Five Star Fiction: Our American Friend

 After reading I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys last week, I was happy to pick up Our American Friend by Anna Pitoniak.  This is the perfect read for anyone who enjoyed watching The Americans, or grew up in the 80s.

This story moves seamlessly between the present day where Sofie Morse, a reporter, has been asked to write First Lady Lara Caine's memoir and Caine's past.   Lara has lived a fascinating life, growing up in Russia and Paris, where her family lived for much of her childhood, eventually becoming a model. (This is loosely based on Melania Trump's life story).  Slowly through many interviews Lara Caine's life is revealed.  We learn of her father's involvement with the KGB, her first love that she has never truly gotten over, her father's execution, and a secret that Lara has never told anyone before.  

I loved every page of this story, from the parts that took place in Washington, DC, to the parts in Russia and Paris which brought back bits of nostalgia of the 80s, to the little snippets of Sofie and Ben's marriage, or her relationship with her sister's family -this was a book where I didn't want to skip over a single word.

I'm getting to read some really great books this year, and I can't wait to see what other five star reads I can find.