The Art of Pretend Book Review - No Spoilers
Plot Summary
The Art of Pretend by Lauren Kuhl unfolds over a heady summer in New York City. Ren is a publicist with a fragile sense of self. She leans hard on her glamorous college friend Etta—their friendship anchors her to a world she feels she doesn’t naturally belong in. When Etta suddenly departs for Barcelona, Ren is left adrift in Etta’s upscale life and penthouse. Enter Archer, Etta’s older brother, who is genuine, ambitious, and invites Ren into his art-filled world. Their relationship turns romantic—but Ren keeps it secret, fearful of betraying Etta. As tensions simmer, Ren must grapple with insecurity, ambition, and the fragile boundaries of loyalty and desire.
Why I Love This Book
I love how messy and human everything feels. I love the tension in Ren's sense of belonging. I love how her insecurity mirrors moments of my own—longing for acceptance, painfully aware of my own flaws. I love that Ren is not perfect—she’s awkward, anxious, and desperate to hold on. And that made her feel real to me. I love how the friendship with Etta is beautifully complicated—equal parts warmth, jealousy, dependency, and resentment. I love watching that tension build, like a quiet storm, until it all threatens to collapse. I love Archer’s sincerity and how safe—but also dangerous—he feels to her. Their connection is tender but also loaded with dread. The story made me reflect on what I'm willing to risk for love, identity, and standing up for myself.
Who Will Like This Book
If you enjoy contemporary stories about class, friendship, and complicated romance, you'll appreciate this book. It’s for readers who don’t need everything tied with a neat bow. If stories that explore insecurity, social privilege, and the price of wanting more speak to you, you’ll find this compelling.
⚠️ Trigger warning: This book explores toxic friendship dynamics, insecurity, and emotionally fraught relationships. It can feel uncomfortable in its emotional honesty. Please approach with that awareness.
Tagged As
contemporary romance, friendship drama, toxic friendship, class disparity, summer in New York, secret romance, emotional tension, character-driven, coming-of-age, Gilded Age vibes, moral complexity, realistic relationships, debut novel
Steam Level
This novel focuses more on emotional intimacy than physical. There's tension and longing, but the story stays grounded in subtlety rather than steam.
