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Georgia Hunter

Author of hit bestseller We Were the Lucky Ones

  • About Georgia Hunter

    “I hope that in telling these stories, I’ve shed some light on what it’s like to experience history as it unfolds, not in sepia or black and white or with the benefit of hindsight, but in the moment, in vivid color, through the eyes of my characters.”

    At 15 years old, Georgia Hunter discovered that she came from a family of Holocaust survivors. Years later, she embarked on a journey of intensive research, on a mission to unearth and record her family’s remarkable histories. Her New York Times bestselling novel, We Were the Lucky Ones, is based on the incredible true story of her family’s determination to survive, and, ultimately, reunite, against all odds. Told from alternating perspectives, the book follows three generations of the Kurc family as they scatter across continents, trying to navigate their way to safety, and to find each other again.

    An extraordinarily propulsive and profoundly moving novel, We Were the Lucky Ones was translated into over 20 languages, made into a Hulu limited series starring Joey King and Logan Lerman, and became a mainstay on bestseller lists nationwide. It’s been incorporated into school curriculums, selected by Goodreads as one of its readers’ “Most Beloved WWII Novels of the Last Decade,” featured as “Best New Book” by People, and it won the Connecticut Book Award for fiction.

    In her engaging and eye-opening presentations to schools, communities, and book lovers, Georgia Hunter dives into her writing process, from discovering her family’s astounding stories during a reunion to how it felt to put them to paper and adapt them for the screen. As the granddaughter of one of the protagonists of We Were the Lucky Ones, Hunter’s connection to her material and the writing process is particularly inspiring to audiences, especially those interested in history, the Holocaust, and delving into their own ancestry.

    Georgia Hunter’s new book, One Good Thing, is an unforgettable story of hardship and hope, courage and resilience, that follows one young woman’s journey through Mussolini’s Italy toward freedom. A remarkable tale of friendship, motherhood, and survival, One Good Thing serves as a reminder that love for another person, even amidst darkness and uncertainty, can be reason to keep going.

    The essays and photos of Georgia Hunter, a lifelong author and journalist, have been featured in places like the New York Times Book Review, The Hollywood Reporter, and travel outlets like travelgirl magazine and Equitrekking.com.

    Contact us for more information about booking Georgia Hunter for your next event.

  • Speaking Topics

    We Were the Lucky Ones

    In engaging presentations that delve into the real-life history behind the bestseller, Georgia Hunter brings audiences behind the scenes into her writing process, from finding inspiration to researching and writing to adapting a book for the screen. Hunter shares clips from the Hulu series, her grandfather’s musical compositions, photos, and primary sources that give an exclusive glimpse into the inspiration for the Kurc family survival story and what it was like living in wartime Europe. Audiences leave with a deep appreciation for all it takes to bring a book to life, and often a newfound curiosity about their own ancestry.

    Everyday Women Heroes

    The theme of everyday women heroes resonates deeply in Georgia Hunter’s 2017 New York Times bestseller, We Were the Lucky Ones, as well as in her latest 2025 work of historical fiction, One Good Thing. Both narratives are infused with stories of ordinary young women thrust into extraordinary adversity, forced not only to face their own greatest fears, but to do everything in their power to protect their loved ones. This timely topic is especially poignant during Women’s History Month and is sure to spark conversation around what everyday acts of female heroism can look like.

  • Video

  • Praise for Georgia Hunter

    Georgia was absolutely fantastic. She was energetic, personable and our patrons loved her. We had a full house that day and registration for the event filled up within a week or two or putting it online. I just ran into a patron today who couldn’t stop talking about how fantastic Georgia’s speech was. With the music and the slides she showed, everyone was in love with her and her story.

    Mansfield Public Library

    Georgia is amazing.  So personal and lovely.  Everyone loved listening to her stories, seeing her pictures, and asking questions.  She took individual time to interact with the MANY people who stayed to have their book autographed.  Georgia has the ability to make each person feel like they are the only one in the room when she talks with them.  It was a personal & professional highlight for me.

    Jewish Federation of San Diego County

    Georgia was truly riveting. She is an intelligent, warm, and engaging speaker whom we felt lucky to have in our presence. Audience feedback included descriptions that the event was “wonderful, powerful, and incredible”. We also appreciated that Georgia had reached out to the moderator ahead of time to ensure a good flow the night of the event.

    Phoenix Holocaust Association

    Praise for We Were the Lucky Ones

    [A] remarkable history . . . Hunter sidesteps hollow sentimentality and nihilism, revealing instead the beautiful complexity and ambiguity of life in this extraordinarily moving tale.

    Publishers Weekly

    [A] must-read.

    New York Post

    [A] gripping, emotional novel.

    People

    [Georgia Hunter is] just as courageous as the characters her writing will never let us forget.

    Harper’s Bazaar
  • Books by Georgia Hunter

  • Media About Georgia Hunter

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and Availability

  • 212 572-2013
  • Georgia Hunter travels from Connecticut

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Penguin Random House Speakers Bureau