Nature

The Kindest Lie

by Nancy Johnson
An emotional and thought-provoking story about a black women, Ruth Tuttle.  She is a successful engineer, who must deal with the consequences of her past - a teenage pregnancy, a baby she gave up and a husband who doesn't know. The Kindest Lie by Nancy Johnson  #historical fiction, #reading, #books to read, #books

Praise For This Book


"Race, class, family, and secrets are all on a collision course in Johnson's extraordinarily moving, timely read. Like a heat-seeking missile, her novel hones in on who we think we belong to and why, following the merging lives of Ruth, a black female engineer who seeks out the child she gave away, and Midnight, a young white boy struggling to find his place in the very poverty Ruth managed to escape. A gloriously written, stunning heart scorcher about who we are and what we could be." -Caroline Leavitt, New York Times bestselling author of Pictures of You and Cruel Beautiful World

"A fantastic story of a marriage and what happens when one spouse secretly had a child prior to knowing the other.... This modern-day depiction of a woman in crisis and what she discovers about what she left behind is well-written, timely, and oh-so-memorable." -Good Morning America

"A profound look at racial and economic injustices in America." -Refinery 29

"Nancy Johnson's The Kindest Lie is a layered, complex exploration of race and class... Johnson is particularly adept at drawing the dividing lines between African Americans and working-class Whites, while at the same time illuminating the things they share... It is a tale of how lies and omissions can shape and warp us. It is a story about reconciliation, set against a backdrop of racism and resentments. But more than anything, it is a meditation on family and forgiveness." -Washington Post

"[A] triumph, a deeply affecting work of truth and reconciliation over what it means to live the American Dream-and not just for the winners." -Los Angeles Times

"[T]imely, layered, and perfect for your Zoom book club." -HelloGiggles

"Johnson's debut novel will appeal to a wide range of readers, who will be drawn into the despairing lives of her characters. Ruth's predicament comes to a most satisfying conclusion." -Library Journal

"In this winning portrait of circumstance, sacrifice, and forgiveness, the lines that separate past from present and right from wrong are erased and redrawn--oftentimes with earth-shattering consequences. Rife with rich language, shocking revelations, and easy-to-fall-into characters, The Kindest Lie is the kind of novel you'll feel in your bones." -Zakiya Dalila Harris, author of The Other Black Girl

"It takes tremendous talent to seamlessly combine social commentary with a powder keg of a plot, and Nancy Johnson accomplishes just that in her gripping debut novel, The Kindest Lie, addressing issues of race, class, privilege and upward mobility... A fictional callback to Isabel Wilkerson's Caste, The Kindest Lie also brings to mind Brit Bennett's The Vanishing Half, in which another young Black woman returns to her hometown to try to reconcile her past, present and future. Don't miss this powerful debut." -BookPage, starred review


PBRHome- for bookish gifts

Recent Book Reviews

Book Review -  Fifth Avenue Glamour Girl by Renee Rosen

Fifth Avenue Glamour Girl

By Renee Rosen
This book is a must-read for anyone who's interested in the fashion world or enjoys reading stories about female friendships. It follows the journey of Gloria and Estee Lauder, two women who share their dreams of working in ...More

 Book Review - The Spectacular by Fiona Davis

The Spectacular

By Fiona Davis
It's 1956, and Marion, a passionate dancer and dance teacher, is thrilled when she has the opportunity to be a Radio City Rockette. But there is a cost; she must sacrifice her family to follow her dream ... More
Book Review -  The Violin Conspiracy by Brian Slocumb

The Violin Conspiracy

By Brendan Slocumb
This book grabbed my attention from the very beginning, with the opening playing beautiful classical music. A few times throughout the book, there are additional snippets of music. It's one of the bonuses of listening to a book on audio ...More

 Book Review - Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica

Local Woman Missing

By Mary Kubica
Local Woman Missing is a gripping psychological thriller by Mary Kubica, filled with suspense, mystery, and secrets. I loved how this book grabbed from the first chapter and had me on the edge of my seat... More

Visit Our Blog

You May Also Like



Nature
PBR book reviews and Reading guides for book clubs
Visit out Etsy Shop
10 Books I Can't Stop Recommending