Lara Prescott was named after the heroine of Doctor Zhivago and first discovered the true story behind the novel after the CIA declassified 99 documents pertaining to its role in the book’s publication and covert dissemination.
She travelled the world – from Moscow and Washington, to London and Paris – in the course of her research, becoming particularly interested in political repression in both the Soviet Union and United States and how, during the Cold War, both countries used literature as a weapon.
Lara earned her MFA from the Michener Center for Writers. She lives in Austin, Texas with her husband.
The Act of Disappearing (2024) Nathan Gower "A thrilling story, remarkably told, Nathan Gower's debut The Act of Disappearing is as propulsive as it is moving."
Your Presence Is Mandatory (2024) Sasha Vasilyuk "At once a historical epic, an engrossing family saga, and an astute examination of morality, survival, hope, and love, Your Presence Is Mandatory is a stunning feat. The emotional impact of reading Sasha Vasilyuk's gripping debut is immense. I sat with the vivid characters Vasilyuk has created for hours after reading, and I continue to think of them. Your Presence Is Mandatory is a book to last generations, and one I won't soon forget."
The Titanic Survivors Book Club (2024) Timothy Schaffert "Deeply moving and rich with vivid detail, The Titanic Survivors Book Club is as heartbreaking as it is enthralling. About love, fate, desire, and the power of books, this wonderful novel will delight fans of historical fiction and captivate booklovers. Timothy Schaffert is an exquisite storyteller."
The Young of Other Animals (2024) Chris Cander "The Young of Other Animals is an addictively moving and suspenseful novel with family secrets fueling the narrative. Cander presents a complex study of the ways in which women respond to trauma, and how those scars can be passed down from mother to daughter. Cander excels in writing richly drawn women characters and complicated family relationships. Paula and Mayree are characters that will stay with me for a long time."
Since She's Been Gone (2024) Sagit Schwartz "Sagit Schwartz's thrilling, twisty debut beautifully explores recovery, redemption, and the everlasting bond between mother and daughter."
Return to Valetto (2023) Dominic Smith "Packed with lush details and a gripping narrative, Dominic Smith's masterful novel is about the ways in which the past echoes through generations, how the human heart is both fragile and resilient, and what it takes to stand up for justice no matter how much time has passed. Return to Valetto is a story of love, loss, and the enduring power of hope. Propulsive, heartfelt, and sneakily funny--I was transfixed from page one."
The Great Reclamation (2023) Rachel Heng "A gorgeous novel about love, fate, free-will, and how, in wartime, one person's choices can have long-lasting consequences. The Great Reclamation is as sweeping as it is specific. Ah Boon's story will stay with me for a long time."
Winterland (2022) Rae Meadows "Winterland is a story as gripping as it is a powerful rendering of the true cost of perfection. In beautifully written, thrilling prose, Rae Meadows takes us deep into the world of the USSR's gymnastics program. As we see eight-year-old Anya rise to the top of this ultra-competitive and punishing sport, the mystery of the disappearance of her mother begins to unfold. Combining a page turning plot with fully formed characters, Meadows has written a novel that reflects the current moment. I was left breathless."
The Soviet Sisters (2022) Anika Scott "Electrifying, meticulously researched, and expertly plotted, The Soviet Sisters is at once a Cold War thriller, a gripping spy story, a page-turning mystery, and a familial drama."
More Than You'll Ever Know (2022) Katie Gutierrez "With thrilling, atmospheric prose set against an intricate plot, Katie Gutierrez's debut More Than You'll Ever Know is both a suspenseful mystery, a family drama, and an astute examination of motherhood, love, and secrets. I read this morally complex novel ravenously, desperate to discover the fates of the two women at its center. You won't be able to put this book down."
The Lunar Housewife (2022) Caroline Woods "Caroline Woods' The Lunar Housewife is a smart, stylish page-turner that is at once a Cold War spy thriller, historical fiction, a sci-fi book-within-a-book, and a thumping good read. Woods keeps the tension almost unbearably high making it impossible to put down."
Forbidden City (2022) Vanessa Hua "Arresting, beautiful, and epic, Forbidden City left me breathless by the last page. Hua's writing is propulsive and packed with rich historical details and exquisitely crafted characters. Mei's story will stay with you long after reading."
Atomic Anna (2022) Rachel Barenbaum "Epic, ambitious, and gripping, Atomic Anna is a wildly inventive novel that teems with life and grapples with the big questions of science, art, love, and humanity. Rachel Barenbaum is a propulsive writer who takes readers on a journey through time via the lives of three generations of extraordinary women who come together to try to change the course of history and undo the mistakes of their past. Atomic Anna is a trip through time well worth taking. I couldn't put it down."
Seeking Fortune Elsewhere (2022) Sindya Bhanoo "This achingly beautiful collection charts the emotional journeys and complicated ties of those who choose to leave and those who are left behind. You will ache for the women at the center of these powerful stories. You will cry for their losses and celebrate their tiny victories. Bhanoo's stories affirm humanity as only good literature can achieve. A magnificent debut of a writer you will read for years to come."
Our American Friend (2022) Anna Pitoniak "Anna Pitoniak's latest page-turner OUR AMERICAN FRIEND is packed with Cold War spy intrigue, complex women characters, and rich historical details. I read this novel in one sitting, pouring over the pages, wanting to know what secrets the unforgettable character of First Lady Lara Caine held. OUR AMERICAN FRIEND does what good fiction does best--it reaches across time to speak to the present moment."
The Dictator's Wife (2022) Freya Berry "A captivating story of women's power, love and secrets. As timely and profound as it is unforgettable. The ending left me breathless."
The Woman in the Moonlight (2020) Patricia Morrisroe "An intoxicating novel about love, art, and life. Just as Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata moves one from tears to hope, so does Patricia Morrisroe’s story of the woman who inspired the sonata, Countess Julie Guicciardi."
A Tender Thing (2020) Emily Neuberger "A standing ovation for A Tender Thing. I was swept away by this riveting novel about friendship, love, womanhood, race, privilege, and what it means to make art. This book will make your heart sing."
Miss Austen (2020) Gill Hornby "Extraordinary and heart-wrenching, Miss Austen transported me from page one. A remarkable novel that is wholly original, deeply moving, and emotionally complex. A gift to all Austen lovers."
