Now Then

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.

Author: Morgan Radford
Publisher: Amistad Press
Published: 05/05/2026
Pages: 352
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.05lbs
Size: 9.27h x 6.34w x 0.92d
ISBN: 9780063457836


Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 03/09/2026
Kirkus Reviews 04/01/2026

About the Author
Radford, Morgan: - Morgan Radford is an anchor for NBC News based in New York City. Originally from Greensboro, NC, she received her bachelor's degree from Harvard University, a master's degree from Columbia's Graduate School of Journalism and a Fulbright Fellowship where she taught in Durban, South Africa. She previously worked for ABC News and was an anchor/correspondent for Al Jazeera America. Since joining NBC in 2015, Morgan has covered some of the country's biggest stories including the 2024 presidential election, the overturning of Roe v Wade, and the death of Fidel Castro. She has won several awards for her reporting. Morgan lives in New York City with her husband David and their daughter Adelana. Now Then is her debut novel.