The Secrets We Kept: Reese's Book Club: A Novel

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - 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 twentieth century: Doctor Zhivago - A HELLO SUNSHINE x REESE WITHERSPOON BOOK CLUB PICK

At the height of the Cold War, Irina, a young Russian-American secretary, is plucked from the CIA typing pool and given the assignment of a lifetime. Her mission: to help smuggle Doctor Zhivago into the USSR, where it is banned, and enable Boris Pasternak's magnum opus to make its way into print around the world. Mentoring Irina is the glamorous Sally Forrester: a seasoned spy who has honed her gift for deceit, using her magnetism and charm to pry secrets out of powerful men. Under Sally's tutelage, Irina learns how to invisibly ferry classified documents--and discovers deeply buried truths about herself.

The Secrets We Kept combines a legendary literary love story--the decades-long affair between Pasternak and his mistress and muse, Olga Ivinskaya, who inspired Zhivago's heroine, Lara--with a narrative about two women empowered to lead lives of extraordinary intrigue and risk. Told with soaring emotional intensity and captivating historical detail, this is an unforgettable debut: a celebration of the powerful belief that a work of art can change the world.

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368 pages

Average rating: 6.69

186 RATINGS

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3 REVIEWS

Community Reviews

HeathBar
Aug 01, 2024
8/10 stars
Loved this book! I love history & this book touched on historical events & places! The characters were intriguing! I definitely recommend because at times I couldn’t put my book down!
Anonymous
Jul 11, 2023
6/10 stars
It was just ehhh... If you are looking for spy's and espionage... this is not your book. Mostly about 2 different love affairs.
Suzie Q
Mar 26, 2022
8/10 stars
Celia’s choice

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