This is a really solid Cold War story. It isn't a thriller, but a historical novel set in a time and place that generally gets the focus of spy novelists. While there are spies aplenty in the part of the novel dealing with the CIA’s activities, the novel also tells the story of Boris Pasternak during the period when he was trying to get Doctor Zhivago published in the Soviet Union. There are parallel love stories as well. I enjoyed both stories and recommend this book to historical novel fans.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is a sweeping novel about the true story of Boris Pasternak's efforts to get his epic masterpiece, Dr. Zhivago, out of Russia where it was banned. With the help of his long time lover Olga (the real-life inspiration for Lara), a publisher in Italy and female CIA typists/spies, the novel makes its way around the world and earns a Pulitzer Prize. Lara Prescott's debut effort is well-researched, richly detailed with a strong sense of time and place. The characters, especially Irina and Sally, the two CIA typist recruited for spy work, are well developed and come alive for the reader. This is a tour de-force as a spy novel and historical fiction.

Even though historical fiction is not my usual genre of choice, this title worked for me. It helps that I had an interest in Russian history and literature going in. I appreciated how different chapters focused on different characters, allowing the space to feel fully fleshed out, rather than from the perspective of only one or two people. I also liked the passage of time (as well as alternating sections of "East" and "West") to give the plot much more scope. This was a compelling read.

This was a wonderful novel. I typically read Civil War or WWII historical fiction. This was my first historical fiction novel set during the Cold War and I was blown away. I couldn't put it down. Bravo! Well done.

This was definitely a page-turner--I loved the Cold-War setting and the spy intrigue, and the ways the novel revealed how women were both essential and completely disposable in the early years of the CIA. Then, as now, sexism and homophobia ruined many a smart woman's career.

It took awhile to figure out who all the different voices in the text were, especially in the "West" sections, where there were (eventually) three different POVs. But getting the story from different characters' perspectives was intriguing, and I liked the fact that all of the narrators were women, each of whom emerges as being stronger and more capable than the men they're connected with.

SPOILER ALERT: I did think that the storyline about what happens to Sally and Irina after their breakup was a little rushed. I wanted to know more about their lives as spies. That all gets summarized in the book, but isn't developed as part of the plot in any meaningful way. I found that disappointing.

Nevertheless, a suspenseful and interesting read...now I feel like I need to read _Dr. Zhivago_!

This novel is told via two different stories, Irina and Lara. Irina has been given a job in the typing pool. She is then given more responsibilities and this leads to world of change in her life. Then there is Lara. She is the muse for Pasternak’s Doctor Zhivago. She is in communist Russia and is sent to the gulag for her part in his book.

Irina, when she is first introduced into this story, I thought of her as a mousy type woman. But, let me tell you…she roared. She is tough and even if she is afraid, she will step out of her comfort zone and do something totally out of character.

Lara’s story is the most intriguing. The gulag, communist Russia, Boris Pasternak, what could go wrong. Plenty! You must read this tale to find out!

Oh boy! I have not had a good spy novel, since I don’t know when! This book starts out amazing. I was completely hooked. The story did drag a little in the middle. But, then it picked up and did a complete twist. Also, I have never read Doctor Zhivago. GASP! It is on my list to listen to this month. I love a book which makes me pick up another book. And because of thIs novel, have to see what all the fuss was about.

This is going to be one of the fall's most read books, as it is simply amazing. The author's ability to take the story of Doctor Zhivago and fictionalize it was nothing short of brilliant. The women tasked with sneaking this out of the USSR for publication were fictionalized in an intriguing manner that made it enjoyable for the reader. I highly recommend this.

What a great read! I loved how the story was told from so many different perspectives. It doesn't seem like novels set in the 50's get very much attention, but learning about the lives of working women during that era is really interesting. Most people don't think about "cultural espionage," so that's a unique aspect as well. Fans of the TV show "The Americans" would probably enjoy this look further back in the Cold War.

The Secrets We Kept taught me much I did not know about Dr Zhivago. I had no idea the uproar this novel had caused in Russia! I enjoyed learning about Borya and his real life love story. I also loved learning about the women’s role in helping our government publish Dr Zhivago before Russia would allow it. I honestly would have loved more about the actual spy work. Overall a great read.

Well-researched page-turning historical fiction is my favorite and it's very hard to find. *The Secrets We Kept*, a Cold War -era CIA spy sorta-thriller fits the bill! I knew I was going to love it from the first passage and ended up intrigued and reading late into the night. The plot, the setting, the characters, the action, and the description all worked together to make this reading experience a winner.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.

I really liked The Secrets We Keep. I haven't read Doctor Zhivago yet, but after reading this I will soon. I think this was a powerful read about the Author Boris Pasternak who's novel wasn't able to be published in the USSR. An endearing story about his life, the story of how his novel came to be published and the consequences that took place. This book also talks about the lives of woman spies and what they had to endure at this time. the book also talks about discrimination of the LGBTQ community, banned books and the US involvement in bringing Doctor Zhivago back to the USSR. Looking forward to more great reads by this Author.
#TheSecretsWeKeep #NetGalley

I give The Secrets we Keep 4 stars for its interesting and endearing read.
I would recommend this book to Historical Fiction Fans.

Dr. Zhivago has always been one of my favorite books, so I was delighted to receive an e-ARC from NetGalley. Set during the 1950's at the height of the Cold War, the story switches between the secretaries in the CIA typing pool in Washington D. C., and Soviet Russia, where Boris Pasternak who has written a masterpiece. But he has to receive permission from the government before he can publish Dr. Zhivago in Russia. The Soviet authorities feels that because the story is set against the backdrop of the 1918 Russian Revolution, it is critical of the Communist government.and refuse permission. The narrative is a fascinating history of how the novel was smuggled out of the Soviet Union and then back in again after publication, along with the repercussions that Pasternak and his lover Olga (the inspiration for Lara) experienced after winning the Nobel Prize.

I confess: I have never read "Dr. Zhivago" and I have never seen the movie. I know! Where have I been? After reading the summary for this book I immediately requested it as a digital ARC on NetGalley and then was happily surprised to see an article in BOOKPAGE just before I began reading. Now I am done reading and I am not as thrilled with the book as many others have been. It is a fascinating tale and I do believe that Prescott did an admirable job in her research. The narrative is split between the East and the West. In the East storyline we see the story of Boris Pasternak and his mistress Olya as the communist authorities do their best to prevent publication of a work they deemed subversive. Meanwhile, there are spy rings based in the West doing their best to get this hot new bestseller into the hands of as many Soviet citizens as possible. Our view of that work is from the typist pool where women learn early to keep and sometimes help spread the secrets of the Cold War.
For me the East side of the story was the easiest POV to understand and evoked the most empathy. The West was split between three voices and was a bit difficult to follow. What I took away was the despair many in our espionage feel at the end of the day despite their accomplishments. It appears that they find as many or more regrets. Basically, the CIA should not try to use this book as a recruitment tool!

Thank you to Knopf and NetGalley for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’m a huge fan of Doctor Zhivago so I was thrilled to read this arc. Combine the life of Boris Pasternak with spies from around the world and you’ve got me hooked. Such an interesting idea that a book can be a weapon.

I didn't know anything at all about the intrigue surrounding the publication of Boris Pasternak's Dr. Zhivago before reading Lara Prescott's engrossing new novel, The Secrets We Kept (coming out September 3, 2019). Prescott's novel beautifully weaves together multiple storylines connected to Dr. Zhivago - from the targeting of Pasternak and those he loved for daring to write a story seen as critical of the Soviet Union to the typists at the C.I.A. who are recruited to help distribute the novel as a propaganda tool. Prescott fleshes out the characters in a broad network in multiple involved in the publication, distribution, and banning of the novel, including the Union of Soviet Writers who condemned the novel and the Italian publisher who made sure that it was published, even after the novelist changed his mind.

While the novel paints a clear picture of the repression and brutality of the Soviet regime, it doesn't let the U.S. off the hook. The story is primarily told through the point of view of women, and we are given an uncomfortable picture of how the Agency men saw female operatives as tools to be discarded. Prescott also highlights how the "Lavender Scare" in the U.S. ruined the lives of LGBTQ people who lost their livelihood and reputations.

Overall, Prescott has succeeded in bringing this story to life by creating a compelling cast of characters who are affected by the publication of Dr. Zhivago in unexpected ways. Most tragically, we have a close look at Pasternak's lover and her family who suffer both emotionally by being targeted by the government and physically by being sent to the gulag. One can't help but leave this novel feeling like it was unfortunate for Pasternak that he was persecuted for writing his novel, but it was others who suffered most.

Beginning from the very first page, this extremely well written historical novel had me enthralled. The theme of winning a war not with bombs or guns, but with great literature, was inspiring. The fact that the CIA used Doctor Zhivago to help win the Cold War, makes this book even more exhilarating. The story focuses on a secretary turned spy who is trained by an older, seasoned female spy, and their relationship with each other and with their co-workers at the CIA. We also get to hear from Boris Pasternak's mistress, Olga Ivinskaya, who had to endure the atrocities of a Gulag labor camp due to the Sovet Union's hatred and fear of Doctor Zhivago. I was fascinated by this intriguing tale of how the CIA smuggled Doctor Zhivago back into the Soviet Union in order to help breed the seeds of dissent. With characters I truly cared about, witty dialogue, and engaging scenarios, this has become one of my favorite historical novels of all time.

A great page-turner about the Cold War, a CIA plot to distribute Doctor Zhivago behind the Iron Curtain and the women-turned-spies who help make it happen. The Secrets We Kept offers a wonderful snapshot of the end of the 1950's with the limitations on what people could do and be.

There is a lot going on in this book and I was fascinated by it. The author did such meticulous research on the subject. I was not aware that “Dr. Zhivago” was “a literary weapon of mass destruction “. This was so interesting to me in how the CIA used it. I also enjoyed reading about “the girls” in the typing pool. I believe this novel will be a huge hit this fall.
Many thanks to Knopf Doubleday Publishing and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

We’re all familiar with the political Cold War, but what’s less well known is the cultural Cold War. The USSR and the US battled for cultural supremacy, using the arts as their weapons.

The CIA seized upon Boris Pasternak’s Doctor Zhivago as the ultimate weapon in this war. Pasternak wasn’t allowed to publish his book in the USSR because the state viewed it as anti-Soviet. The CIA obtained a smuggled copy and not only used it as their source for an English-language version of the book, but set up a scheme to print copies in Russian to give to Russian visitors to Expo 58 in Belgium, and the later Vienna World’s Fair, expecting that they would take the books back to the USSR and disseminate it there.

Prescott takes this exciting geopolitical story and makes it personal and women-centered. In alternating East and West sections, she focuses on Olga Ivinskaya, Pasternak’s lover, his model for the book’s Lara character, and his literary representative; and on the women of the CIA involved in the mission.

While Olga’s story is affecting, it is her depiction of two CIA women, Irina and Sally, that makes the book shine. Don’t be fooled by the sappy title; this is an intelligent piece of historical fiction with fully realized characters.

Russia, Spies, and Dr. Zhivago as good as Sex, Drugs and Rock & Roll. The Secrets We Kept does not disappoint any historical fiction fan. I was captivated by the story of the struggle to smuggle out of Russia Boris Pasternak novel DR. ZHIVAGO. Loved Dr. Zhivago and love it more after reading The Secrets We Kept. Thank you Lara Prescott for giving me a great weekend on the beach read. Now I am looking forward to the Audio Book. Woo Hoo!