Our American Friend takes readers on a journey of espionage, love, and political intrigue. Journalist Sofie Morse, disillusioned after covering President Henry Caine’s administration, is invited by First Lady Lara Caine to write her biography. Lara, a Russian-born former model, shares her secretive past, drawing Sofie into a tale of Cold War espionage, betrayal, and a doomed romance with dissident Sasha, whose influence reshaped her life.
Anna Pitoniak alternates timelines between 1970s Paris, where Lara’s youthful idealism clashes with Soviet realities, and Sofie’s present-day efforts to understand Lara’s motives. The story’s global settings—Moscow, Paris, and Washington, D.C.—and complex characters add depth.
The novel’s structure can feel disjointed, especially in audio format, and its conclusion is overly tidy. Still, Pitoniak’s focus on Sofie’s ethical struggles and Lara’s layered personality keeps the narrative engaging. While steeped in familiar spy tropes like coded messages and KGB operations, the story offers fresh angles through its character-driven approach.
An improvement over The Helsinki Affair, this novel will appeal to fans of Stephanie Marie Thornton’s A Most Clever Girl. It’s a compelling mix of historical fiction and political thriller.
** Thanks to the publisher for a comp for an honest review. The opinions are my own.