cold War and spy tradecraft. The dual timelines weren't as clearly delineated as I've experienced with other books, so it did require some thoughtful reading to keep track of where/when we were in the story. I also felt like we could have learned a bit more about Sofie and spent more time on the tensions of being a journalist.
I didn't enjoy how closely the plot rode the narrative of the *actual* Trump presidency. I think I would have enjoyed the book more had it taken the Trump presidency as inspiration, but created a truly new scenario and set of characters. Just too close, too soon.
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