Richler's 2012 novel The Imposter Bride (published by HarperCollins) is set in post-World War II Montreal and tells the story of a Russian woman who travels to Canada for an arranged marriage, only to be rejected by her would-be husband and instead married to his brother. It has been translated into seven languages, and won the 2003 Canadian Jewish Book Award for Fiction and the 2004 Adei Wizo Award in Italy. Her 2003 novel, Your Mouth Is Lovely (published by HarperCollins and Ecco Press), is a historical novel set in Russia between 18. The novel was shortlisted for an Arthur Ellis Award for Best First Crime Novel. The book is based on the real-life unsolved crimes of women sex workers who disappeared in Vancouver's downtown east side. Richler's first novel was Throwaway Angels, published by Press Gang Publishers in 1996. In 1988 Richler moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, and began writing fiction. She then studied social work and worked with young people, and in 1986 she completed a Master of Arts degree in international studies, specialising in the Soviet Union, at the University of Denver Graduate School. She moved to the United States in 1975, when she was 18 years old, and attended Brandeis University near Boston, Massachusetts, graduating with a degree in history. Her paternal grandfather, Jacob, died a few hours before she was born.

Richler was born in Montreal, Quebec in 1957 to Dianne and Myer Richler, and grew up there with two siblings. Her novels won two international awards and were shortlisted for three others Richler was also shortlisted for the Canadian Booksellers Association Author of the Year award in 2013. Nancy Richler (– January 18, 2018) was a Canadian novelist.

The imposter bride