Ruth's predicament comes to a most satisfying conclusion.' 'Johnson's debut novel will appeal to a wide range of readers, who will be drawn into the despairing lives of her characters. 'imely, layered, and perfect for your Zoom book club.' ' triumph, a deeply affecting work of truth and reconciliation over what it means to live the American Dream-and not just for the winners.' But more than anything, it is a meditation on family and forgiveness.' It is a story about reconciliation, set against a backdrop of racism and resentments. It is a tale of how lies and omissions can shape and warp us. 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. 'Nancy Johnson's The Kindest Lie is a layered, complex exploration of race and class. 'A profound look at racial and economic injustices in America.' 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.' 'A fantastic story of a marriage and what happens when one spouse secretly had a child prior to knowing the other. Caroline Leavitt, New York Times bestselling author of Pictures of You and Cruel Beautiful World A gloriously written, stunning heart scorcher about who we are and what we could be.' 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. 'Race, class, family, and secrets are all on a collision course in Johnson's extraordinarily moving, timely read.

The kindest lie nancy johnson