Now Then - by Morgan Radford

Book Synopsis

In this sweeping debut novel by NBC News Anchor Morgan Radford, Now Then follows a Harvard student navigating her own path to self-discovery while uncovering her mother's secret past fleeing the Cuban Revolution.

Now -- 1991 Cambridge, MA. Liliana Soto Walker is an 18-year-old freshman who arrives at Harvard from the humble Appalachian home of her Cuban immigrant mother and Black American father. Lily feels out of place in this new world of privilege, but her roommate Hana and a budding romance with Vikram - a charming Indian-British postdoctoral student - stirs a new sense of belonging. As Lily navigates the complexities of college life, her mother, Marisol, finally begins to reveal her past through heartfelt letters, sparking Lily's journey to uncover hidden histories and discover what it means to endure - and find happiness again. Meanwhile, Lily and Vikram form a deep bond that sweeps across decades and continents, one marked by amazing-turned-devastating missed connections.

Then -- 1957 Havana, Cuba. Marisol, Lily's mother, is a bright young woman with dreams of becoming a journalist. But as the calls for a government coup reach a deadly crescendo, one deadly night ahead of the Cuban Revolution forces Marisol to flee her homeland, leaving her scarred in ways she has never revealed. Until now. Through their letters, the secrets Marisol has kept hidden for years finally begin to surface, challenging Lily's understanding of who her mother really is -- and by extension, herself.

Heartfelt and romantic, suspenseful and surprising, Now Then is a powerful tale that explores the weight of secrets, the hope that comes with second chances, and the choices we live with - and love through - forever.

Review Quotes

"Now Then, a tense yet tender revealing of the personal and political revolutions that connect a mother and daughter, is a book to read and share. Marisol and Lily, authentic and vulnerable in their journeys, remind us that the preservation of history begins in our hearts and at home" - Nadia Hashimi, bestselling author of The Pearl that Broke Its Shell
"In Now Then, Morgan Radford does the impossible, turning a foreign uprising into a revelatory portrayal of how the tendrils of history intertwine with our present, lurking in the shadowed halls that guide us toward our future. An arresting, deeply intimate exploration of the workings of the human heart, this debut will leave you questioning everything you think you know about who you are." - Jasmin Iolani Hakes, author of Hula and The Pōhaku
A heartfelt and intimate exploration of the invisible threads that bind us to our past and the many ways love in all its forms can give freedom and stability. In the turmoil preceding the Cuban revolution, Lily's mother is forced to make heartbreaking decisions, but Radford reveals with tenderness how the excavation of our hidden history can bring healing and transformation. This dual timeline debut is an ode to love, family, and the invaluable worth of being true to oneself. - Marjan Kamali, New York Times bestselling author of The Lion Women of Tehran