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I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
MY REVIEW:
Genre | Tropes: Psychological, Contemporary, Romance, Toxic Relationships
Rating: 4 out of 5 ⭐
If you’ve ever known toxic relationships, then this book is one that will give you pause to reflect on your own experiences. Ren and Etta’s friendship dynamic reminded me a lot of the girls I was “friends” with in my past. As I read this book, sometimes I felt bad for Ren for being treated the way that she was, but then at the same time I’m angry with her as well for not changing the course of things. But in reality, I’m not mad at her at all because I totally get it. The lies, the subversions, all of it. There’s a comfort in not wanting conflict and I’ve always been someone that tried HARD to avoid any kind of conflict, even when that meant putting myself in bad situations.
There’s a strange anomoly that happens for people who don’t like conflict. We will continue to fall down these rabbit holes of making others happy to our own detriment. Until it all starts crumbling down, which is always does eventually. That was the symphonic element of this story: watching that crescendo build as Ren continued to try to spare herself and bad feelings or experiences, but in the wake of it all creating an even larger tsunami that came washing down over her.
Ren is a reminder of who we have been, and a shove in the direction of who we want to be. She’s slightly self destructive, but who isn’t in this story? I really enjoyed watching her progress though. As the last portions of the book really highlight her steps in the right direction, I think, for healthy development. Etta on the other hand, I wanted to like her in the beginning, but wasn’t able to hold onto it as the story went along. Conversely, Etta’s brother Archer grew on me throughout and by the end, I felt comfortable with where all the dust settled.
A wonderful read that will provide plenty of self introspection!
GET IT HERE:
A tantalizing debut about a woman drawn into the orbit of her friend’s wealthy artist family in New York City and the complications and consequences that arise when she embarks on a secret relationship with the golden-boy older brother
“A delicious take on class, friendship, and desire.” –Christina McDowell, author of The Cave Dwellers
Pretending is an art, and all art comes at a price…
Ren loves and hates Etta, her best friend since they met at NYU nearly a decade ago. Etta defines Ren’s New York. She lavishes her with designer hand-me-downs and takes her along to parties at trust fund lofts and Hamptons estates. But when Etta moves to Barcelona with no warning, Ren is left to face who she is without her, her unremarkable life of shoebox apartment, thankless job, and estranged family.
Enter Archer, Etta’s older brother, whom Ren’s always been infatuated with. In his sister’s absence, suddenly he’s inviting Ren to visit his art gallery, to prestigious galas, on weekend trips with his friends to Amagansett. Archer’s interest makes Ren feel alive in whole new ways, but she knows Etta can’t find out. As their relationship intensifies, so does her unease. If it all blows up, who will she be on the other side?
Set over a heady New York summer, The Art of Pretend is an alluring novel about love and friendship, wealth and power, art and ambition–and the stories we tell ourselves and others to get what we want.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lauren Kuhl
Lauren Kuhl is a writer based in New York. The Art of Pretend is her debut novel.
Looking for book recs…
Adventures in Literature 
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